Chapter 1
Remus let out a shaky breath as he stepped onto the train, the bustling crowd making it hard to move around. Remus’s hands were sweating quite a lot, his heart began beating faster the more and more he saw that the compartments were full. This continued for a bit to the point where Remus thought he would have a stroke. That was, until he arrived at a compartment with some friendly looking boys.
“Erm, hello.” Remus said, opening the compartment door.
“Hi!” A blonde haired boy said, an excited expression on his pale cherubic face.
“Hiya.” A black haired boy said. Well there were two black haired boys but one was paler.
“Hello, who are you?” The other black haired boy said, this boy had longer hair, it went slightly past his ears, he was the pale one.
“Erm, I’m Remus. Can I sit here?” Remus asked, a slight burning sensation coming to his ears.
“Sure. I’m Sirius.” The boy said, still looking at Remus with narrowed eyes.
“I don’t see why not. I’m James Potter, nice to meet you Remus.” The other boy said, Remus nodded a nod of acknowledgement shuffling over to the free spot.
“I’m Peter Pettigrew!” The blonde haired boy said, as he began drawing a figure on the fogged up window.
“So what house are you hoping to get into?” James asked, smiling.
“I dunno, I guess whatever fate has in store for me.” Remus said, feeling his nerves beginning to rise.
“Huh, do you know the criteria for each house?” Sirius asked, still looking warily at Remus.
“No, uh. What is it?” Remus said, before quickly adding on the last part. “The criteria.”
“Well the house of Gryffindor is for the brave and chivalrous.” James said, as he said that there were practically stars in his eyes. It wasn't hard to tell what house he wanted.
“Hufflepuff is for the loyal and just, Ravenclaw for the wise. I think. And Slytherin is for the cunning, which basically means that they’ll do anything to get what they want.” Sirius said, a slight hint of spite in his voice until it turned cheerful. “I hope to get into Gryffindor!”
“Me too! What about you Remus?” Peter asked.
Remus pondered over the choices for a few seconds, Hufflepuff seemed nice but Remus didn’t think that he truly fit the traits of the house, Gryffindor also seemed nice but Remus wasn’t very brave, he was chivalrous to some extent, but brave? Probably not. Ravenclaw seemed great and Remus thinks he's smart but to have be in a house that's dedicated to being smart either street or book. He would never be able to handle it. Slytherin seemed a little more along the lines of what Remus would like. He was cunning, and cunning was along the line of being smart so it would fit.
“Well maybe, Slytherin? It sounds pretty cool.” Remus said, he was going to say something else but he saw as the three boys froze. But Sirius stood out of the three, a clouded expression took over his face.
“Slytherin, huh.” Sirius muttered, all of a sudden Remus didn’t feel so welcome anymore. “What are you?”
“Pardon?” Remus asked.
“Muggleborn, halfblood?” Sirius asked. His dad warned him about people like this, people that care immensely about your blood status. “Because I know you’re not a pureblood.”
“I’m a halfblood, what's that gotta do with anything?” Remus prompted.
“Oh nothing, just heard they’re not very friendly to muggleborns.” Sirius said nonchalantly.
Something about Sirius didn’t sit right with Remus, maybe it was just in the moment. While Remus didn’t feel like Sirius was upset with him being a halfblood, something about Sirius struck him the wrong way.
“Well I don’t feel welcome anymore, I’ll leave you all alone. After all it's kind of obvious that you’re purebloods. So, I'm terribly sorry that I’m mucking up your air with the muggle blood running through my veins.” Remus spat, walking out. “Bloody pricks.”
The encounter left Remus in a sour mood, while he may have jumped to conclusions the three boys did nothing to try and tell him otherwise. Walking down the aisle of the train he quickly looked for an empty compartment until he stumbled upon one which only held one person.
“Hullo.” Remus said, opening the compartment door. The girl's head snapped towards the door, almost in alert but was slightly confused when she saw Remus. “Can I sit here?”
“Sure! I’m Lily Evans!” The girl said, her copper hair in a plait. Something about the presence of her calmed Remus down.
“I’m Remus Lupin, it's nice to meet you!” Remus said.
“It's nice to meet you too!” Lily said. “Are you excited? For Hogwarts I mean.”
“Yeah! Immensely, do you know much about the houses? I don’t.” Remus asked.
“Really? Are you a muggleborn?” Lily asked, this question felt a lot less like how Sirius asked his question.
“No, I’m a halfblood, dad’s a wizard.” Remus said, nodding. “He just doesn’t talk about it much.”
“I’m a muggle born. But my mum and dad were so happy for me when I got my letter.” Lily said. “My sister wasn’t very happy for me.”
“Oh I’m sorry.” Remus said. “I don’t have any siblings so I can’t imagine how that must feel.”
“It's fine! I’ve tried talking to her, I think I’m going to send her a letter.” Lily said. “I know most people don't ask this but would you like to be friends?”
“I would love to! Now tell me Lily, what house do you hope to get into?” Remus asked.
“I don’t know. Maybe Ravenclaw or Gryffindor! Although I would be against Slytherin.” Lily said.
The two eleven year olds continued chatting, swapping stories about their home lives, talking about their excitement for Hogwarts.
Remus wiped his sweaty palms on his robes, he was sweating buckets while waiting in line. If Remus was going to admit, the first time the hat started talking he almost had a stroke. It was bloody terrifying.
Sirius, just like he wished, got into Gryffindor. There were many scattered whispers the whole time he sat on the chair, Remus didn’t understand. All he knew was that the Slytherin table was very angry and that the Gryffindor table was ecstatic.
Then it was Lily’s turn and she sat on the stool for a short while until the hat finally yelled out, Gryffindor. Lily was ecstatic, a huge smile on her face as she sat down on the bench looking back at Remus and sending him a reassuring smile. A few more people passed by and then, all of a sudden, it was Remus’ turn. Walking up to the stool, he swallowed and sat down, the hat was placed on his head and all of a sudden a loud voice filled his head.
“Remus Lupin.” The hat tutted. “What an enigma you are, both parents are still alive and well. Ah! I see you are a mummy’s boy. After all Daddy hasn't been the same since the werewolf bite. Quite smart as well, but it's a hobby, studying. Ooh not many friends, but you’re quite likable. Quite the charmer.”
Remus froze as the hat continued talking.
“You have an interesting past, Remus Lupin. I’ll give you that. You are very strong, you go through a lot. Very, very, strong. That is where your bravery lies. I see you’re loyal in what you believe in, you’re loyal to your friends, albeit not having many of them. Or any. You’re very chivalrous, always keeping good manners, protecting those that can’t protect themselves, having mercy when others would not. Yet you are also very cunning Remus Lupin, you strive for what you want, no matter the costs.” The hat said. Remus shifted uncomfortably on the stool, feeling everyone’s eyes on him. It felt like hours had passed but in fact only a few seconds had. “You would fit in each house nicely, Remus Lupin but there's only one house that you’ll truly flourish in.”
After a few seconds, of the hat being silent it bellowed.
“SLYTHERIN.”
Remus hopped off the stool and relished in the cheering coming from the Slytherin table, once he got to the table he sat down next to someone who looked somewhat friendly. More people were being sorted and finally it was James’ turn. Remus swore that the second that hat touched his head it shouted Gryffindor.
Remus began eating, he took a sip from his pumpkin juice as he looked up, the sight he was welcomed to was surprising. The three boys he had met on the train were practically old news, but as he looked at the long haired boy it seemed that he didn’t stay out of their minds. Piercing blue eyes stared at him. A sort of challenge glowed in them. Remus quirked an eyebrow at the boy before going back to his dinner. He could feel his gaze still on him but Remus didn’t care, he could stare all he wanted. After all it was Remus that was somehow bothering Sirius, Sirius didn’t bother Remus at all. Just a mere prickling sensation.
Sirius continued staring at Remus throughout the whole of the feast. Remus would continue chatting with the boy sitting next to him, he’d keep up conversation for a couple minutes refusing to look in the direction of the Gryffindor table. But when he did he was continuously met with the sight of ice blue eyes.
Remus found it amusing, the longer he pretended not to care the more Sirius's eyes seemed to storm. His light blue eyes were stormy blue by the end of the feast. Although Sirius didn’t find it very amusing.
“No, I’m telling you that bloody prick was taunting me!” Sirius exclaimed, sitting on his bed.
“To be fair you kept staring at the bloke.” James said, shrugging his shoulders as he placed a photo on his nightstand.
“Yeah, he was trying to eat. I wouldn’t want to be stared at while I eat.” Peter said.
“No, no. It’s not because I was staring at him. He found it funny, I could tell.” Sirius said. “He was challenging me.”
“No mate, I don’t think he was.” James humored.
"He was. And I won't accept it." Sirius demanded.
Did Remus like his roommates? Not at all. He honestly hated them, but it seems that they didn’t like spending time in the dorm. They preferred to stay out in the common room much to the relief of Remus. He practically had the dorm all to himself. His roommates didn’t hate him, much to the relief of Remus.