A/N: Whoo-Hooo!!! My first review! Thanks to Holly-Evans! I am updating as quick as possible, so as soon as I get the next chapter written! I will try to go faster though!

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters of settings from the Harry Potter series. JK Rowling owns them.

Lily stepped off the train and gazed up the hill to where her new home stood. Hogwarts was a magnificent castle and Lily couldn't even begin to imagine what the inside would be like.

"First years this way please! Come over here first years!" Lily heard a brisk voice calling, and she shyly walked over to where the rest of the first years were gathering.

Severus and the rest of her companions walked up behind her. James grinned at a couple of girls, who giggled and whispered to each other as he passed.

Lily shook her head incredulously and turned back to look at the teacher who had called them over. She was short with frizzy hair and a friendly, dimpled face.

"Hello and welcome to Hogwarts!" she began, "I am Professor Sprout, your Herbology teacher. Please follow me and don't stray off. There are many things out there just waiting to find one of you alone," and she strode off into the darkness with the first years crowding at her heels in an effort not to stray.

Lily raised her eyebrows at the strange warning, and turned to ask Severus what he thought it meant, but he had already started forward. She hurried after him. When she caught up, the group had reached the edge of a huge lake.

"We are going to be taking these boats across the lake," Professor Sprout said, "Please no more then 4 people in a boat. "

Lily started towards the closest boat, and instantly James and Severus came after her. Remus was following behind them, a little more slowly.

She started to step into the boat, but a gust of wind came rocking the boat and pushing Lily off balance. She felt a pair of hands grab her from behind and steady her. She looked back and saw Remus, with a shy grin on his face.

"Thanks!" she smiled brilliantly at him, laughing inside at the looks on James and Severus's faces.

She got into the boat, followed by the other three. James and Severus had a silent battle over who got the seat next to Lily, who rolled her eyes and motioned to Remus to come and sit next to her.

James and Severus glared, but settled down into their seats.

"Everyone ready?" Professor Sprout was in the lead boat, "Alright, let's go!"

The small fleet set off across the lakes towards the castle.

"It's gorgeous!" Lily breathed, watching the castle come closer and closer.

"Breathtaking, isn't it?" James however, was not looking at the castle, but at a certain redhead with bright green eyes.

The boats entered into a small cave, and everyone scrambled ashore. Professor Sprout led everyone up the lawn to the front doors. She ceremoniously threw them open.

"Welcome to Hogwarts."

Lily gaped in wonder at the ghosts sliding through walls, and the pictures on the wall waving welcomingly.

"Please wait here. I will call you in shortly to be sorted," Professor Sprout turned and walked through a pair of doors, beyond which could be heard loud laughter and talking.

Lily rubbed her hands on her robes nervously. She had no idea what 'sorting' was, or what it would require.

Everyone started walking forward into the hall, so evidently someone had called them in. Lily walked forward hesitantly, with three people right behind her.

A new professor walked forward, "Welcome, I am Professor McGonagall, your transfiguration teacher. Please form an orderly line and come forward when you hear your name called."

Lily heard some sort of singing start, but she was too nervous to pay any attention. All of a sudden there was a loud burst of applause, and the sorting began.

Students started going forward, and after a brief pause there was more applause.

"Black, Bellatrix"

Lily looked up as she heard the name, and saw Bellatrix swaggering forward. She stuffed a hat onto her head, and almost instantly...

"Slytherin!"

"Black, Sirius"

Sirius came forward slowly, some of his bravado lost for a second, he set the hat on his head and waited with eyes screwed up.

"Gryffindor!" Sirius sighed in relief and walked over the the cheering table. Then, all too soon..

"Evans, Lily"

Lily walked forward timidly, and put the hat on her head. It mumbled a few things to her, then yelled...

"Gryffindor!" Sirius erupted with loud cheers and whistles as Lily walked over to sit next to him. The sorting quickly finished up.

"Lupin, Remus"

"Gryffindor!" Lily smiled in relief.

"Pettigrew, Peter"

"Gryffindor!"

"Potter, James" Sirius leaned forward and crossed his fingers.

"Gryffindor!" Lily groaned as James came over and sat next to her, earning himself a hurt glance from Sirius.

"Snape, Severus" Lily held her breath, hoping..

"Slytherin!" Severus took the hat off slowly and looked over at Lily, then walked over to sit across from Bellatrix, who looked very smug. Then, finally..

"Weasley, Arthur"

"Gryffindor!" Arthur got up, relieved, and almost ran to the table.

Then the headmaster stood up, "Welcome all first years to Hogwarts. I trust you will have a wonderful stay! I don't want to drag on, so... eat up!"

The golden dishes suddenly filled with food. Everyone started stuffing food into their mouths, famished from the ride over.

Once Lily was full, she looked over to the Slytherin table and found Severus watching her. She smiled and waved at him, but he didn't see.

Finally, when everyone was done eating, Dumbledore stood up and dismissed everyone to their common rooms. Lily followed a Gryffindor prefect up the stairs to a portrait of a fat lady.

"This is the Fat Lady," introduced the prefect, "Grumblefood."

The portrait swung forward to reveal a comfortable room with a roaring fire and squashy chairs scattered around. She followed the prefect's directions up a staircase to her right, and found herself in a room with four four-poster beds. She sat on the one where her suitcase had been dropped.

Three other girls came clattering up the stairs behind her. Lily stood up and introduced herself.

"Hi, I'm Lily Evans."

A thin girl with light brown hair, a round face, and a sweet expression walked forward, "I'm Alice Toomy"

"I'm Heathcote Barbary," said a wild looking girl with wispy black hair.

"And I'm Bertha Jorkins," finished a plump girl with light blond hair.

"Well it's nice to meet all of you, but I'm really tired and want to go to sleep," Lily said with a yawn, and promptly pulled back her covers, shut her curtains, and went to sleep.

A/N: This is the longest chapter yet! Hope you like it and please review!