A/N: first story, hope y'all like it :)
Disclaimer: Obviously this is all J.K. Rowling's!
PROLOGUE
Potter Manor
Wales, England
July 17th, 1970.
"Mum! Hey, MUM!" James Harold Potter yelled, as he bounded down the stairs to his mother. James was a young, energetic boy with messy and untamable hair, twinkling hazel eyes, and a pair of glasses balanced on the bridge of his narrow nose, who got up to mischief every single day, and refused to wash the dishes, was the life and soul of the Potter family.
Dorea Potter, a dark redhead, turned around and smiled warmly at her son.
"You know what day it is? Huh?" James asked, his eyes shining with excitement.
Mrs. Potter smiled, "I know, I know, your Hogwarts letter should arrive any time now!"
James impatiently bounced around the kitchen, gazing out the windows. At last, he shouted, "THERE IT IS! IT'S HERE!"
James attempted to open the window, he strained against it, pulling with all his might. All of a sudden, the window flew open and James toppled backward.
"I do have a wand," his mother informed him. The handsome barn owl flew into the kitchen with a heavy, cream-colored envelope in its beak. James reached for the envelope and opened it, reverently examining the smooth, thick paper and sighed in contentment. The paper inside said: Mr. James Potter, I am delighted to say you have been accepted to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, blah blah blah. James skipped the boring parts and went to the supply list:
"First-year students will require:
a uniform:
- Three Sets of Plain Work Robes (Black)
- One Plain Pointed Hat (Black) for day wear
- One Pair of Protective Gloves (dragon hide or similar)
- One Winter Cloak (Black, silver fastenings)
Please note that all students' clothes should carry name-tags at all times.
Books:
- The Standard Book of Spells (Grade 1) by Miranda Goshawk
- A History of Magic by Bathilda Bagshot
- Magical Theory by Adalbert Waffling
- A Beginner's Guide to Transfiguration by Emeric Switch
- One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi by Phyllida Spore
- Magical Drafts and Potions by Arsenius Jigger
- Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them by Newt Scamander
- The Dark Forces: A Guide to Self-Protection by Quentin Trimble
Other Equipment:
- 1 Wand
- 1 Cauldron (pewter, standard size 2)
- 1 set of glass or crystal phials
- 1 telescope
- 1 set of brass scales
Students may also bring an owl OR a cat OR a toad.
PARENTS ARE REMINDED THAT FIRST YEARS ARE NOT ALLOWED THEIR OWN BROOMSTICKS."
James finished the letter and asked his mother, "When can we go to Diagon Alley?"
His mother smiled. "How about… tomorrow?"
James grinned widely and left the room, skipping.
Grimmauld Place, Number 12
London
July 17th, 1970
"SIRIUS ORION BLACK," a woman's voice screeched very loudly.
The said Sirius Black stumbled out of his large, comfortable bed. He stood in front of a full-length mirror, gazing at his reflection. A tall boy with cloudy, dark gray eyes stared back at him. Sirius ran a hand through his silky black hair, and flashed himself a cheeky grin. Then, Sirius left his room.
"Yes, mother?"
"Your Hogwarts letter is here, you ungrateful brat," Mrs. Black said, appearing in front of Sirius. She shoved the letter in Sirius' direction.
"You have better be placed in Slytherin, or you shall shame the Black family!"
Sirius nodded aimlessly, and took hold of his letter and went down to the kitchen.
"KREACHER!" he called.
There was a loud CRACK and an ugly green-brown creature appeared.
"Yes, Master Sirius?" Kreacher said, while eyeing Sirius with hatred.
"Fetch me a plate of bacon, eggs, toast, milk, and strawberries. NOW!" Sirius smirked as the house-elf hurried away.
Sirius sat at the long kitchen table, arms behind head, feet on the table, lounging around. He looked at the letter. The letter seemed to stare right back at him.
"Humph," Sirius muttered. He broke the wax Hogwarts seal on the front and slowly slid out the papers inside. Truthfully, Sirius didn't agree with the views the rest of his family took. What was so special about being pure-blood if there wasn't any difference in how good their magical skills were? He wished to be placed in Gryffindor, not Slytherin- not that Sirius would ever mention that to his family, of course. Then, Kreacher entered the room, holding a full plate of all the breakfast necessities Sirius needed.
"Here is Master Sirius' breakfast," he croaked.
"Thanks, Kreacher. Now go away!" Sirius commanded. The house-elf left, probably to see if Regulus, Sirius' younger brother, needed any help.
Sirius snatched up a slice of bacon and munched on it while reading his letter. At last, he was leaving his family, and going to Hogwarts.
Lupin Household
Ireland
July 17th, 1970
Remus Lupin sat on his bed, tears filling his eyes as he heard his parents fight. His mother was a Muggle; his father a pure-blood.
Mrs. Lupin unfairly blamed Remus' 'condition' on his father. Remus kicked the door in frustration and self-hatred for causing this on his family, then immediately regretted it. Having a throbbing toe was the least of his problems right now. Remus hated keeping his secret hidden. Whenever he became close with another boy his age, they would run away screaming when Remus revealed he was a monster. A werewolf.
Remus' dearest wish was to find a friend, just one, who would not care about his lycanthropy. Just then, somebody knocked on the door. Remus ignored it, thinking it was yet another doctor who claimed to have a solution to his problem. He collapsed on the bed and stared at the ceiling of his bedroom.
There was a light tapping on the door.
"Come in," Remus muttered.
The door creaked open, and someone stepped inside and closed the door lightly.
"What do you want, mum?" Remus asked grouchily without turning his head.
"Now now, Remus. Don't be like that," chided a voice that was definitely not Remus' mum. Remus sat up, and gasped. He was looking right at Albus Dumbledore, the well-known headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry! Remus had always fantasized about meeting this great wizard, and learning how to do all the kind of things that Dumbledore could. But with his being a werewolf, his hopes were dashed ever since everyone, wizard or not, ignored him.
"Oh, I am so sorry, Professor! Er-why are you here?" Remus asked nervously.
Albus Dumbledore stared at the little boy before him. He was very skinny, with scars all over his body. He had sandy brown hair, and clear, light blue eyes. Remus didn't deserve to be burdened by his lycanthropy.
"This might come as a shock to you, Remus, but the professors and I have decided you should be admitted into Hogwarts! All precautions will be made to be sure everyone will be safe, of course, but-"
"What?" Remus asked, neck cracking as he sharply jerked his head to look at Dumbledore.
"You have been accepted to Hogwarts School," Dumbledore repeated calmly. "We have arranged that each month, at the full moon, you will be escorted to a special tree, called the Whomping Willow. There is a tunnel under it that leads to the Shrieking Shack, allowing you to be safe, and allowing others to be safe on that night."
Remus slowly started to fill with hope and joy.
"What about the lessons I will miss?" he asked.
Dumbledore replied, "The teachers will provide you with a short review of what you missed. Mr. Lupin, I expect you to work very hard at school. No one knows about your lycanthropy, and I intend to keep it that way. You will not be treated differently than any other student."
Remus nodded eagerly. Dumbledore pulled out a Hogwarts letter and handed it to Remus.
"I have explained everything to your parents and I expect to see you on September 1st, this fall. I also recommend you go down and see your parents, as they are also very joyful." With that, Dumbledore disappeared. Remus ran down stairs straight into his parents' waiting arms. They enveloped Remus in a big hug, filled with love, and Remus couldn't have been happier.
Pettigrew Home
Glasgow, Scotland
July 17th, 1970
"Peter! Where are you?" Mrs. Pettigrew shouted. Her son, the subject of her quarry, was in fact hiding under his parents' bed, giggling quietly.
"PETER! THIS IS SERIOUS! YOUR HOGWARTS LETTER CAME!"
Peter froze in shock; he had not expected to be accepted! After all, Peter thought himself as clumsy, stupid, and slow. Peter quickly crawled out from under the bed and ran to his mother.
"They accepted me? For real?"
"Yes Peter," his mother replied, smiling at Peter's astonishment. Peter was a chubby child, not very bright, with dirty-blond hair, and watery blue eyes; and Mrs. Pettigrew loved Peter with all her heart.
Peter quickly broke the seal and pulled the parchment out. He scanned the paper, occasionally questioning his mother about a word or two. When Peter reached the bottom of the paper, he glanced up at his mother.
"So? When are we going to buy the stuff? You know."
Mrs. Pettigrew said, "Let's go now."
Peter bounced away to grab a bag of Galleons. Once he was out of sight, Peter sighed and slumped. Peter knew that he wasn't the coolest of kids, but he wished that he could find friends, true friends that would stay with him to the end. Little did Peter know that three other boys, the same age, spread across the country, were wishing exactly the same thing.