The Marauders Year 1

3

"Mrs. Scamander," said Remus, tentatively.
"Call me Tina darling," said Porpentina Goldstein , absentmindedly stirring a pot of soup on the stove.
"Tina," said Remus, "when are we going to Diagon Alley?"
"Soon dear," Tina sat down next to her, as she felt, semi-adopted son. "We will get you all your books and a wand and everything honey, we have got some money out of Lyall's - I mean your father's bank account at Gringots. You can buy some stuff for the trip: sweets, some prank equipment and things," she smiled and hugged him.
Remus flinched a bit and Tina remembered his issue with personal contact and immediately apologised.
"I'm so sorry Remus, I keep forgetting. I'll get better, I promise."
"It's ok," said Remus quietly and smiled.
Newt came into the room carrying a large cage.
"Hey Remus, I was coming through Diagon Alley on the way home and I picked this little guy up. If Dumbledore would allow it, maybe you could take him to Hogwarts...if you want to I mean." Remus looked surprised and delighted. He reached out and took the cage from Newt's arms. The cage shook and squeaked a little as he held it. Slowly he took out off the covering to reveal a small black animal about the size of a mole, furry and scuffling around the bottom of the cage. It squeaked again.
"More Beasts, Newt?" asked Tina exasperatedly.
"What is it?" cries Remus enraptured.
"A niffler," said Newt, this time addressing his left ankle. "He'll find small objects for you. He's a bit of a bugger though; you'll have to keep an eye on the little blighter."
"He's brilliant," said Remus happily.

.•*•.•*•.•*•.•*•.•*•.•*•.•*•.•*•.•*•.

"We will go to Olivanders' first!" cried James as he dragged his mother by the hand down Diagon Alley.
Charlus laughed, "Hold up son, your wand is the last thing you get. We need to get your robes and books first."
"Books...boring!" concluded James sadly, as his father led the way to Florish and Blotts. James broke away from his parents and ducked away through the crowds until he reached the shop that he was longing to see. Quality Quidditch Supplies sat squarely between Madame Malcolm's and The Apothecary. In the window was a broomstick like James had never seen before; it's tail twigs and smooth handle glistened in the light. James' nose was pressed up against the glass and his breath fogged the window.
"Hey, oh sorry - excuse me - ouch! I am so sorry, please move - small child coming through - excuse me Miss!"
A small child about James' age crashed through the crowd and reached the window, he had shoulder length black hair and a slight smirk played on his lips.
"Sorry," said the boy, "wicked broom isn't it!"
"Newest model," agreed James,
"the LighteningBolt101."
"Sirius? Sirius! Sirius Orion Black!"
"Uh oh," muttered the boy next to James. "I'm done for..." and he ducked away through the crowd muttering his stream of apologies. James saw him reach a formidable woman at the back of the crowd and heard her voice drift across to
him.
"Don't talk to stranger Sirius! You have no idea of their blood type!"
James hurried towards the boy, he seemed to be upset and James hated seeing anyone upset.
"Excuse me Miss but what does anyone's blood type got to do with anything?" he said boldly.
"Well you wouldn't know would you, you FILTHY LITTLE MUDBLOOD!"
James blinked, 'what does that mean?' he thought.
"Sirius Black!" shouted the boy as he was dragged away.
"James Potter!" yelled James after him.

.•*•.•*•.•*•.•*•.•*•.•*•.•*•.•*•.•*•.

Remus stood on the platform in Kings Cross and stared at the large hour clock: 10:50, ten minutes. Where was Newt? He had promised he'd meet Remus here, under the clock. Remus stared around once more, only people - muggles he reminded himself - walked past him. Remus unconsciously reached down to stroke the niffler still sleeping in its cage, it gave him a source of comfort.
"Oh for Merlins sake! Regulus this and Regulus that! I'll never be my brother and she'd better be happy about that. How are muggles filthy? I don't see that. Muggles are cool. They make cool bikes, like that boy... OH I'M SORRY!"
A teenage boy with shoulder length black hair and what seemed like a trademark white smile who had been muttering to himself a second ago nearly walked right into him.
"Watch it!" cried Remus.
"I said I was sorry," said the boy a little crossly, plus why are you just standing there. Then he saw the cage,
"what's that? he whispered excitedly.
"Nothing," said Remus tugging the cloth back down."
"Is it an owl?" asked the boy.
"No, wait how do you know about owls?" Remus looked confused. "Are you..." he lowered his voice, "a wizard?"
"No I'm a broomstick," said the boy sarcastically.
Remus laughed, "how do you get into the platform?" he asked.
"What 9 3/4?" asked the boy grinning. Then he narrowed his eyes and looked around.
"Where are your parents?"
Remus thought quickly, "ill," he invented, "my mother's dead though."
"Oh, I'm sorry," said the boy awkwardly."
"Where are yours?" asked Remus curiously.
"At home with my saintly brother," growled the boy crossly. Then he brightened.
"Come on, I'll show you how to get into the platform."
Grabbing Remus' hand in his spare one he dragged him straight for the pillar in between platform 9 and 10. Remus only had time to yell before they connected with the barrier, and nothing happened...

.•*•.•*•.•*•.•*•.•*•.•*•.•*•.•*•.•*•.

Remus stared around at the scarlet steam engine.
"Wow," he breathed. The other boy was looking enthralled too.
"Oh, Sirius Black," said the boy shaking back his hair out of his face.
"Remus Lupin," said Remus smiling.
They shook hands.

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