Chapter 5- The Hogwarts Express

The days leading up to September 1st zoomed past. Remus spent most of his time reading every book he bought in Diagon Alley to make sure he isn't behind on any work he could have missed out on while his dad home-schooled him.

On the morning of September 1st, Remus sat up abruptly as soon as he woke up. He could already hear his parents downstairs. He ran downstairs almost tripping over his trunk, he almost ran straight into Hope.

"Morning Remus, we almost thought of waking you!"

Remus looked up at the clock, it read 9:35, but he still was recovering from the last full moon which was only a few days ago.

"Thanks Mum." The took the toast and sat down and ate it with his father opposite who was looking slightly sad.

"Remus, are you ready? Have you packed everything?"

"Yeah but I'm going to check. I will miss you and Mum." Lyall then got up and picked up his work bag.

"I need to go, write lots Remus, we'll both miss you. Are you nervous?"

"A little. But I guess that's normal right?" He was more than a little nervous, but he didn't want to make his dad worried.

"Of course, its natural to be worried to start a new school." Lyall looked slightly distracted.

"Right. I've got to go."

"Ok bye Da- "And he apparated half way through the sentence.

Remus looked at his mum and she sighed.

"He has lots on his mind at the moment" then noticing that Remus had finished, the said, " Why don't you check you have everything before we travel. Make sure that owl of yours has a flight before he is cooped up in his cage again."

Remus nodded before sprinting upstairs.

As they arrived at King's cross station, Remus's arms had begun aching from pushing his trunk around on a trolley for a while. He looked at his ticket. It read: "Platform 9 ¾ King's cross station" "Mum" He said as he turned around to look up at his mother, "But that isn't possible is it? To have a Platform 9 ¾, look, there's a Platform 9 and Platform 10 there" he said, indicating towards the sign Platform 10, "Then where is Platform 9 ¾?" He must have missed something, he thought to himself. Its possible there could be a magical way of going to Platform 9 ¾ but he couldn't do magic and his mum couldn't either.

"You'll see" Hope replied, smiling.

His mother led him to the ticket barrier then stopped him.

"All you have to do is walk straight towards that ticket barrier, its easier to do it at a bit of a run if your nervous."

He nodded. Slowly, feeling sure he'd crash, he turned his trolley to face the barrier and began walking towards it. Remus started off with a walk, which turned quickly into a jog then to a run just as he approached the barrier. He closed his eyes as his body became tense and he felt himself slow down a little as a strange but magical sensation came about him. He opened his eyes again to see a beautiful scarlet train with bellowing smoke coming out its chimney with a shining silver plate that gleamed and sparkled in the sun,. Above him there was sign which read "Platform 9 ¾". The station was packed with witches and wizards, more then he'd ever seen in his life! He moved just in time for Hope to run through the barrier.

"Mum!" He turned to her and hugged her.

"Remus, I will miss you so much write to us lots. Remember, whatever happens to you we will always love you and I'm sure everything will turn out great, you are so kind it will be impossible for you not to make friends."

Remus just smiled in response; he knew it would be hard to make friends and even if he did, they'd probably abandon him if they found out about his affliction.

Heart thumping in his chest, a huge swarm of butterflies in his stomach, he stepped onto the train. Most of the compartments were full of excited Hogwarts students who seemed to be chatting to everyone as if they had known each other all their lives, which of course was possible. Remus wandered past the full compartments until he reached the end one with no-one in. He slid open the door and heaved his case, after dropping it a few times, onto the rack above. He quickly got out his book and found a bar of chocolate that his Mum must have packed as a surprise.

He smiled and began reading thinking he will save the chocolate for when he was hungry, after all he had a long journey ahead of him.

Just as the train started to move and Remus was now engrossed in his book about his favourite subject (The Dark Forces: A Guide to Self-Protection by Quentin Trimble) a small rat-faced boy appeared at the door, looking almost as nervous as Remus.

"Uh e-excuse m-me" he stuttered; Remus looked up from his book. "I-is anyone g-g-going to sit h-here?"

"U-uhhh no" Remus replied, not really knowing what to say. The boy nervously scuttled in, fiddling with his fingers. He sat on the seat opposite Remus next to the window.

Remus, unsure of what to do, looked down at his book. The boy opposite kept glancing nervously out the compartment door and almost fell off his seat every time someone walked past, he ended up actually falling off his seat as the trolley lady arrived.

"Anything from the trolley, dears?" Remus shook his head, remembering he had chocolate and the other boy shook his head quickly.

After finally convincing himself to talk to the boy and at least try and make friends, Remus looked up from his book.

"...H-hi what's your name?"

"P-p-peter, P-peter P-pettigrew" he stuttered back. Peter Pettigrew is more nervous than me, Remus thought to himself.

"I'm Remus Lupin. Would you like some chocolate? In reply Peter shook his head so Remus started eating his chocolate and turned to his book.

After a long journey with the two first years sitting in silence, they finally arrived at Hogwarts. Remus gazed at the enormous castle that loomed majestically over the train, it seemed to have hundreds of turrets and thousands of tiny windows. The train clunked to a stop once they reached Hogsmead Station and you could see almost every student poking their heads out the window of the train to glimpse the castle in which they would be staying for the next seven years of their lives.

It was the most amazing thing Remus had ever seen! All the students filed out of the train, excitedly chatting to one another. Standing about twice the height of almost anyone, Remus almost walked straight into a tall bearded man.

"First years! First years this way!" The huge man called out.

Once the platform was cleared of students, there was a shout then a 'SPLASH'

Two boys stood laughing their heads off at the side of a lake surrounding the Hogwarts Castle, once Remus was able to see better a red-haired girl was standing next to them, shouting as a boy struggled in the lake.

Authors note ~ Hey! I'm trying to write quicker, but I've been quite busy recently. I hope you are enjoying and please comment for writing tips or any ideas for how the Marauders make friends. Please continue reading, bye!