On the train
Lily's POV:
Mom pulls up the car in front of King's Cross. I'm bursting with excitement as my parents struggle with my trunk. I buzz around, eager to get going. Severus has told me all about platform 9 and 3/4. Even if I know what to expect, I'm still a bit nervous. We make our way through the busy crowd. I try to guess which ones are actually wizards disguised as Muggles. I spot a few vanishing through the wall packed with owl cages. I really regret not buying one, but Dad promised he'd get me one next year if I get good grades. That shouldn't be too hard. I've already whizzed through most of my school books.
We get to the wall separating platforms 9 and 10 and together with my parents, I rush through. Only after I stare in awe at the stream engine and the tens of wizards milling through, do I realize Tuney has been left behind. A pang of horrible guilt hits me hard, now knowing about her letter to the headmaster. I look around for Severus, but I can't see him through the throng of people struggling to get aboard the Hogwarts Express. Mom keeps kissing me and telling me how proud she is that she has such an amazing daughter, completely ignoring Tuney sulking in the background. I feel horrible for her. After managing to distangle myself from her grasp, I make my way through to my sister.
"Tuney!" She pretends she can't hear me and darts glares full of envy towards the other wizard children saying their goodbyes. I put a hand on her shoulder and force her to look at me. "Hey, Tuney, don't worry, I'll send lots of owls!" She humps as if she couldn't care less. "I'll speak to Professor Dumbledore. Surely there has been a mistake!" I mumble, knowing fully well the truth and hating myself for lying to her. But right now I'd say anything just to make her feel better.
She rewards me with another hump. "As if I'd ever want to go to that school of...freaks!" I take away my hand and stare at her, wondering who she has become. "That's what you all are, Lily! Freaks!"
Tears sting my eyes. I keep telling myself that she's just jealous, but it still hurts. This is my sister! The one I literally grew up with. How have we become so distant? Anger shoots suddenly through me. How dare she!
"You didn't think it was such a freak school when you wrote to Dumbledore, did you?" I snap, before thinking whether giving myself and Severus away would be wise. "His reply was very kind!"
I can't bear to look at her so I search for Severus instead. I catch his eye, then feeling guilty, turn back to my sister.
For a moment she is dumbfolded and at a loss for words. Then her nastiness comes back along with a red blush in her face. "You...you pried through my stuff...you and that Snape boy! That was private!"
I feel remorse all over again, and I start to explain myself, putting most of the blame on Severus , without even meaning to.
"Freak!" She starts shouting at me before I can even finish what I have to say.
"Muggle!" I snarl back, tears in my eyes, and turn away on my heels, not looking back.
Sirius's POV:
Hogwarts, here I come! No matter how worried I am about Slytherin, I can't help feeling the excitement when it comes to going to Hogwarts for the very first time. Mom has been making preparations all week, going on about how I'd better get on the Quiddich team. She's even bought me robes. Says she'll do whatever it takes to take down that stupid rule concerning the house teams and first years. I just roll my eyes behind her back. I've always been the odd one, the black sheep (pun intended) and this should be my opportunity to 'prove myself'. There's just this minor problem...my idea of proving myself is slightly different from theirs... I even dread getting into Slytherin. I mean, who'd want that...oh, yeah, my entire family...
As soon as I get aboard I search for an empty compartment, relieved that I managed to slide away from my parents.
Most of them are already full, except the last one in the far end of the train. A tall, lanky boy my age sits on the bench, deep into a Quiddich magazine, and ruffling his black, messy hair, making it even messier. That behavior strikes me as a bit odd, but there's no where else I can go.
"This seat taken?" I ask, then sit down anyway besides him.
The boy raises an eyebrow at me, a skeptical expression on his face.
"Why did you even ask?" he mutters, slightly amused.
I give him a lopsided grin. "Politeness. Also, wanted to make a good impression since everywhere else is full and I'm now stuck with you."
He roars out in laughter and I decide I like this guy. Has a good sense of humor. Need that in my life.
"James Potter," he says holding out his hand.
I shake it warmly. "Sirius Black. So...you into Quiddich..."
James's POV:
Sirius is the first first-year I've met and right now I'm rather glad that he's come to my compartment. Doesn't seem too bad.
We're making a list of ways to have fun without technically breaking the rules.
"See, you're not supposed to be out if bed after curfew. However, if you stay in your bed and levitate it around the castle..." he points out.
"I like how you think, dude!
Before he can reply, though, a redhead first-year storms in without even saying hello and seats herself at the far end of our compartment, staring through the window. She hastily wipes her eyes with her sleeve.
I look for a while at her, tuning out Sirius's blabbing about the technicalities of his idea. Something horrible must have happened. Why else would you be crying on your first day at Hogwarts?
"James, mate, you listening!" he suddenly snaps, bringing me back to Earth.
"Yeah, I'm just worried about that ginger. She seems too sad for Hogwarts…" I mumble, feeling really sorry for her. I know I should comfort her, but I'm not the right person to do so.
Sirius just shrugs, and continues poring over his list. I make up my mind. Getting closer to her, I cautiously put a hand on her shoulder and she quickly jerks it off, giving me a death stare.
"You ok?" I ask, going back a bit…she looks as if she might hit me any moment now. "You should be excited for Hogwarts, not moping around!" I feel Sirius tapping my shoulder nervously, but ignore him.
"What makes you think I'm moping around? How dare you!" she snaps nastily.
"Well you were crying when you came here…" again I feel Sirius poking me in the back and I shuffle away slowly from her. "Just wanted to help…if you need anything…"
She glares at me again, and then clears her throat. "I don't need absolutely anything from you, thank you very much!" she says pointedly, turning as far away from me as possible.
I look back at Sirius who shrugs, supremely unconcerned about what has just happened, pointing to the list which has lengthened considerably.
Snape's POV:
Finally, finally, I manage to get through the crowd surrounding the train and squeeze my way through, searching for Lily. Why she was so upset about the stupid little Muggle sister of hers I can't understand. What matters is that I must find her. I accidentally bump into someone.
"Oh, sorry!" I mumble and try to get out of the way.
"No prob!" a masculine voice replies cheerfully. I look up and facing me is a blond, skinny, pale boy, grinning down at me. "Shouldn't you have a seat by now?" he asks friendly. I mutter something about needing to find someone. I make to go forward but the boy stops me, grinning rather forced.
"Lucius Malfoy, Slytherin prefect! Should have guessed you were a first year by your disoriented expression."
My attention flits to him in the second it takes him to say Slytherin. What luck to bump into the freaking prefect! He judges by my surprised face that he's hit the jackpot with that introduction.
"Wanna join the club, eh?" He asks amused. "Well, we'll talk after the Sorting..." he give me sympathethetic pat on the back and gets into the nearest compartment which seems full. I can't deny that I'm a bit disappointed. Expected something more. To get into the inner circle. But in the end, who actually cares? I'll get sorted in there and the prefect would remember me!
I wonder what I'm doing standing in the middle of the corridor letting people bump into me. Then it hits me...Lily! Damn, how have I forgotten about my only friend here!
I eventually see her huddled up besides the window in a compartment with two dark-haired boys poring over a list and laughing together. Seems like a bunch of idiots to me. One of them keeps his hand through his messy hair to make it even messier. Logic, dude!
However, I ignore them both completely and walk towards Lily, seating myself opposite of her. She stifles a small sob upon seeing me. I ask her in looks what the matter is although I already know. I feel bad for her and even worse for not getting why she cares so much. Petunia is, after all, an insignificant and jealous Muggle.
"Tuney hates me!" She mumbles, avoiding looking me in the eye. "Because we searched through her letters..." she continues in an accusatory tone.
I try really hard not to roll my eyes. Lily means to much to me and I hate it when she's mad.
"Why does is matter so much?" I try not to seem exasperated.
"Because she's my sister!" She snaps, anger shooting through her eyes.
"She's just a Mugg-" I begin, without meaning to and stop suddenly afraid of her reaction. But she has been busy with drying her eyes. I let out a sign and search in my mind something to get us away from the subject of her idiotic sister.
"But, hey, we're going to Hogwarts!" I say more cheerfully. She nods, a small smile forming on her face. Relief takes over me, and I am elated that I've managed to get through to her. Also..., finally going to Hogwarts...confident I'll be in Slytherin. That rings a bell in my mind.
"You'd better be in Slytherin. "I tell her grinning widely.
"Slytherin!" I hear a new voice and turn to see the boy with the messy hair speak out. "Why would you want to be in Slytherin? I'd leave, wouldn't you?" He turns to his friend who has suddenly put on a grim and moody face.
"My whole family has been in Slytherin...The whole lot of them..."
His voice is bitter and a surge of anger pulses through me. How dare these uncultural swines talk like this about the house of Salazar Slytherin! And that ungrateful little bastard! If. only I'd had such a respectable family. I open my mouth to spit out some replies. Then the other one continues, not even acknowledging me.
"Geez, I thought you were all right..."
I silently reach for my wand. Gonna teach these idiots a lesson...
"Where you're going if you were to choose?" The other boy continues, a smile flitting across his face at his friend's words. Still not noticing my presence. I mentaly brouse through all the curses I've learn last summer, considering which would be the best and the one I can't possibly screw up.
The messy-haired boy raised his hand and take a ridiculous pose.
"Gryffindor! Where the brave at heat dwell! Like my dad!"
At that point, I forget all about hexing then and burst out in snorts of laughter. He shoots me a poisonous look.
"Got a problem, buddy?" He snaps.
I really don't get what he's defending.
"Well if you'd rather be brawny than brainy!" I snag a reply, but he's quick to shoot back.
"Where you're hoping to go, seeing you're neither?"
The other boy lets out a bark-like laugh that reminds me of the poodle next door. I grab my wand again, fury and hatred taking control. Before I get the chance to do anything, Lily stands up giving both the boys a glare that tells me they had a talk before I showed up and that it hadn't gone too well. With her eyes still on them she says in a clear voice.
"Let's find another compartment, Severus!" She doesn't wait for my reply, but stalks off towards the door and I find myself following her.
As the door closes I hear the one with the poodle-laughed one shout out.
"Yeah, see ya, Snivellius"
It takes everything in me not to turn around and punch him. But I will get them, both of them!
Remus's POV:
The door slams open and everyone turns around. In the doorway there stands a red-headed girl fuming. Even the Slytherins stop talking as they look quizzing at her. She steals a glance behind her and pulls someone forward. Malfoy shows a sign of recognition upon noticing the lanky greasy-haired kid that is staring at the floor.
"Hey, kid! What you doing here?" If I hadn't known better, Malfoy actually seems friendly.
The girl doesn't let him reply.
"Does anyone here want to trade places in a compartment with-" she begins sure on herself, getting amused looks from everyone.
I can't believe it! This is my chance to escape from selfish arrogant fifth-year Slytherins! The trip to Hogwarts has started off horribly. Stuck here and listening to Malfoy blabbing about Muggle-borns and half-breeds has really got my excitement down. Good thing there's this nice kid, Peter with whom I've stricken up a conversation. But I'm not going to miss the chance the redhead is giving me.
"Oh, yeah, what do we get in return?" Malfoy says nastily.
"I'll go!" I jump up and get confused stares. "With Peter!" I add gesturing to the tiny, whiskered boy beside me who seems to want to shrink in his chair and disappear.
"What's the matter, kid?" Malfoy snaps at me, his expression harsh. "Don't like our company?" His friends throw me equally nasty looks.
"As a matter of fact, no, I don't! I find the courage to say and push past the others, Peter on my heels.
"Wow, Remus, that was cool what you did there!" He blabs excitedly.
I ignore him, thinking about how Malfoy and the others are surely going to get me for this. I find the emptiest compartment the girl was talking about. Two first-year boys are laughing their asses off when we come in. They look up at us.
"Well, well," the first one with the glasses and black messy hair says. "Did that bossy little redhead bribe you to take her place?"
"We didn't need bribing," I reply coolly, "Any company is better than the Slytherins…"
The two boys share a look and burst out laughing again. I raise an eyebrow. They calm down eventually and start talking about a guy called Snivellius they met earlier and how they fought about school houses.
I grin at their story and think how lucky I am that Dumbledore allowed me to go to Hogwarts. I can actually make friends…