And the ground was moving. Bracing themselves, the trio followed Sirius and James down the isle of the Hogwarts Express. The two boys ducked into a compartment. Inside sat the Lupin twins, along with a small, mousy boy easily identifiable as Peter Pettigrew. The twins were deeply embroiled in a conversation, debating the high points of Gryffindor versus Ravenclaw. She was dressed in a knee-length green skirt and a beige peasant top with green flowers. Rose's hair was in her typical pigtails with huge green bows. Her blue eyes were wide and intense as she advocated for Gryffindor. Her twin was too dressed in green, but his was significantly darker and his pants were light. He was viciously advocating for Ravenclaw. Both were so into their debate that neither noticed the two boys enter. Peter, on the other hand noticed them.

"I'm Peter. You are?"

Sirius bowed. "I am the irrepressible Sirius Black. And this is my partner in crime, James Potter." The weeks at James's house had done him good- color had appeared in his cheeks and he had a huge grin and a mischievous glint to his eyes. Peter stuck out his hand to shake Sirius's, but the latter's attention was now entirely on Rose.

"We meet again, milady"

She rolled her eyes and laughed. He looked slightly miffed, and bowed. She drew herself up to her full height, barely reaching Sirius's chin, and curtseyed. "So we do. Now, my good man, do put your thoughts into my brother and mine's debate. Which house do you prefer?"

Sirius grinned. "Easy. Gryffindor, simply because Slytherens hate Gryffindors and all Blacks and Malfoys are Slytherens. And I hate all Malfoys and Blacks."

Rose raised one eyebrow, "Whatever you say, my self-deprecating friend." She turned to her brother. "Remus, it's two against one."

He turned helplessly to the other two. The both shrugged, and James said, "Sorry mate. I have a duty to the family, same as Sirius here."

Peter looked apologetic. "I don't know. I guess wherever you all want."

Rose looked triumphantly to her brother. "See? Now you have to try for Gryffindor. You have no choice. All our friends are trying for it."

Remus looked a little flustered. "Friends? We're all friends?"

Sirius jammed himself in between the twins, and put his arm around each. "But of course! How could we not be? We helped Rose conquer the trials of tall falling bookcases, and survived the tribulation! We are sharing our first ever Hogwarts Express compartment! We have to be best friends." Sirius put on a puppy-eyes face. "Pweeze Remie? Pweeze by my bestist buddy forever and ever?"

Remus laughed, and pushed Sirius off the bench. He fell on the ground, sleek hair mussed and robes askew. Rose began to giggle helplessly.

James looked insultingly at his friend, and began to speak in the same baby-talk voice. "I tought I was your bestist buddy? Why I not your bestist buddy?" He began to wail "You don't wove me!" He leapt onto Sirius, and began to wrestle with him. Remus, with an alarmed look, was sucked into the mess, and the three boys were shoving each other and laughing on the floor. Rose nearly fell into the mess with her giggles, and Peter, with a very alarmed look on his face, rolled himself into as small of a ball as possible and curled up in a corner of a seat.

In all the commotion, the trio, Rose, and the boys didn't notice Lily and Snape standing in the door, shaking with suppressed laughter. The three boys got off of the ground, each with suppressed smiles on their faces. They re-sat themselves on their seats, Sirius next to Remus, taking Rose's spot (she had fallen on the ground with her hysterical giggles) and James sat himself next to the still-trembling Peter. James ran his hand through his hair.

"So, Evans. Couldn't stay away?"

She rolled her eyes. "All the other compartments are full. It looks like there's no more room in this one either. You already have one person on the floor." Rose was still in her fit of hysterical giggles, with both pigtails coming undone. Snape cracked a smile at the sight. By then, the trio was also roaring with laughter.

Ron turned to Hermione. "Blimey, she sounds like you our first day!"

Hermione rolled her eyes, and hissed. "Listen."

By now, Lily was helping the smaller girl off the ground. Harry had to note that the girl really was tiny. She was a good seven centimeters shorter than her brother, and five shorter than Lily. Remus and Lily weren't tall, but she was tiny. Her hair had come loose from her pigtails, and now, instead of looking slightly insane, she actually looked rather pretty. The boys noticed it too.

"Wow" said Sirius.

She looked at him, confused. "What?"

"Your hair. You actually look like a first year now."

She put her hands on her hips. "What's that supposed to mean? That I'm short?"

Her brother looked uncomfortable. "Rose, you know you're short."

"I'll grow. Eventually."

Remus turned to the others. "Our mum is short too. She's only a little taller than me. Runs in our family."

Lily rolled her eyes. "Why don't you come sit with me and Sev? I know a ton of ways you can do your hair. Once they see you all prettied up, they'll forget all about your height."

The three left the compartment, with Sirius at a loss. "What did I say?"

Remus rolled his eyes. "She doesn't like being short. She's the bolder one, and she wants to be tall and intimidating, not like she is- kind of short and cute like a little kid. Or at least, that's what she says."

James roared with laughter. "I'd be scared of her if she glared at me like she does at Malfoy. What is it between the two of them, anyways?"

Sirius grinned ironically. "Malfoy's scum. He's a pompous idiot who plays with girl's feelings. I'm guessing she wouldn't stand for it?" he looked at Remus for affirmation. He nodded. "I was guessing she wouldn't. She doesn't seem the type- not like Narcissa."

"Who?" asked James

"One of my cousins. She's a second-year, and all over him."

"What year is he, anyways?"

"Third."

Suddenly, the door slammed open. Remus turned to look, but Sirius was already on his feet, wand drawn. "Speak of the devil." He hissed. There, in the door stood Malfoy, Bellatrix, Narcissa, and two young boys who looked so similar to Crabbe and Goyle that the trio knew they had to be their fathers.

Malfoy smiled. "From you, that's the greatest praise."

Bellatrix grinned as well, drawing her wand. "Well, now we see where you spent your summer. With the blood traitors and mudbloods that got you in this mess. Wait until mummy hears about this."

Sirius's eyes narrowed. "Tell her. I don't care."

Malfoy began to pace the compartment. "But first, my dear boy, I think a bit of punishing is due. Your mother would applaud us."

Peter blanched. "Wha-what are you going to do to him?"

"To all of you, firstie. Just a couple of handy little hexes I picked up from dear Siri's mummy, just in case I met up with him on the train."

He silenced Peter with one wave of his wand, and James drew his. "Back off."

And then they began to fight. James and Malfoy dueled, obviously mismatched, while Sirius dueled his two cousins. Crabbe and Goyle deserted their wands and chose instead to pummel Remus through brute strength. Suddenly, Crabbe fell. In the door stood Rose, wand drawn, face livid.

"Get away from him!"

Sirius took the opportunity to hex Goyle. Remus was unconscious, blood running from his nose, and face bruised. Bellatrix began to duel the girl, who was furious.

"Who was that? Your boyfriend?" she taunted.

"My brother." hissed Rose.

"Well, at least someone knows blood loyalty, eh Siri?"

With that, Rose hit her with a hex so strong, it drove her out of the compartment. The others withdrew as well, leaving the five standing awkwardly. James looked at Sirius.

"Well, now I know why you left home."

And the scene began to change…