Like Real People Do (R.A.B)

4

~ First Impressions

"James your father said not to listen to the papers, so why is that rubbish in your hands?"

James, Sirius, Peter, and Remus were lazily sitting together in a cold compartment on the Hogwarts Express. They had only boarded about thirty minutes ago and still had about an hour left before they would reach the platform.

Remus had spent the last few minutes trying to calm down a hysteric James, and his patience was running thin. James Potter had spent the last three weeks of the term stressfully pondering about his parents and new sister. One moment he was angry, the next sad, and then angry again. None of the marauders were used to this temper, and even Sirius had begun to give reasonable advice to his friend.

"My father knows I don't listen to half the Prophet's rubbish, Remus, but how am I not to listen to my father's public statement about infidelity to my mother!?" He half-yelled.

Beside him Peter moved closer to the window, and pulled his inside leg to his chest, obviously trying to create as much distance from James as possible. Across from him and sitting next to Remus, Sirius readjusted himself in his seat and gave James a disappointed look.

"Don't yell at Moony mate, he's just tryna help ya." He said and tilted his head to rest on the taller boy's shoulder.

James lifted his head to glare at his friend from over the newspaper and Sirius only sent him a smirk back. The two were still getting on perfectly fine, but Sirius would always defend Remus from their friend's bad tempers and moods.

"Mum and Dad will explain everything soon Prongs, keep an open mind." He said. He then crossed his arms and spread his legs comfortably, letting his eyes fall closed as he rested against Remus. They did still have close to an hour left he might as well get in a good nap before chaos ensues.

James just annoyedly huffed in response but didn't say anything else for the rest of the ride. He just stared past Peter's head and out the window and watched as snow started to fall from the sky. It was a frigid cold day, and he could see the harsh winds blow through the trees as they rode on by. He hoped that they wouldn't be outside too long in this weather when they got to the platform.

The rest of the ride trickled by slowly, by the time the train arrived at the familiar platform it was dark outside yet only five o'clock. People were restlessly moving around and gathering there things preparing to greet their families. But, the four marauders sat quietly and waited for their company to thin out before they joined in the chaos.

Sirius was the first of them to stand, quickly followed by Remus who helped him gather their things from overhead. James looked to his side and noticed that Peter was fast asleep. "Wake up wormy," he said as he ruffled the smaller boy's hair.

Peter flinched harshly at the feeling and stood up quickly looking very disoriented.

"C'mon James I got your trunk," Sirius said. The dark-haired boy had opened the door of the compartment and was already halfway down the hallway closest to the exit doors.

"Alright!" He yelled back.

Eventually, all four boys made it off the train.

Monty was standing further away from the diminishing crowd closer to the back of the train and Lupin's father was towards the front.

"I'll see you for Christmas, yeah?" Remus said looking at Sirius sadly.

Padfoot nodded and to a hesitant step toward the tall boy before turning around flustered. "Y-yeah, see ya then Moony," he said with a slight stutter.