Lily opened her eyes; her pupil lazily surveyed the room before closing and snuggling into her duvet.
September 1st
Lily's eyes suddenly sprang open in surprise, September 1st. She threw her duvet off and ran to her calendar. It was.
The Marauders Proudly Present Lily Evans and James Potter In: The Marauders Year One
Chapter 10
When Lily Met James
Written By Chambers10
She grinned and sprang to her bed and pulled out her trunk. She ran her fingers over the initials engraved on the fresh leather. She flicked the openings and looked at her perfectly packed case. All her robes, spare clothes, books, spare books, her radio, parchment, quills. She changed quickly and then sat on her bed and looked round her room, she couldn't believe that she was going to be away from here till Christmas. It felt strange but exciting all at the same time.
She was going to miss her family, her mum, her dad, and Petunia. Lily sighed sadly as she thought of Petunia.
She really wanted her to go to, and seeing her tear stained reply only increased her resolve to get her accepted all the more. Lily walked out her room and down to the kitchen where her mum was making some bacon sandwiches while listening to the radio.
"The unexplained earthquakes and landslides in South America, most recent in Rio De Janerio, have left geologists baffled, more so since there were no apparent injuries or fatalities."
Her Dad was sat at the table to reading his newspaper, he folded it when Lily entered.
"Hey you, excited for today?" he asked.
"I cannot wait." Said Lily excitedly as she sat down. Her sandwich was placed in front of her with a tea and she tucked in. She looked up when Petunia entered the room, Petunia didn't look at her as she got herself some muesli.
"Morning sweetie, have a nice sleep?" asked Lavender.
"Fine." Said Petunia sitting down, she glared at Lily who looked back down at her sandwich and suddenly didn't feel hungry.
"What time are we leaving?" asked Petunia stiffly.
"Soon." Said Lavender, "So get changed. John, get Lily's trunk into the car." Mr Evans disappeared from the table to carry out his work.
With breakfast finished they all piled into the car and made off towards London. The car ride was very quiet down. Lily was deeply excited, but also a little frightened, what if she didn't fit in, what if they didn't like her, what if?
A question that was plaguing her way too much for her liking. She looked over at Petunia who was staring out the window at the cars. Lily sighed and looked out her window at the railway siding.
London town. Lily liked coming to London to see family, she enjoyed the sights, the sounds, the hustle and bustle, always something to do. In a way she resented her parents moving away from London. But at the same knew exactly why they did it. After parking they made their way to kings cross. The tall brick building whistling with trains going off to the far corners of the country.
Lily wondered deep down where Hogwarts actually was, she had checked maps but could never place down a plot for it. They walked into the station where other people were waiting for trains or people. Mostly there where business men and women walking round reading folded broadsheets and discussing the day's trading.
"What platform's your train going from Lily?" asked John looking round.
"Er?" Lily opened her letter and inspected the ticket that accompanied.
"Platform…nine and three quarters?"
"Stop joking, really what platform?"
"Nine and three quarters." Said Lily, not quite believing it herself.
"Lily!"
"No, look." She said showing her dad the ticket.
"Typical, no organisation." Muttered Petunia.
John took the ticket and inspected it, it was there, clear as day, nine and three quarters. He went to speak before stopping and looking at the ticket again.
"How do we?"
"Why don't we go to platform nine and ten and see if we can pick something up?" suggested Lavender. The walk was the longest to date in Lily's mind, what if this was a ruse… Petunia would have a field day, Lily would have to go back in shame, spent the rest of her life in soggy Cokeworth. They reached the platform and looked round, it was defiantly harder to distinguish wizards from muggles. Lily tried to see if anything was out of place, but still nothing. Lily then spotted an anomaly.
A boy with greasy black hair. Lily watched as Snape and what looked like his mum made their way through the crowd. They hadn't spotted them and stopped just a few yards away. Lily watched as Snape's mum looked round discreetly before she led Snape to the wall between platform nine and ten and walked through.
Lily blinked. She shook her head and looked at the platform wall. They should have crashed, they should, have done…anything but that. Lily then watched the wall as another boy who looked about sixteen walked over with a trunk as well. He looked round discreetly before running at the wall. He too passed through effortlessly. Lily looked over at her parents who were talking and pointing around. Lily bit her lip and wondered over to the wall, she stopped just in front of wall and looked up and down. She placed her hand out gingerly and stroked the wall.
Only for her hand to fall straight through. She retracted her hand and inspected it, no abnormal growth or rashes. This was it. The entrance. Lily laughed, nine and three quarters, should have been a bloody half. Lily weaved back to where her parents where and grabbed the trolley with her trunk on it.
"I found it!" said Lily taking the trolley. She kicked away and skidded in front of the wall.
"Lily!" Lily looked round and ran forward she headed straight for the wall and closed her eyes. But she kept running. She opened her eyes and stopped.
She defiantly wasn't in Kansas anymore, or kings cross for that matter. She breathed and smiled as she took in her new surroundings. The platform was much cleaner and brighter than any other platform on the station. It was busy though, full of students in normal clothes like her and some in their robes already.
People where hugging and greeting each other after summers apart, the hoots of owls filled the air as little fireworks went off in a different corner of the room. Lily's ears where then deafened by the hoot of the train. Her eyes looked over at the big scarlet engine. Her mouth dropped and smiled as she looked around the platform.
It was in a word, incredible. She was snapped out her day dream by realising her family weren't with her on the platform. Lily moved the trolley to the side and ran back out of the station.
"Lily!" her mother's voice rang out, her eyes then fell on he youngest. "Don't you ever run of like that again!"
"But I found the station!" she said with a huge smile. "I did, I really did." She took her parents hands and led them to the wall.
"It's here." Said Lily. Lavender looked at the stone wall up and down and back to Lily. Had she lost her mind. "Now don't be scared." She pulled them towards the wall.
"Lily!" The family passed through the stone wall.
Her family where now caught in the moment. Even Petunia looked impressed as she milked in the scene before her.
"Platform nine and three quarters." Said Lily shrugging her shoulders. The family moved forward, Lily had her trunk and belongings hauled onto the train and was now waiting. Her parents were still milking the atmosphere, she looked over at Petunia who was just sulking.
"I'll try and get you in." said Lily, "I'll go see and see Dumbledore and make him see."
"Save your breath." Said Petunia.
"I'm sorry, Tuney, I'm sorry! Listen - " Lily caught her sister's hand and held tight to it, even though Petunia tried to pull it away.
"Maybe once I'm there - no, listen, Tuney!" Petunia tried more to pull her arm away from Lily. "
"Maybe once I'm there, I'll be able to go to Professor Dumbledore and persuade him to change his mind!"
"I don't want to go!" said Petunia, and she dragged her hand back out of her sister's grasp. "You think I want to go to some stupid castle and learn to be a - a…"
Lily could see Petunia's pale eyes scan over the platform, over the cats mewling in their owners' arms, over the owls, fluttering and hooting at each other in cages, over the students, some already in their long black robes, loading trunks onto the scarlet steam engine or else greeting one another with glad cries after a summer apart.
" - you think I want to be a - a freak?"
Lily's eyes filled with tears as Petunia succeeded in tugging her hand away. Lily stood there feeling very small. She had been called a freak all her life, it shouldn't have affected her. But this time it cut deep. It was from her own sister's mouth…how she could think such a thing. Someone who knew her?
"I'm not a freak," said Lily. "That's a horrible thing to say."
"That's where you're going," said Petunia with relish brushing her arm, like it had an unsavoury stain on the sleeve.
"A special school for freaks. You and that Snape boy…weirdo's, that's what you two are. It's good you're being separated from normal people. It's for our safety."
Lily glanced toward her parents, who were looking around the platform with an air of wholehearted enjoyment, drinking in the scene. Then she looked back at her sister, and her voice was low and fierce.
"You didn't think it was such a freak's school when you wrote to the headmaster and begged him to take you." Lily didn't really want to reveal that piece of information. But Petunia had made her so angry.
Petunia turned scarlet.
"Beg? I didn't beg!"
"I saw his reply. It was very kind."
"You shouldn't have read - " whispered Petunia, "that was my private - how could you -?"
Lily gave herself away by half-glancing toward where Snape stood nearby. Petunia gasped.
"That boy found it! You and that boy have been sneaking in my room!"
"No - not sneaking - " Now Lily was on the defensive. "Severus saw the envelope, and he couldn't believe a Muggle could have contacted Hogwarts, that's all! He says there must be wizards working undercover in the postal service who take care of -" Petunia snorted.
"Apparently wizards poke their noses in everywhere!" said Petunia, now as pale as she had been flushed.
"Freak!" she spat at her sister, it didn't hit her…though it might as well have. She flounced off to where her parents stood. Lily took a sharp intake of breath and breathed out. She impatiently wiped away the tears from her eyes. She had to get a grip…this was new, exciting, she didn't want to be a weeping mess on her first day. She walked over slowly to her parents.
"I, urgh…I have get going." Said Lily lightly, Lavender looked down at her and smiled.
"Bye Dad, I'm gonna miss you."
"I'll miss you to." He said hugging maybe, "Not that sodding radio though." Lily laughed and disembraced.
"Oh don't cry Lily." Said Lavender hugging her, "You're going to be great…I know you will."
"I know." Said Lily distantly, "I'm just going to miss you."
"Oh Lily…you know you write anytime you like." Said Lavender. Lavender went to disembrace but found that Lily wasn't so willing to let go. Lavender sighed and smiled to herself. She remembered this from so long ago.
"You'll have to let me go sometime." She whispered into Lily's ear.
"Am I really going to be great?" Lavender pulled back and held onto Lily's shoulders and smiled at her.
"You," she said tucking that strand of hair that never stayed behind ear back. "Will be the best witch there. All you have to do is trust your friends. These will be the most magical days of your life." Lily nodded, she moved away from her mum and she looked over at Petunia, who was standing with folded arms.
Lily walked towards her. Petunia notice but turned away so she wasn't facing her. Lily sighed.
"Well…goodbye." Said Lily. Petunia didn't react.
Lily turned and walked towards the train, she pulled herself onto the carriage. She looked back at her family, her parents waved enthusiastically back at her. Petunia still folded arms. Lily waved back and made her way on. She made her way past the students, her eyes welling up, she found a toilet cubicle and walked in. She locked the door and sat on the toilet seat hugging her knees, and weeping into them.
The alarm clock rang, its unpleasant sound bounced off the room and woke the boy hidden under the sheets. He reached his hand out and started to feel round his bedside table for the clock. He knocked a variety of things over from books to remotes till he found the clock. He pressed the top but it still continues to buzz, he repeated this process many times until it finally ceased.
He turned over in his sheets, not a second later and the ringing continued. The boy gave an irritated sigh and pulled his sheets away, and sat on his bed. James Potter stretched his hands above his head. He had a bleary look about him, he rubbed his eyes and got up from his bed.
"Ouch."
He stepped on something by his bed. He sat back down and inspected his foot, he moved clothes to see a mini quaffle. He picked it up and threw it against his wardrobe and had a second attempt of getting up. He yawned and scratched his chest and made his way across his room and avoid the stuff on the floor. He pulled his curtains back and the sun blinded him as the fresh rays ran into his darkened room. James squinted as his hazel eyes became adjusted to the light.
"James, breakfast." His mum's voice voice's carried up to James room. James looked at his calendar. The days for the month of August were circled in red, James yawned as he reached for his pen and circled the next day.
He made his way back to the calendar and looked at the date 1st of September. His breathing became more rapid as he realised what today was. The 1st of September, the day he was going to Hogwarts for the first time. He had heard all the stories of how cool it was there, the funny classes the teacher and most of all, Quidditch.
James walked out his messy room into the pristine hallway, he walked down the hallway down and into the entrance hall then he took a right into the kitchen. His mum was busy cooking something on the stove, his dad was sitting on at the Island table eating. James was grinning from ear to ear as he walked in and took his seat.
"James for god's sake, put a shirt on!" his mum said placing a full English breakfast in front of him.
"You can't go bare chested at Hogwarts."
"The girls would love it." said James tucking in. Katherine sighed and sat down with some toast.
"You'll miss my cooking though."
"The house elves do just fine." Said Alec, "You won't go hungry." Katherine glared.
"What I meant is that they don't hold a candle to your mums cooking." He looked over shakily.
"I will mum." Said James, "I'll miss the post Quidditch bacon sandwich though."
"No Quidditch for first years James." Said Alec, "Minerva won't budge on that so your broom stays at home. This means no post bacon butties anyway." James pulled a face, and continued to eat.
"I'll show em." Said James, "I'll make my debut by the end of the year."
"Don't get to pig headed James." Said Katherine, "It's not a nice trait."
James wolfed down his breakfast and had his shower, he hauled his trunk and rucksack into the entrance hall. Alec and Katherine stood there as James placed them on the carpet. Alec looked down at the trunk and up at James.
"Minerva would kill me if I didn't check to make sure you're up to no good." Said Alec, he searched James top to bottom.
"But I trust you."
"That makes one." said Katherine, "Any letter's home young man." She pointed at him,
"And your brooms getting mailed to you by the twig."
"She means it to." Said Alec. "So don't push her." Katherine smiled triumphantly and picked up James's bag.
"Come on you, let's go." Alec gathered his trunk and they made their way into the drive.
"Can I say goodbye first?" asked James. Alec looked over at Katherine who nodded. James walked further down the drive. He stopped outside a small garden which had a small tombstone. The garden was green and full of flowers, James pulled back the kissing gate and walked in. He walked over to the tombstone. He kneeled in front of it. There was a Lily growing up the side of it. James pulled it away and threw it to the ground.
"I won't let you down." He whispered, like he was making a promise. He stood up and walked out, carefully closing the gate behind him and walked hands in pockets to where his parents stood.
"Let's get going." Said Alec. He placed a hand on James's shoulder, with one last look, everything went blue.
James landed outside Kings cross. He swayed on his feet and steadied himself. He walked into the station with his parents to the platforms. He recognised certain faces as his parents got to platform nine and ten. Alec took a discrete look round before leading James into the wall.
"James there you are!" James looked over to see Sirius coming over.
"Finally mate, thought you'd never come." He said, "Been waiting for ages."
"Sirius." Katherine hugged him and handed him a rucksack. "Some things from our house. And some homemade treats as well."
"Cheers Kath."
"Sirius!" Sirius grimaced and turned round. Sirius's mum was sitting in her wheelchair with that big black dog she always had growling at her side. She was being pushed by his dad, a stern man who had many run ins with the Auror's over the years.
"What you doing, running off like that!" Mrs Black barked.
"Oh I wouldn't want to run." Said Sirius, "Merely through myself in front of the train."
"Less of that you brat." She snapped.
"Nice to see you again." said Katherine, "Alec said he didn't see you at the boy's passing out ceremony."
"We knew Sirius would pass." Said Mrs Black Venomously, "We didn't need to see him prove his blood line…unlike some." She cast a dark eye over James and Katherine who placed a hand gently on his shoulder.
"Let's go get a compartment." Said James he turned to his mum and Dad and hugged them.
"I'll promise I'll write." Said James, he hugged his Mum and pulled his rucksack over his shoulder.
"Gonna miss you dad." said James hugging him to.
"Right son." James's Dad placed a hand on his shoulder. "I'll give you some advice for when your there. No duelling, no pranks, no chat back and most importantly. Have fun. These are the best days of your life." He got James in a hug as all of his things were put on the train.
"Thanks Dad." Said James
"Now go on." He said ruffling his hair "Go get on board before the compartments are gone." James and Sirius made their way onto the train and quickly slipped into a vacant compartment. James threw his bag on the seat and sank onto the seat opposite. Sirius did the same and they let out a relaxing breath.
"This is it." said James nodding. Sirius nodded to.
"The first day of the rest of our lives." Said Sirius as he lounged back. He opened the rucksack from Katherine.
"Aw brownies!" he said pulling some out, "Your mums the best James, don't ever let her go." He said as he stuffed his face. The Train groaned into life as it pulled away.
James was now looking out the window. He helped himself to a cheese and marmite sandwich. Most of the conversation was about Quidditch and the coming season. They got into some heated discussions about it but were always able to agree on something.
"It's not that I hate Hector Finch, well I do, but how can you miss the hoop from 5 yards out and still warrant a 3 year deal." Sirius shook his head and nodded.
"I know, it's not as if they try to be understanding. He's just terrible."
"Anything from the trolley?" James and Sirius looked up to see a plump witch pushing a trolley full of treats.
"Three boxes of Bertie's my dear." Said James standing, "What do you want mate, the trolley?"
"Chocolate frog would be fine."
"One for the lady." Said James paying and throwing the frog to Sirius smirked. James sat back down and opened the box and took a couple out, he threw it into his mouth and chewed.
"Peachey?"
"Excuse me?" a girl walking past stopped at the door, she was dressed in her Hogwarts uniform but not her robes. Which really showed off that she had, as James had described his peach flavoured bean, a Peachey bum.
"He was admiring your bum love." Smirked Sirius. The girl gave them a disgusted look and moved on.
"Smooth mate." Said James laughing as he tossed another bean into his mouth, "Suppose this is what my mum said about gaining a reputation."
"Mate, in case you haven't noticed, you already have a reputation." Said Sirius devouring his frog.
"Hardly."
"What about Vicky Duggary?"
"That was playful."
"In a cupboard, at her parents function."
"Ok, admittedly."
"And when Fredrick's American cousin came over last summer, remember her?"
"Oh yeah?" said James stretching, reminiscing fondly, "She was nice; I still keep in contact with her."
"Yeah, well if you don't know this, girls gossip."
"Then it will only be good." Said James, "Word of mouth is best. Besides, you're almost as bad as I am."
"Never said I wasn't." said Sirius having a brownie, "Just pointing it out to you."
Sirius rummaging through his bag. "Great, your mum packed some crisps as well."
"I swear she's trying to fatten you up." Said James flicking another bean into his mouth, his mouth widened as he chewed.
"Strawberry?"
"Nah…bacon." He said in-between mouthfuls. They were disturbed by a knock on the door. James looked up, standing in the doorway was a girl, not Gemma. She looked round the compartment and looked at James and Sirius. She was in her uniform already with a satchel over her shoulder.
"Do you mind if I sit in here?" she asked, "Everywhere else is full."
"Pull a pew." Said James showing her the seat next to him, she walked in a sat down next to James, but shuffled towards the window and leaned her head against it. James looked over at Sirius and raised an eyebrow. Sirius shrugged and looked at her again. The girl seemed to take no notice of them as she lost herself in her own little dream world. James flicked another bean in his mouth, his face contorted in disgust and suddenly spat it out.
"Arghh!"
"Sprouts?"
"No." he said wiping his mouth, "Beetroot!" Sirius laughed. The girl looked over with an unamused glare before looking back out the window.
"That's the price you pay for liking those things." Said Sirius eating his crisps. He looked over at the girl who was still looking out the window. James's gaze moved over towards her to.
She had long, flowing deep red hair which parted just so James could see her neck. Her skin was beautifully creamy and looked different from anything James had ever seen.
"Are you alright?" asked James, the girl flicked some hair from her face and looked at James. She had an incredibly pretty face. Not the best he'd ever seen but maybe it was her tear stained eyes.
"I'm fine I just…" she gulped, "I just wanted to get away from someone." With that she turned back to the window and resumed her position.
James looked over at Sirius who just shrugged his shoulders. James shook his head.
"Right…just let us know if you do need anything." Said James, the girl nodded lazily and stared out the window again.
"Do you reckon they'll have any more parties while where here?" asked James.
"Apparently, old Rotherman is throwing one for the circle."
"Guess my invite will be lost in the post." Said James with a sly smile.
"His mum thinks the sun shines out of your arse mate." Said Sirius, "She'll insist. Besides, you'll have to get round Slughorn." James pulled a face.
"Oh not him." said James, "I can't stand him when he comes round to mine."
"Just don't stand out in class." Said Sirius, "But always carry a bezoar."
"I'll be good." Said James, "I don't want to be part of his stupid slug club." James's concentration was broken by someone else walking in. He took no notice of this new intrusion and continued to chat with Sirius.
"You'd better be in Slytherin,"
"Slytherin?" James laughed before he could stop himself as he looked over at the mopey girl who was now talking to this strange boy. He looked ratty, like he he'd never been cared for in his life. He to like the red head was in his robes already, he had loped hair like Sirius, except his was in need of a wash. His thin mean face with dark black eyes bored into James as he continued to laugh.
"Who wants to be in Slytherin?" said James calming down. "I think I'd leave, wouldn't you?" James looked over at Sirius who had his head bowed with a look of dislike on his face. "My whole family have been in Slytherin," he said darkly.
"Blimey," said James, "and I thought you seemed all right!"
Sirius grinned. "Maybe I'll break the tradition. Where are you heading, if you've got the choice?"
James lifted an invisible sword.
"'Gryffindor, where dwell the brave at heart!' Like my dad."
The boy made a small laugh, and looked like he was going to burst out laughing. James turned on him.
"Got a problem with that?"
"No," said the boy, though a slight sneer suggested otherwise. "If you'd rather be brawny than brainy - "
"Where're you hoping to go, seeing as you're neither?" said Sirius.
James roared with laughter. The girl sat up, rather flushed now , and looked from James to Sirius in dislike.
"Come on, Severus, let's find another compartment."
"Oooooo…" James and Sirius imitated her lofty voice; James tried to trip Severus as he and the girl walked past.
"See ya, Snivellus!" James called as the door slammed, Sirius looked over at the door.
"The original odd couple." He said eating another crisp.
"How pathetic was he." Sirius continued "He's got so much grease on his face he could fry an egg on it in the sun, I mean it's like he's scared of shampoo." Sirius shook his head. "And that girl." He continued, "How jumped up was she?" James however, was still watching the door.
"Pretty girl though wasn't she." Said James with a slight smile as she disappeared.
"Keep it in your pants man." Said Sirius looking at him weirdly, "She's just a girl, besides you have an armful on the go."
"Hey, I was just saying she was pretty, there's no problem with…admiring the female form." Said James, craning his neck to see if she was still in sight.
"Whatever." Said Sirius eating another brownie, "Damn these are good."
Before they could say another thing another boy came to the door. He had thin blonde hair, and was very thin, he looked like he hadn't slept in days and his clothes were worn and battered.
"Oh," he said nervously. "I thought this compartment was empty." He started to walk away.
"Hey wait." James called; the boy poked his head round the door. "Come sit down, the more the merrier." Sirius looked over at James who nodded encouragement. He sat down next to James where the red head had been sitting and looked around.
"So…who are you?" asked James.
"Oh, sorry." The boy laughed nervously, "I'm Remus, Remus Lupin."
"Well Remus-Remus Lupin." James said "He's Sirius Black," he pointed over to Sirius who smiled and waved through a mouthful of brownie. "And I'm James Potter." They shook hands.
"So, Remus-Remus Lupin." Said James. "What house do you want to go in?" Lupin gave a nervous laugh.
"Ravenclaw if possible." He said nervously "My Parents were both in Ravenclaw."
"Gryffindor for us mate." James said pointing to him and Sirius, Lupin shuffled in his chair. There was a thick silence in the room that hung. James and Sirius looked at each other and back to Lupin.
"So, do you like Quidditch?" Sirius asked, Lupin gave another nervous shuffle.
"Yes." He said quietly "I support the Edinburgh Elves."
"He's got one over you." James said looking at a dejected Sirius. Lupin looked at him "So who do you support." He asked.
"Chuddley Cannons." Sirius said coldly, Lupin gave a laugh as did James, "What about you." Lupin asked pointing at James.
"Puddlemere." James replied "We Just been discussing the league for next year. Oh and how bad Hector Finch is."
"Very bad." Said Remus, "Can't believe he's being offered a three year deal.
"That's what I said!" said Sirius through another mouthful of food.
"Don't worry about him." said James leaning into Lupin to talk. "He may be a social square now, but he has his uses."
"Hey! Cool scars." Lupin's hand shot to his neck. Along the left side of his cheek and down his neck where two very faint lines,, but they gave him a defying feature.
"How'd you get em?" asked James.
"Quidditch accident." Said Lupin lightly, "I Er…I, was on the wrong end of a boot."
"Looks nasty." Said James. "We could compare scars all day."
"What?"
"Don't mind the show off." Said Sirius, "He's been in and out of saint Mungo's so many times they keep spare clothes for him." Lupin raised an eyebrow.
"Guilty as charged." Said James leaning back into the seat. He flicked another bean into his mouth. He gaged the taste before finding it acceptable.
"Cheese?"
"Surprisingly, paper." Said James contently. He offered one to Lupin who took one. His mouth contorted and spat it out.
"Sprouts?"
"Hair." Lupin coaxed.
Lily was snapped from her daze as the train groaned into life and pulled away from the station. She looked round the small cramped toilet and looked at her reflection in the mirror. She took a couple of deep breathes and looked at a new serious stern face looking back at her.
"Let's go Lily." She said forcing a smile. She changed into her new robes and stepped out. She took a look either way, hoping Sev wouldn't see her. Now she needed somewhere to sit, she walked down the train trying fruitlessly to find a spare compartment.
Lily looked sideways, she knew that hair, it was the boy from the book store in Diagon alley. Lily peered inside timidly. He was with someone else, but Lily found herself thinking that he was very good looking. She looked back to the train corridor and saw a mop of greasy black hair. Lily looked back at the compartment and saw the two boys messing about and being rowdy.
Perfect. Sev would never dare come in here, so long as Lily remained as inconspicuous as possible. She knocked on the door.
The boys let her in and tried to make conversation with her, if she was in a better mood she would have indulged them. But she made unentertaining small talk before being resigned to staring out of the window at the picture perfect scenery going past her window. Her peace was disturbed by a presence opposite her.
Her eyes flicked up and she saw Sev. He too was in his Hogwarts robes, she couldn't blame him for wanting to get out of his mismatched normal clothes. But right here, right now, she didn't want to see anyone else.
"I don't want to talk to you," said Lily tiredly, just wanting to be left alone. Sev shuffled in his seat.
"Why not?" he asked, as though nothing was wrong at all. It still infuriated her, it was one of his worse traits. Not seeing beyond his own ideals, she hoped he would grow out of it.
"Tuney h-hates me." She croaked out.
"Because we saw that letter from Dumbledore." Lily turned back to the window and shook her head gently.
"So what?"
Lily turned her head and glared at him, he was lucky she didn't know anyone else here.
"So." She replied angrily, "She's my sister!" she looked back out the window, hoping he would just go away.
"She's only a - " Lily glared back and he fell silent. He caught himself quickly. Sev nervously looked round the compartment before falling back on Lily.
"But we're going!" he said, unable to suppress the exhilaration in his voice. "This is it! We're off to Hogwarts!"
Suddenly, she lightened, she was going. She was a witch going to Hogwarts, on a train with a magic platform with loads of cool and exciting stuff to do. She smiled at the thought.
"You'd better be in Slytherin," said Snape.
"Slytherin?"
Both turned in unison to the one of the boys opposite them.
"Who wants to be in Slytherin? I think I'd leave, wouldn't you?" he looked over to the equally handsome boy opposite him he however had his head bowed with a look of dislike on his face. "My whole family have been in Slytherin," he said darkly.
"Blimey," said James, "and I thought you seemed all right!"
The boy grinned. "Maybe I'll break the tradition. Where are you heading, if you've got the choice?"
The messy haired one lifted an invisible sword.
"'Gryffindor, where dwell the brave at heart!' Like my dad."
Sev let out a small laugh, his eyes suddenly turned on him like a bull seeing a red flag, something about those eyes made Lily listen.
"Got a problem with that?" he asked.
"No," said Snape, though a slight sneer in his voice suggested otherwise. "If you'd rather be brawny than brainy - "
"Where're you hoping to go, seeing as you're neither?" the other one interjected.
They both started to laugh, Lily saw Sev go bright red. Her own anger built up, clearly bullies made their way into the wizarding world to. She stood up and looked disapproving
"Come on, Severus, let's find another compartment." She said in a convincing voice as possible.
"Oooooo…" Lily snorted dismissively as she and Sev exited the compartment, but not before the messy haired boy tried to trip Snape
"See ya, Snivellus!" he called. Lily slammed the door firmly. She moved some hair from her face.
"Idiots." She said, Sev just stood dumbly in the hallway.
"Don't worry Sev, we'll do just fine. Slytherin sounds great." She looked at Sev's face which was beaming. "Come on, let's find that other compartment."
Lily stopped and inspected a new compartment, inside where a few girls laughing and giggling. They seemed nice enough, she knocked on the door.
"Hi. She said, do you mind if we sit in here, everywhere else is full."
"Sure." A girl with brown hair ushered them into a seat.
"I'm Mary McDonald." She said, "And this is Marlene, Doracas, and Sarah."
"I'm Lily and this is Severus." Said Lily sitting down. Snape stood in the door looking down at the floor.
"Sit down Sev, we can call you Sev right?"
"Whatever." Said Snape looking down, Lily glared at him as well as he sat down opposite her and leaned against the pane of the door.
"So Lily," said Mary, trying to diffuse the tension in the room. "Tell us about yourself."
"Uhm…well I'm muggle by birth." Said Lily nervously.
"Same." Said Mary, "Really weird isn't it, finding out."
"Yeah." Said Lily, "I was able to do all these things I couldn't explain."
"Preach to the choir sister." Said Mary warmly. "What was your signature trick? Mine was singeing off my brother's eyebrows." Lily laughed.
"I used to be able to survive falls from great heights." Said Lily, starting to warm to the new group she was with.
"I'm half and half." Explained Sarah, she had a pretty face with shoulder length blonde hair. "Dads a wizard, and mums a muggle. Boy did he have a nasty shock when she found out."
"I'm from a wizarding family." Said Dorcas, "Been growing up with this all my life."
"It's all really exciting." Said Lily, "But Sev's told me loads of stuff about Hogwarts already."
Lily looked over at Sev and tried to prompt him to join the conversation. Lily sighed, maybe she should have stayed in the compartment with the prats.