astronomy

Platform 9 ¾ is absolutely packed on the first of September. Children running to meet their friends, first years glancing nervously around themselves, offering small meek smiles to anyone who sees them. 

Sirius winces as a hand comes down his hair, trying to smooth it down. It’s already as smooth as it can get, so he doesn’t really know what goal his mother is trying to achieve here. 

“Don’t cause trouble, Sirius.” she’s saying now, and if he’s being honest, Sirius is a bit annoyed by the constant reminder. “The pride of the Slytherin house is your responsibility as much as anyone else’s.” 

His brain goes ricocheting into ten thousand different responses to this. Why is it only him who’s getting to hear this speech? Is there any other person here who’s hearing it too? Who’s that boy with the messy hair? Why is his mother not trying to smooth it? His glasses are so big. Are they thick? What if Sirius never ended up in Slytherin? What would happen then? Oh he would absolutely die. His mother would kill him. What house would the boy with the messy hair be in? Is he funny? 

He shakes himself out of his thoughts and manages to nod and say “Yes, Mother.” so as not to upset her on the first day of term. That would not go well. His eyes find his younger brother’s and they both share a secret smile that must’ve lasted about two seconds before they both shut it down. 

Their mother shuffles to give the same speech to their cousin, Bellatrix, straightening her wavy locks of hair as she rambles on and on about the pride of Slytherins. 

Sirius and Regulus look at each other again, trying to stifle their laughter as they watch their cousin restrain herself from rolling her eyes. 

Sirius shuffles a bit closer to Reg, still smiling. “Take care, okay?” he says, nudging his brother lightly with his elbow, “Don’t piss her off.” 

“I’ll try,” he replies, a sad smile replacing his earlier grin as he nudges Sirius back. “Write every week, alright? I’ll miss you.” 

“You did not just accept that.” 

“Who knows when I’ll next see you? It’s worth it.” 

“You’re giving me a blank cheque of emotional blackmail to me, you know that right?” says Sirius, grinning smugly.

“Oh, shut up.” says Regulus, still smiling. “You will write though, right?” 

“Every week,” he promises. “Every single week.” 

The two brothers wait for Bella to be done being talked to before they all part their ways, Sirius and Bells heading for the train and Regulus waiting with their parents for the train to leave.

Sirius watches as the boy with the messy hair from earlier hugs his parents for the last time before they ruffle his hair, laughing as he makes his way to the train. 

They board it together, and the boy notices them almost immediately. He smiles, and oh, his smile is so bright it’s a wonder the train hasn’t exploded in a singular ray of sunshine. Sirius is astounded, absolutely astonished that this boy, with his messy, curly hair and his thick glasses and his loving parents and his charming smile doesn’t have flowers sprouting in the wake of his footsteps. 

“Hi!” he says, walking towards them. “I’m James.” 

“I’m Sirius, and this is my cousin Bellatrix.” says Sirius, gesturing to her. 

“Are you first years too?” he asks, still smiling. “I am, and it’s kind of nerve-wracking isn’t it?” 

“Yeah, we are.” says Bella, returning his smile. “Should we go find a compartment?” 

James nods, and so the three of them start walking through the hallway, searching for an empty compartment. They do find one near the end, the one that’s least packed. A boy with sandy-brown hair and shabby robes, his face generously sprinkled with freckles sits next to the window, eyeing them as if they’re some kind of monsters, and another with dirty-blonde hair and light blue-green eyes looks outright terrified at their entrance before calming down a bit. 

“Can we sit next to you guys?” asks James with confidence none of them could manage if their life was on it. Not that it was their fault, the boy with the freckles kind of looks scary to Sirius. 

The blonde-haired boy nods, and so they all file in. Sirius sits next to James, directly opposite the freckled boy, and Bella sits next to him, on the other end of the seat in front of them. 

“What’s your name?” Sirius asks the freckled boy, a bit nervous, if not anything else. 

“Remus. Remus Lupin.” he says shortly. 

“And yours?” Sirius asks again, this time to the blonde one. 

“Peter Pettigrew.” he replies, his eyes still frantic between the four other people in the room. 

“Well, I’m Sirius Black, this is my cousin Bellatrix, and this is James.” Sirius realises he still doesn’t know his full name. He looks at him and raises an eyebrow, questioning. 

“James Fleamont Potter,” he answers, picking up on the question almost immediately. 

Sirius snorts and Bella fights back a laugh, her grey eyes shining bright in realisation. They both share a look and all their efforts go in vain as they both burst out laughing. 

“Think my name’s funny, do you?” James asks, his eyes bright with humour despite the fact that he doesn’t yet know what they’re laughing about. 

“No,” wheezes Sirius, trying to catch his breath, still laughing. “No, that’s not it.”

“It’s just-” Bella halts, taking a deep breath and trying to regain her composure as she sits up again. “It’s- You’re the first person that talked to us when we got here, and you’re a Potter.” 

Sirius lets out a bark of laughter again. 

“Is it wrong if I don’t get the joke?” asks Remus, eyeing them both as if they’re mad. 

“No, it’s not,” says Bella, still smiling, “He’s a Potter and we’re Blacks, and we were forbidden to talk to any Potters and he’s the first person we talked to.”

“The irony.” wheezes Sirius, still unable to talk properly. 

“You were forbidden to talk to any Potters? Why ?” James looks absolutely offended , and Bella and Sirius very pointedly avoid looking at each other. 

“You know, you guys being “blood traitors” and stuff,” says Sirius, waving it off as if it’s no big deal. It seriously isn’t, for him. 

“Oh, wow.” says James sarcastically, “You guys aren’t supposed to talk to me, and you’re still here, both of you , in the same compartment as me, talking to me and not hexing me off?” 

“We were never ones to follow the rules, mate.” Sirius winks at him, “Don’t worry.” 

James’ eyes light up as if he’s been told Christmas is today. “You guys are absolutely wicked .” 

“We’ll take that as a compliment,” says Bella, laughing. 

“It was meant as one.” 

They talk and talk and talk for hours, watching the scenery change as time passes. They talk about what houses they think they’ll be in, and what Quidditch sports they think are best. They find out Remus is the only half-blood amongst them, and that he doesn’t really have a single clue what they’re talking about, so they take it upon themselves to explain each and every thing to him. The blood feuds between the Muggle-borns and Pure-bloods, the history of Hogwarts, the founders, the houses, everything. They explain to him what Quidditch is, how it’s played, and they tell him about the different teams. 

In exchange, Remus tells them about the muggle world. They find out what a television is, they find out what muggle music is trending, and they find out James loves Taylor Swift. Bellatrix looks on the top of the world. 

Not long after, Sirius, Remus and Peter find themselves audience to James and Bella absolutely screaming the lyrics to the ten minute version of All Too Well Taylor’s Version without missing a single word.

“Merlin.” says Remus, shaking his head at the both of them as they launch into the bridge, “They’re both mental.” 

“Total nutheads,” agrees Sirius. 

“Have they missed even a single word?” chimes Peter. 

They buy themselves snacks when the trolley comes in, and they introduce Remus to the wizarding food. He explains what Mars Bars and Toblerone are while munching off the head of a poor chocolate frog and popping a Berty Bott’s Every Flavour Bean in his mouth. 

They talk and talk and talk until the sun takes its off for the day and lets the moon take over, until the bright sunlight retires and the beaming moonlight replaces it. James takes guesses at what house every passing student would be in, and Sirius explains how he and Bella better be in Slytherin, because the respect of the “Noble and Most Ancient House Of Black” lays on their shoulders. 

Hogwarts looms up in front of them and all five of them inhale sharply as the tall building above them nears them with every passing moment. 

“We’re here,” says James, awestruck. 

“We’re here,” confirms Sirius. 

They change into their robes at the speed of light and begin fumbling with their trunks as the train comes to a stop in front of the station. 

They see different students about their age as they exit the train, ushered to a corner of the station by someone at least thrice their size.

“Right.” he says, his voice gruff but welcoming. “Firs’ years. I’m Hagrid, and you’ll be following me to the carriages that are s’posed to carry yer to Hogwarts.” 

They all nod and set off towards the carriages. How they’re going to be able to “carry them” to Hogwarts, Sirius doesn’t know. There’s nothing driving them, nothing latched in the front, but James explains they’re carried by thestrals, creatures only visible to people who’ve witnessed death, so he supposes that’s fair. 

Sirius finds himself in a carriage with James and two girls, one blonde with short, straight hair and blue eyes who introduces herself as Marlene McKinnon, and the other with dark brown, curly hair and brown eyes who introduces herself as Mary MacDonald. 

The ride is interesting, even though Sirius is practically on edge, trying to hide the fact that he’s grasping on to James for dear life because he feels as if he’ll fall off any moment, despite his innumerable reassurances. 

Hogwarts is truly a sight to be seen, with its tall towers and owls swooping around it, Sirius finds himself unable to take his eyes off it. It’s so beautiful from the outside, he can’t even begin to imagine what it would be like from the inside. 

The cold air whips around his face as everyone steps off the carriages and begins to take the stairs, led on by Hagrid. There’s too much to be seen, and Sirius has made a promise to himself to find out every nook and cranny of this place if it’s the last thing he does. Sirius Black does not break promises, so good luck, Hogwarts, you’ll be needing it. 

The inside of Hogwarts is absolutely, truly, magnificent . No, not even that. It’s like he’s stepping into a fantasy, a dream, and at any time, he’ll wake up in his bedroom, and be disappointed that it isn’t real. But it is. 

This, is so real. Sirius can feel the magic brimming under his skin, threatening to explode at any given moment as he walks up the stairs behind a stern looking woman with a tight bun and an emerald green robe who has introduced herself as Professor McGonagall. Something tells Sirius that he doesn’t want to get on her bad side, but he’ll win her over, he’s confident in himself. 

If Sirius thought that Hogwarts was magnificent before, well, that was before Professor McGonagall threw open the doors to the Great Hall. Now, he’s left absolutely, truly speechless . 

Everyone in the Great Hall turns to look at the small group of first years as they shuffle inside in a neat line, taking small steps nervously, as if the smallest wrong move could absolutely wreck everything. 

All of Sirius’ earlier bravery vanishes into thin air as he realises just how many pairs of eyes are trained on him and so many other people. He tries to distract himself from that part of the night and focuses on the scenery instead. He looks around and inhales sharply when he sees the lamps, the tables, the candles. Everything is so fucking beautiful here, and he doesn’t know how to handle it. There are four tables, for each of the four houses. To the left side of the hall, there are Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff, and to the right, there are Gryffindor and Slytherin. 

“Right.” says McGonagall, her voice sharp, her gaze demanding as she locks it onto the first years. “I will be calling out your names, and you will step forward to be sorted into your respective houses.” 

The first few students got sorted apparently very quickly, and before any of them knew it, McGonagall was calling out “Black, Bellatrix!” 

Whispers erupt into the earlier silence as so many people start whispering to their friends. 

Sirius can practically see Bella swallow before shortly glancing at him with a small smile and walking towards McGonagall. 

Silence. Sirius holds his breath. The Sorting Hat mumbles for some time before spontaneously screeching- 

“Slytherin!” 

Sirius exhales shakily, sighing of relief as he watches his cousin walk away towards the Slytherin table with a smile on her face, watching her as she sat down making space next to her for when Sirius would be sorted. 

“Black, Sirius!” 

His heart rate picks up to an ungodly speed as he steps forward and takes the stairs up to sit on the stool. 

She places it on his head and for the second time in less than five minutes, Sirius holds his breath. 

Hello there. Another Black, is it? 

Yes , thinks Sirius desperately.

But you… You have something in you, dear Sirius.

Different? What difference? His heart rate picks up to a speed Sirius didn’t know was possible, to the point he half expected his heart to pump its way right out of his chest and into the world. 

So, so different. The bravery in you Sirius, the loyalty. Have you not already subconsciously thought of James as your friend? Even though mother would not approve at all? 

That- That- Sirius knows it's true, he knows he has. 

I know what to do with you, Sirius. 

And so, before he has any time to process what the Sorting Hat said, he   finds himself hearing a ear-splitting- 

“Gryffindor!” 

Oh, well. Shit.