September 1971
James let out an sigh of relief, glad he made it right on time. But his luck was unforunately short-lived, for he tripped on his own shoe lace.
To make matters worse, he had fallen into another student.
After loudly cursing profanities no 11 year old should know, James began an string of apologizes. He would've helped the student to their feet, but he had dropped his large round shaped glasses in the accident. But that didn't stop his mouth from running.
"I am so sorry! I really am! I didn't mean to fall! Well not on you anyway! If you were an girl I'd suppose I'd use this opportunity as an pick up line-"
But he got cut off.
"James?" the blurry lump called out.
Miraculously, James had found his glasses at the same time, and once his sight become clear, he recognized the boy.
"Bloody hell, Pete!" He screeched, tackling-hugging the boy.
Peter Pettigrew, or Pete, as James had dubbed him, was his bestfriend. Pete was the only other non-muggle family living in Jame's area, not to mention, he too, was an pureblood. It was only natural their parents encouraged play dates and hangouts. But James knew, even if Pete was an Muggle, they'd still be the bestest of friends.
"What are you doing out here, shouldn't you be in an carriage?" James questioned while he let go, standing up and offering an hand to Pete who took it. Pete shrugged and mumbled something about loading luggage. "No biggie, must be divine intervention eh?" James playfully answered. "C'mon, let's go find one!" and he grabbed Pete's arm and dragged him down into the corridor with him.
They passed by many carriages, but they all seemed to be at full capacity. James noticed Pete panting, despite it being an breezy walk and made an internal promise to buy an chocolate frog for him.
Finally came an carriage which could fit them both.
James knocked, an sweet tune echoing in his ears.
An girl, with auburn hair opened the door.
"Hi! Would you mind letting us-" James began but he was rather cut abruptly by an boy sitting on the left side.
"Get lost! We don't want you lot here, they'd laugh and turn their noses at us if they really knew what we were Lily" an boy, with an abnormally large nose and greasy hair said matter-of-factly.
"Oi! We wouldn't do anything of that sort unless you were an git" James spat back out. He could see the boy about to say something, probably very nasty because the auburn hair told him to stop. "You've already terrorized that poor kid I was sitting with Sev! Leave them alone. As for you two, there's another carriage with an boy alone inside 3 rooms down. He could use your company." she added helpfully. James gave her an smile, before he and Pete counted the rooms.
"1,2,3..."
"This is it Pete!" James proclaimed.
Once again, as James knocked, an short sweet tune played, before the door opened. Inside was an lanky boy, too skinny honestly, with no hair at all. "Hiya!" James greeted, putting his hand forward. James nodded his head towards Pete who no doubt almost feared the bald-boy. "this is Peter!" James introduced. The boy shook Jame's hand, and unlike Pete's soft, warm hands, his were rough and dry.
"Remus" he said.
"An girl with auburn hair directed us here to sit, that cool with you?" Which really made no sense in saying because James had already barged in and was about to sit. If bald boy said no then he'd be plain rude.
Bald boy shrugged and that was good enough for James.
The seats were nice and soft, fabric no doubt. Leather would've been nicer but James could make do.
Peter sat next to James, twiddling his thumbs in his lap absently.
An moment of silence passed, James bouncing his knee, Peter taking deep breaths and Remus staring directly at James. Well not James, more like the top of James.
"Something wrong with my hair?" James commentated, the silence slowly driving him insane.
Remus nodded, slowly, and James thought he might've had an speech-understanding disability.
"It's... Cool..." Remus spoke.
James flashed him an grin.
"Let's get right into it then. Know what house you'll be in?" James began. When Remus stared back, glancing nervously between the two boys, James registered he was new to the magic world, sort of.
"Were you parents wizards?" he tried, trying to figure out just how much he knew and didn't know.
Remus nodded, "Just my Dad". The dry responses irritated James in an way but he persisted anyway.
"Know what house he was in?"
"Nah"
"Wait, your an half-blood?" Pete suddenly cried out, joining in on the conversation.
"Shut up Pete. As it matters. It doesn't Remus, not to the good ones anyway" James was quick to defend, he didn't want to make an bad impression of himself.
Remus was about to open his mouth and ask something, right before the door opened again. And James swore he heard Remus curse.
An boy with shoulder-length wavy hair stood in the door way. He had prominent cheekbones and dark eyes. James quickly glanced at Peter who glanced at him, their reactions in sync.
Black.
This was the heir to the Black house.
The heir looked around, before blurting out, "None of you are related to me right?"
All three heads turned to James when he burst into laugher. Pete giggled, seeing James but Remus seemed to be completely in the dark.
"Perfect atmosphere. I'll just sit right next to you baldie." Black claimed before following in suit.
"Potter. James Potter." he introduced himself. Black's eyes seemed to light up, an mischievous twinkle in them.
"Oh good, an Potter. My Dad told me to not talk to you" he revealed, before offering his hand. James shook it immediately.
"This is Pete next to me, he's an Pettigrew and over there is Remus, and he's... Well..." James paused, he didn't Know Remus's first name, or was Remus is first name?
They all stared at him, waiting for Remus to tell them.
"Bloody hell, your gawking at me like I'm an dead carcass and your all hyenas! Lupin! The name's Remus Lupin, now bugger off" he grumbled.
James looked at Pete, who looked at him back, then James looked at Sirius, who looked back.
And it wasn't long before they all began laughing.