Chapter 1- Cursing First Years

Sirius stared up at the loaming castle before him. "Ah…" He sighed, smiling broadly. "Here we go again." He thought.

A finger poked him from his right side. His only answer was to punch his best friend, James hard in the arm. James grunted and punched him back. Sirius thought of once again returning the punch, but thought it better to leave his friend be, now that they were under the watchful eye of the school grounds keeper, Smidgen.

Sirius and James walked up the grand steps of the Hogwarts castle and into the front entryway. They entered the great hall, where there where four house tables, and sat with the other Gryfindors at their proper places.

Sirius smiled, and firmly slugged his friend in the arm, as reprimand for the earlier brawl. James twitched, and glared, but did not return the hit.

The doors to the great hall flew open and Professor Dumbledore entered with a few small scared and nervous looking eleven-year-olds in tow. The fidgety children looked in aw at the splendor of the large room which surrounded them.

Professor Dumbledore led the first years past the tables. As they passed, Sirius whispered into James' ear, "Curse one, I dare ya…"

James shook his head, but raised his wand. Sirius grinned an evil grin, praying for a jelly-leg jinx. James began to wave his wand and opened his mouth to speak the curse, quietly, when Professor Dumbledore suddenly spoke loudly, "Don't even think about it, Potter!" She said, not even turning to look at the stunned 16-year-old./

"Wasn't, Professor…" He answered, tucking his wand back into his robes, and glaring at Sirius.

Professor Dumbledore nodded his head, "I didn't think you were…" He said, as he continued for the front of the hall.

Sirius laughed under his breath, while James muttered something under his breath which resembled, "I'll curse you…"

Sirius looked up and down the table, looking at all the old faces. He spotted a few people he knew, and a few he slightly remembered, and then this gaze fixed on a girl sitting at the end of the table, talking to Gerry Fletcher. The girl was one he was sure he didn't know.

She had a long blanket of dark brown hair which flowed down her back like silk. On her face sat two red lips like a budding rose, and cheek bone higher than any Sirius had ever seen. As she spoke, Sirius saw her smile a bright wide grin, and her eyes sparkled and danced in happiness.

Sirius grabbed James' sleeve and yanked on it a little. James turned to him, whispering irritably, "What!"

"Who is that girl?" He said, "The one with Gerry."

James leaned over Sirius and looked at the girl, then leaned back and whispered, "That's Beth Turner." He said, "You remember her, buck teeth and zits… we used to trip her at lunch."

Sirius nodded, hearing no more then 'Beth Turner'. He remembered her. She was always a weird one. She never had many friends, and she liked to keep to herself, but that was before she was cute.

Sirius turned to James. "I have to talk to her." He said, quietly.

"What?" James said. "Are you bonkers?" Sirius shook his head. "That girl…" James made a movement in her direction, "Hates you."

Sirius snorted in amusement. Like any girl could hate him. James nodded, not humored. "You used to throw paper's at her in Binn's class, don't you remember that?"

"No." Sirius said, then added, "And I'll bet she doesn't either."

"And now to feast." Professor Welling said, holding his hands out, as the magic glasses and cups were filled.

"I gotta talk to her." Sirius said, almost standing.

"No." James said, pulling him down. "Wait until I have had something to eat. I'd like to have a full stomach when she kills you."

"She won't kill me." Sirius said, so confident, he beamed.