Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or anything related. If I did, I would be FILTHY RICH and not sitting here painting my nails green. Even though that is an awesome colour...heh, well, enjoy the first chapter of my first fic.

The Marauders Story

Chapter 1 - You Will Always Remember This As The Day You Met The Sirius Black

James found himself wide-awake at five in the morning. He just couldn't sleep. Not when it was September 1st.

He got dressed in his favourite Muggle clothes, jeans and a black tee-shirt, and kept checking over and over to make sure he had everything. After about the third time doing this however, he shrugged it off and figured he must have everything.

His mother looked up and smiled, "Nervous, dear?"

"Nah. Just excited," said James helping himself to some eggs, bacon, and toast.

"You should be. The funnest part of being new is getting to make new friends," Mr. Potter said squeezing his sons' shoulder in reassurance.

James picked at his breakfast and at a quarter to ten he and his parents left for Platform 9 ¾.

"Sure you didn't forget something?" Mr. Potter teased, then catching Mrs. Potter's gaze he quickly added, "Just kidding…just kidding..."

Mrs. Potter said, "Don't worry. You'll have fun! Your father and I did."

James smiled. "Yeah, well, the only way I'm going to have to this so-called 'fun' is if I get on the train," he finished with a mock serious expression.

Both Mr. And Mrs. Potter reached out to hug their son good-bye.

Mrs. Potter looked fit for tears. "Be g-good, J-James! A-and d-d-don't forget t-to wr-write!"

Mr. Potter called out, "Bye, James! Have fun!" He winked and then turned to comfort a now sobbing Mrs. Potter.

James walked onto the train carrying his trunk in one hand and his owl in the other. He walked down to the very end where he walked in a compartment and was met by a plump boy who had a somewhat rat-like look to him, what with the small watery eyes and slightly pointed nose.

"Mind if I sit here?" James asked.

"Go ahead," the boy squeaked nodding to a seat.

"James Potter, by the way."

"Peter Pettigrew."

"Nervous?" James asked Peter.

"N-no," he said in a tone that made James instantly realize he was lying. "You?"

"Not especially," James said smiling, trying to reassure Peter that there was nothing to be afraid of.

Peter gave a half-terrified, half-comforted smile back.

"So, any idea what house you want to be in?" James asked Peter, seeing as how Peter was being extremely quiet and not making an effort to talk.

"Well, Gryffindor sounds great, but I think I'll most likely end up in Hufflepuff."

"Yeah, Gryffindor sounds great. I suppose Ravenclaw wouldn't be too bad…or Hufflepuff, I guess. I mean, anything's better than Slytherin, right?"

The compartment door opened again, and this time a boy who James recognized in an instant as Sirius Black walked in. His hair was just short of his shoulders and the front fell into his dark grey eyes.

"Oh…er…hi. James Potter. I already know who you are, Sirius Black."

Sirius scowled slightly at James' mention of his name. "That would be me. Don't judge me on the way my family behaves, though. As soon as I was old enough to understand everything they were on about, I realized what rubbish it is."

James smiled at Sirius' attempt to clear his name. "It's okay, mate. I'm not one to judge on names alone. That would be pretty pathetic if I was."

For the first time since he arrived, Sirius gave a smile that went from ear-to-ear.

Three dozen chocolate frogs, four boxes of Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans, and seven rounds of Exploding Snap later, the train pulled into the Hogsmeade Station.

The First years were greeted by a giant man with scraggly hair and a beard that covered half his face. Even though you couldn't see his mouth you could tell that he was smiling by the warm look in his eyes.

"My name is Hagrid," the giant man said, "I'll be taking yeh up to Hogwarts, then. Yeh just sit in these boats here," he waved a giant hand carelessly behind him, "Only four ter a boat. Well, now, c'mon."

Everyone climbed into a boat. James sat with Sirius and Peter and a boy who looked rather tired, with sandy-blonde hair and pale blue eyes.

"What's your name, then?" Sirius asked.

"Remus Lupin."

It had only been about one minute when Sirius whined, "This is taking forever."

"Oh, stop whining, Sirius," James said.

"Well, it is. You'd think that with a magical school, they'd find a more fascinating way to get you to the school."

"In Second Year and up, we ride to school in carriages pulled by thestrals," Peter squeaked, clearly excited to know something James and Sirius didn't.

"How do you know that?" James asked curiously.

"My mum and dad told me."

"Hmm…What about you, Sirius, got any family here?"

Sirius scowled. "My cousin, Narcissa. She's a Slytherin Seventh year. Head girl, I think…"

"Best watch out, then." James turned around to face Remus. "What about you? Any brothers or sisters…or cousins that go here?"

"No," Remus replied softly.

Once the boats had reached the shore everyone climbed out a little awkwardly, trying not to trip over the sides of the boats or anyone else in the process.

Hagrid led them up to where the castle stood, and opened the doors, where a very stern looking witch, with black hair pulled in a tight bun and square shaped spectacles, greeted them.

"Thank you, Hagrid. I'm Professor McGonagall. Now, if you'll follow me, please."

The nervous first years followed her over to another set of giant doors.

"Wait here. I'll call you in when we're ready for you."

With that, she swept in through the doors.

Everyone stood there; anxiously waiting, and then Professor McGonagall appeared nearly ten

minutes later. "We're ready for you."

As the first years walked up to the front where the Sorting Hat stood on the stool, James couldn't help but noticed that everyone's eyes were following the new students all the while they walked.

As the first years stopped in front of the Sorting Hat, it began to sing about the various qualities of the four houses.

The first two people were sorted before it was Sirius' turn.

He walked up with a determined look on his face.

I won't be sorted into Slytherin. No matter what, I won't, he thought to himself as he sat down and waited for the hat to be placed on his head.

The last thing he saw was his cousin Narcissa and the rest of the Slytherin table looking up expectantly at him. Then the hat was slipped over his head and he saw nothing else.

"Ah, another Black…an interesting one at that. What is this I see?" the hat buzzed in his ear, "…you don't want to be in Slytherin?…no?…well…I see you're particularly clever…plenty of courage…GRYFFINDOR!"

Nearly everyone looked at Sirius with surprise, including the professors. The Slytherin's, most especially Narcissa, looked furious and the Gryffindor's looked just as shocked as everyone else, but clapped enthusiastically for their new housemate nonetheless.

Sirius looked torn between feeling ecstatic and apprehensive, but took his seat at Gryffindor table with a definite expression set on his face.

A few more students were called, then, "Evans, Lily!"

"GRYFFINDOR!"

She beamed and made her way over to the Gryffindor table, sitting across the table from Sirius.

James was growing more and more impatient as the time went by, that's why he hated his last name being Potter, it always took forever for his name to be called.

"Lupin, Remus!" was called nearly twenty minutes after Lily.

Now that they saw Remus in the light, little did James and Sirius know it, but at that moment they were both feeling a pang of concern for Remus. He looked as if a good hex would be enough to finish him off.

Just as soon as the hat was placed on his head it said, "My, my…what's all this?…a werewolf, eh?…well…I'm not going to deny your clever-ness…but, I must say, you definitely show much more bravery…GRYFFINDOR!"

Remus smiled and sat down next to a black haired girl with blue eyes and fair skin who was sitting next to Lily.

A considerable amount of time later, "Pettigrew, Peter!" was called.

The hat sat on his head for even longer than it had with Sirius before shouting,

"GRYFFINDOR!"

Peter looked delighted and walked over to the Gryffindor table. He sat on one side of Sirius who distinctly remembered him as the quiet boy he sat with on the train ride.

"Potter, James!"

James looked relieved that it was finally his turn. He sat on the stool, and the hat was placed on his head.

"Another Potter? Just like your father, I see…GRYFFINDOR!"

James was so happy and relieved that he would be with his friends. He sat next to Sirius who reached over to lightly punch James' arm with a, "Way to go, mate!"

There were a few more people then, "Snape, Severus!" was called. He had extremely greasy hair and looked at everyone as though he was far more superior to them. James raised his eyebrows at Sirius who shook his head in a disgusted manner.

Twenty minutes and about seven, "I wish this would hurry. I'm starving…" comments later, everyone in the Great Hall watched as, "Warner, Addy!" was called and sorted into Hufflepuff.

The newly made Gryffindors were talking among themselves, occasionally talking to the older students. The conversation had turned to family.

"So, Lily, everyone's told us their life story. But, you're so quiet. Tell us, what's you family like?" the girl that was sitting between Lily and Remus, Maren Harrloe, asked.

"Not much to tell. My whole family is non-magical. They're all Muggles, except me, obviously," Lily said thoughtfully, taking a bite of potatoes.

"Ah, well, you should consider yourself lucky. At least you don't have to go home to the Blacks," Sirius said disdainfully, taking a rather forceful bite of chicken.

"Well, you don't have to go home to my sister. I'm sure that counts for something." Lily smiled sadly.

Sirius had loosened up quite a bit after deciding to ignore his cousin and the rest of the Slytherin house, and instead focused on eating as much food as possible and making friends with his fellow Gryffindors – most especially James, whom he seemed to get along with far better than anyone else.

James , and everyone in the surrounding area, quickly learned that Sirius was nothing like his family. He laughed when the rest of his family would scowl or frown. James had also learned that he and Sirius were almost exactly alike in personalities: mischievous.

The thing they were currently bonding together on was making relentless efforts to make Remus talk. He was being rather shy and that just would not cut it for neither James nor Sirius.

Remus wasn't quite sure why he was practically refusing to talk to anyone. Well, he knew why, but the least he could have done was make an effort to be a little talkative.

No one gave up on their efforts to talk to him, and Remus definitely noticed that. A small voice in the back of his head kept saying that they were trying to become his friend, and seeing as how all he wanted was a friend, or just someone who didn't dislike him for that matter, he started talking a bit more.

And, in no time, Remus had joined everyone else in joking around and laughing at little things that, for the most part, James and Sirius said.

After everyone had finished off dinner and dessert and left the plates sparkling clean, Dumbledore stood up and spread his arms out wide.

"Now that we are all fed and watered, I think it is time for announcements. First years, please note, the Forbidden Forest is strictly off limits. Mr. Filch has also asked me to kindly remind you to look outside his office for a list of all the things that are forbidden within the school. Which reminds me, I must ask that you don't use any magic in the corridors, because as we all know accidents may occur. Well, if that's all, would the prefects please lead the First years to their common rooms. Thank you, and good-night."

"First years! Over here!" called out the two Gryffindor prefects.

Once the first years had scrambled around the prefects, they introduced themselves.

"I'm Dan Mason, and that's Tania Sierra. We'll be taking you to Gryffindor Tower tonight, so if you'll follow us, please."

The first years followed Dan and Tanya up to Gryffindor Tower, all of them too tired and full to talk.

Once they were safely inside the tower Tania said, "Girls, your dormitory is on the right, and boys yours is on the left."

"And, boys, I must warn you," said Dan, smiling mischievously, "The only way you're getting up to the girls dormitory, is if they drag you up there or else the stairs won't let you up. Trust me, I speak from experience."

"Dan, you prat," Tania said shaking her head, and laughing in spite of herself. A few people joined in.

"Well, we'll leave you to it. Good-night." Dan waved them off.

James, Sirius, Remus, and Peter made their way to up the boys dormitory, while Lily, Maren, and the three other new Gryffindor girls, Kelly Davies, Heather Watson, and Joanne Smallwood went up to the girls dormitory.

When the boys were all settled into bed Sirius said, " You know what's the best about today?"

"What's that?" the other three boys asked simultaneously.

"You will always remember today as the day you met the Sirius Black."

James threw a pillow an hit Sirius squarely in the head.

A/N: Next chapter we meet Lily (more than we did in this chapter, anyway) and all her new and lovely friends, we hear from Remus, and alot more fun stuff, however, that's only if you R-E-V-I-E-W!