Disclaimer: Harry Potter isn't mine, but Clara is.
This story is on my Quotev account as well: 502163414/published
Enjoy!
Clara Stone: Chloe Grace Moretz.
James Potter: Aaron Johnson.
Sirius Black: Ben Barnes.
Remus Lupin: Andrew Garfield.
Peter Pettigrew: Charles Hughes.
Lily Evans: Karen Gillan.
Marlene McKinnon: Ashley Benson.
Alice Fortescue: Carey Mulligan.
Dorcas Meadows: Candice King.
Frank Longbottom: Logan Lerman.
Mary MacDonald: Lucy Hale.
Zemi: Good luck amulet or charm.
Sixteen year old Clara Stone huffed as she attempted to shove her trunk into the rack above the compartment seats. Unfortunately for Clara, her 5"4 height would not allow her to get very far.
"You do realise you have a wand, right?"
Clara jumped, nearly dropping her trunk before a strong set of hands caught it for her. James Potter easily lifted the stupid trunk into the rack and flopped onto the seat underneath it. "So, why didn't you just levitate it?"
Clara blushed as she sat opposite James, her grey Norwegian Forest Cat curling up in her lap. "I'm tired, I kinda forgot."
"You forgot?" James laughed, swinging his feet up to rest on the seat beside Clara. "You must be knackered then."
Clara nodded as she stroked Zemi's fur, "Drew's been a maniac this summer. He would have had me running drills all night if mum hadn't forced him to pack his broom so he wouldn't forget it this morning." Clara's brother Andrew was captain of the Gryffindor Quidditch Team, he had been for two years now. It was Drew's last year at Hogwarts now and he was determined to win the Cup for a third time before he left.
"Merlin, even I won't be that bad next year!" James grinned.
"So sure you'll get captain when Drew leaves?" Clara teased.
"Of course he is!" came a voice from the corridor, before the owner appeared dragging his own trunk. "It's all Prongs talks about, how he'll be a better captain than Stone! Well, that and how he's going to marry Evans." Sirius Black was James' best friend, and with shaggy black hair and silvery-grey eyes, he knew he was gorgeous. Sirius was a ladies-man (though Clara thought he was just a man-whore really) and a great friend when you got to know him. He heaved his trunk up so it sat next to Clara's and then unknowingly copied James, flopping onto the seat next to him.
"Lily is never going to agree to that," Clara said.
"See, we know that but try telling him!" Remus Lupin looked as tired as Clara felt as he ambled into the compartment, Peter Pettigrew following behind him. Clara shuffled over, closer to the window and shoved James' feet off the seat to make room for the two additions. Remus sat next to Clara and gave her grin. "Hullo, Clara! How was your summer?"
Clara smiled back, turning so she was leaning against the window and she could see all four boys without craning her neck. "My summer was fine, Remus, apart from Drill Sergeant Drew." As Remus, Sirius and James all laughed, Peter looked confused, "What's a drill sergeant?"
"It's a muggle army term, Peter, don't worry about it," Clara said. "I just meant that Drew's been crazy about quidditch practice."
"Oh." Peter frowned. "What's that got to do with a muggle army?"
Sirius snorted. "Never mind, Pete."
"Anyway," James began, changing the topic. "Who's to say Evans won't agree to marry me one day?"
"I do, Potter!" Lily Evans herself appeared in the doorway, looking offended at the thought of marrying James Potter.
"That's the spirit, Evans!" James grinned, sitting up straighter now that his lady love had made an appearance. "Now we just need to say it in front of a Ministry official!"
"In your dreams, Potter!" Lily spat, before turning to Remus with a small smile. "Remus, we have to go to the prefect's compartment for the meeting and then I think we've got the first patrol." Remus sighed and heaved himself up. "See you later, guys."
"Clara," Lily added. "The girls and I have a compartment on the other end of the carriage if you want to escape these buffoons."
"Thanks, Lil. I might pop over in a bit." Lily nodded and left with Remus, James staring love-struck after her.
"She wants me," James sighed dreamily and Sirius snorted again. "She does not, mate!"
"Leave him alone, Pads, he'll get over it eventually." Clara sighed, moving so that she was lying across the seat, her head propped up on her jacket and her feet tucked up near Peter. "I might have a nap, I'm exhausted. Wake me up when Remus gets back." The boys nodded and Clara drifted off to the sounds of their hushed voices.
"Clara… Clara… Clara!" She jerked awake, blinking until Remus' face came into focus. "Hey sleepyhead, we're nearly at Hogsmeade Station."
Clara groaned slightly as she sat up. "Hmm… okay I'll get changed then." Slowly, she stood up and stretched. Clara turned to grab her small bag that held her school uniform only to discover that Sirius had already pulled it down from the rack and was holding out to her. "Thanks." She took the bag and headed out into the corridor to the girls loo and quickly changed into her uniform, finishing knotting her Gryffindor tie as she got back to the compartment. The boys had pulled all the trunks down and Clara shoved her bag of muggle clothes into her trunk and heaved Zemi into her carry case, much to the cat's dismay. Clara followed the boys out to the carriages, all of them quickly piling into one just before it pulled away from the station. The journey to the castle went by quickly and Clara was grateful that it wasn't raining for once. The group left their trunks in the Entrance Hall, amidst the ever growing pile of luggage and Clara let Zemi out of her cage, knowing she would find her way to Gryffindor Tower, as James did the same for Algernon, his grumpy tabby cat. Soon enough, they were sitting at the Gryffindor table in the warmth of the Great Hall. Clara jumped when a body plopped heavily onto the bench beside her.
"Wotcher, Clara!" Alice Fortescue was a very happy-go-lucky person, very well suited for her boyfriend Frank Longbottom who sat himself on the other side of Alice. Clara thought they were adorable together. "Hey, Alice! Hiya, Frank!" Frank gave a cheery wave as the rest of the Gryffindor sixth years joined the group; Lily Evans, Marlene McKinnon and Mary MacDonald. Clara waved as she saw Dorcas Meadows headed for the Ravenclaw table with her cousin Pandora, who was staring at Xenophilius Lovegood. As everyone settled down at the House tables, the main doors to the Great Hall were flung open (rather dramatically in Clara's opinion) as Professor McGonagall led the first years in for the Sorting. As the first years huddled together in the wide aisle between the Gryffindor and Ravenclaw tables, the raggedy old hat that was sitting on a three-legged stool in front of the staff table opened its mouth:
"Oh, you may not think I'm pretty,
But don't judge on what you see,
I'll eat myself if you can find
A smarter hat than me.
You can keep your bowlers black,
Your top hats sleek and tall,
For I'm the Hogwarts Sorting Hat
And I can cap them all.
There's nothing hidden in your head
The Sorting Hat can't see,
So try me on and I will tell you
Where you ought to be.
You might belong in Gryffindor,
Where dwell the brave at heart,
Their daring, nerve and chivalry,
Set Gryffindors apart;
You might belong in Hufflepuff
Where they are just and loyal,
Those patient Hufflepuffs are true,
And unafraid of toil;
Or yet in wise old Ravenclaw,
If you've a ready mind,
Where those of wit and learning,
Will always find their kind;
Or perhaps in Slytherin,
You'll make your real friends,
Those cunning folk use any means,
To achieve their ends.
So put me on! Don't be afraid!
And don't get in a flap!
You're in safe hands (though I have none)
For I'm a Thinking Cap!"
The Hall burst into applause for the Sorting Hat's song. Once the noise died down, McGonagall cleared her throat and started calling names. By the time she got to Alyssa Zabini ("SLYTHERIN!") Clara was starving and, from the complaining coming from the boys, so was everyone else. When Dumbledore finally finished his welcome back speech with the words "Tuck in!", James, Sirius and Peter all practically dived for the food the appeared on the table. Remus chuckled at his friends and dug in to his chicken in a more polite manner as the girls watched the other three Marauders in disgust.
"Ew, Potter that is disgusting!" Lily cringed away, turning so that she didn't have to watch him stuffing his face. Clara giggled as James just shrugged and said, "You know you love me, Evans." The bespectacled boy grinned through his steak and carried on eating. Clara piled some chicken on to her plate, along with some mash, peas, carrots, Yorkshire pudding (one of her favourites) and gravy before tucking in cheerily. Once the puddings had been cleared from the table and everyone was full to bursting, the prefects started to lead the first years to their respective common rooms.
"Come on, Remus," Lily heaved herself to her feet. "We should get the first years up to the Tower."
"Right," Remus sighed. He climbed over the bench and called, "FIRST YEARS, THIS WAY!" As the new Gryffindors grouped in front of Remus and Lily, who were the Gryffindor prefects for sixth year, James and Sirius started laughing.
"Look how tiny they are!" Sirius guffawed.
James snorted, "We were never that small!"
Clara grinned, slinging her arm round James neck as she hauled herself up. "Oh contraire, Potter! As I remember it, you were the shortest one of us in first year, besides Peter." James huffed, shoving Clara's arm away as he stood.
"I was not!"
"Yes you were, Prongs!" Sirius recalled. "And look, I'm still taller than you!" James shoved his best friend and starting running for the door, Sirius chasing after him. Clara laughed as she watched, then jumped as an arm linked with hers.
"Hey, Marlene." She smiled at the other blonde girl who returned it, happy but tired.
"Hey, you ready to head up?"
"Definitely!" The girls slowly made their way to Gryffindor Tower, the rest of their friends trailing after them. When they got there, they saw James and Sirius arguing with the Fat Lady portrait.
"How are we supposed to know the password, Lady?" Sirius snapped. "It's the first day back!"
"I cannot let you in without the password, young man!" the Lady shouted back shrilly.
"Fairy lights!" The group turned to see Mary MacDonald coming up behind them.
"Thank you!" The portrait finally swung open and they all piled into the common room, Clara smiling softly at the familiar relaxed atmosphere.
"How'd you know that?" James demanded. Mary smirked, "Lily told me on the train, after the prefect meeting."
"What?" Sirius huffed. "Why didn't Moony tell us?"
"Probably because you didn't think to ask him," Alice said as joined them, Frank's arm around her shoulders.
"Right, you lot," Clara sighed. "I'm off to bed, first day of classes tomorrow." The boys chorused their goodnights, James and Sirius flopping onto the armchairs in front of the fire. Alice and Frank claimed the loveseat after Alice had hugged Clara.
"I'll come up with you," Marlene said.
"Me too." Mary followed the two blonde girls up the stairs to the girls' dorm. Clara hummed happily as she saw her trunk at the end of her bed, Zemi curled up on her pillow. She changed into her pyjamas, a pair of black and white plaid pyjama pants and a Gryffindor tank top, folding her uniform into a neat pile and leaving it on top of her trunk. Waiting for Marlene to get her arse out of the bathroom, Clara grabbed her hairbrush and pulled her hair into a messy bun. Marlene finally came out and Clara hurried into the bathroom so that Mary didn't have to wait too long. She quickly went to the loo, washed her hands and then wiped her makeup off and brushed her teeth. Hurrying back out, she kissed Mary's cheek as she passed and quickly hopped into her warm bed, snuggling under the covers. Marlene was already asleep and it didn't take long for Clara's eyes to drift closed. The last thing she remembered before falling asleep was the sound of Lily coming into the dorm and Zemi gently nudging her cheek, the little pillow hog.