Title: The Marauders and the Rise of Darkness
Rating: T
Authoress: T-R-Us

Summary: (Book One)(MWPP) It's only the Marauders' first year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry – but they're already getting into trouble! With mysterious forces gathering in the Forbidden Forest, will they survive to see second year?

Disclaimer: Don't own it.

Authoress' Notes: I'm sure it's been done before – but whatever. Hi! I'm T-R-Us, those of you in the HP fandom have likely never read my garbage – work -- before. I wrote two really bad Harry Potter fics a long time ago, but I took them down because they were that bad. Hopefully I've matured enough to reach my eventual goal – write seven fics on the topic of the Marauders. Your input and criticisms would be greatly appreciated, it's always very helpful.
Also, there was some discrepancy on the matter of "how old exactly the Marauders are", in that I mean their birth year. Fortunately for us, JK cleared this one up, and the Marauders were born in 1960, making their first year at Hogwarts begin September of 1971. (Granted, the year doesn't have that much weight on the plot, but nonetheless.)

xxxxx


August, 1995

Harry crept down the stairs of number twelve, Grimmauld Place, sparing a quick glance behind him. Wary of each and every sound his late-night wandering produced, he hopped smoothly over the second last step, recalling its habit of creating a loud and annoying squeak in an entirely different section of the house. Finally, he reached the main landing, and let out the breath he'd been holding in. It wasn't so much that he didn't want to be followed or heard, but more that he did not wish to risk waking the other nine occupants of the house – much less the unsavory creatures in residence.

He had taken no more than two steps forward, when he came within view of the old-fashioned sofa in the room across the hall.

Seated there, back to his former student, was Remus Lupin.

Harry had almost forgotten that the werewolf was living in the house. He had been there for almost a week, and had not seen his old professor since the night he had arrived - and had certainly not expected to run into him now. From his current vantage point, he couldn't tell if the werewolf was awake or not, but a misplaced step caused one of the floorboards to emit a wrenching groan, and Lupin's head whipped in his direction.

The Order member blinked once, tiredly, as he looked over the teen. "Harry, it's late, isn't it?" He asked as though unsure, turning forward once again.

"Yes – I – er – I couldn't sleep."

Back still to him, Remus nodded, "You're welcome to join me, if you'd like. Watch you don't sit on Sirius though."

A little curious, Harry approached the couch, circling around it until he could again see Remus' face. The werewolf was seated somewhat stiffly, apparently having been reading the Daily Prophet until Harry interrupted. Next to him on the couch, taking up a majority of the space was a large black dog, curled up in what looked to be a peaceful repose.

"Is he – "

"- asleep?" Remus looked up again, this time with a smile. "Yes. Sirius always did have an affinity for couches. I don't think a week ever went by that we didn't find him asleep on the one in the common room at least once." He shifted over slightly, moving away from his friend and creating a space for Harry between them. "What's on your mind? Your expulsion?"

The teen nodded, warily. "Yes, actually. Do you – er – do you think it'll – well – "

Again, the werewolf replied before Harry could finish. "I don't think Dumbledore would ever let them expel you, Harry. Even so, there are no grounds for them to take such extreme measures on anyway." He paused, then hesitantly patted his former student's knee, "By the way, I'm proud of you. Taking out two dementors."

"Thanks."

They fell into a companionable silence, interrupted only by the occasional ruffling of pages as Remus flipped through the Daily Prophet,which he'd picked up once again, and the accompaniment of soft whuffings and heavy breathing from Sirius.

"Was he always such a deep sleeper?"

Remus closed his paper and looked over at his best friend, "Yes," he replied, mildly, "James used to say it would take the mating call of a rabid Peruvian Vipertooth to wake him up." He smiled, remembering some long repressed memory. "He fell asleep when he was supposed to be baby-sitting you, once. Your mother was livid."

Harry's eyes widened, "Wait – Sirius used to baby-sit me?"

The werewolf laughed, "We both did. And if we weren't babysitting, we were at least visiting." He smiled ruefully, "You would be far too young to remember, but for the first year of your life, I don't think any of us wanted to leave your side. I can still remember the first time I held you in my arms, three days after you were born," he broke off, smiling pleasantly. "We were all so proud of every accomplishment you ever made – "

"You were a genius, Harry," Sirius had apparently awoken, and now sat next to his godson in his regular form. Slinging an arm around Harry's shoulder, he gave him a squeeze. "I can remember the day you said your very first word. It was Pad—"

Remus rolled his eyes, "Don't listen to this idiot, Harry," his normal woodenness melting away, "It was definitely not 'Padfoot'. Your first word was 'no'. And you said it almost constantly."

"Well," Sirius was shrugging, "Your second word was Padfoot, anyway."

A snort from Remus accompanied his response, "Yes. Right after 'Ma', 'Da' and 'Remus'."

Sheepishly, Sirius looked away, "Well, Harry," he was pointedly avoiding Remus' gaze, "I'm sure you would have figured it out before the others, if Moony hadn't been jumping down your throat to teach you his name." His tone was flippant, and as he arrogantly tilted his head upwards, Remus leaned forward and rolled his eyes where Harry could see him. Grinning, Sirius gently pressed his head against his godson's, "James was so proud of you – regardless of what you said. And – ah – you sometimes said some pretty –"

"And who's fault was that?" Remus scowled, lightheartedly, "Cursing in front of the baby."

Again, Sirius shrugged, and ran his right hand through Harry's thick, black hair, effectively ruffling it. "I don't think he's much the worse for it."

Caught between the pair's light bantering, Harry found himself wedged warmly against Sirius' side, his godfather's arm still draped across his shoulders. To his left, Remus sat, slumped against the back of the couch, his newspaper long since discarded. In the middle, Harry found himself feeling safer than he had ever felt before. Safer than when he was in Dumbledore's company, even. It was true that his feelings of anger towards the wizard probably had a hand in it, but next to his godfather and former professor, Harry was more secure than he'd been in years – and his disciplinary hearing had already been forgotten.

"I've heard some stories… but … do you think you could tell me what it was like?"

"What what was like?" Sirius was asking, looking down at him.

"Being friends with my dad. Being a marauder."

"Well," It was Sirius who started, "We weren't friends from the start, except for me and James, we saw each other and knew we were born to do mischief toget –"

"I think," Remus had interrupted quietly, his chin resting on his hand, "You'd better let me take this one, Padfoot, old friend. I have a feeling you may have forgotten some of the details." He turned to Harry with a grin, "Although exaggerated seems more likely."

xxxxx

September 1st, 1970
Platform 9 ¾ surged with activity. The stately, scarlet Hogwarts Express chugged puffs of darkened smoke, mingling with the equally black clouds overhead. A sudden heat wave had held London in its grips for almost a fortnight, and with it came the accompaniment of numerous violent thunder storms. More than a few of the wizarding parents glanced at the sky with worry as they saw their children off for the start of another school year.

Standing between his own parents, eleven year old Remus Lupin chewed on his bottom lip worriedly. The approaching storm did not bother him in the least, but the imminent separation from life as he knew it disturbed him greatly. "The train leaves at eleven?" It wasn't so much a question as a nervous statement requesting confirmation.

His mother reached down to kiss him on the cheek, and give him a quick hug. As much as she hated to leave her only son alone, she was in something of a hurry to leave. Being a muggle, just getting onto platform 9 ¾ had been an eye-opening experience. "You don't have to go, you know. You can stay and – "

"No!" Frightened as he was, Remus turned towards the train, as much to examine the Hogwarts coat of arms as to hide his face from his parents. He wheeled back around, holding onto his trunk just a little tighter. "No, I'm going." Nothing could combat the feelings of happiness he had experienced when he received his letter from Dumbledore saying that someone… someone like him would be able to attend the famed wizarding school. He couldn't possibly turn down the chance of a lifetime.

Nearby, he could hear another family's problems, as a girl a little older than himself let loose a cry of irritation. For a moment, Remus considered what it would be like to have had had a sister, then discarded the idea as the already heated argument grew in intensity. "You shouldn't have read – that was my private – how could you?"

Not wanting to listen in on anymore of the conversation, Remus focused on his parents. "Maybe I should think about – " He paused in horror. Had he been about to suggest rethinking his going to Hogwarts? Before he could build on the comment, the train let out a baleful whistle. Liberated, Remus whirled back around, watching as another thick jet of smoke issued from the engine. "I'll write!" He called back, his voice quavering as he clambered in through a compartment door, trunk in tow.

Wandering his way through the long train, he regretted having waited so long to board. All of the compartments looked to be full – and he wasn't especially keen on entering any of them. Dangerously close to the end of the train, he finally found one which was empty. Sliding open the door, he stepped in – not noticing the sleeping form on one of the seats until he had already shut the door behind him. The boy looked like he might be tall if he were standing, his dark hair falling across his face and obscuring it from view. His even breathing told Remus that the boy was most definitely asleep, and he took a seat across from him.

"Have you seen Aoede, yet? She's got the greatest hat!" A trio of female voices were approaching the shut door, and Remus panicked. Not wanting to be stuck conversing with a compartment full of girls, he hurriedly looked across at the other boy – hoping that he might wake up. When the boy grunted slightly and turned the other way, Remus' eyes widened hopefully, however his companion did not wake. Within seconds, the compartment door began to creak open.

"That's it. If this one's full I'm walking to Hogwarts."

Trepidation numbing his senses, Remus thought to imitate the other boy by at least feigning sleep. He threw his head somewhat roughly against the window, wincing from the slight bump it caused, and hurriedly pretended to be napping.

"Ugh, boys – " Started one of the girls Remus had heard approaching.

"Don't you dare, Cassia, there's only two of them, and three of us." The voice paused for a minute, and it occurred to Remus that she was likely scrutinizing him and his companion in the same way he had upon first entering the compartment. "They're asleep, anyway. And every where else is full up."

The third girl's voice was harder to make out, as she shyly whispered, "Corny, I'm sitting on this side." Remus assumed that by this she meant on the side of the seat furthest from him or the other boy. "Aren't you worried they'll wake up?"

The second girl sounded smug now, "Why? They're just boys!"

The trio fell into a conversation, apparently concerning the misadventures of another girl, and Remus began to get the impression that all three were very close – sisters, perhaps. His left shoulder was beginning to feel somewhat numb from the awkwardness of pressing it against the window, and he wondered if there was any hope for shifting slightly. Maybe if he groaned just a little and…

One of the girls shrieked.

"In the name of Merlin, Cecilia!" It was the first girl this time, Cassia, and the shrieking immediately stopped. "Would you please get a hold on yourself?"

Cecilia sounded a little guilty as she apologized softly. "I thought he was waking up." Even more sheepishly she added, "I don't understand how you two aren't scared. I mean, the black haired boy looks nice enough – but did you even look at the other one? He looks so – so – "

Inwardly, Remus winced. He knew exactly how he looked, and he knew it had nothing to do with the muggle clothes he was wearing. He could practically feel their eyes roving over him, taking in each detail. His bare arms, he knew, were covered in a thick, interconnecting web of scars. He was sure too, that they could see the thin lines mangling his chin.

"Just be quiet, okay?" It was the second girl again, Corny she had been called, Remus remembered, practically feeling the attention move from him to the other boy. "That dark-haired guy is kind of cute."

There were several giggles of affirmation, and Remus realized that the only thing to do now was try to actually fall asleep. Ten minutes stretched by slowly, the girls having moved on to the more mundane topic of some magical line of cosmetics or another, and Remus found himself slipping into a stupor from the boredom. How the boy across from him managed to maintain his practically unconscious state was appalling – or would be, if Remus hadn't fallen asleep halfway through his annoyed thought.

Several hours later, the boy found himself being shaken awake. Before him was the face of what could only be one of the three girls who had been occupying the compartment. Purple eyes stared down at him with bemusement, framed under a pair of glasses. She was so close that he could hardly see the frizzy blonde hair pulled into a long ponytail at the back of her head beyond the round outline of her face.

"Hey – we're almost at Hogwarts. You should probably put your robes on."

He noticed that she already had, and that just behind her – his field of vision increased once she backed away – one of the other girls, a lighter blonde, was shaking the other boy awake. "Hey – " she turned to him, "I think your friend's dead."

Remus bit back his reply of, 'he's not my friend', and stepped forward somewhat concernedly. "He's – what?"

"Oh, I'm just joshing you and all that," she grinned, and he couldn't help but notice her vivid green eyes as she did so. "I'm sure he's fine. Want to give a hand though?"

Stepping forward, he poked the boy with his index finger, grimacing. "I don't actually know him, it's just that it was the only empty compartment and – "

"Oh, bugger." The girl who had woken him up pulled out her wand, and the boy couldn't help but notice that the other two girls stiffened somewhat and took a few steps back. Sticking the device under the other boy's ear, she made a flicking motion with her wrist – and the wand emitted a high-pitched squealing sound. She turned back to Remus apologetically and shouted over the noise, "Sorry, it's the only magic I've managed since mum got me my wand." She shrugged and returned to her task.

It took several tries to get him awake, during which Remus pulled his black robes on over his clothes.

"There we are!"

The boy had begun to stir, swatting first at the wand and then opening a pair of soft, brown eyes. "Where'd you lot come from?"

The girl grinned, "You've been asleep. We're almost at Hogwarts now."

He blinked, scratching his thick, dark hair in confusion. Remus suspected that he was wondering how he could have slept for so long. "Well – thanks, I guess. For waking me up."

"Anytime. I'm Cornelia, by the way, Cornelia Houdini." She grinned again from behind her glasses, tossing the frizzy ponytail. "These are my sisters," with a sweeping hand gesture she motioned to the other blonde girl, and a shy-looking brunette on the other side of the compartment. "We're the Houdini triplets. That's Cassia – " the blonde smiled – "and Cecilia."

"Goodwin Perkins," the other boy offered. His smile seemed to brighten the compartment somewhat, and there was genuine happiness in the carefree way he stretched out his lanky limbs. "Headed for Gryffindor, hopefully."

"Remus Lupin," Remus supplied, "Anywhere but Hufflepuff."

Goodwin laughed and slapped Remus on the back, jovially

"We will be reaching Hogwarts in five minutes' time," echoed a voice, magically amplified throughout the train, "Please leave your luggage on the train, it will be taken to the school separately."

Goodwin grinned, and turned away, reaching up to grab his trunk from the overhead rack, and then swing it down onto his seat. Pulling out the black work robes folded at the top, he slammed the lid back down with a firm 'thud'.

"Neat packer?" One of the triplets asked, having caught a good look at the organized insides of his trunk.

"Nope, my mum is." He grunted in reply, heaving the trunk back onto the rack, "Can't stand mess." As he spoke, the sound of gears grinding down indicated that the Hogwarts Express was slowing.

"I guess we're here," Cornelia beamed, "It was very nice meeting you both, Remus, Goodwin," she smiled again, and in a moment all three of the girls were swept away, into the flood of students hurrying through the crowded train.

Taking her lead, Remus nodded at Goodwin, and left the compartment.

The flurry of students outside at Hogsmeade Station was immense, although Remus knew from his father that there were generally no more than 280 students ever enrolled at Hogwarts in any given year. Clenching his fists until his knuckles were a pale white color, Remus edged his way past his fellow students. Unused to crowds, he sidled between as many people as possible, until he was at the edge of the group, his back practically pressed to a tree.

The majority of the students appeared to be converging at a nearby road, but he could see what looked like one of the three Houdini triplets, speaking with a bespectacled first year boy, and standing next to – a giant.

The man, Remus assumed it was a man, given that he had a terribly thick mane of black hair and an equally wild beard, was standing no more than five feet away, although he must have been twice that in height. In one of his equally large hands was a lantern, which he held up, casting a dim light across the station. "Anymore firs' years?" He yelled, and Remus hurried over to him. "Yeh're the last o' them, then?"

Staring up at the figure in awe, Remus nodded.

"All righ'! Just' down this way," he motioned towards a narrow downward sloping path, and Remus noticed that he was not the only one somewhat wary about this particular venture. "S'not far, now, keep up." The man seemed completely unfazed by the slippery, mud-covered track that he was leading the group down. Remus saw more than one person trip over the journey, but no one seemed to have fallen completely. Remus found even himself bumped about, crashing into the rounder boy in front of him, who had stumbled.

However, the disastrous trek ended with a breath-taking view of the castle.

Ahead of them, Hogwarts twinkled in the distance across a vast lake. There were no stars in the sky, as the dark clouds which had threatened to burst several hours before in London seemed to have followed the train all the way to the magical school, but Remus didn't mind the cloud cover. This, was what every thing was for, he knew.

A few feet ahead, several boats were anchored upon the sandy shore in front of them. The man called out "four to a boat", and Remus found himself part of the scramble to find a seat. There was no shortage of accommodations, but the boat he had clambered into was already mostly full – and again he found himself face to face with one of the Houdini triplets.

"Hi Remus!" It was Cassia who spoke this time, her straight, blonde hair floating on the soft breeze which blew across the lake, "Isn't it beautiful?"

He looked up at the castle in appreciation, and nodded.

xxxxx

"Welcome to Hogwarts," after the short boat ride, the first years had finally arrived at the castle, now to be greeted by a severe-looking witch who had introduced herself as Professor McGonagall. "The start-of-term banquet will be beginning shortly, but before you may take your seats in the Great Hall, you will be sorted into your houses." She went on to explain the importance of the school's house point system, and soon disappeared, stating she would return when it was time for the sorting.

Remus was not nervous. Not yet, anyway. Chilled, he looked at those around him. The Houdini triplets were conversing with a red-headed first year girl, and Goodwin was near the back of the group, speaking with the bespectacled boy Remus had seen earlier, as well as another dark-haired first year. Remus considered joining them, when the boy he had stumbled into on the way to the boats poked him in the arm.

"Hallo! I'm sorry about tripping you up back there," he smiled somewhat timidly, and Remus realized it must have taken a staunch mustering of courage for the boy to speak up. "I'm Pettigrew, by the way." He winced, and looked like he wanted to kick himself, "Peter," he remedied, "Peter Pettigrew."

Remus nodded, smiling faintly. "Remus Lupin."

"Do you know which house you want to get into?" He seemed to have become much more comfortable with himself now that he knew Remus' name. "I fancy being a Gryffindor, but my mum says not to get my hopes up – she was a Hufflepuff. Same for my dad."

"My father didn't go to Hogwarts," he shrugged, "He's French."

"Oh," Peter seemed unfazed by this information, but continued to press on. "And your mum?"

"She's a muggle." His voice lowered somewhat, but not with shame. He was rather proud of his mother, magical or not, but knew better than to announce it to so many around him. His own father had faced challenges with having the relationship, and Remus knew that the prejudices were not simply French or British.

What Peter had to say about this information, however, went unsaid as McGonagall had returned. The nervous chatter which had sprung up was silenced as she directed the first years into a line, and then into the Great Hall.

Remus had never seen a room so large in his entire life, and the closest he had ever come was the entrance hall the group had just left. The ceiling overhead may as well have been the sky itself, it was so vast. Bewitched to look like the real cloudy sky outside, Remus thought he could see flashes of lightning within the room itself. Four long tables were filled with people, and again Remus had to remind himself that there were never more than a couple hundred students. In front of him was another long table, this one, he realized, seated the school's staff.

There in the center was the graying wizard who he knew to be Albus Dumbledore, who had been kind enough to allow Remus the chance to go to the school. The wizard looked a little frightening from his first year frame of mind, but he told himself that the first opportunity he got, he would thank the man in person.

"This way please," The professor directed the first years' attention to a four-legged stool which must have been placed as Remus was examining the hall. Upon it rested the dirtiest pointed hat Remus had ever seen, and his father had quite a collection. There was a long moment of silence, during which he noted that even the students at their tables had fallen silent and were staring at the hat.

It twitched.

Remus blinked. It wasn't impossible, but why --

It twitched for the second time, and a long rip opened as though it were a mouth, while the tip bent forward, creating wrinkles in the fabric that could very well have been eyes if you squinted while looking at it. Then the hat began to speak.

'Welcome students, old and new,
To this ancient, stately school.
I shall keep this short and sweet,
So you won't have to drool.
For I am the Sorting Hat, you see,
Ripped and torn and ugly,
But I shall divide you into your house,
Just put me on, and you'll look lovely!
First, good old Gryffindor,
Always brave of heart.
From him his many loyal friends,
Never sought to part .
Then there's humble Hufflepuff,
The most patient of them all.
Hardworking, yes, and honest too,
Ready to answer any friend's call.
Next comes Rowena Ravenclaw,
Whose mind was sharp and witty.
She was the smartest of the four,
Her passing was quite a pity.
But worry not, there's one more still,
Salazar Slytherin is his name.
He values those pure-blooded folk,
Those cunning and seeking out fame.
So let the sorting now begin,
My song has found its end.
Don't ponder on which house to choose,
A helping hand, I'll lend.'

The students burst into applause, and Remus found himself clapping politely along – however, now he was nervous. The four houses all seemed to be decided by personality and character. What if the hat couldn't sort him? What if it looked into his head and found the beast that Remus had struggled to control for years?

With a roll of parchment in her hands, Professor McGonagall stepped forward once more, and indicated that "Aston, Summanus" should sit upon the stool with the hat on his head. There was a moment of hesitation, where the first years stared at Summanus and the hat expectantly, before the hat finally called out, "HUFFLEPUFF!"

Cheers erupted from the Hufflepuff table, bedecked in yellow and gold, and the next student was ushered forward as Summanus moved to join his new house.

Remus' heart pounded in his chest, what would the hat say? Would it announce his secret to every one in the hall? He gazed around at the students in terror, he could see it now. They would leap forward and attack him, he'd be dead before he even realized what was happening.

"Black, Sirius."

Remus looked up from his inner turmoil long enough to watch the boy accept the hat, and after long moments of what must have been deliberation on the hat's part, was announced to be "GRYFFINDOR!"

Sirius smiled wryly, and took his place among the cheering Gryffindors, but Remus looked down at his hands before he noticed the triumphant smile that was flashed at several booing Slytherins.

Remus' frightened thoughts continued as the Houdini triplets were sorted, the bold Cornelia going to Gryffindor, Cassia to Ravenclaw, and the timid Cecilia disappearing amid a group of applauding Hufflepuffs. Remus stiffened now. They were H's, and he was an L. Only three letters between the two – it was getting closer and closer, now.

There were exactly three people separating Remus from his sorting.

"Jaxon, Haywood," a brawny looking first year stepped forward, a bright grin spread on his face, a grin which faltered slightly as moments later he joined the Hufflepuff table.

"Kastner, Tilda," sweet-faced and short, quickly became a Slytherin.

"Livesay, Faith," nervously approached the hat, eying it warily before pulling it onto her head. There was another lengthy pause, one which Remus attributed to the hat needing to think carefully about the sorting. L! He screamed at himself, internally, She's an L! In another moment, she was a Ravenclaw.

"Lupin, Remus."

Remus had never felt smaller in his entire life. The distance between him and the hat seemed to stretch on for eternity, and he just knew he was walking to his death. Finally, he reached the stool and sat down, his arms trembling as he lifted the hat to his head. He could hear its voice in his mind, as though deliberating – but the words were completely lost to him as the hat soon screamed out, "WEREWOLF!"

There was an eruption of noise, and Remus closed his eyes. This was it. It was over.

"Mr. Lupin, would you please join your house table?"

His eyes opened – involuntarily – and he found himself looking up at Professor McGonagall, who it seemed was staring at him as though he had three heads. The noise was coming from the Gryffindor table, and Remus realized that that was what the hat had said. Gryffindor.

Not 'werewolf'.

He had never been more relieved in his entire life.

Closing Comments:
A little bit of a short introduction from our beloved Remus and Sirius. I don't know why I included it, maybe I just wanted to put those thoughts out there without writing a whole new fic. I toyed with my ideas when it came to how I wanted to start the Marauders' story. Originally the idea was to begin with their letters – but that would involve frequent changes in perspective between the four homes, so I opted for the first place they'd all be together – the Hogwarts Express. (Although another of my initial thoughts had been for the full moon to fall on the evening of September 1st, and have Remus arrive later – but clearly this was not the case. Actually, I base all of Remus' transformations on the factual lunar event of the year – so maybe the years do matter (see Authoress' Note, above). At any rate, in September of 1971, the full moon was on September 5th. So there you go.)
So many things to say about this chapter, lol. I read a fic at one point where Remus had quite a large family and they were all French. I liked the idea of a French heritage – although I don't really believe that "Lupin" is a very cultural name – and chose to imply that his father probably went to Beauxbatons. Also – a good friend wrote the Sorting Hat song for me, in less than forty minutes. Quite a feat, for which I am very grateful. (You do not want to hear what I came up with.)
Hmph, I didn't realize that the first student sorted in the Philosopher's Stone was also a Hufflepuff, but that's how it is. I have a rather long list of the students in the Marauders year, (and their houses), and simply alphabetized. What a shocking coincidence.

As a final closing comment – jeez there were a lot, weren't there? – this chapter was very Remus-centric. One, he's one of my favorite characters, and two, I felt that his eyes were a good way to see Hogwarts through for the first time. Since James and Sirius are both all "pshaw, I pwn Hogwarts!" and Peter's rather "OMG! A brick! In the wall! Run! Hide! Scurry!" Not all of the chapters will be so singularly focused, but if you paid attention, I bet you noticed all of the Marauders and Lily somewhere. (Although some are clearly more easily spot than others.) Thanks for reading – see you in chapter two!