Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, nor will I ever.
This story will be ratedM for language and sexual situations. Don't say you weren't warned!
By The Light of the Moon
Chapter 1
Remus Lupin waved good bye to his parents one last time before he raced up the stairs of the Hogwarts Express. Excitement of returning to school coursing through his veins. Because it was here that he could simply be Remus. A normal young man with normal teenage worries.
Not the young man with a dangerous problem whom people ran from when faced with him the street. Only three people at Hogwarts knew his secret and they had not abandoned him as he had feared. In fact, they had embraced it and Remus knew he was a better person for it. His friends were everything to him.
"Hey Remus!" An enthusiastic voice called out.
Remus turned and began searching the swarm of students for the familiar face.
"James!" He said as he fought his back to the end of the train where James Potter stood waiting.
"Thought you were going to miss the train, mate." James said as he thumped Remus heartily on the back.
"Mum and Dad wouldn't quit stalling." Remus replied and then lowered his voice before continuing. "They still don't think it's a good idea for me to go to school."
"Little late for that now, Moony. Sixth year. You can't back out now." James said understandingly. "Come on. We're back here in this compartment."
"Sirius and Peter here yet?" Remus asked.
"They're playing exploding snap. I told them I'd go find you." James answered.
Remus turned around to pick up the bag that had fallen off his shoulder but collided with another student causing them to drop their own trunk, on their toe.
"Ouch!" Came a soft breathy voice.
"I'm so sorry." Remus said as he pulled the trunk off the owners foot and righted himself. His gray eyes meeting the clearest blue ones he'd ever seen.
"Are you alright?" He asked as he cleared his throat.
"Nothing permanent. I'll be fine." She answered as she stooped to retrieve the trunk.
"Here, let me." Remus said quickly and hoisted it upright. "Sorry about that."
"No worries. Thanks." She said easily and took it from him.
"Do you need help to your compartment?" He offered.
"I got it. It's not that heavy. But thanks. See ya." She replied and strode off down the corridor, her long blonde hair bouncing with every step.
Remus watched her for a moment before turning back to James.
"Who was that?" He asked nonchalantly.
"She's in Ravenclaw. Something Moon, I think." James answered. "She's very pretty." He added after noticing the glint in his friends eye.
"Was she? I didn't notice. Well lets go join the game, shall we?" Remus said offhandedly.
"Uh huh." James said, deciding to let it slide and led the way into the compartment where Sirius and Peter were indeed engrossed in exploding snap.
"Hey guys." Remus said as he stored his bag overhead before sitting down to join in the game.
"Did you have a good summer Moony?" Sirius asked as he concentrated on his next move.
"The usual. Long and boring. Yours Padfoot?"
"Exciting and too short." Sirius replied.
"How about you Wormtail? Had a good summer?" Remus asked, addressing Peter.
"It was good. I went on holiday to Albania with my parents. Met a girl there...we're quite serious now." Peter said eagerly.
"Is she imaginary or blow up?" Sirius ribbed.
Peter blushed hotly and feigned concentration on the game.
"Peter mate, that's great. Where does she live at?" Remus asked supportively.
"Albania." Peter replied quickly.
"Oh, well...that's not very convenient is it?" Remus said.
"What's her name?" Sirius asked.
"Her name? It's Sheba. Sheba Ran." Peter answered nervously.
James, Remus and Sirius all shared a skeptical look over the top of Peter's head before congratulating him.
The witch with the food cart came by and broke the mocking silence as the Marauders filled their pockets with candies, cookies and cakes and bought a round of pumpkin juice.
"A toast." Sirius said jovially.
The four straightened up and held their flasks at attention as Sirius continued.
"To the best year yet. May it be filled with the most mischief Hogwarts has ever seen."
"Here, here!" The three answered.
"To the Marauders." Sirius finished.
"The Marauders!" They echoed before clinking flasks and drinking deeply.
"I'm ready for the feast! I'm so hungry I could eat a hippogriff." Remus said as he burst into the idle chatter.
He looked around the compartment contently and leaned back against the squishy seat. Unable to help feeling happy to be back at school again and among the people who accepted him, just as he was. The only place he felt he truly belonged.
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