We Were Forever

Perhaps, this isn't a great idea.

Well, he can't stay here. He needs to be around kids his own age. Kids like him, Hope.

Like him? Lyall, they won't be like him. No one will. My poor, sweet boy. Oh, can't we home-school him?

Dumbledore has assured me that he will be safe. They have everything figured out to accommodate his condition.

 Eleven-year-old Remus Lupin could hear his parents whisper-bickering in the kitchen. They thought he was asleep. He ought to be asleep, as it was such a late hour of the night. But he couldn't. Not because of his parents but because of anticipation. Glancing at his alarm clock he could see it was nearly 2:30 in the morning. That meant only six and a half more hours and he'd be on his way to Kings Cross. There he would board the Hogwarts Express. Him! A werewolf! Going to Hogwarts! Imagine that…

What if someone finds out? Or worse, what if he hurts-

Hope! Don't say things like that!

It's a very reasonable concern, Lyall

Remus frowned and turned onto his other side, pulling his pillow over his ears and squeezing his eyes shut. He had the same concerns as his mother but didn't want to think about it. He was going to Hogwarts. Just like any other boy his age. He was going to be normal.

I just want to be normal…

—-------

"Remember, Sirius, you are not normal. You are not average. You are above that. You are a Black and I expect you to be on your best behavior, is that understood?" Walburga said sternly as she stood on the platform speaking at her eldest son, awaiting the scarlet steam engine to arrive. Her son, Sirius, was a bored-looking boy with shiny black hair and stormy grey eyes who did not appear to be paying any attention to his mother whatsoever. Rather, he was making smoke rings of various colors shoot out of his brand-new wand to amuse his younger brother, who was squealing with laughter.

"Mum! Mum, I want to go to Hogwarts, too. I want to get my wand! Oh, Sirius can't I come with you?" 

"Soon, Reggie!" Sirius grinned. "Watch this-"

"Sirius Orion, are you listening to me?" Walburga snapped, she grabbed her eldest son's shoulder. "Stand upright, and quit your nonsense. I don't want to hear about you causing any trouble. You are representing The Noble-"

"-and Most Ancient House of Black, I know, Mother," Sirius grumbled as he pulled away from her. He straightened up dramatically, like the Muggle Soldiers he had seen in London, the ones that didn't move or smile. Once his mother had turned her back, he winked at his brother and grinned. As the train pulled into the station, the parents all said their weeping goodbyes. 

Sirius hugged his brother. "I'll see you at Christmas, Reggie. It will come quickly, I promise." And with a polite goodbye to his mother, Sirius grabbed his trunk and ran on board.

Rushing through the cars, he could feel all the pent-up excitement he had kept buried inside him since his letter had come. He had wanted to yell and scream and jump with joy, but that sort of behavior was frowned upon in The Noble and Most Ancient House of Black. 

"Sirius!" A familiar, drawling voice broke him out of his dizzy fit of glee and he stopped short, nearly stumbling on the trunk of a small pudgy boy in front of him who was making his way down the row of compartments. Once again he straightened up slightly, bringing his shoulders back and lifting his chin as he turned to face his cousins in the compartment to his right.

"Narcissa." He nodded curtly to the older blond sister. His eyes then landed on the other girl standing beside her. He smirked. "Trixie."

"Don't call me Trixie." Whined the younger dark-haired girl. "I hate it when you call me that."

"Yeah, well, I hate it when you speak, but here you are screeching away," Sirius smirked and leaned against the door. Bellatrix's eyes narrowed and her mouth opened to say something snarky back, but Narcissa interrupted. 

"Sirius, I told Auntie Walburga that I'd keep an eye on you," she said, eyeing him with a look of disgust. As if it were a burden. "I'm a Prefect, after all." She added flipping her silvery blond hair over her shoulder to show off the shining badge.

Sirius rolled his eyes. "Really, Cissy? I hadn't heard that even once over the summer. 'Oh, Narcissa the Prefect. How lovely. Sirius why can't you be more like your cousin!'"

Narcissa's eyes narrowed. "You better not cause any trouble, Sirius. If Slytherin loses the House Cup for the first time in five years because your behavior costs us points, you'll be the disappointment of the family."

"Oh, how awful," Sirius said flatly. "Now if you'll excuse me, I need to find a seat."

"Aren't you going to sit with us?" Bellatrix asked in her shrill little voice. "Auntie Walburga said you had to."

Sirius looked around. "Funnily enough, I don't see her. Ta ladies." And before either of his cousins could object he raced into the next car.

The train had begun to move and most of the compartments were already full, much to Sirius' dismay. He decided he would rather stand the whole ride than go back and sit with his cousins. Sirius was about to accept this as his unfortunate fate when he came to an open door. This compartment wasn't full. The pudgy boy he almost ran over earlier was talking animatedly, though in a hushed voice, with a lanky, bespectacled boy with messy black hair. And then there was another boy. A small pale boy with auburn colored hair who seemed to be sleeping slumped against the window. The boy with the glasses looked up and saw Sirius and smiled broadly. 

"We've got room if you're looking." He stood up as Sirius entered and reached out to shake his hand. "I'm James Potter, and this here is Peter Pettigrew."

"Sirius Black."

"Black, eh?" James' smile faltered and Peter let out a small but audible gasp. The other boy continued to snooze. "Shouldn't you be sitting with your family? I reckon you lot stick together."

Sirius frowned, slightly offended. "What's that supposed to mean?"

James looked embarrassed. "Sorry, mate. I didn't mean… sorry. You can still sit with us if you'd like." He sat back down beside Peter. Sirius didn't sit, instead, he let his eyes wander to the sleeping boy. He looked ill. Sirius briefly wondered if he was contagious… Maybe he should find another place to sit.

"Who's that?" Sirius asked.

James shrugged. "Don't know, the poor bloke must've had a rough night. He's out cold. A heavy sleeper, too." Sirius eyed him for another moment before deciding to take his chances. If he was contagious then maybe he could catch it and get out of a few classes to explore the castle.

"So anyway," James continued his conversation with Peter. "My mom and uncle were in Gryffindor. I think that's where I'll go too. Don't be nervous. I'm sure you'll get into a good house with a good lot. It's not like you'll be sorted into Sly-" James trailed off and glanced at Sirius. "I mean, not that Slytherin is, y'know, always a bad thing – my dad was in-"

"I'm not going to be in Slytherin," Sirius stated, folding his arms.

"Oh," James and Peter said.

"Sorry," James said sheepishly, "It's just that your whole family-'

"Well, not me." Sirius gritted his teeth.

Peter gave him a quizzical sort of look. "No offense, but how do you know?"

"I'll tell them I don't want to be." Sirius insisted. But he hadn't thought about that. How would he assure it?

James bit his lip. "Er… sure mate. Anyways, Pete, do you wanna see the picture I got signed by Carlos Clodaldo at the last cup?"

Sirius perked up. "Brazil fan?"

"Nah, Bulgaria but Clodaldo is one hell of a beater."

"Anything from the trolley dears?" Interrupted a plump woman pushing a cart full of treats. All three boys jumped from their seats purchasing as many sweets as they could hold. Still, the sickly-looking boy didn't budge. As James and Peter sat down with their loot of candy, Sirius pocketed a few chocolate frogs just in case the other boy woke up.

The train came to a gradual stop and everybody rushed to gather their belongings and hurry off the train. As James and Peter hurried to join the crowd Sirius quickly nudged the sleeping boy.

"Hey… We've arrived." Startled, the boy's eyes, which Sirius could now see were a bright nearly inhuman color of amber, shot open.

"Oh… I… er… th-thanks," the boy flustered as he stood to collect his things. "Blimey, I was really out for that long, huh?"

Sirius nodded. "Yeah… you're a heavy sleeper. You alright, then?"

"Yeah, I'm fine. Thank you. I mean… for waking me up." And with that, the boy grabbed his things and darted out into the crowd.

"Firs' years!" Boomed a loud voice over the crowd of chattering students. "Firs' years this way!" And they were led, by what Sirius assumed must be a giant, out to the lake.

"Four to a boat! C'mon then!" 

Sirius climbed into a boat and was joined almost instantly by his cousin Bellatrix, a boy with greasy hair and a long nose, and a girl with bright red hair and freckles. Everyone was mostly silent as the boats floated across the dark lake. Until, finally, a loud gasp escaped from every single one of them as the castle came into view.

"It's beautiful!" Gasped the redhead. "Severus, it's the most amazing thing I've ever seen! Oh, Petunia would love it." Her voice sounded sad.

"Don't think about her." Said the boy, Severus.

"I thought it'd be much bigger," Bellatrix quipped. "There's no way a basilisk is hiding away in there as Lucius says."

Sirius rolled his eyes. "You really believe everything that git says, Trixie? You're even dumber than your sister."

"Don't. Call. Me. Trixie."

"Oh shut up before I push you into the bloody lake and let the Giant Squid get you…"

"There's no giant squid, Sirius, don't be ridiculous-!"

As if on cue, a long tentacle emerged from the otherwise glassy water, waving lazily in the air before disappearing once more.

If the view from the lake hadn't been breathtaking enough, stepping into the castle was the most amazing thing any of them had seen. The excitement in the air was palpable as they chattered away, amazed at the moving staircases and suits of armor that surrounded them.

"So what house do you reckon you'll be sorted into?" James was talking to the redhead, Lily, who had been in the boat with Sirius.

"Oh, I'm not sure." She shrugged. "My family's all muggles. Sev was the first wizard I met."

"I'll be sorted into Gryffindor," James bragged. "Where dwell the brave at heart. Just like my mom. Honestly, it's the best house-"

The greasy-haired boy next to Lily scoffed. "Yeah, only if you'd rather be brawny instead of brainy."

"Where were you hoping to go then?" Sirius smirked. "Seeing as you're neither."

James howled with laughter and Lily grabbed the other boy. "Come on, Severus." And lead him away.

They all came to a hush as a stern-looking witch with darl hair tied securely in a knot on the top of her head and small rectangular glasses sitting on the tip of her nose stood before them.

"Welcome first years," she said over the top of her glasses. "I am Professor McGonagall. Deputy headmistress, Head of Gryffindor House, and Professor of Transfiguration. The sorting will begin momentarily. Follow me." She turned around, her emerald robes sweeping around as she turned and the door opened.

The first years gaped wildly at the enchanted night sky that the ceiling of the Great Hall portrayed. Some of them waved excitedly to siblings and family members in upper years as they slowly made their way to the front of the room where there was a simple wooden stool with a lumpy, ancient-looking wizard's hat perched on top. Professor McGonagall once again addressed the first years.

"When I call your name, you will sit on the stool and try on the hat. When the hat announces your house, you will join your housemates at their tables." She opened a long scroll of parchment.

"Cillian Avery," who Sirius recognized as the son of one of his father's friends, was sorted first. The hat promptly yelled, "SLYTHERIN!" after not even a moment atop the boy's head. 

"Davis Beckwith," Became a Hufflepuff.

"Anastasia Bellrose," was the first Ravenclaw.

"Bellatrix Black!" Sirius cringed as his cousin, tiny in form but so very large in presence with her jittering energy, nearly shoved her way up front and clambered up onto the stool. The hat hardly touched her messy mane before shouting, "SLYTHERIN!" to which she squealed with joy and ran off to join her older sister. Which could only mean that the next would be;

"Sirius Black!"

There was a murmur throughout the Great Hall as some students craned their necks or even stood to get a look at the Heir to the infamous Black Fortune. Throwing his shoulders back and swallowing hard past the lump in his throat, Sirius walked up, sat on the stool, and risked a look over at the Slytherin table where his cousins were scooting over to leave room for him. His stomach dropped as Professor McGonagall lowered the hat onto his head.

Unlike Bellatrix, the hat did not immediately call out a house assignment. Instead, Sirius heard a voice coming from deep inside his head

Well now, another Black. I'd have thought you'd be as easily placed as your cousins.

I'm nothing like my cousins, Sirius thought fiercely.

Well, I wouldn't go that far, said the voice. I see a lot of ambition and you're certainly very cunning, Mister Black. You'd be a star pupil for Slytherin.

 NO! Sirius gritted his teeth so that he wouldn't accidentally say it out loud. Not Slytherin. I'll leave. I'll run. You can't make me stay. I refuse.

Rather hot-headed, aren't you? But I see loyalty in you, Sirius Black. And bravery. Yes… Well then, I think I'll put you in…"GRYFFINDOR!"

There was a loud gasp throughout the entire hall followed by a deadly silence and Sirius could feel the piercing cold glares of his cousins as he slid off the stool and headed to the table at the opposite end of the room. His footsteps seemed to echo in the shocked silence until;

"YEAH SIRIUS!" James Potter shouted from the crowd. "YOU DID IT MATE!" And with that, the room erupted with cheers as they had for the other students. Grinning from ear to ear, Sirius slumped down with a great sigh of relief at the Gryffindor table and the sorting continued.

"Lily Evans," was called and the hat did not take long to announce that she too was a Gryffindor. She gracefully ran to the table, taking a seat across from Sirius and smiling broadly at her friend Severus, who did not look as pleased as she did.

"Declan Flannigan," Became a Hufflepuff, "Robert Goyle." Slytherin, "Marlene McKinnon," Gryffindor, "Dorcas Meadowes," also Gryffindor, "Joleen Norton," Ravenclaw.

"Remus Lupin." It was the sick-looking boy from the train. Sirius couldn't place what it was, but something about the boy intrigued him. The Hat seemed to be taking its time with him as well, but after a few moments, it shouted, "GRYFFINDOR!" and Remus, looking quite stunned, made his way to the Gryffindor table and sat beside Sirius, looking down at his hands with wide, shocked eyes.

More students were sorted. Peter Pettigrew joined them at the Gryffindor table and the hat hardly touched the messy hair of James Potter before shouting that he too, would be their housemate. James plopped himself on the other side of Sirius and clapped him firmly on the shoulder.

"Well done, mate. How'd you do it?"

"I don't know," Sirius lied as Severus Snape was sorted into Slytherin. "Guess I'm just not cut out for Slytherin."

James pulled a face as Snape joined the table at the other end of the hall. "Better off." He shook his head. "Hey Evans, that slimy git, Snape's giving you a look. What's his problem?"

Lily looked offended. "He happens to be my friend, Potter. And he's just disappointed that we were sorted differently."

"Might as well give up on that friendship," James chided. "Now that he's in with that lot."

Lily's bright green eyes flashed with anger. "I can be friends with whomever I please. No matter what house they are in, thank you very much."

 And with that, she stood and moved down the table to sit beside Marlene McKinnon and Dorcas Meadowes.

James grinned broadly. "I reckon she fancies me."

There was a soft chuckle from Sirius' left side and Remus Lupin, still staring intently down at his hands, quietly said, "Imagine how she'd treat you if she hated you."

Sirius barked with laughter and Peter snorted. James frowned, pushing his glasses up the bridge of his nose. "You're the boy that was asleep on the train."

The boy blushed slightly, which actually gave his cheeks a healthier-looking glow. "Er, yeah… I'm Remus. Remus Lupin."

"James Potter," he extended a hand to Remus who hesitated before accepting it as if he had never had much human contact before. James went on with the introductions. "That's Peter Pettigrew. And this here, at the Gryffindor table, believe it or not, is Sirius Black."

Sirius rolled his eyes but grinned and shook Remus' hand. Remus blinked at him with those large, eerily bright eyes. "Sorry, but… is that supposed to be a big deal?"

"He's a Black," Peter repeated. "No Black has ever been sorted anywhere but Slytherin. The whole family is loaded too. Do you live in a castle, Sirius? Is it bigger than Hogwarts?"

Sirius raised an eyebrow and shook his head. "No, don't be ridiculous. I mean… it's a mansion, sure… but not… not a castle." He ran a hand nervously through his hair.

"Oh," said Remus. "Sorry, I was raised mostly around muggles, so…"

James looked thoughtful. "Lupin… That's a wizard name, though."

Remus nodded. "Yeah, my dad's a wizard but my mum is a muggle." He looked like he didn't want to talk much about his family or his home. Luckily for him, an old-looking wizard with a long white beard had stepped up to the podium in front of the Great Hall.

"Welcome! I am Headmaster Dumbledore. I just have a few announcements before we begin our feast. To start, Mr. Filch kindly asks that you refrain from using dungbombs in the corridors," his eyes twinkled. "And also would like to remind you that Fanged Frisbees are for outside use only." There was a fit of laughter from some older Gryffindor students. "Also, we have planted a very rare, very dangerous tree on the grounds. The Whomping Willow is to be avoided at all costs, for it can and will break every bone in your body."

"Why on earth would they put something so dangerous on the school grounds?" Lily Evans hissed.

"Now then," Dumbledore continued. "I'm sure you're all itching to begin our feast. Enjoy!" He waved his wand and the tables, which had been empty, filled with all sorts of food. Sirius, James, and Peter began to fill their plates as Professor McGonagall came up behind them.

"Mr. Lupin, would you come with me, please? Professor Dumbledore would like a word."

And Remus stood and followed her.

James watched them leave and shook his head. "Couldn't have waited until he got some food in him? The poor bloke looks like he hasn't eaten in months." He didn't seem too concerned though, as he stuffed more mashed potatoes into his mouth.

"Yeah…" Sirius agreed. Something about Remus Lupin was off. But he shook it from his mind and focused back on his grumbling stomach.

—-------

"Ah, Mister Lupin." Dumbledore smiled warmly as Remus entered the office, looking around the room with interest at the magical artifacts, books, and portraits. "It's nice to see you again."

"It's nice to see you again too, Sir," Remus replied politely. "And thank you, again… for letting me be here."

Dumbledore frowned. "My dear boy, it is your birthright to be here."

"Well… I mean perhaps if I wasn't a… well, you know," Remus looked down shamefully.

"Remus, listen to me," Dumbledore said, leaning over his desk, blue eyes gleaming kindly. "You are not your condition. And you have every right to be here. You do not have to thank me. I have faith that you will be one of Hogwarts' best students." He winked, sitting back in his chair. "However, we do need to talk about your safety, of course. I promised your father I would do anything and everything in my power to make sure you are protected and that no one figures out your secret."

Something about the look in Dumbledore's eyes made Remus feel safe, and he nodded smiling back at the old wizard.

"Now then, Professor McGonagall will introduce you to Madam Pomfrey, our healer and they will show you where you will be spending the nights of the full moon. I promise you, Remus, this will work. I think you'll be very happy here."

Remus nodded and stood. "Thank you, Professor." He turned to leave with Professor McGonagall.

"Oh, and Remus," Dumbledore added.

"Yes, Professor?"

Dumbledore smiled. "Make friends, they will be your greatest strength, I assure you."

Remus' smile faltered slightly. It seemed that Dumbledore knew that Remus had planned to get through school with his nose in a book, flying completely under the radar.

"I… I'll try Professor."

By the time Remus finally made it up to his new home in Gryffindor Tower, it was very late. Most of the other students had already gone to bed. Remus was careful to be extra quiet as he entered the first-year boys' dormitory and made his way to the vacant bed that clearly belonged to him. Exhausted, he pulled off his jumper, glad that his bunkmates were asleep and could not see the scars that littered his body. He changed into his pajamas and climbed into bed when he heard the crinkling sound of foil beneath his pillow. Lifting it, he found a single chocolate frog and a note scribbled messily on a scrap of parchment.

Thought you might be hungry. - Sirius