Chapter Text
Sirius wandered through the bustling streets of King’s Cross Station, his hair brushing against his shoulders as he walked with pride, Peter tagging along behind him, trying to catch up to the taller boy.
“Sirius, wait!” Peter lisped, breathing heavily as he struggled to lug his suitcase behind him.
He chuckled, “Come on, it’s right there!” Sirius began to form a jog as they both reached the wall between platform 9 and 10, “You first, Pete. Well go on then, get a move on!”
Peter began to sprint towards the wall, going as fast as his short legs could get him. Sirius grinned, quickly taking in his surroundings before following the other boy through the wall. He felt a sense of belonging as he saw the Hogwarts train right in front of him once again.
Sirius had been at Hogwarts for 3 years now, but every time just got better and better, plus it meant getting away from his horrid parents for a few months.
The train doors opened and Peter stumbled on, Sirius following behind him, frantically looking around the train to find his best friend. As the two strolled down the train aisle, they looked in each window to search for their friend. Just as they were about to look in the next window, a boy from three carriages down poked his head out of the door, “Wormtail! Pads!”
Sirius’s face lit up with excitement, “Prongs!” He pushed past Peter, who was going far too slow for his liking, and jumped at his best friend, James. They hugged and James chuckled, not expecting Sirius to be so ecstatic to see him.
“God, you’re awfully cheery considering you had to wake up early this morning” James pulled away from the hug and softly smiled at Sirius.
James opened the door for Sirius and he jumped into the seat, “Been missing ya, Prongs!”
Peter also sat down next to James, who sat opposite to Sirius, “Oh come on, Padfoot. You know that’s not the only reason you’re this happy..” Pete interrupted.
James’s eyebrows raised, “Ooooh… has someone had a bit of a summer fling?”
“No!” Sirius’s face began to turn a bright pink, “I mean, no… don’t be silly James”
The train began to move as Sirius gradually sank lower in his seat.
“Well then, who is she?” James asked. He couldn’t help but be nosey, it was in his nature. Which is why Sirius had no intention of bringing up what had happened that summer.
Peter chimed in, “Yeah Pads, who is she? Is she pretty?”
“Drop it, okay? I shouldn’t have said anything, Pete, I knew you wouldn’t be able to keep a secret” Sirius was growing upset. The other two boys had no clue why, and had no intention of asking him what was wrong. Peter and James shrugged at each other, signalling to stop talking about it.
Sirius looked out of the train window, his chin resting against the palm of his hand. The carriage was silent for the next couple of minutes, until a woman came by, “Anything from the trolley dears?”
Peter dug around in his pockets in an attempt to find some spare cash, “I’ll take… a pumpkin pasty! Ooh, and a chocolate frog please.”
The woman dug around on the trolley and handed Pete his food in exchange for two gallions, “Anything for you two boys?”
James shook his head, “I’m alright thank you. Pads?”
“Oh, no, I’m fine thanks” Sirius fixed his posture and forced a smile.
When the woman had left, both James and Peter were staring at him. Sirius noticed this immediately and rolled his eyes, “Fine,” he peeked his head out of the carriage to make sure no one was listening, and locked the door, “you really want to know what happened?”
“Yes!” James exclaimed.
Sirius tried to hide his smile, “Alright, but you’ve got to promise not to laugh, Prongs”
“You know I can’t promise that, mate” The other boy laughed. Peter was too focused on his pumpkin pasty to notice what was going on anymore.
“Well, I met this…” Sirius hesitated, “girl. I was walking along the beach and we caught eyes. She gave me the most sincere and beautiful smile, and we swam in the ocean together, it was so romantic, Prongs. And then, just before I had to go, he… I mean she, sorry. She um… kissed me.”
James looked at the other boy, not believing a word Sirius just told him, “What was this girl’s name?”
Sirius tried not to panic, and just played it off, “Her name was… Belinda”
There was an outburst of laughter from James, “Belinda!? God, Pads, I knew you were desperate, but I didn’t think you’d go as far as making up an imaginary girlfriend”
“She’s not made up! Just because you haven’t felt the touch of a woman in years… and your mother doesn’t count”
James stopped laughing.
Sirius tried to hide the grin that was spreading across his face, as did James. He didn’t want to find it funny as Sirius had just insulted him, but within seconds the two boys were cackling like a pair of intoxicated witches.
Once they had composed themselves, Sirius wiped the tears from his eyes and sighed, happily.
“It’s okay, Padfoot, I support you and your girlfriend. So, is she in the room with us now?” James grinned, proud of himself.
Sirius playfully punched the younger boy, “Shut up, James” he rolled his eyes, not impressed by James’s idiotic jokes.
The two exchanged banter throughout the rest of the train journey, whilst Peter fell asleep, his cheek pressed against the wall, until a girl attempted to open the door.
The lock made a clicking sound as Sirius unlocked it, and the ginger girl opened the door, “Hagrid told me to let you all know that we’ll be arriving in 10 minutes, he says you probably aren’t in your robes yet… and I see he’s correct. McGonagall will be upset if you arrive at school not in uniform, so I’d hurry if I were you”
“Got it, thanks, uh…” Sirius began, glancing over at James who was in a world of his own looking at the girl.
She held out her hand to Sirius, “Lily, Lily Evans” Sirius shook her hand and sat down.
“Right, thanks Lily” He smiled.
Lily smiled in return, and stood patiently awaiting the other boys to introduce themselves.
“Oh, that’s James Potter, and that’s Peter Pettigrew…” Sirius explained, knowing James wouldn’t say anything.
Lily raised her eyebrows, “The famous James Potter? A troublemaker I hear… Well, nonetheless. I’ll see you boys in the great hall I’m sure… in your robes!”
“Of course, thanks Lily” Sirius watched her leave the carriage and walk down the train aisle, waiting until she was gone.
James’s eyes were fixed on her until she disappeared, “Oi! Loverboy!” Sirius waved his hand in front of James’s face, and he snapped out of his daze.
The younger boy’s mouth slowly formed a mischievous grin, picking up his robes from the overhead bin and strutting towards the door, “Maybe I will feel the touch of a woman soon…”
Sirius looked concerned, “I wouldn’t bet on it!” He yelled down the train aisle as James skipped away to the toilet to get changed.
Sirius slumped in his chair, “Merlin, that boy is a troublemaker”