Author's notes (Important!): This chapter contains DH spoilers.

And if you still wish to read i, that snape memory in the Hogwarts Express is in the chapter, in James' point of view. So let me make this clear: Every line from Snape's entrance to his exit was written by J.K Rowling, not me. Thanks and I hope you like it!

CHAPTER 2

The girl and the boy

He was so eager to enter the Hogwarts Express for the first time, he entered the first compartment he saw, which had only a tall, dark haired boy sitting by the window.

"Hey! Mind if I join you?" James asked.

"Don't see why not, let me help you." The boy answered as he stood up, and helped James with his owl cage, and then with his trunk. With a lot of effort they were able to get it inside.

"Thanks" said James, panting, and he sat down in front of him.

"No problem...I'm Sirius, by the way. Sirius Black."

"I'm James Potter."

"You're the minister's son?" Sirius asked, casually.

"Yeah."

"Cool"

"Hum, not really." James replied.

"Yeah, I figured.", Sirius grinned.

He grinned back, and then suddenly spotted the book in Sirius' hand. It was entitled "The Ultimate Quidditch Info for aspiring players".

"You like quidditch?" he asked.

"I'd be a moron if I didn't, wouldn't I?"

James laughed. "Certainly."

"You know, I'm gonna try out for the team at Hogwarts. I reckon I'd be a good beater. Maybe we could go together, if we're in the same house. Are you any good?"

"Good? I'm fantastic. I'm gonna try out for the seeker position."

"Cool! Hey did you-" But he stopped as they suddenly heard the compartment door slide open. There came in a pretty red haired girl, with very bright green eyes.

"Excuse me." she said kindly. "Could I join you?"

"Sure" said James and Sirius at the same time, and they stood up to help her put her trunk in.

"Thanks" she said, and sat down far from Sirius, closer to the window, while he sat in the opposite side of James, closer to the door.

He – James -thought the girl looked a bit upset, inspite of her politeness towards them. He ignored that thought, because he was way too enthusiastic about his Quidditch talk with Sirius.

"So what were you about to say?" he asked him.

"I was going to ask you wether you went to the World cup last year?"

"Yeah, I did! Did you see Trevikroff? The seeker from the Russian national team? He was brilliant..."

"I thought Krimmuold was better. The Irish, you know?"

"Oh come on, he can't be compared to Trevikroff. He was able to get the snitch when it was inches away from the Blugarian seeker! It was an impossible move, it was practically a lost match... Krimmuold just spun around a bit, nothing exciting."

"Nothing exciting?"

And the conversation went on and on, but the girl did not seem to paying the slightest atention. The train moved, and she stared out the window. The only interesting thing happened only about three hours later, when a pale, dark haired boy entered the compartment and silently sat in front of the red headed girl, who said something James and Sirius didn't really understand, for they were now arguing about broomsticks.

"Cleansweep is just ridiculous. It's for children..." Sirius was saying.

They knew there were two other people talking,but they didn't care to pay atention. Quidditch seemed to require all their concentration.

"You gotta at least have a Nimbus..."

When Sirius started to search his trunk for a magazine he wanted to show James, they could finally make out what was being said right beside them.

"You'd better be in Slytherin", he heard the boy saying. He, who had heard his father complain so many times about this malefic house, who had heard stories about the wizards who had belonged there in their student years, felt suddenly mad at the strange boy that sat at one or two feet from him.

"Slytherin?" he said. "Who wants to be in Slytherin? I think I'd leave, wouldn't you?" He turned to Sirius, who had stopped searching his trunk to listen.

He did not smile, and said darkly "My whole famiy have been in Slytherin"

"Blimey!" James replied. "And I thought you seemed alright!"

Sirius then grinned and said. "Maybe I'll break the tradition. Where are you heading, if you've got the choice?"

He lifted an invisible sword, a serious expression on his face. "Gryffindor, where dwell the brave at heart"

The boy made a small, disparaging noise. James instictively turned to him.

"Got a problem with that?" he said.

"No." the boy replied. "If you'd rather be brawny than brainy-"

"Where're you hoping to go" Sirius interjected. "seeing as you're neither?"

James started laughing. The girl, who had been so polite to them just a few hours ago, sat up, and looked at them in dislike. "Come on, Severus." she said. "Let's find another compartment."

"Ooooo..." James mocked, as Sirius imitated the girl's lofty voice. "See ya Snivellus" he was saying.

The compartment door was shut, and they were left alone, roaring with laughter.