Prologue
September 1, 1972
Remus Lupin’s first year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry was fairly mundane and rather boring. He did his work, read books upon books in the library under the watchful eye of Madam Pince, and talked to as few people as he possibly could.
Now his second year, his second year was the year that Regulus Black arrived. The instant that the shabby brown sorting hat was placed on his neat, dark, curls Regulus was placed in Slytherin. He strode past the three long mahogany dining tables to the furthest one and sat himself directly across from Remus. Everything about the way he carried himself, even the aura surrounding him, radiated power. And Remus Lupin couldn't bear to tear his gaze away from Regulus Black.
Whilst the rest of the first years got sorted into their respective houses, Remus eyed Regulus with curiosity. The shorter boy looked extremely bored and uninterested, as if he should be doing something better with his time. And the thing was- Remus believed it. Remus believed that this skinny– almost malnourished looking eleven year old Slytherin boy had far better and more important things to attend to than this silly sorting business.
After what seemed like ages, the last first year was sorted– a girl with the last name Zapata, and the wizened old headmaster, Albus Dumbledore, rose from a large chair behind the table where the professors had been sitting. The moment he stood, the entire hall came to a hush. Remus rolled his eyes. He didn’t know why exactly, but he had always had a great distaste for Dumbledore. Something about the way that everyone treated the man like a god. Besides, he clearly favoured Gryffindor out of the four houses, which irked Remus. If he was headmaster, shouldn’t he be impartial to any house?
The headmaster launched into a speech that Remus tuned out for the most part, now recognizing that it was the same speech given last year, when he himself had been sorted into Slytherin. Dumbledore clapped his hands, and heaping piles of food appeared on the tables. The great hall erupted into noise and conversation, as people started loading up their plates with the feast. Remus did the same.
“Regulus, is it?” he asked the boy across from him, after a few moments where it seemed as though Regulus also had no one to speak with.
Regulus looked up, and Remus noticed that his eyes were a striking shade of grey.
“Yes, Regulus Black. And you?”
“Remus, Remus Lupin,” Remus responded, extending his hand.
Regulus did not shake his hand.
“Erm, Black?” Remus asked, and quickly pulled his arm away, “I think I’ve heard that name before, do you have siblings that go to this school as well?”
Regulus scoffed incredulously, “Of course you’ve heard the name. Everyone knows the Blacks. We’re the richest and most prestigious pureblood family in the entire wizarding world.”
After a moment of silence where Remus stared blankly at him, he added, “And yes. My cousins Andromeda and Narcissa go here. They're in 7th and 5th year, and I have a brother too, he is one year older than me.”
“Ah, yeah that must be it,” replied Remus sheepishly, “I’m a second year as well, who's your brother?”
“Sirius.” Regulus said curtly, and turned towards the loudest and most boisterous table in the Great Hall. “However, he’s a disgrace to the family. He got placed in Gryffindor.”
“Oh. Yeah. Of course. You’re Sirius Black’s brother.”
“Regulus is fine, thanks very much”
“Oh, no, I'm sorry, I didn’t mean it like that, no. It’s just that he and his friends are quite popular around here, you know… they have a rather stupid name for their friend group though if you don’t mind my saying. Something like the martyrs– erm no that can't be right. The mischievous? Yeah, yeah… mischievous I think that's it” Remus trailed off lamely.
“The Marauders.” Regulus said sharply, still looking in the direction of the Gryffindor table, “And no, I don’t mind your saying. It is a rather stupid name.”
He offered Remus the faintest hint of a smile for the first time.