Chapter 2: A Beginning to a Hogwarts Year

Anything that you can describe to me in three sentences belongs to Jo Rowling. Because she owns Sirius Black. And Howlers.

Still By Padfoot

Now, this one's a little shorter than I would've liked, and I'm sure some of you will agree. The four reviewers that I got for my last chapter were my inspiration to continue onto this one. So if I only get three reviewers. . . wink wink nudge nudge - Padfoot

One downside to going to Hogwarts was the fact that I realized how other people lived. So unlike me. They had mothers and fathers that actually loved them for who they were, no matter what opinions they might have. I could tell this from the moment I saw the parents and children giving their goodbyes that their lifestyles were different from mine. Of course, I knew, that people really didn't live like how I did, but I never really saw how other people lived, besides the snooty friends of my parents.

I was most anxious about the opportunity to make friends at Hogwarts. I had made one friends before Hogwarts, actually. His name was Malcolm, and I met him at one of my mother's parties when I was seven. Malcolm's mother was a widow then, my mother kept trying to help her find a new husband, so Malcolm was over a lot. When his mother unexpectedly married a muggle, my mum forbid me to ever speak to him again. Malcolm was my first, and last, as I pitied, friend.

On the train to Hogwarts, I met the three best friends I could probably ever make in my entire lifetime. I still say, to this day, that we all met by pure luck. There was Peter Pettigrew, small, annoying, and yet desperately loyal. Remus Lupin, extremely smart and social, once you got to know him. Last was, a friend that I was sure to be my best friend forever, James Potter. James, apart from his messy hair, was a great friend with a different personality, which rubbed into mine and forced us to be the best of friends. I'll never forget that day, when we declared our friendship.

Through the pushing and shoving all the other students made as they exited out of the train, the four of us managed to stay grouped together. A large man was calling out for the first years, I, as well as Remus, began to walk towards him, but James took our shoulders and pulled us towards him. Peter, who was walking slowly behind James, joined in the huddle.

"So," James said under his breath, so only we could hear. "We're friends, then?" He looked us all strait in the eye, holding his gaze on me for a second. "No matter which house we're sorted in?"

Peter nodded, smiling.

"Absolutely," Remus confirmed before walking towards the large man that was calling the first years.

"Of course," I grinned; and for that second, I was completely happy. I had friends.

We followed the unusually large man and got into a small boat together.

The view over the lake was amazing. All four of us were stuck with awe. The glossy lake water reflected our faces as we looked down into the black waters.

A stern old woman led us into the Hogwarts doors. The first room was huge, with its marble stairs leading to who-knows-where. Before we went into the other room to be sorted, I thought, I just might be able to live here, with a smile.

The entire Black family has been sorted into Slytherin, and is mighty proud of it. Now, my mum was not happy when she got the news of her son, a Gryffindor. The first morning of lessons, you should have heard the howler. Her voice was screaming at me like I had killed someone or something.

"GRYFFINDOR!? GRYFFINDOR!? I HAVE NEVER BEEN INSULTED MORE IN MY ENTIRE LIFETIME THAN TO HAVE MY SON BE A GRYFFINDOR! OH, YOU JUST WAIT UNTIL YOU GET HOME, SIRIUS BLACK!"

There was plenty more yelling then that, but I think you'll agree with me when I say that I'm not going to tell you all of it.

Although the haunting thought of what my mother was going to do to me when I got home, I was glad to be in Gryffindor, because so were my newfound friends. So, I not only had the three best friends in the world, but I had the three best roommates for the next seven years of my life. I can still tell you that those seven years were the happiest I've ever had.

At Hogwarts, I had found a certain gift for Transfiguration. Transfiguration had always been easy for James and me. Other classes were easier for me also, but Transfiguration mostly. I don't know if anyone in my family had a gift for Transfigeration, or if I was the first one. The first few weeks in Transfigeration we hardly did anything at all, though. Even when we did, I sucecceded on the first or second try, and was left chatting with James for the remainder of the class period.

And so, my first year at Hogwarts began. I was high-spirited, energetic, and carefree.

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