James Potter had known about soulmates since he was just a small boy. After seeing the writing on the back of his father's hand, he had been curious. As a child even though he didn't really understand all of what his father was saying, he knew from the look in his eyes as he talked about the first time meeting his mother that it was something special. By the time he was eleven years old, he had read everything, that his mother would allow, about soulmates. He knew that the first words your soulmate say to you appear on your body as they say them. He knew most witches and wizards find their soulmate young, that the Fates put the souls who are meant to be close so they can find each other. He knew finding your soulmate helped to settle and strengthen your magic. He knew you couldn't force it, that the Fates had already picked the perfect moment for finding your soulmate.

Knowing all of this, he was sorely disappointed to have not found his at the end of his first year at Hogwarts. His mother had told him not to get his hopes up, that she and his father hadn't found each other until fifth year. She had told him that Hogwarts was a big place and that it would take time and he shouldn't try to rush anything. He knew she was right, but he had still hoped. After wiping away the sting of disappointment, he started to worry less and less about finding her. While he might be louder and pull more pranks to attract more attention, he didn't go out of his way to talk to every witch. When the time was right, they would find each other. He was sure of it.

o-o-o-o-o

The first time Remus Lupin heard about soulmates, he was eleven years old, and his roommate James Potter was lamenting over the fact that Lily Evans wasn't his. They'd only been at Hogwarts a few weeks, but he had already become fast friends with the other Gryffindor boys. So, when James continued to mope, he tried to cheer him up.

"How can you be sure she's not your soulmate? Maybe you just have to get to know her better." He wasn't so sure what the big deal was, anyway. They were only eleven. While Remus thought some girls in their year were okay; he couldn't imagine wanting to date one. James gave him a funny look, and he knew he'd said something wrong.

"Well, her words didn't show up." He said slowly, like Remus was daft or something. To his right, he heard Sirius scoff.

"And a good thing at that. Could you imagine having 'leave him alone, you toerag' marked on your body?" Sirius and Peter laughed while James muttered something about those not being her first words. And Remus was just confused. It must have shown on his face. James launched into a long and winded speech all about soulmates. Sirius rolled his eyes and pulled out a quidditch magazine while Peter avoided all eye contact and busied himself with schoolwork.

After twenty or so minutes, James finally stopped, and Remus was left wondering. Most wizards and witches had soulmates, according to James. But he was a werewolf. Dumbledore had called him a wizard when he had assured him and his parents that he had a spot at Hogwarts, but his own father had often said otherwise. Surely, the Fates, as James said, wouldn't force someone to be with a monster like him, right?

o-o-o-o-o

Like most old, blood purist, pureblood families, the House of Black only cared about soulmates if they could benefit them. Sirius Black was taught his whole life that love was not worth more than the wealth, prestige, and 'values' that came from making a good connection with a worthy bloodline. While Sirius didn't believe any of that, he also knew soulmates didn't mean much. His own parents were soulmates, and they were the worst. Not only to their children, but to each other. Sirius couldn't count the number of times he wished he had a wand before Hogwarts just so he could throw up a silencing charm to block out their screaming fights. Not only did they seem to hate each other, at least from Sirius's point of view, but they were also cousins. Blegh! If one of his cousins' words had shown up on him, he would have burned himself off the family tapestry before skipping town.

So, when his new best mate, James Potter, started in on how amazing soulmates were, he couldn't help the eye roll, but he kept his mouth shut. No need to ruin the poor lad's fantasy, but he did take Remus aside later to explain soulmates weren't always sunshine and daisies. Best to give him a proper education and all that. Because from where he's standing, soulmates had never done anybody any good.

o-o-o-o-o

Peter Pettigrew had known he didn't have a soulmate since he was nine years old. At least, that's what his brothers told him. They had said no girl would ever love a runt like him, that he was barely a wizard, so the Fates would never curse a witch with the likes of him. The looks of contempt he would get from his mother and her sisters further proved that no girl would ever even like him, not even his own family.

When he got to Hogwarts, he was afraid to even talk to girls. Afraid to talk to anyone really, but somehow, he was still sorted into Gryffindor. Luckily his roommates all took a liking to him and he to them. He's able to forget all about soulmates, at least for a few weeks. When James started explaining them to Remus, he did everything he could to avoid the conversation. Soulmates weren't everything; he even heard Sirius say something similar to Remus later that week. He knew he didn't have a soulmate, and that was okay.