Almost immediately, he spotted Remus. The small boy stood with his parents, not far from the Express, already waiting in the station. "Remus!" he called, grinning as the boy turned and spotted him. With a smile on his face, Remus waved, before talking quickly to his parents. Soon, he was approaching James.

"Hey," he muttered. "How was the rest of your summer?"

James shrugged. The few weeks between the trip to Diagon Alley and the return to Hogwarts had been uneventful, boring almost. Nothing had happened, except for his parents sometimes staring at him as if expecting him to explode, before asking if he was feeling okay.

"Fine," he replied, finally. "Yours?"

"Yeah it was...okay," Remus replied, as they turned and began to make their way back to Remus' parents. "I haven't seen Peter or Sirius yet, though."

"Let's grab a carriage," James suggested. "They'll find us in there."

Remus nodded his agreement, and the boys said quick goodbyes to their parents, before darting towards the large red train. As they pulled their suitcases down the hall, they glanced into the various carriages, looking for an empty one. Soon, they were settled in, James stretching out across the seats before he glanced at Remus.

"How have you been, anyway?" he asked, voice soft. Remus' eyes snapped to him, one eye narrowed in thoughtful concentration.

"What do you mean?"

"Well, with...you know, the monthly problem," James squeaked, suddenly feeling uncomfortable and wondering if his friend would have preferred him not to mention it. His face was red as Remus shrugged.

"Same as always. Well, sort of. I guess I'm kind of used to it by now but the wolf...the wolf didn't like waking up somewhere new, again." He rolled his eyes, before letting out a deep breath. "But, really, James, you shouldn't be worrying about me."

"I'm your friend, Remus," James sighed. "Of course I'm going to worry about it. It's part of the territory! And if you ever want to talk, I'm here for you, yeah?"

Remus smiled, nodding slowly before his eyes fell downwards.

"Have you thought about telling Sirius and Peter?"

He let out a long sigh before lifting his head and looking at James. "No, well I...I've thought about it but...not yet."

"Okay," James said, nodding. "That's fine, Remus. Don't look so scared. Tell them when you're ready, yeah?"

A small smile appeared on the boy's face. He opened his mouth to say something, shutting it quickly when the door opened. Sirius grinned at them, dragging his suitcase in and holding a small cage with an owl inside.

"Look what I got," he said, placing the owl next to him.

"You didn't have that in Diagon," James muttered, tilting his head to one side as he looked at the bird.

"Nah, it arrived yesterday. Mum just handed it over to me and said 'that's for you'. She didn't say who it was from though." He reached in between the bars, tickling the owl. "He's so friendly."

"Name?" Remus asked, inching away from the owl as it looked at him with cold eyes.

"I don't know, yet. I'll think of something though." He lifted his head, glancing first at James then at Remus. "I...I wanted to apologise, for my mother. She..."

"No need," James cut in, shaking his head. "Really, Sirius, you're not the one who needs to apologise."

Sirius nodded, before glancing at Remus. "Are you okay, Remus?"

The owl was between the pair, and Remus was pushing himself against the wall, as far away from the creature as he could get. The owl still had its stare fixed on him, and suddenly snapped its beak at the bars, towards the small boy.

"Owls don't like me," Remus muttered, lifting himself up and moving across to sit next to James. "I had to go to the Owlery last year, just so they could get used to my smell," he explained, shifting himself until he was comfortable.

"Oh. Well, I'm sure he'll get used to you soon, won't you, boy?"

"Yeah," Remus muttered with a small smile. "Yeah."

The door opened once more and Peter stumbled in, a wide smile on his face as he glanced around at the other boys. The three of them called their greetings as he settled himself in Remus' now-vacant seat.

"Do you think it'll be weird," he began, "without York there?"

"Yeah. I wonder who the next Head will be?" James muttered, frowning as he glanced out of the window. His gaze fell on his parents, currently caught in a discussion with Remus'.

"And, by the way, my mother's little outburst was the first I heard of it, too," Sirius said, letting out a sigh. "That woman drives me crazy."

James laughed, shaking his head. "Well...she is still your mother, Sirius."

In response, he just scoffed. "Yeah, and she believes that blood makes you better than anything else. Just because I share her blood doesn't mean we have anything in common."

"How's your brother?" Remus asked, remembering Sirius' worries about him the year before. "He's starting next year, isn't he?"

Before Sirius could answer, the train beneath them began to rumple. Remus, Peter and James squeezed themselves in at the window, waving to their parents on the platform.

"Sirius, aren't you going to wave goodbye to your family?" Peter glanced over his shoulder, spotting Sirius in the same position.

"Na, they'll be outside Bella and Narcissa's carriage," he informed them, his voice cool and calm although with just a smattering of something else; bitterness, jealously or anger, none of the other three could really tell.

Once the train had pulled away from the platform, the three fell back into their seats, eyes sometimes darting to the window, eager to see the rolling scenery change.

"So, Sirius, your brother?" Remus nudged him with his foot, as Sirius slowly nodded.

"Yeah, well, he's okay. Just a bit...I don't know. Mum's had more time with him, hasn't she? I think she's close to brainwashing him..." He sighed, closing his eyes briefly. "I just wish I could stop her. Oh, yeah, and Narcissa is officially betrothed, now," he drawled.

"Yeah? To who?" Peter squeaked.

"Malfoy," he spat with a scowl. "Bloody Lucius Malfoy."

Peter wined, James sighed and Remus just stared at Sirius.

"But you knew it was coming," Remus said.

"Yeah, doesn't mean I'm happy about being related to a Malfoy."

"Anything from the trolley, dearies?"

The four boys turned to see the trolley witch, smiling happily at them with her hands gripped on the trolley itself, displaying all kinds of wizarding treats.

James and Sirius leapt up, moving quickly towards it and grabbing whatever caught their eyes, handing coins over to the witch. Once they were done, Remus and Peter followed, taking their time as they scanned the food, slowly grabbing a few things before making their way back to their seats. The witch closed the door and moved on, as James ripped open a chocolate frog, hand darting forward and holding it tightly before it could leap away.

"So, James," Sirius began, opening a bag of Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans, holding it out to the group. With a shudder, Remus shook his head, turning to his tube of Smart Pops, a small chocolate sweet that changed flavour in the mouth to whatever you were thinking of. "Any plans for this year?"

"Plans?" James asked, a glint in his eyes as he grinned at Sirius. "Why, Sirius, whatever could you mean?"

Sirius laughed, shaking his head. "Remus? Discovered any interesting spells we could use?"

Remus glanced away, staring out the window at the hills they were currently whizzing past. His mind drifted back to his conversation with Lily, to her asking him to request that Sirius and James lay off Snape. "Maybe," he muttered. "Who were you thinking of going for, now?"

Both boys shrugged. "My cousins, for one," Sirius muttered. "And Narcissa's dear betrothed."

"Snape, too," James muttered, a dark tone in his voice. "That slimey, greasy-haired git thinks he's so great at everything. And did you see how much he hounded Caedmon last year about the Dark Arts?"

Remus shrugged. "Maybe he just has an interest in fighting them?" he suggested. "You know, like you do." He glanced quickly out of the window, before drawing his eyes back to the group. "Maybe we should try to get Narcissa and Bellatrix, first. Snape can wait until later, can't he?"

James shrugged. "Yeah, whatever. You got anything we can use at the feast?" A grin lit up his face as he shifted himself towards Remus. "We could start the year off with a bang. You know, in honour of Professor York."

Remus glanced at his bag, before letting out a sigh and reaching into it, pulling out a book with pieces of parchment sticking out of the top. "I might have something," he muttered. "Hang on."

Expectantly, the other three stared at him, leaning forward in an attempt to read what he had written. His eyes flickered up, spotting them trying to read, and he pulled the book closer to his chest, eyes darting quickly back down. Realising they would have no luck, the other three fell back.

"Are you going to try out for the Quidditch team, then?" Peter asked after a few minutes of silence. James ripped the leg off his chocolate frog, threw it into his mouth and chewed before answering.

"Of course I am. Why wouldn't I? I'm a good flyer, and I bet I'll be a great player, too."

"Don't get too cocky now, Potter," Sirius warned. "You're going to have some stiff competition, a lot of it from older students."

"I know, but still..." James trailed off as Remus snapped the book shut, gripping a piece of parchment.

"Found it," he announced, grinning as he held his palm out, the side of the scrap with writing on it facing upwards. The eyes of James, Sirius and Peter scanned over it.

"Remus," James whispered. "This is brilliant."

X X X

The Hogwarts Express pulled into the station in Hogsmeade, slowly gently down as students began to gather their belongings before tumbling off the train. Almost everyone had found their friends, made the years previously. The First Years, looking nervous and scared, clung together as they made their way towards Hagrid's shouting. James, Remus, Peter and Sirius darted through the groups of children, chatting along the way about how they were supposed to get to the school.

"It's carriages," Remus muttered, as they left the train station behind, following the groups of older students. "Pulled by..." He paused, spotting the look on Peter's face. The boy looked terrified.

"Pete? What's wrong?" James asked, eyes darting over the large carriages and the harnesses that clung onto nothing. "Huh, horseless carriages. That's cool."

"Horseless?" Peter squeaked, eyes fixed on the carriages. "They're..."

"Horseless," Sirius muttered, giving a quick nod. "Must be magic. Of course. Come on!" He darted forward, pushing past a group of Slytherins and leaping into a waiting carriage. The others followed, James moving quickly ahead, Remus and Peter following.

"Peter? Are you okay?"

"Yeah," Peter mumbled. "Yeah, I'm fine."

Without another word they piled into the carriage and it took off, racing towards the school.

While it moved onward, Sirius and James read and reread the scrap of parchment Remus had provided. Under their breaths they whispered the spell, practicing the hand-movements Remus had included. Peter leant forward, eyeing the parchment.

"You going to help too, Pete?" James asked, eyes darting up and fixing on the small boy.

Peter shook his head. "Na. I...I'll leave this up to you two."

James nodded before returning to the parchment, while Remus studied Peter. The other boy's face was pale, like he had seen a ghost, and although it was quite mild outside, he was shivering.

"Peter? Are you sure you're okay? You don't look well."

"I'm fine," he muttered, hanging his head. "I just need something to eat, is all."

Remus decided not to push it, and instead ran over a few other bits of information about the spell, things he thought would be of use to Sirius and James.

"This will work, won't it?" James asked, biting his bottom lip. "I mean, it's not going to backfire on us, right?"

Remus shrugged. "It depends on how well the spell is done. But it's not an advanced spell – you should be fine."

"Okay, good," James muttered, as the carriages stopped and, around them, students began to pile out. The four boys climbed out and began to ascend the stairs leading to the Entrance Hall, as the chatter of students around them filled the air. Discussions of the sorting were the main topic, with some excitedly talking about siblings or cousins about to go through the process.

"I told him he has to fight a troll," one Slytherin chuckled.

"My sister thinks they have to perform magic, in front of the school," a Ravenclaw drawled, grinning. "She thinks that the house she gets into depends on how well the spell is done."

Darting between older, taller students, James, Remus, Peter and Sirius pushed open the doors to the Great Hall, slipping in with the other students.

They made their way to the Gryffindor table, grabbing themselves places where they could all easily see the Slytherin table. James and Sirius sat on the end, both with a clear view. As they settled down, the sound of others around them continued to fill the air, as people darted from table to table, greeting friends from other houses they had not yet seen.

Overall, the mood was light, and briefly Remus wondered if everyone else was aware of Professor York's death.

Eventually, the teachers filed into the room, taking their seats behind their table. Remus looked up, unable to help staring at the blank spots where Professor Caedmon and Professor York had previously sat.

"Where's Slughorn?" James hissed, leaning in to speak to them. "Guys...where's Slughorn?" He repeated the question with more urgency, more worry, his eyes wide.

"Seeing the first years?" Sirius suggested, trying to keep his voice light. "I mean...someone has to, don't they?"

James nodded but didn't look too convinced as he leant back, eyes locked on Professor Slughorn's vacant seat.

Professor Dumbledore sat, as always, in the middle. To his right sat Professor McGonagall, her face pale and more drawn than it had been the last time the boys had seen her. All the teachers looked tired and worried, but as the students filtered in their faces grew brighter, their shoulders relaxed and some of them even smiled.

Eventually, the hall was full, and Professor Dumbledore stood, his smile bright as he gazed around at the students.

"Welcome back to another year at Hogwarts," he began, eyes twinkling. "I hope you are all looking forward to another year of learning. I have some announcements to make but first, the sorting."

Cheers rose up around the hall as the side-door opened. Professor Slughorn entered, and James visibly relaxed, letting out a deep breath as Filch, the caretaker, brought forward the Sorting Hat on its stool.

The first years gazed at it, some shaking as it opened at the brim, and began to sing.

While the hat sang its song, James' eyes wondered around the Great Hall. He recognised the faces of everyone in there, now, and mentally added up the Quidditch players. Hufflepuff needed two new Chasers and a Keeper, Ravenclaw lacked their Seeker, and Slytherin's two beaters were now gone. He drew his eyes to the Gryffindor table; the only player who had been a seventh year last year was the Keeper. Two of the three Chasers sat together, while the third sat down the other end of the table.

He would have to play well to take the place of any of them on the team.

James returned his attention to the front table as the hat finished its song, a round of applause rising up from the students. Professor Slughorn slid forward.

"Now, when I call your name, please step forward and place the hat on your head."

With that, the sorting began.

James and Sirius cheered loudly whenever a student was declared to be a Gryffindor; their boos were among the loudest when a student was placed in Slytherin. When the hat cried out Hufflepuff or Ravenclaw they, like those around, simply clapped.

Eventually, the last student trotted off to Ravenclaw and the caretaker removed the hat. Food appeared on the tables before them and immediately they began to dig in.

A couple of the first years had squeezed themselves near James, Sirius, Peter and Remus, and now they gazed around at the hall, eyes big and bright.

"My dad's going to be over the moon," one announced, grinning madly at the boy opposite him. "He was a Gryffindor, too."

Another of the first years turned to gaze at Sirius, his mouth slightly open. After a few minutes of staring, Sirius turned to the boy.

"What?" he growled, eyes narrow as the boy shut his mouth and hung his head.

"Sorry, I...I...you're Sirius Black, aren't you?"

Sirius rolled his eyes. "Yeah, I am," he sighed. "Why?"

The boy slowly lifted his gaze. "Our parents used to be friends. Mum has photographs of them all together."

Sirius shifted slightly, focusing his gaze on a spot on the table. "Oh. Right."

"I was just surprised you're in Gryffindor, is all," the boy muttered, eventually. "Not that...well, my dad is going to be annoyed when he hears I'm here, too."

Sirius grinned at the boy. "Don't worry about it. Narrow minded people like them are dying out, anyway."

Most of the first years questioned those around them, asking about lessons and Quidditch and aspects of the castle they had yet to discover. Eventually, the food disappeared from the tables, leaving the pupils feeling full and relaxed. Professor Dumbledore stood, stepped forward and smiled around at them all.

"As I stated previously, welcome back to another year at Hogwarts. To our new students; simply, welcome. I hope you enjoy your time here. As you may have realised, we are currently...slightly short-staffed, due to the untimely deaths of Professor Caedmon and Professor York." His voice had taken on a more solemn tone, as Sirius glanced at James.

They nodded to each other.

"The new Defence Against the Dark Arts professor will be arriving in the next day; our new Flying Professor will arrive before the first Quidditch match, and before the first years begin their lessons. I would like to remind pupils that the Forbidden Forest is out of bounds, and..."

James lifted his wand, eyes locked on the Slytherin table. Sirius imitated his actions, while Remus and Peter forced themselves to keep their attention on Dumbledore, to ignore the movements of their friends.

As Dumbledore's speech drew to a close, he requested that the students stand and sing the school song to the tune of their choice. Around the hall, pupils stood, Sirius and James included. They winked at each other before their attention fell on Dumbledore and the words rising up from his wand. As the school joined together in song, no one noticed the drinks on the Slytherin table begin to bubble.