A Traitor Among Friends
Chapter 1: Years 1-3
September 1st, 1971 was a normal day for most ordinary individuals. For a select few eleven year olds, this was the first day of a brand new adventure. The first of September in the magical world marks the start of term at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The day begins with all students, new and old, meeting the Hogwarts Express at platform 9 and ¾, a hidden platform for the magical within King's Cross Station. All students were to be aboard the train by precisely 11:00 o'clock in the morning to begin the journey toward the hidden school in the midst of the Scottish Highlands. In the magical world, most children are kept isolated from other magical children, except those they are related to. So, for many of the first year students the trip to Hogwarts is their first opportunity to meet their peers.
In a compartment midway down the the fourth car of the train sat a group of young boys, so mismatched that one would have expected them to have arrived late. There was Sirius Black of the Ancient and Noble House of Black. A tall and stocky pureblood boy, with long, curly black hair whose family expected and demanded that he end up in Slytherin House. Next to Sirius sat a seemingly unimportant, exceedingly pudgy boy with dull yellow hair who said his name was Peter Pettigrew. He didn't seem to be much but he was occupying the space next to Sirius. Across from Peter sat Remus Lupin. A tall boy, much too thin for his height with sandy brown hair and kind, honey brown eyes. Remus sat there happily munching on a chocolate bar, making polite conversation with the other boys in the compartment. Lastly there was James Potter, tall and lean with messy, untameable black hair, and spectacles that sat lazily upon his face. James was distantly related to Sirius on his mother's side, but due to his 'blood-traitor' status, they had never made each other's acquaintance prior to that day.
The boys spent the entire trip chatting back and forth, with James and Sirius leading the conversation. They spoke of the houses they wanted to be in and the ones they couldn't stand, the classes they couldn't wait to take, and their ambitions for the future. It didn't take long for the boys to start discussing pranks and how they just wanted to make people laugh and have fun. IT, was in that moment, when the boys started planning their first prank, that moment the Marauders were born.
When the train arrived at Hogwarts the new group of friends quickly departed the train and made their way around the bend and towards the boats, where a giant man, half human half giant was leading them. It was in that moment that James spotted the most beautiful girl he had ever seen. A first year, much like him, with long, wavy red hair, a beautiful, friendly face and a warm smile which captured his heart. James knew immediately in that moment, she was meant to be his, thus beginning his obsession with Lily Evans. The new first years quickly boarded the boats and made their way towards Hogwarts for the first time. They made their way into the Great Hall for the Sorting Ceremony where the four friends all made their home with Gryffindor. Much to James' happiness he learned his love's name, Lily Evans, and she was sorted into Gryffindor as well.
The Marauders quickly became known throughout Hogwarts for their loud boisterous ways and their over the top pranks, which seemed far beyond the expected magics of a group of first years. By the end of the year they had the Deputy Headmistress ready to reach for the bottle with every move the boys made. In all her years of teaching she had never dealt with a group of boys like the Marauders, and she couldn't have been happier as she watched them get on the train at the end of the year. Later that night she thought about how in the world she would get through the next six years, and figured that it might be time to invest in the Firewhiskey company.
~ATAF~
Their second year brought even more antics to the quartet of trouble makers. That year, it became evident that there was something wrong with one of their friends. Every month, as if clockwork, Remus would get sick. It was always right around the same time and it was frustrating to James, Sirius, and Peter, because all they wanted to do was help, as if he were sworn to secrecy, Remus kept tight lipped and would not tell them what was going on. It was on a random morning after a night of Astronomy when James took Sirius aside.
"Siri, I think I know what's wrong with Remus." James whispered.
"Well what is it James? Spit it out." Sirius looked at James like he was nuts.
"I think he might be a werewolf."
"What the bloody hell makes you think that?"
"He's sick every month around the same time. I've started to realize that time is always around the full moon."
"Okay, and? What does that change? He's still Remus."
"I know that Sirius. It just means we can help him now."
"Help him? You've officially lost me mate. What are you talking about?"
"Werewolves only attack people, they don't attack other animals. We can become animagi."
"THAT IS BRILLIANT JAMES. Should we go talk to Remus? Let him know that we know about his furry little problem?"
"Yes, then he won't have to hide from us. Let's not tell him about the animagus thing though, not until we actually succeed with it."
The two boys quietly approached their friend in the common room one night shortly after the last student went up to bed. It was an understatement to say that they caught Remus off guard.
"Oi, Remus." Sirius yelled.
Remus jumped, then turned around and saw his friends looking back on him with concern on their faces.
"Sirius, whats going on?" Remus said.
"We just need to talk to you about something. No need to be alarmed." James said.
Remus looked confused but took a seat. He could tell something was coming, but he never would have expected the next words to come out of Sirius' mouth.
"We know your secret mate."
"Sirius, what the hell. There is no beating around the bush with you is there?" James said snarkily to his friend.
Remus' eyes got very large. All he could think was that he was about to lose not only his closest friends but the only friends he had ever had because of something he couldn't control. "I-I-I d-don't know what you're talking about mate. What secret?" Remus stuttered.
"You know. Your furry little problem that visits monthly. That resembles something a bit wolfy...youuuuur moonstration lets call it" Sirius whispered.
"Again, Sirius… This one has no subtility I swear." James said, rolling his eyes at Sirius.
Remus' eyes started to water. He knew it was over, he blew it. Everyone would know by morning and he would be kicked out of Hogwarts before reaching his NEWTS and they would snap his wand and he would never amount to anything. This bloody werewolf was going to ruin his life, and his life had barely begun.
"So, are you going to tell everyone now?" Remus asked while he was sniffling. Sirius and James could see the unshed tears in his eyes.
"Tell everyone? Merlin, why would we do that? Remus, you're one of our best mates! We could and would never do that. Hell, l wouldn't have even figured it out if I hadn't been paying such close attention to when you were sick." James said while whacking Remus on the back of his head.
"You mean, you mean you don't hate me?"
"Hate you, hate you? Merlin's saggy balls Remus. We could never bloody hate you. Why would we hate you?" Sirius exclaimed.
"Because I'm a monster." Remus said softly
"A monster? You fold your bloody socks Remus, forgive me if I'm not trembling at the site of you." James answer dramatically. "No one is perfect. My left arm is longer than my right arm, look how awkward that is." James added
"I'm OBNOXIOUS!" Shouted Sirius
"I'm a bloody mindless beast one day a month and you're just saying nobody is perfect… Were you two dropped on your heads as a children? There's a bit of a difference between a werewolf and an arm, and being obnoxious…"
"Yes, yes I was." James answered, "Quite often in fact. You see my mother thought it would help build charac…."
"Shut up James!" Yelled Sirius. At that moment Peter walked down the stairs. Sirius, James and Remus immediately stopped and looked up.
"Pete, how long have you been standing there?" Sirius asked.
"Long enough to know everything."
"And…" Remus said.
"I'm allergic to apples."
~ATAF~
The day following the full moon James, Sirius, and Peter walked swiftly through the halls their heads close together as they discussed how they would become animagi.
Suddenly Sirius detached from the group. "Excuse me, Professor McGonagall."
"Yes, Mister Black, how can I help you?"
"I was wondering if you would be able to tell me where I could find a book on becoming an animagus?"
The normally stern professor quickly smirked before settling into her regular demeanor. She wasn't sure yet if she was going to regret what she was about to do, but at least it would keep these boys, who were slowly become some of her favorites, busy.
"You have to understand Mister Black, that that is not something I am able to disclose to a student."
"I understand Professor." Sirius said sadly.
"You'll also have to understand that I cannot tell you, that a such book exists in the Restricted Section of the Hogwarts library, called 'Animagi What Are They and How to Become One,' and I absolutely will not give you, Mister Potter and Mister Pettigrew a pass to check such a book out." She winked.
"No Professor, I completely understand." Sirius smiled.
Two minutes later Sirius walked out of the transfiguration classroom with a note in his hand and a smile upon his face.
It didn't take long for the trio to make their way to the Restricted Section of the Hogwarts Library, but not without Madame Pince giving them a stern, questioning glance. Within a few short minutes the boys found the book they were looking for, checked it out, and left the library.
It quickly became quite clear that the boys were going to need this book for a lot longer than they could keep it. It didn't take long for James, to decide to mail order a copy of 'Animagi; What Are They and How to Become One,' from Flourish and Blotts, and within a few short days the boys had their very own copy of the thick tomb in their possession. They returned the borrowed copy to the library and no further questions were asked. By the end of second year, James, Sirius, and Peter had all read the Animagus book cover to cover at least once. Sirius and James had both taken notes while reading the book so they could continue to study when they returned home.
~ATAF~
The summer came and went. Third year quickly arrived and the friends couldn't wait to be reunited on the train. Nothing too crazy happened throughout the year. Sirius' younger brother arrived at Hogwarts that year and was sorted into Slytherin. The Marauders did their yearly duty of ensuring the welcoming feast started with a bang with their best prank yet.
Most mornings started with James glaring over the top of his glasses, as his Lily Flower ate breakfast with the greasy git Snivellus. With a few well placed hexes at Snivellus here, and some tripping jinxes there, James slowly started to feel better at the rate of which Lily Evans was turning him down.
Whenever Remus wasn't around the boys buried themselves in, 'Animagi What Are They and How to Become One'. Sirius and James had a thorough understanding of the theory and were beginning the meditation phase which would allow them to connect with their form. Peter was struggling more with the theoretical aspects and didn't start his meditation until the end of the year. Sirius and James were meditating come June, and they knew it wouldn't be much longer until found out what their forms were. But the actual transformation would have to wait. At the end of third year the trio vowed that they would work their hardest to attempt transformation during their fourth year.
