Alastor Moody was sitting miserably on the Hogwarts Express, checking the driver every 10 minutes to make sure that the train wasn't about to crash, fall off a cliff or attempt to throw everybody out of it. Back then, of course, Alastor Moody had 2 real eyes, and 2 real legs, but was still paranoid, showing that this is indeed just a personality trait for him, not something that has come because of his many injuries.
Alastor was feeling very lonely; he didn't know anyone at his school yet. However, his luck was about to change. James Potter entered the carriage. "Sorry mate," James said, "but can I join you here. All the other carriages are full."
"You can, but do you have any weapons, dangerous chemicals, great wand skills or an axe?" Alastor replied.
James gave Alastor a very odd look before replying "I don't have weapons, dangerous chemicals or an axe. And I may have great wand skills but I don't know, because it is illegal for me to use them until now, when I'm not going to attempt to."
"Sorry," Alastor swiftly replied, "I'm a bit paranoid sometimes. What's your name?"
"James Potter," James said. "How about yours?"
"Alastor Moody," Alastor said.
Sirius Black joined the carriage. "I'm coming in here, ok?" Sirius said, but sat down anyway without waiting for an answer. "My name is…" Sirius started but was interrupted by Remus Lupin and Peter Pettigrew entering the carriage.
"Sorry," Remus said "But we have to join. This guy here was looking for a carriage, so we've been looking for one with two places in. I see this one meets those requirements," Remus said. "Shall I introduce myself? I am Remus Lupin and this here is…" Remus was clearly waiting for an answer from Peter.
For what seemed like an hour, there was a silence around the room. Alastor was looking out of the window with his wand firmly placed in his wand hand, even though he knew no spells that would save him, no matter what happened. James, Sirius and Remus were glaring at Peter, waiting for him to at last answer. Peter was staring at Remus.
"Nice weather today isn't it" Alastor said. "A little too nice if you ask me. Do you reckon I should check with the driver to make sure that we aren't going to burn to death?"
But the others ignored that question and continued to stare at Peter, except for Peter, who stared at Remus.
In the end, Remus kindly said "What is your name?" to Peter.
"Oh…Peter Pettigrew." Peter said
Everybody sighed except for Alastor who said "Peter Pettigrew? Is that the name of a convicted murderer that I read about a few weeks ago?" Alastor pointed his wand straight at Peter who cowered in the corner.
"Alastor!" James said in a shocked voice. "Put your wand down. I bet you don't know any worthwhile spells to hit him with anyway."
"You're a madman! I'm guessing your name is Alastor…You're a madman!"
"Oh sorry," Alastor said to Pettigrew lowering his wand. "I got Pettigrew mixed up with Halls…and Peter mixed up with Janet. Could happen to anybody…"
"Indeed it could," Remus said gently and kindly. "What's your name?" Remus pointed at Sirius Black.
"Sirius Black."
"You're Sirius Black!" Remus said with particular emphasis on the Black. "The Black's are a real ancient wizarding family. Do you belong to them?"
"Yes," Sirius snarled, "And no. I hate my family."
"Why?" Remus said in a shocked voice.
"Because they're obsessed with purity of blood!" Sirius barked.
"Ok," Remus said in a well-there-goes-my-love-of-that-family voice. "Well at least you aren't" Remus said now smiling.
"My name is James Potter" James suddenly said.
Everybody faced him for a second shocked that Sirius and Remus' little conversation had been so absurdly interrupted.
"Oh, and my full name is Alastor Moody" Alastor blurted out, turning away from the window again.
"Well, now that we're all introduced, I think we should get changed into our robes," Remus said in his usual gentle, pleasant voice.
Once everybody had changed into their robes, it was sunset, and time to get off the Hogwarts express. A giant man was greeting the first-years off the train. Remus and Sirius assured Alastor that the giant man wasn't going to attack him.
"Firs' years, firs' years!" The giant man called. "I'm Hagrid. I'm gamekeeper 'ere at 'ogwarts. Please follow me!"
All of the first years followed Hagrid. "Usually, we'd take a boat but this year Dumbledore wan's me ter take yer this way," he said.
Hagrid led all of the first years to a tree.
"This," he said, "is the Whomping Willow. It has jus' bin planted this year and you'll do well ter stay away from it. This will be mentioned at the sorting ceremony bu' I've bin asked ter demostrate it ter you."
Hagrid threw a stone at the tree. The tree literally started attacking the stone and many of the first years jumped back in shock. Remus was the only one who didn't seem surprised. Alastor commented that Hogwarts was just a big death trap, but everyone ignored him.
"Righ' then," Hagrid said, as if he regularly saw trees attack stones, "let's ge' you ter the sorting ceremony. Ev'ryone's bin waitin' long enough."
Hagrid led the first years up to Hogwarts carrying a particularly scared first year in his hands. He gestered an ugly first year boy with greasy hair to knock on the castle door.
"I bet you anything that kid gets into Slytherin" James said.
The boy glared at James, as if he had heard him, which James knew he had not.
"Don't judge a book by its cover," Remus said.
"Actually, Remus, I think he's right." Sirius said.
"Well, I CERTAINLY won't trust him if you're right." Alastor growled.
The entrance to the castle opened and a frighteningly strict woman appeared at the entrance. She wasn't young, but she wasn't old either. "My name is Professor McGonagall. I am deputy headmistress at this school. You will now follow me to the great hall and then we will begin the sorting ceremony."
Professor McGonagall led the first years to the Great Hall.
"Now if you'd just like to wait out here, I'll inform the hall of your arrival," she said, and walked into the great hall. Alastor Moody only got a glimpse of the great hall, but now he wanted many more glimpses. It was spectacularly big with loads of students. That's all he could tell.
Professor McGonagall came out of the hall. "Now, if you'd just like to follow me in please," she said.
