Disclaimer: Alright, lets see. I don't own Harry Potter, because if I did, would I really be writing fan fictions?

A.N : This chapter is them all meeting each other for the first time, except Peter, who will come in in the next chapter, have no fear. I owe this chapter to 'A Muggle's Guide to the Wizarding World : Exploring the Harry Potter Universe' because without that, some of my facts would have been a bit off.

Read and Review kids.

Thanks 3

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This story starts on the Hogwarts Express, right after Lily and Severus leave James and Sirius in the compartment. Sirius has just called Severus "Snivellus".

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James laughed loudly as the pair left and looked to Sirius, who had propped himself in a strange position on the very busily patterned chair. The boy's way hair had fallen into his eyes and he was attempting to swat it away. The train rocked slightly as they began their journey, but only enough to cause Sirius a small bit of annoyance.

Sirius gave him an amused grin as his attention was drawn from the window and his hair dilemma. "Yeah, I crack myself up." He agreed, indulging in a short laugh.

The scenery before them was quickly changing. The bricks and stone of the city fading into the grass and trees of the country. It seemed to stretch for miles. It made Sirius quite happy, seeing so much green. It was much better than the pit he called his home.

"You know," James began, purposefully, "Your not all that bad Sirius Black. Mum's always told me the Blacks were no good, but I think I can make an exception for you."

"Yeah, most of us aren't good," Sirius laughed uneasily. "My mum actually threatened to burn me off the family tree if I didn't get into Slytherin. My whole family has been in already. " He spat out as if it were poison. "Anyway, Regulus says she's bluffing, but I say good riddance if she's not. I'm not going to Slytherin, even if they try and drag me. "

James fell silent. He couldn't quite grasp Sirius' feelings toward his parents. James had always loved his mum and day, and received equal love in return; but this boy seemed to care less about his parents. Though, after James pondered on it, it wasn't hard to believe. The blacks were a bunch of wizards that suffered from pure-blood mania, he shivered to think of the family life. Maybe that's why he was so eager to get there and not get into Slytherin. These, though, were not the problems of an 11-year-old boy so his thoughts quickly shifted to the fact that Sirius actually seemed kind enough, and genuinely funny. So instead of pondering the meaning of life, he did what any young wizard would do, he began talking about Quidditch. The way Sirius' eyes lit up almost surprised him. He didn't expect this boy who acted too cool for much of anything to be interested in the sport.

"I went to the World Cup this summer." James stated, proudly. "My dad took me all the way to Bulgaria to watch it. It was amazing, mind you."

Sirius gawked at the boy, a kind of jealousy tugging at his heartstrings. He ran a hand through his already disheveled hair and spoke, "Wow, I read the highlights in The Daily Prophet, at least I did before my mother took it away from me." A wicked smile fell upon his face. "It went something like this.." He scrunched his face up, causing so many wrinkles to appear on his face that he was unidentifiable. He raised his hand and spoke in a very shrill 10-octave-high voice, "Sirius Black, you need to find something better to do with your time! Why can't you be more like Regulus?" Then he adds in his normal voice, "Stupid little brother." He murmured.

James' smile broadened at this well-played mockery. "Wow mate, sounds rough." He said, trying to keep his composure, but still allowing only a little bit of a chuckle. This Sirius was surely amusing.

Then, as silence ensued there was a knock on the door. James jumped up and glared at the fogged glass. Sirius looked in surprise, then feigning a look of cool he shrugged, "Its probably that read head or Sir-Greasy Hair back for a little more Sirius Time."

"Oh…" James replied. The girl had seemed nice enough, well until she got all offended. Why did she have to go hanging out with that ugly little boy? "Come in!" He called toward the door.

It opened almost immediately to reveal a stick of a boy. He had sandy brown hair that was articulately combed down. The boy in the doorway eyed them, his cloak unadorned with any badge identifying them. He must be a first year. With a very meek expression the boy gave a hesitant smile. "Erm- May I join you?" He asked, stepping in.

"Yeah… 'course." James replied, gesturing to an empty seat next to him. The smile currently on the face of the boy widened and he took a seat, his eyes hovering momentarily on Sirius.

"Thank you." He murmured, looking at James. "I was sitting with a group of Syltherins, who very rudely kicked me out of 'their' compartment." He told them with distaste.

"Nasty kids, those Slytherins. By any chance was one of them fairly skinny with extremely curly hair?" Sirius asked, tilting his head.

"I don't remember." Remus admits, looking down. He obviously didn't get an eyeful of his attackers.

"Well," James spoke, grandly, interrupting Sirius' thoughts. "I'm James Potter by the way, and this is Sirius Black." He gestured toward the black headed boy, who shrugged.

"Nice to meet you, my name is Remus Lupin." He said, with a nod. For a moment he looked as if he might say something else, but stopped mid-breath and began studying his new-looking shoes.

There was something unfortunate about this new addition to the little group that pulled at James' heart. Sirius could see it, the way James' attention was going away from him and to this new… Remus. He frowned. What was so good about this mousy little boy? Sirius was way better… not to mention more talkative.

A silence fell between the trio like a fog, interrupted only by the trolley woman. James eagerly grabbed a handful of sweets, and began talking about the New Chocolate Frogs, and how he had already collected 20 cards. Sirius eagerly began spurting off names. Remus watched them, curiously, only putting his opinion in when necessary, (due to the fact he knew nothing about chocolate frogs, or the various cards hidden inside). Then as they sat there, deep in their conversation, the Hogwarts Express rolled through the grassy fields, taking them closer to their destiny.

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It was only an hour or so before everyone was filing off the train. James was having a rather difficult time breathing between two overly-large Hufflepuff 7th years, who insisted on taking their time getting off the train. Every step was awkward as James hoped beyond home that his leg didn't jam into an undesirable place, or his face get buried into someone's stomach. After a few minutes of this one of the boys looked down, a sudden apologetic look on his face.

"I'm sorry." He murmured, moving out of the way so that James could pass with ease.

James elbowed around him and bounded off the train, looking desperately around for any sign of Sirius or Remus. They must have gotten tired waiting, he thought to himself and bobbed around trying to figure out where he was supposed to be.

"First Years!" A strange cockney accent caught his ears. He turned swiftly around to see a man standing at the end of the platform. He loomed over all of them, which tugged at James' curiosity. As he headed over there, he couldn't help but wonder if this man was a giant. Though, in the stories he heard they were a lot taller. Never the less, it was something to think about later.

They were all packed together like cattle, different expressions on each of their faces. Some seemed excited, some afraid, and even some who seemed bored. None of these faces James looked at seemed familiar, so he continued forward, knocking a red-headed boy to the ground. "Sorry." He apologized, not even looking back.

James jumped up, observing all the bobbing heads as quickly as possible. They had begun to move now and he still hadn't found Remus or Sirius. "Bother." He murmured, jumping up once more, causing a little blonde girl to giggle and compare him to something called a Jumping Bean. At last, he saw the undeniable long-haired boy he had met earlier. A smile fell onto his face and he pushed his way further through the crowd, arriving at Sirius' side in a second.

"Where have you been?" Sirius asked, looking the out-of-breath James over. "Well, never mind that, we're almost at the boats." He told him.

"Groups o'four!" The large man yelled, gesturing toward the boats. "Oh, an' don't worry 'bout the gian' squid. 'E's harmless." This caused a few of the first years to gasp in fear, including a black haired girl who had gone quite pale. "Shouldn' of said that." The man, shook his head and boarded a boat.

James ended up in a boat with Sirius, Remus, and a rather unfortunate looking blonde, who seemed absolutely terrified to be in the water. James considered her for a moment, and shrugged. Girls were so strange. As they began toward the school Remus talked about the different kinds of tree's planted about the grounds.

His soliloquy wasn't news to James or Sirius, and it most certainly wasn't interesting. Sirius scoffed as Remus began talking about the moving pictures. He was growing quite tired of nodding and looking exited for the boy, and the constant oo's and ah's from the little blonde girl was absolutely unnerving.

"Alright Mr. Encyclopedia, Miss Cross-eyed. You two are seriously cramping my cool vibe." Sirius said at last in a nonchalant way.

Remus' mouth closed mid-sentence and his eyes shifted to the bottom of the boat. He didn't say another word, just pretended to be very interested in the boards. James sent a scornful look Sirius' way and scooted toward the boy, trying to console him.

What did Sirius' care, honestly? If this little muggle-born boy was enjoying himself or not? Perhaps he shouldn't be so insufferable and they wouldn't have a problem. Suddenly, he felt a stab of panic. Was he being like his… mother? He swallowed hard and shook his head. No, he couldn't be like them… he wouldn't.

He scooted toward Remus and gave him a crooked smile. "I was only joking." He attempted, making a pitiful face.

James glared, "Well, he obviously didn't find it very funny."

Remus looked toward Sirius and looked up at the sky. "No, its okay." He said, nodding. "I get a little… jabber-y every now and then." He gave an uneasy laugh.

The rest of the boat trip was spent in silence, well other than the half-giant who was shouting out landmarks. This didn't impress Sirius in the least, no he was ready to see the castle he had waited so long to observe in real-life.

Then as they turned around the bend, it sat, tall and elegant. A wave of gasps crashed through the boats and most shifted to the edge to get a better view.

"Be ca'ful now. These boats ain't for rockin'" The giant warned, as one of the boats lurched unsteadily causing a child to squeal.

It was amazing, sitting in the bank of the lake in all of its grandeur. Remus, like a proper 11 year old forgot all previous wrongs and stared up in aw at the castle. The reflection from the lake caused waves of light to appear on the stone surface, and the spilling orange light seemed to beacon them all in. It felt like home.

Even Sirius managed a gasp.

"Its magnificent…" James muttered, leaning against the edge of the boat.

"Yeah," Remus agreed.

Sirius' mouth transformed then into a very wicked grin. "I can see it now, boys," he began dramatically, "this is going to be the best year of my life by far."