Chapter 3
KINGS CROSS STATION:
Sirius could feel the excitement bubbling up inside him. The short drive from 12 Grimmauld Place to Kings Cross Station was taking longer than he would like, but he didn’t want to get on his parents nerves more than he probably already was, and so he managed to keep his excitement from escaping his little eleven year old body. The night before heading to the train station, he had bid his nanny and his two little siblings farewell, and left with his parents for London. Walburga found that it would be easier that way, instead of traveling from France to London the day of.
The driver finally stopped the car in front of the entrance of Kings Cross, and Sirius managed to get Ink and his luggage out of the trunk, even though his parents instructed him to wait, so that the driver could do it. “Sorry, Father”, Sirius held his head down, as Orion glared at him for his actions. In a tone that would make anyone's bones chill, Walburga spoke saying, “Let’s go”. She started walking before Sirius could even grab hold of his cart.
After Sirius and his parents passed through 9 ¾, they made their way to an area that was full of surrounding parents and their children. Sirius’ cousin Narcissa was standing near the entrance of the Hogwarts Express with her parents, ready to board the train. Sirius and his siblings had three cousins who were older than them - Bellatrix, Andromeda, and Narcissa. Bellatrix had graduated from Hogwarts in 1969, and Andromeda had just finished the previous school year before Sirius, in 1971. Narcissa, the youngest of the two, still had two years of schooling left. Sirius did the math in his head and came to the conclusion that Narcissa will graduate in 1973, in his third year.
“Sirius. Sirius!” his mother touched his shoulder to get his attention, and Sirius flinched ever so slightly. “Yes, Mother?” Sirius looked his mother in the eyes, his palms becoming increasingly sweaty. “I want you on your best behavior, do you hear me?” The only thing Sirius could do in that moment was nod and agree, although he knew that that wasn’t going to happen. “Sirius,” His father began to speak, turning his head from where he was previously staring, to look directly at Sirius. “There are certain people that I do not want you associating with. Do you understand?” Sirius wondered who his father was talking about. “Well, who? Who am I not to associate with?”
“Blood traitors for one. Stay as far away from them as you can. Of course, if you’re sorted into Slytherin like everyone else in the Black family tree, then you shouldn’t even be near those filthy traitors,” his father gestured to the right of where he was standing, “the second is that Potter boy. I do not want you around him. He will corrupt you for the worse,” in the direction that his father was pointing, Sirius saw a skinny boy with disheveled brown hair and round glasses. A second little boy appeared right beside him, although he wasn’t exactly “little”, if you know what I mean. Sirius’ father continued, “That Pettigrew boy next to him is okay I guess, but it would be best to just stay away from him altogether. I mean look at him,” his father started to laugh, and his mother followed.
Sirius felt bad for the Pettigrew boy. Sure he was stout for his age, but he looked really nice. And it wasn’t fair that two grown adults were making fun of him, and especially behind his back.
“Um, yeah sure, I’ll stay away from them.” Sirius replied to his father, although he wasn’t too keen on keeping any of the so called “promises” that he gave to his mother or father.
The horn from the train blew, signaling that it was time for the students to board.
Sirius turned away from his parents, eager to climb aboard the Hogwarts Express. “Sirius,” his mother said, “make us proud.” Sirius gave a quick smile and nodded,
Except that one. He’ll try his best to keep that promise.