Recycled Pain

(Flashbacks)

Peter POV:

Oh my God! Hogwarts! I almost can't believe I'm here! I wonder which House I'll get sorted into? Oof!

'Sorry, shrimp,' the tall, dark-haired boy who just ran into me grins. 'Didn't see you there.'

'No,' the boy next to him agrees. 'Sirius can't see past his own pretty face.' He bats his eyes at his friend, Sirius, and makes kissy-faces. I laugh. Kissy-face grins and sticks out his hand.

'James Potter. Future Captain of England. Preferably as a chaser.'

'More likely as Head Cheerleader,' Sirius says loftily.

'Firs' years this way!'

I jump, unintentionally. James whistles softly. 'That is one massive man.'

Sirius snickers, bobbing his eyebrows up and down until James punches him.

'I'm Peter,' I say as we walk towards the massive man. 'Peter Pettigrew.'

Then we're in a boat on the lake, headed towards the castle.

'Pettigrew, Peter!'

Oh! My turn. Nervous and stumbling, I clamber onto the stool and slip the hat on.

Hello, boy. You're a tricky one to sort, aren't you?

Am I? Oh no! I won't fit into any House, and I'll get sent home, and-

Nonsense. Let's see ... Not a great deal of courage ... average brain ... not cunning ... that just leaves...

'HUFFLEPUFF!'

Cheering, now, and for a moment I'm lost, then the tall professor behind me shoos me off the stool, and I head over to my new House.

I can see Sirius winking at me from the Slytherin table, sitting between a tall, pale boy and a skinny girl. I wave at him shyly.

Oh. James got into Gryffindor. I hope we can still be friends, him and Sirius and me.

Sirius POV:

Hogwarts at last! I made Slytherin, which dear mother should be pleased with, at least. Jamesie got stuck in Gryffindor, poor sap! I'll bet that lot never have any fun - stupid goody-two-shoeses.

I'm stuck sitting between cousins, though. Urgh! Malfoy and Bellatrix, of all people! They're ignoring me at the moment, at least.

Glancing down the Slytherin table, my attention is caught by a pale boy staring at his plate, playing with his food and not paying attention to anyone. He's strangely entrancing, and I'm staring, I know, but I can't help it. All of a sudden, he looks up at me, golden eyes and the most penetrating stare I've ever been subjected to. Unabashed, I grin at him and wave. He blushes, but doesn't look away, and for some reason, my heart rate just doubled.

Who is he?

Severus POV:

That Black boy's staring at someone near me. After glancing around, I see that it's the Lupin boy - Remus, wasn't it?

Now that's not an auspicious sort of a name, is it? I wonder what his parents were thinking? Is his twin a squib? Or are they that ill-educated as to name an only child Remus?

Black's brazen stare has caught Lupin's attention, and they appear to be trying to out-stare each other.

I lay my fork down, food forgotten, and watch their little battle of wills. This feels important, though I don't know why. Living with my father, I have developed a rather advanced danger-sense, and it's screaming now.

I scowl. I'm not at home now. He isn't here, and never again will I let anyone take advantage of me without regretting it painfully.

No one.