July 1st, 1976, 5:02p.m., the Hogwarts Express

Remus

The train was just barely slowing and already Remus was missing his friends. He was sat opposite Sirius in their compartment, as he felt sure that if he sat next to him he wouldn't be able to stop himself from sitting too close for friendly comfort. Peter was next to him, bemoaning the things he would have to do with his family over the oncoming holiday.

"At least your parents can stand you," Sirius said as Peter finished. "My mother won't even look at me without a foul look anymore."

"Means you've turned out a decent human being," James commented. "You should come and stay with me this summer, all of you, if you can. My mum and dad would love to have more kids in the house."

Remus nodded. "I'll try to come and visit. It would have to be a short visit."

"Come on the new moon and leave a few days before," James said. "Or stay and use the woods behind our house. They're charmed to keep the game on our grounds, so you'd be stuck there."

Remus shrugged. "I'll try."

"I definitely want to spend all summer with your folks," Sirius said. "Better than my gloomy and dismal house."

"At least you get to owl people," Peter pointed out.

Sirius smiled, glancing at Remus briefly. "Yeah, that'll be the one highlight, letters from you lot."

"The one highlight of your brief time still with your parents," James added.

"Point taken, I'm going to your house over the summer," Sirius sighed. He leaned his head against the window and looked back at Remus. Remus smiled at him, who smiled back and looked away. Peter didn't notice, but James glanced between them. Remus quickly turned his smile on Peter, then James too.

"You lot're the best friends," Remus said. "Never change."

"Aw, Moony, are you getting nostalgic?" James asked.

"Very," Remus said. "We're almost of age, James."

"We've got another year left," James said.

"Not me, I'm seventeen in November," Sirius, "and Peter's of age already."

"Eighteen," Peter said, a little dejected. "I feel too old to be going into sixth year, to be honest."

Remus reached over and patted his shoulder. Peter's delay of entering Hogwarts was a sore subject with him, though it was no fault of his own. "You were ill, Peter, you couldn't go."

Peter shrugged. "Still."

"It doesn't matter, you've got the face of a twelve-year-old," Sirius said dryly. He reached up and touched his chin. "I envy you sometimes."

"Facial hair is a rite of passage!" James protested.

"Not when it grows back by lunchtime!" Sirius said.

"I'm sure it'll settle eventually," Remus said. He didn't mention that he quite liked Sirius's stubble.

Sirius sighed. He dropped his hand and looked out the window. "We're pulling into the station now," he murmured.

They fell quiet. James slowly stood up and pulled his robe over his head, revealing his Muggle clothes beneath it. The others followed suit, shoving their robes into their trunks. The train hissed and lurched a little as the brakes applied, then came to a stop. It let out a loud, long whistle, and the doors to the platform opened. They pulled down their trunks, and began their way off the train, following the mass of students to the platform. Remus spotted his parents, talking with James's amicably. Peter's parents were nearby, arguing from the look of it. Sirius's parents were farther away, waiting for their sons with their usual grim expressions.

Sirius followed Remus, James, and Peter to where their parents stood rather than going directly to his own. Remus knew this would upset them, but he also knew that Sirius wouldn't care.

"Hello, boys," Mr. Potter called out, bouncing on the balls of his feet as they approached. "How are you? How were OWL's?"

"Horrifying," James said, giving his mother a hug. "I'm pretty sure I flunked the History exam."

"Well, so did your mother, so what does it matter?" Mr. Potter said.

"Fleamont!" Mrs. Potter spluttered. "I didn't flunk it!"

"What do you call a P then?" Mr. Potter asked her, smiling genially at her. She huffed, but smiled a little. Remus approached his own parents, and his mother opened her arms with a wide smile. She looked much more drained than the last time he had seen her, and as he hugged her he could almost smell the chemotherapy on her.

"Hi, mum," he said. "How are you feeling?"

"Much better now that you're here," she said, pressing a kiss to his cheek. "How are you?"

Remus smiled at her. "Wonderful," he said.

A minute later, Peter walked back over, saying that his parents were ready to go.

"Group hug," Sirius said, holding up his arms. James rolled his eyes, but the four of them all stepped in and hugged.

"Send me an owl when you're settled," James said to them, "after you've asked when you can come and visit."

"Definitely," Peter said. "See you."

"Bye, Wormtail," Sirius said, waving to him. His arm was still around Remus's shoulders.

"Sirius."

Remus stepped away quickly at the sound of Mr. Black's voice. Sirius's smile faltered a bit, but then he nodded to his father. Remus saw Mrs. Black and Regulus standing a ways off, watching them. He looked back at Sirius and gave him a smile.

"See you lot," Sirius said. "Soon, I hope."

"See you, Sirius," James said, clapping him on the shoulder.

"Bye," Remus said simply. Sirius gave him a wink, as he always did when he sensed that Remus was nervous. Sirius followed his father back to his mother and brother, and the four of them Disapparated.

"We should get going as well," Remus's father said. "It was good to see you, Fleamont."

"You too, Lyall," Mr. Potter said, holding out his hand to shake. "I expect our boys will want to get back together before the summer's over. Our house is big enough for you and Hope to come as well, maybe the fresh air would do you good."

"Maybe so," Remus's father said. "Have a good evening."

"You as well," Mrs. Potter said to them.

"Bye, James," Remus said to his friend, following his parents off the platform.