Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or any of its characters. They belong to JK Rowling. There's also a couple ocs I don't own but have permission to use. Sydney belongs to shewolf2118 and Mihael belongs to Lord of Fluff. However I do own my own ocs, Ahsoka, Lukas, and Rurik. Ahsoka is reason I wrote this in the first place and the other characters will pop up later.

Hey everyone I'm here with another new fic. I know I've got others I'm working on and this issomething completely different from what I usually write. I've been inspired to write this by one of my best friends and my husband. They're writing a couple of harry potter fics and I made a character for them and she kept bugging me to write up the story on her past so here it is. I've never written Harry Potter or the Marauder era of it before so I hope that you will all enjoy this attempt at writing something other than Beyblade.

Life Starts Now

by Kayla-m.f

Chapter One: Meetings

It was a day like any other at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The castle was alive with the buzz of mingling students. How friends had spent their summers was at the centre of conversation. The excited chatter echoing through the school's hallowed halls as everyone whole heartedly greeted each other. And the Gryffindor common room was no exception.

The stone tower was filled with the air of happy reunion as the young wizards and witches gathered there fell into the swing of the new school year. However one such wizard sat apart from the crowd of his peers in a cushy chair by the room's fireplace. He was dressed in the school's uniform of black robes bearing the red and gold crest of his house. The boy looking the part of the diligent student as his sandy brown head was bent over a thick fourth year text book.

Despite the distracting noise created by his fellow Gryffindors, the quiet fourteen year old appeared intent on preparing for his classes. He soon became lost enough in the concentration of studying that he was oblivious to the racket around him. So completely immersed in his book, the boy nearly failed to notice the disruption of his peaceful solitude.

"Moony, what are you doing studying already? Classes haven't even started yet... you've really gotta learn to get your nose outta these books!" A bemused voice barked out as the boy's book was snatched away from him.

Pale blue eyes glanced up to meet the crooked grin of none other than Sirius Black. The other teen looked as cool and confident as ever with his dark ebony hair hanging loosely over his shoulders. The black haired teen was still dressed in a casual manner to emphasize his narcistic looks. And it was a wonder to the werewolf that Sirius wasn't busy charming a flock of unsuspecting girls into going out with him on a date.

Spying a mischievious gleam to his best friend's grey eyes Remus Lupin shook his head and frowned, "Pads, I don't even want to know what kind of trouble you've gotten yourself into this time... As for my books I like to know what we'll be learning so I can be on top of my grades. Something you and James should get more acquainted with instead of landing yourselves in detention all the time with your wild and crazy pranks."

"But that's what we have good ole Moony for, you're the brains behind our ingenious mastermind schemes," Sirius chimed, slinging an arm around Remus' shoulders.

"Like I said I don't want to know. I'd rather not get in trouble again because of another one of your boneheaded pranks," Remus scolded in response.

"Oh come now Moony, it's the first day... What's the worst that could happen?"

Before another word could be said between the two Marauders a boy with messy black hair and round glasses burst into the common room.

"It's McGonagall... She must have found the stink bomb we left in her office as a welcome back present! She's on her way here to come and get us..." the leader of the infamous pranking group huffed as he ducked behind the chair where Remus still sat.

Sure enough the stern woman that had been mentioned emerged through the portrait that was the entrance to Gryffindor's House. Following James' lead Sirius joined his partner in crime in his hiding place. The two pranksters obviously unwilling to deal with the consequences that would be inflicted upon them for their actions. Remus merely picked up his book that had been dropped in the other boy's haste and resumed his reading in hopes that he would be overlooked by their Head of House's wrath.

Unfortunately for the blue eyed teen the old witch strode right up to him and addressed, "Mr. Lupin, Professor Dumbledore requests to see you in his office."

"But I'm innocent, Professor! I've been reading the entire time... I had no part in the chaos my friemds have caused, I swear."

"So Black and Potter were the ones behind the mess of my office? I might have known... I'll deal with the two of you later, in detention," Professor McGonagall sternly glared at the departing culprits before turning her gaze back to Remus. "It's not wise to keep the Headmaster waiting, you know? Now come along and follow me."

This is exactly the kind of thing I was trying to avoid by minding my own business studying, the werewolf sighed to himself as the teacher guided him to the stone statue of a gargoyle.

At the password McGonagall spoke the statue stepped aside to reveal a spiral staircase. As Remus was left alone on the moving stairs the boy pondered on what terrible fate would be awaiting him. Once inside the decorative office the fourth year's pale blue eyes scanned the area around him

It looked the same as the lsat time the werewolf had seen it. He had been to the office a few times before to discuss the conditions of his schooling due to the problem of his transformations. Though this visit to the Headmaster's office yielded something different.

At the centre of the room the old grey haired wizard was seated at a long desk in his usual flowing silk robes. Rather than being alone the elderly wizard who was in charge of Hogwarts School was in the company of a young girl. Peering over in her direction for a closer inspection, Remus took note of her appearance.

The girl possessed long brown hair and she had bundled herself up in a blue winter coat and white scarf. Her small frame was huddled in the coat's thick folds as if she wanted to disappear into the warm winter clothing. Remus guessed that she didn't want to be there and the boy couldn't really blame her. Apart from being there at his friends' expense Remus was unaware of the reason he had been summoned by the old wizard.

Glancing up over his half moon spectacles, the Headmaster's twinkling eyes sparkled as he greeted, "I'm so glad you could join us, Mr. Lupin."

"Um Professor... whatever you wanted to see me for I haven't done anything," the boy spoke, stating his case.

He wasn't too thrilled by the idea of being punished for mischief making he hadn't participated in.

"I know that you haven't. I called you here to meet Miss. Ahsoka Lupin. This lovely young lady here is your cousin," the learned man beamed in the brown haired girl's direction.

She stood away from Professor Dumbledore's desk in a shy fashion. So the boy extended a hand out to Ahsoka with a friendly smile.

"Hi, I'm Remus. Nice to meet you."

"Ahsoka is quite saddened with having to leave her old school, I'm afraid. So I've had her placed in Gryffindor, that way you will be able to keep your cousin company. Why don't you help show her around and give the poor girl some cheering up?"

"Sure thing, Professor," Remus obliged as he clasped hands with the younger girl.

As he turned to lead his newly found cousin off, Dumbledore's voice stopped him, "Oh and Remus? Tell those friends of yours they should take it easy with the pranks."

Remus grinned at the Headmaster's last remark as he left the office with his new companion.

The two of them walked back toward Gryffindor House. On the way Remus pointed out important things in the castle to the girl he had discovered to be his cousin. Throughout the trip Ahsoka remained quiet in her sad mood but Remus was eager to learn more about her. In an attempt to break the brown haired girl from her shell the boy struck up a conversation.

"So if you're really my cousin, how is it I've never heard of you?"

"I don't know, my father likes to keep to himself... I guess you could say he's different from the rest of the family. His brother probably wouldn't want to talk about us," Ahsoka quietly voiced in reply.

"Well why don't you tell me a little more about yourself? Like how old you are, where you come from and stuff like that," Remus curiously pressed.

"I'm thirteen and I lived in Russia. Professor Dumbledore brought me here... I don't want to talk about why," Ahsoka stated with forlorn.

A longing, wistful gaze entered into the girl's dark deep blue eyes and Remus wondered what could have possibly made her so sad. He let it be as they were now standing before the fat lady who guarded the common room's entrance. Helping his cousin with the password the two Lupins stepped within the cozy, calming room.

Once inside Remus showed the girl around as he explained, "Well this is Gryffindor. The dormitories are up the stairs, each year of students has its own room. You're a year younger than me so you'd be sharing a dorm room with the third year girls. Now why don't we go find my friends and I can introduce them to you? They may be a pain at times but they're an okay lot... if anyone can cheer up a person it's them."

It wasn't long until they were joined by the two black haired boys. Their eyes were alight with bewilderment as it donned on them their fellow Marauder had returned unscathed.

"Wow it's a wonder that you're still alive," they exclaimed.

"So tell us what did they do to you in there, mate?"

"Yeah and who this pretty little thing is?" The more flirtatious boy wondered, his grey eyes obviously falling upon Ahsoka.

"Not much, really but it's funny you should mention her. Sirius, James, this is my cousin, Ahsoka. Dumbledore wanted me to meet her so I could show her around," Remus introduced in response to his friend.

"It's a pleasure to meet you. But why follow boring old Remus around when you could have a much better time with a charming young thing like myself?"

Ahsoka backed away appearing disgusted by Sirius' sweet talking. The head of the Marauders didn't seem very thrilled by the flirting either.

James swatted the boy next to him over the head, "Would you stuff it already, Pads? We should be working at plotting our next move against Snivellus, not wasting time hitting on all the girls to cross your path."

"You're one to talk! You don't see me complaining when you're lost in la la land swooning over Lily," Sirius countered but his tone changed as he thought about how they would humilate the Marauder's favourite target. "Though I agree you have a bit of a point there... So how do you suggest we best go about pranking him this time?"

"Oh pranks are fun, especially the ones where you get to make things blow up," the girl smiled slightly.

At the idea of causing mischief she seemed more at ease for the first time since her arrival.

"Nice to know you're not a stuffy bookworm like your cousin. Maybe you can help us get him to lighten up and have a little more fun," Sirius grinned.

"Hey, I'm not that bad! I'm the brains of your ingenious operations, remember," Remus playfully shoved his friend, "Besides Ahsoka's new here, you shouldn't be influencing her to get on the Professors' bad side. At least not until she's had a chance to settle in first."

"Well we are the masters so it's not like she'd be anywhere near as good as us. But if she wants to join in the fun why not let her, eh James?"

The boy with the glasses scowled, "I agree with Remus on this one. If you ask me she's just an innocent little girl who has no experience in the art of pranking. It's not like she can really be trusted anyway. How can we, when we know nothing about her? What is she even doing here in the first place?"

"I'm probably a better prankster than you! And if you must know I'm from Russia. I went to school at Durmstrang... I um... transfered here..."

"Durmstrang! What did you get sent here as some kind of spy or are you being punished for getting caught as a troublemaker with your inexperienced pranks? Wait, I know what happened... I bet you're here because you got expelled by the evil wizards for being too much of a good little student like your cousin!"

The girl's eyes widened in hurt at James' words. Her dark blue depths welled up with big wet tears and Ahsoka dashed off. Remus watched as the girl's feet carried her away from the tower and out of his vision.

The boy turned upon his friend with an angry blue gaze and growled, "That was mean and uncalled for, Prongs! Ahsoka seems to be pretty down and coming here must be a touchie subject for her... Why'd you have to go and set her off like that? We were just starting to make some progress. Now go and apologize to Ahsoka!"

"There's no way I'm apologizing! I don't see why I should when I've done nothing wrong and I know I'm right. So if you excuse me I'll be off to find Lily," James declared in stubborn pride and he stormed to the other side of the room.

Raising a dark brow the other remaining Marauder wondered, "So do you think we should go after Ahsoka then?"

"No, not yet... it would probably be best to give her some time alone. Let my cousin cool off for a bit then we'll go search for her," decided Remus.

The werewolf could tell that getting his cousin to accept life at Hogwarts would be no easy task. And he guessed that having Ahsoka's company with him and the rest of the Marauders would make for a most interesting fourth year at the wizarding school.

That's the end of the first chapter. It's probably shorter than what the rest of the chapters will be but it's just a start to get you guys into the fic. There's going to be more about Ahsoka and what happened to her in the next chapter too. Anyway I hope that you all enjoyed the start to this fic. Please let me know how I'm doing and what you think of it so far in a review and I'll have the next chapter up soon.