Chapter 1: An interesting beginning
James
A young girl stood before the barrier. It seemed like she couldn't decide whether or not she wanted to cross onto the platform or remain in the muggle world. She watched as a boy of the same age with greasy, lank black hair beckoned for her to follow him before slipping through the wall. And still she stood there with her two parents by her side and a sour faced girl, presumably her sister, a few steps away. She glanced up at her parents to see them smiling down at her with pride and love in their eyes. Shakily she walked towards the wall but stopped short before it.
"You should try running at it instead if you are nervous."
The girl spun around at the sound of my voice, Bright red locks whipping around almost whacking the innocent muggle walking past her. Beautiful emerald eyes misted over with worry, fear and just the slightest glint of determination. She seemed to stare without actually seeing me
"Oh. I'm so sorry; if you are waiting you can just go ahead of me." Her meek voice hinting towards embarrassment.
"No, don't worry about me. I just want to make sure you go through. Hogwarts will be great, but you don't want to miss the train do you?"
At that her head swung back towards the wall. "No" her voice whispered sweetly, "I don't want to miss out on going to Hogwarts." As she spoke her voice got slightly bolder. She looked back at her parents with a bright smile on her face and then swiftly ran at the wall, disappearing through it.
"Thank you, young man," the man I guessed to be her father said, patting me firmly on the shoulder. He and two women then turned and began their journey back to their car.
I stood staring at the wall, thinking that that girl was the most beautiful girl in the world and wishing to be in the same house as her just so I could see her every day. With that thought I raced towards the wall and hurried to get my things stowed on the train. My parents had been called into work almost the second we made it to the train station so there was no need for any embarrassing goodbyes or hidden tears on my part. I would miss my parents but it was going to be okay because I was going to Hogwarts. I would learn magic and become an auror just like my dad.
In my thought induce haze walked straight into another student. The boy had thick black hair, expressive grey eyes and a smirk stretching his lips. "Sorry, mate." A voice seemingly too deep for a boy so young drawled.
"My fault, mate, wasn't paying attention." I stuck out my hand with enthusiasm. "The name's Potter, James Potter."
"Ahhh, a blood traitor my parents will be so proud that I am making such illustrious friends. I'm Sirius Black. Yes of those Black's unfortunately, but I swear I'm not like them. First year?" The boy, Sirius, seemed to be rambling.
"Yeah mate I'm a first year and don't worry i won't judge you too harshly for being a Black." We stood there grinning at each other in friendship before we finally shook hands with me declaring "Friends."
We walked the hallway together searching for an empty compartment. As I told Sirius about the beautiful redhead I had seen when coming through the barrier. Suddenly I caught a glimpse of her through the window to a compartment, and forced Sirius to stop. "That's her." I whispered, pointing.
"You're right Jamie-boy, she is fit" came Sirius's reply. Together we walked into the compartment. It was obvious she didn't remember me from the muggle platform, she and the greasy haired fellow with her both seemed to hate me by the time they left the compartment.
"Smooth, Potter" came Black's voice.
"Oh, shut it you." I answered hotly, before bursting out laughing. "I think she might hate me now, but just you wait and see one day she will be mine!" I roared triumphantly. Sirius just watched me shaking his head in silent laughter.
Lily
When the train eventually grinded to a halt I started jumping with excitement. Sev just sat there watching me with an amused expression. As he opened the door, he turned and said to me, for perhaps the billionth time, "You had better be in Slytherin with me." I just nodded mutely. There were things I had heard and read about Sytherin house that made me doubt that it would be the right fit for either me or Sev but he seem so excited about the idea that I couldn't bear to crush his hopes. We walked together towards the giant of a man booming "Firs' years this way! Hurry up". As we approached many other first years seemed to cower away from him, but I didn't find him to be all that scary he appeared to be just like a giant, cuddly teddy bear. I walked straight up to him and stuck up my hand on an angle and announced "My name is Lily Evans, it is a pleasure to meet you."
The giant of a man appeared to be startled before he grinned and enveloped my hand with his own in a brisk handshake that made me feel as if my hand was going to fall off. "I'm Rubeus Hagrid. But just call me Hagrid. It is a pleasure to meet you too Lily. I think you are going to be a Gryffindor."
Sev seemed upset by that idea but I just grinned and started walking towards the boats on the edge of the lake, beckoning for him to follow. Together we climbed into a boat and it began moving calmly towards the castle. I couldn't help but stare in astonishment. It was the most beautiful sight I had ever beheld.
When we arrived we were gathered by a severe looking woman who appeared to be in her early forties. She had greying brown hair pulled into a tight bun on top of her head and was dressed in black and green robes. She looked very dignified and when she thought no one was watching allowed a small smile to form before returning her expression to neutral. She explained that we were about to be sorted into our houses and that our houses would be like our family while we were here. However she also wanted us to be friends with everyone and to try and promote harmony throughout the school with inter-house friendships.
I felt relaxed at that thought, even if I did end up in a different house to Sev we could still be friends. It was an idea that made me happy because I still wasn't sure that I wanted to be in Slytherin.
One by one the names were called. I recognised Sirius Black from the train. His sorting caused uproar from the Slytherins but a great amount of cheering from Potter and the Gryffindor table. Soon my name was called. As I approached the hat I felt fear and apprehension but still I was determined to be sorted. I missed my own family so it would be good to have a family here, wouldn't it?
"Your mind is complex my dear." The Hat murmured. "You have great power, this is true and you have thought about Slytherin but your mind is also smart in telling you that it is not the house for you. Your intelligence and eagerness to learn makes me lean towards Ravenclaw but alas that house will not complete you. Hufflepuff could be good for of course you would work hard but I believe Gryffindor deserve one with such a brave and loyal heart as yours."
The hat's shout of "Gryffindor" brought loud cheers from my new house but an audible groan from Sev. I felt bad for leaving him but I was excited to join my house. The rest of the sorting went by in a flurry of cheering houses and lively chatter. James Potter, Remus Lupin, Peter Pettigrew, Alice Fortesque, Marlene McKinnon and Mary McDonald were all sorted into Gryffindor with Black and me. As I sat and chatted with the other girls trying my hardest to ignore Black and Potter, I glanced towards the Slytherin table and spotted a disappointed looking Sev. How I wish he had been sorted into Gryffindor with me! We smiled sadly at one another and then turned back to our respective groups.
The next four and a half years flew by with pranks and schemes from Potter, Black, Pettigrew and Lupin, who took to calling themselves the marauders. I swear they were just trying to bug me as much as humanly possible. Potter took to asking me out at least once a week from second year onwards. They performed rather harmless and amusing pranks on the population of Hogwarts, especially the Slytherins, I however refused to allow them to know that i found them both amusing and creative. They hexed Sev every opportunity they got which caused me great distress, but so did the fact that Sev and I had gradually been growing apart. It hurt to think that the boy that taught me about magic was changing, and not for the better.
