September 1, 1976, dawned cool and crisp as the Hogwarts Express chugged steadily towards its destination. The grand castle loomed in the distance, its turrets and towers bathed in the early morning light. Students, chattering excitedly, spilled from the train, eager for the new term. In the bustling Great Hall, the Sorting Hat's song echoed with a sense of foreboding, hinting at the dark times ahead. At the Gryffindor table, James Potter and Sirius Black exchanged grins, their laughter masking the tension of the brewing conflict as Remus and Peter shook their heads at a joke they'd just been told. Across the hall, Regulus Black sat silently, his gaze fixed on his plate, while Severus Snape watched from the shadows, his mind troubled by thoughts of dark ambitions. As the feast began, the air was thick with anticipation and unspoken fears, setting the stage for a tumultuous year at Hogwarts.