"Oh, just look at that petty little kid, staring through the window. I bet it's his first time leaving his parents. He can't even piss without them, can he?" sneered Bellatrix Black, Sirius Black's cousin, watching as the boy, James Potter, sadly moved through the train searching for a free compartment to spend the trip on.
Joseph S. Mulciber jeered at that comment while Sirius just silently scoffed. He hated when his cousin made fun of others.
"As you weren't shitting your pants when you were first going there."
"Nope," Bellatrix raised her legs on the small table attached to the window. "I was a cool kid."
"Yeah, sure." Andromeda Black murmured under her breath. She was sitting silently by the window in front of Bellatrix and next to Sirius. Both of them were first years and welcome at the private Slytherin gang compartment only because they were Bellatrix's relatives.
"Oh, just tell me, how you're not scared, you little ones." Sirius rolled his eyes.
"I'm almost higher than you, who's little now?" Mulciber watched this family bickering with a small smirk on his face.
However, Bellatrix chose to ignore this comment. Sirius raised his head and watched the lonely boy, still standing not that far from their compartment, looking through the window with a longing look on his face. He felt almost sorry for him. He had a backup, a family he could turn to on a trip and at Hogwarts already, even though he didn't get on too well with them. And he couldn't expect for this long look to go unnoticed by Bellatrix, so he wasn't at all surprised when he heard her sneering voice.
"Look, look! Poor Sirius, he feels sorry for a loony guy…" Sirius groaned and slumped back in his seat, irritated. Bellatrix didn't take her teasing eyes with a smirk away from him, though.
"What?" he spat.
"I was just wondering. Are you as petty as that fellow?"
"No, I'm not," he answered grumpily.
"Oh yeah? Prove it." It was so fun for the girl to watch, how frustrated her cousin got.
He fired up at once. "You want me to prove it? Like right now? I'll prove it!"
"Nah, I don't think so. You're too much of a coward."
"A coward, you say?!" Sirius' face became redder as he raged on.
"Yeah. I say," a smirk on the black haired girl's face was growing larger with each second her cousin lost control. He was so pissed off because of her, he couldn't handle being taunted anymore.
"I'm not a coward. And I'll prove it. Then I'll be better than you, and you'll suck as you always do!"
"Woah, calm down, you big little boy," there was nothing Bellatrix enjoyed more than to torture her relatives, especially that little prick of a cousin. "You know what? You speak so bravely about your views on the wizarding world with the family, why don't you try them out on this boy?"
"My… my views?" Sirius got confused for a second but that was enough to increase the smirk on that venomous girl's face.
"Aw, poor boy's already scared… not a true man, is he?"
That boy pulled himself together, straightened up, threw a last irritated look with a message of 'I'm better than you, and I'll show you that' behind it, then turned around and in one swift movement and opened the door.
"Hey!" he shouted.
The boy, who was still standing in the same place, turned around to look. The sad look hadn't left his face and Sirius really didn't want to do this, but he had to if he wanted a calm trip. He closed the door behind him and moved towards the figure near the window. As he did so, he realized, what a reputation it might bring him, on the very first day of school. He could imagine Bellatrix's smirking face behind all the bullies who called him names. Screw that, he had to finish what he started.
When he came closer to the boy, he noticed they were the same height. The blue look on the other boy's face was changed with indifference. He even stood up straighter. Sirius, somewhere in the back of his mind, suddenly felt a little uncertain. He shook every bit of hesitation out of his head and opened his mouth.
"I think, muggle-born wizards are as good as pure bloods, and sometimes even better. Pure blood families shouldn't look down on somebody because of blood status. Blood purity doesn't define a wizard or his ability to do magic. And…" Sirius stopped to take a breath, but the boy continued for him.
"And it's very conservative, intolerant, disrespectful and inhuman to think otherwise. And unsafe. Did you know that if you have children with your blood relatives, you can get side effects and the body might not accept or damage the fetus? And that should happen to all those so called pure blooded families, who think opposite to you, because there are not many of true purebloods left, and they could end up with not that far relatives. When more open minded people would avoid the problem by simply having a way wider variety to choose from." Sirius was so taken aback by this, he was staring at the boy as if it was the first time he had ever seen him. It took some time for him to compose himself.
"You… you… you're…. you're a pureblood?" he choked out, at last.
The boy smiled. "Yes, I am. Definitely. And you… most likely are, too?"
"Yes. What's your name?"
"James. James Potter."
"Oh. Potter…" Sirius had a distinct feeling he has heard the surname from his parents as an example of something bad, but he couldn't quite remember exactly what that argument was about. He liked the boy already and if his parents thought it wrong, the better. He smiled back.
"I'm Sirius. Sirius Black."
"Oh. Black…" James said Sirius' surname exactly the same way the latter had, with the first one having a slight smirk on his face. Sirius laughed, first heartfelt and true laugh in a long while. He felt this guy wasn't as petty as Bellatrix thought and he would show it to everyone.
"Hey, can I sit in your compartment?"
"Yeah, of course, I just haven't found one yet."
"Let's find one then."
He cast one last look at his cousins' compartment and saw Andromeda's sad eyes. They were begging not to leave her alone in that company. Sirius hesitated for a few seconds. He didn't want to leave his favorite cousin there with that beast, but he couldn't think of a natural way to take her together. Then he remembered how that sick Bellatrix behaved and the rage was burning through his insides again. 'There you go,' he thought. Got what you wanted.'
'Now it's my time to have a calm trip.' So, he turned around with his head held high, and caught up with James and together they found an almost empty compartment. There was only one student, a girl with flaming red hair. As all the other compartments were full, they shrugged and got in. The girl that was sitting by the window and didn't pay any attention to new comers, so they decided she didn't mind them coming and made themselves comfortable. Sirius thought he heard a sob coming from the girl when they were sitting down, and putting away their luggage, but he decided not to pay attention. Maybe it was harsh leaving but he had no idea how he could comfort her even if he let her know he knew she was crying. His minds drifted to another person he had seen crying today.
Regulus, his own little brother, wanted to go together with him. Sirius' heart broke to leave him with their parents, alone. But he had to be strong for them both. He promised letters with all the stories that, Regulus was sure, would happen to him there, at school. He thought about his parents' cold faces when they reminded him to make them proud and be a good student and not let Slytherin house's name down. Deep down he hoped he wouldn't get sorted into that house, even though, there was little hope, so he just scowled at them but kept silent. Parting was hard enough because of his little brother, he definitely didn't need any more drama. Sirius' stomach shriveled at the thought of him alone with those horrible people. All his life he was there to cover up and stand up for him, when parents thought their behavior didn't match their blood. He remembered once, when they were younger, his mother used a bone-burning curse on him, when he took all the blame for running around with muggle-made pair of wings with his little brother. Sirius shivered slightly at the memory. When he thought about it, it should have been his father that did that, he was straight furious, but he didn't even manage to murmur more than a few curses out of those moustache covered lips on his flat and fat face. His mother always had been the one in action, when it came to giving out punishments for all the rogueries they planned and did. And it was their mother they had always been careful not to be caught by. Father was slightly slow and sometimes couldn't notice what happened right under his nose. So even after that memorable night, when Regulus cried in his room so loud Sirius could hear through the walls, they didn't stop pulling pranks together. And Sirius was the one who initiated every single one just to piss off their parents. Not once he was punished like when they were caught playing with muggle kids living nearby. That made their mother exceptionally mad and furious. And yet, especially when all the cousins would visit them, he and Andromeda would always team-up against Bellatrix.
He remembered them hiding behind a corner while Andromeda, who was metamorphmagus, changed herself to look like a zombie and when Bella got close Sirius made a terrible shriek of horror and Andromeda showed herself. Soon Sirius' yelling was supplemented by Bella's screams. The only people their team wouldn't touch were Regulus and Narcissa as they had a silent and calm friendship and just wanted to avoid trouble.
Sirius was always the one, who caused trouble, and made his mother, the proud pure-blood Walburga Black, sigh and have headaches. He was always the first one to argue with his parents every single time the topic of any unfairness and equality issues came along. His energy and cold fury inside him, which made him more motivated to cause trouble every time he was caught, was dearly though silently admired by Regulus. In that house, he stood out like the sun in the dead, dark, shadowy and misty forest covered in cobwebs. Forests like that always make every single sun's attempt to shine through the hopeless by totally destroying it. So, Sirius family tried to do that to him. With age, punishments became crueler and crueler. But he never backed away and always faced the storm of rage for them both. But now there was no one at home to protect Regulus, and Sirius was considerably worried. He thought about Andromeda sitting in a compartment with Bellatrix's gang, alone, teased non-stop.
He left it all behind. A new age was beginning for him. All for him to own and mold. And this guy, that was rambling about his own life before, while all these thoughts roamed in Sirius' head, was the reason why he was where he was and would be. He felt that. This guy changed everything. At first Sirius talked very little, only answered to questions shortly or gave reactions, because the girl's presence made him uncomfortable, but soon he got used to it and paid no attention at all, when they both started to joke and roar with laughter and mock anyone, who passed the door. It felt as if he had found his soul mate because no one before had gotten his jokes that well, even Andromeda. James didn't ask about his family, he understood from the short answers earlier that it wasn't a pleasant topic for Sirius. It was easy for them to get along, as they both had some part of genius in them. It seemed that they thought alike and they were both in wonder why they hadn't met earlier.
When the view behind the windows became greener with wide valleys and no houses at all, they were talking about the funny adventures they had had so far, when the door opened and a crouched boy with shoulder length, dirty hair in the school uniform slid in and sat in front of the girl. At first the boys exchanged weird glances, clearly hinting at the newcomer's appearance. But as he looked their age and didn't do anything to them yet, they decided not to pay attention, just as the girl had done with them.
The girl and the new boy seemed to be familiar with each other, as they started talking, as Sirius could hear with half of an ear listening to them. He was sure James was doing the same, as their laughter and loud comments ceased a little and they carried only a casual conversation, while following other kids' one alongside.
They soon started talking about school. The newcomer said, "You'd better be in Slytherin."
Sirius just frowned, not wanting to show they were listening and said nothing. But James wasn't as cautious.
"Slytherin?" he said, now openly looking at them. "Who wants to be in Slytherin? I think I'd leave, wouldn't you?" The boy looked back at Sirius, who didn't show any emotion he had expected to get from his little joke.
"My entire family has been in Slytherin," it was the first thing he had said to this topic, without asking and trying to pull it out of him.
"Blimey," said James. "And I thought you seemed all right!"
This at last made Sirius grin. "Maybe I'll break the tradition. What house would you choose, if you got the chance?" he asked.
"Gryffindor, where dwell the brave at heart! Like my dad." James answered while lifting an imaginary sword over his head. The other boy, with greasy hair that was talking to the redheaded girl made a small, disparaging noise. James heard.
"Got a problem with that?" he said turning to him.
"No," the boy answered, though the slight sneer made it clear what he was really thinking. "If you'd rather be brawny than brainy -"
Sirius couldn't stand any mockery of his new friend. "Where are you hoping to go, seeing as you're neither?" he interjected. The boy he was defending roared with laughter.
The redhead suddenly sat up, her cheeks slightly red and eyes showing nothing but dislike. She looked at both boys that sat opposite them.
"Come on, Severus, let's find a different compartment," James and Sirius found that particularly amusing.
"Ooooh…" they copied her lofty voice.
While the two kids were leaving, James tried to trip the black haired one, while he was passing him. "See ya, Snivellus!" he called and compartment's doors slammed shut.
Both boys started laughing. It took no time for them to start teasing and make fun of their ex companions.
"Did you see his face? Like somebody slammed a door shut right in his face!" James almost couldn't breathe, not to mention talk, though, somehow, he managed to get this comment out of his mouth.
"And his nose… like a hook! It's so long, I wonder how he eats soup…" at first Sirius tried to stifle his laugh, but it was no use.
In a few minutes, when they still couldn't stop, it looked like the whole compartment shook from their loud laughter.
Then mocking of the girl began. James was so enthusiastic and so into this newfound amusement he didn't notice, how he began almost admiring her features. At first Sirius thought he was talking sarcastically. But when it did not stop, he ceased his laugher to small giggling at times and only smirked mischievously at James. He patiently waited for him to realize and when a confused 'What?' came from him as a reaction, Sirius couldn't help himself but blow up out of laughter he had contained too long.
"You were talking good about that girl! You like her!" Sirius said when he finally caught his breath.
"No! I do not!" James crossed his arms in front of his chest, defensively. "But she looks good." he said after a moment of silence. "And her eyes are gorgeous." Sirius was trying his best to hold his laughter within again.
"And her hair is amazing. Have you ever seen that kind of color? It's not that simple red or ginger. It's fierce, like fire…" Sirius was nodding while biting his lower lip.
James said all this, while not looking into his companion's eyes. When after a longer pause they finally shared a glance, Sirius was on the brink of another explosion and there was nothing that could stop it. At first James silently and proudly watched him, but he couldn't hold against that power any longer. They were cracking up again, Sirius felt as happy as he never truly had.
It took quite a long while for them to calm down this time. They couldn't help but talk even more freely about everything. Sirius started to open up a bit about his relatives. It was still hard, and not because he thought James would laugh at him, or make fun, or not accept him as he is and refuse him for who he was born, but he had never told this to an outsider of the family. Andromeda knew the situation, but their discussions always ended up at the same point every time. 'What can you do about it? They will find you anyways. And then they will avenge. Or even kill you. You know, they wouldn't mind that.'
Regulus wasn't truly an equal in discussions. Sirius would do all the talking and Regulus would agree mesmerized by bravery of the words he spoke so carelessly in a household like theirs.
There was still a barrier of mistrust he needed to break between him and his new friend. James had already earned a lot of respect and trust from him but that was only enough to briefly touch the top of the iceberg that is his family and kin.
James, once again, had launched into a story from his eventful life, when Sirius mentioned something familiar and the doors opened loudly. Both boys turned their heads around and saw about six older and aggressive looking guys that were slightly surprised to see them in this compartment.
Silence got thicker and tenser with each moment that passed between them staring at each other. James put on his mask that showed only slight curiosity and clearly asked why they had to disturb them, and why they hadn't left yet, and sat up straighter. Sirius didn't move. He stayed half laying half sitting in the place he was and just glared at those in the doorway in a manner that stated, 'Get away and leave us alone.'
The one that was standing in the front started grinning unpleasantly and looked around his fellows that ceased whatever discussions they had before and just stared hard at these little kids in a compartment they had owned for quite a while now and nobody messed with their stuff. Sirius noticed green and blue ties in between and sat up. He knew this was not going to pass smoothly and swiftly. He was ready to fight them for such an interjection and he couldn't care less how old they were or how many of them there were. He knew James would have his back and was thinking along the same lines.
"Guys, look, who happened to be in our compartment!" the one that stood first, jeered at his fellows but not everyone grinned. He got serious, too. "Some silly, stupid first-years, I assume. Get out. Now." he said calmly, but cold furry could be felt behind outside's coolness.
"Why should we?" James asked, showing no interest in the newcomers or their possible intentions. Only polite curiosity could be heard and Sirius caught himself being slightly amazed by his great control over his emotions. He himself was already boiling inside, only strong will held him sitting.
"Oh, why should you? Because, little petty boy, it's our compartment, and if you won't get out now, you will have loads of problems, we won't be merciful just because you're so young. There are rules in this train, and you either obey or pay for not doing so."
"And who created those rules? You? Who are you to tell us what to do? Prefect? Teacher? Headmaster? Don't think so," Sirius tried to get at least a bit of his anger outside.
"I am older than you, dirty scum, don't you dare to jump at my eyes like this! You both get out or we'll make sure that you never forget this trip," the guy was flushed up too. He thought they would get scared and just run away, like every other first year. His fellows gripped wands in their pockets. It did not escape Sirius' sight neither did James'. They both stood up at the same moment and took ahold of their own. They had no idea how they should use them or what spell they could set, but a feeling of having something magical to hold onto in this situation helped to gain confidence that was highly needed.
"We came here first. You should have left something or someone to save you a place, clever boys."
"YOU BLOODY SNOTS, GET OUT OF HERE OR WE'LL CURSE YOU!" he pulled out a wand and pointed it at the boys. They did the same. The gang roared with laughter. James calmly looked at Sirius and their gazes met. Though both of their expressions were composed their eyes were frantic and confused. They had no idea what they were getting into or how it would end, and still, they both felt more comfortable because they were in this mess together. Same thought, of how they were only a few hours into their trip to school and already making trouble, made them both grin and they had to avert eyes to avoid laughter.
"Okay, you little bastards. Now you can get out. It's enough of fun. Go. Now."
"And if we don't want to?" Sirius was talking back as he always had, when somebody told him what to do. He wouldn't let that happen, especially here.
"You don't want to, little jackanapes?"
That was the last drop. Sirius charged forwards, not really sure how exactly he would murder the person in front of him, but he would surely try. He felt equally strong hands grasping his arm to stop him from doing that stupidity with a wand pointed at him.
"How did you call us?" James asked, quite silently, but with such controlled storm of rage behind, it could almost be felt radiating off of him. Sirius only glared.
"I called you by what you truly are, jackanapes. Scum. Snots. Choose which you like best." Sirius felt James' grasp tighten and he saw sideways his flushed cheeks, but he only narrowed his eyes at them. They both finally did the math and saw that there was no possibility of them getting away. Sirius was the first one to cool down. He touched James' hand and it immediately released him. He straightened up.
"If so, we shall let these little immature fellows have their toy, shan't we, James? Let's go."
James wasn't moving, he just stared through small orbs that were left out of his eyes from narrowing them so much. Sirius had to tug him for him to get back to reality. He looked rather displeased to be taken off his task of murdering with eyes, but agreed to follow Sirius out. They straightened up and proudly left the compartment. The gang was still behind the doors, all watching, in a mocking manner, them leaving, some even openly whispering and laughing.
When they were passing the last few members, they were both pushed. Sirius swung dangerously but held upright but James was pushed, most likely, harder and fell to the ground. When he saw what had been done, Sirius turned around absolutely furious, able to punch every face there, but James got on his legs quickly and dragged him further away.
They were silent at first, desperately searching for a new place to stay. But they weren't from the most silent people, so soon enough, when they kept passing full compartments, one after another, they started to rant away about the bastards that made them leave their comfortable and, most importantly, empty compartment.
They didn't even notice how they reached almost the very end of the train. And then they finally found an almost empty compartment. Only one student was sleeping in the corner. His coat was pulled up to half of his face and his back faced the door. After a very short debate they decided it was enough of searching and came in. The guy in the corner didn't move or react to their coming at all. James and Sirius made themselves comfortable and continued talking about anything and everything. At first they tried to speak silently, as to not to wake their companion, but as he gave no reaction at all, soon it got back to its usual loudness and laughter. And when the companion gave no reaction again, they got absolutely comfortable, and their loud voices, almost shouting, could be heard even through closed doors of the compartment.
It was one of the pauses, when they tried to catch their breath, after one particularly hard laughter attack. For the first time, since they let themselves be loud, it was completely silent. That's when they heard muffled sounds of wails, not a pleasant laughter, muffled, too, and some heavy crashing sounds against the wall. Smiles that were left from their laughter attack faded away immediately. They both could see the concern on each other's faces.
"Should we?" James asked hesitantly, although he tried to make it look nonchalant. But the other guy already knew him way too well to know the difference.
Sirius stood up quickly. There was no question. "Yes. We should."
James then stood up as well, with a matching serious expression and they opened the door of the compartment. The laughter and wails got immediately louder. They looked around. On the right side, a bit further to the corridor, a few older students were pushing one little guy, who looked like a first year, though, a really small one at that, who, tirelessly, every time after being pushed tried to get through them, unsuccessfully. The two boys that just got out of their compartment watched the scene for a few minutes. It didn't stop, and James silently whistled at the guy's determination. Sirius shared a quick glance, which ended with a nod and they marched towards the commotion scene. The closer they got the better they could hear the words that were said between the unpleasant, bullying laughter.
"You're too little to be a first year, how did you get on the train?"
"Look at him, as hopeless as a rat in a cave!"
"You could pick teeth with him, he's that skinny."
The little guy was pushed and this time hit the wall harder than before. Rage burned in Sirius' stomach, when he confronted the biggest of them all, who was twice as wide and thrice as tall as him.
"STOP IT! YOU COWARDS! HAVEN NOTHING ELSE TO DO! BLOODY SCUM!" he even felt higher from that absolute anger of unfairness.
Everyone turned around to see him cross the space that was left in one stride and stopped right in front of the main of the bullies. The fire was burning behind his eyes. James caught up only moments later.
"Couldn't help your low esteem and find a better partner for a fight? And you seem older and wiser than that, but I must have assumed wrong."
"Who are you, little fella, to talk to us? Another meek first year? Fancy to end up like that guy?" The main one said, and the others laughed behind him after those words.
Suddenly, back on the spotlight, the little first year tried to disappear into a wall and make himself look as small as possible. James threw one short look to him.
"Yeah, I'm a first year, but I'm pretty sure you're meeker than me, as I would never enjoy an unequal fight, it would get boring, unless you have a brain small enough to enjoy it." James truly, nonchalantly shrugged his shoulders and went to the little boy, while Sirius still stood quite close to the main of the gang frowning and throwing lightning from his eyes, stopping him from moving towards James or the other boy with his body as he was used to covering up his brother from his parents. He heard whispering behind his back and in a few moments James was back at his side, helping the little one walk.
"What the hell do you think you're doing?!" The big guy in front of them shouted, losing his confidence a little.
"Such a dumbass like yourself would never understand," Sirius sneered.
"WHAT DID YOU JUST SAY?!"
"Save your voice. You'll need it explaining yourself if a teacher ever finds out, little cowardly quim."
That seemed to be enough to shut the mouth of the bully guy, though it was obvious he would have liked to slap all of them to the ground. He stared hard at the both of them, Sirius with his eyes slightly squinted, daring to do anything that would let him run to the nearest teacher, James with a calm expression, but behind his eyes was dancing a little flame of derision. The older guy realized, this time he wouldn't get away if he continued, so he promised himself to get back at these bloody and obtrusive youngsters. He turned around and, after murmuring for everyone that the show was over, left the corridor and got into a compartment.
Sirius didn't move from the spot, he was standing squinting after the gang, until they had disappeared. Then he in few quick strides caught up to James and helped the little fellow from the other side of his friend move forward. When they reached their compartment, they asked his name.
"P-p-p…" he took a deep breath, steadying his shaky breath.
"It's okay, you don't have to be afraid of us."
Sirius tried to smile reassuringly, though all he got from that was a weird grimace that James couldn't help but snicker at. The boy smiled too and talked slightly freer than before.
"It's Peter. And… and I-I-I'm not afraid of y-y-yo-you."
"That's good to know," James threw a smirk at Sirius.
The little boy, now Peter, looked like he could burst out of happiness, that these two cool guys accepted him, though, he was too shy to show it openly, but it affected his talking. He could hardly talk without stuttering but that was to blame on way too much excitement. James and Sirius didn't give up and after a while they got him laughing. Sirius let himself look fondly towards Peter, once in a while, and in one of those times he promised himself to look after this little boy, he didn't look like the one who could manage to hold up against the world's unfairness alone. Sirius relaxed again, and it immediately got funnier inside their compartment with the sleeping companion.
At first Peter was really uncomfortable speaking loudly with someone sleeping nearby, but other first years' behavior let him do the same. They talked about nothing and everything, not noticing at all what was going on behind the window. The scenery got darker and darker, and rain started washing down the windows. Lights were turned on and only then did they all notice how dark it really was outside.
They started wandering if they should put on school robes or if there was enough time left to postpone it a little. That's when a soft two-time knock came from the other side of their compartment's door.
All boys (that were awake) shared a confused glance, and then with a shrug James called, "Come in."
The door slid open just enough to poke in a head, and then just a little more, so they could see a girl, in school robes already, with a huge smile on her face. James smirked at her at once, but Sirius only frowned. He couldn't trust people, who smiled this big for no reason, although she seemed honest.
"Hey guys! Hello! I'm Mary, your fellow first year! You're first years, yeah? I'm so excited to get to know everyone! You look so amazing! Oh God, I'm sorry, I didn't really mean to say that! I'm so sorry, I just… Urgh! Anyways! You should change your amazing clothes to these black drapes! We're arriving! And we're quite close! The driver said we'll be there in less than twenty minutes! Can you believe it?! I can't wait to see the school! It should be fantastic! I hope there will be tasty food! What house are you in? Wait a second, you don't know, yes, you're first years as me. I'm so sorry, I guess I'm bothering you… Okay, I won't disturb you anymore! Just change your clothes and we'll be there in a blink! I can't believe it! Okay, okay, bye bye, we'll meet there! Bye! Goodbye! Have a nice evening! What am I talking about, twenty minutes left! May it be nice! Goodbye!" The doors closed.
The guys looked at each other with utter confusion and amazement written all over their features. And then a wave of laughter erupted. They just couldn't stop it, it came rolling all over again and again.
"What… was THAT?" James finally caught his breath enough to ask through the giggles.
"No idea!" Sirius was still laughing. Peter had reached that laughing state, where you couldn't even take a breath and your laugh becomes soundless.
It took some more time for them to finally calm down fully and process what the girl had said. Then they decided to wake their companion. He opened one eye, showed them his hand, which was already in robes, and turned away to sleep further. Sirius that stood the closest just shrugged and left him alone.
While imitating, and failingly attempting to impersonate her, they got their robes on, while still laughing slightly. Just on time, because when they sat down again, they felt the train slowing down and on all of their faces were full of the same excitement and happiness.
Sirius' heart skipped a beat. This is it. There it comes. A new beginning. With new people, new opinions, new walls to explore. More inspiration for mischiefs. He shared a long look with James, and then with Peter, and realized that they were feeling something very similar. And something else he read in those looks. He has people to back him up on this new beginning. He knew now, he had someone to lean on, he doesn't have to take everything on himself alone anymore. And he was grateful beyond words for these two kids that were going to change his life forever, he was sure of it.
Things that differ from canon:
*The Black sisters' ages
**Andromeda being a metamorphmagus