Platform Nine and Three-Quarters
September 1974
JAMES
London was still basking in warm August sunlight. King’s Cross Station was buzzing, people coming back from their last weeks of holidays, leaving for the weekend, or simply travelling from one place to another. In the bustle of the station, no one noticed small groups of kids - some with parents - disappearing between platforms nine and ten.
A tall boy straightened his glasses on his nose, then ran a hand through his hair in an attempt to get it at least somewhat under control. His pace quickened a bit as he walked towards the barrier, but he didn’t even blink when the brick wall swallowed him.
There was a short moment of darkness, almost like going through a veil, followed by bright light and the hustle, much like the regular King’s Cross operation. On this side of the barrier, however, was only one train, with the name Hogwarts Express written in bright red letters on it.
James ran a hand through his hair again. By this point, it was an instinct. He turned around, searching for any of his friends. It didn’t take him long to catch Peter’s straw blonde hair - his mother was hugging him, giving him some last advice. Peter looked a bit uncomfortable, but hugged her back.
James looked to the ground. His parents wanted to come with him, of course, but they had been both called to work at the very last moment. He didn’t get to leave the house without proper hugs, wishes, and warnings from both of them, though. His eyes glanced over the platform, looking for any signs of the other two Marauders.
He thought he saw Regulus on the other side of the barrier, but that didn’t mean Sirius was anywhere near. Finally, James decided it would be best if he just headed to their usual carriage and waited for them there.
When he opened the door, Sirius was already there. He was sitting by the window, feet propped up on the opposite seat.
“Hiya,” James smiled. Sirius’ eyes lit up, though there was a shade of weariness that didn’t quite go away. James put his trunk and broom away and sat down just as the door opened again. “Moony!” they both exclaimed as Remus’ head popped in, followed by a tall and lanky frame. They’d all grown over the summer - James was taller than his mom by now - but Remus seemed to only have stretched. Sirius was taller now, too, just a few inches shorter than James and Remus. But his face had changed, the features of the Black family only more undeniable. His cheekbones seemed almost as sharp as his jaw.
“How was the summer?” Remus asked, pushing Sirius’s legs aside and taking the second window seat.
“Alright,” James smiled. “Sirius and Pete stayed over for a couple weeks. We’d been playing quidditch a lot, y’know.”
Sirius rolled his eyes. “Oh, yes we did - all night and day, just catching, beating, flying.” He tried to sound annoyed with James, but it was clear he’d enjoyed it just as much. “And- I mean, my family’s not even that interested in finding new ways to punish me anymore. They’d been having meetings all summer long. Mostly at our house. Not that I was invited, obviously, but Reg was sometimes. Dunno what it was about, though.” Sirius shrugged as if he really didn’t have a clue. “What about you? Thought you’d come to Potters’ as well, at least for a couple days.”
Remus smiled apologetically. “Yeah, my folks didn’t let me. Said it’s getting too dangerous out there. Whatever that means. But summer was alright,” he nodded. James wanted to argue that their house was good enough to keep Remus and his secret safe. He opened his mouth, but at that very moment the door slid open again. Peter hadn’t changed much over the summer. His nose was red with fading sunburn and so were his cheeks. “Hey there,” he waved and sat down, shoving his trunk under the seat.
The ride passed by pretty quickly this time. Marlene and Lily popped by their compartment, Marlene giggling as if there was something more to it than just saying hi to the boys. James didn’t give it much thought. But then, he wasn’t exactly the master of thinking whenever Evans was around. She hadn’t changed into her robes yet, and James thought she looked like a queen in her polka dot dress, her hair down with loose small braids in it.
“Really, James?” Sirius slapped him on the shoulder and James was brought back down to earth. “She doesn’t like you any more than she did last year.”
James pouted like a little boy. “Not true. She’ll come around eventually. Just needs time. Patience, Black.” He raised a meaningful eyebrow.
*****
James found sorting only got longer and more boring the older you were. They watched the terrified first-years slowly divide between the four tables. Lily, Mary, and Marlene didn’t seem to care about it at all, heads put together in a quiet but intense conversation. They only looked up once their plates started to fill with food.
“I’ve missed this!” Remus said, trying to fit a bit of everything on his plate.
“Slow down, Moony, the food’s not going anywhere,” Sirius rolled his eyes and smirked. “Did they not feed you in summer?”
Remus snorted. “Nah. The moon’s in a week, you know how that is.” Sirius backed off quickly and just nodded. They never spoke about the… full moon situation much, and Remus wanted it to stay that way. He looked tired, James thought.
When the last pieces of food vanished from their plates, Dumbledore clinked his glass. It was an odd, sharp note that made everyone in the Great Hall raise their heads. Dumbledore cleared his throat.
“I am very happy to welcome you back here at Hogwarts. And welcome also you, who are here for the first time,” he smiled at the first years’ slightly scared faces. “As we begin this school year, I would like to remind you of the ground rules.” This time, the smile was directed at the Marauders. They all shuffled a bit in their chairs, except for Sirius, who grinned at Dumbledore, who responded with a look that Sirius would later insist was a wink (and James would forever deny). “Firstly, the Forbidden Forest. You are not to enter it under any condition. The same thing goes for the dungeons, which you will only enter if in detention.” He gave the Marauders another look. “Violation of any of these rules will bring the wrath of Mr. Filch on you, which I believe is something none of us want.” Dumbledore smiled at the students. He paused for a moment and took a breath. “I also wanted to remind you, that even in the light of the current events” - a look to the Slytherin table - “this school is a place for building friendships and educating yourselves. Any conflict between houses will therefore not be tolerated, and if you find yourselves witnesses to any sort of contention, you are to let your prefects know immediately.”
James looked over to the Slytherin table. Sure enough, Snape was staring right back at him, his face a mix of hatred and challenge.
“Bloody bastard,” Sirius whispered. He was looking in the same direction, his expression very much matching Snape’s. James felt the same. He remembered earlier, when he saw Lily hugging Snape on the train, and his brow creased. He leaned in to whisper something to Sirius, but before they had a chance to say more, Dumbledore smiled again.
“But I hope I didn’t worry you much with this speech. Enough talking from me now. Go enjoy your night, and remember, your lessons are starting on Monday, so use your time wisely.”
There was a lukewarm round of clapping, before everyone got up from their places and the Great Hall dissolved into chattering groups of students. The prefects were running around, trying to gather all the first years. Soon enough, everyone had settled in their dorms again. Sirius pinned up the posters James promised to take care of for the summer. Remus set out his books on his nightstand - more Muggle books this year, since Lily wanted to swap some with him. James got out his broom, Peter folded his clothes neatly into the closet. When the lights out came, they were all in their beds, calm, for once content, and ready for another year of mischief.