Solitarius Lupus

As first years Remus, Peter, James and Sirius were called to a very tall and hairy man who introduced himself as Hagrid, the Keeper of Keys and Grounds. He spoke in an accent that Remus could not place. Neverless the man seemed kind and appeared to be a soft giant. Hagrid led the boys and other first years along a dark and shady path. The pad led to a fleet of small boats which looked very old and made out of wood, so Remus was a bit afraid of getting a splinter. Behind the boats laid a big pond, its surface was glittering in the warm light of their lanterns. It seemed like the night sky was captured in this dark and bottomless sea which was surrounded by ancient trees that covered most of the sight so that the first years couldn’t make out what was hiding behind the thick branches and flattering leaves.

The children were expected to divide into groups of maximal four and enter the boats so that they could transport them to the school. Remus and the other three boys promptly climbed into the nearest boat and pushed it into the sea in front of them, keen to see what the trees were concealing. The boat floated on the sea like a feather in a light breeze. James bent over the edge of the boat, seeing his reflection grinning back at him from the glittering surface.
Eventually the thick branches got thinner and revealed a breath-taking sight.

In front of Remus’ eyes laid a big castle illuminated by hundreds of golden shining lights which let Hogwarts appear straight out of a fairy tale. The first years marvelled at the building that would be their new home for the next seven years. Remus turned to face his peers and saw that they were just as speechless as he was. All except Sirius who quickly turned his head in another direction as if to hide the fact that he was staring.

Don’t get Sirius wrong he was equally thrilled to finally be here as all the other students, but he just didn’t have the strength to concentrate on the fairy tale like fort, if Remus would keep doing that. Who would want to observe a castle if they could see the spark in Remus Lupins eyes instead? The way that his forest green eyes had lightened up as the castle came into sight. Did you know that his right eye was a bit more blue than green? The slight upturning of his cherry red lips as he admired the school. He really couldn’t be blamed.

The crowd of little boats and their passengers arrived at the school in less than five minutes. The first years were led through a small passage which stopped in front of a side part of the enormous castle. Soon a middle-aged woman, Remus already knew that she was Professor McGonagall, appeared out of nowhere, greeted the crowd and welcomed them at Hogwarts.
She introduced herself and made sure that everyone was feeling well before they would continue with the sorting.

"The start-of-term banquet will begin shortly, but before you take your seats in the Great Hall, you will be sorted into your houses. The Sorting is a very important ceremony because, while you are here, your house will be something like your family within Hogwarts.", Professor McGonagall’s calming voice informed the first years.

As soon as the ancient and wooden door, which was situated in the east wing and led straight into the great hall, the first years were greeted with a sight that would forever be imprinted in their minds. The great hall was decorated with flying candles that swung above the students’ heads, everywhere were kind faces and laughter echoed off the stone walls.
At the other end of the hall a brown and old hat, the sorting hat, was placed upon a stool. At the sudden arrival of their guests, it perked up and began singing:

"Oh you may not think I'm pretty,
But don't judge on what you see,
I'll eat myself if you can find
A smarter hat than me.

You can keep your bowlers black,
Your top hats sleek and tall,
For I'm the Hogwarts Sorting Hat
And I can cap them all.

There's nothing hidden in your head
The Sorting Hat can't see,
So try me on and I will tell you
Where you ought to be.

You might belong in Gryffindor,
Where dwell the brave at heart,
Their daring, nerve, and chivalry
Set Gryffindors apart;

You might belong in Hufflepuff,
Where they are just and loyal,
Those patient Hufflepuffs are true
And unafraid of toil;

Or yet in wise old Ravenclaw,
if you've a ready mind,
Where those of wit and learning,
Will always find their kind;

Or perhaps in Slytherin
You'll make your real friends,
Those cunning folks use any means
To achieve their ends.

So put me on! Don't be afraid!
And don't get in a flap!
You're in safe hands (though I have none)
For I'm a Thinking Cap!"

The children were called upon the stool in alphabetical order of their last names, so Sirius Black did not have to wait long. Even though he appeared confident at first glance Sirius’ hands were shaking, and his heart was beating so strongly he was afraid it would burst out of his chest.
He could not mess this up. Of course, they weren’t living in the old times anymore and he didn’t need to worry about becoming some weird cult member if he really was sorted into Slytherin, but his parents had always been a bit…sympathetic of the Dark Lord, he was sure that those were outdated believes. He knew that what his parents thought about blood status and the worth of a person based on it were flawed, downright wrong even, but he didn’t particularly fancy being cursed or jinxed into another dimension if he ever expressed different opinions than his parents. Sirius already made that mistake a few times and was sure not to repeat it. Even though the idea of standing up to his parents had a certain thrill. Being sorted into another house than Slytherin, God forbit Gryffindor, would anger his mother into madness. Oh, what a delightful sight she would present.

Sirius sat on the stool and the ugly hat was placed upon his wavy raven-black hair.

“Mhm, what do we have here?”, Sirius flinched at the unpleasant voice in his mind, “Ambitious, strong and admiring. Tell me, boy, where do you see yourself?”

What was that supposed to mean? I thought the stupid hat makes the decision for me.

“Now, now there is no need for you to get that rude. Well let’s make a decision then, shall we? Plenty of confidence and sarcasm in here. You have that rebellious streak that not many possess. Even if you don’t know it yet. Or do you? GRYFFINDOR!”

Sirius’ was frozen on the spot; he couldn’t move or think. What was he supposed to do now? His mother and father would surely hear about this. Sirius already dreaded the consequences of his actions.

Remus watched as Sirius’ eyes went blank. He wondered if it was really that bad for him to get sorted into Gryffindor, but as he remembered Sirius speech back at the train, the doubts came creeping into his mind. But his train of thought was quickly interrupted by the resounding applause coming from the Gryffindor table.

The sorting went on as a pale and frightened Sirius retreated from the stool. Remus wanted to help him, say something but there wasn’t enough time. After a few minutes of continued sorting, Remus was finally called upon the stool.

"Hmm. Difficult. Very difficult. Plenty of courage, I see. Not a bad mind either. There's talent, my goodness, yes — and a nice thirst to prove yourself, now that's interesting... So where shall I put you? Not Ravenclaw, eh? Are you sure? You could be great, you know, it's all here in your head, and Ravenclaw will help you on the way to greatness, no doubt about that — no? Well, if you're sure — better be GRYFFINDOR!"

It wasn’t that Remus would’ve minded being sorted into Ravenclaw, he was actually pretty sure he would have loved it but seeing Sirius like that he just had to make sure that he wouldn’t be alone. Yeah, okay it might have been wrong to influence the hats decision like that but receiving a thankful smile from Sirius as Remus slit into the seat next to him was worth it. Without a doubt.

The next one of them was Peter. The hat took a long time considering his options. Poor Peter was probably nervous as hell and sweating. Remus would be. The constant expecting eyes and the low whispers would have given him the rest.
As the hat shouted out Gryffindor half the students were already so tense that they flinched at the sudden noise.

“What was taking you so long? What did the hat say?”, Remus couldn’t control himself as Peter sat down next to him. He knew it was rude but at the same time Remus couldn’t find himself to care.
“He was deciding between Gryffindor and Hufflepuff and said that I had potential if I just came out of myself, so he put me in Gryffindor.”, Peter answered Remus’ questions.

Remus nodded in satisfaction at the answer he received.
Next up on the stool was James. The hat had just barely scratched the top of his head as the hat shouted out: “GRYFFINDOR!”
It came to no one’s surprise that golden boy James Potter had been sorted into Gryffindor. But Remus was actually a bit flabbergasted that the whole group made it into one house. But in the end wasn’t it one for all and all for one?

As the ceremony was accomplished Remus looked around and summarized: He and the other three boys had been sorted into Gryffindor amongst another group of four girls. One of the girls had flaming locks of auburn hair with emerald green eyes and a smile that could lighten up a room, another one had gold blonde hair that reached to her chest and light green eyes that reminded Remus of a lime, the next one had curly brown locks and her skin was an ochre colour, much like the mellow-brown light that bathed the forest and at last was the most stunning girl Remus had ever seen. Her eyes were a honey-brown colour and glowed like lanterns in a forest, her skin was a rich black and her hair, black and straight, moves as soft prairie grass in summer wind. It gives contrast to her face, sweetly dark upon soft brown skin. She woven into the beauty of this place rather than a thing apart. There is something of her spirit here in the trees and the waterways, as if they are always in communion, ever happy together.

Shaking his head Remus turned back to the other boys and dedicated his attention to the headmaster who stood up and made his way to a golden desk that strangely resembled an owl.

“Welcome to a new year at Hogwarts! Before we begin our banquet, I would like to say a few words. And here they are: Nitwit! Blubber! Oddment! Tweak!
Thank you!”

Well, that certainly were some inspiring thoughts. Then the banquet began. Above the tables appeared loads of foods, drinks and other delicacies Remus had never seen before in his life.
His eyes were practically glittering until-.

“Hey, Potter! You want to see a butterfly?”, Sirius’ mischievous voice ran through the Great Hall.

“Yes.”

Peter already suspecting what was happening tried to stop Sirius with a: “NO- “

Before Remus registered what was happening Sirius threw a big piece of butter across the whole Gryffindor table.

“Absolutely magnificent”, James was practically glowing in adoration.

The piece of butter landed directly in front of the red haired first year that Remus noticed earlier. She stared angrily in their direction as Peter and Remus attempted an apologetic smile while the other two idiots just went back to whatever they were doing.

Fortunately, none of the professors noticed the small incident and the feast remained uninterrupted until it was time to go to the dorms.

The first years were led to the dorms by the Gryffindor head boy. Once again Remus was astonished as all four of them got the same dorm. From what he had already gathered about his new dormmates and hopefully friends, he didn’t know whether he dreaded or looked forward to the next seven years spent in companionship.

The dorm was rather simple furnished with four four-poster beds with deep-red velvet curtains. All in all, the whole dorm was kept in the Gryffindor colour-scheme which meant that everything was either a gold or red shade. It wasn’t that Remus had a strong dislike for those colours but especially the red brought back memories of blood-stained fingertips and red flashing eyes underneath his bed. Maybe it would’ve been better if Remus had been sorted in Slytherin, they at least had nice green furniture. His favourite colour.

As the boys decided it was time to go to bed Remus was so tired that he got careless. He didn’t even think about going in another room to change, so the other boys wouldn’t see his many scars. And so, Remus pulled his sweater over his head in front of the boys. The room suddenly went dead silent. Remus at first not noticing what had happened was very confused about the now quiet room.

“Everything okay?”, as soon as the words left Remus’ mouth, he noticed it too.
James was staring open-mouthed at his bared torso marred with scars and claw marks, Peter avoided eye contact, silently staring at the wall behind Remus and Sirius had a strange expression on his face that Remus couldn’t read. It was probably disgust.
Scrambling for a shirt or just something to cover up his chest Remus bent over his trunk and fiddled with the zipper. Great Lupin, good way to find new friends.

“Remus? Where did you get those?”, James’ thin voice asked.

Play it cool Lupin. They can’t know.

“It was an accident when I was younger. I know that they’re ugly you’ll never see them again.”, technically that wasn’t even a lie. It had happened when he was younger, and he didn’t intend to ever let the others see them again. It was bad enough that they had seen them in the first place.

“Well, I think that your scars are pretty cool. Very punk.”

Remus attempted a weak smile at Sirius. He was probably lying to make him feel better.
But as the others agreed with a sincere look on their faces, Remus suddenly wasn’t that sure anymore.

A few hours later, laying in his bed Remus thought about just that. Sirius had said the scars looked cool and punk, but the thing was that Remus didn’t want to be cool or punk. He just wanted to be normal and to be loved.

With all this whirlwind around Remus’ scars thankfully nobody had noticed a young Sirius Black’s mark littered back. And so, he lay awake at night, tormented by the creatures that caused his scars.

On the left side of Sirius’ bed was Remus and on the right one, the one in the corner, laid James. James Fleamont Potter, raised by an elderly couple in the Potter cottage, in one of the safest parts in town. It was a deselect little cottage located in the village of Godric's Hollow in West Country.
James Potter who grew up in a safe and sheltered environment. James who was raised as a very compassionate and kind child. He noticed the uncertainty in Peters every step, Sirius’ dreadful expressions when talking about his family and Remus’ violent reaction to the mention of his scars. James knew that in every story there was darkness and light. Having lived his live in the light he would do everything guide his new friends to this wonder.
He had decided that he was now responsible for them and their happiness.

The next two days were weekend which meant free room for every student to discover the wonders of Hogwarts. Remus mostly stuck with the other boys figuring that this would be his best option. They spend endless hours talking and listening to music they all enjoyed. James, being the only one with a phone, volunteered to play the songs they liked. Most suggestions came from Peter and James given Remus’ inexperience and Sirius’ lack of knowledge about music. They mostly listened to older bands and singers; Remus favourite was David Bowie who sang about a man in the stars waiting to come to earth. But even the newer songs managed to leave an impression on Remus. When Hozier sang about being born sick and his gentle sins Remus couldn’t help but feel amazed, lured into the dark depths of music. The ever-present comforting weight of his father’s key laying upon his chest.