Author: dalamarsgrl
Rating: PG, (maybe PG-13 for language later on)
Notes: first long fic, and only my second Harry Potter fic, please bear with me! Thanks so so so much to my wonderful beta reader Katie, whom with out I would have given up two weeks into writing ;)
Disclaimer: Don't own any of the character aside from a couple of them. Not making any money…yeah you get the drift.
Remus Lupin sat inside the make shift jail, his head in his hands, legs crossed on the uncomfortable mat that served as a bed. He had no idea exactly how long he had been there because, from what he vaguely remembered about being drug into the cell, the room was underground. He knew he had been there for a while though; he was captured as a wolf, and the post transformation nausea had begun to leave him; the pain however remained.
The door further down the passage way opened, Remus however did not look up. The few cloaked and masked men that did come down to give him his meager food were afraid of him, and Remus learned fast enough that it was better not to move at all; lest they curse him. For whatever reasons his captors were keeping him alive, but alive and well did not seem to be included in the bargain. This time however the jailor did not put down spoiled food, or ever curse him. Slowly Remus raised his head.
The light from the torch caused him to squint. A thousand questions burned on his tongue, but he kept silent. The figure put the torch in an iron rack on the wall and knelt in front of the magically enhanced silver bars, "oh Remus, what have they done to you?" it asked.
Recognition parted the pain induced fog in Remus' mind, "Nerissa," he choked out.
Remus stood on the Nine and Three Quarters Platform saying goodbye to his mother. Children and parents moved up and down the platform loading trunks and other baggage.
"Now remember Remus, should anything go wr— should anything happen owl me immediately ok?" his mother reminded him.
"Yes mum, I'll remember, " Remus said absently as he looked at the multitudes on the platform.
"Ok, you'd better get on, the train will leave soon. Good-bye son, I love you. Have a good time, study hard!"
"Bye mum, love you too," Remus replied. He gave his mom a hug and began walking back to the compartment where his trunk was.
The next moment Remus found himself on the floor staring at someone's legs. He looked up quickly to see who had knocked into him.
A tall blonde boy, already in his school robes scowled down at him. "Watch where you're going," he snarled. He stalked off muttering something about brainless first years.
Remus sighed in disbelief and was about to get up when a hand appeared in front of him. "Here let me help you," said a soft voice.
"Thanks," Remus replied.
"Nerissa Baxter," the girl said once Remus was standing.
"Remus, Remus Lupin," he returned.
The girl smiled brightly, "are you a first year too?"
Remus nodded and then asked, "do you know who that blonde boy was?"
Nerissa's smiled faltered, "that's my cousin; Lucius, Lucius Malfoy. He's a fourth year Slytherin."
"Oh," was all Remus could think to say.
"It was nothing personal, him being so rude I mean, he's like that to everyone."
Before Remus could reply, Lucius walked back up. "What are you doing Nerissa?" he demanded. "You're going to miss the train."
"Sorry," Nerissa offered.
"I should hope so, now follow me," with one last glare at Remus, Lucius stalked off.
Nerissa risked one more smile at Remus and then hurried to follow her cousin.
Remus ate Cauldron Cakes and Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans with his compartment mates Sirius Black, a mischievous boy with a bright smile and sparking eyes; and James Potter, who was quieter than Sirius, but no less enthusiastic about causing trouble. He had round glasses and black hair that was in disarray.
The trio was laughing at a joke that Sirius had made when the door to the compartment suddenly burst open and a small, round, blonde boy practically fell inside and hid behind the pile of trunks.
Sirius stood up, "what the—" he began but was cut short by the door opening again.
Lucius Malfoy stood in the doorway, a smug smile on his face. He strode slowly inside; several other boys followed him in. He looked at Sirius Remus, and James for a moment before speaking. "You haven't seen a short, fat, blonde, sniveling git have you?" He drawled.
"No," Remus said before the other tow could answer.
Lucious' eyes narrowed, "you're the clumsy prat who knocked into me on the platform aren't you?"
Remus felt Sirius stiffen behind him and spoke up before the other boy got himself in trouble. "Yes I was the one who knocked into you."
Lucius seemed to consider his answer for a moment before muttering, "very well then." He spun on his heel and stalked out of the room; waving his hand as he left indicating he wanted his group to follow him.
When the door had closed the small boy behind the trunks came out of his hiding spot and sat down next to Remus. "Thanks," he said breathlessly.
"Not a problem," Remus answered, "what's your name?"
"Peter," the boy replied
"Well, don't worry too much about Lucius, he's a jerk," Remus continued.
"You know him?" Sirius asked.
"Not really," Remus replied, "he walked straight into me on the platform this morning. He didn't say anything besides 'watch where you're going', and walked off before I could apologize or anything. His cousin was nice enough to help me up. She's a first year too, she said he's just a jerk to everyone."
"Well he looked like one," James said, speaking for the first time since the incident began. "What was he after you for anyway?"
"Oh I was showing another boy my wand and I guess I did something that it didn't like, it well backfired and shot off these sparks. They hit Lucious, or what ever his name was, in the back. He tried to pummel me before I could even explain what happened." Peter was practically in tears by the end of his story.
"Well it looked like he could have used a good kick in the—"
"Sirius!" Remus said sharply, cutting the boy off before he could say anymore.
Sirius gave a lopsided grin and passed the last cauldron cake to Peter.
"Thanks," Peter said, as he took the cake. "I think we're slowing down; I better go get the stuff I left in my compartment. See you guys later!"
"Bye!" Remus called back.
"See ya," Sirius said as he peered out the window.
"Watch out for Lucius," James warned.
Peter shuddered and peered down the corridor cautiously before disappearing.
"We are slowing down," Sirius confirmed after a few moments. James and
Remus came to the window and peered out; but it was a futile effort. It was so
dark outside that all they could see were their reflections in the glass.
