AN: Well hello Everybody! So this is my first story and I'm hoping for it to be a good one. I've decided to make it a 3 part series starting off with the Marauders' Hogwarts years, then the out of school until James and Lily die, and then after Sirius breaks out of Azkaban. This is starting off during their first year to set the stage a bit and will point out some important moments through the years but it's going to take place mainly in their later years. Thanks for reading and I would really appreciate a comment or two to see how my first attempt is making out!
King's Cross was crowded as witches and wizards (unnoticed by the muggles around them) slipped quietly through the barrier of Platform 9 ¾ on the First of September. Summer was coming to a close and their children were returning to Hogwarts to continue the adventures that always seem to thrust themselves upon the unsuspecting. Parents were teary-eyed seeing their children run to the train after a quick hug and kiss that would have to last them for months. One young boy, however, was standing behind his father and his mother tried to coax him out. "Now Remmy," she lectured, "I know you're nervous. But Professor Dumbledore is going to meet with you next week after you get all settled in. He's going to be sure you're safe and tell you exactly what needs to be done to keep the others safe as well. We've thought of everything and I promise, my darling, that no one will know. You'll be able to have a normal life for the first time in years and you deserve it. This is your chance, and now you have to take it." Mrs. Lupin's voice softened as she spoke, knowing full well the danger that could lie ahead but instead decided to give her son the support he needed to be sure he was safe.
"Your mother's being soft on you, Remus. You need to watch your back and keep to yourself. No one can find out or you'll lose all of this, do you understand me? I said do you understand me, Son!" Remus Lupin quickly nodded his head, his eyes full of fear for the future. Instead of walking back out to the car, as he had been planning to do all morning, he grabbed his trunk and walked to the train giving a last parting kiss to his mother. As he walked away he heard his mother and father arguing in hushed voices, "You're going to ruin this for him," his mother spoke in that soft, yet powerful tone that she used whenever her son was under the line of fire, "he's just a boy and we both know that this is not his fault. Why shouldn't he have the chance to live? It's as though you've already sentenced him to death!" Lyall Lupin held the bridge of his nose knowing that this would continue for a while. "He can't let his guard down, Hope, and you know it. What if he does and one night someone gets hurt? Where will that leave him? At least at home we could watch him and make sure that he didn't kill. Did you ever think of what would happen? What would the ministry do? What if he turns another kid? That would be on our heads!" "No, Lyall, it would be on yours," and with a determined air, Hope shouldered past him and through the barrier. Remus' father, looking around to be sure no one had heard them, quickly followed after her.
Across the station a cold looking man and woman were saying their goodbyes to strong-willed boy with long hair and light gray eyes who looked like he would have preferred to see himself off. Near them, a young boy with messy black hair was being coddled by his mother and father in a way that let the whole station know he was being well-taken care of. He had a relaxed sense of self with a bit of pride, knowing that his name could get him far. The train whistled and all of the students remaining on the platform scrambled to the train with their baggage in tow. Parents waved from the platform as the train pulled out of the station and around the bend, on its way to the best Wizarding School in all of Europe.
The train compartments filled up quickly and two young boys were left with nowhere to sit. They looked at each other and smiled, taking the other's hand for a shake. "Sirius Black," the boy with the cold family said with a grin, "and it seems like we're in a pretty similar predicament."
"Ah yes, James Potter's the name. I've heard quite a bit about the Black family," the messy haired boy replied. Sirius' eyes immediately darkened to dark steel. He looked at James, waiting for his cue to find his own place to sit. He knew of the Potter family, of course. His mother ran through a list of the blood traitors to him at the station so he would know who to stay away from while out from under her watchful eye. He had made a mental note to befriend each one as quickly as possible. James, noticing Sirius' reaction started to frown but instead pushed it aside, knowing that his mother had just told him to watch his seemingly above-you-all personality or he'd never make a real friend. "Would you mind looking for a compartment together? I've already gone down that half of the train," he gestured with his head, "but I'm sure there's something down that way." Sirius was surprised, but he wasn't going to question it. With his family history he'd take any friend he could get. "Of course mate, I was just about to search down there myself. I think there's one down towards the end that still has room," Sirius explained joyfully. He grabbed James' arm and walked them both back, determined not to let his mother's voice ring through his mind.
Looking into each compartment as they passed, they finally found one with a frail looking boy with sandy blond hair sitting alone with his arms curled around his knees and staring out the window. James knocked but the boy didn't even look up and James assumed that perhaps he was deaf and began waving to get his attention. Lupin finally glanced up at James with a curious and slightly concerned look. "Are you alright?" Lupin questioned. "We might be asking you the same thing! We've been standing here for five minutes at least, right Sirius?" Sirius nodded his head, happy to be included. "My name's James Potter and this here is Sirius Black. We've been up and down the train but everywhere is full. Do you mind if we…?" James trailed off with his hand stuck out. Remus looked down at it, trying to decide what to do. The last words of his father were echoing through his mind but instead he pushed the image of his mother into head. She had a wonderful way of keeping his demons from getting to him. Slowly he took James' hand, then Sirius', and all three boys smiled at each other. James and Sirius sat down in two of the empty seats.
They had been chatting for a bit when a red headed girl enters their compartment introducing herself as Lily Evans. James, wanting to impress her, throws his name around a bit trying to see how she'll react. Being a muggle-born, Lily had no idea who the Potters were, or the Blacks, or even what magic was until a couple of months earlier. Soon after that she got quiet, thinking about a fight she had with her older sister Petunia. Although her parents seemed quite proud of her, Petunia was disgusted with her abilities. Or perhaps jealous. Lily couldn't tell the difference anymore. She recanted the scene to James, Sirius and Remus when she heard a familiar voice at the door. She looked up at Severus Snape and smiled, happy to have at least one person she knew. Of course, the good humor of the car didn't last long as Snape announced his Slytherin prospects. The other boys knew all too well the type of person that wants to be put in Slytherin and turned cold towards him. Lupin, keeping quiet, watched as the other boys hurled insults at Snape, causing Lily to pull him out of the compartment and find somewhere else to sit. James looked at the other two boys with wide eyes, announcing to them both that he was going to marry that Lily Evans if it was the last thing he ever did.
"GRYFFINDOR!" The sorting hat shouted to the great hall as Sirius Black sighed with relief. He had won. Granted he was going to be due a Howler in the morning but, for the night, he was on top of the world. Every Black had been in Slytherin and every Black that was still considered family was a muggle-hating Purebloodist bastard. Sirius was born into a family where he would never fit and when he was little he found quickly that he didn't want to. It started early: he had tried to befriend a little Halfblood girl who lived a few streets over. His mother pulled him away by the arm so fast he didn't even have a chance to ask her name. A few days later, to get back at her, he went up to a muggle boy and gave him the cookie that Kreacher had made for him. As soon as Walburga caught up to him she dragged him home by the ear kicking and screaming. His father, Orion, was told and in order to keep his wife off of his back, Sirius was given a black eye to teach him to keep away from the dirty muggles, as was the Black family way. Most soon learned their lesson and dropped the rebel act to save themselves the pain, but Sirius had instead just gotten cleverer, and this was the icing on top of the cake. He made his way to the Gryffindor table and sat down waiting for the rest of the first years to find out who their new families were going to be. He was joined at his table by Lily, Remus, and James, a boy named Peter Pettigrew, and a few other girls although he didn't bother to catch their names. Instead, he was focused on the Lupin boy. Sirius was confused by him and he didn't like to be confused. He seemed so shy but then all of a sudden a quip would leave his mouth and everyone would be stunned, and then Lupin would look away again. This boy was a mystery that Sirius didn't want to leave alone.
Remus, looking around nervously, had never been around this many people in his entire life. His father had never allowed it and now Remus could see why. It was terrifying. He had hoped so badly that he would just be left alone, it hurt less that way. He knew that sooner or later the boys he had such a lovely train ride with would find out his secret and want him gone—not that he could blame them. If the situation were reversed, he wouldn't want to sleep next to a werewolf either. He knew that he couldn't let himself get close to them or it would just end badly, and he wasn't exactly sure for whom. The others seemed nice, but they probably just pitied him. They probably noticed him crying before they sat down with him and thought that it would be too awkward to leave. He knew it must be true. Why else would they have stayed?
The feast ended and the Prefects led the first years up to the dormitory. Remus had to admit that he had never seen anything quite like Hogwarts. It was both terrifying and mystifying, but left him with a feeling of excitement. He would make the most of his time here (while trying to stay as unattached as possible) and then move on when he forced to go. The common room was warm and inviting with a fire crackling away merrily. The red and gold seemed to engulf him, but he had to admit it brought cheer to the room and instilled a sense of family ties. They were all Gryffindor's. They needed to have each other's backs. This was probably the closest thing to a real family Remus was ever going to get. Little did he know, Sirius was thinking the same thing.
After climbing the stairs up to the first year's dormitory, Sirius ran from the back of the group and called, "I get the bed next to Remus!" Remus looked at him with surprise. Sirius looked back and smiled, not explaining himself but instead climbing under the covers and quickly falling asleep. Remus shrugged, figuring it to be more pity, and climbed into his own bed and dreamed of a moon that never filled to the brim.