AN: Hi all! This is my updated Gruff Impressions story. I'll be posting regularly because I already have like 300+ pages written up! When it gets closer to the middle/end of sixth year I'll need some motivation/ideas to finish. Hope you like it!
Also check out my new story Lily and James' Seven Years
Everything you recognize belongs to Rowling. :)
Gruff Impressions
Lily Evans turned to stare at the magnificent Hogwarts Express with a mixture of excitement, exasperation, and, not that she would ever admit, a twinge of fear. Her parents had just hauled off her whining older sister Petunia – Tuney – back to their safe and familiar Muggle world.
Being the only one with magic in her family had been slightly trying on all of them; especially with Petunia's attitude on the matter. Her parents had dragged Tuney away after a blow out with Lily only moments before hand.
Her best friend Severus Snape stood a ways back listening to his sallow-faced mother speaking in hushed tones. His mother smiled feebly in her bedraggled attire and smoothed down the collar of his second-hand robes. Lily and Severus had made arrangements to meet on the train in lieu of the crowd of students bidding their loved ones goodbye.
Lily was grateful; at the moment she felt a slight spurn towards her friend. It was mostly his fault Tuney was mad at her, after all.
She sighed and prepared to board the train when she spotted a scrawny boy, her age, with messy brown hair and glasses, dodging away from his parents and pick up something on the ground. The object was a figurine in blue sports robes magically pumping his fist into the air to an invisible crowd with a broom in the other hand. Lily saw the boy with glasses mouth something and tap another boy's shoulder, grinning as he held out the figurine. The other boy looked at the replica in surprise and checked his pocket where it had fallen from. He nodded to the boy with glasses and grinned, taking the replica and speaking animatedly.
His escort, Lily noted, was not a parent but a tall Slytherin whose true age was masked by the eloquence she carried. Only her robes gave hint that she was young enough to be in school. Both their black hair shined lusciously. The girl – near woman, in fact - lowered her eyes to the scene with an air of poise, a small frown lowering her painted lips. She spoke one sharp word and the boy with black hair immediately glanced at her and bid farewell to the other.
The first boy with glasses moved to stand behind his mother, who was calling into the crowd with an exasperated look as if her son disappeared a bit too often. The Slytherin girl steered the other boy toward the back of the train and passed directly in front of Lily, who caught a snatch of their conversation.
"I'm here to get you onto the train," the beautiful girl was saying, "Not babysit while you play with figurines on the platform."
"Lighten up, Cissa," the boy said, unhampered.
"Your parents didn't put you in my care to mess around."
"My parents handed me to you for convenience."
"Don't be ungrateful," the woman grated. A small frown formed her reddened lips. "You're allowed to accompany an upperclassman until we board. And you don't even know if that boy was pure. How are you supposed to maintain dignity if you hang around with riffraff?"
"It's just Qudditch talk," the boy sighed, looking at his figurine.
The blonde responded with a perfect, aristocratic lilt which settled the matter: "It's trouble."
They sauntered off.
Lily was left with no other option than to board the train. Since she was scared of joining older kids, she sought one that was empty.
Five minutes later she sat with a thick text called Hogwarts, A History, and immediately tried engrossing herself in its words. It was hard to imagine how things could have gotten off to a worse start. The page was empty to her eyes as the pressing quiet allowed her worries to resurface, both wishing Sev would finally get there but also glad he wasn't. Her eleven-year-old self was a turmoil of emotions.
Her sister hated her. She was going to start boarding school where she only knew one person and held a sore disadvantage. She wouldn't be able to walk home to her mother's smiles after a tiring day and she would be very far from anything remotely familiar.
She felt alone, so very alone.
A ruckus of laughter emanated just outside her compartment and the door flew open to reveal the same boy with glasses who had picked up the figurine and his new friend. As she raised her emerald eyes to look, the messy-haired boy stopped short. The second boy bumped the first further into the room. He staggered, and stood still again, not drawing nearer to Lily.
The black-haired boy gave him a curious look before pushing past him to stand before Lily.
"Hullo. I'm Sirius Black. Who might you be?" he asked, giving her a dashing smile.
"Lily. Evans." She warily flickered her eyes to the silent boy. " . . . Who's your friend?" The other boy snapped out of his current state and put on a breezy smile. Lily didn't fail to notice the mischievous glint in his eyes.
"Potter. James." He offered a handshake and Lily took it hesitantly. As soon as she grasped his outstretched hand, he jerked her forward and they both crashed onto the seats opposite of her, with her half sprawled on top of him. Lily became consciously aware of a throbbing pain on her jaw as James turned, is face far too close, and cocked an eyebrow while breaking into a mischievous half-grin. "Nice to meet you."
Lily felt her cheeks boil as both boys started cackling. She threw his hand down hotly and bolted up, looking like her head might explode.
"That's not any way to greet someone!" she glared at the boy with glasses.
"C'mon mate, I don't think we're welcome here anymore," Sirius chuckled. "Let's go find that Remus kid again." James Potter gave an indifferent shrug and gracefully hopped to his feet, running a hand through his already-messy hair.
Lily scowled as she rubbed her jaw bone. Before leaving entirely, James turned to poke is head through the door.
"Hey Evans."
Lily looked up fiercely to meet his hazel eyes. "If you need anyone to kiss that, just gimmie a call."
"Get out!" she yelled incredulously.
Grinning, he disappeared. Lily could still hear Sirius outside the compartment as they walked away.
"James man, what happened? You were so still, for a minute there I thought you were going to be sick or something."
"I may as well have Sirius. . ." was all Lily caught and their voices drifted off, enveloped into the loud, busy life of the train. Sighing heavily, Lily wondered what kind of life she would experience at Hogwarts. So far, she wasn't off to a great start, she thought grumpily. She turned back to the comfort of her book.
Several minutes later a plump boy with mousey colored hair stumbled in. Attempting to straighten himself, he nervously squeaked out, "Um. . . I don't suppose you'd mind my staying here? The train's all full see. . ." Lily took pity on his meek form and forced a reassuring smile.
"Sure." The two sat in awkward silence for a brief moment – Lily wondering if she should introduce herself - before the door slid aside once more.
Oh what could it be now?
A slightly tattered, intelligent looking boy with light brown hair walked in. Lily noticed a small scar on his jaw and several scratches on both his hands. He opened his mouth to speak but Black and Potter burst into the room behind him, knocking the boy forward.
"Oi! Sirius, stop running into people! You're going to give us all bruises." Lily glared at Potter.
"I thought I told you to get lost."
To her surprise, the brown haired boy answered for him.
"Train's already full." Lily tried to frown at the boy, but he avoided everyone's gaze, looking to the corner of the carpeted floor. It was just as well, she wasn't in the mood to deal with four unfamiliar boys after her morning, two of which had already caused her trouble. Luckily for her, the three in the doorway turned their attention to the boy sitting across from Lily. He introduced himself as Peter Pettigrew and the four of them started up conversations of Quidditch and left the small redhead alone to her miserable feelings. She turned and slumped her head against the window, watching the world swish by. She could feel Potter's gaze on her for a brief moment, but was glad when he turned away and continued in with the others' chatter.
Come on Evans, you should be doing better than this. You're on your way to Hogwarts! It didn't work. Her sister's cruel words from the platform echoed through her thoughts.
"You think I want to be a – a freak?"
Lily knew Petunia had only been mad because she found out that Lily and Severus had read Dumbledore's reply to her request of joining Lily at Hogwarts, but it still hurt. From the moment Dumbledore explained possessing magic was something you were born with, and Petunia would never be able to develop the gift, she became thoroughly disdainful of Lily's talent.
They used to be quite close, but, as of late. . . Well, Petunia's words spoke for her actions.
"Freak!"
A slow tear trickled down her face as the door opened yet again. Lily glanced over to see Severus entering, already dressed in his school robes. He cast a wary look in the boys' direction before sitting down as she peered out the window again.
"I don't want to talk to you," she said in a tight voice.
"Why not?"
"Tuney h-hates me. Because we saw that letter from Dumbledore." Oh great, now her voice was shaking. She had to do better than that. Lily cleared her voice quietly, hoping Severus wouldn't notice.
"So what?"
Lily shot him a dark look.
"So she's my sister!"
"She's only a -" He caught himself before saying "muggle" as Lily wiped her tears, barely paying his comment any attention.
Severus's voice changed to excitement as he piped, "But we're going! This is it! We're off to Hogwarts!" Lily nodded and gave a half smile in spite of herself.
"You'd better be in Slytherin," Sev said.
"Slytherin?" Potter tore himself away from the foursome and broke into Lily and Sev's discussion. "Who wants to be in Slytherin? I'd think I'd leave, wouldn't you?" He directed the question to Sirius, giving a grin and waiting for him to share in the joke. Black, however, looked grim.
"My whole family have been in Slytherin," he said, quieter.
"Blimey. And I thought you seemed all right!"
A slow grin broke over Sirius's face, "Maybe I'll break the tradition. Where are you heading, if you've got a choice?"
Potter pretended to brandish a sword. "'Gryffindor, where dwell the brave at heart!' Like my dad." He sat.
Much to Lily's dislike, Sev made a rude, disparaging noise, making James turn back to him.
"Got a problem with that?"
"No," he said slowly with a bit of a sneer. "If you'd rather be brawny than brainy -"
"Where're you hoping to go, seeing as you're neither?" Sirius countered. James and Sirius roared with laughter and Lily sat up straight. She couldn't take these two anymore. Grabbing her trunks, she said, "Come on, Severus, let's find another compartment."
"Ooooooh . . ." James tried to trip Sev as he and Lily headed for the door.
"See ya, Snivellus!"
Lily slammed the door. She and Sev searched for other first years and they passed a few doorways in the hall before ending up in one with two girls. One had a cute, blonde cut and the other sported a long black mane that shined like glass. Both looked up from their conversation at the unexpected arrival of Lily and Severus.
"Hi . . . erm, the train's rather full, and, there was a few, ah, pests, in our last compartment. Mind if we join you?" Lily stammered.
The blonde girl's eyes brightened as she nodded and cheerily smiled, displaying small pearly teeth. She was very pretty in a pleasant way with her green eyes and a touch of freckles.
"Sure," she said. "I'm Mary McDonald. And this, here, is Alice." She gestured to the girl sitting across from her. "We just met as well."
If Mary was pretty, Alice was deeply beautiful.
"Levily," Alice offered her surname and coolly surveyed the two from dark eyes. She had a voice like sandpaper and an imposing disposition. Privately, Lily thought that she would never want to meet her in a dark ally. If it had not been for the cheery Mary at her side marking that Alice was up for conversation Lily might not have approached her at all.
Despite this Lily forced a smile and said, "I'm Lily Evans. And this is my best friend, Severus Snape."
Mary's smile drooped some as they eyed Severus in his worn robes. Awkwardly lowering herself into a seat and Sev mimicking next to her, Lily began conversation. The conversation was steady and Lily was careful to avoid bringing up Houses again. She liked the girls, and did not want Sev to stir something up getting defensive again. It was funny to watch them both interact; their personalities were as different as their appearance. Mary was bouncy, enthusiastic about almost everything, and loved to talk. Alice kept silent most of the time and preferred to watch rather than participate. She appeared to be indifferent on most topics, only showing very small amounts – if any – of emotion towards a subject, and hardly speaking at all. When she did give an input she sounded toneless and her voice was deep and scratchy, like gravel. Lily thought Alice might enjoy the company and simply did not say much towards it.
They felt the train start to slow and hurried to change into their school robes. Once the girls went back to the awaiting Severus, they gathered their trunks and filed into the crammed hallways with the other students. When the train stopped and everyone rushed out, they were greeted by a booming voice.
"Firs' years! Firs' years over here now!"
Dozens of eleven year olds gaped at the giant man that stood before them. He had to be over eight feet tall, but no one could jump high enough to tell the full extent of his height, though many tried. He had a scraggily tangled beard that intertwined with his long brown hair, barely revealing his kind, black eyes.
"Firs' years this way! Firs' years – have a nice break McKinnons? Try to stay outta trouble this round, yeh here? – Firs' years! Tha' everyone? Righ'. Follow me then!" He turned and led the children down a steep narrow path, flanked by thick greenery on either sides.
"Name's Rubeus Hagrid – mind yer step there! – Keeper of the Keys and Grounds at Hogwarts. You lot can call me Hagrid. Now, yeh'll get yer firs' sight o' Hogwarts in a sec here," He announced over his giant shoulders.
The path opened up to a huge black lake spotted with wooden boats at its shore. Across from the water stood an enormous castle perched atop a mountain with the starry sky as its backdrop. Lily sucked in her breathe at the sight of it.
Hogwarts. She'd finally made it.
"No more'n four to a boat!" Hagrid called.
"Hey Evans! Wanna take a ride on the looove boat?"
Lily jumped at the sound of Potter's voice breaking through her trance.
Scowling, she turned and headed for a boat on her right, not bothering to check that Severus was following; she knew he was there. Potter snickered as he and the three other boys from her first compartment climbed into a boat, Potter jumping in last making the whole thing rock uncontrollably, threatening to tip over.
"Watch it ov'r there, don' wanna see anyone get dumped in ter the Black Lake. The Giant Squid might get ter yeh," Hagrid shot the boy a pointed stare, eyebrows raised.
Mary caught up to Lily as she swung a leg over the boat.
"Who's that?" She asked, looking over towards James Potter.
Lily glanced over as the boy leaned far over the edge, taunting a frightened Peter that he would tip the vessel over. She turned back to Mary, jutting out her chin.
"Trouble," she said.