the beginning
Remus' arms are braced against the rim of the porcelain sink as he stares at his reflection in the mirror. He recalls the events that had taken place throughout the last few weeks. He remembers the first of them that later brought the others. He had been in the front garden with his mum, eating left over pasties when a tall figure he now knows as Albus Dumbledore, appeared just meters away from the gate. The man was soon welcomed in for late afternoon tea. Of course his mum had to invite him inside their small cottage, Remus thought. Of course his mum had to be sweet and kind to everyone including a strange man in long purple robes and an abnormally long silver beard.
Minutes passed before all attention was focused on Remus. Dumbledore explained why he had come. He revealed that he was and is the headmaster of a magic boarding school in Scotland and was hoping Remus would attend this coming school year. At first, he was confused as to why the hell Dumbledore would want anyone like Remus to come to a school filled with other students. He remained still confused for many years to come. Dumbledore explained every question bouncing around in Remus' head.
There was a little shack that he would be led to every month for the transformations and an infirmary he could stay in if any issues occurred. He would attend classes where he would learn about magic and creatures he had never even heard the names of. His mum was also unsure at first, worried about her son and what could happen while he was away from her. After an hour or so passed, Dumbledore had managed to convince both Lupins into sending Remus to Hogwarts.
Remus was handed a list of various items he would need before his arrival and told that a Minerva McGonagall would escort him to the shops housing the provided items on the list.
Days later a women wearing a large black pointy had and silver rimmed spectacles knocked on the front door. Just as Dumbledore had said, Remus was taken to a place called Diagon Alley escorted by Ms-soon to be professor-McGonagall. Remus wasn't sure where to look. He was surrounded by tens of colorful shops unlike any he had ever seen before. There were some shops with brooms("why on earth would a wizard need a broom?" Remus thought), some with toads and owls, others with patterned robes and hats.
They stopped in front of a store named Olivanders and stepped through the bright teal door. Remus was met with thousands of long and narrow boxes sprawled all over the shop. A short man with bright white hair sticking out at all angles came up behind Remus as he was gazing at the chaos that was this store. He led Remus towards the front of the store and gave a much too whimsical and optimistic speech for Remus' liking. After about four wands, Remus was handed a 10 1/4" Cypress wand with a unicorn hair core.
He gave it a little wave as he was instructed, expecting more boxes to come flying or another glass to break. He was instead filled with a warm haze he had never felt before. It spread through his entire body like wildfire and within a few quick seconds, it disappeared.
"Woah," he heard himself say, still recovering from the now missing sensation.
"That'll be the one then," Olivander exclaims, taking the wand a placing it back into its box.
McGonagall leads them towards a smaller shop with orange widows and tells Remus to wait outside on the bench while she speaks with the owner about a matter he should't be concerned with. Just as he's getting comfortable on the seat made of old wood, a girl with firey red hair stumbles onto him.
"Oops! I'm so sorry-" she says quickly removing herself from his now tense body.
"Shit, are you okay?" he asks.
"Yeah, are you? I'm so sorry, I tripped on that stupid crate thing over there,"
"Yeah, yeah I'm fine don't worry about it. D'you...need help," Remus asks, gesturing to the many books now scattered around the bench.
"Oh, right," the girl begins,"Thanks."
"Sure," he says a he lifts up off the bench.
"I didn't catch your name,"
"What?" Remus asks, startled by sudden conversation.
"I said I didn't catch your name, don't be frightened, I don't bite" she asks again, smiling this time.
"Oh, sorry," he answers, feeling heat rise to his cheeks,"I'm Remus."
"Well, hi Remus, I'm Lily," she replies, taking the books from Remus as they both stand up.
"Hi," Remus replies, quickly regretting how stupid that sounded.
"Oh cool! I love that band!!" Lily says, looking over his shirt
Remus looks down at his shirt confused before realizing she was referring to the image of the band Queen on his stomach and chest.
"Oh, yeah. They're brilliant," he says.
"I take it you also weren't raised by anyone from around here?" she asks brightly.
"Yeah, no. Never been here before,"
"Me neither! Thank god I'm not the only one,"
"LILY! HURRY UP!!" yells a voice causing both their heads to turn.
A boy with pale white skin and dark shiny hair stands across the road in front of a bookshop, signaling for Lily glaring slightly at Remus.
"Ugh, COMING!" Lily shouts back, turning back to Remus,"I have to go, but I'll see you around yeah? You are going to Hogwarts right?"
"What- oh yeah," he says looking back at Lily.
"Ok great! See you then!!" she says excitedly darting away soon after.
When Remus comes home later that day he collapses onto his bed. Thoughts of everything he saw swirling around his brain. He's never had friends before, not really. He has his mum, and Mr. and Mrs. Paisley next door, but they're adults, it's not the same. He falls asleep thinking about Lily and how normal their short conversation was. Even though it was awkward and cut short, it was easy. The thought of having someone he knows is going through something similar to him is comforting as his eyes droop close.
"Remus, it's time to go!" he hears his mum say from outside the closed bathroom door, bringing him back to reality.
As Remus lets go of the sink, he quickly realizes how tight his was grasping it, hands tight and red. He glances at himself one more time in the mirror before departing and sees a drop of sweat beginning to trickle down his face. He wipes it away with the sleeve of his jumper and opens the bathroom door.
***
Sirius' fingers drum anxiously on the dinner table. He's barely touched his food and he honestly just wants to go to his room.
"Stop that obnoxious banging and sit up straight," says a violently sharp voice coming from his mother.
He does what he is told but still doesn't eat his food. A million different thoughts crowd his mind. He doesn't want to think about it. He can feel his brother's gaze on him and he looks up. Regulus quickly looks away and continues moving his food around with his fork.
"Eat your food boy," his father says.
"I'm not hungry," Sirius mumbles.
"What?"
"I said I'm not hungry," he repeats slightly louder.
"Eat your food or go to your room. If you choose the second option, I had better not catch you out of there until you are summoned in the morning," his mother snarls.
"Yes mother," Sirius says, getting up from the table, placing his folded napkin beside is full plate.
He doesn't know why he still gets scared when his parents yell at him like that. He should be used to the way their voices cut through and shatter every barrier he has put up. He shouldn't be filled with that cold and empty feeling every time they so much as raise their tone. But those things still happen.
Hours later her hears footsteps from outside of his door.
"You can come in, Reg," he says.
The door creeks open and he sees the face of his little brother through the opening. He is instantly filled with happiness as Regulus makes his way to Sirius' bed and climbs right next to him, shoulders and legs brushing against each other. Sirius reaches his arms out and Regulus crawls into his lap, burying his face in the crook of his neck.
"Do you have to leave?" he hears Regulus struggle to say between whimpers.
"I told you, I'm going to write every day and I'll come home on Christmas, you won't even notice I'm gone," he tries, pulling apart from Regulus slightly to get a better look at him.
"But it won't be the same," he replies, closing the gap between them again.
This time Sirius just holds Regulus in his arms. He doesn't realize until years later how much he regrets letting go of his little brother. How much he regrets leaving him standing in the doorway as he drives off to the train station. How much he regrets leaving him alone.
***
James practically jumps out of bed the morning of and joyfully dances down the stairs, following the sweet smell of bacon. He can't stop smiling. He's tried and failed but the grin won't leave his face.
"Someone's quite excited this morning," he hears his mother say from the kitchen, filling a plate with bacon and bringing it over to the table.
"I wonder why," his father adds excitedly.
"Maybe because it's because I'm going to Hogwarts!! Only the greatest place on earth, besides the quidditch stadium, of course,"
"Oh of course" his mother says, settling down in her chair, across from James.
James has never actually been to Hogwarts before. He has heard absolutely brilliant stories though. How his mother and father met, and would sit by this massive lake with a huge squid the size of their house. How there were portraits everywhere, and ceilings that would change with the weather. James could hardly wait to go. He began to shove his breakfast down, too fast, he began to choke slightly.
"Ok, I think it's time to go then," his father begins, slapping his sons back,"Or I think he might explode,"
"Oh alright, just let me tell the elves we're going," his mother says.
James sprints to the front door, opens it and dashes to Peters house. Peter is James' best friend. They have known each other their entire lives and see each other practically everyday. Peter is already waiting for him on his front steps and James runs up and jumps on his back.
"I can't believe we're actually going!! Can you?! I mean, it's absolutely mad!!" James exclaims.
"Oi, get off," Peter mumbles through uncontrolled giggles.
"Come on boys, you can't miss the train-"
"Or we'll be locked out by a magic wall!!" James finishes for his father.
James grabs onto his father as they apperate to the train station.