Ness: Yes, I know what I said about not doing two fics at the same time, but this wouldn't get out of my head! Grr…

Remus: This is the prequel to The Pull of a Full Moon.

Sirius: And just like in The Pull of a Full Moon, most of this will be from Moony's point of view.

James: And she's not going to kill anybody in this fic! YAY! Well, except for Lily and me, but that's supposed to happen so it's not her fault.

Others: ::roll eyes::

Ness: Anywhoo…

Summery: MWPP's seven years at Hogwarts, ending with James and Lily's deaths. New friendships, new rivals, monthly transformations, the growing threat of Voldemort, and a very boyish girl. These are just some of the things Remus Lupin has to deal with when he starts his first year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Through the years, he discovers four great friends, love, and, most importantly, loyalty. Through all of this he still manages to pull the occasional prank on Snape. Life is good…or is it?

Disclaimer: I don't own any HP characters, places, ect.

Chapter One: New Friends

"Mum! Mum! I got it! I got my acceptance letter!"

Twelve year-old Remus Lupin was running through the house, shouting himself hoarse and waving a letter around excitedly. His mother, though she was a Muggle, knew exactly what he was talking about, and she pulled her son into a tight hug when he came into the room.

"Oh, Remus, I'm so proud of you!" she said, beginning to cry. "I can't believe you're going to leave me for a whole year!"

"Mum," Remus said, exasperatedly. "I'm going to come back for Christmas and Easter break, you know."

"Oh, I know, but I'm still going to miss my baby," she said, smiling down at him as he blushed. "And make sure you make lots of new friends."

"I don't think anyone will want to be friends with me, Mum," he said, looking at the floor sadly.

"Nonsense," his mother said briskly, but there was a note of doubt in her voice. "You'll make lots of friends, and when you do you are going to tell me all about them." Noticing the sad look on his face, she sighed, "If it bothers you that much, Remus, just don't tell anyone about your Lycanthrope."

"I don't plan to, but what if they figure it out and don't want to be my friends again?" he said, looking worriedly at his mother.

"Then they don't deserve to be your friends," she said, smiling at him. "Now, come on. Let's go tell your father, so he can take you to Diagon Alley to get your things."

Remus grinned up at his mother, and ran out of the room to go find his father.

September 1st…

"Remus, we're just so proud of you," Mrs. Lupin said to her son for what must have been the hundredth time that day.

"Yes, Mum, I know," Remus said, exasperatedly. "You've told me a hundred times. The effect the words have wear off after ten."

"Just because the full moon is next week, doesn't mean you can get an attitude with you mother, young man," Mr. Lupin said, eyeing his son sternly.

"Sorry," Remus said, looking at his feet.

They were at Platform 9 ¾ and Remus was having a hard time getting his parents to leave. It was a bit funny, if you actually thought about it. Ever since he had been bitten his parents were afraid that he would never be able to attend Hogwarts and they worked endlessly trying to get him on the enrollment list, but the second he was allowed to attend they didn't want him to go. I hope I don't do that to my children, he thought, finally managing to say goodbye to his parents and get on the train. By this time, most of the compartments were full, and it took him awhile to find one.

He was nearing the end of the train when his eye caught a compartment that only had one occupant in it. It was a girl with short brown hair, and she was already wearing her Hogwarts robes. She was reading a book, entitled, Standard Book of Spells, Grade One. She was obviously a first year. Remus sighed in relief. He didn't feel like meeting any of the older students yet.

"May I sit here?" he asked her, motioning to the seat opposite her. "Everywhere else is full."

"Sure," she said, looking up from her book and smiling at him.

"I'm Remus Lupin," Remus said, taking the seat and introducing himself.

"Vanessa Smith," she said, closing the book and putting it away in her bag. "Are you a first year too?"

"Yup," he said, nodding. "Hey, do you mind if I call you Ness? Vanessa is just a bit too long."

She laughed, "No, I don't mind. I think you're right. It is a bit too long."

Remus couldn't help but trust this girl. He felt that he could tell her anything, felt as if he had known her his whole life. They talked about a lot of things, only stopping when the food trolley came.

"Anything off the trolley, dears?" the old witch pushing the cart asked, smiling kindly at them.

Remus jumped up and pulled a small amount of money from his pocket, but Ness stayed seated.

"Don't you want anything?" he asked her, looking concerned. "It's a long train ride."

"I'll be alright," she said, smiling up at him. "My dad packed me a sandwich."

"Okay," Remus said, turning to the trolley. He came back a few minutes later, his arms laden with sweets. He turned to Ness, "Would you like a Chocolate Frog?"

"A Chocolate what?" she asked, looking at him confusedly.

Remus sighed, "You're Muggle-born, aren't you?" Noticing the confusion on her face, he decided to reword his question. "Your parents aren't wizards, are they?"

"Oh, no," she said, blushing a little. "Is there a problem with that?"

No," Remus said quickly, not wanting to offend his new (and possibly, only, he thought to himself) friend. "I was just curious. People who don't have magical powers are called Muggles, and witches or wizards born into a Muggle family are called Muggle-born. You are Muggle-born. There's nothing wrong with that at all. And a Chocolate Frog is just a sweet that jumps around like a real frog. There's a card in each pack of a famous witch or wizard. You can collect them."

"Oh," she said, looking surprised. "May I ask you a question?" Remus nodded. "Well, you seem to be a little too old to be a first year, and I was wondering…"

"How old I am?" Remus said, finishing the question for her. She nodded. "Well, I'm twelve and technically I'm supposed to be a second year but I wasn't accepted until this year do to…personal reasons."

"All right, I get the point. You don't want to talk about it," she said, smirking at the closed expression on his face. "I won't ask."

"Thanks," Remus said, smiling at her in relief. Trying to change the subject he added, "Have you ever played Chess?"

She nodded, "I'm not very good, though."

Remus grinned and got up and pulled a chess board out of his trunk along with a bag of chess pieces. He dumped the pieces out and they all walked to their respective places on the board. Remus looked up at Ness and laughed at the astonished look on her face.

"They move!" she said, her voice shocked.

"Oy!" said one of the black pawns looking up at her and brandishing his sword. "Of course we move! We aren't Muggle chessmen, you know!"

"It talks!" she said, the shock more pronounced this time. Remus laughed again, unable to control himself.

"Oh, Reginald," the white queen said to the black pawn, in a disapproving manner. "Will you stop? You're scaring the poor girl to death!"

After thoroughly convincing Ness that the chessmen weren't possessed and that it was just a spell, they played for a while. Ness was telling the truth when she said she wasn't very good. Remus had managed to beat her five times before she finally gave up on trying to win.

Looking out the window, Remus saw the sun setting behind some distant mountains. He heard Ness sigh in a whist full sort of way. He looked at her curiously and noticed that she was gazing at the golden colored clouds. Feeling his eyes on her, she turned to look at him, smiling sadly.

"Are you okay?" he asked her.

"Yes," she said. "I was just thinking, that's all."

"What about?" he asked, curiosity getting the better of him.

"My mother," she said simply, staring back up at the clouds. "She's up there, you know. Watching."

"Oh," Remus said, surprised. "You mean, she's…?"

"Dead? Yes. But it's okay, I never really knew her, so I can't really miss her," Ness said, tearing her eyes away from the sky. "But I wonder sometimes…" she shook her head, sighing again.

"I'm sorry," Remus said, not knowing what else to say. He certainly wasn't going to say he knew how she felt because that would be lying. He had never had to go though the pain of losing a parent or any other loved ones for that matter.

Ness shrugged, "It's okay. So," she grinned at him, changing the subject. "What's your family like?"

"Oh," he scrunched up his nose, remembering his mother from that morning. "Well, my Mum is a Muggle and my dad's a pure-blood, so that would make me a half-blood and they're really over protective. Especially since I was bitten—" he stopped, covering his mouth in horror.

"Bitten?" Ness said, looking curious. "Bitten by what?"

"It's – it's nothing," Remus said, going pale. "Just a slip of the tongue. Forget about it."

"No," she said, looking concerned. "Tell me. I promise I won't tell anyone else."

Once again the feeling that he could trust her hit him. Should he? She did promise, and you've told her everything else, he thought to himself and, sighing, looked up at her, staring into her eyes.

"I'm a werewolf," he said quietly.

"Oh, is that all?" she said, and laughed at the startled look on his face. "It doesn't matter to me what someone is. Just as long as I know I can trust them, it doesn't matter at all."

"So – so, you don't mind?" Remus said, his voice breaking with relief. She shook her head. "You won't tell anyone else, will you?"

"I promised, didn't I?" she said, but he still looked doubtful. She sighed, "How can I prove it to you?" Remus shrugged. She thought for a moment and then grinned, "I know how. Close your eyes."

"What?" Remus asked, looking confused.

"Just do it," Ness said, a hint of nervousness in her voice.

Remus shrugged and did as he was told…and was completely taken by surprise as her lips touched his in a kiss.

"What was that for?" Remus said, grinning at her as she pulled away. The kiss had been brief but still surprising.

"To prove to you that I won't tell anyone else," she said, smirking at the look on his face. "Will you believe me now?"

"Okay," he said, and he meant it.

They didn't mention the kiss for the remainder of the trip, but they talked about Remus' Lycanthrope, and he found that he didn't much mind her asking.

"Isn't the full moon in a week?" she asked, looking concerned. "Will you be okay? Is there anything I can do to help?"

He almost laughed in amazement. The look of concern on her face showed what a true friend she really was. Remus felt that she was the best friend he could ask for.

"No," he said, smiling sadly at her. "There's not much you can do about it. Don't worry though. I'll be fine. I've gone through it a million times."

She opened her mouth to reply, when the train slowed to a stop and a booming voice was heard in the corridors.

"PLEASE LEAVE YOUR THINGS ON THE TRAIN! THEY WILL BE BROUGHT UP TO YOUR DORMITORIES! PLEASE WATCH YOUR STEP AS YOU EXIT THE TRAIN! FIRST YEARS STICK TOGETHER!"

"That's us," Remus said, getting up and pulling his cloak on.

Ness pulled on her cloak too, and followed him off the train and into a huge crowd. Not wanting for them to get separated, he took her hand in his. She blushed, but he didn't notice. He was staring at a huge man who was standing next to about fifty little boats, that were all floating in the waters of a huge lake.

"First years! First years! This way!" the man was shouting.

"C'mon," Remus said to Ness, leading her to the small crowd of first years standing in front of the man.

"Me name's Hagrid," said the giant, once all of the first years were in front of him. "I'm goin' ter be takin' ya up ter the castle. Everyone get in a boat. Four ter a boat only!"

Remus and Ness got into a boat that was already occupied by two black haired boys. If it weren't for some very noticeable differences between them Remus would have mistaken them for twins. One had very messy hair while the other had flat and smooth hair, one had blue eyes and the other had hazel, one had glasses and the other did not, but there was a mischievousness look about the both of them. His suspicions were confirmed when the messy haired one spoke.

"Hey, Sirius, looks like we've got ourselves a pair of lovebirds."

With a jolt Remus realized he was still holding Ness' hand. He immediately dropped it, blushing deeply as the two boys laughed. Ness, on the other hand, merely smirked.

"Aw, Remus, isn't it cute how they talk about themselves?" she said, and laughed at the repulsed looks on the black haired boys faces. Remus couldn't help it. He laughed too. It seemed that Ness wasn't as innocent as she let on to be.

The messy haired boy considered her for a moment before sticking out his hand, "James Potter."

"Vanessa Smith," she said, taking his hand and shaking it.

"Remus Lupin," Remus said, as James turned to him.

"And I'm Sirius Black. Yes, I know it's an odd name, blame my parents," Sirius said, smiling and shaking there hands.

All of the sudden the boats started moving and Ness grabbed Remus' arm in fright. It was apparent she still wasn't used to magic yet.

"How..?" she began to ask, but Remus cut her off.

"Magic, Ness," he said simply, and she blushed but didn't let go of his arm.

"Oh yeah. Must remember that…"

Sirius laughed, "You're Muggle-born, aren't you?"

"Yes, she is," Remus said, answering for her, because Ness was staring transfixed at the black water.

"So, how'd you two meet?" James asked, smirking. "Were you lovers in a past life?"

"On the train," Remus said, glaring at him.

"Really?" Sirius said, looking surprised. "The way you two are so close I thought you two had known each other your whole life."

"Tell me about it," Remus muttered to himself. Sirius and James snickered and Remus rolled his eyes turning to look at Ness who was still staring into the water. "Are you okay, Ness?"

"There's something in there," she said calmly.

James smiled, "It's probably just the giant squid."

"Giant squid?" she asked, looking at him incredulously. He merely grinned.

Just then the boats bumped to a stop and everyone started getting out. Hagrid started leading them to the front doors of an enormous castle. As they got to the top of the stairs, he knocked loudly three times. A second later a strict looking professor with her black hair held up tight in a bun opened the door and ushered the children inside and led them to a room next to what was sure to be the Great Hall.

"I am Professor McGonagall," she said, and Remus noticed that her looks weren't the only thing strict about her. "I will be your Transfiguration teacher for the next seven years."

"Trans what?" Ness whispered, looking over at James, Sirius, and Remus.

Remus shook his head, "I'll tell you later."

The strict Professor McGonagall continued, "While you are here you will be sorted into Houses. The House you are sorted into will be like your family for the next seven years. There are four Houses: Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, and Slytherin. I will be back in five minutes, I would appreciate it if you would make yourselves presentable," she eyed James' hair with disdain, before turning and leaving.

"'I would appreciate it if you would make yourselves presentable,'" James said mimicking her and pressing his hand to his hair, trying to make it lie flat.

"I hope I don't get put in Slytherin," Sirius said, frowning. "It would break poor Mumsies heart if I'm not but I think I can handle being disowned."

"Yeah," James said, laughing. "I can see the headlines now: 'SIRIUS BLACK: FIRST BLACK TO NOT BE IN SLYTHERIN!'"

"What about you?" Sirius said, turning to Remus.

"Well, my dad was a Ravenclaw…" Remus said, shrugging. "I'm hoping for Gryffindor, personally. But I really don't have a choice, do I?"

"How are you sorted?" Ness asked, looking curious.

"Well, my dad said they make you use an unforgivable and judge you by that, but I think he was lying," Sirius said.

"My Mum said they make you try on a hat," James said, frowning. "But I don't think she was telling me the truth. I mean, how can a hat tell you which house you belong to?"

Just then McGonagall came back in and led them out of the room and into the Great Hall. All of the older students were already there and everything went quiet as they entered. Remus swallowed hard. He was nervous, how were they going to be sorted? His father wouldn't tell him, only that it wasn't as bad as it seemed. Well, what the heck was that supposed to mean? They stopped at the front of the hall where there was a three-legged stool and a hat on top of it. Maybe James' mother hadn't been lying. Everyone was staring at the hat as if expecting it to do a song and dance routine, and Remus was quite surprised when it suddenly started singing. As the song ended everyone clapped loudly.

"As I call your name I want you to come up here and sit on the stool, you will then be sorted," McGonagall said, and then brought out a long roll of parchment.

"Abbot, Mark."

"HUFFLEPUFF!"

"Black, Sirius."

"Good luck," they whispered to him as he nervously walked up to the stool and sat down. It took a little bit longer with Sirius then it had with Mark, and by the look on Sirius' face it seemed as if he were arguing with the hat about something. Finally, the hat called out, "GRYFFINDOR!" Sirius, looking relieved, took off the hat and went to the Gryffindor table where there was tremendous applause.

"Bones, Kyle."

"HUFFLEPUFF!"

"Evans, Lily."

"GRYFFINDOR!"

Several more names were called before she finally reached the L's. Remus gulped. His name was getting close…

"Longbottom, Frank."

"GRYFFINDOR!"

"Lupin, Remus."

Remus nervously walked up to the stool, barely registering Ness and James telling him good luck. He sat down and McGonagall slipped the hat on his head. It was much too big and it slipped down past his eyes. He jumped slightly as he heard a voice in his ear, and realized the hat was talking to him.

Oh, a werewolf, eh?

How do you know that?

I can read your mind my dear boy. I see you've already met her.

Her? You mean Ness?

Yes.

You mean, I was supposed to meet her?

Yes, she will play a most important part in your future, my boy.

What do you mean?

You will find out when the time comes. Now, where shall we place you? No, no, not Slytherin. Normally I would place a Dark Creature there but that's not where your destiny lies.

Then which House will I be in?

Hmm… Let's see. How about—

"GRYFFINDOR!"

Remus heard the last word being shouted out to the entire hall and he pulled the hat off of his head, grinning widely. He walked over to Gryffindor table and sat down next to Sirius who looked just as relieved as he felt. It took her a while to get to the P's, and as she reached them Remus noticed the nervous look on James' face.

"Pettigrew, Peter."

A short and chubby boy with blonde hair, pointed nose, and watery blue eyes walked up to the stool and put the hat on. It took much longer then anyone so far but in the end the hat called out, "GRYFFINDOR!"

"Podmore, Alice."

"HUFFLEPUFF!"

"Potter, James."

Remus saw James walk nervously up to the stool and place the hat on his head. Almost instantly the hat yelled out, "GRYFFINDOR!" James stood up, taking the hat off, and walked over to Gryffindor Table and sat down on the other side of Sirius, grinning widely. They congratulates him and then turned back to watch the rest of the sorting, waiting for Ness to be sorted. McGonagall passed slowly over the Q's and R's and finally managed to get to the S's.

"Smith, Vanessa."

Remus crossed his fingers under the table as did James and Sirius. Ness walked up to the stool and nervously put the hat on. A few seconds later the hat called out, "GRYFFINDOR!" She took the hat off, and walked over to Gryffindor table and sat down opposite of Remus, James, and Sirius, who congratulated her. A few more names were called and then an old man stood up and began to talk.

"I am Professor Dumbledore," he said, smiling around the Great Hall at the students. "I am sorry to say that Professor Dibbet passed away over the summer. We will miss him greatly. I am the new Hogwarts Headmaster. Now, I believe you are all hungry. So," he clapped his hands and food popped up on the tables magically. "Let us eat."

They filled their plates with all kinds of food, and began eating. Towards the end of dinner they started talking.

"So, you said your dad was in Ravenclaw," James said, turning to Remus. "What about your Mum?"

"Oh, she's a Muggle," Remus replied. "She was a bit shocked when she found out my dad is a wizard, but she accepted it."

They continued to talk about there families until dinner was over. A prefect led them to Gryffindor Tower and, telling them the password, led them into the Common Room.

"Girls dormitories are to the right and Boys, to the left," he said, indicating the separate staircases. "Curfew is midnight, so make sure you are in your dorms before then."

Everyone started going to bed, and, after saying goodnight to Ness, the boys followed their lead and went up to the dorms. As Remus laid in his four-poster that night, he marveled at the day he had had. He had gained three new friends (four, really, he thought to himself remembering that Peter boy who had started talking with them before they went to bed), not gotten placed in Slytherin, and had been kissed. He grinned. Life was good…Then, of course, he remembered the full moon in a week and all his happy thoughts were trampled on.

Ness: Yeah, I know what you're thinking. "The relationship between Ness and Remus happened pretty quickly." Yeah, I know it did, but it isn't really a relationship yet. Wolves mate for life, and even though he doesn't realize it yet, Remus is having feelings for Ness, because when she kissed him she unknowingly started a fire that cannot be snuffed out. He won't realize his feelings for her until their fourth or fifth year, so don't think things are going too fast.

Boys: Don't forget to review!

All: See ya!