Title: Before They Were Marauders

Author: Kararen

Disclaimer: I soooo do NOT own Harry Potter or any of the Harry Potter characters!

Author's Note: I'd like to apologize for the excessively long absence of the final chapter to the story, but well, I really have no excuse, I just go busy with school and everything. This will just be a short ending to the story, to complete it!

-Chapter Five-

Together as Friends

The four newest members of Gryffindor grinned as they moved out of the Great Hall and up the nearest set of stairs. But soon their mouths dropped in awe of the enormous castle, each for reasons of their own.

James and Sirius, who already knew they were destined to be great friends and great pranksters, thought about how exciting it would be to explore every inch of the castle. They knew that there must be thousands of secrets to Hogwarts that were ready for them to discover.

Even Remus was excited at the prospect of having many places to which he could hide the part of him he wished none of his friends to know!

Peter was of a very different mind. The vastness of the castle scared him. Never before had he been anywhere so large on his own, so he thought it best to make sure he clung to these three potential friends.

As the Gryffindor Prefects led them up a tower in the castle, some chatter had broken out among the first years. Mostly they spoke of starting classes the next day and of the magical year that lay ahead. This was also a popular subject among the older students.

"What do you guys think it'll be like, trying to do magic?" Peter squeaked, trying not to sound as scared as he was.

"I think it'll be brilliant," Remus said, with a tone that was much more serious than either James or Sirius ever used.

"Brilliant indeed," James answered with a slight smirk. "Just wait until Quidditch starts! That's where the fun really begins!"

"I'd like to think that the fun begins with all the hexes and curses we will learn. That way we can get the Slytherins from a distance without being caught!" Sirius added nonchalantly.

"Well I'd like to think we will learn a lot more useful stuff than that," Remus said strongly. Though he really didn't object to some fun, he was a good kid who had always followed the rules. He desperately wanted friends, but he even more desperately wanted to remain at Hogwarts. For without Hogwarts, he had no hope of ever finding a friend.

"I suppose," Sirius replied, though he was thoroughly unconvinced.

"Of course we will," James said happily. "There's so much magic to learn, and I'm going to take in as much as possible! I will be a great wizard, and a great quidditch player!"

"I''m rubbish at quidditch," Peter said, just trying to be a part of the conversation.

"Well we can't all be the superstar James here thinks he is, now can we?" Sirius said while giving Peter a good slap on the back.

By this time the four boys had gone through the portrait of the Fat Lady, into the cozy common room, and had been shuffled into their dormitory. As they crawled into their beds, each knowing how tired they were, James said,

"Well boys, here's to a great year ahead of us, filled with spells and hexes directed at the Slytherins, quidditch, maybe doing homework once in a while, and to the four boys of Gryffindor. We will be friends to the end!"

"Cheers to that!" Sirius replied.

Peter somewhat cracked a smile…the end seemed to be a long ways away to him. The thought slightly scared him.

Remus smiled and nodded in agreement with Sirius. He knew for sure now that this is where he belonged. Where a young wizard could learn, and grow, and find friends that could last a lifetime. He was not really different from the rest of them after all

Author's Note: Well, that's all! I hope you enjoyed the story! Thanks for reading and you know what's good to do after reading? Review it! ;) lol. Only kidding! If you'd like to comment, that's great, if not, then just thanks for reading! TTFN!