A/N: Please enjoy the first chapter of "The Marauders Four"! This first chapter is just one of my many ideas of how the four Marauders (James, Sirius, Remus and Peter) could have met.
The boy looked out the window quietly, lost for words. He was on his way to the train station, where he would get on the Hogwarts Express. Though he would never admit it aloud, he was a bit nervous.
He pushed his round glasses up the bridge of his nose as they fell. He caught his dad wink at him in the mirror, and he gave him a weak smile.
After a while, he spoke, "Are we almost there, yet?"
His mother turned slightly in her seat to get a better look at him. He found that she was smiling. "You seem quite eager, James. Are you sure you aren't nervous?"
"No."
His father grinned and joined in the conversation. "Not nervous at all? I was sweating about it a week before I even went!" He laughed and continued, "Just impatient, then? Well, that's our boy! The impatient Little James!"
"Dad! I'm not little!" James grinned and gave his father a slap on the back, while his mother chuckled.
"James, we are almost there. Now, remember honey, Hogwarts is the best school you could have been chosen for, so do behave yourself." She glanced back at him and frowned. "Here," She passed a brush to him. "Try and brush your hair, dear."
"Mum, you know it won't lie down, so why do you even bother to make me brush it?"
"Hm, motherly instincts, I suppose."
It wasn't much longer before they arrived at the station. James took an uneasy step out of the car and waited with his mother while his father fetched a trolley.
"Mum," began James. "You and dad were both in Gryffindor, right?"
"We sure were! Your dad was even Head Boy in his year. I was almost always on the Quidditch field, though! I think it must run in our family! Your father was good," His mother paused, giving James a sly smile, "but I was better."
"Better at what?" His dad had just returned with the trolley, grinning. "Quidditch, I presume?"
"You guessed it!" James' mother answered, also smiling. "C'mon, we only have a few minutes to get you on the train, James, dear! Don't want to miss it."
It took only a few moments for the trio to arrive at Platform 9 ¾. They stood outside it, waiting until the Muggles around it spread out so they could run through.
James' father went first. He ran, headlong into the barrier, but didn't smash through like he should have. Instead, the moment he touched the bricks, he disappeared.
James took a deep breath and charged. Before he even knew what was happening, he was standing beside a scarlet train – The Hogwarts Express.
He smiled. The train looked just like his parents had described it.
Not far off, James saw a boy who looked about his age. The boy himself seemed to give off a rather haughty air. He looked collected, and calm, as though this wasn't his first year going to Hogwarts. He looked behind him, and a worried expression instantly took over his calm face.
A woman, looking to be in her late 20's, though James knew that couldn't be right, marched over to the boy. Her otherwise pretty features were screwed up in twisted rage as she began to talk to the boy, poking him in the ribs and pointing an accusatory finger at his face. The woman was talking in a hushed whisper, so no one except the people right next to her could hear.
James watched in horror as the woman slapped the boy so hard across the face he fell to the ground – hard.
James let himself relax as soon as he felt his parents wrap their arms securely around his form. His eyes, still wide from shock, began to water. He didn't dare release them, though. He didn't want people to think he was a wimp. He spoke more to himself than to his parents, "Is that illegal?" He looked up at his mother sadly. "It must really hurt."
"I'm sure it does." Said his mother softly. "But it isn't our business to stare. We really should get you onto the train."
His father, who seemed to think differently about the whole deal, spoke to James. "I don't want you going anywhere near that boy, or his family, James. Their dangerous and not to be trusted." James nodded weakly.
After a moment of standing in silence, staring up at the train, James spoke again, "Why? Who are they? Who would treat anyone like that, let alone their family?"
"Those are Blacks." His father said simply, scowling heavily at nothing. "The Black family has been known for a various amount of things, including theft and murder. The current couple has two sons. From what I hear, the oldest is going to his first year at Hogwarts this year. People have been saying for a while that there's nothing for anyone's kids to fear about him. Other people say that the first thing the Blacks teach their children are the Dark Arts. I don't know that for sure, but I do know that the whole Black family is no good." He finished with a heavy sigh. They had lead James to the train door that he would be entering.
After a couple of too-tight hugs, James got on the train. Because their conversation about the Black family, it was difficult for him to find an empty seat. He sighed heavily as he passed the compartments, each as full as the last.
He was getting very near the end of the train. All at once, James began to wonder if the train would even have room for him. It only took a moment, however, to remind himself that the Hogwarts Express was magic, even if it looked like any other train.
He soon came to the only available seat. He knocked carefully on the compartment door and frowned. The door opened.
And there, looking haughty and surprised was the boy who was being bullied by the woman. James took a wary step back. The boy wasn't much bigger than him, but he had an expression that clearly stated that he didn't want company.
The boy spoke in a clear voice, "I'm guessing everywhere else is full?"
James, taken slightly aback, merely nodded. "Yes, everywhere."
The black-haired boy nodded and stepped aside, making room for James to pass. When James didn't move the boy raised his left eyebrow and sighed, "Look, are you coming in, or not? I'm certainly not going to stand here all day!"
James hesitated, but walked in, giving the boy a wary look. As much as he felt sorry for the boy, he still felt nervous about what his father had said. Though, as James was constantly reminding his parents, he could stick up for himself. He wasn't completely hopeless, after all.
He sat down and watched the boy as he looked outside the compartment, "Anyone else joining me?" He smirked at his little joke, but frowned again when he noticed the serious expression James wore.
Sighing, he closed the door and sat down opposite James. Neither of them spoke for a while, they merely gazed out the window, or up at the silver ceiling. Finally, the boy broke the silence, "Heard the Black family reputation, then?" He asked politely, not meeting James' eyes.
James didn't know how to respond to this. He didn't want to make the boy mad, but he wasn't going to say he hadn't, either. Finally, he nodded, but he didn't dare look the boy in the eyes.
The boy smirked, and looked thoughtfully around the compartment. "Yeah, most everyone has. Well, in the wizarding community, anyway." He frowned again and James looked up at the boy. Their eyes met and they both smiled.
"You're a Potter, aren't you? You've got a pretty well known family, too, you know. My mum is always saying how awful your family is," – James looked shocked at this information – "But I know better. They only say that because your family is good." He grinned and shook his head slowly. "Not too many people know the true meaning of good, anyway. My name's Sirius. Sirius Black."
James frowned slightly, not so sure about this. After all, hadn't his father told him deliberately that the Blacks have been known thieves and murderers?
As though reading his mind, 'Sirius' nodded. "I understand why you wouldn't want to talk to me too much. I do, after all, come from a family that has been in Slytherin for generations. However, I can promise you, if I get put in Slytherin, it'll only be because of my blood. In fact, since I doubt you believe me, I'll give you a bit of proof. If you got on the train as late as you did, I'm sure you saw that fiasco with my mum." James nodded numbly.
"Well, she doesn't treat my brother like that. She treats him like a little baby angel! The only reason she – and my dad – do that is because he believes their 'pure-blood' rubbish. Also, he lives up to the Black family name. I, as I am constantly reminded, am the failure son who can't do anything right. I'm used to the beatings, so it really isn't so bad anymore." He game James a haughty smirk, and raised his eyebrow again, as if waiting for an answer.
"Why would anyone do that to their son?" It was lame, James knew, but he couldn't think of a single thing else to say. What do you say when someone tells you that they get regular beatings from their mother for no real reason?
Sirius looked startled by this question, and hesitated before answering. "Well, most of my family, save my cousin, Andromeda is, you know, bad. I mean, that's just the way most of the Blacks turn out! If someone who isn't good enough, or doesn't live up to the family cruelty, like me, we aren't considered part of the family."
"But," James watched with his mouth open slightly. "But that's horrible! It must be against the law or something!"
"Nah, it isn't." Sirius watched James thoughtfully for a moment before adding, "But don't you go feeling sorry for me! I'm perfectly fine, if a bit underfed."
James nodded and looked away for a moment. Then he smiled at his newfound friend. "I'm James. Your name is Sirius, right?"
Sirius' grin broadened and he replied, "Yup! Sirius is my name."
They talked for almost two hours before the lady with the food trolley game by. They ordered some candy and talked some more. Not long afterwards, there was another knock on the compartment door. James slid over so he was closer to the door and opened it.
In the doorway stood a chubby little boy, not to tall. His brown hair was quite short and he looked anxious, as though waiting for something bad to happen. His voice was squeaky, and shaky as he spoke, "Has the trolley already gone by?" He squealed when they nodded, and frowned, "Not to long ago?" They shook their heads.
Still looking anxious, he scurried off, toward the front of the train.
When he was well out of earshot and the door had been closed, they grinned at each other. Sirius snickered, "Shaky little guy isn't he? Must be a first year, too." James nodded.
It wasn't too long after that that the two friends decided to take a walk up the train. They got up and began walking slowly up the train, looking around casually. When they reached what they presumed to be the middle of the bus, they heard someone talking in a loud whisper, "-the matter? Are you afraid? Aw, is Loopy Lupin afraid of the big, bad third years?"
James and Sirius heard a boy struggle. They quickened their pace, and found themselves in front of the compartment where the commotion was coming from. They shared a look and then thrust the door open.
There were two big kids, who looked to be about sixteen, though James and Sirius knew better than to think that. One of the big kids, who had strawberry-blonde hair, was holding a small boy around the chest, and he was holding his arms back, which made it hard for the small boy to struggle.
The other big kid had dark brown hair and smirked at their arrival. "So, do more firsties wanna play? Well, I can promise you there will by lots of fun… For me, anyway." He laughed maliciously, and cracked his knuckles.
Sirius took a step forward and James stepped up with him. Sirius spoke in a loud, clear voice, "Leave the boy alone." He glanced at James for support, with he got. "What did he ever do to you?"
James knew that was a silly thing for him, of all people, to say. After all, he was known at his old Muggle-school for tormenting people whenever he could. He wasn't mean, he just got bored easily. Besides, he never really hurt them. He would never hurt anyone unless he actually had a reason to.
The brown-haired boy frowned. "Come on, Ebert. We've got other business to attend to. I said come on!" The two boys left, leaving the smaller boy to stand up straight and eye James and Sirius thankfully.
The boy had sandy-brown hair and gray eyes. He was rather pale and peaky and had a sort of youngness to him that neither of the other boys could explain. His body looked to be about seven years old (though James and Sirius knew better), but his eyes held a strong fire.
"Thanks." He smiled softly and walked towards them. They moved back and out of the way so he could get through the doorway.
"My name is Remus Lupin." He smiled again, but this smile was different, more obvious. "And you are…?"
"I'm James Potter, and this is Sirius… Black." He finished with an odd feeling that he should have kept his mouth shut. However, instead of back away at the name, he nodded and took a step forward.
"I'm guessing you two are first-years, too?" They nodded.
They invited the boy to their compartment, where they soon met up with the small, chubby boy again. "Hi," he squeaked nervously, looking from face to face. "Can I join you guys? I can't remember where I was sitting before."
"Sure thing." James smiled, and looked around the small crowd before him. Never, had he dreamed that he would be with such an odd group of people.
The four-some talked throughout the rest of the train journey and they all became quick friends with one-another.
When they arrived at Hogwarts, they all gazed up in awe at the castle ahead. They soon found themselves being ushered onto boats to row to their school.
A/N: That was better than I expected it to be, if I do say so myself! This story is going quite smoothly. All of my other attempts at a story to post have been unsuccessful, and I have deleted a few already. I think this is the one I'll continue for a good long time! Please review!