Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any of it's characters.
Chapter 1: Beginning.
Mr. and Mrs. Black were very proud to say they were perfectly normal, thank you very much. They were the last kind of wizard you'd expect to be involved in muggle-association and protection of muggle-borns.
The Black blood had been running clean since medieval times, nevertheless "time consumes manners" as Mrs. Black would say and according to her this new consorting and "breeding"(as she would describe it sometimes) with muggles was beyond blasphemy.
Yet, as in all families, "there's always one", as was the case of young Sirius Black. He was so unlike their parents that even people doubted they were related. For Sirius Black was the opposite of his family; in his opinion Muggles and Muggle-Borns were okay, in fact he actually liked them and respected them. As for the Dark Arts, well, Sirius loathed them from his very core, contrasting with his parents, who were quite fond of them.
This was the source of many quarrels inside the Black threshold, for there was no greater shame for Mr. and Mrs. Black than having a Blood-traitor as a child; yet always Mr. Black would reply "There's still Regulus". In fact, Mr. and Mrs. Black thought there was no finer boy than Regulus Black. He was their proud and glory for he was everything his parents could desire in a child, even though, if sometimes he didn't quite agree with them.
That would lead us to a chilly September morning, in which all the Blacks were gathered discussing Sirius' departure to Hogwarts.
"I believe Hogwarts' standards could improve greatly" snarled Mrs. Black "Nevertheless, until a new head is appointed I'm afraid I'm asking for miracles, God forbids what else could that man do!"
"You mean Dumbledore?" asked Regulus over his bowl of cereal in awe "I've heard people telling he was the best headma-"
"That's because lately the culture is going downhill, darling" replied his mother "I swear that today's generations are so rebellious, all these revolutions in youth culture have affected the way the young ones think" her eyes flickered to her right, where Sirius was sitting. "I can only hope that you finally get your head to the ground"
"Nothin' to worry 'bout, Walburga!" growled Mr. Black "Once he's sorted to Slytherin and realize it's potential he'll come around to his senses" he swallowed a mouthful of coffee, opened his mouth again and spoke on a harsher voice "Oh, to be young and reckless again, Wal. Don't be so harsh on the boy, puberty's hitting, hormones rushing, this is just a temporal thing, soon he'll make us as proud as Remulus does, won't you Sirius?"
"It's not puberty!" snarled Sirius under his breath angrily "I've just thought Slytherin is not what I want"
"Now! Stop gibbering and come to your senses boy!" replied Mr. Black drawing himself proudly up as he spoke "You'll be sorted to Slytherin in order to continue with the Noble traditions set by generations before and you'll also live up to uphold the Black name or it may ever be the last thing you shall do!" as he finished his speech his fist clenched over the dining table with a thunderous "THUD!"
The same chill that filled the tensed Black table also filled another home, yet this was much warmer and joyful, the air was so much breathable and comfortable, even though a thin bespectacled boy with untidy black hair was screaming and hopping all around the place.
"James!" yelled his mother above the racket he was making "Stop playing around and get your truck down! We're leaving"
James Potter was kind of a trouble-maker boy, but in the end good natured as reflected in his round hazel eyes. "Comin!" he shouted at his mom.
"James Potter! We're leaving now!" shouted his mother at the top of her lungs "Get down here or you'll miss the train!"
But James Potter wasn't the only person being shouted at the moment; very far from there a blond, horsy-looking girl was shouting at her sister.
"Now, hurry up!" yelled with disdain the blonde.
Her sister who was crouching under the bed looked up; she had very distinctive green eyes and long dark red haired. "Oh, Tuney! Just one more second I need to get everything, I don't want to lose anything before I even get there!"
"Whatever, Mum wants to talk you, she's in the kitchen" snarled despicably the blond girl named Tuney.
The red haired girl got out from under the bed and threw some things at her trunk and headed downstairs to the kitchen. She entered a bright-yellowish room where she saw her mother leaning over the table with her father whispering madly.
"Tuney said you were looking for me" her mother looked up and saw the girl standing before her.
"Ah! Yes! Lils, where exactly do we have to drop you?" asked her mother inquiringly "The letter was a bit confusing"
The girl stared at her mother wondering; where? Exactly? She had never given a thought about this. They were in trouble now. But perhaps, maybe, Sev would know, yes of course, Sev always knew.
"Oh! Just wait a moment!" said the girl and ran off the house.
"Don't take long!" shouted his father at her speeding back.
The girl traced the familiar route she took to see her newest best-friend. And there he was alone and sulky, sitting on a bench.
"Hi, Sev!" said the girl brightly.
"Hey, Lils" said the boy sadly with a grimace, without looking up.
"What's going on, Sev?" said the girl sweetly, while sitting herself next to the greasy haired boy and waited for an answer, yet she received none "Have they been fighting again?" asked the girl again with fear. She knew that Sev's parents tended to fight a lot, something that disturbed Sev deeply, for his father would sometimes resort to violence in order to win the fight.
"I'm just glad we're finally leaving" he answered with a dead sort of voice.
"That is if I can get there" chuckled the girl in response. The greasy haired boy finally looked up in surprise.
"You're not going?"
"Yeah, but I don't know exactly where to go"
"Well that's easy you go to King Cross!"
"You misunderstood me" said the girl exasperatedly "There's no Platform 9 ¾ not that I've heard of"
"Well, actually no muggle would ever hear of it, no offense intended, you only walk through the pillar between platforms 9 and 10 without anyone seeing you, that's all!"
"Well, it does sound easy" murmured the girl "Can I come with you?"
The boy grimaced at her words and said seriously "It's not that I wouldn't like, but-"
"Your parents" finished the girl wisely for him.
"Yeah, but you know, once we're at Hogwarts-"
"We'll talk freely!"
"That's if you don't ignore me"
"Why would I do that? You're my very best friend!"
"And you're mine"
"Well, then it's decided! I, Lily Evans promise to keep talking to you, even if you get to be popular and I get to be the muggle-born freak nobody wants"
"I Severus Snape, promise to keep talking to you even if I get to be the freak"
"How come you get to be the freak?"
"Do you want to be the freak?"
"No!"
"Then what are you complaining?" and so, both girl and boy shook their hands in agreement, unbeknown to them how would Hogwarts affect their friendship and their future.
…
James Potter sat alone in the train, watching different shapes and colors of blurs that passed along the speeding window of the train and wondering what adventure laid ahead of him when the door opened with a star and along came a dark, long haired boy with gray eyes and a casual expression.
"Mind if I seat with you?" he asked.
"Help yourself" replied James with a wave of his hand and the boy sat in front of him.
"I'm Sirius Black" he said casually looking at the window too.
"I'm James Potter; you're a first year too, aren't you?"
"Yeah" he said distractedly.
"Cool so am I" he said and without more there fell a long, awkward silence "Like quidditch?"
Sirius looked at James for a moment as though as reconsidering his opinion about him and then said "Yeah" and so they began talking more and more about quidditch until the door opened yet again and a light brown haired boy entered followed by two more; a small, plump boy with watery eyes and a dark red, long haired girl with green eyes.
"Hey, everyplace is full, do you mind?" asked the light brown boy, his voice was tired and stressed, and James wondered what would stress and eleven year-old so much?
The girl sat in the corner with her face stuck at the window pane while the boys began ranting about quidditch and showing off about their skills in magical education, while the plump boy sat there watching them in awe.
James saw a little tear trickling down the girl's cheek and poked Sirius with his elbow.
"What?" he asked loudly while James shushed him and pointed to the girl.
"Are you okay?" asked Sirius.
"I'm fine" she answered in what would be a don't-ask sort of voice.
"I'm Sirius" he said gently "This is James" he said pointing to the boy with the untidy hair "That one is Remus" the light brown haired one "and the squeaky one's Peter" the plump boy waved his hand timidly.
"I'm Lily" she said timidly and continued gazing at the windowpane when the door opened and a greasy haired boy entered already wearing his school robes and sat before Lily.
James and Sirius continued talking until they heard the boy tell Lily "You'd better be in Slytherin"
James' ears perked up slightly, and he slid his gaze towards the skinny boy and the red head. Sirius too, seemed to have heard the comment, and was eyeing the two strangely.
"Slytherin?" James felt this was an opportunity he just couldn't miss. Time to impress, he thought.
"Who wants to be in Slytherin?" James continued, smirking slightly, "I think I'd leave, wouldn't you?" James looked to Sirius, who to his surprise seemed a little annoyed.
"My whole family have been in Slytherin," Sirius said, looking back at James.
"Blimey," said James, attempting some humour, "And I thought you seemed alright," really though, Slytherin had quite a reputation. Even James knew that.
Sirius, however, broke into a grin, thinking of just how his mother would react if he weren't sorted into Slytherin.
"Maybe I'll break the tradition," he smirked, "Where're you headed if you've got the choice?"
James lifted an imaginary sword, clearing his throat.
"'Gryffindor, where dwell the brave at heart!' Like my dad," he grinned proudly at Sirius, who chuckled heartily. The pallid boy snorted, and both James and Sirius snapped their attention to him.
"Got a problem with that?" asked James, frowning.
"No," the boy didn't even bother to hide his obvious sneer, "If you'd rather be brawny than brainy – "
"Where're you hoping to go," Sirius cut across, "Saying as you're neither?"
James snorted, then burst into laughter at an arrogantly pleased with himself Sirius. Beside the pallid boy, the red head, who had been rather quiet, flushed, and sat up straight.
"Come on, Severus," she said in a rather lofty voice, "Let's find another compartment".
James and Sirius glanced at each other, identical smirks on their faces.
"Oooooooo," the adopted high pitched, mocking voices, and as the boy named Severus passed, James stuck his foot out to trip him.
"See ya, Snivellus," Sirius called, just as the compartment door slammed shut.
"Really idiotic boy, seriously, Slytherin? Who does he think he's kidding? With all the dark stuff going on right now!" said Sirius, his face suddenly serious.
"I know" grimaced James "Have you heard the latest? More muggle disappearances"
"It was all over the papers" said Peter smartly.
"Now, Peter! If you hadn't told us we wouldn't have known!" said Sirius sarcastically and James let a low chuckle.
"Yeah, this Lord Voldythingy is really getting serious" said James.
"People aren't supposed to say his name!" squeaked Peter twitchingly.
"Oh! Get a grip!" said James revolted. "Lord Voldorm!" he added menacingly.
"Voldemort" corrected Remus.
"My parents really think he's going to take thing down the good road" muttered Sirius and everybody held their breath, Sirius looked around and added "they're not Death Eathers, I mean. They only think his ideas are really good."
"Well, I think it's rubbish" said James folding his arms stubbornly "I hate the whole lot of Dark Arts"
"Well that Snivellus boy" wondered Remus "seems like the type for them, but the girl? Really?"
"Nah, the girl's just naïve" said James.
"And you think she's pretty?" asked Sirius smirking.
"No"
"Oh the hell you do!" smirked Sirius and laughed like a barking dog.
And so the four boys continued talking until nightfall, they had reached the Hogsmeade village when the train began stopping and they stopped at the station. The got their trunks and stuff out and got out of the train.
"Fir's years! Fir's years! Over here!" said a booming voice above all the noise. The boys approached it and saw a huge giant man, with beetle-like eyes and a great mane of black hair.
"Blimey!" said Sirius in awe "Aren't you big?" he said sarcastically and began walking towards the boats. He, James, Remus and Peter took one for themselves and skidded along the smooth surface of the lake.
"Wow!"
"Look at that!"
"Goodness!"
Various comments and replies of shock and awe were heard all across the army of boats that were drifting along the surface of the lake when the first years got their first glimpse of a magnificent castle with many towers and turrets.
"That's Hogwarts, Sev! That's it!" James heard the green eyed girl tell Snivellus.
They got out of the boats and began walking towards the great doors that were thunderous opened. The first years entered to the Entrance Hall where a tall, black-haired witch in emerald-green robes stood there, she had quite a stern face and a thin line for mouth.
"The fir's years, Professor McGonagall" said the giant.
"Thank you Hagrid" she replied and the giant disappeared from their sights, she turned her head toward the first years and began "Welcome to Hogwarts, I believe that you will find it a lovely home, that's it if you behave. We will proceed to the Great Hall where you will be sorted in your Houses, which are Slytherin, Gryffindor" James and Sirius grinned "Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff. These houses will be your classmates, friends and partners in trouble, detention and fights. Now at the end of the year we award the house Cup to the House with majority of points. Points can be earned with good achievements by each and one of you; however" she continued more briskly "A toe out of line will take points from your House and even get you in detention" she turned her head towards the big doors in which the giant Hagrid had disappeared and said "I think we're ready for you"
The first years entered to what James thought a glorious place. A great Hall with four long tables and sky that reflected the weather outside and floating candles stood before them. They came to a halt before a hat place over a wooden stool. Professor McGonagall spoke "Abott, Mark!" and a weapy boy went to the front and sat on the stool, Professor McGonagall put the hat over his head and the hat bellowed: "Hufflepuff!"
One of the tables clapped earnestly, and then- "Black, Sirius!" Sirius walked palely towards the stool and sat, the hat was put over his head. He closed his eyes and James crossed his fingers… and then: "Gryffindor!" A huge grin spread over Sirius' and James' faces as the boy went to the Gryffindor table ignoring the Slytherins' glares.
And so the sorting continued until-
"Lily Evans!"
The girl walked forward on trembling legs and sat down upon the rickety stool. Professor McGonagall dropped the hat upon her head and barely a second after it had touched her dark red hair, the hat cried: "Gryffindor!"
Snape let out a tiny groan. Lily took of the hat, handed it back to Professor McGonagall, and went to sit to the cheering Gryffindor table, but as she went she glanced at Snape, there was a sad little smile on her face. The roll call continued, Remus and Peter both had ended up in Gryffindor.
"Potter, James"
James walked weakly towards Professor McGonagall, his legs feeling a little bit too heavy for him, the path seemingly eternal and at last he reached the stool. The hat was dropped over his head and he heard a cry: "Gryffindor!"
Then the hat was pulled from his face and he saw the Gryffindor table clapping and Sirius, Peter and Remus beaming at him, waiting, at their table. And when at last he reached them he smiled at them turning his head to see the teacher's table, he thought he saw the red headed girl glaring at him as he turned, but he didn't care.
There surrounded amongst Sirius, Peter and Remus, nothing seemed to care anymore, for he had the feeling that great things were to happen, but little did he know that for the next six years he would experience the most amazing years of his life and explore the castle up and down and get a record for most detentions and that his story would have dire consequences on the future of the Wizarding World.