Title: Before They Were Marauders

Author: Kararen

Disclaimer: Come on now, we all know that I do not own Harry Potter or any of the Harry Potter characters!

Author's Note: I know that I should be working on my book six fanfic since I haven't done anything on it since the summer, but I left my binder with my ideas for it at school, and I have nothing better to do, so I'm writing this new fanfic.  Besides, there's nothing saying you can't have more than one going at once.

So yes, here comes chapter two…are you ready for it?  There just might be a special appearance from everyone's favourite Slytherin!

-Chapter Two-

Aboard the Hogwarts Express

Remus made his way down the aisle looking for a compartment to sit in.  He passed a few with some older looking girls and kept walking.  He saw some boys that looked about his age duck into one just ahead of him, but when he got to it he was unable to ask if he could join them.  Remus was a very shy boy, and had not had any friends growing up, well, not since after the incident.  His parents kept him away from others.  Remus knew that it was for everyone's safety, so he held no bitterness towards them.  In fact, he didn't mind so much.  He enjoyed his parents company. 

But this experience was very new for him, and he wandered along the aisle until he found an empty compartment.  He let out a sigh of relief and took a seat, amusing himself with looking out the window.

~*~

Sirius had gotten on the train without looking back.  He found that he really had no reason to, and besides, he didn't expect that his mother would still be there waiting.  He walked through the entire car, but couldn't seem to find the right place to sit.  Just as he opened the door to the next car, he heard a voice call his name.

"Hey" said the boy with messy black hair.  "It is Sirius right?  We met at Madame Malkins in Diagon Alley last week."

"Oh right, James.  How are ya?" Sirius replied, as they walked into the next car together.

"Not too shabby.  I can't wait to get to Hogwarts."

"I know what you mean, but I'm just happy to be away from home.  I'd go to school on this train if that's what it took."

"Parents driving you crazy?" James asked.

"Well, that's one way to put it.  It's just, well, I don't understand why they are so discriminatory.  It was embarrassing having people hear what she was telling me on the platform about muggle-borns and half-bloods.  Saying that they are filthy and everything."

"Well they are.  She was only telling you the truth about those filthy mudbloods," said a voice from inside the nearest compartment.

Both boys whipped around to see who had said that.  A boy was sitting alone in the compartment.  He had greasy black hair, and a hooked nose.

Sirius was shocked that there were really other people who thought that way.  Maybe his parents were crazy after all.

But James looked like he was ready to pummel the boy.

"You're one to talk you filthy grease ball!  Now take it back!" he said angrily.

"Oh, have a touched a nerve?  You must be one of the filthy lot of them."

"I'll have you know that I'm from a very respectable wizarding family.  That's more than you can say.  Clearly if you were from any decent family you'd have been taught some manners." James retorted.

"Oh really, and which 'respectable' family would that be?" the boy sneered.

"He's a Potter!" Sirius said, wanting to back up his new friend.

"A 'perrrrrrrfect' Potter eh?  How horrible for you," the boy said.

If Sirius had not grabbed onto the back of James's shirt, he surely would have tackled the greasy haired boy. 

"Let's go James, I've had enough of listening to this slime ball," Sirius said.

"I want him to take it back first!" James said, not budging from his spot despite Sirius tugging his shirt.

"Well that's not going to happen, Potter, because everything I've said has been the truth."

Sirius could see fire in James' eyes, and though he wasn't really against seeing James pummel the boy, he knew that being involved in a fight the first day was not a good idea.  An owl home on the first day and his mother would take him out of Hogwarts for sure.

Just then a round, mousy boy appeared from the next car.

"Hey, is there room to sit in there?" the round boy asked.

"There is but you don't want to sit there," James answered.  "This kid's a real dirt ball."

"Come on, we were just leaving to find somewhere to sit other than with this loner, you can come with us," Sirius said quickly, seizing the opportunity.

"Great!  I'm Peter!  Who are you?"

"Sirius.  Sirius Black.  And this is James Potter."

James gave one last look at the boy in the compartment and followed Sirius.  James knew better than to get into a fight on the day too.  He had just lost his cool for a minute and was thankful he had Sirius to look out for him.

"Thanks for holding me back there Sirius," he said as they walked away.

"It was nothing.  That guy deserved it, I really would have liked to help you out…let's just find somewhere to sit, shall we?" Sirius answered.

"Yeah, all right."

They continued walking along the aisle, but it seemed all the compartments were filled.

"There has to be somewhere that's open," James said.

"We have one more car to go, then I'm afraid we might have to go back and sit with that dirt ball.  Or better yet, we can kick him out and make him find somewhere else to sit.  There are three of us and only one of him," said Sirius with a twinkle in his eye.

"As much fun as it sounds, he's the last one I want to see again.  Let's just check the last one," James answered.

"Well, maybe I'll just go find somewhere else.  It'll be easier if we split up," Peter chimed in.

"Nonsense!  We'll find somewhere," James said with a smile.  Peter didn't seem to be too sure of himself, and James thought it would be good to Peter to make it easy to find some friends.

"Are you sure James?" said Peter hopefully.

"Of course he is," Sirius added.  "Here we go, I think this one is free,"

They stopped in front of what they thought was an empty compartment.  Sitting right up next to the window was a skinny, light haired boy who seemed rather surprised to see anyone.

"These seats open?" James asked.

"Uh, yeah," the boy answered.

"Excellent," said Sirius as he took the seat across from him.

"I'm James Potter, this is Peter, uh, what's your last name Pete?"

"Pettigrew."

"Right, this is Peter Pettigrew, and this is the one and only Sirius Black."

Sirius grinned.  He knew he and James were going to be great friends.

"My name's Remus Lupin.  Are you all first years?"

"Nice to meet ya Remus, Sirius and I are first years, and I assume Peter is as well," James replied.

Peter shook his head yes.

"Well, now that we've got that all out of the way, we can enjoy this ride.  And I have a feeling that our first year at Hogwarts is going to be a good one!" Sirius said with a smile.

The four boys looked at each other and grinned.

~~~~~

Author's Note: Chapter 2 down, woohoo!  See, so that's how James and Snape became enemies in my eyes.  Did you like it?  Please remember to review…it inspires me to write more!