Chapter 564 - Meeting Anew (1/2)

The remaining hours quickly pass by and soon it is time to leave for the train station. Euphemia checks with James one last time to make sure he has everything packed before finally allowing her son to close his trunk shut. Satisfied, the three of them side-apparate to Kings Cross Station.

With ease, the three of them pass through the enchanted wall and arrive on the other side onto platform 9 ¾'s. A scarlet engine waits next to the platform that is bursting with people. Smoke from the engine drifts over the crowd as the wrought-iron archway reads, Platform Nine and Three Quarters. The first few train carriages are already full of students waving goodbye, or even fighting over their seats.

James blinks around with nostalgia at the sight as they make their way through the crowd as cats' meow and owl's hoot with the odd frog croak and rat squeak here and there. James eagerly spots his friends in the distance and turns around to give his parents a hug, before darting away with his trolley.

His mother, Euphemia calls out to him. ”Don't forget to write, young man! Nimmy and I will be sending you a care package later in the week!”

”I will,” James cried out over his shoulder, before making his way over to Lupin, Sirius, and that rat faced bastard.

Sirius flashes James a cheeky grin and says, ”Well, well, if it isn't our chaser, who quit the Quidditch team. Guess, who's Quidditch Captain now?”

Pointing at his own chest in pride, Sirius grins and adds, ”You snooze, you lose, James.”

Falling into old familiar habits, James rolls his eyes and replies, ”Yes, well, I don't exactly envy you, Siri. We have O.W. L's, this year, don't you remember?”

Sirius wilts slightly before perking right up and saying, ”No matter, I'm sure I'll be just fine!”

Seeing Lupin without his trunk, James smiles and said, ”And just where are your things, Remus? Or are they off already stored in the Prefect compartment?”

Lupin chuckles and points at his chest where a red and gold badge with a superimposed Lion with the letter P is pinned to his chest.

”You guessed right. I have already put my trunk away in the Prefect compartment. And now that I am a Prefect do not think for a moment that I won't take away points nor assign you detention, James,” Lupin warningly said. He would not be aiding any of his friends if they acted out wrongly.

”Yeah right,” Sirius chuckled earning himself a firm glare from Lupin that sternly said otherwise.

Pettigrew on the other hand had remained rather quiet, before finally saying, ”I'll be sitting with my girlfriend, I promised her that I would.” Without another word, Pettigrew rushed away and vanished into the train.

Sirius seems rather apologetic as Lupin flashes Sirius another glare. They had both agreed that Sirius was to play the middleman, while Lupin fulfilled his Prefect duties. Sighing in frustration, Lupin stiffly says, ”The two of you better find some seats, I've got duties to do.” Before rushing away with his robes flapping after his tall, lanky form.

James blinks in disbelief. ”Pettigrew has a girlfriend?”

”Yes, Quyen Crowley,” Sirius makes a face as they lug their trunk onto the train.

”I didn't initially believe it either, but they've sucked face in front of us enough times to prove otherwise,” Sirius said with a violent shudder and a gagging like sound.

James blinks as he furrows his brows. As far as he could remember, Pettigrew had never had a single girlfriend while at Hogwarts nor looked as fit as he did now. Was this truly the past? But this did not seem as through some sort of dream, but as real as his own reality.

Putting his obvious concern and bewilderment aside, James and Sirius make their way through the train in search of an empty compartment. Sirius blinks in delight at opening the compartment door and seeing a delicate, handsome youth with floppy hair and lighter hazel eyes than James.

”Terry,” Sirius smirked as he pulled his trunk into the empty compartment with James warily following right after. ”All alone, I see.”

Terry rolls his eyes at the idiot Gryffindor's words. ”Severus and Rowan are both Prefects and as is Lily. So, pray tell, who else am I going to sit with?”

”With James and I!” Sirius proudly beamed as he pointed at himself and James.

”Oh, what a joy,” Terry sarcastically said as James settled his trunk into place and sat down.