Past, Present and Future

CHAPTER ONE - New Acquaintances and Old Friends

"Oh, I get by with a little help from my friends

Mm, I get high with a little help from my friends

Mm, gonna try with a little help from my friends" ~ The Beatles ~

Lily's eyes drooped down, her head on the hard wooden table as her stomach grumbled.

"Ingleburn, Felice!" cried McGonagall, making Lily's eyes snap open and sit up with a start. It was the sixth time she had attended one of these ceremonies, a sorting ceremony of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, and Lily was quite bored with them. She knew she was supposed to be paying attention, because as a Prefect, she was supposed to guide and help her 1st year Gryffindors with their introduction to Hogwarts. But really, who could be bothered?

She sighed and rested her head down once more on he forearms, glancing down along the Gryffindor table. As she did so, she saw a strange sight. James Potter was.what the? His fists where clenched so tightly his knuckles were white, his eyes were closed and he was holding his breath.

Now there's something you don't see everyday, thought Lily, shrugging it off lightly. She was too hungry and tired to dote on this matter much anyway.

"Jensen, Fiona!" cried McGonagall. A little blonde haired girl stepped forward, putting the tattered, worn old hat onto her head. It was, like for most of the first years', too big for her and fell over her eyes.

"Gryffindor!" cried the Sorting Hat. The little girl ran over and joined the Gryffindor table. Lily's eyes once again drooped. They slid gently down, until finally they closed firmly shit.

After about 10 minutes, someone broke this pleasant snooze. "Lil? Lil, you awake?" whispered a boy in her ear.

"Mmm," said Lil groggily, shrugging him away.

"Lily, the sorting is over. Its time to eat," said the boy again.

The thought, the smell, the taste, heck everything about food made her desire for eating more urgent than her desire for sleep and so in an instant the once groggy Lily began stuffing her face with everything from mash potatoes to cream tarts.

"What's the rush, Lil?" asked that boy again.

Lily turned to look at her friend. Not just a friend, but one of her best friends, Mundungus Fletcher. Medium height, sandy brown hair, blue eyes, he was indeed the sweetest boy Lily had ever met. He was Lily's only other muggle-born friend and so the two of them shared many a joke that others just didn't understand. Gus was, she always thought, the easiest person to talk to in the world, because he understood Lily so well.

"Can' a pe'son be hungwy dese days?" Lily said, or tried to say between mouthfuls. Gus smirked and rolled his eyes, turning his attention back to his food.

When Lily had finished her food, she sat back with a full stomach, happy and content. That is until someone came up behind her.

"Why so happy Evans? Did you just get some?" said an all too familiar voice behind her. She turned around to see the tall, handsome boy behind her. Actually, he should probably be classified as a male adolescent.he certainly thought like one.

Lily rolled her eyes at him.

"No?" he said, eyes still sparkling. "Didn't get lucky? Well that can be easily fixed. I know of a certain empty broom closet just over -"

"Did you want something Potter?" Lily cut in. James wiggled his eyebrows, smirking.

"Other than that," said Lily hastily, narrowing her eyes.

"We've got to usher the first years' Evans. Remember?"

"I remembered Potter," said Lily, knowing that she had completely forgotten. Well she couldn't very well let James Potter have that satisfaction. "I'm actually organised, unlike you. I highly doubt you even know the meaning of the word."

"Don't forget Evans, that my year average beat yours last year." How could I forget, thought Lily bitterly.

"Where's Bella and Remus?" asked Lily, pretending to ignore him.

"Over there, gathering them together." Lily and James went over to them, to help.

"We're going to be helping you guys get through your first year smoothly," said Bella. She was obviously giving them some kind of pep talk. Lily joined in.

"We'll be like your older siblings. Whenever you have any problems at all, it doesn't matter what it's about; we're always here to help. We'll be having sessions to show you around the castle, and so you guys can get to know each other and us aswell."

"Perhaps it would be a good idea if we introduced ourselves Evans, before we reveal our deep dark secrets to them?" said James.

"Oh," Lily said, looking a little deflated. "Right. I'm Lily. Lily Evans."

"James Potter at your service," said James, bowing low with a charming smile. When he was upright again, he winked at one of the girls, who giggled and blushed.

"I'm Bella," said Bella smiling warmly.

"And I'm Remus Lupin."

"Anyway, we'll talk more later. Right now I think you guys need some sleep," said Bella, taking charge. "This is the way to Gryffindor Tower, which is where your dormitories are."

Finally the four Prefects' got the excited and rowdy first years' to bed and were able to go to bed themselves.

"Bloody hell they're noisy," said Bella, yawning. Arabella Figg was another one of Lily's best friends. Brown curly locks of hair, warm, friendly and shining chocolate eyes made Bella loving and joyful, along with her adorable chubby cheeks and extreme shortness.

Lily looked at her and shrugged. "What can you expect?"

Bella had been her first friend at Hogwarts. She remembered the shy, 11 year old Bella she had met on Platform 9 ¾. In some ways she hadn't changed one bit (eg. height), but in others you could hardly tell they were the same person. Lily knew they would be the best of friends ever since they met.

They reached the 6th year girls' dorm and found the rest of them were still getting ready for bed.

"Oh no, I think I forgot my toothbrush!" cried someone who's head was down, burrowing through her trunk.

"Do you like my new PJ's?" asked one girl to another, on the other side of the room.

"No! Wait! Here it is!" cried the first one, pulling her head, aswell as her toothbrush out from her trunk. What they saw was something that would have surprised you or me, but they were quite used to it. The girl with the toothbrush had flashing blue and red hair, with green streaks running through it. Her eyes were a purple-y violet colour and she was wearing large palm-tree earings.

"How many things did you forget this year Gyps?" asked Lily.

"Only 10 so far!" cried the girl in indignation.

"Gypsy, Gypsy, Gypsy. When will you ever learn?" asked Bella sighing in mock disappointment, trying unsuccessfully to hide her amusement.

Gypsy Fawcett, the fourth member of their 'gang'. Gypsy was the weird, wild and wacky one in the group. Actually, that was a huge understatement. Gypsy refused "to conform with the rest of society" as she so blatantly put it, and made the decision to be an individual. Her 'individuality' began when she was about 10 years old, even before Hogwarts. She chose to do, wear and think whatever she felt like, not because it was "in fashion" or "trendy". Her hair was a new colour every other day, and for that reason nobody but her family knew her original hair colour. It was something that she had never told anyone up till that day. Gypsy stuck out her tongue playfully. "Just 'cause I have a bad memory."

Bella laughed, and jumped onto one of the beds. She looked around the dormitory. "It's nice to be back, isn't it?"

Lily looked at Bella, and then Gypsy. "Yeah. Yeah it is."

Lily's relationship with Gypsy was deeper than it seemed. Although both of them seemed so different, they were actually similar in many ways. In first year, because Gypsy was so different, no one talked to her for almost a week, more because they were scared of her than anything else. But Lily decided that she should be given a chance and that just because she looked different and acted different didn't mean they should treat her like an outcast. So Lily was the first person in the whole year to talk to Gypsy and they had been friends ever since. Now everyone had gotten so used to Gypsy that waking up in the middle of the night and seeing flashing lights coming from her bed was perfectly normal.

The girls in the dorm talked about their holidays and what they did a bit, but all of them were very tired and soon the lights were out, and the girls were all fast asleep.





* * * * * * * * * Next Morning * * * * * * * * * *





"Lily!" cried a voice behind her. "Oi Lily! Wait up." It was a rather high pitched voice, and could definitely have been mistaken for a girl's if Lily didn't notice its distinct familiarity. She turned around, a smile creeping up on her lips.

A short and flushed boy was jogging towards her, his blonde hair flopping about on his head.

"Hey Frankie," she said, now grinning.

It was Frank Longbottom, the fifth and final member of their quintet. He was the clown of the group, one who could always make people laugh. Actually, he hardly told jokes, most people found him funny because of antics rather than his words.

"Your breakfast awaits, your majesty," said Lily curtsying in a maid-like fashion.

"Wait," he panted, holding his knees. "Let me catch my breath."

Lily laughed and waited until Frank stood up straight once again.

"Let us depart and hence go forth to our meal on this fine and beaut morn, milady," said Frank bowing and holding out his hand to Lily.

"Why thankyou, kind sir," she said, curtsying once again, while placing her hand in his. And the both of them went down to breakfast talking in Old English dialect and having great fun.





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"I can't believe we get out of class to do this," said Remus.

"Yea. This is mad shit eh?" said James.

"Potter, when the first years' come, drop the swearing. It's bad enough that they have to be under the influence of your disgusting behaviour.they don't need to start swearing just yet," retorted Lily.

James was about to say something, no doubt something rather obscene when a few first years came padding down the stairs into the Gryffindor common room.

"Hi!" squeaked one of them.

'Hello," said another.

"Hi guys," said Bella. "Come sit down. We're just waiting for everyone else."

In about five minutes all the first years had arrived in the common room and the 6th year prefects and first years' were sitting in a circle.

"We'll start by getting to know everyone because a lot of you don't know anyone here. As I said before, I'm Lily Evans. I have great parents and an extremely annoying sister, and they are all Muggles, which means that they're non-magical. I love Hogwarts and everything about it."

It was Bella next. "I'm Arabella Figg, but everyone calls me Bella. My parents are also magical and I have no siblings. Someday I want to have 3 children because I love little children to bits. I also like to sing a lot, though I'm not very good at it." Lily scoffed at this.

"My name is Remus Lupin and I love it here. Hogwarts is great and the best thing about it is the great friends and people here. Everyone's so friendly, except for the Slytherins. You'll have to watch out for them. I have the best friends a person could ever wish for and I have Hogwarts to thank for it." Then he turned and looked at James, as if to say it was his turn now.

"James Potter is my name and chicks are my game." Some of the first year's giggled and Lily shot him a cold icy glare. James rolled his eyes and continued. "Joking, joking. Well, I am very, shall we say, popular with the ladies and also happen to be extremely intelligent, not to mention my magnificent ability in Quidditch."

"What's Quidditch?" asked a first year, obviously a muggle.

James' eyes lit up as he grinned. "What's Quidditch?! What's Quidditch?!" he cried. Soon he had begun his polished, point-by-point explanation of 'the best game there was, is or ever will be in the entire universe' as he so delicately put it.that is until Lily interrupted. "Ahem! Potter, I don't think this is the time to become a walking, talking Quidditch book, do you? Stop being so self absorbed and let the first year's get to know each other."

"Can I help it if I'm an interesting person," mumbled James in reply, but let the introductions continue.

"I'm Riana Vickers and my parents are m- . mu . mu ."

"Muggles?" said Bella.

"Yeah that's it. So I'm a.a - muggle born?" she looked at Bella for approval, and Bella smiled and nodded.

"I have an older sister and we're really close. Her name is Georgie and she's my best friend." Riana smiled hopefully.

"Um.hello. I'm um, Ray Giacoumakis and I'm originally from Greece. My parents moved here when I was 2 so um I was pretty much brought up here. I have an older brother who has finished school and works in Gringotts, America."

"Hey everybody. I'm Joe Winters. My parents are magical and I'm ecstatic that I got into Gryffindor. I love playing Wizard Chess 'cause I'm ace at it and I bet that I'll beat all of you here."

Lily and Bella looked at each other in a woah-he's-confident kind of way.

"Um.hi," whispered the next little girl.

"Speak up, we can't hear you." Remus said soothingly.

"Hi," she said in a braver tone. "My name is Saminda and I have m- muggle parents. I think it's really cool how um, there is actually such things as um witches and wizards. And I have a magic wand and all. It's super." Remus chuckled slightly.

It was a blonde girl next. She sat there twiddling her thumbs nervously. "Hello. My name is Fiona Jensen and I live with my magic parents in Ponip. I love them, they're really great. Um.I have no siblings-"

"Loo," said a pale-faced James. He got up quickly and ran out through the portrait hole in a dizzy manner. Everyone stared after him, Remus knowingly and worried, Bella and Lily confused and the first years oblivious.

"Was it something I said?" Fiona asked Lily quietly.

Lily looked back at the concerned girl's face, and let out a small smile. "No, I don't think so. Just keep going."

"OK. Um, I have no siblings and I really like to sketch things and my favourite Quidditch team is the Wimbourne Wasps."

"I'm Rahul, Rahul Rao. My ancestry is from India and my parents are non- magical. My favourite sport is cricket."

"Kicket? What's that?" asked Joe Winters.

"It's a muggle sport. I'm sure Rahul will have time to explain it to you later.Joe," said Lily, being the only muggle Prefect there.

Next was another girl, but she was so tall she hardly looked like a first year at all. She was almost as tall as Lily, and much taller than Bella. "I'm Sue and I'm so happy I got into Hogwarts. My parents were so afraid that I was going to be a squib. I think that the two best houses here are Ravenclaw and Gryffindor. I have a pet owl and her name is Helena."

"I'm Nathaniel Page. People call me Nathe or Nathan. I have an older brother who goes here and he's a third year. My favourite animal in the world is a Lion and someday I want pet Lion."

"I'm Dean. My parents are not magic. I'm an only child and I really dislike that lady.um.Professor McGonagall." Lily, Bella and Remus burst out laughing, but the first years' didn't understand what was so funny. They obviously didn't know Professor McGonagall.

While the laughing continued, James walked back in, looking a little better, but now confused at seeing the first years' all perfectly normal while the Prefects rolling around the floor laughing.

"Um.did I miss something?"



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A/N: Well I hope you liked that chapter. I hope it was a little less confusing for you especially since I edited it once more. All I can say is REVIEW! REVIEW! REVIEW! REVIEW! REVIEW! REVIEW! REVIEW! REVIEW! REVIEW! REVIEW! REVIEW! REVIEW! REVIEW! REVIEW! REVIEW! REVIEW! REVIEW! REVIEW! REVIEW! REVIEW!!!!!!!!!!!

Thanx guys to all my reviewers!

Lotsa Luv,

~someone~