Cowboy Casanova

His mother slapped his hand away from his scalp causing his to scowl at her. They stood at the wall between platforms 9 and 10 at King’s Cross Station in London. His mother looked at the ticket in her hand once, looked up at the wall and back down to the ticket.

“Er mwyn Duw.” she muttered under her breath.

“We have to run towards the barrier,” he said exhausted, “that's what dad said.”

“Don’t be silly, I'm not doing that”

“I’ll go then. You go back home, it’s ages away anyway so you’d be better getting a head start.”
Remus had only half believed his father when he’d explained how to enter platform 9 ¾. But then packages had been appearing in his room for him, strange looking books, clothes and all sorts of oddments, such as inkwells and feather quills. His father had no doubt bout them for him, but he never handed them to him personally. However, now Remus was willing to believe almost anything that his father or Dumbledore had said.

Its not as if he hadn’t owned anything before, but never had they anything so much to do with magic. His mother had placed them all into a store cupboard under the stairs for ‘safe keeping’. But now it had all been placed into a large suitcase, that had to been sewed and had to be held a certain way so that it din’t fall apart an spill its contents.

“I’m not leaving you anywhere. Just wait here whilst i go and see if i can phone your father.” his mother stated before she placed a delicate kiss upon his forehead and turned, sauntering away, her hair swaying behind her like silk. Remus gave a quick glance around fervently before licking his lip. He thought that this might be his only chance.

He ran headlong into the barrier at such a speed that it would have caused a concussion if he hit the wall. He squeezed his eyes closed tight as the wall drew nearer. He didn't hit anything. There was a sudden shift in the atmosphere and he opened his eyes to find himself on a different platform entirely. He was surrounded by people. Not ordinary people though; wizards.

The train itself was massive, magnificent and old fashioned. ‘The Hogwarts Express’. He clutched his luggage with both hands, pulling on his lower lip with his right canine tooth. There were many other children, some his own age and others older, but they were all with their families, some crying and others giggling as they were hugged by their parents. Suddenly he felt a pang of guilt for leaving his mother back on the other side. Feeling very small and alone, he set of for the back of the train, thinking it best to get on the train and find a seat quickly.

Once inside, he tried to hoist up his suitcase on to the luggage racks above head, but couldn’t muster enough strength to do so. Accepting his defeat, he placed the battered suitcase onto the compartment bench opposite where he took his seat. He watched the people back on the platform observantly, pressing his head against the cold glass window. He was curious as if any of them had episodes like he does. None of them had scars like he did though, so he thought maybe not. Many of them were wearing normal clothes like he was, but some were dressed in long, billowing black robes. Most of them had either an owl, or cats with them. He was sure he had even glimpsed a girl with a lizard perched on her shoulder.

He was beginning to feel more nervous now, his stomach churned as he came to the realisation that, despite what had been said about being with his ‘own kind’, he would still be as much as an outcast here than at home.

He was pulled from this line of though, however, by a boy out on the platform staring back at him. He looked the same age as Remus did. He had a tall, slim build, but not so skinny like Remus was. His head was covered in dark hair, significantly longer than any of the other boys he’d seen, which curled gracefully down to his shoulders. His face was defined by high cheekbones, a full mouth and dazzling electric blue eyes. Catching Remus starting, the other boy raised one perfectly sculpted eyebrow in a bemused gesture that distinctly said; ‘and what are you staring at?’

Remus stuck his tongue out at him. The boy gave a slight smirk before throwing up two fingers causing Remus to laugh.

“Sirius, qu'est-ce que tu fais ?! Venez ici!” A rather strict looking woman with many of the same features as the boy came into view, wrenched her son away from the window so that he was no longer visible to Remus. He complied, rolling his eyes as he did so, heading further up the platform.

Remus sank back into the worn leather seat and gave a sigh. He hoped that the ride wouldn’t be too long as he was getting rather hungry. His mother had made him two chicken sandwiches, but having had them made the evening before they, they had gone rather dry.

After a few minutes of peaceful silence, the compartment door swung open. A girl no older than him came rushing over to the window, pressing herself against the glass waving frantically. She was small and pale, with bright red curls flowing down her back. Her face was blotchy from crying, but Remus could see that it was dusted with light brown freckles just like his own.

Even as the train began to move out of the platform, she kept waving and blowing kisses. Remus could see a girl back on the platform, looking sourly, her arms folded. Once the train had completely left the station, the girl sat opposite Remus. He gave a sigh that he hoped send the message that he didn’t want her to stay. This was not the case, however, and she just looked at him with the most gorgeous emerald green eyes that glistened with the remainder of her uncried tears.

“It’s so horrible saying goodbye, isn’t it?” she said in a distinct bourgeoisie accent.

“Uh, ie, I s’pose so.” he nodded, self-conscious of his own accent. He didn’t really like girls. His mother was the only girl he had been around. She looked at him curiously.

“Are you from a muggle family, too? My name is Lily.”

“Remus,” he replied, “my dad is a wizard, Mam’s a muggle. Tad’s never ‘round so i don’t really know much ‘bout magic.”

“I could not believe it when i got my letter in the mail.” She smiled excitedly, cheering up, “but I'm ever so excited to see what it is like, can you?”

Remus could not muster an answer for her: he didn’t have to. The compartment door slid open once more to reveal a boy the same age as them both. He had long black hair, kind of like the boy Remus had seen back on the platform, but it was poker straight. He also had a long hooked nose and a deep frown plastered across his mouth.

“Lily, there you are. I’ve been looking all up the train for you.” he said in the same distinct bourgeoisie accent as Lily, while shooting Remus a dirty look.

“Sev!” Lily practically jumped out of her seat and threw her arms around the other boys neck. “I’m so happy to see you!”

He gave her shoulder a gentle pat as his cheeks turned a slight shade of pink.

“Come and join me in my carriage, there is plenty of room.”

“Oh...Okay. Can Remus join us too? He's all alone.”

“I’m not so sure there is that much room.” he said, eyeing Remus suspiciously.

Remus sank further into the leather bound seat, propping his feet on to the now vacant seat opposite.

“Go on then, piss off. I don’t wan’ to go to your stupid carriage.” he looked out the window purposefully. His strong welsh accent provided much more passion that he wanted, but he didn’t care.

Lily and the other boy left and he let his feet drop back to the floor. He sighed again. Outside his compartment, the train was full of life. He could hear the shrieks of laughter, owls hooting and a few of the younger students still sniffling and crying. Yet again he had found himself locked away from everyone else. He began to wonder if this is what the rest of his life was to look like. Perhaps once he got to Hogwarts, they would force him to sleep in a cell by himself as well.

A sudden rapt at the door pulled him out of this though. It was a short, cheery knock, and a second later the door slid open. A friendly faced boy with a mop of messy black hair and round glasses was stood in the door way grinning broadly.

“Hiya.” He said in a similar accent to lily’s but with a more Northern English kick to it, whilst reaching his hand out for Remus to shake. “First year? Me too, I’m James but most people call me Jamie.” He inclined his head nodding slightly to the a short, stumpy boy who had followed him inside, “This is Pete.”

Remus shook Jamie’s hand. It felt easy and comfortable. For the first time, the tight coil in his stomach slowly began to unwind.

“Remus”

“May we sit here? Everywhere else is full up, and Pete’s starting to get train sick.”

“Am not.” Peter murmered, taking a seat next to James. He eyed Remus wearily. He did look rather pale.

“Know what house you will be in?” Jamie spoke directly to Remus. He just shook his head. He didn't really know anything about the houses, there than what they were called and that his father had been in Ravenclaw. “Did your parents go to Hogwarts, What house were they in?”

Remus slowly nodded.

“Me Tad did. Ravenclaw. Me Mam didn’t she’s muggle.”

Pete looked up suddenly,

“You’re Half blood?”

Remus shrugged helplessly.

“Shut up, Pettigrew. As if it even matters.” He chastised the boy sat next to him.

Remus was just about to look back out the window when the door opened, yet again. It was the handsome boy from the platform who’d sworn at him. He looked around at the three boys.

“None of you are related to me are you?” He drawled in a high aristocratic accent that had a slight french tinge to it. Remus disliked them all at once, knowing that they’d think he was common, being a half blood and his South Welsh accent.

“Don’t think so.” James replied, still grinning, “James Potter.” He held out his hand the same way he had done for Remus. The other shook it just as easily.

“Oh fantastic, a Potter. Father told me to stay away from you.” He took a seat next to Remus grinning. “Sirius Black.”