A/N; Ok guys this is my first ever Marauders fanfiction! Would like to give a big thanks to my friend Becky for reading through this first chapter and giving me the thumbs up :) Please review and let me know what you think!

It was the twenty-ninth March 1971 when I got my letter, two days after my eleventh birthday. Our grey vizsla, Jess, had trotted into the kitchen carrying a small pile of envelopes; one cream coloured envelope sticking out at an angle. She dropped them into mother's waiting hands and got a small scrap of bacon as a treat. Happy with the payment Jess padded over to me and lay across the tops of my feet and fell asleep seconds later. I chuckled and patted the top of her head as I carried on eating the bacon and eggs I had been given for breakfast. I didn't pay much attention to mother opening the letters (they were usually bills or ministry letters for dad) but for some reason that morning I had the feeling that something in that pile was for me. I set my fork down after the food was gone and watched as mother opened the letter that had been sticking out. I noticed a red wax seal had been broken and was curious as to who had sent it; most envelopes were simple stuck down or were folded under themselves. Mother seemed shocked for a moment before a large smile spread across her face and she rushed over to sit at the table opposite me and father.

"Nicholas! Nicholas his letter has arrived!" My mouth fell open in shock. My letter had come? Of course I had been expecting it to, I was eleven now after all, but I hadn't expected it to come this soon. Father reached across and took the letter from mother, scanning it quickly and smiling to himself.

"Yes they haven't changed much since we went have they, Millie?" Mother laughed lightly and shook her head. After a few more minutes father still had hold of the letter and my curiosity was killing me.

"Can I have a look at it then? Seen as it is my letter" Father raised an eyebrow at my outburst but handed the letter over. It read;

HOGWARTS SCHOOL OF WITCHCRAFT AND WIZARDRY

Headmaster; Albus Dumbledore.

(Order of Merlin, First Class, Grand Sorc..Chf . Warlock, Supreme Mugwump, International Confed. of Wizards)

Dear Mr. Potter,

We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft And Wizardry. Please find enclosed a list of all necessary books and equipment. Term begins on September 1. We await your owl by no later than July 31.

Yours sincerely,

Minerva McGonagall, Deputy Headmistress

I read over the lists and my face fell when I realised I didn't have any of the items needed to attend the school…well apart from a wand. I re-read the list of supplies and frowned at the note to my parents at the bottom.

"I'm not allowed a broom?" Father shook his head and took a sip from his coffee.

"No son. A nasty incident occurred in Hogwarts' first few years where a first year almost died on a broomstick they had brought from their home" Mother shuddered slightly and I nodded in understanding. Okay so no broom but I could have a pet…

"Mother can I take Jess with me? I could turn her into an owl or something" She gave me a very unimpressed look and rolled her eyes.

"You can have an animal when you're older James. Nick…we can go to Diagon Alley tomorrow? Get James' supplies for school?" Father agreed and that was that. No fireworks or aligned planets. Just a letter being opened and a decision being made. The day went on quite normally; I practiced my wand movements with father and then we watched a few quidditch games. When night fell it took me a bit longer to sleep but sleep eventually came. When I awoke the next morning I got dressed and we used the floo network to go to Diagon Alley. It hadn't taken us long to but all of my supplies and we were walking back to the local floo area, arms full of bags of supplies, when I decided to ask about Hogwarts.

"Father? What's it like at Hogwarts?" Father and mother shared a look and then he smiled down at me.

"Hogwarts it a very fine school son and the headmaster is very wise, if not a bit off his rocker. The teachers can be strict but I assure you, you will have a lot of fun there. And I know you will make friends and become a magnificent wizard" I blushed at his words and gave my thanks. When we reached the hole that had been carved into a wall we each grabbed a handful of floo powder and climbed inside. Father shouted our address and I felt the usual flash of heat the signalled the magic working. Seconds later we were in our living room and brushing the soot off our clothes.

"We have got to put a mat in here…" Mother muttered as she went off to find a broom. I just rolled my eyes; mother was always fussing over how much mess the floo makes. I felt a wave of sadness wash over me as I thought that in the next few months I would be far away from my family…but I pushed the thought away quickly. This was an amazing opportunity and I would not let nerves ruin it.

That night, after putting away my new supplies, Jess came into my room and leapt onto the bed. I rubbed the back of her neck and she dribbled onto my bed covers.

"Just you wait Jessie…in a few months I'll be off to Hogwarts and then in a few years I'll be a great wizard" She wagged her tail in response and I scratched behind her ear.

"Just a few months…"