Chapter 2
1.1 Of Friends and Enemies
"Oh, no. It's the dynamic duo," Celeste muttered to Lily out of the side of her mouth. Lily noticed that Celeste's eyes lit up when she saw Sirius and Remus sitting at a booth in the Leaky Cauldron with James. Celeste made her way over to their booth, signaling a waiter as she went. Lily followed timidly in her wake. She was wary of Celeste telling James about her crush on him.
"Hmm, I'll have a large butterbeer," James told the waiter.
"Same," chorused Sirius, Remus, and Celeste.
"And you?" the waiter turned to Lily.
"Same, I guess," Lily shrugged her shoulders.
"Have you ever had a butterbeer?" asked James after the waiter had taken their order and left.
Lily shook her head. "Nope. I'm Muggle born. Didn't know a thing about wizards until I got the letter."
"You won't be wanting to flaunt that, Mudblood," a cold voice said behind them. James and Sirius stood up to meet the newcomer, a boy with sleek blonde hair and icy gray eyes. Two others, burly and muscular, flanked the boy. Even Remus looked outraged. He didn't even try to stop James and Sirius from rising to meet the blonde boy. Celeste looked angry too.
"Malfoy," James hissed. "Lucius Malfoy. We meet again. I didn't think you'd dare come back after our last meeting."
Malfoy's ears turned faint pink. "You come from an old wizarding family, Potter. You shouldn't stick up for Mudbloods like that scum right there. What is she, your girlfriend?" Malfoy said in a taunting voice.
"In my dreams," James said. He didn't blush the least bit. Lily felt pride coming from deep inside her. He wanted to go out with her and was sticking up for her!
"You're one to talk about girlfriends. Don't think for a moment I haven't heard about you and that Narcissa Zirrus. The news of you and her at Vincent Goyle's party last summer has leaked out."
Lucius Malfoy turned a deep shade of crimson and stalked away sulkily.
James and Sirius sat back down as though nothing had happened. James' ears were finally turning pink and Sirius seemed to be attempting to hold in hearty laughter. He finally gave in and his loud guffaw scared an old couple.
"What was that that Malfoy called me?" Lily innocently asked.
"Mudblood," Sirius replied with a disgusted look on his face. "A very rude name for a wizard or witch who's Muggle born." The waiter brought their drinks and all toasted the others and drunk deeply from their glasses, with the exception of James. He seemed to be having problems breathing and was turning the color of a plum.
"Mmm, this stuff is good. Really warms you up," Lily said, referring to the butterbeer.
For some reason, this made James turn even redder. He opened his mouth, obviously trying to say something, but only a strangled gurgle escaped his mouth. Sirius was about to suffocate from lack of air because he was laughing too much to breath. Fellow diners were annoyed and glared at the table and it's occupants.
James regained some sense of self and beckoned for Lily to follow him. People were now watching with interest as the red faced black haired boy led the pretty girl with emerald eyes and locks of fire out of the restaurant.
"Lily, I'm sorry I said that I wanted you to be my girlfriend," James began in a voice so clear it was obvious that he had been acting that he couldn't speak. "It was a spur-of-the-moment thought that just popped out. I'm hoping you'll forgive me," James spoke so sincerely that Lily couldn't help but soften to him.
"James Potter, your apologies are most graciously accepted. Now, I'm ready for more butterbeer. What do you say we go back in?"
"I heartily agree. Sitting there pretending to be embarrassed while your friends drink butterbeer is not the best way to spend a morning."
Lily grinned back at the trademark Potter smile.
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"Shit! Lily, we forgot our wands! We only have fifteen minutes before dad comes to pick us up! Shit, shit, shit!" Celeste shrieked, staring at her supply list.
"Language, Fortuna, language," Sirius told Celeste languidly. She turned on him angrily and stuck her middle finger up at him.
"You probably hear this all the time, but you're cute when you're mad," Sirius continued, looking rather alarmed at her boldness.
James checked his watch. "Ollivander's is right inside Diagon Alley. My dad isn't coming for us until 2o'clock, so we can come with you."
"Great, Potter, you'll be a lot of help," Celeste said, rolling her eyes.
"We can create a diversion to distract your father if you're running late," Remus volunteered.
"We'll save that for last minute. Let's get over there fast, or you'll have to think up a long divisionary tactic."
"A long what?" asked Sirius as the walked out of the Leaky Cauldron.
"Divisionary tactic. You know, a plan to distract somebody," Celeste stated. Noting his puzzled look, she added, "I only know that because I want to be either an assassin or to be involved in espionage for the Ministry."
They walked through the entrance to Diagon Alley. Once inside Celeste ran to Ollivander's. "Why'd you run?" Lily asked Celeste.
"Saw my dad," she replied simply.
"Mr. Ollivander!" Celeste shouted at the rows of narrow boxes and a spindly chair. An older man poked his head out from behind a shelf. "Yes?"
"We need wands, two of them, hurry if you can!" Lily gasped out.
"You… and you, right?"
"Yes!" they shouted exasperatedly.
Mr. Ollivander pulled out two silver tape measures. They began measuring the two girls as he scurried through the stacks, pulling out this box and that box.
Celeste soon got her wand; a wand that Mr. Ollivander said was good for attack and defense work, 133/4 in, dragon heartstring, birch. Lily's wand took a bit longer to find. Mr. Ollivander informed them it was good for charms, 91/4 in, unicorn hair, willow. They were well outside the time limit by the time they got back to the Leaky Cauldron, but found that they were safe. Mr. Fortuna was engrossed in speaking to a pretty young woman, a blonde with big brown eyes, bloodshot from alcohol. Celeste's father waved them away, telling them to go find something else to buy. Of course they had no objections.
"We're back!" Celeste said to the boys. They were standing in front of Quality Quidditch Supplies, looking at the new Cleansweep 7.
"Damn! First years can't have brooms! No fair! Look at the new Cleansweep 7, aerodynamically designed with a slimmer handle to fly faster by resisting the wind. It calls to me, but I cannot answer!" James wailed. Obviously he was a big Quidditch freak like Celeste.
"Don't worry, Jamsie, when we can play on the Quidditch team, we can all be on it, and we'll see if we can't root up two other good players, okay?" Celeste patted his shoulder and spoke to him in a baby voice.
"Okay… wait. You called me Jamsie, woman. Now you must pay."
"Whatever, Jamsie. Come on, we can't buy anything here, and I still need a pet. To the Magical Menagerie."
They entered the stuffy, noisy shop filled with cages. There were all sorts of animals, from 'aquatic rabbits' to 'zebra-striped rats'. Celeste found the owl section and began browsing the cages. She stopped when she reaches a cage labeled 'Palau Owl'. "It's perfect," she crooned.
Remus, ever practical, checked the price. "20 galleons! Celeste, that's one expensive owl!"
"The most expensive we stock!" the pimply desk clerk added.
"That's quite enough!" Celeste snapped at her. "I don't care anyhow. She's mine!" And with that she walked up to the counter and paid for the owl.
"What are you going to name her?" Lily asked.
"Libentina!" Celeste announced jubilantly. Remus went white at this proclamation.
Lily picked out a small gray kitten, which she promptly named Ashes.
"Happy thought," Sirius said with a grimace. "For some reason I keep thinking of a corpse cremator."
"Proper little ray of sunshine, aren't you?" Lily said, wrinkling up her nose.
Sirius wasn't paying attention to her anymore. "Damn! There's Potter's dad!"
"Language, Black, language," Celeste told him. Sirius fumed but didn't do anything. It was obvious that he didn't want to get on the wrong side of Celeste.
" 'Lo there, James," Mr. Potter said.
" 'Lo dad," James replied sullenly.
"Well, you two, we'd better be going. I told your parents I'd have you back by 2o'clock," Mr. Potter looked around. "Where's all your stuff?"
"Leaky Cauldron," chorused James, Sirius, and Remus, who was still white from Celeste's announcement.
"Okay, then… good day, ladies. We'll be off!"
Celeste and Lily gave each other strange looks. They had never met someone who acted courtly like that, so naturally it was funny. They held in their giggles and bid the boys goodbye.
The boys disappeared into the crowd and Celeste gave a lovesick sigh next to Lily. Lily promptly turned to her and shook her. "WHICH ONE IS IT?" Lily punctuated each syllable with a shake.
"Hey, you two break it up!" A new girl stepped in between them. She had sleek strawberry-brunette hair that was pulled back in a very messy bun.
"Let them be," said the girl flanking the strawberry-brunette. The other girl had a Caribbean look about her, from the darkly tanned skin to the wavy black hair to the almond shaped brown eyes.
The Caribbean girl introduced herself as Mia and the other girl as Luna. She explained that she was here from Cuba to study witchcraft at Hogwarts. Luna was from America to attend Hogwarts as well. "We're lost," she said. "Could you show us where to get supplies?"
"Well… there's Ollivander's. You can buy wands there. And right beside it is Madam Malkin's, where you get your uniform. You can get potion ingredients at the Apothecary, as well as your cauldron and scales and stuff. Get your telescope at the Astronomy Station. They have all the books at Flourish and Blotts. And if you want a pet, go to the Owl Emporium or the Magical Menagerie," Celeste rattled off.
Luna looked quite bewildered. "Thank you, and we'll see you at Hogwarts!" Mia said cheerily. Luna waved absentmindedly.
As soon as Mia and Luna disappeared into the crowd, Lily went back to shaking Celeste until she finally told her secret.
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"Dad, wait! How do we get on the platform?" Celeste called at her father's retreating back.
He turned around and called, "Run into the wall!"
"Ohh, thanks a lot, dad," Celeste muttered sarcastically. She looked rather peeved at her father's unrevealing clue. "Oh well, we've nothing better to do, so we might as well run into the wall!" Celeste said loudly, earning herself a few strange looks from Muggles. She paid them no attention but took a firm grip on her cart and started toward the wall at a slow run. As Lily watched, she vanished through the wall. Lily took this as a good sign and started toward the barrier as well. She closed her eyes, for nothing could prepare her for running headlong into a wall, no matter what she had seen. Lily mustered up her courage for the collision. It never came. She stood on a train platform, staring through smoke at a giant red engine. A sigh above her read 'Platform 93/4 '.
"Hey, Lily, over here!" Celeste called to her. Celeste was joined by James, Sirius, and Remus. James and Sirius were loading her trunk and owl cage onto the train.
Lily's cat, Ashes, was in a small wicker cat basket. He had turned out to not be as sweet as he first looked and had taken to being quite moody and defensive. Lily turned her cart and pushed it over to them. Her trunk was unloaded by James and Sirius and hauled up into the train. James helped Lily up into the compartment and Sirius helped Celeste up. James turned to wave at his parents. Lily noticed tears in his mother's eyes.
"What are your parent's names, James?" Lily asked softly.
"Linda and Carl," James answered.
"Why do you want to know, Mudblood?" Malfoy's voice came from behind them. "Want to know the names of your future parents-in-law?" This time Lucius was flanked not only by the hulking boys but a greasy looking kid as well.
"Malfoy. Snape. Birds of a feather flock together." James said in a low murmur.
"Apparently not so in your case, Potter," Snape the greasy kid sneered. Snape's cold black eyes looked Lily up and down. "I never thought you would stoop so low as to befriend unworthy Muggles."
"She is more worthy than you ever will be, Snape. She is not tainted Slytherin scum like you. She is smart and brave and nice and sincere. Those are all characteristics that no Slytherin would ever have. And those characteristics make up worthiness."
"How do you know she's like that? You just met her today."
"I know her well enough to know that she is a hell of a lot better than any of you Slytherin bastards."
Snape seemed lost for words. He stood there opening and closing his mouth like a fish out of water. Malfoy sighed, rolled his eyes, grabbed Snape by the back of his collar, and marched from the compartment.
James looked after his retreating back with a strange air of superiority.
"James, that was the nicest compliment I have ever had," Lily said, turning to James.
James blushed. This was a genuine blush, not an act of his. He felt great pride at telling off Malfoy and Snape. And he also felt that his describing of Lily earlier wasn't made up; it was true.
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"So that's Hogwarts," Lily said in a hushed voice. She was sitting in a boat on the lake at Hogwarts. Celeste, Luna, and Mia also occupied the boat. The boat next to them contained James, Sirius, Remus, and another boy named Peter.
Everyone else seemed to be sharing her awe. The castle was strikingly beautiful, a surprising fact, as it was hundreds of years old and made of rough stone. Bright lights glowed cheerily from inside.
"Tek a good lon' look. This'll be yer 'ome aw'y from 'ome fer th' nex' seven years," Rubeus Hagrid said. He was the gamekeeper at Hogwarts and had fetched them from the Hogwarts Express. Rubeus took up a whole boat himself he was so big. "All righ', keep goin' er we'll miss th' Sortin' Ceremony," he chuckled at his own joke, and then explained that the Sorting Ceremony couldn't take place without the 'firs' years'.
The boats carried the first years and Hagrid through a wide tunnel in the cliff face hidden by ivy. The boats finally reached an underground harbor of sorts after traveling in a dark underground tunnel forever, or so it seemed. Hagrid pulled himself from his boats and knocked upon the door of Hogwarts.
The door was opened instantaneously by a tall woman with black hair wearing maroon robes. Celeste thought, Hey, I'll have some fun with this one. The woman looked at Celeste sternly as though she could read minds. This prospect sent a shiver up Celeste's spine.
"I'll take them from here, Hagrid," the woman said.
"They're all yours, Professor McGonagall," Hagrid respectfully answered.
Professor McGonagall led them to a small room. They crowded inside. Professor McGonagall spoke.
*"Welcome to Hogwarts. The start-of-term banquet will begin shortly, but before you take your seats you will be sorted into your Houses. The Sorting is a very important ceremony because, while you are here, your House will be something like your family within Hogwarts. You will have classes with the rest of your House, sleep in your House dormitory, and spend your free time in your House common room."
"The four Houses are called Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. Each House has its own noble history and has produced outstanding witches and wizards. While you are at Hogwarts, your triumphs will earn your House points, while any rule-breaking will lose House points. At the end of the year, the House with the most points will win the House Cup, a great honor. I hope each of you become a credit to whichever House becomes yours."
"The Sorting Ceremony will take place in a few minutes in front of the rest of the school. I suggest you all smarten yourselves up as much as you can while you are waiting."
"I shall return when we are ready for you. Please wait quietly." *
And with that she was gone.
* Quoted from pages 142 & 143 in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone.
I introduce Peter in this chapter. Damn. I wish the story could be written without him. Unfortunately, it can't. I don't own any places or characters in this fanfic except Celeste, Mia, and Luna. And Mr. Fortuna. I also own the plot and the title. My lawyer is itching to sue someone and I certainly could use some money to get Shakira's CD…so just try something, I dare you!
1.1 Of Friends and Enemies
"Oh, no. It's the dynamic duo," Celeste muttered to Lily out of the side of her mouth. Lily noticed that Celeste's eyes lit up when she saw Sirius and Remus sitting at a booth in the Leaky Cauldron with James. Celeste made her way over to their booth, signaling a waiter as she went. Lily followed timidly in her wake. She was wary of Celeste telling James about her crush on him.
"Hmm, I'll have a large butterbeer," James told the waiter.
"Same," chorused Sirius, Remus, and Celeste.
"And you?" the waiter turned to Lily.
"Same, I guess," Lily shrugged her shoulders.
"Have you ever had a butterbeer?" asked James after the waiter had taken their order and left.
Lily shook her head. "Nope. I'm Muggle born. Didn't know a thing about wizards until I got the letter."
"You won't be wanting to flaunt that, Mudblood," a cold voice said behind them. James and Sirius stood up to meet the newcomer, a boy with sleek blonde hair and icy gray eyes. Two others, burly and muscular, flanked the boy. Even Remus looked outraged. He didn't even try to stop James and Sirius from rising to meet the blonde boy. Celeste looked angry too.
"Malfoy," James hissed. "Lucius Malfoy. We meet again. I didn't think you'd dare come back after our last meeting."
Malfoy's ears turned faint pink. "You come from an old wizarding family, Potter. You shouldn't stick up for Mudbloods like that scum right there. What is she, your girlfriend?" Malfoy said in a taunting voice.
"In my dreams," James said. He didn't blush the least bit. Lily felt pride coming from deep inside her. He wanted to go out with her and was sticking up for her!
"You're one to talk about girlfriends. Don't think for a moment I haven't heard about you and that Narcissa Zirrus. The news of you and her at Vincent Goyle's party last summer has leaked out."
Lucius Malfoy turned a deep shade of crimson and stalked away sulkily.
James and Sirius sat back down as though nothing had happened. James' ears were finally turning pink and Sirius seemed to be attempting to hold in hearty laughter. He finally gave in and his loud guffaw scared an old couple.
"What was that that Malfoy called me?" Lily innocently asked.
"Mudblood," Sirius replied with a disgusted look on his face. "A very rude name for a wizard or witch who's Muggle born." The waiter brought their drinks and all toasted the others and drunk deeply from their glasses, with the exception of James. He seemed to be having problems breathing and was turning the color of a plum.
"Mmm, this stuff is good. Really warms you up," Lily said, referring to the butterbeer.
For some reason, this made James turn even redder. He opened his mouth, obviously trying to say something, but only a strangled gurgle escaped his mouth. Sirius was about to suffocate from lack of air because he was laughing too much to breath. Fellow diners were annoyed and glared at the table and it's occupants.
James regained some sense of self and beckoned for Lily to follow him. People were now watching with interest as the red faced black haired boy led the pretty girl with emerald eyes and locks of fire out of the restaurant.
"Lily, I'm sorry I said that I wanted you to be my girlfriend," James began in a voice so clear it was obvious that he had been acting that he couldn't speak. "It was a spur-of-the-moment thought that just popped out. I'm hoping you'll forgive me," James spoke so sincerely that Lily couldn't help but soften to him.
"James Potter, your apologies are most graciously accepted. Now, I'm ready for more butterbeer. What do you say we go back in?"
"I heartily agree. Sitting there pretending to be embarrassed while your friends drink butterbeer is not the best way to spend a morning."
Lily grinned back at the trademark Potter smile.
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"Shit! Lily, we forgot our wands! We only have fifteen minutes before dad comes to pick us up! Shit, shit, shit!" Celeste shrieked, staring at her supply list.
"Language, Fortuna, language," Sirius told Celeste languidly. She turned on him angrily and stuck her middle finger up at him.
"You probably hear this all the time, but you're cute when you're mad," Sirius continued, looking rather alarmed at her boldness.
James checked his watch. "Ollivander's is right inside Diagon Alley. My dad isn't coming for us until 2o'clock, so we can come with you."
"Great, Potter, you'll be a lot of help," Celeste said, rolling her eyes.
"We can create a diversion to distract your father if you're running late," Remus volunteered.
"We'll save that for last minute. Let's get over there fast, or you'll have to think up a long divisionary tactic."
"A long what?" asked Sirius as the walked out of the Leaky Cauldron.
"Divisionary tactic. You know, a plan to distract somebody," Celeste stated. Noting his puzzled look, she added, "I only know that because I want to be either an assassin or to be involved in espionage for the Ministry."
They walked through the entrance to Diagon Alley. Once inside Celeste ran to Ollivander's. "Why'd you run?" Lily asked Celeste.
"Saw my dad," she replied simply.
"Mr. Ollivander!" Celeste shouted at the rows of narrow boxes and a spindly chair. An older man poked his head out from behind a shelf. "Yes?"
"We need wands, two of them, hurry if you can!" Lily gasped out.
"You… and you, right?"
"Yes!" they shouted exasperatedly.
Mr. Ollivander pulled out two silver tape measures. They began measuring the two girls as he scurried through the stacks, pulling out this box and that box.
Celeste soon got her wand; a wand that Mr. Ollivander said was good for attack and defense work, 133/4 in, dragon heartstring, birch. Lily's wand took a bit longer to find. Mr. Ollivander informed them it was good for charms, 91/4 in, unicorn hair, willow. They were well outside the time limit by the time they got back to the Leaky Cauldron, but found that they were safe. Mr. Fortuna was engrossed in speaking to a pretty young woman, a blonde with big brown eyes, bloodshot from alcohol. Celeste's father waved them away, telling them to go find something else to buy. Of course they had no objections.
"We're back!" Celeste said to the boys. They were standing in front of Quality Quidditch Supplies, looking at the new Cleansweep 7.
"Damn! First years can't have brooms! No fair! Look at the new Cleansweep 7, aerodynamically designed with a slimmer handle to fly faster by resisting the wind. It calls to me, but I cannot answer!" James wailed. Obviously he was a big Quidditch freak like Celeste.
"Don't worry, Jamsie, when we can play on the Quidditch team, we can all be on it, and we'll see if we can't root up two other good players, okay?" Celeste patted his shoulder and spoke to him in a baby voice.
"Okay… wait. You called me Jamsie, woman. Now you must pay."
"Whatever, Jamsie. Come on, we can't buy anything here, and I still need a pet. To the Magical Menagerie."
They entered the stuffy, noisy shop filled with cages. There were all sorts of animals, from 'aquatic rabbits' to 'zebra-striped rats'. Celeste found the owl section and began browsing the cages. She stopped when she reaches a cage labeled 'Palau Owl'. "It's perfect," she crooned.
Remus, ever practical, checked the price. "20 galleons! Celeste, that's one expensive owl!"
"The most expensive we stock!" the pimply desk clerk added.
"That's quite enough!" Celeste snapped at her. "I don't care anyhow. She's mine!" And with that she walked up to the counter and paid for the owl.
"What are you going to name her?" Lily asked.
"Libentina!" Celeste announced jubilantly. Remus went white at this proclamation.
Lily picked out a small gray kitten, which she promptly named Ashes.
"Happy thought," Sirius said with a grimace. "For some reason I keep thinking of a corpse cremator."
"Proper little ray of sunshine, aren't you?" Lily said, wrinkling up her nose.
Sirius wasn't paying attention to her anymore. "Damn! There's Potter's dad!"
"Language, Black, language," Celeste told him. Sirius fumed but didn't do anything. It was obvious that he didn't want to get on the wrong side of Celeste.
" 'Lo there, James," Mr. Potter said.
" 'Lo dad," James replied sullenly.
"Well, you two, we'd better be going. I told your parents I'd have you back by 2o'clock," Mr. Potter looked around. "Where's all your stuff?"
"Leaky Cauldron," chorused James, Sirius, and Remus, who was still white from Celeste's announcement.
"Okay, then… good day, ladies. We'll be off!"
Celeste and Lily gave each other strange looks. They had never met someone who acted courtly like that, so naturally it was funny. They held in their giggles and bid the boys goodbye.
The boys disappeared into the crowd and Celeste gave a lovesick sigh next to Lily. Lily promptly turned to her and shook her. "WHICH ONE IS IT?" Lily punctuated each syllable with a shake.
"Hey, you two break it up!" A new girl stepped in between them. She had sleek strawberry-brunette hair that was pulled back in a very messy bun.
"Let them be," said the girl flanking the strawberry-brunette. The other girl had a Caribbean look about her, from the darkly tanned skin to the wavy black hair to the almond shaped brown eyes.
The Caribbean girl introduced herself as Mia and the other girl as Luna. She explained that she was here from Cuba to study witchcraft at Hogwarts. Luna was from America to attend Hogwarts as well. "We're lost," she said. "Could you show us where to get supplies?"
"Well… there's Ollivander's. You can buy wands there. And right beside it is Madam Malkin's, where you get your uniform. You can get potion ingredients at the Apothecary, as well as your cauldron and scales and stuff. Get your telescope at the Astronomy Station. They have all the books at Flourish and Blotts. And if you want a pet, go to the Owl Emporium or the Magical Menagerie," Celeste rattled off.
Luna looked quite bewildered. "Thank you, and we'll see you at Hogwarts!" Mia said cheerily. Luna waved absentmindedly.
As soon as Mia and Luna disappeared into the crowd, Lily went back to shaking Celeste until she finally told her secret.
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"Dad, wait! How do we get on the platform?" Celeste called at her father's retreating back.
He turned around and called, "Run into the wall!"
"Ohh, thanks a lot, dad," Celeste muttered sarcastically. She looked rather peeved at her father's unrevealing clue. "Oh well, we've nothing better to do, so we might as well run into the wall!" Celeste said loudly, earning herself a few strange looks from Muggles. She paid them no attention but took a firm grip on her cart and started toward the wall at a slow run. As Lily watched, she vanished through the wall. Lily took this as a good sign and started toward the barrier as well. She closed her eyes, for nothing could prepare her for running headlong into a wall, no matter what she had seen. Lily mustered up her courage for the collision. It never came. She stood on a train platform, staring through smoke at a giant red engine. A sigh above her read 'Platform 93/4 '.
"Hey, Lily, over here!" Celeste called to her. Celeste was joined by James, Sirius, and Remus. James and Sirius were loading her trunk and owl cage onto the train.
Lily's cat, Ashes, was in a small wicker cat basket. He had turned out to not be as sweet as he first looked and had taken to being quite moody and defensive. Lily turned her cart and pushed it over to them. Her trunk was unloaded by James and Sirius and hauled up into the train. James helped Lily up into the compartment and Sirius helped Celeste up. James turned to wave at his parents. Lily noticed tears in his mother's eyes.
"What are your parent's names, James?" Lily asked softly.
"Linda and Carl," James answered.
"Why do you want to know, Mudblood?" Malfoy's voice came from behind them. "Want to know the names of your future parents-in-law?" This time Lucius was flanked not only by the hulking boys but a greasy looking kid as well.
"Malfoy. Snape. Birds of a feather flock together." James said in a low murmur.
"Apparently not so in your case, Potter," Snape the greasy kid sneered. Snape's cold black eyes looked Lily up and down. "I never thought you would stoop so low as to befriend unworthy Muggles."
"She is more worthy than you ever will be, Snape. She is not tainted Slytherin scum like you. She is smart and brave and nice and sincere. Those are all characteristics that no Slytherin would ever have. And those characteristics make up worthiness."
"How do you know she's like that? You just met her today."
"I know her well enough to know that she is a hell of a lot better than any of you Slytherin bastards."
Snape seemed lost for words. He stood there opening and closing his mouth like a fish out of water. Malfoy sighed, rolled his eyes, grabbed Snape by the back of his collar, and marched from the compartment.
James looked after his retreating back with a strange air of superiority.
"James, that was the nicest compliment I have ever had," Lily said, turning to James.
James blushed. This was a genuine blush, not an act of his. He felt great pride at telling off Malfoy and Snape. And he also felt that his describing of Lily earlier wasn't made up; it was true.
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"So that's Hogwarts," Lily said in a hushed voice. She was sitting in a boat on the lake at Hogwarts. Celeste, Luna, and Mia also occupied the boat. The boat next to them contained James, Sirius, Remus, and another boy named Peter.
Everyone else seemed to be sharing her awe. The castle was strikingly beautiful, a surprising fact, as it was hundreds of years old and made of rough stone. Bright lights glowed cheerily from inside.
"Tek a good lon' look. This'll be yer 'ome aw'y from 'ome fer th' nex' seven years," Rubeus Hagrid said. He was the gamekeeper at Hogwarts and had fetched them from the Hogwarts Express. Rubeus took up a whole boat himself he was so big. "All righ', keep goin' er we'll miss th' Sortin' Ceremony," he chuckled at his own joke, and then explained that the Sorting Ceremony couldn't take place without the 'firs' years'.
The boats carried the first years and Hagrid through a wide tunnel in the cliff face hidden by ivy. The boats finally reached an underground harbor of sorts after traveling in a dark underground tunnel forever, or so it seemed. Hagrid pulled himself from his boats and knocked upon the door of Hogwarts.
The door was opened instantaneously by a tall woman with black hair wearing maroon robes. Celeste thought, Hey, I'll have some fun with this one. The woman looked at Celeste sternly as though she could read minds. This prospect sent a shiver up Celeste's spine.
"I'll take them from here, Hagrid," the woman said.
"They're all yours, Professor McGonagall," Hagrid respectfully answered.
Professor McGonagall led them to a small room. They crowded inside. Professor McGonagall spoke.
*"Welcome to Hogwarts. The start-of-term banquet will begin shortly, but before you take your seats you will be sorted into your Houses. The Sorting is a very important ceremony because, while you are here, your House will be something like your family within Hogwarts. You will have classes with the rest of your House, sleep in your House dormitory, and spend your free time in your House common room."
"The four Houses are called Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. Each House has its own noble history and has produced outstanding witches and wizards. While you are at Hogwarts, your triumphs will earn your House points, while any rule-breaking will lose House points. At the end of the year, the House with the most points will win the House Cup, a great honor. I hope each of you become a credit to whichever House becomes yours."
"The Sorting Ceremony will take place in a few minutes in front of the rest of the school. I suggest you all smarten yourselves up as much as you can while you are waiting."
"I shall return when we are ready for you. Please wait quietly." *
And with that she was gone.
* Quoted from pages 142 & 143 in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone.
I introduce Peter in this chapter. Damn. I wish the story could be written without him. Unfortunately, it can't. I don't own any places or characters in this fanfic except Celeste, Mia, and Luna. And Mr. Fortuna. I also own the plot and the title. My lawyer is itching to sue someone and I certainly could use some money to get Shakira's CD…so just try something, I dare you!
