Chapter Text
There was always a bittersweet moment about getting on the train, bitter because of leaving their families and sweet because they get to go back to school and hang with their friends for the year. The four boys sat in the tenth compartment, the compartment they had sat in for the last four years and today marked the fifth.
“I’m just saying Padfoot, if we really bring our A-game then Gryffindor will win the quidditch cup.”
“Well Slytherin won it last year because of their new stupidly skilled seeker.”
Remus put down his book, overhearing his friend’s conversation.
“That ‘stupidly skilled seeker’ is your younger brother Sirius.”
“Yeah that’s why I just didn’t stop at stupid Moony,” Sirius leaned back, crossing his arms.
Remus shook his head and chuckled, leaning over and taking a chocolate frog from Peter who was struggling to eat it.
The rest of the trip was filled with laughter and yelling from compartment ten, the people who passed would shake their head and just keep walking, not bothering to look in or tell them to shut up. All trips to Hogwarts were like this. With Remus’ eyes rolling every ten seconds with a smile while Sirius and James cheering on Peter as he tries to stuff the seventh fizzing whizzbee in his mouth. Finally, the train came to a halt and the boys gathered their things, stepping off the train.
“This year is our year boys! I’m telling you.”
“Finally, gonna get with Evans then this year mate?”
James smiled slightly as Sirius hit his arm. James had been chasing Lily Evans since second year, she was his self prescribed woman of his dreams.
“If you keep harassing Lily, she will never say yes James, never.”
“You have just never been in love Moony; I swear this year she will say yes.”
“You say that every year,” Peter piped up, laughing.
They all turned as they heard a pair of footsteps approaching. Sirius stepped forward as his brother came into view.
“Reg, what are you doing?”
“Well hello to you too Sirius, I’m trying to catch up with Evan and Pandora. I’m just passing you guys.”
“Tell Pandora I said hello?”
“Always, Remus. See you guys in the great hall!” Regulus ran off, holding his bag close to him.
Sirius watched then sighed as he turned the corner. Remus put a hand on his shoulder and pushed him forward slightly, urging the rest of the group to move, unknown to the other three, James was staring at where Regulus turned the corner. Maybe this year will be their year, but for a wildly different reason.
The boys sat at the Gryffindor table; James was across from Remus while Sirius was across from Peter. Remus was next to Lily who said a silent hello to him.
The sorting ceremony was always fun, every time a house would be called the hall all irrupted in shouts and laughter making the first years a little skittish to go to their respective table but they got through it eventually.
James leaned over after the food was conjured and shook Lily slightly.
“Hey Evans!”
“What exactly do you want Potter? And if it’s to ask me out the answer is still no and will always be a no.”
“Rude, I just wanted to ask you what you think of the new first year Gryffindors.”
Sirius, who was listening to the conversation looked at Remus confused. James never passed up an opportunity to ask Lily Evans out ever since second year whenever he saw her, he would either yell and ask her out or run up to her to ask her out.
“Oh…well, I think it’s a strong group, what? Scouting for the Quidditch team?”
“Possibly.”
Peter, who was stuffing truffles into his pockets for later looked up at James with a wildly confused look and as all three of his friends stared at him confused James sat back down, looking at them.
“What?”
“You have never, in all the years I’ve known you not asked Lily Evans out,” Sirius said slowly, leaning over and placing the back of his hand over James’s forehead, testing his temperature.
“Maybe this year I’ll just try to be her friend, relationships blossom from friendships all the time.”
“You know how to be her friend?” Peter asked, tilting his head.
“Haha, very funny Pete.”
Dinner was over faster then expected, and the boys made their way up to their common room, muttering the password to the fat lady and once in collapsing on the couch and two armchairs.
“It’s good to be home,” Sirius sighed, laying down with his head in Remus’s lap.
“It does feel good to be back,” Remus smiled, looking down at Sirius’s face then back up to the other two boys.
“Good? Moony it feels great! Come on we’re back at Hogwarts.”
“I know Pete it’s just…I still feel really bad about last year, I don’t want to hurt you guys this year so much that I thought about not coming.”
“Not coming!? Merlin Remus you only swiped at me, you didn’t hit me!” James spoke up from the armchair, finally looking at the group.
The four of them stared at each other for a minute before Peter and James joined Sirius and Remus on the couch, all hugging Remus close. Sirius grabbed his face slightly and made him look at them.
“You always come to Hogwarts Moony, we need you and you need us.”