Harry pulled out the Marauder's map from his pocket to find out where
professor McGonagall was, and to his luck, she was just headed their way,
to Dumbledore's office, no doubt. Harry ran up to her and greeted her,
handing her the envelope.
"...and Professor Dumbledore said to meet him in his office. We'll just be getting to the Great Hall now," and with that, he and the others scampered away.
The Great Hall was quite bare, except for the plates, cups, and cutlery that was placed carefully on the table. Hermione huffed.
"Look at all the work the poor house elves have to do, just so we can muck it up again."
"Stop with the spew stuff already!" said Ron as he let out a sigh of frustration.
"It's not spew!" shrieked Hermione.
"What's up with those two?" Frieda asked Harry quietly. Ron seemed to have overheard them, despite Hermione's screams.
"It's just-you can't describe her in words."
"Ron likes to comment, Hermione likes to scream," said Harry.
"That just about sums it up," said Frieda. Ron glared at the two before returning to the Spew argument with Hermione.
"Well you just wait then-I've got all my S. P. E. W stuff here. I'll get more people to join in this time. And then maybe it can be a proper organization by the time we're in school."
"Oh the horror! The horror!" wailed Ron in mock fear. Hermione glowered.
"Well you can just take your own bloody notes this year then-don't think that I'm going to help you in potions anymore. Oh, the horror! The horror!" Harry and Frieda snorted, but Harry stopped.
"Wait a sec, Hermione! You can't do that! I need help in potions! Sn-oh wait! Snape isn't the professor here!" Ron looked like Christmas had come early.
"You're right!"
"Well, we'll be top in our year in our time then, and even Snape can't do anything about it. We'll know everything!" said Harry gleefully. "And plus, no Slytherins in DADA! This is great! I think I'm going to like being an auror."
"Same here," said Ron and Hermione.
"What are you going to be, Frieda?" asked Hermione.
"I want to work at the Ministry-homicide squad."
"You know what I don't get? Why there even is a homicide squad. It's always the Death Eaters, anyways," Ron pointed out.
"Well, RON, it's like this. We know it's the Death Eaters, although not always, but we can find out WHY the people were murdered."
"Simple-they weren't pure bloods or something."
"It's not like that-you can find out WHY these people were specifically targeted, and a lot of things come from that. And you can also find a pattern usually, which will help in finding out who the next victim's are- believe me, from what Nathaniel's told me, a lot of people have been saved like that." Ron fell silent.
"Crash and burn!" said Frieda joyously.
"About time somebody punctured your head Ron," said Harry as he and the others chuckled.
"Some friend you are," Ron said sarcastically.
"I know-aren't I great?"
"So what classes?" asked Hermione.
"DADA, charms, arithmacy, potions etc etc."
"Oh. Well their nearly all the same classes as us. Actually, I was thinking about becoming part of the Homicide Squad too, ya know? What you just said... I dunno." Harry and Ron stared at Hermione.
"You can't be serious!" exclaimed Ron.
"I'm serious, alright. Actually, I wanted to do that last year too, except, well you know-I'd be alone then."
"Well we have to choose our courses by next week, right?"
"Yeah," said Hermione.
"Great. I still have time to think, and so do you. I'm trying to be a 110 percent sure."
"See? She is crazy-you can't have more than a hundred percent," said Ron.
"It's a figure of speech, you moron."
"Boy, you Americans have a sharp tongue," said Hermione.
"Well in America, we don't let idiots rule our lives-we defend ourselves."
"I bet you'd cuss Voldemort in his face, wouldn't you?" said Harry. Frieda gave a small smile.
"Well somebody's got to." Ron looked horrified at the prospect, and Hermione and Harry looked downright shocked.
"What?"
"You're talking about Voldemort here!"
"So? Why should I be afraid of him? Go ahead-let him kill me. Why do I have to care? We'll all die eventually anyway. It's just a matter of when." The others were about to respond to this, when Professor McGonagall burst through the doors to the Great Hall.
"Come on! Their going to get here soon," she said cheerfully. Harry, Ron and Hermione let their jaws drop. Professor McGonagall sure had changed over the years. Harry would have betted that it was the Marauder's, and the Weasley twins' faults.
"Please, professor! Don't ever change!" exclaimed Ron in awe.
"What are you talking about? I know about you lot, but why the hell would I change?"
"You said hell!" said Harry in shock.
"You're-you're COOL!" Hermione rolled her eyes.
"Don't mind them, professor. It's just that where we come from, you're a little more tight, if you know what I mean." McGonagall dropped her jaw this time.
"What do you mean? I become like-like as the muggles say it, the old cat lady?" Frieda snorted.
"Th-that's one-way to put it," Hermione said, as her voice faltered. McGonagall looked horrified.
"Well if I'm like that, then guess whose fault it is."
"Marauders," said Harry.
"Fred and George," said Ron at the same time.
"Right you are, now hurry up-it's nearly time." McGonagall led the four out the back doors, just as the front doors burst open and students poured into the castle.
Harry was starting to feel nervous now. What if his parents didn't like him? Would he be able to NOT kill Pettigrew? After all, Sirius had said that Peter turned in their seventh year. What if he was put in Slytherin?
He ran alongside the others and stood stiffly when McGonagall opened the large wooden doors for Hagrid and the first years. They all stared at the older students. McGonagall gave them the same speech she had used in their own time, before letting everybody follow her.
"Now, you four are going to be sorted last, okay?"
"Mmm hmm."
"Great. Now everybody form a line! When I call you, go sit on the three legged stool and put on the hat. When it sorts you, go sit at your own house tables." There was a wave of nods as McGonagall disappeared.
"Oh, wait-you all have to wait out here. Follow me," said McGonagall, turning back. Everybody trudged nervously into the Great Hall.
"Were we really that shrimpy?" hissed Ron to Harry. A pink haired girl in front of them turned around.
"We are not shrimpy! Just because we're younger than you doesn't make us shrimpy. WE should be the ones insulting you! Did you lot fail so many times that you have to start over again?" The four stared at the girl. Harry suddenly recognized her. This was Nymphadora Tonks! Ron and Hermione seemed to notice as well, as they all exchanged surprised looks, completely oblivious to the fact that the whole Great Hall seemed to be whispering and gossiping about them.
Harry seemed to have gone deaf as McGonagall sorted everybody. He did not hear Ron and Hermione get sorted. He didn't even hear his own name. Frieda had to shove him towards the hat before he realized it was his turn.
He nervously sat on the stool and placed the hat on his head. It no longer fell past his eyes-only up to his eyebrows. Oh how he desperately wished that it did cover his eyes, so instead, he squeezed them shut.
AHH, ANOTHER POTTER EH? A BIT TOO SOON, BUT YOU ARE A TIME TRAVELER. YES, WELL I SHALL NOT MESS AROUND WITH THE FUTURE-OFF TO "GRYFFINDOR!"
Harry whipped off the hat and slowly, numbly walked over to where his friends were sitting. Now he had regained his hearing. He watched with the others as Frieda got sorted.
"Wynn, Frieda!" Frieda nervously stepped up to the stool. As a habit of nervousness, she bit the inside of her cheek.
Everybody watched her. She was frowning, and her eyes were flaming. She seemed to be having a furious argument with the hat.
"Don't push your luck-I'll tear you apart if I want to," she snapped out lout. Everybody was stunned for a brief point five seconds, before laughter rang out through the halls. Finally, after a few more seconds, it shouted Gryffindor, and Frieda smugly walked over to sit next to Hermione. The Great Hall hadn't recovered from its laughter, so Dumbledore waited before having everybody quiet down.
Dumbledore gave his usual speech before letting everybody tuck into their food. The four successfully managed not to stare at the Marauders, or at Lily Evans.
"What did the hat actually way to you?" asked Ron, laughing quietly, every now and then.
"Want me to list all the things it said about me?"
"Spare us the details," said Harry.
"Hmm... Well to sum it all up, it said I was annoying, loud, and stuff like that. You get the picture-you'd get mad too if a HAT, or all things, started to diss you up." Harry and Ron cracked up, clutching their stomachs, and avoiding Frieda's death glare.
"Well it'd do well for you not to lose your temper-honestly!"
"Come on Hermione! You got to admit it-that was funny, how she just suddenly exploded like that."
"Shut up!"
Meanwhile...
The Marauders sat at their table, discussing the new kids. Except for James, of course. He was sitting, gazing at Lily Evans, who was laughing at some joke her friends had made.
"Oy! Snap out of it, mate! She doesn't like you, and that's that."
"She'll like me this year, Sirius-I mean, I'm Head Boy now!"
"Whoa, don't go all high and mighty on me. Now I really believe that Dumbledore's off his rocker to make you the year's big head boy!"
"Well what about those new kids?" said Remus, trying to bring his two friends off the topic.
"Yeah, who made a clone of you, James?" asked Sirius.
"Yeah? Well who made a clone of Avril?" asked Peter. Sirius' eyes became wide. He craned his neck to take a look at the black haired girl next to the one with bushy hair.
"She doesn't look like Avril that much-pretty, but I dunno..."
"Well I can tell you one thing," said James, "she's from the States."
"She looks like you a bit," said Peter. Peter who was quiet, was very observant.
"No she doesn't!"
"She does," said Remus quietly. "How many people do you know who have hair like that? Not many." Sirius observed Frieda's hair. It was elbow length- very black that it almost looked blue. It was quite thick, and shiny, and it curled at the ends and sides much like his own hair. Sirius didn't say a word.
"What's the matter, Sirius? Cat got your tongue?" asked James mockingly.
"Shut it you."
"I can't believe that narking Potter got Head Boy," said Lily angrily.
"He'll terrorize us all!" exclaimed Vivian in mock terror. The girls laughed.
"What about those new kids?" asked Jane, as she pulled her straight, platinum blonde hair into a ponytail. She flicked her blue eyes towards the new kids, where they were discussing something quietly.
"Is he Potter's twin or something?" asked Lily.
"Nah-I know all the pure blood wizarding families. Believe me, Potter doesn't have a twin."
"Well I certainly hope that he isn't like THEM," said Lily.
"Come on-they aren't that bad!" exclaimed Jane. "I mean, James and Sirius are hot! And Remus, can't forget him."
"Ugh! You have no idea how annoying it is when those two stalk you," said Avril.
"Yeah I do."
"Well that's different-you and Vivian have NICE, AND hot guys following you around. We've got Potter and Black, the world's most big headed prats," said Avril.
"Guys, I've got to tell you something," Harry whispered as they walked to the Common Room, following the flow of Gryffindors so as not to attract attention.
"Well not now. And we got to do something about the map," Hermione muttered.
"Room of Requirement," said Ron.
"Mm hmm."
"Come on-let's go talk to them," said Jane. She dragged her friends along to the best arm chairs where the new kids were sitting.
"Hi. I'm Jane. This is Lily, and she's Head Girl, and this is Avril and Vivian." Harry squirmed nervously under his mother's presence. Lily decided that he was nothing like James Potter.
"Well I'm Hermione Granger," said Hermione. She shook the girls' hands.
"Ron Gates."
"Harry McGuire," Harry mumbled quickly.
"I'm Frieda Wynn," Frieda announced happily.
"Are you related to Sirius Black?" asked Avril suspiciously. Frieda, being the good actress that she was, didn't miss a beat.
"Sirius Black? Who's he?"
"Ya know-the one over there by the corner," said Vivian, pointing to the corner by the portrait of the fat lady.
"No," said Frieda slowly, "I don't think that we're related."
"Oh."
"Are you related to Potter then?" asked Lily to Harry. Harry squirmed even more.
"No."
"You look like him."
"He looks like me."
"Same difference." Lily laughed. Harry couldn't help but notice the dirty look his father was giving him.
"D'you girls want to come into the dormitory? I'll show you," offered Jane. Hermione and Frieda nodded.
"We'll see you two later," said Hermione, giving the two boys the 'talk- later' look.
"Okay."
"Bye."
"Look at that," James growled angrily.
"Come on mate-he doesn't know that you're after her, so don't go killing him, okay? I mean, it's only his first day," said Sirius gently.
"You wouldn't say that about Avril," James snarled. Sirius rolled his eyes.
"Look-you're Head Boy, and as much as I hate to say this, I don't want you to lose your title over some girl."
"She's not SOME girl. She's Lily Evans."
"Looks like Sirius did some growing up," Remus noted calmly. James pursed his lips together.
"Come on James. Don't let it get to you-he doesn't know any better. Just go and tell him whatever."
"Lily wouldn't like that."
"Then I'll tell him," said Sirius. He stood up. Making sure that the girls disappeared into their dormitory, he walked over to where Harry and Ron were sitting.
"Hey. I'm Sirius Black. My buddy James over there is a bit concerned that you're after his girl. A word of advice-don't go after E-Lily," said Sirius hastily. The two boys gaped at him, before bursting out laughing.
"You actually think that Harry wants to go out with"
"Lily?" added Harry before Ron could add mother.
"What's so funny about that?" asked Sirius suspiciously.
"It's just that-well, Lily isn't my type," he said, wiping away tears. How could his father, for one second believe that he was after his own mother? But he didn't know that yet. Ron started taking deep breaths so that he wouldn't laugh anymore, but he couldn't help it. He burst out in another string of laughter.
"Sorry Sirius," said Ron after a while. "It's just really funny." Sirius sniffed indignantly and turned around.
Harry and Ron looked at each other before collapsing in a fit of laughter. They dared to take a quick glimpse at James, who was not looking amused.
"Well? What's so funny? You better not have said anything about me." Sirius wrinkled his brow in concentration.
"Well, I told them that Lily was your girl, and that they'd better not go after her." James nodded in approval. "And then they started laughing like maniacs. And then Harry said that Lily wasn't his type of girl."
"Yeah right," James muttered darkly.
"He could be telling the truth," said Remus.
"Yeah-if he liked her, he wouldn't laugh at her," added Peter.
"So how are you liking Hogwarts so far?" asked Vivan. Frieda smiled. Same old Vivian.
"Its cool-I think I'm going to like it here."
"Yeah. It's really nice," added Hermione. She pulled out her shrunken trunk from her pocket and enlarged it. Following her example, Frieda did the same. The other girls raised their eyebrows, but did not question this.
"Isn't Harry the best?" said Lily dreamily. The girls exchanged glances. Two, worried, three amused.
"If you think Harry's hot, then you must think that James is hot," said Avril.
"I'm not denying it-their both hot, but that doesn't matter. Harry's nice, James is not. I wonder if he's single..."
"He's not," said Hermione quickly. The girls all turned to her. Hermione smiled evilly at Frieda. "Frieda's going out with him." Frieda gave Hermione one of the dirtiest looks she could manage.
"Oh... You're so lucky," said Lily, clearly disappointed.
"Mmm." Oh, Hermione's going to pay for this dearly, Frieda thought.
"So how come you guys came to Hogwarts so late? I know you're from the states, but what about you and the other guys?" asked Jane.
"Hmm? Oh, er, well Harry, Ron and I were home schooled by our parents since we were eleven."
"Cool. What about you, Frieda?"
"Me? Well, um, my mom was a witch-a healer, actually. And um, well she got crushed by a truck. I don't know my dad-I've never actually seen him. Mom never told me what his name was, and no pictures either. Just said that he was a rotten scumbag who she'd like to take a punch at. He left her before I was born, so yeah..."
"Oh, sorry for asking," said Jane quietly.
"That's alright."
"...and Professor Dumbledore said to meet him in his office. We'll just be getting to the Great Hall now," and with that, he and the others scampered away.
The Great Hall was quite bare, except for the plates, cups, and cutlery that was placed carefully on the table. Hermione huffed.
"Look at all the work the poor house elves have to do, just so we can muck it up again."
"Stop with the spew stuff already!" said Ron as he let out a sigh of frustration.
"It's not spew!" shrieked Hermione.
"What's up with those two?" Frieda asked Harry quietly. Ron seemed to have overheard them, despite Hermione's screams.
"It's just-you can't describe her in words."
"Ron likes to comment, Hermione likes to scream," said Harry.
"That just about sums it up," said Frieda. Ron glared at the two before returning to the Spew argument with Hermione.
"Well you just wait then-I've got all my S. P. E. W stuff here. I'll get more people to join in this time. And then maybe it can be a proper organization by the time we're in school."
"Oh the horror! The horror!" wailed Ron in mock fear. Hermione glowered.
"Well you can just take your own bloody notes this year then-don't think that I'm going to help you in potions anymore. Oh, the horror! The horror!" Harry and Frieda snorted, but Harry stopped.
"Wait a sec, Hermione! You can't do that! I need help in potions! Sn-oh wait! Snape isn't the professor here!" Ron looked like Christmas had come early.
"You're right!"
"Well, we'll be top in our year in our time then, and even Snape can't do anything about it. We'll know everything!" said Harry gleefully. "And plus, no Slytherins in DADA! This is great! I think I'm going to like being an auror."
"Same here," said Ron and Hermione.
"What are you going to be, Frieda?" asked Hermione.
"I want to work at the Ministry-homicide squad."
"You know what I don't get? Why there even is a homicide squad. It's always the Death Eaters, anyways," Ron pointed out.
"Well, RON, it's like this. We know it's the Death Eaters, although not always, but we can find out WHY the people were murdered."
"Simple-they weren't pure bloods or something."
"It's not like that-you can find out WHY these people were specifically targeted, and a lot of things come from that. And you can also find a pattern usually, which will help in finding out who the next victim's are- believe me, from what Nathaniel's told me, a lot of people have been saved like that." Ron fell silent.
"Crash and burn!" said Frieda joyously.
"About time somebody punctured your head Ron," said Harry as he and the others chuckled.
"Some friend you are," Ron said sarcastically.
"I know-aren't I great?"
"So what classes?" asked Hermione.
"DADA, charms, arithmacy, potions etc etc."
"Oh. Well their nearly all the same classes as us. Actually, I was thinking about becoming part of the Homicide Squad too, ya know? What you just said... I dunno." Harry and Ron stared at Hermione.
"You can't be serious!" exclaimed Ron.
"I'm serious, alright. Actually, I wanted to do that last year too, except, well you know-I'd be alone then."
"Well we have to choose our courses by next week, right?"
"Yeah," said Hermione.
"Great. I still have time to think, and so do you. I'm trying to be a 110 percent sure."
"See? She is crazy-you can't have more than a hundred percent," said Ron.
"It's a figure of speech, you moron."
"Boy, you Americans have a sharp tongue," said Hermione.
"Well in America, we don't let idiots rule our lives-we defend ourselves."
"I bet you'd cuss Voldemort in his face, wouldn't you?" said Harry. Frieda gave a small smile.
"Well somebody's got to." Ron looked horrified at the prospect, and Hermione and Harry looked downright shocked.
"What?"
"You're talking about Voldemort here!"
"So? Why should I be afraid of him? Go ahead-let him kill me. Why do I have to care? We'll all die eventually anyway. It's just a matter of when." The others were about to respond to this, when Professor McGonagall burst through the doors to the Great Hall.
"Come on! Their going to get here soon," she said cheerfully. Harry, Ron and Hermione let their jaws drop. Professor McGonagall sure had changed over the years. Harry would have betted that it was the Marauder's, and the Weasley twins' faults.
"Please, professor! Don't ever change!" exclaimed Ron in awe.
"What are you talking about? I know about you lot, but why the hell would I change?"
"You said hell!" said Harry in shock.
"You're-you're COOL!" Hermione rolled her eyes.
"Don't mind them, professor. It's just that where we come from, you're a little more tight, if you know what I mean." McGonagall dropped her jaw this time.
"What do you mean? I become like-like as the muggles say it, the old cat lady?" Frieda snorted.
"Th-that's one-way to put it," Hermione said, as her voice faltered. McGonagall looked horrified.
"Well if I'm like that, then guess whose fault it is."
"Marauders," said Harry.
"Fred and George," said Ron at the same time.
"Right you are, now hurry up-it's nearly time." McGonagall led the four out the back doors, just as the front doors burst open and students poured into the castle.
Harry was starting to feel nervous now. What if his parents didn't like him? Would he be able to NOT kill Pettigrew? After all, Sirius had said that Peter turned in their seventh year. What if he was put in Slytherin?
He ran alongside the others and stood stiffly when McGonagall opened the large wooden doors for Hagrid and the first years. They all stared at the older students. McGonagall gave them the same speech she had used in their own time, before letting everybody follow her.
"Now, you four are going to be sorted last, okay?"
"Mmm hmm."
"Great. Now everybody form a line! When I call you, go sit on the three legged stool and put on the hat. When it sorts you, go sit at your own house tables." There was a wave of nods as McGonagall disappeared.
"Oh, wait-you all have to wait out here. Follow me," said McGonagall, turning back. Everybody trudged nervously into the Great Hall.
"Were we really that shrimpy?" hissed Ron to Harry. A pink haired girl in front of them turned around.
"We are not shrimpy! Just because we're younger than you doesn't make us shrimpy. WE should be the ones insulting you! Did you lot fail so many times that you have to start over again?" The four stared at the girl. Harry suddenly recognized her. This was Nymphadora Tonks! Ron and Hermione seemed to notice as well, as they all exchanged surprised looks, completely oblivious to the fact that the whole Great Hall seemed to be whispering and gossiping about them.
Harry seemed to have gone deaf as McGonagall sorted everybody. He did not hear Ron and Hermione get sorted. He didn't even hear his own name. Frieda had to shove him towards the hat before he realized it was his turn.
He nervously sat on the stool and placed the hat on his head. It no longer fell past his eyes-only up to his eyebrows. Oh how he desperately wished that it did cover his eyes, so instead, he squeezed them shut.
AHH, ANOTHER POTTER EH? A BIT TOO SOON, BUT YOU ARE A TIME TRAVELER. YES, WELL I SHALL NOT MESS AROUND WITH THE FUTURE-OFF TO "GRYFFINDOR!"
Harry whipped off the hat and slowly, numbly walked over to where his friends were sitting. Now he had regained his hearing. He watched with the others as Frieda got sorted.
"Wynn, Frieda!" Frieda nervously stepped up to the stool. As a habit of nervousness, she bit the inside of her cheek.
Everybody watched her. She was frowning, and her eyes were flaming. She seemed to be having a furious argument with the hat.
"Don't push your luck-I'll tear you apart if I want to," she snapped out lout. Everybody was stunned for a brief point five seconds, before laughter rang out through the halls. Finally, after a few more seconds, it shouted Gryffindor, and Frieda smugly walked over to sit next to Hermione. The Great Hall hadn't recovered from its laughter, so Dumbledore waited before having everybody quiet down.
Dumbledore gave his usual speech before letting everybody tuck into their food. The four successfully managed not to stare at the Marauders, or at Lily Evans.
"What did the hat actually way to you?" asked Ron, laughing quietly, every now and then.
"Want me to list all the things it said about me?"
"Spare us the details," said Harry.
"Hmm... Well to sum it all up, it said I was annoying, loud, and stuff like that. You get the picture-you'd get mad too if a HAT, or all things, started to diss you up." Harry and Ron cracked up, clutching their stomachs, and avoiding Frieda's death glare.
"Well it'd do well for you not to lose your temper-honestly!"
"Come on Hermione! You got to admit it-that was funny, how she just suddenly exploded like that."
"Shut up!"
Meanwhile...
The Marauders sat at their table, discussing the new kids. Except for James, of course. He was sitting, gazing at Lily Evans, who was laughing at some joke her friends had made.
"Oy! Snap out of it, mate! She doesn't like you, and that's that."
"She'll like me this year, Sirius-I mean, I'm Head Boy now!"
"Whoa, don't go all high and mighty on me. Now I really believe that Dumbledore's off his rocker to make you the year's big head boy!"
"Well what about those new kids?" said Remus, trying to bring his two friends off the topic.
"Yeah, who made a clone of you, James?" asked Sirius.
"Yeah? Well who made a clone of Avril?" asked Peter. Sirius' eyes became wide. He craned his neck to take a look at the black haired girl next to the one with bushy hair.
"She doesn't look like Avril that much-pretty, but I dunno..."
"Well I can tell you one thing," said James, "she's from the States."
"She looks like you a bit," said Peter. Peter who was quiet, was very observant.
"No she doesn't!"
"She does," said Remus quietly. "How many people do you know who have hair like that? Not many." Sirius observed Frieda's hair. It was elbow length- very black that it almost looked blue. It was quite thick, and shiny, and it curled at the ends and sides much like his own hair. Sirius didn't say a word.
"What's the matter, Sirius? Cat got your tongue?" asked James mockingly.
"Shut it you."
"I can't believe that narking Potter got Head Boy," said Lily angrily.
"He'll terrorize us all!" exclaimed Vivian in mock terror. The girls laughed.
"What about those new kids?" asked Jane, as she pulled her straight, platinum blonde hair into a ponytail. She flicked her blue eyes towards the new kids, where they were discussing something quietly.
"Is he Potter's twin or something?" asked Lily.
"Nah-I know all the pure blood wizarding families. Believe me, Potter doesn't have a twin."
"Well I certainly hope that he isn't like THEM," said Lily.
"Come on-they aren't that bad!" exclaimed Jane. "I mean, James and Sirius are hot! And Remus, can't forget him."
"Ugh! You have no idea how annoying it is when those two stalk you," said Avril.
"Yeah I do."
"Well that's different-you and Vivian have NICE, AND hot guys following you around. We've got Potter and Black, the world's most big headed prats," said Avril.
"Guys, I've got to tell you something," Harry whispered as they walked to the Common Room, following the flow of Gryffindors so as not to attract attention.
"Well not now. And we got to do something about the map," Hermione muttered.
"Room of Requirement," said Ron.
"Mm hmm."
"Come on-let's go talk to them," said Jane. She dragged her friends along to the best arm chairs where the new kids were sitting.
"Hi. I'm Jane. This is Lily, and she's Head Girl, and this is Avril and Vivian." Harry squirmed nervously under his mother's presence. Lily decided that he was nothing like James Potter.
"Well I'm Hermione Granger," said Hermione. She shook the girls' hands.
"Ron Gates."
"Harry McGuire," Harry mumbled quickly.
"I'm Frieda Wynn," Frieda announced happily.
"Are you related to Sirius Black?" asked Avril suspiciously. Frieda, being the good actress that she was, didn't miss a beat.
"Sirius Black? Who's he?"
"Ya know-the one over there by the corner," said Vivian, pointing to the corner by the portrait of the fat lady.
"No," said Frieda slowly, "I don't think that we're related."
"Oh."
"Are you related to Potter then?" asked Lily to Harry. Harry squirmed even more.
"No."
"You look like him."
"He looks like me."
"Same difference." Lily laughed. Harry couldn't help but notice the dirty look his father was giving him.
"D'you girls want to come into the dormitory? I'll show you," offered Jane. Hermione and Frieda nodded.
"We'll see you two later," said Hermione, giving the two boys the 'talk- later' look.
"Okay."
"Bye."
"Look at that," James growled angrily.
"Come on mate-he doesn't know that you're after her, so don't go killing him, okay? I mean, it's only his first day," said Sirius gently.
"You wouldn't say that about Avril," James snarled. Sirius rolled his eyes.
"Look-you're Head Boy, and as much as I hate to say this, I don't want you to lose your title over some girl."
"She's not SOME girl. She's Lily Evans."
"Looks like Sirius did some growing up," Remus noted calmly. James pursed his lips together.
"Come on James. Don't let it get to you-he doesn't know any better. Just go and tell him whatever."
"Lily wouldn't like that."
"Then I'll tell him," said Sirius. He stood up. Making sure that the girls disappeared into their dormitory, he walked over to where Harry and Ron were sitting.
"Hey. I'm Sirius Black. My buddy James over there is a bit concerned that you're after his girl. A word of advice-don't go after E-Lily," said Sirius hastily. The two boys gaped at him, before bursting out laughing.
"You actually think that Harry wants to go out with"
"Lily?" added Harry before Ron could add mother.
"What's so funny about that?" asked Sirius suspiciously.
"It's just that-well, Lily isn't my type," he said, wiping away tears. How could his father, for one second believe that he was after his own mother? But he didn't know that yet. Ron started taking deep breaths so that he wouldn't laugh anymore, but he couldn't help it. He burst out in another string of laughter.
"Sorry Sirius," said Ron after a while. "It's just really funny." Sirius sniffed indignantly and turned around.
Harry and Ron looked at each other before collapsing in a fit of laughter. They dared to take a quick glimpse at James, who was not looking amused.
"Well? What's so funny? You better not have said anything about me." Sirius wrinkled his brow in concentration.
"Well, I told them that Lily was your girl, and that they'd better not go after her." James nodded in approval. "And then they started laughing like maniacs. And then Harry said that Lily wasn't his type of girl."
"Yeah right," James muttered darkly.
"He could be telling the truth," said Remus.
"Yeah-if he liked her, he wouldn't laugh at her," added Peter.
"So how are you liking Hogwarts so far?" asked Vivan. Frieda smiled. Same old Vivian.
"Its cool-I think I'm going to like it here."
"Yeah. It's really nice," added Hermione. She pulled out her shrunken trunk from her pocket and enlarged it. Following her example, Frieda did the same. The other girls raised their eyebrows, but did not question this.
"Isn't Harry the best?" said Lily dreamily. The girls exchanged glances. Two, worried, three amused.
"If you think Harry's hot, then you must think that James is hot," said Avril.
"I'm not denying it-their both hot, but that doesn't matter. Harry's nice, James is not. I wonder if he's single..."
"He's not," said Hermione quickly. The girls all turned to her. Hermione smiled evilly at Frieda. "Frieda's going out with him." Frieda gave Hermione one of the dirtiest looks she could manage.
"Oh... You're so lucky," said Lily, clearly disappointed.
"Mmm." Oh, Hermione's going to pay for this dearly, Frieda thought.
"So how come you guys came to Hogwarts so late? I know you're from the states, but what about you and the other guys?" asked Jane.
"Hmm? Oh, er, well Harry, Ron and I were home schooled by our parents since we were eleven."
"Cool. What about you, Frieda?"
"Me? Well, um, my mom was a witch-a healer, actually. And um, well she got crushed by a truck. I don't know my dad-I've never actually seen him. Mom never told me what his name was, and no pictures either. Just said that he was a rotten scumbag who she'd like to take a punch at. He left her before I was born, so yeah..."
"Oh, sorry for asking," said Jane quietly.
"That's alright."