Friends and Foes

That night after the sorting James found himself in the Gryffindor first year boy's dormitory. He was initially in awe of the rich maroon bed hangings and fluffy canopy beds. Several boys were already in the room. To his right a short boy who clearly was still holding on to a good deal of his baby fat was digging through his trunk, which had been magically transported there like all the other student's trunks. He was muttering to himself about something which James couldn't quite make out. Shaking his head and chuckling under his breath he took a moment to look at all the other boys in the room.

On the other side of the room opposite the odd, muttering boy was a skinny, blonde haired boy, who had a slightly grey tinge to his complexion. The boy was sitting on the bed he had clearly claimed as his own, several of his textbooks open in front of him. Whatever the boy was reading, he seemed to be clearly engrossing in because he hadn't even looked up when James had entered the room. Not feeling very confident about the possibility of friendship with the first two boys he had encountered he looked on toward the next beds in the room.

"No" he muttered under his breath in desperation as he saw two boys talking together in under toned voices, both of whom he recognized. The first boy James knew to be Acanthus Jordan, whose father worked in the Department of International Magical Cooperation. He had brown hair which he appeared to use a bit too much hair gel on if you asked Mary Alice Potter. Thankfully she wasn't in the room or she surely would have commented, which she was known to do. Acanthus was irritating, snobby and pretentious. James could hardly put up with him, although he did a much better job then Mary Alice did.

The other boy, Viscounte Bixby, was the son of a fairly well known Wizarding author. As James was observing the two, Viscounte turned to look at the door and seeing James he waved excitedly. "Potter" he called jumping over his trunk and shaking James' hand and patting him on the back simultaneously. "This is just grand isn't it" said Acanthus jovially, "the three of us in Gryffindor together. Three of the best names in Wizarding, you know Potter old boy." James eyed Acanthus with an odd expression, "Uh right Jordan. So have you met the other boys in here yet?"

Acanthus and Viscounte looked at each other a bit wearily, "Well the thing is Potter. They seem a bit…well odd if you ask me," Viscounte said quietly his eyes traveling from the boy who was reading on his bed to the chubby boy who was still digging through his trunk. Acanthus shook his head vigorously in agreement, "don't they look odd to you. I mean look at them!" James starred at the two of them with an open mouth. Here it goes, James thought.

Truth be told James had never been a fan of either Viscounte either, he thought he like Acanthus was fairly stuck up. Beside that James had absolutely nothing in common with either of the boy's. Neither Acanthus nor Viscounte were interested in any of things he liked to do, as he had learned on the several occasions when he had met them previously. He wasn't all that surprised to hear that the two planned on snubbing the strangers in their dormitory without giving them a chance, but it still bothered James quite a bit. James couldn't help but think it would surely be a very long seven years if the boys in his dorm refused to get along even from the beginning.

He was especially annoyed because he now was faced with the dilemma of having to choose between the people he knew and standing up for two strangers that he had never even spoken to. Fantastic, he thought with a slight uncharacteristic bitterness.

However James Potter was saved from having to say or do anything in the next moment because the dormitory door flew open with great force and the last of the Gryffindor first year boy's entered the room. It was something that all the boys would come to expect in later years, this particular boy making a grand entrance, but at the moment on their first day at Hogwarts they all starred at the door way and the young boy standing in it.

He had slightly long dark hair which fell in his eyes in a rather elegant manner, his grey eyes seemed to sparkle in rather daunting way and at the moment he had a fairly sarcastic grin upon his face. His mere presence in the room seemed to demand attention and attention he got. Of course all the boys in the room knew who he was, after the sorting ceremony and the slight stir he had caused by being placed in Gryffindor the whole castle knew his name.

Clearly this boy knew how famous he had become throughout the castle in a matter of minutes, earlier that evening and by all appearances appeared to think that his popularity was rightly placed. The boy was Sirius Black and so began the next seven years of James Potter's life.

Initially James Potter and Sirius Black did not even speak to each other. The first night in the dormitory Sirius had preceded straight to one of the two unoccupied beds; coincidently they were right next to each other and shut the curtains around him self. Of course he had smirked at the three boys standing together in the middle of the room as though he knew something that they didn't. James scowled at the shut curtains thinking that the darn Black kid had taken the bed he had planned on claiming as his own.

Deciding against throwing open the curtains to the bed and demanding Black move bed's, simply for the reason that it was the first night at school and James was the kind of person who firmly believed in trying to make a good first impression. Looking around the room he realized the boy who had been reading had taken cue from Black and also shut himself in his bed. The chubby boy seemed to have oddly disappeared from the room or at least from view. Not particularly caring what had happened to the boy, James sighed to himself and muttered good night to Viscounte and Acanthus and crawled into the last bed.

Thinking that the initial introduction with his new roommates had not gone at all how he had wanted it to James rolled over. As he drifted off to sleep he hoped that tomorrow would go slightly better.

The next morning James awoke earlier then either Viscounte or Acanthus, not really wanting to wait for either of the boys which he felt lacked any sort of real fondness for he dressed in his school robes and attempted to run a comb through his messy hair. Sighing at the pointlessness of the exercise he starred into the mirror, "I'm afraid you're fighting a losing battle there dear" said the mirror back to him. "Thanks a lot" muttered James.

Picking up his school bag and carefully placing his new wand in his pocket he hurried out of the dorm into the common room. He was glad to see Arabella sitting on one of the many squishy maroon couches that scattered the room. She appeared to be trying to perform some sort of spell with her wand that didn't seem to be working, James hadn't the slightest clue what she was trying to do but she appeared to be concentrating very hard. Sneaking up behind Arabella he slowly reached out and grabbed her shoulder and yelled, "Got you."

Arabella screamed, jumped up from the couch while twisting around at the same moment and some how managed to slap James across the face. "Grazie a Dio!" she screamed, clutching her chest "Dear God what are you trying to do?" James scowled as he rubbed his cheek, "Not trying to be accosted thanks" he grumbled. Arabella cocked her head and looked at him scathingly, "Well that's what you get for sneaking up on me." "Can't you ever just apologize" James asked. "Why should I apologize you're the one who snuck up on me" Arabella said. James threw up his hands, "You're really impossible you know that?" Arabella shrugged, "That's what my mamma says." James simply rolled his eyes.

Both turned as they heard a loud noise from the staircase, they simultaneously smiled as they saw Mary Alice bounding down the staircase toward them followed directly by one of her best friends Alice Whitman. Alice was a positively gorgeous girl with long blonde hair and sky blue eyes. She did well in school but was much more interested in the social aspect. Several steps behind the two girls followed the third member of their group Emmeline Vance at a much more reserved pace.

Emmeline was a very brilliant girl, cute but not striking as Alice was, she compensated for this in the regal way in which she carried herself and conducted her affairs. Both Alice and Mary Alice teasingly called her "the Duchess". She was the calmest of the three girls and incidentally often the voice of reason that every group of friends needs.

James knew Emmeline and Alice well as he had met them multiple times during the two years in which Mary Alice had known them. Arabella had met them several times during the summer, but had gotten to know Mary Alice's other best friend Sturgis Podmere much better. Coincidently Sturgis was descending from the boy's staircase at that exact moment. Sturgis was a good looking boy in the same year as the three older girls.

He lived close to the Potter's in Godric's Hollow and spent a far amount of time over at Rose Hill Manor. "Hello kids" he said with a wide grin mocking a familiar greeting of one Acanthus Jordan, who both Mary Alice and Sturgis always spent a fair amount of time making fun of after meeting him two years previously at a dinner party.

"Kids" scoffed Mary Alice with a matching grin quickly picking up on Sturgis's joke, "I think not old boy." "Honestly you both wouldn't hurt to be a little bit nicer to that Jordan boy" Emmeline scolded looking up from the book in her hands, "he is after all a Gryffindor now too." "Just our luck" muttered Mary Alice causing Sturgis and Alice to laugh. Emmeline shook her head. James didn't join in the joke as usual however, thinking unhappily up to his room where Acanthus was sleeping. This is not going to be very pleasant, James thought to himself. "Well I'm quite hungry" announced Alice to the group, "let's go down to the great hall and have breakfast."

The small group of students was the first to arrive at the Gryffindor table. Soon however they were joined by several people who James hadn't seen the night before at the welcoming feast, though he had known they were all Gryffindors. He waved pleasantly at Fabian Prewett who entered the Great Hall flanked by several seventh year boys and a few girls who were glancing hopefully at the handsome blonde Quidditch captain.

His brother, Gideon, who was a fifth year, came in the room several minutes later with his best friend Agius Kirke. Both were members of the Gryffindor House Quidditch team also. Gideon came over and clapped James on the back, "there you go Potter" he said, "glad to have you in Gryffindor and sorry I didn't get a change to congratulate you last night." James thanked Gideon but was far more interested in the events that transpired next.

Gideon turned to everyone else sitting around James, "Hullo Sturgis, Emmeline, Alice, Bella," all four returned the sentiment. Alice starred at Gideon as he continued to stand there suddenly becoming very interested in his shoes. Sturgis and Emmeline looked at each other with smirks on there face. Arabella snorted into her porridge. Agius came up behind Gideon grinning broadly, "All right there Gid?" he asked clearly trying to keep from laughing; putting his hands on Gideon's shoulders he started steering him towards the other end of the table.

"Morning all" he greeted then smiling particularly at Mary Alice he grinned even wider, "Mary Alice" he greeted. Gideon turned his head and scowled at his good friend. Sturgis laughed loudly but after receiving an extremely evil look from Mary Alice he quickly turned it into a cough. Emmeline looked at Sturgis like he was some sort of troll.

James bit into a piece of toast but nearly choked when the last person in the world he expected to sit down next to him sat down. Sirius Black reached over James plate for the pitcher of pumpkin juice. James set down his toast and starred open mouth at Sirius who appeared oblivious to James.

Glancing towards Arabella who was sitting on the other side of him he was disappointed to see she was engrossed in conversation with that odd red haired Muggle girl whom she had been sitting with on the train the day before. In fact he seemed to be the only one who was even noticing Sirius, which seemed quite odd to James after the odd reception Sirius had received after being sorted the night before.

It was something James would soon learn, as most children do, gossip is only interesting for so long. As soon as some new juicy piece of information comes along people lost interest in old gossip and full heartedly moved on to the new. In fact the new gossip had something to do with Fabian Prewett who had broken up with his girlfriend of a year and a half only that morning. The poor girl apparently had spent the last forty five minutes in the girl's bathroom on the third floor bawling her eyes out. But that is really no matter to this story, so back to James.

Still unsure of what to do James continued to stare at the boy next to him. A good five minutes past until Sirius looked up from the large amount of food which he was downing at a particularly rapid pace. "Is something matter" he asked James. James shook his head, "No I was just wondering why your sitting here. Not to be rude or anything I mean."

Although most people probably would have taken the question as quite rude Sirius Black was not most people. "Well I don't exactly want to sit by those two murtlap head's you were talking to last night. I think I would probably have to bludgeon myself to death if I had to spend anytime with them." James laughed out loud despite himself.

Sirius grinned and shrugged before going back to his meal. That was the only thing the two boys got to say to each other at breakfast that morning however because Professor McGonagall had chosen that moment to pass out the class schedules to the Gryffindors. "Oh look we have Transfiguration first" Arabella said as she turned to look at James. James nodded feeling a knot form in his stomach. He certainly hoped he would be good at it.

James and Arabella walked to Transfiguration together and managed to get there early which proved to be quite a feat in itself. They had thought they had taken a wrong turn somewhere along the way but somehow mysteriously turned up right in front of Professor McGonagall's room despite that. "Now that's what I call good luck" murmured James as he smiled at Arabella.

Arabella nodded as she looked at the classroom door with wide eyes. Walking into the room they saw that in fact they were not the first students there, several of the Gryffindor girls were in the room already including the red headed girl from the train, who was waving enthusiastically at Arabella. "Uh I think Lily wants me to sit by here James. You don't mind do you?" asked Arabella. James rolled his eyes, "Yeah I don't care whatever" he grumbled.

Arabella practically sprinted across the room and sat down by the Lily girl. Sliding into an empty desk at the back of the room James slowly pulled his transfiguration book out of his bag and started thumbing through it. Slowly more students started flooding into the room. Looking at the empty seat next to him James found himself begging the fates not to let Acanthus Jordan or Viscounte Bixby be the one who would sit there. He felt his hope plummet to the floor when he saw Acanthus walk through the door alone and pompously walk across the room smiling at James.

James fiercely fought the urge to roll his eyes. But he was saved by sheer luck when right before Acanthus reached the seat on the other side of James another boy slid gracefully into it and plopped his book bag up on the table in front of him. James silently thanked the stars for Sirius Black as his new dorm mate grinned at him. James smiled back. "Ahem" Acanthus said in an irritated voice, "I think you're in my seat Black".

Sirius turned his head slowly and looked up at Acanthus. "Really I don't see your name on it." Acanthus looking highly offended opened and shut his mouth without a single sound coming out; he looked helplessly at James as if asking his for help. James smiled suppressing a laugh, "Sorry mate" James said, "Like Black here said I don't see your name on it."

"Well I never" huffed Acanthus, "Look here Black I will not stand for your rudeness. I know how your family works. I will not tolerate it. I demand respect." Sirius starred at Acanthus like he was two inches tall, causing Acanthus to shrink back. Because whether Acanthus would admit it or not Sirius Black was a very intimidating boy, even at eleven.

Suddenly Sirius broke into a loud bark like laughter, "Is that what you think Ace?" Acanthus narrowed his eyes at Sirius, "Look here Black it isn't Ace it's Acanthus and I'm telling you right now I will not tolerate your attitude around me. I am too good for it. I insist you treat me according to the honor I deserve."

By now most of the students had filed into the room and were watching the drama between the two boys unfold silently. Sirius had quit laughing and appeared to be standing up to take care of Acanthus in a way that would most likely probably earn him a detention. But to the surprise of Sirius Black something happened that had never happened before to him, someone stood up for him. That someone was James Potter.

"Jordan just go sit down somewhere else and in the name of all things good and holy just shut up. You're acting like a complete idiot. Don't be such a pompous git I really can't stand it anymore. For Merlin's sake you don't even know Sirius and really if I was you I would probably proceed around him a bit more carefully." Looking at Sirius and then back at Acanthus he added, "He could no doubt kick your arse without any problem."

If Acanthus had looked offended before he looked positively livid now. In fact it wouldn't have surprised anyone in the room if he had taken a swing at James; he actually took a threatening step towards James. However as angry as he was with James, he couldn't help but notice Sirius cracking his knuckles menacingly.

Stepping back and turning towards another desk, he looked back over his shoulder and hissed, "Fine Potter if that's how you want it. You go right ahead and involve yourself with the Black family. I know as well as you do what you're getting yourself into there."

James laughed loudly, "Well if it's a choice between you and Black, Jordan, I think I'll take my chances with Black here". The rest of the class broke out into giggles but Acanthus glared at them all so ferociously that the quieted down quickly.

Professor McGonagall chose that moment to enter the classroom seeing that Acanthus was the only one not seated she stared at him with nearly the exact same expression Sirius had regarded him only moments before. "What's your name" she asked. "Umm Acanthus, Jordan" Acanthus gulped suddenly looking very nervous indeed.

"Acanthus Jordan, Professor" Professor McGonagall corrected him sharply; "Well Mister Jordan I suggest you find a seat unless you want to lose your house points on your first day in your first class." "Yes Professor" Acanthus said weakly sliding into an empty seat towards the front. James and Sirius both snorted back laughter. Professor McGonagall turned and glared at the two boys sitting side by side in the back of the room.

"Is something funny boys" she demanded. "No professor" they responded in unison. As soon as Professor McGonagall had turned on her heel and gone to the black board in the front of the room Sirius and James turned to look at each other and grinned widely.

So began the friendship of one James Potter and Sirius Black.

Authors Note- Ok so this chapter is a bit longer. Hope you like it! I really do, Sirius is probably my favorite character so yeah. Let me know what you think!!!And a special thanks to emuroo, belle granger, Princess of Brooklyn annnnd Anita Potter- and in response to what you said...James isn't paying particular attention to Lily yet because I dont think to many eleven year old boys develop insane crushes at that age, just my opinion mind you. In a few years of course, but right now all he is worrying about is who his friends are and where he fits in!