Sweets With A Side of Magic
September 1st, 1971
The awkward silence that followed Sirius’s dramatic statement hung in the air for a moment. James broke it by leaning forward, his elbows on his knees.
“So, Sirius,” he said, a mischievous gleam in his eyes. “Are all Blacks as charming as you?”
Sirius barked a laugh. “Not a chance. Most of them are about as fun as a cauldron full of flobberworms.” He flicked his hair out of his face with an exaggerated flourish. “Luckily for you, I’m the family's disappointment.”
James grinned. “Brilliant. We could use a good disappointment around here.”
Peter giggled nervously, shifting in his seat. “I—uh—I’m Peter, by the way,” he said, glancing at Sirius.
“Yeah, I heard,” Sirius said, giving Peter a once-over. “You don’t talk much, do you?”
Peter flushed, mumbling something incomprehensible.
“What about you, Lupin?” Sirius asked, turning to Remus. “Do you talk, or are you the silent, brooding type?”
Remus hesitated, unsure how to respond. “I—uh—”
“He’s brooding,” James declared with a mock-serious nod. “Definitely brooding.”
“I’m not,” Remus muttered, though his cheeks warmed.
“Sure you’re not,” Sirius said with a smirk.
The compartment door slid open again, and a kindly old witch poked her head inside. “Anything off the trolley, dears?”
Remus blinked in surprise, his nerves forgotten for a moment as he took in the cart piled high with sweets. Chocolate Frogs, Pumpkin Pasties, Bertie Bott’s Every Flavour Beans—it was a feast of color and sugar.
James jumped to his feet immediately. “I’ll take the lot!” he announced, pulling a handful of coins from his pocket.
“Show-off,” Sirius muttered, though he got up as well and grabbed a Chocolate Frog.
Remus hesitated, his hand hovering over his pocket. He didn’t have much money, and he wasn’t sure what to buy even if he did.
“Come on, Lupin,” James said, turning to him with an armful of sweets. “Grab something.”
“I’m fine,” Remus said quickly, sitting back down.
James frowned but didn’t push. He dumped his haul onto the seat and tore open a pack of Bertie Bott’s Every Flavour Beans. “Right,” he said, holding one up. “Who’s brave enough to try this one?”
Sirius grabbed it without hesitation and popped it into his mouth. A second later, his face twisted in disgust. “Ugh, bogey!” he exclaimed, spitting it into a napkin.
Peter laughed nervously, and even Remus found himself smiling.
As the train rumbled on, the boys slowly fell into a rhythm of awkward conversation.
“So,” Sirius said, leaning back and stretching his legs out in front of him. “What are you lot looking forward to at Hogwarts?”
“Quidditch,” James said immediately. “My dad says first years never make the team, but I’m going to try anyway.”
“You play?” Sirius asked, raising an eyebrow.
“Chaser,” James said proudly. “Fastest broom in the house. What about you?”
Sirius shrugged. “Haven’t had much chance to practice. My family’s too busy lecturing me about blood purity to care about sports.”
Peter shifted uncomfortably at the mention of blood purity but didn’t say anything.
“What about you, Lupin?” James asked, turning to Remus.
Remus startled slightly at being addressed. “Uh… I guess… the classes? Magic and all that.”
“Classes?” Sirius said, giving him a mock look of horror. “You’re one of those, aren’t you? A swot.”
“No!” Remus protested, though his ears turned pink. “I just… I’ve never really done magic before.”
James and Sirius exchanged incredulous looks.
“You’ve never done magic?” James asked.
Remus shook his head, his hands fidgeting in his lap. “My parents didn’t… we don’t really use magic at home.”
“Here,” James said suddenly, pulling out his wand. “Try this. Say Lumos.”
“What?” Remus said, staring at the wand as though it might bite him.
“Go on,” James urged. “It’s easy. Just give it a wave and say Lumos.”
Feeling a little foolish, Remus took the wand. It felt strange in his hand, lighter than he expected but thrumming faintly with energy. He cleared his throat. “Lumos,” he said quietly, giving the wand a hesitant flick.
To his astonishment, the tip lit up with a soft, golden glow.
“See?” James said, grinning. “You’re a natural.”
Remus stared at the light, a small smile creeping onto his face. For a moment, the fear and doubt that had been gnawing at him all morning faded away, replaced by something warm and unfamiliar: hope.
“Not bad, Lupin,” Sirius said, his tone grudging but amused.
“Thanks,” Remus said, handing the wand back to James.
“Keep practicing,” James said with a wink. “We’ll make a proper wizard out of you yet.”
The train rattled on, the sun dipping lower in the sky as the boys settled back into their seats. For the first time, Remus felt like maybe—just maybe—he wasn’t so alone after all.