Chapter 1: The Hogwarts Express

'Now Peter, don't forget to clean your teeth every night, and to do your homework on time, and to write me and your father. Have you got everything?' Jane bit her lip. It was hard to let ones son go, especially to boarding school when one had never spent more than 3 hours without knowing where said son was. Peter nodded nervously. He had never stayed one night without his parents, not having any friends to stay with, and was nervous about staying at boarding school, even if it was only until Christmas. The famous scarlet engine let off a screech, and Jane quickly lifted her sons' trunk into a compartment. She sniffed.

'I love you Peter!' The train started to move. 'Don't forget to write!'

The train slowly picked up speed as it chugged out of the station. Peter carried on watching out of the window as the station, his mum, and his old life slowly grew smaller and smaller. He smiled to himself. Even as a wizarding child, he had never shown much magical talent, but he was obviously good enough to get into Hogwarts. He couldn't wait. He looked around him. Not many people had hung around in the corridors, and subsequently he was the only one left, with his trunk and an owl sitting patiently at his feet. He awkwardly started moving down the train, peering into compartments, looking for somewhere with a space. He spied a nasty looking group of 6th years, which he decided to avoid, before he found a quiet looking compartment, with three other boys and two girls in it. Two of the boys looked up as he came in, but the other boy remained focused on the flashing countryside. Peter smiled nervously.

'Um, hi. C-c-can I s-sit here?'

One of the girls smiled at him.

'Sure,' she answered, glancing round at the other occupants, 'we won't mind. There's room.'

Peter smiled gratefully at her, as the two boys that had turned to look at him resumed their, loud and boisterous, conversation.

'I'm sure as hell I'll be in Gryffindor, both my parents were and I know I'm brave enough' announced the scruffy haired, and hazel eyed boy, glancing at the girl with fiery red hair and green eyes. She sighed and glared at him.

'Stop hitting on me, you idiot.' She turned to Peter, who was standing uncomfortably in the doorway. 'Are you going to come in? I'll help you with your trunk.'

'Thanks' Peter muttered, going pink as the pretty brown haired girl stood to help him and the other girl. 'I'm Peter. Peter Pettigrew.'

The red haired girl smiled again. She looked very pretty when she smiled, Peter thought to himself. 'I'm Lily, and this is Alice' she said, gesturing to her friend. 'We came to the station together'. Peter nodded, and sat in the seat next to the boy who was gazing out the window. Lily sat opposite him, with Alice next to her. 'These two goofs are James and Sirius. We don't know his name yet.' Peter looked at the boy. He would hate it to have people discussing him like this. He extended a hand.

'Hello, I'm Peter Pettigrew. I'm a wizard, and I have never had any friends before. Who are you?'

The boy named James guffawed.

'Never had friends! Never had friends! What an idiot!'

Peter looked down at his feet. He was an idiot. He had forgotten about the other boys, he was so curious about this sandy haired blue eyed boy. The sandy haired boy whipped round.

'I've never had any friends either, so just shut your mouth!' He then blushed a bright pink and faced out the window again. Peter gaped. He'd never had had the courage to do that, and he instantly felt a new respect for this stranger. He put a hand gently on the boys shoulder.

'I think, we had better start making friends then.'