Great Times There

Chapter 1: Platforms and Pranks


Eleven-year-old Remus Lupin walked into an empty compartment at the very back of the Hogwarts Express. He stowed his trunk and let his cat Cassandra out of her basket. The midnight black cat sat itself on one of the cushions and began to take a bath.

Remus looked out the window and said to himself, “I can’t believe I’m going to Hogwarts! Me! Hogwarts!” he smiled widely and took a Defense Against the Dark Arts book out of his bag. Slightly pale with light brown hair that always fell in his eyes (whose color resembled chocolate), Remus had lost all hope of going to Hogwarts when a werewolf bit him at the age of five. Once every month since then he had become a monster. But then he turned eleven in June and in late July he had relieved his letter. His parent went to Hogwarts to talk to Professor Albus Dumbledore and when they came home they were ecstatic, somehow Dumbledore had known about what he was and had made plans for him, a place to go on the full moon, away from other students. Remus had never been so happy and his face was beginning to have color most of the month, even after the full moon. Now on the train he thought, I am finally going to have friends and be accepted.

Remus sat alone reading for about a quarter of an hour until he heard voices in the corridor, heading for his compartment.

“Honestly Sirius, if you’d just be yourself things would be so mush easier!” A girls voice stated sarcastically.

“Huh? What do you mean Lenora?” A boy this time.

“Yes sis, please explain!” another boy, his voice filled with humor.

“You two are so stupid!” the girl again. “What does Sirius’ name sound just
like?”

“Serious” they said still not catching on.

“Right that means if he was himself he’d be….” She trailed off expectantly.

“SERIOUS! Oh I get it good one Lenora” the voice with not so boyish.

“Well James if you and this idiot couldn’t figure it out then I figure it must have been,” She told him smugly and walked into the compartment.

“Well, I figured it out and I didn’t even know who Sirius was,” Remus commented. They stared at him and looked startled to find him there. A boy with black hair that stuck up in all directions, hazel eyes and black-rimmed glasses walked over and shook his hand.

“Hullo, I’m James Potter, I’m starting this year. What about you?” He was kind of tall and something about him made you want to trust him immediately.

“Remus Lupin, I am also.” They both smiled and James was about to say more when the other boy elbowed him out of the way and grabbed Remus’ hand.

“Sirius Black, simply wonderful to meet you, Remus old boy!” Sirius also had black hair, but it was much more tamed and blue eyes that told you that there was always something entertaining going on around him. Remus cracked up at Sirius’ introduction. Sirius smiled broadly as if his job was done. The girl came over then, and she had a smile on her face but it wasn’t the nicest one you’ve ever seen.

“Brother dear, why haven’t you introduced me yet?” Sirius seemed to know something was coming but he also didn’t seem to mind.

“Oh Lenora, dear, I thought you would want to be modern and all and introduce yourself!” He seemed proud to have come up with an answer. She glared at him but didn’t reply. Instead she turned to Remus.

“Hello, as you might have guessed I am Lenora Black. I’m unfortunately this thing’s twin,” she gestured to Sirius, “I’m not sure what mother was thinking when she named him Sirius Lee, he is never taken that way and doesn’t seem to want to be.” Remus smiled at her joke, and looked her over. She and Sirius were defiantly twins, she had the same mischievous blue eyes and her long black hair swept down her back in the same way Sirius’ laid on his forehead. Remus guessed that she wasn’t always like this and nerves were making her be more sarcastic to Sirius. He also guessed that Sirius knew this and was putting up with it because he always enjoyed rows with his sister. Remus grinned at her.

“Don’t worry, you’re the better looking one.” Lenora smiled appreciatively and Remus was rewarded a friendly kick in the shins from Sirius.

As they were getting to know each other, others were finding their way to the train.

Lily Evans, a muggle born witch, was milling around between platforms nine and ten. Her hoot owl, Merlin, was beginning to attract attention and Lily was getting nervous. She had only 15 minutes to get on Platform 9 ¾. Lily then spotted another girl her age with a trunk and an OWL! She hurried over to her and asked her quietly, “Are you going to Hogwarts?” the girl looked up and smiled.

“Yes, I am.” Lily sighed gratefully at the girls answer.

“Do you know how to get onto the platform?” Lily asked rather nervously.

“Well sort of, you see I’m a first year and I just asked a 5th year how to get in. She told me to just walk between 9 and 10. I watched her do it, but I’m still very nervous.” The girl looked around worriedly.

“Shall we go together then if we are both nervous?” Lily suggested. The girl nodded and they walked slowly through the barrier. All of a sudden a bright scarlet steam engine was in front of them, bearing the lettering HOGWARTS EXPRESS. There were many witches and wizards around as well, helping their children get on the train.

“We made it!” Lily exclaimed. They both grinned broadly.

“Phew! I’m Nyah by the way.”

“Oh! And I’m Lily, let’s head toward the end we only have ten minutes left.” Nyah agreed and they sped down toward the other end of the train. They had only five minutes left when they had all their luggage on the train except Nyah’s trunk. It was stuck and it wouldn’t budge an inch for all the pushing and pulling they did. Just then a short, slightly plump boy with sandy hair walked up behind Lily on the train.

“Hey do you need any help?” He asked brightly.

“Yes, please!” Nyah gasped. With the boys help they managed(he was surprisingly strong) to get the trunk up just as the train began to pull away. They sat there for a minute and caught back their breath.

“Thanks so much. I’m Nyah Hunt.”

“No problem, I’m Peter Pettigrew, I’m starting this year.” They shook hands.

(A/N: I just don’t see Peter as a little wimp. I don’t think he would have hung out with the rest if he had been. I think as he got older he felt more and more over shadowed and that’s why he turned, anyway on with the fic!)

“I’m as well. Lily Evans,” they also shook hands, “Let’s go and find a compartment, shall we?” They walked along the train finding only full compartments. A they stopped at the last one they listened and didn’t hear too many different voices. They took this as a good sign and opened the door.

~Meanwhile James and Sirius were showing Remus all their pranking materials and Lenora had taken out a book on magical healing spells.~

“Really Remus, pranks are the best, when our dads were at Hogwarts they pulled tons of them. They said it made their time there all the more memorable.” James said almost coaxingly. Sirius spoke up.

“Yes, James and I plan to break their record number of detentions ever received by a group!” Remus smiled rather evilly at Sirius.

“Well I think that is something I could help with,” Sirius and James looked as if Christmas had come early and they were getting everything they wanted.

“Yes! Another prankster!” Sirius stood up and did a little jig and James played a little tune to accompany him with his wand. Remus snorted with laughter as Lenora looked up, rolled her eyes, and shut her book.

“Oh no Remus! What are you doing? Do you realize that I’ve lost another potential friend to THEM?” she looked almost downcast.

“What, we can’t be friends if I pull a few pranks with them?” He asked, puzzled. She shook her head.

“Remus, Remus, Remus, pretty soon they’ll pull you in so far you wont have anytime for anything but pranks, let alone me!” Sirius and James tried vainly to look innocent. Remus looked over at Lenora, she didn’t look too worried, in fact she seemed to enjoy it.

“Don’t worry Lenora, I wont leave you alone!” He said mock seriously and bowed with a wink.

Smiling, Lenora went back to reading but a minute later there was a startled, “OH!” of surprise from her. Remus looked over to see Cassandra sitting on her lap purring. Remus smiled.

“So you finally decided to come out, huh?” He said to the cat. She meowed in response. To Lenora he said, “That’s Cassandra, she’s very full of herself for such a little cat.”

“Remus, she’s a cat, she thinks she’s a queen, they all act that way. Did you get her at Magical Menagerie?” Remus nodded. Lenora looked at the cat’s collar.

“Wow, Remus, she’s a licensed Measle! These rarely like people, and how did you get your parents to agree?” She looked at him curiously.

Remus was a little worried. The real reason he had gotten Cassandra was because he had gotten into Hogwarts even though he was a werewolf. But what excuse do I give? He asked himself.

“I just got her because I got into Hogwarts, I guess,” She looked at him oddly.

“Are you sure?” He avoided her eyes slightly.

“That’s what my parents said.” She dropped it knowing he wasn’t telling the whole truth.

Sirius and James had been very quiet for over five minutes. Lenora knew from experience that trouble was coming, and Remus was smart enough to realize the silence wasn’t normal.

“Oh no what are they up to?” he whispered nervously.

“I don’t know, but it can’t be good.” She whispered back.

The two pranksters were grinning broadly and whispering hurriedly.

Then two things happened at once. The compartment door opened and three people walked in, and six Filibuster No Heat Wet Start Fireworks exploded and began bouncing around the compartment. It wasn’t chaos, but very close to it. Two girls who had been in the door way were cowering there, whimpering in fright. The short boy who was with them had backed out into the hallway with an amused expression on his face. Remus was trying to get Cassandra into her basket, but she was spitting and howling, her fur standing straight up. Sirius and James were standing in the middle of the compartment, laughing hilariously and occasionally deflecting a firework. Lenora was yelling at them quite spiritedly, her long black hair in tangles, but her eyes were filled with mirth and showed she really wasn’t upset. She probably figured she had to do it as the sister.

~~~~~~~~~~

As soon as Lily opened the door a colorful explosion took place. She and Nyah crouched down to the floor in attempts to get away from the fireworks. Peter had backed away and looked as if he as trying not to laugh. Inside the compartment there were three boys and a girl. Two of the boys were laughing and the other boy was trying to put away a spitting mad cat. The girl was yelling at the laughing boys, but she didn’t actually look mad. Soon the fireworks had gone out and Lily and Nyah stood up and brushed themselves off. Peter walked back into with compartment to stand with them. The girl had given up on the boys, and the other boy had succeeded in getting his cat in the basket, but was rewarded by many cuts. The boys in the center of the room were still laughing but not as wildly. Lily, Nyah and Peter just stood in the doorway felling uncomfortable.

The two girls and boy just stood there, not saying anything. The four in the room studied them. One of the girls (Lily) was short and thin, with long wavy fire red hair, all the way down her back, bright emerald eyes and a creamy complexion. The other girl was just as pretty (Nyah), but was tall and thin, with shoulder length chestnut hair, light brown eyes and a tanned complexion. The slightly plump boy that was with them was no taller than the red head, with sandy hair and gray eyes. James, always the leader, introduced himself first.

“Hello, I’m James Potter, who are you all?” The red head walked over and shook his hand.

“Lily Evans, are you all first years?” She looked over at Remus, Lenora and Sirius. James nodded. The other girl walked over.

“Hi, I’m Nyah Hunt, we are all first years too,” James smiled at her. The boy then came to introduce himself.

“Hello, Peter Pettigrew. Is it alright if we sit here with you?” He looked at James but once again he was elbowed out of the way by Sirius (It’s his favorite way of introduction). Remus stifled a laugh remembering his encounter with Sirius.

“Why of course Peter my man, I’m Sirius Black and this is my sister Lenora,” He gestured to her, she smiled. Sirius turned to Remus. “And our scratched friend over there is Remus Lupin.” Remus waved. Lenora’s attention turned to Remus.

“Oh, Remus! Why didn’t you say something? I can fix those; hold on, where’s my wand?” She bent over and began rummaging through her trunk. A minute later she stood up.

“Ah, here we go,” She waved her wand at Remus. “Mendoria,” All of Remus’ scratches instantly healed.

“Thanks Lenora, how do you know that though?” He looked at her curiously. She laughed.

“Oh I’ve got a talent for it and father has been showing me how to do little things like that. He says that if James and Sirius are anything like him and Mr. Potter, then Madam Pomfrey will be sick of them before long,” Remus laughed spiritedly. Sirius and James tried to look angry, but failed miserably. While Lenora was explaining things to Remus, Lily, Nyah and Peter had put away their things and sat in the empty seats.

“So are you muggle born?” Sirius asked Nyah and Lily, eyes twinkling.

“How could you tell?” Lily asked looking downcast. Sirius chuckled.

“Most wizards aren’t afraid of Filibuster Fireworks, they are harmless.” He winked at her.

Lily just rolled her eyes and asked, “So what about the rest of you?”

“Well I’m all wizard.” James said looking around.

“Same here,” Remus and Peter echoed. Sirius grinned.

“Me and Lenora are half and half, Mums a muggle. Makes her so mad when we go to Diagon alley and she sees all the witches and wizards.” They all grinned and Cassandra took that moment to escape from her basket.

“She’s too smart for her own good,” Remus rolled his eyes as he watched the cat creep around.

‘So what house do you all want to be in?” James asked. Simultaneously Sirius, Remus, Lenora, and Lily answered.

“Gryffindor!” James grinned at them.

“Me too!” he looked at Nyah and Peter.

“What about you two?” James asked curiously.

Peter shrugged, “I really don’t care as long as its not Slytherin.”

“What do you mean houses?” Nyah asked, looking confused. James opened his mouth to explain, but Lily launched off listing the houses and what their attributes were. Everyone looked at her wonderingly, except Nyah who seemed to make her choice.

“Well I think Gryffindor sounds best,” Lily smiled at her. Remus decided to ask the question everyone else was dieing to know.

“Lily, if your muggle born then how do you know about the houses?” Lily grinned.

“Well I bought some extra charm books and Hogwarts, A History, along with my school books,” Remus looked interested.

“Could I borrow that sometime?” Lily nodded and James rolled his eyes.

“Why read that thing when you could have this?” He pulled out a large book with flourish. It had a very suspicious boy on the cover and the title flashed in colors, ‘The Complete Guide For Mischievous Minds’ It was Lily’s turn to roll her eyes.

“You need a book to come up with pranks? How pathetic!” James swelled with anger.

“Of course not, and at least I’m not scared of harmless fireworks!” Lily’s eyes flashed dangerously.

“Well you would be scared too if you had no clue what they were! Not that you had a clue to begin with!” James was ready to say more, but Lenora headed him off.

“So, what class is everyone looking forward too?” She gave Lily and James a warning glare and each sat sullenly in their seats. At once, everyone replied.

“Defense Against the Dark Arts!” Remus said quickly.

“Transfiguration,” Sirius and James agreed.

“Charms!” Lily and Lenora said together.

“Potions,” Nyah and Peter said, slightly less enthusiastic. Everyone stared at them.

“Are you nuts!? Potions can be the hardest class.” Remus pointed out.

“Well I think it sounds cool,” Nyah said rather huffily. Peter nodded.

“And, it’s the one thing I’m really good at.” Everyone stared at them and shook their heads.

“Well whatever you like, I guess…” James trailed off. Sirius looked around for something fun to do. His eyes rested on an innocent looking deck of cards in his bag.

“Hey! Anyone want to play Exploding Snap?” He looked around at the other first years.

James agreed, Peter, Remus and Lenora declined. Lily and Nyah asked to be taught how to play. Remus and Lenora each read their books and Peter just watched the game, enjoying the sight of Sirius without any eyebrows, which Lenora later fixed. This went on for quite a while until a young witch knocked on their compartment doors.

“Anything off the cart, dears?” James and Sirius bounded over, Remus, after inquiring about chocolate frogs, joined them. James and Sirius both had huge mounds of food. There was so much there that even they couldn’t finish it all. They offered it to the others.

“Ugh, I feel awful, you guys take the rest” James pushed his food over to Peter. Sirius threw his over to Lenora, Lily and Nyah, who were now playing a game of Exploding Snap.

“Sirius! If you hadn’t bought so much you wouldn’t feel sick,” Lenora pointed out as she picked up a Caldron Cake. Sirius grinned.

“I know! I’d feel hungry.” Lenora rolled her eyes and offered some of the food to Lily and Nyah. Each took a Pumpkin Pasty.

“Hey these are really good!” Nyah smiled, Lily nodded in agreement, her mouth too full to speak. Peter was eating some of James sweets, but stopped suddenly, turning slightly green.

“Ugh, I forgot I can’t eat on trains!” he moaned. The others laughed, but move away from him a bit.

The rest of the train ride passed normally, unless you count James and Sirius scorching their hair when the 4-foot tall card tower they were working on blew up. All too soon they heard a voice float through the train.

“We will be arriving at Hogsmeade Station in five minutes, leave all luggage on the train.” The only ones who were not changed where the girls, the boys changing sometime along the ride, so they left the compartment while the girls changed.

“Hey too bad this glass is frosted or else we could see through,” Sirius said evilly. Remus rolled his eyes.

“Sirius, we are all eleven, what is there to see?” Sirius looked downcast and was about to say more when the train came to a jolting stop and the door flew open, releasing the girls. Everyone looked rather pale as they filed off the train, and Remus who was usually pale, was as white as a sheet.

“First Years! First Years over here!” (A/N: I’m not even TRYING Hagrid’s speech, just imagine it) A huge man with a wild beard was calling them over to the edge of a lake. In which were many small boats.

“Four people to a boat, at the MOST!” He roared over the heads of the students.

“Come on Lenora!” Lily pulled her towards a boat with her and Nyah.

“But I wanted to go with…,” She looked over and when she saw Sirius, Remus, James and Peter all get into the same boat, she changed her mind and didn’t finish the sentence the way she had intended.

“Oh all right.” She hoped into the boat. Along with Nyah and Lily there was a tall, cute , African boy.

“William Johnson! Please to meet you. Lenora right?” She nodded and shook his hand. He was very excited, talking about this and that and almost bursting with anticipation. The girls couldn’t help but become excited too.

As the boats bumped against a wall, their talk turned to the sorting, everyone was wondering what it was, but no one would tell them, something about it being a good surprise. They walked up the stairs and the great man knocked on the doors of the castle. A witch opened the door, she had black hair pulled into a bun, square spectacles and looked like she was not one to be crossed.

“The first years Professor McGonagall,” He told her happily.

“Thank you Hagrid, I’ll take them from here.” She looked over the first
years.

“Follow me,” was all she said. In side the Entrance Hall they could hear a great many voices. They guessed that the rest of the school was through the big doors at the end of the hall. They, however, were led into a side chamber off the Hall.

“Wait here, I will come to collect you in a few minutes. You will be sorted into one of the four houses here, Gryffindor, Slytherin, Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff. Each house has its own outstanding history and I hope each and every one of you will be a credit for you house.” She walked out of the room. They all began to murmur, talking about the Sorting.

“We are going to have to fight werewolves!” Sirius yelled, frightening everyone. Remus went even paler, if it was possible.

“Don’t be a prat Sirius, they wouldn’t allow it!” Lenora yelled at her brother, calming everyone down. Lenora, Lily, and Nyah sided up next to the boys. Everyone kept glancing around, watching the moving paintings apprehensively. Then the witch opened the door and walked back in, making
every one jump.

“Get into a line!” she barked, and then she led every one out into the Great Hall, in front of the rest of the school.