To Solemnly Swear: Year One

Chapter 1. Morning and Boarding

The sun rose gently over the estate. It shone through the windows, it's rays landing on an eleven year old boy with messy, raven black hair. Round wire rimmed glasses stood on his bedside table and his hazel eyes began to flicker open with the sun shunning on his face. James Potter turned onto his side, trying to avoid waking up but it was to no avail. He sighed and put his glasses on.

James stood up and looked at himself in the mirror. He was skinny for his age but had a well taken care of look about him. He had slightly knobby knees and looked slightly scrawny but he was actually both strong and fast. He had hazel eyes and black hair that stuck up in all directions no matter what he did about it. James was quite smart and was, unlike most boys, looking forward to school. The only other remarkable thing that made James different was the fact that he was a wizard.

This was why James was so excited for school. He was going to learn magic! He already had gotten all his school supplies and an eagle owl, whom he had named Aquila. His trunk was packed and today was the day! James ran downstairs to the smell of bacon and eggs and after a quick "'Morning" to his parents he dug in ravenously.

Sirius Black took one last look at his room before he closed the door and went downstairs. He didn't show it but he was extremely excited. He was finally leaving the hellhole known as number 12 Grimmauld Place for a year, or at least until Christmas. No more pureblood mania or any of the other crap spewed out of his parents' mouths. He just prayed to God he wasn't in Slytherin...

He walked down the hallway and past the decapitated house-elf heads. Then he reached the drawing room with the Black family family tree. He looked at it in disgust as he walked into the bathroom to clean his face before leaving for the train.

Sirius saw himself in the mirror and smiled. 'I really am good looking,' he thought to himself running his fingers through his elegant black hair hanging to just above his shoulders. With one last look he took a deep breath and prepared to see his family.

Remus woke up to his mothers gentle voice coming from his bedroom door. She had a sad smile in her face and Remus knew why. She was happy her son would have the chance to go to Hogwarts but didn't want him to leave. Her frown increased when he held his bruised ribs after he got up. He gave her a grim smile then went and took a shower washing away the still haunting pain of the full moon only days before.

He dressed in his slightly shabby looking clothes and looked at himself in the mirror. He had mousy brown hair just long enough to cover his eyes if he pushed it in front of them. He was skinny and tired looking and when he smiled it always had a sadness to it that no eleven year old boy should have.

Remus went downstairs, his eyes partially closed and his footsteps having a slight thud noise. He was unsurprised that his father wasn't in the kitchen but it didn't make him any less disappointed. Remus had hoped that maybe in light of the fact that he wouldn't be seeing his son for four months he may have refrained from going and getting drunk. 'I guess not' he thought sadly. But Remus wouldn't let his father's absence bring him down, his mother was here and she cared and he should be happy if only for her. He smiled at her as he sat down for his breakfast.

"Peter!" his mom yelled from downstairs. Peter made an incomprehensible noise and rolled out of bed. He crawled to the bathroom and took a shower, still groggy. After he had washed up he got dressed looking at himself in the mirror. He had dirty blond hair with a touch of dandruff and was rather plump though his mother said it was just baby fat.

Peter went downstairs to go eat sitting next to his rather round father. His mother gave them both breakfast and Peter dug in happily. They were talking about houses and personally Peter expected Hufflepuff but he didn't mind. He was looking forward to finally going to Hogwarts and learning magic. He couldn't wait.

"Pete is your trunk packed?" his mom asked him kindly. In answer Peter's eyes widened and he launched himself up the stairs to his room. He began throwing his stuff into the trunk until he had gotten everything he could think of. He just hoped his parents would send over anything he forgot.

The scarlet Hogwarts Express was a magnificent sight. It was even better because it was going to take Sirius away from his family. Thankfully the moment they go onto the platform his parents had seen some important purebloods leaving Sirius alone with his brother. His brother looked up to him for standing up to their parents as he was too scared. The only thing Sirius was upset about was leaving his brother alone with his parents where they could easily brainwash him without Sirius's constant attempts to thwart them.

"Don't believe a word they say Reg. It's all rubbish. Being a pureblood doesn't make you royalty. Please promise me you won't listen to them Reg." Sirius said almost pleadingly. Just then the whistle rang and steam started billowing from the train. Sirius said goodbye and ran onto the train seeking an empty compartment, or at least one without any of his cousins. It was only as he sat down alone looking out the window that he realized that his brother never promised to him.

James pulled his trunk behind him searching for a compartment. Soon he found one with another boy his age in it with long black hair and stormy grey eyes.

"Can I sit with you? Everywhere else is full." James asked.

"Sure." the boy said. "By the way I'm Sirius."

"Really? You don't look it. I thought you looked more bored." James said smiling. Sirius smiled too then they both started laughing, both at the stupidness of the joke and at the other laughing at such a stupid joke. They then started chatting, mostly about Quidditch, and from that moment on they were friends.

They continued talking and didn't even acknowledge the two people who came in fighting though James did notice that the girl that walked in was very pretty. James and Sirius kept to themselves. That is until James heard Slytherin House mentioned.

"Who wants to be in Slytherin? I think I'd leave, wouldn't you?" James turned to Sirius.

"My whole family have been in Slytherin." Sirius said. He didn't look very happy about it. He made a face like it left a bad taste in his mouth.

"Blimey, and I thought you seemed all right!" James said surprised.

"Maybe I'll break the tradition," Sirius said with a smile. "Where are you heading, if you've got the choice?"

"Gryffindor, where dwell the brave at heart! Like my dad." James said, smiling and holding up an invisible sword. Sirius laughed at his antics and he saw the pretty redhead smile, just slightly. James heart soared at seeing this.

The boy sitting next to her, the one who wanted Slytherin, made a noise. James turned on him. "Got a problem with that?"

"No," he said with a sneer that said otherwise. "If you'd rather be brawny than brainy-"

"Where're you hoping to go, seeing as you're neither?" Sirius interrupted. James roared with laughter and the pretty girl stood up angrily saying "Come on, Severus, let's find another compartment."

"Ooooooo..." James and Sirius said imitating her voice. Sirius aimed a kick to trip the greasy haired boy as he walked by.

"See ya, Snivellus!" Sirius called as their compartment door was slammed.

"What a jerk, I wonder why that girl even hangs out with him." James said shooting a look in the direction they had left.

"Eh, forget them. Where's the trolley? I'm starving."

"I thought you were Sirius." They laughed as the trolley pulled up and they ordered their candy. Just as they were going back to their compartment they saw a pasty and slightly pale boy with light brown hair. He wore slightly shabby Hogwarts robes that looked as if they were bought second hand, not that James had a problem with that. The boy walked up to the frilly lady and held out three knuts. "What can I get for this?" he asked politely.

The lady looked at the trolley quickly then turned to the boy with a sad smile, "'Fraid just a licorice wand honey." The boy sighed and gave her the money. James felt bad for the kid who looked as if he hadn't eaten properly in weeks. He walked forward,

"Throw in three chocolate frogs and a couple Cauldron Cakes." James said holding out the money.

"It's fine, you don't need to -" the boy started.

"I insist, you look as if you haven't eaten in weeks," James said voicing his earlier thought.

"I can't pay you back." he said taking the money warily.

"It's fine, you can pay me back by sitting with me and my new friend Sirius."

The boy nodded and thanked James again. They walked back into the compartment, the boy sitting across from them looking sort of awkward.

"So," James said breaking the silence. "What's your name? I'm James Potter and this is my friend Sirius Black." Sirius gavp a little bow in the boy's direction.

"Hello, I'm Remus Lupin." Remus said not quite looking at them.

"Hey, Remus." James and Sirius said at the same time. "JINX!" They looked at each other and then burst out laughing.

They kept laughing until they caught the confused look on Remus's face which made them laugh even louder. At this even Remus smiled. As they all talked and laughed and ate sweets James couldn't help but be happy. He knew that with his new friends, it was going to be a great year.

A/N: Hello anyone who's reading this. This is my first fanfiction so I would love some critique. Please review, I want to know how I did. Thanks

Jaisler