Author's Note:
Hi guys! Thanks for checking out my fanfic. I'm hoping to finish by February, but I'm a new mom and life gets pretty busy! I really want to finish this story as my last one, Gruff Impression (my other baby) never got an end. I had an extensive storyline from years of edits, but in the end, I never finished because of how complex the story became. I am hoping to write a more simple story that is actually doable here! The story will alternate each year from Lily's POV to James' POV and only have a few scenes per year. They kind of operate outside each other's circles for the first few years, but as we know, it gets better. ;) I will not try to include every scene Rowling has produced, because we already know those ones. So I'll include the reaction surrounding the events as that is the new material. Hope you enjoy. :) Rated K+ for now but might move to a T depending on how things go.
I love reviews!
Year One.
Lily's POV
The high, screeching whistle of the Hogwarts Express sounded. It was nothing compared to the beauty of the scarlet train herself.
Lily had never seen such chaos and excitement before. Actual witches and wizards scrounged about for their luggage, their toads, their owls swooping overhead. Magic suitcases called to their owners. A kid stepped on owl droppings and sparks shot up from his wand In surprise as he slipped. Someone lost their lunch, and another lost their child. He had ducked under an invisibility cloak.
Absolute chaos. Lily loved it.
"Goodbye Mum, 'bye Dad," she gave quick hugs to her parents on tippy-toes. Tunia had stayed in the car. Forcing herself not to think about the hurtful words her sister had said as their final goodbye, Lily turned to the scarlet engine once more, took a breath, and stepped forward.
Heart heavy, Lily made her way inside the train, suddenly feeling very small and very alone. The chaos continued as older students bumped past her, hurrying down the corridor. She found a compartment with a boy her age sitting alone. He had brown hair and was dressed in a blue and white striped shirt that was frayed slightly. He sat quite politely all by himself.
"Hullo."
He smiled warmly when she entered.
"My name's Lily."
"Hullo. I'm Remus," he replied.
"Pleased to meet you Remus." Lily sat next to the boy. "You don't mind if I sit with you, do you?" He shook his head. "That's a relief. I mean, it'd be a bit awkward otherwise, but you were sitting here all alone anyhow, and . . ."
Remus smiled again. "Are you a first year too, then?" He asked, looking at the badge on her robes.
"Er, yes." Lily tucked some hair behind her ears. Was she not supposed to be in robes yet? There was so much to learn!
Before either of them could continue, a ruckus of laughter emanated just outside their compartment and the door flew open to reveal a messy-haired boy with glasses. He stopped short. A second boy with black hair bumped into him and he staggered forward, into the compartment.
The black-haired one gave him a curious look before pushing past him to stand before Lily and Remus.
"Hullo. I'm Sirius Black. Who might you be?" he asked, giving her a dashing smile that, clearly, he practised.
"Lily." She flickered her eyes to the silent boy. "Who's your friend?" The other boy shook himself and smiled. Lily didn't fail to notice the mischievous glint in his eyes.
"Potter. James." He offered a handshake and Lily took it hesitantly. He jerked her forward and lightning fast, cracked something over her head with his other hand. A puff of blue smoke emanated above Lily's head as she looked down and blue was smeared all over her hair and robes.
The boy James cackled. "Nice to meet you."
Sirius Black joined the laughter. Lily threw James Potter's hand down hotly.
"That's not any way to greet someone!" she yelled, cheeks flushed scarlet. She looked ready to murder them.
"C'mon mate," Sirius put a hand on James' chest, "I don't think we're welcome here anymore." He gave a nod in Remus Lupin's direction and exited. James gave an indifferent shrug and followed as he ruffled his hair.
Lily looked down at her robes incredulously. She was painted blue!
Groaning long and hard, she turned to Remus. "What am I going to do? I can't show up like this!"
Remus looked like he was trying to smother a laugh. "I - uh - might have something that could help." He pulled out a spell book that was not on their reading list and rifled through it until he found a cleaning spell.
"Ooooh," Lily's wide eyes danced. "Are we going to perform some magic? I can't wait to use my wand some more. I've just tried a few small things with my friend Sev." Not that she was particularly pleased with her friend at the moment . . .
Remus gave her a curious smile. "Of course we're going to use magic," he said. "We're a wizard and witch, after all."
Lily grinned. "Right."
Some short minutes later Lily was - thankfully - un-blue-ified. So far, there had been no sign of Sev, which gave Lily mixed feelings. Under normal circumstances, she should be with him, gushing over their long-awaited dream that was finally coming true. But after what happened today with Tuney . . .
A porky boy, Sirius Black, and James Potter emerged in the doorframe. The first boy waved and gave a nervous smile. "H-hi. I'm Peter Pettigrew." He gestured to the other two. "And this is -"
Lily glared at James. "I thought I told you to get lost," she said. Peter's face fell and he looked embarrassed from the interruption.
"Train's full." He grinned, popping what looked like a jelly bean into his mouth.
Remus looked between Lily and the boys as if uncertain he should proceed. "Er, would you like to sit down?" he said politely. Lily frowned.
"Are those Bertie Botts?" Peter asked of James. He grinned. "Yeah. You want some?" He pulled out a bag from his pocket and a stack of magic playing cards and sat down on the floor. "C'mon, I'll play you for them." Sirius joined them and James looked up at Remus and Lily. "You lot in?"
"No thank you," Lily quipped. She huffed and folded her arms, turns big to the window. James shrugged.
"Suit yourself. Mate?" He turned to Remus, who threw another glance at Lily before shrugging and sliding to the floor as well.
Traitor, Lily thought. Overall her excitement died as the chatter started and she found herself wishing to be alone.
Ugh, I should be happy. I'm on my way to Hogwarts! It didn't work. As if to add insult, her sister's cruel words echoed in her mind.
"You think I want to be a – a freak?"
Petunia had been mad because she found out that Lily and Severus had read Dumbledore's reply denying her request to go to Hogwarts. From that time on, Petunia had become disdainful of Lily's magical abilities.
The door opened yet again. Lily glanced over to see Severus entering, also having adorned his robes. He looked relieved to have found her.
"Hey mate, want to play?" Sirius asked, interrupting Sev's line line of focus.
Sev looked surprised. "No," he said distrustfully, as though he thought it might be a prank. "I'm busy." He headed straight for Lily.
"Jeez, just asking." Sirius made a face behind his back.
Severus sat.
"I don't want to talk to you," she said in a tight voice. The four boys had gone back to playing.
"Why not?"
"Tuney h-hates me."
"So what?"
Lily shot him a dark look.
"So she's my sister!"
"She's only a -" he caught himself before saying "muggle" as Lily wiped away a sudden tear. not paying his comment any attention.
Severus's voice changed to excitement as he piped, "But we're going! This is it! We're off to Hogwarts!" Lily nodded and gave a half-smile.
"You'd better be in Slytherin," Sev said seriously.
"Slytherin?" James tore himself away from the game "Who wants to be in Slytherin? I'd think I'd leave, wouldn't you?" He directed the question to Sirius, giving a grin. Sirius, however, looked grim.
"My whole family have been in Slytherin," he said, quieter.
"Blimey. And I thought you seemed alright!"
A slow grin broke over Sirius's face, "Maybe I'll break the tradition. Where are you heading, if you've got a choice?"
Potter pretended to brandish a sword. "'Gryffindor, where dwell the brave at heart!' Like my dad." He sat.
Much to Lily's dislike, Sev made a rude, disparaging noise, making James turn back to him.
"Got a problem with that?"
"No," he said slowly with a bit of a sneer. "If you'd rather be brawny than brainy -"
"Where're you hoping to go, seeing as you're neither?" Sirius countered. James and Sirius roared with laughter and Lily sat up straight. She couldn't take these two anymore. "Come on, Severus, let's find another compartment."
"Ooooooh . . ." James tried to trip Sev as he and Lily headed for the door. "See ya, Snivellus!"
Sev and Lily walked through the entrance hall, he with a green and silver tie hanging loosely around his neck, and she with her scarlet, polished pin. They were on their way to explore the courtyard when a gang of Slytherins emerged. The foremost of them, a tall prefect who had greeted Sev at the Sorting, halted the others when he spotted the first years. He had perfectly combed blonde hair and manicured fingers and was the oldest of the group. He towered over them and stared at Sev.
He opened his mouth, assessed Sev's bedraggled appearance some more, and said finally: "Did I hear correctly that you preformed a knee-reversal hex yesterday?" His voice was as smooth as honey but carried a perilous lilt.
Lily glanced at the Slytherins behind the prefect. They varied in age but all carried the same menacing look. Sev looked only at the leader, quietly calculating.
"Yes," he said in his soft voice. He did not break contact.
The prefect's lip twitched. "I haven't heard of that being used for nearly a century. Where did you come across it?" His words carried weight, as if everything he said was important.
Sev stared on, but as always, he looked from under his lids, as a mistrusting animal; he never directly stared at a person's eyes until he felt directly threatened.
He hunched his shoulders and said, "Picked it up somewhere."
"That's quite a feat. And you're a first year?"
From under his lids Sev stared at the prefect and nodded, and Lily saw a tinge of curiosity in him.
The prefect's lip twitched again, this time showing the start of a smirk.
A willowy fourth year gave a derogatory scoff. "He's a first year, Lucius. Probably did it by accident."
"No he didn't," Lily glared. "I heard him make the incantation." She did not like the threatening feeling these boys emanated. She wanted her and Sev to leave.
The boy Lucius kept his penetrating eyes on Sev, saying. "I don't think so, Wilkes . . . I think we have a natural on our hands. Slytherin produced yet again."
Severus, though still keeping up defenses, was definitely interested by this Lucius.
A third year and seemingly the second in command stepped forward. "I told you, Loosh," Lucius broke eye contact to cast a sneer for the nickname. "He keeps to himself and doesn't say much. Guy's a freak."
"He's not a freak!" Lily said defiantly.
At Lily's words Lucius turned his eye towards her, taking in her Gryffindor scarf, red hair, and determined face. His lips parted, and asked softly, "Are you by chance related to the Weasleys?"
Lily scrounged up her face, wary of the question. "Who?"
"Never mind," he said slyly, "I thought you looked too clean to be." Turning back to Severus, he smiled. "I'm Lucius Malfoy." Nodding to the third year on his right, "Evan Rosier. That's Wilkes," he said, nodding to his left. "We'll be seeing you around, ah, what was it?"
"Sna- Severus," Sev said, catching himself on the last name.
"We'll be seeing you around, Severus . . ." Lucius slinked off, his cronies flanking him. Snape stared after their backs for a moment until Lily tugged slightly on his sleeve.
Thursday's last session was Defense Against the Dark Arts with the Slytherins. They filed in along the rest of the first years and Lily chose a table next to a blonde named Gabrielle Charmant. It was near the front-middle; Lily wanted to catch anything a teacher demonstrated when it involved magic. She was thrilled to start every new course.
The students did not know whether it would be a serious class like McGonagall's Transfiguration, or fun and silly like Professor Flitwick in Charms. Because of this, the classroom seemed a bit ominous; shafts of afternoon light fell through a high and narrow window. The air in the basement felt musky and there were odd instruments and a trunk lying around walls. No one knew what to expect.
Just before the bell rang the students quieted instinctively, knowing it would soon begin. A creek emitted from the office door which silenced all movement and out swooped a man in murky blue robes. He was of average height with dark blonde hair.
He scanned them silently from the top of the stair with drops of grey-blue eyes. They waited.
Then he split into a grin. The class relaxed.
"Good afternoon, good afternoon," the wizard said, hurrying down the steps to greet them with excitement in front of the chalkboard. His hearty voice reached the far corners of the room. "My name is Jimbo Greengrass, but you all may call me Professor Green." He smiled to a few in turn and Gabrielle Charmant looked at him in an elegant, daring way. "I do tire of formalities from time to time, but make no mistake –" He looked at them with his piercing grey-blue eyes and many of the girls perked up. "When dealing with the Dark Arts it is crucial that we deal with magical formalities."
In a serious tone: "The Dark Arts," he paused for effect, "are toyed with by the most cunning and astute of wizards." Sev raised his head a little higher to listen. "That does not mean they are right to do so.
"The Dark Arts, ladies and gentlemen, are a dangerous route of magic – and one often gets lost trying to find his way. That is why I am here. To teach you to recognize and repel the Dark Arts with the greatest – and most basic – spells so that you may advance to become an even greater wizard or witch because of it."
He broke into a grin, "But we wouldn't want anybody getting lost in my class, now would we?" The class laughed and the spell was broken.
Many of the students sat back realizing they had leaned forward during his speech. Lily let out a breath and exchanged exhilarated looks with Sev.
"Now, let's take roll, shall we?" Professor Green surveyed the list he'd picked off his desk and began to call names.
Finishing attendance his eyes lifted from the page, mulling through the room. He slowly lowered the sheet. "Gryffindors and Slytherins, eh?" he mused rubbing a hand on his chin. "You've all heard the stories I'm sure . . ." Lily didn't know what he was talking about. He seemed to be speaking more to himself than the class.
"Everybody, look where you are sitting," he said quietly. They glanced around. "Stare at the person sitting next to you. You've all chosen someone from your own house – Do you see it?"
Lily and Sev smiled to each other; they alone hadn't.
"Because today is the beginning, and today only, I will ask that you sit by someone who is not of your house just so you may be introduced to at least one person outside of your circle." He gave a satisfied smile as if congratulating himself on the idea. "Come, come, everybody up!"
Students milled around, awkwardly looking for another of a different colored badge to sit with, and not looking too pleasant about it. Lily and Sev remained seated, and Professor Green winked at them with a big smile.
"Take a seat, any seat!" He was getting excited now, his voice boomed to the back corners. "I want everyone in this room to understand that wizards are not stereotyped." He jumped up and paced with his enthusiasm, gesturing wildly as he went on. "Anyone can make a bad decision! Anyone can make a good decision! It is the amount one allows oneself to dwell in unhealthy living conditions of the mind – And! Keep acting upon them. Dark wizards can come from any place, good wizards can be anyone.
"So!" He rubbed his hands together, the smack echoing across the room. "Now that we have that out of the way, do some quick introductions and we will begin the lesson. You have . . ." He contemplated, bobbing his head back and forth in thought, ". . . two minutes! Go!"
The room erupted with chatter and Sev's pallid face leaned in eagerly. "What do you think we'll learn?" He always had a quiet voice, but today it was emphasized with zealous interest. Lily shrugged and with a smile said, "I don't know, but I can't wait to start!"
As the room buzzed with chatter the young Professor approached their desks. He leaned in and said quietly, "I want to thank the two of you for giving an example of branching out." Greengrass's eyes gave a sparkle. "Five points to each of your Houses." And he walked away.
Lily and Sev exchanged looks. "You think he knows we knew each other before today?" Lily smirked, hardly able to contain her grin.
"Let's hope he doesn't find out," Sev said, cracking into a rare smirk himself. They glanced at each other and grinned even bigger.
Lily took the remaining time to acknowledge who sat with whom.
Alice paired with Jean Zarolf, who seemed to know each other before Hogwarts and chatted amiably. Juliet was with her friend Adrianna. Peter Pettigrew was with Gabrielle Charmant and was desperately trying not to stutter over his words, intimidated by her beauty. She did a good job of listening and pretending to be interested. Remus Lupin paired with Argon Avery, smiling painfully and trying to look neutral at whatever he had to say. An extra, Badru Smat of African heritage also joined Remus, who looked relieved to be released from his conversation with Avery. They conversed, pleasantly surprised by each other, and Badru even showed him an African beaded necklace under his shirt. Mary had made a beeline for Aldan Fletcher, a good looking boy, but because of the excess Slytherins was joined by a third. Louis Orgle sat on her right and kept trying to squeeze his opinion into the conversation and gain her attention. Potter held a flowing conversation with Akoya Abrams, a black girl with an appealing smile. The very posh and clean-cut Jay P. Baltazar was paired with Sirius Black, and they sat stoically with their chairs distanced apart.
"So!" Professor Greengrass said. "Time is up. Who can tell me what a Gytrash is and the simple spell used to repell it?"
He filled the rest of the class by telling them of dangerous and stirring encounters one might have in the real world, than went on to list some exotic and mystical creatures they would eventually learn to distinguish and repel.
The class left chattering loudly and they all seemed in concurrent of who their new favorite teacher was. Akoya Abrhams, Adrianna Hart, and Juliet Grand all agreed he was the most attractive teacher. Gabrielle walked with grace besides them, listening in silent agreement. Mary trotted up to them to share in the invigorating gossip but they seemed disinclined to let her tag along. She fell behind, disquieted, and walked with the other remaining Gryffindors.
Sev trotted along Lily teeming with excitement as his wobbly legs surged to keep up. "Did you hear the bit about the boggart?" he asked as the two slowed behind the group. "Imagine – knowing what everyone's worst fear would be," his eyes glinting.
"And who knew there was a spell for a Tickling Charm? Magic is weird," Lily grinned. She had to angle her eyes down to Sev who was shorter than she.
"And 'old witches that eat children probably out of spite for being shunned from being too ugly,'" Sev quoted animatedly. The pair made eye contact and quoted in simultaneous guttural tones: "Hags," and burst out laughing.
Rounding a corner Lily couldn't help the smile, knowing that now she was at Hogwarts, magic could be practiced as much as she pleased. She would not get any nervous or weird looks for it. And for once, Lily realized, she hadn't thought of Tuney as she talked of magic. "It's great, isn't it," beamed Lily, "getting a new start."
"Yeah," Sev agreed, staring at Lucius walking in front of them. "A new start."
Lily wound her way down the stairs to lunch with her roommates Mary, Alice, and Juliet. Juliet Grand was extremely pretty for an eleven-year-old and came from old money. Her long redish-brown hair was tied in a ponytail. She was sore about being placed into Gryffindor - her friends she had grown up with were all in Ravenclaw or Slytherin. Mary McDonald had shoulder length blonde hair, green sparkly eyes and cute freckles that emphasized her bouncy personality. Alice Prewett was quiet with a sweet round face and dark hair tied back in a long braid.
They came around a bend and paused when they saw some burly looking third years speaking in hushed tones to Sirius Black.
Rather than wait Juliet went ahead of the girls to catch her friends.
The third years towered over Sirius, menacing and sour looks on their faces. He did not recoil or step back, but he seemed . . . uncertain.
"Oi!"
The green-clad group turned to find Gryffindor Potter, bundle of pluck that he was, sauntering toward them. He strolled with one hand in his pocket and the other raising to take a bite out of an apple. He stopped next to Sirius, a foot shorter than the third years and even a few centimeters below Black. He looked calculatingly at the third years and casually turned to Sirius. "I didn't know you started a charity foundation, Sirius," he said curiously.
Black looked questioningly at his friend.
"Well you must've, if you're opting to spend your time with them," he motioned with his head to the Slytherins without looking up. They glowered down at him.
"Listen, you flower-eyed pillock–" one of the burlier ones began.
"Boys," came a smooth, commanding voice. Another member joined the party and the third years took a step back in respect. Lily recognized him as the blonde fifth year, Lucius. His prefect badge caught the light as he came to a halt in front of them.
"I'm sure there are other ways of showing your displeasure in Mister Black here," he said silkily. His hard eyes gleamed as they landed on the Gryffindor first year. "We wouldn't want the little blood traitor to think he isn't welcome in Hogwarts." His grey eyes glinted. "Why, I have it under good authority, that he won't have any other home to go back to." His smile deepened. "Enjoy your time here, Black. You may want to keep one eye over your shoulder." His smile slackened looking up at the third years as if their petulance was inferior to his time.
He motioned with his head. "Get a move on. You'll be late for class," he said it with a slight sneer and they vanished. Then, distracted, his gaze look around his surroundings with great dislike, eyeing the pupils as if they were below his tastes.
Upturning his nose one last time to Potter and Black, he drawled, "Get a move on, Gryffindors," and glided away.
Lily exchanged glances with Mary and Alice.
"I heard all of Black's family was Slytherin," she said, "on the way up here. I didn't know it'd be such a big deal."
Alice nodded. "Some magical families have old blood they think outweighs all the rest. There are just names people know, you know? The Grands, Baltazars, Potters, Malfoys . . . . My family dates back ages but my parents don't care about any of that.
"What about you Mary?"
"I'm a half-blood, so clearly my folks don't care. My aunties on the other hand . . ."
They continued to lunch but it wasn't long before they heard some Slytherin third years mysteriously burst into boils a few days later. . .
End of Year One.
