Lily's Place in Life

By: cheesepuff

That day pasted in a breeze for Lily. Her first day at Hogwarts. She had met Katie at King's Cross and walked through platform 9 3/4 ("You actually go through the wall? Wow, but how is it possible? Magic is so wonderful..." Katie had laughed at Lily's obvious amazement ). Riding the train had been for the most part uneventful, unless you consider a sixth year blonde turning her twin brother into a punching bag eventful. When they actually arrived at Hogwarts Lily was not the only first year who was eager to get inside. The castle was beyond her wildest dreams. It was huge, and almost every window in the place was lit giving Hogwarts a magical aura.

A monstrously large man named Hagrid lead all the first years up to the front doors of Hogwarts. Lily's new and mysterious life was about to begin… And she could hardly wait. Sticking close to Katie, Lily waited breathlessly as the doors started to open revealing a magnificent hall with countless stairways leading off of it, but blocking the path into the castle was a beyond stern looking witch. Every part of her wrecked order, her expression said clearly that if you dared set a toe out of line you would regret it.

"Hello, and welcome to Hogwarts," she said with a no-nonsense tone of voice. "I am Professor

McGonagall. Please follow me."

Some of the students stared is disbelief, if this was what all their teachers were like they were in for a rough year. Lily and Katie followed with the rest of the students as they entered the entrance hall and continued on into a corridor off to the side of it. Lily started as she saw, out of the corner of her eye, a portrait wave at the group of children. Startled as she was, she decided not to ask, part of getting used to being in a magic world was getting used to magical things. Her head snapped up as she heard the uptight professor speak.

"You first years are to wait here while I got speak to the headmaster about the sorting. Do not step out of this room until I return." With that she turned on heel and strode out of the corridor. Lily turned to Katie and they shared a look that said that they desperately hoped they didn't have to share a class with that one. Lily would have elaborated more on her dislike over McGonagall, but she felt slightly green and feared if she opened her mouth more than just words would come out. Since nothing could be said at the moment Lily decided to study her piers instead. As she glanced around she realized that she wasn't the only person who looked off color, a set of brown haired twins had the nervous jitters, a sandy haired boy looked awfully pale, and next to him was someone who, well actually they didn't look nervous at all. It was James Potter, the boy from the robes shop. He looked like he was having quite a fine time hassling the unpleasant looking boy in front of him. The boy was just reaching down the front of his robes for his wand when McGonagall returned.

"Follow me," she said simply. It was now that Lily began to wonder what was actually done in the sorting. Katie had told about the four house dormitories, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, Gryffindor, and Slytherin. By the sounds of it she would want to avoid Slytherin, but at this point Lily didn't care where she was placed as long as she was placed. They entered a room like nothing Lily had ever seen in her entire life. It literally took her breath away. Others gasped too, but she was too busy taking it all in to notice. Hundreds of candles floated in midair, twinkling enchantingly. There were a total of five long tables covered in golden china. Hundreds of black uniforms occupied four of the tables while the fifth was at the front of the hall with what Lily assumed was the staff.

All the first years were lead to the front of the hall where seated on a stool was a battered, very old wizards' hat. Not understanding what an old hat could be for at a time like this Lily stared at the hat along with every other person in the hall. Suddenly it burst in to song, singing about the houses and their founders. When it was finished everyone applauded, and McGonagall stepped up holding a scroll of parchment,

"When I call your name please step forward a put on the hat to be sorted!" She looked down at her list, "Anderson, Steven!"  A tall boy stepped forward wringing his hands and put on the hat. After about a minute it shouted, "HUFFLEPUFF!" A few more were sorted when she came to,

"Black, Sirius!" He had shaggy black hair and was quite tall. He stored confidently up to the stool shoved on the hat and became a… "GRYFINNDOR!"

Shortly after him the jittery twins were up. Coffin, Annalee became a Slytherlyn while here sister, Leah, became a Ravenclaw. Lily was coming up soon, she could have sworn the butterflies in her stomach had grown arms and were now punching to get out. 'Look on the bright,' side she told herself, 'at least you don't have to do anything really… trying on a hat can't be so bad…'

She was brought out of her thoughts by, "Evans, Lily!" She slowly walked forward smiling at the thumbs up Katie was giving her and carefully making sure she didn't trip on the hem of her robes. She got up to the hat and set it on her head. To her great surprised it started whispering in her ear, "Smarts, great potential, oh and my… what a temper. I think you would do the best in… RAVENCLAW!" Lily jumped off the stool and rushed over to the table where the Ravenclaws were clapping for her, and took a seat next to Leah Coffin. Katie had just been called up. Lily crossed her fingers hopefully under the table hoping for the Ravenclaws to get a Figg, Katie added to their ranks. But as the hat hollered "GRYFFINDOR" and Katie through the hat down and stomped on it, Lily's hopeful face feel. Her best friend was in a different house then her. She waved at Katie who reluctantly trudged to the Gryffindor table.

Well, it wasn't the end of the world she would still see her everyday, and Lily turned back to the sorting in time to see the pale, sandy haied boy, Remus Lupin get put into Gryffindor. Minutes later James Potter was put there too. A few more students and the unpleasant, hassled looking fellow, Snape, Severus was stuck into Slytherin. Shortly after an old silver haired man whom Lily figured was the Headmaster stood up for a word.

"Welcome to another year at Hogwarts, to avoid injury I am asking all students to stay out of the forbidden forest, hence the name forbidden. Now I'm sure you are all starved as I am, so we may now start the feast!"  Food suddenly appeared on all the tables and Lily's fear fell away as she piled her plate with food.

"That's quite an appetite you have there," said Leah from Lily's right. Lily glanced at Leah's plate and wondered how such a small, thin girl could fit all of it in her.

"Yes, but I don't think anyone here could compete with yours," She retorted not sure what to think.

"Well, maybe but that Sirius Black over with the Gryffindors seems to be faring quite well," She smiled good naturedly and pointed to the next table where Sirius was shoveling it down like there was no tomorrow. Lily laughed and turned to say something to Leah, but was unable to because Leah was too preoccupied with her dinner. 'This year will be alright after all,' Lily thought, 'Leah seems nice, and I'll see Katie a lot. And, Mmmm… This steak is goood!'

By the time dinner was done everybody was full, even Leah, and ready for bed. Lily wanted to talk to Katie before hitting the hay, so she walked over to the Gryffindor table with Leah to chat. Katie waved and smiled when she saw them.

"That hat is a bloody piece of… cow dung!" Katie raved when Lily reached her, "I kept saying Ravenclaw, but noooooo! I was a Gryfinndor!"

"Come now, it won't be all bad," A voice cut in from behind Katie. It was James accompanied by Remus Lupin and Sirius Black. Lily smiled, another familiar face.

"Hi James!" she greeted him.

"Hey—" He was about to say more, but was cut off by two low rumblings. Lily looked from Leah to Sirius, that had been their stomachs.

"Are you sick, Leah?" she asked not surprised at the amount that girl, who could be no more than 80 lbs and 4'9, had eaten.

"No," she replied brightly, "but I could go for some ice cream right now! I don't think I had any for dessert." She looked over at the tables hopefully, but the they had been cleared.

"I thought you were stuffed," Lily said disbelievingly.

"Well, I was… but ice cream sounds kinda good, ya know," she said bashfully with a blush. Sirius had something to say to this that was in everybody else opinion, but his ridiculous.

"Me and James know where the kitchens are, do you want some ice cream? I could show you where they are."

"Um… Thanks, but I can wait for another day, it's kind of late," Leah said her blush still spread on her cheeks. She seemed rather shy around people she didn't know although she hadn't been like that with Lily. Sirius looked a little disappointed, he had obviously wanted to have an adventure even if it was just to the kitchens.

"Sirius, I'm sure not everybody wants to get a detention on their first day of school. Off to bed you go, now," Remus gave Sirius a shove said a good night and left with James following close behind.

"Well I best be off or I'll get lost. Nice meeting you Leah, night Lily," and Katie walked away joining the crowd of Gryffindors leaving the hall. Lily and Leah walked out with the rest of the Ravenclaws. After what seemed like forever they finally arrived at the secret entrence to the Dormitory and entered. Lily and the other three 1st year girls enter their room to find four, large beds with deep blue drapes. All their belongings had been brought up for them. Lily hopped into bed and fell asleep almost instantly.

Since that took me, what, a year (I'M SO SORRY!) I decided to make it the best I can do, I think. It's like three in the morning and I'm slightly delirious so there are probably some mistakes. Review and let me know what you think, whether you like it or not.

-cheesepuff