Disclaimer: sadly, I still don't own Harry Potter.

On the Train

Remus was incredibly happy. Even the worried looks on his parents' faces couldn't change that. He had become obsessed with Hogwarts since receiving his Letter. He had read all his textbooks and made his parents demonstrate all sorts of spells. And now, he was finally standing on Platform 9 ¾. As nerve-wracking as it had been to run through something that looked like a solid brick wall, nothing could have prevented him from doing it. He was desperate to experience the kind of freedom that other kids had. His "issues" had always meant that his parents were extra protective of him.

"Remus, darling, promise me you'll be careful, and you'll listen to Professor Dumbledore and Madam Pomfrey," said his mother, glancing nervously about at the raucous children.

"Mother, I've promised you a thousand times," Remus sighed.

"I know, dear, but having you away from home and with your…"

"He has to grow up on his own," interrupted Remus' father, "you can't keep him by your side just to know he's alright."

"Thanks, Dad," Remus muttered, "I love you guys, but if I don't get on the train, it'll leave."

"Right, then. Goodbye son, and have a good time"

"Goodbye Remus. I love you."

After obediently hugging his mother, Remus gathered his things and hauled himself onto the train. Lugging his things behind him, he eventually spotted an empty compartment near the back of the train and settled in. Moments later a twitchy buck-toothed boy knocked hurriedly on the door, and poked his head in.

"Excuse me, but can I please join you?" he wheezed.

Remus didn't reply but moved over obligingly. The short, squat boy quickly shoved his trunk into the compartment and stowed it away. Sitting down next to Remus, he said,

"My name's Peter. Peter Pettigrew."

"Remus Lupin."

"Are your parents wizards? Mine aren't, so they were kind of surprised when I got my Letter. They're pretty proud though." Gaining no response, Peter slouched a little lower in his seat and fell silent.

A few moments later, a boy with messy black hair and glasses opened the compartment door, looked in and said,

"Is it okay if I join you? Everywhere else is full."

Remus looked up briefly, decided this new kid looked better than the sweaty, nervous one and nodded.

"Thanks," said the guy as he shoved his trunk in the luggage rack, "my name is James Potter, by the way."

Feeling slightly more inclined to like James than Peter, who was staring adoringly at the newcomer, Remus introduced himself. The two began to chat with Peter repeatedly attempting to say something interesting.

For a third time that day, Remus looked up as the door to the compartment slid open.

A handsome boy with a lazy smile looked in and said,

"Mind if I join you? The girls in the compartment next door are fighting over me." He grinned, "it's rather fun until the spells start flying."

Glancing around at the three boys, his eyes rested on James.

"Do I know you?" he asked.

"No, but I know you," James replied, "you're Sirius Black, and I don't like you."

Sirius bristled. "And why are you so quick to say that?"

"You're a Black. What else do I, or anyone, need to know?"

Sirius' features contorted into a scowl.

"I'm not like them. They hate me and I hate them. No-" he said, as James opened his mouth to argue, "consider this. If I was one of them, a Slytherin, pure-blood fanatic, why am I not sitting in their compartment right now humiliating whatever muggle-born they happened to take a dislike to."

James had no response to that, and so Sirius sat down next to him. Remus, who had no objection to the fact that Sirius was a Black, struck up a conversation with him and soon James found himself joining in. To his great surprise he realized that he and Sirius had a lot in common. Soon all four boys were talking and laughing together as if they had known each other since childhood.

James glanced out at the train corridor and saw an awkward greasy-haired boy struggling to open their compartment door and wipe his runny nose at the same time. Pointing it out to Sirius the two of them started laughing. Finally, the boy managed to open the door and started to speak, but shut his mouth again when he saw the two boys laughing at him. Immediately his face darkened and he glared at them. Straining to suppress his amusement, James said,

"As you can see, there is clearly no room in this compartment for you."

"There clearly is room," he growled malevolently.

"No I really don't think there is," said Sirius chuckling, "who are you anyway?"

"My name is Severus Snape. Everywhere else on the train actually is full, so as much as I wish I could spend the train ride in more…desirable company, I am, very regrettably, forced to sit with you."

"More 'desirable' company? What's that supposed to mean?" asked James indignantly.

"Mudbloods and blood-traitors seem to be abundantly present in this compartment," Snape replied coldly.

"And I can see you're so much better, Snivellus," James answered scathingly.

Immediately a jet of red light flew from the tip of Severus' wand, and would have hit James, had Sirius not quickly knocked James to the side. Without another word, Severus turned on his heel and stalked off down the corridor of the train.

"Well that was interesting," commented Remus dispassionately.

"He bloody well tried to stun me!" huffed James angrily. Turning to Sirius he said, "and if you hadn't knocked me out of the way, it would have worked."

"Don't mention it. I dearly look forward to kicking his ass at the next available opportunity," grinned Sirius.

James and Sirius returned to their seats, and spent the remainder of the train ride debating the value of various quidditch positions. Eventually they reached Hogwarts and unloaded their things from the train. Following the call for first years, the four of them traveled in one boat across the lake. There they were met by an imposing teacher named Professor McGonagall who explained to them the process of sorting. As one big group, they entered the Great Hall.