Hello everyone and welcome to the first chapter of my fanfiction about the lovely Marauders. Since J. K. Rowling still refuses to write a book about them, I have just decided to add fanfiction to the ones that are already around. This one will deal with the Marauder's first year at Hogwarts. I hope you'll like it. This is my very first fanfiction, by the way, so please go easy on me. And English is not my native language, so if I have made some stupid mistakes, I'm sorry! Enough talk now. Have fun reading it! :)
Chapter One- The Train Ride
Sirius Black:
"Do tell, Kreacher. What's it like to cater to somebody else's will all day long? Kreacher, do this; Kreacher, do that; sounds just lovely to me."
Turning around and walking backwards so I could smirk at the small house elf in front of me, my grin grew even broader at the disgruntled expression on his face.
"Master ought to watch where he is walking or he will hurt himself." Kreacher's grumble was barely audible over the noise of the crowd around us. I simply shrugged, swinging my arms carelessly.
"Do I look like I care, Kreacher? I'm young, wild, free…, and proud of it. Whereas you are old and uptight. Plus, you're a grouch. So, what does it feel like, Kreacher? What is it like?"
Clearly annoyed, the elf glared up at me. "What is what like? What is young master talking about?"
"Being you. What's it like to have to spend all your life chained to some family, catering to their every whim and letting them boss you around? Especially if the family concerned is as deranged as mine. Haven't you ever craved to break free, Kreacher? To turn your back on them and walk away?"
Kreacher didn't even look at me, grumbling something that did not sound very pleasant under his breath. Bending forward a little and cupping a hand around my ear, I raised an eyebrow.
"Sorry, I didn't catch that."
Kreacher gave me a look filled with something very akin to loathing as he shuffled past the people surrounding us.
"Young master should not waste his breath on asking foolish questions or he will miss his train."
I rolled my eyes, sweeping my hair, which tumbled around my face, back with my hand.
"Oh, relax, Kreacher. We still have plenty of time. Quite eager to get rid of me, are you? I wonder why." Kreacher's only reply was an annoyed grunt; keeping his eyes firmly locked on his feet.
"You didn't answer my question, Kreacher. What's it like, serving a family of slimy toe rags?"
This time he did look up, the look he gave me even darker than before.
"Young master should not talk about his family like that. They are just and honourable and wise."
A derisive snort escaped me. "Are we talking about the same family, here? Because the people I'm thinking of are cruel, unjust and plain mad." And that was still putting it nicely. I could think of quite a few other choice words to call them, but I didn't think Kreacher or any of the people surrounding me would much appreciate that.
This time, Kreacher actually stopped to glare at me ferociously.
"Now, you listen…" I didn't hear him finish what was bound to be a most tantalizing speech in defence of the Noble House of Black because at that precise moment, I felt myself hitting something solid with my back. That, and the startled squeak behind me, caused me to whirl around, coming face to face with a boy my age, who was staring at me with big, startled eyes. My eyes travelled from the expression on his face to the pile of scattered books lying at his feet.
"That's what you get for carrying a whole library around in your hands." I bent down quickly and started to pick up the books when I heard the other boy huff indignantly.
"Well, not everyone has their own house elf to carry their stuff for them. Besides, real smart to be walking backwards at a train station filled with people."
Library Boy: One, Sirius: Zero. I couldn't help the grin that spread across my face at that reply. I got up again and handed him a couple of the books.
"Fair enough. How about it, while my house elf," at that I cast a dark look at Kreacher who glowered right back at me, "will be carrying my things into a free compartment, I'll help you carry your stuff." The boy appeared to be quite taken aback at my offer, staring at me for a moment with his mouth slightly open, before finally shrugging nonchalantly. "All right, then. Thank you."
I might just like this kid.
"I'm Sirius, by the way. Sirius Black." I stretched my free hand out towards the boy, giving him a bright friendly smile. "And before you ask, yes, my name matches the colour of my heart." At that, the boy's lips twitched slightly before finally pulling into a light smile. "Sounds fitting. I'm Remus Lupin."
We gripped each other's arms and followed Kreacher, who had abandoned his sullen silence in favour of dark, barely audible muttering. Only snippets reached our ears, but they were more than enough to make me role my eyes and smirk.
"Pleasant, isn't he. And before you ask, yes, he's always that way. Don't think I've ever seen him smile, actually… let alone laugh."
"…insolent… will tell Mistress… disgrace… clumsy dolt…"
Turning my head to Remus and giving him an innocent wide-eyed look, I muttered in a mock whisper: "I reckon he doesn't like me very much."
Remus snorted in reply, his lips twitching dangerously again.
"I reckon you might be right about that."
Ignoring the chaos surrounding us with all the kids milling about and their parents fussing over them, I pushed my way through the crowd, following Kreacher. Huffing a relieved sigh as we stepped onto the train and found an empty compartment, I dropped the books unceremoniously onto a seat and flopped down next to them. "Well, Remus Lupin. As we already know one another, we might as well share a compartment. What do you say?"
Remus stacked his books carefully and deposited them with the rest of his luggage. "Sounds good to me." Turning around, he glanced at me and raised an eyebrow at seeing me sprawled over two seats, getting comfortable already.
"Don't you want to say goodbye?" I raised my eyebrows questioningly in reply, my lips pulling into a sardonic little smirk. "To who? To Kreacher? But he's right over there… speaking of… oi, Kreacher!" The elf, who had busied himself with stowing my luggage away, turned around and gave me a glare.
I gave him my sweetest, most charming smile." Thank you. Now get out."
After another moment of flat-out glaring at me, Kreacher finally bowed his head.
"As young master wishes. Does young master wish Kreacher to deliver any messages to his family?" His eyes narrowed into slits at my derisive snort.
"Hm… let me think… How about… Go to hell? But I'm afraid you won't consider this an adequate message, will you? No? Then do get out now, I've seen quite enough of you today."
Without a backwards glance at me, Kreacher turned around and stalked away, muttering something under his breath that sounded suspiciously like "ungrateful little swine".
"I can hear you, Kreacher! You have a nice rest of the day as well."
When the elf didn't deign to reply, I turned my eyes to Remus, who looked like he was having quite a hard time suppressing a grin.
"The two of you seem to get along really well." I smiled at his sarcasm and propped my feet up on the chair opposite me.
"Nah, that's all just for show. Trust me, deep down, Kreacher is my biggest fan."
"Yeah, right." Remus seemed to have intended to add something but a soft knock on the door interrupted him.
"Remus, dear, I'm so sorry we got caught up. It's only that we haven't seen everyone in quite a while and got a little carried away." A woman with the exact same light brown hair as Remus was standing at the compartment door, smiling at him lovingly. Next to her appeared a man, who was heaving a suitcase into the compartment, while Remus, whose face had broken into a wide smile at the sight of them, stepped towards his mother. "It's quite alright. Sirius here helped me carry my books."
Both of his parents' eyes came to rest on me and they gave me a nod and a smile. They obviously intended to introduce themselves, when the shrill sound of a whistle cut through the air.
"Oh my goodness, it's time already! Remus, my dear, promise me to take care, all right. And write us, every chance you get." Remus' mum pulled him into a tight hug and despite my overall great mood, I could feel my throat constricting a little at the sight and chose to stare out of the window instead while Remus and his parents said their hurried goodbyes. Only moments after the Lupins had disappeared, the train started moving.
So this was it. I was finally on my way to Hogwarts. My lips immediately curved into a smile at the thought. I had been waiting for this particular moment for so long. Finally, I would be away from my family… even if I had to return for the holidays, of course, but it was ages until they started.
How long did Narcissa say the train ride to Hogwarts took again? Oh, never mind. I could hardly wait, a feeling of exquisite excitement flooding me. Feeling as if I might just burst if I didn't took my mind of the time it would take to actually get there; I turned to Remus, my knees jiggling impatiently.
"So, any guesses as to what house you'll be in?" Remus, who settled himself down into one of the seats opposite me, had just been glancing out of the window with a wistful expression as well, probably trying to catch a last sight of his parents. Must be nice to be so close to your family. I wouldn't know.
"I don't actually. Guess I would be ok with pretty much everything."
I grimaced. "Even Slytherin?" Not waiting for a reply, I rambled on.
"If I could choose a house, it would certainly be Gryffindor. Those where dwell the brave at heart, does have a nice ring to it, doesn't it? But the chances of actually getting into Gryffindor are slim to none. It's unlikely that I will end up anywhere else than Slytherin, every single member of my wretched family has been there. So I guess the odds are against me here. Never mind, I'm just so glad to finally be away from the whole lot of them. So glad, that I'm finally on my way to Hogwarts." I practically bounced in my seat.
Remus' eyebrows had wandered upwards during my little rant. "Do you always talk so much?" His voice sounded amused, though. Grinning, I shrugged.
"I guess. I'm just very excited, this makes things even worse, I guess."
Remus nodded and answered simply. "Me, too."
A knock on the door made the two of us look up at the two boys standing at the door, one of them seemingly hiding slightly behind the other. "Excuse, but everywhere else is full. Can we come sit with you?"
I gave the two of them a wide grin and gestured at the four empty seats remaining.
"Of course, come on in." As soon as they had settled into their seats, I held my hand out for the one who had spoken to shake. "I'm Sirius, by the way."
The other boy's lips started to twitch slightly and gripping my arm, he pulled up an eyebrow, his eyes glinting with mischief. "Seriously?" Rolling my eyes, I burst into laughter at his bad joke, joined by the other boy's hearty chuckles. When I cast a look at the other two from the corner of my eye, I saw that Remus was trying very hard (and failing) to conceal a grin as well whereas the fourth boy merely sat there, casting us anxious looks.
"I think I might just like you." Accompanying my declaration with a grin at the other boy, I raised an eyebrow. "And do you have a name, smart guy?"
"I'm James and I think I might like you, too. You laughed at my stupid joke, you can't be that bad."
"Gee, thanks."
James shook Remus' hand as well and then gestured to the anxious boy.
"That's Peter, by the way. If you haven't already guessed as much from his deer in the headlights look- he is pretty nervous. Or so I've gathered since I don't think he has uttered more than his name yet."
I waved at the boy. "Hi there, Peter."
Peter raised his head and stared at me for a second before uttering a squeaking sound, which I interpreted as a hello. Remus looked at the boy sitting next to him and gave him a warm smile.
"Don't worry, Peter. We're all really nervous; you're not the only one."
"He doesn't look nervous." Surprised at actually hearing Peter speak, I glanced up and saw him shooting me a quick look.
"What, Sirius? Oh, trust me; he is nervous as well. As a matter of fat, he's been rambling and bouncing around like a mad man for minutes before the two of you entered."
Peter gave me another shy look and I smiled at him reassuringly and nodded.
"He's right, you know. I' mean, I'm so excited I'm finally off to Hogwarts, but I'm also scared. But don't tell anyone, all right? Don't want my reputation as the tough guy ruined before I have even stepped foot on Hogwarts' grounds."
That actually managed to make the shy little boy crack a bit of a smile and sit up a little straighter.
"Anyone up for a game of Exploding snap?" James glanced around at the rest of us with an expectant smile, beaming at my instant nod.
"Uh, sorry, but what is that?" My head snapped towards Peter again.
"You've never heard of Exploding Snap before? It's only one of the most amazing…Wait, are you Muggle-born?" Peter shook his head. "No, I'm half and half but for the longest time my parents had thought that I might be a Squib, therefore they raised me like a Muggle."
"Darn, I always wanted to be friends with a Muggle-born, would piss my mother off to no end. But well, I guess having been raised as a Muggle will do as well, you can teach me all about them. So, Peter, from this moment on, we are friends."
"Charming", muttered Remus from behind his book but despite his sarcastic tone, his lips twitched a little. Before I could retort, though, there was a light knock on the door again, making all of us look up. The little girl standing there visibly cringed at our attention, letting her dark red hair fall over her face in the process.
"Any chance I could sit here?"
Her voice sounded a bit funny and when I got a closer look at her red-rimmed eyes, which were still glittering with unshed tears, I couldn't help feeling a pang of sympathy. Nobody should look this miserable on their way to Hogwarts.
"Yeah, sure." James gave her a brief smile and by an unspoken agreement, none of us commented on the tears in her eyes. James briefly introduced all of us, but as she didn't seem to pay much attention and was still fighting tears, we decided to leave her alone and started to introduce Peter to the world of Exploding Snap instead.
When we were right in the middle of a game, the compartment door slid open again and a small, skinny boy with overlong black hair, who was already dressed in his school robes, came in. His eyes were fixed on the girl, who had her face pressed against the windowpane. Without a word or glance to spare for us, he flopped down into the seat opposite her.
She glanced at him for a second and then looked back out of the window.
"I don't want to talk to you." Her voice still sounded all choked up.
"Why not?" There was an anxious note in the boy's voice and when I gave the two of them another furtive look, he was scrutinizing her with an expression of worry on his face.
"Oi, Sirius. Pay attention!" James' voice snapped my attention away from the two of them and I focused on the game once more. They kept talking but we didn't pay them much attention until the boy's statement "You'd better be in Slytherin", made James' head snap up and turn in their direction for the first time.
"Slytherin?!" His voice sounded positively incredulous and a slight crease had appeared on his forehead. "Who wants to be in Slytherin? I think I'd leave, wouldn't you?"
James' eyes met mine and he raised his eyebrows in question. I could not help the pang of pain I felt soaring through my chest. Just great.
"My whole family have been in Slytherin." And expected me to continue the tradition, I added silently in my head.
"Blimey", said James," and I thought you seemed alright." I couldn't really tell whether he was kidding or not but then I thought of the way my mother would react if I didn't end up in Slytherin and got sorted into another house. At that thought, I could feel my lips spreading into a grin.
"Maybe I'll break the tradition. Where are you heading, if you've got the choice?"
James lifted an invisible sword, declaring solemnly, "Gryffindor, where dwell the brave at heart. Like my dad."
I grinned slightly at this display until a disparaging sound made both of us turn towards the dark-haired boy.
"Got a problem with that?" James' eyebrows nearly hit his hair as he was staring the other boy down.
The latter shrugged. "No", he answered even though the slight sneer on his face clearly said otherwise. "If you'd rather be brawny than brainy…-"
"Where're you hoping to go, seeing as you're neither?" I interrupted him, very happy at seeing his smug little smile disappear immediately. The nerve of that guy! Who did he think he was?
James burst into laughter and even Remus and Peter had uttered little snorts of laughter. The girl, though, got to her feet and shot both James and me a disgusted look.
"C'mon, Severus, let's find another compartment." With her head held high, she marched past us, while both of us imitated her lofty voice and James tried to trip the guy as he passed. What did she say he was called again? Snivellus, something along those lines. "See ya, Snivellus", I called after him cheerfully, as the compartment door slammed shut behind them.
"What was that you just called him?" James glanced at me curiously.
"Snivellus. Didn't she just call him that?" A snort from behind Remus' book made me turn in his direction. He had let his book sink a few inches.
"Severus. He's called Severus."
I shrugged. "Snivellus. Severus. Sounds the same to me."
Remus shook his head and raised his book again, yet not quick enough to conceal his grin.
"Snivellus." I turned to look at James who wore a thoughtful expression on his face. Then he glanced at me and gave me a beaming smile. "I like the sound of that. What a git!"
I nodded vigorously. "Yeah, the nerve of that guy. He didn't even greet us when he came in here. Just sat down without a word."
James snorted and then shook his head. "Well, let's not waste our time talking about Snivellus, we'll find a way to pay him back for his attitude later."
A slight rattling sound from the corridor made my head snap up in interest. "What's that noise?"
The other three looked up and listened as well, and then we heard a voice call out, "Anything from the trolley?"
"FOOD!" I jumped up with a roar, making Peter squeal in fright and Remus drop his book, hastily pushed past Peter- half-crawling over him- and sprinted towards the door.
"Food, food, FOOD!" I stormed into the corridor, looking wildly around me, searching for the source of the noise.
"Wow." Remus' dry statement was muffled through the door. "Not mad at all, is he?"
A chuckle I was pretty sure came from James answered him and then the latter spoke up as well.
"Barking, but I sort of like him."
A grin spread across my face at that and my eyes finally found the trolley and the woman pushing it. Practically skipping in anticipation, I made my way towards her, making her beam at me.
"Well, hello dear. What can I get you?"
I let my eyes roam the trolley greedily and, thinking of the others, I started to grin. "Some of everything please. Thank you." After I had paid for the multitude of sweets I could barely carry back to our compartment, I banged against our door with my shoulder since my arms were full.
Unfortunately, I was not quick enough to pull away again and when the door swung inwards almost instantly, I lost my balance and toppled forwards, throwing my purchases in every direction in the process.
"OW!" I howled as my elbow hit one of the seats at a particularly painful spot. For a moment, I just lay there, pretty much spread-eagled across the floor, glaring at the offending seat.
"For heaven's sake, Sirius! Are you ok?" I glanced up at Remus' concerned question and saw him quickly making his way over to me.
"Yep. Stupid door. Stupid chair." I glared ferociously at both of the offending objects, still in my awkward position on the floor. There was a moment of silence, then the other three all burst into fits of roaring laughter. Scowling, I looked up at them and then, I couldn't help bursting into laughter as well. For a few moments, all we did was laugh and I could feel a great part of the anxiety that had been eating at me since this morning melting away.
Still chuckling, Remus held his hand out to me and helped me to my feet again. I pushed a hand through my hair and rubbed my elbow with the other, grinning at them.
"Alright, mates. Glad to have you all in stitches, makes for a good start, doesn't it? And as it seems, I've decorated our compartment in the process." The sweets had flown in pretty much every direction.
"Blimey, Sirius. Are you planning on eating all of this yourself?" James bent down to retrieve a liquorice wand, tossing it onto the table.
"I don't think even I'd be able to eat all of that. I had meant to share with you guy, but now that I think about it…" I let my voice trail off, grinning evilly.
Peter stared at the sweets with wide greedy eyes and even Remus was looking at the floor with a hopeful expression. James just grinned, probably suspecting where this was going.
Clapping my hands, I shook out my hair and declared "All right, finders keepers. Go!"
A few moments later, we sat around the table laden with sweets, munching contentedly.
"Ok, Sirius. I sure hope you'll break your family's tradition because I definitely like you!"
James threw a Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Bean my way, which I caught easily with my mouth, making Peter break out in cheers. Grinning and munching on the bean, I raised my thumb and then grimaced slightly.
"Ugh, always these pleasant little surprises." God, this taste was foul!
"Which taste did you get?" asked James with a knowing grin. I shrugged, shuddering.
"Honestly, James? I'm not at all sure that I want to think about it."
"What are you guys talking about?", Peter looked at us questioningly, oblivious to what we were talking about. Giving James and Remus a conspiratorial look, I handed Peter the Every Flavour Beans. "There, have a try."
Peter obediently grabbed the bag, pulled one of them out of it and put it into his mouth without even glancing at it. Stealing a look at the other two, I could see that they were already fighting laughter.
Peter stopped chewing, seemed to freeze for just a moment and then raised his eyes to look at us.
Raising my eyebrows and trying hard not to laugh, I asked "You alright there, Peter?" At that, he jumped up.
"Water… water, need water… Now!" With that he raced out of the compartment as if his pants were on fire, reducing us to gales of laughter again.
"What do you think it was? Pepper? Chili?" James smirked in the direction Peter had disappeared.
"My money's on chili." I grinned, taking a bite out of a pumpkin pasty.
"Same here." Remus helped himself to another chocolate frog, causing me to raise my eyebrows at him.
"I'm starting to see a theme there, Remy." He glanced up at me, raising one eyebrow in question.
I gestured at the empty wrappers of chocolate frogs in front of him. "That was like… what… your sixth chocolate frog?"
He shrugged. "So what? I love chocolate."
Without a second glance, he put the card onto the table, munching on the frog. James cast a look at the pile of Chocolate Frog Cards in front of Remus and then back up to the latter's face.
"Say, Remus. You don't seem particularly interested in the cards. Any chance I could have them? I collect them, you know." Remus, his mouth full, gestured at the cards in a 'help yourself' manner and then learned back contentedly, reaching for his book again.
"Do you think it'll be long 'til we arrive?" Peter was basically clinging to the window, trying to see anything through the pitch blackness outside and failing.
"I hope so, it's been ages." I had been bobbing up and down in my seat for roughly an hour now, unable to hold still anymore. The closer we got to Hogwarts, the more nervous I got. It felt like my chest was constricting, cutting off my air supply. What would happen there? And what did I want to happen? My wretched family expected me to be sorted into Slytherin like them and the chances were slim to none that I would be sorted into another house.
But I didn't want to be like them. I didn't want to be sorted into Slytherin, to have people react the way James did upon hearing that name. Sure, there were probably loads of nice people in Slytherin as well, indeed, I knew for a fact that not all of them were as bad as my parents or their stuck-up friends. My cousin Andromeda for one, she was in Slytherin as well and she was pretty much the kindest person I knew. Her two sisters however, god, they were a much different story.
Breathing out sharply through my nose, I leaned back and closed my eyes. What would happen if I did get sorted into Slytherin? I would be separated from the friends I had made on the train ride, couldn't share a dormitory with them and probably wouldn't even have classes with them. Would they even want to talk to me anymore? James, in particular. He had made his aversion to Slytherin House crystal-clear before.
"You all right there, Sirius?" When I opened my eyes again, I saw Remus and James looking at me closely whereas Peter took a bit longer to tear his eyes away from the window.
I gave them a short smile that probably came out more like a grimace and then shrugged.
"Nervous, I guess. Aren't you?"
Remus nodded whereas James shrugged.
"I'm actually much more excited than nervous."
A sharp knock on the door made us turn our heads to see who it was. I instantly groaned when I saw the two girls, one with pale blond hair, the other's pitch black. My dear cousins obviously couldn't even let me get to Hogwarts in peace even though I was very likely going to be stuck in a common room with them from now on.
I saw the other guys' surprised looks at my reaction but I didn't explain, instead just crossing my arms in front of my chest and trying to fix a bored expression on my face.
"We're nearly there, Sirius. You'd better change into your robes." Narcissa gave me a smile for good measure, but it didn't reach her eyes. We didn't really get along. I thought she was an arrogant stuck-up bitch and she had told me quite often enough how immature and ridiculous she considered me. Her sister Bellatrix, however, was even worse. It wasn't enough that she actually looked very much like my mother, she was just as much of a crazy bitch as well. Whenever we met, we spent most of the time either glaring or snarling at each other.
Keeping my eyes fixed on Narcissa, I gave her a curt nod. "Good to know." My body language practically screaming for them to leave, I looked away. But unfortunately, this message didn't seem to reach them. When I turned to glare at them again, I saw Narcissa gazing at the table covered in sweet wrappers in disdain and then she let her gaze sweep over my companions.
"Who are they?" She turned her eyes on me again inquiringly.
"None of your business. Anything else?"
"Don't you take that tone with her, you insolent little…" Narcissa interrupted Bellatrix by grabbing her hand and pulling her towards the door.
"Let it go, Bella. You know how he is, there's no need to get worked up about it." She glanced back at me. "Put on your robes. We'll see you later. And remember, whatever you do, you are a Black. So behave like one and don't dare embarrass the rest of us, understood."
"Bye!" My voice was practically a snarl, which earned me another eye roll.
Remember, whatever you do, you are a Black. Gah, how often had I heard that statement before? I was so sick of it.
"Charming", snorted James sarcastically and shot me a curious look. "Who are they?"
I grunted, rolling my eyes. "You hereby had the honour of meeting Bellatrix and Narcissa Black. Bellatrix is in her seventh, and fortunately last, year at Hogwarts and Narcissa is a fourth year."
"You seem really fond of each other." James' smirk finally managed to make me smile as well.
"I hate them. Especially Bellatrix, that mad cow." With a sigh I reached for the dress robes I had tossed over my suitcase. "Well, you heard them. We'd better get changed."