Hello again readers! I'm getting ready for the first day of school, and I am so excited. I really hope 2013 is a good one. Sorry this chapter was really late, and I know i've been doing that with the recent ones too. I'm really sorry for that! I kind of had writer's block with this chapter. And also, I might have been putting it off.

~Polkadotblue

CHAPTER NINE - Meeting Sam

He paused. "Actually, we met before. I didn't know if it was really you though."

"Oh, sorry. I must have forgotten. So, what's your name?"

"It's Sam. Sam Jones." He turned back around and walked to the boys dormitory.

Sam Jones. Huh. The sound of that name made me have this really weird feeling. Did I know him from somewhere? That's probably it. My family was always having kids each year, so after a while you tend to just lose count. A couple years ago we had a family reunion with the whole family and I swear half of the family was practically strangers.

But that name made my head have this sort of flicker - like it was waking up to something that hadn't been used in a long time. I shaked the feeling off and continued to work on the assignment. Almost done with the essay, I took a small stretch. Yawning, I checked to see what time it was. 7:47.

I heard the portrait swing open and turned to see that it was Zoe and Taylor. Walking up to them, I asked them, "What did you do after I was gone?". "Nothing much, just went to the tree." Taylor said, shrugging. Packing up all of my things, I casually asked them, "Have you guys met the new guy yet? Turns out he's in Griffindor too."

I couldn't help but wonder why that name sounded so familiar to me. It was bugging me the whole time I was doing the essay, and until I knew why it was so familiar I don't think I could sleep. "Really? We haven't seen him since the feast, we've just been sitting around. Have you met him yet?" She asked. "Actually yeah, I did earlier. His name's Sam Jones. Is that name familiar with any of you?" I asked.

"Nope." They replied almost instantly, popping the 'p'. "Oh, but we got that photo of us. You know, from the feast. It looks really great since it's not a muggle photo." Zoe said, showing me the photo. It was a good photo. It was one of those photos where everything was perfect, yet it wasn't. I hated that I loved it, especially when James was looking at me in a way that made me want to punch him.

"Why don't we go to the girl's dormitories?" I asked. We all went inside the dormitory and sat in a small circle on the floor. I took my wand and muttered, "Caledious." Emerging from thin air was a bunch of lanterns that began to float near the ceiling. They began to move slowly and circulate above us. I grabbed the album from my bedside and sat beside them. "Why don't we take a trip down memory lane?" I grinned. I quickly put the new couple of photos into the album and then went back to the front of the album, which was full of photos of my family and friends. "Anyone got any stories to tell about their summer?" Taylor asked while flipping through the photos. "Well, Logan's at university now. Petunia's still dating that big fat whale. I got new clothes. And my neighbor's moved out." I said.

I looked at the photo of me in the ballerina clothes, before the recital started. I smiled a little. A lot has changed ever since the ballet recital. I wonder what would have happened if I had never spilled a super Big Red Gulp on the most popular kid in 6th grade. Would I have been different? Would anything changed? "The nice couple that always gave you books? I liked them. Remember them, Taylor? They were the people who gave us those giant pink fluffy things to eat at the fair." Zoe said. Now we were onto vacations and holiday photos. "Cotton candy? Yeah. I heard they had to move because their daughter became sick." I said.

I was looking at a photo of me and some boy at a playground. "Who's this Lily? I don't think I've seen him in any of your photos before." Zoe said, looking at the same photo. "Oh he was my best friend before Hogwarts. I think he moved to America or something, I can't remember." I paused. I had a feeling of deja vu . I studied the photo more closely. It was me with a big smile and I was hugging the guy, who had brown hair and bright blue eyes. I looked at the guy more closely and tried to remember him.

He definitely wasn't a relative, because nobody in the family had any brown hair whatsoever. I gasped. I knew exactly who he was.

"I remember him now."

"Who is he?"

"It's... It's Sam."

~^o^~^o^~^o^~^o^~

"What do you mean, 'It's Sam?'" Taylor asked.

"I mean he's the guy that moved into Griffindor. The same person."

"But he has brown hair. This Sam is blonde." Taylor said.

"Yeah, well people's hair can change color as they grow older. It also happens with eyes." I said in a matter-of-fact tone.

"You know, it could just be someone that looks like that guy in the photo." She pointed out.

I sighed. "Yeah, maybe. I guess I'll have to see tomorrow."

"What happened between you and Sam anyway?"

"Nothing really. He just had to move away. The same day I got the Hogwarts letter, and I guess Sam got one too - just in america." I shrugged.

"This is so romantic! This is destiny. The childhood friend comes back for you just when you changed your look. You both date the rest of your Hogwarts years and finally marry." Zoe squealed dreamily. I rolled my eyes. Zoe was always the most romantic in the group. She was always hoping that her 'prince' would whisk her away, or kiss her in the rain - something cliché like that.

"How is it romantic? A guys moves back to learn at a school. Not for any lovey-dovey relationships that research shows will bound to end." Taylor countered. While Zoe was the romantic one, Taylor was always the cynical one in our group.

"Can we talk about this tomorrow? We should all just sleep and have a good night." I suggested.

We all stood up and went to our beds. I put the album back in the drawer and went in my bed. Was that really Sam? I wondered. I almost forgot about him until today. Hard to believe that 5 years ago he was such a big part of my life.

I stood back up and grabbed the album. Going back to my bed, I flipped back to the photos of Sam and I. There was only about 4 in the whole album, but each and every one of those were very special. There was one of my birthday, one with our halloween costumes, a tattered one of us on the playground, and me and Sam at the fair.

I couldn't help but wonder how he grew up, what pet he has now, or who his best friend even is.

~^o^~^o^~^o^~^o^~

"Okay, so are you going to talk to him?"

Taylor was doing some work for the Divination teacher and I was walking to the grand hall for breakfast. Zoe was walking with me, and she was so excited about me and Sam.

"Yeah, Zoe. I'll talk to him when I see him. But just so you know, I don't think it'll be that excited." I told her.

She sighed dreamily."It's like a fairy tale come true. I wish I had that."

We were almost at the griffindor table and I spotted the guys at the table. Nudging Zoe, I said "Maybe you do have it. There's Remus over there." She looked over at the table and smiled. "Maybe."

We sat down and I grabbed some blueberry muffins. Zoe rolled her eyes and said, "Don't you ever get sick of those? You have one almost every day." I smiled. It was true. They were my favorite thing to eat ever since I was young, but I hated the actual blueberries in them. I loved the taste of it though.

"Nope." I said, popping the 'p'.

As I started picking out the blueberries, I saw Sam enter the grand hall. He walked to the griffindor table and sat with the guys. They must've met him last night. Zoe noticed too, and she cheekily said "I guess that's my cue to leave. I'll see you in Ancient Runes." I took a deep breath and started to walk down the table. "Hi guys." I greeted to everyone. "Can I talk to you, Sam?" "Sure. I'll meet you guys at class." He waved goodbye.

"So, what's up?" He asked.

"Can we sit down? Sorry, it's just I haven't finished breakfast."

We sat back down and I continued to pick out the blueberries. We continued to eat in silence and I started eating the muffins. Talk to him. You didn't bring him here for nothing. But I didn't know what to say. It felt too awkward between me and him, too many years apart. He was almost a stranger to me now. I looked up to him, and saw him smiling.

"I see you still don't like blueberries." He said.

"What do you mean?" I asked.

"When you were at school, your mom would bake you blueberry muffins. She never liked that you didn't eat everything, but you would always took out the blueberries. So, I ate it instead."

I laughed. "Really? That would explain a lot. See, nowadays my mom would just put in blueberry flavoured muffins. But it wasn't the same as the ones with blueberries. So I try to eat as much muffins as I can."

He rolled his eyes. "Of course you would do that. One time when you weren't allowed to eat lollies in sixth grade, and so the next day you ate so much that I found you lying on the floor with piles of candy wrapper surrounding you."

We both laughed. "So, when did you find out your a wizard?" I asked.

"I found out a few weeks later, when it was my birthday. I just couldn't believe it. But what was more surprising was that my grandma was a witch. I guess it skips a generation." He shrugged.

"Well, I actually found out the same day you left. How's the hogwarts of America like?"

He pauses to think about it. "It's basically the same. Except instead of divination we have a free hour."

I smile. "That must be so nice to have." I checked my watch and saw that it's almost time for class. "We better get going for classes. Which class are you going to?" I asked.

He took a piece of paper from his pocket and said, "Transfiguration."

Damn. I wanted to talk to him more. "I've got Ancient Runes. But hey, come and ask me for anything you need. I'll see you later." I waved goodbye.

I walked through the hallway and went upstairs for the class. Everyone was already in the classroom and the teacher was getting ready for class. On the left, I saw Zoe and Taylor at their desks. "Hey! How'd it go?" Taylor winked. "It went fine. Honestly though, I don't know what you expected. We just caught up with each other." I said.

Zoe pointed out, "That's how it starts. And then, as you become closer and closer, you fall in love and run off into the sunset." She sighed happily.

I sighed. Most of the time, her optimism is really helpful and well, cute. But now it was starting to get on my nerves. But I couldn't reply back because the teacher said "Okay class, quiet now." The class stopped talking talking and listened to the teacher. Professor Thompson wasn't a boring or strict teacher, but he talked. A lot. So we would always pass notes.

Not long after he started talking, Zoe passed me a note.

Are you going to run off into the sunset soon? It said.

No, but i've agreed that we would ride white horses and live in a castle that he owns.

I passed the piece of parchment back and saw her reading it. She paused, and then wrote back.

Americans have castles? That is soo 18th century.

I rolled my eyes. That was sarcasm. I don't understand why you keep thinking I'll marry him. I thought you wanted me and James together?

But you hate him too much to. Don't get me wrong, I'm all for you and dreamy james to get together, but I honestly don't see THAT happening any time soon. Plus, Sam has such a cute accent!

Yeah, he does. But I seriously doubt us getting together, we literally just talked again in 5 years. And 'dreamy james'? HA. He's just a stupid jerk who has an ego so big I'm surprised he can still go on his broomstick.

He's not that bad. When I was talking to Remus yesterday, James seemed like a really great guy.

Can we just drop it with James? I am so sick of James. James this, James that. Changing the subject, you were talking to Remus yesterday? I didn't see that.

Oh, yeah. That was after you left. It was nothing though.

When I was in the middle of writing back, the bell rang.

Great. I didn't even take any notes, or even listen to Professor Thompson. I guess I'll have to ask Taylor for notes. I walked to the back of the class, where Zoe and Taylor sat. "Was it really nothing Zoe?" I asked. "Oh, and Taylor, can I borrow your notes?" No answer. "Taylor?" I looked down and saw that Taylor was lying face down on the desk and was still sleeping. I sighed. "I guess I'll have to ask someone else."

Zoe woke up Taylor and we walked out of class. "So, do you think your knight in shining armor will sweep you off your feet anytime soon?" I said to Zoe teasingly. "You know that the past day, we've always been talking about Sam or Remus? Can we just stop for a while?" Taylor sighed exasperatedly. Zoe and I both said at the same time, "Okay, sheesh."

We started talking about something else and was on the way to Potions class when I bumped into a person. I dropped all of the books I had in my arms and kneeled down to pick it up.

"I am so clumsy, sorry I bumped into you!"

The person helped me pick up some of my books and gave it back to me. "It's no problem."

Finally looking up to the person I bumped into, I saw that it was Sam. "It's you again. How'd your first class go?"

Taylor threw her hands up and yelled, "It never ends! I am going to class!"

Zoe sighed. "I'm going with her to make sure she doesn't hex anyone. See you at lunch!"

They both left us and we looked both looked at each other. "So, first day so far?"

"Well.. I made a baby squirrel from a umbrella. Sort of."

I raise an eyebrow and laughed. "Uh oh. That sounds bad. Sort of?"

"Okay, so I did the spell. But I forgot about the tail. So, it was a baby squirrel with a baby handle." He said awkwardly.

I put my hand on his shoulder and smiled. "Oh, tell me that isn't true."

He sighed. "Little Coco isn't going to be having a tail any time soon."Oh, you've got something in your hair. Here, I'll get it."

He held his arm out and took out the piece of paper. "Thanks! That would've been embarassing." I smiled.

In the corner of my eye I Sirius, Remus and James come into the hallway. They all started walking towards our way with James leading them. "So do you by any chance still have my plush turtle?" He said, nudging my shoulder. "You know, funny you should ask. I've actually-"

And that's when James started to kiss me.

Thanks for reading everyone! And I seriously apologize for the long hiatus for the chapter. I just didn't have any inspiration for the chapter at all. But, if you guys review my story then your words of encouragement will help me! Please guys. The reviews are what keeps the story going. And thank you to everyone who has reviewed so far! I love you guys so much.

~Polkadotblue