I am so sorry for this wait! I will not be making any promises for time is very weird for me! I just hope you enjoy the chapter! Merry Christmas!

Foadar: Thank you! Yes, McGonagall is going to have a hard time!

Nadasnape: Thank God! Well, Peter Pettigrew is a rat. You can't change that about someone. Let's see what happens! As for Peter Lupin, well, he is a darling and he would never!

Harrystwinsister: Thank you! Hopefully, you enjoy this chapter!

Isbelld: I am sorry for the long, long wait! Enjoy this chapter!

Miss Lily C: Thank you! Spanish, really? Wow, I tried learning it a bit but I kind of fell short! Hope you enjoy the chapter !


King Cross' station was like any other station. Full of people in a hurry, nobody even paying attention to other people. So nobody batted an eyelash as four children, all different carrying trunks and all kinds of animals, passed through them. Remus, for his part, was glad. Tonks had thankfully morphed her hair raven, like Alphard.

The four marauders exchanged worried glances. Up until then, it was all excitement. Now, however, the real dread settled. People were going to know them. Harry was the boy-who-lived, Alphard's father was a murderer, Anna's dad was a war hero and Peter...was going to hang out with all of them.

It wasn't that they were not famous in their previous school. But that reputation was built due to all the pranks and mischief they had gotten into. What was going to now?

Remus suddenly stopped, looking at the wall between platform 9 and 10.

"Here we are!" Tonks excitedly said. Alphard peeped over his trunk and snorted.

"No Offense Tonks," Alphard said, "But that looks like a wall. Already gone bonkers?"

Harry did not even pretend to hide his laughter as Anna and Peter shared a knowing glance. Not even in Hogwarts and the two had started it.

Tonks snorted. "Shut up, Mr Smarty Pants!"

"All right, all right!" Remus chuckled. "The way to the platform is through the wall. You run into it or walk, whichever feels comfortable."

The four friends exchanged a glance. "And these...muggles don't notice?"

Remus shook his head. "No, there are muggle repelling charms. Like it is in Hogwarts. Whenever someone sees something...weird, their mind tells them that they have forgotten something."

Anna gasped. "That's so cruel!"

Remus shrugged. "It's for their safety."

Tonks arched an eyebrow. "How do you even remember that? It has been only a year and I have forgotten it all."

Remus smiled. "I like to read. Shall we?"

The four Marauders shared a glance, before nodding. They were ready to do it.

Remus smiled and took Peter's hand. "Together."

Peter smiled and nodded as father-son duo broke into a run. Peter closed his eyes tightly as they closed up to the wall.

Peter felt cool air blow to him before they stopped running. As they began to slow down and move the other way, Peter opened his eyes. The sight was breathtaking.

In front of him stood the Hogwarts express, red engine puffing out smoke. The Hogwarts emblem shone brightly in front, making Peter gasp in awe. Everywhere on the platform, people were running and talking animatedly.

"Whoa!"

Peter turned to see all his friends staring at the place in awe. Indeed, the place was beautiful.

"If this is your reaction here, I don't even want to know what you will do once you get to Hogwarts."

Peter gave Tonks a grin, before pushing his trolley over to the different compartments. The platform was still a bit less crowded. Remus at once began helping the kids load their trunks on the train and was only satisfied once they were all well seated in a compartment.

"Good," Remus and Tonks said, looking around. Everything was well packed.

"Now," Remus immediately went to his teacher mode. "A few directions before you go to school. Put on your robes halfway through. Harry and Anna, your owls will go to the owlery. Alphard, your cat will be living with you."

Peter gave a small smile to his dad. He hadn't bought any pets because it was not necessary. They were always short on cash.

"Don't get into too much trouble," Remus started but then sighed. "Sorry, wrong framing of the sentence considering you lot. Don't get into too much trouble the first week of the school."

"So we can do whatever we want to after that?" Harry asked excitedly.

Tonks grinned and Remus shook his head. "I would prefer you do not. But if you do, I can't stop you."

Harry and Alphard shared a grin as an old memory surfaced in Remus' mind. Shaking it away, Remus turned his attention back.

"I will tell you about the teachers," Tonks started happily, "Don't piss off McGonagall, Filtwick is fun but comment on his height and you're gone."

"Why would we comment on his height?"

Ignoring Anna's question, Tonks continued, "Try and stay away from Snape, he hates everyone except Slytherin and I hope you are not in Slytherin."

The four friends exchanged a look. They had read about the four houses. Well, more like Peter had read and informed the lot.

"Why?"

Remus gave a glare to Tonks before saying, "Nothing wrong's with being in Slytherin if you are good in heart. Now, the gatekeeper is called Hagrid and if you need any extra help he will help you all. There will be some politics going on among purebloods and stuff. Harry, many people will try and be your friends. Judge them and then accept their hand of friendship."

"Don't worry Mr Lupin," Alphard said, patting Harry's back, "This poor guy can't even decide what to wear for the day. We will take care of him."

Harry sent a glare in Alphard's direction as Anna snickered.

Remus smiled. "Yes, I certainly hope so. Take care, the lot of you."

The children excitedly murmured and climber aboard the train, hoping to find a place. Tonks decided to join them, leaving Peter and Remus to talk.

Peter looked up at his father, a small smile on his face. Remus kneeled down, straightening the non-existent wrinkles on his clothes.

"So," Remus finally said, "The first year at Hogwarts. Excited?"

Peter nodded.

"Scared?" Remus asked, smiling.

"Maybe," Peter said, "But as long as I have them I have nothing to worry about. They are the best friends I could have ever asked for."

Remus smiled sadly, knowing exactly what it meant. "Yeah, take care of them, Peter. Friends...they are important in your life."

Peter nodded. "You will write, right? I mean, you are not going to disappear again, are you?"

Remus sighed, slowly massaging his temples. "I am really sorry I had to ever leave you. I...I didn't have a choice, Peter. If I did, it was something that I could control, I would never leave."

Peter sniffed as his father wiped away a tear from his face. "But yes, I promise, I will write to you. You promise to write me every week young man, do you understand?"

Peter nodded. "I promise dad."

Remus pulled his son in a hug, holding him close. As the train whistled, Remus finally let go of Peter. Peter ran through the train to find his friends and once he found their shared compartment, the four young people peeped out of the window.

Remus waved as the train began to take off. Tonks too waved them off and Remus couldn't help but hope that these four would remain strong, no matter what.


BPLPBPLPBPLPBPLP


Once the four had settled down, everyone began to wait for the journey to end. Peter decided to sleep, his head resting on Alphard's lap and his legs on Harry's as the two boys discussed prank ideas. Peter quipped in once in a while. Anna sat across them, looking out of the window and listening to the boys brainstorm ideas.

"We could put some fireworks at the entrance," Alphard suggested.

Harry shook his eyes. "We don't want to hurt anyone, Alphard!"

"Let's wait till we are there," Peter said, his eyes closed and covered by his left hand, "We will see the infrastructure and then decide."

"Yes," Anna said, finally looking at her friends, "We don't want to make a bad first impression!"

Harry nodded as Alphard rolled his eyes, before sitting back.

"Anything from the trolley dears?"

Everyone looked out to see an old woman standing with an array of sweets.

"What are those?" Alphard asked, looking quizzically at the other three.

"Who cares?" grinned Harry, pulling out a few galleons, "We will have two of each!"

In no time, the sweets were sprawled across the seats as the four friends munched on the newly found tastes. Peter picked up a box and read, "Bertie Botts every flavoured bean!"

Anna picked a small piece of paper that had fallen down and her eyes widened slightly. "Seriously, they have every flavour! Earwax, worm, booty!"

The boys made scrunched up their noses before putting the box down and pulling up something called the Chocolate frog.

Harry opened the box, only for a chocolate frog to jump out, surprising the four. They watched as the frog jumped out of the window and flew away.

"Wow," Alphard looked at the others, "Someone has a sense of humour!"

Harry nodded solemnly before searching for other stuff. Just as he had put liquorice in his mouth, the door opened to reveal a blond boy, looking around in their compartment, a bit confused.

"Um, hello?" Anna asked and the boy finally noticed four other people in the compartment.

"Have you seen a toad?" he asked, worried.

Alphard and Harry shared a look. "Was it chocolate brown and eatable?"

"No!" the boy shook his head.

"Then I am afraid no!" Peter said.

The boy looked close to crying. "Gran is gonna kill me! Lost Trevor again!"

Peter looked at the poor boy before an idea struck him. He pulled out his wand and moved it, before saying, "Accio Trevor!"

Everyone looked at him for a moment as nothing happened. Then suddenly, a toad zoomed in the compartment and it landed on Peter's lap.

"Trevor!" the boy took the toad and looked at Peter gratefully. "Thank you so much! Thank you!"

Peer smiled kindly. "No problem."

"How did you do that?" Alphard demanded, looking at Peter excitedly.

"Accio charm. I might have read and practised a few charms at home."

Anna whipped out her wand and tracing the movement, said, "Accio Harry Potter!"

Harry was immediately pulled to Anna, before she let go of him and he fell down, leading in laughter all around.

A bushy haired girl suddenly appeared, looking at the blond boy.

"Oh, I see you found your toad Neville!"

The boy, Neville, nodded. "Yeah, they helped me!"

The girl looked at the three laughing children and one boy on the floor. "Oh, thank you! We have been trying to find him forever!"

Her eyes landed on Harry and realization dawned on her. "You are Harry Potter!"

Harry looked up, taken aback. Neville too realized at that moment that the boy in front of him was actually Harry Potter.

"The one and only," Alphard said, helping Harry stand.

"I have read all about you," The bushy haired girl said, "you defeated the Dark Lord when you were a baby!"

"Uhhh."

"My name is Hermione Granger," she introduced herself, "and this is Neville Longbottom. And, you all are?"

"Anna Pettigrew!"

"Peter Lupin."

"Alphard Black, at your service my lady!"

Hermione shook hands with everyone, before turning to face Neville. "We better get going. We should be reaching school anytime now." She turned to the four kids in the compartment. "And you better change."

And just like that, she was gone.

"Well," Alphard said, looking at the others, "That was some lady!"

Harry smiled, before looking around, "Shall we change?"


BPLPBPLPBPLPBPLP


Harry, Peter, Alphard and Anna stuck together as they climbed down the train. A big huge guy was leading them towards the lake and the four immediately jumped on one boat, not willing to be separated.

They watched in awe as Hogwarts came into the view for the first time. The castle was beautiful, no doubt, and it was going to be their home for the next seven years.

Alphard leaned to Harry and said, "I bet we will be able to map it out in the first year itself."

Harry nodded, but his attention was captured by the castle. Peter and Anna shared a grin, looking back at the castle.

Once the boats reached the land, the four friends climbed out and followed the big man as he led them in the castle. He knocked thrice on the big gates and watched as it opened to reveal a strict looking woman.

"Thank you Hagrid," she said, looking at the crowd, "I will take them from now."

The four friends smiled excitedly, following the old woman, whom they knew to be Professor McGonagall.

And if Anna saw her giving some special glances in their way, well, she was not complaining.