beginnings
6:00 AM
Sirius Black hated early mornings.
Now this in his opinion was a pretty common dislike since waking up early - more often than not - equated to being tired, and Sirius hated being tired more than anything.
Well....he was being a bit dramatic. He hated many things and something as common as tiredness was not at the top of the list. But still, it was pretty high up because in order to start his day off in the most positive way possible (and keep it that way) he felt the need to be fully awake and alert, ready for what could possibly come his way.
Today however, he embraced the early morning in a way he had never done before and despite his late-night tossing and turning, Sirius was wide awake, feeling like a vessel of energy, electricity shooting from the very top of his head to the very tips of his toes. It was all that anticipation of course, all that waiting and excitement, the fizz of nervous energy coming into play and taking hold of him.
Only one thing could ever have that effect.
Hogwarts.
He was finally going to school and he knew that by the end of the day he’d be somewhere completely different, surrounded by different people, with a different atmosphere and far far away from number 12 Grimmauld Place.
Sirius had been waiting his entire life for this moment. To finally take a breath of fresh air.
On the average day he would find any excuse to stay in bed, because who in their right mind would willingly want to leave their place of warmth and safety to face the cold and dangerous realities of life? No one, because sleep is too heavenly.
However today was different in the way that there were no cold and dangerous realities to face (in his opinion anyway) meaning that Sirius wasted no time lying around in bed and got up the second he awoke, throwing aside his covers and making his way to breakfast, eager to start the day.
Walburga - his mother - was awake as usual, and was sat in the kitchen done up for the day, hair slicked back into a severe bun, eyelashes heavily coated with mascara, and wearing one of her fancier dresses paired with some of her more elaborate jewellery. Walburga was actually a very beautiful woman, it was just a shame she didn’t have a soul to match.
But Sirius didn't have time to internally scoff at the fact she was obviously wearing her most expensive stuff to impress people on a train platform, because his attention was drawn to the very concerning expression on his mothers face.
She was smiling.
Smiling.
Only a tiny bit, but she was smiling. Properly. Not in that evil way she sometimes did, but almost as if she was actually happy.
“Sirius”
Sirius couldn’t remember the last time she had smiled, nevermind her smiling in his direction. It put him on edge. Especially after last night's events:
"IDIOTIC CHILD!" his mother screeched, eyes wild, hand threateningly close to pulling her wand out - he was lucky she hadn't "HOW ARE YOU MEANT TO REPRESENT THE NOBLE HOUSE OF BLACK IF YOU CARRY ON WITH THIS TYPE OF BEHAVIOUR?!"
The thing is he had actually tried that time...
“Good morning” he smiled back out of politeness, still somewhat wary of his mother as he went to a pull up the chair next to the one opposite her
“I hope you are all packed, I do not want you rushing around the house at the last minute like a headless lunatic”
Sirius nodded, in fact he’d packed three whole days ago with the help of Regulus, who had been just as excited as him for this day to arrive.
“Well you should go and get ready then” She sipped her usual cup of black tea “Breakfast can wait until you’ve dressed”
“Well can-” Sirius started
“Sirius” his mother cut him off, that tiny smile from before disappearing “I asked you to dress appropriately” she snapped “you know the rules, and today is no exception”
Ah well. He tried. Maybe on a normal morning he would try harder, but today was not the day to upset Walburga Black. He wanted to make her at least a little proud, because after all her eldest son was finally going to be sent off to Hogwarts, it was an occasion where pride was needed.
He did not like it, but Sirius needed to be perfect. And so it took him a whole two hours to get ready, because he needed to make sure there was absolutely nothing to criticise and at quarter past eight in the morning it looked like he had succeeded. When he re-entered the kitchen she looked at him with what seemed like actual genuine pride. Funny. He had actually done something right for once.
The whole family was now there. Walburga and Orion were discussing something and Regulus was sat in his usual chair quietly eating some buttered toast.
“Unfortunately there is nothing we can do about that problem Walburga”
“I know” she sighed “It is disappointing is all”
Sirius quirked an eyebrow at his brother, asking him what they were talking about. Regulus just shook his head, not quite meeting his eye. Best not to get involved then.
“I just dearly hope we don't see any blood traitors today, they're the ones who make me the most angry" he sighed, and then suddenly his father slammed a fist on the table “Sirius” he barked
“Yes father” he replied like the oh so diligent son he was.
“You remember what we discussed last night?”
“I do”
“You have memorised all that we have taught you about pure families?”
“Since I was five”
“And the ones you mustn't get involved with?”
“Them too” Sirius, sighed getting a little bit irritated. He was speaking to him as if the names of what his parents considered to be blood-traitors hadn’t been repeated to him on a weekly basis.
Luckily his irritation was not picked up on “Good, you must do the Black family proud” and with that Orion walked out the kitchen door.
He knew, but it was not something he wanted to think about.
Sirius wanted to think about today.
And today…today he was going to Hogwarts
8:30
“Pete move your arse out the way”
Peter looked back over his shoulder to see his older sister standing there, hair thrown up in a messy bun, looking down at him in disdain.
He had been sitting on the stairs for half an hour, contemplating and remembering the time where he had sat here just a few months ago awaiting the arrival of that legendary Hogwarts letter. Honestly there wasn’t much to remember about that time, just the nerves that had consumed him whole, and all the what if questions running through his head. It had turned out ok in the end though, he had successfully received his Hogwarts letter and life pretty much went on.
Anyway he was done remembering for now. He had managed to calm his nerves for the time being. But he was not done sitting. Maybe if Philomena had asked nicely, he would’ve gotten up, but she hadn’t so he simply continued sitting
“Peter” she sighed “Don’t make me bully you”
The only reason that Peter didn’t move right that second was because he knew Philomena well enough to know that she was never in the mood to argue this early in the morning. Well early for her anyway.
So he just stayed seated, and a few seconds later she resigned to squeezing past him.
Peter stood up and smirked at her. It was a small win in anyone else's eyes, but he rarely ever won and so this triumph had kickstarted his day off perfectly.
Time for breakfast.
8:35
“Jaaaaaaames!” his mother called out from downstairs “Breakfast!”
He looked at the state of his room and sighed. Merlin.
He had been so ready, but then of course he had to go and lose his wand, like he always did. As he went downstairs he made a mental note to keep a closer eye on it, it had been fine for the last few months or so where he barely used it but now he was going to Hogwarts where it would be used multiple times on a daily basis and not just at school but for the rest of his life too.
“Ready?” his dad grinned setting the daily prophet down on the breakfast table
“Nooo” he groaned “Lost my wand”
“Silly boy” his mum smiled shaking her head “You put it on top of your trunk last night, remember?”
“Oh right!”
He remembered now. The only reason he didn’t was because his trunk had been packed for three weeks and had been pushed aside gathering dust until last night where he had set it by the door. Three weeks was a bit of a stretch he did admit, but James had just been so incredibly excited that he couldn’t wait any longer to pack. He had to be ready. This was a momentous occasion, him finally going to Hogwarts.
He grabbed his wand from the entrance hall, sat back down at the breakfast table and hurriedly shovelled a fried egg into his mouth.
Effie laughed “James slow down!”
“I need to be ready mum!”
His dad matched his mum's laughter “You won’t be if you get indigestion”
“Fineee” James groaned, he guessed he had a minute to spare
He ate the second egg and his piece of toast a little bit slower.
He wondered how Peter was faring. Last he spoke to the boy was yesterday morning and he had not exactly been the picture of calm and collected. Fair enough though, Hogwarts was a whole new adventure, a whole new experience entirely, and although both his parents had been to Hogwarts, he knew almost nothing about it.
Most of what he and Peter had magicked up in their heads was based on a few simple facts and descriptions that they knew from general talk.
Although now thinking about it, they could've just read Hogwarts: A history if they had been really desperate
After breakfast he had a bit more time to kill so he quickly washed his plate and went upstairs to sort his room out. All of that upheaval for nothing. It was ok though, by the time he had finished sorting everything out and triple checking that he needed nothing else from his room, it was time to go.
Time to go to Hogwarts.
James was seriously running out of patience, and he just had to see it for himself. Sure his parents had told him one or two things but they had kept most of it quiet. Something stupid about getting to experience it all himself. Although now when it came to it, he was sort of grateful, the secrecy had made it that much more exciting, kept him in that much more suspense, and don’t get him wrong it was excruciating but it was also thrilling and James could not deny that.
“Ready to go?” his dad looked down at him
“Definitely” he grinned up and eagerly took the hand his mum had now extended for him to take.
10:45
Fifteen minutes until he left for bloody Hogwarts. At this point the stories he had heard, the tales that had been told to him was not enough, at this point Remus had to see it for himself. And in just a few hours that's exactly what he'd be doing.
They had just arrived on platform nine and three quarters and the air was thick with magic, syrupy and warm, so palpable that it was almost as if he could grab it like a rope and pull himself onto that train with it. And oh the train. A beautiful scarlet steam engine with the words 'Hogwarts Express' printed neatly on the front.
His parents, Hope and Lyall, guided him through the crowds of wizards, some of them carrying owls, frogs, cats and other strange pets looking as if they had been pulled right out of a fictional story, some wizards and witches were wearing muggle clothes and others were wearing robes and pointed hats some of which were plain but some of which bore eccentric designs, constellations and astronomical patterns criss-crossed in a perfect harmony. He had never been around many wizards and didn't really know what to expect.
"Alright my love this is it" Hope stopped, looking down at him and smiling, they were basically at the very last carriage now which meant that not many people were around. She sounded sad, Remus wished she wouldn't be sad, but there was nothing he could really do to help her
"Remus” Lyall urged, looking intently down at him "Remember what I've told you" Remus nodded, looking at his father’s worried, sleep-deprived face - Remus wished he wouldn't worry, it's all he seemed to do these days.
With a last goodbye assuring his father that yes he understood, and yes he knew the risks, and yes he couldn't get involved, he gathered up his patchy trunk and got onto the train, taking a seat into the very last compartment which was perfectly empty.
To avoid anyone else coming in he decided to take a nap (which was much needed for him anyway) but it wasn't going to be an easy feat. Although he was in one of the last carriages and it was probably quieter here than anywhere else, Remus could still hear the screeches of owls, shrieks of students, and it might've been his imagination but he swore he heard the tell-tale bang of a firework going off.
Despite all the noise he decided to try anyway, however just as he was about to close his eyes, a boy with messy black hair and round glasses too big for his face barged in with a large grin, brimming and bubbling with confidence - overflowing even.
"Hiya!" Remus slumped down further into his chair "I'm James!" The boy threw himself into the seat opposite Remus and flashed an easy grin, eyes twinkling. "Potter" he added as an afterthought.
This boy's personality seemed to fill the entire room, all the nooks, crevices and crannies alike, so when another boy, who was blonde, kind faced, a little short, had sat down next to the excited eleven year old, Remus had almost gasped out loud in shock of someone else's presence.
"Hi!" the blonde boy smiled warmly "I'm Peter Pettigrew"
Although he shouldn't talk to them didn't want to talk to them, he introduced himself anyway out of pure politeness
"Oh. uh.. hi. I'm Remus" he said giving a small smile and nod. A little awkward but it'd have to do.
"Mind if we sit here?" James' eyes lit up, drawing the attention of every single thing in the room
You already are sitting here.
"Nah"
"Great!"
Even though Remus had known the Potter Boy for a few seconds, he already hated him. Well... he didn't hate him, he didn't like him either though. He knew what hate felt like, and this was not hate. But as he said, it wasn't like because he... well... well only mental people smiled like that all the time, and this boy definitely seemed mad in the head. He also had that indefinable air of having been well-cared for. If he was going to associate himself with people, he was going to do it with people who weren't nosy or loud or constantly bouncing on the balls of their feet, happy every second of every hour of every day. And James Potter gave him the impression that he was the type of boy to be all of those things. Remus needed peace, Remus needed quiet and Remus certainly did not need James Potter.
Just as the bespectacled boy was about to say something else, Remus inwardly groaned as the compartment door had slid open once again and a slim boy with black hair, elegantly framing his face, sauntered in.
He was without a doubt, a diamond.
Polished and priceless, transparent and sparkling, cutting edge, high class, part of the aristocracy. His eyes glazed over the compartment, and he looked at Remus for a second before moving onto James and asking with hope glinting in his eyes "Are you James Potter?"
"The one and only"
"Perfect!" he slung himself into the seat beside Remus "And you can call me Sirius Black" he leaned over to take the hand that James had extended, a friendship in the works, possibly brotherhood, most of all a bond. And it was already clear that it would last forever.
The train gave a shudder and all of a sudden they had set off for Hogwarts.
11:00 September 1st 1971