Chapter One
Sirius Black

King's cross station was especially crowded that day. There seemed to be a large number of people carring owls on their trolley, which intrigued the rest. Going towards platform nine, was a family of strange looking folks, wearing weird clothes, and, of course, owls trapped in cages that stood on top of a large trunk on the trolley. The man pushing it was tall, grey haired, with golden eyes and an agitated, yet tired attitude. He was beside a woman that didn't look older than fifty or younger than 45. She wore glasses that showed her brown eyes slightly bigger, had very black straight hair, and was talking to her son, who seemed annoyed.

"Yes, mother, I'll write every other day" he was telling her while rolling his eyes. He seemed about 11 or 12 years old, and looked very much like his mother, wore glasses as well, but had his father's golden eyes.

"Good. And will you be careful?" she asked.

"Yes." he replied, while looking at the wall between platforms 9 and ten with excitment in his expression.

"James, you're not even paying attention and - James!"

"Merlin's pants mother, what is it?"

"You're not listening to me, this is important. If you get into trouble-"

"Give the boy a chance to enjoy this, Martha" said his father, "He knows he has to behave."

"Oh Charles, do you really think James knows anything about good behaviour?" Martha answered. "You act like you've never met him"

"Look mum" James started, before his father could answer. "I'll behave, I'll write you, I'll stay out of trouble, ok? Will you please stop yelling, though? People are staring."

"Fine. I just hope you're sticking to that promise." said his mother.

"I'm sure he will" said his father, but James knew he wasn't really believing it. "Now let's go, shall we? You first, James."

The boy walked quickly towards the wall, but he did not collide with it. In the blink of an eye, he was in another place full of steam, and slightly noisier. He looked around and stared at the Hogwarts Express, a rush of excitment hitting him. His mother showed up beside him, and shortly afterwards, his father with the trolley.

"Hm, we're a bit early." said Charles, glancing quickly at his watch.

"That's okay." replied James. "You can go. I'll be fine."

"Don't be silly, James" Martha said. "We'll stay."

"Hum, actually dear, I do have to be at the ministry by 11 and it's already half past ten"

"Oh but we can't just leave him! Can't your ministry business wait a little longer?"

"It's okay mum, I'll be-" James started, but his father interrupted.

"How many times do I have to ask you not to refer to my job as though it were simply an obstacle in your life, Martha... As Minister, I have certain responsabilities"

"And as a father, you have even greater responsabilities", she replied angrily. "I certainly do not think your work is useless. I simply think you sometimes forget that there are other things in life. This is a pretty big moment for your son, and as his father, you're supposed to be there for him."

"I'm here, aren't I? He says so himself, he'll be fine. There is an important trial at eleven o' clock. I need to be there, I'm sorry, but I do. So please, let's not argue anymore." He turned to James. "James, I'm very sorry, but I have to go. Do you need me to call your uncle and ask him to come and stay with you?"

"No, it's ok... Really, mum, I'll be fine. I don't have to wait here that long and there's already people on the train..." the boy said, and smiled awkwardly.

"Fine then." Martha said but she didn't look so pleased. "You behave."

"I will." He said, and started to take his trunk and his owl cage from the trolley.

"Good luck with the sorting, son!" His father smiled. "I gotta say, I hope you're in Gryffindor!"

"No need to hope, dad. I'm a Potter. Potters are always in Gryffindor." James said, proudly.

"Atta boy." Charles replied, smiling.

"James, we'll love you no matter what house you're in..." Martha said.

"I'll be in Gryffindor." James said, firmly.

She sighed. "Stubborn like your father."

Charles rolled his eyes. "Bye, James. Write us as soon as you get there" He then bent down and whispered in his ear "Otherwise your mother will drive me crazy"

James laughed. "Bye, dad."

"Good luck, James" said Martha. "Stay out of trouble."

James rolled his eyes in a very good imitation of his father and said "For the 20th time, I'll behave and I'll stay out of trouble... Bye, mum."

His mother kissed him goodbye, and he started dragging his trunk with one hand, while holding his owl cage with the other. As he walked towards the train, the rush of excitment hit him again, this time stronger.