Let's have a Sirius story for once Chapter 2: In the Beginning, a harry potter fanfic

((As usual I don't own nuthin of HP but Sin is mine -.o and when one is asked to do something a bit more that they'd like to see….then the askee (?) can only oblige. So the next couple of chapters are the prequel set-up for you, WhoopsyDaisy! =) Thanks for the kind words and just for you here it is………))

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Before……

In the Wizarding world, Hogwarts was known as one of the most prestigious and finest schools. Hundreds of years old and "home" to many of the greatest of their kind. Traditions held close and dear and families that wanted nothing but the best for their magical children. Acceptance was by invitation only, and "blood" didn't count.

"Blood" being a child's birthright. Pure meaning they came from two families with pure magic blood. "Half Blood" meaning that one parent – or somewhere down the line – a Muggle was introduced. "Muggles" were non-magic folk. Usually those that didn't even understand about the world that surrounded them and was constantly under their very noses.

To be born "pure" was in and of itself some sort of "badge of honour". To be Half blood….well…you were snubbed by those that seemed to think only Purebloods had the right to be called Wizards and witches. To be Mudblood – a rather nasty term used to the Pures that meant you were magical but raised by Muggle parents….you can imagine the ridicule.

But Hogwarts took all types. The castle was huge and had four Houses to sort students into which "competed" for a House cup at the end of the school year. And they tried to bring harmony between the classes. Gryffindors, Hufflepuffs, Ravenclaws, Slytherins.

Gryffindors were loved by all usually. That's where the Marauders all hailed from. Slytherins were the House that everyone despised and swore would all wind up working at the feet of the Dark Lord, Voldemort. They were all shallow and self absorbed. They were all dark and always planning things against the other Houses. Hufflepuffs were the smart and studious type and Ravenclaws were tough but not as devious as Slytherins.

All, that is, except one.

When she was 11, Alyssin Malfoy's mother was killed in an accident that would send her to a relative's to live as her father couldn't handle the thought of raising a little girl alone. It was well known that in "certain" families, the unlucky of the children would be raised by the better off. Rather than go into the Family Control center of the main Wizarding control, the Ministry of Magic. So she was shipped off to her uncle, Abraxus Malfoy.

Abraxus didn't really mind taking in his niece. She was smart and would get along famously with his own son, Lucius. They were a few years apart, and Lucius was going into his 7th and final year at Hogwarts after being a Prefect for the last year. He was once again Prefect of Slytherin and Abraxus knew Alyssin would make it as well.

Following her cousin along that first week, she was sorted into Slytherin (naturally) then Lucius left her to her own devices. There were "rules" she was to follow and if she didn't he made it intensely clear that she would know his wrath. Alyssin brushed it off as a worthless threat and went on acclimating herself to the grounds and to the school.

She didn't really care for the girls in her own house….they seemed a bit…..well….so she began trying to make friends with the others around. The Ravenclaws were far more willing to talk with her than the Hufflepuffs and the Gryffindors simply ignored her altogether. Hm. Strange.

But then later that night in the common room while they were doing some reading, Alyssin asked Lucius why the Gryffindors were as they were and with a sour growl, Lucius informed her that the Gryffindors had always hated the Slytherins since the snakes were far smarter and much more polite to be around. More trained in social graces and manners and the Gryffindors were nothing but Half-bloods and Mudbloods so they knew nothing of the Wizard protocol. They were, in short, jealous. Alyssin nodded and went about with the studies and buried herself in her work.

For her entire Second year, she averaged stunning marks on her work and with her professors, volunteering with extra credit work and boosting Slytherin's points closer to the highest they'd been to winning the House Cup and even farther from the other challengers, especially Gryffindors. But there was a snag.

And his name was Sirius Black.

The 12 year old had noted when the pretty blonde had come to Hogwarts and was there at the welcoming dinner as was everyone at the beginning of the year. But there was something about this new girl that had the pre-teen's interest. There was something about her as she stood at the front of the Great Hall to awaut the Hat's decision that he—

"Alyssin Malfoy!" came the call to the Sorting Hat.

Sirius groaned softly and dropped his head onto his arms on the table in front of him and sighed. James looked sideways at his friend and frowned.

"What's wrong, mate? Looks like you ate too much of the pudding and we ain't even had any yet."

Sirius sat up again and shook his head. "Nuthin' " he grumbled.

Figures! One of the best looking girls in a long time and she's a MALFOY? The gods were testing him. Weren't they?? This was totally unfair! But Sirius also knew his mission, now. This new Malfoy was his age!! And she was completely vulnerable! New place. New faces. Probably scared out of her wits. This should be fun. He'd have to talk to James and the others later in the common room. Some devious plotting needed to go on.

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The first attempt was in Potions where they were to brew a simple liquid and Sirius and James decided that….

"I'd say a nice shade of purple, eh?" James mumbled as they both watched the young Malfoy across the room.

"I'm thinking more towards green….let her represent truly the Slytherin House." Sirius said with a grin at his friend. They both began cackling like chickens and James started to hand Sirius the powder that would do the trick as he himself planned to distract Alyssin. Sirius shook his head and handed the package back. "She doesn't trust you, Jamesy…she won't look." Having a feeling it wasn't true – hell all the girls *looked* at James. But for some reason Sirius felt the need to distract the girl himself. So he sauntered past Alyssin just behind her and a quiet mumble. "And how are we doing?"

Alyssin glanced up for a moment then blue eyes found the voice and a small smile. "Just fine, Mr. Black, thanks so much."

Sirius blinked when she smiled at him and froze. Even with the Slytherin reputation following her around it didn't mean anything to be nice to a rival house. Wait. This didn't make sense…and before he could ponder any further, James came up from the other side and attempted to drop the powder into her cauldron but suddenly there was a small explosion of sorts and the entire volume of the cauldron shot out and covered James in a sticky ooze.

As the other students began howling with laughter at the Potter boy who was trying to frantically wipe off the mess, Sirius and Alyssin shared another moment of calm and finally the Marauder went to help his friend.

That night at dinner, as Alyssin sat alone once again at the Slytherin table, suddenly there was uproarious laughter when the Marauders came in since James' hair was a bright shocking pink and his face was covered in polka dots of all sizes and colours. Sirius and Remus followed after him as Peter tagged along and as Sirius threw a glance at the Slytherin table and caught Alyssin snickering into her plate, he had to grin but it was cut short when James snarled and threw himself down on the bench at the Gryffindor table.

And somehow Alyssin had the feeling it wasn't going to be the end of it.

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The rest of Second year seemed to pass rather quickly since it was all still new and fresh, Lucius graduated and went on to….uh…do what he was intended for, and when the summer was coming to a close afterwards and her aunt had taken her to Diagon Alley for her new robes and books, the young Malfoy caught a glimpse of the young Marauders down the way. But no Sirius.

Strange.

He and James were quite literally (or so it was rumoured) attached at the hip and wouldn't be caught dead without each other.

"Sweetheart, come along now…we mustn't keep your uncle waiting." Came the call and the girl blinked and looked up at her aunt who had always been kind to her, a beaming smile up at the elder woman and the pair left back for the manor.

Sirius sat in the shadow of the small alley off to the side between Flourish & Blott's and the quill store next to it and a soft sigh. He'd caught the glimpse of Alyssin with her aunt and had wanted to talk to her but he didn't want James to see him being even remotely civil to her. Otherwise it would compromise the group and he wasn't about to put James and Remus out because of a GIRL.

"Sirius! Where are you!?" came the shrill cry of his mother and he winced. That woman had a voice that would cut through glass better than any spell or diamond. Sounded like fingernails on a chalkboard, really.

"Coming." The boy resolutely sighed.

Sirius watched Alyssin and her aunt until he couldn't see them any longer and then turned and headed for his mother and his brother, Regulus.

"What's up, Sirius?" Regulus asked his older brother as the younger boy loped up to the pair.

Sirius shook his head and sighed. This was always one of the worst times of school. The whole getting new robes thing. Especially since his own brother had been sorted into Slytherin the year before. Pride of the Black Family, he guessed. Wait. Same year as that new girl came in. Sirius still didn't like the idea that his younger brother was in the same house as the girl he—

--what? Liked? Wanted?

Rubbish! Maybe he should let Reg have her. Might be good for the boy. But then….Sirius honestly couldn't stomach the fact that Regulus had the better chance of the two of them with *her*.

Everything bought and packaged up for the trip home and another week and soon enough Sirius found himself on the platform 9 ¾ waiting to board the Hogwarts Express. He saw Remus and James and could only offer them a quick nod in acknowledgement but they all understood.

Walburga Black was one of the most "pure" of the Purebloods in any family. She loathed the very idea that anyone LESS than a Pureblood was allowed to even grace Hogwart's halls. She honestly wouldn't have been past keeping the boys at home to teach them there but the silly Ministry and the Children's Magical Welfare groups both had laws that required children of age to attend a wizarding school to "further their education both mentally and magically".

Silly rule.

She also despised the fact that Sirius hadn't been sorted into the "family" house of Slytherin as all had been before him. Even his brother – younger by a year – had been sorted into Slytherin! Sirius must have been the true black sheep of the family. And the hat saw it. Well! Good thing she was to find out when the boy was 11. No telling what embarrassment the family would have suffered if they hadn't found out till after he had graduated. Now as for her youngest son, Regulus…well he was an angel. He knew how to remain respectful to his elders and the boy was always quiet and reserved. Sirius had always been the problem. And now to hear he was hanging around with a couple of half-bloods was too much for her. She'd tried to make the boy see the *error of his ways* and had even threatened him with bodily harm. Sirius merely told her to keep her nose out of his business and the rebellion started.

"Sirius!" Regulus said in a hushed whisper hissed into his brother's ear.

Sirius shot a sideways look at his brother as they waited to board the train. "What?!" he snarled back.

Regulus nodded down the other way from the Marauders where a slim young blonde was boarding the train after a hug to her aunt and uncle. And even one to her cousin.

Sirius groaned quietly and scowled at his brother. "What did you show me THAT for?"

Regulus was actually having the time of his life. "Because I'm gonna get her this year, mate. Watch me. She's not talking to any of the other boys….but I bet she'll talk to me."

Sirius loved his brother. Really he did. But there was nothing he wanted to do more now than to punch him right in the nose. "Stay away from her, Regulus." He warned softly.

"Well time to go, boys." Came Orion's – their father- voice. A handshake was offered to Sirius but a hug to his youngest. "Be careful this year. I hear Magical creatures is on the menu, aye?"

Sirius forced a smile – his dad wasn't SO bad, actually – and then a look at his mother as she hugged and fretted over Regulus. The older of the boys just turned and headed up onto the train and to a compartment that held already the Marauders.

Sirius threw himself down onto one of the seats by James who immediately shoved a fist playfully into his friend's side.

"Saw ya bein' all Mama's boy, Sirius. What's with that anyway?"

Sirius snorted softly. "Have to put up with it for a few more years. Then I'm SO Outta there." A nod. "By the way…did anyone see –" but he stopped himself and grumbled. "Never mind. Doesn't matter."

"See who?" Remus asked with a blink..

"Said it doesn't matter." Sirius said, a look at his friend.

James studied his friend hard for a moment then when Sirius looked back and frowned, "James! STOPPIT!"

James fell back onto the seat laughing hysterically. "He's in LOVE!! Our baby boy here, Remus, is head-over-heels, smitten-by-a-kitten, stone cold in love!" An arm quickly snaked around Sirius' neck in a headlock and James dragged the other boy down to pin him to the seat.

Sirius snorted and just let James do what he wanted. "Am NOT. I was just….askin' , ya see."

"About who?" Remus said. Always quiet. Always soft spoken. Always curious. Especially about the friendship Sirius and James had. Closer than any brothers. Sometimes Remus wished he could be that close to them. But he had far deeper secrets than those two needed to know about.

"No one!!" Sirius snapped and finally began to try and tear himself out of James' grasp. "Merlin!! Can't a guy just be curious for once?!?"

In the passageway the students were going back and forth and every so often Sirius' grey eyes would shoot towards the door when he thought he spotted a blonde. But every time it was a false alarm.

The train ride was interminable and Sirius honestly didn't think he'd survive. James had gone out looking to pester Lily again and Remus had his nose buried in a book. Again. Peter was off chasing the snack cart and….well…..Sirius just sat and stared at the landscape that whooshed by. Another year. So how long was this torture to last?