Disclaimer: Harry Potter characters, places, and ideas belong to J.K. Rowling and Warner Brothers, not me.
by Auror5
Early May dawned beautiful and mild on Hogwarts, with soft breezes and a floral fragrance perfuming the grounds and seeping into the corridors like a nearly forgotten memory. The floral perfume was uncommonly strong thanks due to the elephantine flowers that were growing profusely outside the gamekeeper, Hagrid's, hut.
Lily's grades faltered due to her traumatic experience in an old, bleak, and disused corridor below the castle. Fortunately, the nightmares were becoming less frequent. She had no further interaction with Dolohov or his gang. During the past week, her every possible moment was spent in the common room or the library poring over books in an effort to improve her grades.
***
"I want each of you to find a partner on which to practice the Sleeping Charm. Are you paying attention, Mr. Potter?" Professor Flitwick inquired while walking over to James' desk. James appeared to be in the act of hastily trying to hide a comic book.
Professor Flitwick seized the book and smiled. "Ah! 'Zap, the Martian Wizard.' Quite good really. I read it myself. But not in class, and neither should you, Potter.
"Come! Pair up now. This may be on the exam. The Sleeping Charm, I meant, not 'Zap, the Martian Wizard,'" he added when a few students snickered.
"So. I'll try it on you, first, Lily."
"Erm, okay."
Fiona pointed her wand at Lily. "Sopio."
"Er, I'm wide awake, Fi."
"Drat! Let me try it again. Sopio!"
"Fi, you aren't waving your wand properly."
"Yes, I am."
"No, you're not."
"Then show me."
"Okay, it's like this." Lily demonstrated to Fiona how she should wave her wand. "Wave it in a small, loose, but close circle. All right?"
"All right. I'll try it again." Fiona waved her wand in a circle, and then shouted, "Sopio!"
"Fi, I'm still awake!"
"Then, you do it!"
Lily took a deep breath. She gently waved her wand in a loose, but tight circular motion while pointing it at Fiona, and then said, "Sopio."
Fiona promptly fell asleep. Lily smiled.
"Excellent, Miss Evans!" Professor Flitwick beamed at Lily, and then quickly frowned. "Oh dear. Arbuckle! You were to practice the Sleeping, not the Sneezing, Charm!"
Lily looked at Fiona, and pointed her wand at her. "Exsuscito."
"Mmmf, why did you wake me up? I was playing Quidditch," yawned Fiona.
Smiling, Lily replied, "You have to learn this charm, silly."
"All right. Show me how to do it, again."
After the fifth attempt, Fiona was able to successfully put Lily asleep. Many of the students were still having a difficult time with the charm. About fifteen minutes later, Professor Flitwick walked over to where Fiona and Lily were seated. He asked Lily if she would like to help the other students. Lily gladly accepted. Professor Flitwick was her favourite professor, although she still had a crush on Professor Konrad. By the end of the lesson, Lily realised that she enjoyed helping others learn.
At the end class, Lily asked Fiona to wait for her outside while she spoke with Professor Flitwick. Fiona presumed that it pertained to Lily's grades. Fiona, Daisy, Ivy, and Samantha noticed that Lily had not been performing well since the day she claimed she fell down the stairs. Fiona did not believe Lily told the truth about what happened but she did not want to press the matter. She and the other girls also observed that Lily had been quieter and less playful since the so-called stair incident.
After everyone left the room, Lily approached Professor Flitwick's desk as he was tidying it.
"Professor Flitwick?"
"Yes, what can I do for you?" he said, kindly.
"Erm, I was wondering if you knew what a 'Mudblood' is."
He gasped and gazed at her intently. "Where did you hear that slur?"
"Er, I overhead some boys say it while in the corridor between lessons one day."
"It is an ugly word, Lily. I am just shocked that any student would utter it in this school. It is a derogatory term for a witch or wizard of Muggle parentage. It should not be used in this school. I shall report this to the headmaster. Did you recognise any of the boys?"
"Er, no, sir."
Professor Flitwick sighed. "All right. I still must report this to the headmaster. Odd activities have been going on in school lately. By the way, how have you been doing? Everything all right? Your grades, although still good, have taken a bit of a tumble."
"Yes, I'm fine. I've been studying really hard lately. To bring up my grades."
"Good. I'm glad to hear it. You are one of my best first year students. I would hate to see you perform poorly. I see much potential in you."
"Thank you." Lily beamed while feeling self-conscious. "I must go now. Fiona is waiting outside for me."
***
About a week later, the Gryffindors were gearing up for their last Quidditch match of the year. Excitement was running high. They would face the Hufflepuffs, who had an excellent Beater on their team. If Gryffindor won, they would receive the Quidditch Cup for the second consecutive year. They would also be in the running for the House Cup. The night before the game, most of the Gryffindors were found sitting in the common room noisily discussing the upcoming match.
"We have to take out Bagman!" shouted Craig.
"Aye!" a dozen students screamed.
"Take him out of the game, Stone and Draper!" yelled Virgil.
"No! Dewdroppe must catch the Snitch before they score, and before that bloody Bagman has a chance to do any damage!" another Gryffindor shouted.
"Oh, I wish I were on the team," Fiona moaned to Lily.
"Don't worry, Fi. Perhaps you will make the team in our second year."
The spirited talk of the upcoming Quidditch match raged on until Brandt Lyon, a prefect, yelled at them to go to bed.
***
Saturday, the day of the much talked about Quidditch match, dawned bright and unseasonably warm. By the time Lily, Fiona, and the other Gryffindors made it up to the stands and found seats, they were sweating profusely.
"I hope Kristin catches the Snitch early. It's dreadfully warm out here," Samantha remarked, listlessly.
A short time later, the Hufflepuff Quidditch Team, in bright yellow, walked out onto the pitch to many boos and hisses from the Gryffindors. The Gryffindors roared when their team, dressed in scarlet, strolled out onto the pitch. Lily, Fiona, Daisy, Oliver, and Anders raised the large banner they created for the occasion. It showed Kristin Dewdroppe diving for the Golden Snitch, and Stone and Draper pelting Bludgers at Bagman, and knocking him off his broom. It was animated, with figures moving across the banner. At the top of it, in flashing neon intensity, alternating red and gold, were the words, "Bagman can't find his way out of a Paper Bag! Kristin is Lightning Fast and on the Go!"
In the first fifteen minutes of the game, much to the Gryffindors' dismay, the Hufflepuffs scored thirty points, thanks to Ludo Bagman, their unbeatable Beater.
"The Wimbourne Wasps are interested in picking him up," groaned Fiona as one of the Gryffindor Chasers missed the goal, thanks to Bagman.
"I'm glad this is his last year at Hogwarts," Anders commented.
The game began to turn in Gryffindor's favour when the team started blitzing the unsuspecting Hufflepuffs. Soon the score was 70 to 50, in favour of Gryffindor. There was no sign of the Golden Snitch. The tension mounted. The score was up to 100 to 90, in favour of the Hufflepuffs. Still no sign of the Snitch. Crack! Draper sent a Bludger to the Hufflepuff Chaser, Chatzin, knocking her off her broom and breaking her nose. An angry uproar immediately ensued from the Hufflepuffs, in the stands and on the pitch. The Hufflepuff captain called for a time out. Madam Pomfrey ran out onto the pitch and healed Chatzin's broken nose. The match resumed.
Gryffindors were on top: the score was 150 to 120. The Hufflepuff Seeker spotted the Golden Snitch! The Gryffindors in the stands collectively groaned. Kristin raced the Hufflepuff Seeker for the Golden Snitch. They both dived for it as it plunged toward the ground. Suddenly, a Quaffle was thrown in front of them. Intense concentration was broken, and the Snitch disappeared. The score continued to climb, now 230 to 220, in favour of the Hufflepuffs. Then, a tie at 280!
There was the Golden Snitch, hovering and shimmering just above the Gryffindor's goal hoops! Kristin raced for the Golden Snitch, neck and neck with the Hufflepuff Seeker. It was going to be close! Kristin leapt nearly off her broom reaching for the Golden Snitch. She grabbed it, fell from her broom, and plummeted toward the ground! In unison, the crowd rose in the stands. Silence. Then miraculously, Kristin's descent began to slow. She landed gently on the ground, standing on both feet, grinning and screaming, "I have it! I have it!" The final score was 430 to 280. Yelling wildly, the Gryffindors stormed the pitch.
***
Eventually, the euphoria of winning the Quidditch Cup for two years running died down. The Gryffindors redirected their attention to preparing for the end of year exams, which were rapidly approaching.
"Lily!"
Lily heard a boy calling her name as they made their way to the castle after Flying Lessons. She turned and saw Severus Snape running toward her. He caught up with her and Fiona.
"Er, I was wondering if you could, erm, help me with Astronomy being that you are so good at it. Please?"
Lily briefly appraised him. "All right. How about Saturday, after lunch? We can meet in the library."
"Erm, all right. Thanks!" He ran ahead to catch up with his friends Evan Rosier, Damien Wilkes, and Pertinax Avery.
"Urgh! Why would you want to spend any time with him?"
"What do you mean, Fi? He's not that bad. Besides, he is a bit stupid when it comes to Astronomy."
"There is something about him. He's creepy. I overheard Anthony Zephyr and Taliesen Iverson telling James and Sirius how much Snape knows about the Dark Arts. The Ravenclaws have Dark Arts with the Slytherins. Zephyr said that he knows more than most seventh years! Iverson said that he always knows the answers in Dark Arts lessons."
"I don't know, Fi," frowned Lily. "He doesn't seem horrid to me. Really, he's like most of the first year boys around here."
"I still think you should watch your back. I mean, why would he know so much about the Dark Arts anyway?"
On their way to the common room, Professor Konrad halted them.
"Miss Evans, may I have a brief word with you in my office?"
Lily blushed, and mumbled, "Yes, sir."
"McKinnon, you can continue on to wherever you were going," he added as Fiona started to follow.
They entered his office, and he closed the door.
"So. How are things with you, Miss Evans?"
"Fine, sir," Lily replied, looking at her feet.
"I noticed your grades have suffered a bit during the past month or so, but they have been picking up in the past two weeks, I might add. Can you explain why your work suffered in the first place?"
Lily shrugged.
"Professor Dumbledore called a staff meeting about a week ago. The headmaster said he received a report from Professor Flitwick that a student overheard a couple of boys using the term, 'Mudblood.' Do you know anything about this?"
For reasons she were not consciously aware of, Lily told him that she did not.
Peering closely at her, he said in a lowered voice, "Are you telling the truth?"
Lily, with eyes averted, nodded her head.
"All right, Miss Evans. Personally, just between the two of us, I believe that the headmaster is making far too much out of matters inconsequential. Calling someone a 'Mudblood' is trivial. If you do hear or see anything unusual, Miss Evans, I would strongly recommend that you wisely keep it to yourself. Understand?"
Lily, not really comprehending, replied, "Yes, sir."
"Good. You may leave now."
***
Saturday afternoon, Lily and Severus Snape were in the library poring over books dealing with the stellar system. Snape was having a difficult time understanding the constellations. Lily was having an equally difficult time trying to explain them to him. Finally, in frustration, she asked him to meet her outside the Astronomy Tower at 9 o'clock.
"We can't Lily. It's against the rules. We'll be sure to be caught."
"Not if anyone doesn't see us! Just be careful on your way there."
"I don't know."
"You don't want to fail Astronomy, d'you?"
"No."
"All right then. I'll meet you at the Astronomy Tower at nine. Don't be late!" She then grabbed her things, said goodbye, and left.
***
At 9 p.m., Lily and Severus were standing outside the Astronomy Tower.
"Let's go in, shall we?"
With a brief hesitation, Severus followed Lily inside.
"Come on, Severus. Let's climb to the top, onto the roof."
He stopped. "No, Lily, we can't. What if we're caught?"
"Oh, no one is going to catch us, silly. You're a worrywart, you are. Now, come on."
They climbed the steep, spiralling stairs, opened the door, and stepped out onto the roof.
"Now, you will be able to see the stars, and I can explain them properly." Lily proceeded to lie down.
"What?! What are doing?"
"Come, lay beside me. How are you going to see the sky properly, silly?"
"Oh, all right." He awkwardly plopped down next to her.
"Isn't it beautiful? 'The splendour of the heavens is spread out before us,' as my dad would say. He's a doctor, but he enjoys watching the nighttime sky. It's his hobby. He taught me much about the stars. We would sit in our yard, at night, watching the sky. He even has a telescope. Do you ever sit out at night and watch the stars?"
"No."
"Oh dear, you're missing much. The meteor showers are absolutely fabulous! Erm, it's no wonder you aren't doing well in Astronomy. You ought to look at the night sky more. It's quite beautiful."
"Not looking at the bloody sky every night is not the reason I'm not doing well! It's Professor Sinistra. She has it in for me."
"Erm, okay," Lily responded, dubiously. "Let me explain the celestial sky.
"It appears that we're looking at the whole sky, but we aren't. We're only looking at a piece of it. Hogwarts is somewhere in the north. I reckon we're somewhere between fifty-two and sixty degrees north latitude. The constellations we see change from month to month. However, some stars we see all the time like Polaris in the constellation, Ursa Minor. If we lived on the equator, we would see the entire celestial sky.
"Erm, which sign are you?"
"Scorpio."
"I'm Cancer. My dad told me a silly story to remember the zodiac. Would you like to hear it?"
"Yes."
"In April, Aries the Ram ran across Taurus the Bull whose girlfriend was named May. They trotted along and discovered twins whose surname was Gemini. They told Aries and Taurus that they were born in May. Taurus asked Gemini if they would like to accompany them on a quest. They agreed. Eventually, in July, they arrived on a beach, and discovered Cancer the Crab. Cancer asked if he could join their party. Gemini replied, 'Yes, as long as you keep your claws to yourself.'
"In early August, they came across a regal Lion named Leo. Leo inquired, 'Perchance, what brings you to my kingdom?'
"'We are on a quest,' Cancer replied. 'Would you like to join us? We need someone strong and fearless such as yourself, as long as you promise not to eat any of us.'
"The small, but growing, party headed east. They soon encountered a pretty lass combing her tresses near a brook.
"'What is your name?' asked Gemini.
"'I am Virgo the Virgin,' she answered, 'Although, I wish that my name was September!'
"'Would you like to join our party?' offered Leo.
"'Yes, as long as none of you ask me for a date!'
"They continued on.
"One beautiful day in early October, they found a balance or scale in the middle of the path they were travelling on.
"'Let's pick it up,' suggested Virgo.
"There was writing encrypted on the side. It read, 'Libra.' They continued travelling east.
"'Crickey! There is a scorpion ahead, so watch it!' warned Taurus.
"'Why are you here?' asked the scorpion, irritated and quite suspicious.
"'Why, we are on a quest. Would you like to join our group, as long as you don't sting any of us?'
"'All right,' replied the scorpion. 'By the way, I am Scorpio. Today, October 24th, is my birthday.'
"'Happy Birthday, Scorpio!' the growing group shouted, and began to walk on.
"In early December, they saw an archer, aiming his bow at a fat pheasant.
"'Pheasant meat sounds tasty right about now,' said Leo. 'Oy, you there, may we have some of your pheasant?'
"The archer looked at the group, and said, 'All right, but only one tiny morsel per, erm, person. By the way, I'm Sagittarius. Where are you heading? May, I join?'
"'East, and, yes, you may!' they shouted.
"On December 22nd, they watched a sea goat being born. 'How beautiful!' Virgo exclaimed, 'Let's call it "Capricorn."'
"They continued following the path east, and began to tire of their journey. They happened upon a water bearer in a glade. 'Come join us,' they shouted.
"'All right,' said the water bearer. 'By the way, I am Aquarius of the February House.'
"In early March, they decided to give their quest a rest, but not before meeting Pisces the Fish, whom Sagittarius was willing to eat.'
"The end."
"Er, you were right. It is a silly story, but not too hard to remember. You may have to tell it to me again, before the exams."
"All right. D'you know which constellations we are looking at now?"
"No."
"Pretend that each star is a dot, and connect them. When you connect the dots, what do they look like?"
"Some squiggly lines."
"Oh, Severus, you are quite silly, you know? Use your imagination! Try again."
"Er, all right. Erm, that cluster over there, it looks like a triangle."
"Good! That's Triangulum. To the south of it is Aries, to the north of it, Andromeda, and just to the north of Andromeda, the Queen, Cassiopeia. Can you remember that? Look for the triangle, and you'll find, Andromeda, Cassiopeia, and Perseus. Perseus is to the west of the triangle. See, over there! Can you see it?"
"Yes! I think I have it!"
"Good!" Lily, relieved, sat up. "We can use our globes now to look for the other stars and chart them. Once you find one, you can find the others."
Severus grinned at her while standing up. "Thanks, Lily! Would you like some Drooble's Best Blowing Gum?"
"All right."
He gave her one, which she promptly popped it into her mouth and started to chew.
"It's good," she said in a muffled voice.
She blew a huge bubble, and, much to her surprise, began to float off the roof.
"Lily!" Severus shouted in alarm, and reached out to grab one of her hands.
He pulled her back to the roof's surface. While still holding onto his hand, she removed the gum from her mouth.
"Th-that was a big mi-mistake," giggled Lily. "Why, it's like a helium balloon!"
She let the bubble go, and they watched it drift off into the night.
"Cool gum. I wish I had some more, to take back home with me."
"Here, have mine! You can have the rest of the package. I can get some more."
"Thanks!" Lily glanced at her watch under the glow of her wand. "Oh dear, we ought to return to our houses now."
***
Finally, exam week arrived. The students performed as well as they could. After the last exam, in Potions, the first year Gryffindors hurried to their rooms to drop off their bags. They just as hurriedly left the castle to enjoy freedom in the warm, June sunshine.
Lily, Fiona, Oliver, and Anders joined Catherine Indigo and Tamara Green of Ravenclaw under a birch tree by the lake.
"Great! You have a pitcher of pumpkin juice and several goblets. May we have some?" Oliver inquired, hopefully.
"Aye," Catherine responded. "Tamara and I decided to grab extra goblets in case anyone else wanted to join us. It's chilled."
They sat under the tree chatting amicably and sipping pumpkin juice.
"It's really warm. I would love to go for a swim," Lily said wistfully while gazing out at the lake.
"You can't swim in the lake, Lily. The giant squid would be sure to grab you," said Catherine.
"Not today, it wouldn't."
"Really? How do you know?" said Oliver.
"I found out in Hogwarts, A History. It's only awake on the odd days of the month. Today is the 6th. If we went into the lake, it wouldn't bother us at all."
"So, we could jump in now. Can't we?" Oliver had a devilish grin on his face.
"Yes, so, what are we waiting for?"
Lily and Oliver began removing their robes, socks, and shoes. The others soon followed suit. They ran to the edge of the lake but then abruptly stopped.
"What if the water is freezing cold?" said Tamara.
"There's only one way to find out," asserted Fiona. She rolled up her trouser legs, and then ran into the water.
"How is it, Fi?"
"Great! Come in!"
They all ran into the water, and noisily splashed one another. In a matter of minutes, they were thoroughly soaked.
"This is so much fun," squealed Lily as Oliver splashed water over her head.
"All of you are going to be in a load of trouble."
They stopped frolicking for a moment to see Snape, Rosier, Avery, and Wilkes standing near the edge of the water watching them.
"Why don't you three join us?" suggested Anders.
"No," replied Snape.
"Oh, come on. Don't ruin the party," yelled Oliver.
Lily grinned mischievously, and without warning splashed Snape, Rosier, Avery, and Wilkes. The others quickly joined in.
"Let's get them!" Rosier shouted while pulling off his robe.
Snape, Rosier, Avery, and Wilkes ran into the water. Snape grabbed Lily and pushed her under. Before he could escape, she grabbed his ankle and tripped him. He fell headlong into the water. Soon the battle lines were drawn, with the boys against the girls. The battle raged on with a great deal of screaming and splashing.
"WHAT IS THE MEANING OF THIS? HAVE YOU ALL GONE MAD?"
Startled, they looked up and saw Professor McGonagall grimly gazing down at them.
"OUT OF THE WATER. NOW!"
Reluctantly, they dragged themselves from the lake.
"What, pray tell me, possessed you to engage in such outrageous behaviour?"
No one looked at her.
"Er, it was hot, Professor. We thought it would be fun. The squid is asleep today. We didn't think it would be wrong," Lily said, quietly.
"You are correct about the squid, Miss Evans. However, frolicking in the lake fully clothed and without permission is unacceptable behaviour. Do you understand?"
"Yes."
"I will not remove any points from your houses. You ought to be thankful for that. I would suggest, however, that before you return indoors you are completely dry; else, Filch will have your hides. I don't want to catch any of you in the lake again. Is that clear?"
"Yes, Professor."
"All right. Dry yourselves off." She then strode rapidly toward the castle.
"McGonagall is such a poop!" whispered Fiona.
A little later, as they were walking back to the castle, Fiona told Lily, "It's a good thing Snape had a dunking in the lake today."
"Why do you say that?"
"It's probably the first time in weeks his hair had a washing."
Just then, Snape turned and gave Fiona an extremely nasty look. Fiona did not notice because her attention was elsewhere.
"Fi, he heard you!" Lily said in a hushed voice.
"So?"
"Didn't you tell me he knows much about the Dark Arts?"
"Yes. So?"
"Fi!" Lily said, exasperated. "Aren't you worried he'll put a hex on you?"
"No."
***
At dinner, the day before the last day of the term, Headmaster Dumbledore announced that the Gryffindors won the House Cup for the fifth year running. The Gryffindors expressed their joy with much yelling, hooting, and banging of goblets on the table.
All of the first years passed their exams. Lily received high scores in her favourite subjects: Charms, Transfiguration, and Astronomy. Thanks to Lily's help, Snape received a decent mark in Astronomy.
Before they knew it, they were back on the Hogwarts Express, heading home. Lily was thrilled, and was anxiously looking forward to being with her family. She, Fiona, Daisy, and Catherine Indigo shared a compartment on the train ride to platform nine and three-quarters. Once they arrived at King's Cross, they vowed to maintain contact with one another during the summer holidays. At the station, Lily introduced her friends to her parents. The following day, Lily and her parents departed London for Keswick.
---------
Note: This story contains a total of twenty-six chapters. The next part, Intermedio (composed of nine chapters), will be posted in a few weeks.
-Auror5, 19 May 2001