Sirius Black and the Golden Lion

New meetings

Sirius looked up and down the length of the train, but he couldn't find a free carriage anywhere. Eventually, he came upon one with only one boy inside. He had scruffy black hair and wore glasses. He looked like a first year, and Sirius recognised him as the boy who had been talking to his father at the train station. He almost turned away then, but then scolded himself sharply.

"You're a Black, Sirius," he muttered to himself, "But that doesn't mean you're a bad person. You can't just run away from everything. You have to stay and fight."

He pushed the door open tentatively.

"Er, hi, are these seats taken?" he asked nervously. The dark-haired boy looked up with interest at the sight of Sirius.

"No, no, come on in." The boy gestured enthusiastically at the seat opposite him. This was a new experience for Sirius. He'd never met any wizarding children who weren't family, or who didn't have parents who were friends with Sirius' mother and father. He sat down, whilst looking curiously at the boy opposite. He was of quite a lean build, almost, Sirius thought, a bit skinny. His hair stuck up every which way, but his hazel eyes were friendly and his thin face was open and honest.

"I'm James," he said, sticking out his hand. "James Potter." Sirius shook his hands, still looking at him interestedly.

"I'm Sirius," he said.

"I know," said James, "My father told me. He's really interested in all wizards, and muggles too, come to that." Sirius just nodded. His father had often mentioned Mr. Potter, calling him a muggle-loving fool.

"But...but you don't mind?" Sirius asked. He had to know.

"What, that you're a Black? Why should I?"

"But my father, my family..." Sirius started. James waved a hand airily.

"So what if your family's a bit evil?" Sirius snorted at the expression. "Dad always tells me that it's what you, the person, is like that counts."

"He sounds like a great person," Sirius said enviously. "What's the rest of your family like?"

"It's only me, him and my mother," James said, obviously not understanding why Sirius was so interested. "My mum's ok, she's a great cook too. What about you? I mean, Dad's told me some bits, but no more than about anyone else."

"Not much to say really," Sirius said ruefully. "I'm a major disappointment to my parents, because they think that to be a Black is the most important thing in life, but I always refused to conform to that. They like my brother better, cos he's got exactly the same prejudices and judgements as they have. Oh yeah, he'll make them proud one day," Sirius ended bitterly.

"But at least you have a brother..." James said

"I'd rather go without, thanks," Sirius interrupted

"Sure, but I always wanted a brother," James continued. "I mean, I went to a muggle school and I had friends there, but I'd have liked to have had someone I could talk to about wizarding and quidditch and stuff."

"Trust me, not all brothers are like that," Sirius gave a half-smile.

"Ok, you win," James conceded. "So, is it true you'll be a Slytherin? You don't seem like one to me." Sirius' heart fell. He'd actually managed to forget about Slytherin, and he realised that it was the influence of having someone friendly to talk to. James seemed to want to talk to him.

"I never felt like one either, but everyone else in my family has been there, so I guess I will be too. Which house will you be in?" Sirius asked, trying to direct the conversation away from himself.

"I dunno, really. I mean, mum and dad were in Gryffindor, but I have an aunt who was in Hufflepuff, and I think my grandmother was a Ravenclaw. I'd like to be a Gryffindor, I think," James said ruminatively.

Sirius just continued to look at James, but inwardly, his heart was in his boots again. He had been hoping that he might have made a new friend here, but it now seemed inevitable that they would be split up once they got to Hogwarts.

There was a knock on the door of the carriage, and a plump young witch put her head around the door.

"Either of you boys like anything from the trolley?" she smiled.

Sirius put his hand in his pocket. His parents hadn't given him any money, and he had none of his own, but his cousin Andromeda had popped round last night to wish him luck and had slipped him a galleon. Andromeda was about the only member of the Blacks who got on well with Sirius, and had actually been sorted into Hufflepuff when she was at Hogwarts two years ago. Generally, she wasn't mentioned in the family, and Sirius' mother had been distinctly tight-lipped when she had dropped in to see them.

Sirius made to stand up, but James beat him to it.

"Yeah, I'll have a bit of that, and that...and that, "he said, pointing. "What do you want, Sirius?"

Sirius felt himself blushing.

"It's all right, I'll get my own," he said. James held his hands up in defence.

"Sure thing, I was only offering."

Sirius hoped that he hadn't offended James too much, but he didn't want to be indebted to someone who he might never see again. He pulled out his galleon, and bought some sweets.

It appeared that James soon forgot the incident, and he chattered away happily for the rest of the journey. In contrast, Sirius got quieter and quieter as they neared Hogwarts. He was hoping and hoping that he wouldn't be sorted into Slytherin, but he still couldn't imagine not being there. And he wasn't sure which would be worse: being a Slytherin or his family's attitude if he wasn't.

Eventually, the train drew into a station. Sirius read the name on the sign.

"Hogsmeade," he said out loud "So is this it?"

"Yeah, looks like it." James was still frantically trying to pull on his Hogwarts robes, having been too busy organising his new chocolate frog cards when Sirius was changing.

Sirius stepped out of the train, and James jumped out just behind him. Night had fallen, but the station was brightly lit with lamps.

"Firs' years! C'mon, c'mon, all firs' years this way." Sirius jumped, and spun around sharply. Clearly visible over the heads of the milling students was a man, or at least Sirius assumed it was a man; he was much larger than anyone Sirius had ever met before.

"Come on," James said eagerly, pulling Sirius' sleeve.

"Er, James, who is that?" Sirius asked nervously.

"Rubeus Hagrid," James answered, still tugging. "He's the gamekeeper; my parents said he's ok."

Sirius allowed himself to be pulled over to where a small crowd was already forming around Hagrid.

"Righ', yeh all here?" Hagrid asked "Yes? Let's go."

He led the way out of the train station. As they rounded a corner, Sirius heard several children gasp. In the distance, atop a hill was a huge castle, black except for many bright dots that Sirius guessed were windows.

"Impressive, in' it?" Hagrid said. He stopped abruptly. "Righ', everyone into the boats."

Sirius looked down. They were stood at the edge of a lake that was between them and the castle. Bobbing gently up and down at the edge were small boats, that could take up to four people, Sirius reckoned.

In front of him, James had already jumped into a boat, and was beckoning him. Sirius followed him in, and in turn was followed by two more boys, one with quite long mousy hair, and one with greasy black hair and a hooked nose. Sirius didn't know the first, who he thought looked quite ill, but he recognised the other one- he had seen him once or twice when their parents had been talking, but he couldn't remember his name.

Hagrid banged the stern of his boat, and they all set off towards the castle. Sirius marvelled at how still the lake was, and watched the reflection of a waning moon creep out from behind the single cloud in the sky.

The journey couldn't last long enough for him, and too soon, they were coming to rest in a sandy cove. They all jumped out of their boats, and Sirius looked around. The only light was given by a large lamp that Hagrid held, and he could just about make out a stony passage way leading up and out of the cove. It was that way that Hagrid led them all in silence, and before long, they were on a grassy clearing just outside the castle.

It looked even more impressive close up, thought Sirius, and more than a little intimidating. Hagrid led the way to the huge oak front door, and knocked twice, sharply. Sirius moved closer, feeling more nervous with every second that they waited.