The Beginning

"The end is in the beginning and lies far ahead." RE

September the 1st 1971 can, and will, be considered an outstandingly normal day. Even pertaining to our story it cannot be considered particularly exceptional; no battles were fought, no hearts were broken and, contrary to popular belief, no firm friendships were formed. The only reason we have paused to even consider September the 1st, 1971 is that it makes perfect chronological sense to start any story at the beginning. For, although September the 1st 1971 was a remarkably ordinary day, it does mark the beginning of something entirely extraordinary: Messrs Moody, Wormtail, Padfoot and Prongs.

Platform 9 ¾ was brimming with people. Witches and wizards (and a fair few muggles) of all ages swarmed the platform to say goodbye to their beloved as they boarded the train that would take them to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry for at least the next three months. Anybody who bothered to observe the scene around them would notice the sighs of exasperation on the faces of boys as they were pulled into another hug from their doting mothers; the squeals of glee as girls ran to catch up with a summers-worth of gossip with friends and the moans and groans of the under 11s who knew very well that they too were mature enough to go away to learn at a magic school and it was most unfair that their parents wouldn't let them. Not that anybody at all took the time to watch.

Not anybody at all - except for Remus Lupin. Of course, this was to be expected – after all, Remus Lupin was, already, a special case. Tall for his age, he had hair the colour of golden syrup and eyes that seemed at first to be grey, though if anybody were to take the time to look they would recognise they were actually a combination of green speckled with gold. It was neither his height nor his eye colour that made Remus Lupin special however; it was the fact that until the 14th of August, some two weeks prior to the date in motion, Remus had not even dared to dream that he might be able to attend Hogwarts. This was why, it transpired, he decided not to rush onto the train, nor listen intently to his anxious mother and father, but to focus instead on the moment he was in and the people that surrounded him.

While Remus was looking at the scene with awe another, similarly-aged boy found himself feeling nothing but fear as the mass of people boarded the train. Peter Pettigrew was not exactly shy but he had always struggled with change, particularly since the death of his father the previous winter. He liked to feel comfortable and he didn't like being alone. Of course, at that moment he was not alone – his mother was kneeling beside him stroking his sandy brown hair whispering words of encouragement – but that did not change the fact that he would soon be pushed into an environment where he would not even know the name of a single other person.

"… and I know it may not feel like it at first but I promise you, the castle will be home to some of your greatest memories before you know it!" Mrs Pettigrew finished with a small smile. Peter was brought back to the present with a start and felt guilt spread through him as he realised he had been ignoring his mother. He knew she was more nervous than even he was that they were going to be separated. Peter pulled his mother into a hug that lasted longer than was probably acceptable – Peter knew this but, in that moment, he was not bothered.

Sirius Black watched Peter Pettigrew from across the station with a small smirk on his face - the boy looked as though he was about to burst into tears. Sirius Black was very different to Peter Pettigrew: he knew how to style his silky black hair in a way that aged him by at least two years; he knew how to walk with an air of confidence and, above all, he knew better than to make a scene like that on his first day at school. To attract such attention to himself would not only destroy any chance he might have to gain a good reputation but his mother simply would not stand for it. Mrs Black was not intentionally unaffectionate – she just believed that emotional displays were a weakness that needed to be stamped out of her children. This was why she sent a startled Sirius onto the train with little more than a squeeze of his shoulder and a reminder to keep close to his cousin Bellatrix while he was settling in. Sirius simply nodded in response before moving down the train, past a group of first years that were busy waving their final goodbyes out of the window and into the first empty compartment he could find.

One such first year was a boy by the name of James Potter. However, unlike the boy to the left of him, James was not shouting out of the window, nor was he struggling with tears like the girl at his right. James Potter looked perfectly at ease, with one elbow resting on the ledge of the train and a grin on his face as his father on the platform laughed up at him. Both Mr and Mrs Potter had turned up to send off their only son but they did not share with the distress that many parents experienced at this moment. Instead, they were both beaming with pride. They had been telling James stories of Hogwarts for as long as he could remember and they were thrilled to know that their son was about to start the greatest adventure of his life.

11 o'clock finally came and with it the train burst to life. As the train lurched forwards James left his post at the window and dragged his trunk behind him as he searched for a suitable compartment. He did not walk down the corridor so much as bounce. While Peter Pettigrew tried to avoid new situations, James Potter practically thrived on it. He could not wait to start at Hogwarts – the food, the people, even the lessons: it all sounded, well - magical!

James stopped outside a compartment that seemed to hold only first years. He checked his reflection once in the glass – his black hair was still standing up in every direction and his hazel eyes were glowing bright – before entering the compartment with a grin.

Four pairs of eyes looked up at him as he slid open the door.

"Hey! Mind if I sit here?" James asked as he plonked himself into a seat. "I'm James by the way."

"I'm Benjy" piped up a blonde boy in the corner. "Nice to meet you."

"Peter. Some people call me Pete but honestly I don't really like it all that much. I guess you can't really choose what people call you though can you…" Peter trailed off, embarrassed. James' grin grew.

"Sirius Black."

James nodded at the boy opposite him. "Okay so Benjy, Peter but not Pete and Sirius." He turned to the final occupant of the compartment, a red-headed girl who had turned to the window as soon as he had entered. "And you?"

She muttered something incomprehensible and her whole body seemed to shake. James made a face at Sirius, raising his eyebrows at her behaviour. Sirius shrugged and mouthed 'girls'. Both boys laughed.

Six hours and thirty minutes later James Potter found himself staring up at the huge, oak front door that was opening to allow him to finally enter the school he had dreamed about before he had even ridden his first broomstick. James hadn't entered the building yet and already his day had gone brilliantly. He had never had trouble making friends yet he was still pleased that he had managed to find a compartment full of people he got on with. Benjy, though a little enthusiastic, had been fairly good company – he was a muggle-born and so had a long list of questions which James had been more than happy to answer (he enjoyed having an audience). Sirius had made him laugh on several occasions and, as it often was with the pure-blood families, it turned out they had a lot of mutual friends. Even Peter had been fun enough – he had seemed more fascinated by James than even Benjy was. The red-headed girl had left the compartment within the hour with a strange looking boy but James hadn't given either a second thought – he was too busy enjoying himself.

The gentle buzz of chatter fell as the group of first years were led inside the castle and into the great hall. James had grown up around magic all his life and yet even he was amazed by the sight of the star-studded sky that stretched out above him and the ghosts that were floating through the walls and the hundred of candles floating in mid-air and the four long tables shining with golden plates and goblets. He barely had time to take in the sight however, before his attention was brought to the battered hat on a stool at the very front of the hall. James knew what happened next.

Now, even at eleven years old James Potter was an overly confident individual. He had been doted on all his life by his parents and they had made him believe that he was capable of doing anything. James truly believed that he would be able to make the quidditch team by his third year. He was certain that he would not struggle in making friends and that those would be the right sort of friends. He guessed that if he tried to he would be able to successfully apparate without lessons. However, above all, James Potter was confident that he would be sorted into Gryffindor house.

And this was why James did not listen to the sorting hat as it sang about the values of each house – he simply did not care. Instead he was sadly accepting that there was a strong chance that none of the boys he had met on the train would be coming with him to Gryffindor. He knew enough about the houses to recognise that Benjy and Peter probably belonged in Hufflepuff. Sirius he might have placed in Gryffindor until he found out that he was a Black. Sirius had not exaggerated on the train when he said that all of his family had been in Slytherin. James knew that it didn't really matter; he would easily be able to make more friends. Still, it would have been nice to have known a few faces.

The sorting hat finished its song to a rapture of applause. A stern-looking witch that had introduced herself as Professor Mcgonagall stepped forward to begin reading out the names of first years to be sorted. Remus had been so absorbed listening to the hat's song that he had forgotten what it signified – he was going to be sorted. He glanced around at his fellow students and was glad to see that a few of them looked how he felt. One, slightly chubby boy, looked as though he might throw up. Remus was glad that his stomach, at least, was settled. He could not imagine how it would feel to throw up in front of the entire school on his first day. Then again, Remus remembered, there was no risk of that boy not being sorted. He frowned, subconsciously clapping his hands as 'Black, Sirius' was sorted into Gryffindor.

Still, Remus guessed he should be glad he had lasted as long as he had. In fact, his journey had been completely uneventful which was, in Remus' eyes, a success. He had been joined in his compartment by a red-headed girl named Lily Evans and a boy who had introduced himself simply as 'Snape'. Even though he had the impression that the boy didn't really like him (surely he couldn't know?) Lily had seemed genuinely interested in talking to him. She had even woken him up when the train ended its journey (he had dozed off just after three). All in all, if the hat told him he had to go back home he would at least know that his time at Hogwarts had been relatively pleasant.

Unfortunately, that thought did not give Remus too much comfort as he watched 'Fenwick, Benjy' and 'Gudgeon, Davey' become Hufflepuffs in quick succession. His palms actually began to sweat as 'Keane Isabella' was sorted into Ravenclaw and suddenly he was hearing the dreaded words 'Lupin, Remus'. Somehow, for he was sure he had not been able to move, he found himself sitting on the stool. As the hat that would determine his future was dropped onto his head, Remus found himself whispering a single word: "please".

Sirius was confused. Sirius had been confused when the hat had announced to the whole school that he belonged in Gryffindor. He had been confused when he had sat down at the wrong table and been greeted by thumps on the back and handshakes. He had been confused when he had seen his 17 year old cousin, Bellatrix, glare at him. He had been confused when he found himself greeting Lily Evans, Robbie Jones and then Remus Lupin to the table. He had been confused when James Potter had run over to him crying 'you did it, I knew you were decent!'

He had been confused when the hat had told him that he was wrong.

'You don't belong there. I think you already know that.'

Sirius was confused.

James was overjoyed.

Naturally he had been sorted into Gryffindor but so had Sirius! Even little chubby Peter had somehow made it into Gryffindor along with both the McKinnon twins, who he had known for years. He made a mental note to write to his Dad as soon as he got to his dormitory before tucking into the steak and ale pie that had appeared in front of his eyes moments before.

Professor Mcgonagall escorted Remus to the Gryffindor Common Room a little later than everybody else. Another student might have been embarrassed by this but nothing could dampen Remus' spirits. He had been sorted – he was here to stay! Even his fear of having to make friends had been squashed by his ecstasy and Remus forgot to even be timid as he swung open the door to the first year's dormitory.

"OH flipping frogs … crap… kneazle…shit…balls" shrieked James as Remus slammed the door into his unsuspecting foot. "What are you playing at!?"

"Oh wow! I'm so sorry, I didn't think… I'm so so sorry" Remus spluttered as he turned a deep shade of red. How had he managed to make such a bad first impression? And with somebody that he would have to share a room with for the next seven years!

James, however, was already laughing, whilst rubbing his toe viciously.

"Alright, alright, enough with the apologies! Seriously, don't worry about it mate – it's my own fault for sitting right next to the door. You must be Remus?" James gestured to a bed next to Remus' trunk – somebody must have brought them up while they were eating. "I'm James Potter."

"Remus… yeah that's me" Remus responded stupidly.

"You're the last one up. There's six of us – Arlo and Robbie are in the common room now, they've already unpacked. That over there is Peter – but he prefers Pete…"

"I do NOT prefer Pete!" Peter was surprised at his own confidence. Then again he was surprised that he was even in Gryffindor.

"…and Sirius is in the shower" James finished, ignoring Peter's interruption completely. He looked Remus in the eye before continuing in hushed tones. "I'd be gentle around him though mate. He was a laugh earlier but he's been a bit weird after the sorting. Don't think he'd ever considered any house but Slytherin. Still – I hope he perks up soon. He's being a bit of a git about it to be perfectly honest."

Remus simply nodded. He was amazed that one boy could manage to say so much to a complete stranger without a single stutter. He could not work out whether he was intimidated, put off or simply in awe of James Potter.

"Hey, me and Pete are heading downstairs in a bit so you might want to hurry up with the unpacking" James piped up again.

"Pete and I" Remus corrected automatically. He regretted this instantly but James did not seem to have noticed.

"We'll see you down there?" James prompted.

"Oh… yeah course." Remus attempted a smile which James reciprocated.

"Good – come on Pete"

"Are you just trying to annoy me?" Peter grumbled as he followed James out of the room.

Remus sat down on his bed. Since the accident he had never really interacted with boys (or girls) his own age. He wondered whether they were all quite like James Potter.

Three hours later Remus found himself getting into bed. He had decided that James Potter was terrifying, Robbie Jones liked to tell stories, Peter Pettigrew liked to listen to stories and Arlo McKinnon smiled a lot. He had not yet met Sirius Black – by the time he had returned to the dorms with Peter and Arlo, Sirius was already asleep. So far Remus had decided that he was happy with his dormitory. He thought it would be easy for him to go unnoticed in the group and Remus knew that he did not want to be noticed.

Peter settled into his new bed without any trouble. He was exhausted yet he still took the time to reflect on his day. Gryffindor – he could not believe it! He had been certain that only Hufflepuff would accept somebody like him. True, his Dad had been in Ravenclaw but he had never been particularly intelligent. But to be in Gryffindor –Peter was certain he was not brave. Still, he thought as he began to drift off to sleep, at least he had been accepted. Nobody had told him he didn't deserve to be in Gryffindor. James Potter had taken to teasing him but Peter didn't really mind that and he expected James would get bored of him soon. His last thought before his mind closed to the world was that he could probably become very good friends with Robbie.

Sirius sat up in his bed with the curtains drawn around him. He knew the others thought he was asleep and he wanted to keep it that way. He was still trying to work out how he had ended up in this dormitory, coated with red and gold, when he knew he should be in a room of emerald and silver. It was true that Sirius had always joked about what would happen if he was not sorted into Slytherin – but he had never expected it to happen. True, Sirius did not like the reputation that he knew Slytherin had – but that didn't mean he didn't want to be in the house. Maybe Sirius did resent the way his parents raised him (from what he had heard, James Potter seemed to have spent most of his childhood outside, free to do what he wanted!) but that did not mean he wanted to go against them. He knew how his father felt about Gryffindor, knew that his mother would see this as a betrayal. Sirius didn't want to upset them. How had this happened?

James did not go to bed until just before midnight. He had never seen the point in sleeping when it was so much more fun to be awake. He had remained in the common room even after Robbie went to bed, writing to his parents, and only decided to go up to his room when he realised he would not be able to send the letter until the next morning. Silently, he climbed into his bed. He wished that Robbie had stayed up for a little bit longer. Admittedly, James had found Robbie's constant rambling a bit annoying after a few hours, but he still would have liked the company. He thought about Sirius, fast asleep next to him. James was confused by how Sirius had reacted when he had seen the dormitory but he wished he would snap out of it. James was sure that if Sirius had not been moping about he would have stayed up with him. Maybe he would be perkier in the morning. James hoped so.

And so, September the 1st 1971 ended. In many ways, nothing had changed. It was, after all, just a regular day: no grand discoveries were made, nobody sacrificed their lives and, contrary to popular belief, nobody fell in love. No – September the 1st 1971 was an extraordinarily ordinary day. Except for one, teeny tiny, in many ways insignificant, change. Maybe it would be wrong even to consider it a change – it was simply a matter of a few moments. Moments where four, seemingly-similar, seemingly-different, boys crossed paths for the first time. And, even though these moments were forgotten almost as soon as they passed, they would prove to shape the rest of each one of their lives.