A/N – Well, this is my first fic actually being posted up in FF.net in a long time, not to mention this is my first HP fic, but I hope you won't hold that against me. =D sticks out tongue unn-nyyaaahh... This fanfic's rating starts off with a PG-13, just because I don't like it G or PG (there's also my muse's cursing to deal with). There is also slash in this story between Sirius and Remus. If you are exceptionally homophobic, I suggest that you find another fic to read. However, if you aren't easily squicked by this, or if you're a rabid slash/yaoi fangirl, read on.

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Title – Inspire Me

Author – Kawaii Kinomoto

Genre – General, Romance, Angst (this is a bit further chapters, though)

Rating – PG-13 (for now)

Spoilers – Almost everything about the Marauders and the history of Hogwarts.

Warnings – Slash, Language

Main Pairings – Sirius/Remus, James/Lily

Disclaimer – I do NOT own the entire cast of HP. They are owned by Joanne Kathleen Rowling. Names, places, or settings that are not mentioned in the books are entirely mine. shifty look You hear me?! MINE!!!

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Inspire Me

Confessions

A lone boy stood rather nervously on the train platform at King's Cross. Soft tendrils of light brown hair fell to his face as he looked around, a train ticket gripped tightly in his hand. His aunt had already left, with a small 'goodbye' and a 'good luck'. He now wondered if she meant it in his studies or in finding the bloody platform. He hesitantly pushed his trolley towards Platforms 9 and 10 and tried not to look as if he was lost.

People were pushing past him, as if eager to reach their destination. Muggles, by the looks of things. They shot confused looks at the kitten sitting on top of his trunk. The little thing, which ironically looked almost alike her master, glared back at them, obviously not pleased at the attention she was getting. She then leapt up to the boy's arms and gave a piteous meow. The small boy gave a half-amused, half-exasperated sigh and continued the search for his supposed platform.

He looked from one sign to another. No, they definitely said 9... and 10. A group of laughing boys walked by, with trunks and luggage behind them. The boy's amber eyes flicked up to the clock at the main entrance. 10.48 already! He'd better find the dratted platform fast. He suddenly remembered the boys and looked back. With squinted eyes, he surveyed the scene in front of him. They were nowhere in sight.

Feeling utterly disgruntled and desperate, he walked aimlessly around the two platforms, hoping to find a miraculous sign of the wizarding world. Of course, no trace of anything were able to be seen. The tabby, still buried in the crook of his arms, peeked out and nudged him gently. She cocked her orange fluffy head towards the barrier. The boy gave her a withering look.

"Anualle, there is no time for this. Aunt Yolei will slaughter me if I don't get on the Express. It's..." once again, eyes fled to the clock, "10.54, and I'm supposed to get on it at 11! We're so dead, Anualle..." Smirks shot towards the odd pair, probably thinking he was just a bit mental.

He stopped mid-rant and gaped. His kitten was peeping out of the barrier between both platforms, her small head was bobbing up and down as if hurrying the boy up. He ran towards Anualle and touched the barrier gingerly. Anualle, growing far impatient, nudged him through it.

What the boy saw next shocked him even more. A train labeled the 'Hogwarts Express' was right in front of him. He hurriedly lifted his trunk onto the train, careful as to not scrape it across the ground. The smoke from the train fogged his senses. Around him, everyone was frantically hopping onto the train. He grabbed his overexcited cat, who was staring very intently at the railway tracks, and got on.

A loud horn sounded and the train lurched forward. He was off. Off to Hogwarts.

- - -

The boy walked past compartment by compartment. Each of them seemed full. After what seemed like the thousandth one, he finally came across an empty car. He sat down, Anualle already putting her paws up to the window.

He was not a normal boy, this Remus Lupin. Small and skinny, with the most exquisite pair of eyes anyone had ever seen, this French boy looked rather normal on the outside, but that only goes so far. A loner by nature, he had never really had any true friends in his life. How he longed for friends. But, somewhere, deep in his heart, he knew that it'll never be.

For a long time ago, the Lupin family held a most memorable party. Both lords and ladies (wizards, of course) went to this event for the Lupins were one of the most respectable families in France. One of their ancestors had built Beauxbatons, of course. Another had banished all those pesky goblin hordes to the dungeons where they belonged. This party was grand and majestic, not unlike all the others. Everyone was so captured in this moment that nobody saw tiny, small Remus Lupin sneaking out, eager to explore the outside world at night. He left the Manor with high hopes. Suddenly, he heard a low growl. Tilting his head to the sound, he spotted a pair of red, blood-shot eyes covered by silver fur staring at him. Smiling a bit, Remus crouched nearer and stuck out a chubby little hand. Waving it around, he cheerfully murmured little words to the wolf. It wasn't long before the werewolf pounced on the youngest Lupin, eager for blood and flesh.

Back at the Lupin Manor however, chaos erupted. Both Jacques and Amy Lupin were now frantic. Seven year old Rynn Lupin was crying loudly. House elves were summoned and sent to look for Remus. Jacques and a few other wizards went out to search for him. Suddenly, a shrill shriek rang in the air. Fueled by this scream, they pressed on. They spotted the werewolf and soon, cries of 'Stupefy" echoed around before the werewolf halted, stunned. Running towards his limp son, based on instinct, Jacques managed to pull his son from underneath the wolf. Guarded with the other wizards, they made their way back home.

He was bed-ridden for two weeks, as the attack left him weak and tired. Amy had consulted many doctors, wanting to heal the disease, this hated lycanthropy, but of course, there was no cure. Another week later, Remus went under his first transformation. The pain was excruciating for the young boy as bones elongated and fur grew. He was wild that night, scratching, howling, growling, doing anything to try to get out of that blasted cell that was made especially for him.

The dawn after, his parents went down to the dungeons to see their beloved son. Whatever they did didn't prepare them for the sight they saw in front of them. Bruises and scratches were everywhere on his pale body. A tear streaked down his mother's face as she spotted a rather nasty gash from his shoulder blade to his abdomen.

And it had been like that ever since. Remus wished he could say that it was fine and that he was used to it now. But he couldn't, because it wasn't, and it will never be. Not in another 10 years. Not in a million years.

After that, people had shunted him and treated him like dirt. He was even kicked out of Beauxbatons, and seeing that his great-great-grandfather was the founder of it, it shocked many. It was about a week ago before a letter came from a certain Albus Dumbledore. His aunt had paid him a visit and before he knew it, Remus found himself packing for Hogwarts.

He was such a stupid six-year-old.

His thoughts were disrupted as the compartment door crashed open. He jumped as he eyed the intruders.

"Bloody James Potter!" A black-haired boy accompanied with a boy who had the longest, whitest hair Remus had ever seen were pointing their wands at the open door. The former was a scary sight. His nose had been struck by an Engorgement charm and he resembled a scowling Pinocchio, his head tilted slightly to the floor by the weight of it. Sounds of raucous laughter could be heard from the other side. Remus leaned closer to take a look at his face. Was that grease?!

"Black! Potter! You aren't getting away with this!" shouted Pinocchio, rather nasally. More laughter greeted this statement.

Oh really, Grease Face? Are you going to tell mummy now? Will she comfort ol' Snivelly?" another voice taunted, hidden from Remus's view. Snivelly?! Was that Pinocchio's name? It was a tad weird, but who knew what to expect from those crazy Londoners.

The blonde boy grimaced and muttered something under his breath, which sounded something suspiciously like "Filthy half-blood."

A loud BANG sounded and the snooty boy was on the floor. Blood dripped from the cut on his lip. A tall, gangly boy, Black, he presumed, was hovering above him, chest heaving and wand out.

"You dare to call James that?! He's just as good as we all are, if not better, Malfoy. You know that as well as I do." Wand chucked away, Black clenched his fist, ready for an all-out brawl.

CLANG! A tall woman pushing a cartful of candy came in. "So what will it be, boys? Oh, goodness! What happened here?"

A small, pudgy boy ran in and squeaked. "Malfoy and Snape started it, miss! Ooh, is that the new sweet out of Honeydukes? The flavour changing lollypop? I'll take five of them, please!" His eyes sparkled at the display of candy in front of him.

"Trust only you, Pettigrew, to talk about food..." muttered Snape.

The sweets lady smiled at Pettigrew. Her expression changed when she heard a soft, smothered giggle behind her.

"Potter! You come in hear and set this boy's nose to his normal size right now!"

Right then, a bespectacled boy with unruly black hair rushed in, still snickering rudely at Snape. With almost a lazy swoosh of his wand and a careless "Finite Incantatem!", the boy's nose returned to it's normal size, which was still rather large by Remus's standards.

Snape touched his nose gingerly and went to pull Malfoy up from the ground. The latter dusted his clothes snobbishly and sniffed. His eyes flickered over to Remus and lingered for a second, then all was normal as their eye contact broke.

"If you think you are getting away with this, I'm sad to say that you are truly mistaken..."

And with those words, both of the boys left.

- - -

The two raven-haired boys, Potter and Black, started laughing hysterically. Each of them fought to get words out. The sweets lady smiled, shook her head at them and promptly walked out.

"Gosh, I thought his nose was going to fall off!"

"Did you see the grease? Yeauch!"

"We should do that more often!" The taller one stopped laughing and eyed Remus. He gave him a quick once-over and grinned.

"You a first year?" Remus blinked at the question. Was he that short?

"Uhhh... no," Remus mentally slapped himself. How eloquent. Black apparently didn't notice, but stuck out his hand and continued. "Nope? That's unusual. Anyway, I'm Sirius Black. Please, if I hear the lame 'serious' pun again, I think I'm going to puke all over the place." Remus chuckled under his breath and shook his hand. Sirius was immediately shoved away by Potter.

"Hiya. The name's James Potter. Very pleased to meet you!" he said cheerfully, pumping Remus's hand up and down energetically.

"Oh, come off it, prat. Your mum's not here anymore,"

"Oh yeah..."

"You guys had better stop it. He might think you're a few cards short of a deck. What's your name? I'm Peter Pettigrew," the chubby boy asked. Remus ducked his head.

"Remus Lupin. I'm supposed to be in the second year," he said, quietly.

"Wow. What an accent. You French? Cool, we're in the second year as well. Well, I hope you're put into Gryffindor with us, and not somewhere sissy- ish like in Hufflepuff..." James interrupted, "or in Slytherin. Bunch of gits, they are..." Remus gave them questioning looks. James slapped his forehead.

"Oh, right. Let's start from the beginning, see, you'll be sorted into houses. There are four houses in total, Gryffindor – far by the best, I tell you, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Slytherin. You'll be sorted through your attributes and abilities. The house chosen for you will be your home for the next 6 years," said James, as if reciting a textbook. His speech earned a weird look from both Peter and Sirius.

"James, I dunno if you're just fooling around or just plain weird sometimes..." said Sirius. James gave a brilliant smirk. "Naw, I just memorized McGonagall's speech from last year."

The door to the compartment opened. "Would you just keep it down? You're making such a racket! Can't you have a bit of consideration for other people?" A red-headed girl had a scowl on her face. Light freckles were spread across her face and her shocking emerald orbs narrowed. Back straight and head high, Remus somehow had a hunch that this girl was going to be a prefect when she was older.

"Come off it, Evans! There's no need to be a party pooper! We weren't making much of a noise anyway. Just because you don't have a life doesn't mean you have to ruin others!" James shot back angrily.

Evans looked indignant and promptly stomped out of the room, muttering under her breath. She shot another scathing look at James before flipping her hair back and striding out. Remus stared after her.

"I just can't stand her! Lily Evans is so bossy!" whined James. Sirius sighed and put his arm around him. "Just you wait, next year, you'll be finding yourself head over heels for her!" James scoffed and pushed Sirius away.

"As if!"

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A/N – Well, how was that for starters? I've already got the next chapter 3/4 written out, so all I have to do is add some more, type it out and spell check it. For those looking for romance right away, you'll be pretty disappointed. Since it's their 2nd year, there'll only be little hints of slash and het. But as the years go by, it'll be more blatant. Want me to continue? Then please review! It took me about an hour just to type this whole thing out, so couldn't you do me a favour and just take a measly 5 minutes or less to review mine? I'd appreciate it muchly!

Kawaii Kinomoto