Shadows Of The Past: A Marauders' Tale

6 | The Hogwarts Express

~1st of September, 1993~

Remus Lupin

Remus walked through the wall separating Platform 9¾ from the rest of King's Cross Station. Since Sirius Black was still on the loose, Dumbledore had asked him to travel to Hogwarts by train for extra protection if anything was to go wrong. In all honesty, Remus thought that to be a terrible idea since he didn't know what he would do if Sirius actually did decide to terrorize the train. Also, if the Dementors decide to search the train, he didn't think that his patronus (a wolf) jumping up and down the corridor would work to his advantage. Nevertheless, he didn't argue with Dumbledore and did as he was told. His help was most likely not going to be needed anyway. 

It was still quite early - 10:20AM - and the station was not yet packed with students and their families. Remus lowered his head, not really wanting to make any eye contact with any familiar faces or the posters of Sirius, and made his way past the small crowd of people who had already gathered on the station and boarded the Hogwarts Express. It felt weird boarding the train after so many years and it was also weird seeing the train so empty - there were only a few older students aboard who probably didn't want to go through the hassle of finding an empty compartment. 

As though he was put on autopilot, Remus found himself walking to the very end of the train - towards his usual compartment - or what used to be his usual compartment. He didn't really want to go there. Even though all the compartments looked the same, that particular compartment was different: it held a different sort of energy - energy filled with happiness, comfort and nostalgia. On their journey back to London after completing their first year at Hogwarts, Remus and his friends decided to name that compartment their own and they always sat in that compartment ever since. 

~~~

30th of June, 1972

"From this day forwards we pronounce this compartment our sacred property!" Sirius exclaimed dramatically, his hands in the air.

"Sure, Sirius, because any 12-year-old can just claim ownership over a train compartment," Remus said sarcastically.

"Try me," Sirius said, smirking, with a twinkle lurking in his eyes.

"Stop ruining the mood, Remus," Peter said. James nodded his head in agreement with Peter and stood up on his seat.

"Let's make it official," he said excitedly. "We solemnly swear to always sit in this compartment whenever we board the Hogwarts Express."

~~~

Somehow, regardless of the circumstances, they never broke their solemn oath. Each year one of them would arrive early enough to make sure nobody would sit there and by their fifth year, the students already automatically avoided sitting in the compartment in the hopes of avoiding hiccupping glitter or growing long beards for the rest of their journey. 

Perhaps it was his brain wanting Remus to suffer in the shadows of his past, or perhaps it was the promise they made all those years ago that resulted in Remus involuntarily standing in front of the compartment. Remus felt his chest clenching uncomfortably as he stood in front of the door, too afraid of opening it, too afraid of the memories that may attack him if he did open it. 

He could practically see James sitting there, leaning against the window and opening a  Chocolate Frog, laughing. He could see Sirius sitting besides James, throwing a bean up in the air, catching it in his mouth and grimacing at the foul flavour. Peter would be sitting opposite Sirius, laughing alongside with James, shaking his head slightly and-