Disclaimer: I don't own Lily, Mary, Marlene, Emmeline, Severus, Remus, Platform 9 3/4 , the Hogwarts Express, the Sorting Hat, McGonagall, or the fifth year girls' dormitory.
"Lily!" Mary shrieked.
"Its been such a long 72 hours!" Marlene said. I groaned.
"It better not have been you lot who pushed me," I said to an unnervingly close piece of gum.
"Well…"
"Urgh," I muttered. The gum, surprisingly, did not answer. Some one grabbed my arm and hauled me to my feet.
"Hi," I said, somewhat resentfully. "Listen, I would talk with you guys a little more, but I promised Sev I'd find him." They all nodded, Mary scrunching up her face. I gave a little huff and wandered off into the crowd. Sev was no where to be seen on the platform, but that was no surprise. He avoided almost every one as if they carried the plague.
Actually, some of them might have been.
I was pulling my trunk through the crowd when some icky first year sneezed on me, spattering me with gross little bits of gunk. Grateful I was finally allowed to perform magic again, I cleaned it off, giving the first year a glare that has sent The Annoying One running.
I was still angry about the stupid first year when I found Sev.
"Why so cheery?" he asked, as I opened the door to his compartment.
"Disgusting little first year," I mumbled, slumping into the seat across from him. He nodded sagely.
"How was the rest of your summer?"
"Went to buy my school supplies with the girls. Avoided Petunia." I didn't mention the incident with the Blacks. No need to get him started on a rant. "You?" He raised an eyebrow.
"Nothing important," he said acidly. I winced. Really I should've known better than to ask. Severus keeps his secrets close to him, and he doesn't tell anyone. I suppose it's safer for him that way or something. I think it's dumb. He'll probably explode one day.
Eew, bad images.
Sev was watching me closely, so closely that we both jumped when the train lurched into motion. I gave a nervous giggle.
"You should probably get going," Severus said.
"Why?" I asked. Sev smirked at me.
"Because you're a Prefect now, and the meeting started about five minutes ago." I paled. No. He must be joking. I checked my watch, then remember that it was a muggle one, and stopped working the instant I stepped onto Platform 9 3/4.
"Damn it. Bye Sev!" I yelled on my way out. I raced down the corridor, mowing down everyone in my path. Several Ravenclaws screeched as I barreled past them, but I ignored them.
I had never been much of long distance runner, and the train was stupidly long. I was panting by the time I got to the Head's compartment. Gasping in breaths of air, I opened the door. The Head Girl, a Ravenclaw by the name of Melissa Daneen, spun around and gave me a death glare.
"Sorry I'm late," I gasped, taking my seat meekly. I didn't realize who I was sitting beside until he elbowed me in the side.
"You'd better pay attention," he hissed into my ear. I turned to see Remus Lupin, who was staring at me intently. When I looked at him, he jerked his head towards the Head Boy and Girl. I quickly tuned them in.
"This is the patrol sign-up list. We'll let you choose for the beginning, but if the roster isn't filled we'll be picking for you, so check it every day," The Head Boy, Cam Micheals was saying.
"It'll be posted between the Prefects' bathrooms, we'll tell you the passwords for those later. We'll also tell you the passwords to your common rooms," Daneen added.
"Now, as Prefects, we expect…" Micheals launched into a long winded speech on the duties of a Prefect. I figured even Lupin couldn't expect me to pay attention through that, so I decided to examine the other Prefects in our year.
From Slytherin, some boy I knew only as Mucilber, and a girl whose last name was Parkinson.
From Ravenclaw, a girl with whispy blond hair who I didn't know, and judging by the fact she was reading a book upside down, I didn't want to. Beside her was an extremely pompous boy who went by Hector Mills.
From Hufflepuff, a boy who seemed the most competent I'd seen so far. He was sitting up, but his glazed eyes betrayed the fact that he wasn't paying attention. The female Prefect was a friendly looking girl who I thought was Alyssa Marks.
And from Gryffindor, Lupin, and of course, me. I supposed it could have been worse. The Annoying One could've gotten it. Suddenly, I was jabbed in the side again. I looked up and realized that Micheals had stopped talking. Daneen moved slightly to the side.
"If I can have all the girls over here please?" she said. Micheals was doing the same on the other side of the room, but for the boys. Once we were all gathered together Daneen leaned in, looking to either side, as if expecting spies to be listening.
I snickered.
Daneen scowled, but gave us the password to the bathroom. "Flighty Fairys," she whispered. "Now don't forget that." Everyone nodded solemnly, and I bit back my laughter.
Who was Dumbledore kidding? I wasn't cut out to be a Prefect.
September 1st, 1975
Dear Diary,
I just had one of the most confusing experiences of my life.
I had finally escaped the evil Prefects meeting when Lupin caught up to me.
"Were you paying attention to any of that?" he asked.
"Yes!" I replied defensively. "I heard the password, and all that." He raised an eyebrow.
"Well congratulations on making Prefect anyway," he said, then drifted off into a compartment. I gave a little half wave, then went into my own compartment. Sev was sitting against the window. When he heard me come in, he looked up.
"How was the Prefect meeting?" I pulled a face.
"Wonderful," I said sarcastically.
"Who's the other Prefect?"
"Lupin," I was shocked to see his face harden swiftly. I would've expected this reaction more if I had said The Annoying One or Black, and I was curious.
"What? I mean, it could have been worse," I said, trying to get why he was so upset.
"Just," he looked as if he was deciding about something. "There's something funny about Lupin."
"Funny?" I knew I was getting to the bottom of this.
"Funny," he answered. "I mean, he disappears once a month, and no one really knows where he goes. It seems a bit fishy to me." I fought not to laugh. Fishy?
"Sev, what if it's something really horrible, like cancer or something?" Sev didn't lose his serious look.
"Just promise me you'll be careful."
I duly promised, but I was still confused.
Why is Sev so worried about my safety? The worst any of the Marauders could do would be to prank me, which isn't really the end of the world.
So why is he so concerned?
Boys are weird.
Lily
"We're nearly there!" Marlene screeched. Every one in the compartment clapped their hands over their ears.
I had left Sev a while ago, bringing my trunk with me. Even for him, he had been too creepy. So now I was in a compartment with Marlene, an aching stomach, and 392 empty chocolate frog boxes. Mary groaned.
"Oh God, I must have put on twenty pounds," Emmeline said, holding her stomach.
"Mar, where did you even get the money to buy out the trolley lady?" I asked, then winced as my stomach attempted to throw up a few of the chocolate frogs.
"Mom gave me a bunch of cash to last out the school year," she answered, not looking away from the window. Mary was steadily turning green across from me.
"I don't feel so good," she murmured, then lurched out of the compartment. I closed my eyes. Sugar induced lights flashed behind them.
"Oh God…" I muttered. "I never thought it was possible, but I think I've had too much chocolate." Emmy nodded, then slapped her hands to her head. Marlene bounced over to me.
"Lily, you have to get dressed." I stood and started to change into my robes.
"Emmy! Get dressed." Emmy, normally so cool and intimidating, closed her eyes and mumbled;
"Bite me." I laughed, then wished I hadn't. The stupid Bouncing Charms that chocolate frogs have on them made my stomach feel extremely shaky. Mary returned to the compartment, looking less green and changed into her robes. Soon every one except Emmy was ready.
This was a definite first, and I made a note to rub it in her face later.
"Emmy! Emmy get dressed!" Mary and I pulled her to her feet, while Marlene stuffed her robes over her head. Finally she was standing, somewhat disheveled before us.
"Well, I'm sure everyone will be shocked," Marlene commented, not bothering to lower her voice. I gave her a confused look. "To see the great Emmeline Vance reduced to this." Mary and I dissolved into giggles.
"Oh shove it, the lot of you," Emmy said, giving us a filthy look. She straightened her robes and pulled a few tangles out of her hair. "Happy now?" she asked, then shoved her way out of the compartment. We followed her, trying (and failing) to contain our laughter.
We were among the first to leave the train, and we got the third or fourth carriage. The carriage ride was short, despite the glowering presence of Emmeline in the corner, and soon we were at the school.
"We're back," Mary whispered, just as we were about to go in.
"Oh for the love of mud," Marlene said, "don't tell me you're going to get all emotional." Mary closed her eyes tight and I sighed. She did choose the worst moments.
"C'mon girl, we're going in," I said, taking her arm. I tugged her through the doors. She wiped at her eyes, and walked by herself. I followed, shaking my head.
My friends are almost as weird as boys, and that's saying something.
"Come on…How long can it take to sail across a frigging lake?" Marlene asked, hopping slightly in her seat.
"More than two seconds, stop bouncing," Emmeline said in a crabby voice.
"But I want fooood…" I smacked her upside the head.
"You can wait till they get here, spaz." As if on cue, a bunch of worried looking first years streamed into the Great Hall. One of them was the gross one that sneezed on me on the platform, and I shot him the bird. McGonagall gave me a death stare, and I smiled sweetly.
"OK, I'm going to take a leap of faith and say that there's a story behind that one," Mary said, toying with her with goblet. I nodded, still smiling.
"Another leap, but you aren't going to tell us?"
"Nope." McGonagall had settled the stool down, with the hat on top of it. She took a step back, and we all turned out gaze to the hat, as it began to sing.
One day upon these very grounds,
In many ages past,
Four witches and wizards, brave and true,
Decided to make a school
They built up from the ground,
A castle large and great,
They named this place Hogwarts,
And all decided to teach.
Sweet Hufflepuff, she took them all,
And any who desired,
To learn about the magic arts
No matter of birth or how admired
Brave Gryffindor, he took the noble,
All the dauntless and the bold,
His symbol of griffin well chosen,
He made sure all were controlled.
Sly Slytherin, he took those crafty,
Tricky, dodgy, and guileful
He based all upon the pureness of blood,
And took all those of noble descent.
And finally, wise Ravenclaw,
Who took all those bright,
keen of mind, and clever,
any for whom learning was before all
So step-
September 1st, 1975
That stupid hat went on for hours. I mean-
Dear Diary,
That stupid hat went on for hours. It was taking all my self restraint to not eat my plate.
And then of course, there was the sorting itself.
Every stinking little first year had to be sorted. Every one from Atkinson, Claire, who looked like she wanted to sink through the floor, to Morin, Gregory, who had sneezed on me, to Yates, Jacob, who took about six years to be sorted.
Fortunately, Dumbledore kept the speech short and sweet, so I wasn't forced to eat Mary. Although, Marlene did bite her. But then again, that is Marlene.
I'm back in the dormitory again, and it feels a heck of a lot more like home than home does. I wonder if anyone else feels like that, or if I'm the only psycho.
Probably.
There was a purpose to this entry, I swear.
Oh right.
Anyway, I was busy stuffing my face when McGonagall came by.
"Welcome back, Miss Evans, and congratulations on getting the badge."
Now this might seem an innocent comment, but after years at Hogwarts, I have become fluent in McGonagallese.
Yes, it is a language.
This particular fragment of it was not a congratulations at all. The translation is this.
"You better get working this year, or I will fail you, and I will be quite happy to do so."
You understand now, the importance of this language?
Other than the less than pleasant encounter with McGonagall, the rest of the evening went smoothly. The Annoying One only asked me out three times, which is a new low.
I should remind him to do it more often.
That was sarcasm, in case you didn't catch that.
I suppose I should go to bed, get rested up for the first day of classes, or something like that.
Yeah right.
Lily.
A/N: Okay, I've noticed that my diary entries are getting shorter, and I will try to fix that. Or if you think that the other parts are better, just let me know in a review. Anyhoo, next chappie should be a little more interesting!