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Mudblood. I am a moodblood, and proud. Whatever Severus said, I'm no different from Selena Porscade, who's bottom of our class in potions. Or Avery Clarke who, in her seventh year, was the most popular girl in the school. He called all of them Mudblood, why not me? It came as a shock, although I had long expected it. I was pleased... Well no, I really wasn't. I was exceedingly saddened, but we had been 'growing apart'. One of the very worst things about this fact was James Potters annoying comments. The degree with which I was repelled from him in those days was something similar to that of a cockroach. Annoying and disgusting. He decided that my 'breaking up' with Severus meant that I must want to 'get together' with him. Well, no. I can tell you, this Mudblood had NO intention of 'getting together' with James Potter.

So, at this point in time, I was getting ready for the Hogwarts express, September the first, my sixth year. I had big plans for projects, coming top in my class, but not only the academic stuff. You see, I have a streak in me that loves to have fun, to prank the unsuspecting and blame it on... The Marauders. The teachers never guessed the culprits of some of the pranks. I have to admit though, I was amazed by the Marauders. Even inspired by them, though I would never admit it. My friends, Marlene McKinnon, Alice Patrick, and Hestia Jones all dyed Professor Slughorn's robes green for two weeks last year.

I put my schoolbooks into my trunk, I was taking all the core subjects to NEWT level, apart from History of Magic and Astronomy. I was also taking arithmancy. I was going to have a very full timetable. I looked over all my books and sighed. This was going to be one hard year. My problem was that I had no idea of what job I wanted to do. I wanted to keep my options open.

I turned around and looked out of the open window. There was a small brown shape in the distance, slowly approaching. I opened my window a little wider to welcome Omar, Marlene's barn owl. He had a letter clutched in his stubby talons. I took the letter and held out my arm for him to hop on to. I took him over to the cage of my own Snowy Owl, Mia. Mia was out at the moment, taking a letter to Hestia who had been holidaying in the south of France, but was returning today. Omar perched on the thin bar and took a sip out of Mia's water bowl.

I unfolded the letter. Marlene's letter was written on tasteful notepaper, her curly writing covering the page.

Hiya Lils

How was your holiday? Mine was quite boring to be honest. Dad kept pulling me into the Auror office. Before you ask, no. I didn't see ANY criminals, go on ANY trips or learn ANY new information. Nope! I am now known in the Auror office as coffee maker in chief. And guess what my pay was: (I quote) 'For the work experience! My dear, believe it or not, Hogwarts has little to no work experience opportunities. You should be grateful.'

Yup. I know right? I don't think I'll ever understand adults... Not even when I'm one myself! Anyway... How's Petunia? Completely rude and uncaring as normal? No, that was harsh... She does care... About her walrus of a fiancée. What are you going to wear on the train tomorrow? You should tie your hair up with a braid. You always look so pretty. (I forbid you to roll your eyes) see you then...

Marly

I laughed. Marly knew me so well. She was sassy, and could match Sirius Black wit for wit. She was also very pretty. She had waist length wavy chestnut coloured hair and eyes of the same colour. A tiny waist and very pale skin. She didn't freckle or tan, so her skin was unblemished. However Marly didn't take advantage of her looks. She had only ever been out with three boys to Hogsmede.

A shriek from downstairs made me turn. I hurried to the source of the noise just in time to see an enormous golden owl swoop over the breakfast table. Petunia was the one who had shrieked and she had an expression of mingled fear and disgust on her face.

The owl landed in front of me and I took the piece of parchment it was carrying. It read:

Hey Evans

I'll see you on the train

Love from Your favourite Marauder

xxxxx

My initial surprise turned to anger and then embarrassment. My whole family were staring at me.

"It's nothing"

I muttered before throwing the note in the fire. He did this EVERY YEAR and embarrassed me in front of my family, who at that moment were still looking at me curiously.

"It was just..."

I blushed.

"It was someone from your freak place wasn't it?"

My mum, who was a hopeless romantic, added,

"Was it a boy?"

I blushed even harder.

"Ha! I knew you'd been keeping something from us Lily Petal."

Said my Dad.

"No... It's just this really annoying boy called James Potter, he's been following me since..."

"A freak boy is FOLLOWING YOU?"

Shrieked Petunia.

"No! He just liked the idea of me..."

My Dad's face went red, in fact, he looked uncannily like Petunia's enormous fiancée, Vernon Dursley!

"Boys like the IDEA of you?"

This was going from bad to worse.

"No, only Potter, he's so arrogant and selfish and has never been refused by anyone... Apart from me."

"And yet..."

Mused my Mother, staring into the fire at the smouldering ashes of what had once been apiece of paper,

"He has remembered to send you a note like that every year, with kisses at the end."

Did I mention she was a hopeless romantic?

••••••••••••••••

As the train pulled away from the platform, I waved out of the window at my Mum who'd come to see me off. I turned, and levitated my trunk down the train until I came to a compartment with Marly, Hestia, and, most annoyingly, Sirius Black.

"Hi Marly, Hey Hest! I had boring summer, my sister was really annoying. How was your summer Hest?"

Hestia started to explain how amazing the south of France was, when Black interrupted.

"Aren't you going to say hello to me, Lily-Flower?"

He said, pouting.

"Can you hear anything Lily?"

Said Marly.

"No, Marl, not a sound."

"But it's me! Marauder extraordinaire!"

"So? You're saying you're better than us?"

"No, but..."

"But what, Black? Why are you even in here?"

"Well, Prongs and Moony told me to... Um... Find another compartment?"

"And you really expect us to believe that you are not on some pathetic 'insiders' mission?"

"Well I'm not! I was just supposed to 'socialise' with you."

"You have socialised with us now, haven't you! So go away!"

"Fine, your mean Lily-Flower."

He pouted again and walked out slowly with puppy eyes.

Hestia laughed

"I don't think any of us will ever understand Sirius Black."

"Nor do I."

We laughed away the rest of the train journey. I was pleased to see that Potter didn't decide to pay us a visit, so we had a good time. Outside, a storm raged, rain slid down the windows and lightning flashed. This all made the compartment cosier though. We took turns telling ghost stories, but they all made us laugh. Although, scary wizard stories tend to be a whole lot scarier than muggle ones.

We got off the train and into a carriage. We were one of the last people off the train, and it was just my luck that it was the last one with space for the Marauders to fit inside- even if Pettigrew did have to sit on the floor.

"Well fancy seeing you here my Evans."

Said Potter with what he clearly thought was a winning smile.

"Shut up Potter."

"Only if you go out with me Evans."

He winked.

"I'll go out with you when McGonagall takes her hair down and does the Lindy Hop in the common room."

"Really Evans?"

I ignored him, and turned to my friends, but Remus interrupted me. I was on better terms with him than the other Marauders.

"Lily, why weren't you in the prefect's carriage?"

I looked at him in dismay.

"Oh crap."

"Lily-Flower! Language!"

I glared at Black.

"You do realise Black that me forgetting my duties will be classed as irresponsible and damage my chances of getting head girl next year!"

"Sorry Lily-Flower but there are children in the carriage."

He pointed at Pettigrew and Potter. Potter pointed his wand at Black, and caused his ears to grow to five times their natural size.

"Prongs! My ears! Change them back!"

I stepped in. I hated it when Potter hexed people for the fun of it, even if it was Black, and even if it was a joke.

"Potter! Change his ears back at once! How dare you! Do it, or I'll report you to professor McGonagall. I mean it!"

"Okay, okay! Fine!"

He shrunk Black's ears back to their normal size. Black rubbed his ears and I heard him mutter the word 'traitor' under his breath while giving Potter a dirty look. Our carriage trundled past the winged boars at the entrance of the school, and we were soon getting out. Professor McGonagall came and spoke to me for a minute about forgetting to be in the prefect compartment. I managed to wheedle out of it, and she left to greet the first years, I went into the great hall and sat with my friends. Alice was sitting next to Frank Longbottom. I greeted both of them before slipping into a seat next to Hestia.

Professor McGonagall came in, leading a long line of scared looking first years. She put a battered stool down on the floor, and placed the old school Sorting Hat on it. The hat opened the tear that was it's mouth, and started singing.

I am the Hogwarts Sorting Hat,

I was made before the school,

I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for Gryffindor.

Yes, Godric, he was brave and strong.

He would have died for the others.

I wouldn't be enchanted if it wasn't for Ravenclaw.

Well, Rowena was wise, and clever. She was pretty and witty and loved to read.

I tell you what House you will be in.

I look into your mind.

Slytherin made me my own form. Legilimency.

Oh Salazar was cunning and sly. He was proud, ambitious and pureblood.

But, my friends, I sing this song. I am thankful.

Hufflepuff taught me how to sing.

Well, Helga, she was kind and loyal. She was just, the sunshine of the school.

This I can say, I knew the founders.

They wished to create a school,

Where wizards and witches could flourish.

In their mission:

They succeeded.

Everyone clapped loudly. None of us had ever heard the Sorting Hat talk about the founders in person before. I leaned over to Marly,

"Did you know that Gryffindor owned the sorting hat?"

"No! Isn't it in Hogwarts, a History?"

"Nowhere.. But that book misses out several key aspects of the school."

After all the first years had been sorted into their respective Houses, and a wonderful feast, everyone went up to bed. It was funny to see the fifth years herding the first years to the common rooms. I walked up to Gryffindor tower with Alice, and into our dormitory. My bed was the same as ever, four poster with red and gold silk hangings. My trunk was at the bottom of my bed. I opened it and pulled on a pair of pyjamas with pictures of special effects charms on them, and clambered into bed. After everyone had extinguished their lamps, we talked for half an hour or so before falling asleep.

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