As Remus John Lupin sat himself down in the empty compartment he looked around, hardly daring to believe that he was actually about to make the infamous journey on the Hogwarts express. Just crossing through the apparently brick barrier between platforms 9 and 10 had been enough to set his Mother off on one, reminiscing about her own school days. Remus however had remained silent through the countless tales of midnight feasts and strange goings on. He wasn't just nervous like most first years, he was genuinely frightened. Professor Dumbledore had assured him in a letter that everything had been arranged for his monthly transformations, and his mother and father had made him promise not to tell anyone. But what if they found out? This was the question floating round and around in Remus's head as the train slowly began to fill with students. Of course, he already knew the answer: he'd be kicked out, parents would write in questioning Dumbledore's sanity, calling maybe even for his resignation. Regardless, they would refuse point blank at allowing their children around such a hideous monster. The pupils themselves would either run and hide, or jeer and taunt at him. And what if he bit someone, condemning them to a life like his? Would the ministry step in and 'put him down', claiming him to be a wild and dark creature? Lost in his own train of panicked thought he hardly heard another boy enter the compartment.

"Hello, I'm sorry but do you mind if I sit here with you? It's just all the other compartments appear to be filled with people I'd rather not be seen with." Seeing the quizzical and rather taken aback expression etched onto Remus's face, the boy quickly added "family friends, distant- well distant-ish relatives and Slytherins. Don't worry, I'm not offending anyone important." He grinned as Remus just sat there looking at the boy. His messy, unkempt hair almost matched the young werewolf's apart from in its deep black colour. The scruffy stranger, what with his seemingly contradictorily perfectly tailored robes and charismatic smile somehow managed to pull this look off. The same could not be said for Remus whose hair, coupled with his sickly complexion and guarded posture, made him look shabby and unapproachable.

"Oh, um, yes," Remus said nervously, "yes, just um, yes, come in." The boy comfortably settled himself down as Remus awkwardly looked at the ground, trying to think of what to say next.

"My name's James," said the boy, "James Potter." Remus nodded at him, briefly making eye contact before returning to staring at the floor.

"And what's yours?" James asked, adding after a brief silence, "What's your name?"

"Remus Lupin."

"Well I am very pleased to meet you Remus Lupin," James said, holding out his hand almost comically for Remus to shake. Remus laughed at this and shook it immediately.

"So, Remus, what house do you-" James however stopped speaking, allowing his sentence to trail off as the sound first of hurried footsteps, and then muffled sobs, came from outside their carriage compartment. Remus shot James an uncertain look, hesitant as to how to react. James however appeared less perturbed and quickly stood up, quickly glancing out of the carriage window before sliding open the door, revealing a small girl crying in the corridor. Her startled green eyes looked directly into his.

James smiled at her, "Are you ok?" She nodded, hurriedly wiping her eyes. "No you're not. You're crying."

Remus looked worriedly at the small red-headed girl, expecting what James had just said to upset her further. But there was genuine comfort in his voice and so, still gazing into his eyes, she gave him a small smile.

"If you want you can come in and join us, it's only me and Remus in here." The girl peered into the carriage, worriedly glancing at Remus. "Don't worry, he doesn't bite." Oblivious to Remus's lurching stomach she gave a small laugh and walked in, seating herself between James and the window.

"I'm Lily, by the way," she said, nervously tripping over the words, "Lily Evans."

"James."

"Remus." They all smiled at each other for a brief moment before Remus took a small chocolate bar out of his pocket, broke it up, and handed a piece to both of his new friends.

"Can I have a bite?" Remus looked up suddenly, startled by the new voice. A rather tall boy stood in the adjacent doorway, smiling down at them uneasily. "And possibly a seat," he added with a slightly nervous laugh.

James grinned at him and indicated to the space next to Remus. "Please, be my guest." Remus shuffled up to the window to make space for the boy as he hauled his large, dark green trunk onto the luggage rail.

"I'm Remus," Remus said, smiling at the new passenger, "and yes, of course you can have some of my chocolate."

"Thanks,' he said, gratefully stuffing the chocolate into his mouth. 'I'm Sirius and, well, I actually know your names – I could hear you introducing yourselves out in the corridor," he continued, slightly apologetic. "So would that make you James and you Lily?" His grey eyes darted questioningly at the girl and the boy opposite him. "Or have I got it the wrong way around and, in fact, have in front of me a very masculine Lily and feminine James?"

James smiled at him, laughed and shook his head. "No, you're right, don't worry."

A frown however formed on Sirius' face. "You wouldn't happen to be Lily Evans would you? It's just there's this boy who's going up and down the corridor looking in various carriages, and I think he's trying to find you. He said his name was Sniverus or something? Snivillus Snarp?" Just as Sirius finished speaking the carriage door burst open, revealing a boy already dressed in his dark Hogwarts uniform.

"Have you seen a small ginger - Lily!" he exclaimed, stumbling into the carriage, taking the seat next to Sirius, directly in front of the red headed girl. "I've been looking everywhere for you! Wait, Lily, have you been crying?"

"I don't want to talk to you," Lily said abruptly, automatically re-wiping the tears away from her eyes. Remus, Sirius and James looked in bewilderment between Lily and greasy haired intruder.

"Why not?"

"Tuney h - hates me because we saw that letter from Dumbledore."

Letter from Dumbledore? Remus glanced in horror at the small girl, mind racing and heart pounding. He knew that all students generally received letters from Professor McGonagall, but Professor Dumbledore? He had been led to believe that this only happened in certain circumstances, such as his own. Did this mean that there was there another werewolf on the train? Had they kept their letter with them and been discovered? Would he be discovered too? Remus clasped his sweaty hands together, panicked, considering if it was too late to get off the train and run home.

"So what?" the argument continued.

"So she's my sister!"

Sister? Remus's panic faded slightly. Was her sister secretly a werewolf and she'd only just found out about it? No. Siblings don't keep secrets - well, not like that. On a purely pragmatic level it would be near impossible. As he regained his composure and attempted to cast the thought from his mind the train gave a sudden lurch and started moving forwards.

"But we're going! This is it! We're off to Hogwarts!" The greasy haired boy was unable to suppress the exhilaration from his voice as he grinned at Lily, who couldn't help but give a small grin back.

"You'd better be in Slytherin." Lily smiled further at this and nodded.

"Slytherin?" James couldn't help but keep the distain out of his voice, visibly hurt that the girl had sided with the odd boy. "Who wants to be in Slytherin? I think I'd leave, wouldn't you?"

Sirius gave James an uncomfortable glance. "My whole family have been in Slytherin."

"Blimey. And I thought you seemed all right!" James said, looking him up and down quizzically.

"Maybe I'll break the tradition." Sirius grinned as he said this, but Remus sensed an underlying fear in his voice.

"Where are you heading if you have the choice?"

James stood up and lifted an invisible sword, "Gryffindor, where dwell the brave at heart! Like my Dad." He aimed this directly at the greasy haired boy who made a disparaging noise. "Got a problem with that?"

"No… If you'd rather be brawny than brainy…"

"Where're you hoping to go, seeing as you're neither?" interjected Sirius, causing James to roar with laughter. Lily glared at the two boys with sudden dislike,

"Come on Severus, let's find another compartment." Lily stood up, pulling Severus with her as the boys imitated her lofty voice.

"See ya, Snivellus!" James called out as the compartment door slammed shut. Remus silently looked between the two boys.

"What?" Sirius asked accusatively.

"I think you took that a bit far," he mumbled.

"Look Remus, it's their fault. We were nothing but nice to that red head when she was all upset, and she just goes and throws it in our faces when her little high and mighty boyfriend came along," James explained as Sirius nodded whole heartedly. "We gave as good as we got – actually I would say that what we gave was of significantly better quality. That was a very quick comeback Sirius, your line about him being neither brainy nor brawny. I was quite impressed." The two boys beamed at each other as an unsatisfied Remus settled himself down in his seat, preparing for the long train ride ahead to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.