Marauder

James

"James! Wake up!" James's five year-old sister, Chloe, poked him and giggled as he batted her away, "Your letter's here!"

"Huh?" James said, shielding his eyes from the new morning light.

"I said your letter is here!" Chloe climbed up on James stomach.

"Ugh," James grunted, "Get off!"

"But your letter's here!" Chloe bounced a bit and James pushed her off.

"Oh!" James finally listened to his sister, "Tell mum I'll be there in a second."

Chloe strolled out of the room. James didn't look it, but he was excited. He had been waiting to go to Hogwarts since his older brother, Christopher, had started his first year. Now, after many years of waiting he finally had his letter!

James hurriedly got dressed faster than lightning and hurried downstairs and walked as fast as he could downstairs.

His family was seated around the kitchen table. Christopher was reading his letter, Chloe was playing with her cereal and managing to get it all over her green T-shirt, and his parents, Andrew and Amelia Potter, were talking quietly to each other.

When James walked in, they both looked up at him.

"Here you go sweetie," his mum said, handing him a letter with his name on the front. James sat down next to Chloe and eagerly opened the letter.

Dear Mr. Potter:

We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find an enclosed list of all the necessary books and equipment.
Term begins on the 1^st of September. We await your owl no later than the 31^st of July.

Yours sincerely,

Minerva McGonagall

Minerva McGonagall

Deputy Headmistress.

James opened the other piece of parchment and found a list of books, uniform, and supplies.

"When can we go to Diagon Alley?" he asked his parents eagerly, "Can we go today? Please?"

"We can go tomorrow," his father said, giving a sideways look at his mother, who nodded.

"Yes!" James cheered with excitement.

"Can Ben go with us?" Christopher asked.

"If you can arrange it," his mother replied, "Do you want to invite anyone James?"

"Nah," James answered. He didn't really have any real good friends. He figured he would make some more friends at Hogwarts.

"Well I have to pop in to work," his father said. He stood up and ruffled James's and Christopher's hair, kissing Chloe goodbye afterwards.

"When will you be back Daddy?" Chloe asked, looking up at her father with her big blue eyes.

"Soon Chloe."

"Ok!" Chloe grinned.

"I better go ask Ben if he can go with us to Diagon Alley tomorrow.. Bye Dad." Christopher stood up and made his way to his room. Andrew kissed Amelia on the cheek and Apparated to his office.

"Can I go outside Mummy?" Chloe asked.

"Maybe later sweetie," Amelia said, "It's a bit early now."

"Ok Mummy! Do you want to play with me James?"

"No," James said firmly.

"Aw," Chloe pouted, "Maybe Christopher will play with me!" she added brightly, running off to find him.

"What are your plans for today James?" his mother asked him.

"I don't know," James shrugged. He couldn't wait until tomorrow so they could go to Diagon Alley, "When will Dad be home?"

"About two," his mother replied, "Now could you de-gnome the garden for me?"

"Ok," James sighed. He had nothing better to do anyway.

He wandered out to the garden and amused himself for a while, seeing how far he could throw the gnomes. He was getting quite good at it when the gnomes ran out.

"Aw," he whined.

James lived in a fairly large house because his father had a well-paying job. He decided to get lost around the garden for a walk. Before he could even start however, his mother stuck her head out through the window.

"James!" she called, "Could you take Chloe to the park?" It wasn't really a question; it was more like an order.

"Fine," James groaned, "Where is she?"

"She'll be out in a second!" Amelia said, shutting the window again.

Soon Chloe came out with her long black hair in pigtails and clean pink overalls on.

"Let's go James!" she giggled, running down the driveway.

"Wait for me Chloe!" James yelled, sprinting after her.

They lived in a Muggle neighbourhood, so they were careful not to use or talk about magic in front of anyone. Even Chloe knew not to talk about magic in front of any of her friends.

"Hurry up James!" Chloe yelled, running ahead.

"Slow down Chloe, we've got ages!" James called.

"Ok!" Chloe skidded to a halt, "Give me a piggyback!"

"No."

"Please?"

"No."

"Pleeease?"

"No."

"Pretty please?"

"Oh fine," James said, knowing it would be quicker if he just gave her a piggyback. He picked her up and put her on his back, before he started walking.

"Faster James!" Chloe squealed. James obediently followed his sisters request

"Whee!" Chloe squealed as they charged towards the park.

As soon as they got there, James let Chloe down and she ran to the playground. James sat down on a bench, tired from carrying Chloe.

He noticed that there was a boy about his age sitting on the bench next to his. He was clutching a letter in his fist, staring at it with an odd expression.

James squinted at the letter, trying to make out the words. It looked strangely like a Hogwarts letter. Who else wrote on parchment? He considered the best way to ask the boy what the letter was, both to satisfy his curiosity and to had someone to talk to while he watched his sister play. Finally, he went for the obvious.

"What's that letter about?" James asked, sitting down next to him.

"Nothing!" the boy spat nervously, clutching the letter more tightly.

"Is it from somewhere called Hogwarts?" James asked, making sure that it was written on a parchment

"How did you know?" the boy bore a puzzled, yet nervous expression.

"I'm going there too," James replied happily, "So you got accepted too?"

"You mean it's REAL?" the boy asked, stunned.

"Of course it is! You're a-" James lowered his voice carefully, "wizard, and so am I, obviously. I'm James Potter by the way. What's your name?"

"Peter Pettigrew, and there's no way there's such a thing as magic," the boy replied decidedly.

"I can prove it to you."

"Go on then!" Peter said dared him, sitting back on his seat relaxing against the bench.

"I can't do it HERE! We have to go back to my place!"

"And what if you're some weird person trying to kill me?" Peter asked.

"Well bad luck to you I guess. But I'm not a weird person trying to kill you," James said, smiling. His new friend sure was paranoid.

"Fine. Where do you live then?" Peter queried.

"A few blocks away, not very far.So are you coming or not?"

"Yeah," Peter said, looking a bit doubtful.

"OK then. Wait a second. I need to get my sister." James found Chloe amongst ten little kids and picked her up, "We're going home, OK?"

"But we only just got here!" Chloe whined, her lower lip trembling.

"I'll give you a piggyback!" James suggested desperately.

"OK!" Chloe agreed happily, all traces of tears gone. James sighed and put Chloe on his back.

"Peter! Come on!"

"Who's Peter Jamesie?" Chloe asked

"Him," James said pointed at Peter, "And don't call me Jamesie!"

"Oh. Hi Peter!" Chloe waved.

"Let's go!' James said, "Otherwise my arms will fall off."

"Ok," said Peter, going after him.

"By the way, where do you live?" James asked.

"Oh, I don't live here," Peter explained, "I'm just staying with my grandmother for a while. I live on the edge of London."

"Oh," James nodded, " 'That explains why I haven't seen you around here before"

They all set off down the road and soon they reached James's house.

"Whoa!" Peter gasped, "It's huge!" James shrugged.

"C'mon!" James said, "Let's go in!" Peter followed James in and stood back as James's mum stepped into the room.

"Back so soon?" she asked, "And who's this?"

"This is Peter Pettigrew," James answered, "He just got his letter too and it appears he's Muggle-born."

"Oh," understanding dawned on Amelia's face, "Right then. Peter watch this," Amelia took out her wand from her pocket and muttered, "Wingardium Leviosa!"

The toaster started floating around. Peter's eyes nearly popped out of his head.

"Whoa!" he exclaimed, his eyes riveted to the now stationary toaster.

"Do you believe me now?" James grinned.

"Yeah, I think so," Peter answered tearing his gaze off the toaster and back onto James, "I better get going. My mum will be worried. See you!' Peter walked out the door.

"See you at Hogwarts then?" James called.

"Maybe!"

^^^^^^^^^

Sirius

"Did my letter arrive yet?" Sirius asked as he walked into the room.

"Yes dear," Sirius' mother, Phyllis, said, "Now eat your breakfast."

"Great!" Sirius exclaimed, grabbing the letter from his mother's hands and opening it.

He plopped down in between his older sister, Anna, and his younger brother, Jordan. The letter was pretty much the same as the ones that his older siblings got every year. Sirius had one older brother, Ryan, who was 15, and two older sisters, Anna, 13, and Christine, 16. He also had a younger brother, Jordan, who was 6.

"When can we go to Diagon Alley?" Sirius asked, biting his toast. He was looking forward to going, he could finally get a wand!

"Maybe tomorrow," his mother answered, giving some more toast to Ryan.

"Can we go today?" Sirius begged, "Pleeeease?"

"Well, if everyone agrees and your father doesn't mind, we MIGHT go this afternoon," she said, "But don't get your hopes up."

"I won't!" Sirius grinned. Christine rolled her eyes,

"He's going to do something," she warned, "Look at his face!"

Sirius quickly put on an innocent face. Jordan laughed.

"We'll only go to Diagon Alley if you behave," his mother informed them.

"Can I go out ?" Sirius asked, "By myself?"

Sirius' mother looked doubtful. "Will I get any complaints from neighbours afterwards?" she asked.

"No! I promise! Please mum?" Sirius pleaded.

"Oh, fine. But if I get ONE complaint-"

"I know, I'll be good," Sirius promised.

"Can I go to Jessie's house?" Christine asked.

"OK, but everyone be back by three or you won't be coming with us to Diagon Alley!" Phyllis warned.

"But you said we probably wouldn't go anyway and we definitely wouldn't go if we didn't behave," Anna grinned.

"If you don't behave NO-ONE will go," Phyllis told them, "So who's going out?"

"Me!" said Sirius.

"I am," Christine said.

"I think I will," Ryan said.

"Can I go out to?" Jordan asked.

"I think you're a bit too young darling," Phyllis said.

"But I want to go!" Jordan said.

"I'll take him with me mum," Anna suggested.

"OK," Phyllis agreed, "Bye!"

Sirius got up from the table. "I'm going," he announced.

"Bye!" Jordan said.

"Bye!" Sirius replied.

"Bye!" Jordan said again.

"Bye!" Sirius repeated.

"Bye!"

"Bye!"

"A-HEM!" Christine called. Ryan sniggered.

"Got a bit carried away," Sirius admitted, "B-"

"Sirius," Phyllis growled, "And you're not going back upstairs to get anything that will cause the neighbours ANY harm."

"Right," Sirius said cheerfully and wandered out the front door.

He waited a few minutes on the doorstep, so his mum wouldn't get suspicious, and then went around to the back of the house. He got out his dad's magical ladder from the shed and climbed up to his room. The ladder expanded to exactly the right size and caught you if you happened to fall, so it wasn't dangerous at all.

Once he got up to his room, he opened his window, and crept inside. He grabbed an empty bag and filled it with Dungbombs, Filibusters Firework and various mischief-making items. Then he took Anna's wand and put it in his bag.

Once the bag was crammed full, he forced it shut and dropped it out the window. He definitely was not going to climb down a ladder with a heavy bag on his back, whether the ladder was charmed or not.

Once he got down, he put the ladder back in the shed and put the bag on his back. Then he hurried back around the house. He nearly got caught; Christine was just coming out of the house. Sirius waited until she was at a safe distance away before running down the footpath.He was hoping to do a few pranks and then wander around a bit.

He decided to start with the huge house that resided a few streets away. Sirius knew some rich people lived there, but he had never met them. He hoped to have some fun without them really knowing it had been him behind the joke.

He ran down to the big mansion and carefully planted Dungbombs and fireworks around it. Then, he waved Anna's wand and everything went off at once. Sirius hid behind a huge hedge and tried out a spell he had learned from Anna. It worked, everything turned pink.

A woman ran out. But instead of screaming, as most adults were inclined to do, her face bore an angry expression.

"JAMES POTTER!" she yelled. Sirius watched with interest. This had never happened before.

"Yes mum?" a boy about Sirius' age came out of the house and looked around at the damaged garden. He grinned as he saw the mischief. Whoever had done it was very good at magic indeed.

"Did you do this?" the woman asked firmly.

"No!" the boy, who Sirius assumed was James, said exclaimed at once.

"Why do you expect me to believe that?" the woman asked sternly.

"Because I didn't?" the boy asked hopefully.

"That's it!" the woman yelled, "There is no chance you are coming to Diagon Alley with us now!"

Sirius stared in surprised amusement. Did she just say Diagon Alley? Maybe he heard wrong.

"But mum! I didn't do it!" James protested.

"Really? Who else would have done it?" Amelia yelled.

"I don't know! But it wasn't me!" James complained.

"What would have happened if any Muggles saw? They are not used to FIREWORKS going off in a lawn are they! You are NOT going to Diagon Alley and that's it!" she shrieked angrily.

"This can't be a coincidence" Sirius thought, "Maybe they are magical."

Sirius shrugged. If they were, he'd meet the boy on the train. He certainly wasn't going to own up to doing anything just to find out. Sirius decided to go back home after that. He wandered down the path until he reached his house.

He was the only one home. His mum had gone grocery shopping and all his siblings were out. Sirius had the house to himself. He grinned mischievously. This could be fun.

^^^^^^

Remus

"Remus! Could you come down here for a moment!" Accalia called.

"Yes mum?" Remus asked as he walked down the stairs.

Accalia studied his face. He looked very tired, but that was expected as it had been full moon last night.

"We received another letter from Hogwarts," she informed him.

"Really?" Remus perked up, "What did it say?"

"Professor Dumbledore has scheduled a meeting with us."

"When's the meeting?" Remus asked.

"Tomorrow. We have to have it soon because the term starts in a month, and Professor Dumbledore has to find somewhere safe for you to transform," Accalia explained.

"OK," Remus nodded.

"Go back to bed now. You look tired."

Remus trailed back up the stairs and fell asleep (as soon as he reached his bed).

The next morning his mother woke him up. Remus groggily opened his eyes.

"We've got to go to Hogwarts. Put on some robes and let's go."

Remus blearily searched for some clean robes and pulled them on. Then he stumbled downstairs.

"Hurry and eat Remus, we have to go soon," Accalia said.

"Is dad coming?" Remus asked through a mouthful of toast.

"No, he has to go to work. Now EAT!"

"Yes, mum," Remus, said obediently.

He only picked at his food, however. He was very nervous. What if Professor Dumbledore changed his mind? It might be too much trouble for him to prepare everything. Remus's stomach was churning as he stepped into the fire and Floo-ed to the Headmasters office.

He fell out of the fireplace and coughed. He quickly brushed the soot out of his hair and looked up at the smiling man in front of him.

"You must be Remus."

"Yes," Remus said, trying not to sound too frightened.

"I'm Professor Dumbledore," he said. Accalia stepped out of the fire, much more gracefully than Remus had. "Ah, Accalia," Dumbledore said, greeting his former student. Accalia smiled and shook his hand.
"Well let's get right to business. Remus will be escorted to a designated spot that I will show you both later where he will transform. In the morning the school nurse will collect him and take him to the Hospital Wing. Any questions?"

"What do I tell everyone when I got to transform?" Remus asked.

"I'll tell you later," Dumbledore looked at Remus through his glasses and smiled again. "Shall we go and see where you transform?" Remus nodded.

They stood up and walked out of Dumbledore's office. Remus stared around in awe at the huge castle as they passed it. They stepped outside and came to a tree that was thrashing around wildly.

"This tree is the Whomping Willow. All you have to do is get a stick and press that knot," Dumbledore demonstrated. "Now you can crawl through that passage and you will end up in a shack at Hogsmeade."

Remus nodded.

"Is that all you wanted to see us about?" Accalia asked.

"Yes, I believe that is all. He will be safe at Hogwarts." Dumbledore answered, "I'll just take you back up to my office."

They all followed him back up the twisting passages and the stairs. Remus stepped into the fire and felt himself swirling around. He fell out on the soft carpet of his living room.

^^^^^^

Peter

Peter was sitting in the park reading his letter. It was a very strange letter. It was for a boarding school called 'Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry'. Peter was sceptical. Magic? Yeah right. It was probably a prank. Peter knew there were a few boys in this neighbourhood who would do this sort of prank, although he didn't live here. He was just visiting his grandmother.

He noticed the boy next to him looking at him, but he just ignored him.

"What's that letter about?" the boy next to him said suddenly.

"How did you know? Peter said.

The boy, who Peter later found out was James Potter, explained about magic, and Peter ended up at his house watching his mum make a toaster float. Peter left James's house quickly; he had a lot to take in.

None of his relatives were magical, as far as Peter knew. But Peter hardly knew anything about his parents. They didn't like him very much. That was an understatement; they hated him. He hardly ever saw them and when he did, they often beat him. His grandmother was the only one who actually cared for him.

Peter sat down, wondering what to do for a few moments, before deciding to go back to his grandmother and tell her about his letter. He hoped all this magic stuff was real and not just a joke. But it had to be real. How else could the toaster have floated? And James seemed nice, if he went to Hogwarts, at least he would have a friend.

By the time Peter reached his grandma's house, he was convinced magic was real and that he would go to Hogwarts. His grandmother, however, was deeply sceptical after reading the letter.

"But Peter honey, magic isn't real."

"It is!" Peter insisted, "We can even go and see Diagon Alley!"

"But it doesn't exist," his grandmother argued.

"Can we please go see?" Peter begged. His grandmother looked at him for a while.

"OK, we'll go tomorrow. But if it's not there, we're not going to try and find anything else, OK?"

"OK," Peter agreed happily.

He could hardly wait. It took him a long time to finally fall asleep that night. When he woke up in the morning, he dressed, ate breakfast, and then woke his grandma up. She told him to wait; they were going in the afternoon. Peter sighed disappointedly and decided to go outside.

He was walking down the street, heading towards the park, when he bumped into someone.

"Sorry," he muttered, looking up, "Oh, hi James!" he greeted happily seeing who it was, "I'm going to Diagon Alley today!"

"You are?" James said, "I am too. Do you know where it is?"

"Not really," Peter admitted, "I know it's somewhere in London."

"Do you want to come with us?" James asked, "Mum won't mind since she already knows you anyway."

"Yeah definitely! But can my grandma come to?" Peter asked.

"Yeah, that'll be alright. You better go ask her though. I have to ask mum. We'll meet here in 10 minutes, okay?"

"OK, see ya!"

"Bye!"

Peter took off towards his grandma's home. He burst through the door. His grandma was eating breakfast.

Grandma?" Peter asked.

"Yes?"

"Remember James? I told you about him last night. Can we go to Diagon Alley with his family?" Peter begged. His grandma looked thoughtful.

"I don't see why not," she answered, "What time are we meeting him?"

"I don't know. James is asking his mum."

"Well go and find out!" she commanded.

Peter went back out. After a while, and lots of running back and forth, they finally decided on three o clock. James and his family would meet Peter and his grandma at his house and they would go from there.

Peter was even more excited than before. Hogwarts was real, and he had a friend. In his eyes, life at that moment was perfect.

The time finally came to go. Peter met James's brother and properly met his sister Chloe. They set off in James's car. It had been slightly expanded for the occasion, so everyone would fit in. Peter was in between James and Christopher, and he spent the whole journey asking questions about everything that had to do with the Wizarding World. When he finally stepped out of the car, he felt very satisfied.

They walked in a grubby-looking pub called 'The Leaky Cauldron'. Peter was surprised. James said that Diagon Alley was wonderful, and the pub didn't look very wonderful to Peter

Mrs. Potter saw Peter's look and laughed. "Don't worry Peter, we're not there yet."

Peter turned red, making James grin. They all walked into a small alley at the back of the pub. Peter was puzzled, but excited all the same. Mrs. Potter pulled out her wand and tapped a brick. Peter watched, his mouth agape, as the bricks slowly shifted until they formed an archway. There was a sign at the top that read: "Welcome to Diagon Alley."

Peter and James got all their school supplies throughout the rest of the day. They also stopped at a shop called 'Joke Stop' where James told Peter how to use each item best for prank making. Peter bought a lot of things there and he and James even pooled money to get other more expensive stuff.

By the time Peter got back home, he was very happy. He simply couldn't wait to get to Hogwarts.