This was just going to be fucking awful. Sirius thought miserably towing from one carriage to the next looking for a place to sit. He knew he should have gotten onto the train earlier – make that a lot earlier, 2 minutes to get through the gate was not enough time. Not that he'd have much trouble finding a carriage. His dark hair swept back behind his head and tied off so that it would get in his way just enlightened his dark mysterious eyes even more. Every girl was just fawning over him. Even though they knew he must have just been a First Year. He was not in the mood to be fawned over – though he liked it very much he could not be bothered.

He stopped at looked in at an occupied carriage where a boy and a young girl sat. She reading the Daily Prophet as he was making light conversation with her, she was apparently uninterested. Sirius cleared his throat and opened the door.

"Hey," He said confidently.

The boy looked up. He was handsome enough, high cheekbones and hazel eyes and a mop of spiky jet black hair that stuck out in every direction. He was wearing rounded black specs that were slipping down his nose, giving him an intelligent look. The girl lowered her paper and looked Sirius up and down. He had a sudden feeling of being quite exposed. She was a very beautiful girl. Bright green almond eyes with a freckly nose and cheeks and red hair that tumbled down her back like waves. The boy frowned.

"Hey," He said.

Sirius licked his lips and looked over at one of the unoccupied seats. "D'you mind?" He asked.

"Go ahead," The boy shrugged. "I'm James Potter. And this lovely lady is Evans."

Sirius entered and sat down. "Evan's?" He said curiously.

The girl folded her paper. "It's Lily," She said, extending her hand. Sirius stared at it for a second before Lily pulled away, blushing slightly. She let out a sigh before pressing her face against the window, watching the scenery go by.

"Name's Sirius Black," Sirius said.

"First year?"

"Is there any other year that starts before us?" Sirius frowned. "Like 'Zero Year'?"

James laughed slightly. "It's good to meet you." He said. "Evan's has been regaling to me stories of being a muggleborn."

"Muggleborn?" Lily asked.

"Sorry," James said. "You find it offensive?"

"No..." Lily said. "Just reminds me of someone..."

The door slid open and a pale, gaunt boy with black hair appeared, already changed into his school robes. He smiled over at Lily and Sirius found it rather frightening.

"I don't want to talk to you," She said bitterly, staring out the window. The boy's smile disappeared quickly. He frowned and sat down opposite her.

"Why not?" Was the reply.

"Tuney h-hates me. Because we saw that letter from Dumbledore,"

"So what?"

Lily threw the boy a look of deep dislike. "So, she's my sister!"

"She's only a – " He caught himself quickly; Lily too busy trying to wipe her eyes without being noticed, did not hear him. "But we're going!" He said excitedly. "This is it! We're off to Hogwarts!"

She nodded, mopping her eyes and in spite of herself, she smiled.

"You'd better be in Slytherin," The boy encouraged.

"Slytherin?" James looked up, apparently not caring for their conversation beforehand. "Who wants to be in Slytherin?" He asked almost mockingly. "I think I would leave, wouldn't you?" He looked over at Sirius.

Sirius did not reply straight away. He shifted uncomfortably in his seat before replying. "My whole family have been in Slytherin,"

"Blimey," James said. "And I thought you seemed alright,"

Sirius smiled. "Maybe I'll break the tradition. Where are you heading if you've got the choice?"

James lifted an invisible sword, he looked ridiculous. "Gryffindor, where dwell the brave at heart! Like my dad."

The boy at the door made a noise. James turned on him quickly. "Got a problem with that?" He asked, challenging the newcomer.

"No," the boy drawled. "If you'd rather be brawny than brainy-"

"Where're you hoping to go, seeing as you're neither?" Interrupted Sirius.

James roared with laughter. Lily got up, pulling her bag from the overhead rails and her jacket from the seat. "Come on Severus, let's find another compartment,"

The boys made an "Oooo" as they left. James attempted to trip the boy up as he left. "See ya Snivellus!"

The door slammed shut.

"Greasy haired weirdo," Sirius muttered. "I mean, who wants to be in Slytherin?"

James was still staring after Lily. "I like her." He said after a moment. "Think she'll go out with me?"

Sirius frowned. "I've just met you and I'm not interested in having this type of conversation."

James laughed. He picked up the newspaper that Lily had left behind. Emblazoned, the headline read "FEAR FLIES AS DARK MARK IS SPOTTED NEAR HOGWARTS; DUMBLEDORE URGING THOSE NOT TO PANIC." He flung it to one side.

"Something wrong?" Sirius asked, taking the paper from him.

"Nah," James shrugged. "It's just weird knowing that I'm going to be stuck at school knowing there's a war on. I mean... It's just kinda weird."

"Are your parents fighting?" Sirius asked.

James shook his head. "They know better."

"And you?"

"Well I'm not so smart. I'm joining the war as soon as we graduate. That is, if he hasn't been killed before then." James said. He looked at Sirius. "What about you?"

Sirius stretched his legs and leaned back on the chair. "I don't know." He said. "I think I might. The final two fingers to mum and dad."

James raised an eyebrow.

"Pure-blood mania," Sirius said sadly. "Their arseholes. But no, Regulus is their favourite. He's the one that's going to join them as soon as he's old enough. I hate them,"

"Regulus is your brother, I'm assuming?" James said.

"Younger," Sirius said. "He's a right prick."

"I'm sure he's not that bad," James said.

"Trust me," Sirius said. "He is."

James nodded. "Alright, he's an arsehole. I get it." He paused. "I don't have any brothers or sisters. Mum and dad had me quite late, so... Technically speaking, I'm a bleeding miracle."

"Not big headed at all are we?" Sirius asked.

James laughed. "Of course not!"

Someone was shouting something from outside the carriage. James opened the door to see an old woman pushing a trolley down the train corridor. She looked over at them a few students coming up to her, knuts and galleons in hand. "Anything from the trolley dears?"

Sirius stood up, digging his hand into his pocket. "Cauldron cake and a chocolate frog," He said handing over some money. He turned to James. "Wanting anything?" He asked.

James shook his head. "I'm saving myself for the feast," He said.

"So be it," Sirius shrugged. "Chuck in a packet of drooballs." He said.

A pasty boy came up next in the queue. He was skinny with light brown hair that fell just above his ears and faded lines over his cheeks and nose. His eyes were a dark blue that seemed to have lost all their youthfulness in one go. His robes were at least three sizes too big for him but were brand new. He looked tired but ecstatic just to be here. He held out his hand and offered it to the witch.

"What can I get for that?" He asked.

The witch frowned and counted up the money. "'Fraid just a liquorice wand dear," She said.

The boys face fell. "Oh... Alright then," He handed her the money and took the sweet from her. James stood up feeling bad for the boy and pulled out some galleons. "Give him two chocolate frogs," He said handing over his money.

The boy blushed furiously. "There's no need to do that," He said hastily. "I'll be okay with this," He motioned at his liquorice wand.

"Shut it," James said, crossly. "You look like you haven't eaten in weeks and I've heard that chocolate helps everything."

The boy frowned. "Where did you hear that from?" He asked curious and quietly.

"Parents," James shrugged. "Here, take them,"

"No, I won't be able to repay you." The boy said.

"Doesn't matter, it's just a few galleons."

"I can't,"

"Yes you can," James said. "You can repay me by sitting with Sirius and I."

Sirius pouted. "Not good enough for you am I?" He asked.

James ignored him. "Come on," He said.

The boy hesitated before entering the carriage and sitting down gingerly next to Sirius. He gave a goofy grin before tearing open his sweets. The boy looked at the ones on his lap. He gingerly opened one of the packets and chewed slowly on the frogs head. James sat down, folding the newspaper up and examining the boy. "What's your name?" He asked.

The boy swallowed. "Remus." He said shakily. "Remus Lupin."

"I'm James Potter, and this here is my new best friend Sirius black." James said. Remus nodded at them cautiously avoiding eye contact. James noticed this. "We don't bite," He said, laughing a little. "If we did, I'm pretty sure we'd have rabies by now."

Sirius rolled his eyes and crammed into his food. James frowned. "What's with the scars?" He asked.

Remus pulled down on this exposed arms, he only wished he could cover the ones on his face. "Cat attacked me... This morning," he muttered.

They seemed to accept this as a plausible answer. "Fair enough," James said. "Why are you so white?"

Sirius threw him a look. "You can't just say that to people, you knobhead!" He said.

James frowned. "Why not?" He asked. "Every person I've met on this train so far is either extremely pale or extremely pale. Does Britain really not get any sunlight?"

"Where are you from?" Sirius asked incredulously.

"London," James replied. "But I'm away quite a lot with my parents. You know, travelling the world. Sight-seeing... Everyone I grew up with had a nice tanned glow."

"Well sorry we couldn't live up to your pampered existence," Sirius said.

"Oo... getting stroppy are we?" James said.

Sirius rolled his eyes before finishing up. They turned to look at Remus who was folding the sweets into his bag. James frowned.

"What are you doing that for?" He asked.

Remus looked up startled. "Well... I just... I don't want to eat it all now. I was always told to eat a little then save some for later."

Sirius frowned. "Do you think that they're not going to feed us at all in that school? Because if they aren't I'm leaving, right now."

James frowned, looking over at the long-haired idiot. "Do you think on your stomach?" He asked.

"As a matter of fact, yes, I do." Sirius said. "I wonder if they serve chocolate ice cream up there..."

James rolled his eyes. "So, Remus." He said. "Tell us about yourself."

Remus looked up, his eyes wide. "What?" He asked unsure of what to say.

"So are you half-blood, pure-blood, or muggleborn." Sirius suggested.

"Not that it makes a difference to us-"

"-We're just trying to get an idea-"

"-Of who you are-"

"-What kind of upbringing you had-"

"-If you have any brother or sisters-"

"-Aunts with loads of money who are near enough ready to kick the bucket-" James shot Sirius a look. Sirius held up his hands. "I'm just interested." He said innocently. James rolled his eyes.

"Um..." Remus was unsure of how to proceed. He hadn't really been prepared for social situations that presented themselves like this. He rubbed his shoulder nervously and cleared his throat. "Half-born. Family's kind of poor. I have one..." He cleared his throat. "One younger sister called Emily... No... No Great Aunts with loads of money I'm afraid. If we did have any, we would have ran to them quite a while ago."

"So you're poor because...?" Sirius asked, not really caring for social decency.

Remus hesitated again. "Bad jobs," He muttered staring at his feet.

James sensed his unwillingness to answer the questions that had been put before him. "Sorry for the interrogation," He said. "You've been the 4th person I've met here today. One I didn't like, one I really didn't like and one that I want to get with."

Sirius looked up. "Please let me be the one you didn't like," He begged.

"Oh, Sirius, I'm afraid you're mistaken. You're the one I want to get with," James said waggling his eyebrows.

"Only if you take it, bitch," Sirius said.

"No way," James said.

"Then it's totally off," Sirius replied.

"Baby!" James said. "Don't throw away the good times..."

Remus stared wide-eyed at them. "Is this how people normally act when they've just met each other?" He asked.

James looked at him. Sirius spoke up. "Not been let out much have you?"

Remus shook his head sadly.

"Ah well," Sirius shrugged. "Here we can let you go of your leash."

Remus reacted badly to that, sitting uncomfortably in the silence.

"Remus Lupin's a funny name isn't it?" Sirius said.

"So is Sirius Black," Remus shot back.

"Oops, this boys got spunk Sirius," James laughed. "Be careful."

"I don't want... 'Spunk'." Remus said. "I just want to be normal."

"You'll never get to be normal." Sirius said.

Remus looked at them. "How so?" He asked.

"Well," Sirius looked at James. "You're acquainted with us now."

The train began to slow. The boys stood up and Sirius and James changed into their school robes. Together they followed the rest of the first years onto the platform where a giant was waiting for them.

"First ye'rs, this way! First ye'rs, o'er her' wi me!" The giant called under a mane of bushy beard and hair.

Sirius and James went up first, pushing past Snivellous and Evans. Remus hung back, believing that he was no longer wanted. Sirius looked around then dragged Remus to the front with him and James.

"Welcome ter Hogwarts, my name's Rubeous Hagrid th' gamekeeper her'. Yer lot just call me Hagrid," The giant said giving the prefects a wave. "We'll be takin' a wee trip on th' boats tae get tae the castle." He pointed towards a heap of rowing boats with no oars and lanterns hanging precariously from the front. "Four tae a boat," He said gruffly. "'Cept fer me o' course," He got into one of the boats and waited for the rest of them. Remus quickly found a boat that had not been hastily grabbed by the clamouring first-years. James and Sirius joined him along with a tiny fat boy with mouse-like features, light blonde hair and small eyes that seemed to dart. He sat at the back watching the other three.

Slowly the boats began to move of their own accord and follow the massive shape that headed out in front. Above them loomed the majestic castle with glittering lights and just behind one of its many turrets, a crescent moon hung in place, illuminating the water with a ghostly glow.

Reviews... Please?