Well I think that it's about time for a round of applause for me don'cha think? I gotta say i am pretty impressed that i was able to get out another chapter for you lovely readers. I will apoligize now for my extremely late update and my lack of brittish slang. I hope you can forgive that. Once again I DO NOT OWN HARRY POTTER. there you go the discaimer. Enjoy!

Friends and Stations

Sirius had never been to Kings Cross Station before in his life. His parents never took him there, claiming that it was too full of muggles for them. To be fair, this was Sirius' second time ever seeing muggles. The first time was when he had gone to Diagon Alley to get his school stuff. All the hustle and bustle made his spirits rise. He loved being around other people. Unfortunately for him, at his parent's house he didn't get to see much of anybody but his family. The crowded station was perfect for him.

Passing though the barrier at 9 ¾, Sirius turned to his parents so that they could wish him farewell. A Black farewell didn't consist of hugs and promises to write every week like any normal family, but just a firm handshake and a nod. After nodding back to his parents he turned to the train to begin his first year at a school he would learn to call home.

Sirius looked around wistfully at the other families. They gave their kids hugs and kisses. Unless, of course, those people, like Sirius, were pureblood families. They also gave the handshake and nod for departure. Sirius stalked to the train with a blank face, masking his emotions of regret, sorrow, and a whirlwind of other feelings even he could not decipher. He was not allowed to show emotion. How many lessons had he had teaching that? Dejectedly, he continued to board.

To a casual observer, Sirius looked to be acting haughty and above his station. Marian Potter was one of those people watching the poor child. "James dear, I want you to get a good look at that boy boarding the train right near us."

James' brow crinkled in concentration. "What about him, Mum?" he questioned.

Jon Potter answered for her. "That is a Black, James. A more prideful and muggle-hating family there never was. You'll want to stay far away from that one, James. I work with his father, and like father like son. I can tell you beyond a doubt that that boy will be nothing but trouble for you and any friends you make."

James nodded absently as he watched the Black board the train. He pulled away from his mother as she began to hug him again. "I'll see you at Christmas break!" he called, rushing away from his loving parents. Why couldn't his parents be the kind that doesn't hold for that kind of blubbering all over a lad? James thought skeptically. There were parents who just nodded to their kids and let them go on their way without causing a fuss. Why couldn't that be me? Had he truly delved into the problem at hand, he might have realized that he was happy that his parents cared, but in the sight of all the other Hogwarts students, he would never admit to liking his parents' attention.

James boarded the train just as the conductor blew the departure whistle, shaking his head to clear his thoughts. Looking around, he realized that he was surrounded by other kids. He stayed with the other students as they waved till their parents were out of sight.

Tired of standing by the door, James began to walk around looking for a compartment that wasn't too full. The only one had two students in it. The one looked pale and sickly, but had dirty blond hair and brown eyes that showed intelligence. The other was short and dumpy with blond hair and pudgy features.

"May I sit here with you?" James asked politely. "All the other compartments are full."

"Sure," the sickly boy answered. "My name is Remus Lupin, and this is Peter Pettigrew." Peter nodded enthusiastically.

"My name is James Potter."

"THE James Potter?" the mouse-like one squeaked in surprise and delight. "Oh, I know all about your parents! Your dad and mum work in the ministry, don't they? So do mine! Isn't that awesome?" Peter gushed on about their parents trying his hardest to impress James. Honestly, Peter was jealous of this boy whom his parents esteemed more than their own son. Remus looked on with polite disinterest that came from being muggle-born.

For the rest of the train ride the three talked, comparing hobbies and parents and old school stories. They only stopped talking to eat off the trolley. Soon their compartment was filled with the laughter of good friends who would always be friends.

Sirius walked by many of the full compartment with a wistful smile on his face from hearing the laughter bubbling out of the other students, sitting, all of them, with friends, new and old. When Sirius had finally made his way to the back of the train, near the prefects quarters, as he had been instructed to by his father and cousins, he was pulled into one of the miniature rooms being held by none other than Lucius Malfoy, Crabbe, Goyle, and Severus Snape. The compartment next door held Belletrix, Narcissa, and a number of their other female Slytherin friends. The split wasn't sexist, it just was. No one wanted a monkey made out of their son or daughter in the public sight. What happened behind closed doors was another matter in all of its entirety.

Sitting with a group of Slytherins had its pros and cons, the same as any other group. The main thing that happened when you were rich and evil was that you immediately had every Sytherin in the room on your side. Secondly, you got the best gossip. The downside to that was you didn't know what was fabricated and what wasn't. People mainly told you what they thought you wanted to hear.

So it was for Sirius. He sat in his compartment stoically the whole ride, bored almost to tears. He sat there for who-knows-how-long, listening to people talk at him. The only person who commanded more attention than Sirius was Lucius Malfoy. And for that, Lucius couldn't help but take a dig at the newbie.

"A pity isn't it?" Lucius said, a wry smile on his thin lips. "That one so as fine as Andromeda went to such a waste. Shoving herself into such a pathetic house as Ravenclaw instead of glorious Slytherin. Doesn't matter much, though, now that I have a chance to think back on it. She probably would have disgraced our noble house, the slut."

Sirius' eyes flashed, but that was the only indication that any angry thoughts passed through his head. "I believe you are right, Lucius," he replied without even a tremor of anger in his voice. Ice laced through his words, though, causing Lucius to go stiff as though from fear or annoyance. Sirius' face remained composed as he finished what he had been saying. "Andromeda shamed us. A real pity that her talents went to waste in such a way." Sarcasm was hinted by his tone but was not obvious enough for someone to get upset over. Or so he thought.

Lucius pulled out his wand to curse this young upstart from here to oblivion, but he calmed himself as the train glided to a halt at the entrance of the station. Brought back to his senses, Lucius realized that this impertinent minx would make a fine play toy and would be an asset to his entourage.

Sirius stalked off the train faster than any first year had before. He was standing by the lumbering giant who was bellowing for first years before any other students his age arrived. Severus came and stood by him, acting important. Shaking his head in annoyance, Sirius clambered into one of the boats with as much dignity as he could muster for the preservation of his station. He had to admit the boats were nice for what they were used for. Each of them had padded seats and a little lantern that hung from a crook at the front of the boat.

Looking over the side, Sirius hoped to catch a glimpse of the giant squid that lurked in the waters by the school, for of course he had heard the horror stories that surrounded such tales. As the boats began to glide smoothly and silently across the lake, Sirius could only dare to hope that he would be able to see the monster of the lake someday soon.