This is the story of James and the rest of the gang on their trip to Hogwarts…I hope you enjoy it!
Disclaimer: I definitely don't own anything about Harry Potter…
The skinny boy with wild black hair edged his way down the aisle looking for an empty seat. He looked around uncomfortably; he did not see anyone that he knew. His discomfort reached an all time high when his foot caught on something and he tripped. Luckily no one saw except for the person whose leg it was that he had tripped over.
"Sorry about that mate, didn't mean it."
James stood up and brushed himself off; glancing in every direction to assure himself that no one had seen him fall.
"There's room here if you need a seat," the boy who had tripped him offered. James hesitated a moment with one last look around as if hoping another empty seat would miraculously appear but of course none did. He slid into the compartment and looked around at his companions. Two other boys already occupied it. One was sitting up against the window his head resting on the cool glass. He looked rather pale and peaky as if he were sick. The boy who had tripped him was lounging in the seat with a casual look on his face. "My name's Sirius Black, what's yours?" he asked.
James stared at him for moment. He was sure that he had heard the name Black before but he could not think of where. "Err… James Potter."
Sirius nodded then gestured in the direction of the third occupant, "That's Remus…or something like that, he doesn't really talk much."
James looked over at the boy called Remus and attempted to start a conversation, "Are you umm…excited about going to Hogwarts?" he knew it was lame really but could think of nothing else to say.
"I suppose so," the boy mumbled.
"Were you expecting to go or are your parent's muggles?"
"No, well, one of my parents a-a muggle I suppose you would say. I wasn't sure if I'd be able to come though"
"Oh, so you're a half-breed," Sirius said though not unkindly. "But why weren't you sure you'd be able to come?"
Remus looked around nervously, "because…" was all he said and Sirius was smart enough to leave it at that.
"What about you James?"
"I'm pureblood."
The door to the compartment was suddenly flung open and a girl with long black hair who slightly resembled Sirius stepped in. "What are you doing in here Sirius? You should be sitting by me and the others," her sharp eyes glanced around the compartment. "Who are they?"
James noticed that Sirius looked positively miserable. "I'm James Potter," he said trying to take the girl's attention off Sirius.
She sneered at him, "Are you a pureblood?" When James nodded she turned to Remus, "What about you? Are you a pureblood?"
Sirius looked up quickly and Remus stiffened. " 'Course he is," Sirius said. The girl glared at him, "I didn't ask you, I asked him. Now then, are you a pureblood?"
Remus looked from Sirius to the girl, "N-no," he stammered.
The girl's lips curled back in a snarl, "Sirius I don't believe you, if mum knew she'd be furious. Sitting back here with a—"
"Go away Bella!" Sirius shouted.
"Don't you dare tell me to go away you ungrateful, filthy, excuse of a Black. You're coming with me right now! Sitting back here with a half-blood, it'll ruin the family's name!"
"I don't care! I'm already sitting here so I'm going to stay here!"
Bellatrix reached out and grabbed his arm, "Come on Sirius."
He attempted to resist while both James and Remus looked on, helpless to do anything, neither completely understanding. With a last protest and a last apologetic look, Sirius was forced to follow the girl.
James looked over at Remus. A single tear ran down his face which he quickly wiped away not wanting the other boy to see.
"What's the matter?" James asked, knowing the answer to the question already but felt he had to ask it anyway.
"She didn't want him sitting here because…because I'm not pureblood."
This time it was James turn to stare at the floor. He now remembered where he had heard the name Black before. He had heard his parents talking about it. They had been talking about how some families took to much pride in their lineage and that the house of Black was probably the worst one. To them, anyone who could not trace their lines back to purebloods, were scum. "I wouldn't worry about it to much. My mum and dad said that the Blacks take to much pride in being a pureblood. Bloodline is all that matters to that lot."
Remus said nothing for a moment then he looked up at James a hint of a smile on his face, "Not Sirius though, you could tell."
James nodded, "Yeah, Sirius seems okay." He had seen a look of complete and utter loathing in Sirius's face when he looked at Bellatrix.
They spent the rest of the train ride talking anything that came to mind pausing only to pull on their robes. By the time the rolled to a stop both James and Remus knew that they had found a friend.
"First years over here!" came a booming voice. Remus and James gave each other nervous looks and headed towards the voice. Boats were awaiting them and James climbed into an empty one, Remus followed. Soon after, a short mousy looking boy with tousled brown hair stumbled on. Then out of the crowd a figure came running towards them and with a grin of satisfaction and Sirius leapt on.
"Glad I finally managed to get away from her," he said with a sigh. "Who's that?" he pointed towards the newest addition to their group.
"I'm P-Peter," the boy's voice was squeaky which matched him perfectly.
James and Sirius glanced at each other with slight smirks on their faces. "I'm James, that's Sirius, and that over there is Remus."
The boats began to move and they saw the lights of the castle drifting into view. "Wow, its great isn't it?" Peter squeaked.
James and Sirius just nodded trying to keep a cool expression on their faces though inside they were just as excited. Remus however was not looking at the castle but he had his eyes on the dark sky above. He was mumbling something.
"What's that?" James asked.
Remus looked over at him, "Nothing."
James and Sirius chose not to say anything. Remus seemed a bit odd but he was a nice person all the same and besides, James felt that he was his friend.
The boat came to a halt and they all climbed off. "Make a line, make a line everyone!" a woman with a severe expression on her face called out.
Someone ran into James and scowled at him as if it had been James's fault. He was a scrawny fellow with lank greasy black hair that fell into his face which was pale and pinched. He said nothing but brushed past Sirius, Remus, and Peter.
"Who was that?" James asked puzzled. The boy had seemed rather…unfriendly.
"That was Severus Snape. I'll bet anything he gets into Slytherin…though I wouldn't be surprised if that's where I'm going," Sirius said glumly, "That's where all the rest of my family was placed in. Don't want to though."
James shrugged, "C'mon now, brighten up."
"Guys," Remus poked James in the shoulder. "The lines moving, we're going to be sorted now."
The four moved into the Great Hall, not knowing that before them waited the best seven years of their lives. All four would become fast friends and together they would make it through trials, heartbreak, and of course, mischief.
Please Review and let me know what you think! It's my first Harry Potter fan fiction and I'm not sure how I did…I just sat down and started writing and it actually didn't turn out the way I planned.