Sirius Black was just arriving at Platform 9 ¾. He was entering his first year of Hogwarts, and though excited, seemed apprehensive. From a young age, he had known he was different from the others in his family. It was strange, the things his family said, and he didn't really understand them. He did know one thing, though.

He was a Black, so he was a Slytherin. As much as he hated it, there was no denying it. He boarded the train, trying to think of ways to convince the hat to put him somewhere else. ANYWHERE else… but could come up with none.

It was like his mother said, he was a Slytherin. No matter how he acted, that'd always be true. Nothing could change it, NOTHING. He boarded the train, keeping his head down. His eyes were too much a giveaway on who he was. A Black.

No one halfway decent wanted to be around a Black. They – for Sirius refused to put him in the same category as them – were egotistical, prejudiced gits with no sense of humor what-so-ever. He would know. Sirius had been punished countless times for fun pranks and jokes. That was the rule in the Black home: If it's fun then it shouldn't be done. Of course, he hated it there. Who wouldn't, considering the circumstances?

You can't choose your family, but Sirius sure as hell didn't have to act like them. So he joined a kid he didn't recognize. He had already met all of the 'suitable children' that he was allowed to 'interact with' at Hogwarts, and this kid was not one of them.

He was thin and lanky but not in a bad way. His hair was black and messy, and it seemed to absolutely refuse to flatten down, despite his attempts. As Sirius sat down next to him, he noted the kid's good-natured smile.

"I'm James. James Potter," The boy – James – said. Sirius smiled in return, finally raising his eyes to meet James' hazel ones. A Potter, perfect. They were an entire family of blood traitors and would clearly hold the same beliefs as him. Another girl and a pale boy with black hair joined them, but neither even glanced in their direction.

"I'm Sirius. Sirius… Actually, I'm just Sirius," Sirius said slowly. James hadn't recognized the Black family's characteristic grey eyes, so why should he point out the fact? It was so much easier to talk to other kids without announcing he was a Black. James smiled in a pleasant, though confused, way. Sirius let out a breath he hadn't noticed he had been holding. Good. That'd make things so much easier.

In fact, the whole bloody idea of making friends would be so much easier if he wasn't a Slytherin. Being a Black couldn't be helped, but he sure could do better in Gryffindor. Or Ravenclaw. Or Hufflepuff. Anything was better than Slytherin. James broke the now slightly awkward silence by asking,

"Nervous?" He wasn't saying it in a condescending way, though. That was a good thing. It had been proven multiple times that Sirius couldn't stand condescending tones.

"Yeah. My family and I don't agree on the House I'll be in," Sirius told him. For some strange reason, it was so much easier to be open with James rather than his own brother, Regulus. James, who, contrary to popular belief, was actually a pretty smart kid, connected this to the fact that his mother, Dorea, whose grey eyes were so alike Sirius', also refused to talk about her family. There was also the point that Sirius had refused to tell him his last name. It seems that he'd met the rebel of the family. Well, one of the rebels in the family. His mum had no contact with her old family because she'd married his dad.

"Which house do you want?" Sirius grinned at him, but it was slightly forced, as he was still nervous beyond belief.

"Anything but Slytherin. Merlin knows I'm not like my family. Or – at least Mum knows." He twisted his neck so that the left side of his face was bathed in light. There was a yellowing bruise on it. Sirius sent James a twisted smile as he gaped in horror. He was the sole point of attention in his family; he wouldn't get it. His parents would never beat him for disagreeing. That was completely mental.

"Your mum's mental," James said in horror. Sirius flashed a smile. James wasn't sure what bothered him the most: The fact Sirius had been beaten by his mother, or the fact that Sirius didn't seem bothered by it. Actually, he was treating it like it was completely normal.

"Finally, someone who agrees. My cousin got to try out all the curses she's learned in seven years of Hogwarts last time I tried to tell them that." There it was again. Sirius was talking about being tortured so – so calmly. He was treating it as though it was nothing. In James Potter's near perfect life, that was completely insane.

"So… What'd you disagree about?" James asked hesitantly. He was curious, but this seemed slightly messed up.

"All of it!" Sirius growled vehemently, "They – we – are prejudiced purebloods who believe we are better than everyone else because our blood has no trace of muggle in it. We're so careful that all of us end up in arranged marriages with our own cousins. It's bloody disgusting!" James frowned. He knew some families were prejudiced like that, but he'd never thought that someone from a family like that would actually be an okay kid.

That ended their discussion on Sirius' family. They began joking around and distracting Siriusfrom his overwhelming fear of being just like his family. It worked. Sirius began to open up even more and even told James some stories of his own failed pranks. Although, he never told James the consequences for his 'fun little games' that his parents were so sure he'd outgrow. At one point James overheard the thin boy and the red head talking.

"You'd better be in Slytherin," he encouraged.

"Slytherin?" James asked, wrinkling his nose in disgust, "Who wants to be in Slytherin? I think I'd leave, wouldn't you?" Sirius had a flash of nervousness in his face. Way to go, James thought, scolding himself. How stupid could he get? How tactless?

"My whole family have been in Slytherin," Sirius said without a smile. Actually, he had a nice grimace on.

"Blimey," James said in a slight bit of shock. Sure, he had known that but to hear it straight out like that. Also the emotionless tone Sirius said it in seemed strange. James decided to joke it out. "And I thought you seemed alright!" It worked, Sirius grinned a little, but James could still see the worried light in his grey eyes.

"Maybe I'll break the tradition. Where are you heading, if you've got the choice?" Sirius chuckled as James lifted an imaginary sword.

"Gryffindor! Where dwell the brave at heart. Like my dad," James explained. Once again he hit himself at the mention of family, but Sirius didn't react. The thin black-haired boy across from him made a strange sound that seemed like a snort gone wrong.

"Got a problem with that?" James asked. Even if it wasn't his House already; he wouldn't let it be insulted.

"No. If you'd rather be brawny than brainy," the boy sneered. The red-head looked slightly shocked at the argument that had cropped up so easily.

"Where're you hoping to go, seeing as you're neither?" Sirius interjected. James began to laugh at his new friend's wit. The redhead stood and said, while glaring at James and Sirius,

"Come on, Severus, let's find another compartment." James tried to trip the git as he passed. As the compartment door swung shut, Sirius called out,

"See ya, Snivellous!" Just as the door closed both boys dissolved into laughter. After more time they spent just enjoying another's company, James announced,

"We're almost at Hogwarts. We'd better get changed."

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