FOREVER
Year three
Part two
Subtitled: Make new friends but keep the old
Lily twirled her pen boredness apparent in her face. Arithmancy, although very challenging, wasn't the most captivating class in the world. She glanced at her watch. Right now Sirius was in Muggle Studies with Anna. Lily almost wished she had taken that instead. Talk about an easy A. Tina was in Magical Communications. Lily was really glad she hadn't taken that class. Some how speaking Ghoul just didn't excite her. And James, well he was in Divination. Lily couldn't help but laugh at how he had gotten himself signed up for it. It was really nice of Peter and Remus to put their names down for it with him. She giggled quietly as she remembered his look of pure disgust after his first class.
"He looks so cute when he crinkles his nose like that." She thought before her mind reeled in horror. She had been thinking about him like THAT a lot lately, and it was getting harder and harder to stop. Finally out of pure frustration with herself, Lily turned her gaze back to the teacher. "ANYTHING is better than this!" She thought.
*****
The class erupted in giggles, James loudest of all. He tried desperately to smother his laughs.
"As though we need any additional smothering in here." Thought James wryly. "I think the perfume is doing a knock out job, literally." At this point in time, James really didn't like Professor McGonagall. If it hadn't for her he wouldn't be here, or, so he thought. He just wished that Sirius were there. It would have made it a whole lot easier to bear. Not that Remus and Peter weren't great company, it just wasn't the same. Of course there was always Lily… She was great company too, plus she was really cute. James could have slapped himself. He was doing it again. "Stop, stop, STOP! Or I'll tell Sirius and he'll really make you pay." He threatened himself. It was no good though, no matter how hard he tried she kept popping up. "It's probably the perfume." Thought James, needing an excuse. "It's just getting to my head. Yeah, that's it, it's perfume." Comfortable with his answer, he settled back into his chair to gets some R/R.
*****
Remus glanced over at his friend with an amused smile. He was beating himself up again and probably over Lily. He obviously liked her, and just wouldn't admit it. Sirius had talked of nothing else whenever James was absent from the room. Although he happened to agree with Sirius that James and Lily should get together, he wasn't sure he liked Sirius' plans. Especially since most involved James saving Lily while she plummeted off of a steep cliff, or something equally dangerous. Remus turned his attention back to the tealeaves in front of him. Peter was trying, and failing, to read Remus' and one look at his own, told Remus all he had to know: Divination was definitely not his strongest subject.
*****
The day was cold and it reminded Lily more of late March rather than late October. The wind tugged at her hair tie, slowly pulling it loose from her auburn hair. She clutched her books and tried desperately to pay attention to Professor Ryans as she explained about Horseferns, and their uses. Behind her, Serverous Snape made some snide comment about Anna and giggled when she heard Snape howl with pain. The class was extremely boring, and Lily was really glad that this was the last one of the day. That night would be the Halloween feast and she could hardly wait. Rumor had it that the feast would be held somewhere other than the Great Hall and the excitement was really getting to her. She shifted impatiently from one foot to the other. Sirius and James whispered next to her, only stopping to take in the Professor's glares, before continuing again. They were obviously planning something. Lily just hoped it didn't involve her and anything really messy. She reviewed all the terrible scenarios over and over in her brain when suddenly Peter's hand shot up, knocking her chin to the side. He smiled apologetically and proceeded to tell the professor the time rather rudely and that it was time to go. Professor Ryans shot daggers at him but nodded reluctantly, letting her students go. Lily raced over to Tina and Anna, glad that classes were finally over.
"I thought that class would never end!" Tina said eyeing Professor Ryans like she was something from hell.
"If she had it her way we'd never leave." Lily agreed.
"Well, than she must obviously like us!" said Anna, forever the optimist. Lily and Tina rolled their eyes and made their way slowly up the hill.
*****
Tina spun around for herself in the mirror, taking in her reflection. Her thin brown hair hung limply around her head, and her face showed none of the tan she had acquired over the summer. She fingered her hair sadly. She had always hated her hair, if only it could be long like Lily's or thick like Anna's or… she always thought to herself. But it wasn't. It was short, brown and thin and there wasn't anything she could do about it. Tina gazed around her dorm. Anna and Lily had already gone down and Katie was helping Lessie pick out some robes to wear at dinner. She might as well go on down to dinner herself. With one last glance at her frowning reflection the young witch walked to the common room, hoping to come across Sirius or James to walk to the Great Hall with. The large chairs were absent of anyone in her year though except for Peter.
"Just my luck." She thought bitterly but pasted on a smile for Peter. "Want to walk down to dinner with me, Peter?" She asked politely, silently praying he'd say no, but just as she expected he smiled at her warmly and nodded.
They walked for awhile in silence before they came close to the Great Hall. Tina pushed the door open slowly. Lily and Anna were encircled by a group of kids about their age including James and Sirius. Tina's heart jumped when she saw Sirius and was just about to call out to him when she noticed what he was doing. He was laughing at one of Anna's jokes like it was the funniest thing in the world. Her emotions plummeted and much to her increasing horror, Peter noticed her hesitation. He smiled knowingly.
"Wanna go for a walk? The feast isn't going to start for at least a half hour." Tina smiled at the offer, as it was more than she expected from Peter, and nodded.
The night air, however cool it was, was a nice change from the jealous heat that had been filling her. She wanted to get as far away from this as she possibly could. Tina had never much liked Halloween but this had to be the worst one she'd ever had. Slowly they made their way to lake, each in their own thoughts, neither much caring if they ever came back. Tina sat down next to Peter, trying to avoid to extremely wet parts. Tina was the first to break the silence and even so her voice barely above a whisper.
"Do you ever feel, you know…" She stopped, searching for the words.
"Second best?" He asked. She nodded, grateful that he could connect. He skipped a pebble on the water. "All the time." Peter sighed.
"I don't know, maybe I'm out of line here, but I always feel like I'm the OTHER friend." She said and not without bitterness. "The one who's not quite good enough, not pretty enough or smart enough. Of course, they never treat me like that, but everyone else does."
"I know what you mean. It seems like I can't do anything as well as they can. And the things I CAN do, the things I enjoy, they can do better." He tossed his pebble with a lot more strength. "Everyone loves them and no matter how much they exasperate the teachers, they are still the best students. The worst part is that I can't even hate them! They're so charming and charismatic… and I want to so bad." His strong expression couldn't cover the pain in his eyes or voice making Tina's own hurt more apparent than ever. And not for the first time provoking anger deep in her bruised soul.
"All the guys love them." Now Tina picked up a rock and hurled it.
"All the girls want them." Peter was practically shouting as he pitched his pebble with such strength it hurt.
"They can't do anything wrong!" Now Tina was on her feet, joining Peter in the bashing fest.
"We can't do anything right!" Peter added, his voice much stronger than he looked like he could handle. Suddenly Tina's watch beeped. She glared at it resentfully.
"We'd better go." Her voice had returned to its usual meek tone. He nodded.
"Yeah but its not they'd miss us." His voice, though quiet, reeked bitterness and they walked back to the school.
*****
A young man in his early thirties swirled his hand dismissivley around the water in front of him. The shapes of Peter and Tina abruptly disappeared. He glanced for the first at the wizard opposite him.
"They-" He pointed to the now empty cauldron. " Are our key to victory." His companion's brow creased with confusion.
"My Liege," He began slowly as though turning each word over in his mind before it rolled off his tongue. " Why? They are so young, my lord. What can they possibly do?" The young man sighed very loudly, visibly losing patience with his intellectually inferior companion.
"Because, Jealousy is the first step to hate. The boy is already there, and no doubt the girl will soon join him." The other wizard nodded, even though he didn't fully understand. "It's Tine!" The young wizard announced suddenly, spinning around from the cauldron for the first time and clapping his hands. "We need to tap Hogwarts. I assume you can find a suitable spy?" When there was no answer, the young wizard flicked his wand in frustration. His companion fell to the floor with a thud, unconscious. "Never mind," The young wizard said carelessly. "I'll take care of it myself."
*****
Thirteen year old Annabelle and her twin brother Adam surveyed the train station with dismay. She glanced once more at her ticket to make she had read it correctly. She had, it read the same thing this time as it had the last five times.
"Ever heard of Platform 9 and 3/4 before?" She asked her brother as she hoisted her backpack farther up her back. Adam looked at her annoyed.
"What do you think?" She held up her hands.
"So-RY! Excuse me for breathing." He grinned snidely at her.
'You're excused." He said in mock forgiveness. She rolled her eyes and was just about to say something really mean back when she saw someone disappearing between barriers 9 and 10. She blinked to make she sure she had seen right. Sure enough another one followed the first.
"I know which way to go." Annabelle said in a sing song voice. He temporarily forgot his pride.
"Where?"
"Through 9 and 10." Said she looking proud at her observation. He stared at her blankly before bursting out in laughter.
"You're joking?" He gasped. Annabelle looked hurt.
"No. I swear I saw to men disappear where the platform is." Adam's eyebrows shot up.
"I always knew you were a little crazy but now I REALYY think you're nutters." She glared at him.
I'm, not joking! And to prove it I'll…" She faltered while she gathered her courage. "I'll walk through the barrier." He laughed even harder.
"You're welcome to try. Jeez, where's a camera when you need it?" His side comments only strengthened her resolution to prove her brother wrong. He'd see. Slowly Annabelle approached the barrier, pushing her trolley all the while. She shut her eyes and walked gingerly toward it, praying she hadn't been wrong. Annabelle didn't think she could bear the embarrassment. Much to her relief she slid smoothly in to see a large train on the other side called the Hogsmade Express. Annabelle had been told that during the regular school year starts and ends the children boarded an entirely different train called the Hogwarts Express. This train contained very few children over eleven and any that were, were probably home schooled like her and her brother had been until recently. Annabelle was so content in her thoughts that she didn't even notice when Adam walked next to her. He smiled at her for the first time all day.
"Ready?" He asked starting to board behind a very business like man. He knew she wasn't but she appreciated him asking just the same and together they boarded the train.
*****
Lily Evans flicked a bit of bread at Sirius as Professor Dumbledore spoke. He flicked some back and neither noticed when their name was called. James shoved them out of their seats and they walked to the stage, genuinely confused, as they hadn't been listening. On the stage were to kids around their age and from the looks of them they were new. They were definitely not first years though.
"These are the transfers I've bee talking about." Said Dumbledore, sensing their lack of knowledge. "Annabelle and Adam." He gestured to each in turn. They looked at him blankly still not quite sure why they were on stage to begin with. "You'll of course be showing them around." He added. Lily immediately felt a rush of gratitude toward the old man. Anyone else would have let her be humiliated. She smiled warmly and nodded. They made their way back to the table. Lily and Sirius to finish dinner, and Adam and Annabelle to finish their education.
A/N - Hey thanks to everyone who reviewed! It keeps me writing!! If you want me to work something into to my story or have any suggestions PLEASE!!! Let me know J thanks. Also does anyone know where I can find a beta-reader??
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