How we Became the Marauders
Chapter One: Reunions and Quidditch Talk
I dont own Harry Potter.
"Are you quite sure you have everything?"
"Yes mum." said James Potter, rolling his eyes as his mother looked him over yet again. "Now, can I go now?"
"One minute!" Snapped his mother. She put ran her hands over his hair. "You should honestly try and tame it sweet heart."
"Mum-" whined James again.
"Alright alright!" his mother sighed. "Now," she said, suddently stern. "Behave youself, and have a good term."
James grinned. "I'll definatley have a good term." There, he never said that he would behave himself!
"Have a good year son." said his father, patting him on the back. "And write to me so I can find out how your Quiditch tryout went!"
"I will." said James quickly, grinning but taking a quick look at his watch all the same. "Goodbye." he kissed his mother, hugged his father, and then turned toward Platform nine and three-quarters. His trunk was dragging along in his right hand, while his left was clapped around the handle of cage inside of which was an enormous black owl.
James took a quick look in either direction, to make sure that no Muggles we looking his way, before leaning casually agaisnt the barrier.
He opened his eyes and grinned happily. The scarlet steam engine was begining to smoke, now that it had reached 10:53. James was excited to begin his second year at Hogwarts. But he was more excited about seeing his two best friends, Remus Lupin and Sirius Black.
James was tall for his age, with stubbornly untidy jet black hair. He was slightly more muscular then the average twelve year old, mainly because of his love of Quiditch. He hoped to make the House Team this year as the Gryfindor Seeker.
"Its about time you showed up."
James turned and spotted a a boy with dusty brown hair staring at him in amusement.
"Remus!" said James, giving his friend a high five and punching him on the shoulder.
"How was you summer?" asked Remus, taking up his own trunk and a small cage where his stormy gray cat, Orion, was currently sleeping.
"Pretty good. Dad had me training at least four times a week. He'll be really disappointed if I don't make the team." James said.
Remus nodded. Mr. Potter was a retired Auror, but now was the coach of the Chudley Cannons Quiditch team.
"With your skill, how can they refuse?" Remus teased.
"If they take a glimse at his face."
The two boys turned and their expressions instantly changed. A short, greasy haired boy was sneering in their direction, mockingly.
"Snape." said Remus cooly. "Its been to long. I almost forgot how greasy your hair looked."
James laughed loudly.
"Well you'd better watch it." Snape threatened. "Because I'm trying out for Quiditch too."
James almost keeled over laughing. "You, on a broomstick?" he laughed. Snape gave them one final sneer before bording the train.
The train gave a loud hoot. James glanced at his watch... 10:57. Where was Sirius?
"You don't suppose he's already on the train?" James ventured.
"Probably is." Remus said, rolling his eyes. "He probably has a pathetic prank planned for us that will never work."
James grinned again, picking up his things again. The two friends pushed through the crowd and found their way onto the train. They began peering into compartments.
Remus suddently stopped James from going any further. He was pointing inside an apparently empty compartment. At closer inspection, James could just make out the end of Sirius Black's trunk from under the seats. The two boys exchanged grins, and opened the door, but pausing before entering. The results were instant.
"AHHHH!"
A raven haired boy tumbled off the luggage rack and hit the floor with a thud and a groan.
"Miss us Sirius?" smirked James.
Sirius got up and frowned. "I was supposed to pounce unexpectedly on you and thus knocking you to the floor." he said slightly angirly.
Remus patted him on the shoulder. "Sorry Sirius, but without us, your pranking brain is like, dumber then a dead fly."
"But how can dead flies be any bit intelligent, I mean they'r dead!" Sirius exclaimed.
"I rest my case." muttered Remus.
"Good to see you mate." James said, high fiving Sirius.
"Same here." grinned Sirius.
A knock on the door silenced them. A girl with long red hair came in, accompainied by a shy looking, watery eyed boy.
"Evans." said James cheerfully.
"Potter." Lily said cooly. She turned to the boy that was with her. "Remus, Sirius, Potter," she said. "This is Peter Pettigrew. He's a transfer from Durmstrang, and is gonna be in our year, and house, so he'll be sharing a dorm with you."
"Hey mate." said James shaking hands with Peter.
"Hi." said Peter.
"Okay, bye." Lily said, turning sharply and exiting the compartment.
The four boys stood there awkwardly.
"umm." coughed Remus. "I'm Remus Lupin, and this is Sirius Black and James Potter." he said, gesturing to James and Sirius as he spoke.
"I'm Peter Pettigrew." said Peter. He glanced around. "Some greasy haired kid told me my compartment was on the third level."
James and Sirius held back snickers.
"You've got a lot to learn." Remus said, gesturing Peter towards the empty seat next to him.
"So Peter, play any Quiditch at Durmstrang?" James asked.
"Must you start every conversation with Quiditch?" groaned Remus.
"Well, they only have Quiditch for the students who get good marks." Peter said quietly.
"What?" gasped James. His jaw dropped and he looked terrified. "What kind of horrible place is Durmstrang?"
There was another knock on the door, and a plump witch pushing a cart walked in.
"Anything from the trolley dears?" she asked pleasently.
James stood up instantly. "Hmm.. Four licorice wands, four packs of Droobles, and ," he gave a look at the gold he had extracted from his pocket. "Seven chocolate frogs."
The witch blincked and excepted James money, whislt taking a large majority of the candy cart and dropping it into James' out stretched hands.
"What do you think you doing?" James asked as the three boys began to take some of the food. They dropped in instantly. "Just kidding!" he laughed. Sirius swore and took a licorice wand.
oo0o000oo0o0oo
Once the sun began to set, the boys changed into ther black Hogwarts robes. James had to help Peter fasten his tie. They gathered their belongings and pushed their way through the crowd.
Last year, James and the others had taken a fleet of small boats over the lake to get to Hogwarts castle. This year, he was pretty sure they took some carriages.
"Firs' years this way!" came a loud voice. The turned and waved happily at Hagrid, who waved enthusiastically back and almost hit an unexpected first year girl in the head. Laughing at his clumsiness, the boys followed the rest of the school and jumped into a horseless carriage.
Soon, Howgwarts castle came into view. A large in take of breath was heard from Peter, this being his first glimse of the magnificent castle.
They exited the carriages and followed the school. It was bright, moonlight night. They dropped their luggage off and entered the Great Hall.
(a/n Skipping the sorting. Too lazy and not smart enough to create a song for the hat)
And, when a boy named Stephen Zabini was sorted into Slytherin the sorting ended and Dumbledore rose to his feet. James stomach gave an impatient growl.
"Come on Dumbie, make it a short one." moaned Sirius.
"Can you two be serious for one moment? Or at least start calling Dumbledore Dumbie." Remus scoffed.
"How can two of us be Sirius? Theres no room for another Black in Gryfindor!" Sirius said, expected laughter. Only Peter supplied him with this; James and Remus had gotten throughly sick of his horrible pun.
"Welcome to another year at Hogwarts. I'd talk now, but I want my news to be remembered for longer then the remainder of this feast." Dumbledore said louldy and happily. He then sat back down to vigous applause, as the food in the golden plates magically appeared.
James exchanged happy grins with Sirius and Remus before lunging at some of his favorite chicken and mashed potatoes. Peter watched in amazement as he devoured four chicken legs and nearly a gallon of pumpking juice.
As James was about to get his fifth chicken leg, the desserts appeared. He shrugged and pulled a piece of chocolate cheesecake instead.
After James and Sirius had eaten nealry the entire Gryfindor table, the desserts disappeared and the goblets and plates were wiped magiacally clean. Dumbledore rose to his feet again. All students in the Hall grew instantly quiet. Dumbledore smiled.
"A few changes in our staffing this year." he announced. "Our oringinal Arithmacy teacher, Professor Lindinski, sadly had to retire this year, due to... " he glanced at Professor McGonagall. "..illness. Yes. Illness." he laughes shortly, then coughed. "Our new Aritchmacy teacher is Professor Sinistra." A young witch in sky blue robes waved shly around. Some lukewarm appluase was issued.
"Also, we have a new head of Hufflepuff house." he said. "Seeing as Professor Lindinski used to be the head, we have given the post to none other then your Herbology teacher, Professor Sprout." A lot of appluase was given from Hufflepuff house. James, Sirius, and Remus joined in. They all liked Herbolgy.
"And lastly, and I do realize this is not a staffing change, but we have a new second year Gryfindor, a transfer from Durmstrang. Mr. Peter Pettigrew." Dumbledore continued.
James, Sirius, and Remus all applauded loudly. James noticed that the rest of Gryfindor house did the same, just do show the pride they shared for their House.
"Ahh, and, Quidditch announcements." Dumbledore said with a smile. Remus and Sirius grinned at James. "Tryouts for Syltherin House are to take place on next Saturday." Boos were isued from the Gryinfdor table. "Slytherin is in need of a new Keeper, and a new Chaser."
More boos.
"Gryfindor House tryouts are to be held this Thursday evening. They need a new Seeker," James gulped as several people nodded in his direction. "A Beater, and a Keeper." Dumbledore continued.
"I think I'll tryout for Beater." Sirius whispered.
"Good idea mate!" James said, thumping his friend on the shoulder. Dumbledore had moved onto explaining the school rules, but to James, all it sounded like was "blah blah blah."
There was a screech of benches being moved back as the school proceded up to Gryfindor Tower. James overheard two Prefects talking about the new password, Fire cracker.
"Lets go." Sirius whispered, motioning towards the secret hallway that lead to Gryfindor Tower. James signaled for Peter to follow, and the boys ducked under the Tapestry.
"Password." said the Fat Lady idly.
"Fire cracker." James said hopefully. The Fat Lady swung the portrait hole open and the boys hurried inside, the first Gryfindors inside that year. They trudged up the boys stairs to a door labled 'Second Years.'
Their belongings were layed on their beds. James' was over by the window. Sirius' was across from him. Remus' and Peter's were by the door.
Sirius went to sit down to find that Orion was sitting on his bead.
"Hi Orion, miss me?" he teased. James rolled his eyes. Remus had recieved the kitten as a Christmas gift and Sirius had taken up the priviledge of naming him after his middle name.
He changed out of his clothes and into his pajamas. Before putting his glasses on the night stand, he glanced out the window, where the half-moon glowed across the lake. Sighing happily, he laid down and was instantly asleep.
So, this is the first chapter. Its my first Harry Potter fanfiction, so be gentle! Oh, and I know some people say that James was a Chaser, but I always thought of him as a Seeker. Please Review!