"And here we are," announced Mr Potter. "Platform 9 ¾. I'll go first, then you follow me, then Mum will go on after you, okay Son?"
James nodded nervously.
Mr Potter turned to face the barrier between Platform 9 & 10, and ran towards it. James closed his eyes, steeling himself for the "Crash!" that he was bound to hear. There was no sound. Even though he'd been to Hogsmeade many times, he never had to go through the barrier. He went by Side-Along Apparition.
"Run and close your eyes if you're scared," whispered Mrs Potter to James, for there was many people from Hogwarts standing around, waiting for James to go already.
James nodded, and gulped. Then closed his eyes and ran as fast as he could at the barrier.
About two seconds later, he opened his eyes. In front of him was the scarlet Hogwarts Express. There was something majestic-looking about the train, and he stared at it in awe.
Mr Potter grinned at his son. "Made it through okay then, eh?"
Mrs Potter emerged through the barrier. "5 minutes to depart. James, take care, okay? Don't leave the castle at night, listen to your teachers, and study hard."
James felt unexpectedly miserable as he looked up at his mother, whose eyes were tearing up; and his father, who put a comforting arm around her.
"Bye, Mum and Dad," James said. Mrs Potter grabbed him into a tight hug and held on for a few seconds.
Mr Potter gave James a one-armed hug. "And don't talk to any girls, okay?" he joked.
James managed a weak smile. "I'd better get on the train now. One minute til it leaves."
He walked into the train just as the door closed, and before he went to find a seat, he stood at the window near the door until his parents were out of sight.
James sighed. He should go and find somewhere to sit now. As he walked along the train, he saw groups of people sitting in their compartments, laughing and joking with each other, as if they'd known each other for years. He didn't know anyone here because all of his friends were Muggles.
James jumped as he heard a roar of laughter coming out of the compartment he just walked past. He paused, and listened at the door, because the curtains were covering the window.
"Yeah, and he has this really ugly greasy black hair, and his name is Severus," someone said from inside the compartment.
Just then someone drew the curtains from inside the compartment. James jumped back in surprise. He saw three boys, probably his age, sitting inside the compartment, their faces reflecting his surprise.
"Uh, sorry," James muttered, feeling embarassed. "I was just walking past, and I heard someone shout, so I—"
"Don't worry about it," said one of the boys. "Do you wanna sit with us?" He moved closer to the window to make room for James.
James sat down next to him.
"I'm Remus Lupin," said the boy. Remus looked like the kind of guy who James could easily be friends with. He had one of his schoolbooks out and James could see that he was halfway through it.
"I'm James Potter," said James. I don't know anyone here, so I was feeling kinda lost."
"Lucky you found us then, eh?" said another boy. "Oh, I'm Sirius Black, by the way." Sirius was a rather goodlooking boy, who, it appeared to James, looked kind of haughty and proud, sort of like he was very well looked after.
"And this is Peter Pettigrew," said Sirius, in a bored voice. Peter Pettigrew was a tiny boy, who resembled a rodent.
"So, er, what were you guys just talking about?" asked James, curiously.
"Just some ugly git I passed on the train," said Sirius, distastefully. "I hope he goes in Slytherin."
"I hope I get into Gryffindor" said James. His parents had explained to him how the House system worked, that day in Diagon Alley.
"Do you?" asked Remus. "So do we three," he motioned towards himself, Sirius and Peter.
"Being in Gryffindor would be the greatest honour, I reckon," said Sirius. "My whole family's been in Slytherin." He mimed vomiting.
Remus and James chuckled, while Wormtail screeched with laughter and fell off his chair, still laughing.
James looked at Remus and Sirius, bewildered. "Mate," he said to Sirius, "You're funny and everything, but not THAT funny," he pointed to Peter, who was writhing on the ground, still laughing.
"You'll have to forgive our little friend here," said Sirius. "He adores me. He thinks I'm God, or something." This made Peter stop laughing.
"Why do you talk to me like that! I'm supposed to be your friend, you moron, you—"
He stopped at the look on Sirius' face. "Say one more word, and I'll jinx you as soon as I learn how to," he said.
James felt uncomfortable at this scene, so he looked out the window. He saw a boy walking down the aisle of the train. The boy had greasy black hair, and he looked at James like he was the one who had taken away his shampoo.
"Hey Sirius," he said.
"Is he that Snivellus guy you were talking about before?" he pointed to the ugly boy, who was coming closer.
Sirius glanced at the window, then threw his head back and laughed. "Snivellus!" he shouted. "That's excellent!"
"Sorry," said James. "I forgot his name, but I knew it started with an 'S'."
Sirius grinned at Remus, who rolled his eyes. Peter took to staring at the the three boys.
Sirius stood and opened the compartment door. "Hey, Snivellus!" he yelled.
The boy named Severus looked around, and when he saw that Sirius was talking to him, stomped over to him.
"WHAT?" Severus bellowed.
"Just wanted to have a friendly chat," said Sirius, conversationally. "So, tell me, my greasy haired friend, are you going to put a spell on your hair to make it nice and shiny once we get to Hogwarts, or do you prefer being a filthy, unhygienic wart?"
"SHUT UP!" This did not come from Severus, which surprised Sirius, and Severus too, for that matter. Walking up beside Severus was a girl with dark red hair and mesmerising green eyes. Those eyes were filled with fury.
"Ah, of course, Lily Evans," said Sirius. "Come to save Snivellus' neck again? What is this, the 1000th time now?"
"Why don't you just leave us alone?" demanded Lily.
"Correct me if I'm mistaken," said Sirius, "But shouldn't I be saying that to you?"
"Sirius." This time it was Remus who spoke. "Just let it go, mate. Well, it was nice meeting you Lily," he said. Lily looked rather taken aback at being spoken to politely by someone who she thought was a moron, seeing how Sirius definitely was.
Severus stomped away grumpily. Lily looked awkward standing there. "Uh, I should probably go." And she turned to go back to Severus.
"Wait," said James, suddenly. Lily turned around, eyebrows raised.
"Uh, I, uh, haven't introduced myself to you yet. I'm Pames Jotter. Uh, I mean James Potter. Yes, that's it. James. Potter. And you are? Oh, of course, you're Lily, right? Well, uh, anyway, it was nice meeting you. Bye!"
Lily looked as if she didn't know what to make of this strange introduction, and she said nothing. Instead she gave a small wave to everyone except Sirius, and walked away.
As soon as James closed the door, the compartment erupted with laughter. "Wow, that was smooth!" gasped Sirius.
"Shut up," said James, feeling his face burn with embarassment.
"Nice to meet you, Pames," said Remus, and the laughter grew even louder.
Their laughter was so loud, that they didn't hear a lady come up to their compartment, wheeling a trolley full of wizarding sweets. It was only when she yelled, "Anything from the FUCKING trolley?!", that they heard her.
"Oops," said Remus, as he took out his money bag and opened the compartment door.
James' mouth fell open at the assortment of lollies and other junk food on the trolley. "I want two of everything," he said to the lady, and handed her a handful of Galleons, Sickles and Knuts.
For the rest of the way to Hogwarts, James and his new friends chatted excitedly about Hogwarts, and about what spells and potions they might learn. Remus, of course, contributed to the conversation the most, seeing as he had already read most of his schoolbooks.
