"Can I get a new broom? Oh, please get me a broom, Mum! Please, please, please!" James pleaded. He'd been to Diagon Alley so many times he knew it by heart. His old broom was decent… but he figured if he was going to be on the Qudditch team, he'd need a better broom.

"You know the rule, James. First years don't get brooms." Mrs. Potter reminded him. James heaved a sigh, before staring down the street. "Why don't you go get yourself and owl or a cat or something?"

"Okay!" James grinned, and raced down the street. The shop was full of animals, squawking, meowing, hooting, and the likes. Not many people were in the shop at the time. Just him, the shopkeeper, and a boy his age. The boy had shoulder-length black hair, and his grey eyes were scanning the cages with curiosity. "Hey!"

"Huh?" The boy turned to face him, startled. "Oh. Hello."

"What's your name?" James asked, running over and sticking out his hands. "I'm James."

"Sirius." The boy responded. "Are you a first year too?"

"Uh-huh!" James confirmed happily. "I'm the future Gryffindor Quidditch Captain, y'know."

"Gryffindor, you say?" Sirius immediately perked up. "That's the house I want to be in!"

"Of course you do, it is the best." James boasted. "Way better than the slimy Slytherins!"

"Mum wants me to be a Slytherin." Sirius admitted. "Like all the rest of our annoying family. See, the Blacks are all Pureblood mania and all that junk. I'd like to become friends with a Muggle, just to get my Mum mad."

"You're a Black?" James furrowed his eyebrows. The Blacks were well-known pureblood elitists. In fact, his dad said that he wouldn't be surprised if the Blacks were some of the first to go over to this Voldy-warts dude who was apparently trying to take over the world. "You don't act like one."

"Good, my life goal is complete." Sirius replied cheerfully. "So… you obviously aren't Muggleborn (unfortunately) if you've heard of us, so…?"

"I'm a pureblood." James replied. Sirius's face fell the slightest bit. "A Potter."

"Really!?" Sirius grinned. "A blood-traitor! That's almost as good as a Muggleborn. Haha, take that, Mum!"

"Take what, dare I ask?" Sirius blanched, and turned to face a tall woman with black hair and cold black eyes who had walked up behind him. James noted that she looked angry.

"M-mother!" Sirius squeaked. "Um… this is my friend, James."

"A Potter." The lady- Sirius's mum- sniffed. "I am ashamed of you, Sirius."

"Does it look like I care?" Sirius muttered. His mum grabbed his arm and started dragging him away. "Ow! Ow, geez! Bye, James- ow, God, woman!"

With that, James's new friend disappeared.

"You're home early." Mr. Black noted as Sirius's mother dragged him through the door. "What did the boy do?"

"He was associating with a Potter." Mrs. Black glowered. She slammed Sirius into the floor, and Sirius winced as he felt his already broken ribs crack some more. He'd had a knack for getting into trouble that summer.

"Boy-"

"I will handle this." Mrs. Black glared at Sirius, and pulled out her wand. "Allow me to teach you a lesson that you won't forget. Crucio."

Sirius screamed in pain as the red curse connected with his body. It felt like every fiber of his being was on fire, like every bone was being broken, like he was being torn apart, limb by limb. It continued like this for nearly five minutes, but Sirius couldn't be sure. But, eventually, the curse was lifted, and Sirius was left panting on the floor, holding his stomach.

"I've had enough of your disobedience, boy." Mrs. Black sneered. "That isn't the worst I can do. It would do you well to remember that."

"Yes, Mother." Sirius growled. He picked himself up, and started towards his room.

"No meals for a week." Sirius rolled his eyes. It wasn't like he hadn't heard that before. He'd live. "And don't even think about going to your room. I believe we've plenty of space for you in the cellar."

The cellar. Oh, joy. Isolation, cold, and hunger, all in one package.

"Yes, Mother." Sirius replied robotically, turning towards the stairs to the cellar. He stomped down them, making as much noise as possible, and yanked open the door. The cellar was a dark, dank, and overall depressing place. No light, no heat, no nothing. The only living beings that ever entered it were Sirius, Kreacher, spiders, and occasionally his father to punish him. He sighed, closed the door behind him, and settled down in the corner. To think, he'd just gotten his wand and-

They didn't take it away.

"Perfect." Sirius breathed, pulling out his wand. "Ah… okay… what spells do I know? Um… limos! Wait, that isn't right… aha! Lumos!"

Immediately, the wand tip ignited and the dark cellar was illuminated. Sirius smiled, set it beside him, and settled in to take a nap, and to dream about Hogwarts.

"Mum, Mum, Dad, oi! Wake up!" James was awake. His parents were not. That was a problem. James was supposed to go to Hogwarts in an hour. That would not happen if his parents were asleep. "WAKE UP!"

Neither of the older Potters woke, although Mr. Potter groaned and shifted. James huffed irritably, before pulling out his wand and grinning.

"Aguamenti." He said, pointing his wand at his parents. Instantly, they were both soaked with cold water. James smirked as they shot up, and hid his wand. He smiled innocently at them. "Hey, Mum, Dad, why're you all wet?"

"James Potter!" His mother screamed. James grimaced, and sprinted out of the room. "Come back here! I swear, when I find you, you'll be grounded for so long-"

"Sorry, Mum, you can't ground me at Hogwarts!" James called back happily, before slamming his door shut and locking it. His new owl, Ash, hooted disdainfully at being awoken. James continued throwing clothes and books into his trunk, which he'd (accidentally) neglected to pack the night before.

James attempted to close his over-stuffed trunk, but only succeeded in sending his stuff flying across the room. He scowled, and picked all his things up, placing them back in his trunk. Looking at his copy of Hogwarts: A History that his mother had insisted on getting him, he shrugged and threw it across the room. His trunk closed this time.

"James! Your mum's calmed down, come eat!"James's father screamed from downstairs. James could practically hear the grin that was undoubtedly on his father's face.

"Kay!" James grabbed his bulging trunk and Ash's cage, opened the door, and headed towards the stairs. He reached the stairs, conveniently forgetting the odd rug right before them. "Ah- crud!"

With that, James fell down the stairs for the second time that summer.

James groaned, and looked up at his father standing over him, chuckling merrily. James grinned innocently, before heaving himself to his feet.

"I need to watch where I am going."

"Darn right, you do!" Mr. Potter laughed. "There are trick stairs at Hogwarts, y'know. I remember, this one time-"

"Now isn't the time for your stories, Jacob." James laughed as his mother sent his father a knowing smirk. "If I recall, James's heard this story before."

"Yep, probably!" James agreed. "Now, who's hungry!?"

"You will behave yourself."

"Yes ma'am."

"You will get good grades."

"Yes ma'am."

"You will not associate with blood-traitors, Mudbloods, or half-breeds."

"Yes ma'am."

"You will not lose Slytherin any points."

"Yes ma'am."

"You will avoid that Potter boy."

"Yes ma'am."

Sirius was barely listening to his mother. But now he knew exactly what he would do at Hogwarts. He would not behave himself, he would not get good grades, he would associate with blood-traitors, Muggleborns, and half-breeds if he could, he would not be Slytherin, and James Potter would be his best friend (whether James knew it or not).

"I'm sure you'll do well in Slytherin. Perhaps your cousins can knock some sense into you. Bellatrix had always been a smart one." Sirius resisted rolling his eyes at his mother's praising of his annoying cousins. His only decent cousin was Andromeda, and she was now secretly dating a Muggleborn named Ted Tonks.

"Of course, Mother." Sirius replied dully. His mother narrowed his eyes, but Sirius figured she believed him because she neither hit him nor cursed him.

"Perhaps Hogwarts could do you some good." His mother continued. "If only that fool Dumbledore wasn't Headmaster, perhaps things would improve."

Personally, Sirius thought Dumbledore sounded pretty cool. But he would never voice this to his mother- he got in enough trouble as it was.

"Now. Shall we head to the station?" Mrs. Black smiled, a horrifying sight, really. Sirius knew it was fake. "Come along, Sirius."

"We'll write every day if you'd like, and you can come home for Christmas, of course, and-"

"Mum, relax, I'll be fine!" James laughed, and started onto the train. "And only write once or twice a week, kay?"

"Oh, alright." Mrs. Potter pursed her lips but did not argue. "Good luck, James."

"Thanks, Mum." James waved goodbye to his mother, before racing onto the train. He quickly found an empty compartment, and settled in.

"Hey!" James looked up. The boy from Diagon Alley- James couldn't remember his name for the life of him- was standing in the doorway. "James Potter, right?"

"Right." Now James felt kind of embarrassed that he hadn't remembered the boy's name when the boy obviously remembered James's."You're… uh… I…"

"Forgot?" The boy laughed. "No worries. I don't blame you- probably have lots of friends to hang out with and such. Why would you remember some kid's name? I'm Sirius."

"Oh! Yeah, I remember!" James grinned. "Sirius Black, right?"

"Yep!" Sirius grinned. "Can I sit with you?"

"Sure." James shrugged. Sirius smiled, and sat down across from James. James furrowed his eyebrows as he noticed how thin Sirius looked. The boy sat down gingerly, as if plopping down like James had done would hurt him. "You okay?"

"Huh? Oh! I'm fine." Sirius grinned- fake this time, and James could tell. "Fell down the stairs."

"Really? Me too!" James laughed at the coincidence. "My owl didn't like it much."

"I'll bet." Sirius chuckled. "At least you got an owl. My mum wouldn't get me one after- after I fell. Said if I can't take of myself, I certainly can't take care of an animal."

"Ah." James nodded in understanding. "You still gonna be a Gryffindor?"

"Absolutely." Sirius confirmed. "My mum gave me this whole speech earlier about how I should do well in Slytherin, and only associate myself with 'acceptable' purebloods. Ha! Like I'm gonna listen to that nonsense."

"Excuse me?" James looked up. Another boy was standing at the doorway. "Can I sit here?"

"Sure thing!" Sirius patted the space beside him and the new boy sat down gratefully. "What's your name?"

"Remus Lupin." The boy said meekly. "And you two are?"

"I'm Sirius Black, and that is James Potter." Sirius introduced happily. "Well, Remus Lupin, it's great to have you in our little group of friends."

"Thanks?" Remus replied unsurely. Suddenly, Sirius stuck his hand out. "What are you doing?"

"Let's make a pact!" Sirius grinned. "I, Sirius Black, solemnly swear to cause mischief and mayhem wherever I go and hate all Slytherins unless James or Remus is one of them."

"Haha, good one!" James laughed, and put his hand on top of Sirius's. "I, James Potter, solemnly swear to help Sirius cause mischief and mayhem and hate Slytherins, and also to be the best Quidditch player ever!"

"Oh, alright." Remus put his hand on the top, almost reluctantly. "I, Remus Lupin, solemnly swear to prevent James and Sirius from getting kicked out of school or mauled by Slytherins, and also to help them when necessary."

"On the count of three, yell… um… 'Werewolves!' at the top of your lungs!" Sirius grinned. Remus rose his eyebrows. "What?"

"Werewolves?"

"Yeah, they're cool!" Sirius declared, his eye lightning up. "See, they're half-breeds, right? And Mum hates half-breeds. And they're only a 'monster' around the full moon, so otherwise, they're normal. They just have a furry little problem."

"You're the only person I've ever met who'd refer to a werewolf as having a 'furry little problem'." Remus chuckled. "Alright."

"Okay, one, two… THREE!"

"WEREWOLVES!"

The three of them dissolved into laughter.

"Brilliant!" James laughed. "We'll be the awesomest group of friends Hogwarts has ever seen!"

"Awesomest isn't a word, James."

"Oh, who cares, Remus?"

"Who's that?" James hissed to Sirius. They were standing in the Great Hall, waiting to be sorted. James had his eyes trained on a pretty redhead. Sirius shrugged. "Ugh… I want to know who she is!"

"I think someone has a little crush!" Sirius teased, poking his new friend on the shoulder.

"Oh, shut it." James pushed him away good-naturedly. "You've no right to tease me."

"What kind of best friend would I be if I didn't?" Sirius replied cheekily. "Hey, I think the sorting is starting."

"Abers, William." James nodded, as a short kid with strawberry blonde hair walked up to the stool. He sat up there for quite a while, before finally-

"HUFFLEPUFF!"

"What'd you reckon that redhead you were mooning over is gonna be in?" Sirius asked jokingly. James rolled his eyes. "Maybe Slytherin."

"No!" James laughed. Neither of them were paying much attention to the names. "She's no snake!"

"Black, Sirius." Sirius grinned, and ran up to the stool. The professor placed the Sorting Hat on his head.

"Another Black, eh?" The hat said. "Hmm… shall I put you in Slytherin with your cousins?"

"No!" Sirius hissed. "No way!"

"Ah, thought you'd say that." The hat laughed. "Yes, yes, you are no snake, Sirius Black. No, no… I believe you would belong in GRYFFINDOR!"

Sirius slipped the hat off, grinning. There was a ringing silence in the hall as he walked towards the Gryffindor table, suddenly rather self-conscious. He could see Bellatrix and Narcissa both glaring at him from the Slytherin table. Andromeda gave him a thumbs-up from the Ravenclaw table, and suddenly, James and Remus started clapping.

"GO SIRIUS!" James shouted. At that moment, the whole of Gryffindor table started clapping. Then cheering. A redhead boy clapped Sirius on the back, exclaiming merrily that it was good to have him. Sirius beamed, as several more Gryffindors voiced their congratulations.

He was Gryffindor, after all.

After the incident with Sirius's sorting, the ceremony continued easily. James recognized a few of the names, but really didn't pay much attention.

"Evans, Lily." The redhead stood up. Lily. Her name was Lily A goofy grin formed on James's face as he watched her walk to the Sorting Hat. It didn't take very long.

"GRYFFINDOR!" Lily grinned, and bounced over to the Gryffindor table. She'd be in his house! With him! That just proves it! They were meant to be.

Oh, he did not just think that.

There were several more names called before there was one he recognized. "Lupin, Remus."

"Good luck." James grinned to his friend as the boy nervously walked up to the stool. Remus shot James a grateful smile, before placing the hat on.

"GRYFFINDOR!"

Remus was in his house too! James couldn't be happier. Soon, the Sorting reached the 'P's. The boy right before James- Peter Pettigrew- seemed extremely nervous, so James offered him a friendly smile. Peter Pettigrew cheered up a bit, and was subsequently declared a Gryffindor.

"Potter, James." James heard Sirius whooping and cheering as he walked up to the hat, and put it on. He knew for a fact he'd be in Gryffindor.

"Confident, aren't we?"James blinked in surprise. He hadn't expected the hat to read his mind. "Didn't you listen to my song? I can see everything that goes on in that little head of yours. By the way, careful with Lily Evans. She's a feisty one."

Now the hat was just taunting him.

"No. Just stating the facts." The hat chuckled. "Well, why keep you here longer than needed? Better be GRYFFINDOR!"

"I can't believe we're all Gryffindors!" Remus grinned. "Even you, Sirius!"

"Of course I was a Gryffindor." Sirius looked affronted. "Could you picture me a snake?"

"No, not really." Remus laughed. His mother had been right, he did have friends. He just hoped they never found out about his lycanthropy. "Hey, look! Dumbledore's gonna say something!"

"Good evening! To our new students, welcome, to our older ones, welcome back!" Unsure of what to do, Remus began to clap, until a seventh year next to him shook his head. "Now, I should note that the Forbidden Forest is, as its name suggests, forbidden. Oh, yes, and I would suggest avoiding the Whomping Willow if you wish to live a long, uninjured life. On that happy note, let us eat!"

"He's mad, isn't he?" Peter Pettigrew whispered. Remus nodded solemnly, before laughing. Peter Pettigrew looked at him oddly.

"Sorry, Dumbledore is crazy. In a good way, of course." Remus chuckled. He held out his hand. "I'm Remus."

"Peter." Peter shook Remus's hand. Sirius grinned at Peter, and held out his hand as well. James did the same.

"I'm Sirius-"

"And I'm James." They greeted. Remus shook his head at their antics. James grinned suddenly. "Hey! Do you wanna join our group of friends?"

"You want me to?" Peter asked happily. He nodded eagerly. "Of course I would!"

"Welcome to the club, Peter." Sirius beamed. "Welcome to the club!"

A/N: ANOTHER CHAPTER! YAY! They're at Hogwarts now, our dear friend (not really) Peter has been introduced, and I've revealed that Sirius's parents are absolutely horrible people! I hope you enjoyed! I don't own Harry Potter. :) Until next time!