The morning of September 3rd, John Smith woke to the various sounds of other people getting ready for the day. Seeing as classes wouldn't start until Monday, John decided to pull his blankets over his head and try to fall back asleep. Unfortunately for him, James and Sirius were extremely loud people. James was a morning person. Sirius was not. Both of them managed to be much too loud for this hour. John throw his pillows at them.

Deciding it would be much too difficult to fall back asleep at this point, John fully opened the curtains surrounding his four poster bed and observed his room-mates. Peter was also awake, but the pudgy boy had managed to stay so quiet John hadn't even noticed him until he sent a meek little wave his way. James had picked up the pillow John had thrown, and decided to chuck it right back at him. He successfully hit him in the face, and John yelped. Sirius's bed had the curtains drawn, but the way they were swaying told John this was a recent development. The only one of them unaccounted for was a certain Remus Lupin. He was nowhere to be seen, and his bed was neatly made, the curtains drawn back.

"Why do I have to be awake right now?" John asked, grouchiness apparent in his voice. "It's seven in the early times."

"Smith understands!" Came Sirius's muffled voice.

"Well see, I reckon it'd be a great idea to explore the castle before you lot manage to get lost on the way to class on Monday." James stuck his tongue out.

"Shouldn't we get breakfast first?" Peter asked before the other two boys could get defensive.

"I reckon it'd be a great idea to explore the castle after breakfast so you lot don't get lost on the way to class on Monday." James corrected himself as his stomach grumbled.

"If anyone's getting lost it's you, mate." Sirius also grumbled.

"I'm all for exploring the castle, but I just wanted to relax today…" John frowned. "Besides, Remus isn't even here."

"He's probably at breakfast." James shrugged. "Now come on! Up you get! We've got food to eat and secrets to find!"

John stared at him for a moment before pulling his blanket over his head again. This was not something he wanted to deal with. He feared James would always be an insufferable morning person. Now, John had nothing against mornings, unless he hadn't been planning on waking up so early. He would have no problem making it to his first class on time when school started (so long as he didn't get lost), but his free days were already booked with sleeping in and lazing about. Perhaps doing homework if he really wanted to be productive. James was having none of his grumpiness, and promptly tore the covers off John's bed.

"Oi!"

"Up, up, up!" James clapped with every 'up' and John groaned, getting to his feet. "My pop tells me the best mates you'll ever have, you'll meet at Hogwarts, and I'm positive you lot're the ones he's talking about!"

"My mum tells me the worst enemies you'll ever have, you'll meet at Hogwarts." Sirius said, poking his head out from between his crimson curtains. His shoulder length hair needed a good brush, and he looked as if he hadn't slept well as he could have the previous night.

"Your mum sounds like she could stand to have a little more fun." James commented.

"Tell me about it." Sirius groaned. "I'll be ready in an hour, don't bother me until then."

The latest Black to attend Hogwarts shuffled out of his bed, clothes beneath his arm and toiletries in hand. James protested this time frame, but Sirius was having none of it. He stuck his tongue out at his roommate, simultaneously pulling his lower eyelid down. James looked affronted, but Sirius continued on his way and spent an hour primping in the restroom. John only shrugged, taking a moment to change in the privacy of his own bed curtains. There was no need to shower, as he'd done so last night. When he finished, he was wearing a rather simple outfit of dungarees and a white tee shirt. Uniforms wouldn't be required outside of class, so he certainly wasn't about to wear one now.

By the time Sirius had finished taking care of his appearance, it was a little past eight in the morning. James had already showered before him, so thankfully no more waiting was necessary past Peter's need to splash his face with water. The four of them made their way down the stairs, through the common room, and out the Fat Lady's portrait. John wondered what her name was. She seemed like an Elizabeth. He voiced his thoughts as the group made their way through the halls of Hogwarts, getting lost only once as they made their way towards the great hall.

"What about Dawn? She seems like she could be a Dawn." Peter said, as they were still on the subject of the Fat Lady.

"I don't know. It seems too modern." Sirius disagreed.

"Oh, Remus!" John grinned as he spotted their missing room-mate. "You left before any of us got up." He said as he sat beside the boy. Remus scooted away slightly.

"Er, yeah, I wanted to ask Professor McGonagall about the schedule…" Remus said, averting his eyes. John thought he looked exhausted. His hair wasn't even brushed.

"What's our first class, anyways?" James asked, sitting across from the two of them, flanked by Sirius and Peter. He got a plate of eggs and sausage.

"I…" Remus was at a loss. "I forgot."

"I hope it's Transfiguration." John sighed.

"You'd better hope you're actually good at it. Transfiguration is one of the hardest classes we have." Sirius told him. John pouted.

"Well I bet I'll be great at it." James claimed.

"I bet you'll turn your nose into a toad." Sirius countered.

James had enough pride to be offended by that, and the two of them squabbled like brothers. John laughed with amusement at the scene as he ate his breakfast. Peter jumped into their conversation when possible, but it was clear he was having a bit of trouble getting any word in. Remus seemed nearly finished with his food, so John told him of James's plan to explore the castle before they would have classes on Monday. It took the scarred boy a moment to decide whether or not he would join them, and he decided it wouldn't hurt to have a bit of fun 'before tomorrow'. When asked what he meant, Remus simply shook his head, and John was forced to let it go.

The five of them left the Great Hall after everyone was sufficiently fed, with James and Sirius arguing over who should be leading the group. As they did so, Remus quietly walked ahead and became the unofficial leader for the time being. It took longer than expected for them to get utterly lost, and Peter got his foot stuck in a trick step. Instead of laughing at him, the other four boys pulled him out at once, and all of them wound up tumbling down the rest of the stairs. Now battered and bruised, they decided it was perhaps time for lunch.

As the five boys ate their lunch, Professor McGonagall approached them, a stack of papers in hand. She briefly explained these were their schedules, and that all first year Gryffindors would have the same schedule. Electives weren't chosen until their third year. John thought this was stupid as he wanted to take Care of Magical Creatures and get mauled by a hippogriff. He very wisely did not voice this thought in front of Professor McGonagall, but James emphatically agreed with him when she was out of earshot. None of them decided to pore over their schedules until they were sufficiently stuffed with food. They meandered towards the courtyard as they inspected the parchment.

"We've got potions with Slytherin?" James scrunched his face up with disgust.

"And history of magic." Sirius pointed out, looking further than their first class come Monday.

"Well, at least we won't fall asleep now." Remus said, voice quiet and without malice. He hadn't spoken much yet, and John hoped he would warm up to them soon.

"What's so bad about history?" John asked cluelessly.

"The teacher is a ghost." Peter said miserably. "He died one day and didn't stop teaching. It's like his voice is a sleep charm."

John winced. That sounded pretty bad. Looking down at his schedule, he could at least be glad they only had history twice a week, though the same couldn't be said about potions. He hoped that class would be fun despite the Slytherins, as he was quite interested in the subject. It was the one he assumed would have most to do with medicine, and though he wasn't particularly close to his parents, he still wanted to become a doctor like them. A healer, he corrected himself in his mind. Wizard doctors were called healers.

Not wanting to get lost in the castle again, they stayed outside. The courtyard seemed somewhat boring before too long, so they went towards the lake, quickly finding a pleasant tree to sit under. They could see the giant squid lazing about near the glassy surface of the lake, and the whomping willow stood still in the distance. One almost wouldn't be able to tell the tree would violently clobber anyone who came near. John wondered if they would learn about it in herbology. He adjusted the strap of his dungarees.

"What d'you lot wanna be when you grow up?" He asked.

"An auror. Definitely." James responded as he used his wand like a common stick to draw in the dirt.

"Anything but a politician. I'd be happy if I never had to talk to anyone like my family ever again." Sirius sighed dramatically, stretching himself out on the grass. His hair fanned out around him, and the sun kissed his face.

"Being an auror would be cool!" Peter squeaked. Him and James shared a grin, and James ruffled his hair.

"Well, I wanna be a healer. My parents are muggle doctors." John said. "What about you, Remus?" He asked, turning to face him.

"I… I don't know, I don't think I'd be able to get a job if I grow up." The quiet boy mumbled. "It'd be nice to be a librarian, though."

"Oi, what're you doing in Gryffindor then?" James laughed as he shoved him lightly.

"Get your arse in Ravenclaw, Lupin!" Sirius jeered, sitting up. Remus rolled his eyes, rubbing his shoulder.

"Maybe you should get your arse in the lake. I hear the squid's looking for a mate." He countered. Sirius's jaw dropped in shock as James started cackling.

"Did you just- Ohh, you're a right devil, aren't you? Under that soft, nerdy exterior, you've got a tongue sharp as a blade." Sirius narrowed his eyes at Remus, who only smiled pleasantly.

"Haven't a clue what you're talking about. D'you fancy a bean?" He said lightly, holding out a bright red Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Bean.

"Cherry?" Sirius asked, taking the bean without too much thought and popping it in his mouth. He chewed for a moment, then start choking, desperate to spit it out. "Hot peppers! You devious little prat!" Sirius clawed at his tongue. "James! Water!" He begged.

"Haven't got any mate, sorry." He didn't look sorry at all.

"I never said it was cherry." Remus said, feigning innocence.

"Slytherin! Should've been in Slytherin!" Sirius shouted as he got up and ran back up to the castle.

"Should we follow him?" John asked.

"I'll go make sure he doesn't get lost." Remus rolled his eyes, casually strolling after Sirius.

And so there were three. James led the conversation, bringing up the subject of quidditch. Upon learning John had never heard of the sport, he was flabbergasted. Peter joined him in explaining, and John could only be fascinated with this silly wizard sport played on broomsticks. It was with disappointment that he was reminded first years weren't allowed broomsticks. James told him he could probably visit sometime and play in his backyard. All of them probably could. By the time they checked the time, they realized it was nearly time for supper. They walked back to the Great Hall, glad there was at least one location they could find without getting lost.

Remus and Sirius were already sitting at the Gryffindor table. It seemed Sirius had already forgotten about Remus's earlier betrayal, and was telling him some sort of joke. Remus looked to be barely paying attention, but he nodded along politely. Supper was a pleasant affair, and they soon made their way back towards Gryffindor tower. The next morning would be Saturday, and John almost wished it were Monday already. Remus was nowhere to be seen that weekend, but the four of them were too busy exploring the castle to question him about it. He wouldn't have such luck in the future, but at least he got a free pass that first full moon.

Word Count: 2,199

Hello! Yes, I've finally written this chapter. I've only received one OC submission thus far, and would like to request that you send your OCs in if you have any you'd like to see me write. The form to fill out can be found at the end of Chapter 1 now.

I'm writing this fic and my How to Train Your Dragon fic at the same time, however, so the next chapter of this won't be posted until after I've written that one. Those chapters are easier for me to write, however, so hopefully it shouldn't take too long.

It'd be lovely if you could leave a review (even if it isn't an OC submission!) because those are an author's life force and keep them going. I love to hear feedback and talk about my fics, and I'm never going to be cross with you unless you're being particularly rude!

Anyways, I love you guys! I hope to see you again!