The Train
As Remus stared at his ticket he was concerned. There was no platform 9 3/4. It simply didn't exist.
"Come on Remus, The Train leaves at 11 on the dot, we don't want to miss it." His father yelled back at him.
"This Platform doesn't exist to begin with."
"When will you learn Remus? Of course, it exists if you know where to look. Your school books and robes are in the small trunk. Put them on before you reach the school. And remember don't tell-"
"Anyone that i'm a werewolf. Got it. I've only been told a hundred times."
Lyall rolled his eyes before gesturing to a concrete podium in between platforms 9 and 10.
"Theres your station. Run at the barrier. Don't hesitate. You'll go right through."
"I'm sorry what? You expect me to run at a wall?"
"Yes. Because through that wall is your train. Which leaves in 10 minutes."
"You're crazy"
"And you're a brat. Now go"
Remus scoffed before running full speed at the barrier. With a sharp intake of breath, he went through the barrier. As he came through the other side he lost control of his trolly and ended up hitting a boy around his age.
"What where you're going idiot"
Remus mumbled out an apology and the girl he was with helped him up.
"What was that? I don't speak to babies. Either speak up and talk like an actual person or leave."
"Leave it Sev, It was clearly an accident. He just came through the barrier and lost control. It happens to the best of us." The young girl he was with said.
"Whatever Lilly. I'm going to board the train." The young boy stormed off leaving the girl behind.
"I'm sorry about Him. I'm Lilly."
"Hi Lilly, I'm Remus. Is this your first year as well?"
"Yes it is. I'm very excited. Sev's tolds me all about Hogwarts."
"Has he gone here for a while then?"
"No actually. It's his first year too. But he grew up in the wizarding world unlike me. I'm muggleborn. "
"Muggleborn?"
"Yeah, you know both my parents are just regular non magic folks."
"Oh. My dad is magic. I don't think my mum is. I grew up in the, I guess what you'd call, the muggle world. I didn't even know anything about Hogwarts or the wizarding world until two days ago."
"Well, welcome to the wizarding world Remus."
"You too Lilly."
"I'll see you the train?"
"I'd hope so."
Lilly walked off to board the train, and he presumed to find the boy from earlier, leaving him in the platform alone.
"Remus!"
At the sound of his father's voice, he sighed and turned.
"Yes?"
"Behave. I don't want any owls home telling me bad news."
"Alright."
"Go board the train. I'll make sure your stuff gets where it belongs, but take your small bag that has your wand and robes in it."
"Wand?" He asked confused.
"Yes, your wand. It was my old one. Of course I retired it after I left this world but now i'm giving it to you."
Remus sighed once more before leaving his father to make his way to the train.
As he stepped onto the train he noticed the faint smell of chocolate that lingered in the air. He followed the smell till he reached a small compartment with three young boys sitting inside.
"Do you mind If I sit here? Everywhere else seems to be full."
So Remus might have told a little fib, but the smell of chocolate overtook him. He couldn't resist.
"Of course, the more the merrier. I'm James Potter." A hyperactive desi boy rushed out.
"Remus Lupin."
Remus Lupin? You know your name means 'wolf wolf' in Latin correct?" a young black-haired boy spoke.
"Uh, no. I didn't actually." He did in fact know that.
"I'm Sirius Black." The boy said, sticking his hand out for Remus to shake.
Cautiously he shook the other boy's hand.
He took a seat beside Sirius and faced James and the other boy.
"I'm Peter. Or Pete for short."
"So Remus, is this your first year?" James asked
"Yeah"
"Us too. Me and Pete grew up together, We've been looking forward to coming here for years."
"I just found out about Hogwarts two days ago."
"Two days?" Sirius spoke
"Yeah..my dad didn't tell me about it. I cam home from a friends and saw Professor Dumbledore in my living room."
"DUMBLEDORE!?!?" Sirius exclaimed.
"Uh, yes?"
"He was in your house?" James asked excitedly
"Yes"
Remus was confused. Dumbledore seemed to be very well known amongst the boys.
"Do you know him or something?"
"Know him? Everyone knows him! He's only the most famous wizard in the wizarding world. Well, besides you know who." Peter squeaked
"You know who?"
"Yeah, you know? Him?"
"I'm confused. Who are we talking about?"
"Are you a muggleborn or something?" Sirius asked
"Um. Sorta? I grew up in the muggle world, but my dad is magic."
"So you're a halfblood?"
"Something like that. Is that chocolate i smell?" Remus quickly changed the topic to keep Sirus from asking more questions. He couldn't risk anyone finding out.
James lit up, "Yes! Do you want some? Mum sent some with me and Pete for the train."
Remus nodded taking the chocolate from him.
"Do you know anything about Hogwarts?" He asked the boys.
Sirius huffed, "Of course we know about Hogwarts."
"Well, what's it like?"
"There's for houses. Each is named after the four founders. Godric Gryffindor, Salazar Slytherin, Helga Hufflepuff, and Rowena Ravenclaw. Each house stands for something. And to make it better. A hat picks your house. It kinda reads your mind and puts you into a house based on the kind of person you are. Personally, I hope for anything but Slytherin House. I'd love to make my mother mad. "
"Why would that make your mother mad?"
"Because every black has been a Slytherin since the school opened. My older cousins are in year five, they are in Slytherin. My parents were Slytherin, and their parents etc. Our whole family is 'pure' and by that, I mean full of incest. My sister and I are also second cousins."
"You're family is messed up."
"Oh, I'm aware. Just wait till Reggie comes here. She'll be here next year. She hates our family just as much. I don't care where I'm put as long as it's with her."
"She sounds nice" James spoke.
"She is. She's one of the only good things to come out of that family."
Just as Sirius finished his sentence their compartment door opened to two young girls a few years older than them.
"Sirius. You're supposed to be sitting with us. Your mother told you to. We dont want you associating with the wrong sort." One of them said with a glace to James.
"I think I can tell the wrong sort for my self Bella."
"Sirius, We have to report back to her what you do. Please don't make us tell her these things. Just do as you're told." The other girl pleaded.
Sirius looked away, " I'm sorry Cissy, I refuse to do what she wants me to. She can't control me."
"Then for that, I'm sorry Siri. Just try to behave, don't make it worse. You still have to go home come Christmas. And then summer. Com on Bellatrix, lets leave them." She pulled Bellatrix away closing the compartment door, leaving the boys alone once more.
"Who were they?" James asked.
"My older cousins I told you about. The one with curly hair was Bellatrix, we all call her Bella though. And the other one was Narcissa, we all call her Cissy."
"Well Narcissa seemed nice." Remus thought out loud.
"She is. Most of the time."
"Well I say forget about them, you make your own destiny. Not your family." Pete told Sirius.
"Thanks Peter."