Disclaimer: Just for clarity, the characters don't belong to me.
I clearly recall the face of the one person who meant anything to me. I remember the first time we met; me on the platform as the train started off without me, he on the train, leaning over the edge reaching out to me.
'You need to get on?'
'Yeah! Fuck it! How'm I gonna manage that?'
Watching as the train picked up speed, running alongside, regretting my lateness as it meant I'd never get to Hogwarts.
'Gimme your hand! Come on you stupid wanker, reach for me!'
'I can't reach! This is just too dangerous! Why are you doing this?'
The slide of hands as I managed to get a hold, the defiant gleam in his eyes.
'Right! Jump when I say, ok? Jump!'
'What the hell?!?'
'Just jump!'
Landing on the train, the adrenaline rushing through me, breathing harder than ever before. Seeing the triumph in his eyes, mixing in with the shock that we'd actually pulled something like this off.
'Who the hell are you? Why did you help me? What the holy hell just happened?'
'Questioning little bugger aren't you? Name's Sirius Black, and we, my friend, have just achieved the impossible!'
And, not surprisingly, we became the best of friends. We achieved the impossible time and again, always fighting the system, always beating the best. We became closer than brothers because he needed a family and I needed a friend.
That day was a turning point in both our lives, and I've never once regretted being late since, even after the bollocking I got off my parents. I'll never forget that day, and I don't think he will either. Because that was the day we first became the Marauders. We didn't need anyone else, we'd just proven that.
'James Potter. Why did you help me? Why didn't you just leave me on my own?'
'Oh for Christ's sake. Why? You looked like you needed a friend.'