Disclaimer: Not mine.
Summary: The Marauders andLily Evans are starting their first year of Hogwarts. However, secret meetings between the DADA teacher and and someone else leave them wondering what's going on.
I've read HBP, so there may be some spoilers.
Note: Sirius is not evil. This is just my interpretation of him – brought up to be a Slytherin, it will take living in Gryffindor to change his views. Don't agree, then fair enough – but don't flame me telling me I'm wrong unless you can justify it with hard evidence.
Chapter 1
Lily Evans walked through the compartment door and asked, "Hi, do you mind if I sit here, please? Just, there's no where else."
A girl with long dark hair and lots of freckles looked up, and said. "Yeah, of course. I'm Kathryn."
Another girl, small with blonde hair plaited to her waist, added, "And I'm Meghan."
Lily smiled. "Thanks. I'm Lily," she introduced herself, sitting down opposite them. "Are you two first years?" They looked her age, but she couldn't be sure. 'I hope they are,' she thought.
"Yes, we both are," Kathryn said. "We're second cousins."
"Oh good! I'm a first year, too. I'm completely lost when it comes to magic, I haven't a clue what anything is," she confessed, smiling at the two girls.
"Oh." Meghan said. "So, are you muggleborn then?" She sounded wary, and almost unwelcoming.
Lily looked at her, puzzled. "Yes. I didn't know anything about magic until the liaison witch visited."
"Oh. Erm… well, we're both pureblood," she said, avoiding eye contact with Lily.
Lily looked at her, not understanding why she was acting weird, but feeling hurt.
"It must have been really weird to hear about it," Kathryn said.
Lily noticed she was also looking at Meghan strangely. "Yeah, it was. My Dad called her a lunatic and was going to call the police at first, and Mum looked like she was about to threaten her with the saucepan." She smiled, uneasy.
Kathryn laughed. "Yeah, I don't know how my parents would react if they were in the same situation."
Lily smiled; relieved she was taking it all right. "I guess you know lots about magic and Hogwarts, then?
"A bit, yeah," she said. "But don't worry, we won't know hardly anything that you don't. Chances are, you'll be better at magic that we are!"
Meghan gave a small sniff, and Lily bit her lip, upset.
"Do you want to play Exploding Snap?" Kathryn asked, glaring at Meghan.
What she was doing was obvious, but Lily was glad for it, and smiled at her. "Erm… okay. Is it like normal Snap?"
A boy with greasy hair and a hooked nose walked in. "Do you mind if I sit here?" he asked.
"You're a first year, right?" Bella Black said, looking for confirmation from him.
He nodded.
"I'm sorry, but maybe you should go sit with the other unsorted children," she said. "Maybe you can play gobstones, even." Her tone was deliberately patronising.
The boy scowled and looked at Sirius Black. He opened his mouth to object, but was cut off by Rodulphus Lestrange.
"He's a Black. Now go."
The boy bit his lip, before turning round and exiting.
There was a pause, before Rodulphus continued. "So, this… Voldemort."
"He seems rather extremist." Cissa Black sniffed.
"What do you think, Sirius?" Anthony Nott asked.
Sirius paused, realising how much of a test this would be. "I think Voldemort may have the right idea – certainly, Hogwarts' would be far better if it did not accept mudbloods." He sneered, and several others nodded.
"Definitely," Cissa said, helping him. "Mother even considered sending Sirius to Durmstrang. I mean, the Black heir forced to mix with mudbloods? It's terrible."
"But the question is, Sirius, should we follow him?" Anthony asked again.
He thought about his answer for a moment, before saying. "We need more knowledge of the situation first. Perhaps we should wait and watch his actions?" A safe answer, but unimpressive.
Anthony paused, before saying. "True, he may not be successful. Far better to wait and judge before declaring a side." He then smiled. "Besides, why should we – all purebloods – bow down to him?"
There were nods and agreeing comments, and Sirius sighed.
"Can you believe the gall of that kid, earlier?" Rodulphus said, changing the subject.
Bella laughed, putting her hand on his wrist. "He'll learn quickly." She then smiled. "I might even decide to be charitable and help. A few hexes ought to teach him the basics," she said.
The others laughed.
"So… do you play Quidditch?" James Potter asked the pudgy blonde boy in front of him.
"Erm… I don't actually know what that is," Peter said, looking nervous. "I'm muggleborn, and – "
"You haven't heard of Quidditch?" he interrupted him. "It's the best sport ever! You fly around on broomsticks, and the Chasers have to get the Quaffle through the hoops – but the Keeper has to stop them. And the game ends when the Seeker catches the Snitch, getting his team 150 points. But all the time Bludgers keep trying to knock you off your broom, and the Beaters have to try and stop that!"
"Oh…" Peter said. "It sounds a bit dangerous."
"Nah, it's awesome," he disagreed, disappointed with his response.
There was silence for a moment, before Peter spoke up again. "So… being magical, you'd know a lot about Hogwarts, right?"
"Oh, yeah," James said immediately. "It's so cool! There're all these ghosts, and this poltergeist that throws water bombs at people and plays tricks on people. Then there's the Forbidden Forest. We're not allowed to go in there, but I'm not going to let that stop me! It sounds amazing. There's s'posed to be all sorts of monsters in there, but I bet it's all tales. I can't wait to find out!"
"Oh," Peter said, looking pale. "Sounds wonderful."
"Hmmm," James said, slightly bored. "Hey, do you want to go look round?"
"Yeah, okay," Peter agreed.
"Race you to the next compartment!" James said, leaping up and running off.
Sirius sipped at his pumpkin juice, and looked at Richard Nott. The other first year in the compartment, he had remained quiet – as was appropriate, really. He had only spoken up when Bella or Cissa spoke to him, or when Anthony was testing him.
Notts will never be your follower, your lackey, his mother's voice echoed in his mind, but they will always be good friends. The one thing you have to be careful of is making sure you don't become their lackeys. They are very powerful, and they refuse to follow others.
He smirked. That may be true, but he had more allies than Nott, here. And Richard would be sitting with him at the feast, as an equal or an inferior. Nothing else.
The train pulled to a stop, and Rodulphus stood up, stretching a little. "Well, we're here." He turned to Sirius, with a smile. "I'll see you at the feast." He turned to Richard and nodded at him, before turning and waiting for Bella.
As the other four exited the compartment, Sirius stood up and looked at Richard. He smirked. "Well, at least we don't have to worry about which House we're in."
Richard nodded, a smile on his face.
The exited the train, and looked around for where to go. A gigantic figure was yelling, "Firs' years over 'ere! Firs' years follow me!"
Sirius sucked in his breath, not expecting him to be so big.
"Hagrid, I guess," Richard murmered, calmly shrugging his shoulders.
The two followed Hagrid to the boats. They were joined by a pale, tired-looking boy and the greasy haired boy from earlier.
"I'm Sirius Black, and this is Richard Nott. Who are you two?" Sirius asked, displeased.
"Severus Snape."
"I'm Remus Lupin."
'Lupin… pureblood. But Snape?' he thought.
"Snape? I haven't heard of that name before."
Snape flushed. "My mother is Eileen Prince."
Sirius smirked. 'Half-blood,' he thought.
The rest of the boat ride continued in silence. As they came in sight of the many-turreted castle, there were gasps from everyone. They beached the boats, and climbed out, many people muttering about the castle.
Hagrid walked up and banged three times on the door. It was opened by a stern-looking witch. "The firs' years, Professor McGonagall," he said.
She opened the doors to let them all in, and led them into an antechamber. "Welcome to Hogwarts," she said in a brisk, Scottish accent. "You will enter the Hall and be Sorted into one of four houses: Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw or Slytherin. Each of these houses has good points and bad, and while you are here, these houses will be like families to you. Good action will earn you points for these houses, while bad actions will lose points."
"If you follow me, you will now be Sorted."
They followed her into the Great Hall, where a multitude of students followed their movement before returning their gaze to a ripped, tatty hat. A rip near the hem opened, and the Hat began to sing:
"One thousand years or more ago,
There were four friends with a dream.
To teach young people wizardry, though
It seemed impossible in the times.
Yet, they persevered and were able,
To build Hogwarts School of Witchcraft
And Wizardry, where the capable
Could learn spells and potions.
Now, wrong though it may be,
Each had their favourites.
Gryffindor preferred bravery,
And nobility beyond all else.
Huffepuff favoured the loyal,
The just, the hard workers,
While Slytherin like the royal,
But ambition and cunning above all others.
Ravenclaw went for the wise, the witty,
And the book-lovers; favouring academia most.
And this is why they thought of me:
Gryffindor came up with the idea.
They needed a way to Sort when they were gone.
They gave me brains, ability to judge,
And I've never yet been wrong.
Put me on, don't be afraid,
I'll tell you where you belong."
The Hall broke out into applause, many of the first years sighing or murmering. Sirius, too, was relieved, though he did not let it show.
Professor McGonagall stood up, and everyone grew silent. Clearing her throat, she unfurled a piece of parchment. "Arvin, Mellissa."
AN: Well, I hope you like it. I apologise for my terrible Sorting song, that is really not my strong point.
Also, I know it's very fragmented at the moment - but I wanted to show you all of them before continuing.
Anyway, please let me know what you think! – Love it, hate it, think it needs that, too much of this. Whatever you think, please just let me know!
Thank you for reading,
Tanya