EXPECTO PATWHATTA?
BY MUNSJE
Summary: So being "the boy who lived" was annoying, how about being his firstborn?
Disclaimer: Don't own, except for Lily Minerva Potter, Sirius James Potter and any other characters you do not recognize from the books and of course the plot outline.
Prologue – Of an old hat's mistake
'Potter, Lily Minerva.' There was more than a little pride in McGonnagal's voice as she pronounced the name. The Great Hall, that had been buzzing with excitement just a few moments ago, suddenly fell silent as a young girl with flaming red hair and a blush to match it walked up to the three-legged stool.
It wasn't that Lily was truly nervous. She'd be in Gryffindor, just like everyone else from the Weasley and the Potter family. Or at least, she hoped she would be. It was more that all the students of Hogwarts had now focused on her and if anything, she hated to be in the center of attention. Well, not that exactly, but she hated to be in the center of attention just because she happened to be the daughter of.
McGonnagal placed the Sorting Hat on her head, which was far too big and fell right down to her chin. She must look ridiculous.
Ah, I was wondering when I would meet you, the Sorting Hat said cheerfully. Let me see. I know just where to place you. It will be... 'SLYTHERIN!'
A silence stretched after this word that to Lily seemed to last forever. No one in the Hall dared to breathe, or move. The Slytherin's exchanged looks, wondering if they should start cheering, but no one had the guts to do so.
Even McGonnagal didn't move towards Lily to pick up the hat, probably hoping that there had been some kind of mistake.
A Potter could not possibly be in Slytherin. The very idea was ridiculous.
Lily was also silently begging for a second chance. How could the Sorting Hat have made up his mind so quickly? She had been sitting there for just a second after all. There was no way that he could be positive. If only the earth would open up and swallow her whole! She thought of her mother and her father, of what they would have to say. Of her uncles – Merlin! - Fred and George would never let this go!
And grandmother! She felt like she was going to be sick. Her grandmother would have her head. She could just imagine the ranting, the screaming...
"Oh, I am sorry," the Sorting Hat said suddenly, 'Did I say Slytherin? I meant Gryffindor.' And in her ear he softly whispered: I have met Molly... Even I am not that cruel.
There was a general sigh of relief (even from the Slytherin table) as the Sorting Hat corrected himself. Everything was restored to its normal order. Potter's were in Gryffindor, Malfoy's were in Slytherin. The students quickly wrote it off as a bad joke on the Sorting Hat's part and it was never mentioned again. Though the teachers knew better, they also were as smart not to ever tell Lily's parents about it and especially (and rightfully so) her grandmother.
But though it was kept silent and soon forgotten, it kept Lily up that night and would keep her up for many nights in the future to come.
It was the first time that she ever truly realized, that she might not live up to the person that the world had expected her to be.
TBC