A/N: Hey ya'll. Here's chapter 5! Enjoy! Angie



Remus gripped Lily's hand protectively as they stepped off of the Hogwarts Express. Lily smiled faintly at the strength of his grip. She knew that he was pretending to be concerned about his best friend's fear, but that he was as terrified as she was.

On the other side of Lily, Sirius was silent for the first time that day. James looked thoughtful instead of scared. She looked at him, envious of his nonchalance. James caught the glance and flashed Lily a slow, sweet smile. Lily couldn't resist smiling back.

"First years, over here! Four to a boat! Hurry up! There's a storm brewing!" A loud voice boomed. Lily froze suddenly in terror. Sirius started to pull Lily towards an empty boat. Lily was struggling frantically against him. Remus laughed, and gently took her other arm.

"Lily has a major fear of boats, and I must confess, that it's my fault." Remus explained. Lily glared at him.

"You're right! Tell them what you did, Remus!" She demanded. Remus grinned sheepishly.

"Later, ok? We have to get going." Remus reminded her. Lily wanted none of it, though. Sirius decided to cut in.

"Lily, my dear girl, Remus, James, and I have already sworn to protect you from the evil Lucius Malfoy. I faithfully promise to protect you from any harm while you are in this boat with me. If I fail at my job, and you get hurt, even so much as a hangnail, may I never play a prank in all seven years here at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry." Sirius ended his speech with a sweeping bow. Lily laughed and allowed Sirius to lead her to a boat. Remus shook his head, laughing, and he and James joined them in the boat.

Lily clung to one side of the boat. Remus chuckled, and tried to rest his hand on her arm. Lily shoved it away. James smiled, and rested his arm on the side of the boat behind Lily. She smiled at him thankfully, and relaxed a bit. Remus grinned and Sirius scowled.

The boat glided slowly to a halt at the other end of the lake. Sirius jumped out and offered his arm to Lily. Lily smiled, and accepted his help. She laughed softly at the three boys, standing there, eager for her attention. Nearby, Lucius Malfoy and Severus Snape glared over at Lily and her three knights.

All of the first years were directed into the entranceway. As soon as the doors shut, the storm broke loose. Lily breathed a sigh of relief, and allowed herself to look around. Her eyes wandered around in complete awe. Remus chuckled at her side.

"Stop gaping, country girl." He instructed. Lily blushed slightly. She'd never seen anything like Hogwarts before in her life. All of the first years, minus Lucius and Severus, of course, gulped when they were directed into the great hall. Lily looked at Remus in terror when they entered. There were so many people there!

The sorting hat began its song, but Lily heard nothing of it. Sirius winked at her when his name was called. He strode up to the stool confidently, and placed the sorting hat on his head. It had barely touched his head when it shouted "Gryffindor!"

Sirius grinned back at them, and took his seat among the cheering Gryffindors. Lily shifted uncomfortably while waiting for her turn. Finally, her name was called. Remus squeezed her hand once before Lily went to the stool.

Lily's mind was completely jumbled when she placed the sorting hat on. But the hat knew just where to put her. "Gryffindor!" Sirius grinned. Lily smiled bravely, laughing softly. At least she would be with Sirius. She walked over to the table, where Sirius pulled out a chair for her. Lily's smile broadened when Remus was also placed in Gryffindor. All three of them laughed when Lucius Malfoy was sorted into Slytherin. James also quickly became a Gryffindor.

"Sweet! Perfect opportunity to make hell for all of the teachers! The three musketeers and their lovely lady." Sirius celebrated. Lily laughed. Remus and James grinned.

"Remus, did you hear that? He's flirting with you again. He called you a lovely lady." James teased. Lily laughed harder. Remus glared at his friend.

"James, my friend, you really have misinterpreted Sirius this time. He was, of course, referring to himself." Remus countered. Sirius laughed and bowed.

"Yeah, James. Don't you know a lady when you see one?" Sirius joked. James grinned. Lily smiled at the shy boy who had the misfortune of sitting across from Sirius.

"Hi, I'm Lily Evans. Ignore these boys. They're, well, they're immature." Lily smiled warmly at him. He smiled back.

"Peter Pettigrew. It's nice to meet you, Lily." Peter offered. Lily smiled.

"And these scoundrels are Remus Lupin, James Potter, and Sirius Black." Lily introduced the three boys, who stopped joking around long enough to wave at Peter. Peter smiled shyly.

"I really don't know how I was put into Gryffindor. I'm not brave in the least." Peter confided. He liked Lily immediately. She had one of those personalities that made everyone open up to her right away. Lily laughed.

"From what I've seen, you're quite brave. After all, you did sit across from Sirius. That alone should be worth a medal of honor." Lily told him, making Sirius scowl. Lily ruffled Sirius's hair affectionately.

"Not to mention talking to Lily. After all, she does have James, Remus, and I protecting her." Sirius warned him. Peter took the hint, and studied his food intently.

"Peter, ignore them. Remus is the only one I've even known for more than 24 hours. Sirius is just being a jerk." Lily said softly. Sirius pouted.

"I'm not being a jerk. I'm just curious as to his intentions with you, my dear Lily. One can never be too careful in this day and age." Sirius nodded importantly. Lily laughed. "What are your intentions, Peter?" Sirius directed his question. Peter smiled faintly.

"Friendship, if that's allowed." Peter smiled, a mixture of shyness, terror, and warmth making an odd, but strangely pleasant, combination. Sirius seemed to debate it for a moment, but Remus answered for him.

"Of course it is. I'll speak for Sirius, because it tends to take him a while to think things through." Remus ducked a swinging fist from Sirius. All five of them laughed, and dug into their food.