Disclaimer: You think I own this? You'd be wrong. Yeah, yeah, the usual no money, please don't sue stuff; I'm sure you get it by now.

A/N: This is just a random one shot from the top of my head, and it's told from James' POV, ok? Reviews appreciated! Thanks!

Hate Is Such A Strong Word

Y'know, when I was kid, I was always told that the Blacks were dangerous. That they hated muggle borns, Dumbledore and what they called 'blood traitors'. That I should hate them. So if I followed this theory then why was I talking to Sirius Black?

Well mainly because he was a perfectly nice guy if you actually took the time to talk to him. And as there were absolutely no other spare seats on the Hogwarts Express, I could sit in here and talk to him, or I could stand in the corridor. And I'd rather not get to Hogwarts stiff from standing for hours on end when I didn't have to.

I mean, he wasn't perfect. He was a little arrogant, but then so was I. And he a chip on his shoulder the size a England, which I expected came from being told almost constantly that Blacks were better than everyone else. He'd told me the second I'd asked his name that he was nothing like his family.

But I hadn't believed him until we were about halfway to Hogwarts I think. But there we were, just talking about Quidditch and random other stuff. Not our families, the moment I'd asked about his (I wanted to know if they were really as bad as my dad said they were), he'd clammed up. Wouldn't say a word about them. But anyway, we were halfway to Hogwarts when suddenly I forgot who I was talking to, and made some stupid joke about Purebloods. I mean it wasn't really horrible (I'm a pureblood myself, so I know it wouldn't have been that bad). When I realised what I'd said I flinched thinking he would hex me or maybe even something worse.

But he didn't. And this wasn't the reason I try not to use the word 'hate' anymore. Because when Sirius Black laughed at everything he'd been trained since birth to believe in, I realised - hate is such a strong word.