Beyond Bloodlines

*Chapter 2*

Peter fidgeted on the hard floor, shifting his weight from side to side. "Man, is this floor made of rocks or what?" he grumbled, rubbing his back.

James grinned, unwrapping a chocolate frog and tossing it to Peter. "You look like you're trying to invent a new yoga move," he teased.

Peter caught the chocolate frog with a grateful nod. "It's either that or lose all feeling in my legs," he said, wriggling around for a better spot.

Nearby, Daisy slid her legs to the ground and lifted her head from Lily's lap, causing Lily to let out an annoyed huff. "Hey, you were comfy," Lily protested.

Daisy just stretched her arms above her head and stood. "Alright, Peter, take my spot before you fuse with the floor," she said, gesturing for him to move.

Peter hesitated, glancing up. "Wait, where are you gonna sit then?"

Daisy's eyes sparkled mischievously as she looked around at the group. "Oh, I'll find somewhere. Anyone feeling generous? I'm accepting lap donations."

James laughed. "My legs are open for business, but there's a fee."

Lily rolled her eyes, trying not to smile. "You're all ridiculous."

"Hey, desperate times call for desperate measures!" Daisy declared, plopping herself dramatically into the nearest available lap, Sirius's, and grinning at the following giggles.

Sirius raised his eyebrows in mock indignation. "Oi! I'm not a cushion, Lock. You're heavier than you look."

"Oh, shut up, Black," Daisy shot back, but she softened her words by leaning into his shoulder just a little. The group's laughter echoed through the compartment, bouncing off the rain-streaked windows.

Remus glanced out at the blurred landscape, a thoughtful crease in his brow. "Does anyone else feel like summer went by in about three seconds?" he mused. "I swear, I was just getting used to sleeping in."

"Speak for yourself," James said, stretching his arms above his head with a yawn. "I spent half the summer dodging my mum's questions about my grades."

Lily snorted. "Maybe if you actually did your summer assignments—"

James cut her off with a mock gasp, pressing a hand to his chest. "Evans, you wound me. I'll have you know I did at least half of them, and I only copied the rest from Sirius."

Sirius grinned, ruffling James's hair. "Best mates for a reason, mate."

Peter, mouth full of chocolate frog, managed a muffled, "I did mine. All of it."

Daisy grinned, ruffling Peter's hair as she passed. "That's our star pupil. Maybe you can tutor James, eh?"

Peter beamed, cheeks pink. "Sure. As long as he pays me in chocolate frogs."

"Done," James agreed immediately, tossing another one over.

The train's whistle shrieked, signaling their steady approach to Hogwarts. The laughter faded into a comfortable silence, each staring at the rain, lost in their thoughts. The castle loomed somewhere ahead, waiting for them—full of secrets, challenges, and, if they had any say in it, just a little bit of trouble.

The train began to slow, brakes shrieking in protest. Around them, students scrambled for trunks and cloaks, voices rising in a chaotic chorus. Daisy stood, helped Lily with her bag, and then nudged Sirius hard when he pretended to have fainted under her "crushing weight."

They filed out into the corridor, swept along by the tide of students. The platform was wild with lantern light and thunderous chatter. Above it all, Hagrid's booming voice called for the first-years, and the smell of wet earth and magic hung thick in the air.