The Marauders' Years: Year One

Chapter One

Secrets of Hogwarts

Like every year, the Hogwarts Express platform was full of students and their parents.

Every few minutes a new group would fall through the barrier and head off to meet up with old friends or to store their school things on board the train. The noise was deafening as students and parents in varying arrays of pseudo muggle clothes continued last minute conversations and argued good-naturedly.

Sirius Black appeared through the barrier at five minutes 'til the train's departure looking slightly flustered. Despite having grown up in a wizarding family, he still thought it a bit odd to walk (or rather, run, in Sirius's case) through the solid barrier between platforms nine and ten.

Furiously wishing that his parents had at least bothered to tell him what to do, Sirius set off across the busy platform dragging his new Hogwarts' trunk. He would've stuck around to thank the family who'd informed him how to get onto the platform (a slim woman and a man who was amusing himself with pointing out how absurd Muggles' hats looked. Plus their daughter, a girl with brown hair who was going into her first year, and their son; a tall fifth year boy who one wouldn't think would belong to such a nice family with that sneer on his face), but Sirius's main thoughts at the moment were focused along the lines of getting onto the train.

If he had to run through some other obstacle course to get onto the bloody thing, Sirius was going to throw his trunk down and sulk.

Sighing and taking a moment to shove his hair back from his face, Sirius peered around at the faces of well-wishers and the students who hadn't boarded yet in hopes of spotting Remus Lupin.

He had met the boy in Diagon Alley while getting his wand. Remus had been a little leery of him, but Sirius had rather liked the other boy. There was something about quiet people that made him want to make them talk. It drove him mad that some people didn't fill every possible minute with chatter.

"All aboard!" called a voice hidden behind a sudden cloud of steam.

Sirius blinked, giving up on his search for Remus and turning toward the train. He continued dragging his trunk, making no effort to lift it up off of the ground. At this point he didn't care a bit that it was becoming scratched up along the way

~*~

After walking down the aisle for several moments, Sirius finally found Remus in one of the compartments – the one next to the end, to be precise. The pale boy was breathing deeply, slumped with his face pressed against the window and fast asleep. Another boy was sitting on the seat opposite Remus and he waved to Sirius when he spotted him looking in.

"C'mon, have a seat if you want. I don't think this bloke'll mind much as long as we don't wake him."

Sirius grinned and stashed his trunk in the space provided before sitting down. "How'd you know it'd bother him if we decided to wake him?"

"Already tried waking him up once; he nearly bit my head off!" the boy explained with a short laugh, then added, "James Potter," as an afterthought and held out his hand.

"Sirius Black," Sirius answered, shaking James's hand.

James raised an eyebrow at his surname, but didn't comment on it further.

"Do you like Quidditch?" James questioned instead as he fiddled with a chocolate frog container. He already had a small number of cards on the seat beside him, and all but the ones featuring Quidditch players had been tossed on the floor.

Sirius wondered idly where he had gotten it… he'd like a chocolate frog right about now. He'd obtain one later… one way or another.

"Of course not." Sirius said, baiting the trap for the boy with the messy black hair.

"You can't be serious?" James asked incredulously, spluttering slightly. "Not a jot?"

"Of course I can! Sirius Black, remember?" And so the trap was sprung; soon all of Hogwarts would become aware of the worst pun at Sirius's disposal.

The two boys stared at each other for a full minute before bursting into laughter and diving into a conversation about the finer points of Quidditch.

~*~

The hours and the scenery passed by quickly. Soon the countryside was bathed in darkness, and when it became difficult to see much of anything out the window, Sirius stretched his arms over his head and glanced at James who had taken to working on a lengthy letter to his parents.

Feeling Sirius's gaze, James smirked a little and waved his quill slightly. "I reckon if I write a monstrous letter, they'll not expect another one from me for months."

"I wouldn't want another one after reading that thing." Sirius shook his head, bemused at his new acquaintance.

James made a show of sighing and putting the letter (no, not letter – Novel, Sirius thought) away. "Right. You disapprove, Mr. Black. What's a better way to waste time?"

It was a good question, and one Sirius fully intended to give an admirable answer to. He only needed to think of one.

The good thing about coming up with answers, though, was that you could come up with them as you went along.

"Follow me."

"To?"

"The promised land."

"Of?"

Sirius gave James a pointed look.

James lifted his hands, fighting a grin. "Right, right. Following. Lead on, Black."

Sirius did, racking his mind furiously for what to do as he stepped out into the hall and glanced briefly around. It couldn't be that hard to find something more interesting than writing home, could it?

"I don't fancy that it's more interesting out here than it is back in the compartment," James mused, lifting one eyebrow lazily. "Are you sure we're off to the promised land, Sirius?"

"Promised land?"

Both boys jumped slightly at the third voice. Neither of them had seen the third boy leaning against the doorway of the open compartment, and now he was staring at them, waiting for some sort of explanation.

"Jamesie here," Sirius began, only to be cut off sharply by the aforementioned.

"James."

Him," Sirius continued smoothly, jerking his thumb toward the bespectacled boy. "He was just telling me of a promised land. A land filled with girls who have no idea what lies before them – girls who need an arm to cling to, a shoulder to cry on. Girls who need blokes like us. It's our duty to travel there and find them."

The other boy didn't look impressed. "Really, now?"

"Couldn't have put it better myself," James confirmed, flashing Sirius a grin.

"Loons," the boy muttered under is breath, but nevertheless he stuck out his hand. "Frank Longbottom."

Sirius grasped his hand firmly. "Sirius."

He wasn't going to bandy around his surname any more today. After the events of that morning… Sirius really didn't want to think about his family.

"James Potter," James said next, pumping Frank's hand once. "Future Quidditch captain. Best to do like Sirius here and chum around with me while everyone else hasn't realized how famous I am."

At Frank's skeptical look, Sirius took it as his cue to grin brightly. "My new best mate here has a big head."

"No bigger than yours," James quipped back.

"You only dream your ego was as big as mine."

Frank waved both hands in front of him to stave off the banter. "You can have an ego the size of Australia for all I care, just get out of the bloody way. The sweets trolley'll be along shortly and I don't want her turning round because you lot decided to work out who the bigger prat is."

Sirius snorted, trying to hold back a laugh as he backed up a step. James started to move away as well, grinning widely.

"We love you, too, Longbottom," Sirius called over his shoulder.

The only answer he received was a derisive snort.

James grinned at Sirius as they made their way back to the compartment. "Don't know for sure yet, but that might have been more entertaining than letter writing."

"Only might?" Sirius lifted an eyebrow in feigned amazement.

"What can I say?" James shrugged a little. "I'm spoiled."

Sirius snickered and followed James back into compartment. Already he could tell that this Potter character was going to be an entertaining person to get to know.

For the better part of an hour, the two had the compartment to themselves aside from the sleeping form of Remus. At one point, a girl with bright-red hair looked into their compartment and announced that the prefects were saying they would be getting to Hogwarts soon. She didn't stick around, however, as she seized the arm of her friend (a boy with lank, greasy hair who stared at Sirius and James uneasily) and hurried off to find the rest of the first years.

There was a short, fierce argument as to who would be the one to wake Remus up, but finally Sirius rose to the challenge and shook the other boy awake with only minor difficulty. Quickly, they put on their robes and took turns pressing their noses to the glass, trying to see when the school would appear before them.

It was another fifteen minutes before the train came to a stop. As soon as it did, the three boys scrambled out of their compartment to join the throng of students heading for the exits. Sirius was mildly amused to note that James kept looking around, trying to catch a glimpse of the redhead from earlier.

"Firs' years o'er here!" an unusually tall man called, making Sirius jump when his booming voice sounded from a spot overhead that the boy didn't think even an adult should be tall enough to occupy.

Sirius looked up into the lantern light and found himself a little in awe of the man's height. He didn't have time to gawk for long, however, as James elbowed him and hurried him along after the rest of the group.

Sticking together, the three boys made their way to a group of boats, chose one, and got in (Remus Lupin in back, James Potter and Sirius Black in the middle, and Frank Longbottom in the front.).

"Wonder what all lives in there?" James pondered aloud, leaning out of the boat as it glided silently across the lake.

"A giant squid, I hear," Frank Longbottom commented, also leaning out to peer into the dark depths.

"I wouldn't lean so far out..." Remus cautioned.

An evil grin flitted across Sirius's face. "What's everyone's opinions on pranks?"

"Hilarious," James answered automatically, but was distracted immediately from the question as he continued searching for the squid.

"Dangerous," Frank said in the same distracted tone as James.

"Both," Remus said. Having been the only one really paying attention, he was now watching Sirius warily. "…why?"

"Then it's settled!" Sirius announced gleefully. Getting closer to the castle had completely penetrated his melancholy mood from earlier that morning – he was ready to have so fun.

"What's settl— GAH!"

Remus's cut off his question with a surprised yelp and clung to the side of the boat as Sirius began rocking their small craft back and forth while laughing crazily.

James and Frank tumbled in first, coming up spluttering and shouting, then Remus lost his death grip on the boat's sides and joined them in the lake, with a final maniacal laugh Sirius somehow turned the boat over and joined his fellow soon-to-be first years in the chilly water.

The girl who had warned them to get ready earlier, along with three other girls screamed in unison as their boat collided with the boys' boat, sending them into the lake as well.

A third boat joined the pile-up, sending several more students along with the greasy haired boy into the chilly waters.

It took nearly half an hour for the giant of a man from earlier to fish them all back out.

~*~

After the general mayhem of James and Remus trying to yell at Sirius, laugh, and keep from drowning at the same time, and the girls' threats of unspeakable revenge, everyone found themselves lined up in the Great Hall, soaking wet. A few moments ago Mcgonagall had said it was the worst demonstration of poor behavior she had ever seen on the first day of Hogwarts and gave all four of the boys detentions, much to Frank and Remus's horror. Sirius and James, however, were quite pleased. Apparently they had broken the record for the most people to have ever fallen into the lake in one crossing (the previous record having been set during a particularly nasty storm in which only three students had fallen overboard).

With their punishments handed out, the boys were at last sent into the Great Hall with the other first years. After they were all lined up, the sorting hat took a deep breath and began its song, which Sirius recalled going something like:

You may suppose I'm ratty,

Or just plain old and worn

Perhaps I think you're bratty?

But as to your personality I'm torn

Mayhap you're like Godric Gryffindor, and braver you could not be.

Red and gold, brave and true, these are traits to be admired.

Or maybe as with gentle Helga Hufflepuff, kindness flows from you while you're busy as a bee!

Hardworking 'n kind sums it all up – good true traits even if the house is not oft' desired.

And yet, are you like Rowena Ravenclaw? Witty and charming, I'm sure.

Knowledge is, to you, an important asset and a goal.

Last, might you be like Salazar Slytherin, and though most cunning of the lot you're not one to abhor.

Cunning and bright – some say handsome to boot, or say you've the countenance of a troll.

I hope you think me not insulting; I speak the truth of course.

Just put me on your head and I'll find which is the path you'll tread!

"Barry, Kendra," Professor McGonagall called out crisply, apparently not as thrown by the hat suddenly singing as the first years were.

A dark-skinned girl grinned nervously as she eased over to the stool and let the hat drop down over her eyes. The silence seemed to drag on forever to Sirius, but every time he started to fidget, McGonagall would shoot him a scathing look over her square spectacles.

Finally the hat shouted, "Ravenclaw!"

"Black, Sirius."

Sirius trotted up to the three-legged stool and, grinning brightly, dropped the sorting hat onto his head.

"Another Black." The sorting hat muttered distastefully, before brightening a bit. "Hm. Not the same. No. Maybe like your cousin? No, not exactly, she was suited for Hufflepuff. You might actually be a challenge. Hmmm... Yes. It's here in your head. You don't want to be like them, hm? Want to make a point after that row, I bet? Got a thing against Hufflepuff and Slytherin, eh? Courage is here, oh yes. You've got a reckless streak in you, too. Hmmm... Yes... Better be..... GRYFFINDOR!"

The Gryffindor table cheered as Sirius took off the hat and walked towards them in a sort of haze, thoroughly and happily surprised. After all of that time this morning trying to work out what to do to get back at his mum and dad… he had never even considered this. It was perfect.

"Blanchester, Alice" became the next new Gryffindor as Sirius took a seat at the Gryffindor table, ignoring some of the odd looks he got from the students who were familiar with his surname. "Cork, Thomas" and "Duble, Sarah" became Ravenclaws.

McGonagall studied the parchment in her hand for several seconds, narrowing her eyes as she studied the name. "Esper, Elizabeth"

Elizabeth, one of the girls that had been in Lily's boat, walked up and sat on the stool. Sirius was amused to note that a small puddle was starting to form around the stool at this point. The hat took a long moment before shouting out: "GRYFFINDOR!"

"Evans, Lily."

The girl with the bright red hair walked nervously to the sorting hat, chewing on her bottom lip.

"GRYFFINDOR!"

"Finn, Melanie" became the first Hufflepuff, earning a long round of applause from the table with the black and yellow hangings.

"Longbottom, Frank."

"GRYFFINDOR!"

McGonagall calling, "Lupin, Remus" earned Sirius's wavering attention again, and he turned quickly from his observation of the other tables.

Gingerly Remus placed the hat on his head, and nearly let out a yelp when it started muttering in his ear.

"Interesting. Dumbledore must be doing you a great favor. Yes, very interesting. Not much of a conversationalist, are you? Usually students blabber nonstop about a talking hat.... Hmmm... A nice mind... But... Aha! There it is: a wish to be in Gryffindor. Got a friend there, have you? Hmm.... Gryffindor trade marks are all here as well as Ravenclaw. I can tell that you'll do well in... GRYFFINDOR!"

Remus nearly slipped in the puddle of water as he hurried to take his seat by the grinning Sirius.

"Patil, Patrick."

"RAVENCLAW!"

Several other students were called up after that – a couple Slytherins, two Ravenclaws, and five Hufflepuffs before, "Pettigrew, Peter" was called. The sorting hat took its time with him (Sirius muttered to Remus that the boy with the fair hair, watery eyes, and scared expression looked like a Hufflepuff). No one, however, was more surprised than Peter when the sorting hat finally shouted out, "GRYFFINDOR!"

Soon only two students were left to be sorted – James and another girl.

"Potter, James." Mcgonagall gave him a reproachful glance, praying that he didn't end up in...

"GRYFFINDOR!"

James jogged to the Gryffindor table and sat himself down between the Pettigrew boy and Sirius, then turned to watch the next student get sorted.

"Silverfire, Allysia."

The girl walked up to the sorting hat, dripping water off her robes from her dunk in the lake with Lily and the other girls and wringing her hands nervously as the hat was placed on her head. Sirius realized with a jolt that she was the girl whose mum and dad had told him how to get through the barrier. He cheered as loudly as the rest when the hat shouted,"GRYFFINDOR!" Her brother, a Slytherin, didn't cheer. But, then again, Sirius knew that his own relatives had been rather silent during his sorting.

Once the final few first years were called and sorted, the Great Hall immediately broke out into a low murmur of conversation as the students turned their attention from the new arrivals' sorting and onto the students sitting around them.

"When do you think they serve dinner?" Peter asked James timidly.

James shrugged, and then directed his attention to the teacher's table as the headmaster stood up, waving one hand delicately to calm the conversations.

He waited patiently for everyone to trail off into silence, and while he did, Sirius propped his elbows on the table and studied the man his parents had grudgingly admitted to being a good headmaster when he wasn't letting in any filth who could halfway pretend to do magic into the school.

Dumbledore wasn't anything like Sirius expected a headmaster to look. He wasn't cold and stern, but instead seemed cheerful and had a somewhat humorous air about him. Instead of calling for attention again, the old wizard waited patiently for two excited Hufflepuff girls to stop giggling from the conversation they had just been engaged in.

Once everyone quieted, he spoke. "A few warnings to our new first years before we stuff ourselves. The forbidden forest is out of school bounds... at all times." Dumbledore gave a meaningful look in Sirius's direction when the boy's eyes lit up at the word 'forbidden'. "Thus you should not risk going there. The girls' toilet on the second floor is out of order this year due to frequent floods. Third years should remember to have their permission slips ready for Hogsmeade weekends; the dates will be posted on the notice board. On a last note, I would like to congratulate Misters Black, Potter, Lupin, and Longbottom, for causing the largest boat wreck we at Hogwarts have ever seen, and also the earliest detention we have seen handed out in many long years. Now let us feed ourselves well before you get substance to keep between your ears tomorrow... Fill up!"

James, Remus, and Sirius looked at each other sheepishly before piling up their plates with the newly appeared food.

~*~

After the feast Frank, Remus, Sirius, and James followed a prefect ("Full of himself git!" Sirius called him under his breath) to the common rooms.

"The password is 'goldensnitch'," the prefect drawled, stopping in front of a portrait of the largest woman Sirius had ever laid eyes on. "We keep it simple the first week for you first years, but you'll have to remember a more complicated one when she changes it."

Sirius and James exchanged glances, and Sirius noted that the other boy looked rather pleased by the password. Apparently he was taking it as a good sign – earlier on the train James had been worrying about going into Quidditch withdrawal while at school.

They received the usual instructions on which room was theirs and were then informed that their trunks had already been brought up.

The boys skipped over having a good look around their new common room in favor of making their way upstairs to change from their slightly damp robes.

"Formal introductions or you shall pay a price most dear," Sirius ordered as he sat down on his new bed.

"Frank Longbottom..." Frank said, glancing at Sirius oddly. "Are you quite right in the head? Haven't we done this already?"

"Frank? Got it. I'll spare your insignificant mortal life – this time," Sirius said instead of answering.

"James Potter," James said, grinning and shaking everyone's hand that he could reach.

"May your life be long and may Merlin's long-dead face smile upon you!"

"Peter Pettigrew," Peter introduced with a squeak and a frightened look at Sirius, who he thought was quite insane. Peter was already dreading the thought that he would be his roommate for the next seven years.

"May you now be blessed by the hamsters and become a squeaky, hamster brethren someday!" Sirius said, grinning.

"Remus Lupin... and who are you to speak in the name of the hamsters?" Remus asked with a barely concealed laugh.

"I am the most honorable ambassador of the L.o.P.H.i.B.S., the Legion of Purple Hamsters in Business Suits! I am otherwise known as Sirius Black."

"That's a mouthful…" Frank commented, still staring at Sirius as if he thought the boy would do well in St. Mungos.

As they unpacked their things and made everything ready for bed, everyone occasionally glanced at one another despite the silence, trying to size up who was joking and who was off his rocker...

As he pulled the curtains closed around his four-poster, Sirius smiled to himself. Earlier that morning he had vowed to quit speaking to his mum for the rest of his life (something that he knew wouldn't last more than the time between now and the first holiday), but now he had four new dorm mates and he'd become rather notorious – the headmaster himself had even mentioned his name.

All in all… Sirius felt rather cheerful as he drifted to sleep.