The First Year
James' head snapped up. His eyes widened with shock, but he didn't say anything.
"Lily?!?" he whispered.
"Um, I take it you two know each other then?" asked Sirius, trying to break the
silence.
Lily laughed. "Of course! James and I have been best friends since we were little."
Remus looked confused. "So then, why are you so surprised to see each other ?"
"I'm a Muggle-born witch. I never knew I was a witch until I got my letter. That's why James never knew, I
didn't know myself. But James, you never told me about you being a wizard."
"Well, you see, I didn't know that you were a witch. I just thought that you were a Muggle, and
we wizards don't tell Muggles about being able to do magic."
"That would explain why you stopped talking to me this summer."
James nodded his head. "I'm sorry Lil, if I had known, I would have told you. But then, how do you know Remus' friend? I'm sorry, I forgot your name too."
"Oh, you mean Sirius? Well, he helped me get my things from Diagon Alley. Wow,
I am so happy to see you!"
James nodded his head in fervent agreement. Lily sat back, glowing with happiness. She was starting a new school, her best friend was talking to her again, and she had two new friends as well. Everything seemed perfect. She focused her attention on the boys' conversation about Hogwarts.
"What are the houses again?" asked Sirius
. "Houses?" asked Lily, confused.
James started to explain. "Everyone gets sorted into houses. The houses are where we live during the year, and we have classes and everything with housemates. I think that the house names are Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, Slytherin, and Gryffindor."
"Gryffindor? Isn't that the name of the man in your portrait James?"
"Yep," he replied proudly, "Godric Gryffindor was one of the founders of Hogwarts. I know that I will be in Gryffindor house, it is by far the best one."
Remus laughed. "You just say that because he is your like, great-great-great
grandfather."
Sirius and Lily laughed along with Remus, and James just shrugged.
"Well, I'd rather be in Gryffindor than Slytherin. Every single witch or wizard in Slytherin house has turned
out evil. I mean, they are just vile." remarked James, as Remus and Sirius nodded fervently.
The rest of the train ride was passed sitting and talking about different aspects of the wizarding world. Lily learned about Quidditch, which Sirius and James were both avid fans of. Finding a common thread to discuss, the two had been talking about teams and statistics for the past hour and a half. While they were drooling over Quidditch, Remus told her about the classes that they would be taking.
"My older sister, Julie, has already graduated from here. She is the minister's assistant at the Ministry of Magic. She has already told me all about Hogwarts."
The train came to a stop about an hour later. There was a scramble to get off the train and into the fresh air. Lily heard a booming voice up ahead.
"Firs' years this way! C'mon now, firs' years!" Lily scanned the darkness to see the hugest man she had ever seen before. He was dressed in a moleskin overcoat and carried a lantern in order to see the crowd of students.
"C'mon, firs' years. All righ', everyone here? Now, lets go. Four to a boat, come on now."
The students filed quickly to a fleet of small row boats floating on the water. Lily climbed into one first, and gripped the edges tightly as James and Sirius both clambered in, making the boat sway dangerously. Remus hopped in last. The fleet of boats made their way across the water. Lily assumed that they were bewitched to move on their own, as no one was rowing them. About two minutes into the ride, an enormous castle loomed into view. Lily gasped, it was a breathtaking image. All the rest of the students were quietly in awe of the magnificent castle, also.
The boats came into a small, underground harbor and the students unloaded. They waited nervously at the foot of a huge staircase. The huge man knocked on the door, and a formidable looking woman appeared.
"They are all here, Professor McGonagall."
"Very well, Hagrid," she replied, "I'll take it from here."
The huge man called Hagrid left, and the woman continued. "Welcome to Hogwarts. Shortly, you will be entering through these doors and you will be sorted into your houses. I suggest that you make yourself presentable, as the Sorting Ceremony will be taking place in front of the rest of the school."
Oh great, Lily thought, that's a calming thought. She looked around. Remus was looking slightly green, and Sirius had decided to calm his nerves by poking James in the back of his head, which Sirius found to be incredibly funny. James looked slightly annoyed with the poking, but retaliated by repeatingly kicking Sirius in the shins.
Professor McGonagall reappeared. "Ok, we are ready for you.
The first years filed into the Great Hall. All around them, students in black robes and tall, pointed hats turned in their seats to get a better look. Lily swallowed, not sure if she was nervous or just plain scared out of her wits.
"When I call your name, I want you to step forward, and try on the sorting hat." Professor McGonagall gestured towards a ratty, beaten wizards hat that sat on a four-legged stool.
"Black, Sirius."
Sirius stepped forth, his face pale but determined. He sat on the stool for about half a minute before--to Lily's shock--the hat called out "GRYFFINDOR".
Immense relief spread throughout Sirius' face. He proceeded to sit at the Gryffindor table, where he then looked up to Lily, James and Remus and gave them a thumbs up sign.
The list seemed to go on forever. Two girls were sorted into Ravenclaw, and a few people into Slytherin. Another girl, ("Nell Drake") had been sorted into Hufflepuff. Lily noticed that it took longer for the hat to call out names than it did others. She sincerely hoped that she wasn't among the ones who had to sit there for five minutes. "Evans, Lily". This is it, she thought as she walked to the stool, ok, relax. She jammed the hat onto her head, and sat there.
"Hmm," said a tiny voice that seemed to be in her head, "very interesting. Brains, loyalty. I know where to put you… GRYFFINDOR!" She felt the hat being pulled from her head, and she ran over to Sirius who was yelling himself hoarse. Lily sat down, feeling very accomplished, and waited to see the rest of her friends being sorted. Remus got into Gryffindor as well, which had made Sirius very pleased. And, of course, James had also gotten in. "Well, of course, I am family" he said rather smugly.
. Just then, another freshly sorted boy sat down next to Remus. He was round-faced, with small eyes and a pointy nose, and he seemed very nervous to be even sitting there.
"Hi," said Lily kindly, "and who are you?"
The boy replied, "Peter Pettigrew." He had a squeaky voice which was made even higher by his nervousness.
"Hi Peter, I am Lily, and this is James Potter, Sirius Black, and Remus Lupin. Are you a first year as well?"
He nodded. "Pleased to meet you," he squeaked.
The rest of the dinner went by with the usual amount of chatter. Sirius and James entertained everyone with jokes, and before Lily knew it, a Gryffindor prefect was leading them to the dormitories. Lily was too tired to note that all the pictures moved, and that the Gryffindor common room was the most beautiful thing she had ever seen. The gang trudged up the stairs to their respective rooms, and quickly fell asleep.
The next day at breakfast, schedules were handed out. Lily was excited to get to classes, but James was a little less enthusiastic.
"Oh no," he moaned, "potions with the Slytherins".
Given James' loathing of the Slytherins, Lily surmised that potions was going to be a very bad class. But, she assumed, we'll see.
James was right. The class itself was fascinating, but the Slytherins were just as bad as promised. The teacher, Professor Arsenius Jigger, entered the class and swept up to the front of the room. He called roll and immediately began to talk.
"As some of you may know, I am Professor Jigger. Yes, the one that wrote the book Magical Drafts and Potions, and please, I don't sign autographs. I don't favor students, so anyone thinking that they will be able to get a good grade in this class by sucking up to me is mistaken. The only way, and I mean ONLY way I will like you is if you excel in this class. And even then I will not favor you. Now, please move to the back of the room and set up your caldrons. Ingredients are to be found in the student store cupboard, and are readily at your access. Recipes for all potions made here will be found on the blackboard." At that, he waved his wand and instantly, ingredients for a potion to cure boils appeared on the board. Judging that this was not a man to mess with, Lily quietly set to work. Sirius, however, got no such impression, and set out to make as much noise as possible. In the process, he didn't pay proper attention to his potion, and the cauldron melted.
"Stupid boy," snapped Professor Jigger to Sirius, "I don't suppose you would like to explain to everyone why your cauldron has melted?" Sirius glared at him, and Jigger continued, "Class, this is an example of what not to do. Over here, however, is an example you would do well to follow. What is your name, son? Snape, is it?"
A boy with black greasy hair smirked with pleasure at the attention being called to himself. "Yes, Professor Jigger, sir. I'm Severus Snape. My father has taught me loads of potions, so this one is particularly easy. I can do spells most seventh year students can't do."
Sirius threw Severus Snape a death stare. Severus saw it and sneered right back at him. Oh boy, thought Lily, this doesn't look good. Luckily, the class ended about five minutes later, and the Gryffindors packed their bags to head to Charms.
Professor Levis was a tall, thin witch with glasses and a gawky posture. She began the class with a series of spells that demonstrated what the students would learn that year. After the display, everyone was eager to start.
"We'll be setting things flying today. Best do it with feathers, no?" she asked.
She passed out feathers to the class, and they set to it. Lily had an easier time with it than most of her fellow students, she set it in the air on her second try. James was having no such luck. Frustrated, he started waving his wand around with reckless abandon. To his and everyone else's surprise and amazement, the feather turned into a tarantula. Girls screamed and backed away as the spider scuttled all over the floor, but Sirius was laughing his fool head off.
"James! What did you do?!?" Lily screamed over the shrieks of the other girls.
"I don't know!," he shouted back, "it just… happened."
Professor Levis was quick to act. Brandishing her wand, she muttered a spell, and the tarantula vanished into thin air. The screaming subsided, and Professor Levis dismissed the class for the day. "I think that you have had enough fun for one day, off you go. I won't take any point off for the disturbance, as it was an accident."
Lily, James, Sirius and Remus walked out of the classroom. Sirius was stilling howling with laughter, and Remus was chuckling appreciatively. Lily, however, was just about to tell James off for disturbing the class when--
"Wow, that was really cool." said a voice behind them.
They all turned around to see Peter Pettigrew staring at James with reverence.
James started to turn red, "Thanks." he replied.
The four of them walked towards the Great Hall for lunch. Peter Petigrew was tagging along, trying to hold them in conversation.
"My mum and dad are both wizards, but I didn't start to show magic ability until I was nine. They were really worried, so they were really proud when I got in here. Mind you, I am not going to be the best at magic, so I think that I will be the one of the bottom students in our year. That's alright though, I just want to be on the Quidditch house team here, that's all I want."
James looked up. "Peter, you mean to say that they play Quidditch, right here? In Hogwarts?"
Peter looked at him in disbelief. "Of course. I thought that you knew all about Hogwarts, seeing as you are one of the founders' great great great grandson. Of course we play Quidditch. Each house has a house team, and they all compete with each other to win the Quidditch Cup each year. I want to be a chaser next year. I'd do it this year, but only second years and above are allowed."
James looked excited. He talked to Peter all the way through lunch about how the teams were and the standings of the house teams. Lily rolled her eyes. Stupid really, all these sports, she thought. She turned to talk to Remus about something else but found him talking just as animatedly about Quidditch as the rest of the boys. Hmph.
After lunch, the five of them all went outside for Herbology. The greenhouse that the class was taught in was very large and sweltering hot. All around them were lush plants that made Lily feel like she was in a jungle. These plants were far more interesting than ordinary Muggle ones. These plants snapped at you if you got too close, or had shimmering leaves, or flowers that changes colors ever minute. A young witch dressed in a green robe with soil streaks all over it made her way to the front of the room. She beamed at the class.
"Good day all. My name is Professor Vera Verde. But, if you want, just call me Vera. I find 'Professor Verde' to be so stuffy. Now then, lets get started, shall we? Everyone take a plant and a gardening pot, and we will start to replant these Devil's Snare seedlings. Careful now, if they start to squeeze your fingers too tightly, just hold them up to the sunlight… that's it."
An hour later, they came out of the greenhouse, glad to be out of the humid heat. The Devil's Snare seedlings had managed to get a good grip on James' fingers as he was talking to Sirius, and James was now nursing several bruised knuckles. After climbing through the portrait of the Fat Lady to get into the common room (the password to get in was Swedish Shortsnout), Remus went straight to his homework, and the rest sat and talked about the first day.
"Really, Remus, it's the first day back. Why are you studying so much?" asked Sirius, who was bewildered by his friend's bookish nature.
"You know Jigger gave us homework. We are supposed to look up four key ingredients that are in most potions, and write an essay about them. So far I only have a bezoar, and I need to find three more."
Sirius yawned. "So what? The essay is due in a week, just relax and come talk to us. However, it was just like him to give us homework on the first day back, the git. And how dare he make a fool out of me in front of the class. 'This is a perfect example of what not to do', honestly. And on top of that, he has that Snape fool licking his arse every twelve seconds."
"Sirius! Watch your language!" exclaimed James in mock outrage, "we have a lady present!"
Lily snorted. "Hmph, a lady. Well, if you four are going to be childish like this, I am going to my room. Besides, I haven't gotten to know any of my roommates, so there. Good night, boys."
All the boys waved her off, and continued making rude jokes about the teachers and other students. Shaking her head, Lily climbed the stairs to her dormitory. In the circular room were four other girls, two of them, who looked exactly alike, were doing homework, and the other two were talking. Upon hearing the door close, the girls looked up.
"Hello. Your name is Lily, right?" Lily nodded, and the girl continued, "I'm Arabella Figg. This is my twin sister Annie, this is Julia Carlino, and this here is Anita Warren."
"I'm Lily, nice to meet all of you."
Arabella spoke up again. "Of course, I mean, we are going to be spending the next seven years together, so we might as well get along now. Not that you don't know anyone, I've seen you all day with those boys. How you can tolerate someone who transfigures a feather into a tarantula is beyond me."
Lily giggled a bit, "James has always been like that, he does things without meaning to. I remember one time, he was over at my house and he thought that it would be funny to put a cricket in my glass of water. Only, what he didn't know was that the glass of water was my sister, Petunia's. She took one sip, saw the cricket and screamed her bloody head off. Of course, James apologized to her several times after she lost her voice and couldn't tell him off."
All the girls were laughing at Lily's story. Anita Warren, a plain girl with brown hair and glasses asked "So you've known James since before Hogwarts, I take it?
Lily nodded. "Uh huh. But I haven't always known that he was a wizard… you see, this summer…" she started to tell them her story about the summer, and how she discovered that she was a witch.
When she finished, Julia Carlino, who was a tall, very pretty girl with thick dark hair and light blue eyes, said, "wow, that's so cool. I'm really sorry about your sister though, I mean, how sad to be left behind."
Arabella, Anita and Annie all nodded in agreement. Lily hung her head guiltily, but as soon as Annie changed the subject, she forgot all about Petunia's anger and jealousy. The girls talked for the rest of the night (the homework lay forgotten).
The next morning, Lily joined the boys in the Great Hall for breakfast. After quick introductions to the Gryffindor girls, they ate breakfast and then went down to their first class of the day: Defense Against the Dark Arts.
"Julie's told me all about this guy. Professor Moody is his name. He's also an Auror, which is a dark wizard catcher." explained Remus enthusiastically.
"Oh, kind of like policemen" remarked Lily.
"What are those?" asked Remus, confused. "Never mind. Anyways, Moody is supposed to be a great teacher. I am really excited for his lesson."
The class waited in silence for Professor Moody. After about five minutes, just when people were getting restless, he barged in, startling many of the students.
"Ok, these are the rules," he growled, "no talking unless I speak to you, no stupid excuses for why homework is late, and you WILL PAY ATTENTION! I am here to teach you about the Dark Arts, and how to defend yourself if needed. Most of this class will be hands on experience, so PAY ATTENTION!"
Lily looked around. Many of her classmates appeared uneasy about such an introduction. Sirius was looking hesitant about "hand on experience" that involved any sort of curses, and James jumped every time Moody shouted. Peter was shaking in his seat, obviously scared out of his wits. Remus, however, was rapt with attention and taking copious notes.
The lesson proceeded with everyone taking notes, jumping every time Moody's voice barked. At the end of the hour, most of the class practically ran out the door.
Transfiguration started that day as well. Professor McGonagall was just as strict as Moody, but without any of his ability to instill fear in a class. They set out to turn matchsticks into needles, and by the end of the lesson, James was the only one to get it right.
After about a week, everyone knew the routine and had settled in. "Well, it seems as if everyone has found their niche," remarked Arabella Figg, "James is an excellent transfigurer, Lily can charm anything--"
"Or anyone" joked Sirius
"Oh, shut it you. Anyways, Remus over here is mad about DADA, and you are good at Herbology Sirius, and I am a potions master." Arabella concluded with a flourish.
"And what am I good at?" asked Peter, obviously not wanting to feel left out.
"You, Peter…er, you are a great person!" Arabella supplied weakly. Lily and James grinned at each other, and Sirius had to work his face in order to keep a straight expression.
"You may be a great potions student, Arabella, but not as good as that Snape git. Oooh, I'd like to get him for something one of these days." remarked Sirius evilly.
"You'd better watch is Sirius," warned Arabella, "remember, he knows stuff seventh years don't."
Sirius nodded, his eyes glazing over with a fantasy in his head, "But think about how good it would be to nail him."
Everyone just sort of shrugged. Sirius was mostly talk anyways, never really did anything.
One morning at breakfast about two weeks later, Remus got an owl. Not that that was strange, everyone got post. Remus opened the letter, his face fell and he stopped eating.
"What's wrong Remus?" asked Lily.
"Oh, my mum's ill. I have to leave school for about a week to take care of her because my dad's out of town."
"Well, I hope she feels better soon" said Lily sympathetically, "send her our regards."
That night while Remus was packing, Lily and her friends sat in the common room. James and Sirius were playing gobstones, Peter was building an Exploding Snap card house, which was smoking at the corners. Arabella and Lily were sitting in squashy armchairs by the fire talking. Lily was facing a window, and she could see a nearly full moon. Tomorrow it would be swollen into a perfect circle.
After about the first week of school, Arabella had floated into their group of friends. She was a fun person, liked to joke around with Sirius and James, she studied at night with Remus, and was kind to Peter. She also like doing girl stuff too, which was a bonus for Lily who had been hanging around boys all the time. Right now, Arabella and Lily were taking a quiz in Teen Witch Weekly.
"Um, A. I don't think that my best friend would hex me if I stole her hair drying potion." answered Lily thoughtfully.
"Oh yes I would," remarked James sarcastically, who had overheard the question, "my hair drying potion is the one thing that makes my hair behave." He fluffed up his black hair, which had always stuck up all over the place.
Arabella laughed, and marked Lily's answer with a quill. Sirius, who loved to make mischief, had quietly snuck up behind her and grabbed the magazine.
"Hey!" she shouted in surprise, "Sirius Black, you give that back right now!"
"Oi! Let me have a look first. James, Peter, c'mere!" He flipped the magazine back to the cover, where a pretty witch was modeling the latest fashion robes. "How to tell if your boyfriend is cheating--without using Veritaserum. Tricks to get him that are better than a love potion. Best friend stories inside. Your most embarrassing moments, caught on camera-- moving pictures on page 93. This stuff if for teenage witches. You're only eleven."
"So," retorted Arabella, "reading isn't against the law!"
Sirius was about to make a smart comment about how reading should be against the law when Remus came downstairs. His bag was packed and he was ready to go.
"Alright, I'm off," he said, "a carriage is taking me to Hogsmeade Station to get the Hogwarts Express home."
Everyone stopped what they were doing. Peter paid for his lack of attention by having his Exploding Snap house blow up.
James rose. "See you next week, Remus, I really hope your mom feels better."
Remus grinned. "Thanks guys. I really gotta go though."
Lily and everyone followed Remus out through the Gryffindor common room. After everyone said their goodbyes, they returned to their activities.
The week Remus was gone went by without much incident, unless Sirius getting his tenth detention from Professor Jigger counted as an incident. When Remus got back, everyone was happy. Without him helping everyone with their Defense Against the Dark Arts homework, their grades suffered.
One day during November, Sirius plopped down at the dinner table with a huge grin on his face. "Remember what I said about nailing Snape?" Everyone nodded, "well, I think I have him for something."
[A/N: What will Sirius do to Snape? What is it that Snape is doing? Stay tuned for the next chapter and find out!]