Breaking Black (A Sirius Black Love Story)

Chapter 4

Sure enough, after Sirius left our compartment, there was an announcement that we would be at the school soon. I quickly changed into a set of my robes and sat quietly with Lily and Severus. We all had our eyes soaking in the scenery, just looking for a glimpse of the castle we would soon be calling our home.

Without warning, the Hogwarts Express stopped. I looked outside and saw horseless carriages lining the tracks. There still was no sign of the castle, but students were pouring out of the train and into carriages.

"I guess this is where we get off then..." I began to haul my trunk out of the compartment. Lily and Severus did the same. Finally, I caught a glimpse of Felix, wading his way through the aisle.

"Sorry I never came back... I got really busy!" Felix huffed and grabbed his trunk and cat before bustling out again as if he were on a mission his life depended on.

"Is that your brother?" Lily asked. He kept plowing through people in a hurry. Felix even knocked over a young kid before helping him up.

"Yeah. Usually he isn't this scatter brained... Wait... He's actually always like this," I laughed and Lily joined in. Severus showed no emotion as we continued to haul our trunks off the train. He seemed to be lost, looking over his shoulder, as if Sirius were going to sneak up on him again.

"First years! First years, over here!" a gravelly voice boomed. I pushed through the crowd to find a giant man calling and waving his arms. By giant, I mean, literally giant! He wouldn't have even fit in my kitchen! All the students around my age were gathering in a group around him. "First years, this way!"

Altheda jittered inside her cage, demanding to be let out as she watched a few owls flying away. Many of the older students let their owls free and they flew away towards the tree line. Hesitantly, I let Altheda out, hoping she had enough sense to find her way to the castle.

"Are all the first years over here then?" the man continued to yell over the talking of the excited first years. "Welcome to Hogwarts! I am Hagrid, groundskeeper! It is tradition for all Hogwarts first years to get to the castle by crossing the lake, so we will all be taking boats. Once we arrive at the castle, you will be Sorted into your houses and the feast will begin. Get into groups of five and pick a boat!"

Lily, Severus, and I shuffled through the crowd towards the row of wooden boats sitting on the inky water. The lake was completely dark and eerie, but it excited me nonetheless.

"I need two in here!" Hagrid pointed to a boat with three students inside. Lily and I exchanged a glance.

"Sev and I will go. I'm sure you'll find a boat! See you at the castle!" Lily explained and dragged Severus by the hand to the boat. I sighed and began walking along the shore to find an empty seat. All the boats were full except for the last one which had four people.

"Hey, do you mind if I- Oh. It's you. Never mind, I'll just swim across," I grumbled as I realized this boat was occupied by Sirius Black and three of his friends.

"Lexi! Join us!" Sirius called and scrambled out to help me push my trunk into the boat. 

Reluctantly, I hopped in the boat and sat in the only empty seat next to Sirius just as the boat left the shore. I gave a small smile to the other three boys who were looking at me with interest. The two across from me had brown hair but were practically polar opposites other than the hair color. One was squat and fat with a pinched expression on his face. The other was tall and skinny, almost too skinny. The final boy had sat at the back of the boat. He stared from me to Sirius, his hazel eyes shimmering and a sarcastic smirk playing on his lips.

"Pleasure to meet you Lexi, my name is Remus Lupin." The thin boy across from me introduced himself and held out his hand. I shook it immediately, realizing Remus was genuinely polite. He slowly let my hand go and leaned against the side of the boat, staring at the beautiful night sky. The shining half-moon reflected in the pupils of his green eyes and the light cast shadows on his face, making him look gaunt and eerie.