Rising Moon

Hogwarts

Perched on the hills against the night sky, the castle looked like a huge, living creature. The great windows of the many battlements and towers, all brightly lit, could have been hundreds of sparkling eyes, studying the students like sheep on their way back to their shepherd.
Sirius lightly hopped off the train without taking his eyes off his home, as if he was afraid, it would disappear if he looked away.
Beside him, Peter stretched and took a deep breath of the cold night air. Remus was already walking towards the carriages and Pete hurried to catch up. Sirius watched his friends, slightly stretching his stiff limbs, trotted after them. The train ride had lasted a good nine hours and even if the time had flown by incredibly quickly, the hours of sitting around were now noticeable.
His breath turned to vapor as soon as it left his mouth. He was watching the mist float up as James stepped up next to him.
"How was your summer?" he asked quietly so the other two Marauders couldn't hear.
Sirius shrugged as if it did not matter. "Terrible. Let's not talk about it now, shall we?"
James nodded thoughtfully.
By the time they reached the coaches, Peter and Remus had already secured one, but getting through was made more difficult as there was a bit of a commotion.
"What are those horses?" Sirius heard a boy who could only be in second grade ask and seemed to be the focus of the commotion. He spoke loudly, excitedly and with a touch of disgust in his voice. Sirius shook his head in amusement. Horses? The boy must have seen ghosts.
Sighing, he sat down on the soft cushion and stared up at Hogwarts again, James got in last and pulled the carriage door shut.
Or was the boy implying that there were no horses pulling the coaches? What did they draw anyway? Was it a spell? Maybe that was in The History of Hogwarts? Maybe the magic could be manipulated somehow... so that the carriages only drove backwards, or that they made small jumps again and again?
"Do you know what the coaches are pulled by?" he asked.
Everyone shook their heads.
"Why do ya ask?"
"We could play excellent pranks. Imagine if we just undo the spells!"
James' eyes sparkled. "It must be written somewhere in the library what kind of spell it is. That's awesome, Sirius!"
Laughing, he tossed his hair back. "I know."
"Caughty as ever," laughed James.
With a jerk, the column of carriages began to move and began swaying and clattering on their way to the castle.
Remus was busy reading his book again, Peter had leaned his head against the wall of the carriage and watched through the window as the walls of the compound rolled past them.
Then they passed the gate with its tall pillars and winged hogs and Sirius felt a weight lift from him that he hadn't noticed before.
Hogwarts Castle drew closer and finally the carriages clattered to a halt in front of the large stone staircase leading up to the entrance. The Marauders got out and Sirius tilted his head back to admire the Hogwarts towers. Then he trudged behind the other students up the stairs to the large oaken front gate.
"What do you think of that, Susi?" James wanted to know, tearing him out of his thoughts.
"What? Yes, it's a great idea."
"Did you even listen?" James looked at him reproachfully through his round glasses.
"Nope, sorry," Sirius answered truthful. "What was the question?"
James cackled. "Merlin, where are you with your thoughts again? So, what I meant: do we want to celebrate Pete's birthday in a small circle, or...?"
"Or throw the biggest party Hogwarts has ever seen? If it were my 15th birthday you would know the answer." It almost sounded reproachful.
"Ya right. So something small." Sirius nodded. They knew very well that Peter hated large crowds. They walked briskly up the wide marble staircase to join the other two.
"Remus! Hey Remus! Now wait!" a high voice called from behind them, they turned around and a moment later, out of breath, Lily Evans was standing in front of them, just as energetic as ever.
"Hi, Evans," James greeted the redhead. She skillfully ignored him.
"Hello, Lily," Remus said.
"Where have you been? I've been looking everywhere for you!"
"What do you mean, where was I? In my compartment, of course, where else?" Evans sighed in resignation.
"You forgot, didn't ya?"
"Forgot what?" She sighed again.
"Everything that isn't grown onto your body slipped ya mind, Lupin," she grinned. "You're a prefect, aren't you?"
"What?"
"You are what?"
"Prefect? Our Moony?"
"Oh yeah. Sorry." Remus scratched his ear in defeat, ignoring the other Marauders as adroitly as Lily.
"Have you at least your badge with you?"
"Ummm..."
"Lupinn," Evans muttered, stamping her foot. "That can't be true!"
"I'm really sorry, Lily. I totally forgot."
"How can you forget something like that?" Peter and Lily wanted to know at the same time. They briefly looked to each other, confused.
Remus shrugged. "I just did."
"Will you at least help me with the first years once the feast is over?"
"Yes, 'course. Really, I just totally forgot about it."
"Hmmm, of course," Evans said skeptically, giving Sirius and James a look that clearly said she didn't blame Remus.
Then she turned on her heel and caught up with Mary Macdonald and Marlene McKinnon, who had been waiting for her a few steps above the Marauders.
"So that's what that seventh year wanted from you, Moony," Peter murmured. During the train ride, a Ravenclaw had walked into their compartment and asked annoyed if they'd seen Remus John Lupine. He was in the loo at the time though, which is why Others simply claimed they hadn't seen him. Maybe they would have told her where he was if she had been nicer. Probably not.
"You haven't really forgotten that you're a prefect, have you?" Sirius murmured. Moony shook his head.
"No, of course not," he sighed. "Just kind of hoping they'd forget."
"Why do you think they would forget?" Peter asked.
Moony shrugged. "Because I can't even wear the damn badge."
"Huh? Why's that?" James looked confused.
"It's silver."
"Oh," was all James said.
Damn, Sirius hadn't wanted that. He knew how much Remus hated being reminded that he was suffering from lycathropy by such things. And now he'd managed to get them on the subject before they even got there.
"Sorry, I didn't mean -"
"It's fine, just..."
"How did you manage to convince Evans, you would have forgotten?" James stepped in.
"What do you mean?"
"Oh come on, Moons. You are an incredibly terrible liar!"
"Fuck off, Potter," Remus growled, but the corners of his mouth twitched.
"I'd be interested in that too," Sirius said, grinning.
"Fine. But you have to promise, not to laugh!" Moony looked at each of them in turn, knowing they were going to laugh anyway. "I've practiced."
"You what?" James roared with laughter and of course the others laughed too.
"Fuck yo'all," Remus murmured, stepping faster into the entrance hall.
The three boys did not catch up with the tallest until they were in the Great Hall.
"Prefect," James muttered in disbelief over and over, shaking his head as they entered the Great Hall.
It was just as wonderful as ever, golden dishes shimmering from everywhere, reflecting the cloudless night sky, which presented itself through the enchanted ceiling with thousands of twinkling stars, beneath which hung countless floating candles as usual. Without having to say anything, the Marauders parted, Peter hurrying after Moony and James and Sirius walking along the other side of the long Gryffindor table until they reached Remus, who was already seated. The other students gradually occupied the four long house tables.
"I almost mistook you for Pete," Sirius chuckled, taking a seat on the dark, smooth wood of the long bench.
"What do you mean?" he asked, almost offended, and plopped onto the seat next to Remus. "I can lie!"
"I know, that's what I meant. If he hadn't repeated the same sentence three times, he would have passed the Lily-Evans-lie-detector-test."
"You think I didn't?"
"Nah, but she's blaming me and James anyway," Sirius dismissed.
"Sorry 'bout that," Remus sighed.
"No worries. At least she knows I'm a bad influence," smiled James.
"Only you can take that as a compliment," Peter said, shaking his head. "Where's your badge?" he turned to Moony.
"In my trunk," Remus replied, just loud enough for the Marauders to hear.
"Why didn't you say anything?" James said almost reproachfully.
"Exactly. We would have broken our friendship with you immediately!"
"Why's that?" Remus gave Sirius a startled look and for a moment Sirius feared that he had taken it too far.
"You've changed too much over the holidays." He dramatically put the back of his hand to his forehead.
"Prefect! Our kind can't bother with people engaged in such shameful, censurable activities," said James gravely.
Moony shook his head in amusement. When he laughed the little scar he had on his upper lip as visible. It pulled his lip up slightly, giving a better view of his left canine teeth. Sirius knew Remus hated his smile for that very reason, but Sirius thought it was very handsome. It revealed a part of Remus that was otherwise hidden.
He looked around and saw Professor McGonagall standing by the door the first years would soon be coming through. They had been unusually quick, after all they had to cross the lake, as was the tradition. Finally, when most of the students were already seated and talking about their summer vacation, she disappeared through the door.
The babble died down as the newcomers, led by Minerva, made their way forward between the tables. The first years finally stopped in front of the teacher's table, facing the other students. Their faces were chalk white in the warm candlelight. Sirius vaguely remembered that moment. He knew he had been terribly nervous and scared himself, mainly out of concern that he'd end up in the noblest of all houses and lose his newfound friends right away.
The Sorting Hat was placed on the podium by McGonagall and the whole school waited with bated breath.
Then the tear near the brim of the hat opened wide like a mouth and the Sorting Hat began to sing its annual song about the founding of Hogwarts and the characteristics of the houses.
The applause that followed was deafening. Sirius and James jumped up and clapped the loudest, Peter and Remus watching them with pained expressions on their faces. The Hat bowed once to each table and then froze again.
Then Professor McGonagall cleared her throat and adjusted her glasses.
"I'm going to call your names, you put on the hat, sit in the chair and the hat assigns you to your house," she announced.
"God, I missed Minnie," Sirius murmured under his breath to James, who nodded. Peter, meanwhile, had his parchment and pen out.
"I say Sirius wins," he whispered, writing the letters S and J on the parchment.
"My guess is James," Remus replied.
"How can you betray me like that?" James and Sirius asked at the same time.
"Shh, it's starting," Pete hissed as a young girl walked forward and sat in the chair.
"Ravenclaw," James murmured.
Sirius shook his head. "Gryffindor. Very confident."
"GRYFFINDOR!" the hat finally called and James banged his head next to his plate.
It went on like this for a while, both of them putting in their bets and Peter making his tally.
"Ten to six for Susi," Peter announced the intermediate result and drew a line under S.
"Lockhart, Gilderoy!" The next child was a small boy, his hands shaking nervously as he collapsed into the chair.
"Hufflepuff," Sirius and James murmured.
The hat took its time this turn. The boy sat there for a full five minutes, his hands shaking more and more every second.
"Definitely Hufflepuff," whispered Remus.
"RAVENCLAW!" announced the hat.
"Shit," Sirius cursed under the Ravenclaw infestation.
"Norting, Tina!" McGonagall called out to the last girl.
"Gryffindor," hissed James.
"Ravenclaw."
"Slytherin," Remus said suddenly, and indeed:
"SLYTHERIN!" yelled the Sorting Hat and the table across the hall erupted in applause.
"Damned."
"Ha, Sirius and I won," Peter grinned, tucking his parchment away triumphantly.
"Congratulations," James said, rolling his eyes.
"Owe me a butterbeer, Saint Potter," Sirius laughed and caught a punch from James. It was only meant to be friendly, but a moment of pain shot through him when James' fist hit his upper arm. He gritted his teeth and didn't let it show.
Dumbledore was on his feet, now spreading his arms imperiously, quenching the small fires of whispering that had been ignited in the hall. His gesture didn't go very well with his choice of clothing, a mix of a brightly colored knitted pocho and moccasins paired with a purple velvet robe. Some of the younger ones giggled quietly at this outfit and even the marauders couldn't help but grin.
"Welcome. A new year of learning and new experiences lies ahead and I warmly welcome both new and old faces to Hogwarts. Thank you and bon appetit." He resumed his seat and in the same instant the tables were filled with food and the hall filled with cheers.
As always, Remus ate enough for all four of them together.
"If I didn't know better, I'd think you were looking forward to dinner more than us," James complained.
Remus looked at him coolly, swallowed a bite and said, "I never said I missed you guys."
"Whaatttt?!" Sirius exclaimed, grabbing James' upper arm. "You don't mean that!"
"Do I look like I'm joking?" Remus asked sarcastically, pushing away, unmoved by the fact that Sirius and James were sobbing dryly, clutching a piece of pie in their mouths. Peter chuckled.
"Don't be silly," Remus said, rolling his eyes.
"No. You have hurt my feelings! I don't want to see you," James said, demonstratively removing his glasses.
"Neither do I," Sirius replied, taking James's glasses away and putting them on as demonstratively as James had taken them off before.
Peter made a noise like he was choking.
"You guys broke Pete again!" Moony complained, mock serious.
"How do I look?" Sirius asked, posing exaggeratedly.
"Dunno," James chuckled, looking just past him, missing his mouth with the fork.
"Your eyes are worse than a troll's," Peter snorted.
"I don't see it that way," James replied and they burst into hysterical laughter.