Author's Note: Thanks to a kind reader who reviewed, I have made changes to the grammatical mistakes and typos I made in chapter 1. They, hopefully, have all disappeared.

Chapter 2: First Year

My first day at Hogwarts, I was anxious to get going. I wanted nothing more than to get away from my mother. While most kids spent several minutes saying goodbye to their parents, I quickly called to my mother, "See ya later." and ran to the train. We only had five minutes until the train left, so the train was mostly full when I got on. Sitting alone was a boy with brown hair, brown eyes, and glasses. There was a look of excitement in his eyes, and he smiled when he saw me. Happy to see someone who was also alone, I sat across from him.

"Hi. Are you a first year, too?" I asked.

"Yeah," the boy said. "My name's James Potter. What's yours?"

"Sirius Black." I replied. "What do you think Hogwarts will be like?"

"I don't know. I just hope I'm not in Slytherin."

"You better hope you're in Slytherin." Said a voice across the aisle, making James jump. He and I both thought the boy, who had long, greasy black hair was speaking to him, but he was really talking to the girl sitting with him.

"Slytherin?" asked James loudly. "Why on Earth would you want to be a Slytherin?"

I told James about my family history, and he was really surprised. It wasn't long before an argument broke out between us and the boy and girl across the aisle. Finally, the girl said, "Come on, Severus, let's go find another compartment." and she and the boy, Severus, quickly left.

James let out a sigh. "What's wrong?" I asked.

"She's just really cute, that's all. That girl, I mean. It's too bad she's friends with that stupid prat."

Just then, the door to our compartment flew open, and a boy with light brown hair ran in. He looked incredibly nervous as he frantically searched for a seat.

"Hey, you!" called Lucius Malfoy, who was a prefect. "You better find a seat soon, or else you'll be in major trouble. We can't be late!"

The boy blushed and turned to James and me. "Can I sit with you?" he asked timidly.

"Sure." James answered. "I'm James, and this is Sirius. What's your name?"

The boy sat down next to me and smiled. "Remus. Remus Lupin."

"Hi, Remus." James and I said together, just as the train began to move.

James, Remus, and I continued to socialize with each other during the entire train ride. When it was time to board the boats to go to Hogwarts, we stayed near each other. We did not part until it was time to be sorted, and even then, we waited until the last minute.

The Sorting Hat sang its newest song, and then it was time for the ceremony. Luckily, I was one of the first people to be sorted, so I didn't have to wait long.

"Black, Sirius." Professor McGonagall called. I walked to the stool and sat down. I still remember to this day that the sorting hat sat on my head more than anyone else is in my year.

"I know for a fact that all of your older relatives were Slytherins, but I can tell you aren't like them." The sorting hat said. Please, not Slytherin. I'll do anything. I thought with all my might. "I think you will do better in Gryffindor, but I just can't be sure. I think I'll put you in… GRYFFINDOR!" the hat shouted the last word for everyone in the great hall to hear.

Applause exploded from the Gryffindor table as I proudly walked to join them with a huge smile upon my face.

More people were sorted. When McGonagall called "Evans, Lily", I realized the girl with dark red hair who now went to sat on the stool was the same girl from the train who had stood up for Severus. "GRYFFINDOR!" the sorting hat cried without hesitation.

After everyone was sorted, I was delighted that both James and Remus were in Gryffindor, and Severus Snape was not. As the last person, Isabel Zelano sat down at the Hufflepuff table, Dumbledore began his speech.

"I would like to welcome all of you, especially the first years, to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. I am sure we will have an excellent year. I introduce to you, the new Defense against the Dark Arts teacher, Professor Snow."

Everyone applauded half-heartedly as Professor Snow stood up. The majority of the older students looked extremely bored. Every year, Hogwarts had a new DADA teacher, and every year, something goes wrong. The students got used to this by their third or fourth year, and they began to expect it.

Professor Snow's name fit him. He was an elderly man, who appeared to be more than one hundred years old. He was also very short, with pure white hair that covered his head like a blanket of snow.

"I am very honored to be a professor at Hogwarts." Professor Snow said slowly, in a shaky, crackly voice. "I am excited for the new year, and hope it will be a good one for all of us."

The Professor sat down, and Dumbledore continued his speech. "You may began your meal." He said.

After the meal, all of the first years got our schedules and dorm assignments. I was placed in a dorm with Remus, James, Peter Pettigrew, and a boy named Eugene Fritzerald.

As it turned out none of us liked Eugene very much. He was a boy, with short, dirty-blond hair, blue eyes, and glasses. Like your friend Hermione, Eugene was good in every class, and always raised his hand. Unlike Hermione, however, Eugene was snobbish about it, and was a huge bragger. Thinking he was better than everyone else in the school, even the older students, he was ashamed of being a Gryffindor and strongly believed that he "deserved" to be in Ravenclaw "because everyone in the other houses were complete idiots".

Normally, James and I sat next to each other in Transfiguration, but one morning, we were really distracting each other. We continued to whisper back and forth no matter how many times Professor McGonagall told us to quiet down.

"Mr. Black and Mr. Potter!" Professor McGonagall bellowed suddenly. "I have had enough of this nonsense! I want James over there by Mr. Longbottom and Sirius right here by Mr. Fritzerald. If we continue to have problems, you both will be in detention with me during the Gryffindor versus Slyterin Quitditch Match, and I assure you that is an event neither you nor I want to miss."

I don't remember exactly what we were transfiguring that day, nor do I know if I was trying my hardest or not. Suddenly, Eugene burst out, "Professor, Sirius isn't following the directions. He's doing it all wrong!"

Professor McGonagall came over to our table and examined my progress. Frowning, she said, "Well then, Mr. Fritzerald, why don't you help him?"

Eugene frowned back, but said, "Sure thing, Professor."

Immediately, Eugene gave me step-by-step instructions. However, they were the wrong instructions. The object I was trying to transfigure turned into a firework and exploded right in front of my face. Everyone, including my friends, turned to stare at me.

McGonagall ran over to our table as quickly as she could.

"Eugene, what on Earth happened here?" Professor McGonagall shouted.

"Sirius wouldn't listen to me, Professor. He just kept doing whatever he wanted and ignored me like I wasn't even there."

Professor McGonagall glared at me. "Mr. Black, you've just earned a detention with me at seven pm tonight. I don't want any excuses."

"But, Professor I did everything Eugene -"

"MR. BLACK!" Professor McGonagall snapped. "What did I just say? I'm going to argue with you. Just for that, you have detention with me during the Quitditch match, and I'm taking ten points from Gryffindor."

Everyone, except for James, Remus, Peter, and the Slyterins, who were in our class as well, groaned. Lily, Eugene, and several other students glared at me.

I didn't reply. I was in enough trouble already, even though it wasn't my fault. That detention was my first, and only, detention without James by my side. Needless to say, the incident during Transfiguration class began a feud between my friends and I and Eugene Fritzerald that lasted the rest of our school days.