The First Day
By the second week in September obvious friendships had started to develop between the first year Gryffindor class. As it had become apparent on the first day of classes James Potter had wanted nothing whatsoever to do with Acanthus Jordan, and it became apparent quickly after he was not interested in pursuing any sort of friendship with Viscounte Bixby. Interestingly enough James Potter began sitting next to a certain Sirius Black in nearly all his classes.
To be honest at first he probably would have preferred to sit by Arabella, as she was his best friend, but the few times that they had tried to sit together that red haired girl, James could never quite remember her name, was it Lacey? No perhaps it was Ellie? No, that did not seem right either, maybe it was Rosie. Well whatever the girl's name was she had taken a clear liking to Arabella and always insisted that Arabella sit next to her in classes, whenever Arabella tried to sit anywhere else the poor girl's lips would begin to quiver and she appeared on the verge of breaking into tears.
Personally James thought the girl was a bit off her rocker, but for some reason Arabella liked her. In fact by the end of September the two first year girl's were completely inseparable. So James feeling rather abandoned turned to Sirius for friendship.
At first Sirius did not do much to encourage James's efforts, he wasn't exactly rude to James truth be told he actually was quite unsure of how to react to the young Potter boy. After the incident on the first day he had been rather taken aback by James. No one in his entire life had stood up for him and it intimidated him more then anything else. Sirius came from a family that prided itself on nobility among the Wizarding race more then anything else.
In their eyes weakness was not tolerated but then again either was being sorted into Gryffindor. Torn between the two world Sirius spent the first several days of school trying to figure out where he stood in regard to his family, Hogwarts, the Gryffindor house and the Wizarding world in general. He had been shocked when the sorting hat had placed him in Gryffindor. It had not been in the plans, he was supposed to follow all of his relative's foot steps into the great and noble house of Slytherin, where he would flourish and grow.
In Slytherin he would be groomed for his life after Hogwarts as head of one of the greatest pureblooded lines in Wizarding Europe. He would be expected to marry some girl, picked for him by his parents, who was also of acceptable social class and blood lines. He would be expected to produce an heir. That was the life that Sirius Black was expected to lead and in his mind up till his first day at Hogwarts there was never any question of his life going exactly to that plan.
But on September 1st 1970 his world had come crashing down around his feet. When he had heard the sorting hat yell out for the population of the Great Hall to hear that he was in fact a Gryffindor not a Slytherin Sirius could have sworn his heart stopped beating. It was no matter that not one of the Gryffindor's looked pleased to have a Black as their new house mate; well it had been no matter at first. But when he had seen an absolutely gorgeous girl leap to her feet, once she realized that no one was doing anything to welcome Sirius to the house, and begin applauding him.
Yes that girl was without a doubt that more beautiful creature that he had ever laid eyes on. Imagine his surprise when he learned the next day that the spectacular girl was the sister of one of his dorm mate James Potter.
Sirius couldn't help but wonder what his parents would say when they learned that he had become a Gryffindor. Probably blast me off the family tree at the very least, he jokingly thought. It scared him to realize how much his life's plan had been altered in the course of several days. Not only had he been sorted into an unacceptable house, he had fallen head over heels in love, or as much in love as an eleven year old boy can be, with a Gryffindor girl.
He had been put down by some snot nosed boy who he could have very easily beaten to a pulp. But instead of having the opportunity to do this another boy had stood up for him, something that Sirius was quite sure his Father would have a hippogriff about it all, if he knew.
But the thing that worried Sirius more then anything else was that he didn't mind not following his parent's plans for him. Up to this point he had never even thought to question what was in store for him, but now he had been forced to. Would it really be so terrible to become friends with James Potter? He knew that the two of them would get along quite well, but truthfully Sirius had never really had a friend before. Sure there was his little brother Regulus and his older cousins Bellatrix, Andromeda and Narcissa.
Of course it probably wasn't fair when you thought of Regulus to say that Sirius didn't have friends. He had never had friends outside his family, would be the correct thing to say. Regulus honestly was what you would consider his best friend. Regulus worshiped the ground Sirius walked on and Sirius in turn was quite fond of his little brother. But at this point Regulus was back at 12 Grimmauld Place and Sirius was here at Hogwarts faced with a very unpleasant dilemma.
Sirius had seen other pureblood children at a distance on several occasions during his year's prior to Hogwarts. But up until now he had never really interacted with anyone outside his family. Of course, Sirius reasoned, his parent's couldn't find too much fault in him being friends with James Potter. Everyone knew the Potter family could trace their lineage back nearly as far as the Black family could. They were purebloods the whole lot of them and on top of that they were filthy rich. Sirius supposed if James had been a Slytherin he would be the exact type of Wizarding boy his parent's would expect for him to pick as a friend. But that was rather a nonexistent point anymore.
Besides now that Sirius was in Gryffindor he couldn't quite see the point of refusing to make friends with anyone in his house. From what he had seen of the Slytherin students he couldn't say he was impressed. Yet he was impressed by James Potter. James already had a large group of friends, which spanned all the years of the Gryffindor house. His name seemed to demand respect when it was spoken, whether it was a fellow student or a Professor who spoke it. James was very smart and quite funny. He seemed to be quite good natured and up for anything.
So it was that Sirius decided to try and become friends with James.
It was a windy morning during his second week at Hogwarts when James found himself trekking across the school grounds toward where the first year's Care of Magical Creatures Class was set to be held. He was not having a particularly pleasant morning so far. He had woken up late, of course none of the other boys in his room had been kind enough to wake him up, rather they had all been down enjoying their breakfast's when he had finally been awaken by Arabella screaming his name at the top of her lungs from the common room.
As it turned out Arabella was cross with him for not waking up on time seeing as she had decided to wait around for him to go to breakfast. Apparently she had been waiting at least twenty minutes when James finally descended into the common room. It didn't take James more then a few minutes to find himself wishing that she hadn't waited for him as the entire way down to breakfast she ignored him. During breakfast Sturgis had accidentally spilled his glass of pumpkin juice in James's lap, then on his way out the front doors to care of Magical Creatures Class he had some how managed to step in the only puddle on the entire Hogwarts grounds, as it had been a particularly dry summer and early fall.
By the time he reached where the rest of his classmates and Professor Kettleburn, the care of magical creatures' teacher, was standing he was in a foul mood. Kettleburn starting talking introducing the class to the subject or something like that, James wasn't listening. Either did it same was Sirius Black, who had sidled over to stand next to James. "So how much do you want to bet that that greasy haired git over there is going to get eaten alive by the first creature we see in this class" he muttered to James with an evil grin upon his face while pointing at a Slytherin boy with long, black, greasy hair and a hook nose.
James felt his unpleasant mood evaporate as he looked at where Sirius was pointing, "My God that has to be the strangest looking kid I have ever seen" he whispered so only Sirius could hear him. "Do you think he ever showers" asked Sirius with a laugh. "I certainly would be surprised if he did" James grinned.
"He is just begging for someone to prank him if you ask me" Sirius added, glancing sideways at James. James turned his head to fully look at Sirius a wide mischievous smile spreading across his face, "that's the best idea I have heard since school began." "Well that's what I do. They call me the idea man," said Sirius cockily.
James laughed. "Do you mind? Some of us are trying to listen you know," snapped a voice in front of the two boys. Sirius found himself looking directly into the irritated face of Arabella Chiavatti. "Excuse me" Sirius said sarcastically holding both his hands up, "Don't get your knickers in a twist." Arabella narrowed her eyes dangerously, "Look Black all I want is to listen to the Professor. If you can't be quiet for ten- honestly I would be happy with five- minutes then…I don't know go jump off a bridge." Sirius laughed loudly, "Is that the best you can come up with then?"
"Just do us all a favor and shut up," came the voice of the greasy haired boy whom Sirius and James had been making fun of only moments before. James whirled and starred at the boy feeling a twinge of dislike immediately upon hearing the boy's voice. "Why don't you just keep out of it," James said hissed evenly his dislike apparent. The greasy haired boy's widened and then narrowed considerably, "I'll do whatever I like and you and your ridiculous little friend would do well to remember that."
Sirius, temporarily forgetting about Arabella, stepped up behind James, "maybe you should just worry about yourself you greasy little rat" Sirius growled. However no more insults were traded because Professor Kettleburn had seen the three of them talking. "You there Black, Potter, Snape no talking during my lessons. That will be five points apiece from each of your houses." Sirius and James grudgingly decided to pick the argument up at another time.
Arabella on the other hand was still silently fuming about Sirius. She couldn't believe how rude that stupid little boy was. Lily was looking at Arabella rather fearfully as she had never seen Arabella get upset before. Little did Lily know that truthfully this was only the tip of the ice berg, as Arabella Chiavatti could become very, very nasty when she was really upset.
It became clear before to long that Arabella and Lily would be best friends. Really you couldn't find to more different girls. For as loud and extroverted as Arabella was, Lily was shy and quiet. Arabella adored being the center of attention, she made herself known in any group and voiced her opinions freely.
Lily on the other hand preferred to blend into the scenery, not make any trouble and be as complacent as was humanly possible. Maybe it was these noticeable differences that really made the two girl's friendship dynamic, each seemed to have the gift of being able to pull aspects of the other's personality out that no one knew had existed before.
Lily calmed Arabella, Arabella livened Lily up. Lily talked Arabella out of reacting stupidly quite often while Arabella taught Lily to stand up for herself. Both appreciated the other enormously at the beginning but neither could have even imagined how necessary the other would be to the other in the future nor could they have guessed how the lessons each taught each other would one day impact each of their very survival.
But back to Arabella glaring at Sirius.
James was still scowling about losing his first points for Gryffindor; he couldn't help but think that everyone he was trying so hard to become friends with would now surely hate him. Why did he always have to be so ridiculously stupid? Sirius on the other hand was still smiling menacingly at that Snape character, who was looking fiercely right back at him. Needless to say one Slytherin and three Gryffindor first years did not hear much of the first care of magical creature's lesson.
On the way back to the castle Arabella caught up with a very sullen James. "Why are you hanging out with that prat" she hissed. James didn't listen to what she said instead he looked at his good friend forlornly and apologized, "Do you hate me now? I'm so sorry. Please believe me Ill never do it again I promise!" Arabella cocked her head and starred at James was a very confused expression on her face, "What are you on about?" "The points, it's the points Bella! It's horrible! Everyone will hate me now I know it!" James cried quite near hysterics.
"Are you off your rocker Potter?" Arabella said with irritation, "No one cares if you lost five lousy points. Honestly don't be so whiny, and don't tell me you will never lose any points again I imagine you will probably lose more then your fair share in the next couple years and I wouldn't want you feeling badly when you do because you made some ridiculous promise to me on the first day of school in first year."
James smiled widely, "Yeah you're probably right about that. Thanks Bella," then much to Arabella's annoyance James gave her an embarrassing hug, laughed at the disgusted look on her face and dashed off to join Sirius. "Wait James…JAMES POTTER! I WANT TO TALK TO YOU!" she screamed after him to not avail. "Prat" she muttered as she followed Lily back to the castle.
"What was all that about" Lily asked Arabella as the dark haired girl joined her. "I was just trying to talk to James" Arabella explained, "I wanted to tell him that I think it's a bad idea that he is hanging out with that Black kid." Lily secretly wondered what was so bad about that Black kid, but was much to shy to question the girl she was trying to make friends with logic. Instead Lily decided to ask Arabella about James; all though he had seemed quite rude on the train she decided it certainly wouldn't hurt to give him another chance. "So you know James quite well then?" Lily asked. "Oh yeah I spent practically the whole summer over there.
There great especially James and Mary Alice," Arabella said suddenly in a much better mood. "Whose Mary Alice," asked Lily. "Oh she's James's older sister, she is a third year in Gryffindor. Ill introduce you to her she will love you," Arabella said kindly. Lily tried smiling but silently thought to herself that she wasn't looking to give anyone in third year a chance to love her. No if she had her way she would stick to the eleven year old crowd thank you very much.
Unfortunately things did not go according to Lily's plans. After a lovely charms lesson during which the Professor, who called himself Flitwick, demonstrated a levitation charm much to Lily's amazement and pleasure before reading aloud rules and assigning reading; Lily found herself being dragged across the Great Hall by Arabella to eat lunch with a group of quite tall and intimidating older students. A very pretty girl with long, wavy blonde hair and startling blue eyes was the first of the group to look up.
"Arabella," she cried happily jumping up and hugging Lily's companion. The rest of the group looked and called various greetings to Arabella who responded before dragging Lily forward, "I want you all to meet my friend Lily Evans. She is a first year Gryffindor to." Lily, who normally would have been quite pleased that Arabella had referred to her as a friend couldn't find any pleasure in the moment. She was painfully shy in general but especially so around teenagers.
Unfortunately the entire group in front of her was made up of teenagers. "Hullo Lily" said the pretty girl who had jumped up to hug Arabella, "I'm Alice Whitman. I'm in third year." Lily tried to smile but was quite sure she managed nothing but a grimace. The girl next to Alice smiled kindly at Lily, "I'm Emmeline Vance".
Across the table a tall girl with dark hair waved and said, "I'm Mary Alice Potter." So this was James sister, she certainly looked a great deal like James except noticeably prettier. Next to Mary Alice sat a square jawed, friendly looking boy who introduced himself as Sturgis Podmere. So far they seemed to be quite nice and Lily was even starting to feel almost comfortable as she sat down next to Arabella and proceeded to bite into a sandwich.
James ran into the Great Hall followed close behind by Sirius. Looking around wildly he saw Mary Alice sitting with Alice, Emmeline, Sturgis and Arabella. Quickly he hurried over to where his sister was, "Mary Alice" he called excitedly failing to notice the Ravenclaw second year who had stood up in front of him holding a full glass of pumpkin juice. The next chain of events came straight out of the movies. James took a step forward plowed right into the unsuspecting boy who toppled backwards on to the ground.
His glass of juice flew through the air, its liquid contents becoming airborne. The entire section of the Gryffindor and Ravenclaw table became silence as they watched the pumpkin juice fall from the air onto its victims head. It just wasn't Lily's day. Or so she decided while sitting on the long wooden bench trying to hold back tears, as pumpkin juice dripped down her face.
James looked around nervously everyone in the room had stopped eating and talking and was staring wordlessly at the red haired Gryffindor first year. "Er... sorry about that…" he started, what was her name? Why couldn't he remember it? "…Lola. I really didn't mean for that to happen. Just wipe it up it's not a big deal, see?" The girl looked up at him reproachfully. A single tear ran down her cheek. Just as suddenly as the pumpkin juice had landed on her head she jumped and ran out of the Great Hall in tears.
"Lisa I'm sorry" James cried after her, feeling quite bad. Turning he looked back at his friend's and sister. "Good work there James" Sturgis commented as he struggled to keep a smile off of his face. Emmeline shot a scathing look at Sturgis before turning back and looking at James, "I'm sure she knows it's an accident James. Now what is your friends name there?" James who had completely forgot about Sirius Black until that moment opened his mouth to reply but was cut off.
"His name is Sirius Black," Arabella snapped as she stood up abruptly and shot a positively scathing look at James, "My friend's name is Lily. Maybe next time you try apologizing to someone you should get their name right. Now I have to go find her and calm her down, because you obviously couldn't apologize properly and I am probably going to miss lunch now. Thanks a lot." With that she stormed out of the Great Hall.
"Once again good work James" Sturgis said this time unable to help grinning widely. "That was certainly eventful" Alice commented. Mary Alice merely nodded as she was laughing hysterically at the look on her little brother's face.
Lily hadn't meant to start crying in the middle of lunch, she really hadn't. But nothing had gone right so far that day. She missed her parents, she missed her home, she felt like she was years behind everyone in all of her classes. Most of them had known about magic their entire lives and she had only found out about it in July. Then stupid James Potter had caused a glass of juice to be dumped on her head on top of all that she had started crying in front of everyone in the school. Arabella probably wouldn't even want to be her friend anymore.
"Fantastic" she wailed as more hot tears welled up in her eyes. Burying her face in the pillows on her bed she let out a hopelessly sad wail. "Oh stop being so dramatic" said a voice from next to her, causing Lily to sit up with a start. She was shocked to see Arabella standing next to her bed, "W-What are you d-doing here," Lily sniffled as she wiped her nose on her robe sleeve. "Well I couldn't very well let you have a fit all alone could I?"
Lily wiped some of the tears from her cheeks, "I'm sorry for acting like that." Arabella rolled her eyes and crossed her arms, "Well you certainly don't need to be sorry. I mean you didn't go and dump and glass of juice on your own head did you?" Lily tried to smile, "I know its not. I just looked stupid. I…well I don't want to complain to you I mean we barely know each other." Arabella smiled and the irritation left her voice as she sat down on Lily's bed, "Lily we are going to be room mates for the next seven years, we might as well get to know each other. Besides no one ever says they don't want to complain unless they really do, so out with it. Tell me what's bothering you."
In truth when Lily heard Arabella's words she had to fight very hard to keep from breaking into a fresh round of tears, she managed not too solely for the reason that she doubted Arabella would be very pleased by it. "Well its stupid really" said Lily quietly, "I just feel so left out. Everyone hear knows each other and top of that everyone knows what there doing and what to expect. I, on the other hand, haven't the slightest clue of what I will be doing or what will happen. I mean I read all my textbooks several times over, but I haven't seen a bit of magic in my life and I don't know a single person." Arabella looked at Lily with wide eyes, "You read all your textbooks more then once?"
Lily blushed as she nodded her head in confirmation. "Well I'll tell you right now, you have a much better idea what's going on here then I do. Maybe it doesn't seem like it, but the only thing I have ever paid attention to my entire life, much to my mamma's displeasure, is Quidditch. I guess your right it probably is hard coming to a new school and not knowing anyone, but you know me. I'm your friend and I'll stay your friend even if you have weekly attacks like you had earlier in the Great Hall, I promise."
Lily couldn't help letting several tears leek out of her eyes, "D-Do you really mean that," she whimpered. "Oh for heaven's sake" Arabella cried as she saw Lily's tears, "Of course I mean it! Now stop crying before I give you something to cry about." Lily couldn't help but laugh at that.
"Now are you done crying because I think there is about fifteen minutes left before the next class and I was hoping to eat something at lunch today," Arabella said as she stood up, "Come one lets go!" Lily stood up and gathered her book bag. Together the two girls left the room.
Authors Note- Sorry it took me so long to update...I have been having some tech problems, hopefully its smooth sailing from here on out. I also had a bit of writers block so this chapter is a bit longer because I ended up just writing untill an idea came to me!
Thanks to everyone who reviewed my last chapter especially AnitaPotter. You honestly made my day, and yes I am planning on writing a long story with multiple sub plots. The main focus will be on the Potter family, the extended Potter family that is.
Oh one more thing I haven't put a disclaimer in here yet so...Nothing in this story belongs to me. Harry Potter and all its characters, plots, components etc. etc. belong to JK Rowling, Scholastic, Bloomsbury and Warner Brothers plus anyone else I am forgetting. I do however proudly own Mary Alice Potter. That is it however.
