Shades of Silver and Black

Chapter 2

-------------------> JAMES POTTER SMIRKED TO HIS BROTHER in everything but blood (being second cousins doesn't count), Sirius Black as they boarded the shiny red Hogwarts express. 

At the platform, Lord and Lady Potter were standing straight and regal, living up to their Nobel titles. However, he could see his father's proud face beneath his blank face and his mother's beautiful smile beneath her icy mask.

Standing beside them were the Black family. All of them with grey eyes, attractive features, perfect posture and cold looks. James was sad that Regulus could not join them this year. He would miss his little bro and assistant-in-crimes. He gave Reggie a sad smile before going with Sirius to find a place to sit. 

10 minutes later, the Train had started her journey, the boys were seated and talking about random things.

"Hey little brothers..." came a voice they knew all too well.

With a voice like a siren, face of a goddess and a shiny Prefect badge sitting proudly on her silk Slytherin robes, his pseudo sister (technically she was his god-sister) entered the compartment, closing the door behind her.

"Hey" they chorused in reply.

Lyra giggled. 

"Listen, I know you guys are nervous or excited or something; but, can we go over the rules one last time?" she asked.

Sirius rolled his eyes while James shrugged. "Sure, why not?"

She raised a perfect eyebrow in waiting.

"I'll start." said Sirius, huffing a little. "Do not bully anyone or let anyone bully you. It will result in the loss of House points and will embarrass your family. We should either tell a teacher or let you handle it."

"We need to remember the hierarchy systems." continued James. "Every House has one, even if they say they don't. The kindest and most hardworking are the leaders of Hufflepuffs, the smartest in Ravenclaw, the bravest in Gryffindor and the most cunning in Slytherin. However, Slytherin is the only House that openly acknowledges and supports the system. If we are to go to Gryffindor, our best option is to pull many pranks.  We need to make sure everyone knows that we committed those pranks-"

"- but could never prove and punish us because we did." interrupted Sirius. "We should be the most popular, 'ideal' Lions by fourth year, at least. We also need to be weary of the Slytherin King and Queen since they have the whole House under their control."

"We should get in the good graces of Professor Slughorn, our Portions Master, since he has a lot of influence that will come handy in the future." said James.

"We should be outgoing and try out as many things as possible, because we only come to Hogwarts once. However, we should make sure it's with the right sort of people, at least in public. We can do whatever we want when no one is looking." said Sirius.

"We should ask the portraits or ghosts for help if we ever get lost as they are more reliable than people sometimes... Oh! and we should also watch out for or possibly befriend peeves." said James.

"Moaning Myrtle resides in the girl's bathroom on the second floor. Under any circumstances if we were to go there, we should probably be invisible or be prepared to flirt with a ghost..." said Sirius with a slight shudder.

"Don't be afraid to ask help for homework or to come to you for tutoring in any subject, and solve the mock papers you give us before exams. But, don't give or share any tips, tricks or papers with anyone without something valuable in  return. I quote 'I don't care which House you go to, it's best to behave like a Slytherin in most situations' and end quote." replied James.

"If there is anything we need, anything at all, we should always fall back on family. Bella's in seventh year, Andi is in sixth, you are in fifth and Cissa is in forth." said Sirius. "Morgana! James, we are completely dominated by girls in our family!"

James grimsed, but upon seeing his sister's glare (courtesy of her genes from Walburga Black), he let out a nervous laugh...

"Thats funny, Sirius. I like them all and I wouldn't have it any other way." After seeing the approval in Lyra's ever amused eyes, he cleared his throat, "Lastly and most importantly, we should not be afraid to use our family names in order to pull us out of trouble or out of a sticky situation..."

Lyra smiled proudly before engulfing the boys into a warm, tight hug. 

"I'm so proud of both of you! It seems like just yesterday I was cleaning the vomit of peas and carrots you presented me with when you were four. Ah, how time flies." she said, and looked them both directly in the eyes and she said her last bit, "Be careful, okay Loves? Have loads of fun and always smile. It makes you both look very handsome. I have to go to a prefect meeting right now, or else I'd be too late to be 'fashionably late'... I'll see you at the sorting, alright?"

And with one final kiss on both the boys' identical dark hair, Lyra Black made her way out the door.

"Ly?" came a voice.

"Yes, Siri?" she asked, confused as to why her darling brother had stopped her just as she was about to exit.

"What if-" he hesitated. "What if I get into Gryffindor?"

Lyra's lips curved up. "Then Gryffindor would be gaining an outstanding new prankster and I would also be on the winning side of the wager against mother, so I encourage you to do so."

Sirius looked surprised. "You bet on me going to Gryffindor?"

Lyra looked at him as though he had asked a very stupid question, which he did according to her, "Of course I did. Mother, Grandfather Pollux and Uncle Cygnus were the only members of House Black who bet on you going to Slytherin. Something about Blacks always being in Slytherin and purest of bloods; but I didn't pay attention... Don't worry, little brother. I'll sort it all out. Everything will be okay, trust me. Just promise me that you and James will make loads of friends in the House of Lions, yes?"

"Yes." they both chorused happily as Lyra smiled and left to the Prefect meeting.