A/N: Remus and Sirius are my favorite Harry Potter couple ever. And what do you do when you love a pairing? You write a fanfic about it, of course! So that's what I'm doing. Not only is this story going to be about Remus and Sirius, but also Tonks, later on - I've always been curious to see what would happen if Tonks was thrown into the Remus/Sirius mix, and now I've got the chance to see what happens. I'm sure the writing is a little crude, seeing as I'm not a very good writer, but I'm trying my best and hopefully I'll get better by the end of this story. This is going to be a decently sized story, but I'll try not to make it tedious. Also, this story is going to contain spoilers for all of the books up to Deathly Hallows: you've been warned! I'm trying to make this story as realistic to the books as possible, so you'll probably read a few scenes that seem familiar. Please read and review, and I'll love you forever - constructive criticism is great. And last, I'm going to try and write this out at a steady rate, but I'm a busy, lazy, and generally forgetful person. Emails and reviews will go a long way to inspire me, please note (;
This first chapter or two is just setting everything up, so it doesn't really get into any relationship stuff yet - hopefully it's not too boring. Enjoy! (by the way, you get major bonus points if you can tell what the title is from)
I just realized that I uploaded this on Valentine's Day! I suppose that's awfully fitting, since this is supposed to be a romance-type story.
All characters created and owned by J.K. Rowling.
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Remus Lupin looked up nervously at the enormous, scarlet steam engine that was belching thick, black smoke, and then around at the crowded station, which was bustling with young witches and wizards, some of which who were filing onto the afore mentioned train, others who were waving goodbye to parents or siblings, and then finally up at his parents, who were smiling kindly down back at him. His father gave him a small nudge.
"You're going to love Hogwarts, Remus. I know I did," his father said, managing to hide an anxious look behind an encouraging smile. Remus knew the reason for his father's uncertainty, and his stomach gave a funny sort of jolt. What if the other kids think I'm a freak? What if they figure out I'm a werewolf? What if I eat someone? His eyes darted nervously to his mother, who pulled him close to her and hugged her only son tightly. "I'm so proud of you, Rem. You're going to be the best wizard in all of the school." He let himself be comforted by his mother for a moment, and then pulled away from her. Putting on a brave face, Remus let out a sort of grimace at his parents, and then grabbed his trolley.
"I'll miss you," he said desperately. "I'll write every day. And every night." He took a step away from them, and then blurted out, "I love you!" before turning and running towards the Hogwarts Express, dragging his heavy trunk behind him. Remus looked around for an empty compartment, and when he finally spotted one, he clambered up the stairs and turned to pull his trunk up. After much struggling and grunting, and the help of his father, who, it turned out, had followed him up to the train, he managed to get his things secured in the empty compartment and then settled into one of the seats. His father had murmured more words of encouragement to him and then had set off back towards his wife, who looked slightly tearful. The train started to move, slowly at first, and then with a great sort of wheeze it picked up speed and raced away, leaving platform nine and three-quarters behind. Remus waved goodbye to his parents through the window and watched them fade away, and then was left alone with his trunk and fluttering stomach.
Not for long, though, because after a few moments the compartment door slid open and a witch peered through the glass entrance. She was very pretty, with dark red hair and beautiful green eyes, although she looked miserable and close to tears. "D'you... Do you mind if I sit in here?" she asked softly. "Everywhere else is full."
Remus shook his head, unable to think of something to say. He had never really spoken to other children before, not really having the chance, lacking siblings. His parents hadn't been too keen on letting other children near their son either, what with Remus being a werewolf. The girl stepped into the compartment and pulled her trunk in after her, then stored it next to her and went to sit by the window. She went to the far end of the seat Remus was on and sat down. Wondering if he should say anything, Remus opened his mouth, but then closed it again as she let out a small sob.
He was spared from having to say anything at all by the compartment door opening again. This time two boys walked in, one of them carrying a beautiful brown tawny owl. "Can we sit in here?" one of them asked, and again Remus nodded. They both filed in, stored their stuff up top, and then one sat opposite Remus, and the other next to him. The boy who had spoken had messy black hair and glasses that hid hazel eyes, and he peered first at Remus, and then at the girl, and then at Remus again. Remus suddenly felt self-conscious under his gaze, and quickly turned to look at the other boy, the one who had sat next to him. This one also had black hair, but it was longer and more elegant, and his face, although round with boyish softness, hinted at hard, aristocratic angles. He looked up, and Remus saw that he had pale grey eyes. The boy looked at Remus, studying his anemic, tired-looking face and brown hair streaked lightly with grey, and gave him an easy smile. "I'm Sirius. Sirius Black."
Remus gave a hesitant smile back and then finally found his voice. "My name's Remus Lupin."
The boy with glasses looked at the pair of them and then introduced himself as well, saying, "I'm James Potter." James then glanced over at the redheaded girl, as if hoping she would be interested, but she had turned to face the window, tears running down her cheeks. Frowning, James looked as though he was going to say something, but then Sirius captured his attention. "You going to show me that broom, or what?"
James turned away from the girl and grinned at Sirius. "Yeah, 'course I am." He reached up for his trunk and fumbled around in it, eventually pulling out a handsome, if slightly battered broom. The other boy let out a low whistle of admiration, and Remus craned his neck to see it better. "It's a Silver Arrow," said James proudly. "It's a favorite for the world cup!"
The two began to talk about Quidditch, something Remus knew a little of from his father. James was just saying that he planned on trying out for Chaser when Remus finally found the nerve to speak up. "I thought... can't first years not be on the team?"
James looked at Remus with notice for the first time. Then he cracked a smile. "Yeah, but I'm going to make them let me on the team. Just wait," He said confidently. "I'll out fly all of 'em." Sirius scoffed at him, and then all of a sudden Remus was part of the conversation. A happy few minutes passed as the three of them talked, and then the compartment door opened for the third time. A fat boy with mousy-colored hair looked nervously into the room. "Can I sit here?"
Remus and James had begun to nod before the newcomer had finished asking, and Sirius shrugged. Grateful, the boy lugged his trunk into compartment like all the rest had, and then sat down next to James. He introduced himself as Peter Pettigrew, and the three shared their names with him. Soon the boys were talking comfortably again, with Peter throwing in comments every now and then, but mostly watching the others with small, mousy eyes. Every time James said something outrageous, Peter would open his eyes wide and let out a gasp, but Sirius would just roll his eyes and smirk.
They had been growing steadily louder and rowdier when the compartment door opened for the fourth and final time, and a skinny boy who was wearing his school robes and had overlong black greasy hair walked in. The conversation stopped, but he ignored them and sat down opposite the girl, who they had all but forgotten. He began to talk to her in a hushed voice, and she reluctantly looked up, her face tear-stained. The conversation began again, and all of the boys except James ignored the two. But the James trained his eyes on redheaded witch, starting when he heard the word 'Slytherin'.
"Who wants to be in Slytherin? I think I'd leave, wouldn't you?" James turned towards Sirius, who did not smile in response. "My whole family have been in Slytherin," he said.
"Blimey, and I thought you seemed all right!"
"Maybe I'll break the tradition." Sirius let out a grin. "Where are you heading, if you've got the choice?"
"'Gryffindor, where dwell the brave at heart!' Like my dad." James mimed lifting a sword. Snape made a sniggering sound, and James whipped round to look at him again. "Got a problem with that?"
"No," said Snape, sneering slightly. "If you'd rather be brawny than brainy-"
Sirius interrupted him. "Where're you hoping to go, seeing as you're neither?" James and Peter roared with laughter, and Remus couldn't help letting out a chuckle. Lily gazed coolly at the two boys and then spoke to her friend. "Come on, Severus, let's find another compartment." James and Sirius imitated her lofty tone, and then tried to trip the tall, skinny boy as he passed. "See ya, Snivellus!" called out Sirius.
When the compartment door had slammed shut behind them, the four boys began to talk again.
The rest of the journey was very pleasurable, and Remus was startled when the Hogwarts Express slid to a stop. Could they be at Hogwarts already? All of the boys collected their things and then filed off of train with the rest of the students. They milled around with the other first years, unsure of what to do, when suddenly they were hailed with a cry of, "Firs' years! Firs' years over here!" by a young-looking, gigantic man who was easily twice the size of a normal person. He had wild, unkempt hair, and a small, patchy beard that covered parts of his chin, promising to turn into a huge tangle that would overwhelm his face in a few years. When they were directed into boats, Remus and his new friends quickly scrambled to cross together, and then they were off, across a dark lake towards the castle.
Hogwarts was the most amazing thing Remus thought he had ever seen. It was huge, towering over them, and it was filled with all sorts of grand towers and windows. When they reached the end of the lake, everyone clambered out and walked up a flight of stairs and waited in front of enormous oak doors. The gatekeeper knocked on the door three times with his huge fist, making a large booming echo that left the first years shivering and nervous for what was coming next. Even Sirius looked a little worried, a slight frown crossing his face. Finally the doors swung open and they were greeted by a stern looking woman who had her black hair up tightly in a bun. She greeted the giant man who had brought them to the entrance and said, "Thank you, Hagrid."
He mumbled something along the lines of, "Notat'all, Professor McGonagall," and then stomped away through the front hall, which was lit by flaming torches. Professor McGonagall led the first years through the vast hall and into a small room, where they crowded around each other, pushing and shoving. Sirius turned to Remus and James. "I heard we have to fight a dragon to get sorted into our houses," he said mischievously. Peter let out a horrified gasp, but before any of them could respond they were suddenly moving forward again, into the Great Hall. It was easily twice the size of the entrance hall, and it was wonderful. Lit by thousands of floating candles that reflected quietly in the black starry sky (where was the ceiling? Remus wondered), it had four tables lined up in rows, filled up with what Remus supposed were the students.
Professor McGonagall had placed a stool in front of the first years, and on top of that she placed a dirty, ragged hat. Remus didn't even have time to wonder what it was for before it opened its patchy mouth and began to sing. He was so surprised to find a hat, of all things, talking, that he completely missed the beginning of the song, and only caught the very end:
"..So try me on and I will tell you
Where you ought to be."
The entire room burst into applause, and Remus tried to make sense of what was going on. They had to try the hat on? Before he could puzzle it through, the stern-looking professor had begun to call out the names of all of the first years from a long piece of parchment, and soon Sirius was called forth. He went forward apprehensively, and Remus remembered what he had said about his family on the train. The hat slid onto his head and covered his grey eyes, and for a long moment the room was silent; Remus held his breath. Finally the hat burst out, "Gryffindor!"
A table that was decorated lavishly with crimson and gold burst into applause. James caught Remus's eye and they both cheered. Remus watched as the next few people were sorted, starting slightly when "Evans, Lily" was called and he recognized the red-haired girl from the train. She was sorted into Gryffindor, but made a face when she saw Sirius and went to sit at the opposite end of the table. Soon, too soon, Remus himself was called up. Licking his lips nervously, he walked in front of the entire school and sat down on the bench. The hat slid over his eyes, and he heard a quiet voice in his ear speaking.
"Hmm, what have we here? Intelligence, lots of it, my goodness, and an eagerness for learning. You'd do well in Ravenclaw."
Remus remembered what James and Sirius had said of Ravenclaw: it was for the smart kids, the ones who really loved to learn. For a moment Remus felt a desire overtake him, and his heart glowed. He wanted to learn everything! He wanted to be the best, the smartest, and make his mother proud. Then he thought of Sirius, and his newfound friends, and the feeling faded. His heart thumped. He wanted to be with his friends, too.
"Oh, Gryffindor, eh? There's lots of bravery and talent here as well. Hmm, yes, let's make it GRYFFINDOR!"
The hat shouted out the house to the entire room, and Remus stood up, feeling giddy with happiness. He would be the best wizard he could be - but he would do so with his friends at his side. Making his way shakily towards the Gryffindor table, which was cheering loudly, Remus looked at Sirius, who grinned back at him, then sat down next to him. He watched as Peter and James were sorted into Gryffindor as well, and cheered when they came to sit with him and Sirius. Remus watched as Severus Snape, the sallow looking boy from the train, was sorted into Slytherin, and then listened as the last student was finally sorted. Professor McGonagall rolled up the parchment and carried away the stool and hat, and then a new figure stood up. He was an older wizard, and had a marvelous silver beard. He introduced himself as Professor Dumbledore, the headmaster, and welcomed them all to the new year at Hogwarts. Then, suddenly, steaming food appeared on the plates and Remus realized how hungry he was for the first time. Everyone was merry, chattering loudly and happily, and everyone ate as much as they liked and more of the delicious food.
Finally the golden plates and goblets were emptied, and it was time to go through the castle, up many stairs and past moving portraits, until they finally got to what the prefect who was leading them said was the Fat Lady, the entrance to the Gryffindors' common room. And then they were through the painting, past a warm room filled with squashy armchairs and a delicious fire, and up more stairs, then into a dormitory where their trunks were waiting for them, and into bed.
It wasn't until Remus was drowsily warm under his burgundy and gold covers with his new friends around him that he remembered for the first time that he was a werewolf, and that, with some shock, he realized how completely and utterly happy he was for the first time in his life. He fell sound asleep with a wide smile on his face.