SEPTEMBER 1ST, 1971

ANNE ROWLE WAS stood next to her daughter Claudia Maple and her sister Gemma Rowle. The three were staring at the red Hogwarts express, two of them remembering their old memories from their years at Hogwarts, one of them smiling excitedly at the thought of what was to come.

Claudia Maple was a cheery and positive little girl, who had the best of social skills and the confidence like no other child.

It wasn't rare to find the girl trudging down the streets of London with her mum, chanting songs so loudly that strangers would stare. Not that it would face the little girl, however.

"You be a very good girl now," said Gemma, kissing her niece on the forehead. "Cause mischief, and annoy Dumbledore as much as you can!"

"Gemma!" Anne scolded.

"What?! I've never liked that man, there's something odd about him I tell you-"

"Maybe, but please don't talk like that in public," Anne said, though there was clearly an amused tint in her eyes.

Maybe she agreed with that opinion, maybe she didn't. Claudia had no idea.

Her mum was sometimes difficult to understand. She sometimes said things that made no sense, something Claudia one day would inherit. She spoke in riddles, which was both fun and annoying. Though, Claudia did not have a single poor opinion about her mum.

Anne was a free and happy spirit who wanted nothing but peace and love in the world. Some would even call her a hippie in the making.

Her mum was Claudia's favourite person in the whole wide world, and she knew that with the lack of a good father she had instead been blessed with the best mother in the whole wide world.

The floral dresses, pancakes, endless collections of feminist books and Frankie Valli records was something that could never ever leave Claudia's mind. Nor was the scent of fresh daffodils or the posters of Audrey Hepburn and Marilyn Monroe that covered the walls of their little house.

Her mum was not only the best mum alive, she was also Claudia's best friend. Her best companion. Her kindred spirit.

And nothing could ever change that.

"I love you kid," Gemma said with a cheeky grin, leaning down slightly to hug the short little girl that soon would grow as tall as her mum. "See you later!"

"Where is she going?" The eleven year old girl asked her mum as her aunt practically danced off into the crowds of people who were filling up the platform.

"She has probably spotted that handsome young man over there," Anne chuckled as she pointed towards him.

"She really needs to sort out her priorities," Claudia sighed with an amused grin as Anne gave her a pointed look. "What?! She should prioritise her niece before men!"

"You're right sweetheart, but she's a young woman," Anne explained. "Young women can date as much as they want. Or not. It really doesn't matter."

"But you have barely dated at all," Claudia pointed out, teasing her mother slightly.

"So you think I'm young?" Anne gasped.

Claudia blinked.

"Well, I haven't been dating much," Anne said, though she didn't exactly look fazed by that at all. "You, young lady, take up all my time. And, besides, your father was enough men to deal with for a lifetime."

Claudia giggled slightly at that, and then she spotted just the person they were talking about.

Her father stood further away, having no intentions whatsoever of greeting his daughter and her mother. He was alongside Louisa, who didn't even try to hide the glare that she was sending Anne.

"He's still married to that nasty woman, I see," Anne said with a small snort. "It truly is a match made in heaven."

"More like a match made in hell," Claudia said wittily. "Get it? Not because it's a bad match but because they're literally from hell?"

"I get it, trust me," Anne said, not doubting her daughter's words for a second.

If only she knew what had gone down those days that Claudia had spent at their manor during the summer.

"And now I just realised I have to be stuck in a castle with Nolan and Nicolas all year," Claudia sighed.

"Well, if it brings you any comfort I don't think you'll be forced to be in the same house as them."

"Really?"

"Well, you sure have some Slytherin in you but I'm sure Ravenclaw is the place for you. Not that I'm biased or anything."

"I'd quite like Ravenclaw," said Claudia happily. "Though, father won't be happy."

"I've heard that Sirius Black is wishing against Slytherin as well," Anne said, eyeing the Black family from afar. "Maybe you two can form a little alliance."

"How did you know that?"

"Andromeda. They're quite close, I've heard. Her and Sirius."

"Is that Gemma's friend?"

"Sure is," Anne smiled, and then she turned around to face her daughter. "I think you need to board the train now."

"I'll miss you," Claudia said solemnly, though she was still very excited. "Like crazy."

"And I'll miss you even more," Anne said, stroking hair away from Claudia's face. "You must write at least once a week."

"I'll probably write every day."

"And you must have the time of your life. That's not a wish, that's an obligation."

"I'll probably have the time of my life too, don't worry."

"I love you, my little angel," Anne said, bringing her daughter into a firm hug. "Don't you dare forget that. And if anything is wrong, you owl me right away and I'll come find you."

"I will, I promise. I love you, mum."

"I love you," Anne repeated, and opened her teary eyes as she spotted another family from afar.

The Lupins.

Remus was incredibly nervous. He had never really had a real friend before, and he had no idea on how to socialise, nor did he feel comfortable with leaving his mum and dad.

And, the worst part of it all was of course his lycanthropy. He was terrified to deal with the full moon without his mum's hugs and his father's comforting words, and he was terrified that if someone would find out he would be without friends.

The young boy spoke with his mum, who was wearing a look of concern as she comfortingly held his hand and tried her hardest to calm him down, his dad standing behind him with his hand on his shoulder.

"Claudia?" Anne questioned.

"Yes?"

"You remember what I told you last night, right?"

"Of course. Always help those who need it. And be kind."

"Yes," Anne breathed as she broke the hug and looked into her daughter's emerald eyes.

Eyes that brought some uncomfortable memories back.

"You're the best girl I know," Anne said with a smile. "So, I think you should go talk to that boy over there. He seems to be quite nervous."

Anne pointed to the nervous looking Remus, and the eleven year old Claudia wouldn't deny that she thought that the boy was quite cute.

"Doesn't that sound like a good idea?"

"Sure," Claudia said happily, hugging her mum one last time and kissing her on the cheek before walking off to the family of three, who all three were in a state of desperation at this point.

"Hi!" Said Claudia, appearing in front of them. "My name's Claudia, what's yours?"

Remus looked nervously at the girl, who he for the record thought was quite cute, and then his eyes shifted to his mum, who gave him an assuring look.

"Uh, my name's, uh...Remus," the boy managed to get out.

"That's a nice name," said Claudia. "I like nice names. And it suits you."

"Thank you," the boy said quietly, internally freaking out over the fact that his very first interaction was with a pretty girl.

"Well, it is very nice to meet you!" She said, reaching out her hand for him to shake.

Hope and Lyall smiled brightly at the sight of their son carefully shaking the girl's hand, his cheeks turning red as he experienced his first case of butterflies.

"You know, I'm quite nervous," said Claudia, still not letting go of his hand. "So I was wondering, since you seem very nice and since you've got a very nice name, would you like to board the train with me?"

"Uh..."

"I could really use a friend," Claudia smiled. "Please!"

Remus, yet again, looked at his parents for confirmation, and when the two nodded gleefully, the boy softly spoke, "Sure. I guess we could do that."

"Great!" Claudia giggled, letting go of his hand so that he could hug his parents goodbye, only to take it again as she herself said a sweet goodbye to Hope and Lyall and then skipped away with Remus' hand in hers.

Remus was completely mesmerised by the girl. He had never met someone as sweet, pretty and happy as her before.

Claudia shared a final happy look with her mum, one that sunk the moment she spotted her father staring at her with a cold look in his eyes.

Though, she kept calm because as long as her mum was around things could never be worse than they already were.

"Are you excited?" Claudia asked Remus as they stepped onto the train, both of them carrying their separate trunks.

"Yeah, I-I guess," Remus stammered.

"You guess?" Claudia asked amusedly. "I think it's going to be the greatest adventures of all. Don't you like adventures?"

"I guess."

"You guess a lot," Claudia grinned. "Well, I guess we should find a compartment."

At the mention of the two spending the train ride together, Remus suddenly felt nervous - yet there was something about Claudia Maple that made him feel safe.

"Now you guessed," he joked.

"I guess so," Claudia giggled. "I really do like you, you're funny."

"So are you," he said with a grin as they walked down the hallways in the search for a compartment.

"You're funnier," Claudia said. "Tell me, Remus, what house do you want to be in?"

"Gryffindor," he responded without missing a beat. "How about yo-"

"Ah, there's our baby sister," a voice that belonged to Nolan Clarke interrupted their conversation.

Remus noticed how Claudia's face fell the second she heard his voice.

"Where have you been? We've been looking all over for you," Nolan said, draping an arm over Claudia's shoulder which only stiffened her even more.

"Hi, Nolan. Nicolas," Claudia said quietly, meeting eyes with Remus who looked strangely concerned.

"Hi," said Nicolas. "How was the rest of your-"

"And who's this?" Nolan asked, looking right at Remus with narrowed eyes.

"This is Remus," Claudia said with a small smile aimed at the boy who was struggling to find the words to answer Nolan himself.

"Bloodstatus?"

"Uh, halfblood," Remus answered with a frown.

"He's not worthy of our time, Claudia," Nolan said instantly with a glare sent Remus' way as he started dragging her away by her wrist.

"That's mean, Nolan!" Claudia scolded. "I'm halfblooded too!"

"You're an exception," said Nicolas quietly.

"Exactly! You're a Maple. Half of you is of the purest blood there is!"

Claudia scowled at the two as Nicolas continued to drag her down the hallway, his grip on her tightening.

Though, Claudia did not forget to look back at Remus and dramatically roll her eyes over the pair, causing Remus to chuckle.

And then, she nodded encouragingly towards a mousy little boy who was standing nervously in the hallway, his hands carrying far too many sweets.

"I'll see you around!" Claudia called after Remus, receiving an even tighter grip around her wrist from Nolan.

But, despite the two different worlds that the two seemed to be living in both Claudia and Remus knew that they most definitely wanted to see each other around again.

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