Epiphany
Once the train stopped, the three boys barrelled into Remus trying to be the first one out the door. Quickly, Remus started following them. He found his way out of the train and on a path leading to a large gate. When the boys got around 4 feet away from the gate, the gate creaked and groaned as it slowly opened, letting the boys onto the grounds.
The moment Remus stepped foot onto the grounds, he felt euphoric. With his heightened senses from the bite, he feels everything 10 x stronger then most people. The feeling of magic was suffocating in the best way. The way magic smelled like fizzes and popping candy was delightful.
Remus suddenly stopped. A huge carriage was stationed right beside the four boys, towering over them. He felt compelled to get on it as it smelled strongly of magic and lollies.
Looking at the front of the carriage, Remus jumps out of fright. 2 big horrific looking horses are standing there, attached to the carriage. Stepping closer, he sees that the 'horses' are a magnificent black and have grey eye sockets, along with withering wings.
"Mate hurry up! We'll be the last there if you keep standing there like a idiot!" Peter exclaimed towards Remus.
Remus hurriedly got onto the carriage and sat down on the other side of James.
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James and Sirius wrestled to get off first when the carriage stopped, James won and Sirius sulked following after James.
Looking towards the animals one last time, Remus quickly stuck his hand out towards the closest one. The 'horse' was surprisingly quite gentle and nuzzled their head into his hand. Chuckling softly, Remus walked away and towards where the boys headed.
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Looking at Hogwarts up close was petrifying and incredibly daunting. The whole castle was filled with the intoxicating smell of magic.
"Come on, You haven't even seen the best thing yet!" James told him excitedly. The doors opened as if they had been requested to do so.
Following James inside the castle, he was confused as James twisted and on turned on basically every corridor, wondering how someone could remember such complicated pathways.
After what feels like eternity, James stops in front of two big looming golden doors. "This is the great hall, we eat here before class, for lunch and for dinner!" James informs.
Pushing open the doors, James bows and extends his hand as if to say 'you first'. Remus smiles whilst rolling his eyes and walks in beside James.
"By the way mate, you never told us your name." James tells him.
"Oh sorry, my names Remus Lupin." Remus says sheepishly, his welsh accent thickening in his embarrassment. All the while James has stopped walking and is staring shell shocked at Remus.
"You bloody git! You never said you were Welsh." James exclaims loudly.
Before Remus could reply, a stern Scottish voice speaks up. "Mr Potter, it is only the start of the term and you have already turned up late and also disrupting the sorting."
"Sorry Professor, i was just helping lovely Remus here! He was extremely lost and well... I couldn't just leave him." James tells her, sounding awfully cheerful for someone who just got scolded by a Professor.
The Professor looks doubtful before looking over at Remus. "You must be Mr Lupin, I'm Professor McGonnagal. Come over you are supposed to be sorted with the first years." She seems apologetic but Remus wasn't too sure, her tone wasn't easy to decipher.
Professor McGonnagal walked towards the small children in front of the 4 tables that held the 4 houses; Gryfinndor, Slytherin, Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw. Following behind her she told him to wait with the first years and walk towards the hat when his name is called. He nodded and she walked away.
A few other students names were called before:
"Lupin, Remus!"
Holding his breath, Remus shakily walked towards the stool. Sitting down, a old worn out hat was placed on his head.
"Well Well. You have a dark secret don't you, Mr Lupin?" A dark gravelly voice spoke in his ear. He jerked a little causing a few giggles to erupt from the first years.
"Don't worry, that is not what we're here for. Now where to begin.... You are very smart, maybe Ravenclaw-
"No no I don't believe so, you are very loyal and kind. Hm, you are a difficult one to place Mr Lupin.. I think I know what to do..."
Remus shut his eyes, this is the moment where he is told he doesn't belong. That he is too dangerous to be here.
"GRYFINDOR!" Cried out the Hat.
The students on the right side of the hall who were wearing gold and maroon burst into cheers and applause.
"Remus! Remus! Over here, Quickly!" James yelled over the top of everyone else.
Spotting him, Remus hurried over and took the empty spot next him.
"You guys both missed Petey here falling asleep on Marlene's shoulder during Dumbledore's speech, it was hilarious! Marlene was so mad because he drooled all over her shoulder so she moved away!" Cackled Sirius.
"Remus, you're in Year 6 aren't you?" Questioned James completely ignoring his laughing friend, earning a nod of confirmation. "Great! That means you're gonna be in our dorm." James smiled towards him.
Dread filled Remus. How was he going to keep his secret away from them? What would happened if they found out?
"Prongs, that's not as good as you think that is," Snorted Sirius, finally sobering up from his laughing fit. "What's that supposed to mean you git?" James said acting angry.
Then the 2 boys started wrestling each other, annoying a few of the older grades making them move over more.
Remus anxiously pulled at the sleeve of his uniform, he hoped that this year was going to be good.
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When the feast was over, all of the tables gradually left the hall (not including the first years, who were waiting to be lead to their dorms). James and his group got up, James waving at him to follow them.
So many corridors, and twists that left him dizzy. Remus was star struck when James led them all to a bunch of stairs, the stairs looked normal at first until they randomly started moving, making another way to another part of the castle.
"We have to be quick, otherwise the stairs will move us to the wrong path." James told Remus hurriedly.
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When they finally made it past the staircases, Remus saw a painting of a plump woman who was wearing a white gown and flowers on her head and all around her.
"Password?" She asked them shrilly.
"Caput Draconis" James replied confidently.
Seeming to have the password right, the lady opens like a door would, a tunnel in her place.
The boys all waled through the tunnel together, with Remus followed close behind.
"The Gryfindor common room," James informs him. The common room is covered in gold and maroon decorations, a fireplace on the right side with 2 couches on the sides of it. A record player is sitting over by one of the windows with a box of records under the small table that holds it. A chess board and 2 stools on either side of the table and board sit close to the record player.
"We're gonna show you the dorm, you can check this out later." James told him with a bright smile on his face.
James and the boys walk towards a staircase that is close to the fireplace. They walk up what seems like a thousand steps before James stops in front of a door.
"Behold-"
"Oh shut it James, just let us into the room you git." Sirius exclaims in exasperation, throwing his hands up to show his frustration.
James pouts but opens the door.
There are 4 beds, 2 on either side of the room. All have maroon covers, along with gold sheets.
"Your stuff should be on that bed," James points to the bed on the far right, "It's the one right next to Sirius'."
Remus nods and walks over and he sees that James was correct.
"Be glad that you don't have to sleep next to Pete over there, he snores like an elephant." Sirius tells him quietly with a smirk.
Remus snorts and Sirius' smirk gets wider.
"I'm gonna go to sleep guys, goodnight." Remus tells them, his accent thickening with tiredness. The others respond with "Goodnight!" and they go back to what they were doing.
Sirius looks shocked for a moment before he nods and walks away. Pointing to a door next to Peter's bed, he tells him "That's the bathroom you can changed in there."
Remus grabs his stuff and heads over to the bathroom, getting changed quickly. He goes back to his bed and falls onto it, the mattress is soft but firm (which is Remus' favourite kind). He closes the blinds, the moment his head hits the pillows (which are also so very soft and comfortable) he's out like a light.