Lilylooked up at the castle with a wistful smile up at the castle as they were being transported by the horseless carriages. She loved being a home with her family (minus petunia, of course). But she loved being at Hogwarts more.
At home she was happy but not really happy, her parents were nice. But petunia was just plain mean. For no reason. She had never done anything, apart from being different, she had never done anything to hurt or harm her in any way, shape or form.
"Hey Lily?" Marlene said breaking Lilyfrom her thoughts.
"Yeah?" Lilysaid, looking up.
Marlene looked hesitant to speak, but continued anyway "What was that? You know, with James back on the train?"
Lilylooked confused "What do you mean?"
Marlene rolled her eyes and scoffed "LilyEvans, you know exactly what I'm talking about!"
"Honestly I don't" Lilystated holding her arms up in defence.
"I can see I'm gonna have to spell this out" Marlene said tiredly, before looking up "You, Potter, talking… Civilly?"
"Oh, that."
"And they call you the brightest witch of our age" Marlene muttered under her breath.
" It was nothing." Lilyexclaimed quickly, trying to look innocent.
Lilywould normally of told Marlene anything, but this was one thing she did not want spread round the school until she was good and ready.
Marlene smiled slyly "You like him, don't you?"
She had always had this weird ability to guess anything, even if you were trying to hide it.
"NO!" Lilyshouted, just a bit to quickly.
"Yes, you do!" Marlene exclaimed. "I knew it! I always knew it! Lucy did you hear that Lilyis finally liking James Potter!"
Lucy looked up from her packet of Bertie botts every flavoured beans, "Huh, sorry what?"
"Oh, never mind" Marlene said, looking disgusted as Lucy popped 10 beans into her mouth at once.
After a slight pause Marlene said "Lucy, we are about to have a huge feast, and you are eating sweets?"
"Um, yes, I was hungry" Lucy stated before going back for more.
Marlene shaked her head at Lucy before turning her head back to Lilywith a manic gleam in her eye. "So Lily, weren't you about to tell why you all of a sudden fancy Potter?" she said lightly.
"Oh, look we're here" Lilyreplied, secretly relived she could avoid the question. Before the train had even stopped Lilyhad already pulled open the carriage and was running up the castle steps, with Marlene calling after her "I will get it out of you LilyMarie Evans"
"Prongs?" Sirius said suddenly, while they were sitting in the carriage going up to the castle.
"Yes, Padfoot" James said absentmindedly while looking out of the window, silently debating with himself weather to ask Lilyout or not.
" I want to prank the first years at the feast!" he said in a childish voice.
Remus looked up sharply with a scowl "Now really Padfoot, I don't think tha-" but he was cut off by James before he could finish his sentence.
"That's a great idea, Padfoot! Lets do that." James said happily. "it will take my mind of Lilyfor a while!"
"Great Sirius" cried blissfully "So what shall we do?"
As the carriage pulled up and they got out, James turned round to Sirius and whispered in his ear. As James spoke Sirius smile got wider and wider until he finally shouted "That's brilliant! Yeah, lets do that!" nodding.
Remus eyed the two boy wearily and said "What are you going to do?"
"Not to worry my dear friend, not to worry" James said trying to look mysterious as he walked away up the stone steps that led to the Entrance hall
Once the four Marauders were inside and seated, they sat a waited for the first years to be lead in.
"Guys I really don't think this is such a good idea" Remus stated quietly, so no one around them would hear him.
"Oh, come on Remus" James whined "let me have a bit of fun before I have to become all…" he pulled a face before saying "mature".
Just then the double doors to the great hall opened and 15 first year walked led by Professor McGonagall.
"Ok here's the plan" Sirius said with a devious smile on his face "When anyone gets sorted into any house" James cut in and said "Not the Gryffindor though?" Sirius gave him a look and continued "Of course not the Gryffindor, James what do you take me for? Anyway, before I was interrupted, as they run over to the table we hit the floor with a slippy hex and watch them go flying down the walkway!"
"Shhh, guys I want to listen to the hat!" Peter squeaked out timidly.
The 4 turned around just as a voice started echoing out of the rim of the hat.
A thousand years or more ago,
When I was newly sewn
,There lived four wizards of renown
,Whose names are still well known: Bold Gryffindor, from wild moor,
Fair Ravenclaw, from glen,
Sweet Hufflepuff, from valley broad ,
Shrewd Slytherin, from fen.
They shared a wish, a hope, a dream,
They hatched a daring plan
To educate young sorcerers
Thus Hogwarts School began.
Now each of these four founders
Formed their own house, for each
Did value different virtues
In the ones they had to teach.
By Gryffindor, the bravest were
Prized far beyond the rest;
For Ravenclaw, the cleverest
Would always be the best;
For Hufflepuff, hard workers were
Most worthy of admission;
And power-hungry Slytherin
Loved those of great ambition.
While still alive they did divide
Their favourites from the throng,
Yet how to pick the worthy ones
When they were dead and gone?
'Twas Gryffindor who found the way,
He whipped me off his head
The founders put some brains in me
So I could choose instead!
Now slip me snug about your ears,
I've never yet been wrong,
I'll have a look inside your mind
And tell where you belong!
The whole hall broke into cheers as McGonagall put the stool down and pulled out her list of names.
"Jamie smith" was the first name she called out. The boy walked up to the stool slowly, looking relived that all he had to do was put on a hat, but also looking like he was about to be sick.
After a few moments the hat shouted out "RAVENCLAW". the boy jumped up with a huge smile on his face and ran off towards the table. However by the time he had climbed down the steps Sirius had already muttered "lubricus, labilis" under his breath while discreetly pointing his wand at the walkway.
The effect was immediate, the young Ravenclaw went flying down the walkway as if it had been greased. The look on the boy and other first year students faces sent James and Sirius into a fit of laughter, while Remus just looked on disapprovingly. Peter didn't even to seem anything unusual had happened.
And that's how it went on until all the first years had been sorted. Each time a student went flying down the walkway, Lilysent James a glare clearly stating that they would be having worlds later on about this. James knew from past experience that Lily was about to shout at him. "So much for getting along" James thought bitterly.
"I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU DID THAT!"
James winced, he had only been back at Hogwarts for not even a day and Lilywas all ready screaming at him.
"Will you please calm down, Evans" James asked calmly, trying to defuse the situation before it got out of hand.
"CALM DOWN!" Lily shouted, before looking around the hallway to make sure no one was listening, and then lowering her voice to a deathly whisper "Calm down, why did you do that? They were just first years, they didn't do anything to you!"
"Ok, Evans listen, it was a harmless prank, nobody was hurt"
"Ok, nobody was hurt, but they were all humiliated, don't you remember how nervous you were when you were sorted?"
James didn't answer, he was to busy thinking about how right Lilywas, he was really nervous when he had to be sorted. He was so worried about letting down his parents and over stuff that he couldn't even sit still, and now he thought about it Sirius had been the same, worried about becoming like his parents.
James shook his head to rid him self of his thoughts, as they reached the door to the head dorm rooms. "What do you want the password to be?" James said looking at Lily.
"How about James is a prick?" she said sarcastically.
"Ok, then, if that's what you want. What she said" he said to the portrait guarding the door. "and can please not let in Sirius Black, Remus Lupin or Peter Pettigrew in please, even if they have the password. The portrait nodded.
"Why can't they come in?"
"Because I don't really want to be woken up at 3 am just because Sirius is bored, and I'm guessing you don't either.
"Fine whatever… and don't think I'm not mad at you, because I am" Lilysaid matter of factually.
"Lily, for the last time I didn't do anything wrong" James said agitated.
"YES YOU DID!"
Lily screamed "DO YOU KNOW WHAT?" she said poking James in the chest. "I THOUGHT YOU HAD CHANGED, I WAS GOING TO GIVE YOU A CHANCE!"
James looked shocked.
"BUT I GUESS I WAS WRONG, I DON'T WANT ANYTHING TO DO WITH YOU ANYMORE! STAY OUT OF MY WAY AND DON'T TALK TO ME, OR SO HELP ME I WILL HEX YOU INTO NEXT WEEK"
James snapped back to reality when he heard the word "hex".
"Now hang on, I think your over reacting slightly"
"I'M NOT OVER REACTING!" She said throwing her hands into the air and storming off.
James just looked over at the door Lily had just slammed and shook his head. First thing in the morning he was going to see Remus and get some advice on what to say to her.
A/N: Hey guys, thanks for reading and please review! It means a lot when you doJ. Suggestions are welcome, so if you want anything in the story just let me know. The next update may take awhile, because I have tests and coursework that needs doing, but I will try and get it up within the next two weeks. Thanks again and please, please review!
Hannah x