Chapter Two: Year One

Gryffindor Common Room, October 31st 1971

Iris was sitting on the sofa, overlooking her homework with a frown. She was never one to just sit and happily do independent work, she preferred being taught things first hand instead of reading from a book. The problem was Iris hated reading. The words always jumbled around and confused her. It would take her hours just to get through a single passage.

The girl with cinnamon colored hair groaned and slammed her book shut. When she had been at home, her tutor had read and orally taught her causing her to excel in all her studies, but now she was stuck and quite possibly failing miserably. Of course, in class the lectures were informative and they taught her most things, but with the homework? She was hopeless.

"Aren't you going to the feast, Iris?" a soft voice had called out to her from the portrait hole. Iris turned her attention to it and saw Lily with Dorcas Meadowes, the corn silk haired girl they had met at the Sorting. During the past few weeks, Iris found herself growing close to the two girls, as well as Marlene McKinnon and Mary MacDonald, who had been their roommates as well. They all had certain quirks Iris found herself adoring.

Lily was an intelligent witch with a fiery disposition that Iris always enjoyed watching flare when James wandered over. The redheaded girl was also very perceptive and realized weeks ago that Iris was a terrible reader, taking time to assist her ever since. Dorcas was quite possibly the nicest and most soft spoken girl she had met. Iris was sure she'd be blown away the moment she heard Dorcas ever raise her voice. Marlene had been Dorcas' complete opposite from looks to personality. She was loud mouthed and a bit too proud with dark brown hair and daring dark brown eyes. Iris loved her wild antics. Mary was the other muggleborn of the five and black haired girl was a little stickler for rules. The worry wart and most importantly, their own personal voice of reason for all occasions.

"I've got this Potions assignment I haven't started yet." Iris explained, sighing with discontent. Lily frowned at her friend's obvious frustration. "Slughorn already thinks I'm incompetent, rather not give him another reason." she finished, wincing at the memory of the Potions professor's request that she read a passage in class. It did not go well.

Dorcas gave Iris a soft smile, "Lily and I will help afterwards." she promised as the redhead quickly nodded in agreement.

She bit her lip, considering it. She would probably get it done quicker and the work were have a bigger chance of being correct. "Alright." she decides, though deep down it wasn't a very tough decision. Iris closed her Potion's book and slid off the sofa. Lily and Dorcas waited as she stashed her book in between the cushions. She felt that it was a brilliant spot to hide things because not even the bravest of Gryffindors dared to look between them.

Iris and her friends made their way to the Great Hall giggling over the event in Transfiguration earlier that week. Peter Pettigrew had tried to transfigure a mouse into a glass as instructed to McGonagall, but unfortunately it still had it's legs, so the chubby boy had spent the rest of the hour chasing it down. "And when he tripped!" Iris added, only laughing harder.

Lily chuckled, but wasn't laughing as hard as Iris and Dorcas had her lips pressed together, trying her utmost not to laugh. Iris wasn't as kind as them, she had found the entire predicament nothing short of rotten luck. Of course, she felt bad for the boy, but she was always one to laugh when someone had a hard time.

Once they entered the Great Hall, they hurried to their table. Lily, who wanted to sit the farthest from James sat on the end, Dorcas next to her and on the opposite side had been Marlene and Mary. After greeting her two other friends, Iris squeezed between Mary and Sirius, as it was the only remaining seat near her friends.

"Evening Sirius." she said, kindly. Despite the ongoing feud between their friends, Iris found that Sirius was quite kind, at least to her. Snape, along with the rest of the Slytherins, on the other hand, only received to bad side of Sirius' demeanor. She always felt uneasy about it, but she also knew it wasn't always one sided.

Sirius grinned, "Iris, you're going to be glad you showed up!'

The girl raised an inquisitive eyebrow and out of the corner of her eye, she seen he had her friends' attention as well. "Why's that?"

As if clockwork there's the sound of a minor explosions. Everyone whipped their heads to the sound that came from the Slytherin table. Iris couldn't help, but crack a smile at what she seen. Most, if not all, of the students seated at said table where covered in what appeared to be pumpkin guts. It seemed that the decorative pumpkins that had been centered on the table had exploded.

There was laughter, but the loudest of it had come from four boys. James, Sirius, Peter and Remus Lupin, a lanky boy with sandy hair who completed the group, were all roaring with laughter. Iris would have to be daft not to connect the dots. McGonagall seemed to have the same notation and glided over to their end of the table. She didn't look angry and that was the scary thing about the Transfiguration professor, she always seemed calm and expressionless throughout it all. It left them to wonder and well, fear what she would do.

The four boys abruptly stopped their guffawing at the sight of McGonagall. Only James and Sirius had small smirks remaining. Remus looked a bit pale and Iris gathered that it was because he was the most responsible of the four. Peter looked a bit frightened as well, as he had already had a run in with McGonagall that week.

Surprisingly, the professor only uttered one word before heading off. "Detention." she had announced in a clear voice. Iris had watched as McGonagall had returned to her seat next to the headmaster, Dumbledore, who was wearing a small, but very amused smile.

"First one!" James had declared, proudly as if he had received a medal instead of detention. He had not even noticed that Lily was glaring at him with disapproval.

"And many more to come!" added Sirius, jovially. Remus had groaned, probably only realizing what he had gotten himself into by befriending them. Iris snickered, catching Sirius' attention once more. "What did you think?" he asked.

All four boys were watching, waiting for her answer. With a faux serious expression, Iris sniffed, "Well, if I'm to be honest... I expected better."

Behind his glasses, James narrowed his hazel eyes. It seemed they hadn't caught on that she was joking. "We've only just started!" he exclaimed in defense and she had to hold back her laugh. It sounded like a promise, one she was sure that she would enjoying witnessing.

The Dungeons, January 15th 1972

Professor Slughorn was lecturing and Iris was taking down quick notes, not lengthy like she used to. With the help of Lily and sometimes Dorcas, her reading ability had improved. Words still jumbled about, but with the help of her friends, she had formed tricks to help her out when they did. She was thankful and her writing hand was as well.

"Iris!" a voice behind her hissed. She turned to see Lily, who looked a bit frantic. "Do you have a quill?" she asked, hopefully. Iris bit her lip to hide her smile. Leave it to Lily to panic about not having a quill. She nodded and reached into her bag to grab one, then handed it to her friend. "Thank you." the redhead breathed, appreciatively.

She turned back to the lesson, listening intently. She had quite liked Potions and had found the things you could do with a few ingredients amazing. When they began brewing a Sleeping Draught, Iris fell into it with ease. Remus, however, who was seated next to her, was having some problems. "Please help." he pleaded, looking as if the task was internally tearing him into two.

Iris let out a chuckle and began to assist him. It was quite clear that Potions was not one of Remus' talents. "It's okay to not be brilliant in every subject, Remus." she assured him once they had turned in their cauldrons for inspection. Iris had known that he was a bit of a bookworm and a rather good student despite his complications with Potions. "I'm dreadful in Charms, you know."

"Charms?" he asked, sounding as if he didn't believe her. "You're serious?"

Sirius interrupted from across the aisle causing them both to roll their eyes. "No, I am!" he declared.

"Quite so, I'm afraid." Iris said, solemnly after ignoring Sirius. Charms was supposedly easy for most, but she had never gotten the hang of it. Maybe her wand form was off. "Pathetic, isn't?"

Remus shook his head, "Not at all!" he promised, "Maybe I could help?"

"That would be brilliant!" she exclaimed, happily. Remus had always been friendly, but so always assumed it was out of politeness. It was only then that she had realized he was actually her friend.

The Quidditch Pitch, May 8th 1972

"Just you wait!" James declared, proudly as he hopped up from his seat on the stands. They were currently watching the Ravenclaws practice and Iris urged them to come with her to see her brother. They had agreed, especially considering the common room was filled with frantic Gryffindors. End of term exams seemed to drive everyone mad except for Iris and the boys, who didn't prioritize too well. "They are going to be begging for me to be Chaser next year!"

Iris rolled her eyes. He was about the most overconfident boy she knew. He was quite a laugh and pretty talented with a wand, loyal as well which Iris admired, so she dealt with his arrogance. It was really only a small price to pay for their friendship. "But James that would require you to have some actual talent." she jibed, snorting. Merlin knew he needed to be knocked down a few notches, but this was her usual banter and each of the boys had received the sharp end of her impertinence from time to time.

Sirius, Remus and Peter snickered as James mock glared at her. "Says the girl who can't even get a broom into the air." he retorted, smirking as if he was pleased with his comeback.

"Oi!" she exclaimed, feeling her cheeks redden. It was the sad truth. Iris was a terrible flier and just about everyone knew it. "I made it into the air!" she defended, even though it was for about two seconds and then she proceeded to come crashing down. Hogwarts was currently down a broom.

"Oh, how could we forget!" Sirius laughed as he mocked her wide eyed expression. All the boys only laughed more. "You looked positively horrified when you realized it!"

Iris rolled her eyes, dismissively, "Well, fine! I can't fly, but you both suck."

Remus chuckled and nudged her shoulder, playfully. "Sour grapes, Iris?" he teased and she scoffed.

"Of course not, Lupin." she insisted in a mature tone. She'd go to Filch's office and back before she'd admit it, too. "I only eat my fruit ripe."

Remus was probably her closest friend out of the four. As promised, her had assisted her in Charms and she was currently only half bad. He had also let her in on the pranks the four had planned to pull and she gave her input, revising them to perfection. He hadn't told James, Sirius or Peter about this, but Iris had insisted he didn't. She teased that they might be wounded that a girl was more clever than them. There had been something she found odd about the sandy haired boy, though. It was as though Remus disappeared once a month and returned with various excuses. Iris had found it very questionable, but decided prying wasn't the best course of action so early in their friendship.

James and Sirius, she reckoned, enjoyed her company because she was quick witted with her words. Whenever they were together, she and the two boys always bickered back and forth. She had also tried to mute the fire of hatred Lily had for them, it didn't work, but they had told her the notion was appreciated.

Peter was the only one she hadn't been close too, but he was kind enough and a bit clumsy. Iris always made a point to help him when he'd trip up in class or fall on his robes. As it seemed, poor boy actually did have bad luck.

"What are you lot doing for your summer holidays?" Peter questioned as their joking died down.

"Going back to Greece." Iris explained, smiling wistfully. It was her mother's native country and they returned every year.

Sirius shrugged, looking a bit unhappy. "I'll probably get another course in pureblood superiority." he muttered, annoyed. "Or maybe they'll just lock me in my room. I think I'd prefer that."

Iris gave him a sympathetic pat on the shoulder before James offered with enthusiasm, "Why don't you stay with me during the summer, mate? Mum will love you!"

The silver eyed boy seemed to lighten up. "Way better than being locked in my room!" he grinned, giving James a high five.

They fell into conversation about summer. Peter would be with his mother, Remus with his parents, but both agreed to meet up at Diagon Alley on occasion. Iris promised them letters and souvenirs. She was certain all of them would love something from Hermes' Tricks and Treasures, which was a joke shop in Magical Greece. James and Sirius had began to discuss on the mischief they would cause over the summer when she realized just how much she'd miss them and her other friends during the Holidays.

Iris is dyslexic in case you were wondering. Thanks for reading! This is a side project, given that my main focus is my other story The Runaways. I will try to update this as much as possible, but I really want to finish my other story first. Reviews are super appreciated!