Disclaimer: Not mine. Any of it. Property of JK Rowling. Please enjoy.

Chapter 2: The Gryffindor King

The Hogwarts Express

The two boys sat in silence, Severus shifting uncomfortably and Sirius glaring out of the window.. Severus began twisting his hands in his lap, praying for something to break the hostile silence.

Then, the compartment door was pulled open, and a boy with messy black hair and glasses stumbled into the compartment. He gave Sirius and Severus what they both took to be a cross between a smirk and a grimace, and ran one hand through his unruly hair.

"Hullo," he said, settling himself down on the same couch as Severus, although at a noticeable distance. Sirius had looked away from the window and had clearly seen the look of contempt the newcomer had worn the moment before as he had surveyed Severus' huddled form.

"Hello," Sirius replied, not endeavouring to keep the ice from his tone.

"Hello," echoed Severus uneasily. He, too, had seen the look the new boy had given him.

Sirius Black did not like Severus Snape. He found the boy far too interested in purebloods like his family, and the dark arts. But he felt justified in his feeling: he had at least spoken to Snape before making his judgement. This other boy, though, with his haughty expression, had clearly judged Severus on his appearance. Sirius had to admit, Snape had pretty shabby clothing. But then, he reasoned, family life wasn't always peaches and cream.

"I'm James Potter," said the newcomer, grinning around at them as if it merited some kind of award.

"Sirius Black."

"Severus Snape."

James had narrowed his eyes at the mention of Sirius' name, and now stared across at him. "Black?" he asked, suspiciously.

Sirius felt his temper rise. This was only the second person he had encountered, and both had inquired of his family. "Yes, Black," he snapped. "That is what I said, wasn't it?"

James continued to stare at him coldly. Sirius resisted the overwhelming urge to draw his wand and either use one of the famous Black family curses on this boy, or else poke him in the eye.

"So you'll be in Slytherin then, will you?" asked James, a smirk tilting the corner of his mouth.

That did it

Sirius was on his feet, his fist flying through the air. It connected with the side of James' face.

"If I am," he growled. "I just know I'll be seeing you there."

James stood, too, one hand against his face, and gazed calmly at Sirius, but it was clear to see the fury bubbling behind his eyes. Severus stayed in his seat, trying to withdraw further into himself, away from the two boys now facing one another in the compartment. It seemed that fights were everywhere- at home, and even here.

James spoke, in a measured tone, the words full of barely concealed anger. "Don't you dare ever call me a Slytherin, Black," he said quietly. "When it's people like you that should have been drowned at birth." There was hatred there, too, Severus noticed. He closed his eyes, and wished himself away, back to the place he had constructed in his head to withdraw to whenever the shouting had started at home.

"And why, pray tell, should I have been drowned at birth?" Sirius' tone was calm and polite, but his eyes flashed. Tell me, the look said, go on- tell me. I dare you.

"Because," said James coolly, "Your entire family is nothing but a bunch of conniving, evil, pureblood freaks. And that includes you."

Then the wands came out. Severus pressed himself against the wall of the compartment, as far away as possible from the yelled curses and multicoloured jets of light. But there was a part of him that was fascinated by how much these two, who by rights should know no magic whatsoever, could pull off.

Suddenly, a jet of red light from James' wand hit Sirius, who keeled over where he stood. James turned to Severus.

"So, Snape," he said, spitting out Severus' surname. "I guess you and Black will be good Slytherin pals, right?"

Ha, thought Severus, I somehow doubt that. But he said, "Excuse me, Potter, but what exactly makes you think I'll be a Slytherin?"

James curled his lip. "The way you look, for one. There's no way someone from any other house would be as ugly as you. And," here, he paused and glanced at Sirius' immobile form. "you two were sitting in the same compartment, so I take it you at least know one another by now. But you didn't stand up for him in our little fight. Typical Slytherin, always looking out for themselves.

Something of his father came out in Severus in that instant, never to leave again. "Regular little Gryffindor king, aren't you, potter?" he spat.

James stared at him levelly for a moment. "Yeah. Yeah, I intend to be." And with that, he turned and strode out of the compartment, sliding the door shut hard behind him.

Severus stared after him for a moment, loathing boiling in his chest. Then, he knelt beside Sirius and drew his wand, muttering the counter-curse over his immobilised body. Sirius sat up with a jolt, glaring at the compartment door.

"Of all the…He's enough to put ANYONE of Gryffindor! The arrogant, self-important little…Did you see the way he looked at you? I mean, for God's sake…" Sirius continued to rant, long after the two had returned to their seats, but Severus tuned out, merely nodding and agreeing with everything Sirius said. He knew that he and Sirius would never be friends, but he knew that, due to their mutual dislike of James Potter, he could never hate him, either.

But Severus couldn't help but hear James' words replayed in his head over and over - "Typical Slytherin, always looking out for themselves."

Well, he thought glumly, as Sirius continued to list reasons why James should have a sensitive part of his body removed, At least now I know which house I belong in.

A/N Again, sorry if my grammar is off. Anyone wanna volunteer to be a beta reader? Please? Oh, and again, any OOCness don't worry, it will be fixed soon. Something you will have to bear in mind with me: in most of my fanfics, try as I may to avoid it, James Potter often turns out evil, as you may have noticed here. But don't worry, James-fans! In a few chapters he gets nicer, and the characters develop more into how they SHOULD be. I hope. In other news, this chapter seems a little longer, but still -not long enough! I shall endeavour for more! MUAHAHA. Please review, and check out any of my other fics that you are familiar with the material they are based on.