Remus hurriedly followed his mother through the bustling train station. So many people. . . so many Muggles! He had never seen crowds this big before, especially since his parents had moved far out into the country after he had developed his. . . condition. Behind him he heard various appreciative comments from the twins, who had insisted on coming along. His father, of course, was busy at work (the Lupin family was rather short on money these days), but had said his goodbyes that morning. Remus should have been reassured by his family's presence. . . should have.

The tawny haired boy was so preoccupied with his thoughts that he barely acknowledged his passage through the barrier to Platform 9 3/4. After all, his parents had explained to him what to expect in great length. This did not prevent the nervous twist of his stomach as he saw the mass of students and their families swarming before the scarlet steam engine that they would later be boarding. It was really happening; it wasn't a dream. He would be spending the next seven years at Hogwarts!

Seven years! Realization struck him and he froze where he stood. Could he really pretend for seven years? Even if he didn't get close to anyone, it was only a matter of time before someone put two and two together.

"What's the big idea?" a girl's voice asked, and Remus forced his heart to start beating again.

"Sorry, Artemis," he apologized to his younger sister. "Start of term jitters."

"Now, Remus," his mother began, turning around to look him in the eye, "if you don't feel secure going to Hogwarts, it's perfectly alright with your father and me. You don't have to -"

"I'm fine, Mum," he interrupted, meeting her gaze coolly. "Just a bit nervous. I dare say that everyone is. Except maybe Artemis and Apollo," he added with a small smile and a glance at the twins.

"No, we're more afraid that you'll make a social wreck of yourself," Apollo agreed.

"Apollo!" Mrs. Lupin scolded. "Now you -"

"It's alright, Mum," Remus reassured her. "He's just teasing."

"That's no excuse to -"

"Mum." The single word, spoken with such force, cut her off abruptly. "I'm all right. I know it's difficult with me going away, but I need you to let me grow up."

"Yes," Artemis agreed cheerily, twirling a golden brown braid. "We're the ones you're supposed to be babying."

"Even if he is special," Apollo finished with a grin. Mrs. Lupin managed a small smile, her eyes beginning to fill with tears.

"I'll try." Just then, a loud whistle sounded, and Remus jumped.

"I'd better go," Remus told them apprehensively, allowing himself to be swept up in a teary embrace.

"I'll miss you, sweetheart."

"I'll miss you, too, Mum."

"Bring us souvenirs!" Artemis suggested.

"Forget souvenirs," Apollo put in, "just don't embarrass us."

"I'll do my best," the tawny-haired boy laughed, and, taking a deep breath, boarded the train.

Luckily, it didn't take him long to find an empty compartment; his social skills weren't the best, having had very few people to practice on other than his own family, and he doubted his ability to approach strangers so soon. But upon finding the vacant seats, relief washed over him. He had nothing to worry about yet. Contentedly he stowed his luggage - not before digging out a book - and settled in to read.

He had gotten through about a half a page when the compartment door slid open. Remus felt his heart leap into his throat, but barely looked up as the two boys sat down across from him, chatting animatedly with each other and hardly acknowledging the presence of the boy in the other seat. They were perhaps a little older than him, with looks that weren't particularly outstanding and voices that were easy to ignore. Remus preferred it that way, but was pleased nonetheless when another boy came and beckoned them into another compartment for the remainder of the trip.

The train had begun to move when the door slid open once more. This time a single boy stood in the doorway, looking awkward with his trunk still in tow. His slightly oily-looking black hair was cut to chin-length, and he had a rather prominent nose.

"Is there room here? Everywhere else is full."

The original occupant of the compartment nodded mutely. Much to his surprise, however, the "new" boy did not try to strike up a conversation as he had feared would be the case. Instead, the hook-nosed boy procured a book of his own and settled in on the seat opposite. Concealed by the book he was engrossed in, Remus smiled to himself. It would be a pleasant train ride.

----

Glancing back over his shoulder from the lowest step on the train, Sirius waved goodbye one last time to his parents and younger brother. Mrs. Black looked up from her lively conversation with the mother of another Hogwarts student (who was doubtless of as old a family as the Black boys) and irritatedly waved him off with shooing motions. Her eldest son's mouth quirked in an ironic smile. He couldn't say he'd be missing her much. The black-haired boy turned towards the train and heaved his overloaded trunk up the stairs with a grunt of effort.

Sirius wheeled his trunk down the aisle, looking for an open compartment, and ended up finding something nearly as good. About two doors down from the door he had entered by, he found the wild-haired boy he'd seen working at the joke shop on his latest trip to Diagon Alley. He figured that this would be as good a place as any to sit, and considerably better than most, and so he poked his head in the door and waved.

"Hullo!" he greeted the other boy cheerily. "You seem to have a little more space than you can use here. Mind if I take some off your hands?"

James looked up guiltily from a bag, hastily shoved behind his back, that he'd been rummaging through, and expressed his thoughts with an eloquent, "Huh?" He then saw the other boy standing in the door of his compartment and enlightenment dawned in his eyes.

"Oh! Do you want to sit here? Sure."

Sirius looked amused with the other boy's confusion. "I'm sorry, have I disturbed you?" he joked. "Oh, wait, you were already disturbed."

James squinted at the longer-haired boy as if trying to place him. "You look somewhat familiar. Have I pranked you before?" James asked, cocking his head to one side.

"Actually, no," Sirius responded, tucking his luggage carefully away. "But you've sold me quite a few."

"Oh. Oh, yeah!" James smacked himself on the forehead. "Sorry. I'm not used to being up this early during the summer."

"I wish I could say the same," the other boy ruefully replied. He yawned. "I definitely need a nap. You won't do anything too horrid to me while I'm asleep, will you, erm. . . What's your name?"

"James," that boy responded. "And you're. . . ?"

"Sirius. Sirius Black." And with that, he stretched out on the seat and closed his eyes.

----

First off, a big huge fat thank you to those wonderful readers of ours who have been wonderful enough to give us REVIEWS (and happy ones at that)!!! It is you who actually makes us want to write more. You are our INSPIRATION!!!

Anywho. Pyxis: Sidra farts loud and stinky. It is gross and is polluting my computer. Stupid li'l Sidra.

Sidra: SPOOT YOU!!! IT'S NOT MY FAULT! She lies.

Pyxis: Now, why would I lie to the lovely readers? So as soon as we write more, we will try and post. And as soon as my computer area stops smelling like booty. Much love, and please review!

Sidra: You take pleasure out of my embarrassment. About something made up too.

Pyxis: Hahaha. And it's not made up.