DISCLAIMER: This is not mine. The wonderful magical world of Harry Potter belongs to the one and only J.K. Rowling.

There is a quote in this chapter that belongs in one of the books (Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling), it's not word for word but give credit where credit is due.

Sirius Black

The young boy approached the nine and three quarters platform, with his mother, father and brother on his tail. He was shaking with excitement! Sirius would finally be away from his godforsaken, nutter, prejudice pureblood family. The Noble and Most Ancient House of Black was one of, if not the most, esteemed pureblood families in all of Great Britain. Sirius thought it was a load of hogwash, since his family also happened to be the most bigoted and pureblood fanatical families in the world. They were cruel and up to their eyes in the dark arts, and had a habit of pruning the family tree every once and a while. His mother was especially good at this. Despite his hatred for the House of Black, he was its heir and he had to behave accordingly because in his father's words, "You don't do what you want, you do what is expected of you."

Sirius quickly walked through the platform before his family, enjoying the brief minute alone without them. When they walked through the barrier to send him off to Hogwarts, they came to a stop. "Kreacher, load these things onto the train. And try not to drop any of Sirius' things or you'll be dropped on your head, repeatedly." his mother Walburga hissed.

His mother was usually kind to Kreacher, but today she seemed very irritable, or more irritable than usual.

His mother had dark black hair, slick and clean. She had a pointed nose that was perfect for when she snubbed people and scoffed at them, her face was perfect for portraying the look of disdain and disapproval. She had blue eyes, not beautiful, but cold and calculating. Whenever he was around people he would look down, he didn't want to be seen that way as he had her very icy blue eyes. She was a thin lanky woman, and he had inherited that but in a masculine way. His mother scared him almost as much as his father, who had a strong and sturdy build with sleek black hair. It was perfect and put in place, similar to Sirius' although his was a bit longer and very unaristocratic.

His father disliked it immensely and pointed it out, not too often though because he had other things to criticize Sirius on. Regulus trailed behind him, an almost exact clone of Sirius. One could tell that they were brothers and thankfully Regulus was not coming to Hogwarts with him this year. His father scoffed, his tone laced with disgust, "I cannot believe our son has to be in the same building as those dirty bloods. Our son, rooming with mudbloods and half-bloods."

His mother let out a disdainful comment, which she excelled at, "It's not going to get any better with Albus Dumbledore becoming the new headmaster this year," she said as if she was saying a dirty word.

Orion Black shook his head, "Right you are Walburga," Orion turned to face Sirius, "Listen to me boy, Slytherin is the only place that knows who is worthy to practice magic and that is where you are going to be. Do not tarnish our family name there, do you understand? You will not like the consequences, because believe me, it'll hurt you more than it will hurt me."

Sirius nodded quietly. No hugs or kisses were exchanged, between his parents and him not that he was expecting that, just a cold goodbye and a warning. "Bye Sirius." Regulus said quietly.

"Bye Reggie. I'll see you soon." he said with a small smile.

Reggie lingered for a moment before turning to follow their parents. Their family was cold, cunning and ambitious. All I have to do is get into Slytherin, I'll be good. It's the best for the family. But since when do I care about doing what's 'right' by my family? Sirius stepped onto the train, strutting confidently. Despite Sirius being constantly put down by his family, he had an exceeding amount of confidence. He was rich, good looking and clever. As he walked down the train corridor, he looked for an empty compartment. He didn't want to sit with anybody. All he wanted was to be alone for a while, he didn't like people very much. Sirius spotted the sight of platinum blonde hair, which instantly encouraged him to hide but it was too late, he had been spotted. His cousin Narcissa, a lean and slim girl, who despite being "nice looking" was cold and harsh, like her icy blue eyes. Unlike the rest of their relations, she was distinct since she had very blonde, almost white, hair. It always looked clean and shiny. Sometimes Sirius had the sneaking suspicion that she wasn't his Uncle Cygnus' daughter, but he kept quiet about this. Despite her contrasting looks, she reminded him a lot of his mother. "Hello cousin," she said in an icy voice.

Sirius was instantly annoyed, "Hello Narcissa."

Narcissa was not the cousin he wanted to see; his favorite, Andromeda, had graduated the year before which was a great disappointment to Sirius. He hadn't heard from her in a while and suspected she was no longer interested in talking to him, why would she be? Narcissa gave an annoyed sigh, "I suppose I should congratulate you, but then again, we'll have to wait until the sorting ceremony won't we?"

Her tone was taunting, but Sirius ignored it and shrugged, "I guess we will."

Narcissa walked past him with a fine amount of determination, allowing Sirius to escape and move on. After looking around for a while he finally saw a compartment that was empty and plopped down, staring out the window, with nothing to entertain himself but his thoughts. Finally some peace and quiet away from those nutters he thought. As the train started to move, a young boy in a wine red wool jumper yanked the door open and dragged in his very large trunk, and shoved it under the seat opposite of Sirius. The boy didn't even notice him until he turned around, "Oh sorry!" he said, "Everywhere else in the back of the train had people in it. Do you mind?"

Sirius did mind, he longed to be alone for the first time in his life but seeing as how the boy already threw his heavy luggage under the seat, Sirius felt like he didn't have a choice but to say yes. The boy was his height and had messy black hair that stuck up in all directions, and the front was long enough to block his hazel eyes which he had to keep pushing it out of the way. Sirius gestured for him to sit down. Sirius' mother would've been mortified, a thought which amused him. The boy threw himself onto the seat across from Sirius and kicked back before realizing that he failed to properly greet Sirius. He quickly turning to shake hands and introduce himself, "Name's James, James Potter."

Sirius extended his hand, "I'm Sirius Black, Sirius like the star."

Sirius said the following first to show that his first name was actually Sirius, which he hated to do. He was sure the boy would flee to another compartment the moment he heard the surname, Black, but instead Potter laid back and said, "That name must come with a bunch of jokes, right? Sirius? Are you Sirius?" he laughed and smiled, showing straight pearly white teeth. "I like it. I have a regular name, James. Not too funny now is it?"

Sirius smirked, "Not really."

Sirius quickly realized that James' last name sounded familiar, he'd heard his mother say it a few times, "You said your last name was Potter? You wouldn't happen to be related to the bloke who invented Sleekeazy's Hair Potion now would you?"

James smiled, "Yeah he's my dad. Fleamont Potter!"

Sirius laughed loudly, "Oh Merlin! Tames the most bothersome barnet my ass! Your hair's sticking up from every part of your head!"

James huffed, "It works, I just don't use it. It's my style. And as far as I can see, your hair doesn't seem to use it either."

"No I don't." Sirius said proudly as he wiped a fake tear of laughter from his eye, "Don't need it, because mine is perfect."

James nodded with a smile, "Sure is".

Sirius' mother said more about the Potter's than their hair potion, she liked to note that they were blood traitors but Sirius in desperate need of a friend, didn't care and didn't like the term anyways. It was just a word that meant you weren't a jerk. Besides, befriending a Potter would make his mum livid. Sirius ears pricked like a dog when he heard, "You better be in Slytherin."

Very early for someone to remind him, but he saw James' attention divert from him to another. The two of them looked over to the adjacent compartment where a greasy haired boy talked to a very cute redhead. "Slytherin?" James called, "Who'd want to be in Slytherin? I think I'd leave, wouldn't you?" James asked, turning to Sirius.

"My whole family's been in Slytherin." he muttered in an ashamed voice.

James disregarded this information and joked, "Blimey! And I thought you seemed alright!" he laughed.

Sirius smiled, which pleased James. He was liking him more and more. "Well," Sirius chuckled, "Maybe I'll break the tradition. Where are you heading if you've got the choice?"

James climbed up onto the seat and thrust an invisible sword into the air, " I aim to go to Gryffindor, where dwell the brave at heart!' Like my dad..."

The greasy hair boy snorted, "Got a problem with that?" James asked harshly.

Sirius found himself disliking the other boy every mounting second. "No," the boy said in a sneer, "If you'd rather be brainy than brawny."

Sirius, personally offended that Greasy McGrease face had just insulted the boy in front of him retorted, "And where are you going seeing as how you're neither?"

The redhead civilly said, "Come on. Let's find another compartment." (Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Chapter 33)

The two got up and left the compartment next to them, and James got up to shut the door.

"Well, he's annoying…" James said as he sat back down.

"And greasy…" Sirius added, "He looks like my house elf, except with hair."

"If you can call that hair. Your elf caught a break, probably superior in the looks department. The girl's cute." James said as Sirius snorted.

Sirius asked, "So Gryffindor? That's where you'd choose to go?"

"I'm hoping so. It's the best. Best house, best quidditch team, coolest people. Seriously." he said with a wide grin.

Sirius couldn't help but laugh. "Everyone I know says that Slytherin is the best. My whole family's been there."

James went on, "It's a matter of opinion, I think Gryffindor is the best, so that's where I'm aiming to be. My whole family has been there too."

Sirius nodded, "Well I reckon that's where you'll end up."

James smiled, "I hope so! It'd be cool if you could too–er–um–if you wanted to." James said slowly.

Sirius smiled, "I guess we'll see, but my family's expecting me to be in Slytherin."

Sirius hadn't heard anything but the negatives about the other houses so once James went on and on talking about Gryffindor and how great it was, Sirius thought that was the one he ought to belong in, but his parents would kill him when he returned home if he went into Gryffindor. He'd enjoy seeing them angry if they weren't so cruel. Slytherin just didn't sound that it would suit him, so he quietly hoped that he would get into Gryffindor and be able to be with the nice boy who called himself James Potter.

"Anything off the trolly dears?" a jolly female voice asked.

They looked over to see a plump woman with very red cheeks push a candy cart, "Yes please!" they said eagerly.

They grabbed two of everything to eat. "What kind of train eats too much?" with a mouth full of food, James asked smiling, "A chew chew train!" he laughed (Deathly Hallows, JK Rowling).

Sirius laughed hard at that awful joke. The two talked for a good long while, "What are you most excited about? I'm excited about quidditch! Of course that's in our second year, but it won't stop me from trying out for the team. I brought my own racing broom too, it's the newest model: The Zimbar 2000. Personally, they'd be foolish not to let me play since I've been breathing and thinking about quidditch since birth. My favorite team is the Holyhead Harpies, a bit cliche sure, but they are the best. Who's your favorite team?" James asked.

Sirius smiled, "The Chudley Cannons, which is actually the best team."

James scoffed, "Are you kidding me? They haven't won since 1892!"

Sirius leaned forward, "Yes, but they obviously have more skill. The Harpies shoot first and ask questions later."

"It's effective." James said with a firm nod, "But it's okay, I won't judge you for your poor taste in quidditch teams."

Sirius laughed "Gee, thanks."

The train ride was shorter with the company of Potter and the treats they bought. He could tell Potter was spoiled as he had a look of being well cared for. Sirius noticed rather quickly that James liked the sound of his own voice and found himself to be the most interesting bloke in the room. They had a lot in common, they were both pureblood's who disagreed with the pureblood elitism, how amazing the pair of them were, and both had an interest in muggle culture. Both of them wanted to take muggle studies once they got the chance to choose their own classes. Their upbringings were very different despite being of pureblood status.

Sirius told James about the first time pureblood superiority was wrong, "So this man kicked me out of his shop, because I said the word mudblood," Sirius said the word so casually and only realized his mistake when James went wide eyed, "Sorry!" Sirius apologized quickly, "I'm still learning…"

James looked away for a moment, filling Sirius with worry, before he returned his gaze back onto him, "Just don't say it again…" James said cautiously.

Sirius nodded, "Anyway, I went back and asked him why. He went on a long rant about why pureblood supremacy is wrong and how fascinating muggles are. He showed me things and talked about them, and being the studious and curious child I am," Sirius said proudly, earning a snort from James which he ignored, "I researched more into them. They're very fascinating."

James agreed, "I'm very fascinated with them, but I just don't understand how they can live without quidditch! I mean sure they can't fly, but it's the best sport in the world."

James went on and on about quidditch, a topic that he thoroughly enjoyed discussing. He seemed to have an interest, although faint, in muggle sports. "It doesn't matter if you're a pureblood, half-blood or muggleborn, as long as you got talent on the field…that's what matters. Take Jo Kingsley." James said, referencing a muggleborn quidditch player.

The truth was that Sirius didn't know about anyone named Jo Kingsley as his mother forbid Sirius and Regulus from watching quidditch matches now that there were muggleborns on the team, but his Uncle Alphard always wrote to him about what happened. Alphard Black was Sirius' favorite uncle and the only family member (besides his cousin Andromeda) who had his head screwed on straight. James surprised Sirius as every pureblood he's met has been an elitist, cold, calculating and curt, but James was different and it seemed he came from a kind family. Sirius had never known anything else since his parents determined who he was supposed to hang out with, but they couldn't control him anymore now that he was at Hogwarts and going to be a Gryffindor, could they? Sirius didn't reveal a lot to Potter just yet, just that his family wasn't as warm as James' family sounded to be. The name Black could scare off any decent human being, so he thought it best that he keep quiet for now.

Thankfully, James didn't inquire too much into Sirius' life and desires as James thought the most interesting topic to be discussed was him. "Oh look!" James said excitedly, staring out of the window, "We're here!"

Sirius launched himself out of his seat and saw that they were about to pull into the station. They quickly changed into their robes as the train began to slow and stepped off of it. They followed a large hairy man by the name of Hagrid and stepped onto a few boats. The sun began to set and the water glittered under the reflection of the moon and the bright windows from the castle. It was ginormous and slightly intimidating; it was all stone with tall towers but ultimately beautiful. Sirius sucked in his breath in amazement as they rowed up to the castle, "This is so cool!" whispered James full of excitement.

"I can already tell there will be so much to do." said Sirius in awe as they rode to the glittering castle.

"Not if you're eaten by the giant squid" said a boy coldly.

James and Sirius turned to find a boy next to them with a sneer. It was the boy they met on the train who didn't seem to get any less annoying and intrusive. He had greasy black hair which made Sirius think that his mother shouldn't bother him too much when he looked at this kid. "We'd fight it off," said Sirius confidently but sounded more like arrogance.

James chimed in, "Fearlessly I might add."

They saw a plump boy off on the far corner of the boat smile. "I guess that'd be two less fools to roam around these halls." the greasy boy scoffed.

James and Sirius looked at each other, waiting for the other to respond and finally James did, "So it'd be easier to polish it with that greasy hair of yours, eh?"

The boy's eyes were fired with rage and just as he was about to say something Hagrid called for their attention. He went over the basics but all he and Potter heard was, "blah blah blah danger, blah blah blah squid, blah blah blah death. Whatever."

They were led up to the castle, which was glittering with lights. It was beautifully reflected over the lake and was by all meaning of the word, magical. Simply breathtaking. They stopped with the other first years in front of a woman who both of them knew would not be fun to mess with, but that most likely wouldn't stop James. Professor Mcgonnagal was a tall woman with a prim expression and black hair held back in a tight bun, she wasn't that old and looked to be in her mid to late thirties but nevertheless seemed to be intimidating and wise beyond her years. "Welcome," she started, "Now in a moment I will lead you into the Great Hall where you will begin your sorting into one of the four houses. There is: Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, and Slytherin. While you are here, your house will be like your family. Any excellence achieved will earn you house points and any rule breaking will lose you house points. Whatever house has earned the most points at the end of the year will be awarded the House Cup and an additional treat." (Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, JK Rowling).

A boy behind them kept trying to stand on his toes to see what was going on, clearly too short. James politely stepped aside and Sirius followed suit so the other boy could see. It was the same boy who smiled at their humour. Beads of sweat could be seen on the boy's face, but he couldn't be as nervous as Sirius. He was terrified. Sirius looked at James who gave him a reassuring smile. Sirius' heart was beating fast, "You'll be fine." James whispered.

Sirius took a deep breath and gave James a nod. The doors opened and the two walked in or strut in. Everything was so rushed and they went in, James leaned into him "Don't be scared."

James smiled at Sirius, a smile that was so comforting it relieved Sirius of his worry momentarily."What if I'm not in Gryffindor?" Sirius asked, suddenly thinking of this problem.

"We'll still hang out no matter what house we're in." James paused for a moment, "It won't matter to me at all."

That was a big relief to Sirius that he would have a friend still, but it didn't make him rest that he had a duty to fulfill. The names went fast, only two A's and two B's before they called "Black, Sirius" Professor McGonagall bellowed.

Oh nuts! The Slytherins whispered excitedly and a few of them wooed. Sirius slowly walked to and up the stairs, scared and probably looked bloodless until he saw this raggedy old hat that had a sneer, which would scare some but his mother was scarier. Suddenly his heart started pounding, and instantly got cold feet about going into Gryffindor. He couldn't be sorted into anything but Slytherin. He'd surely be disowned and he had no where to go and he'd have no money, well perhaps to his Uncle Alphard's but he was always away on business anyway and couldn't really take care of a child. The Slytherins at the table shifted, expecting his arrival, which greatly annoyed him. I haven't even been sorted yet, of course I know where I'm going. He walked up and sat down on the stool and heard the hat whisper to him, "Black eh? I put most of your family in Slytherin you know?"

"Yeah I know." Sirius said under his breath.

"You have a lot of its traits, but perhaps…" it muttered.

It continued to mumble and Sirius was getting rather annoyed, "Are you getting anywhere?" he asked impatiently.

"Such a rude boy." the hat said greasily.

"Look, sort me into anything but Slytherin. Gryffindor preferably..." he said eagerly.

The hat seemed to mind his words and continued to mumble to itself. Finally the hat muttered, "Yes boy. Loyal. Clever. Daring…I can tell boy. I'm always right, I'm always right," and then the hat bellowed, "GRYFFINDOR!"

Sirius couldn't believe it, he was put into Gryffindor! Sirius sat there stunned for a minute, he'd actually done it! He had actually been sorted into Gryffindor! He got up as the Gryffindor table clapped politely but not at all enthusiastically whereas the Slytherin table broke out into a few murmurs and confused looks, which Sirius tried to ignore. Narcissa's mouth hung open in shock and gave him a questionable look. He faltered for a moment, but what caused him to regain his courage was James who was cheering the loudest of all as he beamed a white stream of teeth and held two thumbs up. "Woo!" James shouted as he pumped his fist into the air.

James' smile reassured Sirius who hopped off the seat and sprinted to the Gryffindor table full of excitement. Despite knowing he'd be in for it with his family, at the moment nothing could tarnish this feeling, nothing.