Lily & Jason have been neighbors and Best Friends forever. One day, Jason
comes back from the States from vacation, and his mom sets up a "play date"
for Jason and a boy Lily will learn to hate, then befriend, then to hate
again, and, finally, to love. Rated PG-13 for future chapters, and
language.
Hey all!!
Thank you dearly for reading!! I appreciate it a lot!! This chapter will include who "Kristy" is. and introduce some of my/Lily's friends into the story!! Can't wait! Hope you all like!!
GoddessMoonLady~ Thank you for reviewing my story even at a late hour!!! I really appreciate the review! I owe you thanks for your dedication!
Kristie~ Really? That's cool! I have a good friend named Kristy.
Lora~ Thanks a bunch!!
Disclaimer: BUUUUUUUUUURP!!! THAT is SO mine!!! I may not own some characters, I don't own Rowling's idea, but I sure as heck own that baby!!
Chapter 6: The New Group
"Lily!? What the bloody are you doing here? I didn't know you were a witch!" the girl called "Kristy" said in exasperation.
"What am I doing here? What are *you* doing here?" Lily asked. "Why didn't you tell me you were coming? I could have told you *I* was coming! But I was afraid to because I thought you were a muggle!"
"I thought the same of you! I guess this whole thing doesn't just pop up randomly. who are your friends?" Kristy confronted her with the new curiosity leaping about her. She found it only slightly peculiar that boys surrounded Lily. For the length she'd known Lily, she'd not been too close to the girls Kristy had met, but was best friends with the boy next to Lily. Whom she remembered to live across the street. But she did not expect her to only befriend boys this fast.
*******A/N- I very much apologize for the run-on sentence in there.********
"Oh, this is Sirius Black, Remus Lupin, you know Jason, and this is James Potter," Lily introduced, pointing to each in turn. "You guys this is my cousin, Kristy! She and I are, like, best friends! Well, she's the best of my female friends," she said, adding a wink to Jason.
"Okay dokay then. Lily you mind if I stay here though? Some creep you may have met, Severus Snape, has been quite prone to trying to curse me and calling me rude things. Wouldn't fancy standing out there when he comes around."
"Oy, would that be the wimpy bloke who looks like he's never come across a bit of shampoo?" Sirius asked. "'Cause we met him back in Diagon Alley."
"That's the creep!" Kristy said with a smile.
"Well then. Boys I think I might have an idea for some fair entertainment once we get to Hogwarts. Anyone care to join me?" James said with a sly grin on his face, a devious glint in his eye.
"Count me in!" Sirius said. Remus shrugged, as did Jason, and the four of them went to the corner of the compartment, talking in hushed voices as Kristy and Lily caught up in a very animated fashion.
As the journey was half past, a plump young lady came along to their compartment. "Anything off the trolley, dears?" she asked pleasantly. James and Sirius bought a few gallons' worth all together, and Lily tried a few of most of the selections.
There was no further disturbance until a grimacing Andromeda entered the compartment. "I see you lot are enjoying yourselves. None of you could be bothered to come save me from being bored to death?" she whined. Lily looked up at her curiously, with a melancholy look on her face.
"What were you doing all this time?" Lily asked curiously.
"Oh, just sitting bored in a compartment with a couple of ditzes talking about the cute guy on the train who just happens to be my cousin. Would you like to sit through *that* conversation?"
"Oh!" Lily laughed. "Awful! Oh, by the way, this is Kristy, my cousin. Kristy, this is Andromeda, Sirius's cousin."
"Good to meet you," Andromeda said politely.
"Same to you," Kristy said with an energetic smile.
"I'm bored," Kristy said after twenty-some minutes of tedious silence.
"Me too."
"I'm hungry."
"Lily you just ate, like, three tons of chocolate frogs and licorice wands!" Kristy exclaimed.
"So?"
"Shut up."
"Why?"
"'Cause I said to."
"That's not a very good reason, you know."
"Lily!"
"What?" Lily inquired, a blank look on her face.
"SHUT UP!" came voices from the two girls around her.
"Fine, you could have just said so."
_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*
An hour or so later, they began to gather their belongings as a voice echoed over the train. "We will be reaching Hogwarts in five minutes' time. Please leave your luggage on the train, it will be taken up to the school separately," it informed them.
As they all began to pile out of the train, onto a dark platform, and out the door. The group was greeted by a booming voice drifted loudly over the chattering cluster of students. "Firs' Years! Firs' Years over 'ere!" it called out loudly. They saw a giant of a man looming over them as they ambled over towards the voice. "C'mon, follow me- any more firs' years? Mind yer step, now! Firs' Years follow me!" They trailed behind the man down something of a steep, narrow path. It was quite dark, and Lily figured they were traipsing through trees.
"Yeh'll get yer firs' sight o' Hogwarts in a sec," The man hollered over his shoulder. "jus' around the bend here."
There was a loud "Oooooh!" as they approached what looked to Lily as the most fantastic looking structure she'd ever seen. The castle was humongous, they could see it as the path opened up to reveal the edge of an immense, black lake. The castle was perched atop a high mountain on the other side, its windows sparkling in the starry sky. The fortress was vast and had many turrets and towers.
"No more'n four to a boat!" The man bellowed, pointing to a fleet of little boats sitting in the water by the shore. Lily, Andromeda, Kristy and Jason piled into one boat, while James, Sirius and Remus climbed into one next to them.
"Everyone in?" inquired the man, who had a boat to himself. "Right then - FORWARD!"
The fleet of little boats glided over the water and towards the castle. They clambered out onto slick pebbles, and moved onto the smooth grass. Lily's feet decided to slip on the slick rocks, and she fell flat. The giant man walked over to her. "You alrigh' there?" the man asked, his eyes glinting with worry. James looked over, worried, and saw Lily was lying there, absolutely fine, only embarrassed. He resumed his conversation with Sirius.
"Hagrid's the name, by the way," he said, offering his hand to help her up. "Gets quite slick. what would you like me to call yeh?"
"Lily, Lily Evans," she offered shyly, intimidated slightly by the large man. He chuckled slightly.
"Nothin' ter worry 'bout. Won' hurt yeh." Lily blushed.
They continued on to the castle, and Hagrid knocked three times on the large castle door. It swung open to reveal a tall, black haired witch in midnight-blue robes. She had a stern face and they all took note this was not someone to cross.
"The Firs' years, Professor McGonagall," said Hagrid.
"Thank you Hagrid, I will take them from here."
She pulled the door open wide. The entrance hall was so big you could have fit an average house into it. The stone walls were lit with flaming torches like the ones at Gringotts, the ceiling was to high to make out, and the magnificent marble staircase facing them led to the upper floors.
They followed Professor McGonagall across the flagged stone floor. If you stood there, you would hear the drone of hundreds of voices from a doorway to the right - where the rest of the school was already waiting - but the professor showed the first years into a small, empty chamber off the hall. They packed in, standing quite close, peering about nervously.
"Welcome to Hogwarts," said Professor McGonagall. "The start-of-term feast ill begin shortly, but before you take your seats in the Great Hall, you will be sorted into your houses. The Sorting is 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 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 each 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. The house with the most with the most points is awarded, at the end of the year, the House Cup, a great honor. I hope each of you will be 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 waiting." James mockingly attempted to flatten his hair.
"I shall return when we are ready for you," said Professor McGonagall. "Please wait quietly."
James and his group snorted as she walked out. "Well, chap, you've got a lot of work if you want to obey McGonagall. She said to smarten yourself. that'll take a LOAD of serious work. Nothing could possibly make you any smarter," James said to Sirius, clapping him on the back.
"How do they sort, exactly?" Lily asked Andromeda. She shrugged.
"Narcissa said you had to ward off a dragon just to be allowed in anything but the lowly houses. But then again she got in what she considered a high house, and that "high house" happens to be Slytherin, so I seriously doubt it'll be anything that hard," she responded. The group giggled. Lily shivered as she felt a cold something seem to pass right through her. and screeched as she saw roughly twenty ghosts floating about.
"Students! Dears, don't be frightened - It'll go just fine!" called a grayish-looking lady ghost. Lily was ready to faint.
Lucky for Lily, McGonagall came to collect them and shooed the ghosts into the hall. She motioned for them to follow her. They did so.
Lily looked about the humongous room in awe. The Great Hall was simply magnificent, more splendid than anything she'd ever witnessed. The room was gorgeously lit by thousands and thousands of candles that were floating midair over four long tables, where the rest of the students were sitting. These tables were laid with glittering golden plates and goblets. At the top of the hall was another long table where the teachers were sitting.
Professor McGonagall led the first years up here, so that they came to a halt in a line facing the other students, with teachers behind them. The hundreds of faces staring at them looked like pale lanterns in the flickering candlelight. Dotted here and there among the students, the ghosts shone misty silver. Jason nudged Lily, and motioned toward the ceiling. Lily gasped as she saw a velvety black ceiling dotted with stars. She'd read of this. she could never of imagined it to look like this. She explained to Jason that it was bewitched to look like the sky outside. She'd read on it in Hogwarts, a History.
How could that truly be a ceiling at all? It appeared to her to open directly up to the heavens.
McGonagall silently placed a four-legged stool in front of the first years. On top of this stool she placed a pointed wizard's hat. This hat was patched and frayed and extremely dirty.
Sorting. she remembered something to do with this. she remembers reading about what they happened, and there was mention of a hat. but what, oh what could it be? She racked her memory, fruitlessly. Then the oddest thing happened. A rip at the end of the brim opened wide, similar to that of a mouth, and it *sang*.
"Welcome to Hogwarts, the most favored school,
Welcome my fine feathered friends,
Welcome to all you greeting your future,
Welcome back to those tying loose ends,
This year we greet those of hope,
This year we lose friends but cope,
This year we will strive,
This year you'll learn to stay alive,
For if your Hufflepuff, loyal and true,
Fair wishes and high hopes unto you,
If you're a Ravenclaw, quick witted are you,
You'll excel in most that you do.
If you're of Slytherin's liking, cunning on end,
With people who find themselves finishing's the trend,
When your brave Gryffindor, I promise you,
Your chivalry is of most true value,
The founders of four,
Not three, but one more,
Decided on me,
To continue their deeds without trickery.
I will sort you where and which,
I assure you I will do so without one hitch,
I've yet to be mistaken, not me, myself, nor I,
I will place you right, you can bet your best eye.
I've done a fine up to now,
And continue forever on,
For Hogwarts is where a fine deer,
Was once a fawn."
Then, quite suddenly, the hat just shut up. It's mouth sealed over again, but it stayed where it was. Of course! Lily thought. How foolish of her. the hat would choose them while she just waited!
"When I call your name, please come up and sit on the stool, placing the Sorting Hat on your head." Professor McGonagall pulled out a lengthy list. "Andrews, Sarah!"
A shy young blonde walked slowly up to the stool, and sat down timidly. She placed the hat fretfully on her head, and they almost jumped a mile high when it shouted, "HUFFLEPUFF!" The girl scurried away, quick as she could, to a table that was cheering rather loudly, while the others clapped politely.
"Black, Andromeda!" Andromeda got up walked slowly up to the stool, and Lily shot her an encouraging smile. The hat sat on her head a minute or so, before shouting, "RAVENCLAW!" She seemed quite relieved; Lily supposed it was because she wasn't in Slytherin. "Black, Sirius!" McGonagall shouted. Sirius hopped right up to the stool, and plopped the hat upon his head. "GRYFFINDOR!" it shouted, after a few minutes' consideration.
"Bones, Jason." Jason shot a grin at Lily and walked up to the hat. It, too, hesitated before shouting, "Gryffindor!" On it went, putting a girl and a boy in Slytherin, another girl in Ravenclaw, a boy in Hufflepuff, and another girl in Gryffindor.
"Evans, Lillian." Lily shakily walked over to the stool, feeling eyes on her back. What if it placed her in Slytherin? She asked herself. Or what if she wasn't in the same house as Kristy or Andromeda? She was worrying herself silly, and the hat seemed to be whispering to her.
"Worried, are you? That's completely unnecessary. I will see you making friends. wherever you are placed. I promise you will leave this feast enjoying your placement. But where to put you. no, no child I do not plan on placing you in Slytherin! Now stop all that worrying. Ravenclaw, perhaps? Plenty of brains. Oh! But of course! No, Ravenclaw will not do but. GRYFFIDOR!" The hat cried at long last. Lily went to the table that was cheering, following the invisible footsteps Jason, the girl and Sirius had already walked. They were sitting together, chattering away. Lily smiled at the lot, and they greeted her happily.
"Hey! Lily, right? Cool! I'm Christine!" the energetic blonde introduced herself. "Okay, so do you know anyone here? So far I've met Sirius Black, Jason Bones, and Melissa. I can't remember her last name. But cross your fingers that Melissa will be Gryffindor!"
"Sure! We'll introduce you to Andromeda, who's Ravenclaw, Sirius's cousin, then Kristy, my cousin, James Potter, and Remus Lupin." As they spoke, getting to know each other in an animated discussion, they moved through all the way to the 'L's, when Lily's ears perked up to the name "Lupin, Remus."
She listened, and it took some time before the hat came right out and shouted clearly, "GRYFFINDOR!" Remus smiled broadly as he made his way over to the table with the others. Andromeda looked enviously over to her friends at the Gryffindor table from her Ravenclaw position.
"McFlurgy, Melissa!" Lily looked up at the blonde who made her way to the stool. "Gryffindor!" the hat cried. Lily watched at her happily making her way over. She chose a seat next to her pears.
"Hey! Remus and. and Lily's the only other name I know, but! That's OKAY! Uh, I'm Melissa, in case you weren't paying attention!" the girl seemed of Lily's energy level, which was definitely a plus.
"Hey! This is Christine, Sirius, Remus, and Jason!" Lily introduced again. So far, she had two new blonde friends. Both seemed like she would have fun with for the next seven years.
She looked up as they reached the P's. "Peter Pettigrew," was sorted into Gryffindor, as well. He was a short, tubby, mousy-haired boy. James was next. As soon as the hat touched the boy's unruly, raven hair, it shouted "Gryffindor! Most definitely!"
James strode over, looking particularly proud of himself, and started talking to Melissa, Christine, Sirius, and Remus. Lily, on the other hand, was silent. She had a headache, and was sick to her stomach for some reason. She rested her head on the table, and soon drifted off to sleep. The dream she had was odd, and she felt it would have no meaning. it was just something her mind offered as entertainment, perhaps. She sat upright, quite suddenly, as she saw something in the dream. Something indeed alarming. Just as she jolted up, the wretched, detested name that she despised was called to be sorted. "Snape, Severus," the greasy-haired boy that had called her the rude name in Diagon Alley, insulted her cousin, and she'd just recalled a dream of an older version. he was placed no short of where they all expected him, in the despicable partnership of Slytherin, abode to the slimy serpent himself.
Lily decided to think nothing of it, and that there was nothing to worry about. they would barely see each other, meaning there would be little chance for the dream to turn into a premonition. It was simply ridiculous to even think it could come true. Suddenly she felt very hungry and began daydreaming. She didn't care for any of the rest sorted. one or two made Gryffindor, but she failed to notice. One, if she'd cared to look, was a sluttish, snobby, blue-eyed blonde. Another was a brunette, energetic and happy, like the others, with hazel eyes. Instead, she looked over her other peers.
James, who did seem incredibly short, had hazel eyes and glasses. His unruly black hair bothered lily. She wanted a comb suddenly. A comb, or scissors. Either would work. It just seemed to bother her, for some reason.
Sirius was somewhat attractive, in a sense. black hair with stormy gray eyes. his hair was not nearly as unruly as James.
Christine was a cute blonde. Her eyes seemed to be a different color than before, and Lily decided she'd ask her. Her hair a flipped-cut, a little below her ears. She looked so happy and energetic.
Melissa had dirty-blonde hair, an inch or so below her shoulders. Her eyes were blue with hints of hazel and green in them. She was of medium height, and had a cute smile.
Remus was the docile one. He had short, chocolate hair, with deep, brown eyes. His features looked worn and tired, even at his age. It worried Lily, and she had imagined him to be more the optimistic type.
She looked up at Kristy, standing impatiently in line for the sorting. She was always the cute one. dainty and light, medium height, and very light brown hair. Her hair was always bouncy and happy, just like her mood.
Then she thought of herself. what if she failed right out? What if she gets kicked right out? What if they realize it was all a big mistake and sent her right back home on the train?
Her thoughts were interrupted, though, by the shouting of her cousin's name. "Watson, Kristy," McGonagall called. Kristy walked steadily up to the Sorting Hat, looking at all her friends in Gryffindor.
*Please let her be in Gryffindor,* Lily thought.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Thank you all!! I hope that was long enough to make up for its tardiness! Thank you so much for reading! Please review and make me happy!!
Next chapter will be first day and such. da da da da da. you guys can guess. Let your minds wander ;).
Love and Peace Always,
*Jenna~
Hey all!!
Thank you dearly for reading!! I appreciate it a lot!! This chapter will include who "Kristy" is. and introduce some of my/Lily's friends into the story!! Can't wait! Hope you all like!!
GoddessMoonLady~ Thank you for reviewing my story even at a late hour!!! I really appreciate the review! I owe you thanks for your dedication!
Kristie~ Really? That's cool! I have a good friend named Kristy.
Lora~ Thanks a bunch!!
Disclaimer: BUUUUUUUUUURP!!! THAT is SO mine!!! I may not own some characters, I don't own Rowling's idea, but I sure as heck own that baby!!
Chapter 6: The New Group
"Lily!? What the bloody are you doing here? I didn't know you were a witch!" the girl called "Kristy" said in exasperation.
"What am I doing here? What are *you* doing here?" Lily asked. "Why didn't you tell me you were coming? I could have told you *I* was coming! But I was afraid to because I thought you were a muggle!"
"I thought the same of you! I guess this whole thing doesn't just pop up randomly. who are your friends?" Kristy confronted her with the new curiosity leaping about her. She found it only slightly peculiar that boys surrounded Lily. For the length she'd known Lily, she'd not been too close to the girls Kristy had met, but was best friends with the boy next to Lily. Whom she remembered to live across the street. But she did not expect her to only befriend boys this fast.
*******A/N- I very much apologize for the run-on sentence in there.********
"Oh, this is Sirius Black, Remus Lupin, you know Jason, and this is James Potter," Lily introduced, pointing to each in turn. "You guys this is my cousin, Kristy! She and I are, like, best friends! Well, she's the best of my female friends," she said, adding a wink to Jason.
"Okay dokay then. Lily you mind if I stay here though? Some creep you may have met, Severus Snape, has been quite prone to trying to curse me and calling me rude things. Wouldn't fancy standing out there when he comes around."
"Oy, would that be the wimpy bloke who looks like he's never come across a bit of shampoo?" Sirius asked. "'Cause we met him back in Diagon Alley."
"That's the creep!" Kristy said with a smile.
"Well then. Boys I think I might have an idea for some fair entertainment once we get to Hogwarts. Anyone care to join me?" James said with a sly grin on his face, a devious glint in his eye.
"Count me in!" Sirius said. Remus shrugged, as did Jason, and the four of them went to the corner of the compartment, talking in hushed voices as Kristy and Lily caught up in a very animated fashion.
As the journey was half past, a plump young lady came along to their compartment. "Anything off the trolley, dears?" she asked pleasantly. James and Sirius bought a few gallons' worth all together, and Lily tried a few of most of the selections.
There was no further disturbance until a grimacing Andromeda entered the compartment. "I see you lot are enjoying yourselves. None of you could be bothered to come save me from being bored to death?" she whined. Lily looked up at her curiously, with a melancholy look on her face.
"What were you doing all this time?" Lily asked curiously.
"Oh, just sitting bored in a compartment with a couple of ditzes talking about the cute guy on the train who just happens to be my cousin. Would you like to sit through *that* conversation?"
"Oh!" Lily laughed. "Awful! Oh, by the way, this is Kristy, my cousin. Kristy, this is Andromeda, Sirius's cousin."
"Good to meet you," Andromeda said politely.
"Same to you," Kristy said with an energetic smile.
"I'm bored," Kristy said after twenty-some minutes of tedious silence.
"Me too."
"I'm hungry."
"Lily you just ate, like, three tons of chocolate frogs and licorice wands!" Kristy exclaimed.
"So?"
"Shut up."
"Why?"
"'Cause I said to."
"That's not a very good reason, you know."
"Lily!"
"What?" Lily inquired, a blank look on her face.
"SHUT UP!" came voices from the two girls around her.
"Fine, you could have just said so."
_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*
An hour or so later, they began to gather their belongings as a voice echoed over the train. "We will be reaching Hogwarts in five minutes' time. Please leave your luggage on the train, it will be taken up to the school separately," it informed them.
As they all began to pile out of the train, onto a dark platform, and out the door. The group was greeted by a booming voice drifted loudly over the chattering cluster of students. "Firs' Years! Firs' Years over 'ere!" it called out loudly. They saw a giant of a man looming over them as they ambled over towards the voice. "C'mon, follow me- any more firs' years? Mind yer step, now! Firs' Years follow me!" They trailed behind the man down something of a steep, narrow path. It was quite dark, and Lily figured they were traipsing through trees.
"Yeh'll get yer firs' sight o' Hogwarts in a sec," The man hollered over his shoulder. "jus' around the bend here."
There was a loud "Oooooh!" as they approached what looked to Lily as the most fantastic looking structure she'd ever seen. The castle was humongous, they could see it as the path opened up to reveal the edge of an immense, black lake. The castle was perched atop a high mountain on the other side, its windows sparkling in the starry sky. The fortress was vast and had many turrets and towers.
"No more'n four to a boat!" The man bellowed, pointing to a fleet of little boats sitting in the water by the shore. Lily, Andromeda, Kristy and Jason piled into one boat, while James, Sirius and Remus climbed into one next to them.
"Everyone in?" inquired the man, who had a boat to himself. "Right then - FORWARD!"
The fleet of little boats glided over the water and towards the castle. They clambered out onto slick pebbles, and moved onto the smooth grass. Lily's feet decided to slip on the slick rocks, and she fell flat. The giant man walked over to her. "You alrigh' there?" the man asked, his eyes glinting with worry. James looked over, worried, and saw Lily was lying there, absolutely fine, only embarrassed. He resumed his conversation with Sirius.
"Hagrid's the name, by the way," he said, offering his hand to help her up. "Gets quite slick. what would you like me to call yeh?"
"Lily, Lily Evans," she offered shyly, intimidated slightly by the large man. He chuckled slightly.
"Nothin' ter worry 'bout. Won' hurt yeh." Lily blushed.
They continued on to the castle, and Hagrid knocked three times on the large castle door. It swung open to reveal a tall, black haired witch in midnight-blue robes. She had a stern face and they all took note this was not someone to cross.
"The Firs' years, Professor McGonagall," said Hagrid.
"Thank you Hagrid, I will take them from here."
She pulled the door open wide. The entrance hall was so big you could have fit an average house into it. The stone walls were lit with flaming torches like the ones at Gringotts, the ceiling was to high to make out, and the magnificent marble staircase facing them led to the upper floors.
They followed Professor McGonagall across the flagged stone floor. If you stood there, you would hear the drone of hundreds of voices from a doorway to the right - where the rest of the school was already waiting - but the professor showed the first years into a small, empty chamber off the hall. They packed in, standing quite close, peering about nervously.
"Welcome to Hogwarts," said Professor McGonagall. "The start-of-term feast ill begin shortly, but before you take your seats in the Great Hall, you will be sorted into your houses. The Sorting is 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 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 each 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. The house with the most with the most points is awarded, at the end of the year, the House Cup, a great honor. I hope each of you will be 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 waiting." James mockingly attempted to flatten his hair.
"I shall return when we are ready for you," said Professor McGonagall. "Please wait quietly."
James and his group snorted as she walked out. "Well, chap, you've got a lot of work if you want to obey McGonagall. She said to smarten yourself. that'll take a LOAD of serious work. Nothing could possibly make you any smarter," James said to Sirius, clapping him on the back.
"How do they sort, exactly?" Lily asked Andromeda. She shrugged.
"Narcissa said you had to ward off a dragon just to be allowed in anything but the lowly houses. But then again she got in what she considered a high house, and that "high house" happens to be Slytherin, so I seriously doubt it'll be anything that hard," she responded. The group giggled. Lily shivered as she felt a cold something seem to pass right through her. and screeched as she saw roughly twenty ghosts floating about.
"Students! Dears, don't be frightened - It'll go just fine!" called a grayish-looking lady ghost. Lily was ready to faint.
Lucky for Lily, McGonagall came to collect them and shooed the ghosts into the hall. She motioned for them to follow her. They did so.
Lily looked about the humongous room in awe. The Great Hall was simply magnificent, more splendid than anything she'd ever witnessed. The room was gorgeously lit by thousands and thousands of candles that were floating midair over four long tables, where the rest of the students were sitting. These tables were laid with glittering golden plates and goblets. At the top of the hall was another long table where the teachers were sitting.
Professor McGonagall led the first years up here, so that they came to a halt in a line facing the other students, with teachers behind them. The hundreds of faces staring at them looked like pale lanterns in the flickering candlelight. Dotted here and there among the students, the ghosts shone misty silver. Jason nudged Lily, and motioned toward the ceiling. Lily gasped as she saw a velvety black ceiling dotted with stars. She'd read of this. she could never of imagined it to look like this. She explained to Jason that it was bewitched to look like the sky outside. She'd read on it in Hogwarts, a History.
How could that truly be a ceiling at all? It appeared to her to open directly up to the heavens.
McGonagall silently placed a four-legged stool in front of the first years. On top of this stool she placed a pointed wizard's hat. This hat was patched and frayed and extremely dirty.
Sorting. she remembered something to do with this. she remembers reading about what they happened, and there was mention of a hat. but what, oh what could it be? She racked her memory, fruitlessly. Then the oddest thing happened. A rip at the end of the brim opened wide, similar to that of a mouth, and it *sang*.
"Welcome to Hogwarts, the most favored school,
Welcome my fine feathered friends,
Welcome to all you greeting your future,
Welcome back to those tying loose ends,
This year we greet those of hope,
This year we lose friends but cope,
This year we will strive,
This year you'll learn to stay alive,
For if your Hufflepuff, loyal and true,
Fair wishes and high hopes unto you,
If you're a Ravenclaw, quick witted are you,
You'll excel in most that you do.
If you're of Slytherin's liking, cunning on end,
With people who find themselves finishing's the trend,
When your brave Gryffindor, I promise you,
Your chivalry is of most true value,
The founders of four,
Not three, but one more,
Decided on me,
To continue their deeds without trickery.
I will sort you where and which,
I assure you I will do so without one hitch,
I've yet to be mistaken, not me, myself, nor I,
I will place you right, you can bet your best eye.
I've done a fine up to now,
And continue forever on,
For Hogwarts is where a fine deer,
Was once a fawn."
Then, quite suddenly, the hat just shut up. It's mouth sealed over again, but it stayed where it was. Of course! Lily thought. How foolish of her. the hat would choose them while she just waited!
"When I call your name, please come up and sit on the stool, placing the Sorting Hat on your head." Professor McGonagall pulled out a lengthy list. "Andrews, Sarah!"
A shy young blonde walked slowly up to the stool, and sat down timidly. She placed the hat fretfully on her head, and they almost jumped a mile high when it shouted, "HUFFLEPUFF!" The girl scurried away, quick as she could, to a table that was cheering rather loudly, while the others clapped politely.
"Black, Andromeda!" Andromeda got up walked slowly up to the stool, and Lily shot her an encouraging smile. The hat sat on her head a minute or so, before shouting, "RAVENCLAW!" She seemed quite relieved; Lily supposed it was because she wasn't in Slytherin. "Black, Sirius!" McGonagall shouted. Sirius hopped right up to the stool, and plopped the hat upon his head. "GRYFFINDOR!" it shouted, after a few minutes' consideration.
"Bones, Jason." Jason shot a grin at Lily and walked up to the hat. It, too, hesitated before shouting, "Gryffindor!" On it went, putting a girl and a boy in Slytherin, another girl in Ravenclaw, a boy in Hufflepuff, and another girl in Gryffindor.
"Evans, Lillian." Lily shakily walked over to the stool, feeling eyes on her back. What if it placed her in Slytherin? She asked herself. Or what if she wasn't in the same house as Kristy or Andromeda? She was worrying herself silly, and the hat seemed to be whispering to her.
"Worried, are you? That's completely unnecessary. I will see you making friends. wherever you are placed. I promise you will leave this feast enjoying your placement. But where to put you. no, no child I do not plan on placing you in Slytherin! Now stop all that worrying. Ravenclaw, perhaps? Plenty of brains. Oh! But of course! No, Ravenclaw will not do but. GRYFFIDOR!" The hat cried at long last. Lily went to the table that was cheering, following the invisible footsteps Jason, the girl and Sirius had already walked. They were sitting together, chattering away. Lily smiled at the lot, and they greeted her happily.
"Hey! Lily, right? Cool! I'm Christine!" the energetic blonde introduced herself. "Okay, so do you know anyone here? So far I've met Sirius Black, Jason Bones, and Melissa. I can't remember her last name. But cross your fingers that Melissa will be Gryffindor!"
"Sure! We'll introduce you to Andromeda, who's Ravenclaw, Sirius's cousin, then Kristy, my cousin, James Potter, and Remus Lupin." As they spoke, getting to know each other in an animated discussion, they moved through all the way to the 'L's, when Lily's ears perked up to the name "Lupin, Remus."
She listened, and it took some time before the hat came right out and shouted clearly, "GRYFFINDOR!" Remus smiled broadly as he made his way over to the table with the others. Andromeda looked enviously over to her friends at the Gryffindor table from her Ravenclaw position.
"McFlurgy, Melissa!" Lily looked up at the blonde who made her way to the stool. "Gryffindor!" the hat cried. Lily watched at her happily making her way over. She chose a seat next to her pears.
"Hey! Remus and. and Lily's the only other name I know, but! That's OKAY! Uh, I'm Melissa, in case you weren't paying attention!" the girl seemed of Lily's energy level, which was definitely a plus.
"Hey! This is Christine, Sirius, Remus, and Jason!" Lily introduced again. So far, she had two new blonde friends. Both seemed like she would have fun with for the next seven years.
She looked up as they reached the P's. "Peter Pettigrew," was sorted into Gryffindor, as well. He was a short, tubby, mousy-haired boy. James was next. As soon as the hat touched the boy's unruly, raven hair, it shouted "Gryffindor! Most definitely!"
James strode over, looking particularly proud of himself, and started talking to Melissa, Christine, Sirius, and Remus. Lily, on the other hand, was silent. She had a headache, and was sick to her stomach for some reason. She rested her head on the table, and soon drifted off to sleep. The dream she had was odd, and she felt it would have no meaning. it was just something her mind offered as entertainment, perhaps. She sat upright, quite suddenly, as she saw something in the dream. Something indeed alarming. Just as she jolted up, the wretched, detested name that she despised was called to be sorted. "Snape, Severus," the greasy-haired boy that had called her the rude name in Diagon Alley, insulted her cousin, and she'd just recalled a dream of an older version. he was placed no short of where they all expected him, in the despicable partnership of Slytherin, abode to the slimy serpent himself.
Lily decided to think nothing of it, and that there was nothing to worry about. they would barely see each other, meaning there would be little chance for the dream to turn into a premonition. It was simply ridiculous to even think it could come true. Suddenly she felt very hungry and began daydreaming. She didn't care for any of the rest sorted. one or two made Gryffindor, but she failed to notice. One, if she'd cared to look, was a sluttish, snobby, blue-eyed blonde. Another was a brunette, energetic and happy, like the others, with hazel eyes. Instead, she looked over her other peers.
James, who did seem incredibly short, had hazel eyes and glasses. His unruly black hair bothered lily. She wanted a comb suddenly. A comb, or scissors. Either would work. It just seemed to bother her, for some reason.
Sirius was somewhat attractive, in a sense. black hair with stormy gray eyes. his hair was not nearly as unruly as James.
Christine was a cute blonde. Her eyes seemed to be a different color than before, and Lily decided she'd ask her. Her hair a flipped-cut, a little below her ears. She looked so happy and energetic.
Melissa had dirty-blonde hair, an inch or so below her shoulders. Her eyes were blue with hints of hazel and green in them. She was of medium height, and had a cute smile.
Remus was the docile one. He had short, chocolate hair, with deep, brown eyes. His features looked worn and tired, even at his age. It worried Lily, and she had imagined him to be more the optimistic type.
She looked up at Kristy, standing impatiently in line for the sorting. She was always the cute one. dainty and light, medium height, and very light brown hair. Her hair was always bouncy and happy, just like her mood.
Then she thought of herself. what if she failed right out? What if she gets kicked right out? What if they realize it was all a big mistake and sent her right back home on the train?
Her thoughts were interrupted, though, by the shouting of her cousin's name. "Watson, Kristy," McGonagall called. Kristy walked steadily up to the Sorting Hat, looking at all her friends in Gryffindor.
*Please let her be in Gryffindor,* Lily thought.
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Thank you all!! I hope that was long enough to make up for its tardiness! Thank you so much for reading! Please review and make me happy!!
Next chapter will be first day and such. da da da da da. you guys can guess. Let your minds wander ;).
Love and Peace Always,
*Jenna~