Chapter 2

Sirius boarded the train, dragging his huge trunk behind him, wishing that he hadn't needed to bring all of the Slytherin paraphernalia. It wasn't as though he would actually use it. Even if he was sorted into Slytherin, he intended to burn all of the Slytherin things. Which probably wouldn't be too good, but he didn't care. He hated it all. Why show pride and spirit for something he positively loathed with his entire being?

Sirius began to aimlessly wander around the train, trying to find a place to sit during the ride. He didn't know anyone and being a fifth year already, that was an incredible disadvantage. Everyone already had their friends; everyone already had their little groups of people. Who would want to add another person to their clique? Especially someone with the reputation that Sirius already seemed to have.

While Sirius was wandering around, James, Remus, and Peter were settling into their compartment and chatting. This was commonplace among the three boys. They would find a compartment, update each other on their lives, which took about five minutes, played a game of wizards' chess or exploding snap, and then took naps alternatively, and ate food. Now, however, James was in a gossipy mood.

"I heard that the Black's eldest son will be going to Hogwarts this year," said James, sounding almost mystical. Remus laughed and rolled his eyes as he rummaged around in his trunk for a book to read.

"You listen to too many rumors. There's not a chance in the world that Sirius Black will be attending Hogwarts this year. His family wants him embedded in dark magic, so naturally he'll still be attending Durmstrang."

James shrugged as he glanced out his window and then looked back. "I don't know. I'm just going off of what my dad heard in the office the other day. I guess Sirius was expelled for…something. My dad didn't say what."

Peter rolled his eyes too and pulled out something to munch on. Personally, he thought that rumors were overrated so he was not amused in the slightest bit by James's news. "Who cares," he muttered, "either way he's going to be a big Slytherin pain. He's the kind of person that I think I just want to avoid."

James nodded in agreement. The Blacks were not to be trusted. It was just common sense. Remus didn't say anything, just hid behind his book, but James could see the disapproving glare through the book and suppressed a sigh. He knew that Remus hated people judging others before they actually knew them. But who in their right mind would trust a person from one of the darkest wizarding families in Europe?

Just then the door opened and a boy with shoulder length black hair walked in. He glanced around at the three boys and then slowly smiled. "Hey, you guys, I was wondering if I could sit with you. Not many other compartments have room for someone else and those that do don't want me there." A hopeful expression flashed across his face.

James, Remus, and Peter just stared up at the boy with the intense grey eyes before numbly nodding. No had ever intruded on their solitude before. This was certainly new. James had a sneaking suspicion that this was the Black heir. He certainly hoped not because this guy looked alright.

"I'm James Potter," James introduced as Sirius got settled in the compartment, "and this is Remus Lupin and Peter Pettigrew."

They both waved as James said their name and looked at him expectantly, waiting for him to introduce himself. Sirius, however, had felt his blood go cold as soon as James had said his last name. It was common knowledge that the Potters and Blacks did not get along and while Sirius couldn't have cared less, he had a feeling that James would.

"I'm Sirius Black," Sirius finally said, wishing that he had had the sense to sit with the first years. First years tended to be nicer and less dangerous should you anger them.

An awkward silence fell in the compartment as James, Remus, and Peter turned to look at him with strange expressions on their faces. James seemed to have a cold expression, Remus looked accepting, and Peter was battling between having a cold and accepting expression on his face. Sirius quirked his eyebrows at Peter, but turned back to the other two.

Finally, James spat out, "Why don't you go sit with your Slytherin friends, Black?"

Sirius took a step back at the malice in James's voice, but didn't protest as he left the compartment. Yep, this was definitely a bad way to start the school year.

"James! Why did you do that?" roared Remus angrily. The way that he had just shoved Black out the door reminded him of the many times that he had been shunned because of his condition.

"He's a Black," James simply stated, as if it explained everything. And in his mind it did. There was no doubt in his mind that Sirius would become a Slytherin. It was just how things were.

Sirius wandered down the length of the train again, this time stopping at the compartment that he knew to belong to prestigious Slytherins. Sure enough, as he pulled the door open, the eyes of Lucius Malfoy, Severus Snape, and Bellatrix and Narcissa Black (his darling cousins). Stifling a sigh, Sirius walked in and gave a very forced smile.

Everyone in the compartment stared at him, a mild array of disbelief showing on all of their faces.

"Black," Lucius said, standing and grabbing the handle to Sirius's trunk, pulling it in and putting it up onto a rack while Bellatrix motioned for Snape to scoot over to make room for Sirius to sit. Hesitantly, Sirius took the seat and gazed around at the Slytherins, who, in turn, were staring at him.

"Um…hey, guys," mumbled Sirius. He should have known that this would happen. He was the heir of the Black fortune. Of course they wanted to be friends with him. Every pureblood did. Well, at least the ones who weren't blood traitors.

"Hi, Black," Malfoy said, relaxing back into his seat, his eyes never leaving Sirius's face.

Damn it, thought Sirius angrily, I'd better not get sorted into Slytherin or I'll go insane. Though he had been sent to Durmstrang so that he would come to love the dark arts, the school had only made him hate them more. He had picked up some bad habits though.

At Durmstrang, muggles were known as mudbloods, and nothing else. Dark arts were highly emphasized and if a person ever refused to perform a duty, they would be sent straight to the Headmaster's office for…punishment.

Sirius shuddered slightly at that thought. Once again, four pairs of eyes turned to look at him, each blank.

"Is everything alright, Black?" asked Snape.

Sirius nodded and the four Slytherins began their conversations again. Sirius listened for a moment but soon grew tired of the anti-muggles propaganda and tuned them out.

A new worry had filled Sirius after his encounter with the three Gryffindor boys. Even should he be sorted into Gryffindor, would the others be nice enough to give him a chance, or would they keep up their anti-Black opinions?

Ah well, Sirius though dejectedly. I'm not here to make friends. I'm here to finish my education and then be the Black heir. That's who I've been raised to be, and that's who I might as well be. Oh joy…

A.N. Thanks for reviewing. I wasn't expecting that many readers. It's really awesome! Thanks again! Should he be in Slytherin or Gryffindor (think of the sake of the story)? Please review. Thanks again.