Hello! This is my first Harry Potter FanFic so reviews would be really appreciated! Lol, please enjoy :D
The White Cobra
Year One
Halloween Part 1
Lily Evans knew that the colours in the sky were due to the scattering of light by the atmosphere. She knew that a thin atmosphere scattered short wavelength light resulting in it looking like the blue light came from every direction, while the light of a longer wavelength went straight through. When the sun was low in the sky, at sun set or rise, the light had to travel through more atmosphere - the atmosphere is effectively thicker - so the longer wavelength light (red) was scattered and it looked like it was coming from all directions. Her father had explained it to her when she was seven and she had asked when Petunia said it wasn't magic.
Despite this knowledge, Lily still believed there to be even a smidge of magic involved; it was so beautiful.
Lily closed her eyes, leaning against the trunk of her old, favourite tree, and breathed in the last of the long day. It was a lonely willow that sat next to the lake, from where she could still see the Giant Squid as it stretched lazily in the waters. She twirled her wand between her fingers and watched as the resulting sparks matched the sunset before her. Though autumn wasn't her favourite season, she had to admit there was something special about the Fall's sunsets that nature had to show. She found herself watching the sunsets recently. Even with the shock of finding she was a witch and the effort of studying they had a calming effect on her and soothed her sanity which threatened to slip away from her with every passing day.
The season had cast an orange haze below the horizon and the sky looked as if it had been lit by fire, yet the haze was so crisp and clear.
The sun, like a large, grandeur orange fireball in the distance was partially cloaked by the hanging clouds, which were all splashed with the random colours of hot pinks, reds and even hints of purples and blues. The sun was so large that she felt she could almost touch it. It seemed to look at her with a dull glare, arrogant in its beauty and the planet's dependence on it for survival for it.
It seemed to whisper "Farewell" to the world as it sunk lower and lower in a lazy manner; almost as if it never wanted to leave.
But Lily knew she too had to leave soon; Hogwarts' curfew came into effect just after sunset. She leaned off from the tree, walking down the grassy hill and ducking underneath the thick pine branches and towards the castle. A cool breeze passed, making her stop in the middle of the field. She let the wind tousle her hair as it was almost like a human touch.
She looked at the sun again. The sun was almost as orange as the sky, like a ghost almost. Yet even from behind the trees of the Forbidden Forest, it seemed to stare at her; a silent ball of wonderment that was really a raging ball of Hellish fury. The very thing that gave warmth, life, light and happiness could just as easily cause utter destruction. That fact reminded her of Severus.
Lily closed her eyes once more, the events of the day going through her mind like a reel. Severus always told her to get out of the habit of daydreaming, but Lily was always the intellectual type. The "thinker". The events of the day echoed in her mind, jerking her out of her fleeting thoughts. By the time she opened her eyes, the sun was gone, leaving behind a sea of dark, lonely clouds in a twilight sky. The heavens were beginning to litter the stars about, for it was their turn to shine.
She tucked her wand into her robes while walking past the large doors that marked the entrance to her school. She knew that things, like the seasons would change and that everything would be alright. And like the sun, she knew everyone had their moment to glint and catch attention. And she knew it would someday be the same for her. She just hoped it would be soon.
"Cutting it close aren't we Evans?"
Lily jumped in alarm and felt her heart rate escalate as she recognised the severe expression and spectacles. Professor McGonagall stood tall and foreboding and it made Lily's knees quiver.
Minerva was usually very serious and stern and was held in great respect (and a large amount of fear) by nearly all students. She tolerated neither talking nor silliness from her pupils. Lily Evans was very good at Charms and although it wasn't her strong subject, Transfiguration was one of the subjects she loved dearly. If she was honest, it was probably because during her youth she performed some Transfiguration spells in front of her sister during the holidays and it was then she first saw Severus.
"Um, uh yes Ma'am. I am so sorry but I guess I lost track of time; I was practising my Avis spell." Lily felt ridiculous stuttering like this but the woman was simply terrifying.
"Show me." It was a command.
Lily gulped and took out her wand. "Avissia." She said clearly, inwardly praying that it would work this time. Avis was a spell that conjured a flock of birds. The birds would be shot from the caster's wand tip accompanied by a loud blast like a gun being fired. Lily in fact had been attempting the spell but could only manage a puff of feathers.
To her amazement and relief there was a small flash and three robin-sized birds in a vibrant red started to fly around her, twittering and singing softly. Although not the flock, it was remarkable for a first year.
The Professor looked impressed. "Well done, Miss Evans. Five points to Gryffindor. Hurry up to bed young lady, or I shall dock ten."
Lily nodded, gave her grateful smile and started to run up the grand stair case, which moved a few times but after a while of pleading, changed back so she arrived in her dormitory about ten minutes later. She passes many students, both Gryffindor and other house alike.
Gryffindor Tower was located behind the portrait of the Fat Lady on the Seventh Floor. A password was required to enter – this time 'Bluebottle' – and once she had accepted it, the Fat Lady swung open to reveal a circular hole that lead to the common room. Lily was still unfortunately a tiny first year and it took her a while to clamber up into the room. The common room was where the students of the house could relax after a long day of studying (or in the case of many OWL level students, even more studying) and was full of squishy armchairs, tables and a bulletin board where school notices, ads or lost item posters could be posted. There were a few windows either side of the huge fireplace that dominated the wall that looked over Hagrid the Gamekeepers hut and the Forbidden Forest.
As it was still relatively early, the common room was still full of students. Most had put aside the textbooks and were just sitting and talking. Just as she entered, she saw her new friends; Alice Prewett and Andrea Fisher head up to the dormitory. Smiling, she hurried after them.
Lily bit her lip as she noticed four people she really did not want to run into right now lounged next to the roaring fire, eating colourful looking sweets and chatting loudly.
The girl kept her gaze downwards. Maybe they wouldn't notice her. She could probably sneak past and head up to bed without them seeing her at all. If she could just dodge around these fifth years she'd be hidden from view. Lily mentally smiled; she had a new book on Charms under her bed and she could definitely read a few chapters before lights out.
"Hey look, James. There's the red-head you like!"
"Honestly Sirius! It is extremely rude to call her that; I am certain she would prefer to be called by her name."
"Oh Merlin, Remus fine. Hey look, James. There is the girl called Rosie or something you like! Happy?"
"Not particularly."
Lily groaned silently but kept walking. It wasn't until she stumbled into one did she stop. She looked up and felt her shoulder slump. It was the boy from the carriage! The one that was rude to Severus!
"Hi!" The boy was about a head taller than she was, thin but looked like he had been well fed his whole life with a mess of unruly hair and glasses. Hazel eyes beamed down at her with eagerness and he panted, though that was probably because he had dashed from his seat in the armchair to in front of her the moment he saw her.
Lily simply stared at him, not entirely sure how to respond.
"I'm James Potter; you might remember me from the train?"
Lily stood a little taller. She had a sharp tongue and strong wit when standing up for others and although she rarely had a temper, this Potter boy was annoying her already.
"Oh yes, you were the boy who was impolite to me and my friend." She snipped back.
To her frustration, James simply shrugged and gave her a goofy smile, put a hand on her shoulder and before she could protest, he guided her towards his friends. She was suddenly standing amongst a group of boys she didn't know or want to get to know. However they all had a smile on their face and could Lily have seen herself she would have known why.
Her thick dark red hair framed her delicate pretty face, outlining her deep emerald eyes that sparkled like two captured stars in the firelight. Her very essence seemed to glow around her, as did her calming presence that seemed to roll off her in soothing waves.
Her hard expression softened slightly when one stood up and offered his hand politely with a smile on his face. He was thin, ill looking with lanky limbs and light brown hair. A single skinny scar ran down one cheek that looked almost skeletal with his prominent cheekbones. Nevertheless he looked good-natured and Lily instantly warmed to him.
"Good evening, my name is Remus Lupin."
Lily beamed at his respectful tone. "It's nice to meet you, my name is –" Here she threw a dirty look at the boy nearest the hearth. "- Lily Evans."
Remus gave a nervous chuckle. "Sorry about that. Sirius is quite the joker."
As if to clarify this, the boy called Sirius gave a loud belch. A rather chubby boy who was sat on a small stool giggled.
James quickly rapped the long haired boy on the head. "Not funny Sirius." To Lily, he gestured lamely to his left. "That's Peter; you sit in front of him in Charms."
How Lily not know who he was? He was the one who kept messing things up in Charms and had caused many a bump on Lily's head when he failed at his incantations. He was extremely short with small watery eyes and a pointed nose. His hair was a mousy brown that was thin but still somehow greasy. Despite this, Lily nodded in greeting to which he responded with a smile that showed his more prominent two front teeth.
"A pleasure." She said through her teeth.
"Speaking of which," James said, looking at Lily fervently. "Do you think you could sit next to us at the Halloween Feast tomorrow?"
Taking her stunned expression as a sign to continue, James grinned enthusiastically. "It will be a lot of fun, trust me. Sirius tells the funniest stories and Peter will laugh so hard he'll squirt pumpkin juice out of his nose. Lupin is feeling a bit peaky so he probably won't be feeling up to it but I'm sure he'll consider it if you agree to go! If you feel like it's too weird your friends can come to."
Lily allowed herself a true smile, one she usually only reserved for Severus and... Oh no! She had already made plans with the Slytherin on the night of Halloween. She felt her face fall.
"I am so sorry, but I have... plans tomorrow."
"During the feast?" James looked both hurt and suspicious, something Lily didn't like.
"Yes," She directed the comment to Remus. "But please, don't not go because of me. I'm sure you'll feel better by tomorrow, if not Madame Pomfrey could give you something."
Remus gave her a grin. "Yeah I might just do that. And it's a shame you can't make it."
James still looked affronted. "What are you doing instead?" An idea seemed to hit him like a quaffle. "You're going to go hang around with that Snape kid aren't you?"
Lily took a step back. "So what if I am? Anyway, I don't see how it is of any business of yours Potter. Goodnight!"
With that she turned on her heel and strode purposefully up the stairs to her bed. Just before she was out of earshot she heard Sirius snigger.
"You got her to smile James, that's something at least."