CHAPTER 21

Slytherin and Gryffindor

"I'm gonna give it a go," Peter said defiantly as James and Sirius dragged their trunks back into the dormitory room.

"Right now?"

"Yes, right now. Why not?" Peter cleared his throat, closed his eyes, and concentrated.

"Look, Peter, I'm tired," James said, and he fell onto his bed in a heap. Remus, who was reading out of the Animagus book, looked over his reading glasses at him.

"You don't look too good," he said.

"Don't talk to me."

"Good enough for me," Remus said. Sirius realized that he was a lot taller. At least an inch. Little Remus was growing considerably high, and James was shrinking. The boys were changing, even Sirius. His voice, in the past six months, had dropped an octave at least.

They were growing up.

"Any luck with rat-boy?" Sirius jabbed a thumb at Peter, who was still concentrating hard. Remus shook his head.

"He was sure he was a sloth," he said, "and I would have believed it. But no, he's not."

Peter frowned and bit his upper lip.

"I think I see a squirrel," he said. "Would that make sense?"

"Look here," James said, getting up from his bed, "you're doing it all wrong. Look, don't worry about seeing the animal. Worry about yourself. Connect with yourself. I connected when I thought about flying."

Sirius stopped. He thought back to when he connected. It was at the time when he was feeling the most hate inside him. That's when it had happened. He felt his stomach lurch.

"Ok, I see-"

"Don't talk," Sirius barked, and Peter nodded obediently.

"Okay."

"I said don't talk."

"Sorry."

There was another minute or two, and then Peter shook his head. "I don't see anything."

"Forget that you want to see something," James instructed. "Just think about yourself. Forget that we're here. It's all about you."

Peter nodded and squinted harder. All of a sudden, his eyes popped open, and he screamed, "A RAT! I'M A RAT!"

The three boys raised their eyebrows and looked to each other.

"That was obvious," Sirius growled. "Why didn't we guess that before?"

"""""""""""""""""""""""""

Now with all three of them ready to go on to the next stage, a new sort of hope resided in Remus's heart. The transformation in January wasn't as bad, now that he knew that he wouldn't be alone for long now. His friends were on their way. He seemed to keep some sort of mind knowing that.

In February, they decided to go to the second step. James was again the first to try it, and Remus read off the directions from the book (which was long overdue).

"It says now for you to become that animal in heart and in spirit," he said. "Whatever that means. That's all it says."

"Are you out of your mind?" James said. "That's it? There are no other directions?"

"They like to keep it broad, don't they?" Sirius commented.

"I can't become a deer!"

"It's a stag."

"Whatever it is, I can't do that!" James said.

"At least try," Remus said pleadingly. "Just --- just think about it. Where do stags live?"

"Well, I'm guessing in the forest," he huffed, "but I-"

"Then pretend that you're in the forest."

James sighed and closed his eyes again. He couldn't do this. This was mad! They should just stop right now. It was too complicated! He couldn't-

"You're not trying," Remus reprimanded him.

"Yes, I am," he retorted, and he went back to thinking about the forest.

The forest was very --- woodsy. Filled with trees. And leaves. There was a scent of something in the air that he had never smelled. His hooves pawed the ground, and he leaped forward onto his prey. Tearing that stupid deer bit by bit. He was the tiger. He was the-

"It's not working," he said, "I keep picturing myself as a tiger."

"This is going to take longer than we thought," Remus sighed as he slammed the book shut. "And for the last time, you're not a tiger. You're a stag. Deal with it."

James, frowning and mumbling something under his breath that sounded like "stupid deer," plopped into bed.

"""""""""""""

Their third Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher was named Professor June, and he was a kindly man that spoke very softly and had taken a liking to Remus. That makes two teachers that favored him, Sirius thought.

He was a smaller man, with thinning hair and a large smile. His way of teaching was hands on, and so far they had handled a real to life Jawa, and they were expecting to see a Thestral the next lesson.

Sure enough, there was June, standing with his arm around an invisible something or other as they strolled in for their first lesson of February.

"How many people can see it?" he asked as they took their seats.

None of the four boys raised their hands, but a few others did. Sirius looked to James and shook his head. James shrugged.

"What is it?"

"I'm guessing a Thestral," James said.

"And right you are, Mr. Potter," June said, patting the air. "It is a horselike creature that only can be seen by people who have witnessed a death. I have been able to see them since my mother died in front of me at age twenty. It seems like a good lot of you haven't been through that grief yet. Thank God for it, eh?

"Now, for those who can't see it, please turn to page four hundred thirteen for an illustration." Most of the class flipped their books open.

June continued on with the lesson, but James didn't listen. He just stared at the empty space. How long would it be before he could see that thing? How long before it appeared in front of him, and he was wishing it wasn't there?

"""""""""""""""

The first Quidditch game was scheduled for the first Saturday of February. James was so nervous that he couldn't bring himself to eat or sleep. He was starting to look as bad as Remus by the time the night before came. Everyone was cheering him on at the practices, where he was doing a very good job. And there were two other Chasers. It wasn't like he was the Keeper or anything ---

Finally the day came, and Sirius and Remus walked down to the pitch with him, both of them donned in red and gold.

"You look like you're about to lose your breakfast," Sirius commented. "Don't worry. You'll be fine."

"That's what you think," James said, and he shuffled off into the tent.

The other six players were already there, changing into their uniforms. Greasings smiled and waved. James waved back.

"Ah, Potter," Dennis said, "how are you feeling? I haven't seen someone look that nervous since Hastings in the match against Germany in '71."

"I'm fine," James lied, and he went to suit up. A few minutes later, he found himself on the pitch.

Davey Gudgeon was announcing, and his voice magically echoed throughout the entire field.

"Gryffindor versus Slytherin!" he announced. "First match of the season. A few new faces to the teams this year. New Slytherin Beater, who beat the you know what out of Severus Sn-"

"Gudgeon," Professor McGonagall warned.

"But anyway, back to the game roster this morning. On the Gryffindor team, we have Keeper Hugo Dashings, Chasers Dennis Berster, Kenneth Graham, and newcomer James Potter, Seeker Bertha Jorkins, and Beaters Gilbert Grudgins and newcomer Orlick Greasings!"

The team swooped onto the field and took their positions as the names of the Slytherin players were called out. James hardly recognized any of them. He scanned the crowd for his friends, and noticed them sitting next to Hagrid, holding up their wands and writing in the sky "GO LIONS." Hagrid was beaming, and gave him a thumbs up. James was taken aback. He had never really gotten to know Hagrid, but he smiled anyway and soared higher into the sky.

"Ah wahnt ah fahr gahmeh," Darsing said, walking to the middle of the field with the Quaffle in hand. "Thah ahncloohdehs yah tah, Barhstahr."

"What?" Dennis asked, but Darsing didn't hear him. She threw the ball high into the air and retreated to the sidelines.

Dennis caught it with ease and passed it to Graham.

"A nice catch by Graham," Davey said, "and it better be a nice catch all the way through, Ken, 'cause I've got bets with Dung on you."

"Gudgeon ---"

"Sorry, Professor."

Graham then passed the Quaffle to James, who was speedily making his way towards the goalpost. He caught it and slammed it into the smallest hole.

"And ten points to Gryffindor!" Davey's voice said. "It's ten to zilch, Gryffindor, thanks to James Potter, the new Chaser. Go rookie, go!"

The crowd roared, and Sirius had started rooting with Remus from the stands. He laughed and went back to the middle to retrieve the Quaffle. This time, Darsing threw it to him, and he shot straight for the goalpost, forgetting about Dennis and Graham.

"Twenty points to zip, Gryffindor!" Davey shouted. "Potter took control of the ball, and it looks like he's going to be what this team needs to win the Cup."

Graham was smarting after being ignored, and gave James a glare as they went back to the middle of the field.

James was smiling to himself. He was going to actually do well! He had found something to call his own!

"And Potter has control of the ball again, and he's zipping back towards the goal --- and thirty points to nothing, Gryffindor!"

"Good job, Potter!" Dennis said as he flew past him. "Very good. I haven't seen that many goals scored that fast since Darsing's own career in '78."

"Thinkin' about givin' the ball to anyone else today?" Graham shouted from his position. James frowned. They were winning, weren't they?

"And Potter's in control of the ball again, and he's heading towards the goal --- and LOOK OUT, JAMES! BLUDGER!"

James ducked, and a Bludger hit from a beefy Slytherin whizzed past his head. The Slytherin boy smiled and slicked back his hair.

"THAT SON OF A-"

"DAVEY GUDGEON! I AM WARNING YOU!"

"Sorry, Professor." Davey cleared his throat, and continued on. "Potter scores again! And it's forty points for Gryffindor at the moment, Jorkins is still looking for the Snitch, and seems not to be able to find it --- Pucey is tailing her, trying to find it as well --- doesn't look like they're having much luck. In the meantime, we have Potter to keep racking up the points. Go, Potter, go!"

Graham's glare grew more intense as James flew past him to retrieve the Quaffle from Darsing again.

"And Potter is in control, yet again. Harting is coming from behind him, but --- no, he ducks him --- throws the ball to Berster, and Berster back to Potter. Potter back to Berster, and Berster to Potter. Potter scores again! Fifty to zilch, Gryffindor! If only Graham was up to snuff, we could actually have a team here this year."

"Try to keep your opinions to yourself, Mr. Gudgeon."

"GO LIONS GO! GO LIONS GO!" Sirius shouted from the stands, and everyone in his box followed his lead. James smiled and flipped over on his broom. He took his hands off of the handle and waved to the audience.

"And Potter is showing an amazing control of his broom. His Cleansweep Two is not as good as the new models, Cleansweep 3, but it really makes no difference. It's the rider that makes the speed, I always say. And moving along, Potter is in control. He shoots --- he scores! Sixty to zilch, Gryffindor! And you would think that the Slytherin team is asleep this morning. Wake up, Slytherin!"

All of a sudden, out of the corner of his eye, he saw Bertha Jorkins swoop down out of the sky and fly after a tiny ball of golden light.

"And Jorkins seems to have spied the Snitch! This could be it, ladies and gents, this could very well be the game --- and YES! Jorkins catches the Snitch, and Gryffindor wins, two hundred and twenty to nada!"

The good three fourths of the crowd in red and gold got to their feet and screamed and shouted so loud that James's ears hurt. He smiled at Sirius, Remus, and Peter as he made his way to the ground.

"GO, POTTER, GO, POTTER, GO!" the stands screamed as he landed. He waved to them, smile spreading across his face. He had never felt this way. He had never been so important ---

Sirius and Remus rushed onto the field, and Sirius knocked him down as he tried to raise him in the air. The entire school flooded onto the field as the Slytherin team quietly disappeared from sight. Graham was still glaring at James.

"I have not seen that good of a game since the Quidditch World Cup in '72. It was between Austria and the U.S," Dennis said, patting him on the back. "Great job, Potter. Great job."

James looked over the heads to make out a red haired one, and he smiled. "Hey, Evans!"

Lily blinked and looked at him for a moment before trudging off out of sight.

"GO, POTTER, GO, POTTER, GO!" the crowd shouted as they lifted him onto their shoulders and began parading around the pitch. Darsing was smiling, Sirius and Remus were screaming at the tops of their voices.

Life was wonderful again.

""""""""""""""""""""

Lily Evans was a very pretty girl. Anyone who could catch a glance of her in the corridors could figure this much. What most people didn't know, however, is that she was anything but the expected.

"I don't exactly know what the whole commotion is about Quidditch. It's only a game," she said as she and Severus sat outside the Fat Lady, their legs up to their chests and their hands dumping themselves into a bag of Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans. The night was filled with post-Quidditch jubilation; no one would know or care that a couple third years were barely outside of their common rooms. And if anyone did find them out, Lily would just jump behind the portrait and out of sight. Severus, who had more to lose and a longer way to trudge back to his Slytherin dungeon, thought the risk was worth it.

"Got a vomit one," Severus spit his bean into his palm and flung it down the staircase, wiping his hand on his ratty robes, "Which one do you have?"

"Grass," Lily said, disappointed, and she hit the back of her head against the portrait. The Fat Lady stirred in her sleep, "It's so quiet out here ---"

"Well, yes, seeing as you and I aren't the only ones celebrating."

"Would you rather ---"

"No," Severus said, taking another Bertie Bott's and choking it down, "No, we lost. Terrible place to be tonight, the dungeon. And this is tradition, isn't it? Sitting here outside in the corridor, eating these gross beans --- although I don't quite know why. Neither of us seems to like them."

"Maybe we should switch to Chocolate Frogs next year."

There was a muffled, muted laugh from both of them before Lily slowly turned her face from her friend. Severus, upon looking at her, realized her shoulders were shaking. She was crying.

"Lily?"

"I'm sorry," Lily said quietly, "We haven't just hung out for such a long time, and here I am, ruining it ---"

"Lily, what's wrong?" Severus could feel his heart breaking a bit, and this was reflected on his pallid face as he pushed her hair back out of her face, and attempted a smile, "Come on, cough it up."

"Why is Nott your friend, Sev?"

The question came as a bit of a surprise for Severus. Theodore Nott was a boy who he had grown to call an acquaintance at best, and a foolhardy leech at worst. For Lily to bring such a name into such a conversation was very unexpected.

"Nott's not really my friend, Lily ---"

"He's a horrible little prig," Lily said, her eyes flaring green, "I overheard him outside the Potions dungeon, speaking with that Lucius boy. He was angry about the exams Slughorn handed back yesterday. He failed."

"Surprise of the year," Severus laughed.

"And he had heard I had gotten top marks," Lily turned from her friend again, pushing the beans bag away from her, "And he was already angry that I was invited to Slughorn's party last week and he wasn't --- that must be why he said what he said ---"

"What did he say?"

"He said, 'That stupid Mudblood has no business being at Hogwarts to begin with,'" and with this confession came more tears, and Lily curled herself up in a ball, back to Severus. Severus, trying to fight the urge to hug her, allowed himself to only pat her shoulder.

"Lily, Nott's a git. Everyone knows it."

"So why are you friends with him!"

"You don't think I would say something like that!"

"Well, is it true?" Lily said, her green, green eyes flaring up again through her uncontrollable weeping, "Is it true what they say about Muggle borns? Do I have no business being here?"

Severus, now unable to fight the urge any longer, embraced her, squeezing her in his thin, gangly arms. And there the two childhood friends sat in the corridor, listening to Lily's crying mix with the Fat Lady's snoring and the cheers from the Gryffindors behind the portrait. Lily dug her face into Severus's cloak, burying her red nose in his robes. He wanted her to stay there forever, but knew she couldn't.

She never could.

"I have told you before," Severus said quite sternly, "It doesn't matter who you parents are. And the only people who think differently have been inbred so many times it doesn't matter what they believe."

Lily stopped crying a bit after that, let go of him, and nodded bravely, "Thank you, Sev."

"I'll talk to Nott," he said, "I'll teach him a bit about manners and bring him out of the stone age, eh?"

"You really are my best friend, Sev," Lily said, giving him one last hug, "I don't know what I'd do without you."

Or I you, Severus thought to himself.

And with the night's crisis over and done with, the two of them went to throwing the beans down the stairs, seeing who could chuck theirs further while hitting the most steps. When they heard Mrs. Norris coming, Lily gave Severus one last hug, one last thank you, and disappeared into the Gryffindor common room.

And Snape left for Slytherin.