For the next two hours, both Sirius and James made it their mission that I knew all I could about quidditch. The way they talked about it, it sounded like soccer.

I tried hard to understand what they were saying, not finding it within me to tell them I wasn't actually listening, only nodding at proper times so they would think I was paying attention.

Sirius had been quiet at first but now he was more relaxed and wouldn't shut up. Whatever weird tension there had been between the two boys had disappeared completely as momentarily they would get into a conversation of their own before turning to me as if they had to agree with each other first before telling me about it.

Now, the two of them seemed to be excited talking about different stuff to which I'd pipe in if I found the conversation interesting. It was nice. They wouldn't ignore me and talk over me as if I wasn't there. Like it had happened in the past at my muggle school.

It felt like the three of us understood each other.

I even taught them how to play the solitaire, specially to Sirius who seemed even more interested on anything muggle related.

"The more I can use to piss my dear mother off, the better" Sirius told me as I shuffled the cards, "You'd be my personal hero, giving me ammo to make her angry"

James had laughed at that but I couldn't help but notice a slight glint of concern in his eyes whenever Sirius would mention his parents or family. He seemed more worried about Sirius than Sirius himself. I didn't understand why. Was his family so bad that that warranted concern? Should I be concerned for Sirius too?

About three hours in, James having bought sweets for the three of us, he was explaining to me what those were about as Sirius ate a licorice wand. James was opening a box of Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans when there was a knock on the compartment door.

We turned to see a redhead girl standing there with her head down. I could hear sniffling and when she looked up, her eyes were puffy and there were tear tracks in her cheeks.

"Hi, my name's Lily Evans" she said quietly, shifting awkwardly at the attention of the three of us. I tilted my head in curiosity. "I was wondering if I could sit here?"

Lily's hair was straight and in a bright shade of red with some curls at the end. Her eyes were a beautiful shade of green looking even brighter by the tears in her eyes.

I looked at James and Sirius questionably. I didn't have a problem with her joining us but I wanted their opinion too because they'd be sharing a compartment with her and I wanted my newest friends comfortable.

Sirius had half licorice wand in his mouth as he shrugged carelessly. He was slouching on the couch, his back resting in the corner of the compartment facing the hallway and his legs were stretched toward the opposite seat.

James smiled with a nod, holding the box of beans as he shuffled inside it for a bean he wanted. I was on the opposite couch of the two of them, sitting on my knees. I was wearing a dress so I couldn't sit the way I wanted to, with my legs crossed under me.

"Of course" I told her after getting James and Sirius' agreement. "Come in. I'm Kate Grant and these are James Potter and Sirius Black"

"Thank you" Lily said softly, walking inside and closing the door.

Sirius bent his legs so she could pass and not trip, stretching them back again as Lily walked past us, taking the place next to window. I had been sitting in the middle of the couch so she had enough space for herself.

Sirius looked at me, pointing at the box of beans, speaking through the licorice in his mouth "Careful with that. When it says 'every flavor' it means every flavor"

I gave him a doubtful look as to which he smiled and shrugged as if saying 'I did warn you' before I turned to James who was giving me the same mischievious smile, offering me the box. He had already a bean in his hand.

"Really?" I asked, grabbing the box, peering inside it.

"Try it out" James coerced, smiling.

Before I could though, the door was opened for a second time in less than two minutes, looking up to see a pale boy with messy and greasy black hair entering the compartment without paying attention to us, jumping over Sirius' legs, taking the seat in front of Lily.

I stared at him in offense, mumbling under my breath "Hello is common courtesy, isn't it?"

"People forget manners exist these days" James mumbled under his breath.

Sirius didn't bother to talk in a low voice, "Probably the greasy hair in his face obstructed his ability to be a decent human being"

The boy ignored us but Lily sent Sirius a scowl for the comment, pointedly looking back to the window, ignoring everyone's presence.

Without looking at him, James raised his fist to Sirius who bumped it with his own. I hid my smile on the box of Bertie Bott's.

"I don't want to talk to you" Lily said to the boy constricted voice as the boy kept staring at her.

"Why not?" he asked.

"T-tuney h-hates me" Lily said, upset. I could sworn I heard James murmur under his breath that he'd be upset too if he had to see the boy's face every day. I threw a bean to his forehead for the rude comment. James rolled his eyes at me. "Because we saw the letter from Dumbledore"

"So what?" the boy asked.

Lily threw him a look of dislike "So? She is my sister!"

"She's only a..." the boy caught himself quickly; Lily was too busy trying to wipe out her eyes without being noticed to hear him, but I did. I frowned. Was he about to insult Lily's sister? Friends don't do that.

The three of us tried to look busy and disinterested in their talk but I could tell James and Sirius were listening. I knew I was listening.

"But we are going!" the boy said unable to suppress the exhilaration in his voice "This is it! We're off to Hogwarts!" Lily nodded, wiping her eyes and in spite of herself, she half-smiled. Then he said "You'd better be in Slytherin"

Lily remained quiet, not knowing what to say.

But James couldn't help it, grimacing. "Slytherin?" I threw another beam at him for intruding in their conversation. He gave me an annoyed look but I widened my eyes at him pointedly but James didn't listen to reason, looking away from me and toward Lily's friend. "Who wants to be in Slytherin? I think I'd leave" turning to Sirius and I, he added "Wouldn't you?"

"My whole family has been in Slytherin" Sirius murmured, chewing on his licorice, picking up the second bean I had thrown to James in curiosity.

"Don't get me in the middle" I murmured, without looking at them. This time Sirius threw the bean at me. I glared. Sirius tilted his head.

James grimaced at Sirius, "Blimey, and I thought you seemed all right!"

"James" I scolded, looking up. This was his new friend too. He shouldn't be talking to him that way.

Sirius, however didn't seem offended by James, "Maybe I'll break the tradition," replied Sirius with a grin, winking at me reassuringly. Oh, alright. If he wasn't offended then I wasn't either. "Where are you heading, if you've got the choice?"

"Gryffindor" James answered quickly, proud of it and holding up his hand as if brandishing a sword "Where dwell the brave at heart! Like my dad" Sirius turned to me expectantly. I pointedly looked away. "So is she. Don't let her fool you into her innocent 'I may go to hufflepuff' act. She did it with me. Didn't work by the way, Kate"

I stuck my tongue at James, turning to Sirius "I don't know. Every house seems nice"

"Not Slytherin" James drawled pointedly.

"Maybe" I shrugged. I didn't have a problem with the snake house. Not yet at least so I couldn't be prejudicial toward it without seeing with my own eyes they were evil.

The boy clearly thought otherwise about all James said making a noise that clarified his distaste.

"Got a problem with that?" James huffed, turning towards him.

I looked between them, not understanding the distaste for any of the houses. At least, I didn't so far.

"No" the boy replied coolly "If you'd rather be brawny than brainy-"

"Where're you hoping to go, seeing as you're neither?" Sirius interrupted with a triumphant grin.

"Sirius" I warned disapprovingly as James burst out with a hearty laugh.

Lily glared at my friends with obvious distaste but sent me a small smile, seeming grateful for my scolding to them. I just didn't want them to make enemies. Not the first day at least.

"What?" Sirius asked. "You a goodie two shoes, Katie? Do you even know what everyone in slytherin thinks about muggle-borns like you?" I pursed my lips. No, I didn't know. And seeing James grimacing as he tapped his tight I didn't want to know. "I thought so. I'm trying to protect you from that"

"C'mon, Severus" said Lily, standing from her seat "Let's find another compartment"

The boy, Severus joined her, slightly flushed with rage.

Sirius and James cooed with laughter.

"Yeah, c'mon, Severus" repeated Sirius, imitating Lily's lofty tone. James stuck out his leg to trip Severus, but only managed to kick him in the shin.

"See ya, Snivellus!" James called, still hopping with laughter.

That managed a chuckle out of me despite of what I had thought of not making enemies. James beamed that he got me to laugh with them.

Lily didn't find this funny, giving us one murderous look. Bye bye her gratefulness to me. She slammed the compartment door shut with so much force that I thought it was going to break its glass and other compartment doors.

"Charming girl, her" James remarked, referring to Lily.

"Very charming" I said, crossing my arms, surprised about her temper.

"What is she hanging out with a bloke like that?" Sirius sneered after sending my way an amused smile

"I don't know" James frowned "But she's not Slytherin"

"You don't know that" I added quietly.

"Trust me" Sirius said darkly. "Neither her or you seem to be Slytherin. They'd eat you alive only for your blood status even though I think it's rubbish"

James nodded in agreement, "Let's agree to be in the same house to protect each other from that"

Sirius scowled at his feet, "Hopefully"

"Mate" James clasped a hand on Sirius' shoulder, "Remember you're being sorted by who you are, not what your family has done and being sorted into. Personally, after the last two hours of meeting you and the way you've interacted with Katie, a muggle-born, I don't really see you as an evil guy"

"Unless you're pretending" I piped, giving Sirius an amused look.

"I wouldn't" Sirius for once didn't play along. His voice was, well serious. "Not to those being super nice to me"

"Aww" James cooed, sighing dramatically. "How cute. I'm thinking on adopting him too. What do you think, Katie-boo. Ready to have a brother?"

I grinned. "But I adopted you"

"Not really. I said it first" James reminded me, smirking. He passed an arm around Sirius' shoulders. "So, it has to be me. And I officially declare him as my second lost child"

~8~

Sirius had a bright smile on his face as the two of them, his new friends fought over him. It was the most relaxed he's ever felt.

People who like me for who I am, finally. Sirius thought to himself as James had Kate trying on a Bertie Bott bean, immediately spitting it out with disgust.

Sirius laughed loudly which got Kate glaring and using the opportunity to shove a random bean on his mouth, immediately spitting it at the taste of earwax, gagging in disgust. As James laughed, he used the same tactic and shoved a random one into his mouth.

James beamed. "Strawberry"

Kate and Sirius groaned.

"I ate vomit" Kate scrunched her nose. "It was disgusting"

"Not as earwax" Sirius told her, chuckling sarcastically "Thanks for that"

Kate smiled with purple hair and hazel eyes, "You're welcome"

Yeah, Sirius actually found people liking him for who he was. He really hoped he was in the same house as them.