Chapter 1
September 1, 1976
"You're not gonna sit with the prefects, are you?" James Potter asked me, straightening his askew glasses. I rolled my eyes and opened the door to our compartment, leading the way in. We have occupied the same exact compartment every time we've boarded the Hogwarts Express. It's become a sort of tradition of ours, so to speak.
We took our normal seats, mine by the window, and waited for the train to take us off to Hogwarts.
"So the full moon's in a week. What are we gonna do?" Sirius Black asked. I shrugged and stared down at my feet, feeling slightly uncomfortable with our sudden conversation.
"I was thinking we could finish off the map, honestly," James commented.
"I was kind of thinking about paying a visit to Honeydukes," Peter Pettigrew shrugged.
Sirius snorted. "You and your stomach, Peter."
"Maybe next month, Wormtail, we need to finish the map, like Prongs said," I entered the argument.
"Oh, we need to finish it now, do we?!" Sirius smirked.
"You're such a puss, Padfoot!" James shouted.
"Me, a puss?!?" Sirius growled, standing up.
Making quite the comical appearance of himself, James placed both hands on his hips and turned up his nose, letting his butterbeer bottle eyeglasses fall down his nose again. "Yeah, and what are you gonna do about it?"
In a flash, Sirius whipped out his wand and sent a curse James's way, but he blocked it with a smirk.
And so all hell broke loose with those two as they tried to singe each other's eyebrows off or cover the other in boils. Peter transformed into his rat form and hid underneath the seats. I, not being an Animagi, did not have this option. I suppose I could have left before I was branded with a wart the size of the giant squid on my nose, however. Sirius and James stopped to point and laugh at my predicament.
"Do you see that?"
"Oh course I do, it's huge!"
"I could probably see it without my glasses!"
"Wait," Sirius squinted, "is that his nose or another head?"
"Hmm, I'm not sure, Mr. Padfoot."
"You know, you might want someone to take a look at that."
"That could be dangerous, really."
"If you aren't gonna take care of that, I will!"
"Do you think you can?"
"Of course I do! Isn't my name Sirius Black? I can do anything! I dub thee Karl the Wart!"
It was too much. The two fell to the floor in a fit of laughter, forgetting about their argument completely. That was the interesting thing about James and Sirius's friendship. They would deliberately argue over anything and everything, but were closer than most siblings are. I think it was a sort of guarantee of their friendship. They were close enough to know that even if they had the world's biggest fight, they would still be friends after it.
"Are you two quite finished? Because I would appreciated it if you fixed my nose," I pointed at the ugly wart.
"Sure thing, Remmy," Sirius stood up and mended my nose.
The rest of the train ride to Hogwarts was just as eventful, but no one else found himself victim of a curse. When the train pulled into Hogsmeade Station, we followed the other veteran students to the carriages and were whisked off to the school.
We took four seats at the Gryffindor table and waited for the sorting to start. Or more correctly, the feast.
The tall oak doors to the Great Hall swung open and Professor McGonagall led fifty new students up to the front of the Great Hall, to the Sorting Hat. They all clumped together into one large group and walked slowly as they looked out at us older students nervously.
I remember being at that age quite well. Not being sure of what I would do with my life. Thinking no one would like me. Thinking that the Sorting Hat would turn me away because I didn't fit in anywhere. Terrified that the school would discover my secret….
But I am now in my sixth year at Hogwarts with three great friends who like me for me and nothing more: James Potter, Peter Pettigrew, and Sirius Black. And I really couldn't ask for any more than that.
We turned our attention to the front of the room. The new first-years' mouths fell to the floor as the Sorting Hat's patched mouth ripped open and began singing. Sirius and James exchanged a quick smirk, waiting to see how sappy this year's song would be. And I must say they weren't disappointed.
One thousand years ago,
On Gryffindor's head I sat.
And as it was before,
I'm not your ordinary hat.
For I've got brains in me, see?
Gryffindor put them in me.
He knew that he would leave,
And someone would need to tell you where you should be.
And so I am here today
As it it was for many a year
I'll sort you just where I think you should be
I'll sort you here or there.
In Gryffindor, of brave-hearted,
Or true Hufflepuff, the just.
Maybe Ravenclaw of well smarted,
Or sly Slytherin is where you must.
So try me on, I won't fail!
Though my brains may be filled with dust!
Everyone in the Great Hall let out a roaring applause as McGonagall began calling the first-years up to the front for their sorting.
After that was done, the feast began. And between eating a better meal than I have in months and watching Sirius introduce himself to sparkle-eyed first-years with a mouthful of turkey, I had a very good time. Sirius is such a horrible influence, really, but I just shook my head, hiding my smile.
When the feast was over, Lily Evans and I assumed our roles as prefects and led the new first-years up to Gryffindor Tower. Their eyes would grow wide whenever we would point of some landmark of the school.
"So where were you on the train?" Lily asked me.
"Huh? Oh! Uh, I was in our compartment," I answered meekly, knowing full well what would be coming next.
"You were supposed to be with the rest of the prefects. We had a meeting," she said sternly.
"I know, I know," I shook my head.
"You can't let them make all of your decisions for you, Lupin. You have to grow a spine some day-"
"Lily," I began sharply, but caught myself remembering she only meant for the best. I sighed, "I know. It's fine, alright? Just...drop it."
She knit her eyebrows and glared up crossly at me, but chose not to say anymore.
It seemed all of the first-years gasped when the Fat Lady asked for the password. "Dragon Breath," I said.
After helping the first-years through the hole in the wall and telling them where they would find their dormitories, we left for our own. I knew it was going to be an early morning and I wanted to be as well rested as possible.
And apparently Peter had the same idea, for when I opened our dorm door, I was greeted by his loud snoring.
Smiling silently to myself, I sat on the edge of my bed and threw my shoes off, not caring where they landed. I didn't bother changing out of my robes as I pulled the bed sheets overtop of me and drifted off into hibernation.
Panting.
Someone was running.
No, someone was being chased.
I had to help them!
Blood!
Blood!
BLOOD!
Blood everywhere!
She coughed up blood and grabbed my arm fast.
"Help me, Remus…" she pleaded.
She was too weak.
Her fall was cushioned by a bed of leaves.
I shot up like a lightening bolt instantly. My sweaty bed sheets in tangles at my feet, I couldn't help but fall out of my bed. My head hit against the bedpost and my prefect badge came undone, pricking my chest beneath my robes.
"What happened?" Frank Longbottom, our other roommate, woke up.
"Geez, Moony, is someone humping you?" Sirius asked sleepily.
I moaned, rubbing my bruised head. "No, I just…."
"It's three in the morning, what's going on?" Peter complained.
"Remus just had a nightmare, alright? Can we go back to bed?" James groaned.
"Yeah," I pulled myself up from the floor and wiped away the sweat that was blinding me. "That's it."
Snoring soon filled the room again, telling me that my friends had fallen back asleep. I never joined them; I lay awake in my bed until sunrise. It had been just a dream, but it had seemed so real. Why did it bother me so much?
A/N- Humping? Is that really appropriate, Sirius?
So this is the first thing I've written in months. This is my second Marauder story, I hope it goes over well. It will be fourteen chapters and I will try to update once a week (though I'm not making any promises). So please review and tell me what you thought, I'd appreciate it. Thanx!