New beginnings

September 1971, First year, Gryffindor boys dorm.

The feast was finally over and the first year Gryffindors found themselves in their new dormitory. The room was cozy and dark red drapes enclosed the four-posters in the room. The boy who had introduced himself as James ran to the nearest bed and threw himself onto it. "Mine," he shouted happily.

"Actually," the boy with brown hair said, "your trunk is standing over there. This one belongs to Sirius, it seems."

James crawled to the edge of the bed. "But it's so far!" he exclaimed dramatically. "You want me to cross this sea of un-softness to the other bed, for a simple name on a trunk?"

Sirius grinned and took out his wand. Wingardium Leviosa, he said, lifting James' robes in the air and thus dragging James along. He moved him to the bed at the other side of the room and gently lowered him on top of it. Then he threw himself onto his own bed and shouted: "Mine!"

"Thanks, Mr. Black," James said. "Will you carry me around all year? I won't ever have to walk with you around."

But Sirius didn't reply. Mr. Black, that was what everyone called his father. Especially when they were afraid of him. He realized James was just being ridiculous, but he couldn't help feeling uneasy at the name. "Don't call me that," he muttered into the blankets.

The two other boys, Remus and Peter, were busy unpacking and hadn't heard him. But James replied, "Why not?"

"That's my father; not me," Sirius said.

"Oh," was all James said. Sirius had already explained to him how his entire family was in Slytherin. During the sorting ceremony, he and James had been overjoyed when Sirius was placed in Gryffindor. But now the euphoria was wearing off and he started thinking of the consequences. He still had to write his parents a letter, telling them of his new house. How would they react? Would they disown him? What would his brother say?

Happy as he was, being a Gryffindor, he was also scared. He had never planned this far ahead, never thought he would actually end up in his preferred house.

"Don't worry," James said. "You'll be fine." Somehow, based on the few things they knew about each other, he had been able to guess Sirius' doubts correctly. "You've been sorted into Gryffindor because you belong here. Because you're not like your family. You won't see them again until Christmas, so no need to worry about facing them until then."

"What if I get a Howler?" Sirius asked desperately.

"It only lasts a minute," James grinned. "I'll hide your face or something."

Sirius smiled. "Yeah, that will work. No one will hear it shouting my name through the Great Hall. Good thinking."

"See," James said, "we make a great team already!"

They grinned at each other. Then James turned slightly more serious. "You know, if there's one person who truly belongs in Gryffindor, that's gotta be you. You were not placed here simply because your parents were in this house. You really gotta have the Gryffindor spirit to end up here."

"You think so?" Sirius asked hopefully.

"Know so," James grinned. "Hey guys, wanna check out the welcoming party in the common room?"

Together, they went downstairs. Sirius looked at the three guys who would probably soon become his friends. It felt good. James was right. Everything would be fine.