James Potter was proud to say that he had followed into the footsteps of his parents. Sorted in Gryffindor house at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. If there was a house James ever wanted to go into, it was Gryffindor – 'Where dwell the brave at heart'. Ever since James could understand about the magical world. He had heard about his father and mother's adventures at Hogwarts. He had been eager to leave behind his mark ever since.
It was no wonder that when James turned 11 and he received his letter, he was over the moon. He couldn't stop asking his parents more about Hogwarts and Gryffindor. To him, it seemed like a world of its own. He knew he would love the place like his second home. It devastated him to see his parents' damp eyes as they bid him goodbye at Platform 9 ¾. But James couldn't help but feel excited.
He had met a fellow student Sirius Black onboard Hogwarts Express, who seemed like him. They had the same sense of humour. Came from the same wizarding background – pureblood families. James had immediately become friends with Sirius. Even though Sirius believed he was going to Slytherin. A house James would love to stay miles away from. James couldn't quite put a finger on why Sirius seemed like the type of bloke who would make a good friend. It had something to do with the fact that Sirius and James put a greasy git in his place onboard Hogwarts Express. As well as his red headed muggleborn friend.
James was proud to get sorted into Gryffindor. But he was happier when Sirius joined him too. After all, Sirius did seem eager to break his family's tradition of getting sorted into Slytherin. That greasy git's friend was also sorted into Gryffindor. While the greasy git got sorted to Slytherin.
"I knew something was wrong with him," mumbled Sirius, leaning closer to James.
"I'm glad the sorting hat won't be touching our head after it has touched that," James snickered. Both their gazes followed Severus Snape as he stalked to the Slytherin table. They couldn't control their laughter.
It seemed like his friend, the red headed girl, had heard the comments. If James remembered it right, her name was something Evans. She didn't look pleased. Not that James or Sirius cared.
After the sorting ceremony, a silver bearded man stood up. He was beaming at the students. James recognized him in an instant. He was the Headmaster, Albus Dumbledore. "Welcome to a new year at Hogwarts!" he said. Giving an odd sort of speech, that lasted less than a minute, he sat back down.
The food reminded James of home. There was everything James loved, and his mouth watered at the sight of food. James piled up his plate and began to eat. It tasted as delicious as it looked.
James was too engrossed with food to care much about the conversation that was going around him. His attention only diverted from the plate when Sir Nicholas de Mimsy-Porpington appeared. He was the resident ghost of Gryffindor Tower. The most enthusiastic in welcoming the new students.
After the desserts, Dumbledore was on his feet again. The students turned to look at him. "A few more words now that we're all fed. I have a few start-of-term notices to give you. Everyone should note that there is a willow planted on the ground. Anyone who wishes to not die at the hands of the tree will stay away from it."
A brown-haired boy, shifted in his bench, his eyes on the empty table. He was a fellow first year Gryffindor. James scanned the long scar on his face. Then, he turned his attention back to Dumbledore.
'Then why plant it at all?' James wondered.
"Mr. Flich, the caretaker," said Dumbledore. He pointed towards an old man standing in the corner with a mean looking cat. "Has kindly asked me to remind you all that no magic should be used between classes in the corridors.
"Quidditch trails will be held in the second week of the term. Those interested in playing for their House should report to Coach Whyte.
"Now, before we go to bed, let us sing the school song!" Dumbledore exclaimed. Pulling out his wand, he gave it a little flick. A long golden ribbon flew out of it. It twisted itself into words. "Pick your favourite tune," said Dumbledore. "and off we go!"
James opened the door of his dormitory room with Sirius hot on his heels. They had eaten their share at the feast and were already feeling sleepy. They still had to find who were going to be their roommates. It didn't matter to either of them, they were happy to not only share their Hogwarts house but also a room.
James and Sirius entered the wonderful room where they'd be spending their next seven years. The room that James had been dreaming of ever since he could understand. In the room they saw two boys, their eyes on James and Sirius. One was tall, skinny with light brown tresses. He was the same boy James noticed in the Great Hall. James could now see a long scar on his neck under his jumper. The other boy was short, fat and had mousy brown hair. He was fidgeting with his fingers.
"Hello," James started, entering the room. "I'm James. James Potter," he introduced himself. He held out his hand towards the short boy, who was closer to the door.
"Peter," the boy squeaked, before clearing his throat. "Peter Pettigrew," he said. He gave James's hand a light shake.
James extended his hand towards the tall boy, who was sitting on his bed. "Remus Lupin," the boy mumbled, shaking James's hand. His grip was firm, and James could see scars on the back of his hand too.
There was a crease between James's eyes as he studied Remus's hand. As soon as Remus noticed James's gaze on his hand, he withdrew it. As if he had been burnt.
"Sirius Black," Sirius introduced himself. As Peter shook his hand, his mouth hung open.
"From the Noble house of Black?" he couldn't help but ask.
"That would be it," Sirius nodded. His ears had turned a bright shade of red. He was quick to shake hands with Remus and then dart towards his bed.
"I reckon we'll be sharing the room for seven years now," said James with a grin.
The three boys looked at each other in an unsure way. It made James frown. They didn't seem half as excited as him. After hearing his father's adventures, James was keen on making friends. Friends he could have adventures with. But his roommates were awkward in each other's company.
James sighed, walking to his bed. He opened his trunk and smiled. His mother had folded all his clothes and kept them in perfect order. He could see his favourite pyjamas and socks right on top. He would send his mother a thank you letter tomorrow.
"Wow!" Sirius breathed, shifting towards James. "You're good at packing. Mine looks like a disaster," he shook his head.
"My mother did it for me," said James, shaking his head.
"Your mother?" asked Sirius, his brows raised.
"Yes," James replied with a shrug.
"Mine told me to pack it myself," mumbled Sirius, his lips set in a pout.
"Might've something to do with you not being the only child," James jested. It made Sirius chuckle, he agreed with James.
James was glad for his pyjamas and socks, but even now he couldn't fall asleep! It was well past midnight, and two things were making him too uncomfortable to sleep. One, the new surroundings. Two, Sirius was whimpering in his sleep. When Sirius whimpered again, James huffed, shooting him a glare. Not that Sirius could see. He was fast asleep!
James pulled out the pillow from under his head and covered his ears with it. He hoped it was enough to block Sirius's noises out. This was nothing like James had expected! His roommates didn't talk to each other, the silence was deafening! They stayed in their beds, doing their own things. Remus loved to read books James had never even seen. Sirius loved to stare at muggle pictures. Peter was too shy to hold conversation with anyone.
James could feel his eyes well up. He stomped his legs in frustration. James knew he would die of boredom in seven years! His roommates were the most boring people he had ever met. And that said a lot, because he had only been in company of older wizards!
James's eyes flung open when sunlight burnt his face. He had somehow thrown his pillow down on the floor. His blanket also hung down the bed. James sprang up, stretching his arms over his head. His hands found his glasses on the bedside table without even looking. Putting on his glasses, he scanned the room. All his roommates were fast asleep, even though the sun was beaming bright on their faces.
James had bathed and was ready when his roommates started getting up. First, it was Peter. He looked bewildered to see James tying his shoelaces.
"Good morning," James beamed, hoping to get some words out of Peter.
"Good morning," Peter mumbled. "Am I late?"
"No," James shook his head, "I woke up early."
"Oh," was all that Peter said.
The next one up was Sirius, he spent 15 minutes in bed after getting up! James looked at him in confusion. How could he lay there after he was up? He was staring at the ceiling. 'What is so interesting about the ceiling?' James wondered.
"Good morning," James's enthusiasm had gone down a few notches.
"Morning," said Sirius, his voice grumpy. James sighed, arranging his books on his table.
The last one up was Remus. If Sirius was grumpy after waking up, Remus was on another level. He almost swore when his feet touched the cold floor. James had his eyes wide open at the use of that word! He decided it was better to leave Remus alone.
James and Sirius made their way to the Great Hall for breakfast together. Remus and Peter were right behind them. James could see people chatting away with excitement. They all seemed happy with their roommates. James's eyes peered over his roommates and he sighed in disappointment.
Their first class was Transfiguration. The Head of Gryffindor Minerva McGonagall was their Transfiguration teacher. The Hufflepuffs and Gryffindors were together in the class.
"Transfiguration is one of the most difficult and complex subjects. If I find any student messing around in this class, you will be leaving and never coming back. Take it as a warning," said McGonagall in a stern voice.
"I already like this class," Sirius whispered. He was sitting next to James. James couldn't help but grin back.
In the first class they were only taught the basics and theory of Transfiguration. Every time McGonagall asked a question, the greasy git's friend raised her hand. The next in her competition was Remus. Every time Remus would beat her into answering the question James and Sirius would grin. Giving him a thumbs up. It made Remus turn a light shade of pink.
If they thought Remus was smart enough in Transfiguration. He was something else in Defence against Dark Arts. No one could come close to his level of knowledge on the subject.
Charms was another case altogether. Sirius seemed gifted in that form of magic. Sirius said he picked up while looking at his parents performing simple spells. His vast knowledge astonished James.
When Potions came around, James knew he was better than anyone in the class. He was, after all, the son of Fleamont Potter. The most renowned potioneer in the wizarding world. James loved every bit of praise he was getting for showing off his knowledge. The only wrinkle was when the red headed girl would roll her eyes at him.
"I reckon answering would be better than rolling your eyes," said James. He had a smug look on his face when the girl's eyes widened.
"How about you shut your mouth?" the girl snapped back, rolling her eyes again. James reckoned it was deliberate this time.
"Careful now," James started, "Your eyeballs might get stuck to the back of your head." He could feel the irritation rolling off his skin. Sirius snorted at James's comment, making James grin.
And then it was time for what James had been waiting for! Flying lessons! Coach Whyte was an old wizard with grey hair and bald spots. He was strict and boring in James's opinion.
"Now, the first thing I would make clear in this class is," said Coach Whyte. He was glaring towards the students of Gryffindor first and then Slytherin, "No erratic flying."
James looked at Remus and Peter on his right. They looked uneasy at the idea of flying. The red headed girl was eyeing her broomstick in a suspicious manner. She then looked at her greasy friend. He gave her an assuring smile. James's nose scrunched up in disgust.
"Now, step on the left side of your broom. Stick your right hand out," Coach Whyte instructed, with a demonstration. "And say UP!" the broom shot straight into his hand. "With feeling," he completed with a smile.
James stood on the left side of his broom, sticking his right hand out he was about to say 'up' when a voice interrupted him.
It was a Slytherin student. James reckoned his name was Mulciber. "I can do it in one attempt. Done it several times," he bragged in a loud voice. A smug smile on his lips.
"I can bet 10 galleons, he can't even do it on his 100th time," whispered Sirius. James nodded in agreement. "Let's see it then," said Sirius, grinning towards Mulciber.
The students turned towards Mulciber, who gulped in hard. Standing on the left side of the broom, Mulciber had his right hand over the broom. "Up!" out came a squeak from his mouth.
The broom didn't even move a centimetre. Most students roared with laughter. Mulciber's face turned a bright shade of red as he scanned though the laughing students. His eyes fixed on Peter. Narrowing his eyes, he spoke from between his teeth. "What are you laughing at you ugly, fat git?" He sneered.
James gritted his teeth, lowering his brows, he pulled out his wand. He could feel anger bubbling deep inside him as he saw Peter quiver and shrink, lowering his head.
From the corner of his eyes, he noticed Sirius had pulled out his wand too. Their wands pointed towards Mulciber. Mulciber too, pulled out his wand, still sneering.
"Mister Potter, Mister Black!" Coach Whyte's voice bloomed. But James didn't lower his wand, his eyes narrowing, fixed on Mulciber. "Mister Mulciber!" Coach Whyte shouted.
"Say it again," Sirius spoke from between his teeth.
"If the three of you don't put your wands away right this moment," Coach Whyte warned, "I'll put you three in detention."
That was how James and Sirius earned their first detention. Not that they cared much about it, but losing 10 points each for Gryffindor mattered to them.
"I – I'm – Sorry," Peter mumbled.
James and Sirius returned after their detention with Coach Whyte. He made them polish broomsticks. They almost landed in a second detention. Mulciber had slipped and landed on his behind. James and Sirius couldn't hold back their laughter until Coach Whyte warned them with the threat of a second detention.
"What for?" asked Sirius. He stretched out on his bed, relaxing his aching back. He was bent over the broomsticks for hours!
"You got a detention because of me," Peter squeaked. His gaze dropped to the floor. James could see his lower lip trembling.
"Because of you?" asked James, blinking his eyes. "You didn't ask us to pull out our wands."
"But you did it because of me," said Peter, his lips set in a frown.
"We'd do it again," James shrugged, and Sirius nodded in agreement.
"Stop apologizing," said Sirius. He sat up in his bed, cross legged.
"And don't let people walk all over you," James added. He took his shoes off, and loosened his tie.
"I – I'll try," Peter stammered, gulping in hard.
"Don't worry, we'll always be around to help," said Sirius as he grinned.
It was the second night for James where he couldn't sleep. Sirius was still whimpering in his sleep. James huffed and sprang up on his bed, glaring at Sirius.
It startled him when he saw another pair of open eyes, staring at the ceiling. The tall boy looked as awake as James. His hands tucked behind his head, it looked like he was in a deep contemplation.
"Remus, are you awake?" whispered James.
"Yes," Remus whispered back, still staring at the ceiling. Sirius whimpered again. He was mumbling something James couldn't understand.
"Do you hear that too?" asked James.
"Yes, I reckon anyone with a pair of working ears would be able to hear it," Remus replied from between his teeth.
James gritted his own teeth. He reminded himself to hold his tongue. It was an obvious that something irritated Remus. He assumed it was because of the noises Sirius was making. Throwing himself back on the bed, James turned his back towards Remus. He pulled his blanket till his head.
The next morning James was the first one to be up again. Rather than getting ready straight away, he sat on his bed and pulled out a parchment paper. He had to write back home. He was having a hard time sleeping. If his mother sent him his blanket, it might help him sleep better.
He kept his letter short, telling his parents that he was fine. He got straight to the point and wrote about his sleeping problem. Asking if his mother could send him his blanket.
He knew his parents would be sending him an owl today. He decided to send his letter back with that owl, rather than using his own. He bought the letter with himself to breakfast and waited for the owl.
Hundreds of owls zoomed in the Great Hall. Flying past other students to find the one they were to make the delivery to. James spotted his parents' brown owl at once. He grinned, watching it land in front of James on the table. There was a letter in its beak.
James took the letter from the owl called Powell. Mrs and Mr Potter had let James name it when James was 5 years old. "Hello," said James, running his index finger on Powell's head.
Powell laid his head on James's hand in an affectionate manner. "After you've rested, get this back to Mum," James instructed as he tied his small parchment paper to its tiny leg.
Fluttering its wings, Powell took flight once again. Disappearing in the horde of owls.
From the corner of his eye, James noticed something dropping in Sirius's lap. Sirius's eyes grew wide, and as if he wasn't already pale enough, his face turned ashen. James could've sworn he saw a howler before Sirius hid it under his robe.
Bouncing up from the bench, Sirius dashed out of the Great Hall. James and his other two roommates looked behind him in astonishment.
"What was that?" asked Peter, cocking his head to one side.
"I'll go and look," James replied. Something about Sirius's reaction didn't sit well with James. Was Sirius in trouble because of the detention? James was sure the news wouldn't have reached his parents already. And it wasn't a big enough deal to send a howler.
James leaped from his bench, and walked out of the Great Hall. He turned around the corner towards the Gryffindor tower. And walked straight into the poltergeist Peeves. A cold shiver ran down James's spine, as if he had a cold bucket of water drench him.
"Oi! Where do you think you're going?" asked Peeves, extending his hand towards James.
James took a step back, not wanting to experience that again. "Nowhere," he replied. Before Peeves could have a chance to hold James, he rushed out of there.
"HOW DARE YOU –" James paused hearing the scream from inside their room. "YOU DRAGGED OUR NAME TO THE DIRT! THE FIRST ONE TO BRING DISGRACE TO THE NOBLE HOUSE OF BLACK HAD TO BE MY SON." It was a woman screaming. James's eyes grew wide. That must be Sirius's mother.
"AS IF YOU WEREN'T A DISAPPOINTMENT ENOUGH, YOU WERE SORTED IN GRYFFINDOR?" James frowned at her words. His heart dropped to his stomach thinking about the black-haired boy.
James wondered if his parents would've been the same had he been in Slytherin? He knew they wouldn't have been. He reckoned he was intruding on Sirius's privacy and decided to leave at once. It was clear Sirius didn't want anyone to hear this. Otherwise, he'd have opened the howler in the Great Hall itself.
James walked down the boys' dormitory staircase. He wondered if it was because blood purity mattered a lot to the Black family? He was sure Sirius's mother was only angry for a few days. She would come around once she noticed how well Sirius was doing and how happy he was. She was after all his mother.
Throughout the day, James couldn't help but keep glancing in Sirius's direction. Sirius pretended as if nothing had happened at all. He was laughing and making sassy remarks like yesterday. It made James frown, his heart dropping to his stomach.
He felt worse when he read his own parents' letter. They had congratulated him for getting sorted into Gryffindor. They told him how much they loved him and missed him. They asked him how he was? Sirius had gotten a howler rather than comforting words. How could two sets of parents be that different?
On the third night, James was once again wide awake. But this time, not because Sirius was whimpering. It was because he couldn't understand the mystery behind such a strong reaction. He looked at Sirius who slept as peaceful as he had ever been.