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September, 1973
The first few weeks were confusing and life-changing for Azalea. This was definitely not a common school. With halls disappearing, ghosts and poltergeists, haunted bathrooms and moving stairs, the little girl was only glad she wasn't get lost by herself.
Caleb was always by Azalea's side, and recently Connie Hernandez – the half-Spanish and half-British girl – had joined them in a natural way. The smile shared in the feast ignited it, but upon discovering that the two were sharing the same dormitory with beds side to side, the spark grew into a flaming friendship.
The three seemed to get along just fine.
Caleb was the quietest, but he was still able to offer sarcastic remarks or commentary that made the two girls giggle or gasp amusedly, he was also very academically bright and showed great skills in both potions and transfiguration on the first weeks.
Connie was the most active of the three. She told them that she used to be on a gymnastics team on her school. The tanned-skinned girl explained that while her father was a wizard, her muggle mum encouraged her to experiment muggle activities. Connie could play the piano, the violin, she was a level 3 gymnastic and she was superb in the art of fencing.
And when Caleb and Azalea stared at her overwhelmed, she laughed, expecting that reaction.
It was no surprise when Connie ended up being the best student in Flying; she had the upmost balance and easily hovered through the grassy fields.
Azalea however, could only do well in Charms, exceptionally well, and averagely in Transfiguration. Thanks to Caleb, her Potions partner, she wasn't as bad as she would definitely be, but she wasn't the best in her class still. She liked flying though, it was the most thrilling thing she has ever done, and the feeling of her stomach dropping and heart's beating accelerating still gave Azalea the rush she didn't mind having.
The first weeks of school were indeed life-changing.
She saw Lily every day, and her sister introduced her own friends.
Besides Lily and her mum, when Azalea saw Marlene McKinnon she thought that she was stunning. The third-year Gryffindor had long golden hair that fell in ringlets until the end of her back with a pair of bright blue eyes that could match Azalea's. Marlene was one of Lily's closest friends, and the two shared the same dormitory. She had been kind and apart from the gushing and cooing, Azalea had no reason to dislike her.
Then Dorcas Meadowes introduced herself with a small smile and a handshake. She was also in the same dormitory as Lily and Marlene, and she seemed to be always with the two of them occasionally. She was quite the opposite of Marlene though, with raven hair that fell straight as a sheet until her chest line and soot soulful eyes. She was also beautiful, Azalea noticed, in a mysterious and intimidating way.
Then there was Mary MacDonald, she was a year above Lily but she was still fairly close to the three girls. Her short tawny hair curled around her thin cheeks and her upturned-shaped basil eyes stared at you intensely, it was like Azalea couldn't hide anything beneath them. She seemed nice though, but she was on a rush when they met so there wasn't any time for long conversations.
Lily told Azalea that she had another friend that she needed to meet, but that one would have to wait.
October, 1973
Azalea, Caleb, Connie and the rest of the first year students witnessed the first Marauder prank of the school year a week before the Halloween feast.
Fireworks within the Great Hall that ended up forcing the Slytherin students ran away as they chased them was in fact very impressive to see. But Azalea couldn't help but to see a pattern here: the Slytherins were always the victims.
She wondered why. She had been focused on her studies to look around, but apparently the Slytherins had a nasty reputation. Some of the older ones started a group called the 'Death Eaters'.
Caleb hesitantly explained that there was a new Dark Lord around, and he was recruiting people to take down the Ministry of Magic, from what Azalea picked on, his name was 'Voldemort' and he hated Muggle-Borns and Half-Borns with passion, he simply believed that Hogwarts and the Wizardry world was made for Pure-bloods only.
It was disgusting.
But apparently many students of the house of Slytherin agreed with Voldemort's views.
Or from how Caleb frantically corrected, 'He-Who-Shall-Not-Be-Named', which Azalea rolled her eyes at. First she had to replace 'God' with 'Gosh' and now this?
At least the prank had lighten things a little, at least Headmaster Dumbledore didn't seem to mind as his eye twinkled at the firework display.
Azalea got to see the Marauders in action. She knew who they were by Lily's constant hatred for them in her letters, but she couldn't find anything wrong with them until now. They seemed like a group of four boys that liked to prank people, what was wrong with that?
Amusingly so, she also found out through Marlene that Lily had been the one blessing the group of boys with the infamous name. The irony was strong on her sister.
The week passed by, and Azalea was sitting in the library by herself, writing her Potions assignment. Caleb had gone back to his dormitory because he had forgotten his parchment and Connie had gone with him, to make him company.
Halloween was tomorrow, and Azalea was excited.
As her thoughts wondered higher, she heard a stifled cough from behind her.
She whipped her head quickly, expecting to see one of her friends. But she let out a small, confused gasp when she was in the presence of a tall boy with a lanky posture, sandy brown hair and warm, but tired brown eyes.
"Hello, you're Lily Evans's little sister, right?" he asked with a polite tone.
"Y-Yes," she stuttered. "I am."
He seemed to relax, in fact, the more he stared at her the more he beamed. "My name is Remus Lupin. I'm a friend of hers. She's wanted to introduce me for a long time now." He extended a hand at her, but quickly withdraws it with a small hiss, "Sorry handshakes must be a little strange."
"Yeah, kinda... But it's fine you know? I would take it. Nice to meet you Remus!" she offered him a sincere smile.
He smiled back, shyly, "I hope I'm not interrupting your studying."
"You are but I don't care." She shrugged carelessly, "I like meeting new people."
Remus regarded her with an amused smile, "Ah, I see."
They briefly talked about the smallest things after that. He towered awkwardly over her because he didn't sit down, but she didn't seem to mind.
"By the way, how did you know that it was me?"
"I remember you from the sorting ceremony. James and Sirius were the ones that catcalled you. We didn't know that Lily had a little sister."
"Why would they be interested in me?" she asked him, rather innocently.
He looked sheepish, "I don't know. Perhaps it may be because you're tied to Lily? Don't be surprised if they approach you one day." He warned softly.
Azalea pursed her lips at him, but accepted his warning.
"Azalea we're—Oh." Caleb and Connie were back, both holding parchments secured inside their arms, "Sorry I didn't know you were..." Caleb didn't know how to finish that sentence, because he had no idea that his friend was friends with older students.
"I suppose this is my cue to leave and let you and your friends study." Remus offered with a bidding tone.
Connie glanced between Remus and Azalea and quirked her thick, dark eyebrows up.
"I guess, see you around Remus." Azalea waved in a friendly manner.
When he was gone, he shared a brief nod between Caleb and Connie and stalked away from the library.
"Who was that?" Connie asked eagerly as she took her seat next to Azalea, Caleb had the same look on his face when he sat in front of them.
"Lily's friend, how far are you in Professor Slughorn's assignment Caleb?" she quickly dismissed. Azalea didn't want to talk about someone behind their backs.
Connie pouted, but unrolled her own parchment to continue her writing as Caleb did the same.
"Almost finished, you?"
She grinned at him, "Not even in the slightest."
November, 1973
The cool and crispy air of November has been haunting Hogwarts day after day and the students were doing everything to keep themselves warm.
Lily and Severus were gone to Hogsmeade, so Azalea was left with Caleb and Connie. The three were becoming quick friends, and their housemates seemed to notice their closeness. At least Lily liked Caleb and Connie, Azalea was relieved to know it so, she wouldn't give them up even if she disliked them but it was nice to know that she didn't.
Olivia and William were happy and glad that their youngest had made friends, they weren't that worried because Azalea showed great social skills, but going to Hogwarts it was different than going into a normal one.
They were also proud that she was doing well in classes, mainly in Charms. She was quickly becoming one of Professor Flitwick's favourite student, that including Lily herself.
Most of the professors were fond of Lily, especially Professor Slughorn, and when little Azalea showed that her Potion skills weren't as good as Lily's were at her age, he was a little disappointed, he thought he would have another Evans in the Slug Club.
Because he was certain that eventually he would choose Lily to be in it.
Disappointed or not, he still treated Azalea fairly and was hoping that with the help of the best student in his year, Caleb Grayson, would help her skills to progress.
Azalea could easily admit that her favourite teacher was Professor Fillius Flitwick. When she was his first student to succeed with the Wingardium Leviosa charm from all of the first years, he knew that she was special.
And it didn't stop there, two months have passed and Azalea was already known to be the best first year student in Charms and the finest at casting them as well.
"When do you think they'll be back?" Azalea asked impatiently.
The trio was sitting at the Gryffindor's table in the Great Hall. Many students were scattered around them, some were studying, writing their assignments or just talking, but Azalea was bored, Caleb was reading and Connie had shamelessly fallen asleep next to the redhead.
"Before dinner, I suppose." He drawled uncommitted, more focused on his book. Usually he would be more attentive, but he seemed really immerged pages of the book.
That made it remind her of Severus. She hasn't seen him in a while.
Azalea looked at Connie. She looked peaceful with her head resting between her crossed arms.
Perhaps taking a nap is not a terrible idea.
When Lily and Severus returned, they looked upset. Apparently James and Sirius thought it was funny to start a snowball fight... without warning them. The victim was supposed to be Severus, but being the loyal friend she was, Lily joined in and ended up taking the heat as well.
At least Azalea got to speak with Severus again even if his mood was sour he was able to provide a polite conversation with her. He didn't to realize how weak their friendship was, Azalea was the one trying.
But one else seemed to notice.
Caleb and Connie didn't really know him very well (and they didn't seem interest on trying) and Lily was lost in her own world to see it.
What else could Azalea do but what to see what happens?
December, 1973
It was the Friday of the second week of December. Azalea had just gotten out of Charms and it was fifteen past two in the afternoon. She walked in the hall with a proud smile of her face. She had been praised by Professor Flitwick again when she was able to perform the Locking Spell 'Colloportus'. She wasn't the only one succeeding at it, but she was certainly the first one.
And then last thing that the youngest Evans wasn't expecting was to be cornered by Michael Carrow, a Slytherin first year that wore a scowl on his features. Azalea blinked up at him and glanced sideways, confusedly.
"May I... help you?" she asked, uncertain.
His dark brown eyes squinted at her, "You think you're better than everyone else, do you? Just because you're good at Charms, well I have news for you, Evans, you're not." He sneered.
"You know my name?"
He scoffed, "Of course. I have to part from who's actually good enough to be around here and filthy little mudbloods like you—"
Whatever he was going to continue spitting about wasn't voiced, because he was hit with a stunning spell that threw him across the hall, slamming into the stoned hall.
Azalea gasped, and when Michael groaned and started to stir to stand up, another blast hit him, but this time it didn't throw him like a ragged doll, it made his dark hair turn into a long, curly pink hairstyle and his skin change into vomit green. He screeched in horror as he stood and scanned his body.
Then he furiously glared from where the spells had came from, making Azalea look as well.
Four boys, older than them, stood dramatically together with a scowl on their faces. Only the smaller one seemed a little hesitant, but he still glared toward Michael.
Azalea recognized Remus Lupin as the tallest of them all, his brown eyes stared at Michael with pure loath, then to his right was a rather handsome boy with fair skin, black, lustrous hair and striking grey eyes that fiercely blazed angrily at Michael, he had his wand pointed toward the shocked boy. Next to him was also a boy with his wand pointed at Michael, he was the same height has the darkly handsome boy but his black hair was messy and untidy, and his hazel eyes were paired with squared glasses. And finally the shortest and stockiest boy of the group, he had grubby skin, small watery eyes and a pointed nose. His hair was mousy brown and in need of a haircut, other than that, he seemed like a scared boy to Azalea.
"Well well, why am I not surprised?" The boy with the glasses drawled.
"Well James, nothing good comes out of the Carrot family." The grey-eyed boy mocked with a dark tone.
Michael gasped, offended, "It's Carrow—"
"Shut it." Remus snapped.
"Alright, Mini-Evans?" the boy with the glasses asked, twirling with his wand between his fingers in an easy manner.
She could only awe at them, before landing her blue eyes on his hazel ones, "Yes? Uhm... Why did you do that?" she took a step from the corner, visibly showing her confused expression.
They all looked at her, stunned, and Michael laughed loudly, not caring about his pink hair or green skin.
"You mudbloods are so vaguely stupid." He taunted.
The dark-haired boy growled and pointed his wand at him and shouted a quick spell that Azalea had never heard of, and suddenly Michael was screaming—his tongue turned into a horn!
"That'll teach you to think before you think little snake." He mocked, making his friends chuckle—asides from Remus, he simply looked pleased, justice has been done.
"Good one Sirius!" the boy with the glasses praised between chuckles as he watched Michael scurry away.
"Yeah! That was brilliant!" the smaller boy squeaked enthusiastically.
Azalea could only gulp dryly and look between where Michael Carrow had run off and the group of the four Gryffindor boys.
"Oi Mini-Evans,"
"Why are you calling me that?" she snapped at the messy haired boy.
Remus chuckled and approached the girl, "Are you alright Azalea? Did he harm you?" he asked with a more serious tone.
"No, he simply said that I shouldn't think I was better than everyone else because I was good at Charms, and then he called me a filthy mudblood." She told them calmly.
"Bloody hell mate, she has no idea does she?" the darkly handsome boy asked the one that was wearing glasses.
He eyed her pitifully.
Remus sighed, "Azalea, the word 'mudblood,'" he looked upset just by saying it, "is not a nice word. It's a highly derogatory term for Muggle-borns, if a person calls you that he or she is saying that you have dirty blood, it's extremely offensive. I suggest you stay away from wizarding families that have great association on blood purity." He advised quickly.
Azalea could not believe in what she was being told, she had witnessed racism in her world, the muggle world, but it also existed in the wizarding world? She thought that with all the magic and the amazing things this world had to offer, racism would be the least of everyone's problems. And then she heard about Voldemort, and now... this?
"It's mental!" she shrieked, starling Remus, "How stupid can you get? Uh, that git—I should've punched him or something!" she growled as she looked at the way where Michael had run off cowardly.
"Oh Merlin I like her."
"She's a feisty one, isn't she Sirius?"
Remus sent them a look, and Peter could only nod at his two friends.
"You will do no such thing—" Remus started.
"Remus, I have a friend back home—she's black. And I hate whenever she's addressed in a racist manner. I fight, Remus, I'm not scared. I'm not afraid." She said dryly.
"But we're not in your muggle world princess in here we use our wands."
She turned at the grey eyed boy and scowled, "That's the thing he won't see it coming."
He laughed, not in a mocking way.
"Sirius please." He looked from him at Azalea with pleading eyes, "Azalea for the sake of your sister, please promise me you won't go after Carrow."
She sighed under his gaze and slumped her shoulders, defeated, "Fine..."
"Thank you."
"Great job Remus," the boy with the glasses states, sarcastically, "And now I think introductions are in order. My name is James Potter, this handsome fellow on my right in Sirius Black, and the boy on my left is Peter Pettigrew." James looked between Remus and Azalea with a mischievous glint on his hazel eyes, "I'm positive that you already know our dear, book lover, Remus Lupin."
She smiled, "Yes, I do. I'm Azalea Evans, by the way." She offered them with a kind smile, she loved meeting new people. And just because two of them were so infamously addressed to her by Lily, that didn't mean that she was going to judge them right away.
"Azalea why aren't you with your usual friends? That boy and girl?" Remus asked before any of his friends could say something stupid.
"Oh, well Caleb stayed behind because he wanted to ask something to Professor Flitwick and Connie went to the bathroom because she decided it was a good idea to drink a whole glass of pumpkin juice before class." She told him with a shrug, "I was on my way to the common room because I have no more classes for today." Azalea was going to continue her reading on 'Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them' but well, she was interrupted.
"What a git. He's lucky he was a first year, or else I would've stunned him into oblivion," Sirius muttered.
"Are you really related to Lily Evans?" James asked, staring at the little girl.
She nodded, proudly, "Yes I am! She's my Lily-Pad!"
Their eyes widened, and Remus sighed.
"You call her that?!" James guffawed.
Sirius cooed, "How adowable!"
Peter, wanting to belong to the group, immediately piped in, "I bet that Evans has a name for her too!"
"Oh you're right Peter!" James gasped, stopping his laughter, "Tell me little Evans, what does she call you?"
Cheeks red and eyes blazed, Azalea clenched her hand into an angry fist, "She calls me Azzie! AND I LOVE IT!" she yelled loudly.
"Wow!" James laughed, "Calm down Azziewinkles,"
"DON'T CALL ME THAT!"
"James, enough." Remus sighed tiredly, "Azalea you better go now, go through the library you'll get there quicker."
She threw a nasty glare the three Marauders, who daringly grinned back, and turned around, stalking quickly away from the area.
Ah! She would never doubt Lily ever again! And here she thought they were starting to actually be nice.
Those... Marauders!
January, 1974
Before leaving for the Christmas holidays, Azalea confided to Caleb and Connie about her meeting with Michael Carrow and then the infamous Gryffindor group, she spoke well of Remus, and she tried not to exaggerate since she had been calmer when she told them the confrontation. Sure, James and Sirius had been a little mean at the end, and Peter only agreed with them, but they did help her.
What would have happen if they wouldn't have shown up and stopped Michael Carrow?
Caleb was visibly upset and felt guilty by deciding to stay behind, and Connie told her that if she wanted she could teach her some karate and judo moves (a new thing that both friends had learned about the busy girl, explaining Caleb what those two sports were had been an amusing deed), but Azalea said that she already had her signature move: a good punch in the throat always seemed to work for her.
She didn't tell Lily. For some reason she felt like it was unnecessary to stress her almost fourteen-year-old sister about a little argument.
Petunia hasn't changed, the only thing added to her was the increased sense of repulsion she felt for her little sisters. From what Olivia said, Petunia was doing exceptionally in her academics and had made a reputation for herself in school, she was quite popular.
Lily simply focused on her assignments while Azalea read her Book of Spells.
Coming back to Hogwarts had made both redheads happy, they were going to see their friends again and they would be back at being able to do magic.
Azalea hugged Caleb tightly when she saw him, sitting in the compartment. The boy's ears reddened at the act of course, but when she did the same thing with Connie he shrugged it off as a girl thing.
Connie went to Spain to spend Christmas and New Year with her family there, she brought photos for them to see and Caleb was fascinated when they didn't move at all. Connie's mother was Spanish, and the side of her family didn't know that she was a witch. So apparently Connie's father had to play the part of a muggle. Connie told them that her mum was planning on telling her family when she reached the age of maturity, but she had a feeling that was going to happen sooner than they thought.
Starting the year with double blocks on Potions wasn't exactly easy for Azalea, she was glad for Professor Slughorn's patient and Caleb's help. She was actually starting to stir from bad to the average side of her potion skills. All she had to do is study and pay attention.
Once again she had exceeded expectations on Charms, for much her delight and Michael's resentment. She daringly shot him a snobby look when Professor Flitwick praised her once more, and he had glared venomously at her.
She could've sworn he actually hissed.
Caleb resented her taunting, while Connie cheered for it.
"Damn him!" the tanned-skinned girl roared as the three walked together in the corridors, History of Magic was starting soon.
"Language," Caleb sighed, "And I think you shouldn't have done that." He told Azalea, scolding her mildly.
She rolled her eyes at him, "I'm not afraid of Carrot,"
Connie snickered.
"—besides I learned a few hexes this holiday. I think I can turn someone's tongue into a horn. I mean, I never tried it but I saw Sirius do it—"
"No, absolutely no. You can't hex someone, that's dark charms! Professor Flitwick would be so disappointed with you." Caleb said with a serious tone.
That made her frown, she didn't want that.
"Well if he messes with you, he messes with me. I'll grab my fencing sword and shove it hasta su—" she said hotly.
"Connie!" Caleb interrupted, rather stressfully with his ears tainted with red.
Azalea laughed quite loudly, not believing the friends that she had made. She thought that they were absolutely brilliant.
A/N: Unfortunately I had to cut this chapter short as I was told that a special family member of mine was rushed to the hospital. I hope that I was able to upload this correctly.
Later when I come back, I will edit all the mistakes.