Nervously, all of the first-years filed into the Great Hall for the first time. The boy with the strange hair who had caught her eye before was quickly pushed from Lily's mind as they entered.

In James's mind, the girl had also left his thoughts. He still stayed close to Remus, Sirius, and Peter; he was still so nervous. He passed by the Ravenclaw table and Magnus couldn't help but grin at him.

They made their way to the front and saw only a hat. Then the hat opened what looked like a tear near the brim and began to sing a clever song describing each house. Everyone clapped, but the first-years remained painfully still in fear.

"When I call off your name, you will try on the hat," Professor McGonagall informed them, "then go to that respectable house's table.

"Asforn, Mildred!" A pale young girl, who was very tall, sat on the stool. The hat didn't do anything for a while, then finally yelled to the whole hall, "RAVENCLAW!"

Relief came over Lily; she had thought it was some sort of terrible test. But no, it was simply trying on the hat. Professor McGonagall called out many names, but Lily wasn't really paying attention.

"Black, Sirius!"

James watched as his new friend walked nervously up. The hat took little time before shouting "GRYFFINDOR!"

"Cesio, Crystal!" A girl James didn't know walked shakily up. Lily hoped desperately for the best, and that she would also be placed in Crystal's house, which quickly became Gryffindor.

"Drake, Donald!" Became a Slytherin. And "Fouer, Jake!" became a Hufflepuff.

"Lupin, Remus!" Remus strode confidently to the hat and eagerly put it on.

"GRYFFINDOR!" it shouted shortly. Remus, smiling, went over to the Gryffindor table.

"Learson, Stephanie!"

"RAVENCLAW!"

"Pettigrew, Peter!" James hoped for Peter's sake that he was put in Gryffindor with Remus and Sirius. The hat, though sounding reluctant, finally said "Gryffindor!" James wondered why it took so long.

James was shaking in his shoes; what if he was put somewhere awful like Slytherin? He'd never forgive himself…

"Potter, James!" she called. James nervously made his way over to the hat.

That's him! Lily thought, seeing James. That's the boy I saw in the other room. I hope I'm in his house! Lily didn't know just what it was about this boy that struck her; he wasn't particularly attractive and didn't seem all that interesting, it was just something about him…

Hmmm, yes… James listened as the hat spoke to him in his head. You have a brother do you? In Ravenclaw is he? Yes, Magnus had quite a mind, quite a mind…But you…you've got much more than just a mind…lots of courage you've got…quite a thirst to prove yourself also…perhaps a bit mischievous at that…well, it's all here, the only place for you is "GRYFFINDOR!" it shouted.

James shakily stood and made his way to the Gryffindor table, relieved he was with the others.

Gryffindor, huh? Lily thought, watching the boy, who she now knew as James Potter. She would never know just how famous the name Potter would one day become. Professor McGonagall rolled off name after name, until Lily was almost getting bored. It seemed like she would never get to Tayfor. Finally she reached someone else Lily knew.

"Rakil, Jennifer!" Lily elbowed Hestia. "That's the girl who was in our boat!" she exclaimed, as though this was the biggest news ever. Hestia nodded, obviously still quite nervous. Lily turned back to watch more. Jennifer became a Gryffindor, "Snape, Severus", a Slytherin, and so on. Then finally…

"Tayfor, Lily!" Lily, now eager, practically skipped up to the hat and placed it on her head. It spoke in her head. Indeed…quite eager to be in Gryffindor…very protective…but what a mind! This is tough…indeed…I suppose the only place to put you is in "GRYFFINDOR!" Lily was overjoyed. She was with James Potter, and at least her friend Crystal. Soon it would be Hestia's turn.

They waited for what seemed an eternity before she was finally called.

"Wood, Hestia!"

Lily and Crystal both crossed their fingers under the table and held their breaths before it called "GRYFFINDOR!" They were among the loudest to cheer as Hestia walked over and took her seat beside Lily. "Zepher, Tilly" was sorted and the ceremony was over.

"And now, we feast!" A very young Dumbledore stood before them. He had long light brown hair and a rather short beard, but looked like a leader nonetheless. He waved his arms and the food appeared magically on the plates, as it always did.

Lily gazed in amazement at all the food, while Crystal and Hestia were already eating. Down the table, Lily again caught the eye of James Potter, and this time he smiled. She returned the smile happily, glad he had at least noticed her. Then she turned back to the food and began to eat hungrily.

After the feast was over, they sang the school song, and were off to their dorms, first-years led by Prefects. The Gryffindor Prefect was named Sydney, and led them pleasantly to their common room, trying to explain all the pathways and such to them along the way.

She told them the password, "Dragon-tail", and they entered the common room. Lily was much too tired to be too impressed by the common room, though it was quite impressive. Instead she, Hestia, Crystal, and Jenny went quietly up to their dormitory for sleep.

No words were spoken as they changed and climbed into bed. Lily was surprised at how comfortable the beds actually were; and remembered Lola. She surprised herself by finally thinking of her friend again. She dug into her bag and pulled out the paper, the Friendship Promise.

She wondered what to do with it. If she read it, she might break the promise. But…she had new friends now. Plus, Lola had probably already read the stupid paper, so why not? She was never that trustworthy. Lily, unable to resist temptation any longer, opened it.

It read:

Ha ha! I'm not telling you any secrets except that your school is a big fraud, and that my mum didn't come up with the stupid Friendship Promise what-not, I did, and only to find out some great secret about you! Ha! I certainly hope you don't read this though, because how regrettable it would be if I've just ruined our friendship…but who knows? Love ya still!

Lola

Lily was outraged. Oh, if she read my paper, the friendship is over, so ha! Lily thought, ripping the paper and absentmindedly letting the shreads fall to the floor. She climbed back into bed and fell asleep quickly, thinking again of James Potter.

James, Sirius, Remus, and Peter went into their dorm, all very tired from the day that was full of surprises. "I'm ready to go to sleep and never wake up from this dream!" James exclaimed. They all laughed their agreement.

"So do you guys know anything about that Lily Tayfor?" James asked as they all laid in their respectable beds.

"She's pretty, but never heard of the Tayfors…" Remus said.

"Violet Tayfor went to school here a long time ago," Sirius informed them.

"How'd you know that?" Remus asked.

"My mum told me she was best friends with a girl named Violet Tayfor."

"That would explain it." No more was said as they all drifted to sleep.

Lily woke late that morning, her friends had let her sleep. Breakfast was already halfway through when she bustled out of her dorm.

James woke to find an empty dorm and hurried to throw on robes and rush to breakfast.

They surprised eachother very much as they arrived in the common room in the same instant. They both gave embarrassed laughs.

"Hello, I don't believe we've met," Lily offered, outstretching her hand. "I'm Lily." He took her hand apprehensively.

"I'm James. You're a first-year too?" She nodded.

"My brother's in Ravenclaw. He thinks he's so smart…" Lily was surprised at the note of spite in his voice.

"I've heard those in Ravenclaw are supposed to be the smartest…" she began modestly, "but I think other houses are smart too." He smiled.

"Of course they are! But they had to give each house something, and I guess Ravenclaw got last pick." There was a pause, then they both laughed.

"Up late, then?" Lily asked.

"Yeah. Don't know why my friends didn't wake me. Shall we go to breakfast, then?" James offered.

"Yes, good idea." They set off for breakfast.

On their way, they walked down numerous corridors, hallways, and up and down many staircases. It seemed endless. "James?" Lily finally asked.

"Yes?"

"Do you know exactly where we're going?"

"I thought you were leading."

"Uh-oh." They looked around, trying to recognize something, anything, but it was close to impossible; it was their first official day.

"What do we do?" Lily asked in a panicky voice.

"Just calm down, we could wander some more, I don't see what it will hurt now."

"All right, good point," Lily agreed. They walked around longer and longer, still finding no one and nothing of recognition. James began knocking on random doors and peeking into windows they passed by. He even started jiggling handles until one opened.

"Well, come on, we've nothing to lose," he coaxed. Lily hesitantly followed him inside.

"It's awfully dark," she said, groping around the walls. Suddenly she heard something that made her blood turn colder than ice.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" James screamed.

"James? James!? Where are you? Are you all right?" For a moment, Lily stayed frozen to her spot, but in hearing no reply, began again moving around in hopes of finding him.

She began walking around the length of the room, unable now even to see the door, until she fell. Her scream as she went down the huge hole was much like James's, only higher.

The fall was infinite; so long that Lily even stopped screaming. She waited to hit James whenever she did hit; she didn't hear anything from him either. Finally she landed onto something quite soft.

She saw a shadowed figure nearby. "James?" she questioned quietly. The figure jumped.

"Lily? You fell too, eh?" he asked, helping her to her feet. It was still very dark.

"I fell looking for you!" she retaliated.

"Oh, sorry! How was I to know there was a monstrous hole there? Now, we've got to find a way out of here…" He began walking again, through the darkness, searching for escape.

"No, James! We've got to get back up this hole! What if we fall down another? Or something worse!" Lily rationalized.

"You're right Lily. Go ahead, start climbing back up that hole," James said expectantly. She turned and looked up. The hole was quite big, and very long. More like a vertical cave.

"All right, all right, we'll wander some more. But no more darkness! We've got to be able to see…" Lily said pleadingly. James thought for a moment. Then he snapped his fingers, an idea rising to his mind.

"One of the few spells my brother ever bothered to use around the house was Lumos, it lights the tip of your wand!"

"Brilliant!" James pulled out his wand and, after a few failed attempts, had a small light to lead them through. It turned out to be a long, narrow hallway. They walked shakily down it, neither saying a word.

"Who is that?!" Someone demanded around the corner. Lily resisted the urge to scream and waited for James to do something.

"SHOW YOURSELF!" the person shouted. James stepped around the corner.

AN: Sorry for the cliffie! Next chapter coming soon! Promise!!!!! Thanks for all the great reviews, you guys are really keeping me going! Thanks!!!!