A/N:  Hmm… in case anyone is actually reading this and wondering, yes, I'm posting about 7 or 8 chapters in one night (hopefully if it goes well).  Please review!

Oh yeah, this is a really fast chapter.  Sorry about that.  I was a bit bored with their first year… sorry.  When I finally have time to go revise this (about five years from now) I'll try to add detail to this, but don't give up on me here!  I promise it gets better.  Or at least, I think it does… but it can't really get much worse, huh?

**************
Chapter 3: To Hogwarts

Sirius was miserable all the way to the train station. His mother insisted on getting him a compartment with children she knew, which included Lucius, Bella, Narcissa, and Severus. They were all just like his parents. The instant the train started, they began discussing ways to get the mudbloods out of the school. Sirius said he dropped something and left the compartment to go look. He really just wanted to get away from those people. He looked into a compartment and saw the boy with messy black hair he'd seen three years ago in the joke shop. Everyone was laughing at something he said. Sirius opened the door and everyone got quiet.

He asked quietly, "Could I join you?"

The boy with messy hair smiled and said, "Of course! I'm James, this is Remus, Peter, and Lily. Don't worry, we've only just met as well. Are you a first year too?"

"Yeah, my name is Sirius Black."

"Black? Not to offend you or anything, but you probably don't want to stay in this compartment, not if you're anything like I've heard about the rest of your family."

Sirius winced slightly. I'm never going to have friends. I hate my family. "I'm sorry. I'll go then. It was nice meeting you all."

A sandy-haired boy, the one called Remus, stopped him with a hand on the shoulder and asked simply, "Do you feel the same as the rest of your family?"

"No, I can't stand them. I just wanted to meet some new people. Otherwise, I'm stuck in that compartment full of slimy, pureblood gits!"

Remus answered, "Welcome aboard, Sirius."

After an hour or so Snape came looking for Sirius and stepped in the compartment. He glanced around and glaring at Lily said, "Why are you sitting so near a mudblood?"

Sirius and James both shot up with Remus and Peter behind them. Sirius shouted, "Don't you ever use that word again! Now, get out! I'll not be coming back, I'm staying here."

Snape looked angry but left. Everyone was staring at Sirius, "Sorry, I just don't get along with the 'friends' my parents chose." They sat back down and played Exploding snap for much of the ride, after Remus explained to Lily what mudblood meant. They arrived at Hogwarts and waited to be sorted. Sirius was very nervous. He didn't want to be in Slytherin, but he didn't want to be beaten because he was in the wrong house either.

Sirius sat on the stool right after Bellatrix. The hat started speaking to him, "Another Black. Well, you've all done well in Slytherin." No! Sirius thought, I'm different. "Yes, I can see a different attitude in you. Well, then, it should be GRYFFINDOR!"

Sirius couldn't believe it, this was great! All the kids he knew in Slytherin were glaring at him. He knew that was nothing as to what his mother and father would do, but he wouldn't see them until Christmas, so no use worrying yet. His new friends had also been sorted into Gryffindor. This was a great night; he'd finally gotten away from his family, and his friends accepted him for him, not because he was a Black. He made a mental note to send his uncle Alphard an owl and thank him.

The next morning, he got what every student at Hogwarts dreads, a Howler. His mother's voice exploded in the Great Hall, "Sirius Black, How dare you disgrace your family? We do not want to see you until next summer! You are lower than the filth on the house elf's towel. You are the worst son imaginable!" and the letter burned up. He was very embarrassed, but tried to just laugh it off.

Things improved from that moment on. He, James, Remus, and Peter would have so much fun together. They were constantly pulling pranks on people (mostly Slytherins) and had shown up Snape a few times, even though he knew more hexes than the seventh years.

A few weeks in to the term, Remus looked very pale and said he had to go home to visit his sick mother. Sirius and James were concerned for their friend. He'd never talked about his family before, but now his mother was sick. Sirius could tell Remus had had a tough life, but he didn't want to talk about it, and Sirius didn't want to pry. When Remus got back a few days later, he looked like he was getting over a nasty flue, but told his friends he was fine, and his mother was ok for a while. Sirius admired Remus. He knew there was something wrong, but Remus never failed to get his homework done, never left a friend in need, and was just a lot of fun. He'd obviously had a lot of practice hiding whatever was wrong and Sirius promised himself he'd help Remus someday, no matter what the problem was.

As the months went on, Remus kept visiting his mother. However, the four boys were closer now, so they started asking more questions, wanting to help. But Remus would just tell them she had an illness that got bad every so often. He seemed sad and nervous when they asked these questions, so they decided to let it go for a while.

Christmas came and James was staying at the castle too. Something about lots of chances for mischief while everyone's away. Sirius was happy to have his best friend stay with him for the holidays. He'd receive many taunts from his cousins about his parents not wanting him anymore. He didn't care; that was the best Christmas ever.

They only bad part was the gift his parents sent. It was a potion to test whether someone was pureblood or not. If not, the person's skin would burn painfully when exposed to the potion. He quickly swore and threw it away. The rest of his gifts were much better. He and James had gotten each other large boxes of joke materials. He got a large slab of chocolate from Remus, and other candies and knick-knacks from his other friends.

Sirius and James wreaked havoc in the mostly empty Gryffindor tower until students arrived and classes started again. The rest of the year seemed to fly by, and the four boys were as close as brothers, Peter being the little brother who needed protecting from the Slytherin bullies. The other three didn't mind protecting him; they knew they'd all do anything for each other.

Sirius was getting rather moody toward end of term. He desperately didn't want to go home. James said he could stay with him, but Sirius knew his parents wouldn't let that happen, as James's family were referred to as 'blood traitors'. Sirius would just stick out the two months and be back at Hogwarts in September.