The Marauders Era

Chapter 1 – The Scarlet Engine

Kings cross station was filled with people, the noise of whistles, bells and public announcements filling the air. People from all different backgrounds, passing each other by without a seconds thought; each one with a specific destination in their own mind. Had they taken the time to stop and look around, they might have noticed a few odd things happening right in front of them. Like people dressed in odd cloaks and hats, with trolleys ladened with trunks and animal cages; passing straight through a solid brick wall between platforms 9 and 10.

James Potter pushed through the mass of people, none of them stopping to look at him with his school trunk and a sleek slivery owl, Odin, in a cage on a moving trolley. James was a tall boy for eleven, with long thick messy black hair and a pair of glasses over his hazel coloured eyes. He reached the brick wall that separated platforms 9 and 10, and stopped for a moment.

"What's the matter James?" his mother asked and James turned to his parents, who were just behind him. "Not scared are you son?" His father asked, his eyebrows rose in an amused gesture.

James rolled his eyes "Dad, remember who you're talking to" his father raised his hands in a mock surrender. James then glancing back at the wall, added "though I wouldn't mind a little help."

His father smiled and gave him that all knowing look, he placed his hands next to James's on the handlebars of the trolley. "I remember my dad doing this with me when it was my time to go. Ready?" James nodded and with that the Potter boys broke into a run.

No one batted an eyelash at the sight of a full grown man, a boy and a trolley with an owl on it, disappearing into the wall between platforms 9 and 10. They emerged onto the platform of 9 and 3/4, the air thick with steam and noise, and out of the mist James saw it. The vivid colour of the red train against the grey background of the platform, the Hogwarts Express was waiting for him.

"It's quite a sight, isn't it?" Mr Potter said, noticing James's state of awe at the sight of the train. James nodded, completely lost for words.

"Come on James or you will miss It." his mother said, as she came through the wall to join them.

James pushed his trolley along the platform, passing scenes of teary goodbyes and final fair wells between families. His father helped him lift his trolley and Odin onto the train, and his mother brought him into a tight hug. "Now remember, listen to what your teachers tell you, work hard and try not to get into too much trouble."

James gave her a mocking look of hurt "Mum, me get into trouble, surly not.

Mrs Potter smiled and gave her son another tight hug "Just look after yourself." she said in a teary voice, as she hung onto him like she would never let go.

James, starting to get a little emotional himself, answered "I will mum, promise." and she gave her son a little squeeze, before letting him go.

Mr Potter gave his son a similar hug, before going down on one knee so that they were face to face. "James, as my son I can tell you that any lecture I give you about staying out of trouble will not work."

"Do you know me that well?" James said smiling, causing them both to laugh.

"All that I ask of you is that you use your head, don't duel before you've learned how, don't annoy Peeves and try to listen to your teachers."

"Well I can't promise you that." James said, causing his father's eyebrow to rise again "But I can try." he finished grinning.

His dad shock his head "In any case, I'll see you at Christmas." he finished and getting up he ruffled his son's hair. James gave them each another hug, before jumping onto the train.

He looked out of the window to wave to them, as the Hogwarts Express pulled out of the station. He kept waving to his parents, until the smoke and steam swallowed them up and they vanished from sight. James suddenly felt very alone as he stood in the corridor of the train carriage.

He turned around, only to walk straight into another boy. "Sorry" the boy said quickly as he got to his feet "should have been looking where I was going."

"Don't worry about it; I should be the one apologising." James answered, rubbing his hurt arm as he too got up.

The boy shrugged "How about we introduce ourselves?" he replied in a polite tone.

"Works for me, I'm James Potter" James said holding out his hand.

"Remus Lupin" the other boy said shaking James's hand. He was the same height as James, with light sandy brown hair and a pair of deep blue eyes. He had a worn out look about him, with a few lines, but a kind and caring face "Do you want to find a compartment to share?" he asked.

"Sure, why not." They walked along the train, passing filled compartments with other students, until they found one with one boy as the only occupant. "Hey" James said sliding the door to the compartment open "do you mind if we join you?"

The boy looked up; he was a handsome boy, with sharp light grey eyes and long unkept black hair. His eyes flicked from James to Remus, before he finally said "Be my guest, I don't want to spend the entire trip on my own."

Remus took a seat by the window, whereas James took one directly opposite the other boy. "My names James Potter" he said holding out his hand, the boy gave him a quizzical look.

"Potter, that's pureblood family isn't it?" he said abruptly, as a statement, rather than a question.

James shifted uncomfortably in his seat; Remus from the window seat looked equally uncomfortable as he waited for James's reply. "So what if I am?" he answered finally, had he just met a-soon-to-be Slytherin?

The boy however did the unexpected and shook James's still outstretched hand, "It makes no bit of difference to me mate, just seeing what sort of person you are. The names Sirius by the way, Sirius Black" he then turned to Remus "And you are?" he asked offering his hand.

"Remus Lupin" he answered shaking it "Say, you don't mean "THE" house of Black, do you?"

"The one and only." Sirius answered bitterly, as he sank into his seat.

"You sound too happy about that?" James pointed out and Sirius gave a laugh that sounded more like a bark.

"There's nothing to be happy about. Their all just a bunch of pureblood fanatics, and every last one of them has been in Slytherin." he said looking down at the floor gloomily.

James noticed the boys obvious sadness and hitting him and the shoulder said "Hey maybe you'll brake that tradition."

Sirius looked up "Yeah, maybe I will." he said smiling.

It was at this point, when the door to their compartment opened and two people entered, boy with greasy black hair and a girl with red hair and bright green eyes.

"I don't see why you're so upset?" the boy said as they sat down.

"Of course I'm upset!" the girl said, sounding tearful "She's my sister Sev, and she hates me now."

"It doesn't matter Lily," the boy said leaning forwards, "we're on our way to Hogwarts." The girl called Lily smiled at this and wiped her eyes, "You'll be in Slytherin for sure."

Sirius laughed at this comment and the boy turned towards him, "What's so funny?"

"We we're just talking about that" Sirius said indication to him, Remus and James. "Being a Black I don't fancy joining the tradition of becoming a Slytherin."

Lily looked confused at this statement, but the boy took an interest. "A Black, my name is Severus Snape" he said offering his hand.

"Sirius" said, not taking it. Snape eyes narrowed at this response, his hand wavered in the air. "So if not Slytherin," Snape said, withdrawing his hand "where do you think you will go?"

Sirius shrugged and turned to James, who had been quite along with Remus, during the conversation. "Where would you like to go?" he asked.

"Gryffindor, like my father." James said proudly "Where dwell the brave at heart", Snape sniggered and James turned on him. "You have a problem with that?"

"Well if you'd rather brawny then brainy," Snape sneered "that's your choice"

"Considering you appear to be neither," Remus said, raising an eyebrow "where do you hope on going?"

James and Sirius both roared with laughter, Snape's face coloured and he glared at the three of them

"Come on Sev," Lily said getting to her feet, and pulling her friend by the sleeve "let's go and find another compartment."

"See you later Snivellus" Sirius called after him as the compartment door slammed shut.

"Recon he'll be a future Slytherin then?" James said relaxing in his seat.

"Wouldn't surprise me if he is" Remus replied dryly, "Did you see how he reacted when you told him your name?" he asked Sirius.

Sirius shook his head in disgust "He'll be right at home in Slytherin, with their dark arts and Pureblood fanaticism"

"The girl seemed alright." James said sighing "Too bad she has a friend a like Snape" and the other too nodded in agreement.

Their compartment door opened again and two girls stood in the doorway. "There you are Potter, thought I'd never find you, made some new friends already?"

James looked up and smiled "Why Dearborn, jealous already and seems you have too?" The girl frowned; she had long golden blonde hair and a pair of stormy blues that gave her an aura of calmness.

"Why of course I have" she said like it was obvious "and should I be jealous?" this made James laugh. The girl looked at Remus and Sirius and asked "Aren't you going to introduce me then James, come on Potter what happened to your manners, what would your mother say?" she finished shaking her head worryingly.

James shook his head in disbelief "Remus, Sirius, allow me to introduce you to one Miss Alice Dearborn, a close family friend. Alice this is Remus Lupin and Sirius Black" and noticing the girl with Alice, who had dark brown hair and a pair of amber coloured eyes, asked "and who is your friend?"

"I'm Marlene, Marlene McKinnon." she said smiling, but Alice was looking at Sirius with a puzzled look.

"Did James say your name was Black?" she asked very gently.

Sirius looked at James, rolling his eyeballs, before answering "He did" and when Alice didn't say anything, he carried on "I promise I don't bite."

This made Alice smile "Well if James thinks you're alright, that's good enough for me. Do you mind if we join you?" indicating to herself and Marlene.

"Not at all" Sirius said beaming, and he and James shuffled along the seat to make room for them.

"So what house do you hope to be in?" Marlene asked once she had taken her seat.

"Gryffindor" James and Alice said at the exact same time, causing everyone to laugh.

"Well that wasn't a hard decision was it?" Marlene said, after the laughter had died down.

"Well both of our whole family have been in Gryffindor" Alice said, James nodded in agreement "I can't think of another house I'd rather be in."

"Well the sorting hat takes your family's house placements into consideration when selecting your house." Remus said from the window seat catching everyone off guard, as he hadn't said anything since the girls had arrived "It also takes your choice into consideration as well."

"How do you know all of that?" Sirius said grinning at him, obviously surprised with Remus's depth of knowledge.

"I… read it… in Hogwarts a History" he said, his checks turning red "and some stuff my dad told me."

"So with those brains you'll want to be sorted into Ravenclaw?" Marlene said thoughtfully.

Remus shrugged, obviously not worried "I really don't mind which house I'm sorted into, I'm just happy to be going to Hogwarts. For a time I thought I wouldn't be coming." When the others pressed the issue, he just answered "family problems" and didn't say anymore.

"What about you Sirius?" Alice asked.

"Anything but Slytherin" he said simply.

"So what about magic? Have any of you had any practice any spells?" James asked, changing the subject. There were mixed responses, Remus had read about some but not practiced. Marlene had done a few basic spells, whereas Alice, James and Sirius had learned some more advance stuff from their parents, Sirius being the most experienced out of them, explaining the various things he knew.

"Jinx's?" Remus asked, sounding slightly worried

"Yeah" Sirius answered casually "you don't grow up in Pureblood family like mine and not learn a few Jinxes'" He looked at Alice and James "I take it you know a few?"

Both of them nodded "I learnt a few from my older brother, whose a fifth year" Alice said "and my parents thought it wise that I know some spells in case I needed to defend myself."

"It's always better to be prepared, then not, that's what my dad says" James told Lupin, which seemed to relax him. There was suddenly a loud bang which came from outside the compartment, all of their heads turned towards the sound.

"Do you want to see what it is?" Sirius said getting up, and made his way to the door. James was right behind him as he too stepped out into the corridor, the others following right behind. Other people had put their heads out of their own compartments to see what all of the noise was about.

"When we say move, you move. Is that so hard to get into your thick head?" James saw three figures, all their age, in the middle of the train carriage. Two of them, one with black hair and one with blonde, were big brutes with their wands drawn and had the third figure pressed up the side of the carriage, against the glass window.

"Hey" James shouted at them as he made his way towards them with the others right behind him, the two bullies looked around at the newcomers.

"This doesn't concern you" the one with blonde one said, pointing his wand at the group menacingly "clear off."

"Two against one doesn't seem very fair" Marlene stated.

"And it does concern me when you are attacking someone for no reason" James retorted, drawing his own wand now and pointing at the two bullies, the others following his lead "let him go."

There was pause; the two of them seemed to be sizing up their chances with the five against them. Eventually they let go of the boy, who slid down the side of the carriage to the floor. James lowered his wand for a fraction of a second, when the one with black hair pointed his wand at James.

James never heard what spell he was about to cast, because before the words left the blonde boys lips, Sirius had cried "Expelliarmus" that sent him blasting back into the side of the carriage with bang.

The blonde haired boy was about to fire too, but James was too quick for him and also fired a stunning spell, that hit him in the arm and sent him toppling over into the floor.

With the two of them on the floor, they looked up to see all five wands pointed right at their faces "Who" the Black haired boy said as he got up through gritted teeth "do you think you are?" his eyes full of hatred.

"My names James Potter" James said proudly, his wand still pointing at the two "and I think I am someone who is willing to stand up against bullies like you."

"Potter, I'll remember that name" the black haired one said, he too having got up from the floor, rubbing his chest from where Sirius's spell had hit him. He indicated to his friend that it was time to leave, and with one more glance at James, they left.

"Well played Potter" Alice said, putting her wand away "We haven't even got there yet, and you are already making enemies."

James shrugged "I was bound to make so at some point" this comment earned him a laugh from Sirius "better sooner rather than later."

"Still" Remus said wearily "Alice is right. Going about attacking people and making enemies isn't the wised thing to do" then seeing the look on James face, smiled and added "Though those two defiantly deserved it."

The people who had been looking out of their compartments were slowly going back to their own business, unhappy as the fight had been very brief. James went across to the boy, who was still on the floor "Hey, are you alright?" he asked him offering his hand to help him up.

He looked up at James "Yeah, thanks for that" he said taking his hand and James helped him up. He was a few inches smaller than James, with a round face, mousy brown hair and a pair faded blue eyes.

"What did those two want anyway?" Sirius said, as he stowing his wand away in his coat pocket.

"They said I got in their way" the boy said feebly, as if the entire incident was his fault.

"I think they were spoiling for a fight" Remus said coming over to the boys side "you just happened to be the unlucky one the picked on" the boy nodded and gave his thanks again. He turned as if he was about to leave, when Remus asked him "Would you like to come and sit with us?"

This took the boy by surprise "Really?" and when they all nodded; he smiled and said "I'd like that."

Sirius put an arm round him "We can't have you getting into anymore fights that we have to save you from, can we?" he said laughing, which made the boy blush.

"What's your name anyway?" James asked him, as they led him back to their compartment.

"My names Peter" he answered happily, sitting in the seat by the window opposite Remus "Peter Pettigrew."

"Well Peter, I'm James" he said, and all of them went around introducing themselves. "So what we're we talking about again?" James asked, trying to remember.

"I think you were saying that it's better to be prepared then not" Marlene said, trying not to laugh, and turning to Remus said "I think that theory's been tested, don't you?" which caused them all to burst into laughter.

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