A/N: I removed the previous chapters because nothing interesting happened in them and they were horrible. I really didn't like them.
Author's note: So, I request you all to please ignore the typo's, especially capitalization mistakes. On my part, I promise to keep them to minimum. Also, I promise to work on my grammar. In any case, I apologize in advance. Keep reading and Thanks for the reviews.
To the reviewers:
QuidditchQueen :I am sorry about the grammar. i can only promise to try my best to keep them less.
Cookies:Will keep in mind about the beta reader part and your other suggestions. Thank you.
boyfriendofemma :Interesting things are to happen soon. I promise. Just keep reading.
Ownership: All Hail Queen Rowling.
1. A New Student
"A friend may be waiting behind a stranger's face."-Maya Angelou
"Oi Potter, Any new pranks up your sleeve."
"Hey Black, your girlfriend's looking for you and she is angry."
"Shit."
"Anyone has seen Remus Lupin?"
James and Sirius were standing on the edge of the door of their compartment of Hogwarts express, the big red and black train that transported hundred of witches and wizards across England to their beloved school 'Hogwarts'. The above mentioned James and Sirius had already changed into their school robes and were waiting for their other friends to join them on the platform nine and a three quarters.
James Potter had beautiful hazel eyes that remain hidden behind his thin rimmed spectacles. He was lean and tall for his age but not gigantic. Thin with a mop of messy hair, he was the school's Quidditch star, part of the Marauder gang and 'Prongs' to his closest friends. One of them was Sirius Black, currently standing beside him.
Sirius Black looked, behaved, pretended and encouraged the belief that he was born straight out of a trashy whirlwind romance. He had stormy grey eyes and long shaggy hair that several girls fantasized about and several got the opportunity to see it through. For as kind and loyal friend he was, he was an equally flighty lover. He was the definition of bad boy, right down to the troubled childhood. His beliefs, he discovered as he grew up, were extremely different from his parents. And let's face it, while most teenage children don't agree with their parents, it never leads to family feuds and blasting children off the family tree or running away. But to quote Sirius, his family was mental and twisted and he was currently residing at the Potters. But back to the platform nine and three-quarters.
Occasionally people stopped to talk to them or clap them on the back. The air was festive in general, because for a Hogwarts student, to get back to school is a matter of celebration. Everyone was excited to meet their friends and exchange the holiday stories. Everywhere was chaos, people looking for their friends. The first years stood at the edge timidly looking down, hoping to be ignored. Yet their curiosity made them look up and look around.
One elder student, Severus Snape, was doing the same. He stood in the shadows, hoping not to be noticed while he looked for someone. He was hidden well in the smoke emerging from the engine. Hidden in the smoke was another student, Remus Lupin, who looked sick, which he probably was.
"Hey, look James, there is Moony." said Sirius pointing towards his friend. As James eyes searched for Lupin, they fell on Snape standing in the corner.
"What is he doing here?" he muttered suspiciously.
"Believe it or not, he goes to school here." said Sirius who had followed James' line of vision.
"I'm going to welcome him. Coming?" asked James, mischief glinting in his eyes.
Sirius grinned and followed his friend. Severus Snape was among the few people at Hogwarts who disliked the marauder's as they called themselves with a passion. He was a tall boy with sallow skin and somehow he always gave the aura of a hunchback, despite his very straight posture. He was black eyed with equally dark hair, hair so greasy and slimy, it became the object of merciless teasing. The marauder's, especially James and Severus, or Snivellus, as James preferred went a long way back, right up to their first meeting on September 1st, years ago at the Hogwarts express. Severus and James never got along and as James gained more respect among his peers, their animosity increased. It was evident as James and Sirius snooped around till they were hiding behind the pillar, right behind Snape. As they were debating on the best way to scare him, they heard a voice whispering -
"Are you sure no one can hear us?"
Both James and Sirius recognized it as the voice of Rodolphus Lestrange, a seventh year slytherin. They inched closer trying to listen carefully.
"If you speak at this volume, even I won't be able to hear you." Snape was saying.
Rodolphus grunted before continuing a little loudly -
"Listen Snape, I want the work done and I want to know that I can trust you. This is serious stuff."
"I know the plan Lestrange and I am prepared. Now, just tell me when and whom."
"Before the week comes to end."
"Whom?" asked Snape again.
"Any mudblood of your choice, take your pick" he said before winking at him and walking away.
Behind the pillar, Sirius and James stood waiting unsure of what to do. They didn't want to leave now and risk getting caught by Snape. On the other hand, Snape didn't look like he was going to be moving anytime soon.
"We are going to miss the train" whispered Sirius looked worried and considering making a run for it when Snape looked up and spotted something and walked away.
"Phew! Thank goodness he left." said Sirius as they dashed back to their compartment, at the end of the train, and climbed on just as the train started. James leaned out of the door and looked in the direction that Snape had been looking at, while Sirius went inside the compartment and greeted Remus and Peter.
"Moony! Wormtail! I have missed you both so much." he exclaimed dramatically as Peter grinned at him while Remus rolled his eye, the corners of his mouth twitching.
"Remus, how are you? Still feeling sick." asked Peter worriedly.
"I'm alright. Nothing the school feast can't fix." he smiled before asking Sirius, "Where's James?"
"He was right behind me. Hang on, I'll get him." he said getting up and going out of the compartment.
As the train was moving slowly, James heard a voice behind him.
"Shit. Fuck. Damn it."
He turned to see a girl running with a large trunk, trying to catch up with the train. Instinctively, he offered his hand to girl.
"Can you catch the trunk?" she yelled at him. As soon as he nodded, she threw it at him with unexpected force. Being the best chaser of his year, James managed to catch it before the trunk broke his face.
Sirius came out of the compartment to find James struggling with a huge trunk. He hurried forward and took the trunk from his arms, keeping explanations for later. Sirius struggled and pushed the trunk into their compartment, while James held his hand out once again, which the girl took. In one leap, using the door handle for momentum she tumbled inside the compartment and fell on the top of James. She stood up shakily and clutched her stomach, gasping for breath. James watched her as Sirius re-entered the corridor.
"Thanks." she gasped finally. Holding out her hand, she said, "I'm -"
"Alissa." interjected Sirius.
"How do you know?" she asked suspiciously, narrowing her eyes at him.
"I just know stuff." replied Sirius airily while Alissa continued to glare at him.
"How do you know, Sirius?" James asked curiously.
Sirius sighed loudly before breaking into a grin and saying, "It was on her trunk." Alissa stared at him and then started looking around for her trunk.
"Where is my trunk?" she asked her hand inside her pocket.
"Somewhere." replied Sirius cheekily.
Things happened very suddenly. Alissa had backed away from James and Sirius and pulled out her wand. She was glared at the pair of them before speaking in a trembling voice, "Where is my trunk?"
"Whoa!" said James backing away from her and pulling out his own wand.
"Hey, no need for wands." said Sirius. "It is in our compartment." he said.
"Why? Were you stealing?" she asked furiously.
Sirius stared incredulously at her before replying angrily, "No! Everywhere else is full. You would have to sit with us anyways. God, lady, we were just trying to help you. May be you should try saying thanks instead of accusing us."
And with that he turned and stormed away into the marauder's compartment.
Alissa sighed loudly and sat on the floor, her face in her hands.
"Alissa, I'm James." said James firmly, unsure of how to deal with her.
She looked up gratefully.
"Thank you. And I'm sorry." James nodded and went into his compartment to greet Remus and Peter.
A few minutes later, Alissa entered the compartment. She stood at the door uncertainly before saying in a subdued manner, "I needed my trunk."
Sirius and James nodded and Remus smiled at her. James and Sirius had previously filled them up on the incident. Once inside, she sat down opposite James and Sirius.
"I'm sorry." she said. When they didn't respond, Remus said kindly, his eyes twinkling.
"That is an odd name." Alissa looked at him confused but Peter explained grinning, "Sorry is an odd name. Why would your parents name you sorry?"
Then, she broke into a grin and gave a short barking laugh before turning serious once again.
"I'm Alissa." she said to Remus and Peter.
"And I am sorry I jumped at your throats before. I am from Durmstrang." She continued."On my first day there, my trunk was stolen and I was hexed, because the upperclassmen felt like it." She said looking disgusted. The marauders exchanged glances and shifted uncomfortably in their seats, but she didn't notice.
"It is my first year here at Hogwarts. It's no excuse but I couldn't help it. I am sorry." she finished.
"It's okay", said James. "This is Sirius, Remus, Peter and of course, you know me, I'm James."
"Hang on, why does she know you?" asked Sirius childishly. "You are not all that famous mate."
"Oh, you don't know it Sirius, but I am." said James puffing out his chest.
Alissa laughed at the before settling down.
"So, you're Sirius."
"Oh no, don't get started on my name." he whined and she giggled.
"You will be dead soon if you don't meet Emily." Remus reminded him.
"Uff, girlfriends are complicated." he complained.
"You have been together for barely two months" Remus chided but Sirius waved him away. "No offence" he added to Alissa.
"None taken." she grinned at him. "I agree with you, they are tough."
"You look like you have experience." said Sirius cheekily but Alissa didn't get mad.
"May be" was all she said.
Sirius stared at her before walking out of the compartment to meet Emily. Alissa dived into her trunk and fished out a book and started reading. James and Peter played exploding snap while Remus went for his prefect meeting.
"Shit" Lily exclaimed suddenly. She was so busy chatting with her friends, she had lost complete track of time. "Shit!" she exclaimed again while her friends looked at her confusedly. "I'm late." She said before getting up and running outside. She ran frantically through the corridors, glancing at her watch and pushing people out of the way. As she was one coach away from the prefect's compartment at the front of the train, she bumped into someone, who fell on the floor.
"Whoa! Lily, where's the fire." asked Remus Lupin as he stood up from the floor, rubbing himself. Remus Lupin, yet another member of the infamous marauder's was an exception in many ways. For starters, he was made a prefect, something no one expected from a marauder. He was among those who were at the top of the class and worked hard instead of charming his way through, again a trait not characteristic of the marauders. With his sandy blond hair and blue clear eyes, he was as kind and helpful as they get. He was also different from your average Hogwarts student in the sense that he turned into a monstrous beast every full moon. He was a werewolf and this side of his identity was a secret except for a select few. Among other things, he was a close friend of Lily Evans for a year of patrolling together can build bridges that would otherwise never have been considered.
"Oh! Remus, thank Merlin I am not late." She nearly cried in relief before getting up herself and the two of them walked towards the prefect's compartment. Two hours and one meeting later, she walked out with Remus when a voice stopped her.
"Hey lily, wait up." said Caradoc Dearborn from across the room. She gestured Remus to go on.
"Hey" he said making his way through and smiling at lily. "Thanks for waiting."
"Sure", she smiled. Although he was a year older, he was nice company during the tedious prefect meetings, especially the previous year, when the head girl was a slytherin.
"So, what did you want to talk about?" she asked the hufflepuff as they walked out of the compartment.
"Err… right. Say, will you go out with me?" he asked keeping his head down.
"Don't your shoes always go out with you?" replied Lily, smirking. Caradoc looked up and grinned at her.
"I meant will you, Lily Evans, give me the honor of being your boyfriend and taking you out on a date." He asked, much more confidently. Lily gulped at the situation. She hated rejecting people.
"How about we try with date?" she finally said, her eyes twinkling."Let us see how that work outs. Then we can decide if we want to be together."
"Oh okay, I guess we could to that." said Caradoc, slightly downcast.
Lily smiled and waved and decided to leave before she got herself in a stickier situation. And besides, she wasn't the biggest fan of awkwardness. There is masochism and plain old suicidal.
Lily Evans happened to be a very beautiful girl. She was happy with herself and her looks, and as a teenage girl, to achieve this is quite an achievement. She was not your picture perfect pretty face, but she was a firm girl with a genuine character. She had a kind heart and thus plenty of friends. She was sensible but indulged in girlish freak outs too. She had red hair that shined rather well in the sun that curled towards the tips. She was smart but not one of those teacher's pets. She had a rather pretty smile but if this description makes her seem perfect, then it couldn't be more wrong. She was not perfect. Birds didn't fly in slow motion. There were no violins in the background as she passed. Boys didn't turn their heads to stare at her (though quite a few did) and people didn't double back in the corridors to look at her. She didn't have a band of giggling girls surrounding her she went. No, she was not perfect, she was real. She was rude and sarcastic, she threw temper tantrums. She was confused more often than not. She put on makeup and she couldn't always control her tears. She was not always forgiving, she did have enemies. She did crib about homework and so on. No, she was not perfect, but she was beautiful, because beauty is not perfect, beauty is real.
"I may have a boyfriend." She announced as she entered back to her compartment.
"May? Either you have one or you don't, there is no 'may'." said Saffi looking up from her book. Saffi Lovato, a sixth year gryffindor was one of lily's closest friends. They shared a bond that not many people could comprehend. Saffi was dusky with brown eyes and black hair. She was a pureblood with a history of ancestors about which she could go on for days.
"Why are you reading the transfiguration text-book? You hate that subject." said lily, momentarily distracted.
"Because"
"Because what?"
"These two are gossiping." She said in a huff, pointing at their other two friends Mary Macdonald and Melina Braithwhite.
Mary was a muggleborn like Lily. She was pretty with curly blonde hair and blue eyes, a prefect combination. She managed to fare well in her exams and definitely received approval from the opposite sex. And if there were a Hogwarts gossip community, she would head it. Not simply because she knew things but also because she didn't judge. The major contributing factor behind her gossiping was simple curiosity. It was however something that Saffi, who didn't like the very concept of talking about other people, didn't understand. The last person in that compartment was Melina. Like Mary, she had blue eyes however her hair was a mud shade of brown. She was a people's person and easy to love girl with charming smile. She was easy to trust and it had been deemed impossible for her to make anyone uncomfortable.
Lily smiled and shook her head knowingly at Saffi's indignant manner.
"Why transfiguration, you like charms better, don't you?" she said.
Saffi gave her a look that said 'can you get any more stupid.'
"I need to work on it."
"Okay."
"So, Lily, Explain the whole 'may have a boyfriend' part." said Mary excitedly, interrupting Lily and Saffi.
And Lily proceeded to tell her conversation with Caradoc.
In the mean time, Hogwarts express had sped up and they were soon arriving at Hogsmeade station.
"Firs' years, over here, ove' here. ", came a familiar booming noise as Alissa stepped out of the train.
"Hey, Alissa, you should go talk to Hagrid, that's him. Since it is your first year at Hogwarts." Said Peter before scuttling away to join the others.
Alissa nodded and called out a thank you towards Peter before rushing off towards Hagrid.
In the process she missed out on the first Lily-James fight of that year. Lily was about to climb into a carriage with her friends when James, who had been walking backwards, waving his hands dramatically towards his friends as he described a fall he had taken in his short quidditch career, had bumped into her, pushing her on the ground.
"Oh! Merlin! Ow! Potter, why can't you walk with your eyes open?" she grumbled.
"I had my eyes open actually" he turned and smiled happily. As he offered her his hand, she ignored it and got up herself when she stumbled, lost her balance and fell.
"Bloody Merlin!" she exclaimed while James chided her.
"I did offer you my hand you know, it wouldn't have killed you."
"For all I know, you may have concealed a dung bomb in it." She said, mad for having fallen thrice in the same day and making a fool of herself in front of James Bloody Potter.
As James rolled his eyes and tugged her to her feet, she lost her nerve.
"Oi! What are you doing potter?"
"Helping you get up, of course." He responded slightly annoyed
"I don't need your help. You just need a reason to touch me."
"Get your head out of your ass Evans, and do not accuse me of being a pervert." He yelled very angry himself. "You are pretty snobby yourself, rushing into conclusions. I was helping you. You know what Evans, screw yourself, for all I care." He spat, walking away.
Lily stared after him with her mouth open before climbing into a carriage, not wanting to deal with the crowd that had gathered there.
"Bloody Potter! What does he think he is, Merlin? "She grumbled to her friends who ignored her. Finally Saffi said, "Lily, as a friend, it is my duty to tell you, he was right this time. He was just helping you."
Lily stared at her, opening her mouth to argue when she shut it and looked out.
"I should apologize, shouldn't I?" she asked after a while. The others nodded and a rather subdued group arrived at Hogwarts.
Arriving at Hogwarts was another group of first years though they were hardly subdued. They stared with wide eyes and fascination as they looked at Hogwarts. You haven't seen true beauty till you have seen Hogwarts at night, through the eyes of curious first year. As they stepped on the front stairs of the building, the huge doors opened and a teacher, Professor McGonagall, ushered them inside.
The older students had naturally used the carriages and were already seated in the Great hall, eagerly waiting for the feast to begin. There was general buzz of chattering as people discussed various topics. Then everyone fell silent as Professor McGonagall entered with a three-legged stool, an old hat, a bunch of scared first years and one older student.
The Sorting Hat began his song, much to the shock of the first years and finished to a rather loud applause. And the sorting started. Once all of them were sorted, The only one standing beside Professor McGonagall was Alissa Shaw.
"Students, this year we have a transfer from the Durmstrang School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Shaw, Alissa please step forward." said professor McGonagall.
As she sat on the stool and placed the hat over her head, it mused for a moment before announcing loudly, "Gryffindor."
And the feast began. Plates of marvelous food arrived on the table as Alissa shakily headed towards the Gryffindor table.
"Hey, I'm Alissa." She smiled as she sat with a group of girls that seemed of her age.
"Hey Alissa, I'm Lily. And these are Saffi, Melina and Mary." A girl replied introducing everyone.
"You will probably share a dormitory with us." She continued when Saffi interrupted, "And Emily."
"Who is Emily?" asked Alissa confused.
"See, that girl at the end of the table, with chestnut-brown hair, that is Emily." said Melina.
"Yeah, she is the prettiest girl of the year and has more dates in a year than lily has had in the past 6 years." supplied Mary, giggling.
Saffi rolled her eyes while Alissa frowned.
"There is nothing wrong with having plenty of dates." She said.
"No there isn't but Emily is - well Emily" said Mary.
As Alissa continued to eat and question Mary and Melina, getting to know more about the people at Hogwarts, the main course was replaced by dessert and finally empty plates.
Dumbledore stood up and announced,"Time for bed, can't be late for your first day tomorrow. Pip pip." And there was general bustling around of students as Prefects tried to herd them to their respective dormitories. Lily stood up along with Remus asking the first years to follow them. As they crossed the entrance hall, she spotted Sirius, James and Peter loitering near the staircases, climbing lazily.
"Hey Remus, can you handle the first years?" she said and hurried towards them, not waiting for his answer.
"Hey Potter! Potter! James Potter, wait up." She yelled as James continued to climb not listening to her, much to the amusement of the people in the Entrance hall.
"Mate, Evans is calling." said Sirius.
"Oh stop teasing, Sirius."
"No, I'm serious."
James rolled his eyes and snorted while Sirius said, "Shit, you know what I mean."
And sure enough, he turned around to find Lily yelling at him to wait up.
"Good luck Buddy" grinned Sirius before dragging a curious and amused Peter away.
James stepped to a side and waited for her to catch up with him.
"Thanks for waiting up." Gasped lily, for she had run the entire flight of stairs. It was second time that day that a girl had thanked him gasping for breath.
"What do you want, Evans? Got some more names to call me?" He said coldly, ignoring the fact that his heart was beating right out of his chest at the mere thought of her starting a conversation with him.
"If you consider me saying that you're correct as calling names, then yeah."
"Huh!"
"I'm sorry about what happened earlier."
"You mean for calling me a –"
"Hey, I didn't call you anything. I just implied" she said, her voice barely audible at the last word.
"Implied!" he said incredulous.
Lily smiled and shrugged before saying, "I am sorry" with such sincerity that it was not possible to not forgive her.
"It's okay, Evans! I find it in my enormous heart to forgive you."
Lily snorted but held out her hand, "Friends?"
"We were never friends, Evans" said James not believing his eyes. Lily Evans wanted to be friends with him. His heart was doing a jig in his stomach.
"Oh! Truce then" she said, her hand still held out.
"Truce" he replied, mentally cursing himself for passing up the opportunity to be friends.
"See you around, Potter." She said turning away to climb up the stairs when he stopped her.
"Where are you going Evans?"
"The dormitory, of course."
"Come on this way then, there's a shortcut." He said and she followed reluctantly not wanting to break their truce. After a few minutes of uncomfortable silence, Lily couldn't take it anymore.
"So, how were your hols?"
"Bloody brilliant, yours?"
"Good enough."
More awkward silence issued.
"So, how were your OWLs? Aced them all?" began James this time.
"Pretty much, yeah. You?"
"I'm happy."
Then they gave up on small talk and walked uncomfortably. In fact they became so lost in their thoughts, for a moment they forgot the awkwardness of the situation. Anyone else passing through that corridor would have been in for a treat, finding James and lily walking together without bickering.
As they reached the portrait of the fat lady, Lily said the password, "Spanish Potato."
"How long do you think this truce is going to last?" asked James.
"As long as you let it."
"Me! I'm hardly ever the one to start a fight."
"No, you provoke me into starting one."
"Why, I hardly ever."
"Yes, you do. In fact you're doing at this very moment. You know what; I won't be the one to end this truce."
"We'll see Evans, We'll see."
She rolled her eyes and said, "Good night Potter." before climbing up the girls Staircase.
James watched her climb up before entering his own dormitory.
"I'm in love." He declared as he flopped down on his bed.
Sirius snorted while Remus rolled his eyes. Peter sat up straighter and waited for James to launch into his story, which he did.
A/N : So Alissa Shaw. I needed her to create a metaphorical bridge between Lily and the girls and The marauders. you'll see ahead. Was there any improvement in the grammar? because i proofread it several times.
Also, reviews are better than food.
Lots of love
Writer