In The Beginning

Eleven year-old Sirius Black didn't pay much attention to the red headed girl quietly sniffling in the corner of the compartment, until he noticed his newly found friend trying exceedingly hard not to notice her. The other boy pushed his round, thin-rimmed glasses up his nose in an almost nervous fashion, while his attention darted around every single corner and crevice of the room, except hers.

James Potter had seemed OK before they entered compartment, Sirius reasoned. In fact, he already had several good points in his favor. One being that Sirius's mother had scoffed and groaned when the lanky boy introduced himself on the platform and the other was that he'd had Quidditch Through the Ages clutched in his grip at the time. Of course, his mother's disdain was really all the excuse Sirius needed to make fast friends with James, but sharing a love of sport did help things along immensely.

He'd also acted perfectly normal when they were discussing Wizard's Chess strategies, a few minutes ago, too. Well, maybe it wasn't odd at all, Sirius mused. Perhaps there was something hideous about the girl that had escaped his notice and now his messy haired comrade was making a valiant effort not to stare at the deformity.

Sirius, however, was not as courteous as James. If there was some disgusting malformation about the girl, he wanted to see it! His gray eyes scrupulously scanned the red head. Her face was pressed against the windowpane, her shoulders trembling slightly. Much to his dismay, Sirius could find nothing outwardly wrong with the way she looked nor could he see anything really extraordinary about her either, except for perhaps her hair. It wasn't the usual flaming hair- bright oranges and copper swirled together with nuisances of red undertones- that most gingers sported. No, her hair didn't flame- instead it seemed to quietly glow like embers-an understated dark red twirling with deep shades of cedar and gold.

But red hair wasn't something that kept eleven year olds entertained like a giant wart or some repulsive disfigurement, like a third nostril. Nor did it explain why James was acting as though looking directly at her would turn him into stone! Sirius leaned over, "anything wrong, mate?"

James started a bit and blinked a few times, as though Sirius had just woken him from a daydream.

"Hmm? What? No. Why?"

Sirius shrugged, "no reason."

Perhaps he had imagined James's strange behavior. Or maybe he just really didn't like red heads. Well, in any case it didn't really matter. There were more important things to discuss, Sirius decided. And just as he opened his mouth to resume their earlier discussion on chess, the compartment door slid open.

There in the threshold was a scrawny, sallow skinned boy who, by the looks of his hair, had forgone the use of shampoo for the last week or so. The new boy's attention was solely focused on the girl in the corner. She glanced at him frowning, her emerald iris's shining with moisture.

"I don't want to talk to you," she said, tightly.

"Why not?" The greasy newcomer enquired.

Bored, Sirius stopped listening and shifted in his seat to a lounging position, his leg half hanging off. The uneaten chocolate frog weighing down his pocket hit against his thigh reminding him that he was rather famished and the food cart wouldn't be around for at least another half hour-

"You had better be in Slytherin!"

Sirius didn't know why that remark suddenly grabbed his attention. Perhaps, it was because his mother had been threatening the exact same thing since he was in the womb, except there was usually some sort of derogatory term following or preceding the demand when she said it.

"Slytherin?" It seemed Sirius wasn't the only eavesdropper. James's voice was casual, almost uncaring as he threw a lazy smirk at him, "Who wants to be in Slytherin? I think I'd leave, wouldn't you?"

Sirius didn't return the cheeky grin, "My whole family has been in Slytherin."

"Blimey," James replied, a mischievous glint in his hazel orbs, "and I thought you seemed all right!"

Sirius returned the smile this time.

"Maybe I'll break tradition. Where are you heading, if you've got the choice?"

James lifted an imaginary sword in the air.

"'Gryffindor, where dwell the brave at heart!' Like my dad!"

Sirius couldn't help smirking at the theatrics and also feeling just a smidgeon jealous of the fact James was obviously not only proud of his father, but wished to follow in his footsteps. While Sirius had always held out hope that he was actually adopted and someday his real parents would miraculously show up at number 12 Grimmauld place and take him far, far away.

A contemptuous noise coming from the other side of the compartment pulled Sirius back to the present.

"Got a problem with that?" James demanded ready and willing to defend his family's honor.

"No," the unsavory looking boy replied, a slight sneer adorning his thin mouth, "if you'd rather be brawny then brainy-"

"Where're you hoping to go, since you're neither?" Sirius couldn't help but insert. Perhaps, the Greasy Git would think twice about picking a fight if he knew he was out numbered.

James exploded with laughter while the red head stared them down, a look of distaste marring her features. "Come on Severus, let's find another compartment." She bit out still glaring as she rose from her seat.

"Oooooo…."

Sirius made a noise of amusement when James purposely tried to trip Severus as he walked by.

"See ya, Snivellus!"

The compartment door slammed shut and Sirius noticed James starring at it wearing an odd expression.

"What do you think she sees in him?" He asked.

"Who?"

"The girl. She was rather pretty, didn't you think so?"

Sirius lifted a surprised brow. Apparently, he'd been wrong about James's preferences. His problem wasn't that he didn't like red heads; it was that he preferred them- or was it just her?