Chapter Text
Sirius
12, Grimmauld Place was, for all matters, a house. It had windows, walls, furniture, old family heirlooms, beds, bathrooms; you name it. Because it was a house. It had never been a home, though. The walls were high and the windows narrow. The thick velvet curtains created dark shadows in every room, and the portraits on the walls would whisper amongst themselves all day. It served its main purpose by putting a roof over its owners’ heads, but it failed to make them comfortable. Or feel like they belonged.
You’d have thought that anyone who lived there would be as gloomy as their surroundings, but on the 1st of September, in 1971, two boys were sitting in a bed, grins reaching their ears, talking excitedly.
“You’ll be learning so many spells! Can you show me at Christmas? Please! I’m tired of Mother’s textbooks!”
“I wish I could, but we’re not allowed to use magic outside Hogwarts before we’re seventeen, you know that, Reggie.”
The smaller boy sighed and looked down, but his brother was quick to continue.
“I’ll tell you all about it, though! And since next year we’ll leave together, I can show you spells on the train so you’re ahead of everyone in your grade! And, honestly, I don’t think anyone in the ministry is that strict towards children. I’d guess we’re not the most dangerous people in the country.”
Regulus smiled softly again, but an air of sadness seeped into his face, betraying his true emotions.
“What’s wrong, Reggie? You can tell me, whatever it is.”
The youngest brother took a few seconds to breathe before speaking.
“I’ll miss you, Sirius. Don’t forget about me.”
“I’ll miss you too, Regulus. And I could never forget about you. You’re my favourite brother, you know.”
“I’m your only one!”
Both boys were stifling their laughter on the bed and Sirius was starting to tickle his younger brother, when their exchange was suddenly interrupted by a sharp knock on the bedroom door and a cold voice echoing from the hall.
“Sirius, Regulus, come down right now, we’ll be late. Today is not the day for frivolities.”
“Yes mother.”
“Yes mother.”
The two boys looked at one another one last time before coming down, their eyes mirroring each other.
___________
When he arrived on the platform, Sirius was in complete awe. Platform 9¾ buzzed with the hustle and bustle of wizards walking and running to load their luggage and bid their farewells. The Hogwarts Express was standing in all its glory, red and shiny and inviting, ready to take young wizards on a fabulous journey. The excitement grew in Sirius, and he squeezed his brother’s hand tighter. Although he would have to say goodbye until Christmas, Sirius knew that Hogwarts would become his favourite place on Earth.
After about 10 minutes of his mother fixing his clothes, one last kiss on his brother’s head and a polite greeting to Narcissa, who was going into 6th year, Sirius boarded the train. He quickly picked a compartment and squished his head through the window to yell a final goodbye to his teary-eyed brother and his composed parents.
Sirius was browsing for the perfect compartment. Not empty, because that would be embarrassing, and not full of people who already know each other, because then he would be too much of an outsider. As he was searching, he started to worry about what would come after. He braced himself, already thinking of the crowd of Black family members who took their place in Slytherin. The house his family demanded he join. The house he wasn’t sure he wanted.
Then, as he reached a compartment with a slightly open door, his gaze landed on a boy seated alone, glancing through the window. Sirius nearly moved past without a second glance, until he noticed the boy’s t-shirt, which featured a bold emblem of a Quidditch team that made his heart skip.
The Appleby Arrows. His favourite team.
The boy was slouched comfortably, a tangled mop of black hair sticking up in every direction, and a pair of round glasses that seemed too big for his face. There was an easygoing look about him that was rare among the boys Sirius knew—boys who had been groomed to stand upright and wear robes embroidered with pure-blooded crests. Boys like him. Well, not quite.
Sirius opened the door without bothering to knock. “Is that seat free?”
The boy looked up, surprise flickering over his face before it softened into a grin. “Yeah, go ahead!”
Sirius took the seat opposite him, throwing his bag onto the bench and eyeing the Arrows emblem with a grin. “Appleby Arrows, huh? Didn’t think anyone else in the wizarding world had taste.”
The boy’s eyes lit up, and he leaned forward excitedly. “Oh, finally! I was starting to think I’d be the only one at Hogwarts who actually follows them. Do you have a favourite player?”
Sirius smirked, almost as though challenging him. “Of course. Callum Rivers, Chaser. You?”
“Obviously Rivers! Did you see his broom control in the last match? It’s like he was born on a broomstick.” The boy’s expression grew even more animated, and he tilted his head. “I’m James. James Potter.”
“Sirius Black.” He watched, waiting for the usual flash of hesitation when people heard his name. But James seemed unfazed, even intrigued.
“Black… I think I’ve heard of your family. They’re… big on, er, traditions, aren’t they?” James asked, his gaze curious.
“Yeah. You could say that.” Sirius rolled his eyes, hoping his family name wasn’t already tainting him. “Traditions,” he muttered with a scoff. “But it’s just their traditions—not mine. I’ve always found my family much too dramatic. Not that I’m much better myself, I’m just not a prick to people who aren’t the way I want them to be.”
James grinned. “Good. I’m glad you’re not one of those kinds. Imagine if I was starting to like someone like that. Absolute tragedy.”
Sirius snorted. “Guess I can’t argue with that. Where’d you pick up on the Arrows anyway? Not exactly popular with… er, the usual crowd.”
“Oh, my dad’s a huge fan. I’ve been to tons of matches with him,” James replied with a proud smile. “Told him I’d try out for my house team as soon as I could—maybe we can end up playing against each other, eh?”
Sirius’s smile widened. “Careful, Potter. You’d be in for quite the challenge.”
James laughed, eyes alight with mischief. “That’s exactly what I’m looking for.”
The train jerked forward, and they fell into an easy conversation about everything from Quidditch strategies to the best brooms. With every word, Sirius felt his worries lighten, his sense of family duty slipping further into the background.
After a while, they fell into a comfortable silence, staring out the window as the countryside blurred by. Sirius glanced at James, who was casually tossing a Bertie Bott’s Every Flavor Bean in the air and catching it in his mouth with impressive precision.
“Not to take you away from your activities, but we should probably get changed into our school robes. Unless we want to look like that one bloke my cousin told me about- he didn’t get changed before getting to Hogwarts and got scolded in front of all of the students and staff.”
James chuckled, turning to look at him. “Tempting, but yeah, we should get changed, it’s getting pretty late already. Oh and, Black- let’s shake things up at Hogwarts, yeah?”
“Count on it.” Sirius extended a hand, and James took it firmly, as if sealing a pact.
The Hogwarts Express rumbled on, and in that cramped compartment, the two boys —unbeknownst to them— set the foundation for a bond that would change both their lives forever.