The day had finally come for me to attend Hogwarts school of witchcraft and wizardry and I was nervous as anything. I had been driven to King's Cross station with my mother and father and also my cousins who had been attending Hogwarts already. We crossed over onto platform 9¾ and proceeded towards the large red train that I would soon become familiar with. The girls hugged and said their goodbyes to my parents and rushed onto the train with the rest of the crowd, greeting friends as they went. Andromeda looked back at me and gave me a quick wink before disappearing through a doorway and I felt the nerves ease up a bit. I turned to my mother and gave her a smile.

"This is it then" She pushed a strand of curly hair away from my eyes and straightened my robes. She gave me a stern look and began to mess with my tie.

"Remember to always look presentable – you represent the noble house of Black. I expect you to pass your classes with no faults and ascend above your classmates" I pushed mother's hands away and told her I'd be fine. I then turned to father who placed a rough hand on my shoulder and looked down at me with a look almost like pride.

"I know you'll make us proud son and you'll do very well in Slytherin. Do well in your studies and don't mix with the wrong crowd" I nodded and gave him another smile. I knew the crowd he was referring to – muggle born wizards and half bloods. Our family was strictly pure bloods and anyone who requested otherwise was ousted immediately. I assured myself I would not end up like my great aunts and uncles and gave my parents one last quick hug before climbing aboard the train myself. I heard the whistle of the train give one last warning before the train began to move and carry me away to the magical castle where I would be spending the next seven years of my life.

As I walked along the narrow hallway I saw the faces of many students that I had never met before. Some were older and were wearing their house colours while others were fresh first years huddled together in small groups chatting excitedly. I was unsure where I was supposed to be going and ended up finding a compartment with two other people that looked around my age. I opened the sliding door and slipped in, causing the two of them to stop their conversation and look at me. One of them was a girl with deep auburn hair and freckles who gave me a kind smile – the other was a boy with straight black hair cut to his shoulders and a long, hooked nose and he looked quite irritated at being interrupted. I decided to speak to the girl with the pretty face and introduced myself.

"Is anyone else sitting here?" I pointed towards one of the benches and she shook her head.

"No please sit! We could always use more company, right Severus?" The boy put on an obviously fake smile and nodded.

"Of course and you are?"

"Sirius Black" I held out my hand and after a few seconds of the boy staring at my face I put it back in my lap. I saw the girl give the grouchy kid a stern look before taking my hand and shaking it herself.

"Nice to meet you, I'm Lily – Lily Evans and this is Severus" I smiled and nodded thinking that maybe this train ride wouldn't be as boring as I'd originally thought it'd be.

It became apparent to Severus, after about ten minutes, that I wasn't leaving which seemed to irritate him more. Lily and I chatted about small things such as what we thought Hogwarts would be like and what house we'd be chosen into. I immediately said Slytherin and Severus made a disgusted noise from the back of his throat. Lily gave him a dirty look before rolling her eyes at me.

"Ignore him, house rivalry. Were hoping to be sorted into Gryffindor" I felt my heart sink a little upon hearing this. There was no love lost with Severus but I had hoped that the one person I had made friends with so far would be in the same house as me. I must of shown the disappointment on my face because Lily gave me another kind smile.

"Don't worry we can still be friends – people do it all the time! The 'house wars' can't be as bad as everyone makes out" She laughed it off and I joined in with her all the while knowing deep down that as soon as we were sorted I would never be speaking to this lovable girl ever again.

About half an hour had passed when we heard someone opening the door. We all turned to welcome another into the small room when the slim figure of my cousin appeared. She took in the three of us before setting her sights on me and raised her eyebrows.

"So this is where you've been hiding, we've been looking for you everywhere" I shrugged and gestured towards where she was standing.

"You all ran off before I could follow and then I met these two" Lily gave my cousin a small wave and Narcissa gave a polite smile in return. Severus, noting the older girl, gave a small nod before turning his attentions back to Lily. I rolled my eyes and patted the area next to me.

"Come sit with us" She shook her head and gestured behind her.

"The other two are back at our compartment with a few of our friends, why don't you come and join us? Get to know some of your housemates that you'll be living with" I was about to decline when I saw the pleading look on her face and knew what she was trying to discreetly tell me; these people aren't worth your time come join the elite group. I turned and gave Lily a sad smile.

"I guess I better go with her" Lily looked sad for a moment before the ever present smile returned. She gave me a quick hug and nodded towards Narcissa.

"Go on it's okay it's not like we're not going to see each other again!" I didn't reply but smiled instead knowing that was exactly what was going to happen. I said goodbye to Severus who merely grunted back at me and walked out of the room with Narcissa.

As soon as we were a few paces away from the door she abruptly stopped and spun on the spot to face me. Her brown eyes were wide and she placed her hands on my shoulders to look into my eyes.

"If anyone asks where you were tell them you had gotten lost looking for the sweet trolley" I frowned up at my cousin and shrugged her hands off.

"Why? I wasn't doing anything wrong in there" She sighed lightly and pushed a strand of platinum hair behind her ear.

"Sirius do you know who those people were?" I gave her an odd look and nodded.

"Yeah? Lily and Severus?" I didn't know why my cousin was asking such stupid questions but I knew it wasn't going to be good.

"Severus is a half blood; his mother a witch and his father a muggle. His mother's family was the Prince's until they disowned her for marrying a muggle and the family has been disgraced ever since. The girl, Lily? I don't know her. Severus's family was close to ours, that's how I know about him but the girl is new. She has that thing about her I don't know but she seems friendly with him and that's guilt by association" I looked at my cousin incredulously and then turned to look back the way we had come.

"What would your friends say if I told them I had been in there with them?" Narcissa shook her head and shrugged.

"I don't know but I do know they don't look kindly upon people getting cosy with half bloods" She was lying and we both knew it. If her friends were anything like my parents, our family, then they would cast me aside and brand me a blood traitor before I could even defend myself. I gave a mournful sigh and began to walk in the direction Narcissa was heading towards.

"Okay. If they ask I'll lie and say I got lost looking for food. I'm sorry I was so careless" Narcissa patted my shoulder.

"No harm done just please be more aware of who you associate yourself with – it could make a world of difference in a place like Hogwarts".