Disclaimer: I don't own these characters or events. They all belong to J.K. Rowling.

"Remus!" The tawny haired sixth year was suddenly knocked off his feet by two black haired blurs followed by a short blonde one.

The werewolf gasped for breath and shoved his friends off him. "Hey! I still need air to live!"

Sirius Black and James Potter laughed while little Peter Pettigrew just rolled his eyes. "Don't we all?"

Remus raised his eyebrows. "Do you? Hmm."

The two darker haired boys pulled Remus and Peter off towards the compartment they had snagged on the Hogwarts Express. Sitting by the windows was none other than Lily Evans. Remus raises his eyebrows at her as if to say "what're you doing here? You don't like us?"

Lily answered his silent question with a glare. "Everywhere else was full and it was you guys or Snivillus."

James just plopped down next to her and peeled open a chocolate frog has the train began to move. "How was your summer Evans?"

Sirius grinned at Remus with a look of clear smugness. Because both boys knew that once Lily Evans showed up there was no competing for their friend's attention. Even Peter, who was admittedly a slow, knew that it was hopeless.

Sirius leaned over and whispered to Remus. "I'm already planning their wedding. I can't decide on a cake flavor. What do you think? Chocolate or -"

His friend cut him off with a what do you think kind of look. "Chocolate. Always chocolate. Your argument is invalid."

Peter and Sirius rolled their eyes while James and Lily kept chatting, oblivious to the conversation taking place across from them.

Peter nudged James with his foot. James looked up in annoyance and snapped, "What!"

The smaller, mousy boy looked offended, which was odd considering he's known James for years and should've been used to this behavior when his dark haired friend was around Lily Evans. "Well," he squeaked. "Sirius was asking you if you wanted to play exploding snap and you weren't answering!"

James turned to Sirius who was nodding along with seriously like it was a matter of great importance. "It's true mate."

"I'm in."

"Me, too."

"If this burns any of my books again so help me..."

Sirius just smirked at Remus, the known bookworm, and pulled out a deck of cards.

Three hours, countless games of exploding snap, and no burnt books later the cheerful witch came around with the lunch trolley. "Anything from the trolley dears?"

The boys and Evans ordered, up to their knees with sweet treats. Sirius offered another game, but was denied for not a single one of his friends wanted their eyebrows almost burnt off again.

Remus buried his face in a book while James, Evans, and Sirius discussed all the reasons Sirius should be glad his middle name wasn't "Lee."

Only when someone tripped over his foot did he look up again- with a wolflike yelp.

"Oh I'm sorry! I'm so clumsy." A young girl apologized while peeling herself off the floor. Remus reached down and helped her up.

"Thanks," the girl grinned. She had magenta hair and a Hufflepuff badge gleamed on her robes. "I'm sorry. I was looking for Sirius Black? I thought I saw him in here a minute ago."

"He is in h..." Remus's voice faded away as he looked around and saw is friends were no longer in the compartment. "Well he was here. He, Evans, and James must've ran off to prank some Slytherins or something."

"Its fine. I'll just wait her." The girl smiled. "I'm Nymphadora Tonks, by the way. But you can call me Tonks. Call me Nymphadora and I'll have to kill you. And you are?"

Remus smiled. "Remus Lupin. Nice to meet you. How do you know Sirius?"

"Oh I'm his ex-cousin." The boy must've looked rather confused because Tonks laughed. "My mum was disowned from the ancient and most noble house of Black. But so is Sirius so, uh, I'm not sure what to call him now."

Before Remus could reply Sirius and James stumbled in laughing their heads off and followed by a giggling Lily. Sirius looked at Tonks and grinned. "Oi! Nymphy"! What're you doing here?"

Tonks glared at him. "Don't call me 'Nymphy!'"

Sirius backed up with a smug expression. "Wow there. Sorry cuz!"

Tonks punched his shoulder without any real effort. "I wanted to talk to you about-"

Remus would never know what she wanted to talk about because just then the train screeched to a halting stop.

"Welcome back to Hogwarts, my friends," James grinned.