It was September 1st. My very first day at Hogwarts, and trying to fool people that I was a boy. I went to the train station with Sirius and his family just so that people wouldn't recognize my parents and start to put pieces together.
We had just gotten onto the platform when I heard a voice yell out, "PADFOOT!" I turned around to see a dark haired boy running towards us.
"PRONGS! Hey, how are you?" Sirius yelled back. "Stay here." He told me then went to meet the boy. I could see them talking and the dark haired boy pointed at me. Then they both started walking over to me. I started to panic. Running my hand through my short hair at the base of my neck, I was trying to think of what to say. Did guys have some secret greeting only they knew? Merlin, they were getting closer. I dropped my hand. I was freaking out inside while trying to portray a calm expression. I was struggling, and I was out of time. They were right in front of me.
"Hey. I'm James." He said simply. I almost sighed in relief it was just a normal greeting. Keeping the expression on my face seemed a bit easier.
"I'm Laurence." I stated. Sirius seemed to feel my internal state of freaking out because he started to speak.
"Oi, Prongs is Moony and Wormtail here yet?" He asked. My mind seemed to register familiarity at the names. I vaguely remembered Sirius telling me about how him and his friends became animagus to help their other friend, who was a werewolf. This must be them.
"Uh yeah, Moony had to get to his prefect meeting and Wormtail is in the normal compartment. Is Laurence sitting with us?" He asked. His face seemed to harden when he said my name. I could tell that their little secret was only between the four of them and he didn't want me knowing. It was like a secret club people made up when they were eight, but this would ruin someone if this secret got out.
"Yeah, he is. He just transferred from a different school and he's in our year, meaning that he'll have to share the dormitory with us. So unless you want an extremely awkward year, we will all become friends." Sirius said trying to keep from a fight breaking out. James seemed to relax at Sirius's words. He gave James a look that clearly told him that I was going to be tagging along for a while.
"Let's go meet Wormtail." Sirius suggested. We all picked up our trunks and entered the train. James led the way to the compartment where 'Wormtail' was. I had no clue what his, or Moony's, actual name was, but I didn't ask. There was no need to make an enemy in the first hour that I met someone.
We walked to the very back of the train to the last compartment. James opened the door and I spotted a plump boy sitting alone. He had light brown hair and a rat-like face. He seemed short compared to Sirius and James, but I couldn't talk as I was only five three.
"Hey. Who's this?" he asked when he spotted me.
"I'm Laurence." I said
"Peter." He answered and turned to talk to James and Sirius. "Moony said that the prefect meeting shouldn't last long, and he'd be back before we left the station."
"Cool, you can meet Moony." Sirius said.
"How do you know each other?" Peter asked. Me and Sirius exchanged a look.
"He's an old family friend. We got lumped together a couple times during family events and we became friends." Sirius answered quickly. James looked at him strangely. Sirius just shrugged his shoulders and looked out the open compartment door. "Well, look who it is. Little greasy Snivelous. I think he got greasier over the summer. What do you say Prongs?" A tall dark haired boy with a hooked nose was walking past the compartment. He looked up at the sound of Sirius's voice. His face instantly hardened and he sneered.
"I do believe your correct, Padfoot. He did get greasier. We should fix that." But before James could even get out his wand, Snape sent a hex towards him. I quickly got out my wand and blocked the spell.
"Oh look, Potter got a new guard dog, you better watch your back." Snape said and walked away.
"What did you do now, Prongs?" A new boy asked. He had brown hair and icy blue eyes with an air of mystery around him.
"I didn't do anything, he hexed me. Then Laurence blocked it." James explained.
"Oh, hi," he said when he saw me. "I'm Remus Lupin." He held out his hand. I shook it.
"Laurence Evans." James looked up.
"You never said your name was Evans. I know their family and I've never heard of you." I started panicking.
Thinking quickly, I responded, "I don't go to very many family events. And when I do, I don't really talk."
"Oh, that... explains it?" He looked confused.
"Yeah..." I said vaguely. I glanced out the window and saw the family owl. I got up and opened the window to let it in. It circled the compartment, dropped the letter on the floor, and flew out the window. Remus picked it up.
"Who's Lily Evans?" He looked at me.
"Uh, my sister. My parents must have sent it to the wrong school. She still goes to school in America. Whoops, I'll mail it back when we get to the school." I glanced at Sirius panic clear in my eyes.
"So, James, did you get Quidditch Captain this year?" He asked.
"Yeah, I did. But just because I'm captain, doesn't guarantee you a spot. You'll have to try put just like everyone else."
Sirius pouted. "Come on, Prongs you know I'm the best beater, of course you'll put me on the team."
"Whoa, wait, your captain?" I turned to James and asked.
"Yeah, that's what I just said. You play?"
"Yeah, Seeker. What about you?"
"Chaser. Hey, do you know what house you'll be in?"
"Yeah, Gryffindor. They sorted me over the summer. Are you guys in that house too?" I asked
"Yeah, and proud of it! At least your not in Slytherin or I couldn't be your friend." James said proudly.
"What's wrong with Slytherin?" I asked confused.
"They all want to become Death Eaters. They think that if your muggle-born that you don't deserve to have magic. They shove their ideals down everyone's throats and hex anyone that's not a pureblood. UGH! I hate all of them." James ranted.
"Oh." I went quiet after that.
Remus, Peter, Sirius, and James talked the rest of the way to Hogwarts. I sat silently in the corner seat by the window only half listening. I had no idea what I was going to do once I got to Hogwarts. I only barely survived the train ride. But I had to tough it out. I was doing this for Quidditch and Quidditch was worth any struggle that I had to go through. Wasn't it?