Disclaimer: If you recognize it that probably means it doesn't belong to me. I'm just a poor writer having fun with someone else's characters.

Sorry about the luggage being in the compartment. I seriously cannot remember if that's canon or not and was a little confused with the information I found.

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More Than Just One Surprise

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Remus had been lucky enough to get to Platform 9 ¾ early enough to find an empty compartment. There were a few other students already on the train but the majority of them were still saying goodbye to their families and greeting their old friends. It would have been nice to spend some more time with his parents but something had come up at the place his father worked and they had to leave early.

Not that Remus really minded, it was also nice having this compartment to himself. While he was extremely excited to actually be going to Hogwarts, he was equally as nervous.

For as long as he could remember he'd always had trouble making friends. It wasn't just because of his condition – although that was a big part. In fact, his mother knew about his little problem that she told him not to worry if he didn't make friends right away.

And the sad thing is, Remus wasn't entirely sure he would even itry/i to make friends. Wouldn't it be safer if he didn't get close to anyone so they didn't notice the small things and his disappearances?

With a sigh, Remus opened up the book he'd brought for the ride and started to read. Maybe he could look boring and no one would want to join him.

He was only a few pages in when he heard the door open. Standing there, looking a little out of breath was a short and slightly pudgy blond boy. "C-can I join you?" he asked, looking at Remus pleadingly.

"Sure," he replied only after a moment's hesitation.

The boy smiled at him in thanks and dragged his trunk into the compartment. When it was obvious he wasn't going to get it up on the railing above, Remus set his book to the side and the two somehow managed to get it up next to Remus'.

"Thanks," his companion said and sat on the seat across from Remus. "For the…um…help and for letting me join you. I was chased out by some fifth years." Remus must have had a horrified look on his face because the other boy quickly continued. "Th-they were Slytherin so it's okay."

Remus mutely nodded and leaned back in his seat. If the older students – regardless of which House they were in – were going to be like that, maybe he should just get off the train now. But, before he could think about that too much, the train began to move.

"I'm Peter, by the way," the blond said, extending his hand. "Peter Pettigrew."

"Remus Lupin," he introduced, shaking the offered hand.

Peter smiled as he rested back in his seat. "Um…what House do you think you'll get Sorted into?" he asked, obviously trying to make conversation.

Remus started, a little shocked that Peter knew he was a first year but figured it must be obvious. "My parents think I'll be in Ravenclaw," he finally said when he realized he'd taken too long to answer. "So, probably there."

"My mum says it'll be Hufflepuff for me," Peter said with a small laugh and Remus realized that the two of them were already comfortable with each other only after a few minutes of talking.

"Why Hufflepuff?" Remus asked, hoping that even if they get Sorted into different Houses they could still remain friends if he continued to talk to him. It would be nice to have at least ione/i friend.

Before Peter could answer, the door opened again and two older, giggling girls entered the compartment, both were wearing Gryffindor ties. They asked to join them and promptly ignored the younger boys when they said yes.

The rest of the ride to Hogwarts was spent with the girls gossiping about something and Remus talking to Peter about their expectations about Hogwarts. Once the train had stopped, all of the students got off the train.

Seeing as they were new and had no idea what to do or where to go, Remus and Peter stuck close together until someone called out to all the first years. It was a large man who introduced himself as Hagrid.

He told all the young students to get into the boats, four for each. Thankfully, Remus saw a boat with only two other students and pointed it out to Peter. One of them was a boy with greasy looking black hair and a rather large nose. He glanced at them before turning back to the castle in in the distance.

The other student was a girl with dark red hair and a friendly smile. "Hi, I'm Lily Evans," she greeted as Remus and Peter joined them. They introduced themselves and learned the boat's other occupant was Severus Snape and that the two had known each other for many years.

Before anything else could be said, the boats started to move magically and Remus held on tightly to the edge. Although it felt like forever to Remus, they reached the shore in due time and everyone got out.

Unlike the boat ride, the next half hour went by quickly for Remus. They were guided into the castle and to a set of large, double doors where they were greeted by a stern looking woman. She introduced herself as Professor McGonagall and told them she was the Head of Gryffindor. She briefly explained the four Houses – most likely for the Muggleborns – then told them what was about to happen.

Because he'd been told stories about his parents' experiences before, Remus didn't really pay attention. He was too busy looking around at the big hallway, the few paintings on the walls, and everything else around him.

For as long as he could remember, Remus had wanted to go to Hogwarts but had always known that it would mostly likely never happen because of his condition. But, thanks to Professor Dumbledore, here he was. He was just so happy.

"You okay?" someone asked beside Remus and when he looked he found a boy with black hair and grey eyes looking at him worriedly. But the expression quickly changed to one of teasing when Remus nodded. "You don't need to cry, it's not ithat/i scary."

Remus blinked in confusion but then realized that he'd been crying out of happiness. Before he could even think about replying, Professor McGonagall opened the doors and everyone walked through and into the Great Hall.

On the other side of the large room was a long table with the professors sitting in their places. In the very middle was Albus Dumbledore and when he caught Remus' eye, gave him a wink.

Once again, time flew by as the other students were Sorted into their respective Houses. The black haired boy from before, who's named was Sirius Black, was Sorted into Gryffindor much to many of the Slytherin students displeasure.

Lily Evans was also Sorted into that House and smiled warmly at Remus as she ran past him. When it was finally his turn, Remus slowly walked up and hesitantly sat upon the stool. For a brief moment he actually thought about begging to go home.

But, as the Sorting Hat was placed upon his head, he knew that being at Hogwarts was the right thing to do. It wasn't even the fact that graduating from Hogwarts could help him in the future (maybe); it was that he wanted to be here and he had every right to be here as any other student.

iA bright mind, I see/i someone said in Remus' head suddenly which almost made him jump. It was the Hat! iNot only bright but also inquisitive, a yearning to learn, and…even a bit of creativity. The obvious choice would be Ravenclaw, don't you agree?/i

Remus nodded his head minutely but also thought his agreement. Like he had told Peter, his parents had always expressed their positivity that he'd be in that House and he'd grown to love it. He couldn't imagine being in any of the others.

iBut you're not only intelligent,/i the Hat continued and Remus could have sworn it was smirking – if hats could even do that. iYou've come to a place where you could not only put yourself in danger but everyone, too. A place where you could be faced with ignorance and discrimination if your secret is ever found out. And yet you've come here to learn. Ah… I know which House you belong./i

Remus sat there for a moment after the Hat called out iGRYFFINDOR!/i sure that it had been wrong. Why would it put him in there? Almost in a daze, he slid off the stool and made his way to the cheering table.

Lily was already sitting there and hugged him in her excitement. As the next student stepped forward to get Sorted, Remus saw Dumbledore looking right at him. The old man lifted a glass and gave him a small nod before returning his attention to the Sorting.

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In the end, the first year Gryffindor boys ended up being Sirius Black, Remus, Peter, and another boy named James Potter. Peter was flabbergasted that he'd been Sorted into Gryffindor that he spent the majority of the meal talking with his mouth full of food, much to the disgust of their fellow first years.

James and Sirius talked to each other mostly, seemingly happy to have been Sorted into the same House and almost ignored their Housemates. But that was fine with Remus; he didn't really need more than Peter as a friend. One was enough.

At the end of the meal, Peter had finally calmed down enough to listen to Remus but the young boy was too exhausted himself. He wanted nothing more than to crawl into his bed and sleep for days.

Apparently Sirius and James had other plans.

As Remus exited the bathroom where he had changed into his pajamas, he found Sirius lounging on Remus' bed with James sitting by his feet. Both grinned at him when they saw him staring.

"I think it's time for a proper introduction," Sirius said, quickly jumping from the bed and walked over to Remus. He extended his hand as he said, "Sirius Black. Heir to the Black family and am so very happy that I'm not a Slytherin like the rest of my mad relatives."

"Uh…Remus Lupin." he replied, not sure what was happening. At dinner it seemed that neither James nor Sirius cared about their Housemates and now they were being so friendly. "Heir to the…uh…Lupin family? And I'm very surprised I've been Sorted into Gryffindor."

"Me, too," Peter said and quickly tried to explain himself when three pairs of eyes looked at him curiously. "I-I mean, I'm surprised I'm here, too. I thought I'd be in Hufflepuff for sure. I don't know why I'm here at all; I'm still waiting for someone to tell me to pack my things and head to the Hufflepuff dorm. And-"

James threw Remus' pillow at Peter and effectively shut the other boy up. "Oi! No need to ramble, Pete," he said with a laugh and stood from the bed. "I'm James Potter and I'm exactly in the House I knew I'd be in."

"That's 'cause you don't belong in the other Houses," Sirius said seriously and Remus thought what was harsh and uncalled for until James glared but with a smirk and pointed his wand at Sirius. Even though they hadn't been to lessons yet, he still successfully lifted Sirius' robes up enough to cover his face in retaliation.

Once Sirius got the garment off, the two boys started to wrestle and Remus managed to make it to his bed before they pulled him into their little fight.

Were these two really who he was going to be living with for the next seven years? How would he survive?