girlknight: Sorry for the confusion; Lily (and Jane... and Charlotte) are in Ravenclaw. Hope that clears it up a bit!
At the gathering, Charlotte joined Lily and Jane by the window as the door opened and five young people, three boys and two girls, entered. Silence fell as everyone already in the room regarded the newcomers with open curiosity. The first thing to be noticed was the difference in clothes, for the five were not in uniform. Sturgis was the first to break the silence.
"Ah, Sirius Black," he said, grinning widely as he approached the young man who was, indeed, wearing blue robes. "Allow me the pleasure of welcoming you to our little assembly here. In truth, to Hogwarts in general! I'm Sturgis Podmore, the Head Boy."
"Mr Podmore!" Mr Black made such formality seem a familiar and inconsequential gesture. "I thank you very much. There's nothing I love better than small gatherings!" From his glance, an eager look filled with anticipation coming out from beneath a slightly shaggy, though carefully trimmed and deliberately styled to be so, mop of dark hair, it was obvious he meant every word he said, for all that he looked like an over-excited puppy in the process.
As Mr Black introduced Sturgis to the others of his party, conversation in the room resumed and Lily turned to Charlotte. "Only two girls transferred here after all. Do you know who they are, Charlotte?"
"The one on the left is Mr Black's sister, Miss Caroline Black." After spending so much time engaging in conversation about him in such a formal manner, it was second nature for the three to continue to do so about everyone he was connected with. The young woman in question was tall and slender, wearing a deep orange robe that matched the outfit she wore underneath perfectly. Her counterpart, to whom she was whispering, had a similar ensemble of olive green and was nearly a full head shorter. "The other is his cousin, Miss Bellatrix Hurst. I believe she is joined at the hip, though that is not the term we were given of course, with that boy there, ah, Rudolphus Lestrange."
"The taller, er, gentleman?" asked Jane, referring to the young man who was hanging back by the door. Wearing what might have passed for an Armani version of their uniforms, sans Hogwarts tie, under his fine black robe, he looked around the room with indifference and slight boredom apparent behind thick, round glasses. Had it not been for his hair, mussed up in the back, he might have pulled off the appearance of being far too dignified for this sort of gathering though he was, without a doubt, rather handsome.
"No, the other." The final member of the party was decked out in red robes and carried, oddly, a walking stick with a gawdy crystal at the top end. The slightly stocky lad looked even more bored than his companion, barely hiding his large yawn with the back of one hand as he looked around the room as well. He looked to be more mean than handsome at the same time as appearing ready to fall asleep should he sit down.
"Better and better," Lily said wryly. Jane and Charlotte smiled, knowing precisely to what she was referring.
"They are so... elegant, are they not, Lily?" asked Jane.
"Mm," she said noncomittally. "Though I would venture they are more pleased with themselves than what they see. But what about the other two? Are they not going to come down?"
Charlotte shook her head in the negative. "I believe one Mr Remus Lupin is feeling rather ill, so the other, Mr Peter Pettigrew, is remaining with him so he can have company."
"Well, that is generous of him," Jane began. Whether or not she planned to continue would remain ever unknown as someone called her name.
"Jane! Lily!" The call came from about halfway across the room, and Lily barely supressed a groan at the sound of a voice she had hoped to avoid at least until breakfast the next morning. "Come here, girls!"
"Here we go," Lily muttered through the clenched teeth she hid behind a forced smile. "Wish us luck, Charlotte."
The two friends crossed the room with as much dignity as they could muster to stand next to Professor Trelawney. "Look girls," she said, her voiced thankfully pitched low, though Lily supposed even her mutters would carry across a Quidditch pitch without any need for magical amplification. "That young gentleman is James Potter, and is apparently Sirius Black's oldest and dearest friend. He lives on a great estate and has a large inheritance to come. Black's family line and abilities are nothing in comparison to his! Is he not the handsomest young man you have ever seen?"
"Perhaps he would not be quite so handsome if he was not quite so rich," Lily muttered. She cast a dazed look at Jane, only to find her looking at Mr Black out of the corner of her eye. Hm, she thought, this is an interesting development... I would wager she finds Mr Black to be the more handsome of the two. Her reverie was interrupted by Professor Trelawney's startled voice.
"Oh, lord, they're coming over. Smile, girls, smile!"
Accompanied by Sturgis, Mr Black approached the three with Mr Potter trailing a few feet behind, still looking indifferent. "Professor Trelawney," he began, still grinning, "Sirius here expressed a wish to become acquainted with you and your students." He knew, as did the entire school, that Lily and Jane were special pet projects of hers. Lily carefully schooled her expression and managed to refrain from giving Sturgis a death glare as he retreated swiftly
"You do us a great honour, sir," Professor Trelawney gushed. "This is Jane Bennet, the elder of the two. And this is Lily Evans."
Mr Black gave a short bow and, without thinking, Lily and Jane returned it with a quick curtsey. "It is a pleasure to meet you all," he said.
"And how do you find Hogwarts, Mr Black?" Professor Trelawney asked him. "Have you tried any of the refreshments yet?"
"I like it very well, indeed, Professor," he declared with a smile that showed a row of shiny white teeth. "And though I have not yet tried anything, if Miss Bennet is not otherwise engaged, might I interest her in a glass of punch?"
Lily noticed Jane was blushing slightly. Even more interesting...
"I am not, sir," Jane responded quietly. "Punch would be nice."
"Oh, excellent." The two stood there, simply smiling at each other.
"You are very kind, Mr Black," Professor Trelawney seemed to think their lack of communication was a bad thing and tried to prompt a conversation. "Thank the gentleman, Jane."
Lily noticed Jane's mild embarrassment at this. "Professor!" she rebuked quietly. Little did she realize such an interjection could have less than positive consequences.
Trelawney's eyes lit up as she concluded one of her favorites was finally coming to her senses and wanted aid in getting a young man of her own. She turned to the other. "And you sir?"
"Oh!" Mr Black exclaimed. "Allow me to introduce you. Mr James Potter, Professor Trelawney and two of her students, Miss Jane Bennet and Miss Lily Evans." Once again there was a bow, though Mr Potter's was rather curt and abrupt. Once again, the bow was met with curtseys.
"You are very welcome," Professor Trelawney gushed breathily. "And I hope you as eager to join the festivities as your friend."
Lily noticed Mr Potter looked rather taken aback as he answered. "Er, no, madam, I rarely..." he faltered briefly, searching for any excuse, "drink punch."
"Well," Professor Trelawney continued, nonplussed, "let this be one of the occasions where you indulge yourself, sir! For I daresay you will not find more lively conversation and such pretty companions."
Lily was not sure who was more mortified, herself or Mr Potter. However, she schooled her expression to reveal only calm and pleasant friendliness, and tried to prevent too much pink from spreading across her cheeks. To her suprise, Mr Potter reacted entirely differently.
He simply bowed once again, barely concealing his impatience and mild disdain, before turning and walking away. Mr Black looked back and forth between his friend and Jane, his happy eagerness melting into uncertain distress. "Ah... Excuse me, ma'am, ladies." With a quick bow from him as well, he went after Mr Potter.
"Well!" huffed Professor Trelawney. "Did you ever? To meet such a proud, disagreeable young man at Hogwarts!"
"Professor!" Lily hissed. Even her dislike for such matchmaking could not merit approval of blunt insults such as these. "He will hear you!"
"So what if he does? And his friend is disposed to so agreeable and charming." She sighed, briefly, before continuing. "Who is he to think himself so far above his company?"
"Well," Lily pragmatically summised the situation in an attempt at appeasing her teacher's ire, "the very rich can afford to give offense wherever they go." She thought, momentarily, thinking she may have found a way out of Professor Trelawney's matchmaking. "We need not care for his good opinion."
"No indeed!"
Lily glanced mischeviously at Jane, who returned her look with a large smile. She knew what her friend was up to. "Perhaps he is not so very handsome after all."
"No indeed! Quite ill favoured! Certainly nothing at all to Mr Black." Still quite offended on Lily's behalf, though Lily had gotten over any insult of even the slightest kind quite speedily, Professor Trelawney bustled away to speak with Madame Pomfrey, who stood monitering the cake table. Jane and Lily exchanged glances once again, stifling their imminent giggles.
