Author's Note: Okay, people, bear with me on this. Romance is totally not my thing. So we'll just see how this goes! Please review and constructive crit is very welcome!
Moon Petals
Chapter One
First Encounter
"Gryffindor!"
Lily Evans jerked in surprise. The cheers from the strangers in the room seemed to fade into the background as she sat on the stool in shock. Severus had been so sure that she would be put in Slytherin, and even though she knew nothing about the Hogwarts Houses, somewhere along the line she had come to believe him.
"Miss Evans," came Professor McGonagall's soft, yet firm voice as it cut through the sound of applause. "Please take a seat with the rest of your housemates."
Lily nodded, doing her best to put on a brave face as she slipped off of the stool. She walked forward with her head held high, but couldn't help glancing back at the line of first years still waiting to be Sorted. She managed to catch Severus' eye for the briefest of moments. As much as he tried to hide it, she could see the disappointment in his features.
Only one other first year had been Sorted into Gryffindor so far, a boy with black hair that fell into his stormy grey eyes. He appeared a little uncomfortable for some reason, and as she approached he budged down the bench, giving her room to sit between him and the rest of their housemates. She gave him a shy smile as she climbed onto the bench and turned her attention back to the Sorting.
Lily clapped appropriately when other were Sorted into Gryffindor, but took little notice to anything else that was going on. She was waiting anxiously for Severus to be Sorted. She had always assumed he would stay with her throughout all of this and help her to understand this new society that she suddenly found herself in. She figured there was still a chance that Severus might get Sorted into the same House as her. Perhaps he would even ask the Hat to put him in the same House as her. After the row that she had with her sister before she left, she could really use a familiar face to help her through this.
Finally, Severus Snape was called for his Sorting. Lily sat up a little straighter as she watched him walk over to the stool and take a seat. He seemed to be concentrating very hard on something.
As the Hat was placed on his head, Lily barely had time to hope for one outcome or another before the Hat announced, "Slytherin!"
Lily felt her shoulders slump. She watched as Severus walked over to the Slytherin table, not even bothering to give her a glance. Suddenly she felt very alone.
The rest of the Sorting passed in a haze for Lily, and soon a great feast appeared out of thin air on the table in front of her. Lily should have been marveling at the idea of all of this food suddenly appearing before her, but she suddenly felt a little too sullen to be impressed. Everyone else around her was talking loudly and loading up their plates, but Lily just sat there, staring at her own empty plate.
"Aren't you hungry?"
Lily looked up at the sound of the soft, curious voice. The boy sitting next to her was looking at her expectedly. She gave a start as she realized that it wasn't the original boy who had been sitting next to her, but a different first year who had been Sorted later in the ceremony. The other boy must have budged father down at some point. This boy had light brown hair that boarded on a sandy blonde color and dark brown eyes that had bags under them as if he hadn't slept very well in several nights. He was a terribly thin thing, looking almost sickly in pallor. Even so, he had a very kind look about him, and when he smiled Lily felt herself relax a bit.
"Yes, sorry," she said, not really sure why she felt the need to apologize. "I was just a bit… distracted."
The boy only nodded at this. He held out the serving plate that he had been helping himself from. "Do you like chicken?"
"It's my favorite," Lily said with a small smile. She picked up her fork and chose one of the smaller pieces from the plate. Her stomach was still unsettled with nerves. The two fell silent amongst the roar of the rest of the students for a few minutes as Lily began to pick at her food. "Did you get Sorted into the House you were hoping for?" she suddenly asked, looking at her neighbor.
The boy shrugged as he took a moment to chew and swallow the bite he had just taken. "I wasn't too worried about which House I would be put in," he admitted. "I'm just… happy to be here at all." There was something a bit strained about the way he said it. Lily was about to ask about that, but he spoke again before she could. "Are you not happy to be in Gryffindor?"
"No, it's not that," Lily said. "It's just my friend was Sorted into a different House." She sent a glance over her shoulder toward the Slytherin table. She could just spot Severus' small form sitting with his back toward her. "I was hoping that we'd get to stay together, that's all."
"Well, I'm sure you'll still get to see plenty of your friend," the boy assured her with a comforting smile. "We'll have classes with the other Houses and free time as well."
"I suppose you're right," Lily admitted. She paused before going on. "I'm just nervous because this is all new to me. Both my parents… they're Muggles, you see? So I was really hoping that I'd have my friend around to help me." She felt a little insecure admitting that her parents were Muggles. Severus always seemed to insinuate that this was some kind of disadvantage.
Surprisingly, though, the boy smiled knowingly at her. "I know what you mean," he said. "I'm a half-blood myself. My mum is a Muggle. Even though my dad is a wizard, I feel like I know more about Muggle things than wizard things. Mum always likes doing things the Muggle way."
"Oh!" Lily said as she felt relief wash over her at this. Perhaps she wasn't so odd in this place after all. "I'm glad I won't be the only one new to this then." She paused. "I'm Lily, by the way. Lily Evans."
"It's nice to meet you, Lily," the boy said, looking truly pleased to have been offered her name. "My name is Remus Lupin."
For the rest of the feast, Lily chatted pleasantly with Remus, feeling her anxiety fading as she realized that she didn't have to be dependent on Severus. By the time the Gryffindor Prefect came to collect them and show them where their dormitories were, Lily was smiling and laughing and had forgotten all about any worries she had when she had boarded the train that morning. For once in her life she felt as if she fit in. She was happy.
