Chapter 2-The Arrival

"You didn't have to be so mean, you know."

"Try telling them that."

"They were just being-"

"Gits? Jerks? Snot rags? Stop me when I get warm."

" I was going to say normal. That's what we do."

"By we, do you mean the male species, who, by the way, is really beginning to bug me."

"Yes I do. We size each other up. In fact, I should thank you. For being…well, you. You made it seem like I was good enough."

"I don't get that. Good enough? What, you're not 'good enough' for them?" Remus is silent. We've debated like this the entire train ride. We aren't mad at each other. Not really. Remus never gets mad, and I never get mad at him. I just don't understand. Of all the people in Hogwarts to buddy-up with, he chooses the two I immediately hate. He seems to read my thoughts.

"I knew you didn't like them. You had this look. I just knew. Right away, they hadn't even spoken yet. Rapid distaste," he said in a tone of mock wisdom.

"Not uncommon," I argued.

"Oh?'

"I rapidly find people distasteful a lot." We laughed together, something I loved to do, because Remus was such a stick-in-the-mud that he didn't laugh too often. Of course, there were other reasons fot that…never mind. "Worried?" I asked, not sounding too steady myself. My finger curled around a strand of my wavy blonde hair. He ran his hand through his brown and tame mane.

"Aren't you?"

"Yes, but you don't go around telling people that."

"Now who's putting up an act? Not good enough, huh?"

"Shut up," I said, throwing an empty Chocolate Frog carton at him. We were already changed into our robes, we both knew it wouldn't be too long now.

"Now what if we're in the same House as them, d'you think you can go seven years without strangling them?"

"Remus, I'm not sure if I can go seven years without strangling you. It's a wonder I've made it this far." We laughed again, but it was nervous and short-lived.

"I'm starting to wish I'd asked Romulus a little more about this place now."

"We'll be fine. He probably wouldn't have even told us if we asked." Remus shrugged. He was more tolerant of our brother than I was, but then again, Remus was more tolerant than me in general. I noticed lights I hadn't seen before. "Wow, is that the station?"

"I think it is, that's Hogsmeade Station!" We gazed ahead and before long the train was losing speed.

"Get your things," I said, grabbing my trunk and taking a deep breath. Here we are, Hogwarts at last. Neither of us spoke as we fought our way through the crowded passage. Outside, a huge man with a lantern was calling "Firs years over here!" Obviously we all scurried to him, like moths to a flame. Somehow I found myself separated from Remus, and stuck between a red-headed girl and Black. Great.

"Hey, it's Jaqui! Long time, no see!" I looked straight ahead, but tried to find Remus out of the corner of my eye. The red-head seemed to be doing almost the same thing. "What, no hello?" Black asked, pretending to be hurt. "It's only polite."

"Hello, how are you is polite. Even just 'hello' is polite. 'Hey, it's Jaqui, long time no see!' is not my definition of polite, especially if that person obviously doesn't want to see you." I stared in shock, so did Black. The red-head had snapped. I smiled at her, glad to see someone understood. She returned it, and I decided I liked her.

"Well," he huffed. 'Having an off day with the ladies, Sirius?' I thought. "Is it like moody day or something?" he asked. "Should I look out for flying objects or…?"

"Do you like you face the way it is?" I snarled. For some reason he smirked. "Stop that."

"Stop what?"

"Looking happy."

"Why?"

"It makes me want to slap you." He wiped that goofy grin right off, and I heard the girl giggle. We were somehow shuffled into the boat, Sirius, the red-head, and me Why not get to know the girl?

"Who are you?" I asked.

"Lily, Lily Evans. You?"

"Jaqui Lupin, glad to meet you."

"You too."

"And what do you want?" I spat at Black, who'd turned around.

"Why must you hate me?" he asked.

"It's just not that hard to do." We all remained silent for the rest of the boat ride, Lily and I exchange glances, me thinking I'd made a friend. Finally we made it to the castle. I found Remus but he was smiling ear to ear, walking with Potter. Fantastic. Just fantastic. Black winked at me and I somehow kept my fists at my sides. Black than ran from the two of us and guffawed with Potter and Remus. Refusing to come any closer to them, I asked Lily if she was looking for someone.

"Oh, you'd noticed? Yes, I've lost a boy, we're friends…" she said.

"Sorry," I said, "I'll help you look, what does he look like?"

"Kind of long black hair, black eyes, he's got a, don't tell him I said this, kind of big nose."

"It's fine," I said trying to see over the mob of my fellow first years. "I can't see much…" She sighed.

"Oh well, I'll see him inside." The castle loomed over head and I felt a rush of excitement. We entered through big, wooden doors, two winged boars on either side. We waited for a moment in what looked to be the entrance hall. Remus appeared beside me looking elated.

"Sirius and James really aren't that bad, really, you'd like them if you tried," he said in a rush.

"No."

"No to what?"

"No, I'm not going to try to like them," He looked slightly defeated, and Lily snorted.

"Sorry, I just, well, I've met those boys, the ones you're walking with?" Remus nodded. "It's just, I don't really like them either." Remus sighed.

"I'm sorry," he said.

"It's all right, I'm Lily by the way."

"Remus, her brother," he replied, pointing to me. Lily nodded. Then a very strict looking woman told us about the four houses, Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, and Slytherin, and how we would be sorted into one of them. I couldn't believe it was actually time for me to discover Hogwarts and all its magic. The woman said she would be back momentarily, and the chatter that had dropped when the woman had entered, suddenly rose again as she left.

"Not twins?" Lily asked. We nodded, although I wasn't surprised at her question.

"Fraternal." I told her. Of course, with my wavy and hard to contain blonde hair and fierce blue eyes, it was hard to consider brown-haired, brown-eyed Remus my twin.

"Oh, well that's cool, I I'm in your house," she smiled. I grinned back at her and nodded in agreement.

"They're ready for you now," the severe woman said. We lined up, single file and entered what must have been the Great Hall. Remus tapped my shoulder and smiled at me, and I felt myself breathe again. For the first time since I'd thought about Hogwarts, I felt that my werewolf brother would be all right We would be all right.