Sirius opened his eyes slowly to find a face barely 5 inches away from his. He gasped, startled, "Sweet Merlin James! Don't do that!" James started howling with laughter as Sirius tried to calm his pounding heart. "You scared me to death you bloody git!" James kept laughing.

"Good morning to you too. Ready for out first day?"

"After that wake up, I'd say I'm ready for anything." Sirius said accusingly.

"Yeah, I'm surprised you didn't wake Remus."

"Now how come you let him sleep but you had to wake me up?"

"Because annoying you is more fun."

"What about Peter?"

"Ooh, forgot about him…" James and Sirius smiled at each other, conjured up a bucket of icy water (Mr. Potter had taught them a few tricks before coming to Hogwarts), and tiptoed over to Peter's bed.

"May I?" Sirius asked.

"I'd be insulted if you didn't." James replied. Fit to burst with laughter, Sirius poured the icy water all over Peter's head. He let out a high pitched squeal and jumped out of bed, completely soaked.

"Good morning Peter." Sirius said with a grin. Peter just stood startled and shivering, staring at them.

"Did you sleep well?" James asked.

"W-w-w-what was that f-f-f-for?" Peter asked.

"We don't know. But it was fun." Sirius said brightly.

"What's going on?" Remus called sleepily from his bed.

"Good morning Remmy!" James called. Remus pulled opened his curtains surrounding his bed, his light brown hair tousled. He rubbed his eyes and looked at them.

"Peter, you're all wet." He said. James and Sirius laughed.

"Fine grasp you have of the obvious Remmy." Sirius said.

"Did everyone sleep well?" James asked.

"I had a really weird dream about being chased around the castle by a giant Bertie Botts container…" Sirius said.

"You are so weird." James told his best friend.

"Well then, I'm in good company, eh Jamsie?"

"Don't call me Jamsie you git."

"Prat."

"Flobberworm."

"Snivellus."

"Ooh…that's low."

"Ha! I win! I am better than you at everything!"

"Are not!"

"Am to!"

"Are not!"

"Am to!"

As they continued to argue, Remus stared on at them, wondering if every morning would be like this.

"Hey, does anyone want to go down to breakfast?" Remus offered.

"I do!" Sirius yelled and bolted for the bathroom to change.

"Wait a minute, who says you get to go first?" James yelled.

"I'm older than you!" Sirius yelled back through the door.

"By two bloody weeks!"

"Still older!"

"Well, what if Remus is older than you?"

"When is your birthday Remus?" Sirius called, still from behind the door.

"March 10." He replied.

"What'd he say James?"

"March 10." James said.

"I'm older!"

"Maybe Peter is older."

"When's your birthday, Peter?" Sirius called.

"October 13." He shivered.

"October 13." James told the door.

"Ooh…you're older than me. Oh well. I'm taller!"

"You're also louder." James muttered.

"What was that Potter?"

"Nothing!"

Remus had to admit, he never thought that they would actually make it down to breakfast, but miraculously they did. They settled just as the morning post arrived. Hundreds of owls flooded into the Great Hall, making many first years gasp. Remus and James each received words of congratulations from their parents. Sirius, however, received something slightly less rewarding.

"Oh yeah…knew this was coming." He stated as his family owl dropped a scarlet envelope in front of him.

"Well done Sirius! Not even here for 24 hours and you're already in trouble! I'm so proud of you." James fake sobbed onto Sirius' shoulder.

"What's that?" Remus asked, swallowing his mouthful of toast.

"What's that he asks." James snickered. "Clearly, Remus, you have always been a good little boy."

"Why?"

"This, my new friend, is a Howler." Sirius smirked.

"Oh, that's a Howler? I've never seen one." Remus said.

"Ah little Remmy, so young…so innocent." Sirius said with an air of one who had experienced all life had to offer. "We're going to have to perform some nice, old fashioned corruption."

"You better hurry up and open that mate, it's starting to smoke." James noted.

"Right then. May I have a drum roll, please?"

James banged on the table repeatedly as Sirius took a deep breath and dramatically tore open the smoking envelope.

"HOW DARE YOU BETRAY YOUR FAMILY, YOU FILTHY LITTLE BLOOD TRAITOR! GRYFFINDOR? YOU HAVE SINGLE-HANDEDLY PERMANENTLY SOILED THE NAME OF BLACK!"

Sirius smirked and patted himself on the back.

"I AM POSITIVELY APPALLED! YOU SHOULD BE WRITHING WITH SHAME, AS I AM! YOUR FATHER AND I ALWAYS WONDER WHERE WE WENT WRONG WITH YOU! I LIKE TO THINK THAT WE RAISED YOU PROPERLY, BUT YOU HAVE ALWAYS HAVE BEEN AND ALWAYS WILL BE A DISGRACE TO OUR NOBLE HOUSE!"

Sirius yawned.

"REGULUS WOULD NEVER DREAM OF ASSOCIATING HIMSELF WITH MUGGLE-LOVING SCUM LIKE THAT POTTER BOY! WHAT'S WORSE, NOW YOU'LL BE SURROUNDED BY WRETCHED MUDBLOODS AS WELL! REMEMBER, YOU BROUGHT THIS UPON YOURSELF! DON'T COME CRAWLING BACK TO ME WHEN YOU REALIZE YOU'VE MADE A TERRIBLE MISTAKE!"

Mrs. Black's shrieks finally ceased and the envelope burst into flames. Sirius was staring at where it had been; his face absolutely emotionless. "Sorry about that, James."

"Don't worry about it mate, I've known her for five years now." James said.

"So Remus, what do you think of my mum?" He asked.

Remus had no idea what to say. He was shocked. Until this very moment, he had always considered himself to be the most unfortunate person he knew. Now he wasn't so sure. Behind Sirius' confident attitude, cocky sense of humor, and intimidating good looks, was an eleven-year-old boy who had suffered as much as, if not more than, he had. Although Remus had had more than his fair share of trouble, both his parents had always loved him more than anything. He couldn't imagine being so immensely disliked by a person who was supposed to be his mother. The only time he had ever been reprimanded was when he was three and had taken his fathers wand and tossed into the lake near his house. He smiled at the memory, remembering how he had been pretending that it was a boat. That particular memory took place three months before that fateful night. That time seemed so long ago.

"It's alright, you don't have to answer. I know she's a horrible old hag." Sirius said.

"I – I had no idea…I'm really sorry Sirius." Remus said softly.

"It's not your fault. You have nothing to be sorry for. I just don't want this to change what you think of me, because I promise I'm not anything like her."

"I know you're not." Remus told him sincerely.

Sirius smiled, relieved. However he noticed Peter, who was seated a few places down, was staring at him, pale and wide-eyed.

"I don't like that kid." Sirius muttered to James and Remus.

"He's our age, stupid." James said, trying to lighten the mood.

"I know…but there's just something about him that bothers me."

"He bothers you? We're the ones who dumped ice water on him this morning, remember?"

"Well yeah, but the way he looks is really annoying."

"Well you know Sirius, not everyone can be as physically attractive as us."

"True…" Sirius sighed jokingly, running a hand through his elegant black hair. "I guess we're just too dashing for our own good."

As Remus snickered, Professor McGonagall came up behind him and placed a hand on his shoulder.

"Good morning boys."

"Good morning Professor." They responded as one.

"I trust you had a good first night?"

"Very good."

"Excellent." She replied. "Lupin, if you're finished, I would like to have a few words with you."

Remus nodded and rose to follow her. James went back to his meal but Sirius looked interested.

"What did he do?" He asked with a smile

"Lupin is not in trouble, Mr. Black. This will only take a few minutes." Remus followed her to a statue of a Phoenix. The stepped onto a stair case and Professor McGonagall said, "Fizzing Whizzbees." Remus felt confused for a moment, wondering if she was offering him candy. Then the staircase came to life and he found himself standing in the office of Albus Dumbledore.

"Ah, Remus. Good to see you."

"Hello Sir." He said timidly.

"Thank you Professor McGonagall." Professor Dumbledore said. "So Remus, how was your first night here?"

"It was wonderful, Sir. Thank you."

"Not at all, not at all. I hope you have felt most welcome."

"I have."

"I see that you have made friends with Mr. Potter and Mr. Black."

"Yes."

"I must admit, I was pleasantly surprised when young Mr. Black made Gryffindor. Never thought we'd see that, eh Minerva?"

"Never. A Black in Gryffindor, I never would have dreamt it."

"Indeed. Now Remus, I assume you know why you are here." Dumbledore turned back to Remus.

"I'm a – My…"

"Yes, your condition. You may recall my announcement to the students about the Whomping Willow that has been planted on these grounds."

"Yes Sir."

"Well, that Whomping Willow has been planted for your use. There is a tunnel that begins at the base of the tree and leads to a building in Hogsmeade. I believe you will be safe there. When the time comes, you will Madam Pomfrey will meet you in the hospital and she will escort you to the Willow. She will also be waiting for you the next morning. Do you have any questions?"

"Yes…How will I get past the Whomping Willow into the tunnel? Aren't they dangerous?"

"That's why it's there, to keep others out. All you have to do is prod the not on the tree with a stick and it will freeze long enough for you to climb safely into the tunnel. "Any more questions?"

"The teachers…do they…"

"Yes, they all know. I must advise you not to take advantage of your situation, Remus. Don't expect teachers to go easy on you just because of your special circumstances."

"Oh! I didn't expect them to! I don't want them to! I want to be treated like I'm a normal student."

Dumbledore smiled. "And you are, Remus. You are."