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The trip to Diagon Alley seemed like such a long time ago but now that August had turned into the first day of September, Remus felt like he went shopping for his supplies a few minutes ago.

But this was the first day Remus was awake before his mother could wake him up. The nervous feeling was exploding in Remus's stomach over and over again as he forced himself to look at his scarred hands. After a moment of silence, he got to his feet and went downstairs where his mother was waiting for him with a bowl of cereal.

"Eat, Remus," Hope said gently as he came into view.

Remus started forward and thanked his mother but as he looked at his food, his gut did several flips, making him groan and clutch his stomach.

"What's wrong?" Hope asked with a frown as she watched Remus rest himself against the kitchen chair.

If it were not for the sound of the rushing waves of the ocean, Remus was convinced he would have vomited. Hope gave her son a sympathetic look and sat him down next to her.

"What?" Remus asked, managing to regain his composure. "What is it?"

"Listen," Hope said very quietly but very seriously. "Professor Dumbledore is a great wizard and in my opinion the best. He has made the arrangements for you regarding your condition. Do as he says and all will go well. Do not be afraid to talk to people either and I know what are you are thinking, Remus. You are my son, I know you are worried about that."

"How can I not be?" Remus asked in dismay; he looked utterly frightened at the idea of the school finding out about his condition.

"That should not stop you from making new friends," Hope said briskly and placed a gentle hand on Remus's arm.

"But if they do?" Remus asked fretfully.

"So what?" Hope said sharply. "If you have made the right friends, they would not shun you. They would want to help you."

Remus looked down at his bowl of untouched cereal, feeling worse but finding comfort in his mother and her words. So he let the silence between them stretch on, letting him soak in her words.

"Do you have your things packed?" she asked, bringing Remus from his thoughts to the present.

"Yeah," Remus replied and got up. "They are all in my room."

Hope and Remus went together to haul his things down to the family room. The cozy cottage and homey feeling made him realize how long he would be gone from his mother.

"There is so much to say in such little time," Remus muttered as they walked into the living room.

Hope was levitating his trunk with her wand, not speaking at first. She stopped, set down his trunk, and looked at her son with confusion glimmering in her eyes.

"What is there to talk about?" Hope asked while looking around for the pot of Floo powder.

"It's here," Remus said dully, pointing at the gray pot on the table. "—I just feel like something will go wrong—no! Not about me."

Hope still gave Remus a curious expression but turned away as she took the pot. "Then what do you mean?"

"You," Remus said stupidly and failed to catch the words that fell from his mouth. Immediately he could feel his face burn a brilliant shade of red as he looked from his mother to the floor.

"Me?" Hope asked in a mild tone. "Do not worry about me. I put my faith and trust in Dumbledore—as should you."

Remus remained silent and Hope held out the pot. Putting himself and the trunk in the fireplace, Remus took one look at his living room and threw down the powder while saying "King's Cross Station" in the clearest voice he could muster. Again, he felt himself spinning until he clambered clumsily out of the fireplace with his trunk. There was a glow behind his back, indicating that Hope had come shortly afterward.

She took Remus by the arm and guided him gently over to the barrier between platform nine and ten.

"How come the muggles didn't see us?" Remus asked as he hurried alongside his mother.

"Enchantments," Hope said simply and looked around as if she was looking for someone.

Remus frowned but did not answer, still trying to ponder just how said enchantments worked.

"Let's go," Hope said and nudged Remus forward. "Take a running start."

Bewildered, Remus obeyed and flat out sprinted with his trunk behind him, wheeling and groaning loudly. He could not help but flinch as he waited to hear the thud as he made contact with the brick wall but it never came.

Shocked, Remus stopped right inside the wall and something told him that was a bad idea so he continued to run through until, right before his eyes, there was a red train that had the words Hogwarts Express stamped on the front in shinning letters.

Hope placed her hand on his shoulder and led him towards the train. Remus followed, looking around and breathing in the glorious sight. It was nothing like he had seen yet.

"Here we are," Hope said and straightened her jacket. Her eyes landed on something she caught sight of. "If you'll excuse me, I'm going to have a little word with someone."

"What should I do?" Remus asked.

"Put your things by the train and come back," Hope said and patted his shoulder. "Go on, don't be shy."

When people told Remus not to be shy, he became even more so. For a few seconds, all he could do was stare at the beautiful train before him. Beautiful was a strange way to describe the train but it was magnificent. Red glowed brightly with the words "Hogwarts Express" stamped clearly in the front. He could not help but feel simply awed by this piece of machinery.

When his things were dropped off, much like everyone else's, he dusted his hands off and looked about the station, hoping to catch everything in sight. His eyes feasted upon his surroundings with sheer excitement and anxiety. As he looked around, his eyes landed on a boy and his parents, who were leaving their trunks by the train. The conductor came out and shook the boy's parents' hands. They seemed to know each other for they were exchanging hugs and introducing the boy to the conductor.

Remus pursed his lips and looked away before they noticed him staring, but he could not help but shoot occasional glances over his shoulder, noticing how the boy seemed to be his age. He moved away after a minute or so but before he could look for his mother again, Remus heard a strangled cry and an angry voice.

Remus turned to the source of the noise and watched as a boy with dark hair that fell to his shoulders being yelled at by his screeching mother. The young boy, who looked like Remus's age, bellowed back, saying something inaudible but immediately stopped for something made him. Remus craned his neck and saw the boy, now, sprawled out on the ground, clutching his face as his mother stowed her wand back in her robes pocket.

The boy picked himself off, sent one last disgusted look at his mother and towed his trunk behind him (where Remus had just set his things aside) with his younger brother carrying the owl's cage. Passing Remus, the boy gave the young werewolf a friendly wave before disappearing back into the crowd, an action that took the lycanthrope by surprise.

Remus was now watching parents hugging their children as they were going to step onto the train. Looking around for his mother, a little more frantically, he turned on the spot when two hands rested themselves on his shoulders.

"Mum," Remus said and hugged her, breathing in her warmth.

"Be safe," Hope said and ran a hand through his hair. "Be wise, do well in school, and make us proud. Make me and your father proud."

Remus nodded, to lost for words, but he was saved when his mother pulled him in for one last embrace.

"Write to me?" Remus asked as Hope relinquished Remus to look at him with sincerity.

"As often as you write to me," Hope said and raised her eyebrows. "Your owl will find me."

Remus waved goodbye, almost with a heavy heart, as he boarded the Hogwarts Express. The steam billowed from the train as it seemed to be eager to get moving. But as soon as he looked inside the train, his heavy feelings evaporated, leaving him with nothing but excitement.

He chose an empty compartment and sat closest to the window. But as soon as he walked in, he heard a sudden movement and turned to see another boy standing behind him.

This boy had messy black hair with black glasses that framed friendly hazel eyes. Remus and the boy were the same height and judging by the appearance of him, he was also a first year.

"Mind if I sit here?" the boy asked breathlessly.

"No problem," Remus said and motioned for him to come in.

"Thanks!" the boy said whose face split into a big grin.

Remus nodded wordlessly, hoping this would not end up too awkward.

"James," the boy said with a grin. "James Potter. What's your name?"

Remus, who was now rummaging through his book bag, sat across from James and said:

"Remus Lupin."

"That's cool," James said with an air of elegance. "Where are you headed if you have the choice?"

"Dunno," Remus said and looked thoughtful. "I was thinking Ravenclaw, maybe, or Gryffindor and what about yourself?"

"I—"

James was interrupted by a knock on the compartment door. The two boys looked simultaneously and saw two new and unfamiliar boys standing at the compartment door. One boy, Remus recognized from the fight he had with his mother. But looking closer at him, he had warm gray eyes and a kind of casual elegance that Remus admired.

The boy standing next to the one with gray eyes was at least a head shorter. He was a bit plumper but nonetheless still alert. He had blue eyes, like Remus's, and blonde hair, he looked much more nervous than the taller.

"Come in," Remus said and opened the compartment door for the two.

"Thanks," the taller said and sat down next to Remus.

Remus shifted his position, noticing how James's gaze was fixed on the newcomer with a sort of intensity. It was almost like James recognized him but did not quite know for sure.

"Sirius at your service," the taller boy said with a dramatic bow. He paused. "Sirius—Black."

Sirius seemed to hesitate when he said his last name and immediately, James knew why. Startled, Remus looked over at James who nodded. He watched as the bespectacled boy sat up straight.

"I know who you are," James said at once. "My family's talked to yours before. You come from the pure-blood Black family. I'm James Potter by the way."

"I recognize you," Sirius said and with lightning speed, changing the subject. He inclined his head towards the shorter boy who sat quietly in his seat. "This is Peter Pettigrew."

"Hello," James and Remus chorused.

"Hello," Peter said quietly but surely.

There was an awkward silence in which they sat together, merely staring at their hands. However, Remus stood up, effectively breaking the silence.

"I'm going to get changed into uniform," Remus announced.

"So will I," Peter decided, standing up as well.

Together, he and Remus headed out of the compartment with their book bags in their arms.

Before James or Sirius could say anything, the sound of the compartment door sliding open interrupted the four boys' conversation. Both of their heads turned around and looked at the source of the noise.

James's jaw threatened to drop open as he looked at a girl with thick red hair that fell to her shoulders and the brightest green eyes he had ever seen. Next to her, stood a boy, who looked their age. He had long black hair that acted like curtains around his face.

Sirius cleared his throat awkwardly, nudging James with his toe and moved to sit next to the gaping boy. However, the two blokes remained silent as the girl and boy struck up their conversation.

"You better be in Slytherin," the boy with the dark hair and hooked nose.

"Slytherin?" the girl echoed in confusion.

James and Sirius looked at each other, both wearing identical expressions as if they were sharing each other's thoughts with one another. But to break the silence between James and Sirius and the boy and the girl, they decided to strike up their own conversation.

"Who wants to be in Slytherin? I think I'd leave, wouldn't you?" James asked Sirius who was lounging across the seat from him.

Sirius did not smile.

"My whole family's been in Slytherin," he said darkly, a faint scowl forming on his sharp features.

"Blimey," James said with a quirked eyebrow. "And I thought you seemed all right."

Sirius grinned.

"Maybe I'll break the tradition. Where are you heading, if you've got the choice?"

James lifted an invisible sword. "Gryffindor, where dwell the brave at heart! Like my dad."

The greasy haired boy made a small, disparaging noise. James turned on him with his eyes narrowed dangerously.

"Got a problem with that?"

"No," The boy replied, with the smallest hint of a sneer. "If you'd rather be brawny than brainy—"

"Where are you hoping to go, seeing as you're neither?" Sirius interjected.

James roared with laughter, while the girl glared at the two of them. She grabbed the boy's arm.

"Come on, Severus, let's find another compartment."

"Oooo . . ." James cooed.

"Ooo! 'Come on Severus, let's find another compartment'!" Sirius mocked.

James and Sirius were busy imitating the girl's lofty voice with cheeky grins but as Severus passed them, James stuck out his leg and tried tripping him.

"See ya, Snivellus!" James and Sirius shouted from their compartment and slammed the door shut.

The boys burst out laughing once they sat back down, amused at their own antics. Seeing as they have found, yet, another thing in common, they continued to roar with laughter until Remus and Peter returned to the compartment with their Hogwarts robes on.

"What was that about?" Remus asked with a slight frown.

"Y-you should have been there!" James said between his laughter. "Snivellus!"

"That boy who was walking with that girl?" Peter asked, looking over his shoulder. "They looked a bit flustered."

"I don't know if I want to hear the story . . ." Remus said with a teasing grin at the two boys.

James stuck his head out the compartment and laughed at their retreating backs, cupping his hands over his mouth with a sneering and cruel tone.

"'You're leaving grease marks, Snivelly!" the bespectacled boy snickered at the two who were still standing in the aisle.

James and Sirius were in another fit of laughter after watching them turn out of sight.

The sky started growing darker as the day started melting into the night. After long hours of conversations between the now four friends and stuffing themselves with candy from the trolley, conducted by a kind plump woman.

After their conversation of their favorite candy turned into Quidditch, the sun was already down, leaving the sky a dark indigo flecked with small white dots. But when word got around that they would be arriving at Hogwarts; James and Sirius left to change into their robes.

Now the four friends sat near the window, looking out and waiting to see what the grand castle looked like.

"Do you guys like pranks?" James asked raising his eyebrow as Peter sat down on his own shoe. Muttering, Peter removed the shoe from the seat and forced his foot in it.

"Yes," Sirius said at once and grinned madly. "I know loads of stores to get prank stuff."

"I guess they're not so bad," Remus said with a slight smile.

James laughed. "Then we are going to pull some major ones during our years at Hogwarts."

"There is it!" Sirius exclaimed pointing out the window. "Hogwarts!"

Remus felt his spirits rise, hardly able to contain his excitement as the train came a slow stop. Students began filing off the train, going one at a time, unable to disguise their excitement. Students of all ages milled about the train station, going in one direction or the other (Remus could not keep up).

He hopped off the train and heard a voice calling the first years. When the four boys walked toward the source of the noise, they gaped at the person. He had to be the tallest man Remus had ever seen.

"Firs' years, over here! I'm Rubeus Hagrid."

"Where do we go?" Peter whispered to Remus, who had to lean down slightly. He shrugged. "I dunno either. Maybe...maybe if we just follow everyone else."

"Firs' years to the boats!" the same giant shouted, waving his massive arms (which could definitely take Remus out).

James, Sirius, Peter, and Remus all clambered into one boat and pushed off from shore. The boat magically seemed to know where it was going, across the black lake towards the lit castle.

"Hogwarts is huge!" James exclaimed, the lantern on their boat swung wildly. "I can't wait to explore!"

Rebeus Hagrid helped push the boats off the shore, organizing first year students into the wooden boats and lighting any lanterns that had burned out. The students quickly clambered into the boats and pushed off from the sand.

"I can't believe it's actually Hogwarts!" Sirius said, the lantern's light fell upon the Black heir's eager face. "I'm so excited."

"I am too," the three chorused, craning their necks to get a better glimpse of Hogwarts.

"Did you hear that there's a giant squid living in here?" James asked, now looking down over the edge of the boat and trailing his hand in the water.

"There is?" Peter asked worried; his eyes looked around, wary and alert.

"Yeah," Remus said, shooting James a look. "I doubt that it is interested in a couple of first years."

Peter looked a little more relieved.

"I reckon the squid will only come up to get scrawny gits like James," Sirius joked.

James raised his eyebrow and shoved Sirius who stumbled backward and fell off.

"Oi!" Remus yelped and leaned over, his face inches away from the black surface of the water as if he could somehow see Sirius beneath the surface of water.

Before he could react, a hand closed around his throat and pulled him. Remus plunged beneath the sheet of water and kicked up to the surface after being submerged completely, shaking with fear and adrenaline.

"Sirius!" Remus choked when he saw the git.

"Sorry, Remy, I meant to get James," Sirius said with an apologetic note, but his face split into an impish grin. "Are you above some revenge?"

"In this circumstance, I am most definitely not," Remus panted as he tread water, which was something he did not need to do in ages despite living on the ocean.

Remus and Sirius swam to their boat and watched, to their amusement; Peter and James look over the edge.

Peter was extremely jumpy so Remus dragged him under while Sirius towed James in. Both broke the surface spitting out lake water, Remus and Sirius were laughing and treading water.

"What the bloody hell was that for?" James coughed.

"Revenge," Sirius said. Suddenly his face lit up.

"What?" Remus asked.

"I have a perfect prank!"

Sirius reviewed in a hushed tone, stifling his laughter throughout the plan of the prank. They slipped under the chilly water and swam to the boat that had Snape and the girl sitting in it. They were talking to each other and pointing at Hogwarts.

James, Peter, and James sniggered while Remus dipped his head beneath the surface and pounded on the boat's bottom.

Remus fumbled for his wand, his most prized possession besides the broom he smuggled into Hogwarts, to make sure it was still in his pocket and to his immense relief it was. He'd be devastated if it dropped in the lake.

Remus slowly resurfaced and watched as Snape and the girl look wildly around.

Sirius sneaked up on the other side of their boat and splashed water at Snape who spluttered and looked around, grabbing the lantern and leaning over the side, using the light. Remus felt the light shine on him and he instantly ducked underwater.

When he was sure the light was gone, he came back up and saw the silhouette of James splash the red haired girl.

"What is it, Sev?"

Snape shrugged.

And without warning a sharp nudge prodded Remus. He looked around sharply and saw James motioning for him to follow. With the last part of the prank in motion, the four combined their strength and tipped the boat.

Remus and Sirius volunteered to be the ones pulling down while James and Peter pushing the boat up. Together, Snape and the girl plunged in. Remus and Sirius quickly swam clear before they could see them.

The four young pranksters tipped the boat back for the two to climb on (it was actually all James's suggestion) and laughed at their brilliance. They clambered back in and started shivering despite the warm air.

"Well, shite. I'm freezing!" James chattered, trying to warm up by rubbing his hands over his arms to create some warm friction.

"Should've thought of t-that," Remus muttered.

"It w-was a good p-prank though!" Sirius said.

Peter only shivered.

When the boat finally scraped the rocky bottom of the lake, they jumped out of the boat and hurried beside the other first years milling around.

They were finally guided inside; it was the most grandest and beautiful thing Remus had ever seen. It was a marvelous building with divine interior designing. They were stopped on the stairs, Remus, James, Sirius, and Peter were among the first.

There stood an older looking witch but she still looked like the kind of teacher not to mess with. Sirius smirked at James who smiled.

"I am Professor McGonagall," she said as the first years all joined her. "Welcome to Hogwarts. Now, in a few moments you will pass through these doors and join your classmates, but before you take your seats, you must be sorted into your houses. They are Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin."

She looked at the students around her.

"Now while you're here, your house will be like your family. Your triumphs will earn you points. Any rule breaking and you will lose points. At the end of the year, the house with the most points is awarded the house cup."

The four exchanged glances between them. They followed Professor McGonagall to the Great Hall and saw but a single hat perched on a stool.

The first years gathered in front of the hat and listened to Professor McGonagall call each first year to the hat to sort them into houses. After the hat's song, which Remus did not pay much attention to, the sorting began.

"Black, Sirius."

Sirius strolled up to the Sorting Hat with ease and sat down on the wobbly stool. Barely setting the Sorting Hat on his head, the entire room held their breath until the Sorting Hat bellowed its decision.

"Gryffindor!"

Sirius could not look happier as he roared his approval and strode over to the Gryffindor table who all reached over to pat the new first year on the shoulders. The Black heir no longer felt a part of his family; instead, this was the first feeling of liberty he ever got to feel, and he was not letting it go.

"Evans, Lily."

Lily got up and walked nervously to the Sorting Hat's stool. She sat upon it and waited for the Sorting Hat to announce his decision.

"Gryffindor!"

She looked relieved as she walked to the Gryffindor table with a definite smile. But as she passed her friend, he let out a little groan and her smile faltered as she caught his eye. Sirius moved down the bench but she recognized him and pointedly turned her back to him.

"Chestnut, Daron."

"Hufflepuff!"

"Froyt, Ella."

"Ravenclaw!"

"Gallon, Arieta."

"Hufflepuff!"

"Gildon, Harriet."

"Hufflepuff!"

"Julon, Carrie."

"Slytherin!"

Remus recognized the sopping wet boy who they had pulled their merciless prank on, avoiding eye contact with the boy who was sopping wet and now creating a small puddle on the floor. No one seemed to have noticed him, but when Remus turned to the Gryffindor table and saw the girl, she was completely dry. A professor, mostly likely that McGonagall, must have used some drying spell.

"Lupin, Remus."

Remus breathed in deeply, shaken from his thoughts and suddenly sweating and knees feeling wobbly, he sat upon the stool, and waited for the Hat to be lowered.

"Gryffindor!"

He felt weak with relief as he walked over to Sirius who clapped him on the back, looking ecstatic.

"Pettigrew, Peter."

Peter walked up and waited for his sorting.

"Gryffindor!"

Next, it was Peter who sat down across from Sirius and Remus, positively beaming.

"Prewett, Alice."

"Gryffindor!"

"Potter, James."

James strolled up with confidence and as soon as the hat was upon his head, it shouted its decision.

"Gryffindor!"

James grinned and joined his four friends. And now that Remus knew his friends were all in the same house, Remus could finally relax. This was certainly a feeling he could get used to.

"Snape, Severus."

"Slytherin!"

"Tereson, Robbert."

"Slytherin!"

"Wells, Bernie."

There was a pause this time until . . .

"Ravenclaw!"

The Sorting continued to go until the rest of the first years were sorted into their houses. The four friends were sitting across from one another beaming at each other and shaking the other Gryffindors' hands.

"Hi," James said to the red head. "I'm James."

The girl shook his hand, most likely out of politeness. "Hi, I'm Lily."

Remus couldn't help but notice how Snape looked angrily at the Gryffindor table from the Slytherin.

An older but wise looking man stepped up looking at the students with twinkling blue eyes behind his silver-white beard.

"I am Professor Dumbledore and I am to remind the students that the Forbidden Forest is strictly out of bounds and the third floor. On a happier note, we have a new Professor. Professor Hilret is filling Defense Against the Dark Arts."

A tall man nodded curtly at the crowd.

"That's all the announcements I have," Professor Dumbledore said, "let the feast begin!"

Food magically appeared on the table and James and Sirius dug in while Remus had of a polite manner while eating. Peter took dainty bites but stopped when he realized how hungry he was.

The four ate their way through three full course meals and now into the desserts.

"Pudding!" James groaned, "my weakness!"

James shoveled the pudding in his face while Sirius burst out laughing and started piling his plate with pudding too.

Remus laughed at his two crazy friends and their crazy food antics. When they were dismissed, the Gryffindor Prefect, who looked like they were ready to burst with pride, led the first years to the portrait of the Fat Lady, but not before taking them all on a little tour of the castle. Remus was already lost.

They went through so many corridors that looked exactly the same with portraits who were talking to him and distracting him from whatever the Prefect was saying. He nearly fell going up the stairs because he was so busy looking around and mostly up at the huge castle, that he lost his balance.

Eventually, they made it to the portrait of the Fat Lady, who was indeed...wide. She seemed to have a good spirit for she looked at the students with a warm, fond expression. Heat spread through Remus's body, and suddenly, he felt like he was...going to be okay here.

"Flibberite," the Prefect said and the portrait swung open.

Remus gaped at the room behind the painting. There was an open space of couches, chairs, desks, and a roaring fireplace.

"This is the Gryffindor common room," the Prefect explained and motioned the first years to look around. "Explore it because this is your room for the next seven years."

"Girls dormitory is up and to the left and same for the boys but to the right. The stairs to the girls' dormitory is enchanted. Any boy who tries to get up there will find the stairs turn into a slide."

Sirius and James smirked at the girls who rolled their eyes, Lily amongst them.

The four friends and a fifth boy ended up in the first year boys' dormitory. Remus found that their trunks were already at the foot of the beds and their belongings beside their beds.

"This is awesome!" James said and fell onto his bed.

"I smuggled my broom into Hogwarts," Sirius said, pulling out his Airbender.

"So did I," James said sitting up sharply and pulling out his Airbender.

"I did too," Remus said pulling his Airbender. "It's been used already, but it...still looks nice."

Peter revealed his broom, which wasn't an Airbender, it was a good enough broom to impress anyone (since first years were not meant to have brooms in the first place).

"What's your name?" Remus asked, looking at the fifth boy who seemed to have silently sneaked into the room.

"Frank Longbottom," the boy said and looked at the already four friends.

"That's right," Sirius said. "My family would know yours being a pure-blood and all."

"Ace!" Frank said and nodded.

It was well into the night by the time the boys were starting to wind down. Feeling tired, Remus could no longer fight sleep anymore and stretched, stifling a yawn along the way.

"See you lot tomorrow," Remus said, the exhausting hitting him hard.

He did not bother changing; he did not want his new friends to see the real monster he really was so he slipped under the covers. James, Sirius, and Peter, too, all fell asleep in a matter of moments.

However, no matter how tired he was, Remus, however, lay awake lost in his thoughts. He knew he would never be anywhere near lucky once he graduated from Hogwarts. Finding a job with his condition was nearly impossible. He would be poor in his adult life and there was nothing he could do about it. His parents were technically wealthy, not himself.

Remus thought back to the night he was contaminated with a single bite that effected his whole life; Fenrir Greyback. Pushing those dark thoughts away, he fell asleep.

Hang in there, readers. I'm trying to juggle way too much. I'm unfortunately putting the Seventh Year on hold until I can catch myself up.