Petal in the Rain

Chapter 28 – The Sorting

"Toto, I have a feeling we aren't in Kansas anymore."

-L. Frank Baum

Lily was on the brink of vomiting.

She was huddled in a corner of the Astronomy Tower, the tallest turret in the entire castle, a heavy cloak and cashmere scarf sheltering her from the chilly autumn air. Highland hills surrounded her, the only visible landmark at such a height, mist collecting in their rutted planes. Though the grey sky seemed to heighten her disquiet, it did nothing to diminish the golden contraptions dotting the circular space. Spherical depictions of moons and planets hung from the ceilings—one finely-etched globe even embedded in the stone floor—their multiple rings inscribed with mysterious runes beyond comprehension.

It was an eccentric dwelling, but Lily appreciated the desolation of the tower and its unmatched view of the castle grounds. She wanted to be alone.

Though she had come prepared with her favourite book—Hogwarts, A History—she was having trouble focusing on the pages, her eyes constantly straying to the entrance of the castle, where horseless carriages were beginning to assemble. Her stomach twisted every time a coach door swung open.

"You've picked an interesting place to hide, Lady Rockford."

Lily turned, startled by the appearance of Snape. He lingered on the threshold, staring at her. She noticed her was wearing a new set of robes, blacker and more severe than his everyday set.

"What do you want?" Lily asked, uninterested in politeness since their last encounter; if he was allowed to be insolent and ill-tempered, so was she.

Snape disregarded her remark and neared one of the railings, following Lily's gaze. "I've just come from a staff meeting with Headmaster Dumbledore. Among other things, he alerted the other professors of your attendance at Hogwarts this year."

Lily peered up at him, pulling her scarf tighter around her neck. "And?"

"He requested that they take under advisement the fact that you didn't attend school while in Canada and that you may need some time to adjust to your curriculum," Snape explained.

"So he's asked the teachers to go easy on me," Lily murmured, sulking. She wasn't how she felt about the news; in one sense it would help her to blend in, but it was also a vote of non-confidence in her abilities. "How did that go over?"

"I doubt many of the professors would think to single you out in the first place," Snape mused, looking down at her with a half-smirk. "What intelligent wizard would purposefully antagonize the niece of the person who employs them?"

"Probably one like you," Lily retorted, sighing as she stood up and joined Snape at the railing. "You're quite stubborn and sour, after all."

"And you're a ball of sunshine?" Snape raised a questioning eyebrow.

Lily chuckled, feeling a little lighter. "I'm a lot friendlier than you are. I'm sure most of your students are absolutely terrified of you, the poor things."

"Better for them to fear me than to like me…"

"A modern-day Machiavelli, aren't you?"

"Who's Machiavelli?" Snape gave her a sharp look.

"…I suppose I'll never see you in your element, glaring at your students over a pot of polyjuice potion or scribbling chicken-scratch on the blackboard," Lily continued, mentally kicking herself for her muggle reference.

Her distraction seemed to work; Snape narrowed his eyes incredulously. "What makes you think you won't be in any of my classes? I'd agree that there's no possibility of you majoring in Potions—you're a rotten potioneer—but you'll likely have to take it as an elective, depending on your designation."

"Everyone says I'll be put in the Dance & Arts Major," Lily replied, though Snape's assumption suddenly gave her hope. "You don't think…?"

An earsplitting pop disrupted the conversation, Mimi apparating into the tower. Her bulbous eyes bulged at the sight of Lily, a sense of urgency apparent in her manner. "Mistress Rockford, Mimi has been looking for you! Mimi must prepare Mistress Rockford for the Sorting Ceremony!"

The fear that had begun to dislodge from Lily's gut returned with a vengeance. Snape had helped to divert her from her concerns, as well as the growing commotion on the grounds below, but she could escape her reality no longer: it was time to face her first day of magical school.

"Your house-elf does realize this is a school, not a ballroom?" Snape drawled, observing Mimi with a disapproving eye.

Lily sighed. "I suppose the niece of the headmaster is required to make an attractive entrance."

"Absurd. You look fine as you are," Snape replied, though he appeared to immediately regret it; Lily met his embarrassment with surprise. "—but I have important things to do and must go."

Before Snape could pull off one of his characteristic disappearing acts, Lily grabbed his wrist and offered him a weak smile. "Thank you, Severus."

He retrieved his wrist—faintly alarmed—and stalked off without another word.

When Lily arrived back at her dormitory, she was shocked to find her belongings gone. Instead, the room was tidy and bare, her large bed replaced with two single beds, each with a trunk already sitting at its feet. Evidently, the house-elves were already racing around, preparing students' rooms and delivering luggage.

Mimi set to work on her straight away, charming her hair into loose curls and adding a dash of blush to her pale cheeks. Lily side-glanced the outfit Mimi had laid out for her on one of the beds: her Hogwarts uniform was quite unlike the blouse, tie and kilt she was used to; rather, it was a cotton dress—black as a cursed rose—with a modest 'V' neckline and long sleeves. The collar and sleeves were trimmed with silvery cuffs.

When Lily pulled the frock on, she realized the form-fitting dress was shorter in the front—cutting just above her ankles so her shoes peeked through—and longer in the back, forming a delicate train. She had to admit, although it was very witchlike, it was quite flattering; the top was fitted while the skirt flowed elegantly below her natural waistline, bell-like.

"Are you decent?"

Lily slipped her wand into a hidden pocket in her dress as Frank stole inside the room, locking the door behind him. He cast a spell, sealing the room from eavesdroppers.

"Came to wish me well on my first day at Hogwarts, Father?" Lily mocked, challenging herself to show Frank a good face, though her bowels were turning to water. She supposed demonstrating her nervousness would only cause him to worry more.

"Har har," Frank lampooned, sitting down on one of the beds. "I came to check that you hadn't thrown yourself out a window."

"The thought had occurred to me."

"How funny to see you in a Hogwarts uniform!"

"Funny?" Lily replied tetchily.

"I don't mean you look funny. I mean it's funny to see you looking the part," Frank returned, trying to demonstrate patience. "You'll have to head down soon, most of the older students have already arrived. We're just waiting on the first years to make their way across the lake."

Lily spanned the room and leaned out the window. A collection of wooden boats were gliding across the water, holding little boys and girls bundled together in pairs. Lanterns were mounted to the front of their vessels, illuminating their fledgling faces. She wondered if they felt as tense as she did.

"Do you remember everything we talked about? Everything about the sorting, how to act, what to do if—?" Frank started, pulling Lily's attention away from the pageantry outside.

"Keep your cool, don't frown so much, stay away from Slytherins," Lily mimicked, plunking down beside Frank. "I promise to try my best not to blurt out my real name or use the wrong fork and out myself as a commoner."

"Much appreciated."

"How much longer do I have until I'm subjected to the entire school staring at me?"

"About a minute."

"You're not exactly a calming presence," Lily complained, restlessly jumping to her feet; she had the overwhelming urge to set fire to something.

"In a couple hours all the showmanship and uncertainty will be over," Frank said, standing up and placing a cheering hand on Lily's shoulder. "You'll have your House, Major and classes sorted, and everyone will meet you and the mystery and intrigue surrounding you will be dispelled. From there, we can make plans."

"What if no one likes me?" Lily murmured, turning to face him. "No one liked me at my other school, and here…they may realize I'm a phony right from the start."

Lily willed herself not to cry as Frank pulled her into a tight hug. "That won't happen. Trust in yourself. Dumbledore wouldn't offer you the chance to attend Hogwarts if he didn't think you could manage it."

Lily nodded, drawing strength from Frank's words. He had done his best to coach her on what was to come. She'd memorized the history of Hogwarts, listened to tedious Quidditch explanations, extensively discussed decorum and had even been given a thorough lecture about secret passages and how to hoodwink professors from Sirius. She was as prepared as she'd ever be.

Lily slowly made her way down the grand staircase, afraid any students lingering at the bottom would gawk at her as she descended. In reality, the Entrance Hall was empty, save a large pile of trunks and birdcages. Torches flickered on the stone walls, the high ceiling swallowing up their shadows. She could hear a simmering din behind the oak doors leading to the Great Hall: laughter, chatter and the clinking of goblets.

Pressing on, Lily headed toward an annex off the hall where she had been told to wait for further instruction. When she opened the door, she was met by the same collection of first years she had spied at the lake. Each wide-eyed eleven-year-old looked up at her expectantly.

"Hello," Lily offered, unsure of what to say to the flabbergasted children. It took a few moments of silence for a gutsy boy to inquire if she was a teacher.

"No, I am the teacher," a middle-aged witch with a tight bun and emerald-green robes said, entering the room behind Lily. "My name is Professor McGonagall. Welcome to Hogwarts."

Lily and the first-year students stood at attention, listening raptly as Professor McGonagall launched straightaway into a rousing speech about the sorting ceremony—likening a student's House to their family—and explaining the point system.

"The Sorting Ceremony will take place in a few minutes in front of the rest of the school. I will line you up in alphabetical order," McGonagall said, beginning to usher students into a tidy cue; as Lily headed toward the middle, she caught the professor's attention, "Oh no, Miss Rockford, you're at the back of the procession. You'll be sorted last, of course."

Lily did as she was told and lined up behind the rest of the twitchy students, most of whom were half her size. As they left the room and assembled in front of the double doors to the Great Hall, awaiting their signal to enter, Lily suddenly longed for James. Though he had sent her a letter that morning, wishing her luck and promising to meet up with her after the feast, his reassuring company would have helped to calm her. As it was, her heart was hammering in her chest so hard she feared bruising a rib.

Abruptly, the doors to the Great Hall swung open, golden light washing over the nervous faces of the procession. Bagpipes began to hum, followed by the beating of what sounded like a war drum. Lily glimpsed thousands of wax candles hovering below the ceiling, their flames dancing wildly. Transfixed by the small inferno, Lily found her legs automatically following the parade of first years, who had bravely begun to march into the hall. The cry of bagpipes grew louder and more fervent upon their arrival, reaching toward a majestic crescendo.

The display was dizzying. Four long tables—absolutely littered with students—flanked the Great Hall, with a smaller table populated by witches and wizards of varying ages positioned at the front, Dumbledore at the epicenter. Off to one side was a chorus of students and ghosts singing in Gaelic, while hanging from the ceiling were long, luxurious house banners in red, blue, yellow and green. Though Lily could hear whispers and exclamations of surprise melding with the music, the faces turning to gape at her were a blur. The splendor of the hall—glittering with gilded plates and goblets and stars that shone starkly against the midnight-blue sky—was, blessedly, too preoccupying.

The breathy bagpiping quieted as the convoy of students gathered in front of the teacher's table, where a solitary stool stood, topped with a rumpled hat. Lily zeroed in on the pointed cap—it was weathered, patchy and—frankly—dirty.

It was as Professor McGonagall attempted to silence the babbling hall, which Lily purposefully tuned out for her own sanity, that she caught Snape's eye at the head table. He offered her a curt nod before shifting his gaze, glaring at an unforeseen individual at the other end of the table.

Lily's attention was next grabbed when the Sorting Hat sprouted a wrinkled mouth and brow, belching out a hoarse-voiced poem about his ability to accurately organize students into Houses and Majors. The students politely clapped, some chortling.

"Now, when I call your name, you will sit on the stool and I will place the hat on your head. Then, the hat will determine your Major and produce a list of your classes," McGonagall explained tersely, gesturing for the first student to sit down. "Collard, Cyestra."

Lily watched as a small first-year girl climbed atop the stool, her blond curls spilling out from beneath the soiled hat. She was quickly sorted into Ravenclaw, the animate object bellowing his decision and spitting out her Dance & Arts schedule. Next came a boy who was sorted into Hufflepuff, then a girl into Slytherin, than another boy destined for Ravenclaw. It all seemed to be going smoothly until a young boy named Balfour Blane—who she would later learn was a commoner—was sorted into Slytherin. Shouts of outrage echoed from the green-trimmed table, scholarship students rarely being admitted into the staunchly-aristocratic house. Lily pitied the boy as he timidly made his way toward the table that hissed and jeered at him.

Please God, don't put me in Slytherin.

"Rockford, Aurora."

Lily looked at McGonagall questioningly, wondering where the rest of the first years had suddenly disappeared to. She didn't feel ready for her turn, yet she was the last student standing.

A hush fell over the entire hall as she made her way up to the four-legged stool. Before sitting, Lily paused, catching a face out of the corner of her eye; keenly observing her from his seat at the teacher's table was none-other than James—James bloody Potter—his eyes a mixture of comfort and concern. He looked on the edge of madness, prepared to jump to his feet to whisk her away.

So that's why he didn't come to see me today…I'm going to kill him.

"You must sit, Miss Rockford," McGonagall said emphatically, placing a firm hand on her shoulder to refocus her.

Lily didn't have time to second-guess James' appearance; she sank onto the stool, the sorting hat placed atop her head. Forced to confront the assembly of students before her, she stifled her instinct to run. Many were standing, boldly attempting to get a better look at her, while others frantically whispered to their bench partners.

Frank's voice tickling at the back of her mind, she managed to grace the crowd with a strained smile, wishing the hat would swallow her whole. The hall went quiet.

I wondered where the granddaughter of Headmaster Everard was all this time. You're six years late.

Lily's breath escaped her. Panicked, she looked for the reactions of nearby students; however, it appeared the Sorting Hat's voice was only sounding in her own head.

Your path is not an obvious one, Lady Everard. There are many qualities you possess…the courage of a Gryffindor and cleverness of a Ravenclaw…yet you also possess a strategic mind, cunning and deception…traits very highly valued in Slytherin…

Put me in Slytherin and you'll have signed my death warrant.

Is that so? Then perhaps you'll do well in the House where your family created their legacy…

"GRYFFINDOR!" the Sorting Hat suddenly roared, causing Lily to slacken with immense relief. A resounding cheer—near deafening—rang out from the Gryffindor table, where students had climbed to their feet, whistling and clapping raucously, proud that Gryffindor House was good enough for a relation of Dumbledore's. Meanwhile, from somewhere in the Great Hall, a familiar voice shouted, "WELL BLOODY DONE!" causing many startled students to search in vain for the boisterous caller.

"Congratulations, Miss Rockford," McGonagall said in her Scottish brogue. Behind her, teachers had also risen from their seats to applaud, Dumbledore and a beaming James among them. Snape remained seated.

Before the sorting hat was removed from Lily's head, it spat out a curled piece of parchment, which McGonagall snatched before it floated to the floor. The talking cap was removed and Lily stood, looking to the professor for answers.

McGonagall looked down at Lily's schedule and raised a surprised brow; she turned toward the teachers and called out, "Major designation…Charms."

Lily couldn't stifle her grin; excitement immediately welled up inside her, the brilliant news more than she could hope for. The Great Hall burst into chatter again, even the professors trading wound-up whispers. Lily looked up at the head table and noticed James' visible shock.

McGonagall presented Lily with her timetable and motioned for her to join her fellow Gryffindors. Dumbledore caught her eye as she passed; he raised a glass to her, his eyes twinkling.

A knot formed in Lily's stomach as she approached her house table, unsure of where to sit; however, emerging from the crowd of faces were two familiar ones: Lady Alice Prewett and Lord Rudolf Brand, both of whom were motioning for her to join them.

"Didn't I tell you you'd make a great Gryffindor, Aurora?" Alice beamed, patting a spot on the bench between her and Rudolf; other Gryffindors looked on enviously, "You remember Rudolf, don't you?"

"How could she forget a face like this?" the bronze-skinned boy purred playfully, his hazel eyes dancing. "Looks like we did gravitate to one another, fellow star."

Lily cracked a smile, thinking back to her initial meetings with both Alice and Rudolf at the Hogwarts Gala. She was immensely relieved to know them now.

"I'm awfully glad to see you both—I didn't think I'd know anyone," she divulged, sinking into the seat between them, purposefully ignoring the number of heads still turned in her direction. She kept her schedule safely tucked in her lap, though she yearned to pour over it. "What happens next?"

Before Alice or Rudolf could respond, Dumbledore arose from his seat at the professors' table, signaling the students to settle down. He was dressed in magnificent sapphire robes, clunky gold rings and a pointed velvet hat, "The very best of evenings to you all. I would like to extend a warm welcome our new students, as well as welcome back our returning students. Another year of magical education awaits you."

Lily's attention flickered back to James, who was staring at her raptly. Her heart leapt.

"Before we begin our start of term feast, I have a few announcements. Firstly, the Forbidden Forest is—as the name suggests—off limits to students. If you venture there, I cannot guarantee you will return with all of your limbs," Dumbledore said, appearing merry despite the morbid messaging. "Furthermore, it would be in your best interest not to provoke the lake monster, as she is pregnant and rather irritable at the moment."

"That's all we need, baby sea monsters biting at our heels when we go for a swim," Rudolf complained under his breath.

"There have also been a few staff changes I'd like to announce. As Professor Slughorn is still on sabbatical, Professor Snape will continue to helm the Potions Department. You have our thanks, Professor."

Lily and a few Slytherins clapped, causing Snape to begrudgingly nod his head. Alice gave her a strange look that communicated it wasn't socially appropriate to like the professor.

Dumbledore continued. "Happily, Professor Merrythought has returned from sabbatical following the completion of her comprehensive study of Erklings and will be resuming her post as Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. Welcome back, Professor."

Next, an elderly woman arose from her seat at the head table. Professor Merrythought looked even older than Dumbledore, with wrinkles spreading across her milky face like tributaries and long white hair wildly splayed across her shoulders. She was short and appeared quite frail, like her brittle back would give way at any moment; yet, her chalky eyes were sharp and judicious, making Lily think she wasn't a woman to be crossed.

"She's nearly 110 years old," Alice breathed in Lily's ear as everyone clapped respectfully.

"I didn't expect a woman to be teaching Defense Against the Dark Arts," Lily whispered back, instantly feeling admiration for the professor.

"Lastly, I would like to welcome a new face to the staff this year: Lord James Potter has kindly agreed to take over the Arithmancy post, as well as preside over flying lessons for first years and co-manage the Gryffindor Quidditch team with Professor McGonagall. Our deepest thanks, Professor Potter."

Lily watched as James stood up and smiled, effortlessly charming and handsome. He looked like a Hollywood film star compared to his misfit colleagues. She did find it odd to see him looking so professional in his wizarding robes, accustomed to his jeans and stubbled-face. The hall broke into rigorous applause for him, most of the handclapping coming from Gryffindor and Hufflepuff students. Girlish squeals intermingled with the ovation.

"—and that concludes my opening remarks. Everyone tuck in!" Dumbledore announced once the praise for James had begun to die down.

Food promptly appeared on the empty golden platters set out before the students, refocusing their attention. Everything from roast beef to lamb chops to steak and kidney pie appeared, accompanied by boiled potatoes, chips, Yorkshire pudding, peas, carrots and peppermint humbugs. For dessert, there were blocks of ice cream, treacle tarts, apple pies and rice pudding.

Clearly the muggle war hasn't affected wizard rationing…

"So, did you know this entire summer that you'd be attending Hogwarts in the fall?" Rudolf started, reaching for Lily's goblet to pour her a glass of pumpkin juice, ever the gentleman. "Your entrance gave everyone quite the shock. There wasn't anything about it in the papers."

Lily hadn't even had time to process the sorting and James' unexpected announcement before switching into "Aurora Rockford" mode.

"The decision was recent. My parents thought it was an opportunity I couldn't pass up," Lily lied, taking a sip of her juice and smiling. "What shocks me is that anyone even knows who I am. Besides you two and delightful Narcissa, I don't know any other Hogwarts students."

"Oh Aurora, don't you read the Daily Prophet? You've been a cover story almost every week since your debut at the Gala," Alice chided, filling her plate with pork chops. "Society magazines are abuzz with news of you."

Lily swallowed her bite of pie uneasily. "I don't know why, I'm not that interesting."

Rudolf laughed, giving her a wry smile. "Recently-debuted niece of the most powerful wizard in the UK, beautiful, and courting one of London's most eligible bachelors in Lord Frank Longbottom? I'd say that's enough for the gossip magazines to go on until Christmas."

Alice seemed momentarily distracted before she sunnily added, "And now you've gone and stunned everyone again with your Major. It's rare for female students to be sorted into anything but the Dance & Arts program. You can probably count them on one hand."

"I don't suppose either of you will be in any of my classes?" Lily ventured hopefully, though Alice's comment made her secretly swell with pride.

"Let's take a look at your schedule."

Lily unfolded her timetable for the first time that night and read her courses aloud: Advanced Charms, Advanced Defense, Advanced History of Magic, Intermediate Potions, Intermediate Transfiguration, Intermediate Care of Magical Creatures and Beginners Alchemy.

"You won't be in any classes with me…" Alice bellyached, pushing food around her plate. "I'm not much good in any of those subjects—but I am taking Intermediate Herbology."

"That's something, isn't it?" Rudolf smiled at Alice, earning a thankful smile back before turning to Lily. "I'm in most of those classes as well. All necessary for my Defense Major. I must say, I'm astonished you got into Advanced Charms and Defense; those are the two most difficult courses offered at the school—"

Lily nearly choked on a carrot when a voice sounded behind her. "Aurora, a word?"

Lily turned to see James standing behind her, purposely wearing an authoritarian façade, though any bystander would question the casual nature of his address. A few girls at the table gawked. "It's Professor Potter now, is it?"

He smirked. "Indeed. Headmaster Dumbledore has asked me to sort out a few administrative matters with you on his behalf before curfew. Will you follow me please?"

"I'll see you later?" Lily said to Alice and Rudolf, untangling herself from the bench and turning to leave the hall with James, a thousand pairs of eyes watching their departure.

"She's on friendly terms with James Potter too?" Alice whispered to Rudolf, looking awestruck.

"The girl is already proving to be a conundrum," Rudolf whispered back, smiling. "I've got a feeling this is only the tip of the iceberg."

"You're a prat, you know that?" Lily said as they made their way up the grand staircase to the seventh floor, dropping all pretenses. "You could have warned me you were going to be made a Hogwarts professor!"

"And ruin the surprise? Not a chance," James grinned, taking a quick look down the empty corridor before dipping Lily to kiss her.

She pulled away, blushing. "How am I going to make it through this year with you planting kisses on me every time I turn around?"

"You don't seem as pleased as I thought you'd be," James sulked.

"Of course I'm pleased—it's just a lot to take in at once," Lily sighed, leaning against the stone wall to gaze at him. "I suppose you made this a condition of your cooperation with Dumbledore's plan?"

"I let you out of my sight once; I'm not about to do that again," James confirmed, digging his hands into his pants' pockets. "This way I can keep an eye on you from afar. Arithmancy isn't the most popular class, so Dumbledore figured the chances of me having to actually teach you were slim—although the thought of that did pique my interest."

Lily rolled her eyes, amused. "You're starting to sound like Sirius."

"Oi, I heard that!"

Lily nearly jumped out of her skin when Sirius suddenly appeared from beneath James' invisibility cloak, grinning proudly. James punched him in the shoulder, earning his glare. "You were watching us this whole time, you pervert?"

"Please, you two are so square," Sirius mocked, tucking the cloak into his pocket. "How does it feel to be an official Gryffindor now, Lils?"

"Sirius," James warned.

"You're the dunderhead kissing her. I can't even use her real name?"

"Pretty relieved, actually," Lily interjected, breaking up the argument before it began. "I was petrified I'd get Slytherin and be a social outcast for the rest of my days, although I'm rather used to that…"

"After your escapades at the Ministry I had no doubt you'd be sorted into the house of bravery," James smiled, taking Lily's hand. "Come on, I need to show you something before the students are released from the feast."

James led Lily and Sirius past the portrait of the Fat Lady and turned left down a dead-end hallway where a long tapestry flanked by two gargoyle lions was inconspicuously hung. Lily watched as James reached out to one of the lions and scratched under his ear; this prompted the statue to suddenly come alive before their very eyes.

"Password?" the limestone lion yawned, shaking out his mane before giving the group a lazy stare; he wasn't impressed to be awakened.

"Elderberry," James said smoothly, triggering the tapestry to suddenly roll upwards, revealing a gold-plated door encrusted with century-old amulets. He twisted the handle to open the entrance. "Welcome to your new abode, Lady Rockford."

Lily entered the space uncertainly, the boys in her wake. Laid out before her was a large circular room with a high-vaulted ceiling that—like the Dining Hall—had been charmed to reflect the night sky. The warm space contained a collection of elegant furniture, including a four-poster bed dressed in crimson, writing desk, giant wardrobe, Japanese dressing screen and an entire wall of shelving already housing her textbooks and shiny instruments. There was also an intricate fireplace glimmering with embers situated across from her bed. To complete the picture, her owl, Fireball, was perched on the outside railing of her balcony—a luxury she hadn't had before.

"It's bigger than my old dormitory," Lily breathed, opening the balcony doors to let her owl inside; he flew in and landed on her desk chair. "All of this is for me?"

"A select number of Hogwarts students have private rooms," James said, watching her dart about the room, spellbound. "This will allow you more privacy and a place to escape to if it all becomes too much."

"It's lovely," Lily smiled, toying with a silver globe of Neptune on her bookshelf. Out of the corner of her eye she noticed the title of the prohibited Dark Arts book she was reading, Sirius snooping on a nearby shelf. "Sirius, was that you I heard cheering when I was sorted?"

He looked up, attention diverted as he followed her over to a cluster of chairs near the fire. "I wasn't about to miss your sorting. What if you'd been made a Hufflepuff? I would have split a gut laughing."

James came to sit with them. "He's just teasing you. Let's have a look at your schedule."

Lily shifted uncomfortably, suddenly nervous to hand it over to him. When she did, James and Sirius took a moment to inspect it.

"Well done, the hat's placed you in all of the hardest classes," Sirius commented, looking over James' shoulder. "He's even put you in Advanced Defense—Merrythought is going to put you through the ringer, that I can promise you."

"This has got to be some mistake," James murmured, taking off his glasses and massaging the bridge of his nose. "I'll have to speak to Dumbledore about this."

Lily quickly plucked the parchment from James' hand. "You'll do no such thing. You may think I'm not clever or capable enough, but I am."

"Lily, I didn't say that," James started, sighing as she crossed the room and tucked her schedule beneath her pillow. "Being successful in these classes takes years of work and experience, which you don't have. Not to mention they are virtually male-dominated. You're going to stick out like a sore thumb and jeopardize your disguise."

"Nymphadora is in some Defense classes," Sirius offered, though it fell on deaf ears.

"My tutoring has been very thorough, and Severus said I'm above average in—" Lily started, going quiet as James' eyes suddenly flashed with anger.

"Severus…as in Severus Snape?" James demanded.

"Snivelly?" Sirius added skeptically.

"Let me guess, you two had a problem with him in school too," Lily mocked, folding her arms obstinately. "Frank had a similar fit when he found out."

"He was only my bitterest enemy," James said evenly, gritting his teeth. "And you're telling me he was your tutor this summer? And Longbottom knew?"

"Yes, and he was a damn good one," Lily challenged, "When are you and Frank going to stop acting so childish and get over your old rivalries? Severus isn't so bad…"

"Isn't so bad?" James laughed hollowly, pacing erratically before grabbing her shoulders sternly. "Listen, you don't know him like I do. He's not a good wizard. Probably one of the Dark Lord's biggest fans, in truth. Dumbledore may trust him, but I never will. Stay away from him."

Lily pulled out of his grasp, her eyes welling with disappointed tears. "I think I've had enough orders and insults for one night. I want you to go."

"I mean it, Lily—I don't want you around him," James repeated furiously.

She crossed the room and swung open her bejeweled door. "I'm tired—just go."

Grinding his teeth, James stepped out, muttering under his breath before disappearing down the hallway. Sirius watched him leave, looking uneasy. "I better chase after him…I've got a feeling I know where he's off too."

Lily nodded and collapsed face-first onto her bed, suddenly feeling both physically and mentally exhausted: this was not how she had wanted her first day to end.

Sirius paused in the doorway, looking back at the deflated girl, guilty. "You're best to start with Defensive Magical Theory, The Essential Defense Against the Dark Arts and Practical Defense Against the Dark Arts. And remember: Merrythought is hard on everyone."

She looked up; with a wave of Sirius' hand, the textbooks floated from her bookshelf onto her writing desk, bothering her owl, who glared at them with one open eye. Sirius offered her an apologetic smile before leaving, abandoning her to silence.

Lily turned onto her back to look up at the room's enchanted ceiling. She felt numb from the day's bombardment of new information and old emotions. All she wanted was rest…to hide away from the world, retreat to a place that didn't require thinking. But she couldn't. Tomorrow she'd be presented with new hurdles—hurdles that required planning and little sleep.

"Mimi?"

The house-elf popped into existence beside her, her inquiring eyes barely visible over the edge of Lily's bed. "Yes, Mistress Rockford?"

Lily side-glanced the mountain of books on her desk. "I'm going to need a big cup of coffee; better yet, an entire pot. It's going to be a long night."

Author's Notes

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