Sirius walked out of Quality Qudditch Supplies absolutely enamored with his brand new Nimbus 1001. He reveled in the "ooo"s and "ahh"s he received from all of the other kids with their faces practically pressed up against the glass, staring at the window display model of the expensive broom. He rejoiced in the awestruck and jealous looks lavished among him by boys even several years older than him, as he walked out of the store, holding his prize aloft, a triumphant smile on his face. He had done it! He had actually managed to connive and deceive his parents into buying him a broom worth probably hundreds of Galleons more than he was. He doubted that even his wanted poster would pose such a reward as the cost of the broom, if he were to ever be a criminal. To put it mildly, Sirius was feeling the grandest he had ever felt in a very long time. Sirius was so taken with his new broom, was staring at it so intently as he walked along Diagon Alley, that he did not even see the boy holding an identical broom and walking in the same, utterly absorbed and unconscious to the world, until he and the boy collided.

"Ouch!" Sirius exclaimed, walking right into the boy.

"Hey, watch it!" The boy exclaimed, while making a desperate dive to catch his broom before it hit the ground. Sirius did much the same gesture, though the boy's move from the broom was much smoother, much more fluid motion that Sirius' wild grab.

"Hey! You've got one, too!" Sirius exclaimed.

The boy smiled, hazel eyes lighting up behind wire-framed glasses. "Yeah, a Nimbus 1001…I can barely believe it!"

"Luckily, we both caught them, so no blood need be shed over the incident."

The boy chuckled, running a hand through his untidy black hair. "Very true. The scuffing of a brand new, top-of-the-line racing broom is more than grounds to fight. I'm James." He extended his hand and Sirius shook it. "What's your name?"

"Sirius."

The boy, James, crinkled his nose at Sirius. "'Serious'?" The boy repeated, disbelievingly.

"Yeah. So?"

James snorted. "That's a weird name. Serious. What kind of parent comes up with that kind of name?" James laughed, derisively.

Sirius crossed his arms over his chest and regarded James with the haughtiest look in his arsenal. As he was a descendent of the Black Family, he indeed had quite an arsenal of haughty looks at his disposal. The look he fixed James was akin to his mother at her most withering. "Actually, it is not weird, it is unique. And as there are about a million other Jameses in the world, all taking away from the potential you could achieve under your own name, I would say that my name is just fine. After all, there is only one Sirius in the world, me, so whatever I do, people will remember me." Sirius felt an excitement rising in his veins at the thrill of a good putdown, and decided to cap it off by pulling rank. "Furthermore, I am of the Noble and Most Ancient House of Black, the eldest son in the direct line…what are you?"

James' eyes had darkened in annoyance at having been told off. He jutted out his chin and surveyed this long-haired, haughty boy, with his most petulant, peevish, spoiled child look, perfected over 11 years of practice. "I am James Michael Potter. My family is among the richest and oldest wizarding families in existence."

Sirius narrowed his eyes to slits while James glowered at his rival. Neither said anything to the other for several moments, for both had realized they were deadlocked. They were of equal status; their families were about equal in prominence, wealth, and length of existence. Neither seemed to want to be the first to speak; they were each attempting to stare down the other.

Finally, James could stand it no longer. "Well your name is still stupid!" He blurted out.

Sirius fixed James with the most supercilious expression he could muster before responding. "Yeah, like I am really gonna listen to a kid who can't even manage to brush his own hair."

Both were silent for another moment, however, this time they looked at each other more appraisingly than angrily, sizing each other up.

"I do brush my hair!" James protested, huffily. "It just doesn't obey brushes."

Sirius laughed. "Sure. I bet you don't even own a brush!"

"I do so! You're just…dumb!"

Sirius snorted. "That's the best insult you can come up with? I must say, Jamesie, I am a bit disappointed. I thought you were a worthy opponent."

James laughed; there was something he liked about this exceedingly haughty boy. "Yeah, I am a bit disappointed in myself. I blame it on a lack of sleep…and the distraction of having a Nimbus 1001 at last!"

"OK, OK, I can abide by your excuses, because a Nimbus is definitely more than enough of a reason to be distracted. I hope next time you'll be able to live up to your opening insults."

"Oh, I assure you I will, my oddly named friend."

"Well then good, my crazy haired friend." Sirius always gave as good as he got. Always.

Sirius liked this boy. Sure they had gotten off to a rough start—OK, actually a good start, then a bit of a rough patch—but hey, everything was good now, and that was what mattered. They just jived really well together; Sirius thought he saw a bit of himself in this messy haired kid. Well, a bit of himself, personality wise, because Sirius knew he was better looking. Clearly. He was sure anyone would be able to say so, for after all, wasn't it so very obvious? However, it was weird meeting James, but in a good way, because in eleven years the only real friend he had was Andromeda, and she was family, and a girl, so that didn't really count. But this James kid was the first boy his own age that he seemed to like off the bat, which was cool. Furthermore, he actually was not afraid to challenge Sirius, even pick a fight with him…Sirius was excited that there was another boy his age who could hold his own against him, who would even insult Sirius first! He admired James' spirit and tactlessness, for it was so much like his own. Plus, James had the same broomstick as him, so James must have good taste.

Sirius gave James his trademark roguish grin. "So, what do ya want to do now?"

James' eyes sparkled as his gave Sirius a similar rascally grin. "So much mischief, so little time."

Sirius liked his style.

Yeah, I reckon James and I'll definitely get along well.