Again, me not owning, and eternal love for reviewers!

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Purebloods

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"You will be starting at Hogwarts next week correct?" The question was sharp, concise, and to the point. "Yes Aunt Ellodora." Sirius answered obediently. It was the fifth time he'd been asked in the past ten minutes and the boy was already bored. His aunt sipped her drink delicately as Sirius was nearly bumped into by a tray bearing house elf.

"Very good. The Malfoy boy will be starting there as well. Perhaps you two will become friends." If by friends you mean acquainted out of necessity, then yes, he thought bitterly. God if only Andromeda was here. She was his favorite cousin, the only one he could really talk to, and he couldn't figure out for the life of him where the girl was. He had meant to ask his father, but before the question could leak out the man leaned down and whispered harshly, "Do not ask about Andromeda to anyone. Understand?"

There was a dangerous edge to his father's voice, and all Sirius managed was to nod dumbly.

So by default, he was stuck with Narcissa's pointed jealousy that he was starting school a full year before her, Bellatrix's excited rambling about finally meeting "like-minded wizards" and Regulus's…..

Perfection. His mind supplied. Though he convinced himself that it wasn't important. What was important was that Sirius would finally have a chance to prove himself. He could finally show his family that he was worthy of being the Black heir.

"….And of course you'll do wonderfully in Slytherin-" his aunt continued, completely unaware that Sirius hadn't heard a word had been saying but was nodding regardless.

"Everyone who's anyone is in Slytherin, and there hasn't been a Black yet that wasn't hand picked for the house." Sirius barely managed to contain a sigh. Every conversation was the same. Slytherin this. Slytherin that. The pride surrounding the whole thing was inescapable. It was annoying to say the least.

"Unfortunately you'll be forced to associate with mudbloods and blood traitors-" her lips curled back in unmasked disgust, "But there won't be any of those in Slytherin"

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"I'm Lucious Malfoy. It's a pleasure to meet you."

Sirius's guarded eyes watched the blond carefully as he extended a hand to his cousin. Bellatrix smiled, obviously pleased about something, though what exactly, Sirius didn't care to ask. "Bellatrix Black" She answered, taking his hand firmly, then motioning to the boy at her side. "And my cousin Sirius, heir to the house of Black."

He knew he was being studied, though Sirius did no less himself, taking in Malfoy's pointed features and the pride with which he carried himself.

"It's a pleasure." Sirius responded mechanically, taking the offered hand.

"Well enough chitchat." Bellatrix announced, motioning for her bag to be handed to her. The house elf behind her surged forward, eagerly obeying the order. "Let's board before the train leaves without us." Her voice was clipped, a demand not a request. Malfoy nodded, following her in.

Sirius walked down the carpeted corridor, taking in the eager faces of the other students on the train. He made to turn and glance out the window when a rough jab knocked into shoulder.

"Oof!" Sirius whirled around, seeing one boy standing, and another, the one that had knocked into him, he noted with distaste, was sprawled out on the ground. The boy who was standing smiled crookedly. His hair was short and dark, looking as though it hadn't seen a brush in years, and hazel eyes peered out from behind a pair of thin-rimmed glasses.

"Sorry bout that, Remus and I didn't quite see you there. Too many bags." The boy on the ground, recently dubbed 'Remus,' rose up quietly, dusting off his robes and pulling honey colored hair out of his face before picking up the dropped luggage.

"Well you should be." Sirius stated, eyes narrowing in annoyance.

The dark haired boy twitched in annoyance, obviously trying to maintain his calm. "Well I'm James Potter." He offered, extending a hand. "Nice to meet you"

Sirius looked at the hand with distaste. "That's disgusting. Potter, is it? Well stay out of my way. I don't associate with mudbloods and blood traitors." His face was set with a look of pure arrogance, and he turned, ready to resume his walk when he heard the boy's voice.

"You…." James' eyes were wide, mouth slightly agape.

Sirius whirled around, irritated. "I what?" He spat.

"Bastard!" James shouted, and before Sirius even had a chance to blink, the other boy's fist connected with his jaw. In that instant, Sirius felt something within him snap. All schooling and lecture about being a proper Black and not bothering himself with wizarding disgrace flew out the window as he lunged for the brown-eyed boy.

If it was a fight he wanted, it was a fight he'd get.

James knew he'd have a black eye in the morning, but he couldn't care less. Knees connected with ribs, and fists were flying recklessly. Slowly, a crowd had begun to gather, and at some point, a blond ran in, watching the fight with wide eyes.

At the stream of violent swearing, Remus finally came out of his mortified stare at the tangle of limbs, and reached for James, trying to pull the two apart. Lucius, seeing the opening, similarly grabbed the blue-eyed boy, prying him away. Ignoring the look of pure fury on Black's face, he dragged the boy back to their compartment.

"You see that!" James shouted, vainly trying to break free of Remus' vice grip on his arms. "Your blood looks the same as mine!"

Lucius slid the door shut, abruptly cutting off the clamor of curious students peeking out of the other doors.

"Ignore him. He's a filthy bloodtraitor, and there'll be more once we get to school. Mudbloods and bloodtraitors, it's disgusting, and he doesn't know what he's talking about." Lucius turned his head to look out the window. "Soon we'll be at Hogwarts, in Slytherin, away from this filth."

But Sirius didn't hear him. His cheek was throbbing, and he touched his bleeding lip gingerly. Instead, cobalt eyes were focused on the coppery red liquid staining his fingers.

The same.