"BANG"

Silence..

"JAMES POTTER! HOW MANY TIMES HAVE I TOLD YOU NOT TO PLAY EXPLODING SNAPS? THE MUGGLES CAN HEAR YOU."

James winced as his father's voice cracked like a whip through the silence that followed...but the row that followed was worse…

'HOW MANY TIMES DO WE HAVE TO TELL YOU NOT TO PLAY EXPLODING SNAPS INSIDE THE HOUSE, WITH THE WINDOWS OPEN!! WHAT WILL THE MUGGLES THINK!!..'

Dan potter's normally good humored face was contorted in anger.

James knew he'd have to tread the water carefully, it was his birthday in a few days and if he wanted that mind blowing new broom 'Orion', he'll have to be really good mannered. His present broom, 'nova' was getting old and had developed a drag at the tail end.
He looked out of his room's window (after being yelled at and sent to his room) his dark eyes searching for nothing. A small breeze ruffled his already untidy jet black hair..

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OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

"we'll see you in an hour in leaky cauldron...and try to be on time for once, your father is still in a bad mood" Mrs. potter added in an undertone

"k mom" James muttered and stalked off

'And BEHAVE' Mrs. potter called out to his retreating back

James grinned, behaving had never been one of his strong points.

An hour later he walked into the leaky cauldron to find his parents sitting in a corner.

"Sup guys?" James said as he slumped on one of the armchairs.

"We've got all your books dear, did u get your robes" Mrs. Potter inquired,

"yep" James replied indicating the bag which he'd kept under table.

Mr. potter got up to get drinks,
"what will u have ja-" he stopped in mid sentence as his eyes fell on the family which had just entered the bar.

'Oh dear' Mrs. potter muttered.

"What's the matter?" James asked
neither of his parents answered, they were too busy looking at the family that comprised of a man and a woman and a boy approximately of James's age. Spotting them the man made a beeline to their table with his son and wife in tow.
"ah potter" the man said, his lips curving into an unpleasant smile.
"Black, what're you doing here, shouldn't you be in knockturn alley? where. ..ahem...your kind of people usually go" Mr. potter snarled.

James's mouth fell open, he'd never seen his dad being unpleasant to anyone!!

Mr. potter and the man called black stood glaring at each other. James's eyes moved over to the boy with them. He had a handsome face with hair falling on to his forehead; his eyes were of steel gray, which softened as they fell upon James. He gave a tentative smile, which James returned. But snapped back to his old aloof self as he saw his mother (an unpleasant looking women) glaring at him. Mr. potter finally turned and signaling them to collect their things stalked out of the pub.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOoOOO

Platform 9 n three quarters was full of Hogwarts students, their parents n a large variety of animals. James hoped that his mother would let him go without making a scene, she'd already taken out her handkerchief n was sniffing. Sensing danger he gave her a quick peck on the cheek n dragged his trunk to Hogwarts express as it blowed it's whistle.

"take care James and don't forget to write" Mrs. potter called out to his retreating back.
He could hear her sobbing on his dad's shoulder.

"Moms..." he muttered n waved goodbye to them as the train started moving.
He hoisted his trunk, turned n found himself face to face with a boy looking wistfully at Mrs. potter.
He muttered a sorry when caught James looking at him n turned away.

"Hey wait" James called out, the boy turned,
" weren't u there at leaky cauldron the other day?"

The boy scowled "yeah, was hoping you wont remember that" he said

"why?" James asked hurrying up to walk with him, "I'm James potter by the way"

"Sirius..." he replied, "I don't get it ...why are you talking to me?" he said pushing of the door of an empty compartment.

"Why shouldn't I talk to u?" asked James sitting down on the seat.

"well...you know.. I'm a black n all"

"ummmm so?"

Sirius stared at him.
"you mean you don't know!" he exclaimed

"know what?" James asked giving his owl (saber) some owl treats.

Sirius took a deep breath,
"We blacks are known to be the oldest pure blood families and the meanest ones too" he said in a rush
"you know all those muggle haters kind… its said that the Black ancestors were related to Slytherin, though I don't think that's true" he added hastily

"so who cares about your family?...as long as your not like them its fine" James said plonking himself on the seat .

Sirius gaped at him.
"you don't care!. I mean you seriously don't?!!" he asked, beginnings of a smile appearing at the corner of his mouth.

"of course I don't! Its all trash" James replied easily

"jeez thanks!" said Sirius genuinely looking happy now

"no probs, hey so u like Quidditch?"

OOOOOOOOOOOOOO

The rest of the journey passed peacefully.
It turned out that both James and Sirius were avid supporters of team Bulgaria, both liked the band demonic curse and hated the jumping cauldron trilogy.

OOOOOOOOOOOOO

It was noon when a girl with red hair walked into their compartment and sat down by the window without paying them any attention. She looked as if she'd been crying, James n Sirius ignored her and had just started exchanging pranks when a boy of their age came in and exclaimed,

"Lily!! What're you doing here?!" he walked over to her and sat down.

She turned and answered something; her face was streaked with fresh tears.

James and Sirius looked at each other, shrugged and resumed their conversation.
The boy was explaining her something, but it was the word slytherin, which caught their attention. James looked around at the greasy haired boy,

"Slytherin's full of losers" He turned to Sirius
"I think I'd leave, don't you?" he said getting up

"Ah well my whole family's been in Slytherin" Sirius said darkly

"well maybe you'll be different then" James said grinning

"yeah, maybe Ill will" said Sirius grinning back
"Where are you headed?" he asked James

"Gryffindor, where the brave at heart dwell" James replied drawing an invisible sword.

The greasy haired boy made a snarling noise,
" well that is if u prefer to be brawny than brainy" he snapped

James turned to him
"Oh yeah, where are you going to go?, seeing that you're neither" he retorted

The red haired girl who had been silent till then sat up,

"c'mon Severus, lets go and find another compartment" she said throwing a dirty look at James.

"oooh yeah lets go" drawled James and Sirius together mimicking her lofty voice

The girl stalked past them, James stuck out his foot as the boy ran after her

"cya later... Snivellus" he smirked.

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