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Chapter 1 - Year One: The Train
James Potter had boarded the train, his small frame walking down the hallway. His glasses hanging off his tan nose, and his glasses were round and big on him. His brown eyes scurried for an empty or nearly empty department. He was looking for an opportunity to make new friends. He was pureblood but not caring about the blood status as many of the new and old students do.
James found a small compartment with a boy in it. He had shaggy long black hair. His eyes were dark looking not in color but in emotion as if the boy was scared. In fact, the boy's eyes were a light grey.
James knocked on the door and opened it, “Can I sit?”
The boy looked up his voice confident but weak at the same moment, “Yeah sure.”
James sat down and gave him a soft smile his slightly crooked teeth showing, “I’m James Potter.”
The boy placed his hand out, “I'm Sirius Black.”
Sirius's eyes looked James up and down ashamed of the thoughts that followed the action. The tan boy was pretty but Sirius isn't supposed to find boys pretty. He moved his hand away from James after a moment scared for more of those thoughts. Sirius was made aware from a young age to ignore those disgusting thoughts. He had learned his lesson after he told his mother when he was six about a boy he thought was pretty.
James spoke softly, “As in the noble Blacks?”
Sirius held his breath his moment close to making a friend slowly slipping from his grip, “I mean yes but I know there's a difference then what they think.”
James smile returned, “Well I've just heard some horror stories about the house of black.”
James had heard how the blacks had kept their line pure. Most of the family had married each other. They were all pureblood supremacist. There were rumors of how the children were beaten to shape their values. Rumors of how unforgivable curses were used on members.
Sirius swallowed hard. He knew he had to keep certain aspects of his life secret, “There are stories and rumors.”
Before James could ask him any more questions Peter Pettgriew walked in. Peter was a friend of James they lived semi-nearby. His family was also pure blood but they didn't make it a huge spectacle but here and there would remind someone of the family blood status. Peter was plus size his dirty blonde hair was short. He was a bit different than James his hair wasn't messy like James he was more put together with his outfits and appearance.
Peter looked at James giving him a puppy dog look and a sad smile, “There’s not many open seats.”
Sirius and James looked at each other and nodded as if the boys had read each other's minds. The pair spoke at the same time, “Sit here.”
The three of them laughed and Peter sat down across from Sirius and besides James. James spoke, “Sirius this is my friend Peter. He lives a few roads away.”
Sirius looked at the two boys, “So you grew up together huh?”
James smiled and looked at Peter as he nodded, “There are four of us. Barty Crouch jr, me, Peter, and Marlene McKinnon. Barty will be joining us next year. He’s pretty funny.”
Sirius smiled, “That's a lot of friends. My brother will be joining next year.”
Peter spoke his voice soft and quiet, “Is he excited to go?”
Sirius shrugged, “Kinda he’s nervous about the sorting ceremony.”
Before the boy's conversion could continue there was a crash in the doorway. A small boy sat on the ground picking himself up and hollering, “This is why you're not loved. I hate you.”
The short boy stood and turned around he wore loose clothing his brown hair a mess from the fall. His eyes had bags underneath as if he hadn't slept in days. The boy sat beside Sirius, “Alright if I sit?”
The group nodded.
The boy spoke again, “I'm Remus Lupin.”
The rest of the group introduced themselves catching Remus up to speed.
Sirius started a new topic, “What house are you hoping to get sorted into?”
Remus shrugged, “I don't really care. I don't find it important.”
Peter spoke next his voice covered with desperation, “Something that makes me look smart.”
James spoke his voice looming of hope something that would later on be something that would be the cause of a deadly night, “Honstly any house I'm fine with being in. What about you?”
Sirius took a deep breath, “Everyone in my family has been sorted into Slytherin except my cousin Andy and she got disowned.”
James placed a hand on Sirius's knee, “Well either way I’ll still be your friend.”
Sirius's face grew warm as he felt James' hand on him, “Thank you, James.”
Remus joined in, “I mean same here Sirius, I don't have any friends so why not.”
Remus smiled at his two new friends waiting for Peter to agree with the others.
Peter smiled, “What is there to lose.”
And with that, the group had declared they would all be friends no matter what house they were sorted in. For the rest of the train ride the group talked and laughed something that felt foreign to Sirius. Sirius smiled and leaned in more each time James had touched him. James was touchy with them all leaving a lingering hand on someone's knee or shoulder. Remus would laugh hard at any joke that was said or make a comment making the joke even more funnier. Peter tended to make the most jokes after James of course. Peter’s jokes would be about a random object making it into something more. Peter was a great storyteller.
The group's fun came to a stop once the train had slowed. The group filling with dread or anxiety. Wondering where they’d spend the next seven years at. They all stood up one by one exiting the train and took the boat to Hogwarts.