The train came to a sudden halt its wheels screeching at an unholy frequency as it did so. There was the distinct booming voice of Hagrid over the steam engine, who was in charge of shuttling the first years off for a false sense of tranquillity before they were sorted into their houses and bullied for a minimum of three years.
James stood from his seat, retrieving his jacket and book bag from the compartment drawers and hurrying his friend, Remus Lupin, along. "Come on Remus, get up!" he nudged him awake, making sure to pinch him as he did so. "I want to sit next to the doors, and you know the seventh years have the confidence of an Auror this year."
Remus shrugged James off, rubbing the sleep from his puffy eyes. "Calm down, we just stopped." He let out a small yawn. "Are Peter and Sirius back yet?"
James shook his head, leaning his hand on the compartment door he had slid open while Remus got himself together. He watched as students passed, finding it odd not seeing the faces of last year's seventh years and instead fresh new first years huddling together in nervousness. "Still galivanting Sirius' new body I reckon, though why peter would even go along with him or care is beyond me."
Remus gave James a quizzical look, "galivanting? Did you spend summer in West London or what?"
James smiled, proud of himself. "No, only looked through muggle dictionaries to improve my vocabulary," he was proud of his achievement of flicking through a thesaurus for words that sounded smart and examples of when to use them.
Remus let out a small laugh, fixing his matted hair in the compartment window before squeezing past James and leading the way through the train. He stopped abruptly at every door, waiting for someone to leave.
Always the gentleman, James thought to himself. Unable to stop himself from cutting in front of Remus to get off the train quicker. He kept a sharp look out for Lily or any of her known friends Alice and Mary. James' excuse of wanting to sit near the doors was absolute rubbish, he only wanted to see where Lily was seated to sit as close to her as possible. Naturally.
"Listen, mate. I'm all for romance and school sweethearts," Remus said, noticing James' body language and anticipation, "but don't you think that four years of pursuit is enough? No means no."
James huffed, turning a light shade of pink and fiddling with his glasses, he knew Remus was right. For the past four years he had tried to get Lily to like him, hell even look at him like he wasn't the world's worst creature would be enough for him. "Listen Remus, when you're in love you'll get it. Not even death would keep me away from that girl." Was he exaggerating? He wasn't sure entirely, but he meant it when he said he liked Lily Evans in the unhealthiest way possible.
Remus rolled his eyes, "we're fifteen," he reminded him sternly. "We have ten years before our parents expect us to get married, are you telling me you really want to spend them with one girl?"
James frowned at Remus. "Okay Mr Player, the only time you've talked to a girl is when you're saying oh no worries," the pitch of his voice raised as he mimicked Remus, "when you kiss their arse and they thank you."
Remus glared at him. "I'm not at school to be a player or find a girlfriend, I'm here to get an education."
James rolled his eyes, he wanted to respond but he had sighted his two other annoying best friends and lost his train of thought. They stepped off the train just as Sirius and peter were making their way off the platform. "Oi! Padfoot!" James yelled, cupping his hands over his mouth.
Sirius' ears perked up and he turned around. He, unlike Peter, was yet to have changed into his school uniform and was looking worried at the thought of possibly being punished before even starting classes.
"Where have you been?" Remus queered, giving Peter a light nudge.
Peter guffawed, "you should have been there. All the girls look different! Like, taller and prettier and … just different."
"Do you mean they hit the second part of their puberty mate?" Remus asked, grimacing at Peter's remarks.
"You what? No. They look hot! Like that muggle actress, what's her name again?" and he was gone into his thoughts, muttering to himself as he listed off the name of muggle actresses that could have possibly gone from okay looking to out of this world.
Sirius rolled his eyes, watching as peter walked off with Remus hot on his heels. Probably to educate him on how the female anatomy worked … well as much of it as he knew, and Sirius doubted that that was a lot more than Peter did.
He turned his attention to James, who for the tenth time that day was fixing his tie. "We saw Lily. Still the innocent flower she was when we left," he snickered, knowing James hated being teased on her behalf.
"Leave off."
"Mate she has serious anger issues; Peter was changing in the loo and I was obviously talking to some fit fourth years and she tells me I'm a perverted freak and should find something else to do with my time!" James rolled his eyes at his statements; Sirius stood behind his friend and rubbed his shoulders. "When are you going to get off your little Lily cloud and come down to the real world. The one where there are about forty girls of your liking waiting James, waiting to be chosen."
James scoffed, "they aren't cattle Sirius." But he did see his friends point, he blinked at the passing Ravenclaw fifth years who smiled at the pair. "But I'm loyal to Lily." He said, shaking his head and looking to the leafy ground.
"She certainly is not loyal to you. Our old friend Snivellus was sitting with her, all comfortable in the compartment with Reg."
James flinched at the mention of Severus Snape, the worst person he could have possibly encountered in his short life. "Snivellus and that oil dunked hair of his could never have Lily. Ever," he responded adamantly.
They had caught up with Peter and Remus, who were stood by a carriage waiting impatiently for the two. "For someone who rushed me up, you're moving very slowly," Remus pointed out, pulling himself into the carriage.
"So sorry my love, would a cup of tea calm you down?" James smiled back sarcastically, snickering as he watched Remus grow even more irritated. He followed him into the carriage, waited for the other two to get on and reached his hand out of the window to tap on the top of the carriage.
"They literally don't move until the people in front have gone James, why do you do that every year?" Sirius asked, looking at James as if he was short a few straws.
James shrugged his shoulders innocently, putting his bag down next to him by the window. "I feel special doing it. Shouldn't you be changing by the way?" He asked, looking at Sirius sternly.
Sirius rolled his eyes, took his bag from his shoulder, searched through it for a while before pulling out a white top and gold and red tie. "I wonder what we'll be having for dessert. I swear my mother fed me coal and fire the whole summer," Sirius groaned, his shirt midway over his head. The other three stared at him uncomfortably. "If I hate my mother guys, that is your cue to agree with me."
"Your mother and her coal and fire can't get you, Sirius, you'll be safe at Hogwarts," Remus smiled generously as the other two agreed with him. Sirius smiled, even though they didn't talk much about it, his friends did support him quite a lot.
…
After the short trip from the train station to Hogwarts, James was thankfully able to get his lucky seat near Lily. The Great Hall was almost empty as they had been one of the first to arrive. Craning his neck to look to down the Gryffindor table, he spotted his fiery headed flower sitting right at the front. Having entered the hall first he led the way to where she was seated with Alice and Mary.
James slid into the seat next to Mary, opposite of Lily and left the seat next to him vacant. "Good evening ladies," he smiled, watching as his friends sat down next to him. Sirius, ever the one for dramatics stood on the bench, hopped onto the table and sat on the opposite side of his friends. Remus rolled his eyes and gave James a pointed look. Peter didn't do much other than gaze at the empty plates lining the table in anticipation.
"Hey, James!" Alice smiled, glad that the solemn conversations the girls were having earlier were cut short.
"Hey Alice, Mary, you are looking particularly wonderful under this candlelight," Sirius smiled, winking as Mary turned bright red.
"Shut up Sirius," she muttered, sinking into her seat between James and Remus. Sirius, proud of his new found ability to make girls flutter at the sight of him smiled in a cheeky manner and spurted conversation with Alice about her break.
"Hey Lily," James smiled, directing his conversation to her. Lily looked up at him surprised that he had called her by her first name, an event so rare it would be considered one of the seven wonders of the world. James thanked his father for that tip watching her brows raised in confusion.
Call her by her name, not her father's name! He had shouted at him.
"Potter," Lily responded, always the one for an icy response.
James, taking the blow, continued. "How was your summer?"
"Hot," Lily replied, nodding her head once as if to say now that is that leave me alone and turned her attention to the professor's table.
"Jesus mate," Sirius mouthed, grimacing at the tough conversation he had witnessed.
James scratched the back of his neck, unsure of how to recover. "How … pleasant." He groaned internally as he watched Lily give him an odd look and turn back around to watch the professors mingle.
The Great Hall grew louder with chatter, the houses' tables growing as full as they could possibly be with a missing cohort. James looked around; Peter was right. There was something that had made the girls in his year, not only his house, prettier than last year. Perhaps he was just noticing them now, but he couldn't help but stare at a few in particular.
"Good evening students," Professor Dumbledore smiled. Almost as quickly as he had uttered the words the hall grew silent. "The very best of evenings to you! Now to our new students," he raised his hand to the back of the hall where a group of first years stood behind Professor McGonagall, "welcome. And to our old students, welcome back!" His cheery laugh lifting the spirits of even James, who had just suffered the most brutal rejection to date. Professor Dumbledore swept his hand into the air, lightening the candles that had hung waiting to shine in the air. James noticed that it had started to rain outside as well, with the light pitter patter of raining falling on the enchanted roof above them.
"Now, another year full of magical education awaits you. Before we begin our banquet – please Mr Andrews don't chew the spoons they are communal -," a Ravenclaw third year threw his spoon onto the table with clutter to the humour of his housemates and the school. "I would like to say a few words. Our new Defence Against the Dark Arts professor, Professor Michael De Jacq, will join us tomorrow, his travels have been delayed. And yes, of course, the Sorting, Professor McGonagall the floor is yours."
Professor McGonagall marched into the room, her shoes making an annoying click on the hard floor as she did so. With the Sorting Hate in hand, she led a squabble of first years behind her.
"Wait a minute," Sirius muttered tapping Remus' extended hand on the table. "That is not a first year," he said, pointing to a girl who was lagging behind the group. She was notably taller than those around her. "We get a new girl!" He whispered excitedly. Watching as she walked away Sirius could not help but be attracted to the back of her. She had her skirt down to her knees but her behind was definitely one that could not be hidden by proper attire.
James followed Sirius' gaze, wondering what his excitement was. Seemingly, the other boys on the table across from the had noticed, whispering to each other and laughing along. The Sorting Hat was placed on its usual stool and it opened its mouth wide to begin its song. James, however, could not hear a word it was saying, wondering what house the new girl would be put in and exactly how old she was.
The song ended and Professor McGonagall cleared her throat. "Now! You will be sorted into your houses when I call your name please step forward." She went through the list, it looked as if she had left the eldest girl to last as once the first years had been sorted and settled into their individual tables.
"Zabini, Joy," McGonagall said, clearing her throat and mentioning for the girl to sit down on the stool.
Sirius let out a sigh. "Fuck," he drawled turning to the Slytherin table. The seventh years seemed to be expecting her. "She's Mya Zabini's sister."
James shrugged his shoulders. "So?"
"Mya … loony … Zabini?" Sirius said, reminding James of the girl who had graduated the year before. "She used to kiss Bella's arse man. Such a freak. Let's hope it isn't hereditary," Remus shushed the two, waiting for the Sorting Hat to make up its mind.
For a hat it seemed to be deep in thought, the girl wearing it seemed relaxed as she waited for it to announce her house.
...
EEK! I loved writing this chapter because I can finally relate to the main character, she isn't a Mary Sue with skinny legs a big butt, big boobs a tiny waist and long hair who somehow lost 120kgs over the summer break -.-. This time around we have an educated QWEEN and the love story will progress as any high school love story would, in the messiest and toxic way possible. Stay tuned for more if you enjoyed it.
What do you think is going to happen next? Where will she be sorted? Who will befriend her? Will our Lord and saviour James Potter finally smash Lily Evans? What house will our new OC be sorted into?
Love xx