"Well kids, I'm off to find my mates so you're on your own from now on." Will started down the train. "If anyone gives you any hassle, come and get me, ok? Or go to the Prefects compartment, Freya's in there.

They watched Will disappear, and then walked down the train until they found an empty compartment, where James sat down and turned to Sirius.

"So, what were you saying?"

"Oh yeah." Sirius sat, and stared across at James who was hanging on to his every word. "My Dad called me Padfoot, after Sirius Black, and I want you to be Prongs."

James' eyes opened wide with amazement.

"Really?"

"Yes." Sirius grinned. "Yes. And as for Moony…well I hope we can meet someone at Hogwarts who fit's the role, someone we can trust."

"And what about Wormtail?"

Sirius thought for a moment.

"I haven't yet decided on whether or not I want to keep the memory of my Grandparents' murderer alive." He said, bitterly.

"I suppose you could focus on before he was a traitor, on the times when he was still their friend."

Sirius stayed silent and stared instead, out of the window.

Suddenly, their compartment door slid open and three boys walked in. The two on each side were quite big boned, but the boy in the middle was thin and pale-faced. Sirius knew at once this boy was a Malfoy, having heard all about them from his Father.

"So. Potter," He sneered at Sirius. "Your Dad still keeping alive?"

Sirius stood up. "So. Malfoy. Your Dad still keeping out of Prison?"

Malfoy backed down, scowled at Sirius and left, followed by his henchmen.

James stared at Sirius. "Malfoy?"

"Yeah, Draco Malfoy's son. Dunno his first name, but it's not like I care."

A group of girls walked past their compartment, but stopped when they saw Sirius. One of them stuck her head inside.

"Is your name Potter?" She asked.

"Er…yeah." Replied Sirius, confused.

The girls giggled and moved on.

"What was that all about?" Asked James.

"I've no idea, but the sooner we get to Hogwarts the better."

"Yeah," Agreed James, not paying attention. "I'm starving."

Sirius stared out the window again. He had just, for the first time in his life, understood how his Dad must have felt at school, only he must have had it ten times worse because after all, Sirius had no scar for them to gape at.

When they reached the station, having changed into their robes, Sirius and James jumped down from the train and followed the sound of "Firs'-years! Firs'-years over here!"

They gathered around Hagrid, an extremely large man dressed in a moleskin coat. Sirius and James knew Hagrid already of course, as he had been a regular visitor to the Potters' over the summer holidays.

"All right boys?" Hagrid beamed down at them, his beady eyes twinkling in the moon-light.

The first years were lead by Hagrid to a lake, where twenty or more little boats were sat waiting. Sirius climbed into a boat along with another boy and a mousey-haired girl who was clutching a small cage to her chest.

As they crossed the lake, the other boy jabbered away excitedly.

"Wow, this is great. Look at all the stars, and the moon, wish it was full moon, full moons are the best…"

Sirius caught James' eye and winked.

The first years reached the shore, climbed out of their boats and followed Hagrid up to the castle. A very young looking, sandy haired wizard greeted them at the door. He was very energetic, rocking back on his heels and winking at everyone. He led them into the entrance hall of the castle where he addressed them for the first time.

"Welcome." He said, grinning like a six year old in a sweet shop. "Welcome to Hogwarts. I am Professor Fiddler, head of Gryffindor house and deputy head to Professor Lupin. I trust you all had a pleasant journey…"

As he began to explain about the sorting process, James turned to Sirius.

"What do you think about the boy in the boat? Good enough to be Moony or what?"

"Let's just see where we end up first." Sirius whispered back. "It's no good for us if he ends up in Slytherin."

Suddenly, they were moving into the Great Hall. Sirius breathed in the smell of wood, magic and cooked food. Stars twinkled down on them from the enchanted ceiling, and hundreds of candles floated in midair above the tables.

The first years came to a stop in front of a long, wooden table full of teachers. Sirius recognized the head, Professor Remus Lupin, and Hagrid who had just sat down.

Professor Fiddler placed an old wizard's hat onto a three-legged stool and waited. Silence rang out throughout the hall, and then the brim of the hat opened and the hat sung-

"Patched Hats, Floppy hats,

Woolly hats and more.

There is one hat I guarantee

You've never worn before.

I am the Hogwarts Sorting Hat,

I can see inside your mind.

I'll search and search and search again,

To see what I can find.

You might belong to Gryffindor,

With Lions on their chests.

You might belong to Hufflepuff,

Who always try their best.

You could belong in Ravenclaw,

Who put their brains to work.

Or you could belong to Slytherin,

In whom strong powers lurk.

So pop me on and I will see,

Where I think you ought to go.

Roll up, roll up, gather round,

I won't bite you know!"

Everyone in the hall clapped, and then Professor Fiddler unrolled a long roll of parchment and began to scan down a list. After a moment he grinned to the first years and read out the first name.

"Anthony, Jack!"

A small, blonde haired boy walked slowly towards the hat and put it on. After about twenty seconds the rim of the hat opened and it shouted-

"RAVENCLAW!"

The boy joined the Ravenclaw table, and Professor Fiddler carried on down the list.

When he called out-

"Jones, Cory!"

The boy from the boat walked over to the hat and was declared-

"GRYFFINDOR!"

James grinned at Sirius, as Fiddler called out

"Little, Nancy!"

The girl from the boat now, and she was still clutching the small cage. She too was made a Gryffindor.

"Malfoy, Evan!!" was announced a Slytherin before he had even touched the hat. Then Sirius heard his name.

"Potter, Sirius!"

Sirius made his way towards the sorting hat. He sat on the stool, placed the hat on his head, and waited. A small voice whispered in his ear.

"Ah. I've been waiting for you, Mr. Potter. Yes…you father disagreed with what I thought of him…but I doubt you will…GRIFFINDOR!"

The hall clapped, and Sirius took his place at the Gryffindor table next to Cory Jones who grinned at him.

Soon after James joined Sirius at the Gryffindor table, Fiddler rolled up his parchment and sat at the Staff table. Lupin, however, got to his feet.

"Welcome to another year at Hogwarts. I know you are all ready to eat, but if you'd just bare with me while I make some short announcements.

"I'd like to welcome some new members of staff. First, Professor Longbottom who will be teaching Herbology. Professor Sprout has retired her post but will stay on as head of Hufflepuff house. And second, Miss Katie Bell who will be teaching Quidditch to first years and refereeing all inter-house Quidditch matches. Quidditch tryouts will be held next weekend, and I must remind first years that unless you have special permission, you cannot take part.

"More importantly, I must remind all students that the forest is strictly off limits, as is the rest of the castle after lights out."

Lupin beamed around the room. He paused and winked at Sirius who grinned back.

"Well, all I have left to say is this. Let the feast, begin!"

That night, Sirius lay in his four poster bed, listening to the breathing of his fellow Gryffindors and thinking about how glad he was to finally be at Hogwarts.