To Hogwarts at Last!
Lily was so excited on September 1st that she woke up real early and got dressed as fast as she could. She did some last minute checking to make sure that she hadn't forgotten anything. She looked at the barn owl her mother had bought her as a gift. Now her mother was as proud of her as her father. They loved the idea of having a witch in the family.
WWhen Lily went down for breakfast she saw that Petunia was already awake. "That foul creature of yours kept me up half the night!" she spat as soon as she saw Lily.
"He's great! You're just sensitive to any sound." Actually Comet (that's what she decided to call him) kept her up as well. But he was a good owl just the same.
"Humph," said Petunia and she left the room. Her mother came down shortly after.
"All ready for Hogwarts, Lily?" she asked positively beaming at her.
"I think I've got everything I need. I'm going to change on the train. In the envelope with my letter was a ticket. But the strange thing is that the platform that the Hogwarts Express comes into is called Platform nine and three quarters!" Lily said a little worriedly.
"Don't worry so, Lily. We'll find out how to get there," said her mother trying to comfort her. "Petunia, dear, are you coming with us?" she called to Petunia.
"I'm not if that abnormal thing is going!" she yelled down the stairs.
"She's talking about me," Lily said when she saw the confusion on her mother's face.
"Petunia, that's very rude!" her mother called back angrily. Petunia said no more. "Well, that's just unexseptable. I'm sorry for her behav.."
"It's fine, Mother. She's just jealous because i'm going to a school where they teach us magic!" she squealed happily.
Her mother's smile returned. "Alright, dear. Put your trunk it the car and let's be off!" said her mother. Lily nodded and ran upstairs to get her trunk.
* * *
James was also nervous. He knew he'd learn magic quick enough, but there was still a worry inside of him that he couldn't comfort. But he was so excited! He woke about the same hour Lily did and was so happy to find that his mother and father were already awake and waiting downstairs. When he came into the living room his father beamed at him.
"All ready for Hogwarts, son?" he asked him.
"I think so. I'll go check and make sure I didn't forget anything," he said quickly and was about to leave.
"Hold on there! Just a second. Your mother and I have a little surprise for you. It's just a good luck present. We only want the best for you. Besides! We want you to tell us everything that happens at good olla' Hogwarts," he said and pulled out a screech owl. It hooted softly. James was so surprised.
"He's all mine?!" he asked a look of shocked pleasure on his face.
"Yep," said his father beaming once more.
"Thanks Dad! Mum!" he said hugging them both.
"Now, James! Hurry and get your trunk we're leaving as soon as your all ready, okay?"
"Oh, I'm ready now! Let's go!" he said jumping up and down.
"Do you need any help with your trunk, son?" asked his father.
"No, I can get it on my own, dad." James ran out of the room, and his father smiled after him. It was obvious that he was very proud that his son was going to Hogwarts. He knew that he had potential, and could grow up to be one of the greatest wizards ever. But he had to finish his first year before any of that happened.
* * *
Lily arrived at King's Cross about and hour later. She drug her trunk out, and her mother got her owl for her. They approached platforms nine and ten looking around. There was definitely no platform nine and three quarters. "Any idea how to get onto the platform yet, Mum?" she asked her mother.
"No, dear. Not yet." But just then she saw a woman and her son. Her son rolled his trolley toward the barrier right in between platforms nine and ten. But then...he was gone! He had just disappeared. Lily looked over and saw a girl who might be in her fifth year do the same. She and her mother walked over to the woman who had the son.
"Excuse me," said her mother to the woman. She had a very kind looking face. "How do you get to platform nine and three quarters?"
"Oh, so your born of Muggle parentage?" she asked Lily and Lily nodded. Her mother looked very confused. "Well, dear you just go right up to the barrier, don't worry about crashing into it, and you'll go straight through!" she said smiling. "By the way, I'm Marticia Black. I've got a son who's starting this year. Is this your first year, too?"
"Yes, ma'am," said Lily politely.
"Well, I'll come with you through the barrier. I'm sure my son Sirius wouldn't mind helping with your trunk onto the train."
"Thank you," Lily said and they set of toward the barrier. Lily was nervous they were getting closer....closer still....they were going to crash! She shut her eyes tight but they never crashed. She looked up and saw that the sign said nine and three quarters on it.
"Now this is my son Sirius. Sirius, this is...oh, I'm sorry I didn't get your name."
"I'm Julie Clark and this my daughter Lily," said Lily's mum.
"Hello, Lily," Sirius said politely.
"Hello," she said. She was always a little shy about meeting people.
"Mum, I'd better get on the train. We're due to leave any minute now," said Sirius looking at his mother.
"Alright, dear," she said kissing him. "Have a good term. Would you mind helping Lily with her trunk?" He shook his head and picked up her trunk. Lily's mother handed her her owl and kissed her goodbye. Lily followed Sirius onto the train. He stopped to talk to someone and asked her to go find a compartment fairly empty. She went into the first one and saw James and another boy talking. When she opened the door they looked up at her.
"May I sit here?" she asked her shyness coming back.
"Of course!" said James smiling. "I'm James as you may remember and this is Remus Lupin" he said pointing to the boy next to him. He had dark hair, pale skin, and large bags under his eyes. He looked extremely tired as though he hadn't slept in days.
"Oh, and another person is coming to." But just as she said this Sirius came back with Lily's trunk along with his own.
"I'm Sirius Black," he said to James and Remus.
"I'm James Potter."
"Remus Lupin."
He nodded putting his and Lily's trunk up into the compartment overhead.
* * *
After James and Remus had gotten to talking (he met him when he first got onto the train) Lily came in and stayed with them. Also another boy by the name of Sirius Black came along and stayed with them. Lily looked beautiful as always. But as soon as they made the announcement that the train was about to start their compartment door slid open again.
"Mind if we stay a while?" asked the girl in the front. There were two other girls behind her.
"Not at all," said Lily and moved over to make room for the three girls. "I'm Lily Clark, this is James Potter, Remus Lupin, and Sirius Black."
"I'm Melissa Gumtree and this is Gloria Chinker and Jennifer Johnson," said the girl who was in the front.
* * *
Severus heard the announcement that they were about to start. He had checked every compartment for Lily. Finally he came to the last one. He slid open the door and saw James Potter, two other boys, Lily, and three other girls.
"Mind if I sit here? Everywhere else is full," he said. He knew this was a lie but he didn't care.
"Yeah, come on in," said the boy next to James. The other boy looked very tired and pale. "I'm Sirius Black."
"Remus Lupin," said Remus with a sigh. "This is James.." he started.
"Yes, I had the er.. pleasure of meeting him in the robe shop. Along with Lily," said Severus smiling at Lily. He hated to say that it was a pleasure but he couldn't say anything mean to him in front of Lily and the other girls there.
"I'm Jennifer Johnson."
"Gloria Chinker."
"So you guys play any Quidditch? I do. I'm hoping to get on the team next year," said James to Sirius and Remus. The girls started their own conversation on the other side of the compartment.
"Some," said Sirius and Remus nodded in agreement. Severus was just thinking about leaving when James addressed him.
"So, Severus, what house do you want?" Severus thought fast. He already knew what house he was going to be in. His parents knew it from the day he was born: Slytherin. But he didn't want to say that because Lily and the other girls were now looking at him, too.
"Well, I guess any of them would be okay. Except maybe Hufflepuff or something," he said smoothly. None of them noticed a thing.
"I think I want Gryffindor," said Sirius and all of the rest nodded. Except Lily.
"What're the houses?" she asked curiously. Severus was shocked. She came from a Muggle family! Usually he would sneer at the stinking Mudblood but he would never sneer at Lily.
"There are four," explained James just as Severus was going to explain. "Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, and Slytherin. They say that Gryffindor is for the brave ones, Ravenclaw for the smart ones, Hufflepuff for the shy and considerate ones, and Slytherin is usually the evil ones. They almost all turn out to be Dark Wizards." Severus had to bite down on his tongue hard not to say anything. If they knew he was going to be a Slytherin they wouldn't talk to him. He didn't really care except for Lily. She might be offended. He would never want to offend Lily Clark.
* * *
As James was explaining the houses to Lily he took a quick glance at Snape. He had no idea why he was sitting with them. He knew that he didn't like him. As he said Slytherins were evil and turned out to be Dark Wizards he saw Snape's face go real ridged like he was biting his tongue. He is biting his tongue! James thought.
They talked happily the rest of the way. Severus stayed strangely quiet though like he didn't want to say the wrong thing.
Finally they pulled into Hogsmeade station. They were told to leave their trunks on the train and to leave the train. They all filed out talking excitedly. They walked up to the big castle and a huge giant directed them towards the lake. They all got into boats. It was Sirius, Remus, James, and another boy in the boat. They all introduced themselves, and he turned out to be named Peter Pettigrew. They were all very nervous but excited. Once across the lake they were herded inside by a small lady with a tight bun and stern face.
After a little while they were lead into a huge hall, and all of the students were already there waiting for them to arrive. Someone brought out a three-legged stool and set a very dirty old hat on it. The Sorting Hat. James's father had told him all about it even though his mother told him not to. He was going to put it on and it would tell him what house he was in.
The first two people stepped up and were placed. Then "Black, Sirius!" was called. He put the hat on and was put into Gryffindor quickly. The Gloria Chinker was made the second Gryffindor. A couple more people. Lily Clark was up.
* * *
"Hm, let's see now," the hat said in her ear. "You're a very nice girl, suitable for Hufflepuff. Smart, too! Suitable for Ravenclaw. But you've got you've got a good amount of courage here. Hm, anywhere but Slytherin. So you'll be GRYFFINDOR!" it shouted. Lily was so relieved. She went and flopped down into a seat next to Gloria. They watched as more people were up. After Lily a boy was made Ravenclaw then Melissa was a Gryffindor. Jennifer was the same, too. A few more people. Lily was trying to keep track of where the different people went. Hufflepuff, Slytherin, Ravenclaw, Slytherin, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff... Up next was Remus. He put the hat on. Everyone remained silent a few seconds. Then the hat shouted "GRYFFINDOR!" He came and sat down with the new first years. The line went fairly quickly. Seven more people were up and then "Pettigrew, Peter!" whom Remus had met on the boat was put into Gryffindor. Right after him was, "Potter, James!"
* * *
As he stepped up, his legs shaking uncontrobably, he put the hat on and waited. "Oh, there's so much talent here! Wow! You're very easy like that Black boy. GRYFFINDOR!" James sighed and sat down next to Sirius.
"Did the hat say you were easy to place?" he whispered to him.
"Yes, how did you know?" he asked looking a little shocked.
"It said, 'You're easy to place like that Black boy'," he said and they both laughed. He liked Sirius a lot. He hoped that they would become best friends.
James had missed the people after him, and now "Snape, Severus!" was being called up. James had an idea what house he would be in. He could just feel it.
"SLYTHERIN!" the hat yelled. James smirked a little bit. His father was right, they're all Slytherins. Lily gasped.
"But he was so nice on the train!"
"I think that was just an act," Sirius said and James nodded in agreement. After the Sorting was finished, and they had eaten, they followed the Gryffindor prefect up to a portrait of a fat lady in a pink dress.
"Halembuster," the prefect said and the portrait swung forward. They all went up to the dormitories and climbed into the bed that had their trunk at the end. He saw that he was sharing his dormitory with Remus, Sirius, and Peter. I love Hogwarts already James thought as he drifted to sleep.
A/N:
~*hermione*~