:A/N: Since a couple people reviewed, I'll post the second chapter. Please review, it makes me happy to know that I don't suck. Ah well. Read and enjoy.:

Chapter 2: To Hogwarts

A few minutes later, the trolley witch showed up, pushing her cart of sweets. Severus, who had no money to speak of, slouched down in his seat and pulled out his Potions book. Sirius leaped up and proceded to buy out the cart. When he came back to his seat with a precariously balanced stack of sweets in his arm, Severus just stared. " When's the famine, Black? I might need to stock up a bit."

Sirius laughed. It was oddly like a bark. "I'm a growing boy, Severus. I need to keep my strength up!" And with that, he started to tuck into the sweets at an explosive rate. Severus glanced at James and James just shrugged. " He's always's like this. Sometimes, though, he can be dead annoying."

Sirius looked up from the Chocolate Frog he was about to cram into his mouth. " I heard that, Potter. I guess I won't share some of this stuff with you after all, how about that ?"

"Oh, I'm so terrified, Black. An entire 2, 3 hours without sweets, followed by the biggest feast that any of us have ever been to. Why, if you ate that lot, you'd end up eating nothing at the feast!" Said James with a sarcastic grin.

"Good point, James. Oi, Severus, wanna help me clear this lot?" Said Sirius.

Severus was more than happy to oblige. While he and Sirius were stuffing themselves silly, James picked up Severus's potion's discarded book and leafing through it absent mindedly. "Well, Potions seems relatively straight-forward. Just like following the recipe, right?"

Severus looked up, grimacing. He had just ate a hairball-flavored bean. "Well, it's the first year, there not going to give us anything that's too difficult. I expect that when we get more advanced, maybe we'll do harder stuff-like making your own potion."

Sirius said, "Tha' Souns' L' Fu."

Severus And James stared. "Say again, Sirius?" Asked Severus in a dignified voice.

"I said, that sounds like fun."

Then, the compartnent door opened and a sad-faced boy with his school robes already on walked in. "Do you mind if I sit in here?" He asked.

"Sure come on in. Here, have some food. Severus here is slowing down."

Severus snorted. "I'm just saving space for some real food, Black. Unlike you, it seems like you're trying to mske yourself sick."

"We'll see when we get to the castle, Snape. I'll still eat you under the table."

The sad-faced boy laughed and accepted a pack of Licorice Wands from Severus. "Thanks. My name is Remus Lupin, by the way."

"Severus Snape."

"Sirius Black."

"Remus, old boy! How really corking to meet you!" Said James, with an exaggerated mayoral accent and, seizing Remus's hand, began to pump it up and down, grinning like a madman. They all laughed for a long while.

Sooner or later, it was time to get off. All of the older kids walked towards a bunch of carriages that were near a big lake. A big, booming voice called out, "Firs' years over here! Firs' years over here, please!"

Severus looked over, and saw the hugest man he ever saw holding a lantern high above his head. He looked wild, with his great beard and tiny beetle eyes, but he seemed to be alright.

They walked over to where the big man was standing, which was by the lake. There was a bunch of little boats swaying in the dark water. Remus, James, Severus, and Sirius all piled into the little tiny boat. They could see the dim outlines of the others settling into their boats. Once everyone was in, the big man (who took up an entire boat all by himself) said "Forward!"

There was a jerk, and the boats started to move all by themselves. Remus gasped and held the side of the boat very tightly. "How are the boats moving? No one's rowing, or anything!"

James and Sirius both laughed. "Remus, calm down. It's just magic, you know?" Said James.

Severus reached out a reassuring hand. "Don't worry, Remus. I don't know that much about magic, either. Besides, it's not like it's gonnna tip us up in the middle of the lake, right?"

"That man over there, he might tip his boat." Said Remus, pointing over towards the bobbing boat that held the big man. It was tipping rather drunkenly towards the left.

They reached the shore, and the ones who had gotten wet were shivering. (Remus was shivering too- but not from the cold. Apparently, he was easily motion sick.)

The crowd of 11-year olds walked up the path to the large and lit castle that had materialized as they crossed the lake. They might have been scared, but the big man and his swinging lantern was strangely comforting. Severus felt that the big man would probably protect all of them if something happened. Behind him, Sirius and James were discussing something about sorting, and beside him Remus was waking along with his long gait. Soon they reached the castle and for a moment, in eerie perfect unison, Severus and Remus both threw their heads back and stared at the giant and ancient castle.

The many lights in the castle made it look like there was a faint luminescence about it. It was strange and wonderful. A call broke through their shared silence. "Oi, you two, stop catching the view and hurry up!" Yelled James from the general throng around the door. They both shook themselves, shared a look, and then they were racing to see who would get to the door first.