A/N: Here comes a L/J fic! No, it's not love/hate, there are too many out there! I think you'll be surprised… Written in James' pov.
P.S. I'm still working on Beyond Paradise…
*Emerald Pools*
Mother had insisted on not only renting a muggle car and driving me to King's Cross Station, she had also planted herself on the platform (despite my frantic pleas) directly in front of the car in which I was lounging, and was now waving energetically.
"Goodbye James, sweetheart! Have a nice time at Hogwarts!" She blew me yet another kiss. I groaned and slid down in my seat. Peeking over the bottom of the window, I saw that most of the normal parents were simply milling around the platform. Some were crying, some were ecstatic, some (the late ones) were quickly helping their children yank their trunks and belongings onto the train. As I scanned the platform, I saw one worried looking mother chastising her son, a pale boy with light brown hair who was leaning out of the window, looking tired.
"You're quite sure you feel all right, Remus?" The boy rolled his eyes.
"Mum, I'm fine. The train is about to leave."
"Remember our deal with Professor Dumbledore. If anything goes wrong, you must promise to go straight to him, all right?"
"Yes Mum, I promise." He leaned out farther and his mother gave him a kiss on the cheek."
There was only one other mother waving frantically, a few cars down.
"Goodbye, Sirius, darling!" she was calling, "You're quite sure you packed enough fresh underwear?" The poor boy thrust his head through the window. I could tell he was a first year, the same as I was.
"Yeah, sure, goodbye Mum!" he yelled. My mother brushed her long black hair out of her face and looked with interest at her fellow energetic mother. She bounced over to the woman, who had shiny, deep brown hair and bright hazel eyes.
"Hi, I'm Kathleen Potter. I couldn't help noticing that you are quite as excited to have your son attending Hogwarts as I am." The woman smiled at her.
"I'm Cassiopeia Black, Cass for short. Yes, I am quite thrilled to finally get Sirius out of the house. His poor teachers at Wizarding Primary, I just don't understand how they put up with him. Siri is quite a mischief-maker." My mother nodded.
"I completely understand! If I had a Galleon for every time I got a letter from school about James setting a prank, I'd be a millionaire." They carried on chatting in slightly loud voices and were starting to attract some strange looks. I sighed. Well, at least she wasn't waving anymore. The train's whistle blew and we started to pull away. My mother and Mrs. Black turned and waved, though with noticeably less energy. My mother getting a friend might have been the best thing that ever happened to me. That is, of course, until I met Lily.
Lily was beautiful. Honestly. Like an angel from heaven. From the moment that she stepped timidly into my empty compartment, I knew that this pretty, sweet looking, red haired girl was the person that I wanted to spend the rest of my life with. But of course, I didn't say this.
"Er, can I sit in here? Everywhere else is full." She smiled shyly at me, her bright green eyes shining. I nodded, motioning for her to sit across from me. I couldn't speak.
"So, er, what's your name? I'm Lily Evans." I found my voice.
"I'm James. James Potter. Erm…" I scanned my brain for a talking point. Even her voice was beautiful. "So, er, what house do you think you'll be in? My father says I'm a sure Gryffindor." I instantly wished I hadn't said that, because Lily's startling eyes filled with tears.
"I… I don't know what you mean… Houses? I'm so confused, I don't belong here…" A tear rolled down her cheek. I moved over to sit next to her. Hesitatingly, I put an arm around her shoulder.
"Please don't cry Lily." She turned and sobbed softly into my shoulder. "I suppose you're muggle born. Well, I'll tell you everything my parents have ever told me about Hogwarts." I explained how there were four houses, how you got sorted, how you went to classes and flying lessons, how there were ghosts and a poltergeist, and all about Quidditch. When I ran out of topics, I moved onto my life, and myself. I told Lily about how I loved playing pranks, how my father humored me and my mother scolded, how I'd never had a true friend who like me for a real, not just because I knew how to fly or because my family was wealthy. After a while, my voice was growing hoarse, but Lily had stopped crying and was now leaning against me, contented. She touched my arm.
"Now it's my turn to talk." She told me about how everyone had made fun of her at school, how she had no friends, how her older sister Petunia picked on her and had not spoken to her since Lily had found out that she was a witch. She rested her head on my shoulder.
"You know, James Potter, you're a real friend." We sat there for a minute. To our surprise, a pair of people burst into the room. I recognized them as Remus, the tired boy from the platform, and Sirius, the boy whose mother was now friends with mine. Sirius spoke.
"Hey, we heard that we have some fellow firsties in here…" He trailed off at the sight of Lily, who had quickly pulled her head from my shoulder.
"I don't believe we've been introduced. Sirius Black, at your service." He bowed and kissed her hand. Shaking hands with Remus (who seemed really nice), I snickered at Sirius' expression. Lily wouldn't fall for that crap. Sirius looked up at me, his eyes narrowing. "What's wrong with you? Oh, I see now. Lost your fight with the lawnmower, huh Four Eyes?" He looked pointedly at my hair, smirking. I glared. He had touched a nerve. I stood up.
"Ah, I remember you now. You're the boy with quite enough underwear, am I right?" I did an imitation of his mother. "Sirius daaaahling, are you quite positively sure that you've packed enough underwear? We wouldn't want your bed-wetting condition to get out of hand, now would we?" Sirius glared back and clenched his fists. I pulled out my wand. Having already mastered many spells, I was prepared for a full out duel. Sirius did also, but Remus pulled him by the back of the shirt through the door.
"Bye, Lily, James. See you." Lily shook her head and pulled out a book.
"Boys." I was still glaring at the spot where Sirius had been.
"Jerk," I muttered, "And to think that I thought I would be friends with him." Lily punched me softly, not looking up from her book. I smiled and toyed with my wand, staring out of the window into the countryside that was speeding by.
*~*~*~*
"Firs' years! Firs' years, this way!" As Lily and I stepped off the train at the Hogsmeade Station, we were greeted by the sight of an enormous giant of a man calling over the heads of the excited sea of black-clad students. After a few minutes of struggling, we reached him.
"Hello, I'm Hagrid. Ah! You must be young James Potter. Look like you mother, you do." I pushed up my glasses and reached out my hand, Hagrid crushing it in a handshake.
"Nice to meet you Hagrid, my parents have told me all about you. This is Lily Evans, she's a first year too." Hagrid smiled down at Lily, who was smiling shyly up at him.
"Hello Lily, it's nice to meet you. Pretty one, ain't you?" Lily blushed.
"Well, we'd better be off then." Hagrid led the huddled group of first years down a dirt path. I suddenly felt shoved from behind. I turned and groaned. It was Sirius. Remus was with him, and another chubby boy that I recognized from Wizarding primary, Peter Pettigrew. Though it was a mild night, Remus shivered and pulled his cloak around his shoulders. I took off my own cloak and handed it to him. He wrapped it around his shoulders, giving me a thankful grin. Sirius ignored this and pushed his way next to Lily.
"So, Lily, what House do you think you'll be in?" Lily grinned at him. I felt my temper rising.
"I hope I'm in Gryffindor, that sounds by far the best. Ravenclaw wouldn't be too bad; I'm a bit of a bookworm. But really, I hope I'm in Gryffindor." She looked at me and smiled. I melted. Sirius spoke softly in her ear.
"I'm a definite Gryffindor. Your pal over there, I'll bet he's a Slytherin all the way." Lily moved away from him, leaning towards me.
"No, James is a Gryffindor." Sirius scoffed. She looked at him admonishingly. "You'll see."
*~*~*~*
The Sorting was nerve racking for me. As I stood in front of the entire school, waiting for my turn to try on the ragged hat, I remembered what my father had said before I left that morning.
"Remember, James, it's up to you to continue the family tradition of being placed in Gryffindor. Every Potter since the beginning of Hogwarts has been in Gryffindor. Don't let me down, son."
I grimaced slightly and looked at Lily, whose name would be called soon.
"Black, Sirius!" Sirius stepped up confidently, placing the hat on his head. It had barely touched him when it yelled "GRYFFINDOR!" I groaned. Great, now I would be stuck living with that dog for seven years. It was Lily's turn next.
"Evans, Lily!"
Shaking, she walked up to the three-legged stool and sat, placing the ancient hat over her head. Sirius gave her a thumbs-up from his new seat at the Gryffindor table. As everyone waited for it to make its decision, I gazed at Lily, or what I could see of her that wasn't hidden under the enormous hat. She had no expectations, no "family traditions" to live up to. How I wished I could be in her shoes. Finally, the hat spoke.
"GRYFFINDOR!" The Gryffindor table erupted with cheers, Sirius jumping up and down, catcalling. I resisted squeezed my eyes shut and forced a blank expression onto my face. Why did P have to come near the end of the alphabet? I watched as student after student passed and was sorted. The Gryffindors looked extremely triumphant as they walked to their new table. I watched as Remus Lupin and another boy named Peter Pettigrew were both sorted into Gryffindor. After what seemed like ages, it was my turn.
"Potter, James!" I stepped up to the stool, which now seemed to be a mile away. Finally, I reached it and pulled the hat on over my head. I caught a glance of Lily pushing Sirius' arm away from her shoulder just before the hat fell over my eyes. I smiled. The hat spoke to me, in a small voice.
"Well now, we have another Potter here." The hat seemed to be considering me. "Well, you have talent, no doubt about that. And flying skills, my goodness yes. Also a knack for getting into mischief, that's interesting. So where shall I put you?" I prayed with all my might.
Gryffindor, please, put me in Gryffindor! I'll do anything…
The hat cut me off."All right, all right. But the one thing I want you to do? Try to get along with Mr. Black." I started to question the hat, but it shouted "GRYFFINDOR!" and cheers erupted from the crowd. I stood up shakily and walked over and sat next to Lily at the Gryffindor table. I ignored Sirius' gagging gestures as Lily squeezed my hand.
"I knew you could do it." We settled back in our chairs to watch the rest of the sorting. Another new Gryffindor who had been sorted just after me leaned over and whispered in Lily's ear. I cleared my throat, and Lily started.
"Oh, sorry James. This is Sarah Reeves, I knew her from primary school." Sarah smiled at me. She had thick, curly brown hair and dark brown, slightly Asian shaped eyes.
"It's nice to meet you." Sirius scowled at her.
"Sarah, don't talk to him. He's a freak." Sarah shot him a look.
"Sirius, don't be so rude!" He scowled again. "I mean it! And you're not my boss!" She shot him a glare, and his gaze softened.
"I'm sorry Sarah. It's just HE makes me so mad." Sarah punched him lightly on the arm.
"It's all right, I forgive you. Just don't do it again!" Lily and I watched this interesting exchange in silence. When Sarah looked back at me, I spoke.
"You know Sirius? But I thought you were muggle born…?" Sarah laughed at my look of surprise.
"I'm mixed. My mum is a muggle, she's the one who put me in Muggle primary. My dad works in the Ministry of Magic with Sirius' dad. They're Aurors." I took one look at Sarah and Sirius and could tell that they'd practically grown up together. I almost laughed at Sirius' mock-hurt expression as Sarah elbowed him, but then remembered that I hated him. Oh well. It could have been funny. I turned and watched as Professor McGonagall called one of the few remaining students' names.
"Snape, Severus!" Now there was an oily looking guy. Sirius, though he racked on my nerves, at least looked like someone who might be nice. This boy, Snape, had black, oily hair and a malicious expression fixed on his sallow face. Yucko. Slytherin for sure. Sure enough, the hat had barely touched his head when it screamed "SLYTHERIN!" His thin lips twisted into a smirk and he slithered over to the Slytherin table. A few students later, the Sorting was over and a magnificent feast had appeared before us. I helped myself to some roast beef and potatoes. Neither Lily nor I realized that we were still holding hands, under the table.
Disclaimer: Again, I don't own anyone except Sarah so far. Keep reading!