![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
butterflyslinkyTITLE: A Cat Called Spunky
FANDOM: Harry Potter
CHARACTERS: Sirius Black, Remus Lupin, James Potter, Peter Pettigrew, Andromeda Black, Hagrid, random OCs and parental units.
RATING: PG-13
WARNINGS:
SUMMARY: The boys meet for the first time.
AUTHOR COMMENTARY: This chapter was written shortly after the first, before the sixth book came out. As such, it is in absolutely no way cannon, put Andromeda in the wrong House, and introduced the stupidest OC I ever created. Luckily, I grew a brain, so let me give the history of Rosie Campbell. She was conceived with the original story as Lily's BFF and Remus's eventual girlfriend, who was of course destined to die horribly in the first war. And for a while, that was the plan. Then I realized that that plan was dumb and we didn't need another tragic woman, so she was quickly shuffled into the background to make snarky comments and flesh out Lily's entourage.
Also of note in this chapter is the idea that Peter Pettigrew was involved in musical theater. My sister and I came up with this little character quirk because we had a lot of musical jokes to make that wouldn't sound right coming from any of the others, and because we desperately wanted to give Wormtail more character than "he worshiped James and Sirius and then turned evil." This really doesn't make any sense, but I chose to keep it anyway, and if the story continues, it will remain a feature.
James woke up on September first to the extremely high-pitched ringing of his alarm clock at 6:00 A.M., much earlier than he was used to. He rolled over and whacked the damn thing several times before remembering that it was the day he was going to Hogwarts. He was so happy; he stumbled downstairs in his boxers. Yes, James Potter wore boxers.
His mother, Anna, didn’t look up from the frying pan where fresh ground sausages and fresh organic eggs sizzled or from the griddle where several buttermilk pancakes were cooking.
Anna Potter was a kind woman. She had grown up on a small farm before going to Hogwarts and was very domestic. James knew she had been rather pretty when she was young. She was still pretty now, but going gray. She said that between James, running a household, and time itself, any woman would lose her beauty. James didn’t deny it. His usual schedule often involved driving her up the wall on a good day, and through the roof on a bad one.
She always rose early, cleaned the house and cooked breakfast before her husband, Robert, even realized it was morning. She could tell a person’s whole life from their face, and she never forgot anything. She knew what habits everyone had, and James was no exception.
“Go get dressed,” she chided. “And make sure you have all your stuff packed.”
“It’s been packed since last night,” James whined. It had taken him two weeks, but it was packed.
James staggered back up to his room and put on jeans, a white t-shirt that had “The Beatles” written on it, and a leather jacket. Even if he looked like a Muggle and his hair wasn’t combed, not that it would comb, he looked pretty slick.
He went back downstairs and began to eat his breakfast.
Peter woke up after being hit on the head with a pillow. He groaned and rolled over.
“Get up!” a shrill, annoying voice shrieked in his ear. Polly, his sister, jumped up and started pulling the blankets off him.
“Goway,” Peter mumbled.
“You need to go to school!” Polly shrieked happily.
“FINE!” he yelled, shoving her off him. She laughed and ran out of the room.
Peter rolled over and looked at his clock. 8:30, he thought. She could’ve done worse.
He got up and got dressed, humming “Consider Yourself” to himself. He’d been in the community theater’s production of Oliver! that summer. In fact, he’d played Oliver.
He went downstairs to get breakfast.
His mother, Anita, had already gotten out the bread and milk. Peter threw some bread in the toaster and got out the lemon curd. His was a simple life that was reflected in the simple breakfast the family ate every morning. Always toast and milk or cheap cereal, porridge on a good day. The most elaborate breakfast item Anita had ever put on the table was real butter instead of the usual margarine. Peter found he liked margarine better.
Anita had never found time for a formal family breakfast. She was kind hearted and loving enough, but she didn’t like to cook or clean or do much besides raising her children to be decent people. And they did all right. Peter wasn’t stupid, but he wasn’t very talented. The only things he was good at were acting and singing. Polly made up for her brother brain-wise, but couldn’t sing a note. All in all, it evened out, and Peter and Polly got on fairly well most of the time. Whenever they fought, though, Peter was sure Polly always won.
Polly bounced downstairs just as Peter was finishing his fourth piece of toast. She grabbed the bread and put it in the toaster, looking extremely cheerful.
Anita looked rather teary-eyed at the thought of her little boy growing up and going off to Hogwarts. Peter found this highly embarrassing.
“Cheer up, Mum, I’ll write,” he reassured her crossly.
She nodded, but still looked a little sad.
Sirius woke early without being yelled at for the first time in his life. For once, he was happy to be up. For once, he didn’t care what the old bat did to him, knowing she’d have to heal it pretty quick to avoid broadcasting the abusive habits of the Black household to the rest of the wizarding world.
Sirius unconsciously touched the spot on his head from where it had struck the corner of the coffee table, knowing how lucky he was to be alive. He’d barely managed to stop the bleeding in time, and knew he was unlikely to be that lucky twice.
He didn’t bother to go downstairs for breakfast. He wouldn’t get enough food that way as his mother made it a regular habit of starving him when she felt like it, and she’d felt like it all week. Instead, he pulled out his secret stash of chocolate he’d manage to buy off one of the Muggles on his street. He was lucky he knew something of Muggle money.
After he’d eaten three or four chocolate bars and put the rest of it in his trunk, he dressed quickly in case his mother woke up and started firing orders at him like she always did.
Remus awoke to his usual gloomy surroundings, and he didn’t care. Soon, he’d be free of this dark house and lonely room. Soon, he’d go to school and maybe even have friends.
He thought of Sirius, the boy he’d met. He hoped he’d find him at Hogwarts and hoped that Mrs. Black wasn’t really as horrible as Sirius had said she was. He’d heard that the Blacks were rather dangerous people with great reverence for the Dark Arts, but Sirius hadn’t seemed dark or dangerous, just in need of a little kindness. But then…
Remus suddenly remembered a conversation he’d had with his mother once. He thought back…
Three years earlier…
Beatrice Ann McKenzie Lupin came home scowling. Eight-year-old Remus, struggling through one of his mother’s books on dark creatures, didn’t notice anything until she slammed her handbag down on the table.
She’d been at a Witches’ Convention for Unemployed Mothers. She’d only gone because she knew she had to do something before her husband drank and gambled them all into the streets.
“What’s wrong?” Remus asked.
“It’s that Walburga Black,” Beatrice answered. “She’s that crazy woman who thinks that just because she’s a Black that makes her some sort of goddess. I don’t even know why she was there, since she has more money than anyone could possibly use. She brought one of her horrible sons with her.”
“Only one?”
“Yes, the most unpleasant child I’ve ever encountered. She claims the other one’s ill.” Beatrice shook her head. “I wouldn’t be surprised if he was only faking it to get away from her.”
“Is she really that bad?” Remus asked.
“That bad and worse.” Beatrice looked her son straight in the eye. “I think the one who skipped the convention is about your age. She didn’t say his name, but I bet he’s as unpleasant as the rest of them. You’d better be careful. I went to school with that Walburga and had a miserable seven years. It was almost a relief to marry your father so soon afterward because I thought it meant that I’d never have to see her again.” She looked distant for a moment then pulled herself back to earth. “Remus,” she began. “You must understand this. Even if you think you’ve found a decent Black, beware. I can almost guarantee you that before your life ends, a Black who you thought was a friend will have betrayed you.”
“What if he doesn’t?” Remus inquired.
“That will be the night when a rat becomes a dead man and you almost kill six people.”
Remus decided to give Sirius the benefit of the doubt and trust him. After all, he had looked as downtrodden as Remus was. He didn’t find Sirius a kindred spirit, but he knew they shared a bond: the bond of being unloved and unwanted.
James thought there had to be a faster way to get to King’s Cross Station. He’d never done anything without magic, but the law dictated that wizards going to King’s Cross to board the Hogwarts Express must remain strictly anonymous, which meant no magic.
He didn’t have anything against Muggles, but he was used to magic. Right now he was sitting in a Muggle car, and a very slow one at that. Anna had rented it from a Muggle and couldn’t have gotten anything better if she tried, so they were stuck with it.
“Now, James,” Anna began. “You make sure to be good and study hard. I want you to write at least once a month to tell me how you’re getting along. Make sure I have no reason to be ashamed of you and if any of your teachers write to me about your behavior, the consequences will be very severe.”
“Yes, Mum,” James said in a very sincere voice. He knew she was only giving him these warnings because she was trying not to cry at the thought of her only son going off to school. He would write to her every week if it would keep her from worrying. He might get into a bit of trouble, but not enough to have her know about it because if she did get a letter, he would have to do more housework than ever.
They finally reached King’s Cross. “All right, James,” Anna said. “Come on.”
James put his luggage into a trolley and followed his mother to platforms nine and ten. “Now run at the wall,” she instructed. He looked at her. “No, I’m serious,” she said. “Go!”
James ran at the wall, expecting to crash into it. Instead, he went straight through it. A moment later, his mother joined him. “Now, was that so bad?” she asked sarcastically.
James shook his head and went to find a seat.
Peter reached the station in much the same fashion as James with the added disadvantage of having an annoying little sister in the same car with him.
“What do you think it will be like?” Polly asked.
“Peaceful for at least two years,” Peter mumbled. Anita frowned at him.
Polly giggled. “Do you think you’ll manage to get through your classes?”
“Polly!” Anita scolded.
“Sorry.”
Peter didn’t mind. He knew he’d have trouble with his lessons and was going to work hard to keep his grades up. He couldn’t fail. He didn’t want to disappoint his mother.
He was a little scared that he wouldn’t find friends at Hogwarts, but didn’t dwell on that. He knew that one of the girls who’d been in Oliver!, Ivy Amore, was going to Hogwarts, so he knew someone, even if Ivy was more concerned with being perfect than anything else. And that meant perfect. Perfect grades, perfect hair, perfect make-up, and she wanted to be perfect on the Quidditch field. Peter doubted that she’d ever really be perfect, but if she wanted hell by trying, that was fine by him.
“Sirius get down here!” Mrs. Black screamed up the stairs. “And bring your luggage!”
Sirius sighed and grabbed his trunk and dragged it downstairs. His mother was waiting for him.
She’d managed to borrow a car from the Ministry so they could travel comfortably.
“Now, since we have a moment, I’ll give you a list of people to avoid at Hogwarts.”
Sirius wanted to listen to this. They were probably all decent people.
“Weasley,” she spat. “Recognizable by red hair, freckly, second-hand possessions, and there are altogether too many of them.
“Potter. They all have black hair that won’t comb and swagger around with extremely cocky grins on their faces. They act as if they own everything, but are sympathetic to Mudbloods.
“Your cousin, Andromeda. You know her and what she is. The nerve of her to be in Gryffindor!
“Lupin.” Sirius’s stomach sank. “I don’t know the boy or how to recognize him, but his father’s a drunk, and that Beatrice was always a know-it-all! Served her right to marry that Alan!” She glared at Sirius. “Beatrice mentioned the boy was about your age, so if you encounter him, ignore him, or curse him, or else!”
She continued her list, but Sirius was no longer listening. He was pleased, but a little afraid that he person he’d found a friend in was the person that would probably annoy his mother most.
Remus went to King’s Cross alone on the Knight Bus. He knew how to get onto Platform Nine and Three Quarters, but Steve found it necessary to explain it to him anyways.
Remus ignored him and stared out he window. He wasn’t worried about lessons, or getting in trouble. He was worried that someone would find out what he was. If that happened… he wouldn’t think about that. No one would find out. Dumbledore had guaranteed it, and when Dumbledore guaranteed something, it was one hundred percent guaranteed.
Remus’s spirits were rather high as he went through the barrier to Platform Nine and Three Quarters. He boarded the train and began to search for and empty compartment, or Sirius, or both.
He found an empty compartment first. He heaved his trunk into the luggage rack, after pulling out a textbook to read in case he had to spend the journey alone.
He wasn’t that unlucky. After he’d read about ten pages, a boy about his age looked in. He had black hair that stuck out in every direction and hazel eyes with the same sort of laughter Remus had noticed in Sirius’s. This boy wore glasses and looked as if he’d been brought up with the greatest care.
“Do you mind if I sit here?” he asked.
Remus shook his head. He wasn’t about to refuse anyone who looked so nice.
“I’m James Potter,” the dark haired boy said.
“I’m Remus Lupin.”
James smiled and Remus knew his time at Hogwarts would be, if nothing else, interesting.
Sirius didn’t want to find the people his mother had approved. He wasn’t going to spend the next seven years with people he hated. So he avoided everyone that looked like someone his mother might like and looked for an empty compartment, or a friendly face, or both.
He found a friendly face first. “Sirius!” someone called. “Hey, Sirius!”
“Hello, Anny!” he answered. His cousin, Andromeda, was waving to him from a compartment full of friendly looking Gryffindors. He stopped to talk to them.
“I wondered when you’d show up!” she exclaimed. “I knew you were starting this year. What kept you?”
“My mother.”
Anny nodded sympathetically. “She still as horrible as ever?”
“Worse.”
“Well, we’re full here, but I’ll introduce you.” She turned to her companions. “Guys, this is my cousin, Sirius. Sirius, this is Fabion Prewett…” A seventh year boy nodded. “…Frank Longbottom…” A second year that looked a bit nervous, but nice enough, smiled. “…Alice Baily..” A girl with a round, friendly face waved. “…Billus Weasley…” Another seventh year with flaming red hair winked. “…And my boyfriend, Ted Tonks.” A rather happy looking fifth year nodded. He was sitting right next to Anny.
“Nice to meet you all,” Sirius said.
“You too, Sirius,” Ted answered. “You’d better find a compartment.”
“Thanks. See you later.”
Sirius moved on in much higher spirits than before.
Peter got on the train without incident. Finding a compartment was another matter. Most of them were full. Finally, at the back of the train, he found a compartment with only two boys in it. One, who was pale and sickly looking with light brown hair and gently brown eyes, was holding a book. The other, with dark hair and hazel eyes, was apparently in the middle of a rather lengthy monologue.
He broke off when Peter opened the door. “Excuse me, but everywhere else is full.”
“No problem,” the black haired boy said. Peter instantly caught the tone of a natural leader in this boy’s voice. The other boy smiled slightly and Peter was comforted, slightly.
“I’m James Potter,” the dark haired boy continued. “And this is Remus Lupin.” The other boy waved slightly.
“I’m Peter Pettigrew.”
“It’s nice to meet you, Peter,” Remus said kindly.
Peter was slightly more comforted. Remus looked very smart, but there was something in his eyes that told of a life full of difficulties that no one could ever overcome. No matter how kindly Remus spoke, Peter would never be comforted completely. Those eyes, so soft and gentle, held all the hardships and secrets any two eyes could hold.
James resumed his speech, which was about Quidditch. Peter hung onto him every word. Here was someone who could help him through his entire school career.
Remus seemed to be slipping in and out of attention. Peter got the distinct impression that Remus didn’t like Quidditch very much.
James was interrupted a second time just as he was going into a section on Chaser diversions. A tall boy with dark hair and gray eyes entered.
Remus, who had quit trying to listen to James’s lecture and had gone back to his book, looked up and an almost real smile came onto his face. “Hello, Sirius,” he said.
“Hey, Remus.” He sighed and flopped into an empty seat.
“This is James Potter and Peter Pettigrew.”
“Hi. I’m Sirius Black.”
“Gee,” James said. “Right now you look seriously blue.”
“Not as blue as I was ten minutes ago,” Sirius answered with a straight face.
Remus’s mouth was twitching as he struggled not to laugh.
Sirius knew that James was someone who was somehow just like him, but completely different. Right at that moment a fast friendship was formed between the four boys. From then on they were always the best of friends through all their years at Hogwarts. They were Marauders. To the end.
The train took them farther north by the minute. Around noon, a plump little witch pushing a trolley full of food knocked on the door.
James bought enough food for all four of them. Just before the door closed, a small black and white kitten slunk in. It had big green eyes and wore a black leather collar that looked like a watchband. There were no tags.
The kitten looked at them then jumped into Remus’s lap.
“Hello,” he said, scratching the kitten behind the ears. “Where’d you come from?”
The kitten purred. Remus picked her up. “I’m going to find out where this kitten belongs.”
“Have fun,” Sirius said.
Remus went out into the corridor and started asking people if they were missing a cat. Just as he’d gotten past the fifth compartment, he ran into someone who had just come from the compartment in front of him.
It was a girl about his age with curly reddish blond hair, big, blue eyes, and a nose that was slightly too big and covered in freckles. She looked rather surprised to have bumped into someone, but then looked into his face and began blushing.
“Oh…I’m sorry,” she said.
“Why? It was my fault.” Remus could feel himself going red. “Erm… is this your cat?”
“Oh…no, but she’s my friend’s. We’ve been looking all over for her.” She took the kitten. “Hello, Spunky. What’ve you been up to?” She smiled at Remus, revealing large teeth that made her look something like a vampire.
“Er…I’m Remus Lupin.”
“Rosie Campbell.” She shook his hand and smiled. “I’ll see you later, Remus. Thanks for bringing Spunky back.”
“You’re welcome…Rosie.”
She smiled again and walked away. Remus shook his head and went back to his compartment.
“So?” Sirius asked the moment Remus got through the door.
“Got it returned.” Remus sighed and collapsed. “Have you left me any food?”
“Yep.” Sirius threw a couple of chocolate frogs and a package of Bertie Bott’s Every Flavor Beans at him.
“Thanks.” Remus was so hungry he ate everything he was given without really noticing it. His mind was back in the corridor with Rosie Campbell and Spunky.
The other boys stared at him as he pulled a brown bean out of the package and popped it in his mouth.
“Um, Remus?” James began. “I don’t think you really wanted to eat that, mate.”
“Why not?” Remus asked, then realized why not as he spit it out into his hand.
“What was it?” Sirius asked innocently.
“Mud.” Remus shuddered as the other boys roared with laughter.
“So what’s got you so preoccupied that you don’t notice a mud flavored bean when you eat one?” James asked when the laughter had subsided.
Remus shrugged. He didn’t know why that girl affected him like this, and he didn’t want the others to know about it. Even if Rosie Campbell wasn’t completely perfect… No. She was perfect enough.
He shook his head. She was just a girl, and everyone knew girls were… well, girls. Still, she was making his head spin.
The others didn’t notice. James and Sirius were having a very serious discussion on Quidditch and Peter was still hanging onto their every word.
As the day grew darker, the four boys changed into their Hogwarts uniforms. A few minutes later, they heard a voice saying, “We will be reaching Hogwarts in five minutes time. Please leave you luggage on board. It will be taken up to the school separately.”
Sure enough, in five minutes the train stopped and everyone got off the train. No sooner had the four boys gotten off when they heard a rough voice calling, “Firs’ years…Firs’ year, over here.” The four boys went toward the source of the voice, which was a large, hairy man with beetle-black eyes that were very warm and friendly.
This man introduced himself as Hagrid and led the first years to a fleet of boats.
“No more’n four to a boat!” Hagrid called. James, Sirius, Remus, and Peter got into a boat. Hagrid got the boats moving forward. They all stared up at the huge Hogwarts castle in awe as they crossed the deep, black lake.
FANDOM: Harry Potter
CHARACTERS: Sirius Black, Remus Lupin, James Potter, Peter Pettigrew, Andromeda Black, Hagrid, random OCs and parental units.
RATING: PG-13
WARNINGS:
SUMMARY: The boys meet for the first time.
AUTHOR COMMENTARY: This chapter was written shortly after the first, before the sixth book came out. As such, it is in absolutely no way cannon, put Andromeda in the wrong House, and introduced the stupidest OC I ever created. Luckily, I grew a brain, so let me give the history of Rosie Campbell. She was conceived with the original story as Lily's BFF and Remus's eventual girlfriend, who was of course destined to die horribly in the first war. And for a while, that was the plan. Then I realized that that plan was dumb and we didn't need another tragic woman, so she was quickly shuffled into the background to make snarky comments and flesh out Lily's entourage.
Also of note in this chapter is the idea that Peter Pettigrew was involved in musical theater. My sister and I came up with this little character quirk because we had a lot of musical jokes to make that wouldn't sound right coming from any of the others, and because we desperately wanted to give Wormtail more character than "he worshiped James and Sirius and then turned evil." This really doesn't make any sense, but I chose to keep it anyway, and if the story continues, it will remain a feature.
James woke up on September first to the extremely high-pitched ringing of his alarm clock at 6:00 A.M., much earlier than he was used to. He rolled over and whacked the damn thing several times before remembering that it was the day he was going to Hogwarts. He was so happy; he stumbled downstairs in his boxers. Yes, James Potter wore boxers.
His mother, Anna, didn’t look up from the frying pan where fresh ground sausages and fresh organic eggs sizzled or from the griddle where several buttermilk pancakes were cooking.
Anna Potter was a kind woman. She had grown up on a small farm before going to Hogwarts and was very domestic. James knew she had been rather pretty when she was young. She was still pretty now, but going gray. She said that between James, running a household, and time itself, any woman would lose her beauty. James didn’t deny it. His usual schedule often involved driving her up the wall on a good day, and through the roof on a bad one.
She always rose early, cleaned the house and cooked breakfast before her husband, Robert, even realized it was morning. She could tell a person’s whole life from their face, and she never forgot anything. She knew what habits everyone had, and James was no exception.
“Go get dressed,” she chided. “And make sure you have all your stuff packed.”
“It’s been packed since last night,” James whined. It had taken him two weeks, but it was packed.
James staggered back up to his room and put on jeans, a white t-shirt that had “The Beatles” written on it, and a leather jacket. Even if he looked like a Muggle and his hair wasn’t combed, not that it would comb, he looked pretty slick.
He went back downstairs and began to eat his breakfast.
Peter woke up after being hit on the head with a pillow. He groaned and rolled over.
“Get up!” a shrill, annoying voice shrieked in his ear. Polly, his sister, jumped up and started pulling the blankets off him.
“Goway,” Peter mumbled.
“You need to go to school!” Polly shrieked happily.
“FINE!” he yelled, shoving her off him. She laughed and ran out of the room.
Peter rolled over and looked at his clock. 8:30, he thought. She could’ve done worse.
He got up and got dressed, humming “Consider Yourself” to himself. He’d been in the community theater’s production of Oliver! that summer. In fact, he’d played Oliver.
He went downstairs to get breakfast.
His mother, Anita, had already gotten out the bread and milk. Peter threw some bread in the toaster and got out the lemon curd. His was a simple life that was reflected in the simple breakfast the family ate every morning. Always toast and milk or cheap cereal, porridge on a good day. The most elaborate breakfast item Anita had ever put on the table was real butter instead of the usual margarine. Peter found he liked margarine better.
Anita had never found time for a formal family breakfast. She was kind hearted and loving enough, but she didn’t like to cook or clean or do much besides raising her children to be decent people. And they did all right. Peter wasn’t stupid, but he wasn’t very talented. The only things he was good at were acting and singing. Polly made up for her brother brain-wise, but couldn’t sing a note. All in all, it evened out, and Peter and Polly got on fairly well most of the time. Whenever they fought, though, Peter was sure Polly always won.
Polly bounced downstairs just as Peter was finishing his fourth piece of toast. She grabbed the bread and put it in the toaster, looking extremely cheerful.
Anita looked rather teary-eyed at the thought of her little boy growing up and going off to Hogwarts. Peter found this highly embarrassing.
“Cheer up, Mum, I’ll write,” he reassured her crossly.
She nodded, but still looked a little sad.
Sirius woke early without being yelled at for the first time in his life. For once, he was happy to be up. For once, he didn’t care what the old bat did to him, knowing she’d have to heal it pretty quick to avoid broadcasting the abusive habits of the Black household to the rest of the wizarding world.
Sirius unconsciously touched the spot on his head from where it had struck the corner of the coffee table, knowing how lucky he was to be alive. He’d barely managed to stop the bleeding in time, and knew he was unlikely to be that lucky twice.
He didn’t bother to go downstairs for breakfast. He wouldn’t get enough food that way as his mother made it a regular habit of starving him when she felt like it, and she’d felt like it all week. Instead, he pulled out his secret stash of chocolate he’d manage to buy off one of the Muggles on his street. He was lucky he knew something of Muggle money.
After he’d eaten three or four chocolate bars and put the rest of it in his trunk, he dressed quickly in case his mother woke up and started firing orders at him like she always did.
Remus awoke to his usual gloomy surroundings, and he didn’t care. Soon, he’d be free of this dark house and lonely room. Soon, he’d go to school and maybe even have friends.
He thought of Sirius, the boy he’d met. He hoped he’d find him at Hogwarts and hoped that Mrs. Black wasn’t really as horrible as Sirius had said she was. He’d heard that the Blacks were rather dangerous people with great reverence for the Dark Arts, but Sirius hadn’t seemed dark or dangerous, just in need of a little kindness. But then…
Remus suddenly remembered a conversation he’d had with his mother once. He thought back…
Three years earlier…
Beatrice Ann McKenzie Lupin came home scowling. Eight-year-old Remus, struggling through one of his mother’s books on dark creatures, didn’t notice anything until she slammed her handbag down on the table.
She’d been at a Witches’ Convention for Unemployed Mothers. She’d only gone because she knew she had to do something before her husband drank and gambled them all into the streets.
“What’s wrong?” Remus asked.
“It’s that Walburga Black,” Beatrice answered. “She’s that crazy woman who thinks that just because she’s a Black that makes her some sort of goddess. I don’t even know why she was there, since she has more money than anyone could possibly use. She brought one of her horrible sons with her.”
“Only one?”
“Yes, the most unpleasant child I’ve ever encountered. She claims the other one’s ill.” Beatrice shook her head. “I wouldn’t be surprised if he was only faking it to get away from her.”
“Is she really that bad?” Remus asked.
“That bad and worse.” Beatrice looked her son straight in the eye. “I think the one who skipped the convention is about your age. She didn’t say his name, but I bet he’s as unpleasant as the rest of them. You’d better be careful. I went to school with that Walburga and had a miserable seven years. It was almost a relief to marry your father so soon afterward because I thought it meant that I’d never have to see her again.” She looked distant for a moment then pulled herself back to earth. “Remus,” she began. “You must understand this. Even if you think you’ve found a decent Black, beware. I can almost guarantee you that before your life ends, a Black who you thought was a friend will have betrayed you.”
“What if he doesn’t?” Remus inquired.
“That will be the night when a rat becomes a dead man and you almost kill six people.”
Remus decided to give Sirius the benefit of the doubt and trust him. After all, he had looked as downtrodden as Remus was. He didn’t find Sirius a kindred spirit, but he knew they shared a bond: the bond of being unloved and unwanted.
James thought there had to be a faster way to get to King’s Cross Station. He’d never done anything without magic, but the law dictated that wizards going to King’s Cross to board the Hogwarts Express must remain strictly anonymous, which meant no magic.
He didn’t have anything against Muggles, but he was used to magic. Right now he was sitting in a Muggle car, and a very slow one at that. Anna had rented it from a Muggle and couldn’t have gotten anything better if she tried, so they were stuck with it.
“Now, James,” Anna began. “You make sure to be good and study hard. I want you to write at least once a month to tell me how you’re getting along. Make sure I have no reason to be ashamed of you and if any of your teachers write to me about your behavior, the consequences will be very severe.”
“Yes, Mum,” James said in a very sincere voice. He knew she was only giving him these warnings because she was trying not to cry at the thought of her only son going off to school. He would write to her every week if it would keep her from worrying. He might get into a bit of trouble, but not enough to have her know about it because if she did get a letter, he would have to do more housework than ever.
They finally reached King’s Cross. “All right, James,” Anna said. “Come on.”
James put his luggage into a trolley and followed his mother to platforms nine and ten. “Now run at the wall,” she instructed. He looked at her. “No, I’m serious,” she said. “Go!”
James ran at the wall, expecting to crash into it. Instead, he went straight through it. A moment later, his mother joined him. “Now, was that so bad?” she asked sarcastically.
James shook his head and went to find a seat.
Peter reached the station in much the same fashion as James with the added disadvantage of having an annoying little sister in the same car with him.
“What do you think it will be like?” Polly asked.
“Peaceful for at least two years,” Peter mumbled. Anita frowned at him.
Polly giggled. “Do you think you’ll manage to get through your classes?”
“Polly!” Anita scolded.
“Sorry.”
Peter didn’t mind. He knew he’d have trouble with his lessons and was going to work hard to keep his grades up. He couldn’t fail. He didn’t want to disappoint his mother.
He was a little scared that he wouldn’t find friends at Hogwarts, but didn’t dwell on that. He knew that one of the girls who’d been in Oliver!, Ivy Amore, was going to Hogwarts, so he knew someone, even if Ivy was more concerned with being perfect than anything else. And that meant perfect. Perfect grades, perfect hair, perfect make-up, and she wanted to be perfect on the Quidditch field. Peter doubted that she’d ever really be perfect, but if she wanted hell by trying, that was fine by him.
“Sirius get down here!” Mrs. Black screamed up the stairs. “And bring your luggage!”
Sirius sighed and grabbed his trunk and dragged it downstairs. His mother was waiting for him.
She’d managed to borrow a car from the Ministry so they could travel comfortably.
“Now, since we have a moment, I’ll give you a list of people to avoid at Hogwarts.”
Sirius wanted to listen to this. They were probably all decent people.
“Weasley,” she spat. “Recognizable by red hair, freckly, second-hand possessions, and there are altogether too many of them.
“Potter. They all have black hair that won’t comb and swagger around with extremely cocky grins on their faces. They act as if they own everything, but are sympathetic to Mudbloods.
“Your cousin, Andromeda. You know her and what she is. The nerve of her to be in Gryffindor!
“Lupin.” Sirius’s stomach sank. “I don’t know the boy or how to recognize him, but his father’s a drunk, and that Beatrice was always a know-it-all! Served her right to marry that Alan!” She glared at Sirius. “Beatrice mentioned the boy was about your age, so if you encounter him, ignore him, or curse him, or else!”
She continued her list, but Sirius was no longer listening. He was pleased, but a little afraid that he person he’d found a friend in was the person that would probably annoy his mother most.
Remus went to King’s Cross alone on the Knight Bus. He knew how to get onto Platform Nine and Three Quarters, but Steve found it necessary to explain it to him anyways.
Remus ignored him and stared out he window. He wasn’t worried about lessons, or getting in trouble. He was worried that someone would find out what he was. If that happened… he wouldn’t think about that. No one would find out. Dumbledore had guaranteed it, and when Dumbledore guaranteed something, it was one hundred percent guaranteed.
Remus’s spirits were rather high as he went through the barrier to Platform Nine and Three Quarters. He boarded the train and began to search for and empty compartment, or Sirius, or both.
He found an empty compartment first. He heaved his trunk into the luggage rack, after pulling out a textbook to read in case he had to spend the journey alone.
He wasn’t that unlucky. After he’d read about ten pages, a boy about his age looked in. He had black hair that stuck out in every direction and hazel eyes with the same sort of laughter Remus had noticed in Sirius’s. This boy wore glasses and looked as if he’d been brought up with the greatest care.
“Do you mind if I sit here?” he asked.
Remus shook his head. He wasn’t about to refuse anyone who looked so nice.
“I’m James Potter,” the dark haired boy said.
“I’m Remus Lupin.”
James smiled and Remus knew his time at Hogwarts would be, if nothing else, interesting.
Sirius didn’t want to find the people his mother had approved. He wasn’t going to spend the next seven years with people he hated. So he avoided everyone that looked like someone his mother might like and looked for an empty compartment, or a friendly face, or both.
He found a friendly face first. “Sirius!” someone called. “Hey, Sirius!”
“Hello, Anny!” he answered. His cousin, Andromeda, was waving to him from a compartment full of friendly looking Gryffindors. He stopped to talk to them.
“I wondered when you’d show up!” she exclaimed. “I knew you were starting this year. What kept you?”
“My mother.”
Anny nodded sympathetically. “She still as horrible as ever?”
“Worse.”
“Well, we’re full here, but I’ll introduce you.” She turned to her companions. “Guys, this is my cousin, Sirius. Sirius, this is Fabion Prewett…” A seventh year boy nodded. “…Frank Longbottom…” A second year that looked a bit nervous, but nice enough, smiled. “…Alice Baily..” A girl with a round, friendly face waved. “…Billus Weasley…” Another seventh year with flaming red hair winked. “…And my boyfriend, Ted Tonks.” A rather happy looking fifth year nodded. He was sitting right next to Anny.
“Nice to meet you all,” Sirius said.
“You too, Sirius,” Ted answered. “You’d better find a compartment.”
“Thanks. See you later.”
Sirius moved on in much higher spirits than before.
Peter got on the train without incident. Finding a compartment was another matter. Most of them were full. Finally, at the back of the train, he found a compartment with only two boys in it. One, who was pale and sickly looking with light brown hair and gently brown eyes, was holding a book. The other, with dark hair and hazel eyes, was apparently in the middle of a rather lengthy monologue.
He broke off when Peter opened the door. “Excuse me, but everywhere else is full.”
“No problem,” the black haired boy said. Peter instantly caught the tone of a natural leader in this boy’s voice. The other boy smiled slightly and Peter was comforted, slightly.
“I’m James Potter,” the dark haired boy continued. “And this is Remus Lupin.” The other boy waved slightly.
“I’m Peter Pettigrew.”
“It’s nice to meet you, Peter,” Remus said kindly.
Peter was slightly more comforted. Remus looked very smart, but there was something in his eyes that told of a life full of difficulties that no one could ever overcome. No matter how kindly Remus spoke, Peter would never be comforted completely. Those eyes, so soft and gentle, held all the hardships and secrets any two eyes could hold.
James resumed his speech, which was about Quidditch. Peter hung onto him every word. Here was someone who could help him through his entire school career.
Remus seemed to be slipping in and out of attention. Peter got the distinct impression that Remus didn’t like Quidditch very much.
James was interrupted a second time just as he was going into a section on Chaser diversions. A tall boy with dark hair and gray eyes entered.
Remus, who had quit trying to listen to James’s lecture and had gone back to his book, looked up and an almost real smile came onto his face. “Hello, Sirius,” he said.
“Hey, Remus.” He sighed and flopped into an empty seat.
“This is James Potter and Peter Pettigrew.”
“Hi. I’m Sirius Black.”
“Gee,” James said. “Right now you look seriously blue.”
“Not as blue as I was ten minutes ago,” Sirius answered with a straight face.
Remus’s mouth was twitching as he struggled not to laugh.
Sirius knew that James was someone who was somehow just like him, but completely different. Right at that moment a fast friendship was formed between the four boys. From then on they were always the best of friends through all their years at Hogwarts. They were Marauders. To the end.
The train took them farther north by the minute. Around noon, a plump little witch pushing a trolley full of food knocked on the door.
James bought enough food for all four of them. Just before the door closed, a small black and white kitten slunk in. It had big green eyes and wore a black leather collar that looked like a watchband. There were no tags.
The kitten looked at them then jumped into Remus’s lap.
“Hello,” he said, scratching the kitten behind the ears. “Where’d you come from?”
The kitten purred. Remus picked her up. “I’m going to find out where this kitten belongs.”
“Have fun,” Sirius said.
Remus went out into the corridor and started asking people if they were missing a cat. Just as he’d gotten past the fifth compartment, he ran into someone who had just come from the compartment in front of him.
It was a girl about his age with curly reddish blond hair, big, blue eyes, and a nose that was slightly too big and covered in freckles. She looked rather surprised to have bumped into someone, but then looked into his face and began blushing.
“Oh…I’m sorry,” she said.
“Why? It was my fault.” Remus could feel himself going red. “Erm… is this your cat?”
“Oh…no, but she’s my friend’s. We’ve been looking all over for her.” She took the kitten. “Hello, Spunky. What’ve you been up to?” She smiled at Remus, revealing large teeth that made her look something like a vampire.
“Er…I’m Remus Lupin.”
“Rosie Campbell.” She shook his hand and smiled. “I’ll see you later, Remus. Thanks for bringing Spunky back.”
“You’re welcome…Rosie.”
She smiled again and walked away. Remus shook his head and went back to his compartment.
“So?” Sirius asked the moment Remus got through the door.
“Got it returned.” Remus sighed and collapsed. “Have you left me any food?”
“Yep.” Sirius threw a couple of chocolate frogs and a package of Bertie Bott’s Every Flavor Beans at him.
“Thanks.” Remus was so hungry he ate everything he was given without really noticing it. His mind was back in the corridor with Rosie Campbell and Spunky.
The other boys stared at him as he pulled a brown bean out of the package and popped it in his mouth.
“Um, Remus?” James began. “I don’t think you really wanted to eat that, mate.”
“Why not?” Remus asked, then realized why not as he spit it out into his hand.
“What was it?” Sirius asked innocently.
“Mud.” Remus shuddered as the other boys roared with laughter.
“So what’s got you so preoccupied that you don’t notice a mud flavored bean when you eat one?” James asked when the laughter had subsided.
Remus shrugged. He didn’t know why that girl affected him like this, and he didn’t want the others to know about it. Even if Rosie Campbell wasn’t completely perfect… No. She was perfect enough.
He shook his head. She was just a girl, and everyone knew girls were… well, girls. Still, she was making his head spin.
The others didn’t notice. James and Sirius were having a very serious discussion on Quidditch and Peter was still hanging onto their every word.
As the day grew darker, the four boys changed into their Hogwarts uniforms. A few minutes later, they heard a voice saying, “We will be reaching Hogwarts in five minutes time. Please leave you luggage on board. It will be taken up to the school separately.”
Sure enough, in five minutes the train stopped and everyone got off the train. No sooner had the four boys gotten off when they heard a rough voice calling, “Firs’ years…Firs’ year, over here.” The four boys went toward the source of the voice, which was a large, hairy man with beetle-black eyes that were very warm and friendly.
This man introduced himself as Hagrid and led the first years to a fleet of boats.
“No more’n four to a boat!” Hagrid called. James, Sirius, Remus, and Peter got into a boat. Hagrid got the boats moving forward. They all stared up at the huge Hogwarts castle in awe as they crossed the deep, black lake.
