Chapter Thirteen

Lily sat in London diner with her family around a small table. They had a delicious looking English breakfast in front of them though neither Petunia nor Lily enjoyed it very much. The sisters shared a look, they both preferred French croissant and latte café over beans and sausages, but their parents seemed to like the meal.

"Oh! I can't believe it is already time for you to leave Tiger-Lily." Her mum placed a hand over Lily's, while she spoke.

"I was even around a week longer than usual." Lily took a sip of bitter tea. Anything was better than the food in front of her.

"Yes, but still. You always go away and the next time we see you, you're a head taller ." Her mum always got emotional at these farewell breakfasts before she left for school.

"Mum, I'm pretty sure I stopped growing at least two years ago." Lily rolled her eyes. The conversation was always the same. First, her mum would say how much they would miss her.

"You are away for so long and we missed so much of your growing up." Her mum teared up a little bit.

"I miss you too.," Lily answered automatically. Second, a reminder to be well behaved.

"Oh, my little girl is nearly grown up." her mum gently rubbed Lily's hand. "Don't get in any trouble while you are there. We don't want another letter like in second year when you got in a fight with someone." Her mum's voice put on a strict tone.

"Of course not Mum." For a moment guilt fluttered in her chest. Could she really promise that? In Hogwarts? Lily still wasn't sure what to expect from her new school, specifically of the people that go there. She knew the Marauders (and she internally rolled her eyes at the childish name), but she had asked some Beauxbatons friends to get her information about who she would meet there. She got a short list with names, who to stay away from and a promise for more. Basically, she should stay away from Slytherin to be on the safe side…

Third, was actually her favorite part of the whole farewell ceremony. Her dad would tell her what new tricks he planned to master while she was away from home.

"I'm sure Lily will be on her best behavior. She always is." He put a hand on her shoulder and squeezed lightly. "By the way I found some amazing new card and coin tricks. You see, there are coins under four cards and then you make them jump between the cards." Childlike excitement danced in her father's eyes. He really loved those "magic" tricks and little shows. Lily knew that he started with it as a way to reconnect with her and fell seriously in love with it. Lily looked at her dad and smiled, as she loved him even more for it.

"You know, once I'm seventeen I can show you some of my magic tricks." His eyes lit up. In all her years in Beauxbatons she never before offered him to show him some real magic. "New country, New laws." Lily shrugged her shoulders. He smiled at her with shimmering eyes and squeezed her shoulder again.

"That would be brilliant, Tiger-Lily." Her dad told her in a soft voice.

Next point on the agenda would be her mum reminding Lily to do well in her studies.

"And to show us something you will have to learn it first. All these new classes will probably be confusing for you." Lily knitted her eyebrows at those words. Did her parents misunderstand something when Lily and the Potters explained the Magical World to them? Why did they think that she was taking those subjects for the first time? Lily wasn't sure if she wanted to ask that question, especially with her leaving in around an hour. Not that her mother noticed Lily's inner conflict. She continued to talk away. "I asked the boys to help you out some."

"That won't be necessary." Lily managed to interrupt her mother for a moment.

"Oh, don't be too proud to ask for help. Everybody needs it from time to time. As long as you do your best and we will be proud of you."

"Of course Mum." Lily then decided against explaining everything to her parents again. Maybe during Christmas holidays. For now her mum would end this little talk, by reminding her to write home.

"And maybe you can clear everything up with Remus too. He is a lovely boy. I don't see why you broke up."

"Yes, mum I will wr-" Lily stopped when she realized what her mum had said. "Wait what?" Boys were never a topic in these last day reminders.

"Really Lily, you are sixteen already. Don't you think it is time to look for a nice boy to settle down with." The sentence structure made it sound like it was a question, but the pronunciation and the look on her mother's face showed that it was not. "We don't want you to end up alone and dating a boy for only a few weeks and then breaking up with him is going to give you a bad reputation." Though her mother's words were condescending, she actually sounded really concerned about her love life. Sure, Lily always knew that her parents were slightly conservative, but she never really paid attention to how her parents felt about her dating. Lily was unsure how to react to that and glanced at Petunia for help, but her sister didn't look surprised at all. Was that something her sister regularly heard while Lily was at school? Was that the reason why nothing really happened between her and James?

"Don't worry about it, Mum, Dad…" Lily finally said. When her mum opened her mouth to add something, Lily quickly interrupted her. She made a show of looking at the clock. "Oh no, look at the time. I really have to get to the train station. I'm not sure where I have to go and want some time to find my way."

"Oh yes, of course." Her parents were startled as they noticed the time. "We don't want you to miss your train in the end. Now that would be embarrassing." Her mum said while her dad paid for their breakfast.

They all walked over to King's Cross, their parents slightly ahead of Lily and Petunia. They clearly wanted to give their daughters a moment to talk. It was uncomfortable again. It always was when the two of them said goodbye after the holidays, no matter how well or badly they got along in the last weeks of the summer. Maybe Petunia noticed the shift that Lily always felt, when she left the muggle world and entered the magical one.

"So…" Lily started, while slightly struggling with Artemis' cage.

"So… you will be off again…" Petunia answered.

"Yeah…" Lily said, but wasn't sure how to continue. Petunia looked slightly unsure as well.

"So, you are now in the same class as the boys, right? James said something like that…" Petunia finally said.

"Yes!" Lily shouted, relieved that they found some kind of topic. "Hogwarts has four 'houses' and we are in the same one." After a short moment she added. "Gryffindor."

"That is nice."

"Are you and James?" Lily left her question unfinished, she felt strangely uncomfortable with naming anything that was going on between Petunia and James. She was unsure why. "I mean I could keep an eye on him and write you about what he is up to."

"Mia already said I could borrow their owl to write him." Tuney bit her lip and Lily could feel her face fall. "But it would still be nice, if you wrote me too." There was a small but genuine smile on Petunia's lips as she looked at her younger sister.

'We are doing the exact same thing' Lily thought. 'We talk about other people because we don't know how to have a real conversation with each other.'

"I will." Lily smiled back.

Their parents stopped and waited for the two sisters to catch up. They stood near the stairs up to the platforms nine and ten and unbeknownst to them, all those between.

"What platform did you say your train would be, Lily-dear?" Her mother asked while glancing around the bustling station.

"It's fine, mum. I can take it from here." Lily avoided the question and tried to take her trunk back from her father. He gave her a disapproving look and Lily reminded herself to be more open with her family. She was able to include them more in everything magical now. (Apart of the war. Never the war. This war wasn't allowed to touch them in any way.)

"Platform 9 ¾, mum. It's hidden from muggles. You can't get to it." They looked at her with slightly raised eyebrows at her answer, but also with disappointment. Lily shrugged. "I'm sorry." Petunia stared at her with thin pressed lips, and said nothing.

Lily first hugged her mum and dad. "I love you and I will miss you." Lily felt a twinge of guilt at her words,, because she knew that only the 'I love you' part was true.

With Petunia it was even more awkward. The sisters both took a step closer, stopped, looked at each other and finally embraced each other with stiff arms. After one or two rubs on the back they let go again.

"I'll see you all at Christmas." Lily took her backpack from Petunia, but when she reached for her trunk her father lifted it up.

"Let me carry it up the stairs at least." Her father told her.

"You don't have to Dad." Lily said, though . 'I don't want you to.' was what she thought. Up those stairs were lots of magical families, all of whom could be dangerous to her family. But her father had none of it and carried the heavy trunk up towards the platforms. Lily hurried after him and said once again goodbye.

"My little Tiger-Lily." He pulled her into another hug. Lily took in a deep breath, her dad smelled of cigarettes and his good aftershave. "We don't know much about your world, but we love you no matter what, even if we can't understand you."

"I know dada…" Lily whispered back, with tears in her eyes. "I have to go now."

She placed her stuff on the trolley and waved her father off. It was not difficult to locate the entrance to the platform. If you paid a little attention you could see people disappearing through the pillar. Lily straightened her back. On the other side of that wall, there would be dozens of people who thought she was unworthy of magic. It was finally time to face the dragon.

Lily took one last breath before pushing the trolley through the pillar. She refused to close her eyes. This was something she had to face head on. After stepping through what felt like a veil, the magical platform showed itself. A red steam locomotive appeared before her with the words Hogwarts Express was written with golden letters on the side. The platform was packed with people. Lily could hear shrieking owls and children shouting for their parents.

She didn't see the boys on the platform, but considering that the train was leaving in ten minutes it was quite possible that they were already on board. Lily spelled her luggage with her wand and it followed her around and onto the train. She looked into each of the compartments in hopes of seeing four familiar faces. In her quest to find her new friends, she was actual surprised when she met an old one.

A tall and skinny boy stepped out of a compartment in front of her. Lily's first thought was that she had seen this boy before. Lily stared at him for a moment and he returned her look with equal confusion. Her mouth fell open slightly when she finally recognised his ash pale face and the small piercing black eyes.

"Sev?" Lily wasn't completely sure, but grew more confident the longer she looked at him. "Severus Snape is that really you?"

His eyes widened comically. "Lily?" He whispered her name. "Wha- What are you doing here?"

"My parents decided to move again and no moaning or complaining could convince them to leave me in France and so here I am." An involuntary grin spread across Lily's face. grinned. Seeing her old childhood friend again, made her remember the old days when they played together in the park, back when she believed all magic was beautiful and fascinating.

"That- that's great! It's been far too long since we last saw each other. You've changed so much." He looked her up and down and a slight blush appeared in his pale face. "You didn't grow much, but you changed."

"You as well." Lily answered and motioned to him in return.

Some people bloomed in their puberty. They grew into the features that seemed off on a child and turned into handsome and pretty people. Severus Snape wasn't one of them. On a scale from 1 to 10, he was a 4, at best and with a childhood friendship bonus.

His skin was sickly pale with dark shadows under his eyes, it was clear that he didn't see much sunlight. His nose was crooked and attention grabbing, but not in a good way. Not that there was much to look at. His face was slightly too long and his limp and unstyled black hair didn't help with that. None of these features were very handsome, but what really made him appear unattractive was the way he held himself. The way his shoulders sloped down made him look a sad raven or a wet sack and there was something about his face that seemed as if it naturally fell into a sneer or frown. Though he was smiling right now, it looked forced on his face. A dark, gloomy aura of misery hung around him.

Lily asked herself if she was a bitch for noticing these kinds of things first when seeing an old childhood friend again. A tiny part of her felt like she was being harsh, but the bigger part of her told the tiny part to shut the hell up. She had the right to find a friend unattractive!

"There is so much we have to catch up on." Severus said, falling in step with her. "Once you are in Slytherin, I can show you everything."

Lily's brow furrowed at his comment and she abruptly stopped to stare at his smiling face. "First, I'm muggleborn. The last place I want to go is Slytherin." Who in their right mind would want their muggleborn friends to be in Slytherin? Nobody could be this blind to what was going on. Severus flushed red and avoided her eyes.

"We don't have to tell them that, you know." He mumbled.

Lily stared at him a moment longer. "I'm already sorted into Gryffindor. Apparently coming to Britain in the middle of this shit show, is brave albeit borderline suicidal enough to become a golden lion." Lily said with more humor than she felt. She watched him carefully; saw how his smile fell and a mask of displeasure and even disgust twisted his face for a moment.

"Then it can't be helped." Severus answered. "But you should watch out. You are in the same house as those idiots." Severus had written to her about those idiots that he butted heads with since they were eleven. He never mentioned any real names, just various insults.

Honestly she hadn't spent any time thinking bout Severus and his school rivalry since she came to Britain. All those things seemed meaningless next to her worries about being trapped on a stupid island with Death Eaters out to kill her and her family.

"You have to stay away from them." Severus urged her. "They are the only boys in your year in Gryffindor, so it might be difficult- but it's certainly not impossible. Actually, thinking about it now the girls in your house are all stuck up bitches as well."

Anger immediately flared up inside may not have known these girls and maybe they were the most terrible girls in the school, but that didn't give Severus the right to turn Lily against her roommates. "Really? Sounds like we would get on swimmingly, considering how often people call me that." She raised a challenging eyebrow at him before continuing, "And when it comes to those boys-"

Lily, of course, realized that she could place names to those "idiots," as they were clearly the neighborhood boys that she spent some nice weeks with. Severus was once her closest friend, until Bellevie took over that title. It would only be right to stand by Severus' side. She was friends with him for years, and she only knew the Marauders for maybe a month. Except…

Lily could hear Dumbledore's voice in her head.

"They are mischief makers and pranksters, but you can trust them and the elder Potters as well. They know what side to fight for." His blue eyes twinkled at his words.

Lily felt relieved beyond compare. The neighbors were no direct threat to her family. Then another name crossed her mind. "Severus Snape. What can you tell me about him?"

Dumbledore raised his eyebrows before adopting a guarded expression. "Why are you interested in him?" He leaned back and stroked his long beard, a calculating look in his eyes.

"We grew up on the same street and considering the things we did as children, I suspect that he must be a wizard as well." Lily wanted to hear what the headmaster honestly thought about her old friend so she downplayed their friendship.

"Mr. Snape is an intelligent young man, but I fear he will need someone to guide him in the right direction to become the man he could be. Maybe you could revive your old friendship."

Dumbledore wasn't ready to tell her that she could trust Severus the same way she could trust those four boys. He needed someone to guide him and Lily didn't feel up to that, when she herself was feeling lost in this new school, country, war. Lily wanted to tell herself that she was being paranoid and that the old man didn't mean what he said in a sinister way, but Lily could not imagine that, he meant guiding Sev in the right direction was meant in an academic way.

"I will not make any more enemies than I already have in this school and country. So no, I will not take part in whatever little disputes you lot have with each other." Lily's eyes dropped to Severus' Slytherin emblem on his robes. He had stopped in front of a compartment filled with other people in matching robes and faced her with a clenched jaw and narrowed eyes.

"Have a nice day Severus. We'll see each other in class."

Lily walked swiftly passed him and gave him a short wave before he could react. She briefly thought that he would catch up to her and demand another answer from her, but a moment later she heard the compartment door open and close with a slam.

Her stomach twisted into knots. Did she just jeopardize her long friendship with Severus her pen pal for years over her paranoia? However, she did promise her girls back in France that she would be careful and stay away from certain people- Slytherins... But she had known Sev for years, so he should be trustworthy right? But then why didn't Dumbledore tell her she could trust him.

Lily paused as an urge to turn around and hug him appeared. To tell him that he is her friend and that she would stay by his side against anyone.

No! That was the reaction of a little girl with childhood worries, not an adolescent, who was facing a war and genocide against her ethnic group. Were muggleborns an ethnic group? Lily wasn't sure. Whatever. In any case, she didn't have the luxury to revive her childhood days on a swing. Lily clenched her jaw and kept marching down the train. Near the last few compartments, she spotted Peter and Remus, sitting across from each other. Remus was reading a book, while Peter was fanatically writing on a scroll. A transfiguration book and what looked like a finished scroll propped up next to him.

"Hello. Can I sit here?" Lily asked even though she had already put Artemis' cage on the seat next to Remus. James had invited her to sit with them yesterday, but she wasn't sure if he had informed his friends about doing so.

Remus looked up from his book and smiled at her. "Of course. Take a seat. Do you need help with the luggage?" He stood up to help. Peter just gave her a confirming grunt and continued his frantic scribbling.

Lily smirked at him and shook her head. "No I don't need help, because…" she leaned in, "and this is a secret, I'm a witch!" She overreacted at this revelation by raising her arms overhead and jumping sightly. She then pointed her wand up and the still floating suitcase flew up to the overhead.

"You don't say." Remus dropped his mouth open in fake shock before grinning at her. After Lily sat down next to him, he continued. "Ignore Peter, he decided that he didn't have time for his homework the last TWO months and now he has to write Transfiguration, Astronomy and Potions essays in the next six hours." Remus stared down at his friend, disapproval pouring out of every word he said.

Peter did the sensible thing in his situation and ignored him. Lily had to smile. His antics made her feel like she was just on her way to a school. A normal school, where students half-assed their homework at the last minute and laughed and lived-not a battlefield.

"Peter, I offer you a deal, you get me all the sweets I want on the ride later and I will help you with Potions." Lily offered with a smile. "What is your normal grade in Potions and would you be ok with an E?"

Peter looked up from his books for the first time since she came in and stared at her as if she was a divine creature. "You would help me? Yes please! E is completely fine!"

Lily laughed at his gratefulness. "It's fine. What is the exam about?"

"Eh…" Peter looked unsure and then he gave Remus an embarrassed smile.

"Elemental resistance potions." Remus answered and rolled his eyes, before looking at Lily. "And you shouldn't encourage him to push of his work 'till the last minute by helping him."

"Of course." Lily said before completely ignoring his advice and standing up to take a quill out of her suitcase. "Here Peter, could you do me a favour and write with this one for the next hour or so?" She offered Peter the quill after ruffling up the outer vane of its feather.

"Eh, why?" Peter and Remus both looked surprised and a bit suspicious.

"It's charmed so that it can copy your handwriting. I think your teacher would notice if the essay isn't in your normal handwriting yes?" Lily answered unashamed.

"Ok…" Peter took the quill and started to write with it.

Remus crossed his arms and raised his eyebrows, however Lily she just shrugged her shoulders and went to work. After failing to get a response from her, Remus spoke, "I'm guessing this isn't the first time you wrote an essay for somebody else then?"

"Nope. You might be surprised, but I had friends in Beauxbatons that needed a bit of help from time to time too." It wasn't that big of a deal. "Where are the other two?"

Remus still didn't look happy, but answered her anyway. "They're coming. They normally just get on board at the last second." Lily absentmindedly nawed at her lip at his response before turning to work on Peter's essay.

Noticing her reaction Remus added, "Don't worry, you can come with me if you want to see them jumping on the train."

That sounded interesting enough, so Lily followed him out the door towards the very back of the train. Remus motioned for her to look out of the window of a door that was at the end of the aisle. The train's shrill horn screamed for the last time, signalling that it was about to leave. Lily looked to Remus, but he simply pointed at the entrance of the platform. Two figures immediately came running through it and bolted directly towards the train, that was starting to inch forwards. They shouted something and pumped their legs even faster. James was slightly in front with Sirius close behind. James was frantically waving at Remus, but managed to catch the bar on the back of the train. Remus grinned and helped him in through the door.

"Thank you, Moony." James managed to say between heavy breathing. Then he turned around again and shouted for Sirius to hurry up.

"Come on Padfoot! Don't be a lame duck!"

His words seemed to motivate the other teenager enough to find enough energy for a short sprint. He still didn't catch the bar, but James was leaning so far out of the door that he was able to grab Sirius' hand, however he was struggling to pull Sirius' dangingling body inside even with Remus' help.

Lily laughed before waving her wand so that some stones appeared under Sirius feet up. With the extra support, he managed to jump and land on top of James and Remus.

"Is that how they always get on the train, Remus?" Lily giggled and watched as the boys groaned in a tangle of limbs.

Remus didn't feel like answering her question as he was trapped at the bottom of the pile, but luckily James was more than willing to.

"Hey Lily," he said grinning up from underneath Sirius, "You made it to the train."

Sirius looked up at her and quickly stood up, pointedly refusing to speak to her.

"Yes, but it seems like it is a greater achievement for you two than for me." Lily offered James a hand to get up and Sirius pulled Remus to his feet.

"Oh well you know, we like to have a dramatic entrance." He grinned sheepishly and turned to Remus. "Is Peter already in the compartment?"

"Yes, he is doing some homework." Remus answered and the group made their way back to their compartment.

Lily noticed that Sirius didn't seem to happy with her presence , but she wasn't sure what to do about it. She decided to worry about it later.

"So Lily what do you say about our lovely Hogwarts Express?" James grinned at her once they were back in their seats.

"Well, it's not as impressive as a flying carriage pulled by Abraxans, but it will do for sure." Lily said back with a cheeky smirk.

"Flying carriage? Abraxans?" That seemed to get Sirius attention and his eyes lit up.

Remus laughed at James' groan. "Really Pads, what's with your fascination for every single method of flying that DOESN'T involve a broomstick?"

"Not everybody enjoys having a hard stick between his legs for hours, Prongs, but if you swing that way, we don't judge, you know." Sirius replied. The two boys bantered for a while until it was time for the prefect meeting. Remus had been surprised when he heard that is old partner wouldn't return this year, but he was happy to work with Lily.

"So you had been a prefect in Beauxbatons, yes? It's a bit surprising that Dumbledore gave you the badge just like that." Remus asked her on the way to the front of the train.

"Oh, yes and I think it was part of what Madame Maxime haggled out off him for me." Lily replied and winked at him. Remus smiled back and opened the door for her.

The meeting was less of an issue than Lily expected. The two Heads had already heard about her from the headmaster, who apparently had shared his hope that Lily would bring some new ideas to the group. The bubbly and tooth-achingly sweet Head Girl, Mimi Floot, was all too enthusiastic to hear about how things worked in Beauxbatons and ordered Remus to take care of Lily for the next couple of weeks. After Mimi finished gushing over Lily, the meeting ended pretty quickly. On the way back to their compartment Remus told her a bit about the other prefects.

"I'm happy Mimi became Head Girl, she is kind to everybody and makes you want to live up to her expectations." Remus told her, with an embarrassed flush. "She can control James and Sirius a lot better than I, just by looking disappointed at them."

"She sounds adorable!" Lily laughed at the look on Remus face.

"Yeah she is. And I'm sure she will work great with Johnson. Ravenclaws and Hufflepuff normally work great together." Remus grinned back, before his mouth dropped into a scowl. "However Mimi will have to be the face of the two. I don't think Johnson can control the Slytherins much."

"Why?" Lily felt the little hairs at the back of her neck stand up at the dark look on his face. The way Remus said Slytherins made her immediately think about the war.

"Last year someone openly posted the blood status of all prefects in the Great Hall, so that Slytherins, or anyone interested really, would know who they don't have to listen to. Johnson's parents are a muggleborn and a muggle so he was rated as unworthy."

Lily watched Remus out of the corner of her eyes and saw that he did the same. "Is that your way of telling me what to expect for the next two years?"

"Yes," he said with a sigh. At least he sounded apologetic.

"What do I have to expect from the other prefects? The Slytherin prefects specifically?"

"The once from Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Gryffindor are all fine, sure are easier to get along with than others, but they're alright. Slytherin is another beast. Dumbledore always tries to pick the best of the lot each year. Lucas Bagshot is good guy and the seventh year Slytherin prefect. He is not fighting against his own house or anything, but he has muggleborn friends in Ravenclaw and in general thinks that respect is earned not given.. Scittle in our year is a complete tosser. He doesn't go around about purging the world of muggleborns, but he claims that their place is the same as house elves."

Remus pondered over his next words before continuing, "But I think Dumbledore has started stepping on some toes by passing over certain families. Regulus is Sirius' little brother,who runs with the wrong crowd, and he wasn't selected as prefect this year. About the new girl I can't tell you much, but most of the girls are easier to handle. They're less likely to curse you, though they will pull their nose up at you and spread rumors. The stuff they make up from time to time…" Remus shuttered at some memory.

"Well I would be disappointed if they had to make stuff up. I had such an interesting life back in France, it would be a shame if I couldn't relive some of its glory." Lily flicked her hair back over her shoulder and the two re-entered their compartment.

"I'll keep my ears open for those tales." Remus responded with a quirked eyebrow followed by a chuckle.

The rest of the train ride was nice. Peter declared her a saint when she took the quill back from him and dictated his potions essay to the quill off the top of her head. The other three found this an impressive and useful ability as well. Even Sirius looked interested and asked a few questions about it. With Peter's homework complete, the boys launched into stories about Hogwarts and Hogsmeade the nearby village. They ate sweets and Peter made good on his promise to buy her a ton of them.

She was so engrossed with her candy and the stories about their adventures, Lily failed to recognize the boys' mischievous shit eating grins and whispered conversation. When the train started to slow down James and Sirius immediately pounced on her. One holding her tight while the other stole her wand. Within seconds fine ropes bound her hands and feet and a silenco spell prevented her from shouting bloody murder from the top of her lungs.

"Don't worry! It's for your best!" James informed her, before throwing her over his shoulder and marching out of the train, the other three boys close behind. Remus ignored her silent shrieks for help, although he at least had the good sense to take Artemis' cage with him. James laughed at Lily's attempts to squirm free from his grasp before pinching her sides and telling her to hush. The Gryffindor boys and their captive quickly made their way along the path and approached a loud booming voice that called for first years.

"Hello Hagrid! How was your summer?"

"Oi, James. It's been fine. Got somethin' new, that got ter interest yeh m'boy. A breeding pair of tiny snidgets settled in the fores'." Hagrid, answered and the two swapped stories about birds for a few minutes before, he acknowledged the fact that James had a woman slung over his shoulder.

"Who do yeh have there and what mischief did yeh plan for the poor lass?"

"Oh, no mischief for us, this year." Sirius answered for him. "This year we'll help the people. Good deeds and the like."

While Black babbled away, James pulled her down from his shoulder and placed her on her feet. Not that she could go anywhere, seeing as she was still tied up. She settled for glaring at the four boys instead of attempting to escape. She looked at the man, Hagrid, and blinked. He was huge! Maybe even taller than Madame Maxime. He had wild hair and beard, but he exuded a warm and friendly aura.

"Hagrid, really, we just want to drop her of with you for her first ride to Hogwarts, you see," Remus added.

"Firs' ride? A bit big for a firs' year, don't yeh think?"

"Really? You think so?" James asked, while patting her head. "I don't see much of a difference, height wise at least." She tried to bite his hand, but his quick reflexes saved him. He laughed at the irritated look on Lily's face.

"Hagrid you see, it's a tragedy." Sirius sighed dramatically and leant against Hagrid's arm. "Her name is Lily and she wasted the last five years with the frog-eaters in France, instead of enjoying Hogwarts' finest education."

Peter continued Sirius' story. "Now we all know that one of the most important moments in any wizard or witch's life is to see Hogwarts for the first time when gliding over the Black Lake."

"Hagrid, as her new friends and fellow classmates, we were concerned for her." Remus added. "It wouldn't be right for her to miss out on that experience!"

Hagrid laughed loudly, amused at the boys' antics. "Alright'with me. Find a boat for her and yeh can have yer fun."

James gave him a wide grin, before picking Lily up again, this time in a princess hold, and carried her to the boats. Lots of tiny first year students bustled around them occasionally staring at them with big, frightened eyes. Peter called James over to a boat that he had successfully shooed the younger students away from.

"Perfect." James grinned and dumped her down in the small wooden boat. Lily glared at him, but the ropes around her prevented her from doing anything more.

"You will enjoy it, I promise"he added.

The four boys stood at the shore and waved Lily off as the boat started moving. After the boat was about ten meters away James flicked his wand and unbound her hands.

"See you at the feast!"

"Have fun!"

"Greet the Giant Squid from me!"

"Don't fall in the water!"

After the boys finished shouting after Lily, they turned away from the boats and ran towards the older students. The tiny first-years in the boats around her openly stared at the clearly out of place redhead.

Merlin she was going to murder those boys! Lily crossed her arms and huffed,, while the little boat rocked over the still lake. However, her homicidal thoughts fell silent when the castle came into view.

Magic, this was pure magic. The kind that Lily fell in love with, the kind that made her feel like she belonged. The huge castle looked like a mad architect threw every possible style together and merged together in the different towers. Hogwarts was bright with the glow of lights in the windows, which was slightly odd, considering that every inhabitant of the castle should be in the Great Hall. Nonetheless, the dancing lights were beautifully reflected on the flat surface of the lake. This place breathed magic, Lily could almost feel its hum buzzing in her ears. She had to smile at the sight. It wasn't her castle or her school, that was still Beauxbatons, but it was still magic and magic would always be home for Lily.

The boats entered a small cave before coming to a stop along the shore. The students finally were able to set their first steps on Hogwarts' ground. Hagrid walked over to Lily to help her out of her boat.

"Sorry, 'bout the boys. They are a bit unruly, but mean well." His dark eyes twinkled down on her.

"It's alright, but don't tell them that…" Lily crossed her arms, but smiled up at the huge man. "I would have hated to miss out on the view."

"Aye." Hagrid said with a hearty laugh. His beard fidgeted and his belly wiggled, and it seemed as if the space around him was laughing too. Yes, Hagrid had the kind of laugh that filled a room.

"Oh hello, Professor. How are you?"

A tall and elegant woman made her way over to the pair. She looked like she was in her thirties or maybe early forties. She had the dark hair up tied in a neat bun and exuded a sense of control over herself and her surroundings.

"Hello. Hagrid, I am fine thank you. What is going on here? And who are you young lady?" She stared at Lily over the rim of her glasses.

Lily straightened her back and took a step towards her. "Lily Evans. I transferred from Beauxbatons this year." Lily held her hand out and firmly looked the woman in her steel greyeyes. Confidence was the key to life's success or at least that was what Bellevie told her friends over and over again.

"Professor McGonagall." She introduced herself shortly and shook Lily's hand. "Ah, yes I heard about you from the headmaster, but he said you were already sorted into Gryffindor. There is no reason for you to be here."

"Aye, Professor y, it was those four Gryffindor boys. The Marauders, you see." Hagrid offered as an explanation.

McGonagall closed her eyes for a moment and sighed deeply, clearly familiar with the Marauders antics. "Yes, I see." She sighed, accepting that their behavior would never change. "Come with me, Miss Evans, and hurry to the Gryffindor table as soon as we enter the Great Hall."

She turned around again and mumbled something under her breath that Lily couldn't understand, but the Professor's narrowed eyes suggested that it probably wasn't very kind. After a short walk to the castle, Lily entered the hall with the first year students. The moment after McGonagall stepped through the entrance, a multicolored shower of sparks poured down on the first years and Lily. As the glitter brushed their skin, the students' bodies began glowing softly in the low light. Soon the first years and Lily began to hiccup and a butterfly escaped their mouths each time. The butterflies formed words in front of them.

Greetings and Welcome to Hogwarts

Tiny-winy Firsties!

(And Lily!)

Salutations,

The Marauders!

P.S. Gryffindor is the best house!

Well, that was an interesting start in the new school year, Lily thought, looking at the four Gryffindors wearing self-satisfied smirks. James caught Lily's eye and waved with her wand in his hand.

Yes, she was going to kill those boys for sure.

A.N. I want to thank hurricanhairandemeraleyes again for the brilliant beta reading work she puts into my story. Thank you very very much!

Disclaimer: Of course I don't own Harry Potter or any of the characters and I don't earn money with this story.

They made it to Hogwarts! I know it took some time, but they finally arrived. Petunia and Lily get along better in this story, but they are by no way best friends or anything, but they are both trying.

Lily and Snape meet again after all those years and while Lily wants to be friends with him again, the war and especially the attack on her old schoolmates make her wary. She isn't willing to lose a group of allies to rekindle an old friendship with someone of questionable alliance.

And at the very end some mischief making from the Marauders.

And yes it will take a bit longer between chapters from now on. But I hope you will keep reading.

Please leave a review. It is a great way to hear your ideas and it is lovely to know that someone enjoys to read the story I enjoy writing.

Have a nice day.