Chapter 1
"May I sit here?" 11-year-old Remus Lupin looked up from his book. A girl stood in the doorway of his compartment, presumably his age. He opened his mouth, but before he could speak, the girl sitting across from him (his cousin) gave her answer.
"Sure! I'm Calista Bates." The girl at the door look relieved at finding a place to sit.
"Lily Evans. Are you also first years?" she asked, looking back and forth from Remus to Calista.
"Yeah," Remus spoke up and answered, surprising the two girls as well as himself.
"I'm Remus Lupin, by the way."
"Nice to meet you." Remus wasn't a great judge of character, but this girl seemed nervous. She cautiously sat down. The compartment was quiet for a while, with his cousin looking as if she desperately was searching for something to say. Funny, he thought. Calista's usually so outgoing. I guess she's nervous too.
"So, Lily. Are you excited to start Hogwarts?" he asked, deciding to put his book down and start conversation. Before Lily could answer, Calista threw a mock-glare at Remus and sighed. She looked over at Lily.
"You don't know how hard I've been trying to get him to speak since we've boarded the train," she said, sounding dramatic. "So he ignores me," Calista feigned hurt. "And he starts talking only after you walk in. He even put his book down for you!" Her large light blue eyes widened as if in shock, and she sighed again theatrically.
Lily giggled.
Remus had the decency to look ashamed.
Calista laughed and looked at Lily. "Are you excited then? To start Hogwarts I mean." Calista smiled, obviously pleased that she could make Lily laugh. Remus grinned. Lily grinned as well, feeling a bit more comfortable.
"I guess I am," she answered a moment later, "but I'm really nervous. I'm mega-muga-muggle?" Calista nodded. "Muggle born, and I've never heard of Hogwarts before now. So I'm kinda worried. But I guess.. I don't know." Remus smiled again.
"Have you ever played Quidditch?" he asked. When Lily shook her head no, he launched into a full-blown description of the sport. Lily chuckled, trying to follow his avid description.
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"I don't get it," she admitted half an hour later. Calista threw back her head and laughed at her cousin. Remus had tried over and over again to explain the popular wizarding sport, but hadn't been doing very well.
"Okay, get this," he said. "It's kinda like basketball, baseball, soccer, and try-to-catch-the-ball-before-the-other-player all in one."
"Oh!" Lily's eyes lit up in amusement. "So the chasers throw the ball in the hoops that the keeper defends, the beaters try and hit the opposing team with the bludgers, and the seekers chase the snitch until they, well, catch it? I think you were right; it doesn't really sound difficult." Remus gave Lily an incredulous look.
"How did that make it any easier to understand?" Lily shrugged.
"It didn't really. I just wondered how long you'd keep trying to explain."
Both girls laughed together at the expression on Remus' face, and Calista and Lily spent the entire rest of the ride talking 'girl stuff.' By the time they reached the castle, Remus and Calista were chatting with Lily as if they had done so their entire lives.
When the train stopped, the three got off of the train together. Calista went first, her large, clear sky blue eyes glowing with excitement and her silky nutmeg brown hair swishing enthusiastically in its ponytail. Her slim figure and light skin had a healthy, pretty glow to it. A couple of guys looked her way; even as an eleven year old, Calista was remarkably lovely. She didn't seem to notice though, and dragged Lily and Remus through the crowd.
Remus had the same nutmeg brown hair as his cousin, but his eyes were a much darker blue. They lacked the sparkling enthusiasm Calista's had, but they looked mature and wise, as well as mischievous in turn. He was well built and fairly tall, especially next to petite Lily.
Lily was strikingly beautiful, and it was clear to all that she would only become more so as the years progressed. Her auburn hair cascaded past her shoulders in soft waves, framing her face. Her skin was very lightly dusted with freckles that could only be seen from a close distance. Her almond shaped eyes were like emeralds and sparkled as such. She also attracted looks and stares, but like Calista, she either didn't notice or seemed to ignore them.
The three climbed into a boat together, and were silently lost in their own thoughts until the castle came into view.
"Wow." breathed Lily.
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Calista became nervous as soon as she set foot inside the magnificent building. Remus watched the two girls in front of him, whispering excitedly and giving each other nervous looks. Their hands were clasped, and they both looked scared. Professor McGonagall came and left, leaving Remus nervous as well. The doors leading into the Great Hall opened, and the multitude of 2nd-7th year Hogwarts students surveyed the 1st years curiously. McGonagall pulled out a tattered old hat and a scroll. She gave the new students a quick glance, then started reading names.
"Ackard, Ashlye," she called. A short blonde girl wearing a bit too much lipgloss stepped up.
"Gryffindor!"
Remus stepped up closer to his cousin. Calista smiled at him.
"Bates, Calista." Lily and Remus held their breath as the hat was placed on the nervous brunette's head.
"Gryffindor!" it called again. Calista stepped over to the applauding Gryffindor table to sit next to Ashlye, but not before tossing a grin to Lily and Remus. A couple of Slytherins were sorted next, as well as a Hufflepuff.
"Evans, Lily" called McGonagall all too soon. She kept her eyes focused on the hat. Everything was a slow blur for her.
"Gryffindor!" yelled the sorting hat for a third time that night. She saw Calista clapping enthusiastically for her. Lily walked in Calista's direction, taking a seat across from her.
Nervous? mouthed Calista.
A little. Lily mouthed back. Were you?
Yeah. Calista grinned. I almost died!
I know the feeling. Lily smiled back. Look at the celling! How do they do that? The girls continued their conversation in this manner ignoring the seats filling up around them.
"Lupin, Remus" a shrill voice called, interrupting Lily and Calista. They abruptly turned in their seats and watched a pale, nervous Remus approach Mcgonagall and the hat. He gave them the ghost of a smile before breaking eye contact.
"Gryffindor!"
Calista and Lily went wild.
"Remus! Remus! Remus!"
The said personage approached them, still a bit shaky. They ran up to him and Calista threw her arms around him.
"Now we'll all be in the same house!" Remus said, trying to shake off his nervousness. Remus sat on the side of Calista, and put his finger to his lips as the two girls started talking again. "We're being stared at."
All three of them stopped talking and watched as the Sorting continued.
"Montgomery, Felicity" a gorgeous girl who looked as if there was somebody of asian descent in her background stepped up to McGonagall. She flashed a stunning smile to her spectators.
"Gryffindor!" called the sorting hat yet again. The girl stepped toward the Gryffindor table. She tossed her dark hair over her shoulder-hair that looked black until the light caught it the natural russet streaks were visible. She carried herself like a model: tall, graceful, and confident. She sat down next to Lily and smiled, her clear amber eyes lustrous.
"I'm Felicity Montgomery" she offered.
"Lily Evans" answered Lily with a smile of her own.
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"Remus, dear" Calista said smothering a laugh, "you've got a little-ah, yes that-wait no, to the left-errrm no, Remus.."
"Where is it?!" queried the begrudging host of a rather large smudge of pudding. "Callie, come get it-ughh!" His triumphant cousin proudly held up a napkin stained with chocolate.
"There you go," she said sweetly, and then dropped the napkin into his lap. "Felicity," she turned, addressing the girl Lily had introduced herself to earlier, "what classes are you looking forward to?"
"Hmm... I guess Charms" she pondered softly, "although I think I'd also like Care of Magical Creatures. But I don't think we start that until 4th year."
"3rd year" corrected Calista.
"Charms sounds amazing! Imagine being able to make things fly! And to hit people in the face! I can't wait till we start!" Lily enthused.
"Ah.. but what about Transfiguration, Lily? Doesn't that sound really cool - you could turn the pencil you're throwing at somebody into a water balloon with just a flick of your wand!" Remus asked. Lily just blinked in return. "How about this?" he asked. "You could turn the horribly ugly skirt your mom sent you for Christmas into a really expensive one you saw in a magazine!" Lily giggled, suddenly a bit more interested.
"Girls" sighed Remus.
"Callie, what are you looking forward to?"
"School? Looking forward to school? Ugh, homework!" Calista's response earned a laugh from Felicity.
"Honestly, though" Felicity lightly tugged at her hair. Calista made a face, and thought for a while.
"The boys!" Calista laughed while Felicity giggled as well. Lily snorted into her pumpkin juice, causing all three girls to laugh harder. Remus smiled a bit, and swept his hair out of his eyes.
"Sorry ladies, but I'm--" he was cut off by the roll Calista threw his direction.
"You wish, Remy."