Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter. Not at all. That's it. No more. Good-bye. The end. Any questions? Speaking of questions:

A/N: I've been getting a lot of questions about the thief. Unfortunately, the thief himself is relatively unimportant. The only real relevant things are that Sirius immediately helped James, and Mr. Potter's speech.

Chapter Three: All Aboard The Hogwarts Express

His trunk was packed, his broom was lonely in it's shed, and his brand new owl, Bandit, was in his cage.

James Potter was ready to go to Hogwarts.

"James, dear, quickly!" his mother called from downstairs, "We'll be late!"

James hurried downstairs, where his mother and father were waiting.

"Now, dear, are you sure you don't want to change your mind?" Mrs. Potter asked, hopefully.

"We're not using Floo Powder are we?" he asked, apprehensively.

"No, no," Mr. Potter held out his arm, "Grab on now. Quickly!"

James hesitated and grabbed his father's sleeve. The world seemed to be spinning around him. Then, everything went black. He felt as though he was in a dark box, with the walls closing around him. He couldn't breathe!

Then, shakily, he landed next to his parents. Looking around, he saw that he was in King's Cross Station.

"I…I Apparated?" he gasped.

"Side-Along Apparation," his mother nodded, "You did quite well for your age, dear. Many people fell nauseous."

James could see why. His stomach seemed to be rolling, "I definitely prefer brooms," he muttered. His parents laughed and led him into the station and marched towards a brick wall between Platforms 9 and 10.

"Okay James," Mrs. Potter said, "All you need to do is walk straight through the wall, between those platforms.

"W…what?" James cried, in disbelief.

"Trust us, son," Mr. Potter said, "You need to go, quickly!"

James hesitated, but knew that he was running out of time. He grabbed his trolley and walked towards the barrier. He closed his eyes and broke out into a run. He was going to crash any second now. Faster and faster he ran until:

"Watch it!"

He collided with something very solid and went flying over his trolley, landing on the hard ground. Dazed, he opened his eyes, to see a familiar, grinning face next to him.

"I'd hoped that we'd run into each other at Hogwarts," Sirius Black grinned, "I guess you should be careful what you wish for!"

"Sorry," James gasped, "I was trying to get into Platform 9 ¾. My mum and dad said to run at the barrier and I must've lost control and…"

"Calm down!" Sirius laughed, helping James up, "You made it, didn't you?"

James gave a start, and then looked around. He was on a platform surrounded by witches and wizards, as evidenced by their clothing. A large, scarlet, train was waiting for him, underneath a sign that said: Platform 9 ¾.

"I made it," James repeated, grinning.

"Well done," Sirius said, sarcastically, "Though next time, might I suggest opening your eyes, before you get squashed by the train!"

The two laughed, just as James's parents walked through the barrier.

"Alright, James?" Mr. Potter said.

Sirius grinned, "Let's just say he came in with a bang."

"Oh! Hello there, Sirius, dear!" Mrs. Potter beamed.

"How was the rest of your summer, son?" Mr. Potter asked.

"Fine, Mr. Potter," Sirius mumbled, embarrassed.

There was then a mixture of tears, hugs, and good-byes. As appreciative, and embarrassed, as James was, he wished they would stop. He couldn't see Sirius's parents anywhere, and had a feeling that they hadn't accompanied him at all. However, even Sirius somehow managed to find himself being hugged and fussed over by the Potters'. Finally, James and Sirius's trunks were heaved up into a shared compartment.

"Now you are going to stay in the compartment until you reach Hogwarts, right dear? No wondering off," his mother insisted, worried.

James promised. There was more hugs and more farewells and then suddenly Mr. and Mrs. Potter were gone. Sirius and James had just settled back onto the benches when something caught James's eye. Out on the platform, a pudgy boy was bawling.

"Sirius, look," James pointed.

The two hesitated, checked their time, and opened the compartment door, slipping out onto the platform.

"What's wrong?" James asked, abashed, as the boy's sobs grew louder.

"M…my teddy!" the boy blubbered, "A…g…gang of S…Slytherins…stole it!"

He pointed to a large willow.

"So why don't you just get it?" James pressed.

"A…afraid of…heights," the boy squeaked.

James rolled his eyes, "C'mon, Sirius."

The two went over to the tree. Sirius gave James a boost. He carefully climbed up, weaving in and out of branches. A whistle sounded nearby.

James had just managed to grab hold of the ratted stuffed animal, when the branch gave away. He fell to the ground, bouncing. Sirius helped him up.

The two suddenly froze. They had suddenly noticed how quiet it was. Then a second whistle rang out and a chugging noise could be heard.

"The train!" James moaned. It was slowly pulling out of the station.

"Run for it!" Sirius roared. The two raced as fast as they could. Sirius jumped and just managed to grab onto a handrail at the very back of the train, getting his footing.

The train was speeding up now. James ran as fast as he could. He jumped just as the train raced through a tunnel.

James tried to find his footing, but with a strangled yell he fell.

"James!"

Someone had grabbed him. As they sped out of the tunnel, James saw that he was literally hanging off of the train. Sirius was holding onto him, straining.

"Hold on!" Sirius yelled.

"What else am I supposed to do?" James bellowed back.

Grunting, Sirius managed to pull James up, just as the train reached full speed. The two grabbed onto the handle of the end door, pulled it, and fell into a small hallway, panting.

"You alright?" Sirius gasped.

"I think so. Thanks for that."

"Don't mention it," Sirius wheezed.

The two stood up, shakily. James peered through a window of a compartment, and saw Peter Pettigrew sitting alone, the rest of the compartment filled with sweets from the trolley. James wrenched open the door, "Here's your blasted bear!" he snapped, chucking it at Peter.

Without waiting for a response, he and Sirius set off towards their compartment.

They had just reached it when Sirius stopped James, "Listen."

From the compartment to their right, they heard someone sneer, "Oh, so you're just a filthy Mudblood!"

Without hesitating, James opened the door. Several large, beastly, Slytherins were towering over a girl. For a second James couldn't breathe. She was beautiful. Her long, dark red, hair fell to the center of her back. Her eyes were almond-shaped, beautifully green, and filled with tears.

Finding his voice, James said, "Did I hear someone use the "M" word?"

One of the Slytherins looked over towards him, "Yeah, don't you know that this compartment is filled with the stench of Mudblood?"

James sniffed, "Yeah, you're right. I do smell something."

Sirius also sniffed, "Yeah I smell it too. I just thought it was from the Dungbombs."

"What Dungbombs?" a blond-haired boy said, coolly.

"Why, the ones that we're about to throw of course," James said pleasantly. He and Sirius took half a dozen out of their pockets and threw them in all directions. Grabbing the girl's hand, the two ran for it just as the compartment exploded in a cloud of golden smoke.

"Thank you," the girl said. James turned red.

Sirius grinned, "My name's Sirius Black. And this here is my mate, James Potter. Looks like he fancies you."

"Wha…I…no," James stammered, "I mean not that you're…I just…d'you want to come back to our compartment?"

The girl hesitated before nodding, "Yes, please. And my name's Lily. Lily Evans."

The three went into the compartment and sat down.

"You two look like you ran a marathon," Lily commented.

James didn't know what a marathon was, but he nodded, "Yeah, we had to catch the bloody train."

They told Lily what happened, excited to have an audience. Lily was only half-listening, her face pressed against the window. They had just gotten to the part where James jumped when the door opened again.

A greasy-haired boy with a hooked nose, sallow skin, and cold eyes came in. He saw Lily and marched over. The two started muttering something about Lily's sister.

"You'd better be in Slytherin," they heard the boy say after a minute.

"Slytherin?" James spoke up, "Who wants to be in Slytherin? I think I'd leave, wouldn't you?"

He looked at Sirius grinning, but Sirius didn't return the smile.

"My whole family have been in Slytherin," he said.

"Blimey," said James, "And I thought you seemed all right!"

Sirius grinned.

"Maybe I'll break the tradition. Where are you heading, if you've got the choice?"

James lifted an invisible sword.

"'Gryffindor, where dwell the brave at heart!' Like my dad!"

The boy made a small, disparaging noise. James turned on him.

"Got a problem with that?"

"No," said the boy, though his slight sneer said otherwise. "If you'd rather be brawny than brainy—"

"Where're you hoping to go, seeing as you're neither?" interjected Sirius. James roared with laughter. Lily sat up, rather flushed, and looked from James to Sirius in dislike.

"Come on, Severus, let's find another compartment."

"Oooooo. . . "

James and Sirius imitated her lofty voice; James tried to trip Severus as he passed.

"See ya, Snivellus!" Sirius called, as the compartment door slammed.

Roaring with laughter, the two sat back, enjoying the rest of the trip. By the time the train slowed down, the sun had set and stars were twinkling against the black sky.

Pulling on his robes, James found that his legs had turned to lead, and his stomach into jelly. What if he was in Slytherin with that greasy haired git?

"Coming?" Sirius called. James realized that the train had stopped completely.

He nodded, stepping off onto the platform. Students were busy hurrying in all directions. James realized that he had no idea what he was supposed to do. Judging Sirius's face, he didn't either. Then, a loud, booming, voice echoed across the platform.

"Firs' years, budge up now! O'er here! All firs' years!"

James and Sirius didn't mean to be rude, but they couldn't help it when their jaws dropped. A giant man was coming their way. He looked at least five times as tall as James. He had wild, black hair that covered most of his face. He wore a giant moleskin coat.

Peering down at James, he smiled, "Hullo there James! Don't 'spect you 'member me, eh? Nah, I know y'er father 'course, but you was a lot smaller the las' time I was at your house!"

James swallowed, "Who are you?" he whispered, before hastily adding, "Sir?"

The giant chuckled, "No need to call me, "sir". Me name's Rubeus Hagrid. 'Been instructed to get you lot o'er to the castle. FIRST YEARS!"

When Hagrid had collected all of the first years, he escorted them down a long, winding, path. They finally came to the edge of a large, black, lake. Several rowboats were waiting for them. James and Sirius scrambled into a rowboat. To their disappointment, Peter Pettigrew climbed in next to them. He was still clutching his bear.

"FORWARD!" Hagrid roared. The boats sped off across the lake.

Then, everyone gasped. They were staring at a magnificent castle, sitting high upon a cliff. Welcoming light blazed from thousands of windows. Large towers and turrets rose from it. It was beautiful and entrancing.

James was so exhausted, that the next few moments passed in a blur. He was aware that the boats landed, and that he was being led through a large pair of double oak doors. There, they were met by a tall, stern-looking woman wearing emerald green robes and a matching pointed hat, that sat on top of a tight bun.

"Thank you, Hagrid. Students, my name is Professor McGonagall."

Professor McGonagall then went into a very long lecture about Hogwarts. James hardly listened; he was too worn out.

"…and then you will be sorted," Professor McGonagall finished, "Although, for some of you, a sorting hardly seems necessary."

She peered at Sirius, who swallowed but stared right back.

They were then led into the Great Hall. It was a mark of how weary James was, because he hardly noticed that the ceiling resembled the night sky, or the thousands of floating candles. He barely even remembered any of the Sorting Hat's song. In fact, he only snapped to attention when he heard the hat call:

"Black, Sirius."

Filled with dread, James watched as Sirius sat on the stool. He had said that his entire family had been in Slytherin.

The hat was dropped onto Sirius's head.

"Another Black, eh?" James heard.

"GET OUT OF MY HEAD!" Sirius shrieked. Several people laughed.

There was a long pause. James squirmed.

"Well I know just where to put you," the hat finally said.

Then:

"Gryffindor!"

"YES!" Sirius roared. He jumped up and came face-to-face with Professor McGonagall, "HA!" he screamed in her face. He then proceeded to half-dance/half-skip over to where James was standing, giving him a high-five.

He then stopped, suddenly, his smile fading into an expression of horror, "I am so dead," he whispered, dreadfully, going over to the Gryffindor table.

James saw with delight that Lily Evans was also made a Gryffindor. He was shocked to find out that Peter Pettigrew was one, as well. Then:

"Potter, James."

James swallowed and walked up to the stool. The hat was dropped over his head.

"Ah, yes, Mr. Potter," a voice whispered, "Noble and brave. Willing to sacrifice himself for not only his friends, but strangers he has not yet met. And willing to admit that he is not without fear. Yes, Mr. Potter. I think that you'll be best in: GRYFFINDOR!"

James cheered with the rest and ran over to sit next to Sirius. The two laughed, talking excitedly. When the sorting was finished, Professor Dumbledore stood up.

"There is much to be said, but nothing that can't wait until after we…eat!"

Their plates filled up with delicious food. James had just started to dig in when the doors to the Great Hall opened.

A nurse came in, followed by a small, thin-looking boy, in scruffy looking robes. He was very pale, and even James could see the scars on his face. In fact, James realized, everyone else seemed to be staring at the boy.

Sirius seemed to be reading his thoughts, "It looks like he's walking the death row instead of getting sorted," he whispered.

The boy, sensing that everyone was looking at him, stopped. He looked nervous beyond comparison; before whispering to no one in particular, "Hello."

Sirius and James glanced at each other, jumped up, and skipped over to the boy.

"Why hello there!" Sirius cried, excitedly shaking the boy's hand.

"Nice to meet you!" James boomed, animatedly, patting the boy on the back.

The boy froze, "What're you doing? Everyone's looking!"

"They were looking anyway," James muttered, grinning, "We're just giving the something to look at!"

They grabbed the boy by the elbows and skipped down the aisle to the stool.

The boy sat down and the hat deemed him a Gryffindor.

James and Sirius cheered and whooped, radically.

"Brilliant!" James grinned, "So, what's your name, newbie?"

"Remus Lupin," the boy muttered.

"Nice to meet you, Remus," James said kindly, "I'm James Potter."

"Lupin," the boy mumbled, "You can call me Lupin."

Sirius nodded, "And you can call me Lord Sirius of the Blacks, the Awesome, Valiant, and Ultimately Triumphant of all Pixies."

He held a serious expression for about half a minute, before cracking up, along with James. Even Lupin managed to chuckle.

As the boys dug into their food, laughing, and enjoying themselves, James felt that he had found a new home and a new family.