Note-Before I make a complete fool of myself, you may be wondering why a Master and Commander and Redwall fan is writing about Harry Potter. Well, first off, I like Harry Potter! (Duh) I want to write in all areas that interest me, and I've always wondered how Remus, James, and Sirius met. If you wanted some soppy love story about James and Lily, (I've seen a lot of those) I suggest you go somewhere else, because this has nothing to do with them meeting, etc. I happen to think that Remus Lupin is a very cool character and I've always wanted to write about him, so here goes:

Remus Lupin peered through the glass in the compartment door. Two boys about his age were sitting there, deep in conversation. Remus hesitated, then opened the door.

The boys looked up. They both had dark hair, but Remus could tell they weren't related. "Hi," he offered. "Er, is anyone sitting here? I can't find anywhere else."

They studied him. The boy on the left, who had glasses and was taller and skinnier than the other boy, nodded and said, "Sure. I'm James Potter, and this is-" "Sirius Black," the other boy broke in. He moved over and patted the seat beside him. "Here, sit down. What's your name?"

"Remus Lupin," Remus said. He was already beginning to relax. Maybe he would make friends this year after all. Both of them seemed friendly and acted like they wanted to talk some more with him, so they did.

As the sky darkened outside the scarlet Hogwarts Express, Remus, James, and Sirius got to know each other better. They talked about Hogwarts and what they had heard about it, ate magical snacks that the lady with the trolley sold, and exchanged stories about what they had done over the summer.

For a while, Remus forgot all his worries about coming to Hogwarts, but when they got off the train, a half-moon bathed him in clear, bluish light. He leapt out of the patch of moonlight like it was a pool of acid, but then he realized it was a half-moon and blushed with embarrassment.

"Something wrong?" James asked curiously as the crowed jostled him into Remus's back, pushing him forward.

"Oh, er, no, of course not," lied Remus. His heart was sinking. Already, they had noticed something strange about him. From their conversation on the train, Remus knew Sirius and James were not stupid-in fact, they were downright observant. How could he keep friends like that if they noticed where he went every month?

But James seemed to have forgotten about it by the time they reached Great Hall. He and Remus had been separated from Sirius in the crowd, but after the first years broke off from the rest of the school, they were easily able to find him again.

James was standing on the steps waiting for Professor McGonagall to come back and usher them into the Sorting, nervously shifting from foot to foot. A dark haired, sallow-skinned boy brushed past him roughly, almost causing him to fall. He didn't even turn to apologize.

Sirius and Remus looked up from where they had been talking with some other first years when James shouted indignantly, "Hey!"

The sallow-skinned boy turned around. He had a hooked nose and greasy looking hair, and wore a mean expression. He took in James and sneered.

"Aren't you going to apologize? You almost knocked me down!" James said angrily.

"So?" the other boy said, shrugging. "I don't care."

"Well, I do," said James firmly. "Who are you, anyways?"

"Severus Snape, if it's any of your business, which it's not," Snape replied silkily. He ruined this affect by wiping his nose on his sleeve. He apparently had a cold.

"I'm James Potter," James growled, "and it's my business if you don't apologize for knocking into me. You did that on purpose!"

"Yes, I know, Potter," Snape said maliciously. He drew his wand and narrowed his eyes at James. "Now shut up and don't talk to me if you know what's good for you."

Remus and Sirius came to stand behind James. Seeing that he was outnumbered, Snape hissed, "We'll see about this, Potter!"

James was about to say more, but Professor McGonagall opened to doors to the Great Hall and announced, "The Sorting is about to begin!"