The meeting of mayhem
The train rattled along, a steady hum filling the compartment as James sat with his face practically glued to the window. The countryside blurred past him, but his thoughts weren’t on the rolling hills. His mind was stuck on the girl he’d seen on the platform. Red hair… green eyes… was she real?
“James?” Remus nudged him lightly. “Come on, the train’s moving. Don’t fall asleep staring out there.”
“Huh?” James blinked, snapping out of his daze. “Oh, right... sorry.” He scratched the back of his head, still a bit lost in thought. “I wasn’t sleeping. I was just... thinking.”
Remus raised an eyebrow. “About?”
“About this... girl. She had red hair like…like gryffindor and—and… and green eyes, so pretty green eyes! I don’t know, she looked kind of like... like magic or something.” James’ eyes widened as he tried to explain it, but the words didn’t seem enough. “She just... disappeared.”
Remus chuckled softly, amused at James’ bewilderment. “You’ll probably see her again. It’s a train to a school—there’s not many places she could have gone.”
“I hope so...” James muttered, leaning back in his seat but still gazing out the window, as though hoping she might appear again.
Before Remus could respond, the compartment door slid open, and a dark-haired boy with pale skin … a little too pale. He stepped inside. The boy hesitated, eyes flickering between James and Remus. “Sorry, is... is there space here?”
James perked up at the distraction and waved his hand. “Yeah, come on in! Plenty of room.” He patted the space beside him which was actually taken by Remus, the boy still nodded.
The boy tossed his trunk overhead and sat down in front of James on the other window seat, brushing some hair out of his face. “Thanks,” he muttered, trying to seem casual but clearly feeling a bit out of place. “I’m Sirius. Sirius Black.” He said and the boy mentally winced remembering he was told to say his surname and not say the surname until he is specifically asked.
Remus glanced at James, then back to Sirius. He himself didn’t seem to react to the name the way most people might and James much to Remus’ surprise didn’t react on the name. “Nice to meet you. I’m Remus.”
James not much bothered by him. “And I’m James.” James flashed a grin, Then his eyes widened leaning forward he said, “Wait, Black? Like the Black family?” Remus realised James just had the name sink in a bit later, he wasn’t surprised though.
Sirius shifted uncomfortably, nodding. “Yeah... that Black family. But don’t worry, I’m not like them.”
James leaned back, sensing the awkwardness. “Hey, we’re not our families, right? I really can't understand business like my father does or estate like my mum adults are weird.” He said.
“What James means is that we don’t really care you are from Black family as long as you’re not a prat.” Remus clarified. “Besides, who cares what your last name is? We’re all just a bunch of kids off to Hogwarts.”
Sirius’ face softened at that, and he smiled a little. “Yeah, I guess you’re right.”
“Do you have any brothers or sisters?” Remus asked innocently, genuinely curious.
At the mention of his brother, Sirius’ eyes brightened. “Oh! Yeah, my little brother—Regulus. He’s still at home, though. He’s a year younger than me, so he’s not here yet.” He shifted in his seat, almost bouncing. “Reggie’s really smart, you know? I mean, smarter than me. I already miss him, though. First time I’ve gone anywhere without him. We’ve never been apart like this, I am already worried if he’ll be scared of the nightmares.”
James, no longer distracted by thoughts of red-haired girls, looked intrigued. “Really? So your brother and you play all the time right? Remmy and me play too but only when he comes home, he’s like my brother, let him Remmy”
Sirius’ expression turned into a solemn smile which James didn’t really catch up on “Do you have a very big house to hide nicely?”
“Oh yeah Totally! Remus can never find me when its his turn to seek.” James said making Sirius confused.
“If he’s a year younger he would be with you in no time, then he won’t have nightmares.” Remus said.
Sirius smiled better at the thought. “Yeah! I mean, I just saw him at the platform, but I already miss him! It’s weird... I can’t wait for next year. I want to show him everything! The castle, the grounds... I’ll know all the secret spots by then.” His face lit up with excitement as he imagined it.
James chuckled. “You really love him, huh?”
“Yeah,” Sirius said simply, his voice softening with affection thinking he never did say ‘I love you’ to Regulus other than that lullaby. “He’s my little brother. It’s weird not having him around. It’s like... I don’t know, like part of me is missing.” He fidgeted with the sleeve of his robe. “I don’t really miss home much... my mum and dad are, well... strict. But Reggie is… yeah, I miss him a lot.”
Remus smiled at that. “Sounds like you two are close.”
Sirius nodded quickly. “Yeah, we are. I just hope he does alright when he comes here. Hogwarts is... big.” He glanced around the train as if he could already feel the size of the school awaiting them.
“You’ll get to show him around and be the cool big brother,” James said, nudging Sirius with a grin. “Bet he’ll think you’re amazing and-and play quidditch! He’ll think you are the coolest.”
Sirius gave a small smile at that, but then glanced out the window wistfully. “He will won’t he?”
There was a moment of silence as the train hummed beneath them, and then James suddenly leaned forward again, breaking the quiet. “Anyway, about that girl I saw—”
Remus groaned. “James, you’re back to the girl?”
“Yes! Because—because she was like magic! No she was Magic—”
“James we go to a school for ‘Magic Children’ offcourse she’s magic.” Remus said like the smart kid, that’s not what James needed.
“I can’t explain it!” James’ eyes were wide, like he was remembering something out of a dream. “You didn’t see her. She just... vanished into the crowd, like an angel or something!”
Sirius gave a half-smile. “An angel, huh?”
“I swear she was real!” James said, flopping back dramatically into his seat. “I’ve never seen anything like her before.”
Remus shook his head, amused. “Well, you’re at a magic school now, James. Maybe you’ll see all sorts of girls who seem like angels, wait- Did you see her feet?”
“Oh shut up Remmy! I bet she’d have normal feet.”
“I’m sorry, what is this about feet?” Sirius asked.
“Oh just a myth that Indians dementors have feet, but… inverted.”
“Disgusting.” “Disgusting.” Both James and Sirius said at the same time then looked at each other before bursting into laughing.
“Mother would have a fit if she heard me laughing like that.” Sirius smirked. “Maybe you’ll meet her again. Hogwarts isn’t that big.”
James sighed, folding his arms. “I hope so...”
---
---
Sirius was still shifting in his seat, looking around the compartment like everything was new to him. He listened intently as James and Remus chatted casually, though he didn’t quite understand some of the things they mentioned.
“So, did you read the new edition of The Adventures of Tin Tin?” Remus asked James, leaning forward. “It was really good! I’ve got a couple of the books. That is awesome.”
James’ eyes lit up. “Yeah! That and The Magic Roundabout. I love that show. It’s so weird though, right?”
Sirius blinked, clearly confused but trying not to show it. “Er, sorry, but what’s Tin Tin? And Magic Roundabout? Are those... magical?”
Remus and James exchanged glances and laughed. “No, they’re Muggle stuff,” James explained, still grinning. “Like cartoons—shows for kids.”
Sirius looked thoughtful. “Cartoons?”
“Muggles watch pictures that move” Remus helped.
“Pictures that move, like the newspapers? How... interesting.”
Remus chuckled at Sirius’ bafflement. “It’s not magic. They make drawings that move, they make it move, not by magic and it tells a story.”
Sirius raised an eyebrow, still trying to process the idea. “I see... And they like this? Moving drawings?”
James laughed. “Yeah! They’re fun. Haven’t you ever seen a Muggle television before?”
“Tele-what?”
“Television,” Remus chimed in, clearly amused by Sirius’ lack of knowledge. “It’s this box thing. You watch shows on it, kind of like moving paintings, but with sounds and stories.”
Sirius shook his head, still trying to grasp the concept. “I’ve never heard of such a thing. My family... well, let’s just say they’re not fond of Muggles or anything to do with them.”
“Well, you’re so missing out,” James said, grinning. “There’s all sorts of cool stuff in the Muggle world. Maybe we can show you sometime.”
Sirius gave a polite smile, his curiosity piqued. “I suppose I’d like that. It all sounds... fascinating. Muggles have some strange ways of entertaining themselves.”
Before they could continue, the compartment door slid open again, and this time a skinny, pale boy stood there. His hair hung limply and Sirius wished to introduce the boy to some potions for his hair, and his eyes were sharp as they scanned the group. He had a determined look on his face, but it was clear he was trying too hard to look confident.
“Who’s this?” Sirius asked quietly, raising an eyebrow. “Is he with you lot?”
The boy stepped in, his thin lips curling into a sneer. “I’m Severus Snape.”
Sirius raised an amused eyebrow, his posh accent coming through stronger than ever. “Oh, really? And what exactly are you sneering at?”
Severus' face twitched slightly, as though trying to hold onto his tough demeanour. “I’m just... making sure you people know your place.”
James, who had been leaning back casually, immediately straightened up. His hazel eyes sharpened, and he looked Snape up and down making the boy with greasy hair shudder. “Know our place? Who do you think you are?”
“More importantly,” Sirius began, who didn’t even need to stand up to tower the skinny boy. “Who do you think we are?” Sirius knew no one would dare mess up with Potters or Blacks (other than they themselves ofcourse.)
Remus sighed, well, aren’t you both like made for each other. He thought about James and Sirius.
Snape didn’t back down, but his posture was stiff and awkward, like he wasn’t quite sure how to stand. “Doesn’t matter who I am. Just stay out of my way.”
James was already reaching for his wand, a small smirk forming on his lips. There was a certain air of confidence about him, a sense that he knew he was powerful and that he could easily best this skinny boy who was trying too hard to act tough. “You’ve got a lot of nerve for someone who doesn’t look like he can back it up.”
Sirius watched the interaction with an amused expression, his distinct elegance too contrasting to James just adding to the threat. “Honestly, you look a bit ridiculous trying to act all tough.”
Snape’s face flushed with anger, and he opened his mouth to retort, but before things could escalate, Remus, who had been watching silently, stood up and stepped between James and Snape.
“James, stop. We’re almost at Hogwarts,” Remus said, his voice calm but firm. “Save the magic for later.”
James hesitated for a moment, still glaring at Snape, but then he sighed and let his hand drop away from his wand. “Fine. Not worth the trouble anyway.”
Sirius smirked, glancing at Snape with a hint of disdain. “Good choice, really. Wouldn’t want to bother ourselves with someone so insignificant on the first day.”
Snape’s eyes narrowed, but he didn’t say anything. Instead, he turned sharply on his heel and stormed out of the compartment, his robes billowing behind him.
As soon as the door slid shut, James let out a breath and grinned. “What a prat.”
Sirius leaned back in his seat, shaking his head and crossed his legs. “That boy takes himself far too seriously.”
Remus chuckled softly. “He’s just trying to be tough. But we should really get ready. We’re almost there.”
“Remmy—”
“No, Tie your own tie James.”
----
The Sorting Hat had barely touched James Potter’s head when it shouted: “GRYFFINDOR!”
The entire Gryffindor table erupted in cheers before James even had a chance to step down from the stool. It seemed that almost everyone knew who James was. A few kids from prominent families were practically tripping over themselves to greet him, waving and calling out his name like he was already a legend. Some of them were even high-fiving each other as if his sorting had been a victory for them too.
"James Potter!" someone in the crowd shouted, and the name spread like wildfire. Students craned their necks to get a glimpse of him, and whispers buzzed around the hall.
“Of course he’s in Gryffindor!” one of the Gryffindors near the front said, beaming. “Typical Potter!”
James shot them all a broad grin and casually brushed his hair back with one hand, clearly revelling in the attention. But even though he was soaking it up, there was no arrogance about him. he just looked like he was having a blast. As he strutted over to the Gryffindor table, a few of the kids he had grown up around greeted him enthusiastically, patting him on the back and joking with him like old friends.
Meanwhile, at the side of the room, Sirius stood beside Remus, watching the scene unfold with a fond eye roll as Remus has an exasperated expression filled with fondness that matched Sirius’ own and that kind of surprised him because he didn’t like people that easily but he did like James Potter even if he was still paranoid about both Potter and Lupin, he knew Potters were big and famous but he didn’t know James would be welcomed like this.
“What’s going on?” In the sea of first years Lily Evans, a girl with red hair that fell like flames off her shoulders asked a girl beside her, the girl had pretty olive skin and short brownish blonde hair, she turned to Lily, who looking genuinely confused by the fanfare surrounding James. “Why is everyone so excited about him?” Lily asked.
“Are you a muggleborn?”
Lily wondered why that mattered but she told the truth. “Yes.”
“Ah, I see, that’s why you don’t know.” She gave Lily a knowing smile, crossing her arms. “You should know, That’s James Potter—you know, of the Potter family? Everyone knows him.”
She blinked. “You mean James Potter? The Potters are like… well those who, they’re old wizarding money. Practically royalty in Wizarding world.” Lily remembers reading about a few of surnames like that.
Remus, looking amused, shrugged nonchalantly. “Yeah, but James doesn’t act like it. I know him, we’ve met before a few times He’s just… James.” She said rolling her eyes. “I am Marlene by the way, Marlene Mckinnon.”
“Oh, I am Lily, Evans. And this is—”
“I told you not to bother Lily.”
“Yeah cool I don’t want to know about that one either. Hope you get Gryffindor Lily, I know I’ll be there, I don’t know about your friend though.” She said and moved forward.
Meanwhile Sirius was having similar dilemma. “You’re telling me I was talking to a Potter all along.” Mother would have a fit. He thought. “Why on earth is he already so admired? I suppose I can see the faintest trace of some charming air but what’s the spectacle for?”
“Well we both know the name is enough.” Remus said cheekily. “But he’s James, he’s always been like that Popular, funny, and, well, kind of impossible to ignore.”
Sirius smirked slightly, a new layer of amusement creeping into his eyes. “Huh, I suppose I was hanging out with some aristocrat afterall.” Even if its not the kind mother wanted me to. He couldn’t help but find the situation both strange and a little amusing. Here he was, the heir of the prestigious Black family, impressed that he'd been casually chatting with James Potter—and yet, James had acted like it was no big deal.
As the cheers for James died down, it was Remus’ turn to be sorted. The Hat took a moment to decide, but soon enough, it called out “GRYFFINDOR!”
Remus didn’t receive the same thunderous reception as James, but a few friendly Gryffindors still cheered as he made his way to the table. He shot Sirius a grin on his way over.
“See you in a bit, Sirius,” he said, clearly confident that they'd meet up in Gryffindor. He looked back once before settling down at the Gryffindor table, giving Sirius an encouraging nod.
But Sirius... Sirius was a different story.
He swallowed nervously as the line shrank. His turn was coming. The Sorting Hat would place him in Slytherin. It had to. He was a Black, after all. That’s what the Hat had done with every single Black for generations, including his cousins. Sirius could already feel the weight of his family’s expectations pressing down on him. He glanced toward the Slytherin table, and sure enough, there sat Andromeda and Narcissa, both watching him intently, waiting to welcome him into their fold. He mentally sighed Bella wasn’t here, there were rumors she has lost her mind, Sirius was really happy on her marriage.
A knot formed in his stomach. No matter what, the Hat would put him there... wouldn’t it?
Finally, it was Sirius’ turn. The hall seemed to quiet down as he approached the stool, his footsteps slower than those of James or Remus before him. He sat down, feeling the rough fabric of the stool beneath him as the Hat was lowered over his head.
And just like that, Sirius Black held his breath.
As the Sorting Hat was lowered over his head, its brim heavy and full of judgment. As soon as the Hat touched his head, it seemed to hum, as though it were already rifling through his thoughts, weighing his family legacy against something deeper inside him.
"Ahh... tricky, tricky," the Hat murmured in his ear. "A Black... I see the ambition, the pride... you could do well in Slytherin, yes. You belong there, don’t you? That’s what’s expected of you...”
Sirius gripped the edges of the stool, his stomach twisting. Not Slytherin... not Slytherin...
“But wait,” the Hat paused, as though it had found something new. “You’re different... something inside you, something bright and bold, rebellious. You don’t want to follow, do you? You want to break free... hmm... where should I put you?”
Sirius held his breath, every part of him bracing for the inevitable.
“Better be... GRYFFINDOR!”
The Hall fell silent, shocked gasps escaping from students and even some teachers. The name Black was synonymous with Slytherin. For a moment, it was as though time stood still. Sirius stared wide-eyed at the hall, processing what had just happened. Gryffindor? The Hat had made a mistake, hadn’t it?
The silence stretched on, thick with surprise, and Sirius could feel the weight of hundreds of eyes on him. His heart raced, panic creeping in, until—
Suddenly, from the Gryffindor table, came a loud cheer.
James Potter and Remus Lupin.
Without hesitation, James was on his feet, clapping and cheering like Sirius had just won a Quidditch match. Remus followed suit, smiling and clapping confidently beside him. They didn’t even hesitate—not for a second. It was as if they had always known Sirius belonged there.
At first, it was just the two of them, their cheers echoing awkwardly in the silence. Then, slowly, the rest of the Gryffindor table started to follow. A ripple of applause began to build, until, one by one, the Gryffindors broke into a full cheer. It wasn’t as loud as James’ reception, but it was real. It was welcoming.
Sirius stood from the stool, his heart pounding. He felt an overwhelming mix of emotions—confusion, disbelief, and something else... something he’d never really felt before. He looked over at the Slytherin table, where Andromeda and Narcissa sat, their faces twisted in shock and betrayal. They’ll be gone from the school in a few years, they didn’t matter right now. Not to him.
No one in his family had ever clapped like that for him—not when he mastered a new spell, not when he made his parents proud. Nothing had ever felt like this.
He glanced back at the Gryffindor table, where James and Remus were still cheering for him, their faces bright with excitement. Sirius smiled—a small, hesitant smile—and walked over to join them.
As he sat down between James and Remus, he could feel something shift inside him. He didn’t say it out loud, but deep down, he knew: I’m never letting go of these two. Ever.
James clapped him on the back, grinning ear to ear. “Looks like you’re stuck with us, mate!”
“Welcome to Gryffindor,” Remus added, giving him a reassuring smile.
Sirius didn’t know how to respond at first, but a part of him was quietly, overwhelmingly relieved. For the first time, he felt like he belonged somewhere—not because of his family name, but because of who he was.
And for Sirius Black, that feeling was everything.
---
Lily Evans stood at the edge of the Great Hall, her heart racing. The Sorting Ceremony was in full swing, and she felt a mix of excitement and nervousness. Next to her, Severus shifted uncomfortably, his hands stuffed deep in his pockets, glancing around the room with suspicion.
Lily watched as the Hat sorted student after student, but her attention was mostly focused on the three boys who had just been called: James Potter, Remus Lupin, and Sirius Black. She couldn’t help but be drawn to James, who practically radiated energy, Even if from what she heard he a big name. His infectious laughter and bright smile made him seem like the sun amidst the evening shadows of the hall. “Do you think he’s really as popular as they say?” Lily whispered to Severus, her voice barely audible over the cheers.
Severus, still trying to play it cool, scowled slightly. “It’s all a show, Lily. Don’t let it get to you. He’s just a spoiled brat with a famous name. Besides, I doubt someone like him would ever want to be friends with someone like us.” His tone was defensive, tinged with a hint of jealousy that he tried to mask.
Lily frowned, watching James as he basked in the attention, laughing and chatting with his new friends. Despite her reservations, she felt a flicker of admiration. But why would he ever want to be friends with me? She quickly shook the thought away, focusing instead on the remaining students to be sorted.
The atmosphere shifted again as Severus was called to the front. She watched, anxious, as he sat on the stool. The Hat took its time, and Lily could feel her heart racing for him.
“Come on, Sev. You’ve got this,” she muttered under her breath.
Finally, the Hat shouted, “SLYTHERIN!”
Lily clapped lightly for him, forcing a smile. Severus joined the Slytherin table, his expression a mix of relief and determination. He’ll be alright, she thought, hoping he’d find his footing there. But her gaze kept drifting back to the Gryffindor table, where James, Remus, and Sirius were celebrating.
Then it was Lily’s turn. She felt a swell of nerves as she approached the podium, her heart pounding. What if they don’t want me? What if they think I’m not good enough? She could hear her thoughts racing, drowning out the noise around her.
The Sorting Hat settled onto her head, and she heard its voice inside her mind. “Ahh, a brave one. Very bright, too... where to put you?”
Lily felt herself almost urge the Hat to put her in Gryffindor, but another voice whispered, “Slytherin would welcome you, too...”
But she took a deep breath, She didn’t care about the houses, she just wanted to feel like she belonged, people in muggle schools weren’t always kind… She buried those thoughts, concentrating on her desire to be with people like her—brave, loyal, good-hearted.
“GRYFFINDOR!” the Hat finally announced, and the hall erupted in cheers.
Lily smiled broadly, relief washing over her as she joined the Gryffindor table. She caught James’ eye just as he was about to say something to Remus and Sirius.
---
“Guys! Look, it’s her!” James exclaimed, practically jumping to his feet. “The girl from the platform!”
“They said her name was Lily Evans.” Remus supplied
James’ enthusiasm was infectious as he waved her over, and for a moment, the room around them faded away. It was as if Lily was the only one in the hall.
“Lily Evans!” Remus called out, smiling warmly. “Welcome! To both Hogwarts and well, magic.”
Sirius, still buzzing from the applause he had received, grinned at her. “Looks like we’re all together now!” Sirius for a second thought if he was even allowed to be this excited but he didn’t care right now.
Lily felt her cheeks flush as she approached the Gryffindor table, excitement bubbling within her. They actually want me here. The reality of it struck her as she took a seat next to the boy with scars.
But as she sat, the earlier thought crept back in. What if they only see me as just a charity student they are talking to out of pity? Her thoughts drifted to the boy who was looking at her but she didn’t quite understand why the boy with scars blocked his line of vision. What if James, being so popular, would never want to be friends with someone like me?
James caught her gaze, his brown eyes sparkling with something like admiration. “Hey, Lily-uh sorry Evans! I am James, I can’t believe we’re in the same house! You know I saw you at the—mmph” The boy with dusty brown hair stuffed James’ mouth with a cupcake.
She couldn’t help but smile back at him, though doubt still lingered in her mind. “Yeah, I’m glad too.”
“I am Remus Lupin by the way, and this person over here is Sirius Black.” The boy with scars and dusty brown hair told her, the black haired- Sirius, smiled an easy smile her way in greeting.
As the sorting continued, she glanced at Severus across the hall, now sitting amongst the Slytherins. His face was partially shadowed, and Lily felt a twinge of concern for him. But as she looked back at James, laughing with Remus and Sirius, she couldn’t help but feel a sense of hope for what was to come.
In that moment, everything felt new and uncertain, but somehow it felt like the beginning of something incredible.