Author's note: I have something for you to look up, and boy is it saucy! In the OotP, look on page 93, 13th line from the bottom! Hehe, it may just be me being juvenile, but let me know in your reviews if you also found it funny!
Disclaimer: Now that ¾ of the Marauders have met, our story is nearly on the way. But they just have one more person to recruit into their world of mayhem! I didn't really want to put Peter in spits but I suppose I have to.
I do not own anything in this story, apart from new characters and the plotline. The wonderful J.K.Rowling does!
Chapter 3: Now I'm here
It would seem that these three boys had been friends for life, not having met an hour ago. Remus suddenly felt at ease for the first time since boarding the train, and even though he had that annoying nagging voice inside his head saying "they wouldn't be acting like this if they knew what you are" he ignored it.
At the request of Sirius, James had deflated his hand (if not with a slight disappointment) and they now set about devouring what was left of Remus' sweets. Remus didn't mind though, he had never had any real friends and he wanted to make sure that he kept these friends for a long time. Late afternoon rain splattered on the windows of the train and a butterfly feeling in the pit of Remus' stomach began to develop as he realised that they were now close to Hogwarts.
"I wouldn't eat that colour of I were you Sirius?" Warned James, as Sirius picked up a brown colour Berti Botts Every Flavour Bean.
"The brown ones are chocolate James!" Replied Sirius, popping the harmless looking sweet into his mouth.
"Yeah I know, but they can also be –" Started James, but Sirius spat the sweet out and pulled a disgusted face.
"Argh!" He exclaimed, wiping his mouth. "I don't want to know what that flavour was!"
Remus and James chuckled out loud. Sirius gave them a dirty look, and threw the, now empty, Berti Botts box on the floor. The trio suddenly felt the train slow, and Remus' heart gave a jolt of nerves. They were here. Quickly to boys changed into their school robes.
"Leave your belongings in your compartment," said a voice, echoing throughout the train, "they will be taken to the castle separately."
The boys left the train, and could hear a deep voice boom over the chattering crowd.
"Firs'-years! Firs'-years over here!"
The group of first-years were suddenly confronted with a giant of a man, who was carrying a small lantern in his hand. Even though he cast a shadow over every single person that stood in front of him, the group did not seemed frightened. For he had a warm welcoming smile, and beetle black eyes. He ushered them into tiny boats, Remus getting into one with Sirius, James and another rat-looking boy.
As the fleet of little boats moved off all at once and glided across that lake, the first-years got their first glimpse of Hogwarts. Perched on top of a high mountain on the other side of the river, its windows sparkled with yellow candlelight in the velvet sky, was a castle with too many turrets and towers to count.
"Heads down!" Yelled Hagrid as the small fleet of boats reached the cliff; they all bent their heads and the boats carried them to a kind of underground harbour. They all climbed out of their boats (with great difficulty) and onto a small stone path that led up to a door and crowded around a wooden door.
Hagrid twisted the door knob, and they entered a vast Entrance Hall. Remus could here the chatter of hundred of voices coming from the doorway directly in front of them. The stone walls were lit with many flaming torches, making the shadows dance of their faces. Outside the door stood a tall severe looking witch, she had black hair that was tied into a tight bun. She was wearing emerald green robes and matching hat, Remus couldn't tell whether she was smiling or not.
"Welcome to Hogwarts, I am Professor McGonagall," she greeted them in a strong Scottish accent, "and shortly you will pass through these doors and join your classmates. But before you do so, you must be sorted into your houses. Whilst you are at Hogwarts, you house will be like your family. The four houses are called Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Slytherin, and while you are here your triumphs will earn you house points, but any rule braking and you will lose points. At the end of the years the house with the most points will be awarded the House Cup.
"The Sorting Ceremony is about to begin, so please follow me."
Feeling as though his legs had turned to jelly, Remus and the rest of the first-years followed Professor McGonagall, and they walked out of the Entrance Hall and through a the pair of double doors they had been standing in front of.
Remus couldn't help but gasp at the splendour that lay before him. The Great Hall was lit with thousands upon thousands of candles which floated in mid-air above fours long wooden tables, where the rest of the school were sitting. These tables were laid with many sparkling golden plates and goblets. At the top of the hall was another table where the teachers sat. Professor McGonagall led them up to the top of the Great Hall until they were facing the teachers table. In front of them was a four legged stool; atop it was a patched and frayed hat.
"When I call your name," said Professor McGonagall, producing a long roll of parchment, "you will place the Sorting Hat on your head, and you will be sorted into your houses.
"Alnwick, Jane."
A pink-faced girl with short blonde hair stepped forward. She walked slowly over to the stool and took her seat, put on the hat which slipped over her ears. After a moments pause –
"RAVENCLAW!" Yelled the hat.
The table to Remus' left clapped wildly as Jane Alnwick went to sit down at the Ravenclaw table. "Evans, Lily" became the first Gryffindor
"Black, Sirius."
Sirius strode forward, not looking remotely nervous. Taking his seat and placing the hat on his head, he smiled and winked at James and Remus. The Hat took nearly five minuets to decide where to put Sirius, but shouted out –
"GRYFFINDOR!"
Sirius exhaled and made his way to the table on Remus' left, which, like the Ravenclaw table, had exploded with cheers and claps. The long the Sorting went on, the more nervous Remus became. He just wished that they would skip everyone else and get to his name. "Franklin, Cara" became the first Hufflepuff as did "Earnshaw, Laura". But "Hagele, Luisa" became the second Gryffindor.
"Lupin, Remus."
Remus' heart did a kind of tap dance in his stomach as he walked forward and took the hat from Professor McGonagall, who smiled encouragingly at him. When he put the hat on, he heard it muttering to itself. Gripping the edge of the stool, he gulped at the hundred of pairs of eyes that were now on him. After a moment, it shouted out –
"GRYFFINDOR!"
Remus breathed a sigh of relief, and took a seat at the Gryffindor table next to Sirius. It wasn't long before they were joined by James and two girls called Dawn Lewis and Dorcas Meadows. Sarah Worsley and a sour looking boy called Severus Snape went to Slytherin. Peter Pettigrew, the boy the trio had shared a boat with, became the newest Gryffindor.
Once "Zetna, Carrie" had been sorted into Slytherin, the hall was silenced as the Headmaster Dumbledore stood up. He was an aged wizard, with a long white beard which he tucked into his belt. He surveyed the room with his twinkling blue eyes, through his half moon spectacles and beamed at the new students.
"Welcome," he said to the Great Hall, "welcome to another year at Hogwarts. Before we begin our excellent feast, I would like to say a few words. Firstly, could the first-years please note, that the Dark Forest is strictly forbidden – to everyone." He said this with particular emphasis to the Slytherin table. "Secondly, Quidditch trials will be held next week, and anyone interested should contact Madam Hooch.
"Lastly, a few weeks ago a tree was planted in the grounds. Now many of you are thinking, yes so what, well I'll tell you what. This tree does not take kindly to students messing around, so I shall warn you to stay away and not aggravate it. New, let's begin the feast."
Remus' mouth fell open. The once empty golden plates and goblets were suddenly filled with every food imaginable. He had never seen so many things that he liked to eat, and helped himself to one of everything.
Remus was so engrossed in his dinner, talking to Sirius and James that he forgot about everything. Nothing could trouble him tonight, not even the fact the full moon was next week. He would cross that bridge when he came to it. But for now, he talked, laughed and ate with the rest.
When the last remnants of their dinner had been cleared away, the students left the Great Hall. The first-years being led by the house prefects. Remus made to follow Sirius and James, but Professor McGonagall caught him.
"This way if you please Lupin." She said, steering him away from his friends and along the corridor.
Making sure that everyone was out of earshot, she turned to Lupin and looked quite serious. Remus traced back and tried to remember if he did anything wrong, but he could remember nothing.
"No need to look so worried," she said sharply, "I am just hear to give you instructions."
Remus' hear sank. He had almost pushed to the back of his mind his condition, and he felt slightly down now that it had reared its ugly head once more. She handed him a lunar calendar.
"When it is your time," she said quietly, "you will go to the Hospital Wing and alert Madam Pomfrey. Who will take you to a specially built house, there you will be allowed to transform. Don't worry about escaping" – she said noticing Remus' concerned expression – "it is guarded by the Whomping Willow you heard Headmaster Dumbledore mention at dinner."
"Thank you Professor." He replied shakily.
"I shall not escort you to Gryffindor tower." She said simply.
Remus began to feel sick, and there was nothing he could do to stop himself feeling as if he was a freak. All evening he had pushed his thoughts to the back of his mind, but now they were all he could think about. Professor McGonagall had made it sound so simple, as if it should be part of his routine. He knew that no matter how hard he tried to fit in, would never be normal.
Author's note: Aww, poor Remi! Don't you just wanna hug him and make it all better?! Bless!
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