September 1st 1971:
Remus Lupin had never been on a train before. In fact, he had barely been around other children his age. Most of his life had been spent indoors, under the watchful eyes of his parents, away from prying eyes and wagging tongues. Not that he could blame them. It wasn't safe for him to make friends, not when there was always a risk that, one day, they might see him for what he truly was.
But today was different. Today, he was going to Hogwarts. His mother knelt in front of him, brushing a stray curl from his forehead.
"You'll do just fine, love," she said softly. "Just remember, if you ever need anything, you write to us."
His father's hand rested on his shoulder, firm but reassuring. "And remember, Remus—Dumbledore has made arrangements. If anything happens, if you feel unwell, there's a place for you. You'll be safe."
Safe. The word felt foreign in his mind, something he never quite dared to believe. He had learned early on that safety was never a guarantee. Still, he nodded.
His father knelt down to adjust his slightly oversized robes. "And if anyone gives you trouble, don't be afraid to stand up for yourself! But maybe try not to start any duels on your first day, alright?"
Remus groaned. "Dad!"
His mother laughed, though there was a glimmer of worry in her eyes. "Leave the boy alone, Lyall."
The platform was crowded with students and their families, bustling with excitement and nerves. Owls hooted in their cages, trunks were being loaded onto the train, and there was an overwhelming sense of anticipation in the air. Remus took a deep breath, gripping the handle of his battered suitcase.
"Go on, then," his father encouraged. "We'll write."
His mother kissed the top of his head. "We love you, Remus. Have fun."
Remus nodded once, swallowed the lump in his throat, and stepped forward.
…
The Hogwarts Express was already alive with chatter and laughter as Remus Lupin stepped onto the train, gripping his battered suitcase tightly. His parents had left him with warm goodbyes and reassurances, but as the train whistled, reality set in—he was on his own now. It was both thrilling and terrifying.
Navigating the corridor, he glanced into compartments, searching for a place to sit. He saw a boy with sleek black hair lounging lazily, his legs stretched across the seat, wearing an air of practiced disinterest. Another boy with untidy black hair and glasses was beside him, animatedly talking. Across from them sat a nervous-looking blonde boy, who was staring at the Chocolate Frog in his hand as if it might jump away at any moment.
Remus hesitated, but before he could decide, the black-haired boy noticed him. "Well, don't just stand there all day. You coming in or not?"
"Oh—uh, thanks." Remus slid the door open and stepped inside, placing his suitcase on the rack above. "I'm Remus Lupin."
"Sirius Black," the boy said with a smirk. "This is James Potter, and that's Peter Pettigrew." James gave him a friendly grin whilst Peter nodded in greeting.
The compartment door suddenly slid open. A girl with dark red hair and green eyes stepped inside, looking rather upset. She glanced around before sitting down with a whimper. James and Sirius exchanged glances but said nothing. Conversation picked up between the boys, who shot occasional glances in Lily's direction as she remained quiet. Ten minutes later, the door opened once more, and a sallow-faced boy entered, his gaze wary.
"I don't want to talk to you," the girl said in a constricted voice. It was aimed at the newcomer.
"Why not?" he replied. The conversation around them dimmed.
"Tuney h-hates me. Because we saw that letter from Dumbledore."
"So what?."
"So she's my sister!" She threw him a look of deep dislike.
"She's only a –" Lily, too busy trying to wipe her eyes without being noticed, did not hear him correct himself. "But we're going!" the boy said, "This is it! We're off to Hogwarts!." The girl nodded, mopping her eyes, but in spite of herself, she half smiled.
"You'd better be in Slytherin," The boy slid into the seat opposite her, but before he could speak, James butted in:
"Who wants to be in Slytherin? I think I'd leave, wouldn't you?" James asked, glancing at Sirius, who didn't smile.
"My whole family have been in Slytherin," Sirius said darkly. "Except me, I hope."
"Blimey," James said, "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 boy made a small, disparaging noise. James turned on him. "Got a problem with that?"
"No," said Severus, though his slight sneer said otherwise. "If you'd rather be brawny than brainy—"
"Where're you hoping to go, seeing as you're neither?" interjected Sirius.
James roared with laughter. The girl sat up, rather flushed, and looked from James to Sirius with utter dislike.
"Come on, Severus, let's find another compartment." she had said
"Oooooo…"
James and Sirius imitated her lofty voice; James tried to trip Severus as he passed.
"See ya, Snivellus!" a voice called, as the compartment door slammed shut.
Remus sat frozen, unsure how to react. The tension in the compartment lingered, but James and Sirius quickly fell back into easy conversation, as if nothing had happened. Peter laughed along, eager to belong, but Remus wasn't sure how he felt about what had just unfolded. He had spent years trying to avoid unnecessary attention, keeping his head down. He knew what it was like to be mocked for things outside of one's control.
He glanced at James and Sirius. They were clearly the sort of boys who would be popular, the type who walked through life as if they owned it. They were sharp, quick-witted, and full of confidence. Remus admired it, in a way, even if he wasn't sure he could be like them. Still, something about them intrigued him.
The journey continued as the countryside blurred past the window. The compartment settled into a comfortable rhythm. James and Sirius had begun a heated discussion about Quidditch, debating which team had the best Chasers. Peter listened with wide-eyed admiration, nodding eagerly whenever James made a particularly enthusiastic point.
Remus found himself smiling slightly as he listened. He had never cared much for Quidditch—he had never been allowed to play sports properly, not when his condition left him weak after every full moon—but there was something infectious about James' and Sirius' energy. Every so often, one of them would glance at him, as if trying to gauge whether he belonged in the conversation. He appreciated the effort.
"You play?" James suddenly asked him, breaking his train of thought.
"Er—no, not really," Remus admitted, rubbing the back of his neck.
James looked momentarily disappointed but nodded. "That's all right. We'll turn you into a fan yet."
Sirius smirked. "Unless you end up in Slytherin. Then you're doomed."
Remus chuckled despite himself. "I doubt that."
The conversation moved on, drifting from Quidditch to Hogwarts itself. Peter was full of questions—what would the castle look like? How would the Sorting work? Sirius, whose family was steeped in wizarding tradition, had plenty of answers, though some were more dramatic than accurate.
"They say the Sorting Hat can see right into your soul," Sirius mused, pretending to look deeply into Peter's eyes. "If it doesn't like what it sees, it swallows you whole."
Peter paled. "You're joking."
Sirius grinned. "Maybe."
Remus shook his head with amusement as James burst into laughter.
Hours passed, and the sky outside darkened. A plump woman pushing a trolley stopped at their compartment, and they eagerly pooled their money to buy a selection of Pumpkin Pasties, Chocolate Frogs, and Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans. Remus hesitated before spending his own money—he didn't have much—but James, without thinking twice, tossed him a Chocolate Frog.
"Here. First one's on me."
Remus was taken aback. "Thanks."
"No problem mate"
Remus smiled, tucking the sweet into his pocket.
Soon, the train began to slow, and a ripple of excitement spread through the corridors. The first-years scrambled to gather their belongings, and James, Sirius, and Peter began talking over one another in their eagerness. Remus, however, remained quiet, taking a steadying breath. In just a few minutes, he would be stepping into the castle he had dreamed about his entire life.
"Better get changed," Sirius announced, pulling his trunk down. The others followed suit, and soon the compartment was filled with rustling robes and hurried dressing.