-----------
Remus Lupin grabbed hold of his rusty luggage, and looked up nervously at his brother and sister, standing in front of the barrier at King's Cross, suddenly wishing very hard his mother had not just left him standing there with his siblings. Mr. and Mrs. Lupin had come with them to the station, but after several heart felt good byes and a few stern warnings for Romulus, who just grinned, the adults had left little Remus in the care of his brother and sister, who happened to be twins.
Romulus had an affectionate look about him. He was tall, but he kept his blonde hair cut short. At fifteen he was beginning to fill out, and every so often he would pause at a mirror and flex. Just to make sure everything was still good. He had laughing green eyes and an infectious smile, but Remus knew from the owls sent home that his brother's grades suffered while his social life prospered.
Venus was tall and willowy, like her mother. Her hair was the darkest of the Lupins and her eyes the bluest. She, like Remus, was usually much more quiet then her twin. Nevertheless, her smile lit the up the room and her voice calmed all. Venus and Remus were very close, and he had heard all about the sorting and everything about Hogwarts from his older sister. She too, was beginning to fill out nicely, and gave Romulus plenty of black eyes. Not directly, of course. But when boys decided to try their hands at catching the Lupin girl, Romulus made sure they knew what would happened if her heart was broken. The twins were very close, Romulus and Venus, and their groups of friends often traveled in the same circle.
Remus shook his head to clear his thought and widened his eyes, trying to follow what his brother had been saying.
"....straight through the wall, Remmy, no harm done, and you'll come out the other side!"
Remus raised an eyebrow. "Straight through the wall?"
Venus giggled softly. "Come now, Remus, it's not that bad. Best to do it at a bit of a run, if you're nervous."
Remus frowned, clutching the handles of his trunk tightly. "Right then," he said determinedly. "If you say so, Vee."
"Hey, what about me?" Romulus objected. "I said so first!"
"You also said that I have to fight and kill a mountain troll to make it into Gryffindor," Remus countered with a smile and Romulus chuckled. "Well, you believed me."
With a shrug, Remus began walking towards the barrier -- a brick wall.
He closed his eyes tightly as he drew closer, anticipating the moment when he would bounce back off of the wall. His legs moved faster and faster as a knot welled up in his stomach and---
And he was through. He pulled up abruptly, opened one eye and let out a breath, sighing with relief. Venus walked up behind him, grinning from behind her trunk, her eyes lighting up to see the Scarlet Engine, the Hogwarts Express, once more. "Wasn't so bad, now, was it?"
He grinned back. "Piece of cake," he lied. She smiled knowingly before saying, "well I'm going to leave you with Romulus now. I'm a prefect you know--"
"I know." He interrupted grinning. She ignored him.
"And we get a compartment all to ourselves up front. You can sit in Romulus' compartment if you like. He'll get you settled. I'll see you at Hogwarts then."
He nodded and smiled as she leaned down to kiss him on the cheek. With a grin and a wink, she walked away, pushing her trunk towards the front of the scarlet engine. At once, a tall, dark boy with an Italian air to him materialized at her side, smiling gallantly as he took her trunk from her and helped load it on the train while Venus laughed. Smiling and shaking his head, Remus turned away.
Romulus had just walked through the barrio, surrounded by three of his friends Remus knew vaguely from the time they spent at the Lupin's house. He glanced around uneasily, wishing Romulus would notice him so he wouldn't have to interrupt their conversation.
When the platform around them began to empty of parents, and students were mainly on the train, Remus frowned. "Romulus!" he called reluctantly, and his brother looked up. "What, Rem?"
"Can you help me with my trunk?" he asked, a little plaintively. Romulus's friends snickered, but quieted with a look from Romulus. "Sure, mate." He agreed.
Motioning to two of his buddies, the burly fifth years managed to get Remus's trunk on rather easily, along with their own.
"Alright, then, see ya Remmy." Romulus said, beginning to walk down the corridor towards the far end of the train.
"Where are you going?" Remus called out as his brother walked away with his friends, his voice wobbling. "Where do I go now?"
"just find a compartment and sit in it. It's not rocket science, Rem."
"What's rocket science?"
Romulus sighed over his shoulder, and gestured towards an empty compartment. "Just go in that one. I'll come back a little while later to check on you." His voice was tinged with impatience but he smiled comfortingly.
"Oh, a-alright then, Rom. See ya." Remus said, his voice small as his brother flashed him a grin before turning in the corridor and scooping some girl into a gigantic bear hug. Remus frowned, and reached for the door to the empty compartment. He could still hear the girl's laughs, but he didn't want to shut the door.
He glanced around the empty compartment, glancing out the window.
Well, he was here.
-----
Regulus smirked as Sirius frowned nervously, standing just outside of the barrier between Platforms 10 and 9. Mr. and Mrs. Black hadn't bothered to come with them to the station, the maid, Mrs. Jaco, had. The woman was well over a hundred and didn't consider, 'chaffering brats around this confounded city' part of her job description, but did it nonetheless, dragging Regulus, Sirius's younger brother along for the ride. At the moment, however, she had gone to fetch her glasses from the care, leaving poor Sirius to care for Regulus,. "Scared, are we, dear brother?" Regulus taunted.
"Spare me the concern, *Reggie*," Sirius hissed back, his dark eyes bright as he glared at his younger brother. Sirius was easily twice his brother's size, but both knew Regulus was mummy and daddy's favorite, and there would be hell to pay if Regulus returned with a hair out of place.
Regulus glared. "I told you never to call me that--"
Sirius snickered. "But, Reggikens, it's such a cute name.."
Regulus lunged for his brother, but Sirius was too quick and had anticipated his brother's blow. Ducking under his little brother's fist, knowing he would be in trouble if he retaliated, or if Mrs. Joco found out, Sirius jammed his cart forward, flying straight towards the barrier. Silently, he said a prayer that his father had been telling the truth when he talked about going through the barrier. He snapped his eyes shut and ran, figuring it would be better to throw himself against a brick wall then to get into a fight with Regulus at the moment.
But he ran through, thankfully...once in his life his father had told the truth.
Not waiting for his younger brother or Mrs. Joco, who Sirius would sure would have a backhand for him when she found him, Sirius rushed towards the train. Glancing up at the clock above the scarlet engine, he frowned. He still had some time left before the train left, but he didn't want to wait on the platform for Mrs. Joco to come and scold him. Glancing wearily at his trunk, Sirius sighed. There was no way he could lift it by himself.
He glanced around, looking for a prefect, perhaps, when suddenly, someone bumped into him from behind. Sirius spun around, expecting Joco, but it was someone else entirely.
A boy, probably about his age, with tousled black hair and dancing hazel eyes turned to look at him. "Oh, I'm sorry," the boy apologized with a grin. "I didn't mean to knock into you."
"Quite alright mate. Sirius Black, at your service." Sirius answered, sticking out his hand promptly and smiling at the boy.
"James Potter." The boy replied, grinning at having found a friend already. "Say, haven't you put your trunk on yet?" he asked, noticing it was still standing in front of Sirius, complete with eagle owl and all.
Sirius shook his head. "Couldn't lift it. I think me mum might have packed some bricks in here, to remind me of home." He chuckled at his own joke, the thought of his mother actually *packing*, but James didn't get it, Obviously.
"Do you need help then? My dad just helped me with mine," James offered, motioning to tall, black haired man with an easy air about him, who was having a discussion with the conductor towards the front of the train. "That'd be great," Sirius thanked him, relieved. "Thanks a lot, mate."
"No problem. Dad!" James called. "Dad! Come help me with this, will you?"
Harold Potter turned away from the conductor, calling his goodbyes, and walked over to his son. "Yes, James, what is it?"
"Could you help us lift this here? Sirius and I can't do it alone and--"
"Oh, made a friend already have you?" Maryann Potter cooed, coming up besides her husband. "Hello then," she addressed Sirius, ignoring the flush on James's checks. "What's your name?"
"Sirius Black, at your service, madam." He answered, a bit shyly, a rarity for him. He hated parents, but he wasn't quite sure what to make of the Potters just yet. Maryann beamed at him. "Well, isn't that nice, Harry, James has a friend already? Lovely to meet you, Sirius, lovely to meet you!" She glanced up at the clock and gasped. "Well, get going boys! You want to find a compartment, don't you? Hurry now! Harry, stop wasting time and get that boy's trunk on the train!"
Harry rolled his eyes off to the side, but Sirius and James both caught the gesture and grinned as Harry replied dutifully, "Yes, love."
Between the three of them, they eventually managed to hoist Sirius's trunk onto the train and into the luggage compartment. Harry hoped off the train, while James and Sirius made towards the railing so James could call goodbye to his parents.
"Bye mum! Bye dad! See ya in June!"
"James Potter you are coming home for Christmas young man!" Maryann cried as the train pulled out of the station. "Goodbye, son! Be good!" Harry called, his arms around his wife.
James shook his head as the station faded out of sight. "Mothers," he groaned good naturedly, and Sirius grinned. "I know what you mean."
The two stared blankly for a moment, before Sirius cleared his throat. "So...er, should we find a compartment? I don't fancy having a prefect come along, or the Heads for that matter, and scold us before we've even gotten there."
"Good plan," James agreed, glancing around. "Most of them seem to be full."
"What about this one?" Sirius asked, pointing to a seemingly empty compartment all the way down the corridor. The door was open. "Should we go in?" Sirius asked hesitantly.
"It's either that, or face the prefects?"
Sirius grimaced. "Go in."
James stumbled in, Sirius after him, and they snapped the door shut behind them. Through the curtains, they could see a girl walking around with a shiny HEAD GIRL badge pinned onto her robes walk down the corridor. Sirius grinned, and turned back to the empty compartment.
Or, not so empty.
"Err..hello?" James said startled, as his eyes found a boy sitting in the corner. The boy smiled pleasantly. "Hello."
"Sorry, do you mind if we..? Everywhere else is full." Sirius asked, gesturing down at the empty seats. The boy shook his head quickly. "No, no. I don't mind."
"Okay then."
The three boys stared blankly at each other for a moment, the silence mounting, before bursting into nervous chuckles. "Remus Lupin," Remus introduced himself.
"Sirius Black."
"James Potter."
Remus smiled. "Do you two know each other?" he asked curiously. "I mean, before just now?"
Sirius shook his head. "James helped me with my trunk," he explained.
"And Sirius helped me with my parents," James joked as Sirius continued, "Head Girl almost caught us loitering in the halls. What my brother would say if I got detention before I even got to Hogwarts.."
Remus and James laughed. "I wish I had a brother," James said rather wistfully. "I'm an only child. I get along right well with my dad though, so it's not too bad."
Remus nodded. "I have an older brother --"
"Wait, let me guess," Sirius interrupted with a grin that would soon become his trademark. "Romulus?"
Remus grinned. "Yep. And I have an older sister too, Venus. She's a prefect, otherwise she would have made sure I got settled okay, but Romulus just loaded my trunk and told me he'd check on me later. They're twins, both in fifth year."
James chuckled. "Romulus, Remus and Venus? What are your parents' names?"
"Athena and Seth."
"Seth? Well that doesn't fit."
"Yeah it does, he was some Egyptian god."
"How'd you know that?" Sirius asked, curious. Remus shrugged. "Dad's into Muggle Studies, so I just picked it up. He works as a researcher at the Ministry, so he's into all these cool stuff."
"Cool," Sirius commented, visibly impressed. "My dad's an Auror," James said, with more then a tint of pride. "My mum writes books."
"Wicked," Remus said and James nodded. "So what houses do you think you'll be in?"
"Slytherin," both Sirius and Remus answered glumly. James looked startled. "Ew - why Slytherin?"
"My family's been in Slytherin for generations," Sirius informed him glumly. "It'll be a miracle if I'm not. I've only had one aunt, Andromeda, who was put in Hufflepuff and they practically disowned her. And now, she's marrying a Muggle-born, so she's definitely out."
"Ah, your families all pureblood?" James asked.
Sirius nodded. "Yeah, but it's really stupid. I mean, pureblood, half blood..it's all the same thing anyway, I mean, you can do magic, can't you? I don't see the difference."
"It doesn't matter to me," Sirius added as an afterthought, and Remus shrugged. "I've never even thought about it. Doesn't matter to me either."
James shook his head. "Not me."
After a moment, he said, "I don't think you'll be in Slytherin, Sirius. You just don't seem the type." Turning to Remus he added, "Neither do you, for that matter. What makes you think you'll be in Slytherin?"
Remus shrugged. "Was your family in it?" Sirius asked. But Remus shook his head. "Romulus and Venus are both in Ravenclaw."
"Smart kids," Sirius acknowledged, and Remus nodded. "What house do you want to be in, James?"
James grinned. "Gryffindor, for sure. My mom was in Ravenclaw, but all dad's family have always been in Gryffindor, so I'm hoping I'll get it."
Sirius smiled. "Yeah, I'd love to be in Gryffindor too. Would drive my dad bonkers."
Remus laughed. "Do you try to do that?"
Sirius grinned. "As often as possible."
"What's your Qudditch team?" James asked suddenly. "Puddlemere United," Sirius and Remus answered immediately, in unison, and they laughed while James stared. "Me too!"
Remus chuckled. "I guess there is a reason why we all ended up in here."
"Cuz we're just about the only Puddlemere United fans on this side of London?" Sirius asked with a grin.
"Basically."
They talked about Qudditch for much of the ride, and before they knew it, the Food Cart had come along.
The boys emptied their pockets of galleons and sickles, and replaced them with Chocolate Frogs and Every Flavor Beans, but soon went back to their discussion of the Qudditch World Cup, which had been played last summer in Siberia.
"I mean, Siberia? What a useless place to have a Quidditch match!" Sirius crowed.
"They don't even have a Qudditch *team*," James agreed.
"They should have it in England, that'd be wicked," Remus added, to the agreement of Sirius and James. "Totally --oo yum, peanut butter -- awesome."
"England's chances of winning the cup are horrible, though, have you seen their -- yuck, who makes an anchovy flavor jelly bean?-- their new seeker? Couldn't catch the snitch if it landed on his head!" James said, disgruntedly spitting out the offending gray jelly bean.
"Yeah, but at least he's not as bad as --" Sirius began, but was interrupted by a loud bang, coming from the corridor.
Puzzled, Sirius walked over to the curtains, pulling them aside and looking into the corridor. He arched an eyebrow. "I think it's some Slytherin 3rd years. They're picking on some poor kid."
He turned to his new friends. "Should we go see what's going--"
But James had already whipped out his wand, followed by Remus, and had stepped into the corridor. Sirius grinned and hurried after them, stepping into the smoky corridor.
"What's going on here?" James called loudly, and the Slytherins looked up in surprise, before snickering. "Aww, is the ickle firsty come to be the hero?" one of them cooed, before raising his wand at James. "Get out of the way, kid, this doesn't concern you," another boy snapped, but James shook his head, and Sirius shouldered his way next to him. "What'd the kid ever do to you?" Sirius snapped, as Remus bent down and gave the boy a hand up. "Thanks," the boy said gratefully, smiling weakly. Lupin grinned. "Don't mention it."
All four boys took out their wands, but they were outnumbered by the Slytherins and the one minor detail..none of them knew any *actual* spells. Several other compartment doors were opening now, curious as to the commotion in the hallway.
The Slytherin who seemed to be in charge, a heavy-lidded kid, tall and wiry, frowned. "Get out of the way before I make you," he hissed, and the other Slytherin's nodded. "Lestrange, I say we get 'em out of the way," another boy agreed, seemingly speaking to the tall leader. Lestrange nodded and raised his wand, at the same moment James raised his -- not knowing what to do with it, really, except chuck it at Lestrange's head and pray his aim was on.
"Expelliarmus!" someone bellowed just before Lestrange cried, "Petrificus Totalus!"
A flash of blinding blue light flooded the corridor for a moment, and all four boys cringed. When Sirius opened one eye, however, Lestrange was flat on his back, his wand thrown asunder.
Remus grinned wildly. "Romulus!"
Romulus grinned at his brother, his impish smile, before scowling at Lestrange, his eyes dark. "Picking on my kid brother, Lestrange?" he growled. "I thought I taught you last year when you wouldn't leave Venus alone what happens when I get wind your messing with a Lupin.."
Lestrange didn't say anything. Perhaps because he couldn't.
"He's put the full body bind on himself!" One of his Romulus's friends laughed. "He must have dropped his wand when you disarmed him," Remus figured, logically, chuckling. James burst out laughing at the sight of the frozen Slytherin, joined quickly by Sirius.
Romulus grinned, but the smile suddenly died on his face as a girl's voice carried through the crowd. "What *is* going on here?"
Remus suddenly looked very sheepish, and several Slytherins and Ravenclaws turned to make a run for it, but her voice stopped them all. "Don't even think about it," she warned.
When she came into view, Sirius's mouth dropped open. Long black hair swirled around her delicate face, and her blue eyes burned brightly as she surveyed the scene. "Venus," Romulus said weakly. "We were just--"
"Oh, Rom, it's you again!" She said impatiently, her hands on her hips. Her Prefect badge gleamed in the light. Romulus grinned. "I was just saving dear Remus and his friends here."
"Remus?" Venus asked surprised. "Where?"
Remus waved slightly, his grin sheepish as she sighed. "Oh, Remus. Not you too. One maurdering brother is more then I can stand around here."
"It wasn't us," Sirius spoke up, finally closing his mouth but his eyes perpetually wide. "Those Slytherins were picking on this kid here--" he reached behind himtand grabbed the kid in question, shoving him forward. "And we came out to help."
"Oh, were they now?" Venus asked dangerously, glaring at the third year boys. Someone had finally muttered the counter curse and Lestrange was just getting to his feet. He smiled charmingly at her. "Hiya, dollface."
Venus gagged. "Get back in your compartment, Lestrange. When we get to Hogwarts, I'm going straight to Dumbledore about this. Picking on first years before we even get there? Despicable. I hope you get 50 points docked." Snickers were heard from the Ravenclaws and the four boys, but she soon whirled around on them, her hair flying. "And as for you," she said, pointedly to Romulus, her voice still dangerous. "Make sure you teach Remus and his friends exparimus. Something tells me they'll need it. And don't forget to write to mum." And with that, she grinned at Remus, gave the drooling Sirius a weird look, and floated down the corridor.
Romulus grinned. "I love having a sister as prefect," he announced to the corridor and Remus nodded in agreement.
Everyone began to dispprese, and the three boys made a move to go back to their compartment when they noticed the lone boy standing alone. "Hey, you? Yes, you. No, not you, James-- YOU!"
The boy nodded. "yeah?"
"What's your name?"
"Peter. Peter Pettigew."
"Well, Peter, Peter Pettigew, I'm Sirius, that there's Remus, and James. Wanna come sit?"
Peter smiled gratefully. "Can i?"
"I just said so, didn't i?"
James chuckled and Remus smiled as Sirius laughed and Peter nodded. "I guess so."
When he had gotten seated, the door opened again. It was Venus. "Sorry to bother you guys," she said pleasantly, her voice it's usual soft murmur once more. "But I just thought I should tell you we'll be at Hogwarts soon, it's best you get into your robes."
"Alright," Remus said nodding. "Thanks, Vee."
"No problem." She turned to leave, then paused, turning to Sirius. "I say, are you alright? You look a bit ill."
Sirius flushed bright red and James coughed to cover a laugh. "He's fine."
"Too many chocolate frogs," Remus lied, chuckling heartily. Peter smiled.
Vee studied him for a moment, then nodded. "If you say so. Bye boys."
The door shut quietly behind her.
"Remus," Sirius said quietly into the silence that followed. "I think she wants me."
"Sirius, you're 11. She's 15. I don't think so," James objected, smiling.
Remus laughed. "Sure, she does mate."
Sirius looked to Peter for support, who miraculously came through. "I think she digs you, mate."
Remus snorted. "Sure she does."
-------------
The rest of the ride to Hogwarts passed quickly, and before they knew it, they were standing before the great hall, waiting for the Sorting to begin. Because of Venus, Remus and many of the first years knew there was no troll, much to the older students displeasure, but still felt slightly uneasy about standing up in front of the whole school, Peter worst of all.
The song passed by in the blur-- they were much to nervous to listen to it in anycase, and before anyone knew what was going on, Professor McGonagall, a stern looking witch with a disapproving frown, called out,
"Angio, Alice!"
A tiny girl with thick red braids and freckles across her nose scurried forward. Moments later the hat screamed out, "HUFFLEPUFF!"
"Albert, Matthew!"
A blond boy with a haughty swagger came forward, smirking.
"SLYTHERIN!"
"Black, Narcissa!"
Remus glanced at Sirius. "You didn't say you had a sister--"
"She's not," Sirius told him grimly. "We're cousins. Distantly."
"SLYTHERIN!"
"Black, Sirius!"
"Here I go," Sirius muttered to James and Remus as he passed, nodding to Peter. "Wish me luck."
"Luck," James said, and crossed his fingers. He had heard stories about Slytherins, stories of what they became that would make your skin crawl. He didn't want Sirius among them. For one thing, they could no longer be friends, because more then anything, Slytherin was a breeding ground of the dark arts...and with an Auror as a father, James Potter hated the dark arts.
Sirius clutched the edges of the stool tensely as the hat was placed on his head, waiting. Nothing. He had just about to get edgy when a little voice in his ear began to whisper.
"Another Black, have we here? Yes, yes, it would seem so. But you're not like the rest of them, are you Sirius?"
Sirius shook his head slightly, all the while thinking one thought, over and over again. *Please put me in Gryffindor* he begged. *Gryffindor*.
"Gryffindor, eh?" the hat whispered. "What a upstart that would cause, a Black in Gryffindor? Curious, curious indeed. You've got the cunning to be in Slytherin, young Black--"
Sirius clutched the stool tighter.
"..and the mind of a Ravenclaw. Not bad, not bad. And loyalty, loyalty, why there is a good deal of that! Hufflepuff would appreciate it! Hufflepuff would nuture it! But you are not destined for Hufflepuff, I think..Be careful of where your loyalty lies, young Mr. Black, just be careful...and ooo there it is..quite a load of bravery we have here, quite a load...and nerve, oo there is a good deal of that too..Not Slytherin, you say, not Slytherin..well..you know best, I say..I see you, Mr. Black would be best in...GRYFFINDOR!"
Sirius beamed as the hat bellowed the last word to the entire school, his smile as bright as the stars twinkling down from the Enchanted Ceiling. McGongal removed the hat from his head and placed it down, ignoring the loud cheering coming from the Gryffindor table to bestow on Sirius a rare smile, before turning back to her list.
Rushing over to the table, receiving congratulatory pats and whistles from some second year girls, Sirius grinned, and breath a sigh of relief. His eyes wandered the High Table, as he laughed out loud from pure joy, and to his astonishment, Albus Dumbledore, whom he recognized from the old mans picture that appeared so frequently in his Chocolate Frog cards and in the Daily Prophet, winked at him! Sirius grinned back and turned his attention back to the sorting.
"Catsaw, Percy!"
"SLYTHERIN!"
"Diggle, Dedalus!"
"HUFFLEPUFF!"
"Doge, Elphias!"
"RAVENCLAW!"
"Evans, Lillian!"
A petite girl, with flaming red hair and emerald eyes, walked nervously towards the stool. Sirius watched with vague interest, watching impatiently for another Gryffindor.
"GRYFFINDOR!" the hat pronounced loudly and Sirius cheered and let out a whistle as the girl bounced over happily.
"Hi!" she beamed excitedly. "Lilly Evans," she reached out to shake his hand and Sirius smirked back. "Sirius Black," he told her smoothly, grabbing her hand and brushing his lips over it in a suave kiss. She just laughed and turned her attention back to the sorting.
"Figg, Jessica!"
"GRYFFINDOR!"
A small girl with platinum blonde hair and shining hazel eyes hurriedly made her way over to Lilly and introduced herself, smiling shyly at Sirius.
Sirius was getting bored and he let his attention wander, studying the high table and the rest of the tables. He spotted Romulus and Venus, the Lupin twins, sitting near each other at the Ravenclaw table. Then he spotted Lestrange and his cronies scowling at him from the Slytherin table. Sirius grinned and waved. They cracked their knuckles menacingly.
When Sirius turned his attention back to the sorting, two more girls had been sorted into Gryffindor. Laurel Hastings, a curly topped brunette with an innocent smile, and Emmeline, ("just call me Em,") Jackson. Sirius joined their conversation about Slytherins and how they all looked like an evil bunch, pausing to look up when the Sorting got to 'L'.
"Longbottom, Frank!"
"GYFRINNDOR!"
Sirius cheered loudly, his relief at another Gryffindor male building as Frank ambled over. He was fairly short, but with kind eyes and a laughing smile at made Sirius instantly like him as they shook hands and began to talk. Sirius paused however when he heard,
"Lupin, Remus!"
"Come up, Remmy," he said quietly. "Not Slytherin..."
Inside Remus's mind, he was chanting much the same thing.
The hat, was frankly amused.
"What makes you think you could survive in Slytherin, m'boy? You're too loyal, too noble, too kind for that sort of lot..I know what I'm doing Mr. Lupin, and though for 12 days out of the year, you do show a bit of Slytherin, my dear werewolf, you are in fact made for...GRYFFINDOR!"
Sirius cheered and whooped and Frank clapped hard for another Gryffindor as Lupin ambled over, grinning like an idiot.
Glancing at the Ravenclaw table, he was a bit disappointed he wouldn't be with his siblings, but they would be leaving in two years anyway. Venus grinned at him and winked; Romulus flashed him the thumbs up sign and got all of his friends to cheer for him.
The three Gryffindor boys soon dissolved into conversation about Puddlemere United, delighted to see Frank too was a fellow fan, and all but ignoring the sorting. They barely paid any attention to the girls until they heard Laurel remark loudly, "See that's what I mean. Look at him, classic Slytherin," as Malfoy, Lucius was made a Slytherin.
"I see what you mean," Remus agreed frowning.
"And that, my friends, is why we should celebrate *NOT* being in Slytherin!" Sirius cheered loudly, not realizing that as Lucius passed the Gryffindor table, he was within hearing distance. The blonde hair boy shot him a particular nasty look and Sirius gave it right back, but Frank chuckled.
"Great start to inner-house relationships, that was."
Sirius grinned. "I don't want *any* kind of relationship with that oaf."
"Look, Peter's up," Remus observed as the shaking boy made his way to the stool.
Peter bit his lip as the hat was placed over his eyes, shielding the great hall from view.
"Well, well, well," said a tiny voice in his ear. "Peter Pettigew. Nervous are we? No reason to be lad. Just let me take a look around. Hmm.. Gryffindor, your mother was in, wasn't she?" Peter nodded slightly. "And your father a Hufflepuff? Good, good.."
*Gryffindor* Peter pleaded silently. *Please, let it be Gryffindor.*
"Gryffindor, did you say? Bravery, the house of Gryffindor is known for, Peter, I think you would do better in Hufflepuff..the house suits you, you know...Ah, but your friends are in Gryffindor, aren't they? Well, well, that changes is everything. Friends can shape your life, Peter, remember that..friends can change everything. Well, if your sure, be true to these friends better...be brave like a GRYFFINDOR!"
Peter smiled weakly, relief etched on every line of his face as the Gryffindor boys grinned. "Thanks," he murmured weakly as he put the hat down and raced towards the table. "Thanks a lot."
Sirius shot Lupin a look. "Didn't see that one, coming, did you?"
Remus smiled sheepishly. "Honestly? No."
Sirius laughed. "Me either..Good going, Pete!"
But they had little time to congratulate him, as Remus hissed, "Look, it's James!"
"Potter, James!"
James strode boldly over to the hat, and threw it in his head. It slipped off, falling to the floor to loud laughs and hoots from the students. McGonagall glared.
James flushed, and was suddenly amazingly glad the hat was hiding his face from view, even as the hat hissed disgruntedly,
"A little over eager, are we, Mr. Potter?"
James smiled sheepishly.
"Yes, well, we can't all be perfect. Now, let's have a look around, shall we? Oh, you have a fine mind, no doubt about that. Courage too. Lots of it. Cunning, and smarts, oh my, your mother's Ravenclaw intelligence seeps through..."
"Gryffindor!" James whispered fiercely under his breath and the hat seemed to huff.
"Thank you, James Potter, but I know what I'm doing. Now, what was I saying? Oh, yes, her intelligence shows through...but so does your father's blood. Bravery beyond doubt, I say...you, Mr. Potter, are only fit for one house, I believe..and that house is...GRYFINNDOR!"
James smiled widely, placed the hat down neatly on the stool, before getting up to loud cheers and running over to the Gryffindor table.
"Bravo, mate!" Sirius said excitedly. "We all made Gryffindor!"
"Thank you, Captain Obvious," James muttered dryly as Snape, Severus was made a Slytherin. Sirius grinned as Vance, Cleo, was made a Gryffindor whistling catcalls along with the rest of the table.
As the last of the sorting ended, finally, Dumbledore stood at the high table, beaming proudly, his arms thrown up.
"Welcome, welcome all of you!" He cried, seemingly overjoyed. "Another school year is at hand, and I am very exicted! A few school announcements, if you please...to all first years, you would do well to remember that the Forest at the edge of the grounds, known as the Forbidden Forest is, well, forbidden!" His eyes darted to Romulus Lupin as he added, "and some of our older students would do well to remember that as well." Romulus grinned.
"Mr. Filch, our caretaker, would like me to remind you that magic is strictly forbidden in the corridors, as is mud, dirt, chocolate frogs and any product of Zonko's. The list, which can be seen in Mr. Filch's office, is quite extensive and you are all more then welcome to stop by and see it. I would also like for everyone to welcome, our new Potions teacher, Professor Perkins!"
A short wizard with long black hair tied back neatly in a ponytail and a grim smile, Professor Perkins had the look of a grown giant who had shrunk several feet. His eyes were blue, but strangely cold, and his lip curled slightly. He nodded slightly as Dumbledore gestured towards him.
"Professor Perkins had kindly agreed to take on the role of Head of Slytherin!"
The Slytherin table cheered, though it was somewhat faint. The man was not exactly welcoming looking.
"And, I would also like to welcome Professor Lovegood as our Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher!"
A petite witch, with a welcoming smile, stood up and grinned at the students, waving before sitting back down. Her waist dirty blonde hair tucked underneath her as she sat, and she had strangely pale eyes that gave her a permanently surprised look, but still, her smile set them all at ease.
"Thank you for my patience, students, and now..Bon Appetite!"
Sirius's eyes widened in delight and James let out a laugh of contentment as food magically appeared on their plates. "Excellent." He murmured through bite of chicken.
"Brilliant," Sirius echoed reaching for the mashed potatoes.
Frank and Remus just grinned and Peter reached automatically for the macaroni and cheese. A prefect down at the end of the table, closest to Sirius, looked over.
"So, new Gryffindors, ready to help win the House Cup?"
Sirius nodded but when he opened his mouth, Hestia Jones, the Gryffindor prefect, was showered with a spray of spittle and mashed potatoes. "Who won last year?"
Hestia reached for a napkin, wiping her face delicately, and scooting away from Black. James chuckled.
"Slytherin, of course. Won for the last 5 years!"
"Five years!" the girls chourshed. "Yes, so we *have* to win this year," Hestia told them severely. "So that means no fooling around and loosing points."
James and Sirius grinned. During their conversations, they had discovered both had a great love of pranks. Lilly glared at them. "Why are you grinning like the cat that ate the canary?"
James smirked. "No reason, carrot top."
"Carrot top!" Lilly shrieked. "Why, you little--"
Hestia chuckled. "ANYWAY," she interrupted. "So who do we got this year? Sirius Black, who're you?"
"Peter Pettigew."
"Okay, Black, Pottet, Pettigew, Lupin, Longbottom...decent bunch of boys, don't mess up this year! We need that cup! And what about the girls..Lilly Evans, Jessica Figg, Laurel Hastings, Emm-- sorry dear, *what* is your name? Okay, I'll just call you Em Jackson, and Cleo Vance..not a bad bunch, dearies! Alright, all finished are we? Come on, I'll show you where the tower is!"
"Finished?" Sirius asked aghast as he shoved his third helping of plum pudding in his mouth. "I've just started!"
James and Peter laughed as Remus shook his head. "That's disgusting, Sirius."
Sirius grinned, showing a gruesome display of mashed pudding and mashed potatoes, chicken and peas all mashed inside his mouth.
"Ew, gross!" Cleo exclaimed and Jessica turned her eyes away.
"Yuck!" Laurel cried.
"Sirius!" Lilly and Em scolded in unison.
Sirius just smiled.
Hestia shook her head. "Alright, let's go first years, follow me."
The first years dutifully got up from the table, and followed the willow fifth year through the crowd, out of the Great Hall.
"Excuse me!" Hestia exclaimed loudly. "I'm a *prefect*!"
James turned to see who she had bumped into, and frowned. What was his name again? Oh, yes. Snape. And Malfoy.
Both of them sniggered and glared at Hestia, bumping roughly into her again. Her eyes bulged. "Outrage! 10 points each from Slytherin!"
Malfoy and Snape suddenly stopped snickering and glowered at her. "Flithy mudblood," Lucius hissed, turning away. "C'mon Snape."
Hestia went pale at his words and so did several other people in the crowd.
"MALFOY!"
Someone roared and the Gryffindor's looked up to see McGongal descending furiously on him. "Get back here! Filthy words, such a filthy mouth on you! We shall be seeing Dumbledore about this, make no mistake!"
Hestia grinned and Sirius and James exchanged gleeful looks. "I think I've found public enemy number one," Frank whispered to the group and Remus nodded in agreement. "Definitely."
Hestia shook it off and led them quickly too the tower, muttering the password, (Codswallop) and directed them to their dormitories.
The boys found there's easily enough, claming beds and quickly climbing into them. It had been a long day.
And as the lights slowly flickered off throughout the Gryffindor tower, James smiled sleepily. Something about the tower just felt like home.
Remus Lupin grabbed hold of his rusty luggage, and looked up nervously at his brother and sister, standing in front of the barrier at King's Cross, suddenly wishing very hard his mother had not just left him standing there with his siblings. Mr. and Mrs. Lupin had come with them to the station, but after several heart felt good byes and a few stern warnings for Romulus, who just grinned, the adults had left little Remus in the care of his brother and sister, who happened to be twins.
Romulus had an affectionate look about him. He was tall, but he kept his blonde hair cut short. At fifteen he was beginning to fill out, and every so often he would pause at a mirror and flex. Just to make sure everything was still good. He had laughing green eyes and an infectious smile, but Remus knew from the owls sent home that his brother's grades suffered while his social life prospered.
Venus was tall and willowy, like her mother. Her hair was the darkest of the Lupins and her eyes the bluest. She, like Remus, was usually much more quiet then her twin. Nevertheless, her smile lit the up the room and her voice calmed all. Venus and Remus were very close, and he had heard all about the sorting and everything about Hogwarts from his older sister. She too, was beginning to fill out nicely, and gave Romulus plenty of black eyes. Not directly, of course. But when boys decided to try their hands at catching the Lupin girl, Romulus made sure they knew what would happened if her heart was broken. The twins were very close, Romulus and Venus, and their groups of friends often traveled in the same circle.
Remus shook his head to clear his thought and widened his eyes, trying to follow what his brother had been saying.
"....straight through the wall, Remmy, no harm done, and you'll come out the other side!"
Remus raised an eyebrow. "Straight through the wall?"
Venus giggled softly. "Come now, Remus, it's not that bad. Best to do it at a bit of a run, if you're nervous."
Remus frowned, clutching the handles of his trunk tightly. "Right then," he said determinedly. "If you say so, Vee."
"Hey, what about me?" Romulus objected. "I said so first!"
"You also said that I have to fight and kill a mountain troll to make it into Gryffindor," Remus countered with a smile and Romulus chuckled. "Well, you believed me."
With a shrug, Remus began walking towards the barrier -- a brick wall.
He closed his eyes tightly as he drew closer, anticipating the moment when he would bounce back off of the wall. His legs moved faster and faster as a knot welled up in his stomach and---
And he was through. He pulled up abruptly, opened one eye and let out a breath, sighing with relief. Venus walked up behind him, grinning from behind her trunk, her eyes lighting up to see the Scarlet Engine, the Hogwarts Express, once more. "Wasn't so bad, now, was it?"
He grinned back. "Piece of cake," he lied. She smiled knowingly before saying, "well I'm going to leave you with Romulus now. I'm a prefect you know--"
"I know." He interrupted grinning. She ignored him.
"And we get a compartment all to ourselves up front. You can sit in Romulus' compartment if you like. He'll get you settled. I'll see you at Hogwarts then."
He nodded and smiled as she leaned down to kiss him on the cheek. With a grin and a wink, she walked away, pushing her trunk towards the front of the scarlet engine. At once, a tall, dark boy with an Italian air to him materialized at her side, smiling gallantly as he took her trunk from her and helped load it on the train while Venus laughed. Smiling and shaking his head, Remus turned away.
Romulus had just walked through the barrio, surrounded by three of his friends Remus knew vaguely from the time they spent at the Lupin's house. He glanced around uneasily, wishing Romulus would notice him so he wouldn't have to interrupt their conversation.
When the platform around them began to empty of parents, and students were mainly on the train, Remus frowned. "Romulus!" he called reluctantly, and his brother looked up. "What, Rem?"
"Can you help me with my trunk?" he asked, a little plaintively. Romulus's friends snickered, but quieted with a look from Romulus. "Sure, mate." He agreed.
Motioning to two of his buddies, the burly fifth years managed to get Remus's trunk on rather easily, along with their own.
"Alright, then, see ya Remmy." Romulus said, beginning to walk down the corridor towards the far end of the train.
"Where are you going?" Remus called out as his brother walked away with his friends, his voice wobbling. "Where do I go now?"
"just find a compartment and sit in it. It's not rocket science, Rem."
"What's rocket science?"
Romulus sighed over his shoulder, and gestured towards an empty compartment. "Just go in that one. I'll come back a little while later to check on you." His voice was tinged with impatience but he smiled comfortingly.
"Oh, a-alright then, Rom. See ya." Remus said, his voice small as his brother flashed him a grin before turning in the corridor and scooping some girl into a gigantic bear hug. Remus frowned, and reached for the door to the empty compartment. He could still hear the girl's laughs, but he didn't want to shut the door.
He glanced around the empty compartment, glancing out the window.
Well, he was here.
-----
Regulus smirked as Sirius frowned nervously, standing just outside of the barrier between Platforms 10 and 9. Mr. and Mrs. Black hadn't bothered to come with them to the station, the maid, Mrs. Jaco, had. The woman was well over a hundred and didn't consider, 'chaffering brats around this confounded city' part of her job description, but did it nonetheless, dragging Regulus, Sirius's younger brother along for the ride. At the moment, however, she had gone to fetch her glasses from the care, leaving poor Sirius to care for Regulus,. "Scared, are we, dear brother?" Regulus taunted.
"Spare me the concern, *Reggie*," Sirius hissed back, his dark eyes bright as he glared at his younger brother. Sirius was easily twice his brother's size, but both knew Regulus was mummy and daddy's favorite, and there would be hell to pay if Regulus returned with a hair out of place.
Regulus glared. "I told you never to call me that--"
Sirius snickered. "But, Reggikens, it's such a cute name.."
Regulus lunged for his brother, but Sirius was too quick and had anticipated his brother's blow. Ducking under his little brother's fist, knowing he would be in trouble if he retaliated, or if Mrs. Joco found out, Sirius jammed his cart forward, flying straight towards the barrier. Silently, he said a prayer that his father had been telling the truth when he talked about going through the barrier. He snapped his eyes shut and ran, figuring it would be better to throw himself against a brick wall then to get into a fight with Regulus at the moment.
But he ran through, thankfully...once in his life his father had told the truth.
Not waiting for his younger brother or Mrs. Joco, who Sirius would sure would have a backhand for him when she found him, Sirius rushed towards the train. Glancing up at the clock above the scarlet engine, he frowned. He still had some time left before the train left, but he didn't want to wait on the platform for Mrs. Joco to come and scold him. Glancing wearily at his trunk, Sirius sighed. There was no way he could lift it by himself.
He glanced around, looking for a prefect, perhaps, when suddenly, someone bumped into him from behind. Sirius spun around, expecting Joco, but it was someone else entirely.
A boy, probably about his age, with tousled black hair and dancing hazel eyes turned to look at him. "Oh, I'm sorry," the boy apologized with a grin. "I didn't mean to knock into you."
"Quite alright mate. Sirius Black, at your service." Sirius answered, sticking out his hand promptly and smiling at the boy.
"James Potter." The boy replied, grinning at having found a friend already. "Say, haven't you put your trunk on yet?" he asked, noticing it was still standing in front of Sirius, complete with eagle owl and all.
Sirius shook his head. "Couldn't lift it. I think me mum might have packed some bricks in here, to remind me of home." He chuckled at his own joke, the thought of his mother actually *packing*, but James didn't get it, Obviously.
"Do you need help then? My dad just helped me with mine," James offered, motioning to tall, black haired man with an easy air about him, who was having a discussion with the conductor towards the front of the train. "That'd be great," Sirius thanked him, relieved. "Thanks a lot, mate."
"No problem. Dad!" James called. "Dad! Come help me with this, will you?"
Harold Potter turned away from the conductor, calling his goodbyes, and walked over to his son. "Yes, James, what is it?"
"Could you help us lift this here? Sirius and I can't do it alone and--"
"Oh, made a friend already have you?" Maryann Potter cooed, coming up besides her husband. "Hello then," she addressed Sirius, ignoring the flush on James's checks. "What's your name?"
"Sirius Black, at your service, madam." He answered, a bit shyly, a rarity for him. He hated parents, but he wasn't quite sure what to make of the Potters just yet. Maryann beamed at him. "Well, isn't that nice, Harry, James has a friend already? Lovely to meet you, Sirius, lovely to meet you!" She glanced up at the clock and gasped. "Well, get going boys! You want to find a compartment, don't you? Hurry now! Harry, stop wasting time and get that boy's trunk on the train!"
Harry rolled his eyes off to the side, but Sirius and James both caught the gesture and grinned as Harry replied dutifully, "Yes, love."
Between the three of them, they eventually managed to hoist Sirius's trunk onto the train and into the luggage compartment. Harry hoped off the train, while James and Sirius made towards the railing so James could call goodbye to his parents.
"Bye mum! Bye dad! See ya in June!"
"James Potter you are coming home for Christmas young man!" Maryann cried as the train pulled out of the station. "Goodbye, son! Be good!" Harry called, his arms around his wife.
James shook his head as the station faded out of sight. "Mothers," he groaned good naturedly, and Sirius grinned. "I know what you mean."
The two stared blankly for a moment, before Sirius cleared his throat. "So...er, should we find a compartment? I don't fancy having a prefect come along, or the Heads for that matter, and scold us before we've even gotten there."
"Good plan," James agreed, glancing around. "Most of them seem to be full."
"What about this one?" Sirius asked, pointing to a seemingly empty compartment all the way down the corridor. The door was open. "Should we go in?" Sirius asked hesitantly.
"It's either that, or face the prefects?"
Sirius grimaced. "Go in."
James stumbled in, Sirius after him, and they snapped the door shut behind them. Through the curtains, they could see a girl walking around with a shiny HEAD GIRL badge pinned onto her robes walk down the corridor. Sirius grinned, and turned back to the empty compartment.
Or, not so empty.
"Err..hello?" James said startled, as his eyes found a boy sitting in the corner. The boy smiled pleasantly. "Hello."
"Sorry, do you mind if we..? Everywhere else is full." Sirius asked, gesturing down at the empty seats. The boy shook his head quickly. "No, no. I don't mind."
"Okay then."
The three boys stared blankly at each other for a moment, the silence mounting, before bursting into nervous chuckles. "Remus Lupin," Remus introduced himself.
"Sirius Black."
"James Potter."
Remus smiled. "Do you two know each other?" he asked curiously. "I mean, before just now?"
Sirius shook his head. "James helped me with my trunk," he explained.
"And Sirius helped me with my parents," James joked as Sirius continued, "Head Girl almost caught us loitering in the halls. What my brother would say if I got detention before I even got to Hogwarts.."
Remus and James laughed. "I wish I had a brother," James said rather wistfully. "I'm an only child. I get along right well with my dad though, so it's not too bad."
Remus nodded. "I have an older brother --"
"Wait, let me guess," Sirius interrupted with a grin that would soon become his trademark. "Romulus?"
Remus grinned. "Yep. And I have an older sister too, Venus. She's a prefect, otherwise she would have made sure I got settled okay, but Romulus just loaded my trunk and told me he'd check on me later. They're twins, both in fifth year."
James chuckled. "Romulus, Remus and Venus? What are your parents' names?"
"Athena and Seth."
"Seth? Well that doesn't fit."
"Yeah it does, he was some Egyptian god."
"How'd you know that?" Sirius asked, curious. Remus shrugged. "Dad's into Muggle Studies, so I just picked it up. He works as a researcher at the Ministry, so he's into all these cool stuff."
"Cool," Sirius commented, visibly impressed. "My dad's an Auror," James said, with more then a tint of pride. "My mum writes books."
"Wicked," Remus said and James nodded. "So what houses do you think you'll be in?"
"Slytherin," both Sirius and Remus answered glumly. James looked startled. "Ew - why Slytherin?"
"My family's been in Slytherin for generations," Sirius informed him glumly. "It'll be a miracle if I'm not. I've only had one aunt, Andromeda, who was put in Hufflepuff and they practically disowned her. And now, she's marrying a Muggle-born, so she's definitely out."
"Ah, your families all pureblood?" James asked.
Sirius nodded. "Yeah, but it's really stupid. I mean, pureblood, half blood..it's all the same thing anyway, I mean, you can do magic, can't you? I don't see the difference."
"It doesn't matter to me," Sirius added as an afterthought, and Remus shrugged. "I've never even thought about it. Doesn't matter to me either."
James shook his head. "Not me."
After a moment, he said, "I don't think you'll be in Slytherin, Sirius. You just don't seem the type." Turning to Remus he added, "Neither do you, for that matter. What makes you think you'll be in Slytherin?"
Remus shrugged. "Was your family in it?" Sirius asked. But Remus shook his head. "Romulus and Venus are both in Ravenclaw."
"Smart kids," Sirius acknowledged, and Remus nodded. "What house do you want to be in, James?"
James grinned. "Gryffindor, for sure. My mom was in Ravenclaw, but all dad's family have always been in Gryffindor, so I'm hoping I'll get it."
Sirius smiled. "Yeah, I'd love to be in Gryffindor too. Would drive my dad bonkers."
Remus laughed. "Do you try to do that?"
Sirius grinned. "As often as possible."
"What's your Qudditch team?" James asked suddenly. "Puddlemere United," Sirius and Remus answered immediately, in unison, and they laughed while James stared. "Me too!"
Remus chuckled. "I guess there is a reason why we all ended up in here."
"Cuz we're just about the only Puddlemere United fans on this side of London?" Sirius asked with a grin.
"Basically."
They talked about Qudditch for much of the ride, and before they knew it, the Food Cart had come along.
The boys emptied their pockets of galleons and sickles, and replaced them with Chocolate Frogs and Every Flavor Beans, but soon went back to their discussion of the Qudditch World Cup, which had been played last summer in Siberia.
"I mean, Siberia? What a useless place to have a Quidditch match!" Sirius crowed.
"They don't even have a Qudditch *team*," James agreed.
"They should have it in England, that'd be wicked," Remus added, to the agreement of Sirius and James. "Totally --oo yum, peanut butter -- awesome."
"England's chances of winning the cup are horrible, though, have you seen their -- yuck, who makes an anchovy flavor jelly bean?-- their new seeker? Couldn't catch the snitch if it landed on his head!" James said, disgruntedly spitting out the offending gray jelly bean.
"Yeah, but at least he's not as bad as --" Sirius began, but was interrupted by a loud bang, coming from the corridor.
Puzzled, Sirius walked over to the curtains, pulling them aside and looking into the corridor. He arched an eyebrow. "I think it's some Slytherin 3rd years. They're picking on some poor kid."
He turned to his new friends. "Should we go see what's going--"
But James had already whipped out his wand, followed by Remus, and had stepped into the corridor. Sirius grinned and hurried after them, stepping into the smoky corridor.
"What's going on here?" James called loudly, and the Slytherins looked up in surprise, before snickering. "Aww, is the ickle firsty come to be the hero?" one of them cooed, before raising his wand at James. "Get out of the way, kid, this doesn't concern you," another boy snapped, but James shook his head, and Sirius shouldered his way next to him. "What'd the kid ever do to you?" Sirius snapped, as Remus bent down and gave the boy a hand up. "Thanks," the boy said gratefully, smiling weakly. Lupin grinned. "Don't mention it."
All four boys took out their wands, but they were outnumbered by the Slytherins and the one minor detail..none of them knew any *actual* spells. Several other compartment doors were opening now, curious as to the commotion in the hallway.
The Slytherin who seemed to be in charge, a heavy-lidded kid, tall and wiry, frowned. "Get out of the way before I make you," he hissed, and the other Slytherin's nodded. "Lestrange, I say we get 'em out of the way," another boy agreed, seemingly speaking to the tall leader. Lestrange nodded and raised his wand, at the same moment James raised his -- not knowing what to do with it, really, except chuck it at Lestrange's head and pray his aim was on.
"Expelliarmus!" someone bellowed just before Lestrange cried, "Petrificus Totalus!"
A flash of blinding blue light flooded the corridor for a moment, and all four boys cringed. When Sirius opened one eye, however, Lestrange was flat on his back, his wand thrown asunder.
Remus grinned wildly. "Romulus!"
Romulus grinned at his brother, his impish smile, before scowling at Lestrange, his eyes dark. "Picking on my kid brother, Lestrange?" he growled. "I thought I taught you last year when you wouldn't leave Venus alone what happens when I get wind your messing with a Lupin.."
Lestrange didn't say anything. Perhaps because he couldn't.
"He's put the full body bind on himself!" One of his Romulus's friends laughed. "He must have dropped his wand when you disarmed him," Remus figured, logically, chuckling. James burst out laughing at the sight of the frozen Slytherin, joined quickly by Sirius.
Romulus grinned, but the smile suddenly died on his face as a girl's voice carried through the crowd. "What *is* going on here?"
Remus suddenly looked very sheepish, and several Slytherins and Ravenclaws turned to make a run for it, but her voice stopped them all. "Don't even think about it," she warned.
When she came into view, Sirius's mouth dropped open. Long black hair swirled around her delicate face, and her blue eyes burned brightly as she surveyed the scene. "Venus," Romulus said weakly. "We were just--"
"Oh, Rom, it's you again!" She said impatiently, her hands on her hips. Her Prefect badge gleamed in the light. Romulus grinned. "I was just saving dear Remus and his friends here."
"Remus?" Venus asked surprised. "Where?"
Remus waved slightly, his grin sheepish as she sighed. "Oh, Remus. Not you too. One maurdering brother is more then I can stand around here."
"It wasn't us," Sirius spoke up, finally closing his mouth but his eyes perpetually wide. "Those Slytherins were picking on this kid here--" he reached behind himtand grabbed the kid in question, shoving him forward. "And we came out to help."
"Oh, were they now?" Venus asked dangerously, glaring at the third year boys. Someone had finally muttered the counter curse and Lestrange was just getting to his feet. He smiled charmingly at her. "Hiya, dollface."
Venus gagged. "Get back in your compartment, Lestrange. When we get to Hogwarts, I'm going straight to Dumbledore about this. Picking on first years before we even get there? Despicable. I hope you get 50 points docked." Snickers were heard from the Ravenclaws and the four boys, but she soon whirled around on them, her hair flying. "And as for you," she said, pointedly to Romulus, her voice still dangerous. "Make sure you teach Remus and his friends exparimus. Something tells me they'll need it. And don't forget to write to mum." And with that, she grinned at Remus, gave the drooling Sirius a weird look, and floated down the corridor.
Romulus grinned. "I love having a sister as prefect," he announced to the corridor and Remus nodded in agreement.
Everyone began to dispprese, and the three boys made a move to go back to their compartment when they noticed the lone boy standing alone. "Hey, you? Yes, you. No, not you, James-- YOU!"
The boy nodded. "yeah?"
"What's your name?"
"Peter. Peter Pettigew."
"Well, Peter, Peter Pettigew, I'm Sirius, that there's Remus, and James. Wanna come sit?"
Peter smiled gratefully. "Can i?"
"I just said so, didn't i?"
James chuckled and Remus smiled as Sirius laughed and Peter nodded. "I guess so."
When he had gotten seated, the door opened again. It was Venus. "Sorry to bother you guys," she said pleasantly, her voice it's usual soft murmur once more. "But I just thought I should tell you we'll be at Hogwarts soon, it's best you get into your robes."
"Alright," Remus said nodding. "Thanks, Vee."
"No problem." She turned to leave, then paused, turning to Sirius. "I say, are you alright? You look a bit ill."
Sirius flushed bright red and James coughed to cover a laugh. "He's fine."
"Too many chocolate frogs," Remus lied, chuckling heartily. Peter smiled.
Vee studied him for a moment, then nodded. "If you say so. Bye boys."
The door shut quietly behind her.
"Remus," Sirius said quietly into the silence that followed. "I think she wants me."
"Sirius, you're 11. She's 15. I don't think so," James objected, smiling.
Remus laughed. "Sure, she does mate."
Sirius looked to Peter for support, who miraculously came through. "I think she digs you, mate."
Remus snorted. "Sure she does."
-------------
The rest of the ride to Hogwarts passed quickly, and before they knew it, they were standing before the great hall, waiting for the Sorting to begin. Because of Venus, Remus and many of the first years knew there was no troll, much to the older students displeasure, but still felt slightly uneasy about standing up in front of the whole school, Peter worst of all.
The song passed by in the blur-- they were much to nervous to listen to it in anycase, and before anyone knew what was going on, Professor McGonagall, a stern looking witch with a disapproving frown, called out,
"Angio, Alice!"
A tiny girl with thick red braids and freckles across her nose scurried forward. Moments later the hat screamed out, "HUFFLEPUFF!"
"Albert, Matthew!"
A blond boy with a haughty swagger came forward, smirking.
"SLYTHERIN!"
"Black, Narcissa!"
Remus glanced at Sirius. "You didn't say you had a sister--"
"She's not," Sirius told him grimly. "We're cousins. Distantly."
"SLYTHERIN!"
"Black, Sirius!"
"Here I go," Sirius muttered to James and Remus as he passed, nodding to Peter. "Wish me luck."
"Luck," James said, and crossed his fingers. He had heard stories about Slytherins, stories of what they became that would make your skin crawl. He didn't want Sirius among them. For one thing, they could no longer be friends, because more then anything, Slytherin was a breeding ground of the dark arts...and with an Auror as a father, James Potter hated the dark arts.
Sirius clutched the edges of the stool tensely as the hat was placed on his head, waiting. Nothing. He had just about to get edgy when a little voice in his ear began to whisper.
"Another Black, have we here? Yes, yes, it would seem so. But you're not like the rest of them, are you Sirius?"
Sirius shook his head slightly, all the while thinking one thought, over and over again. *Please put me in Gryffindor* he begged. *Gryffindor*.
"Gryffindor, eh?" the hat whispered. "What a upstart that would cause, a Black in Gryffindor? Curious, curious indeed. You've got the cunning to be in Slytherin, young Black--"
Sirius clutched the stool tighter.
"..and the mind of a Ravenclaw. Not bad, not bad. And loyalty, loyalty, why there is a good deal of that! Hufflepuff would appreciate it! Hufflepuff would nuture it! But you are not destined for Hufflepuff, I think..Be careful of where your loyalty lies, young Mr. Black, just be careful...and ooo there it is..quite a load of bravery we have here, quite a load...and nerve, oo there is a good deal of that too..Not Slytherin, you say, not Slytherin..well..you know best, I say..I see you, Mr. Black would be best in...GRYFFINDOR!"
Sirius beamed as the hat bellowed the last word to the entire school, his smile as bright as the stars twinkling down from the Enchanted Ceiling. McGongal removed the hat from his head and placed it down, ignoring the loud cheering coming from the Gryffindor table to bestow on Sirius a rare smile, before turning back to her list.
Rushing over to the table, receiving congratulatory pats and whistles from some second year girls, Sirius grinned, and breath a sigh of relief. His eyes wandered the High Table, as he laughed out loud from pure joy, and to his astonishment, Albus Dumbledore, whom he recognized from the old mans picture that appeared so frequently in his Chocolate Frog cards and in the Daily Prophet, winked at him! Sirius grinned back and turned his attention back to the sorting.
"Catsaw, Percy!"
"SLYTHERIN!"
"Diggle, Dedalus!"
"HUFFLEPUFF!"
"Doge, Elphias!"
"RAVENCLAW!"
"Evans, Lillian!"
A petite girl, with flaming red hair and emerald eyes, walked nervously towards the stool. Sirius watched with vague interest, watching impatiently for another Gryffindor.
"GRYFFINDOR!" the hat pronounced loudly and Sirius cheered and let out a whistle as the girl bounced over happily.
"Hi!" she beamed excitedly. "Lilly Evans," she reached out to shake his hand and Sirius smirked back. "Sirius Black," he told her smoothly, grabbing her hand and brushing his lips over it in a suave kiss. She just laughed and turned her attention back to the sorting.
"Figg, Jessica!"
"GRYFFINDOR!"
A small girl with platinum blonde hair and shining hazel eyes hurriedly made her way over to Lilly and introduced herself, smiling shyly at Sirius.
Sirius was getting bored and he let his attention wander, studying the high table and the rest of the tables. He spotted Romulus and Venus, the Lupin twins, sitting near each other at the Ravenclaw table. Then he spotted Lestrange and his cronies scowling at him from the Slytherin table. Sirius grinned and waved. They cracked their knuckles menacingly.
When Sirius turned his attention back to the sorting, two more girls had been sorted into Gryffindor. Laurel Hastings, a curly topped brunette with an innocent smile, and Emmeline, ("just call me Em,") Jackson. Sirius joined their conversation about Slytherins and how they all looked like an evil bunch, pausing to look up when the Sorting got to 'L'.
"Longbottom, Frank!"
"GYFRINNDOR!"
Sirius cheered loudly, his relief at another Gryffindor male building as Frank ambled over. He was fairly short, but with kind eyes and a laughing smile at made Sirius instantly like him as they shook hands and began to talk. Sirius paused however when he heard,
"Lupin, Remus!"
"Come up, Remmy," he said quietly. "Not Slytherin..."
Inside Remus's mind, he was chanting much the same thing.
The hat, was frankly amused.
"What makes you think you could survive in Slytherin, m'boy? You're too loyal, too noble, too kind for that sort of lot..I know what I'm doing Mr. Lupin, and though for 12 days out of the year, you do show a bit of Slytherin, my dear werewolf, you are in fact made for...GRYFFINDOR!"
Sirius cheered and whooped and Frank clapped hard for another Gryffindor as Lupin ambled over, grinning like an idiot.
Glancing at the Ravenclaw table, he was a bit disappointed he wouldn't be with his siblings, but they would be leaving in two years anyway. Venus grinned at him and winked; Romulus flashed him the thumbs up sign and got all of his friends to cheer for him.
The three Gryffindor boys soon dissolved into conversation about Puddlemere United, delighted to see Frank too was a fellow fan, and all but ignoring the sorting. They barely paid any attention to the girls until they heard Laurel remark loudly, "See that's what I mean. Look at him, classic Slytherin," as Malfoy, Lucius was made a Slytherin.
"I see what you mean," Remus agreed frowning.
"And that, my friends, is why we should celebrate *NOT* being in Slytherin!" Sirius cheered loudly, not realizing that as Lucius passed the Gryffindor table, he was within hearing distance. The blonde hair boy shot him a particular nasty look and Sirius gave it right back, but Frank chuckled.
"Great start to inner-house relationships, that was."
Sirius grinned. "I don't want *any* kind of relationship with that oaf."
"Look, Peter's up," Remus observed as the shaking boy made his way to the stool.
Peter bit his lip as the hat was placed over his eyes, shielding the great hall from view.
"Well, well, well," said a tiny voice in his ear. "Peter Pettigew. Nervous are we? No reason to be lad. Just let me take a look around. Hmm.. Gryffindor, your mother was in, wasn't she?" Peter nodded slightly. "And your father a Hufflepuff? Good, good.."
*Gryffindor* Peter pleaded silently. *Please, let it be Gryffindor.*
"Gryffindor, did you say? Bravery, the house of Gryffindor is known for, Peter, I think you would do better in Hufflepuff..the house suits you, you know...Ah, but your friends are in Gryffindor, aren't they? Well, well, that changes is everything. Friends can shape your life, Peter, remember that..friends can change everything. Well, if your sure, be true to these friends better...be brave like a GRYFFINDOR!"
Peter smiled weakly, relief etched on every line of his face as the Gryffindor boys grinned. "Thanks," he murmured weakly as he put the hat down and raced towards the table. "Thanks a lot."
Sirius shot Lupin a look. "Didn't see that one, coming, did you?"
Remus smiled sheepishly. "Honestly? No."
Sirius laughed. "Me either..Good going, Pete!"
But they had little time to congratulate him, as Remus hissed, "Look, it's James!"
"Potter, James!"
James strode boldly over to the hat, and threw it in his head. It slipped off, falling to the floor to loud laughs and hoots from the students. McGonagall glared.
James flushed, and was suddenly amazingly glad the hat was hiding his face from view, even as the hat hissed disgruntedly,
"A little over eager, are we, Mr. Potter?"
James smiled sheepishly.
"Yes, well, we can't all be perfect. Now, let's have a look around, shall we? Oh, you have a fine mind, no doubt about that. Courage too. Lots of it. Cunning, and smarts, oh my, your mother's Ravenclaw intelligence seeps through..."
"Gryffindor!" James whispered fiercely under his breath and the hat seemed to huff.
"Thank you, James Potter, but I know what I'm doing. Now, what was I saying? Oh, yes, her intelligence shows through...but so does your father's blood. Bravery beyond doubt, I say...you, Mr. Potter, are only fit for one house, I believe..and that house is...GRYFINNDOR!"
James smiled widely, placed the hat down neatly on the stool, before getting up to loud cheers and running over to the Gryffindor table.
"Bravo, mate!" Sirius said excitedly. "We all made Gryffindor!"
"Thank you, Captain Obvious," James muttered dryly as Snape, Severus was made a Slytherin. Sirius grinned as Vance, Cleo, was made a Gryffindor whistling catcalls along with the rest of the table.
As the last of the sorting ended, finally, Dumbledore stood at the high table, beaming proudly, his arms thrown up.
"Welcome, welcome all of you!" He cried, seemingly overjoyed. "Another school year is at hand, and I am very exicted! A few school announcements, if you please...to all first years, you would do well to remember that the Forest at the edge of the grounds, known as the Forbidden Forest is, well, forbidden!" His eyes darted to Romulus Lupin as he added, "and some of our older students would do well to remember that as well." Romulus grinned.
"Mr. Filch, our caretaker, would like me to remind you that magic is strictly forbidden in the corridors, as is mud, dirt, chocolate frogs and any product of Zonko's. The list, which can be seen in Mr. Filch's office, is quite extensive and you are all more then welcome to stop by and see it. I would also like for everyone to welcome, our new Potions teacher, Professor Perkins!"
A short wizard with long black hair tied back neatly in a ponytail and a grim smile, Professor Perkins had the look of a grown giant who had shrunk several feet. His eyes were blue, but strangely cold, and his lip curled slightly. He nodded slightly as Dumbledore gestured towards him.
"Professor Perkins had kindly agreed to take on the role of Head of Slytherin!"
The Slytherin table cheered, though it was somewhat faint. The man was not exactly welcoming looking.
"And, I would also like to welcome Professor Lovegood as our Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher!"
A petite witch, with a welcoming smile, stood up and grinned at the students, waving before sitting back down. Her waist dirty blonde hair tucked underneath her as she sat, and she had strangely pale eyes that gave her a permanently surprised look, but still, her smile set them all at ease.
"Thank you for my patience, students, and now..Bon Appetite!"
Sirius's eyes widened in delight and James let out a laugh of contentment as food magically appeared on their plates. "Excellent." He murmured through bite of chicken.
"Brilliant," Sirius echoed reaching for the mashed potatoes.
Frank and Remus just grinned and Peter reached automatically for the macaroni and cheese. A prefect down at the end of the table, closest to Sirius, looked over.
"So, new Gryffindors, ready to help win the House Cup?"
Sirius nodded but when he opened his mouth, Hestia Jones, the Gryffindor prefect, was showered with a spray of spittle and mashed potatoes. "Who won last year?"
Hestia reached for a napkin, wiping her face delicately, and scooting away from Black. James chuckled.
"Slytherin, of course. Won for the last 5 years!"
"Five years!" the girls chourshed. "Yes, so we *have* to win this year," Hestia told them severely. "So that means no fooling around and loosing points."
James and Sirius grinned. During their conversations, they had discovered both had a great love of pranks. Lilly glared at them. "Why are you grinning like the cat that ate the canary?"
James smirked. "No reason, carrot top."
"Carrot top!" Lilly shrieked. "Why, you little--"
Hestia chuckled. "ANYWAY," she interrupted. "So who do we got this year? Sirius Black, who're you?"
"Peter Pettigew."
"Okay, Black, Pottet, Pettigew, Lupin, Longbottom...decent bunch of boys, don't mess up this year! We need that cup! And what about the girls..Lilly Evans, Jessica Figg, Laurel Hastings, Emm-- sorry dear, *what* is your name? Okay, I'll just call you Em Jackson, and Cleo Vance..not a bad bunch, dearies! Alright, all finished are we? Come on, I'll show you where the tower is!"
"Finished?" Sirius asked aghast as he shoved his third helping of plum pudding in his mouth. "I've just started!"
James and Peter laughed as Remus shook his head. "That's disgusting, Sirius."
Sirius grinned, showing a gruesome display of mashed pudding and mashed potatoes, chicken and peas all mashed inside his mouth.
"Ew, gross!" Cleo exclaimed and Jessica turned her eyes away.
"Yuck!" Laurel cried.
"Sirius!" Lilly and Em scolded in unison.
Sirius just smiled.
Hestia shook her head. "Alright, let's go first years, follow me."
The first years dutifully got up from the table, and followed the willow fifth year through the crowd, out of the Great Hall.
"Excuse me!" Hestia exclaimed loudly. "I'm a *prefect*!"
James turned to see who she had bumped into, and frowned. What was his name again? Oh, yes. Snape. And Malfoy.
Both of them sniggered and glared at Hestia, bumping roughly into her again. Her eyes bulged. "Outrage! 10 points each from Slytherin!"
Malfoy and Snape suddenly stopped snickering and glowered at her. "Flithy mudblood," Lucius hissed, turning away. "C'mon Snape."
Hestia went pale at his words and so did several other people in the crowd.
"MALFOY!"
Someone roared and the Gryffindor's looked up to see McGongal descending furiously on him. "Get back here! Filthy words, such a filthy mouth on you! We shall be seeing Dumbledore about this, make no mistake!"
Hestia grinned and Sirius and James exchanged gleeful looks. "I think I've found public enemy number one," Frank whispered to the group and Remus nodded in agreement. "Definitely."
Hestia shook it off and led them quickly too the tower, muttering the password, (Codswallop) and directed them to their dormitories.
The boys found there's easily enough, claming beds and quickly climbing into them. It had been a long day.
And as the lights slowly flickered off throughout the Gryffindor tower, James smiled sleepily. Something about the tower just felt like home.