I managed somehow, surprisingly, to make it to the castle unaffected by this strange new turn of events. It was still cold when we clambered down from the carriage but I wouldn't have cared if it was a blizzard. Anything to get away from the stifling atmosphere of that closeted little space.

Potter, of course, attempted to help me down, but I shrugged him off quickly enough. That boy really needs to stay out of my personal space bubble! It's called my bubble for a reason! We were separated soon from the Marauders, something which I was all too happy about, in the crowd of students all trying to get through the front doors. I ended up losing Ry and Bell too, but Day had my arm in a vice-like grip, and even a hurricane couldn't have separated us. We were all reunited in the Great Hall and took our seats at the Gryffindor table. Having caught one of the first carriages back, there were not many people there yet. But the hall filled up quickly, and soon we were all squished together along the bench.

The general murmur of students was dying down now, and I could see Professor McGonagall (bless her) striding up to the table where the teachers were sitting, leading a long line of first years behind her. Personally, I think she puts on the bravado and strict front because she enjoys it. I bet the teachers have a good laugh about it in the staff room all the time. 'Ha, did you see that kids face! He's so gullible!'

I'm sure the new Defence teacher'll be more than happy to join in. They say the jobs haunted, because we've never had a steady Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher. Something unexpected always pops up, and they never make it through more than one year.

Professor McGonagall had organised the pale-lo king first years into a line facing us, and then she pulled out a scroll. The Sorting Hat had been placed on the stool next to her.

It began to sing its song as we all listened enthusiastically.

It sung of the four houses and their qualities, speaking of Gryffindor's 'daring' and 'bravery' while Ravenclaw was spoken of as 'witty' and 'shrewd'. Hufflepuff was described as 'truehearted' and 'fair', and best for last (SARCASM) Slytherin was 'cunning' and 'ambitious'. I always enjoy listening to the song, but this year the hat was going on about 'uniting as one' and 'coming together'. Personally, I think the hat's been alone too long singing to itself. It'd drive anyone mental.

'Abercrombie, Haley' Professor McGonagall called.

A little girl so pale she looked almost sickly stepped out from the line and put the hat on her head. Everyone in the hall waited with an air of slight apprehension. No matter how many people grumbled about it, the Sorting was a very popular form of entertainment.

'HUFFLEPUFF!' The hat yelled. The Hufflepuff table burst into cheerful shouts and applause, and Haley went to sit with them, looking relieved. Poor kid. I remember my Sorting so clearly. One of the things that stand out the most is the look of disappointment that was on a certain Slytherins face when I was sorted into Gryffindor.

I shook my head clear of those thoughts and focused on the Sorting once more. A rather big boy for his age had just been sorted into Slytherin, and now another boy had bounded quite happily up to the stool and jammed the hat on his head.

'GRYFFINDOR!' I cheered along with the rest. It was quite obvious that the boy belonged in this house, judging by the brave way he had stepped up when it was his turn.

'Baylon, Nicholas'

'RAVENCLAW!'

'Benak, Katie'

'RAVENCLAW!'

'Callista, Lewis'

'GRYFFINDOR!'

The Sorting continued and the line of first years dwindled until there were only three more left; a blond girl, a gangly-looking boy and another boy who had quite big ears.

'Yeland, Stephen'

The gangly boy stepped forward anxiously and stumbled his way over to the stool.

'HUFFLEPUFF!'

'Yochester, Rebecca'

'GRYFFINDOR!'

And finally, 'Zeschanel, Connel'

'SLYTHERIN!'

As the cheering died down, Dumbledore stood up. He looked around at us all, and his eyes were filled with pride and affection. It was quite a nice feeling, to know that a man who you'd never had more than polite conversation with was that proud of you and your classmates. What a nice, if somewhat mental, old man.

'Eat up everyone!' He called, and several people yelled in agreement.

The gold plates sitting before us were suddenly filled with the most delicious foods I could ever have imagined. I'm surprised we're not all as big as houses.

Ry immediately dug in, soon followed by Day. Bell threw them a look of slight disgust before starting daintily on her own meal. 'You guys are worse than pigs I swear.' I heard her mutter over her chicken. I laughed to myself and then I was too wrapped up in my meal to utter another sound.

'So, Lils, did you plan on drowning yourself in schoolwork this year again?' Day asked me once she had stopped stuffing herself somewhat.

Bell made a face. 'I still don't understand how you can do that to yourself.'

'I agree.' Sirius 'don't hate me because you ain't me' Black said, sliding next to her on the bench. Oh, dear god we were surrounded.

'Yeah, but if she didn't, she wouldn't be Lily Evans.' Potter said, sitting down across from him, which was, of course, next to me.

'Shove it, Potter.' I growled. I felt a sense of injustice as I saw Ry looking irritated at their arrival. She can't choose when not to like them! It's all or nothing in my books.

'Did you guys just get here?' Day asked, frowning at Remus as he squeezed himself in next to her.

'We had things to take care of.' Pettigrew shrugged.

I sighed, purposely giving the impression of great weariness. 'What have you done now? It isn't another prank, is it? I don't really want to report you.'

Potter's face brightened.

'On second thought, I do.' I added hastily. His face fell again. Phew, don't want Potter thinking anything besides the truth- that I dislike everything about him.

'Well, you see Lillian-'

'My name isn't Lillian! God, you'd think after six years of going to the same school you'd at least know my name.'

'- if you don't meddle in our business, we won't meddle in yours, and then we can all move on with our lives with smiles on our faces. You just have to stop asking so many questions, flower.' Sirius continued, having not listened to a word I just said.

Potter smirked and Bell giggled slightly at the exasperated look on my face.

I glanced over at Ry to share one of our frequent 'what an idiot' looks, only to find that she was engaged in what I imagined to be simply fascinating conversation with one Remus J Lupin. Damn it! I really have to keep track of my friends from now on, and make sure they aren't swapping stories with any Marauders. I turned back around, and was startled by a pair of hazel eyes which were way invading my personal space bubble. I jerked back, almost knocking over my pumpkin juice. He smirked at me.

'What?' I said, still a little stunned by his close proximity.

'Nothing.' He kept smirking. Merlin, what an infuriating smirk. Is it really that hard to just smile for once? Stop smirking like you've accomplished something and smile like a normal person!

Potter went back to his dessert in silence. And I kept looking at him in disbelief. His eyes were still burning in my memory. If you cut out the person, he really did have nice eyes. Well okay, the hair wasn't so bad, when he wasn't constantly messing it up, and he did have an alright smile when he wasn't doing that self satisfied smirk, and his- OKAY, LILS, SLOW DOWN!

What the hell!? Okay yes, I thought we'd established awhile ago that Potter is attractive. It's a little hard to miss, considering every female in Hogwarts swoons every time he and Sirius and sometimes Remus walked by. Heck, even Pettigrew got a few looks. But to be dwelling on what he looks like at dinner? When he's sitting right next to me? There is no chance in hell I am joining the James Potter fan club!

The Marauders each have their own reputation that they live up to.

James Potter is sort of the leader of the group, with the whole athletic, mischief-maker thing he's got going on. He has, of course, the aforementioned hazel eyes, round glasses (I've never understood girl's fascination with the glasses) and messy black hair that he is constantly playing with and messing it up even more. He's very popular with everyone (I don't include myself in that, of course), not just the girl's. All the boys want to be his friend; all the girls want to date him.

Well, actually, he and Sirius have kind of split the amount of girls they get equally. Sirius is the reckless playboy. He has longish black hair and these very seductive-looking dark grey eyes. No joke, that's what I hear fifty percent of the girls in the dormitories saying. That he's so dreamy and wonderful and perfect. Gits. Really, Sirius is almost as arrogant as Potter, immature and irritatingly sort of smart.

And then there is a select group of girls who go more for the soulful quiet guys. Remus Lupin is one of those guys. He's got blonde/brown hair and light brown eyes. He has a fair few scars from some mishap or another and apparently that's part of the appeal. It's the challenge, figuring what dark secret he's been hiding. Remus is really smart, and a lot more sensible than his friends.

Peter Pettigrew used to be a chubby tag-along who'd follow the other three around. He's still a tag-along, but he's slimmed out a bit. He has blond wavy hair and blue, somewhat watery eyes. After all, he had to be kind of almost attractive to be with the Marauders. Not that they're all that shallow, really.

The main job of the Marauders is bullying people. And that is one of the reasons I dislike them so much. They humiliate people who can't defend themselves. Most of the time it's Slytherins but it's still inexcusable. I don't even know if they mean to do it.

When they're not doing the 'I'm better than you' thing, they're devoted to pranking anyone and everyone. Everyone should be wary; we are all targets. I know I sound like a bad action film right now, but it's true. They are pure evil when it comes to pranking. So I have reason to be suspicious of them only just arriving while they caught the same carriage as us.

'Hey Lillian?'

'God damn Sirius, get my name right once in awhile please?'

'What subjects did you plan on taking this year?' He ploughed on, ignoring me again. How unexpected. Not the ignoring part, but the actual question he posed. Why in the world is he asking me a civilised question?

Bell was staring at him with unabashed curiosity, but when I caught her eye she looked away, blushing. Told you she was the shy one.

'Why would you want to know Sirius?'

He grinned. 'Well, first of all, thank you for using my given name. It's truly heart-warming to hear you say it. Second, can't a guy just be curious anymore?'

'Not when it's you.' I said, still suspicious. Remus snorted into his pudding. We were having a group discussion now. Now that is heart-warming. Actually, it's not.

WHY IN HOLY HELL AM I SITTING HERE TALKING IN A CIVILISED TONE TO SIRIUS 'EAT ME' BLACK?

'Lils, I have had a change of heart. I've decided that this year, we will cease to bother you. Well, except for Prongsie, because he simply can't help it. So I'm trying to make conversation.'

'Thanks for your faith in me Padfoot.' Potter grumbled. I smirked at him (BOO-YAH!) and then turned back to Sirius.

'So what you're saying is that you'll be nice and normal to me for this whole year?'

He hesitated. 'I can't promise anything, but I'll try.'

'That's all I ask.'

'We've just had a monumental moment in history.' Day said. 'Here, at this very hour, at Gryffindor table in Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Sirius Black has said he will stop being so incessantly irritating and try to be normal to Lily Evans. It's shocking, really.'

I laughed. 'Don't worry Day, I'm not exactly counting on him to keep the promise.'

'What do you mean?!' Sirius protested. 'I can keep a promise! Tell them Prongs, tell them about all those times when I kept my promises to you!'

Potter raised his eyebrows at him. 'You seriously want to go there?'

'Jaaaaaaaaaaaaames!' Sirius whined.

'Damn it, Padfoot! Stop doing that!' He exclaimed.

'But Jaaaaaaaaaaaaames!' Sirius replied. And then we were all distracted from this oh-so-riveting conversation by a BANG coming from the Slytherin table. Of course, the Slytherin table. And they were all covered in what appeared to be purple goo. Ew. Poor things.

Most of them had pulled out their wands and were now trying to make the goo disappear, but every time they did the goo multiplied. It was quite cool magic, if a bit immature.

I'll give you three hints as to who is responsible.

One; they're absolute idiots, two; one of them has a bit of a whining problem, and three; they are now rolling on the floor of the Great Hall laughing their heads off.

If the purple stuff now spelling out the words 'The Marauders' wasn't hint enough for you. And yes, all four of them really are on the floor laughing. Well that's not embarrassing. Seriously, being embarrassed is not in their genetic code. Especially Potter's. Once he was dared to run around the hall at breakfast naked screaming 'the squibs are after me!' and he did it without blinking an eye.

There are two good things about this prank- one, it was aimed at the Slytherins and therefore, not me, and two, the Marauders got detention. Yay. Don't you just love Professor McGonagall?

Unfortunately, they trooped out of the hall with applause egging them on. Sirius was bowing low at everyone and Potter was walking backwards and winking. Mostly at me. Well, that disturbing site isn't imprinted on my brain or anything.