A/N: So I've had an outline for a MWPP era story spanning their time at Hogwarts since I was fourteen. However, the notebook got tossed under my bed and did not resurface until I'd left home to attend university and that room flooded. I've kept the outline close by since last fall, but had to focus on school. This summer I had massive surgery and have been bedridden. I've hopefully made good use of the time by putting my outline onto a word processor and have the full first year written. Updates will likely be like waiting for a Harry Potter book to be released (for those who remember that anxiety)-so lengthy...but in complete years.

I'd like to apologize for the lack of chapter line breaks. They're on Ao3 (under my same username) as small pictures of the moon phases and won't post on FF.

General Disclaimer for This Work of Fiction: It's based off JKR's work of fiction

If anyone ever asked Lyall Lupin what his biggest regret was, it would be having had a kid. Because if he'd never had a son, then his wife would not have had a reason to go outside and look for him in the woods on the night of the full moon. Fenrir Greyback would not have ripped her throat out, and he would not have turned Remus into a monster. But if regrets and laments would make full moons less frequent, Lyall still would have a dead wife and cursed child. Because of this fact, Lyall Lupin was probably the only person who hated the full moon more than his son.

Of course, if Remus Lupin's father knew how to keep his temper in check, and had never angered a pack member of Fenrir Greyback, he'd still have a wife as well, and Remus would not have been bitten. But that is neither here nor there. The only thing Remus knows is it's his fault his mother's blood watered the grass in front of him that fateful night, and if he hadn't been playing outside, he would not have been bitten in the first place. So, at five years old, huddled in the corner of a cage at St. Mungo's, all Remus remembered thinking before the pain started was, "I'm sorry, Mum."

Remus woke with start. He'd seen this particular memory as a nightmare often enough, but was usually able to wake up just before the werewolf leapt at his mother. Other times, such as now, he was stuck inside his mind until the first transformation. His hair was plastered to his forehead from the summer heat. It was at least another hour until sunrise, but Remus peeled the sweat soaked covers off his thin frame and walked over to his bedroom window. He could see the moon beginning to set and would not get any more sleep this morning. So Remus padded quietly downstairs to begin breakfast porridge and eggs for him and his father. The latter was passed out on their single piece of living room furniture, a love seat that was once tan, and cradling a bottle of fire whiskey. There was a muggle radio next to him on the floor, but only static was softly coming across the speaker. Gulping and trying to be even quieter, Remus proceeded to make breakfast.

Later that morning, when Remus was standing at the counter eating his porridge and Lyall in his chair eating eggs, an owl interrupted the quiet by flapping through the door that was open (in an attempt to catch any breeze that may wander through the blistering cottage). The owl seemed to be feeling stifled too, and immediately dropped the letter in its mouth on the floor before exiting.

"You just gonna stand there? Hand it here," Lyall barked at Remus.

Setting his plate down on the counter, Remus went over and gasped at the seal, the Hogwarts crest.

"Father, it's Hogwarts!" Remus' heart thumped hard in his chest. He flipped the letter over and saw it had his name, address, and even his bedroom,Upstairs, Room on the Left. Was this the letter other eleven year olds were getting all across the United Kingdom? Or was it a nicety from Dumbledore, "Yes, we understand you're also eleven, Mr. Lupin, but unfortunately we can't accommodate any monsters in the castle. Sincerely, the Headmaster."

His father seemed to think it was the latter, "Why'd Hogwarts send a letter to someone who can't possibly attend? I said hand it over!"

Remus did as he was told and took a few steps backward while his father read the letter. He heard his father snort. Was that good or bad?

"Albus Dumbledore has gone mad," Mr. Lupin held three pieces of parchment and the envelope they were once enclosed in out to Remus. Remus flinched before stepping forward to grab them.

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

Headmaster: Albus Dumbledore (Order of Merlin, First Class, Grand Sorc., Chf. Warlock, Supreme Mugwump, International Confed. of Wizards)

Dear Mr. Lupin,

We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find enclosed a list of all necessary books and equipment, along with a note from the Headmaster regarding your particular situation in regards to your scholastic endeavours. Term begins on September 1. We await your owl by no later than July 31.

Yours sincerely,

Minerva McGonagall

Deputy Headmistress

Quickly changing order of the parchment so the aforementioned second letter from the Headmaster was on top, Remus continued to read:

Dear Mr. Lupin,

According to St. Mungo's records, I see you suffer from Lycanthropy. Because there have been no incidents regarding other humans or wizards recorded on file, I see no reason why you cannot attend school at Hogwarts this upcoming term. I have been working on arrangements to keep you and others safe during full moons with upmost discretion. Your professors and the matron, Madame Pomfrey, are willing to work with you around the lunar cycle so your academic performance will not suffer. I will discuss these safety arrangements at further length with you the morning before lessons start at 0700 in my office.

Eagerly Awaiting Your Owl,

Albus Dumbledore (Order of Merlin, First Class, Grand Sorc., Chf. Warlock, Supreme Mugwump, International Confed. of Wizards)

The pieces of parchment wrinkled from how tightly Remus was holding them. His father was right, Professor Dumbledore was mad to consider letting someone like him into an institution with hundreds of people he could potentially harm.

He looked up at his father, "Can I go?"

It wasn't until that moment Remus realized how badly he wanted to. He wanted to learn magic. He wanted to read more than the nine books in the house (two of which propped up the couch where a leg had fallen off). He wanted to get lost in a castle so immense that it needed its own postcode. He wanted to not cook for once. He wanted to meet other people his age. And for the first time, Remus wanted to spend time with anyone besides his father.

"What would you do with a N.E.W.T.s from Hogwarts? No one in the wizarding world hires monsters."

Remus pondered this because, until now, he thought no one in the wizarding world would want to teach a monster.

"I don't know," he answered honestly.

"I'm not paying for anything," his father replied, and Remus knew that meant yes, he was going, going to Hogwarts! He quickly pulled some ink and a dulled brown quill out of a kitchen drawer, ripped off the blank bottom half of his acceptance letter, and to begin a reply...

"Mum! We need to get my supplies from Diagon Alley!" James Potter whined.

Euphemia Potter looked up from the sheet of music notes she was writing, "James, I've told you, we have plenty of quills, cauldrons, and crystal phials. You already have a telescope and scale set that's never been used. All you really need is a wand."

"But I want new phials that aren't stained brown and yellow, also the elves told me about this really cool new ink that disappears after the intended recipient reads it. I know first years can't have brooms but I want to see the new Comet 220! And I want my own owl, not one of Tamatha's chicks! School starts in three days and I still don't have my wand..." While James paused for a breath his father, tall, mocha, and beginning to grey thanks to late parentage and recently appointed head Aurorship of the Potion Magick Division, walked in.

"Euphemia, are you really trying to deprive our son of the full first year experience?"

"Of course not, Henry," Euphemia addressed Fleamont by his middle name, "I simply don't—just been ignoring—oh Jamie, I don't want you to go! Only yesterday you were changing your morning milk into apple cider and now I'm not going to see you for a year!" Mrs. Potter put her sheets aside and hugged her son.

"Mum, gerroff!" muffled cries came from Euphemia's large bosom.

"And of course we'll get you an owl! One who's already had a chance to grow big and strong to bring us all the letters you're going to write from school."

James pulled away and straightened his eschewed glasses and squinted at his mother.

"Can I write you in ink that disappears?" James asked.

"What if I want to save your letters?"

James pouted.

"Write one letter to your father in that disappearing ink and one to me in regular."

James smiled.

"So can we go now?"

"Tomorrow James," Fleamont said, "I want to go too, but have an Auror meeting this afternoon and it will take a while to shop for all new supplies."

"Promise tomorrow?"

"Promise..."

"Deep breath, Pettigrew," a mousy boy shorter than James Potter whispered to himself. He had just finished closing his trunk and was about to haul it out the door and into his family's car to drive to King's Cross Station. He looked around. This would be the last time he saw his room for a while. His The Who poster was the only thing on the orange walls. His bed was made in equally orange sheets and a contrasting brown carpet lay underfoot. But his closet was devoid of clothing, as was his underpants drawer. He had a wand on the nightstand which hadn't been there the first eleven years of his life and he was still a little afraid to hold.

"Peter! Come on!" His much older sister, Jane, shouted from the driveway outside his window. She must've leaned over his mother and honked the horn at him.

Peter's lips quirked. He hauled the trunk off his bed and flicked the light switch off as he exited the bedroom.

He was going to Hogwarts, like his father had, like his sister had, though not his mother, she was muggle. He wondered if he'd be in Hufflepuff like they both were.

Mrs. Pettigrew pulled out of the driveway and was about to turn out of the neighbourhood when Peter shouted, "Blast! Mum, I forgot my wand!"

The vehicle turned around...

Sirius Black let go of his father's arm after they apparated onto Platform 9 ¾ to avoid the muggles on the other side of the barrier. After the two men took several synchronized steps forward, there was another crack behind them and his mother apparated where the two were standing moments before. His little brother, Regulus, was still holding onto their mother's arm with one hand and the other was on his black trunk emblazoned S. O. B. in silver on the side.

Sirius' initials made both him and his brother snicker behind their parents backs, both of whom didn't see any societal faux paux in their son's name.

Waves of people moved out of the way for this family who stood with proud peckers held higher than hippogriffs and emerald robes billowing behind them in train steam.

It was surprisingly easy for Sirius and Regulus to make it onto a train car where they found an empty compartment and, with teamwork from them both, hoisted Sirius' trunk into the luggage holder. The two hopped down from the train and went back to their parents.

"Okay, Sirius, your cousin Narcissa is in sixth year and a prefect, stick with her and you will have no issues fitting in with your new pupils," his father said seriously. Sirius's father didn't make any remark about other cousin, Andromeda, being Head Girl this year.

Looking up into his father's eyes with a dash of defiance so subtle it was easily missed, Sirius replied, "Yes, sir."

"Keep your grades high," Walburga Black nodded at her son.

Nodding back to her and throwing another small chin tilt at Regulus, Sirius turned to hop back onto the train. There were no hugs in the Black family. Affection, if it could be called that, was shown by bowing one's head.

As his knee was high to step back into the car, he heard two girls shouting near the barrier. Instead of politely ignoring a scene like he'd been taught to, Sirius turned his head and glimpsed a redhead and skinny brunette arguing. Both were wearing muggle attire.

Shaking his head, Sirius let his other foot leave the platform, and a smile cracked on his face...

Lily walked down the corridor with tears drying on her face. It's not that she was typically emotional, other than letting her temper get the better of her on occasion, but she just parted from her sister on awful terms. She hauled her trunk all the way to the back of the car, looking for Severus. However she didn't find him in any of the compartments.

A whistle blew and the train started moving under Lily's feet. Trying to keep her balance, she hurried into the compartment she was standing next to. Inside were two boys. Both had dark, black hair, but one was pale like Severus and the other dark tan and wearing glasses. They looked up when the door opened.

"Erm," What was she supposed to say? Both were already wearing robes! Was she supposed to change before leaving the house? She hadn't thought to ask Severus.

"What are those on your trunk?" the boy with glasses pointed at her dark purple trunk decorated with butterfly, flower, peace, and one smiley face sticker she got from her teacher for being top of the class in primary school.

"Um, stickers?" her voice didn't sound sure of herself.

"How do they work?" the other boy asked.

"Adhesive on one side," she shrugged her shoulders and sat in a corner while the two boys gawked before hoisting the trunk above their heads.

Lily was so lost in her thoughts she forgot her manners and didn't say, "Thank you." Though later she was glad she didn't say anything else to these boys because they would treat Severus so horribly...

The train was beginning to slow down and Severus realized Lily was still wearing her muggle attire.

"Would you like me to get your robes from those tossers?" he asked.

"No, ignore them," she replied, tugging on one of her plaits behind her back. Severus knew she did that when she got anxious.

"Don't worry, you can borrow one set of mine and return them. I even know a tailoring charm so they won't swallow you. We're almost there. When we get off take only your wand and head over towards the lake. We'll get put in Slytherin shortly after going inside..."

Remus sat anxiously in a boat with three other girls, approaching Hogwarts. It was hard to pick out details of the castle in the dark, but there were literally hundreds of windows lit up, not to mention torches on top of the turrets.

"Blimey," a girl with silver blonde hair sitting next to him said, "I've seen pictures in my parents' library, but never pictured it this, this, big!"

"Maybe we're just wee, Marlene," said a freckled redhead in a thick highland accent. Remus thought he'd heard her say her name was Mereen? Mirian? Mirin? That was it, Mirin and Marlene both sat with him on the train.

"Look over there!" the last girl, Amelia pointed.

The three of them were so busy looking up they didn't notice a large tentacle sticking out of the water. Marlene squeaked and Remus squinted. In the dim light of another boat, a girl with plaited red hair was reaching out her hand to shake the tentacle as if they were chums. He heard her giggle and someone else say, "Careful, Lily!" The tentacle waved to the boat behind that one before slipping back under the water.

When they got out of the boat, Remus tried to make himself look as presentable as possible. For the first time in his life, he felt self-conscious, like other children were judging his once-black-now kind-of-dark-taupe robes. Professor McGonagall seemed intimidating, but friendly. Mirin smiled as they entered the Great Hall and explained the tartan pattern of Professor McGonagall's robe. No one really cared, but it got their minds focused on something less daunting.

Upon entering the Great Hall, a drab brown wizard's hat could be seen resting on a stool. It looked out of place in a magic school until it started to sing:

I know I am raggedy

and a little worn at the seams,

but before you think me a talking tragedy,

let me give myself more esteem.

I know where is best for you to stay

for your seven years at Hogwarts

And those years will be fun and play

if you allow my brim to sort your thoughts.

You might belong in Gryffindor,
Where dwell the brave at heart,
Their daring, nerve, and chivalry
Set Gryffindors apart;

You might belong in Hufflepuff,
Where they are just and loyal,
Those patient Hufflepuffs are true
And unafraid of toil;

Or yet in wise old Ravenclaw,
if you've a ready mind,
Where those of wit and learning,
Will always find their kind;

Or perhaps in Slytherin
You'll make your real friends,
Those cunning folks use any means
To achieve their ends.

Remus tuned out the rest and thought about which house he'd like to be in. He thought he had a ready mind, maybe Ravenclaw? But if the rest of the house were geniuses, wouldn't that mean his secret was in more danger of being found out? The same went for Slytherin, if they were all truly cunning. He didn't have the nerve to be in Gryffindor, yet thought himself able to overcome hard circumstances, so Hufflepuff? But no, he wasn't just in the slightest, otherwise he wouldn't be here endangering other people. His father had often told him justice would be being put down. So where did he belong? His heart raced and his hands turned sweaty, what if there was no place for him here and Professor Dumbledore had to send him back home?

Professor McGonagall called out the first name, Arcuri, Bartolomeo and a lithe, tan, boy with a prominent nose walked bravely to the chair where she sat the hat on his head. The hall was quiet for a few moments (bar whispers that still came from the dinner tables) and then the hat shouted, "GRYFFINDOR!"

Sirius Black took a deep breath when Professor McGonagall called his name, he wasn't scared, nope, not in the slightest. He could, however, feel his cousins' eyes on him all the way from the Slytherin table. Chin up, he walked to the stool and felt the sorting hat get placed on his head. Instead of immediately shouting, "SLYTHERIN," like it had with Avery, Sirius sat there for several moments before a voice started to whisper in his ear. Or was it coming from inside his head?

"Another Black?" Sirius was startled, but was schooled to keep his features neutral. This hat could not hurt him—only decide his fate for the next seven years.

"But you're not like the rest, eh? Not even Andy."

Sirius knew the Sorting Hat took that nickname out of his head. Maybe he could give it some more to think about, "Not with them, not with Narcissa, not with Slytherin," the mantra continued in his head. What was he doing? His parents would be so disappointed. Father would probably blow a gasket. But this wasn't about what they wanted. It was about him for once. No muggleborns made it into Slytherin. He actually found that Lily girl's stickers and blue denim trousers kind of cool.

The mantra inside of his head continued with the hat's voice.

"I sense a rebel, and a fierce loyalty. Hmm...your own brand of chivalry. I declare, here you will go and here you shall stay, GRYFFINDOR!" The last part reverberated around the silent room. Someone began to clap. Sirius stood up and began to descend the stairs and caught Andromeda's equally grey eyes. She was clapping and smiling. He didn't focus on Narcissa's scowl and look that said, "Your parents are so going to hear about this."

More clapping broke out from behind him, "Whoo! Yeah, Sirius!" It was James Potter.

Slowly, a quiet clapping broke out from his new house. He found a huge gap in the middle of the table where most of the new students were probably expected to sit since they didn't know anyone yet.

"I say, good job carving your own path," a round faced boy with a prefect badge pinned to his robe looked down at him. "Frank Longbottom," a hand was extended.

"Black, Sirius—er, Sirius Black," he shook the prefect's hand. Longbottom. That was a pureblood family. Blood traitors, sure, but this man would have known what a big deal it was for Sirius to not be sorted into Slytherin. And here he was accepting him.

While Sirius was getting acclimated to his new house, several more people were sorted. The Bones twins were placed in Hufflepuff. Another girl with curly blonde hair and freckles decorating a beaky nose, "Brown, Kathryn," was sorted into Gryffindor, and another set of twins were sorted into Slytherin. Another girl who was dark and portly, Catchlove, Greta, was being sorted into, "GRYFFINDOR!"

"Dobson, Eddard!" Remus pulled himself out of his thoughts to watch one of the quiet boys who sat in his compartment on the train get sorted. The butch blonde made his way to the stool and got placed in, "GRYFFINDOR!" Remus smiled. Dobson was quiet on the train, but looked like he could slay a dragon in a few years if he wanted to.

"Evans, Lily!"

"Go on," Sev whispered in her ear. Lily had to mentally tell her chicken legs to move, one foot in front of the other. Oh, God, everyone's watching me. What if I'm not really a witch? Books flying off shelves were a mistake, she'd just been reading too much C. S. Lewis...the dirty hat, does this ever get washed? drooped over her forehead and eyes.

"Of course I get cleaned!" a voice declared in her head.

She expected to hear it call out, "SLYTHERIN!" like Severus had prepared her for. But no, it called, "GRYFFINDOR!" and unlike that Black boy, the entire group of first years seemed to clap. All except one person who stared sourly through unwashed black locks.

"This takes longer and longer every year," another fifth year across from Frank complained.

Since then, a stocky ginger boy who everyone thought was a Prewitt, but was actually muggleborn, "Green, Thomas," and a dark girl with curly hair and brown eyes so light they looked gold in the candle light, "Hampton, Virginia", had been the only two sorted into Gryffindor.

"At least it looks like less than a hundred this year," Frank said, "That's how many are in my class," he explained to the first years on his left.

"Lupin, Remus!" Professor McGonagall called off her list. Sirius watched a thin boy with with robes that could barely be called black make his way to the stage.

"There's a nice lad," Dobson said in a nasal voice.

"Where should I put you, werewolf cub? I see lots of bravery in here, and potential for learning."

Remus didn't think he was brave in the slightest. His knuckles were white from gripping the side of the stool so hard, even though the hat explained it couldn't discuss any of the thoughts in his head with anyone besides Remus himself.

"But you are brave, and chivalrous, and have more nerve than most of the seventh years—GRYFFINDOR!" Remus let out a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding and smiled. He'd spent so much time trying to place himself, but after hearing the hat's decision, a huge weight was lifted from his shoulders. He made his way to the table and sat between Eddard and Sirius Black, both of whom were clapping for him.

"Guess we're roommates then," Sirius looked at Remus and Dobson.

"Not necessarily, the castle provides two, sometimes even three rooms to accommodate the new boys each year," Frank said while picking something out of his teeth.

"My G-d, I'm so hungry!" the student across from him complained again. By now all the upperclassmen had ceased watching the ceremony and were talking amongst themselves, only clapping when someone was sorted into their own house. "Think anyone would notice if I scarper to the kitchens?"

"I would," Frank admonished.

The angsty teenager banged his head on the table.

Smiling, Remus clapped as one of the girls from his boat ride, Marlene McKinnon, was sorting to Gryffindor house. After her, a girl with mousy hair and a long face was sorted into Gryffindor.

"All right, Dorcas!" Marlene waited for her to catch up and they sat together at the table.

A short girl with two blonde plaits, "Paus, Lucienne" was sorted into Gryffindor.

Another quiet boy from Remus' car called Peter Pettigrew (it was a silent train ride aside from telling each other names and eating jelly babies), who looked more mousy than Dorcas Meadowes, walked to the stool and got sorted into Gryffindor.

"That was better than I thought it would be," Peter said when he sat next to Marlene and Dorcas, "All my family's been in Hufflepuff, though."

"Mine've always been in Ravenclaw," Marlene waved off, "And Blacks have always been in Slytherin, so I guess this is the year misfits get placed in Gryffindor instead of Hufflepuff—no offence, she added to Peter."

Sirius snorted while Remus thought, misfits indeed.

Finally, finally! It was James' turn. He swaggered to the stool confident he was going to be in Gryffindor with Black. The hat let out a little snort when placed on his head.

"Alright, Potter, quit thinking about all the times you were extraordinarily brave at home. Yes, I see the time you were bitten by a gnome and didn't cry. Good job pranking the house elves with sugar in the salt bin...GRYFFINDOR!"

"YES!" James shouted and threw his hands above his head. He left the stool with the hat still on his head and he could hear Black laughing when it said, "RETURN ME PLEASE!"

"Sorry, Professor," James said when he handed it back to Professor McGonagall. He saw her lips twitch in a small smile.

"Oh, that was fantastic," the hungry fifth year exclaimed.

James let himself bow before saying, "Budge up, please," to the Lupin kid so he could sit next to Sirius.

"Told you I'd break tradition," Sirius told him.

"I'll say," James replied.

The rest of the students who joined Gryffindor were:

Mirin Russell (Remus and Marlene clapped loudest)

Cari Schmidt, a buck toothed girl with a small face and, "Does she have only one arm?" James Potter said tactlessly. Yes, indeed, Cari Schmidt did have nothing below her elbow on her right side.

Kingsley Shacklebolt

and

Sakhy Shafiq

After Shafiq was "Snape, Severus," and Lily leaned forward. Maybe Severus wouldn't be put in Slytherin either.

But he was, and her face dropped. An older boy with platinum blonde hair tied back in a pony tail patted Severus on the back when he joined the Slytherin table.

When the last girl was sorted, Albus Dumbledore stood to speak, "Let the feast begin!" He clapped and food appeared on the tables.

"Gott sei Dank!" the boy across from Frank melodramatically raised his hands in thanksgiving.

Remus had never seen so much food in his life. He reached forward to cut off a slice of roast beef and-"ow" he hissed and drew his hands away. All the dishes and utensils seemed to be plated in silver. His stomach rumbled and he mentally told it to shut up. "All right, Lupin?" James Potter asked with a face full of turkey.

"Yeah, not feeling great after the train ride," he lied easily. Remus did however, pick up a slice of bread (no butter, he eyed the knife warily) and nibbled on that. There was also corn on the cob he could eat.

A ghost's head popped out of the peas and Lily shrieked because, a ghost!

"Hello, first years," he greeted with a smile and drew himself out to full-bodied height. "I am Sir Nicholas de Mimsy Porpington and you lads and lasses have the pleasure of residing in my once house!" he declared proudly.

"That's Nearly Headless Nick," James whispered to Sirius.

Peter heard and asked softly, "Why not Headless Nick?"

"Because it's only held on there by a little flap of skin," James explained.

"Pardon yourselves, I'm right here!" Sir Nicholas said agitated.

"Can I see?" Cari asked excitedly in a mild Yorkshire lilt.

For a second, the ghost looked like he was going to respond rudely. But then his eyes wandered to Cari's droopy right sleeve and he smirked, "Of course, m'lady!" He grabbed his hair and yanked nearly his entire head to the side.

Lily dropped her fork and lost her appetite.

"Gross," Dorcas whispered.

"See you around the castle," Sir Nicholas floated away to join some older students and enjoy their company.

"Looking a little green there, Evans. One might say, pea green," James said.

Side-eying him strongly, Lily kept her mouth shut because for once, she didn't want to open her mouth in anger for fear of vomiting.

"Welcome scholars old and new!" Dumbledore spread his arms wide after the students had time to eat, "A few reminders for you and a notice for first years: The Forbidden Forest is exactly that, Forbidden, as is the new Whomping Willow tree on the grounds if you wish to not be whomped, and lastly, Professor Slughorn's asked me to jolt your memories to the fact the Slytherin showers need to have an air drying spell cast every other day to keep mould from growing. Also, we have a new professor on our staff!-

"This happens every year. The Defence teachers can't keep their job more than a year," Shafiq said to Dobson.

"I heard it's cursed," Peter said.

"Let's give a warm round of applause to Professor Robert Cross!"

A tall, wizened man with only one whole finger and a thumb on his left hand stood up and glanced around the room while the hall clapped politely. Most people were trying to stuff dessert into their robes.

A few minutes later, Frank stood up along with a brunette with short, spiky hair and said, "First years, follow us please!"

Remus stood up with everyone else and followed Mirin and Lily's red hair out of the hall. After the fourth turn he got discombobulated to the direction of the Great Hall. They began to climb stairs and the girl said, "Watch this one here! It's a trick step and we really want to go to bed, not spend the rest of the night getting you lot unstuck!"

"Alice means that in the nicest way possible!" Frank said.

Remus had no problem getting his long legs over the step. After a few more staircases, their group stopped in front of a portrait of a busty lady in attire from the early 1800s, "Hello, Mr. Longbottom, Miss. Smith," she greeted in a sing-song voice.

Alice nodded while Frank explained, "This is the entrance to the common room, Fireweed," he spoke and the portrait opened to an entirely separate room.

Again, Remus had no trouble getting through the portrait hole with his long legs. James on the other hand, had to receive help from Sirius. After noticing Peter experiencing some difficulty, Remus lent a hand and nearly picked the poor boy up off the ground.

"Wow, you're s-strong," Peter admired while James said, "Watch your bollocks!" to the other boys beginning to climb through the hole.

"Here we have the common room. Exciting, I know," Frank said tiredly. "The boys dormitories are up the stairs to the right, ladies, on the left. Alice will take you there. Lads, follow me."

Remus followed Frank up the stairs to a landing that had a door upon which was inscribed First Years and underneath had little placards containing the names: Bartolomeo Arcuri, Eddard Dobson, Thomas Green, and Sakhy Shafiq.

Several feet down there was another door with his name, along with, Sirius Black, Peter Pettigrew, James Potter, and Kingsley Shacklebolt. At least he was going to be rooming with Peter.

"Roommates!" James fisted the air and asked Sirius for a high five, holding a hand up.

Sirius jumped, but swiped his hand against James' and into the air. Several boys laughed.

"What?" Sirius asked.

"Don't worry, I'll teach you how to high five, also how to sneak toads into trousers," James promised.

These two boys would be rooming with Remus and he didn't know what to feel about that besides utter vigilance.

Lily looked around her new room. She tried to remember everything Alice had told them, "Breakfast is 0730 to 0800, lessons start at 0815. If I can get up early enough I'll help you get there, if not, help each other. I recommend taking your school supplies for the entire day with you because first year you don't have any free periods to come back to your rooms. Wear your wizard caps to lessons the first week or so, then about five of you get together with friends from other houses and decide on a day to stop. Professors can't take house points away from everybody for dress code violation and then you'll only have to wear them at feasts so everyone looks uniform. In my first year the far left toilet tended to bring things up instead of down; be careful." She would be sharing the large room with Marlene McKinnon, Ginny ("Do not call me Virginia") Hampton, Kathryn Brown, and Cari Schmidt.

She had never had to share a room with Petunia and now here she was with four roommates. She had shared a washroom before. There was one in here with four showers and four toilets that connected both first year girls' halls of residence.

But they seemed nice enough. Before going to bed, they all sat on their mattresses with crimson curtains left open and talked.

"So where's everybody from?" Cari asked.

"Surrey," Lily replied.

"Manchester," Kathryn said, laying down.

"Nottingham," said Ginny.

"London," Marlene answered last, "D'you live with muggles or wizards? Lily's obviously muggleborn."

Lily didn't know how to respond to that while Ginny said, "Really? We're talking about our blood?"

"I'm just curious," Marlene shrugged. "I really liked the denim trousers I saw Lily walk by in on the train and haven't had the chance to be around muggles often."

"Well, I'm half-blood," Cari said, "because both my parents are".

"Same," Ginny said, "Mum's pureblood and Dad's muggle."

"My mum's a pureblood, but my dad's a half-blood, so I know about some muggle things," Kathryn twirled her hair.

"May I ask?" Kathryn gestured with a hand to the spot where Cari didn't have one and blushed. "Sorry, that was rude of me."

"No, it's fine," Cari waved her off, "I got in a car accident four years ago. Lucky I'm left handed." She then had to proceed describing what cars were to Marlene when she asked.

An hour later, the girls were laying in their beds with curtains still open. Kathryn had just fallen asleep and Cari continued to ask questions, "What subject are you looking most forward to?"

"Charms," Marlene said.

"Ollivander said my wand would be good for charms, so I'm guessing that, too," Lily yawned and closed her eyes.

"Flying lessons," How 'bout you, Car? Ginny began to fade out.

"I think Defence will be—" Lily couldn't remember anymore after that.

Across the tower, both rooms of first year boys had been asleep for two hours.

Remus was hopelessly lost. He'd left his room at half past six in hopes that would be enough time to find the headmaster's office. But now it was surely past seven. Remus was hopelessly lost. Maybe on the fourth floor. He couldn't tell. Why wasn't there a map on his acceptance letter?

Sir Nicholas found him on a third floor (not fourth) corridor and not only gave him directions, but offered to walk him there himself.

"Thank you so much, sir," Remus followed him to a statue where Sir Nicholas said, "This is where I must leave you. I do not know the password."

"But—neither do I!" Remus exclaimed.

"Hmm, a moment please," and the ghost disappeared through the ceiling.

"The headmaster wishes me to tell you he's fond of candy wands. Good day, Mr. Lupin," and he disappeared down the hall.

What was that supposed to even mean? Candy wands? OH, "Licorice Wands," he said and the statue began to move and reveal a staircase. Remus would have to thank James for sharing Licorice Wands and an assortment of other sweets with him last night. This gave everyone in the room a twenty minute sugar high, but put everyone to sleep within thirty.

After reaching the top of the stairs, Remus walked over to the most imposing door and knocked. A soft, "Come in," replied.

Remus walked in and saw the Headmaster in all his wizened glory that he had seen the night before. With him was his Head of House, Professor McGonagall, and a young woman with rosy cheeks and brown hair pulled back into a bun like Professor McGonagall's.

"Thank you for coming, Mr. Lupin," Professor Dumbledore said.

"Thank you for letting me!" It was after he said this Remus realized the headmaster probably meant coming to his office, not the school.

Professor Dumbledore's eyes twinkled and he continued talking, "Certainly. This is Madame Pomfrey and Professor McGonagall. Poppy Pomfrey is our school matron who will take care of you in the days before and after the full moon."

"I can't transform in the hospital wing!" Remus exclaimed.

"Definitely not," Professor Dumbledore continued, "This summer, with the combined efforts of Professors Sprout and Cross, I had a Whomping Willow placed on the grounds. On the evenings there's a full moon, Minerva will lead you to the base of the tree, paralyse it with a long branch, and lead you through a tunnel to a safe house. There you can transform and after sunrise Poppy will come heal you and bring you back to the hospital wing. Your first moon here is coming up, isn't it?"

"The 5th," Remus replied automatically, he was only beginning to feel the effects it's pull.

"Do you have any questions, Mr. Lupin, any at all?" Professor Dumbledore asked.

Yes, why was someone going to heal him after he transformed? Wait, it was so no one could tell he was a dark creature. There you go again, Remus, answering your own question.

"No, sir," he answered, embarrassed and not meeting the Professor's eye.

"Jolly good then, Minerva can escort you to your first lesson, which is with her."

Remus knew that, he had his entire timetable memorized by heart, even if he didn't know where the lecture hall was. He walked down the stairs and down the corridors silently. Neither person talked. However, Remus could feel Professor McGonagall looking at him with pity. Madame Pomfrey had too. He wondered why anyone would look at him in such a way. There was no reason for pity.

He sighed and began taking note of what his surrounding looked like so hopefully he could find the lecture room again.

Two minutes later, they were standing in front of a classroom door. It was by a picture of a calico cat with its tail curled around a vase of flowers. He should probably remember that.

"Here we are then," Professor McGonagall turned the handle and opened the door to a classroom of about six students, one of whom was Remus' roommate, Kingsley.

"Everyone's late the first two lessons; then I start handing out detentions," she whispered and...did she just wink at Remus?

"Hello scholars! Let's give everyone a few more minutes to arrive, shall we? I do not wish to give my lecture twice!"

While she strode toward the front, Remus took a seat at a table for two in the second row. He'd read once that people who sat in the first two rows generally did better in school.

The door opened again and Lily, Cari, and Ginny came jogging in, out of breath, with books tucked under their arms. Two dark figures and one light came running in the still open door and bumped into the three girls. Lily and Cari fell into the desks while Sirius and Peter grimaced. James bent over and asked Lily, "Need a hand?"

"Not from you!" she stood up after collecting her books.

"Why'd you bring all your books, Evans, right?" Black asked her.

"Do you seriously think there will be time between lessons to find the Gryffindor tower again?"

She smoothed her hair down and looked around the room. Not turning around, Professor McGonagall spoke from the blackboard where she was writing, "Would you six please find a seat?"

Cari and Ginny took seats close to the door and the back of the room, as did Potter and Black. Pettigrew sat next to a dark skinned boy she remembered from the sorting. She wanted to sit near the front, but not the first row. She didn't want to seem to eager. So she walked next to the Lupin boy, whose eyes were still wild from watching the kerfuffle, and whispered, "Mind if I sit here?"

"Go ahead," Remus actually stood up and pulled the chair out for her to sit down. Neither one of them noticed the glare James Potter was sending their way. The two of them sat while the back of the class talked. Remus tapped his quill against the table.

Lily searched for something to say, "Did you know students who sit toward the front of the classroom tend to do better in those lessons?"

Remus looked over her way and said, "Yeah, I read that in a book, don't know if it's actually true."

"My Dad's a psychologist and always told me to sit in the front of my peers in primary school. What does your Dad do?"

"Nothing," Remus said quietly. He didn't think gambling and drinking counted as a profession.

Several more Gryffindors trickled in.

Biting her lip, Lily searched for something else to say, "Are only Gryffindors in this lesson?" She had hoped to have lessons with Severus.

"According to the timetable," Remus replied.

Lily pulled the aforementioned parchment out of the front cover of her Transfiguration book. Yes, Transfiguration was with Gryffindors only. But Potions and Defence Against the Dark Arts were with Slytherins, while History of Magic was with Ravenclaw. Charms was Gryffindors only again. Flying lessons were later with Slytherin and then again on Friday with Hufflepuff; alternating that way until Christmas Holidays. She turned her chin up and looked at the ceiling, thinking about how she'd hardly ever get to see Sev. Potions was a lesson where she'd have to make sure to sit next to him.

"Your attention, please!" Professor McGonagall began the lesson and Lily pulled out a blank piece of parchment to take notes on. Gripping a quill was more difficult than a pencil, but she managed. There was a formula for basic Transfigurations on the board:

t= (wc)/(va) * Z where t equals the transformation, w is wand power, c is concentration, a is bodyweight, and v is viscosity, multiplied by an unteachable Z variable of inner magic.

Lily could do pre-algebra, why should this be any different?

James was disappointed to learn he wouldn't be doing any spells today in Transfiguration. The whole class was Professor McGonagall explaining the dangers of the subject and getting the formula for proper transformation exactly balanced. Lucky for him, the next lesson was Charms and they would be doing actual magic in that lesson.

Professor Flitwick explained what charms were and how they worked, but thought a practical lesson was the way to go for a first lesson. Flitwick flicked his wand and several large down feathers moved from his desk to rest in front of each student. The hand motion was a swish and flick of the wrist.

"Wingardium Leviosa!" Sirius commanded his feather, concentrating hard. It began to float upwards, second in the class only to Lily Evans. He knew what his parents would say, he was outdone by a mudblood. Lily did it on her second try and was obviously talented. Sirius didn't let that bother him, James was still trying.

"It moved!" He cried.

"Sorry mate, you're breathing ruffled the ends," Sirius sniggered.

"Damn," James cursed. Kathryn Brown turned around and attempted to chastise him for cursing.

"Turn around or I'll show you real curse words," Sirius said. Shocked even greater, she turned around. "Try—" his suggestion was drowned out by Lily exclaiming, "Good job, Remus!"

"Try sitting next to Evans," Sirius shrugged.

"No, she's friends with that greasy Slytherin," he flicked before swishing, "Besides, she doesn't like us."

"Lupin, then, he'll tell you what her trick was."

"What was your trick?" James asked.

"I wanted the feather to float, so it did. Pettigrew looks constipated."

"Maybe I got a bad wand," James said.

"Blaming external factors is an incredibly self-serving bias," a voice drifted from in front of them. He must have spoken louder than he thought for Evans to hear.

Looking up from his feather to glare at her head, he tried the spell one more time, "Wingardium Levi-OSA!" The feather shot up towards the ceiling and came to a rest on one of the stacks of books surrounding the room.

"Good job, mate," Sirius said proudly.

The next lesson of the day was potions, and Peter was dreading it. Everyone in his family said it was extremely hard, and if he couldn't cook a pot of noodles he definitely couldn't brew a potion. Worst of all, it was the lesson before lunch, and Peter was too hungry to pay attention to Professor Slughorn.

This was the first lesson where a professor assigned partners and Peter was with a Slytherin named Snape who worked quietly, threw glances at Lily Evans, and told Peter to keep his paws off the ingredients because he would just ruin everything. Peter didn't argue and got full marks for the first assignment before dashing to the Great Hall.

Lily let her partner, Dorcas, turn in their potion so she could go talk to Severus. When they saw each other, both smiled.

"How's your first day going?" he asked.

"Great!" She practically jumped. "Charms was great and potions is just like baking!"

"If your potion's any good Professor Slughorn will probably ask you to join the Slug Club. Lucius Malfoy told me this potion is really a test to see who would make good recruits," he continued to explain to her what the Slug Club was. However, both of them could feel the tension of not being sorted into the same house. Unfortunately, there wasn't time for the two of them to discuss the pressure in the air.

"On the first day of school, the Owl Post comes at lunch instead of breakfast," Severus said randomly.

"I'm having a bit of difficulty tracking your thoughts," Lily giggled. He shrugged and told her he was going to lunch and he'd see her later. He was half way up the dungeon stairs when someone said, "Wingardium Leviosa," and Severus' trousers hiked up his back and gave him a mighty wedgie.

"Nice, James," Sirius gave his friend a high five according to the protocol they had established before bed the previous evening.

"Sev!" Lily gasped. Her friend's typically pale face was blushing.

"Get stuffed," Severus said to the boys below him.

"Aww, are you snivelling and crying there, Snivellius?" Sirius mocked.

"You are both horrible human beings!" Lily screeched and left with her friend.

Remus sat by Peter at lunch; across from James and Sirius. Today, there were sandwiches which he could easily pick up without touching his utensils. He ravenously ate two and was starting on a third when he caught Sirius staring at him. He could feel heat rising to his cheeks, but while he slowly began to put the morsel back, Sirius said, "Don't stop—I want to see between you and Peter who can eat the most." So Remus continued to eat, but he only nibbled so the food would last longer like at home.

When Remus was halfway done with his meal, a screeching sounded overhead. He looked up.

"Oi, it's the Owl Post!" James said. "Crap, would one of you lads remind me to write a letter to my parents before bed?"

Nodding his head in affirmation, Remus didn't look away from the parliament of owls descending their feathery bodies into the middle of their table's food.

Two letters were dropped in front of Sirius, who muttered, "Cor blimey, that was quick," before staring across tables at the Slytherins.

One of the letters began smoking, "Well, shite, she's sent me a Howler."

"Your mum?" James asked.

"Who else?"

"Mate, you need to open it. M-my sister let one sit from her ex last summer...it only howled l-louder when it had to open itself," Peter said quietly.

Sirius reached a hand forward and flicked off the wax seal. Remus jumped when Walburga Black's voice came shrilly forth:

SIRIUS ORION BLACK!

WHAT IS THE MEANING OF THIS LETTER YOUR COUSIN SENT TO ME?

"SORTED INTO GRYFFINDOR WITH A LOOK OF UPMOST DEFIANCE ON HIS FACE!"

HOW DARE YOU DISOBEY US! UPON RECEIVING THIS LETTER YOU WILL MARCH STRAIGHT INTO THE HEADMASTER'S OFFICE AND DEMAND A RE-SORTING! I WILL NOT HAVE YOU SPENDING THE NEXT SEVEN YEARS IN A HOUSE OF BLOOD-TRAITORS AND MUDBLOODS WHO WILL BESMIRCH THE NOBLE HOUSE OF BLACK'S NAME! DISOBEY YOUR FATHER AND I TWICE AND YOU WILL RECEIVE PUNISHMENT MOST SEVERE UPON RETURNING HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS!

The letter burst into flame.

"Sirius," James whispered while placing a hand on his friend's shoulder. Sirius flinched and began to open his next letter.

"I's from Reg," he mumbled.

Sirius did not read the letter out loud, but Remus heard him mutter, "Shite, you're a lil' late here, brother."

The entire hall was mostly silent for the rest of lunch, though Remus didn't really understand why. Surely other students got letters from parents?

At the other end of the table Virginia—Ginny, had a letter dropped in front of her, and, to her surprise, so did Lily.

"My brother Lawson's been accepted into the Auror program!" she said giddily. "He had some trouble on his N.E.W.T.s last year, but I knew he'd still get in, he's a fantastic dueller."

"Congratulations," said Lily.

"Well, aren't you going to open your letter?" Ginny asked.

"Right," Lily's heart fluttered at receiving mail. It made her feel special and well, witch-y.

It was a letter from Severus saying he went to the Aviary and used an owl so she could get a letter on her first day. On the second line, he suggested they meet after supper outside the main doors to talk.

Check Yes or No if this works for you. And then there were two squares below for her to check. Pulling out a quill, she filled in the "Yes." The owl which remained next to her throughout her reading picked up the piece of parchment and inconspicuously joined the parliament still flying around before landing at the Slytherin table. It must be used to Hogwarts students sending secret notes to each other.

Lily was still smiling when a shrill yelling began down the table.

"Hey, Potter?" Remus whispered while they sat early at a table for four in the immense Defence Against the Dark Arts classroom while waiting for their professor.

"Yeah, Lupin?" James looked away from Sirius.

"Why was the entire student body except the snickering Slytherins disconcerted with the contents of Sirius' howler?" he didn't know who else to ask.

"Because his mom called muggleborns—you know whats."

"I didn't know that was a bad word," Sirius mumbled, "But I should've known with the tone of voice my mother uses it."

"It's more than a bad word...it's something one never ever uses in polite society," James tried to explain.

Sirius ran his hands through his hair and put his elbows on the desk.

"Like using t-the N-word or talking about what the septic aristocrat T-Trump is doing," Peter piped up.

"Okay, I believe I understand everything in the correct context now."

"You're a right funny bloke, Lupin," Sirius said.

"What do mean by—" at that moment Professor Cross strode into the room and all those who had their books on desks found their volumes magically flip to page 37.

"Where d'ya think his fingers went?" James asked, oblivious to the rest of the first years nearly bouncing off their arses in surprise.

"One went to an angry hippogriff, and the other two Grindewald, four weeks before Albus Dumbledore duelled him, Mr. Potter."

"So you fought the darkest wizard of our time? That's so cool!" James said. Here he was, in the presence of someone who fought dark magic like his father did. He wondered if they knew each other. Now he had something good to put in his letter this evening.

"Mr. Potter, I suggest shutting your mouth now," Professor Cross said.

James paused his swinging legs below the desk. Cross had a powerfully commanding voice.

"Hey, Lupin, might I share your book? I thought I'd get mine after lunch but didn't have time to because—"

Lupin didn't say anything, just slid his opened book over and James stopped talking.

"Great, thanks!"

After Defence, James practically ran to the Quidditch pitch (of course, this was after he found his way out of the castle). Sirius jogged along side him. Peter tried to keep up but couldn't. Remus walked.

James laughed with Sirius until he saw Virginia Hampton and Evans run by. Both had hair in plaits that trailed behind them.

"Alice said there are only seven Cleansweeps! The rest are Silver Arrows!" Hampton called over her shoulder.

James and Sirius began to actually run.

Lily and Ginny arrived first; out of breath. Poor Severus hadn't been able to keep up, but Lily hadn't run flat out with people her own age since the annual race in primary school. She hadn't cared when Ginny told her and Severus there was a limited number of Cleansweeps, only that she got to run so far and fast that now her sides were in stitches. It felt fantastic.

Sirius beat James because of his slightly longer legs, but had to stop running once he reached the pitch. With more stamina, James ran to the middle in order to position himself next to a Cleansweep with Hampton. His Dad had taught him how to fly last year on a Silver Arrow, but James knew that was because they were slower and safer.

As soon as Madam Hooch told students to position their right hands over the brooms and command them, "UP!" (Cari stood on the end to use her left and not accidentally have two brooms fly up.), James' shot up immediately. So did Hampton's, he noticed. Then Sirius' picked itself off the ground. Snivellius' reluctantly left the ground. James couldn't blame the broom. Remus and Peter had to pick theirs up.

Hooch had them start off by kicking off the ground, hovering, then touching back down. James thought that was naff and shot five meters off the ground and flew in a circle before coming back down.

"POTTER, FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONS!" he was reprimanded.

"Yeah, Potter, follow instructions," Hampton smirked at him.

"Oh, what do you know? Girls can't fly as well as boys!" James rebuffed.

"Excuse me?" She was affronted.

"It's true! Your girly bits make the broom unbalanced and—" he didn't have a chance to finish his sentence because there was only a slight breeze left where Hampton was a second before. He watched her do loops and swerves before Hooch cried,

"HAMPTON!"

"Sorry, Madame Hooch," she said cheekily while landing. "Just proving a point to Potter."

"Since you and Mr. Potter are so obviously adept at flying, please go sit in the stands and stay after to clean the brooms. You don't need flying lessons. Just show up to clean the brooms the next three months."

James' mouth fell open, "That's not fair!"

"What's not fair is you taking lesson time from your pupils who do need to learn the art of flight."

James stalked to sit on the set of risers as far away from Hampton as possible. He wanted to ask her how she was able to swerve so sharply, but that would imply he was impressed...which he wasn't.

Sirius was glad he hadn't flown when James did. He was a Black, so flying was a messier form of transportation next to advancements such as portkeys and apparition, but he was also Sirius and had learned how to fly a broom when he found one in the attic when he was sent there once for a timeout.

He was now following the boy in front of him slowly in an oval about a metre off the ground. Two brooms in front of him, Snape fell off. Sirius laughed, that Slytherin git deserved it. However, while he was laughing, his concentration on the wood between his legs broke and he dipped back to the ground.

Snape brushed off his already dirty robes and Sirius didn't have time to think when he heard Snape cast the Bat-Bogey hex they had just learned in Defence.

He could no longer concentrate on any of his surroundings; green bat creatures were flying out of his nose and attacking him!

"Oi!" he heard James call somewhere in the distance, followed by the same hex Snape had hit him with.

"Hey!" Cari screamed and nearly fell to the ground. James had missed his target and accidentally hit Cari when she flew into the spell. Somehow she managed to land softly while bats were attacking her.

Madame Hooch was not pleased.

Snape joined Hampton and James in cleaning brooms. The students were dismissed early because Sirius and Cari needed to go to the hospital wing to get a potion to reverse the hex.

Sirius heard James curse the fact he had to work with Snape. It was pretty loud, so Madame Hooch must have feigned ignorance.

Upon meeting Madame Pomfrey, Sirius was struck dumb by the way she looked like she was an innocent enchantress and hardcore hellion all in one person. The potion to reverse the hex's side effects was administered quickly, but gave both victims the need to blow their noses profusely.

"Stay in here until it's all out," Pomfrey commanded before walking off.

Sirius sat on the bed across from Cari and watched her blow her nose.

"Quit staring!"

"I wasn't!" But he was.

"Why'd you laugh at Lily's friend? This wouldn't have happened if you hadn't made fun of him!" her voice came out nasally.

"No one told him to whip out his wand!" Sirius defended. He could feel his voice returning to normal as the last dregs of snot came pouring out of his nose. He removed the handkerchief Pomfrey had given him. He caught Cari's blue orbs looking at his face.

"What are you looking at?"

"Nowt!" Cari blushed and turned her face away.

Sirius snorted and said, "Now who's staring?"

Cari's nose stopped running too.

"Let me walk you back to your room," Sirius stood up.

"I can find it myself, thank you," she replied.

"I insist. I was raised to be a gentleman."

Cari shot him daggers, "Some gentleman. Does your mother kiss you with the same mouth she wrote that howler with?" They started for the door.

"Dear ol' mum has never kissed me," Sirius laughed drily.

"You're really not like the rest of them, are you?"

"I'm doomed to either be a misfit here or there, maybe both," he shrugged.

"I think we were supposed to turn left there," Cari said when they passed a corridor.

"I know where we're going! Though my way may be more...scenic."

However Sirius did turn around and take the hallway Cari suggested.

"Ginny says her brother told her halls don't always stay in the same place and there are secret passageways in the castle."

"My cousin Andromeda says the same thing."

Before the two of them knew it, they had found the portrait of the fat lady.

"Fireweed," Sirius spoke and the two of them made their way to the girl's staircase.

Sirius got up five steps before an alarm started blaring and the stairs turned to a stone slide.

"Shite!" Sirius yelled.

Alice Smith slid down the stairs with a schoolbag round her.

"No boys in the girl's dormitories," she smiled coyly and spoke a reversal spell.

Cari removed her arms from her ears.

"This is where I leave you then," Sirius bowed mockingly.

Cari smiled and began climbing the stairs.

"Ginny told me detention went off with minimal damage," Lily said when she met Severus outside for their walk.

Sev scowled at her, "That Potter boy's a monster. But he knew well enough to stay away from Hampton and me while we cleaned the Silver Arrows. Now, I know what you're going to say, you shouldn't have hexed Black—"

"No, someone needs to take those two down a peg," Lily interrupted.

"Well, then, I'll say you're welcome for that."

"Ginny complained about Potter all during dinner."

"Look, can we talk about your Gryffindor girl problems some other time?"

Lily bristled but accepted Sev had something else he wanted to fill this time with.

"We need to discuss this whole 'I'm and Slytherin and you, unfortunately, are in Gryffindor thing'," he broached.

"At least we still share lessons," she said sadly.

"I don't feel good about you being in the same tower as those two mongrels. I've already asked Dumbledore, and he said no house switching after the sorting hat's spoken," Severus kicked a rock in his path, hard.

"I read in Hogwarts: A History that boys won't even be able to get into our dormitories, so that's good."

"Yeah, I suppose—," Severus trailed off. "Everything's just gone to crap. All my plans for us here."

"Don't worry about that, we can still be friends and live in separate houses, right?"

Severus stopped walking and turned to look into her emerald irises, "Right."

They turned back to the castle after that—didn't want to get to close to the Whomping Willow.