I have no decent excuse for not posting, so this is a little longer...maybe with the school year I'll get more on schedule....I can hope so, anyway.
New Year, New student
"That was close," Lily let out a sigh of relief as she returned home.
"What took you so long?" Serenity asked.
"His brother got in before I could floo out," Lily explained.
"Would his brother keep the secret? Of did he notice you?" She asked.
"Let's just say that they're not like me and Petunia. But he didn't see me- I climbed up the chimney." Lily said.
"Oh! That explains the clothes!" Serenity realized, as Mona walked in.
"Lily! Change out of those right now! And how did you manage to get that dirty?" She exclaimed.
Lily nodded and hurried to change. When she got back downstairs, Lily explained the situation, and caused Mona to laugh aloud.
Serenity then poked Lily, reminding her of the party.
"Mum," Lily started. "On e of my friends is having a New Years Eve party, and I was wondering if we could go."
"Lily, you know we always spend New Years Eve as a family."
"But Mum," Lily tried to say.
"No buts, Lily. New Years Eve is a family night," Mona said.
"But the whole family was invited!" Lily got in.
Mona thought for a moment. "Maybe we can drop by," she finally said. "Where is it?"
"That's the best part!" Lily exclaimed. "It's in Paris!"
"Paris?!" Mona asked. "That's too far, Lily."
"I know, but we could use floo powder," Serenity explained. "It would be fairly simple- and fun," She finished boldly.
"I'll talk with your father," Mona responded. "But don't get too excited."
"Wow!" Lily said a few hours later in Paris.
"Lily!" James said, noticing her. "I'm glad you could come! The more, the merrier! Hi Serenity, Mr. and Mrs. Evans, er..." he paused noticing Petunia.
"I'm Lily's sister, Petunia," she introduced herself.
"A pleasure to meet you," James said kindly. "I'm James Potter."
"Nice to meet you, James," Petunia said.
"Everybody, all ages, grab a partner! Time to tango!" An announcer said.
"Oh no!" James groaned, hiding behind Sirius. "I hate the tango!"
"Then don't dance," Sirius said logically.
"I wish! If I don't find someone on my own, the charm'll choose one for me, and you, for that matter," James said.
Sirius's eyes went wide. "Lily!" He exclaimed. "Marie, Rebecca, Marelda, Lynn, Christine! Someone!"
"Sorry. I'm with Remus," Rebecca responded.
"Peter," Marelda added.
"Trip," Lynn put in.
"Jared," Christine added.
"What about you, Lily?" Sirius asked.
"Marie," she said, smiling a bit. "Why do you want to dance anyway?"
"I don't have a choice," Sirius exclaimed.
"Wait- who's James with?" That could solve the problem," Marie said.
"He's dancing with Serenity and Lily's sister," Sirius said.
"Okay, so dance with both of us," Lily suggested.
"I have a hard enough time with one person!" Sirius said.
"Well, get used to it," Marie said, winking at Lily before they both started to tango with him.
"Well, that was interesting," Sirius said after the dance.
"Two minutes until the New Year!" Came a loud voice.
Everyone moved towards the balcony to wait.
"But it's not even eleven yet," Lily said, confused.
"You're right, "Sirius said.
"My watch says the same," Marie added.
"But you're forgetting that we're in Paris, my friends," James interrupted. "It's a different time zone."
"Right!" Petunia exclaimed.
"Now a few words of advice- when the New Year starts, watch the festivities- whatever you do, don't turn around." James ordered.
"Why?" Lynn asked, inching her way in. James made kissing noises.
"Oh..." Everyone said with a hard to read expression.
"Ten, nine, eight," the counting started, "seven, six, five, four, three, two, one! Happy New Year 1971!" Everyone said.
"Don't watch," Remus advised, so everyone in the group just turned their heads.
"Bye!" Lily said a half-hour later, leaving with her parents. "See you in a few days!"
"I can't believe vacation is over," Lily said to Serenity a few days later. "I'm going back to Hogwarts tomorrow."
"I'm going to be so lonely," Serenity sighed.
"But you'll have lots of friends," Lily assured, "Who could not like you?"
"I don't even know how long I'm here for thought," Serenity said. "For all I know, I'm going to Australia!"
"I can assure you, you won't," Charles said that evening.
"So, I'll be staying here?" Serenity asked.
"Your options are stated in this letter," Mona explained.
Dear Miss Winter,
The staff and I have been discussing your situation, and have an option for you. Because of your being a year ahead in Muggle school, and your clear ability, we have decided to give you the chance of staying here and attending classes. At the end of the year, you may take the exams, and if you do not pass, you will start your first year in September, and if you do pass, you will have the choice of starting September as a second, or first year student.
If you wish to accept, simply have your friend Lily take you to my office, and we shall sort everything out. Think about this.
Sincerely,
Professor Albus Dumbledore
"I can go to Hogwarts!" Serenity exclaimed.
"You can?!" Lily said, excited. "How?!" Serenity handed the letter to Lily. "This is great!" She said after she read it, and then passed the letter around.
"Well, pack your things- apparently we're dropping two people off tomorrow." Charles said, breaking the short silence.
Lily motioned for Serenity and Petunia to follow her to her room.
"The professor just saved us a very difficult decision," Mona said thankfully. "Staying when school is off is one thing, but I'm not sure what I would have done if this were to last until she was eighteen."
"Well, that's besides the point now," Charles said.
"Goodbye Mum! Bye Dad! Bye 'Tunia! I'll miss you all!" Lily said, hugging each one before boarding the Hogwarts Express.
"Bye Mr. and Mrs. Evans. Thank you for everything!" Serenity exclaimed gratefully. "Bye Petunia!"
"Welcome back to Hogwarts! I hope you all had a wonderful Holiday! After the feast, would Lily Evans kindly bring her friend to my office? Thank you- now eat!" Dumbledore made his speech.
"Why does he want to see me?" Serenity asked worried, as everyone looked towards Lily.
"Don't worry- he probably just wants to sort you and give you a schedule and books," Lily reassured her. "At most, he just wants to ask you a few questions- we can't be in trouble. I mean, we just got back. Besides, remember the letter?"
"Lily's right," Remus reassured. "You just need to be sorted."
"Okay," Serenity said nervously.
"Welcome to Hogwarts, Miss Winter, Dumbledore said. "You are here in my office because you must be sorted and given the appropriate schedule."
Serenity let out a sigh of relief as Lily smiled. "Told you so," she mouthed.
Dumbledore laughed. "It's your first day here, and you already think you're in trouble? I'll have to keep an eye on you." Serenity blushed. "Here's the hat- try It on, and we'll see what house you're in!"
"I need to go to the library for a few minutes- can you find your way alone?" Lily asked.
"Sure. I'll talk to you later," Serenity said.
"So, what house is she in?" James asked.
"That would be confidential until next year," Lily said.
"Come on," Sirius said, trying to convince her.
"No, but she's staying with me the rest of this year no matter what," Lily responded.
"Fine," Remus gave up.
"Where is she now anyway?" Lynn asked.
"Getting settled in the dorm," Lily answered.
"Password?" The fat lady asked Serenity.
"Oh no!" Serenity said, unbelievingly. "Lily didn't tell me!"
"I'm sorry, but you'll have to wait," the portrait said, not apologetically.
"Just great," she muttered, and took out her Defense Against the Dark Arts book.
"So, why are we here anyway?" Christine asked. "It's only the first day back."
"Maybe she's getting a head start," Marelda said, a bit over defensive.
"Calm down," Rebecca said softly to her twin.
"Actually," Lily said. "I wanted to find some more about Tom Riddle."
"But we all ready passed that in!" Peter exclaimed.
"Thank goodness! I thought I'd be stuck here for hours!" Serenity exclaimed as Marie hurried out of the common room.
"What are you doing our here?" Marie paused.
"Nobody told me the password," she explained.
"It's 'quaffle,' and I hate to sound rude, but I'm late, so I have to go," Marie apologized.
"No problem," Serenity said. "Thanks!"
"No problem," she said, and then rushed off again.
"So, does anyone want to help me out?" Lily asked. Nobody responded. "Please," still no answer. "Think about it, okay?" And then Lily started searching on her own.
"Okay," Marie burst in. "I-" she started explaining why she was late.
"You will?! Thank you so much!" Lily took it as an answer to her earlier question. "We can start tomorrow," she finished.
"What did I get myself into?" Marie asked Lynn.
"You don't want to know," Lynn answered.
Marelda responded, "You're helping her find information on Tom Riddle."
Marie turned her head to Rebecca. "What?" Rebecca asked in a small voice.
"Will you please too?" She begged.
"But....I....well....fine," Rebecca gave in.
"Thank you times a million!" Marie exclaimed.
"Yeah, yeah..."
"Welcome back, and welcome Miss Winter. We're taking it a bit easy today and reviewing a few charms. You may practice what you feel you should while I work with our new student." Flitwick said.
"Our next class is Defense Against the Dark Arts," Christine said regretfully.
"That doesn't sound good," Serenity said from Christine's tone of voice. "Is it the class, or the teacher?"
"Teacher," the all responded in unison.
"Yes, yes, welcome back," Professor Williams said hastily. "Take out your books and open them to chapter six."
"Er, Professor?" Serenity asked.
"Yes, what is it girl?" Williams snapped.
"I'm new here," She said.
"Isn't that lovely- would you like a welcoming party?" The teachers said sarcastically.
"No ma'am, I just thought you should know," Serenity said timidly.
"Well, I do, now get back in you seat," Professor Williams ordered.
Serenity did as she was told, but secretly gave the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher a dirty look.
"See!" Remus said, "She's horrible!"
"I hate to say it, but I must agree," Serenity added, "But just being here beats a Muggle school."
"I'm definitely with you there," Lily agreed.
"One more class, then all that's left is homework," Marelda said looking on the brighter side of things.
"And it's transfiguration, which means we have a decent teacher- even if McGonagall is a little too strict." James said.
"I know you all want class to end, so I'll skip my introduction and get straight to the lesson- today, we're transfiguring needles to quills, for a small review. Miss Winter, I'd like to speak with you," McGonagall said.
"A typical day?" Serenity asked that evening in the dorm.
"Not quite," Lily responded, "But close."