Emerald P.O.V.
"First 'ears an' new students, over 'ear," came the bellowing of a giant. I looked over and saw a man around 7 feet tall waving at the train.
"That's my cue," I dashed over, grabbed my luggage, and strutted out, as if seeing a giant waving for me was an everyday occurrence.
The giant whose name I learned to be Hagrid, led us over to an area of boats.
"'our to a boat," he hollered, as first years rushed around with their newfound friends to find an empty boat. As the boats magically rowed themselves towards the castle, I listened in on the two first years' conversations, hoping for some information about Hogwarts, while Hagrid continued sitting next to me in silence.
"Hey, did you hear, there's an infamous group of prankers called the Marauders?" one first year whispered excitedly to his friend.
"Yeah, I heard that they get so many detentions, and that everyone looks up to them!" the other exclaimed.
"Do you think they'll let me join?" the first one asked. I snickered quietly. If the so-called Marauder are so popular, why would they let two itty bitty first years join?
"I don't think so, but I want to be a Marauder so bad," the second one sighed lustfully. I started tuning out their conversations, and instead started planning pranks to pull on the "infamous" Marauders.
My train of thoughts concerning the Marauders soon stopped as we neared shore. I was walking in the lead with Hagrid towards Hogwarts. I overheard something about how we're supposed to go the "Great Hall" to be sorted, which is exactly what we did. After we walked in, an old man with a great long white beard, stood up and cleared his throat.
"Welcome back students, and may I welcome our new students and first years. Let this year be one of learning and happiness. And with that, let me start the sorting." With that said, Dumbledore brought out an old black hat, placed it on a stool, and left. My mouth formed a small 'o' as the hat started singing.
A thousand years or more ago Bold Gryffindor, from wild moor, They shared a wish, a hope, a dream, Now each of these four founders By Gryffindor, the bravest were For Hufflepuff, hard workers were While still alive they did divide Twas Gryffindor who found the way, Now slip me snug about your ears,
When I was newly sewn,
There lived four wizards of renown,
Whose names are still well known:
Fair Ravenclaw, from glen,
Sweet Hufflepuff, from valley broad,
Shrewd Slytherin, from fen.
They hatched a daring plan
To educate young sorcerers
Thus Hogwarts School began.
Formed their own house, for each
Did value different virtues
In the ones they had to teach.
Prized far beyond the rest;
For Ravenclaw, the cleverest
Would always be the best;
Most worthy of admission;
And power-hungry Slytherin
Loved those of great ambition.
Their favourites from the throng,
Yet how to pick the worthy ones
When they were dead and gone?
He whipped me off his head
The founders put some brains in me
So I could choose instead!
I've never yet been wrong,
I'll have a look inside your mind
And tell where you belong!
"And with that, let's start the sorting! I'm Professor McGonagall, by the way. First up is Miss Emerald Hope, a new transfer. She will be starting her third year," Professor McGonagall announced. I skipped to the stool, and sat down as the professor placed the hat over my head.
Hmmm, you've got a lot of potential. Cunning, like Slytherin, brave like Gryffindor, but you're as clever as a Ravenclaw, and as loyal as a Hufflepuff. Where should I put you? Wherever you think I'd fit in best, Mr. Hat but before you say the name of the house, could you say Slytherin first? I requested humbly. Ah, a pranker I see better be "Slytherin!" The sorting hat screamed the last part aloud, and I hopped from the chair and started walking towards the tables.
"Just kidding, it's actually Gryffindor. You've got quite a tricky one on your hands," the sorting hat announced, chuckling in amusement at the reaction of the occupants in the Great Hall.
Regulus, Lucius, Bellatrix and Narcissa, whom I just noticed, were groaning from the Slytherin table. Severus looked disappointed too. I looked over at the Gryffindor's table. Lily, James, Sirius, and Remus were all enthusiastically waving me over. Peter was just hanging there; slightly awkward like the first time I met him. I decided to sit with them, thinking that they might be able to tell me who the Marauders were.
"Hey," I smiled as I sat down next to Lily.
"Hi," James flashed me a friendly grin.
"Let the feast begin," Dumbledore announced, as all the first years were finally sorted. As mountains of food began to appear at every house table, I turned around to face Lily.
"Lily, I heard that there's some infamous group of prankers called the Marauders or something. You wouldn't happen to know them would you?" Right when Lily opened her mouth, Sirius cut in.
"The Marauders? They're only the best prankers of the school, why?" Sirius smirked at me, his face lighting up with both delight and curiosity.
"Oh, no particular reason. I just heard that they're this group of really good prankers, and well, I'm up for a challenge." I smirked back equally at him before continuing, "Who are they anyways?" Sirius and James shared a mischievous look, before exchanging looks with Remus and Peter.
"Well, you've met them already," James said, hiding a grin.
"I don't recall meeting anyone who might be part of the Marauders, sorry," I said, shrugging my shoulders apologetically. James and Sirius gasped dramatically.
"James, Remus, Peter and I are the Marauders," he said, slowly, as if he was talking to a child. I looked back and forth between him and the other boys, trying to figure out if this was a joke.
"Um, don't be offended or anything, but you boys honestly don't look like the type," I replied. Sirius gasped, his face contorting into that of mock horror.
"You don't think this is bad ass?" he said, gesturing to himself in the process.
"Eh," I shrugged my shoulders casually. Sirius looked offended, but what can I say? The truth always hurts.
"Anyways, challenge accepted," Remus chimed in, having listened in silence up until this point. Hmm, Remus looks familiar. I wonder why?
"Remus, I wouldn't happen to know you, would I? You seem so familiar," I trailed off, deep in my thoughts.
"Well, I don't know. I've been thinking the same thing. Maybe we do know each other," Remus struck a thinking pose, stroking his invisible beard.
I giggled, finding his childish pose funny. What I remembered next felt as if a train hit me straight on.
• • •
As a younger version of Delilah walked from her house in England to the nearby park, a pang of loneliness stabbed at her. Most kids her age has friends, but she recently moved here, so no one was familiar to her. Plus, she was more mature than most kids, with the exception of when she was pranking. Both her parents were well-respected wizards in the wizard world, and they both had been aurors when they were younger. Often times, when her parents were at home, which isn't very often, they teach her foreign languages, potions, spells, dueling, and all types of stuff you normally learn in wizard school. Young Emerald Delilah was very skilled in magic, but she'd prefer pranking pranking, since it produces laughter from everyone, herself included. Meanwhile, a young boy her age with brown hair was heading to the park from the opposite direction.
When Delilah got the park, the first thing she did was head to the swings. She continued swinging until she was pretty high up. The swings made her feel as if she was flying, which was one of the greatest feelings in the world to her. She paced herself, and got ready to jump. As she pushed off from her swing, bracing her ankles for the sudden impact, she noticed a young boy walking near the swings. The next thing she knew, their two small bodies collided, and they tumbled. Emerald peeked from her position, but all she saw was a mess of brown hair. She quickly got up, and surveyed her surroundings, seeing the light brown haired boy lying in front of her.
"I'm so sorry, I was going to jump off the swings, I didn't see you," she said, wide eyed, sincere regret written all over the face. The boy got up, and brushed his jeans. "It's okay," he smiled warmly at her. " I'm Remus, I'm 6 years old." "I'm Emerald, but you can call me Delilah, and same here," she smiled back.
"I'll call you Dee," Remus decided instantly. The two laughed at his response, although there really wasn't anything about it that was funny.
They walked back to the swings, laughing and talking. From that day forward, they'd have competitions about who could jump furthest. And so the two were best friends all the way until Emerald moved back to the States. She also met Lucius, Regulus, Narcissa, and Bellatrix, but that's another story.
• • •
As my flashback ended, I looked to Remus, who seemed like he had a flashback too.
"Jumping from swing sets?" I asked softly. He widened his eyes, staring in surprise at me, as if I read his mind, which I guess I sort of did.
"Leah?" he asked. I nodded.
"Dee?" he questioned. I nodded yet again, wiping at my eyes. I could feel the tears forming.
I jumped over from my side of the table, across to his side, and tackled him in a hug.
"I missed you so much, Rems." I whispered, gasping for air.
"Me too, Dee." he breathed into my hair.
"I'm going to prank the Marauders. Don't give me away," I inform him as we hugged.
"I won't, same old Dee I see," he whispered back. I can practically hear the grin that I was sure was on his face. I smiled at him as we released each other from the tight hug. I heard the throat clearing of a male, and turned around.
"So we don't get hugs?" an oddly familiar female voice demanded, sounding offended.
"Bella, Cissy!" I ran over and they tackled me into a hug, sandwiching me.
"Can't-br-eathe-ne-ed-air," I managed to choke out. Lucius, Regulus, and Severus chuckled, shaking their heads at our never changing childish antics.
"Release the poor girl Bella. You're finally reunited. You wouldn't want to kill her so fast, would you?" Regulus laughed wholeheartedly. Merlin, I've missed him so much. Bellatrix shot daggers at him. I noted how the other Gryffindors and Slytherins were just standing there shifting from foot to foot. Hmm, so there IS inter-house rivalry.
"Well, I'm stuffed and exhausted. I'm going to bed, okay? Catch up with you people another day!" I bid them all goodnight, before following Lily to our dorms.
Technically the last part had sort of been a white lie. Sure I was full, but I wasn't that tired. But all the same, I wanted to get some rest, so I'd have energy when I start pranking them tomorrow. I smiled contentedly at myself, proud of my plans. Tomorrow's going to be a great day. The Marauders don't know what they're up against.