"Here, I think this is yours," a tone of friendliness in his voice as he spoke and handed Lily her book. Lily who got upright saw that the boy had a shaggy looking black hair, dark brown eyes, sturdy and a few inches taller than her.
She took the book and said, "Thanks."
"No problem," he grinned. "Although it was my fault, here let me help you with that," he grabbed some books off Lily. "So where you heading?"
Lily, who picked up the last couple of books looked up and said "Leaky Cauldron, what about you? Well, before we ran into each other," she smiled a little.
"Gambol and Japes Wizarding Joke Shop," said the boy grinning broadly. "By the way my name is Black, Sirius Black, my friends call me Sirius," he held out his hands.
Lily trying to find her own hands shook Sirius' hands and said, "Nice to meet you Sirius, I'm Lily Evans. Since I don't have friends, just call me Lily," she smiled cutely.
They reached Leaky Cauldron, which was almost empty and to Lily's astonishment Snape and his friends were still there although seem to be talking to…
"Petunia?" shrieked Lily surprised at Petunia, who is, what seemed to be flirting.
Lily led Sirius inside the pub, gestured him to place the things down, and was about to thank him when-
"YOU!" said Snape bolted up furiously; staring and pointing, his lip seemed to have twitched at the sight of Sirius.
"Me?" Sirius said, trying to look innocent.
But before any of them could continue, Mr and Mrs Evans came down from the stairs accompanied by a man, beefy and rather dirty, it was the bar man.
"Ah, Miss Lily and Miss Petunia Evans nice to meet you both once again, I haven't properly introduced myself, I'm Tom," held out his hands and shook Lily and Petunia's hands.
"Nice-to-meet-you-too," they both replied with a slight rattle in their voice as they shook his hands.
Mr and Mrs Evans explained to their daughters that they might be staying in the Leaky Cauldron motel for a couple of days until Lily had gone to her school. To Lily, it felt like they had given her, her Christmas present early. To Petunia however, froze as if she a bullet had gone pass her. Revolted by the idea she began started to complain.
"Mum… Dad... You're not serious are you? I cannot stay here, please mum and dad, let me stay with Vernon and his family they're always asking me to stay over the summer. His sister always wanted me to come over. PLEEEEEAASSSSEEEEE!" She was now on the ground pleading on her knees.
Mr and Mrs Evans gave each other looks, it looked as though they were talking to each other but only using eye contact and Mr Evans said, "Alright, Petunia dear, you can."
With a great leap and yelling madly, she hugged Mrs and Mr Evans. "When can I leave?"
"Tomorrow morning. Your mum and I enjoyed our little visit here in Diagon Alley and just want to explore it. So, your mum, Lily and I will be staying here until Lily's gone to school and we'll pick you up at Vernon's, is that alright with you?"
"YES!" Lily and Petunia had both screamed for joy.
"Oh! Mum, Dad, this is Sirius Black, he helped me carry my things 'cause someone had knocked me over accidentally," Lily gave a little wink and a smile at Sirius, who was looking flushed.
"What a nice young man, thank you dear," said Mrs Evans delighted.
"Well it was no trouble m'am, I just happen to cross by her and 'ought to help her since, I, too know how it feels like to-" he gave a little grin at Lily.
He had stopped talking and not realising it, but Mr Evans who cut in and said, "So Mr Sirius Black, are you one of the students in Hogwarts too?"
"Yes Mr Evans, my friends and I-" Sirius had paused "Oh cra- er -no! My friends, Will you all please excuse me? I forgot to meet my friends. I'll be staying here too, before school starts, and so are my friends." He paused in front of Lily, kissed the back of her hand, "I'll see you soon Miss Evans," he whispered and smiled, then hurried back to Diagon Alley.
Lily, who was feeling scarlet red, pretended nothing happened and started to talk to her family about all the things she had bought. The Evans, apart from Petunia, did not notice Snape and his friends had left Leaky Cauldron in disgust and utmost hatred towards Sirius and his friends. It was nine at night, when the Evans left Leaky Cauldron and stepped on to the Knight Bus again to get home (but this time they paid what they owed).
When the Evans arrived at number nine, Amesbury Street, Lily slumped on her bed tired and sleepy. 'He wasn't that bad. Wasn't he? I mean, he did have great manners; mum and dad seemed to like him. It was only a kiss on the hand, Oh Lily! Get real! Not a person like him will like you! Then, why did he kiss the back of your palms? Before she could answer it herself, she had drifted off to sleep.
On Wednesday morning, at eight, the Evans all left number nine, Amesbury Street. Somehow, Mr Evans knew how to get there (with their car) and soon they were in Leaky Cauldron.
"Good mornin'," said Tom, smiling broadly. He was standing outside Leaky Cauldron. "Need any help?"
"Yes, please," said Lily taking out the bags out of the trunk.
"Hullo Tom," said Mr Evans, walking out of the car.
Tom took the Evans (apart from Petunia) luggage inside Leaky Cauldron. The room still looked dark and shabby, there wasn't anybody there yet apart from four boys sitting on a around table. Three boys had their backs on them and the other, Lily recognised straight away.
"Sirius!" yelled Lily, waving.
Sirius looked up, smiled and started to walk towards Lily. "Hi, good to see you again Miss Evans," Sirius took Lily's hand, kissed it and bowed slightly, making Lily blush. "Hey, let me introduce my friends to you," he gestured her to follow him. The three boys were looking at a parchment and whispering something to each other, but as soon as Lily got to the table, they quickly hid it and smiled at Lily and Sirius.
"This is James (on the left), Remus (middle) and Peter (right)-," the three boys all bowed their heads slightly at Lily. "They are my closest friends, but-" he walked up to James and rested his hands on his shoulder "-this guy here, Potter, my best friend." James stood next to Sirius and were both smiling broadly at Lily. James wore glasses, blue eyes, tall, thin and jet black-hair. Lily looked at his hair, which was very untidy. James probably noticed her staring at it because he started to push his hair down. By now, Remus and Peter were standing with them.
"Hi! I'm Lily Evans," said Lily smiling and shaking the boys' hands. "So, Sirius tells me that all of you go to Hogwarts-," but before Lily could continue, her parents had told her to go upstairs and unpack her things first. "Coming!" she shouted. "Well, the bosses are calling me now," she grinned. "I'll be back, I was wondering if you boys could show me around Diagon Alley, I didn't have time yesterday to explore, so would you boys mind if you accompany me?" Lily said cutely, she was looking at James, but Sirius didn't notice.