Fourth Year
Platform 9¾ was brimming with activity. Upperclassmen greeted old friends, talking about summer trips and trying to pull away from tearful mothers who tried to open trunks and check the underwear status inside and fathers who wagged their fingers, threatening harsh punishments for getting into trouble. Seventh years walked about with their chests puffed out, proud to be the oldest students and those on their way out. First years either chatted excitedly with parents, or stared at the Hogwarts Express with looks of utter terror. Owls squawked and screamed from their cages as they were loaded on the train, and a small girl with blonde braids was chasing a black cat down the platform, begging it to forgive her for the pink ribbon on its tail.
The whistle cut through the cacophony of the parting families, and soon the train was filled with students hanging out half open windows, waving to parents and promising to write and keep grades up.
Remus hugged his own mom, ducking a kiss on the cheek. James had just motioned that he was saving a **car**, but still, Remus didn't want to risk losing his seat.
"Now Remy," his mother said softly, grabbing hold of his sleeve as he tried to dash. "You be careful. Make sure you let Dumbledore or Madame Pomfrey know if anything happens."
"I will, Mum." He pecked her on the cheek. "I'm always careful."
"Stay out of trouble," she said softly. "I fear you're going to school with two strikes against you just for being who you are. Don't give anyone a reason-"
"Mum, you give me this speech every year. I'm careful, I promise." He smiled broadly. Over the summer, he had shot up, no longer a boy but a young man. His face had thinned out, appearing longer, though his amber eyes still flashed boyishly. "You worry too much."
"Only because I care!" she called out as he dashed off. She saw him turn and wave just before being swallowed up by the mass moving onto the train.
Remus found James, Sirius and Peter quickly enough. He had been stopped more than once by Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs to see how his summer had been. As he made his way through the aisles, he looked out for Moira. He spotted Lily and waved, but didn't see her Irish twin, as Moira had come to be called.
When he found the car, Sirius was teaching Peter a new curse he had learned over the summer, and James was flipping through one of his books, complaining loudly that they had to wait another year before they got to study the "good stuff" in their Defense Against the Dark Arts class. Remus dropped into his seat next to Peter, but craned his neck to see down the aisle.
"Have you guys seen Moira?" he asked.
"She was sitting next to Lily when I got on," James answered, pushing his glasses back up onto his nose.
"How would you know?" Sirius asked, elbowing him in the ribs. "You were busy making googly eyes at Evans. 'Hi Lily! How was your summer? Your hair looks great. Can I touch it?' Pathetic!"
Peter snorted.
"Jealous much, Black?" James asked calmly, without looking up from his book.
"That you look like a cow licked your head this morning and I don't?"
James slid his wand from his sleeve and pointed it at Sirius, whispering "Dishevum" so low, nobody heard amid the laughter, nor did they notice as he slid the wand back into his sleeve.
Remus and Peter noticed the effect at the same instant. Remus laughed even harder, but when Peter tried to tell Sirius, James kicked him hard in the shin.
"Ow!" Peter cried out. But nobody was paying attention to him. The door had just slid open, and Remus and Sirius were trying to retrieve their jaws from the floor.
"Remus Lupin, I can't believe you walked right by me without saying hello!"
"Hi Moira," James said, closing his book.
"Moira?"
"It's only been a few months, Remus. Don't tell me you forgot my name already."
Forgot her name? He must have forgotten what she looked like. The young woman before him bore no resemblance to the Moira O'Shaughnessy he had said goodbye to a few months ago, nor the one he had written to over the summer. This Moira was taller, thinner. Her now straight red hair shone in the artificial lights of the train, hanging to her shoulders. Her glasses were gone, revealing the creamy skin and bright green eyes, both of which had been hidden away by the frames.
"I just didn't recognize you," he answered, recovering from his shock. "You look great."
"Why, thank you," she answered with a warm smile.
"What did you do to your hair?" Sirius blurted out.
She frowned at him, her eyes sliding from his face up to his hair. James' dishevum spell had caused it to stand on end without Sirius noticing. The other boys in the car snickered.
"I brushed it," she answered flatly. "You might try the some sometime."
"Yeah, well, you- look like a- girl," he answered, attempting and failing miserably at a come back.
"Sirius, you got smarter over the summer," she observed. "How dangerous for the rest of us." She waved at the rest of the boys and headed back to her seat. When she was safely out of earshot, Remus, James, and Peter burst out with laughter.
"Now who's pathetic?" James asked.
"Yeah? Well it's not like her first crack was very good." Sirius said. "What is that? 'You might try some time.' Like I don't brush my hair."
Remus had to cover his mouth to keep from erupting again. Peter had already begun to hiccup next to him, unable to control his laughter. James flashed Sirius a wry smile and pointed to the window.
"Check out your reflection, Casanova."
Sirius turned his head and saw his hair.
"What?" he cried, trying to press it back down. The hair stood back up as soon as he removed his hand. "What the hell?"
"Sirius, are you still letting cows lick your head in the morning?" James asked seriously.
"Damn it, James!" he screamed, and punch him hard in the arm.
Peter slid off the seat and was now laughing uncontrollably between hiccups on the floor. Remus buried his face in the sleeve of his robe, but James laughed openly. Even Sirius joined them after his anger passed.