all the stars; sirius black

Prologue

Fear.

Fear was the only thing coursing through every vein and every artery that ran through her body. every beat in her chest could be felt and heard as she took her first step into the red and black train.

Coraline Bernard was a lost cause, according to her mother. 

She was nothing like her family, even her twin sister Gwendolyn. They all shared a love for social events, their charismatic conversations, as well as their academic aspirations.

The only thing Coraline shared with them was one last name. 

Not to make her a typical introvert, but she did enjoy books. Only the ones that provided her with further wisdom. Tea parties and Debutanté Balls could never be any more displeasing to her as ever, to the point she begged her mother to take her to Ballet lessons when she was only five years old.

And her charisma levels were in the negative percentile. She never really stuck to one friend, always misunderstanding her and the way she always kept to herself.

Let's not forget the fact that she was a Muggle-born witch. They were of course taken aback at the news yet they were still supportive.

Or maybe was it because they knew she was different? 

Compartment after compartment, Coraline could not find one that wasn't occupied by anyone so she kept on searching.

'Ignore them, Sev' huffed a redhead girl coming towards her way. She wasn't looking where she was and neither was Coraline.

As expected, they collided. The brunettes bag was thrown to the side as the redhead quickly blew her long hair away.

'I'm so sorry, are you alright?' the redhead apologized as the two met the eyes of each other when they both grabbed her belonging at the same time.

'I'm okay, thanks' Coraline shrugged it off as the girl gave her her book.

'I'm Lily Evans' the ginger introduced herself kindly as she extended her arm while Coraline shyly shook it. 

'And this is Severus Snape' Lily gestured towards the greasy-haired boy who towered over both of them, though his eye was a bit red as if he'd suffered some damage.

He sent a nasty glare towards Coraline's eyes, but she ignored him. 'I'm Coraline Bernard' she replied to Lily with a smile.

'Lily, let's just go' Snape enabled the girl to start moving again as she obliged.

 'Oh, okay- again, I'm sorry about that' the redhead apologized once more before moving on through the compartments.

Coraline looked back at them before she kept on walking, finding a compartment with its door wide open.

'Did you see his hair? It was greasier than a rat!' one boy with round glasses and messy jet black hair called. 'That Huber had a good call tripping him, hope it fixed that crooked nose of his'.

'He looks like he would be a Slytherin-' another boy with long curly hair and grey eyes spoke but was interrupted when he noticed Coraline knock on the door.

The two turned their heads towards her direction as she took a deep breath before speaking.

'Is this compartment free?' she asked sheepishly, embarrassed that she interjected between them as a short-lived silence was between the three of them.

'Well-'

'Yes!' the boy with grey eyes exclaimed kindly. Coraline nodded slowly as she took a seat beside him, a silence being brought to life once again before she spoke.

'Were you talking about the redhead and the greasy kid? Because that boy was giving me the nastiest glare I've ever gotten' Coraline crooked one eyebrow in confusion as to why he did that.

'Probably because you're Muggle-born' said the boy with grey eyes. Coraline knitted her eyebrows in curiosity. 

'And why would that matter?' she asked curiously.

'It doesn't really' started the boy with messy jet black hair. 'Some people are just too thick too see that' he flashed a grin at her.

'I'm Sirius by the way. Sirius Black' the grey-eyed boy introduced himself.

'And I'm James Potter' the two boys had both extended their arms.

'Oh, I'm Coraline Bernard. It's a pleasure to meet you' she stated as they shook her hand.

'So, what house are you hoping for?' Sirius asked her. 'I'm planning on being in Gryffindor, so is James'.

'Whatever the Hat decides' she said simply as the two boys scrunched their noses.

'So, you don't care what house you're gonna be sorted in?' James inquired.

'It's the Sorting Hat's job to do the sorting, isn't it? Besides, I'm glad to even be here on this train. I didn't always fit in with the Muggle kids' Coraline rambled on as James stared dumbfounded but Sirius then awed in realization.

He lightly kicked James' foot. 'Bet you she's a Ravenclaw' he smirked as he put his hands behind his neck.

'Why thank you' she chorused gingerly as the three laughed.

But they were interrupted as a redhead boy came into sight. 

With a long nose, a pasty, freckly face, as well as hair as red as the train, he scanned the compartment.

'Have you guys seen a cat? A girl named Alice had lost it' he asked the three though they all shrugged.

James and Sirius shook their heads, but Coraline spoke up. 'I could help you find it if you'd like?' she offered as the boy's face lighted up.

'Thank you, It's not particularly a daily routine to search for a cat in a humongous train' the redhead sighed in relief as she chuckled.

Coraline was about to walk off with the boy until she stopped and looked behind her for a minute.

'I'll see you two at Hogwarts, if we're in the same house' she smiled with her rosy cheeks towards the two before leaving them.

James turned to Sirius and kicked him in the legs hard.

'OW!' he groaned in pain. 'What was that for?' he rubbed where James kicked him.

'Nice flirting there' he ridiculed his friend. 'What do you mean "flirting?"' Sirius asked cluelessly.

'Oh, you know what I mean' James continued on as they went on to bicker like that for a few more minutes.

***

'Have you checked with the Prefects?' Coraline asked Alice Fortescue, the girl who lost her cat.

Alice had big doe-eyes, bushy eyebrows, and a dreamy expression on her face all the time that Coraline had loved.

'Oh right, forgot about them' she chuckled lightly, but the redhead boy and Coraline stared at her with an "are you serious?"  look on their face.

'I swear to Merlin-' the Redhead boy fumed up but was interrupted when Coraline elbowed him slightly.

'It's alright Alice, I'm Coraline by the way. Coraline Bernard' she introduced herself the third time she did this day.

'And I'm Cale Prewett' the redhead smiled with his long nose slightly going up. 'Now, are we going to find that?' he asked rhetorically before the three of them laughed, all chatting around as they made their to the Prefect's compartment.