Disclaimer: Unfortunately these lovely characters aren't owned by yours truly, instead a bigot (JK Rowling.) With that being said, enjoy!
On this historical day, you could hear the screams of children meeting their friends after a long summer break. The cries of seventh years, the farewells of fifths, and the nervous chatter of firsts.
The children began scurrying when they heard the whistle of the Hogwarts Express ringing through the wide departure area. Mothers and fathers alike waving and yelling back to their children reminding them to be safe.
Among these many, the people of our story belong. A fiery redhead, full of awe bidding farewell to her concerned muggle parents, a messy haired boy who expertly weaved his way through the crowd waving back to his mother and father. A gangly tall uncertain child getting onto the train, and a boy decked in black racing time to get to the train. And a short stubby boy meekly pushing through the crowd.
Their paths will all cross eventually but starting at the beginning focuses on the messy haired boy. His name was James Potter, and it might ring a bell to any other pureblood wizards, for the Potter name was famous.
Most well-known from the cover page that ran in 1926 about his father's popular invention, the Sleekeazy's Hair Potion. Something which was foreign to the inventor's son's hair, James seemed to let his hair free.
As he got on board he shuffled down passing a few compartments before sliding into one, he leaned out the window to find his parents standing far back in the crowd. Their proud smiles glimmering brightly, the hands waving widely. James answered with his own side smile.
Then he felt a shift and heard the whistle ring. He pushed his luggage above his head before falling down on the cushiony seats as the train lugged forward.
People still filled the aisles and first years hunted to find an empty compartment. Eventually it died down and James began to feel lonely. He saw
the second-year Marlene earlier and thought for sure she would sit next to him, her own cousin.
He looked out at the rolling green hills, sure they were beautiful but his mind wouldn't settle, he found himself glaring at the hideous benches. Their emptiness is only a reminder of James's situation. He sighed and rearranged his square black glasses, before looking back out the window.
The red chairs were large enough to fit six, yet only he sat here. Thus the compartment felt larger than it actually was.
Another sigh and James closed his eyes, set for getting rest before meeting others. Just as his mind entered the dream world, a rapping at the compartment door startled him.
His eyes popped open and his head whipped to find a figure with black mid-length hair, metallic silver eyes, and a black leather jacket staring expectedly at him.
His palms were sweaty as he slid open the door, where the figure stood. The intimidation radiating off of him, an easy smile finally slid onto his face and introduced himself.
Sirius Black. Another popular name among the wizarding world. A pure blood family whose image was more precious than their sons. But of course the world doesn't know that.
Silence wretched on in the compartment before James finally put on a bright playful smile and stretched his hand out. Introducing himself as James Potter, future billionaire. Which he isn't too wrong about.
A smile lit up Sirius's grave expression. Black grabbed Potter's hand and they shook it firmly.
"Are you Fleamont Potter's son? Y'know the bloke who invented Sleekeazy's Hair Potion." Asked the silver-eyed boy, a certain gleam in his eyes.
James casted his head down, already feeling embarrassed about his messy hair. His father insisted that he used the wretched potion, but James believed in letting it roam free.
"Yes, I do happen to be his son." He spoke, his voice not wavering but tending to the shyer side.
Sirius broke into loud boisterous laughs. His eyes gleamed with humor, James sat a little straighter before joining in the laughing fit.
Sirius finally settled before informing James that he uses Sleekeazy's like it's a religion. Quoting that his hair is not to be touched unless he has a death warrant.
James nodded before protesting over the fact that he shouldn't use the potion. Saying the hair should be as free as the soul, which resulted in another laughing fit.
After a short time, silence subdued the room. Sirius worriedly looked at his nails, remembering that pressure his family put on him with their final words.
"Better be slytherin or you'll be out next year."
The cold stone eyes of his father, the disapproving look from his mother, and the undetermined understanding from his brother soaked into his soul.
Sirius heaved a sigh that made James meet his eyes. Curiosity got the better of James and finally he asked the question that had been on his mind ever since he heard his name.
"Do you come from the house of Black?" Silence answered him, Sirius's eyes became stone. Bitterness filled his tongue.
"Yes." James looked a bit startled before gleaming back with a smile. Sirius's eyes returned to another glint, something more joyful.
"I don't mean to pry but I think purebloods are dickwads." James chirped as if it wasn't slander to the names of pure blood families everywhere.
"Aren't you pure blood?" Sirius asked, more humor returning to his eyes.
"Exactly." James smiled widely, the humor that died was back again.
James and Sirius ricocheted jokes to each other like they were long-time friends. Their laughter filled the air of the compartment. Their souls bonded, best friends at first self-deprecating joke.
They explored the train, eager to find to meet others. But no one fit into their equation, no one teased or taunted like them, no one was bonded at the first instant.
So as the sky darkened and the sunset greeted the train. Black and Potter joyfully ate the candy they got off the trolley and told their stories of family, well the good stories. Sirius was lectured never to spoil the noble name of Black.
James sighed before saying the next statement, finally speaking the nagging worry that gnawed on his mind, "I hope that we both get into Gryffindor."
Sirius looked at him, secretly he wished so too. He met some Slytherins before, hell his abusive parents were Slytherins. Not all of them were bad, but enough so that the name Slytherin made him anxious.
He wasn't scared per say, but tense. Prepared for a fight when it came to those certain Slytherins. Above all he hoped to never have to associate himself with it.
A gasp escaped from the other boy in the compartment. James' eyes were filled with awe glued to the sight out the window. Sirius twisted his head to see what he saw.
Beauty of the night bestowed the majestical castle that stood above the cliff. The moon reflects across the windows with its vibrant silver rays. A certain aura of magicalness radiates from the stone features. Both boys were captured in a trance.
"I can't believe I'm here. Someone pinch me, I must be dreaming." The messy-haired boy finally said, another chuckle came from the other one. They both couldn't help but point out little features to the other.
Their wonder and awe mixed into their adolescent minds, their friendship deepening.
After another half hour, and the train finally arrived on the Hogsmeade platform. The frenzy that had been at 9 followed here, but since the kids had been bidding farewell to the parents there wasn't much to do but rush to get off board.
Sirius and James rushed and pushed, Sirius sifting through the crowd pretty well, James of course was an expert. A burly tall man stood at one end of the platform.
His voice rang through the air, "All firs' years this way."
Immediately Sirius looked to find James keeping up with him and they both exchanged a glance before racing over to the giant man. They laughed a bit before being led down to a cave that had a harbor.
Wooden little boats awaited them and they hopped into one, two others joined them, the bold, black-haired girl and a blonde boy.
Black and Potter hopped into the boat with vigor rocking and swaying with mirth in their eyes. Their impolite jokes and banter caused the others in the boat to grow anxious, exchanging a few glances to try and settle the rambunctious boys. Ultimately proving pointless.
The boats then began their movement, several other boats moving along the dark waters, all following the large man's boat.
To the outside it looks like a bunch of ducklings following their mother, as the chain of boats peeled out from under a cliff. Passing the waterfall of green ivy that was used to hide the secret harbor.
A few sarcastic comments and jokes were thrown between Sirius and James, who were still making this ride a bit too dangerous for the other passengers.
Eventually the boat ride came to an end and the first years reached the harbor. Along the ride they had learned that the burly large man was named Hagrid, he was the head groundskeeper.
The four left the boat and James wished good luck to the others, who responded with a concerned look. Barely knowing that this eleven year old who would make their Hogwarts years a pain in their arse.
Sirius twisted his hands before walking forward, James raked his hands through his hair before embarking on the journey into the castle.
The majestical sight of the castle didn't just stop on the outside, the inside was just as magical. The stone walls of different ores, the iron lanterns that hung from the walls, and the peculiar paintings. They talked and walked as if they were human beings, or the creature that they drew.
Black and Potter being of pureblood name were used to the peculiar paintings but instead focused on the shifting stairwells. James knowingly accepts the fact he would be confused on finding his class forever, Sirius trying to find which stairwells he would use to sneak off to meet his newfound Gryffindor friend.
They reached large wooden doors that looked like they belonged in the Renaissance. An older looking Scottish woman stood promptly, her shoulders back and head tall. A tight grey bun sat perfectly upon her head, her arms and hands twisted into a proper pose.
"Welcome to Hogwarts. The start-of-term banquet will begin shortly, before you take your seats in the Great Hall, you will be sorted into one of four houses. This house will act as a family for your Hogwarts experience." Her Scottish accent filled the hall outside of the Great one. The first years listening intently.
She continued to explain the four houses and the basic rules that apply to the competition of the house cup. Reminding them that any rule-breaking will result in punishment and loss of house points.
And then she left, telling them she will return once they are prepared for their entrance. The first years worried tones and fretted as the teacher left.
The doors finally opened, and many first years gasped at the sight. Four long tables filled to the brim with students were in sight, dancing candles aflame in the air, and the roof showed the depiction of the sky, moving clouds across a dark night. Large banners waved triumphantly above the tables, one green with an outline of a silver snake, another red with a gold lion, blue with a bronze eagle, and finally a yellow banner with a black badger.
The group of first years walked in the main aisle looking around in awe. The other years watched as the faces contorted into different emotions.
They finally stopped in front of the raised floor, where a podium with magnificent designs stood. Another person stood looking down upon his half-moon spectacles.
The wise eyes that belonged to the headmaster Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore, a lengthy name for a humble headmaster. I won't bore you with the speech or the ear killing song from the sorting hat.
The hat began sorting, and soon it was Sirius's name being called. Whispers circulated around the room, Slytherins knowing of what will happen, a few faces tense from the pureblood name. They knew earlier of ones like Bellatrix and Narcissa. One was quite estranged and the other had a certain quiet way of it.
The battle between the hat and Sirius went on but the hat decided promptly, "GRYFFINDOR!"
A hush fell over the crowd, Slytherin whispers grew louder and Gryffindor threw a side eye to the poor first year. However James' face lit up with a big smile, even though anxiety drilled through him.
Little did James' worry have to stem. For when he got up there, the hat didn't even take a millisecond before shouting, "GRYFFINDOR!"
A broad smile lit up his face as he hurriedly took his seat next to his new best friend Sirius. The whispers of negativity that was being hashed toward him stopped when James began talking around with him, proving the boy wasn't much of a concern.
The Gryffindors took an understanding and patted the boys on the back, congratulating them on being sorted here and not in the wicked house of Slytherin. Not that I, the author, have a particular hatred for Slytherins, in fact many of my best friends belong there.
And that's where the chapter closes. A picture of two adolescents beginning their lifelong journey of friendship and love. Running from every problem that they may have. Finding their new home.
