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Updated: 30th November
Hey you lot. A big thank you goes out to my reviewers. I'm really glad you like it. It's you guys that keep me writing.
Here comes Chapter 3, where we meet Sirius and Remus, and a few of Lily's friends. Hope you like it; it's slightly longer than the two previous chapters (when I say slightly longer, I mean double the size).
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~Chapter 3 ~ Potter meets Black*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
September the 1st came around quickly, and the morning dawned relatively cold and wet. This did nothing to dampen James' feelings, however, for today he would be off to Hogwarts, and he was too excited to particularly care what the weather held for him.
His trunk lay beside his bed, already packed, and Werren, James' owl, was in his cage next to it. The young boy himself was still asleep, about to be woken by the call of his mother, shrieking up the stairs.
***
Lily hadn't slept at all that night. She was too excited to bother, as leaving the Muggle world was something she couldn't wait to do. Instead, she had read over her schoolbooks again, and had paced the room checking for any forgotten things that she wished to take with her.
Breakfast was a rushed affair, for her parents were also remembering things that they hadn't done.
"Got your money Lily?"
"Yes."
"Your ticket? Prospectus?"
"Yes."
"Books, all the things we bought?"
"Yes mum, STOP worrying!"
"Okay, lets go then." She embraced her daughter in a motherly fashion, before hastily drying her eyes.
"Why are you crying mum?" Lily asked tentatively.
"Probably because I'm not going to see my youngest daughter for almost a year..." she sniffed.
"Aw mum! I'll write as often as I can. You're not losing me you know," Lily reasoned.
"I know dear...just being silly. Come on, we don't want you to miss the train, do we?"
***
"JAMES! GET UP! YOU'RE GOING TO BE LATE!" Mrs Evans called up the stairs.
James opened his eyes slowly, and moaned groggily, "Wh...What time is it?"
"NEARLY TEN-THIRTY! COME ON!" she sounded pretty frantic now, and James took this as a cue to jump out of bed, and pull some clothes on very quickly.
"Okay, mum! I'll be there in five!"
James met his parents in the car, where they had a breakfast laid out for him on the back seat.
"Cheers mum!" he said.
"Don't thank me, thank Elmers, your elf."
"Oh yeah, hang on, let me say bye to her!"
He jumped out of the car, and raced around to the elves-quarters of the house.
"ELMERS! WHERE ARE YOU?" Then he saw his elf, peering behind a door, looking nervous.
"Master? What have I...don't you like your breakfast?" she said squeakily.
"Don't be stupid! And why do you still call me master?" James laughed, "Breakfast looks great! I wanted to say goodbye. Off to Hogwarts now!"
He hugged the elf tightly, and when she looked nearly ready to burst, he let go of her.
"Oh James! I hope you have a great time. I know you will. You will write though, yes?"
"Of course. Must be off!" And with that, James disappeared from view, sliding his way down the staircase banister.
The elf couldn't help but chuckle to herself.
"You will have a great time, James. It's in your nature."
***
The Evans' reached Kings Cross with plenty of time to spare. Lily re-checked her prospectus to make sure she knew exactly how to get through the barrier. Just run into the wall between Platforms nine and ten...
"So..." Mr Evans said, "I guess this is goodbye." Lily heard the sadness in his voice, and knew she hated hearing it there.
"Dad, I'll be back soon. And I promise to write." She hugged him then, but she felt a tear to flow down her face. "Well, I've got to go..." she looked towards her mother, wiping away another tear.
This is not goodbye...it's not...
She couldn't say that to her parents when she couldn't help feeling otherwise herself. All she could do was smile and wave before breaking off into a run, heading right into the wall.
Awaiting the imminent crash, and still thinking of her parents, Lily felt floods of tears upon her. How she wished they would stop, as she closed the gap between herself and the brick wall.
She felt as though everything had slowed down around her, as though she was watching a movie of some sort. Telling herself to move forward, Lily put on a spurt of speed, and everything around her seemed to reach normal speed again. An inch from the wall, and the tears stopped. She was entering a new world now, everything behind her forgotten...
***
James reached the platform, with just five minutes to spare. He and his parents were running now, and only stopped when they reached the wall that Lily had past through just five minutes before.
"Bye then," James said, embracing his parents together; there was no time for long goodbyes.
"Bye James. Have fun," his father said, winking towards his son. James winked back.
"Be careful James. And NO trouble, okay?"
"Well, I can't promise much, mum..."
"JAMES!"
"Well, I'll try. Stop worrying mum. I'll write soon, bye!"
"Bye!" his parents said together.
James pushed the trolley carrying his trunk and Werrel through the barrier, and in front of him, materialised a large scarlet steam train, on the front reading 'Hogwarts Express'.
The steam puffing out of the top signalled to James that the train was about to leave, so he rushed towards it, first hurling his trunk and Werrel's cage through the doorway, and then jumping on himself after them.
***
Lily wandered down the train and found a compartment with a single girl sitting in.
"Hey! I'm Lily Evans, and I was wondering if I could sit here..."
"Hi! I'm Hannah Klein. Course you can sit here. Is it your first year too?"
Lily smiled gratefully, and placed her trunk in the corner of the compartment, next to Hannah's. Hannah had long golden hair, at the moment in a French plait. Her eyes were bright blue, quite startling actually.
"Yes," Lily answered, "I'm feeling slightly nervous now. You?"
"I'm not too bad. Um...I hope you don't mind me asking, but are you muggle-born?" The girl looked carefully at Lily, studying her.
"Yes, er...how, I mean, am I that obvious?"
"Not really, lucky guess on my part. So, you didn't know anything about witches or wizards until you got your letter?"
"Not a thing. Seems great to live with the help of magic..."
"Oh, it is." And she launched into an explanation of all the things magic is useful for. Lily had a great time sitting with here, learning all about wizarding life. She and Hannah really hit it off, and Lily was sure Hannah was enjoying Lily's company as much as Lily was enjoying hers.
***
James had a hard time finding a compartment that wasn't already full. Eventually, he found one with two boys in, and decided that this compartment was probably his best bet.
"Hey, I'm James Potter. Can I sit here?"
The two boys looked up. One, who had mousy hair and pale blue eyes smiled and nodded at James.
The other, who had hair as dark as James, and eyes a shade lighter, introduced the pair; "Hi! I'm Sirius, Sirius Black. And this...what was your name again?"
"Remus, Remus Lupin. Honestly Sirius," Remus laughed.
"Well, I'm just no good with names. Come and sit down Fred," he said to James.
All three started chuckling then, and it was sure to begin a great friendship.
"So James, you a first-year too?" The boy named Remus asked.
"Yep, and I'm ready to put my stamp on the place. I hope I can count on you two to help."
"Sure. We need something to help fill our time with. And I can't think of a better way than to create havoc all over the school." Sirius smiled evilly.
James laughed, and Remus rolled his eyes.
"Maybe becoming the top in the year would be a better way to do it?" he said.
"WHAT?!?" James and Sirius said together.
"...you nuts?" Sirius continued, "Complete...and...utter waste of time. And my mother told me specifically NOT to waste my time!"
And from then, James knew he was going to have the time of his life at school, something that no normal child would ever think possible.
***
The witch with the food trolley came around at about one o'clock, and Lily helped herself to a cauldron cake. Hannah however, bought a few cakes, and half a dozen chocolate frogs.
"Now I know why you're so skinny," she said smiling.
"What?" Lily asked
"Well, you don't eat!"
"I do! Anyway, you are no where near fat yourself!"
"You call that eating? A single cake?"
"Well, yeah."
The conversation ended there. Neither wanted to argue, so they both stared out of the window, wishing Hogwarts would arrive soon.
"Do you think we should change into our robes now?" Lily asked quietly.
"Yeah, I guess that's a good idea." Hannah answered.
The both pulled their trunks out, and searched for their black robes.
"Okay, now I feel sick. I guess you were right not to stuff your face with cakes..." Hannah said smiling, though holding her stomach.
"Yeah, but that could be just nerves."
They laughed together then, both glad to have each other.
"What house do you think you'll be in?" Hannah asked.
***
The table in James' compartment was full of pasties, cakes and chocolates. The boys enjoyed dismantling the food together, laughing and joking all the while.
"So what houses do you lot reckon you'll be in?" James asked the boys.
"Well, I'm hoping Gryffindor," Remus said. "Sirius?"
"Well, my mother wants me to go to Slytherin," he said, an uncharacteristic sad look appearing on his face. "But I REALLY don't want to be there. All the dark wizards come from there, and I think I'd be better off in Gryffindor. Can't imagine the Howler I'd get though, if I don't end up in Slytherin."
"Um...why tell her?" Remus asked.
"I won't have to. I have a cousin, Narcissa, in second year, and she'll definitely tell mum. I don't even like my mum, so I don't know why I'm worrying."
"You don't like her?" James wondered tentatively.
"Nah, bad blood I got. If anyone deserves to be called Mud-blood, its' me. The Blacks ain't the best family to be in. Believe me."
Silence took over the compartment then, as each boy fell deep into his own thoughts.
***
The train began to slow now, and Lily and Hannah made sure their trunks were shut before the train stopped fully.
"So, you want to be in Ravenclaw or Gryffindor?" Hannah asked.
"Yes, I wouldn't mind either. Slytherin doesn't seem too friendly, from what I've read, and Hufflepuff, well, it seems a little-"
"Boring?"
"Yeah, I guess. What about you?"
"Well, the whole families in Gryffindor, so I hope I go there. I guess it's nice to know that your best qualities are bravery and chivalry."
Lily smiled to herself, remembering she was the first of her family to be a witch. She wondered what it was like for Hannah to have to keep up the family honour this way, and she felt slight pity for her, in that Lily would have nobody to have to compete with, while Hannah was competing with two sisters, that had both left Hogwarts.
The train stopped completely then, and the pair of them made their way to the platform.
***
"Coming you pair?" Remus called to Sirius and James, who were still on the train.
"Yeah, hang on a minute." Both of them were stuffing their pockets with the leftover chocolates, trying to pull their robes over their heads the same time.
Five minutes later, the three of them were standing on the platform, looking over to where someone was calling for them.
"Firs' Years! This way, firs' years."
James looked up at the man who called them, and wondered how he hadn't seen him before. He was the size of a normal man, though looked no older than fifteen. James wondered why he wasn't dressed in robes like everyone else.
"You firs' years?" the large boy asked James.
"Er...yeah."
"Follo' me then. Yeh don' wan' to geh lost. I'm Hagrid, assis'ant keeper of 'Ogwarts. "
"Oh." That explained why he wasn't in robes. "I'm James Potter. This..." he pointed to Sirius, "...is Sirius Black, and the one next to him is Remus Lupin. Pleased to meet you, Hagrid."
"Pleasure all mine, James. Yeh parents tol' me you were comin' this year."
"My parents? You know them?" James asked, looking surprised.
"The Potter's? Course I know 'em! Great friends' of me dads they were."
"Were?"
"He died, in me secon' year. Let's get movin' then. Or there won' be any boats lef' for yeh."
"Hagrid, I'm sorry, I didn't know," James hated the tone in Hagrid's voice. The pure emotion he heard there. It sounded strange coming from a boy so big, maybe James though that a boy so big didn't feel emotion, but obviously he did.
"Course yeh didn't know. It don' matter. Come on, get in a boat. Four to a boat!" Hagrid shouted the last part to the whole group of first-years.
"James, over here!" Sirius called.
James nodded to Hagrid leaving the conversation there. He made his way over to the boat Remus and Sirius were sitting in.
"Hey buddies!" said James brightly. He climbed into the boat.
"Ain't seen you in ages James!" Sirus said, in the way a grandmother would greet her grandson. "Aww, what you been doing?" Sirius pulled James' left cheek. "Did you pass your exams?" He hugged James then, and patted him slowly on the back. James couldn't help laughing, Remus trying and failing, not to look amused.
"Yes, granny. I had a hundred per cent in every one of them. Now where's my ten galleons you said you'd give me for them?" James played along.
"Well, see, I gave it to your father," Sirius looked towards Remus, "HE'S got it."
James jumped onto Remus, "Da-ad? Where's my money?"
Remus pushed James off, unfortunately too hard, for James somehow managed to capsize the boat. Five seconds after the boat turned the wrong way up, James, Sirius and Remus' heads popped up from the freezing water.
"Well, that was a rather refreshing dip!" said James happily.
"It was rather!" Sirius said, in the same happy tone.
"I'm freezing!" moaned Remus. James and Sirus laughed as the three of them turned the capsized boat the right way around. Then the three of them jumped in.
James looked around at the other boats. Hagrid was in the boat behind them, howling with laughter. "I...never...see'...anythin' like it!" he said between chuckles.
"We aim to please!" Sirius said with a grin.
"Ah, looks like we foun' this year's troublemaker's," Hagrid said.
"This years?" James said, with a surprised look on his face, "More like this century mate! We are gonna rule the school!"
"Course yeh are, James!" Hagrid said, "Roun' this corner now, an' yeh'll get to see 'Ogwarts. Here yeh are!"
A loud 'ooh' from the girls of the group made James look up at the large castle himself. He wondered what the next seven years had in store for him...
***
Lily got into a boat with Hannah, and was joined by two other girls.
"Hey! I'm Janet Davies!" one said. Her hair was short, no further than her shoulders, and her eyes were stone in colour.
"And I'm Harriet Jones! You are...?"
"Lily Evans."
"Hannah Klein," she smiled politely. "So what houses do you two want to be in?"
"Well," Janet began, "I was thinking Hufflepuff. My mother ALWAYS tells me I'm fair-minded. Hufflepuff seems to be for me."
"Well, I'm hoping Ravenclaw. I'm hoping that I'm intelligent," Harriet said.
"So, how do they choose what house you're in?" Lily asked.
"Well, I asked Georgia, my sister, but she wouldn't tell me. She said something about wanting to make me worry. Charming!" Hannah answered with a funny look on her face.
A sudden splash caught the girls' attention.
"Well, that was a rather refreshing dip!" Lily looked over to where the voice had come from, and saw, to her horror, the boy who had been rude to her in Diagon Alley, bobbing up and down in the lake. Lily looked at him with distaste.
"What's the matter Lily?" Hannah asked, seeing the look that Lily was giving the handsome boy. "Do you know James?"
"James? Is that his name? I don't know him, no. We met in Diagon Alley. Well, he pushed me over..."
"Maybe he was in a rush," Hannah shrugged. "Not like James to be rude. Did he apologise?"
Lily shook her head, still looking over at the wet boy. "No, he didn't," she said, quiet enough so that Hannah did not here.
"Roun' this corner now, an' yeh'll get to see 'Ogwarts. Here yeh are!"
Lily looked up towards the massive castle in front of her. The long towers reached high in the sky. Even in the dark, the castle looked appealing. How she wanted to be inside...
***
The boats suddenly reached the edge of lake and the students all got out. James stood next to Sirius as Hagrid knocked on the huge door.
Knock knock knock
While waiting for someone to answer, James wondered what house he'd be in. His two new friends were both hoping for Gryffindor, and James' family had all been in Gryffindor, so it was to be expected that James too, would be drawn to that house. Though he did wonder what the other three houses would be like. Hufflepuff didn't appeal to him; they didn't have the qualities that James expected from his house. Slytherin didn't appeal either; it was where all the dark wizards came from, and James hated the dark wizards, more than anything. His father was an Auror, whose job it was to capture the dark witches and wizards, and James himself, felt anger towards them when he read about them in the Daily Prophet. The only other house that James was drawn to really was Ravenclaw. Ravenclaw was where the intelligent students went, and though James was very intelligent and absorbed information easily, he wasn't quite sure that that was the house for him. James also liked to have fun, and he had a funny feeling that Ravenclaw would be all about studying, without the amusement that James needed.
Then the large oak door opened and a tall, formidable witch stood before them.
"Thank-you Hagrid, I will take them from here."
She had a stern face, and a mouth that seemed to have no shape at all to it. It seemed as though it couldn't move from the stern line that it was at present. James made a quick promise to himself then, to try and make her smile, if it was the only thing he did whilst at school.
"Welcome to Hogwarts," she said, "if you please, step inside." There was a little needless pushing to get through the large oak door, and Sirius winked to James, as he came up alongside. The group of first-years past what James supposed was where all the other students were congregated, for a lot of noise came from behind a door to his right. Professor McGonagall lead them to a small room opposite to where the other students were.
"I am Professor McGonagall, Deputy Headmistress, Head of the Gryffindor House, and Transfiguration teacher. Tonight, and in a minute, you will be sorted into the four Hogwart's Houses. These are-"
James' attention wandered for a minute as he wondered how they would be sorted. Some sort of test? But how would the Muggle-borns be able to do any magic yet?
"...and Gryffindor, to who I am the Head of house. Now, if you will excuse me for a minute, I must check on the other students in the Great Hall, where they will watch you being sorted. Good luck, and may you be a credit to your house, whichever that may be."
The stern witch left the room then, probably to the room opposite. She left the room in silence, and the silence did not disappear. It engulfed the room of students, and nobody said a word. It seemed as though nobody was breathing either, for the silence was so complete.
But the spell was broken then, by James' new, dark haired friend.
***
Lily was lead into a room, along with the other students. She shook herself suddenly, for fear of the nerves taking over, and perhaps leading to her fainting.
"Welcome to Hogwarts. I am Professor McGonagall..."
To Lily, Professor McGonagall seemed a teacher. A real teacher. Not the type she had to put up with back in her old school, but one who she could actually learn something from. Lily gave her a smile as she looked in Lily's direction.
"…They are Slytherin, who will be having a new Head of house this year, Hufflepuff, who's Head of house is Professor Sprout, Ravenclaw, who Professor Hilken is Head of house, and finally, Gryffindor, to who I am Head of house."
Lily looked around the room at all the nervous, and slightly pale looking faces. They were all as nervous as she was, she could tell. Each and every single one of them was staring in the direction of the professor. Except for one. James. She stared at him for a moment. His dark messy hair nearly completely covering his forehead. His dark eyes wandering the room as Lily's were.
She averted her attention back to the professor again then.
"If you will excuse me for a moment..."
The professor nodded her head slightly and left the room. The room she left was as silent as it had been while she was in there as when she wasn't.
But then...
***
A scream erupted from the girl standing next to Sirius.
"What?" Sirius asked, trying, and failing to look innocent.
"You...that spider...it was enormous! You..." She screamed at him.
"WHAT? I didn't see any spider. Did anyone else?" he asked looking around. Nobody said anything.
"It crawled up my arm! I'm not stupid…Sirius is it?"
"Pleasure to meet you ma'am," he said, bowing slightly.
"Humph...boys!" she said, and moved as far as she could in the crowded room away from Sirius.
"Well, show's over people..." he said, "the star, otherwise known as me, wishes to retire."
A few of the males in the crowd laughed; Sirius had broken the tension in the room, for which many were glad. Even some of the girls found it funny but chose not to laugh, for they did not wish to make an enemy so early into the school year.
Then, Professor McGonagall returned to them, and told them to make an orderly line, and follow her through to the Great Hall, where they would be sorted.
James stood in between Sirius and Remus, feeling only slight nerves. He was determined to have fun this year, no matter what house he ended up in.
The line of first-years made their way out of the room, and through the hallway, into the Great Hall, via another oak door.
The Great Hall consisted of five long tables, four lengthways to the door, and the other, on a slight stage, widthways. The four in front of them were where the students sat, each looking towards the first-years. The one at the back of the hall was where all the professors sat. At a quick count, there were around twenty-five professors sat around one side of the long table, facing the students. Numerous candles, seemingly floating, lighted the room. The only other source of light was the shimmering light that twenty or so ghosts dotted around the room, emitted. At the sight of them, many of the girls gasped. James guessed that the ones gasping were muggle-born, for many of the witches that came from magical backgrounds must have seen a ghost or two before. The thing that interested most of the first-years, however, was the ceiling. It was enchanted to mirror the sky outside, and at the moment showed a clear moonlit sky. Even James, whose family had wizarding blood running through its veins for many a year, couldn't help but be surprised at the sight of it. He wondered when it was raining whether the rain would bounce off it.
His wondering ceased then, as he followed the rest of the line up towards the teachers. One of the teachers, seated in the centre of the table, James had seen many a time before, though only brief encounters. Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster of Hogwarts. He was a great friend with James' parents, and they often talked of him. James saw the old man glance down the line, and upon seeing James, James would have sworn he smiled.
The line came to a stop then, right in front of the teachers. McGonagall disappeared from view, leaving the first-years to shiver nervously. James wondered whether his own shivering was due to his wet clothes, or did he share the same nerves as everyone else in that line?
McGonagall re-appeared, holding a three-legged stool and upon it, she placed an old, shabby-looking wizard's hat. James stared at it, wondering what the sorting would entail. Suddenly, and near the brim of the hat, a rip appeared, shaped oddly like a mouth. James felt himself jump when the hat began to sing.
"I am the Hogwarts Sorting Hat,
Old as I may be,
But 'twas my masters that filled me full of brains
And then they set me free.
I am more intelligent
And I shall place you where you belong
Than any other hat you'll ever know
And I'll tell you in my song.
Whether you'll belong in Gryffindor,
Where chivalry and braveness always shine
Or Hufflepuff,
Where the fair-minded will always be just fine
Or there's Ravenclaw where
Those with intellect will always show clear
Or Slytherin
Where those shrewd and calculating will always be near.
I'll be able to tell you,
With a simple look around your head,
Which house you ought to go to
PUT ME ON, I SAID!."
The Great Hall erupted with clapping, and James clapped slowly along. Nerves sure were taking over now…
McGonagall silenced the students with a quick look, and took centre stage, holding a list of names.
"When I call your name, please, step forward, and place the hat on your head. Not difficult," she said.
"First...Black, Sirius."
James watched as his friend made his way towards the stool, the smile now on his face looked rather fixed, and unreal.
James shouted, "Come on mate!" as Sirius sat down. Professor McGonagall gave him a stern look, and he took this as a signal to look down at his feet.
The seconds of silence, of not knowing were almost painful for James...Come on, mate...
"Gryffindor!" the hat shouted, for the benefit of the Hall.
The table furthest on the left clapped and cheered loudly, completely drowning James' attempts of cheering his friend.
"Now...Crabbe, George."
A short, fat little boy stepped up and took a seat on the stool, placing the hat on his head. There were about thirty seconds of silence before...
"Slytherin!" the Hat shouted to the hall. The table furthest right erupted with cheers. George Crabbe made his way over to that table, and sat next to a second year, a slight red tinge on his face. When silence took over again, McGonagall called the next name.
***
"Davies, Janet."
The girl whom Lily was standing next to walked towards the stool.
"Good luck Janet. Hope you get to get in Hufflepuff..." Lily whispered, totally aware that the girl couldn't hear here.
The silence this time was almost overpowering...How Lily wanted her friend to get what she wanted. There was need to worry though.
"Hufflepuff!" the hat shouted. Lily clapped loudly for her friend, who smiled as she took her seat at the table second from the left.
The next name...
"Evans, Lily," McGonagall called.
Lily felt as though she were about to faint as she walked to the stool. She hated the silence of the hall. Why wouldn't someone say anything? She placed the hat on her head, completely aware that the eyes of the whole hall were upon her. She tried to forget about them, and concentrated on making the hat put her in Ravenclaw or Gryffindor.
***
"It's her," James whispered to himself as the attractive redhead made her way towards the stool. "Lily. What a pretty name for such a beautiful girl."
"James?" Remus asked in a whisper, catching the end of James' thoughts as he said them aloud.
"What? Oh, never mind."
***
"Aah," the hat said, "A very intelligent mind, you have dear. Very. And rather brave too. Slightly naïve, but no matter, your skill will help you through that. You also have certain chivalry about you. Seems as though you'll be particularly good at charms. Well, a choice of two, Ravenclaw, or Gryffindor. Where would you like to go dear?"
Lily breathed a sigh of relief. "Either," she thought.
"Very well, I think, though your intelligence would fit in well in Ravenclaw, your destiny leads you to...Gryffindor!"
The claps from the end table interrupted the silence, and Lily smiled nervously as she made her way down towards the Gryffindor table. She sat next to another first-year who had been sorted into Gryffindor-Sirius Black.
"Hello, dear. Sirius Black." He offered his hand to Lily.
"Hi, Lily Evans," she said, smiling again.
"Aah, my pretty Lily," he said.
Lily rolled her eyes at these words, ones she had heard many times, though normally mockingly, before. She didn't hear the sincerity in his words. She turned her attention back to the Sorting.
"Jones, Harriet."
Harriet walked towards the stool placed the hat on her head, and waited.
No more than twenty seconds later, the hat shouted, "Ravenclaw!"
Lily clapped along as the tall girl took her seat.
"Klien, Hannah"
"Come on Hannah. I need you here! Come on! Please say Gryffindor!" she thought frantically.
"Gryffindor!" That hat shouted. This time Lily stood on her feet to cheer along with everyone in Gryffindor. Hannah sat down next to Lily, blushing furiously.
"Well done!" I knew you could do it!" Lily said to her friend.
"Thanks Lily. Wow!"
Lily then remembered to pay attention to the Sorting.
"Lupin, Remus." A boy with mousy hair made his way to the chair. He looked rather nervous as he sat down.
"Gryffindor!"
Lily again stood to cheer. Remus took his seat opposite Sirius.
"Well done chap," Sirius said.
"To you too, mate!"
"Potter, James." The next name that Lily remembered to listen to.
The boy, who had pushed her over in Diagon Alley, made his way looking rather arrogant, if the truth were told, towards the stool.
"Please not Gryffindor..." Lily didn't think she could cope having to be in the same quarters as the boy.
***
James made his way to the stool. He placed the hat on his head.
"Why...James Potter...rather intelligent, I see. Though somewhat arrogant. Brave, yes, very brave, and chivalrous...well then, you belong, most obviously in...Gryffindor!"
The table on the left erupted in cheers then, and James smiled as he made his way down towards them. The only person not on their feet was Lily, the girl he had pushed over in Diagon Alley.
He felt slight guilt shiver its way down his spine as he looked at her, but that was quickly overpowered by pride; He was in Gryffindor.
***
Lily ignored the rest of the Sorting for her head was elsewhere. The euphoria of becoming a Gryffindor was still making her smile on the outside. Inside, she felt hunger take over, and the tiredness that long journeys tend to cause. She was ready for bed.
She was brought back to the present when the person, who she recognised as the current Headmaster of Hogwarts from the book, 'Hogwarts: A History', stood to his feet. He had very long, grey hair, and beard, and he wore half-moon glasses. His purple robes had stars upon, and he wore a genuine smile, as though happy to meet every one of his students.
"Welcome to all. For those who do not know me, I am Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster of Hogwarts. So, before I roll into a long speech, I think we should tuck in to a delicious dinner first."
There were many cheers at this, and as the old man sat down, the plates in front of them filled with steaming potatoes, all kinds of meats, vegetables, and more. Lily, though shocked at first, smiled, and piled her plate with some potatoes and vegetables. While they ate, conversation began between the Gryffindor first-years.
"So, what kind of parentage do you all have?" someone asked.
"I'm pure-blood," James answered.
"Me too," Sirius and Remus said together.
"I'm half-blood," Hannah answered, "Mums a witch, dad a muggle."
"Well," Lily began, "I'm muggle-born." She was used to the term now, and felt confident about using it. The simple sentence gained Lily a few looks, not those of disgust, but as though they were making notes of who she was, so they would recognise her again.
Lily turned slightly red at this, and thought it better to let the conversation roll on past her.
"Well, I for one can't WAIT to play quidditch!" James began.
"No, me neither," a girl next to Hannah said, "I hope our team's good."
"Yeah, me too. Um..." he tapped on a second-years shoulder, "...is our Quidditch team good?"
"You kiddin'?" he looked miserable, "I wish it was. We have the talent, yes, but our..." he quietened his voice to no more than a whisper, "our captain doesn't have a clue. So next year, when he's left, maybe we'll be in with a shot."
"Next year?" James said, looking outraged, "I can't wait that long."
"Sorry mate," the second year shrugged, and tuned back to his dinner.
"Outrage! How can we have a captain who's no good?" That was the last thing James said until dinner was finished, for he was apparently, deep in thought.
When all the plates were clear, Dumbledore stood again. The hall was silent as a mark of respect for the Headmaster.
"Now that you are no longer hungry, a quick few words. Firstly, I would like to welcome Professor Filbert to our ranks." He placed his hand on the shoulder of a man whose grey hair was short and cropped and lay on it's side, who's eyes were stone cold.
"He will be the new Potions master, and Head of Slytherin."
Loud cheers erupted from the table farthest from the Gryffindors.
"Okay," said Dumbledore, which silenced the cheers, "The number of objects not allowed in the school walls has increased by some dozen, and the full list my be seen on the door of Mr Gron's office. The Forbidden Forest is out-of-bounds to you all, as is Hogsmeade to those under third year. I think that is all of importance," he said, looking at the professors on both sides, "Except to bid you all a goodnight. I bid you all a goodnight," he said, as he sat down.
"Gryffindor First-Years! Follow me!" someone called. Lily obeyed, following the crowd of first years making their way out the hall door, many yawning on the way.
"Lily!"
"What?" she turned around to see Hannah rushing towards her.
"Wait up!" Lily smiled as Hannah caught up.
***
"...Gryffindor Common room is where you'll spend most of your free time. Jessica Parker here and me, Henry Giles are Gryffindor's Prefects, so if you have any problems or concerns we will be the ones to help you out. Now then, McGonagall will give your class timetable to you tomorrow at breakfast. During classes you will be given house points for good behaviour, good work and the like. Points will be deducted for the opposite. The house with the most points at the end of the year will be awarded the House Cup, a great honour, and I know McGonagall wants it this year. Lets hope you first years can help us on the way, huh?"
The prefect continued with explaining the average day at Hogwarts, all the while the group making their way up many staircases, round many corners and through a few secret passages, finally stopping outside a portrait of an elegant lady.
"[I]This[/I]," the Prefect said, "is the Fat Lady. She is the holder of Gryffindor common room. To get past her, you must know the password. The password is regularly changed, and I will tell you when it is. At the moment, the password is '[I]Quidditch[/I]'. Nice and simple." The Fat Lady open then, and they all crawled through the portrait and into the Common room.
The Common room was a circular room full of squishy chairs all facing a large coal fire. Around the edges were a number of table and chairs, presumably somewhere where the students could do homework if they didn't need the library.
"Right, girls' dormitories are up there," he pointed up towards a staircase, "And the boys' are there. There is no going up the wrong staircase boys, okay?" he winked, and a few of the boys chuckled slightly. James however...
"What?" he said looking rather annoyed.
"James, dear, I'm really sorry, but we had to break your bubble sooner or later," Sirius said, looking rather serious.
"Bu...but, no girls to share a room with me? None at all?" He really did look as though he was about to cry.
"Sorry Jamsie, but I guess you're stuck with me and Remus."
"Oh! Well...not too bad then, eh?" he said, with a little wink, causing everyone to laugh.
"Well, up to bed everyone," the Prefect named Jessica finished, and everyone obliged, walking up their respective staircases.
James made his way up the spiral staircase with all the other boys. Finally, at the top of the staircase, they stopped outside what they guessed was the first-year room. They came to this conclusion thanks to a plaque on the door that read:
'First Year Dormitory
Sirius Black
Remus Lupin
James Potter
Peter Pettigrew'
"Who's Peter?" James called down the staircase, hoping that the Peter-boy was down there somewhere.
A voice called up the stairs, "I...I am." A short, and relatively fat boy, with blue, watery eyes, materialised then, as he turned the corner of the staircase.
"Nice to meet you, Peter! I'm James, this is Sirius, and Remus."
The boy smiled apprehensively at them. To James, he seemed timid and rather sickly. From first impressions, James didn't find his companionship as inviting as either Sirius's or Remus's, but James decided he shouldn't judge anyone on first impressions, and smiled as he led the way into their dorm.
***
Lily and Hannah reached the top of their staircase and both stopped to look at the golden plaque on the door.
'First Year Dormitory
Stacey Broadway
Lily Evans
Hannah Klein
Bethany Williams'
"Hmm...I wonder whether Stacey and Bethany are here yet," Hannah said as they pushed through the doorway into the dormitory.
The dormitory was nothing more than what they had expected. Four bed, all behind their individual curtains, and a window on the far side of the room which looked out over the school grounds, though they weren't visible this late in the night. Their trunks, which Lily had forgotten about, were already next to their beds, and Lily and Hannah began unpacking, placing their clothes in the drawers next to their beds.
Then, two girl walked in, both blonde haired. One rather tall, while the other very stocky. The tall one introduced them.
"Hi! I'm Stacey, and this is Bethany. I guess you pair are our roommates?"
"Yes," Lily answered, "I'm Lily and this is Hannah."
"Pleased to meet you," Bethany smiled.
"You too." The two new arrivals also began unpacking then, and the four of them shared light talk about how nice dinner had been, how tiring the journey was and eventually talk of their family.
"Well, I have two sisters, Georgia and Kathryn," Hannah began. "Both older, but are really nice when they want to be. Lily?"
"I have a sister, three years older than me. I hate her; we don't get on. When I got my letter she called me a freak, and now I don't care what happens to her."
The other three girls shared a dark look.
"Too bad," Bethany said, "I have a brother, who works in the Ministry, and was apparently a heartthrob when he was here. Yeah, right! If he was a heartthrob, then my butt must be stunning."
The four of them chuckled at the joke.
"I've three sisters and four brothers," Stacey said, "Imagine how hard it is to remember names in my family."
'Wow,' Lily thought. 'It must be great to have all those siblings to get along with.'
When they had finally finished unpacking, changed into their pyjamas, and the four of them said 'goodnight', the four of them fell, quite suddenly, asleep.
***
The four boys were unpacking when a noise from Peter's corner caught their attention.
"What's up Peter?" James called.
"Someone...put a charm on my...my suitcase. Won't open."
"What?" James said, "Who...?" But then he heard Sirius turn a chuckle into a cough, and knew Sirius well enough to expect something from him.
James couldn't help laughing himself.
"I'm sorry Peter, about my two RATHER CHILDISH friends...they find the stupidest of things funny. Haven't the faintest idea why!" Remus said, performing the counter-charm on the case.
"It's okay...I...didn't know that charm."
"Aah, well Peter," Sirius said, "You should've been in our compartment on the train. We shared ALL our secrets and darkest plans there."
"We did?" Remus asked, "and, WHERE was I?"
"Oh, you were there Remus," James said, "There in person, yes, but in mind...you lazy lump! You were asleep, and you don't even remember."
"Oh."
James winked at Sirius. Their story was true, and they had great pleasure telling Remus this.
They finished unpacking half an hour later, and they were all very tired.
"I guess we should sleep," Sirius said yawning, "Lot's of tricks to play tomorrow," he said, with an obvious wink towards James.
"Yeah, goodnight all!"
Sirius and James flopped together on their own beds.
Five seconds later, loud snores came from both beds. Remus shook his head.
"I don't know..."
~*~
Okay that's it! Hope you like it. The next chapter should be up this/next week.
Please keep reviewing!
xxCarriexx