I fondly remember being eleven. I remember that year that changed my life, 1971. More specifically, September of 1971. I was a small shy boy, not really knowing anyone at all. I had gotten onto the platform, both of my parents were there with me. My mother was in hysterics at the sight of her son heading of to school. It was a big moment in not only my life, but theirs as well.

Being on the platform for the first time is one of the most uncomfortable moments that any Hogwarts student has to face. Especially if they're an only or eldest child. Because then, you're all alone. You really don't know anyone, unless maybe you've made some friends through friends of your parents, or maybe a cousin or something. But, for the most part, you're alone and you have to get used to an entirely new setting. I would hate to have been a muggleborn student there for the first time. At least I knew some things to expect from talking with my parents.

Soon though, I was out them. I was alone and boarding that train to head off to school. Of course, I was very nervous about making friends. How exactly would I go about my "delicate condition"? Being a werewolf doesn't exactly make you the kid everyone wants to be friends with. I was just so self conscious, wondering if other kids could tell that's what I was just by looking at me. It wasn't fair, no eleven year old boy should be put through that torture, they just shouldn't.

As I climbed up onto that train, I remember sighing heavily. I was really doing this, I was really off to school, I was really going to be away from my home and family for nine months. But, part of me knew I could do it. I knew I was perfectly capable of handling school and being on my own. After all, other kids could do it, and I knew I had a lot more strength and courage than those other kids.

I walked down the isle of the Hogwarts express, looking into the compartments that were starting to fill up. Occasionally a person would glance over at me, sometimes smiling, sometimes not. But them looking at me made me feel so self-conscious about myself, that I just kept walking until I finally found an empty compartment to sit in by myself. I was getting used to that whole "by myself" idea, so it didn't really bother me that much.

As the train finally started to move, I simply sat in the corner. The entire compartment to myself, and yet I was still huddled up in the corner. I waved good bye to my parents as the train lurched slowly away from the platform. I sighed quietly, realizing I was really going off to school and would have to do things for myself, make new friends. But, I could do it, I convinced myself that I could.

The scenery just seemed to fly by as the train rolled down the tracks at a nice steady pace. I sat there, twirling my wand in between my fingers as I watched the countryside go by me. With each moment, I grew more and more anxious, nervous, my stomach was in knots. Was I going to be able to make friends? Would I be able to keep my secret for long? And what happens when they all find out? I couldn't help but worry, it was just something I did all my life.

Finally, the dullness of the scenery and the lack of interaction with another person got to me. I was finally pulled off into the realm of sleep, destination unknown…

After who knows how long, which after a few more trips on the train I've come to estimate about an hour later, I was woken up by some poking and whispering…

"Dude, I think he's dead," one voice said.

"No way, they wouldn't let some dead kid just lay here on the train," the other one said as he poked me once more with the end of his wand.

"Maybe they don't know this kid is dead," the first voice said, he too was now poking me with his wand. I opened one eye ever so slightly to catch a glimpse of these pokers. I saw two boys about my age, one with very unruly black hair and glasses, the other with rather shaggy black hair, but it was shaggy in a classy kind of way that complimented him.

I finally opened my eyes. "I'm not dead," I muttered groggily. I rubbed my eyes as I sat up slowly, the two pokers watching my every move. "I was simply trying to get some sleep."

The first one , with the shaggy hair looked at the second one, who was running a hand through his already messy hair, a trait I would come to learn was just one of his little quirks. I just looked at them both, wondering why there were just standing there, and why they poked me.

The second one caught on to me looking at them and jabbed the first one with his elbow. "Don't just stand there, introduce yourself."

"I was getting there. Keep your robes on. Jeeze!" the first one said rolling his eyes at the other one. He then turned his gaze at me and smiled as he held out a hand. "Hello there, I am Sirius Black."

"And I'm James Potter," the second one said holding out his hand as well. I casually shook both of their hands, still observing these rather eccentric people that were in front of me. "Well, do you have a name?" the one named James asked.

It took me a few minutes for what he really said to sink in, I just shook my head. "Whoa, sorry, just kind of zoned off there for a moment. But yeah, I do have a name. I'm Remus Lupin," I said to them both. They both kind of laughed a bit, and I tried to remain calm. But, part of me was very curious as to what exactly the pair was laughing at.

"Sorry, it's ok," James said to me, giving me a friendly smile.

"Yeah, after all, you did just wake up," Sirius said with a nod, apparently agreeing with James. "So it's ok if you're a little out of it."

"Would you mind if we sat in here with you?" James asked, even though the two were already getting comfortable in my once empty compartment. But, I was glad that they had randomly picked mine to come into for whatever reason. I liked having someone to talk to.

"Oh, it's not a problem at all," I said shaking my head slightly. "So, if you don't mind me asking, why do you need a place to sit half way through the ride?"

Sirius smirked and looked over at James. "Well, tell him what happened Jamesie," he said gesturing towards me. My gaze was then adverted over to James's direction as well now.

"Well, you see," James said as he ran his hand through his hair once more since I've first met him, "we kind of got kicked out of our other one."

"Kicked out?" I asked with a raised eyebrow, wondering what these two had done.

"Yeah, we were sitting with some girls, but after awhile they kicked us out," Sirius said with a nod. "Oh well, who needs girls anyway. Not like they'd like me or something," he said crossing his arms. Of course, now as I look back at that moment, I laugh. The idea that Sirius Black once believed he was doomed to live a life where no girls would ever like him. Of course, that would all start to change about third year, but start to get a tad bit on the ridiculous side around fifth year.

James looked over at him and nodded. "Yeah, who needs girls anyway?" he asked. Of course, most eleven year old boys felt this way. Girls just weren't a priority in our lives.

I nodded my head. "I know I don't," I said agreeing with them. Which, to be honest was true. For some reason, girls scared me. Yes, every month I turned into a vicious werewolf, but I was afraid of girls. They could just cause so much more damage than they realized. It was one thing to get a cut or a scratch, or the occasional bite mark, but having your heart ripped right out of your chest and stomped on in front of you, that was a completely different type of pain. The kind of pain I never wanted to go through, ever. Of course, the other reason I avoided girls was, well, the fact that I was a werewolf. How do you explain that to someone? You really couldn't, at least expect them to keep quiet about it and accept you for what you are. That just doesn't happen.

"Exactly," James said looking over at Sirius. "So just forget about them. You've got your real friends right here." As he said that, I looked over at him. Did he just say friends? Plural? Meaning more than one? He did! He actually just referred to me as one of their friends. I tried not to show how happy something as simple as that made me. After all, I didn't want them to think I was some loser or something.

Sirius nodded his head. "I know, I know," he said. "So, um, Remus was it?" Sirius asked me. I merely nodded my head at him. "So, what's the story on you?"

I blinked a couple times as I looked at them. The story on me? What to say? What not to say. Finally I just shrugged and relaxed in my seat. "Nothin' much. I'm just a guy."

James nodded his head as he put his feet up on the seat across from him. "I hear ya."

Sirius too agreed with the statement. "Yeah, being a guy is totally the way to go through life," he said nodding his head. "It's cool to just hang out with the guys." I nodded my head, I was now one of the guys.

After about another hour on the train, having meaningful conversation and getting to know James and Sirius we finally arrived at the station in Hogsmeade. I looked around in complete awe, and to think, I still hadn't even seen the castle yet. I was just astonished by seeing Hogsmeade and the forest, and the lake. It was all so new.

I was pulled out of my trance like state by a loud booming voice calling out for first years to head in his direction. This man was, well, huge! I had never seen someone so tall in my life before. I had to crane my neck up to look at him. And he spoke in this huge booming voice with a very distinct accent.

"Firs' years over 'ere!" he called out. I simply held on to my belongings and walked over, following behind Sirius and James. Following along behind them was something I would quickly become accustomed to, soon just being second nature to follow them blindly.

As we got over there, we found ourselves on the edge of the lake, a few boats parked on the shore. Catching onto the idea quickly we hopped in one, the three of us sitting together, looking around quietly taking in all of our new surroundings.

The boat ride wasn't so bad, we were lucky in the fact that it was a calm night, fairly warm as well, perfect for a little boat ride across the lake. I looked up and I saw all the stars, and the moon. Of course, I let out a heavy sigh as I saw that. Luckily it was only a quarter moon, I still had plenty of time before the next full moon.

Before I knew it, the boat ride was half over and that's when I saw it. For the first time in my life, I saw Hogwarts castle. My eyes grew wide and my jaw dropped. I could never in my life imagine something so magnificent and wondrous. I looked over at James and Sirius who had much the same expression on their face. It was just so incredible seeing the castle slowly come over the horizon until there it was right in front of us.

We all clambered out of the boats and were ushered over to a lady with a funny hat on. She didn't look as friendly as the large man did, but none the less I once again followed Sirius and James over there. Apparently we were supposed to follow her. I missed what she said because I was too distracted as I looked around, but the heard of first years had started moving inside, and once more I followed Sirius and James.

The group walked into a large hall, the Great Hall to be exact. I had never seen anything like it. Being from a family of wizards and witches I was accustomed to the moving pictures, but the enchanted ceiling! Whoa! That was a head rush. I was so caught up in looking at the ceiling that when the line stopped I ran right into James.

"Hey, watch it!" James said looking back at me. I just gave him an apologetic look and shrugged. As soon as everyone got settled in, I looked back up at the ceiling spacing out once more. I didn't even know how long I had been like that, or what was even going on until I heard my name.

"Lupin, Remus?" the lady had said. Apparently she had called my name twice already. I shot out of my trance and looked around seeing James and Sirius gone. I had absolutely no idea what was going on. Finally some girl behind me tapped my shoulder.

"You're supposed to go up there and get sorted," she whispered to me. I looked at her, the girl gave me a friendly smile and pointed up. The girl was actually, rather pretty. She had these vibrant green eyes and dark red hair pulled back into a high ponytail.

"Thanks," I said to her as I headed up to the front. I gave the lady an apologetic smile as I took a seat. She then proceeded to put this rather old, and smelly, hat on my head. I nearly jumped out of my seat as it spoke!

"Hmm, you definitely have some courage in you. I can see that. Hmm, I think I know where I shall put you. Better be….GRYFFINDOR!" the hat said to me, shouting out the last part for the entire hall to hear. As the lady looked over, I saw one of the tables had its members standing and cheering loudly for me. I looked over and smiled, that was my house. I noticed that that too was where James and Sirius had disappeared to and I went over to join them.

"Hey buddy! You're in Gryffindor with us!" James said as he made room for me to sit next to them.

"Yep, you're one of us!" Sirius said throwing a friendly arm around my shoulders as he gave me a smile. I smiled back at them, being truly happy. I finally felt like I belonged.