Disclaimer: I, Alexia Maxwell, own none of these delightful (and wicked) characters and ideas, they belong to J.K. I do, however, stake claims on characters and scenarios that haven't appeared in the books.
Author's Note: YES this is another fic about the Marauders. _ *sigh* I'm willing to bet there are over ten floating around on FF.net... Alas, when your Muse tells you something, you do it. This is my fourth HP fic. (I'm still working on Between the Living and the Dead) And I really felt the need to show what Hogwarts was like from the Marauders' points of view and, if my Muse is good to me, I will continue to their adult years. Please review and tell me your thoughts on the beginning. Updates are gonna be rather slow, so there's your warning.
Thanks much and, as always, enjoy!
Beginnings And Ends
~*~1st Year~*~
Chapter 1: The Hogwarts Express
Remus J. Lupin, a light brown haired, pale blue-eyed, average sized eleven-year-old, was very nervous boarding the breathtaking scarlet train. It was his first year at the famous, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, and he wasn't sure how it would turn out. He carefully avoided collisions with every student he met in the hall as he worked his way to the end of the train. Sure enough he found an empty compartment. Remus drug his trunk inside and propped it against the window where he sat beside it on the scarlet cushioned seat. He turned his attention out the window were he watched the families seeing their children off. He silently prayed his 'condition' wouldn't disable him any more than it had so far in life. The new Headmaster, Albus Dumbledore, was being extremely generous and open-minded admitting him into his school and Remus hoped nothing went wrong.
"Do you mind if I sit with you?"
Remus jumped upon the request and turned his gaze to the compartment doorway. A disheveled black haired, hazel-eyed boy with round-rimmed glasses was leaning on his trunk panting.
"No." Remus mumbled.
The boy drug his trunk behind him and set it beside Remus's own before sitting down.
"I'm James Potter." he held out his hand to shake, "Is this your first year as well?"
Remus took the boy's hand reluctantly, "Yes, I'm Remus Lupin."
"Look there's Malfoy's boy." A tall, dark haired, broad shouldered man, grinned. His own son Severus turned and grimaced.
"Mum, you really expect me to mingle with him?" he hissed in a whisper intended for her ears alone. Severus felt like nothing when he sized himself up to the other boy. He was skinny for eleven, with pale skin and a long nose, shoulder length black hair and dark eyes, which added to his paleness, while Lucius had sleek platinum blonde hair, gray eyes and was a perfect size for a thirteen year old. Whom his father constantly compared him to, "Why Malfoy's gotten top marks, Look how well Malfoy's done, see? Malfoy's going to be Minister when he grows up I'll bet, Can't you be more like Malfoy?" His father's voice continually looped inside his head and out; only outside it would stop and point out Severus's faults.
"He's an excellent boy and you need some friends your age." His mother said kindly.
Severus rolled his eyes, how many times had he heard that within the past year? And he wasn't Malfoy's age anyway. All of Malfoy's friends were third year or older, Severus seriously doubted Lucius would accept him with open arms given the choice. Well, maybe if he could see what he'd be profiting from.
"You spend too much time with your nose in those books." His mother added, smiling. Then she bent and embraced him tightly, whispering in his ear, "You're already brilliant, you're going to be top student."
Severus smiled to himself.
"He's not a nancy boy, Margaret, let him go." His father grunted.
His mother pecked his cheek then released him, "Send us an owl will you? Tell us how your first day goes."
"Come off it Margaret, he's not a baby." He turned to his son, "You better do well you hear? I don't want any ruddy owls about what you've done wrong."
Severus cringed inwardly awaiting the hard clap on his shoulder his father always gave him, but it never came.
A woman dressed in expensive black robes, not to mention very elegant and strict looking, entered Platform Nine and Three-Quarters followed by three children, only one her own. The first was the oldest girl, this was to be her second year and she looked rather bored. She already wore her school robes with the Slytherin crest embedded on the chest and had wavy black hair that reached the middle of her back and cold gray eyes. The other girl was a pretty, eleven-year-old. Unlike her sister she had silky blonde hair, and she wore it in a ponytail with ringlets and her eyes were the iciest of blue.
The only boy was trailing rather far behind the intimidating females. He was doing his best, which amounted to little under average, to be as domineering as the women. He was having a hard time at it as he was practically dancing with anticipation for the chance to be out of his mother's sight. He was also eleven, cute and rather tall for his age, his raven hair had recently been cut short and his bangs hung just passed the top of his ears. Unlike his first cousin his eyes were a soft dark gray.
"Now I expect you all to uphold the Black family name and make us proud."
"Of course aunt." the elder girl Bellatrix curtsied, Narcissa nodded and followed suite.
"Yes mother." the boy, Sirius said sighing and rolling his eyes at the same time.
"What was that?"
"I said yes! Can I go?"
"Kiss." She lowered her face to her son's level.
Sirius rolled his eyes in resignation before kissing her cheeks quickly. "Now I can leave?"
"Yes, yes go away." She shooed at him and he was all too happy with her response.
He took his trunk from the trolley their House-elf steered and quickly walked towards the train. Sirius stopped abruptly when he saw one of his least favourite people standing amidst a gaggle of girls and boys near the entrance.
"Ah, Black." The older boy, with slick-backed blonde hair said regally, spotting him. He beckoned Sirius into their midst. "I see you've finally made it."
"Hello Lucius." he drawled as the other boy did so often times in the past.
"I was just saying how much more refined Durmstrang is. Father is thinking of transferring me now that Dumb has been promoted."
"Oh?" Sirius put little effort, as he'd done it so many times in the past, into his tone to show his interest.
Lucius gave a deep sigh, "But until then I'll be enjoying my stay in Slytherin House. Of course you'll be in it like the rest of your family?" he raised an eyebrow. "I expect lovely Narcissa will too." He added upon seeing the blonde past Sirius's shoulder, hovering in the background with her aunt taking leave.
"Of course we will." he agreed dryly, complete with a fake smile.
The train's whistle blew overhead.
"Ah, time to go." Lucius's gang proceeded up the steps, "Will you be sitting with us?"
"I've got something to do." Sirius said turning away not bothering with kinder parting words.
It wasn't a complete lie; he had promised his eldest cousin Andromeda he'd watch out for Narcissa. Which to him wasn't fair considering Narcissa was Bellatrix's baby sister and Bellatrix had already been here before. Plus the fact Sirius was a boy and hanging around with his female cousin was not his idea of fun. Her sugary sweetness and daintiness made him want to hurl. She was just not cut out to be a Black. But even after all was said and done, she was one of the few who he could truly be himself with.
Sirius spotted her; still rooted to the spot he'd left her in, his mother now gone.
"Did Bella ditch you?" he asked raising an eyebrow, not surprised in the least.
Narcissa nodded.
"Well come on then, I think Lucius wants you to join his group." He began walking back to the train, leaving Narcissa no time to object. She grabbed a handle on her trunk and hurried after him as best she could.
Sirius was about to check the front of the train for a seat when he spotted one of Lucius's cronies. Sirius turned on his heel and bumped into Narcissa.
"There they are, up there," he said pointing.
"Aren't you going to sit with me?" She asked, hiding the desperation in her small voice.
"What?" Sirius barked looking at her incredulously, "You know how I hate those idiots." He made a further look of disgust.
Narcissa felt like screaming: "You think I do?" But she had been raised to keep her opinions to herself and instead looked little less than glum.
The whistle blew again.
Sirius was about to turn her down but the thought of Andromeda swayed his heart. "Alright," he sighed.
"Thank you Sirius!" She pecked his cheek and he scowled light heartedly.
"Not in public!" He wiped at his cheek furiously and Narcissa laughed.
He smiled back, "Come on, the train'll be leaving any second and Lucius might not have a seat for us--God forbid."
"So you've decided to join us after all." Lucius greeted them as they stepped into his compartment. He signaled for Crabbe and Goyle, his stocky friends, to help them with their trunks. "I knew it was good to save some seats. Bellatrix is in the next compartment over," He said to Narcissa. "She's got a seat for you." He added as if she hadn't received the first hint. Uncomfortably she said good-bye to Sirius with her eyes and left, pulling the compartment door on her way.
"Great," Sirius thought bitterly, "Stuck with these gits for nothing."
He scanned the faces of those around him. Malfoy sat closest to his left, Crabbe and Goyle on either side of him, followed by the eldest Lestrange brother, Rodolphus. On Sirius's right sat the eldest Flint, a boy he had never seen and last, Rabastan Lestrange.
"Who's this Lucius?" Sirius asked, eyeing the scrawny black haired boy who watched him in the same manner. The boy looked out of his element; perhaps he didn't wish to be here anymore than Sirius did.
"Severus Snape, don't you remember? His family was at our New Year's party."
"Nope, sorry." Sirius shook his head, "Malfoy must be recruiting, Severus is likely here because of his family. 'Must stay in with the pure bloods'."
"Spoiled brat, of course he doesn't remember me, I don't measure up to their level of arrogance." Severus sneered to himself.
"Do sit down Sirius." Rabastan gestured to the seat next to himself, smiling at the other boy.
Sirius did so rather reluctantly but hid his displeasure, always he hid the fact that he despised those he was around. But that wasn't being fair; Rabastan was the only one he wouldn't push off a cliff, if given the choice of course.
"We've got ourselves a new professor." Lucius began.
"Really? Anyone we know?" Sirius asked mildly interested with the distasteful tone in his voice.
"No, he doesn't socialize with our kind. Pearce is a gutter rat to put it lightly." Lucius in took a sharp breath; "He's a Muggle born and a tarnish on the rest of us--"
Sirius's blood began to bubble, he disapproved of the way the Malfoys singled themselves out and above others. What made it worse, his own family followed the same philosophy. Malfoys and Blacks were each one of the original fourteen families and they wanted it to stay that way, pure, and in the family. For this reason, as Sirius had learned eavesdropping, he and his cousins would be betrothed to one of the other respectable families. With or against their own wishes once they came of age.
"--making him Head of House in his first year." Lucius scowled, "Don't you agree?"
"Yes." Sirius replied automatically.
Meanwhile James and Remus had shared their compartment with a blonde, green-eyed boy named Blake Arbin. He was the only wizard in his Muggle family and he was ecstatic to be on his way to learn magic.
"I've read all my school books." He told them excitedly, "I'm really interested in Potions though. Just like on the telle, stirring bubbling, green liquid in a cauldron, it'll be fun." he grinned.
"You've read your books? I've only skimmed mine." James frowned, "Have you read 'em too?"
"Well I've looked through them." shrugged Remus.
"Oh man. I bet I'm the only one who hasn't." James hung his head.
"I doubt that, loads of kids don't even skim them until they're in classes."
To take James's mind of school and to benefit himself, Blake said, "Hey, do you guys want to play Gobstones? I got them when we were buying my school supplies."
James lifted his head as Blake pulled a sack from his pocket.
"You haven't played before have you?" James asked raising an eyebrow.
"No, but you can, can't you?"
"Of course, how 'bout you Reem?"
Remus nodded.
"Alright then. We need to set it up first, see Blake, these go here..."
The fields and lanes outside their window flicked by as they played until a plump, smiling witch came by with the food cart at one o'clock.
"Hungry dears?" She asked opening their compartment door.
"Am I ever!" Blake burst, he pulled a brown leather pouch from his jean pocket. "You'll have to help me with the money James, I still can't figure it out." The two stood and hurried out to the cart. James explaining the money.
"Here try this."
"What is it?"
"A Chocolate Frog, they're not real of course."
James poked his head back into their compartment, "Remus? Aren't you going to get anything?"
"No, I'm not hungry." he fidgeted with the hem of his shirt.
"Come on now, you have to have something." James laughed as Blake made his way back to his seat; his arms were full of sweets, quite a few having fallen to the floor on the way.
"No, I'm alright."
James rolled his eyes at this and walked back to the cart. He came back in a moment later carrying an armful of Chocolate Frogs, Pumpkin Pasties, Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans and two cold bottles of pumpkin juice. He sat half of them on Remus's lap.
"Whoa, I got a baseball card! It moves too!"
"Thanks." Remus accepted the sweets quietly, "I'll pay you back."
"No need," James smiled, "You can loosen up again though." He tore open his bag of Every Flavor Beans. "You're a really quiet kid."
"I'm sorry, I'm not used to--this," Remus waved his arms in the air, trying to express what he meant, "Being around others my age."
"Are you an only child?" James then grimaced and spit out the bean he had been chewing. "Ugh," he shivered, "Vomit."
"Yes, I am." Remus decided that was a sufficiently acceptable answer and chose not to elaborate on the real reason behind his anti-socialness.
"D'you wanna try Exploding Snap?" asked Blake pulling a deck of cards from his back pocket. "I'm really good at this, well I've only played with my mum and dad..."
"You better prepare to lose, because I'm the best!" declared James, jumping to the floor and sitting cross-legged.
Remus smiled and he and Blake joined James in a circle on the compartment floor.
The boys continued to play Exploding Snap, the world outside had become dark and the landscape more wild as they progressed, then an announcement rang throughout the train.
"We will be arriving at Hogwarts in five minutes, leave your luggage on the train as it will be brought up to the school separately. Students are also asked to change into their Hogwarts robes if they have yet to do so."
The three changed and stuffed the remainder of their goods into their pockets. Then they stepped out into the corridor where the other students had become restless and were wandering in and out of the other compartments. The train slowed to a stop and the hall was crowded with even more voices and bodies as everyone tried to get off at once.
Outside in the cold air they grouped together until a lantern bobbed above their heads.
"Firs' years this way. Firs' years this way." A giant of a man parted the crowd and ushered them to the bank. "Four to a boat now."
Sirius and Narcissa moved forward and clambered into the nearest one.
"Oh well, better than Malfoy." Sirius thought as another girl and boy sat with them.
James, Blake and Remus stood at the back of the other first years, which were grouped around the water's edge.
"Come on now." The man ushered them forward.
"Look there it is." Blake said awestruck as he pointed across the lake, and up to the silhouette of the castle on a cliff before them.
"You can't see it very well in the night." Remus commented.
"How do you know?" Asked Blake as he sat down.
"There's a picture of it in Hogwarts, A History."
"Book worm eh?" James nudged him smiling.
There were ooohs from the students who had laid eyes on the stunning silhouette and they heard Lucius's drawling voice from the bank.
"Really, you'd think they'd never seen a castle before."
His cronies chuckled.
"Everyone in?" the big man called, sitting in a boat all to himself at the head of the others. He checked each boat. "Forward!"