'First impressions are always most important.' Sirius's parents had drummed that into him nearly from birth. 'One must always be a complete gentleman. One never knows who is watching.' All of these platitudes were to prepare him for a life apart from his family; today that life would begin.
He looked over to his trunk, which was decorated with green and silver in anticipation of his becoming a Slytherin. 'All Blacks are either Slytherins or traitors to our heritage,' his mother had often told him. That was the reason he said nothing about his dislike of the cold colors.
'What if I am not in Slytherin?' Sirius thought suddenly. 'There are three other houses.'
'If one is not a Slytherin, then Ravenclaw is the only alternative,' his mother's voice chided him. 'Though one has to be careful of the pollution the Mudbloods cause.'
Buried under his textbooks and clothes were copies of Muggle books that his cousin Andromeda had smuggled to him. Sirius was actually looking forward to meeting Muggleborns. He had a feeling they were going to be more interesting than the pureblooded wizards he had known since birth. He would never voice those thoughts out loud to his parents though. 'Don't want even more missed meals.'
"The train leaves in an hour." Mr. Black entered the room. "Your bags are packed. The house elves will take them down to the station. Go take leave of your mother, then meet me in the front hall."
Sirius nodded his understanding and quickly walked to his mother's morning room making sure not to rumple his robes. 'A Black is an image of the Wizarding world at its best.'
Sirius smoothed his robe nervously and knocked on the door. "Enter," his mother's voice was as cold as ever.
He entered and bowed first to his aunt and then his mother. "There may be hope for him yet Arachne," his aunt said. "His manners are much improved."
"We were afraid that we might have to put the Imperious curse on him to make him behave at Hogwarts." His mother inclined her head to her sister. "Thankfully he seems to have outgrown that little phase."
"So what method did you use?" his aunt asked as eagerly as politeness would allow.
"Starvation mostly," Mrs. Black raised her eyebrow. "Andromeda giving you trouble again?"
Her sister raised her eyebrow as well. "Of course not."
The two women nodded their understanding. "Well boy?" Mrs. Black demanded.
"I've come to take my leave Madam." Sirius gave her another bow.
"Come here." She reached out her hand to him. He moved closer and she grabbed his chin. "Do nothing to disgrace this family or you'll wish that what happened to your last horse was all that would happen to you." She let go of his face and held out her hand again.
He kissed her hand and left after bowing to his aunt.
"Damn Mudbloods," Mr. Black said under his breath as they moved about Platform 9 ¾. Sirius was keeping close to his father, not for the security that it would afford him, but merely for appearances. "If they did not insist on having a mundane way to the school we could just Floo you all in."
"Black, a pleasure to see you." Sirius's heart leapt at the sound of that voice.
"Snape." His father greeted his friend.
"Thantos, why don't we allow the children to board the train?" Samuel Snape gestured to his son and daughter beside him. "They don't need us for that."
"Certainly. I've been meaning to talk to you for some time now." The two men moved off leaving their progeny behind.
The elder of the two Snapes gave the boys a small smile. "Don't be late getting on the train." She stalked off to the other end of the platform.
"Same old Ursa," Sirius commented to his friend.
"As if she could change," the two boys smiled at each other.
"I was afraid that your mother was going to send you to Beauxbatons. It was all Aunt Solaris could talk about last month," Sirius confessed.
"Fear does not become those of pure blood," The other boy reminded him.
"As if Aunt Solaris isn't terrified of mice," Sirius scoffed.
The other boy grinned. "Which is why you let those mice loose on your parent's last dinner party."
"I never," Sirius said haughtily.
"Come on," The other boy teased, "who else would have the opportunity? You and your brother were the only children in the house, and I can't imagine one of the adults stooping to that no matter what they think of her."
"How did you hear about the prank then?" Sirius demanded.
"Aunt Solaris made the rounds the next day," Severus told him. "It was all she could talk about. You're very lucky they never figured out it was you."
"Sirius and Severus, what a surprise," a voice drawled from behind Sirius. "If you two need any help feel free to ask."
"Thank you, Lucius." The boys chorused.
Lucius gave them a smile. "Its always a pleasure to help the new Slytherins."
As he walked away the two boys exchanged looks. "Well Mr. Snape, shall we board the train before someone else decides to 'help' the new Slytherins."
"Of course Mr. Black. We Slytherins are well loved, but one never knows when that one person who hates us might appear." Severus led the way to the train and the two found an empty compartment.
"Severus?" Sirius asked as they sat down. "Do you ever think of being in a house other than Slytherin?"
Severus looked puzzled. "Ravenclaw might not be so bad, Hufflepuff would be abysmal," the boys shivered. "Nothing is worse than the thought of being in Gryffindor though. However, we don't need to worry, the Blacks and the Snapes have always been in Slytherin."
Sirius turned to the window to think about this as the train pulled out of the station. 'Pureblooded Wizards and Slytherin are synonymous in all the best families.' His mother's genealogy lessons had been quite clear on that point. 'Unless you're prepared to live like the Weasleys, then you live Slytherin.'
Sirius sighed.
A noise outside the compartment brought Sirius out of his thoughts. Both he and Severus remained seated, though alert, when the door burst open and two other boys spilled in.
"Sorry about that," The smaller of the two intruders said sheepishly.
"Is there room for us in here?" The other boy asked looking around.
"That depends on who you are. We can't let just anyone sit with us. Can we?" Severus addressed the last to Sirius who shook his head.
"I'm James Potter." The bigger boy grinned. Sirius felt himself begin to grin in response; a sharp glance from Severus stopped the grin in its tracks.
"Peter Pettigrew," The smaller boy squeaked.
"Mr. Potter and Mr. Pettigrew," Severus squeaked the second boy's name to mock him. "But these seats are taken."
"Come on now!" James sputtered. "There is no one here!"
"My sister and her friends are on their way I'm sure," Severus replied. "Don't you agree, Sirius?"
All three of the boys looked to Sirius. Peter gave him a pleading look. Sirius met James's eyes for a second. 'He seems nice enough,' Sirius thought. 'However Severus is the one who is going to be my house mate for the rest of the year.'
"I'm sure Ursa will be here soon," Sirius said apologetically to James.
James looked like he wanted to explode, but before he could Lucius Malfoy poked his head into their compartment. "Is there a problem here?" He asked.
"This rabble," Severus waved his hand to indicate James and Peter, "won't believe me when I tell them there was no room for them here."
Lucius looked Peter and James over. "This compartment is reserved for Slytherins only."
James obviously decided that the older boy was more of a threat then Sirius and Severus had been. He gave them all a small smile. "We're sorry for our mistake."
"Could happen to anyone I'm sure." Severus called as Lucius herded the two younger boys out of the compartment.
"That wasn't very nice," Sirius said the moment the door closed.
Severus laughed. "Since when have the Snapes and Blacks been concerned with being nice? We are the top of the Wizarding ladder, everyone bows to us."
"They were wearing robes like they were born to them. They must have been born into Wizarding families," Sirius protested.
"The Potters are a mildly affluent family with no influence what so ever," Severus informed him. "The Pettigrews are slightly more tolerable, but that family is in service. All in all it would have been better to have one of the Weasleys here with us than either of them."
"And we can therefore be rude to them?" Sirius raised his eyebrow.
"It isn't rude if you are merely stating fact," argued Severus. "Maybe I could have been more diplomatic, but if Ursa had come in here and seen Potter and Pettigrew here she would have been a lot worse."
Sirius sighed again. "Don't you ever get tired of the rules?"
"Sometimes," admitted Severus. "However, I recognize that they exist for a reason. We must follow them or suffer the consequences."
"Will you promise me something?" Sirius looked down at the floor.
"Depends," Severus evaded.
'Never promise anything before you know what you're getting into. You owe your family and your house that much.'
"No matter what happens, no matter which house we end up in. No matter where life takes us, we'll still be friends. Or, at the very least still talk." Sirius expected Severus to laugh at him, and was surprised when the other boy appeared to actually be thinking about what he said.
"I guess that it is a safe enough promise," Severus said after his deliberation. He brought his wand out of his robe.
Sirius copied the movement and their wands touched.
"We, Severus Snape and Sirius Black, promise to always be friends. No matter what life hands us," the boys said in unison.
"No doing magic on the train." Ursa Snape entered the compartment. "Lucius told me you two had a problem with some trash. I am glad to see that you two can recognize bottom feeders when you see them. Its an ability that will come in handy at Hogwarts since they allow more Mudbloods each year."
"Excuse me?" A female voice behind Ursa asked politely. "Is there room in that compartment?"
"Not for Mudbloods," Lucius's voice answered her.
"Thank you, Lucius," Ursa simpered at the blond.
"Just doing my job as a Prefect." Lucius returned her smile.
"I hear that Flint brought some interesting artifacts from his father's collection." Ursa tilted her head to look up at Lucius.
"Would you like an escort my dear lady?" Lucius bowed with a flourish. As she took his arm he nodded to Severus and Sirius. "The train will arrive in ten minutes."
Sirius sighed yet again when the door closed.
"You're beginning to sound like a dog," observed Severus.
"There are days when I feel like one," Sirius admitted. "Jumping when told too, coming when called."
"The Aristocracy: exceptionally well trained dogs," Severus mused. "How appropriate."
"Our parents will kick us and yet still demand loyalty," Sirius said not meeting his friend's eyes.
"It is all in the best interests," Severus said quietly.
"Ours or theirs?" Sirius looked at the other boy.
"In the end it's the same thing." Severus finally managed to catch Sirius's eye.
"Is it?"
TBC