Chapter 1- 'Hellos and Handshakes'

Lily Evans crinkled her nose at the smell of cigarette smoke that was floating through the compartment window. Closing her book angrily, she reached up and slammed the window shut. This was not a good way to start the year. She threw herself back into her seat and frowned at words on the page in front of her. "And he dreaded that mind: it revolted him…" She couldn't focus on Catherine and Heathcliffe at that moment in time. She just wanted her friends to arrive and the train to leave. Lily was never sure why she felt quite so impatient that morning, but she was very grateful for the entrance of her friend Amelia Bones a few minutes after.

"Milly!" she squeaked, jumping out of her seat.

"Lily!" squeaked Milly, wrapping her long arms around her friend. Amelia was much taller than Lily and much thinner too. She wore a knee length burnt orange dress and brown boots, which only seemed to make her look taller and thinner, like a mosquito. Just reaching her square chin was poker straight mousy brown hair, pulled back with a headband. Amelia was not a beautiful girl. She was a sensible girl. She had big brown eyes, a pointed nose and a touch of pale pink lipstick spread across her thin lips. She was austere, she was domineering, she was clever and, she thought, would've been a much better prefect than Lily. The two friends broke apart and giggled.

"How was your summer?" asked Lily, smiling.

"Oh you know, the usual, nothing to report," replied Amelia. She did not really care for small talk.

"Me too. Tuney's got a boyfriend so he was around the house all time, and you know…" Lily began to explain and Amelia put on her best listening face. It wasn't that she didn't care; it was just that she was finding it hard to like Lily at the moment. She had really wanted to be a prefect. Amelia knew exactly why she felt so jealous that morning, and she was very grateful for the entrance of her friend Dorcas Meadowes a few moments later.

"Hey girlies!" squealed Dorcas, arms out with two shopping bags swinging from her hands.

"Dorcas!" squealed Lily and Amelia in unison. They friends shared an awkward hug, with Amelia stooping, Dorcas reaching, and Lily trying to balance herself between the two. Amelia pulled away first and Lily said-

"Dorcas you're so tanned! When did you get back from Corfu?"

"Yesterday! I miss it already!" Dorcas collapsed dramatically on to the seat beside her. Dorcas was a beautiful girl. She had glossy black hair that fell below her waist, which was tiny and synched with a brown leather skirt. On her top she wore a maroon tank top over a white shirt, which provided a stark contrast to her already olive toned but now dark tanned skin. But her eyes, her eyes were what made her beautiful. Big, round and bright sky blue, they stood out of her face like precious jewels. Dorcas was the sort of girl that boys stared at when they crossed in the corridor. But she was not a clever girl. She was beautiful, she was kind, she was a hard worker, but she had not done well in her O.W.L.s .She was desperately hoping her friends did not know that she had only just scraped into N.E.W.T. muggle studies and care of magical creatures. Dorcas did not know why she felt so nervous to tell her friends that day, but she was grateful for the entrance of her friend Emmeline Vance a few moments later.

"Em!" cried Lily, Amelia and Dorcas, running over to their friend. Emmeline was tired, but she hugged her friends enthusiastically. As her friends fussed over her and barraged her with questions about her summer, Emmeline rubbed her eyes and yawned sleepily. She played with her tight black ringlets and thought about Hogwarts. She was glad to be going back the wizarding world. Emmeline was a pretty girl. Her dark, clear skin was framed by a mass of black ringlets and her hazel eyes sparkled in the morning sun. Her beige corduroys were tailored to her shapely legs, and the dull orange paisley ruffles of her shirt complemented her skin tone, and her orange lipstick, perfectly. She yawned. She was pretty, but tiredness clung her to her face and no amount of makeup could hide it. Emmeline did not want her friends to know how much she was struggling at home. She did not want them to know that her Dad had left and she was responsible for her brothers and sisters. Emmeline was pretty, she was clever, she was funny, but she was tired, boy, was she tired. Emmeline knew why she felt so tired that day, so she was glad for the entrance of her friend Edith Tighe a few moments later. The second Edith had entered the train began to roll out of the station, she must have been one of the last to get on.

"Tigsy!" screamed the other four girls in the compartment, jumping to share the last group hug of the day. Edith Tighe or 'Tigsy' as her friends called her placed her cigarette in her mouth to hug her friends. She didn't usually partake in hugging, but she considered this a good enough occasion for an exception.

"Why didn't you write?" asked Lily, her green eyes wide as she looked at her friend.

"Because Tigsy never writes," Amelia sighed, "It's good to see you again Tigs,"

"Yeah it is," piped up Dorcas.

It's good to see you lot again too," replied Tigsy, removing her cigarette from between her pink lips. Tigs's skin was like freshly fallen and untouched snow, only broken by her blood-like lips and stone-like eyes. She had a light flush in her cheeks and a dusting of freckles across her nose. Her hair was a bright coppery red, its curls twisted up on top of her head like a much more distressed version Lucille Ball's. She wore an ankle length grey woollen coat, Dr Martin shoes and a very short grey dress. Thick black eyeliner framed her stormy eyes. She had long, slim fingers adorned with many rings. Tigsy was not pretty. Tigsy was striking. She was extremely beautiful, but she was harsh, cutting and intimidating. Tigsy liked school, so she knew exactly why she was so happy when the train began to roll out of the station and London disappeared off into the distance.

"Em,"

"Em"

"Emmeline"

"Emmeline Vance will you wake up!" Amelia's shrill voice pierced the cold air. Emmeline woke with a start.

"We're here Em," said Dorcas, glancing out the window as if to check that the train had stopped in the right place. Amelia took her bag off the overhead space, Emmeline rubbed sleep from her eyes, Dorcas pulled the curtains back over the window, Lily shuffled between her feet and Tigs placed a fresh cigarette between her lips.

"Can you at least wait until we're off the train?" asked Lily. Tigs gave her a pointed look.

"I've gone all day without a fag because you don't like the smell Evans-"

"Then I think you can manage another five minutes," Lily altered her harsh tone, "Please,"

Tigs reluctantly put the cigarette back into her pocket and waited for the rest of the girls. Once they were done, the five roommates left the train together.

Hogsmeade station was bustling with students and icy cold. Tigs pulled her coat around herself, covering her school robes. She could see her breath in the air, the cold biting at her face and neck. She breathed a happy sigh. Autumn. Her favourite season, followed by winter. Tigs loved the cold.

"Tigs, you coming?"

Tigs turned to see her friends heading towards the carriages. My god did she want a smoke. Lily looked at her friend imploringly.

"It's alright Evans, I'll walk" Tigs raised the cigarette from earlier to indicate why.

"I really do wish you would quit Tigsy" Leaving this remark with Tigs, Lily turned and headed towards the carriages. Tigs considered this for a moment, before taking out her lighter and flicking it. She took a deep breath in and felt herself relax. She took another breath of her cig before searching the station for the Marauders. She caught sight of them, all four of them, stood next to the Hogsmeade sign, and headed over.

"TIGSAY!" bellowed Sirius on sight of Tigs, he jogged over and put his arm around her shoulders. "How's life been treating you Tigs?"

"Aye, not bad not bad," replied Tigs, "And you Black? Family still psycho?"

"They don't come much worse than mine, Tigs my girl," Sirius replied grinning.

"Alright Tigs?" shouted James Potter, heading his way over the station toward them, "Where've you been all summer?"

"C'mon James you should know by now that Tigs never writes," said Remus Lupin, "How are you Tigs?"

"I'm good mate and yourself?" laughed Tigs.

"I'm alright yeah," replied Remus, leaning in to hug Tigs. James hugged her too, and Tigs took another drag from her cigarette.

"Hello Peter, how was your summer?" said Tigs. Peter Pettigrew made a small squeaking noise and then raised his hand as though he had forgotten something and walked off. The Marauders roared with laughter.

"I have definitely missed your ability to make Peter squirm Tigs," laughed Sirius, whilst James and Peter tried to control themselves. The four of them caught up with each other until the station had cleared and then began to walk up to the castle together. The last carriage had long gone, and the four thoroughly enjoyed the quiet stroll up to the castle, smoking as they went.

The four Gryffindors strolled into the Great Hall late, the last first year being sorted into Ravenclaw. Lily had saved a seat for Tigs but there was no space for the Marauders, obviously. Lily hated James Potter. Lily was not a hateful person, but James Potter, something about him just rubbed her up the wrong way. Lily too was a beautiful girl. She had long auburny-red hair and bright green eyes. Her skin was like porcelain and all of her features were soft and pretty. She was classically pretty- soft, cute. Considering that her and Tigs had many similar features- red hair, pale skin- the two couldn't be more different. Physically in that Tigs was unusual, she was almost ethereal, her cheekbones and jawline were defined, her features sharp and clean. Whereas Lily was like an oil painting, her features soft, gentle and friendly. Their personalities reflected their looks, Tigs being somewhat cold and often intimidating, Lily warm and approachable. But they got on extremely well. I suppose opposites do attract. Tigs took her seat with her room mates and Dumbledore said a few words before the plates filled up and they enjoyed the welcoming feast as usual.

Bellies full of food and warm feeling of drowsiness descending upon them made all the students glad to retire to their dormitories that evening. Lily and Remus lead the Gryffindors up to the common room, as was their job as prefects. Lily's roommates waited for her on a plush couch in the common room whilst she directed the last few first years up to their dormitories. It didn't take her long, and soon the five girls made their way up the familiar passage to their room. As usual, the room hadn't changed at all over the summer, and the girls each collapsed on to their respective bed. Emmeline felt her eyes closing as soon as she sat down and had to fight back sleep as she changed into her pyjamas.

"Wait!" squeaked Dorcas, "I have presents for you all from Corfu," She raised the shopping bags she was carrying on the train.

"I was going to give you them on the train but Em fell asleep," She reached into the first bag and pulled out a set of shiny pewter scales, which she handed to Lily. Lily practically glowed with happiness as she threw her arms around Dorcas.

"Lily it's nothing, honestly," came Dorcas muffled voice through Lily's embrace. Lily pulled away and thanked Dorcas again before returning to inspect the scales further, a huge grin still spread across her pretty face. Dorcas pulled out a gold watch attached to a necklace for Amelia, who loved all things orderly, and a foe-glass for Emmeline, who was extremely passionate about becoming an auror. The final present she pulled out was probably the biggest of the lot, but not the most expensive. It was a bewitched record player, designed to change tracks or pause by a clap or snap of the fingers, and she presented this to Tigs. After hugs were exchanged and 'thank you's and 'you're welcome's excessively repeated, the girls collapsed into bed and an almost immediate sleep. All but Tigs were sound asleep within a few minutes, but Tigs sat on the window sill, smoking a cigarette out of the window. She looked over the grounds of the castle and, despite the cold air seeping in through the window, felt distinctly warm inside. This was going to be a good year.

Hi everyone!

Thanks for reading this, it's my first fan fiction and I hope you enjoy it! Please review and tell me which characters you like and which you don't. Just to let you know this story will include many elements of James and Lily's relationship, but it will also explore the side stories of the other characters and be predominately based around my original character Tigs.

Thanks again,

ImagineHP