Forever Young (Sirius/OC)

Chapter 2

Desperate to catch up to her best friend, Alex pushed her short self through crowds of lingering students. Finally succeeding to make it to the train Alex attempted to push her trunk into the holding compartment. Her unimpressive height of 5'3 didn't exactly help in the strength department - however don't let that fool you because what Alex lacked in the strength department she made up for with her ability to put a grown man in St Mungos with one of her hexes.

"Need some help, love?" Alex grinned and spun around at the sound of the familiar voice.

"James!" She squealed as she threw her arms around his neck and he bent down to hug her back. "You've grown!" Alex missed being taller than her childhood friend.

"And you haven't," James teased as they pulled away so he could get both of their luggage onto the train. Alex rolled her eyes as he turned to make his way down the corridor and she followed shortly afterwards. James slid open the door to one of the empty compartments and Alex awkwardly lingered as he sat down. The handsome boy looked up and raised an eyebrow.

"Would you mind if I, erm, sat here until I find my friends?" Alex asked in a rush, looking down at her feet.

"Why would I mind, Al? Of course you can," James aid with a smile and Alex shook her head at how stupid she must have sounded.

"I know, it's just that I didn't want to annoy you when your friends come," Alex admitted and James laughed.

"You're an idiot," he said with a smirk. "You know that right? We've been friends since we were five years old. I'm not going to kick you out."

Alex smiled and sat down opposite him.

It wasn't long before a familiar voice came from the door to the compartment.

"Hello you two,"

Alex beamed at Remus and Peter, who was standing behind him awkwardly. She jumped up and tackled Remus in a hug, she had always been close with him - not as close as she was with James but she counted him as a good friend - he chuckled and patted her on the back.

"'Ello love," they both sat back down beside each other as Peter sat down next to James. "How was your summer?"

"As good as it could get with two annoying older brothers," Alex smiled despite herself. "How was yours?" She couldn't help but notice how Remus seemed to have gained a few extra scars over the summer. For as long as she remembered Remus had always had them but she had never asked, she knew what if felt like when people invaded her privacy so she wouldn't do the same to Remus.

Just as he opened his mouth to answer the compartment door slid open again.

"Sorry to interrupt," came the low, smooth voice from the doorway. "Had an argument with my dear mother."

James glanced at Sirius with a small sympathetic smile.

"Well you won't be seeing that old cow for a while now, mate," James stood up and greeted his best friend with a hug. "Good to see you my man!"

Sirius smirked. "I only saw you last week, Prongs," He sent the other two boys a look of acknowledgment and then nodded at Alex with a small smirk. "Briggs."

"Black," Alex said blankly as she stood up. "I'll be off now then, it was good to see you. I'll go and find Lily."

Ignoring James' hopeful look at the mention of the red head's name, Alex lightly pushed past Sirius and made her way towards the compartment door - determined to stay as unnoticed as possible. It's not like she was intimidated by Sirius. Sure, he was insanely good looking and the true definition of a marauder but, on the first day back, she was not in the mood for whatever was about to come out of his mouth. Alex didn't hate Sirius, certainly not, but that didn't mean she was too fond of him either. They had had plenty of civil conversations together and that simple word summed up their relationship - civil - but Sirius's outrageously flirty and sometimes fairly pervy comments towards anybody from the fairer sex sometimes got on her nerves.