The Marauders: Year One (female)

5. The Hogwarts Express

It was six years since her bite, a long, difficult six years later, on a crisp September morning that Remus Lupin pushed her trolley along the nineth platform of King's Cross Station. On her trolley was a battered case, containing all her second hand textbooks and robes, and all her other meagre belongings. She had no owl, for her parents could not afford such a luxury.

Lyall Lupin and Hope Howell followed closely behind, their shabby clothes reflecting the state of their finances. After 'the incident', as the members of the household had taken to calling it, Lyall had been forced to retire from his high ranking job at the Ministry, and all his dreams and aspirations were gone. He couldn't very well support an anti-werewolf legislation when his own daughter was a werewolf!

Despite this, there were sad smiles on the faces of all three, as they prepared to run through the barrier to get to the magical platform 9 3/4, where Remus would catch the train to Hogwarts at 11 o'clock on the dot.

Remus still couldn't believe that Albus Dumbledore, the Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, defeater of the dark wizard Grindelwald, and the only man You-Know-Who had ever feared, had sent her her Hogwarts acceptance letter on her birthday.

She'd been in tears, all day, feeling miserable that she would never have a future, and would always be stuck at home, suffering through painful transformations that only grew worse and worse as she aged, and would perhaps die of her condition. Already, at the age of eleven, she had plenty of scars, including the original bite.

Lyall had been reluctant to send her at first, wary for the other students' safety, and worried that they would discover Remus's secret, but Albus Dumbledore had cleared all the details with her parents.

Every night of the full moon, Remus was to enter a passage in the Whomping Willow, a ferocious tree that moved if its own accord until you struck a hidden knob on its trunk. There, a secret passage would lead to the Shrieking Shack, a small hut that was rumoured to be haunted, which would cover for the sounds of the transformation, and the howls of the wolf.

Remus clutched her hands hard around the handle of her trolley, and ran at the barrier at top speed with narrowed eyes.

Remus squeezed her eyes tightly shut at the last moment, and stood on the platform, her eyes still closed, until she felt her mother tap her on the shoulder, laughing. Remus laughed too, feeling rather stupid.

There were about ten minutes left until the train departed, and Remus resolved to spend them with her parents, saying her goodbyes.

Along the platform, there were many other wizards and witches, giving tearful farewells to their children. Some were not so tranquil, though.

A tall, red-headed boy was arguing with a blonde haired, skinny boy with a long neck. A skinny girl with greasy hair and hunched shoulders watched from nearby. A woman who greatly resembled her was standing beside her.

'...I'm sorry, Patrick, I'm sorry, listen-' The red haired boy grabbed the thinner boy's arm, presumably his brother. Their parents stood a little way off, both Muggles, happily enjoying the platform.

'Maybe once I'm there - no, listen, Pat! Maybe once I'm there, I'll be able to go to Professor Dumbledore and change his mind!'

Patrick stared at him, his gaze full of loathing. He dragged his hand out of his brother's. I don't - want - to - go! You think I want to go to some stupid castle and learn to be a - a - you think I want to be a - a freak?' His eyes wandered over the platform filled with trolleys, cats and owls.

'I'm not a freak. That's a horrible thing to say,' Patrick's brother returned, as tears filled his eyes.

'That's where you're going. A special school for freaks. You and that Snape girl... weirdos, that's what you two are. It's good you're being seperated from normal people. It's for our safety.'