The Marauders and the Year it All Began

Chapter One: The Letter

James tapped his foot nervously as he sat and waited on the couch. He looked out the window of his living room, the sun had almost started to set, he was so excited he could not help, but ask again.

"Mum!" Mrs. Potter responded only by turning the page and smiling to herself. "MUM" James tried again to get his mother's attention.

"Hmmm," Mrs. Potter hummed absentmindedly while flipping the page of her new potions book again.

"When am I going to get my letter?" he asked with a hopeful look on his face. She grabbed a bookmark off the coffee table and put it in her book before slowly closing it and putting it in her lap. She sighed but turned with a smile.

"Just like I told you the last six times, it takes some time for the owl to fly here" James cast his gaze down, he hated waiting and could never sit still for more than a few minutes, this entire day was agony for him, all he wanted was to get his Hogwarts letter and he was determined to wait in the living room until the moment it arrived. It was his eleventh birthday, he had been waiting his whole life for this and now the day was here 27 March 1971.

It was a tradition that every kid receive their Hogwarts letter on the day they turned eleven. He did not doubt that he would get a letter, both of his parents attended Hogwarts and he had already shown signs of magic, so in that regard, his mind was not troubled. However, as the day stretched on and the clock was inching closer to two o'clock, James was growing impatient.

James was interrupted from his excited thoughts as the letters were pushed through the mail slot. He jumped up and ran over to the door, picking up the stack of mail. He filed through them quickly, nearly missing his own name. He dropped all the other letters on the floor as he looked at the neat emerald green ink on the yellowed parchment envelope. "James Potter! You better not have thrown those other letters on the floor" his mum shouted from the living room.

Ignoring his mother's previous statement, James shouted. "Mum! I got my letter!" She walked over to the young boy and looked at the envelope in his hand before stooping down to collect the rest of the discarded letters.

"Well go on then, you've only been waiting all day" his mother smiled while nodding towards the letter indicating that he should open it. Shaking away his shocked feelings, he opened the envelope and read:

HOGWARTS SCHOOL

of WITCHCRAFT and WIZARDRY

Headmaster: Albus Dumbledore

(Order of Merlin, First Class, Grand Sorc., Chf. Warlock, Supreme Mugwump, International Confed. Of Wizards)

Dear Mr. Potter,

We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted into Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find enclosed a list of all the necessary books and equipment. The term begins on September 1. We await your owl by now later than July 31.

Yours Sincerely,

Minerva McGonagall

Deputy Headmistress

He then turned to the supply list, head already filled with wild fantasies and fanatical dreams of what awaited him during the upcoming school year.

First-year students will require:

Uniform:

Three Sets of Plain Work Robes (Black)

One Plain Pointed Hat (Black) for daywear