This is my edited version of this fanfiction - there's some small tweaks and a few extra bits of story I thought to add later. If you read the previous version please let me know what you think, and if you didn't read the previous version...still let me know what you think! I hope you guys enjoy this little labour of love as much as I have writing it.
Magic in the Moonlight
CHAPTER ONE
"It matters not what someone is born, but what they grow to be." –Albus Dumbledore, The Goblet of Fire
Kings Cross was by far one of the busiest places around London with people coming and going faster than you could count them. New and shiny trains lined up the platforms, sirens and flashing signs alerting passengers to the departure times while a big clock steadily clicked closer to eleven o'clock. With fifteen minutes to go most were scrambling to their destinations. All but one. A small, young girl stood staring at the pillar between platform nine and ten. No one really noticed the dark haired girl, her long black hair tied back from her face, grey eyes never leaving the stonework before her despite the annoyed trills of a grey owl in its cage, resting atop her school trunk. Wearing a pair of dark jeans, t-shirt and thick collared cardigan at least helped her blend into the busy surroundings.
She wasn't one of the first people to have her predicament and she wouldn't be the last either. It would happen every year on that same day between ten and eleven, there was always some child stood staring at the pillar as if waiting for it to move for them. The only difference being that usually they had someone accompanying them. Sighing, the girl drummed her fingers worriedly on the bar of her cart when she suddenly heard someone coming closer.
"Come on Sev! We're going to be late and miss the Hogwarts Express!"
Jumping at the mentioning of the wizarding school she turned to see two children her own age heading her way with their own carts. One was a young, auburn haired girl with kind emerald eyes, dressed smartly in a simple summer dress and looking positively ecstatic as she hurriedly pushed her cart towards the platform. Beside her was a more sombre character, a young boy with dark hair that was somewhat lank, dark eyes looking down at the ground before sideways at his friend warmly.
"It's fine Lily, we still have ten minutes."
The auburn haired girl who almost bounced along was accompanied by her parents, clearly muggles judging by how they looked around unsure, not expecting a doorway to the magical realm to be in such a popular muggle destination. A small girl trailed after them dejectedly, a scowl on her pale face as she held tightly to her mother's hand despite walking purposefully slower than the rest of them. The other addition walked slowly behind the cheery family looking as if she wished to be elsewhere, sticking close to the small boy in his second-hand clothing that looked too big for him.
She looked around average height but she rather thin and if anything, frail, her long black hair falling lankly around her pale face not unlike - she guessed - her son's.
The girl scoffed lightly but smiled back at him, "I'm just glad you know how to get onto the platform! Oh," only now did the auburn haired girl notice the outsider stood before the pillar, "are you going to Hogwarts too?"
Nodding, the slightly more subdued girl smiled sheepishly, "yeah but I'm not sure how to erm...you know...get through."
"Aren't your parents here?" the bubbly girl asked curiously, answered by a shake of the head, "oh, well it's alright Mrs Snape is going to show us, you want to come along if it's okay with her, I'm Lily Evans by the way."
"Lyra Sanguine," she shook the girl's hand before looking at the boy still smiling despite the slight frown on his face.
Only a light pat on his shoulder from his silent mother coaxed words from him.
"Severus Snape," he muttered.
Shown how to run through the pillar by Severus and his mother, Lyra, Lily and her family followed suit, running out onto a bustling platform as steam blew past their faces. Lyra had to pause to take in the great crimson steam train that stood waiting for them, the sound of owls and other animals barely reaching over the sound of the hubbub of witches and wizards. Only the warning shouts of the conductors snapped her from her reverie of amazement. Hurrying over to board her things, she dove into the train, her two new acquaintances already lost in the crowds, Lyra began meandering her way through the train in search of space. As the train started up on its journey she stumbled slightly only to be grabbed and pulled into a train compartment. Blinking as Lyra almost fell inside, she smiled to see Lily and Severus sat there. Brushing herself down, the dark haired eleven year old sat down beside the window before turning to the two with a smile.
"So, anyone know how to play wizard chess?"
Lily opted herself out of the match, choosing instead to take up one of her books she had bought for Hogwarts, leaving Severus no choice but to play against their new acquaintance. With a chess board set up, the pieces anxiously awaiting their player's instructions, the usually quiet dark haired boy decided to quiz Lyra.
"Where are you from?" he asked, prodding one of his pawns who darted forwards more excited than his player.
"Godric's Hollow," she answered truthful before glancing up at him curiously, "you two?"
"Cokeworth," he offered after a moment's pause, watching as she too moved one of her pawns before glancing up at her, "are your parents...muggles or...?"
"Sev!" Lily gasped, frowning over her book at her friend, "you can't just ask that!"
"Both magical," Lyra intercepted with a shrug, "but don't worry I'm not as...mental as some of the other purebloods," she added with a grin, "can we still be friends?"
Amusingly Severus blushed, hiding behind his hair, "I-I suppose so...I didn't mean to...I was..." he stuttered only succeeding in having her quietly giggle along with Lily.
"I think that's the first time I've heard Sev stutter," the auburn haired girl giggled behind her book.
Severus' face turned a little more pink before scowling at the two girls.
The sound of a rattling trolley drew their attention momentarily before an elderly lady's voice echoed up the train hallway.
"Anything off the trolley?" she called before the trolley wheeled into sight laden with what looked like hundreds of various sweets, drinks and savoury snacks.
The kindly looking lady peered in at them with a smile, "anything for you dearies?"
Simultaneously the two girls dug into their pockets to see what they could put together however Severus merely sat staring straight at the chessboard. Noticing this, Lyra dug out an extra galleon before peering at the choice.
"Three chocolate frogs and pumpkin pasties please!"
Once the compartment door had closed, the trolley lady on her way once more, Lyra turned and deposited a chocolate frog and pumpkin pasty apiece in front of her two new friends. Severus looked up sharply with wide, dark eyes before scowling.
"You didn't have to do that."
Ignoring his scowl, she merely shrugged as she back to open her chocolate frog, "it's thanks for you two helping me through the platform."
Lily thanked her gratefully before nudging the still partially stunned Severus who all but muttered his thanks. Their chess game continued with no clear winner half way through the board until the compartment door suddenly opened.
"Oh hey, have you seen a chocolate frog come hopping by?"
Stood in the doorway was one of a group of boys, one with short, messy black hair and glasses rimming hazel eyes that shone mischievously at the three sat inside, his arms crossed in front of his chest and an immediate air of trouble around him.
"Can't say we have," Lily spoke up not even looking up from her book, completely immersed in Hogwarts: A History.
Beside the boy popped up another with dark brown bushy hair, slightly smaller than the first but the same mischievous glint in his eyes. One was bad, two was worse and judging by the other two boys with them trouble was going to erupt.
"We haven't seen your chocolate frog," Severus suddenly spoke up, glaring at his chess pieces rather than the boys.
"How do we know you didn't eat it?" the boy challenged before adding with a smirk, "grease-ball."
Severus stiffened considerably but Lily was already on her feet looking rather angry despite being the shortest of all those present.
"Leave now you jerks."
"James," the boy continued to grin, "the name's James Potter."
He was cut off by the compartment door slamming shut in front of him making him stumble backwards in surprise. Lyra huffed as she put away her wand, sticking out her tongue at the boys through the glass before turning to Severus worriedly. He was gripping the chessboard tightly, his fingers almost white, clearly upset.
"Ignore them Sev," Lily huffed, sitting back down and sending him a reassuring smile.
"Jerks like that aren't worth it," Lyra added.
He seemed to calm, smiling slightly at the two girls, "th...thanks."
"Come on, lets finish this game," the raven haired girl patted the chessboard with a grin, "I was just about to wipe the floor with you."
Severus blinked a little surprised before huffing with a smirk, "as if."
As soon as the train began to slow excitement bubbled throughout all on-board. Dressed in their school robes now, they all disembarked from the train eagerly. The three friends stuck close together as they were shepherded onto boats across the black lake, and towards a warmly lit castle. Hogwarts was waiting for them but Lyra was only becoming more and more nervous the closer they got.
"What's wrong Lyra?" asked Lily worriedly, noticing how their new friend was shuffling quite a lot.
"I'm just worried about what House I'll be sorted into," she answered with a nervous giggle.
"Well I'm hoping for Ravenclaw," Lily tapped her chin in thought, "and Sev was thinking about Slytherin," she added with a sound akin to disappointment.
Lyra blinked in surprise before looking at Severus who nodded in agreement, clearly not caring about the stigma related to the House. But despite this she felt somewhat reassured by the two, the smile returning to her face.
"Well I hope I'm sorted with you two!"
Entering the grand hall, Lyra and Severus shooting sideways glares at James Potter and his friends, her attention was soon on the amazing place she was now in. From the enchanted ceiling to the sea of floating candles, Lyra could easily see herself growing to love the school. Everything looked so beautiful and yet the nervousness returned as she spotted the crowds of students sat at the four great tables watching them all enter. At the head was the professor's table, a certain wizened wizard sat with a warm smile as they halted before them. A small stool was brought out with a rather tattered wizard hat placed onto it by a stern appearing woman.
"Good evening students. When I call your name you will step forward and place the sorting hat onto your head," she rolled out a long piece of parchment to which she began calling names off in alphabetical order.
"Good luck," Lyra whispered to Lily and Severus, the former repeating her words.
"Lily Evans!"
The auburn haired girl strode up to the stool a little anxiously, the hat placed on her head as soon as she had sat down and within moments the hat had come to life and declared her house.
"Gryffindor!"
There was quite the approval from said crimson and golden table as she happily skipped towards it. Lyra noticed Severus' face fall as he watched her sit on the Gryffindor table. Nudging him with her elbow as the professor continued down the list of students, he snapped back to attention as her name was called, shooting her a worried look. With her turn she made her way to the stool, gulping as she sat down and the hat fell onto her head, almost falling over her face earning her a few snickers. Glaring out across those watching, Lyra nearly jumped as the hat spoke.
"Well here we are Miss Sanguine, you will prove a tricky one," the hat drawled and if anything, sounded excited at the prospect of a challenging sorting, "mother was a Gryffindor but you father was a Ravenclaw, quite a mix of wit, natural talent and courage. Loyal to your friends I see and a little cunning...however I'm afraid you would be a lousy Slytherin, it leaves me with no other choice but...Gryffindor!"
More applause as the hat was removed from her head and although despite the relief of being sorted she couldn't help but shoot a worrying look over at her new friend, Severus Snape as he was called up next. As he passed her she knew for a fact that he would be in Slytherin and even though she was with Lily, she felt worried about the dark haired boy who glumly made his way towards the sorting hat. Sitting down beside Lily, receiving a few congratulations from those around her, a welcoming House indeed, she shared her slightly worried look as Severus was sorted into Slytherin.
"I hope he will be alright," Lyra admitted.
"It's not like we aren't still friends," Lily smiled, "I'm sure he will be fine, but I'm glad you're here with me," she shot a look at James who was grinning at Lily still before shooting Lyra a smirk.
Rolling her eyes, Lyra shot him a glare before looking down at the empty plate in front of her, "now I definitely wish I was in Slytherin instead."
With the sorting over the Headmaster of Hogwarts, Albus Dumbledore, stood up behind the table silencing all talk and drawing everyone's attention with his arms wide spread wide.
"And now let the feast begin."
Lyra's eyes lit up, all worries chased away by the magical appearance of food on the table, as her stomach growled much to her embarrassment. Beginning to pile food on her plate, she reached out for the bowl of side salad only for it to move. Looking up at the thief, her grey eyes narrowed on the boy she recalled as friends of James' grinned back at her.
"What's the magic word?" he teased.
Lyra huffed and sat back looking disinterested, "stuff it?"
He blinked, surprised by her rebuke but continued grinning. This was going to be a long year.