'Come on Remus,' John murmured in his son's ear as they faced the magical barrier at King's Cross Train Station. Remus faced the entrance to Platform 9 ¾s with a trolley containing an owl's cage, complete with one grey owl named Athene, on top of a large wooden trunk.
At his father's urging Remus pushed the trolley forward and broke into a run. He shut his eyes tight, bracing for an impact that never came. He opened his eyes and brought the trolley to a standstill.
'Well done son,' John smiled, 'we're here!' Remus gazed around in awe at the great scarlet steam engine and the mass of excited students and parents milling around the platform. A moment later Remus' mother joined them.
Remus was pleased that she had made the effort to see him off, pleased that she had come far enough out of her shell to realise that this was an important day for him and that he needed both of his parents there to support him.
John helped Remus guide the trolley over to the gleaming Hogwarts Express and found an empty compartment to load his trunk and owl into. He passed two black haired boys his own age in another compartment. They were talking about the latest Quidditch scores. Remus felt a pang of hope at what could be – he could have friends to talk about Quidditch scores with too! No, if he did make friends, he told himself, they would soon find out about him. And who wants to be friends with a werewolf? The hope in Remus' chest withered.
Remus said goodbye to his mother and father as the whistle blew for students to board the train. He promised to write and let them know how everything was going, and by "everything" they knew he meant his transformations.
John pulled Remus into a tight hug.
'You'll be brilliant son,' Remus thought his father's eyes looked teary as he pulled away.
'I love you Remus,' whispered his mother, giving him a brief embrace. Yet even as Remus waved goodbye, heading for Hogwarts, he saw that empty look creep back into her brown eyes.
'Can I sit here?' asked a small, sandy haired boy who had a sharp pointed nose that reminded Remus of a rodent – specifically a rat.
'Yes, of course,' Remus shifted over slightly, though he didn't need to; the compartment was empty except for Remus but could easily seat five others.
'Thanks,' said the boy breathlessly, taking a seat opposite Remus. 'I'm Peter, Peter Pettigrew.'
'Remus Lupin,'
'Are you a First Year too?' Peter asked.
Remus nodded.
'Oh, that's good! I'm a First Year too. Do you know what house you're going to be in?' Peter Pettigrew was obviously very excited about going to Hogwarts, Remus could tell. Remus shook his head; he suspected that he might be Sorted into Ravenclaw because he loved learning, but who really knew until they were actually Sorted?
'I guess no one knows for certain,' Peter continued, 'I think I might be a Hufflepuff; Mum says that's where all the rubbish people end up,' his eyes became sad and Remus felt the urge to cheer this mousy boy up.
'Well as you said – no one really knows, do they? And I bet you're not rubbish at all. Besides, if you do end up in Hufflepuff that's just fine: Helga Hufflepuff herself was an extremely gifted witch who invented most of the cooking spells people use today!' Peter seemed to brighten up a bit after that.
They talked for ages on the journey to Hogwarts as the Hogwarts Express took them out of London and north to the village of Hogsmeade. Peter, it turned out, didn't think that he was good at anything because his mother always told him that he was terrible at it all. His father had left before Peter was born and all that he knew about him was what his mother had told him – that he was a lazy drunk and the biggest mistake of her life.
Remus felt sorry for the boy – even with his affliction Remus had always been loved by his parents and praised when he did things well. Remus couldn't imagine how it might feel to be constantly put down and downtrodden.
He felt guilty when Peter asked about his life and family as Remus gave little information and, even then, only told half truths. It was unlike Remus to hide things, but this was necessary. Though he still felt bad considering Peter had told Remus a lot of personal things about his family life.
By the time they arrived at Hogsmeade Station, Remus and Peter had changed into their black Hogwarts robes and were ready to get to Hogwarts castle. They grinned as the conductor bid the students a good term and the doors opened along the train.
A voice boomed over the babble of students.
'Firs' Years! Firs' Years! Over 'ere!' The owner of the voice was huge – part giant Remus assumed. He introduced himself as Hagrid, Keeper of Keys and Grounds at Hogwarts, and smiled at the First Years through a mass of tangled black beard.
Hagrid led them down a stepped and winding path to a vast black lake where a fleet of small boats awaited them. Perched high above them on the other side of the lake was Hogwarts Castle itself. Turrets and towers beamed light from its windows and cast an unearthly reflection upon the glittering surface of the lake.
For years Remus had believed that the path he was on at that moment was lost to him, but there he was – gazing up at Hogwarts Castle – with a whole lot of memories to come.
'Four to a boat!' Hagrid called, settling himself in a boat of his own. Remus and Peter found themselves in a boat with two other boys.
The giant tapped the side of his boat with a pink umbrella and the fleet moved forward, gliding smoothly across the surface of the lake. Remus watched as Hogwarts Castle loomed ever closer above him.
Once out of the boats on the jetty on the other side of the lake, Hagrid led the First Years across some grass and up some steps to a large oak door. Hagrid raised one giant fist and knocked three times on the castle door.
The door swung open and a tall witch with square rimmed glasses and midnight blue robes stood in the doorway.
'The Firs' Years, Professor McGonagall,' Hagrid told her.
'Thank you Hagrid, I'll take them from here,' she had a Scottish accent and her hair was tied up in a tight bun beneath her black pointed witch's hat. Hagrid stepped past Professor McGonagall and headed through another set of doors where Remus saw the rest of the school was waiting beyond. Remus' stomach jolted when he realised that the rest of the school were waiting for them.
'Follow me,' ordered Professor McGonagall, turning on her heel and striding to a side chamber of the Entrance Hall. The First Years lined into the chamber after her. The flames of the torches on the walls cast an orange glow over the First Years' anxious faces.
'Welcome to Hogwarts,' she said once they were all in the chamber. 'The start of term feast will begin soon, but first, you need to be sorted into one of four houses. These are Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Slytherin. This is a very important occasion – whilst you are at Hogwarts your house will be like your family. You will learn in classes with your housemates, sleep in your house dormitories and spend free time in your house Common Room. Your triumphs will earn house points, while any rule breaking will lose house points. At the end of each year the house with the most house points wins the House Cup. I'm sure that each of you will do your house proud.
'The Sorting Ceremony will take place momentarily. Do make yourselves look smart.' Professor McGonagall gazed around the room, focusing on a boy's messy black hair in particular. 'I will be back when the school is ready for you.' With another heel turn and a swish of her robes, Professor McGonagall left the First Years on their own.
'Merlin's beard!' breathed Peter from beside Remus; he looked positively ready to faint.
'It'll be fine Pete,' Remus assured him, though his stomach didn't agree. A boy with long curtains of black hair covering his face was talking animatedly to a red headed girl about Slytherin house. The messy haired boy with glasses and another boy were seeing if they could touch the bottom of the flaming torch on the wall. A girl with large round glasses was staring fixedly at the door McGonagall had just closed behind her.
'Nervous?' asked a voice behind Remus. He turned around and saw it was a brunette girl who looked a bit pale.
'A bit, you?'
'A lot,' she smiled at him, 'I'm Hestia Jones.'
'Remus Lupin,' he replied, 'and this is Peter Pettigrew,' he introduced Peter.
'I can't believe I'm finally here at Hogwarts,' she beamed at him.
'I know the feeling,' he laughed nervously. Hestia looked as though she was about to say something else, but was interrupted by Professor McGonagall's return.
'We're ready for you now.'
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