Disclaimer: First of all, I am NOT JK Rowling. Secondly, Harry Potter and all things related belong to HER, not me. (And even though that saddens me greatly, there is nothing I can do about it.) Third, I am in no way making any money off of this story. (Although that would be nice because then... well, I'd be making money off this story.)
Summary: A MWPP era story, featuring James, Sirius, Remus and Peter in their first year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Amazing how much mayhem four eleven year olds can create.
Chapter One: Potter, Black, Lupin and Pettigrew
A pounding on the door roused James Potter from a very sound sleep. He screwed his eyes shut again and tried to ignore it, but when a loud voice was added to the thuds, he knew it would be useless.
"James, get up! The Hogwarts Express leaves in one hour and you don't want to be late!"
A groan escaped from beneath the covers of a large bed in the middle of a bedroom. An untidy mess of black hair emerged from beneath the blankets, followed by the very sleepy face of a young boy. With a huge yawn, James Potter slid out of bed and padded over to his mirror. He picked up his glasses and positioned them upon his nose, then glanced at his reflection. A pair of hazel eyes stared back at him. James raised a hand to flatten his hair but dropped it, knowing perfectly well that it was no use. Again, he heard his mother call him.
"JAMES POTTER! Get down here and eat your breakfast or else you'll miss your train and then I suppose you'll have to find your own way to Hogwarts because I will not be taking you there myself." James sighed. He slipped out of his pajamas and quickly threw on a pair of jeans and a shirt. He ran downstairs and took his seat at the breakfast table. A large plate of eggs, toast and bacon floated over to the table, landing gently in front of him. James began to eat, and his mother began to talk.
"Now, James, I want you to behave yourself, understood? I had better not get a single owl telling me about any mischief you've gotten yourself into, is that clear?" she said, padding over to the table. James' mother was a tall elegant woman who was quite beautiful. She had long black hair that was smooth as silk. Her eyes were a sharp clear blue and they always seemed to know when James wasn't telling her the whole truth. Although she didn't look it, she was a very motherly sort who loved nothing more than to cook her family dinner.
James nodded, but he wasn't really paying attention. She had been telling him the same thing all week. For some reason crazy reason which he couldn't begin to fathom, she didn't trust him.
"Are you packed?" she continued. He nodded. "Do you have your ticket?" He nodded again. "What about Merlin?" James sighed in exasperation.
"Yes mum, I've got my owl, I've got my books, I've got my ticket, my robes, my wand..."
"Well," she said, interrupting him huffily, "since you've got everything let's be off. But if there's something you don't have, that's just too bad because I won't be sending it to you. Now, go say good-bye to your father."
James grinned as he strolled out of the room. He knew his mother was scolding to hide the fact that she would miss him dreadfully. James was an only child and his mother doted on him. James quickly climbed the stairs to the third floor. He walked to the end of the hallway and stopped in front of a handsome set of double doors. James opened one of the doors quietly and stuck his head inside. Circular in shape, and decorated in colors of red and gold, this was his father's territory. His mother wasn't allowed in, and James could only enter on special occasions. James' father stood, still as a statue, staring out of a large window.
"Er, Father?" James began. "I've come to say good-bye. Term starts today, you know. James' father turned to face him, a proud smile gracing his lips. Gregory Potter was a handsome man, tall and broad-shouldered with wicked brown eyes. His hair was just like James', though he was more adept at taming it.
"So it does, James, so it does." He returned to staring out the window. James waited a moment, unsure of whether to stay or leave, when his father turned to him again.
"I've got a present for you, son." He inclined his head towards a small but beautiful chest sitting on the coffee table. James looked at his father incredulously. His father rarely gave gifts for something so trivial as starting school. Gregory nodded his head, his eyes twinkling merrily.
"Go on, open it," he whispered. James walked slowly over to the table, wondering what it could be. His fingers were trembling slightly, and he had trouble opening the chest. As the lid fell back, James gasped. Inside lay a beautiful silvery cloth, folded into a neat bundle. He gazed up at his father in bewilderment. Gregory grinned.
"It's an invisibility cloak, son. Been in our family for generations. Passed on from father to son for years, and now it's yours." James couldn't speak; he could only stare at the beautiful material. He felt a hand on his shoulder and looked up. His father winked.
"Just don't tell your mother. She'd only worry. It'll be our little secret, okay?" James nodded and suddenly flung his arms around his father, hugging him fiercely. Gregory Potter smiled and patted James on the back.
""Make me proud son," he said gruffly. James pulled away and nodded. He then turned and grabbed the chest. James walked quickly across the room and out into the hall so his father wouldn't see his tears. If he had looked back, he might have seen his father standing at the window again, a single tear running down his cheek.
"SIRIUS JOSEPH BLACK! You are going to be late. I want you out of bed this INSTANT!"
"I'm up, mum!"
"You'd better be! I want you downstairs in three minutes. I'll be waiting for you."
The sound of footsteps echoed down the hall. A door slowly opened and a good-looking boy peered down the corridor to check that his mother really had left. Having confirmed that she was no longer there, Sirius Black closed his bedroom door and walked over to his mirror. He was already dressed and just had to do a few last minute things. He quickly brushed through his hair a few times and grinned into the mirror. Satisfied with his appearance, Sirius grabbed a package of his Dr. Filibuster's spark-start fireworks and ran downstairs. He skidded to a stop in the kitchen and walked a lot more sedately to the front door. His mother was standing there waiting for him, tapping her foot impatiently.
"Well?" she snapped. "Are you ready?" Sirius nodded. "Do you have all your things?" He nodded again. "Did you say good-bye to Regulus and your father?" Sirius shook his head and mumbled something that sounded like no. His mother scowled. "Well go! But be back in two minutes."
Sirius walked to the living room, grumbling and muttering under his breath. His father was reading the newspaper and Regulus was playing with some cars on the floor. Sirius cleared his throat.
"Bye Dad, bye Regulus. I'm... er, off to school." Regulus absent-mindedly waved to Sirius, not even looking up from his toys. Sirius' father folded the newspaper and fixed a stare upon Sirius. Sirius shifted his weight from foot to foot uncomfortably. Arsenio Black cleared his throat.
"Do us proud, son. I don't want to hear about you getting into any trouble, understand?" Sirius nodded and turned to go, but he stopped as his father continued. "And Sirius, choose your friends carefully. I don't want to hear that you've been associating yourself with any filthy mud-bloods." Sirius bit his tongue so hard he drew blood. He grunted something that might have been 'bye' and strode out of the room, his hands clenched into fists at his side.
Sirius walked right past his mother and into the front yard. He waited there impatiently until his mother came out. They got into the car, Sirius immediately turning to look out of the window. He hated his family and their stupid blood prejudices. Blood meant nothing. But no, according to his parents, the Blacks were better than everyone else because they were of pure blood. Sirius was so caught up in his angry thoughts he didn't realize his mother had been trying to talk to him.
"Sirius, are you listening to me? Sirius!"
"Yes, mum, I'm listening," he grumbled.
"Good. Now, as I'm sure your father told you, you are not to associate yourself with any muggle-borns. It would be bad for the family image. You make sure to find your cousin Bellatrix. She'll get you in with the right people. Oh, I do hope you're put into Slytherin, although Ravenclaw wouldn't be too bad. As long as you're not in Gryffindor. That's where she is."
Sirius knew his mother was talking about Andromeda, his favorite cousin. She was one of the few decent Blacks, so of course, she had been disowned. Sirius stopped listening as his mother continued to rant about what a disgrace Andromeda was to the family name.
He wished they had gone by Floo powder instead, but the Ministry had banned any wizards from using it as a means to get to the platform, except for emergencies. Apparently it was too noticeable, so now all wizarding families had to drive to get to the platform, or find some alternate way of transportation. Sirius' parents had complained for weeks about having to resort to common muggle transportation, but in the end they'd had no choice. Of course, this meant that the trip would take that much longer, which meant that Sirius would have to listen to his mother lecturing for a good portion of the ride. He sat in silence, and did his best to tune her out.
"Remus, dear, are you up?"
"Yes mum, I'll be out in a second. I just want to finish this chapter."
"All right. Your breakfast is waiting for you on the table."
"'Kay, thanks mum."
A small, thin boy sat on the floor of his room, his back against a wall, reading a book. He brushed a lock of his light brown hair away from his face, eagerly drinking in the words printed upon the book's pages. Before he knew it, Remus Lupin had finished the chapter. He sighed and stood up, tucking the book under his arm.
Maia Lupin looked up as Remus clattered down the stairs. She gave him a loving smile and nodded towards the kitchen table. A plate piled high with French toast and bacon waited there. Remus grinned; his mum had made a point to make his favorite breakfast. He put his book on the table and began to eat the food quickly. They needed plenty of time to get to King's Cross Station. As Remus ate, his mother watched him with sad eyes. Remus took a last swallow of French toast and looked up at his mother.
"Mum, what's wrong?" he asked. She smiled sadly.
"Oh, I was just thinking about how much I'll miss you," she said, kneeling down beside his chair. "Hogwarts is so far away and..."
"I'll be find mum," he broke in. "Really. And I'll send you loads of owls. You won't even know I'm gone!" Mrs. Lupin's smile widened and she grabbed Remus into a very tight hug.
"Ohhhh, I'll miss you Remy! And don't think I won't hold you to that promise of loads of owls. I expect at least one a week." Remus grinned and hugged her back fiercely.
"Deal," he said. His mom pulled back from the hug, sniffling a bit.
"Now, go tell your father you're ready to go. He's taking you," she said briskly. Remus nodded and stood. He grabbed his book and began to leave the room. He got to the doorway when he heard his mother speak.
"G'bye Remy, I love you."
Remus turned around, a lump in his throat.
"I love you too mum, bye." And before she could see him cry, Remus ran out of the room to find his dad.
Peter Pettigrew was just finishing his breakfast of toast when he heard raised voices. With a small sigh he put his dish in the sink and walked into the front hall. His parents were screaming at each other, and it was beginning to turn nasty.
"You stupid hag! You can't do anything right, can you?"
"Don't you dare talk to me like that Philip Pettigrew! You'd be nowhere if it weren't for me!"
"Of all the arrogant and conceited things to say! I'd be in a much better place if it weren't for you!"
"Oooh, I hate you Phillip!" And with that, Rhonda Pettigrew ran into her bedroom, slamming the door shut behind her.
Even though Peter was used to his parents arguing, he didn't like it one bit. As Mr. Pettigrew turned to storm away, Peter spoke up.
"Er, dad? Hogwarts term starts today and I've got to be at King's Cross by eleven," he said in a shaky voice.
"And why are you telling me this," his dad snapped.
"Well," Peter said, "I need a ride and..."
"I'm too busy," his father interrupted. "Here are a few sickles, take the Knight Bus." Peter's face fell.
"Right, well, bye then. And er... would you tell mum I said bye?" Peter asked quietly. His dad snorted.
"Not likely. Send her an owl when you get there." Mr. Pettigrew strode off down the hall and into his den, where he promptly slammed the door behind him.
Peter was left standing alone in the hall, feeling rather miserable. In his hand were a few pieces of silver, in his mind were his parents' bitter, angry words, and in his heart was a feeling of great emptiness and despair.
A/N: This is a bit of a repost. This story has been up here before, but I rather had to abandon the attempt because real life got far too hectic. I will not abandon this posting, but I can't promise that the chapters will be quick. The first five or so will be put up fairly quickly, as they're already written. The following chapters, which are not written, will be slower in coming. This is due to the fact that the chapters I write tend to be long. I hope that anyone reading this will be patient enough to wait for the next chapter. There are also a few people I'd like to thank for sticking with this: Meave, Megan, Sarah, Laura, famousamus05, honksfortonks and everyone else from the HP boards. You're all amazing for putting up with me and my eternity long waits between postings. :-P If you're name is not up here, it's because I'm scatterbrained, and all you have to do is let me know and you'll be in the next chapter's author notes.