September 1st, 1971

Remus had checked his trunk four times that morning, but he checked it again, just to be sure everything was there. He couldn't quite believe it was true. He was going to Hogwarts. To learn magic. With other people his age. Like a normal person. He glanced around his room, looking for anything he might have left out, but saw nothing. It was unlikely he would have forgotten anything if he were honest; he'd been making lists for weeks.

'Remus, are you ready? It's time to go,' his mum shouted.

His heart leapt with excitement. Grabbing onto the end of the heavy trunk, he dragged it into the living room where his mum was waiting for him by the fireplace. When he reached her, he bent over with his hands on his knees to catch his breath before returning to his room for his owl. She was already perched in her travel cage, and she whistled at him softly when he picked her up.

'Don't worry, Rieka. You won't be in there for long. You'll have the whole owlery at Hogwarts and the freedom to go for a fly whenever you like.'

She whistled again, and he assumed she understood and wasn't mad at him. He carefully carried the cage out to where his mum was waiting for him, trying not to jostle her.

They were taking the floo to Platform Nine and Three Quarters, much to Remus' dismay, but nothing could spoil his mood today. He placed the cage down and grinned up at his mum.

'Ready!'

The two of them travelled through the floo and emerged on the platform at quarter past ten. It had been Remus' suggestion to arrive early to avoid the crowds, and his plan had worked out well. The platform was almost empty. There were only a few early arrivals dotted about, and it was close to silent, so his mum crouched down to speak to him.

'Now, remember, you need to be careful. Try to eat your meals when there are fewer people in the hall and avoid crowded places.'

'I know, Mum. Don't worry.'

He was getting annoyed with the constant reminders. He knew what he had to do to stay safe. It was his life on the line if he messed up, not hers. Yet she kept telling him again and again like he was stupid.

'Good. But try to have fun too, sweetheart, and don't forget to write.'

Remus nodded.

'I'll owl you tonight.'

'I'll look forward to hearing all about it then. You better get on the train before more people arrive. I love you, and I'm so happy for you.'

She stood up and smiled at Remus, clasping her hands to her chest. He smiled back, feeling a tad guilty for his uncharitable thoughts a moment ago and wishing he was allowed to hug her. But knowing it was impossible, he turned and grabbed his trunk and his owl instead, hauling them onto the train in search of a secluded compartment.

Sirius was running late. Kreacher had apparated him to the platform at 10:55 am, despite Sirius having been ready since ten o'clock. The crotchety house-elf had deposited Sirius' trunk next to him and disapparated without a word, leaving him alone on the platform.

The place was crowded, people swarmed the platform in groups, talking loudly and pushing trolleys full of belongings. Sirius couldn't see anything. He didn't know which direction the train was in, and he only had five minutes to board. He panicked.

'Don't I know you?' a female voice said close to his ear.

Sirius whipped his head around in surprise and saw an old woman with grey hair. She was bent low to speak to him. He didn't recognise her, but she might be able to help him.

He gave her his most charming smile and said, 'I don't think so, ma'am, but if you would point me in the direction of the train, I'd be grateful.'

She stared at him, her eyes roaming his face.

'Yes. I do,' she said thoughtfully. 'You're Walburga's boy, aren't you? The train is this way, dear. Is that your trunk?'

He nodded to both questions, and she shrank his trunk down to the size of a small suitcase with a quick Reducio. He picked up the now miniature trunk and followed her to the train, grateful that at least some people were kind and helpful. Unlike his bitch of a mother who had purposefully made him late to the station "so he wouldn't have time to disgrace himself."

'Oh look, there's my James. Why don't you go with him? James!' she shouted, waving at the messy-haired boy with glasses who stood near the train.

He was dressed in expensive robes, which looked very comfortable to Sirius, and was standing next to a much older version of himself, most likely his father. Next to him was a very expensive-looking mahogany trunk. Sirius sized him up in a moment and was left confused. He had the air of a wealthy pureblood about him, but his relaxed attitude didn't fit.

'There you are, Mum. We thought you got lost,' James said with a grin. Spotting Sirius next to her, James turned his attention on him. 'Hi there. I'm James Potter. Who are you?'

Ah, a Potter, that explained everything. They were wealthier even than the Blacks, but they were muggle-lovers, a disgrace to their name if you asked his mother. Which he didn't. Ever. He couldn't let a Potter outdo him in confidence though, so he stepped towards the boy.

'My name's Sirius,' he said, purposefully leaving out his surname.

He flashed his trademark grin and held out his hand to shake.

James shook his hand and leant forward.

'Do you like mischief?' he asked, in a whisper.

Sirius thought back to the dungbomb at his mother's party. All the guests had been stinking like dragon dung when they left. It was brilliant. He smirked at James.

'Who doesn't?'

'Excellent!' James said, clapping his hands.

He grabbed Sirius' arm and dragged him towards the train.

'Let's go to school,' he said, and then much quieter, and for Sirius' ears only, he added, 'and become legends!'

Sirius laughed. James' exuberance was a little overwhelming and not the kind of behaviour he was used to. The people in his family were all sedate and dignified. Passion was not a trait the Blacks were known for, not in public at least. But it also pleased him to have found a potential friend so fast, and a Potter no less. That would piss his mother off more than anything. Well, not as much as if he befriended a mudblood or some filthy half-breed, but it was a close second, and the best part was she couldn't object because the Potter's were higher up the social ladder than the Blacks.

Mrs Potter waylaid them in their quest to board the train, grabbing James by his arm and pulling him in for a hug.

'How dare you try to leave without saying goodbye,' she said, showering kisses down on his head.

James struggled in her arms.

'Mum! Not in front of Sirius,' he whined.

Sirius would prefer it if she stopped too. Not because he thought James had anything to be embarrassed about, but because the display of affection reminded him how little of it he received in his own life, and the pang of jealousy didn't sit well with him. He was the Black heir; he shouldn't be jealous of anyone.

'Oh, don't be silly. Why should you care if your friend knows I love you?' she asked, laughing. 'Go on then. You can leave. Don't forget to write!'

She unshrunk Sirius' trunk, and they both dragged the heavy boxes onto the train and into an empty compartment.

The train ride passed uneventfully, mostly. There was an argument with a greasy, dark-haired kid and his red-headed girlfriend about Slytherin. It seemed like James really hated Slytherins, and that knowledge made Sirius' gut ache. He didn't think he would be placed in Slytherin, but if he was, would James still want to be his friend? From what he'd seen, he doubted it. They had only known each other for a few hours, but already he felt a deep bond with the other boy. A fellow heir to a high-ranking house and a sizable fortune even bigger than his own. He didn't want to lose his friendship so soon.

There was also a minor incident with a firecracker in the bathroom, but that had nothing to do with them, honest.

When they were roaming the corridors, Sirius had kept a look-out for Remus, the boy from the apothecary. But he didn't see anyone who resembled him in any of the carriages they explored. Maybe at the welcome feast, he thought hopefully.

They disembarked from the train at Hogsmeade Station and joined the other first years gathering around a giant man covered in more hair than any animal Sirius had ever seen. He introduced himself as Hagrid and led them to the edge of the Black Lake. Apparently, they were expected to get to Hogwarts by crossing the water in rickety old boats that looked ready to sink.

Sirius boarded a boat with James and gingerly took a seat, hoping it was clean and dry. How embarrassing would it be to arrive at the feast with a dirty wet patch on his ass? He scanned the bank and the other boats for anyone who resembled Remus but came up empty. It wasn't long before they were joined in their boat by a plump boy with a round face. He said his name was Peter, and he was dressed decently, even if his robes weren't quite the quality of James' and his own.

A few minutes later, a small boy with long tawny hair and robes that were two sizes too big approached them. His face was gaunt, and he had dark circles under his eyes. He looked like a strong wind might blow him away. Sirius put on his best haughty expression and spoke with the perfect enunciation of a pureblood who had received speech tutoring since the age of two.

'Can we help you?'

He even managed to look down his nose at the strange boy despite being at a lower elevation. His mother would be proud.

The boy seemed to quake a little, but then gathered courage from somewhere and spoke in a soft, clear voice, 'Oh, um, I was hoping I could ride with you?'

'I'm afraid not. This seat is taken,' Sirius said, before turning away in dismissal.

He watched out of the corner of his eye as the boy's shoulders drooped and he wandered off to find another boat. Sirius felt a little bad for being so rude to him, but he needed to save the seat for Remus in case he was here.

'Who are we keeping the seat for?' James asked.

'Someone I met when I was younger. I was hoping he'd be here, but I don't see him. His name's Remus,' Sirius said.

A few minutes later, the bank was clear of students, and the boats moved off across the lake. He scanned the boats again and caught the eye of the strange boy from before. He was in the same boat as Hagrid, and he looked terrified. His knees were pulled up to his chest, and he appeared to be trying to make himself as small as possible. A flash of guilt shot through him, and he looked away.

The boats took them to a docking area on the other side of the lake, and Hagrid led them into a compact waiting room, told them to wait and left. Sirius and James made their way to the back of the room with Peter following like a lost puppy. Sirius noticed the sickly boy had huddled himself into the back corner of the room. With the better lighting inside, he looked even more unwell, and he was watching his surroundings in a way that felt familiar. He was scanning for danger.

The door to the little room opened, and a severe-looking woman walked in. She had her dark-brown hair secured in a bun at the back of her head, and she peered at them over her glasses. The story of her life was mapped onto her face in wrinkles, and her hair had streaks of grey. Her appearance was so unlike that of Sirius' family. He liked her immediately; she looked so real.

She introduced herself as Professor McGonagall, gave a speech about the houses and said something about rule-breaking and house points that Sirius didn't catch. When the tedious speech was over, she took them through to the Great Hall for the sorting ceremony. James and Sirius stayed together as they entered the hall, and Peter continued to trail in their wake. They waited while a decrepit-looking hat on a stool sang a song about the four houses and what they stood for, and then McGonagall started talking again.

'When I call your name, you will sit on the stool and place the sorting hat on your head. When it calls out your house, you will join your housemates at their table.'

Sirius cringed at the thought of putting that ancient thing on his beautiful hair. How many other students had it touched in all the years since the school opened? How many of those people had had dirty, greasy hair? He shuddered. Professor McGonagall started reading out the names, and the hat sorted each one. It took longer with some than others, but each one brought Sirius closer to his fate. He was so nervous now that he was sweating in his robes.

'Black, Sirius,' she called.

'Good luck, mate,' James said, patting him on the shoulder.

Sirius glanced at his friend, keeping his expression smooth and free of the anxiety he was feeling inside. He ran a hand through his hair, stuck his chin in the air, and with all the pretend confidence he could muster, he strode up to the stool, picked up the hat, sat down and placed the disgusting thing on his head. Not Slytherin, he thought, please not Slytherin.

'Not Slytherin?' a voice said in his head. 'Well, isn't that unusual for a Black? Let's take a look at you then. No ambition as such, unless you count a desire to cause trouble. But plenty of cunning. You would do well in Slytherin.'

No, anywhere but Slytherin, please, Sirius thought.

'Well, if you're sure. Let's see where else you could go. Ravenclaw would not suit you. You certainly have the intelligence but not the desire for knowledge. And Hufflepuff is definitely out. But maybe Gryffindor. You have bravery in abundance, that much is clear from your request. Going against your entire family takes courage, and might also be considered rather reckless. I think you're right, young man. You're not a Slytherin at all. You're one hundred percent GRYFFINDOR!'

The hat screamed the last word, and Sirius sat there for a moment in shock. His heart leapt; he wasn't in Slytherin. School might be even better than he thought. Not just a brief reprieve from his parents, but an actual pleasure. He yanked the hat from his head to stunned silence in the Great Hall. There was a smattering of applause from the teachers' table, and a few students were clapping, but the majority just stared at him. All except for a lone voice coming from the group of waiting first years. James was at the back of the crowd, and he was jumping up and down, whooping and clapping enough for the entire hall. Sirius grinned at his friend, hoping James was right to believe himself a Gryffindor.

He stood up and walked to the Gryffindor table, head held high despite the silence of the hall. There were a few calls of 'traitor,' from the Slytherins, but that just made his grin bigger. He glanced over to the snake's end of the hall and caught the eye of Lucius Malfoy. The Slytherin prefect shook his head at him and averted his gaze. He was no longer welcome there then. Shrugging off the rejection, Sirius found a seat near the middle of the table and waited for James.

The sorting continued, and he was thoroughly bored. And hungry. It was taking forever. Name after name, child after child, was called and sorted. It all blurred together. Then he heard a name that made him sit up and pay attention.

'Lupin, Remus.'

Sirius craned his neck to see the stage and waited impatiently for someone to step forward. For the longest moment, no one moved, and Sirius' heart sank. He wasn't here; he hadn't come. His heart sank even further when a boy finally did move. He walked up to the Sorting Hat in his far too long robes, tripping on the way, and sat down. Well shit, Sirius thought, if this isn't the most stupendous fuck up of my life.

Remus had been terrified when Hagrid said he could ride with him. The man was humongous, and Remus had to curl himself into a ball to make sure he didn't touch him. He had made a very uncomfortable journey across the lake, catching the eye of the horrid boy who had been rude to him before. They still had an empty seat in their boat. They hadn't been waiting for anyone. It had been a lie. They just didn't want to ride with him, and he couldn't blame them.

He was relieved to reach the other side and escape the cramped confines of the boat. The relief was short-lived though. When he saw the size of the waiting room, he groaned. Why was everything so small? It was a castle for goodness' sake. Shouldn't everything be big? He crammed himself into one of the back corners out of the way and hoped no one would come too close.

Thankfully, they weren't there for long and were soon led through to the Great Hall for the sorting. Remus was glad to see the size of the hall but eyed the tables nervously. The bench seating would make things difficult. He would need to sit at the end so he could quickly slide off if someone sat too close, he decided.

The rude boy from the boat was sorted into Gryffindor, and Remus hoped he would be placed somewhere else. Anywhere else. Unfortunately, he had already deduced Gryffindor to be his probable destination. He was smart enough for Ravenclaw, but it would be dangerous to be surrounded by people with too much intelligence. Slytherin was out since he was a half-blood and a dark creature to boot. Hufflepuff was unlikely because, again, dark creature and that all left Gryffindor. Although he didn't really consider himself to be brave or reckless either. Maybe the hat would just send him home.

The professor continued calling out names, and the closer she got to the Ls, the more nervous Remus became. Would the hat know he was a werewolf? Maybe it would refuse to sort him. Horrific visions flew through his mind. The hat screaming out, 'werewolf,' repeatedly while Remus was chased from the hall by students shooting spells at him. Remus sitting for minutes on end, surrounded by whispering students as the hat stubbornly refused to speak his house until Dumbledore came and led him away. Oh, Merlin, this was a mistake. He should never have come.

'Lupin, Remus,' McGonagall called, tearing him from his anxious thoughts.

Remus didn't move at first; he was frozen with fear. He took several deep and calming breaths before taking a step towards this fate. Once he had taken the first step, the second was easier, and he approached the stool and took his seat. He placed the hat on his head and waited.

'Well, well, well, what do we have here?'

The hat spoke in his head, making Remus jump. He hadn't expected it to talk to him.

'A young werewolf, coming to school to learn magic. This is new.'

Don't tell, please don't tell, Remus thought frantically, tears burning his eyes.

'Don't worry, little cub, I couldn't even if I wanted to. And I don't. You're a brave little cub, aren't you? I can see that, the way you walked to your first transformation, and your efforts not to scream. If I had eyes, it would be enough to make me cry. I have no problem sorting you. You're a GRYFFINDOR!'

The hat shouted the last word, and Remus pulled it off; he tried to wipe his eyes discreetly, but he was sure everyone saw. He put the hat down on the stool and hurried to the Gryffindor table, hating the sensation of everyone staring at him. The rude boy from earlier seemed to be beckoning him. Sirius Black he was called, Remus ignored him. There was no way he could sit in the middle of the bench even if he did want to sit with him, which he didn't. Remus took a seat right at the end as he had planned and turned his attention to the stage.

A few more students were sorted into Gryffindor, including Black's friends, James Potter and Peter Pettigrew, before it was over. Dumbledore stood and welcomed them to the school before announcing the feast. At his words, the tables filled with overflowing dishes and Remus' belly growled at the sight. He had never seen so much food in his life.

Remus eyed the food as he waited for the flurry of reaching hands to die down. What he really wanted was the roast beef he could see further down the table, but there was no way to get to it without risking contact with other students. So he settled for the mushroom and rice dish nearest him, wrinkling his nose at the taste. He hated mushrooms.

Dessert was a vast improvement. He was able to snag a piece of chocolate cake, and he ate it slowly, savouring every bite of its heavenly flavour. When everyone had finished eating, the prefects of each house led the first years to their common rooms. Gryffindor's was located on the seventh floor behind a portrait of an overweight lady in a pink dress. They were led inside, Remus waiting until last, and given a lecture about curfews and other rules and pointed towards their dormitories. Remus watched Black and Potter racing each other up the stairs, Pettigrew trailing behind, and decided to wait a while before going up himself, finding a quiet corner to curl up in.

When his eyes began to droop, he decided it was time to find out where he would be sleeping and headed for the stairs. He soon found the door with his name on it and groaned when he saw he would be sharing it with Black, Potter and Pettigrew. He was disappointed, but not surprised. It was typical of his luck.

He took a deep breath and gripped the door handle. He turned it and pushed. As the door swung open, he heard the unmistakable voice of Black proclaim, 'Ugh, this is a nightmare!' and his face warmed. The boy could only be referring to having to share a room with him. He decided the best course of action would be to keep his head down and stay out of the way. He didn't want any trouble.

Over dinner, Sirius had told James the story of how he met Remus. James was a pureblood and well aware of the Black family's reputation, so he had no trouble believing the tale regarding how vile his mother was. What he struggled to believe was Remus' part in the story.

'That sickly looking kid? He kicked your mum and shouted at her?' he had asked, looking at Sirius as if he'd said dragons were no more dangerous than a fluffy kitten.

'Well, he didn't look sick back then,' he'd replied.

Now they were in their new dorm room, which they would share along with Peter the excited puppy and Remus, who probably now hated him.

'I've screwed everything up, James. What am I going to do? He hates me now!' Sirius said, pacing the room like a caged hippogriff.

'You'll just have to show him you're not really a cold, upper-class dickhead,' James said with a shrug. Which was extremely unhelpful in Sirius' opinion. 'Unless you are a cold, upper-class dickhead, of course. Are you a cold, upper-class dickhead, Sirius?'

He looked up at Sirius from where he sat, cross-legged on his bed, with an expression of genuine curiosity on his face.

'No more than you, you wanker,' Sirius said before flopping dramatically onto his own bed. 'Ugh, this is a nightmare!'

At that very moment, the door opened, and the object of his distress tripped into the room. Remus' face was flushed crimson, and his gaze darted around frantically until he spotted his trunk at the end of one of the beds. He stumbled over to it, rooted through the contents and pulled out a wad of blue material before climbing onto the bed and drawing the surrounding curtains without saying a word to any of them.

Sirius glanced at James and flung his hands in the air in the universal sign language of, 'What the fuck do I do?' James just shrugged and started getting ready for bed. Sirius scowled at him and stared at the closed curtains for a minute, trying to decide whether to try talking to Remus now or wait until morning. Deciding to wait, he changed into his pyjamas and climbed into bed.