The Marauder years
By
MrsPadfootProngs
Chapter Two
Lily and HagridDISCLAIMER – Nope none of mine
AUTHOR NOTE – Right I have no idea if anyone's reviewed this, according to the story itself there has been 3 reviews according to my stats there has been none and yet I'm on the author alert for 3 people. Somehow I think once again Fanfiction.net is screwing everything up.
If you have reviewed then thank you, I really wish I could read them. As you can tell we're introduced to Lily and Hagrid in this chapter, hope you enjoy.
"I wonder what we'll have to do" James suddenly announced turning his hazel gaze from the window and the passing scenery and instead focusing on the other three wizards. They were near the end of the journey and having exhausted most of the subjects their 11 year old minds could come up with, had slipped into a strangely comfortable silence.
James had been staring out the window, being lucky enough to have one of the seats, he had been frowning slightly, trying to find some landmark which would tell him where they were, unfortunately there were none and so he was lost and being lost was a feeling he didn't enjoy experiencing. Sirius had joined him in gazing out the window and occasionally pointed out things to James, he seemed deep in thought though and ever so often his gaze would turn to Remus and he would watch him in confusion before looking away and frowning more. Remus was happily reading a big heavy book entitled Hogwarts a history, that looked boring to the other three wizards, his eyes were beginning to shut though and the book which had started up by his face was slowly making contact with the table as if it was too heavy to hold. Peter on the other hand was eating Bertie Botts every flavour beans extremely slowly, he had a method of staring at them for a long period of time before carefully licking one, if the taste was nice he ate it, if it wasn't then he placed it on a small pile by the container, needless to say the pile was steadily becoming bigger.
At James's voice though they all came to attention, Sirius turned his gaze from the window, instead focusing on James with a slight puzzled look, Remus had opened his eyes fully and placed the book on the table marking his page, only Peter carried on with what he was doing as he spoke
"What do you mean what we'll have to do?" He demanded squinting at a green sweet and trying to decide if it was spearmint flavour or something else. He cautiously licked it and made a face as he shuddered. Definitely something else.
"You know, when we get there" James went on looking eagerly into each of their faces "When we get there we have to do something, that's how they decide what house your in but what do you have to do?" understanding filtered through the other three boys faces then Remus chuckled as he spoke. They were still having difficulty understanding him but as he grew more comfortable around them, they noticed he spoke up more even though he was more quiet then the three of them put together.
"I heard from my older brother that Dumbledore asks a question, the answer being in Hogwarts a history and depending on how fast or slow you answer that will determine your house. My brother is a Ravenclaw so he must have got it dead fast" he grinned brightly at them and patted the book to emphasis his point. James grinned back
"So that's why you were reading that book, and here I was thinking you were doing it for fun" Remus blushed slightly
"I was, I've read it already, this is the second time round" a silence echoed in the room before Peter, with some insight and sympathy towards the embarrassed boy spoke cheerfully.
"Well I'm doomed" he remarked "I haven't read anything in the book and I know even less so I'll send you some mail from Hufflepuff shall I?" the rest laughed and James spoke again, leaning forward so his glasses slipped down his nose
"I heard from my sister and brother that you have to perform a spell, depending on how complex the spell will indicate which house you're meant to be in"
"A spell" Sirius repeated then grinned properly at them for the first time, not the unsure ones he had been using before. This one transformed his face making him look extremely cheeky, navy blue eyes glinted with fun as he carried on his sentence "I heard from my Uncle Alphard that you have to wrestle a Troll, a real one as well" he laughed as the other three shot him horrified looks
"It better bloody not be, look how skinny I am, the thing would break me in two with one hit" James remarked with a shudder. Sirius laughed then trailed off a dejected look coming to his face.
"It will probably be something really simple, but then again what does it matter I'm a Black after all, I'm bound to be thrown into Slytherin" he frowned even as James and Peter shot each other a quick glance. Remus spoke, a smile present on his face that didn't show in his eyes, which suddenly looked older and sadder then before.
"Well Sirius" he began, the other boy looking up at him "I'm almost certain I'll be in Slytherin as well so the two of us will have to keep each other company and sane in that house, deal?" he questioned lightly ignoring the shocked looks the other three shot at him, he sounded so sure about it as if he already knew. Before any of them could argue this point a light girlish voice spoke. All four jumped as they swung to the door and stared at a girl of average height.
"I don't think you need to worry about being a Slytherin you know" she looked considering at Remus, who flushed under the thoughtful green gaze "You just don't look the type, from what I've read and heard all Slytherins are nasty bullies" she grinned as she stepped into the room and closed the door behind her "You look like a Gryffindor or Ravenclaw to me" she walked forward and held her hand out to Remus, a cheeky half smile on her lips. She had a pretty face, a few freckles littered her smallish nose while wavy red hair fell to just above her shoulders, her main point of beauty though was her green eyes, which blazed from her pale face. "I'm Lily Evans by the way, yet another first year and you are?" she seemed to be talking only to Remus who, with a quick look round the others, took her proffered hand and shook it gently.
"I'm Remus Lupin, at your service Lily, it's a pleasure to meet you" he said automatically, all the training his mother had given him about how to treat a person coming forward. She stared at him for a moment then giggled taking her hand away from his, a shy look coming across her face as her cheeks reddened, leaving all four of them to look at each other in confusion at her suddenly change. James, having enough of being left out, leaned passed Peter and held his hand out
"I'm James Potter" he announced, she shook it with a smile as he continued, "It's nice to meet you Lily"
"And I'm Peter, Peter Pettigrew but call me Pete all my friends and family do" he reddened slightly as he realised he was waffling and instead held out his hand, once she shook it he held out his box of sweets "Want one?" he offered, she looked in confusion at the box then shrugged placing her hand in and picking out a reddish pink one. Sirius suddenly laughed, he didn't quite understand what was going on but he was beginning to think his mother's view on people was wrong, Remus was a half blood but he seemed decent enough to him and he was pretty sure Lily was as well. He would have to ask her in his next letter exactly what the deal was with them. He now spoke
"Better take him up on his offer Lily, that's the first he's offered them around, you must be special" Peter bristled up
"I did offer them around but you were in gaga land and didn't even notice me shoving the box in your face" Remus laughed
"Yeah I got a liver flavour one" he shuddered "I hope never to get one of them again" Lily grinned at them and sat down as Remus made space for her, she popped it in her mouth whole and waited for a second before chewing a smile coming to her face
"Yummy Strawberry my fave" James laughed
"Lucky you but I doubt you'll be so lucky the next time" he claimed, the others nodded and Lily turned to Sirius
"Who are you by the way I missed your name?" Sirius nodded
"That you would have cause I haven't given it to you yet" he remarked calmly then he smiled "I'm Sirius Black" he looked for any recognition on her face but like Remus's there was none, he carried on "I'm the leader of these idiots" he commented lightly throwing a hand out and indicating the others.
"You wish you were Black' James said in mock outrage "For it is I, James Potter who is the leader of you all" Sirius shook his head with a defiant look on his face that was completely belied by the twinkle in his eye
"In your dreams Potter" he shouted pointing at the black haired boy
"No in yours Black" James shouted back, While a good natured fight broke out between the three, Peter had joined in by throwing his disregarded beans at them both, Lily turned to Remus who had been watching it with a grin and spoke in a fairly quiet voice
"Where about in Ireland are you from" she asked, Remus turned towards her as she spoke and smiled, she frowned slightly as she realised that although his smile was very attractive looking it didn't show itself in his eyes, instead they looked saddened and had a look of resignation to them as if he thought all of this was going to end. Before she could think anymore of it he spoke and she had to strain to hear him over the noise of the other boys.
"I come from Castlebarr, it's in the south, lived there all me life"
"Is it big?" she asked, she wasn't sure why she was so interesting but Miss Lily had a talent, she could tell when someone was hiding something and both Remus and Sirius were clearly hiding something big. Sirius was less approachable them Remus since he seemed to be holding himself back, leaving Remus as her target
"Home?" he questioned himself slightly "Our house is, it has to be but the rest of the village is not, it's in the middle of nowhere" she wanted to ask more but he seemed to close up after that and instead looked towards the door where a boy of 15 walked in, well they assumed he was 15 since he had the bright red prefect badge pinned onto his black cloak. He was tall and well built with dark brown hair that covered his head messily while grey eyes twinkled at them all, immediately the play fight stopped and all 5 just stared at him making him shift slightly uncomfortably beneath it.
"Hi" he said as way of greeting, he was Scottish but luckily the accent wasn't thick "I'm Frank Longbottom and I'm prefect for Gryffindor" he pointed at the badge even as Sirius and James began to grin manically at each other. Frank sighed and spoke "And yes I am aware of the fact that my name does include the word Bottom in it" giggles broke out at this point and Frank wisely ignored it though he couldn't stop his voice becoming slightly cooler sounding then it had been before "I'm also the beater for the Gryffindor Quidditch team" a look of pride came across his face as James stopped laughing and instead looked at him with a great deal more awe and respect. The others grinned; Frank had just said the magical word where James was concerned, it was clear to them that James was obsessed with the sport. Frank continued "Anyway, change into you robes please, there's an empty compartment opposite so change in there, we'll be arriving home in 10 minutes" he smiled and swept out leaving the door open behind him, allowing the sounds of laughter and chatting to come into the compartment. Lily stood up and mock glared at them
"Very mature guys, you hear the word bottom and you do that" she said as the four boys began laughing again "I'll see you all later, hopefully we'll be in the same house" she made her way to the door then stopped and looked round in confusion "By the way" she said "What's Quidditch?" she asked, the four boys stared at her in shock, she looked embarrassed "What? I can't help if my family are Muggles" Sirius's eyes widened at that and he bit his lip, if his mother found out that he had been in a compartment with a Mudblood and had actually spoken to her as if she was a friend he was going to be dead he didn't understand any of this, she had seemed nice enough. James answered her and missed the look but unfortunately for Sirius, Both Remus and Peter had seen it
"It's wizard sport" James said eagerly "If we're in the same house I'll explain it to you ok?" she nodded and left, closing the door behind her and allowing quiet to filtering again. Remus stood up
"I'll get changed first" he announced with a smile, Peter went to stand up speaking as he did
"I'll come with you shall I?"
"No" Remus said firmly his voice louder then before, for a moment there seemed to be a glimmer of fear in his eyes before he laughed, sounding slightly nervous
"I don't like getting changed in front of other people, stupid I know but I can't help it" he grabbed his clothes as he spoke and escaped without another word frowning as he did. The other three stared after him in surprise
"Hmmm strange kid" James commented "Nice but definitely a bit strange" the other two nodded and waited patiently, Remus returned in a few minutes, dressed in his new uniform, a smile on his face, a face that was bright red
"Whoa" Peter remarked standing up, it had been decided that both him and James would go next "You look like a stop sign, what's up?" Remus shrugged his shoulders, leaning down and stroking his bird softly, the owl hooted in appreciation.
"Nothing" he remarked not looking at them "Just that Lily girl said I looked good in the uniform that's all" he blushed again obviously unused to compliments
"She probably fancies you Remmie" James remarked with a grin "Rather you then me, girls are yucky in that way" both him and Peter left with a laugh leaving Remus and Sirius. Remus sat opposite the quiet boy and watched him thoughtfully. Sirius looked up
"What?" he asked, Remus shrugged
"What did you think of Lily then?" he asked carefully
"She's fine" he replied after a moment, Remus nodded
"Good" he said firmly then made eye contact "It just You looked at her quite funny at the end, when she mentioned she was from a Muggle born family. You have no problem with that do you" his voice though still smooth had become quite challenging. Sirius looked away, he didn't know what to think at that moment
"I told you, she's fine" Remus nodded as James and Peter walked in
"Buck up Siri the train is slowly down" James announced, Sirius stopped for a second and looked at James in surprise then nodded. When he was gone, Peter turned to Remus and raised an eyebrow
"Well?" Remus shrugged
"I'm not sure" was all he said, the train came to a standstill and they collected all their stuff together as well as Sirius's who appeared a second later looking quite ruffled, he thanked them for getting his stuff and they all got off the train bumping into other students as they did
"firs'-years this way" a voice cried above the din of the other students. The four of them looked up and gasped, in front of them was a giant of a man, none of them had ever seen anyone that tall before. He had black hair that was running wild over his head and down to his shoulders and he had a beard to match. Twinkling black eyes looked down at them as they stared up and he winked at them putting them all at ease, in one huge hand he held a lantern "This way" he repeated again and led them away from the other students, down a winding path
"Where are we going?" James demanded running to keep up with the giant steps
"And who are you?" Sirius asked also running
"Rubeus Hagrid, keeper of keys and grounds at Hogwarts, yeh can call me Hagrid" he stopped at spoke to everyone, "there's yer firs' sight o' Hogwarts" they all looked up to see a huge castle on top of a hill, shrouded by the moon and stars it seemed, many ohhhs were heard as they saw it, but James, Sirius, Remus and Peter ignored them and instead looked at each other with identical grins and the same identical feeling in their hearts. They had come home
I know I said that I was going to out in the sorting house but I decided that can have a chapter to itself, due to the fact I feel its important, extremely important in fact.
Anyway hope you enjoyed it, Sirius will be explained more in the next chapter but just remember what he's seeing is contradicting what he's been taught so he's finding that hard.
Next chapter is the Marauder and the sorting hat so review and I'll update soon!
