FOREWORD
Another chapter is awaiting you. Will you choose to follow your destiny and read the next installment, or will you turn back and leave it for some other time? It is fate! It is horrible! It is a whole chapter of Lily and James nonsense! It is a whole lot of nothingness and another summer in which Sirius falls in love with a duck! Dun dun dun! Okay, I'm hyper. And I got my hair cut! Woot! I'm sorry about all the 0000000000's in the last chapter. I was really annoyed with because they kept deleting my codes and page divides. Argh! But, the 00000's worked! I did 0's because when it worked I could say '00000! It works!!!' Okay, that was weird. Enjoy!
Lil-lay-me-down-and-kiss-me-senseless!
P.S. First to name what FF that's from wins a prize! Yay!
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"Lily!" her mother cried, running up to her and throwing her arms around the girl. "Oh, dear, it's been so long and you never wrote to us." Lily mentally smacked herself in the head. D'oh!
Her dad stood behind her mum and watched the two women with an amused expression on his face. Lily was released from her mother's embrace and quickly swept up into her father's. She smiled at them both as she pulled away and looked for the familiar face of her sister.
"Where's Petunia?" she asked her mother and father. He mother pursed her lips and slid a glance at her husband.
"She didn't want to come," her mum said tersely. Sensing the tension radiating off her parents at the mention of Petunia, Lily decided to drop the subject of her wizard-hating muggle sister. "Come on sweetie, let's get you all packed up in the car and we'll go out for a pizza."
Lily's face brightened at the mention of pizza. She told her mum to wait a minute and went to find her friends. Spying Sirius with James, Remus, and Chelsea, Lily hurried over.
"I'm going out for pizza! You guys want to come?" The four looked at each other and back at Lily with very confused faces.
"Er, Lily, what's a pizza?" Sirius asked nervously.
"It's pie with tomato sauce and cheese and meat and veggies on top! All put together! You guys would love it!" Sirius groaned. Another crazy Muggle invention. Yeesh.
"Tell you what," James said. "You guys can all come to my house around the middle of the summer and stay for the rest of vacation. Evans, you can teach us more about this pizza and we'll all also get a chance to go into Diagon Alley together like planned anyway!" the others nodded enthusiastically at this and they made plans to Floo to Potter Manor later in the summer. With that, they said their goodbyes and left their different ways.
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"Mum, have you seen my trainers? I was going to go for a walk!" a distressed Lily Evans yelled down the stairs of their English home to her mother in the kitchen. Their home was small, but two stories, with three bedroom, two bathroom, a kitchen and dining area, an office, and a living room. Lily loved her house, especially her room, and she loved her family. All in all, it was great to be back.
She ran out of her room and hopped down the stairs to come face to face with her sister.
"Hello, Pet. What are you doing here?" Lily asked in a mock sweet voice. They had been best friends when they were little, but ever since Lily got her letter to Hogwarts and Petunia didn't, they had been utter rivals. Kind of like Potter and me, Lily often found herself thinking.
Petunia sneered at her, giving an ugly look to her horse-shaped face. Lily laughed inwardly and made a mental note to have a camera around from now on.
"I live here, freak," Petunia spat at her. Lily wiped her face with a disgusted look on her face.
"Could've fooled me." Petunia scowled at her, pushing past her toward her room upstairs.
Lily shrugged and quickly bounded down the remaining stairs in socks, shorts, and a baggy t-shirt. She ran into the kitchen and hugged her mother from behind. Her mum laughed and turned around from where she was cooking breakfast and reading a novel on the counter.
"What's got you in such a good mood?"
"I really really really wanted to go to my friends house in a week or two. All of my other friends are going to be there and they're going to stay for the rest of the summer! Please please please can I go?" Lily asked her mother quickly. Her mother nodded and Lily wooped with joy. She hugged her mum again and dashed back upstairs, completely forgetting her trainers and the walk she was going to take.
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Lily sighed and set down her quill, a disgruntled expression on her face. Potter had written to her multiple time during the week already and she didn't know how to reply. She didn't know what he wanted, but she figured it was about coming to his house later that week. She had already tried ignoring him, but to no avail. He would write more and more, trying to catch her attention until she was receiving at least eight letters a day. She had finally given in, though she didn't know why.
Each letter was the same from him, at least the ones that she read. Hi, how are you? See you soon, I hope? -Potter. Nothing more, nothing less.
Dear Potter,
All right, I give in. What do you want? Why can't you leave me alone? Go get yourself a girlfriend and stop bugging me. We're not speaking anymore, remember? Stop writing to me. Oh, I am coming over later.
-L. Evans
Dear "L. Evans",
As I remember it, you spoke to me first! Besides, you know you need me, I can see it in your eyes. No, really. I can already see you glaring at the parchment. Why aren't we friends anymore? I miss you. I want to be friends with you, Lily, best friends. Please give me this chance?
-J. Potter
Dear J. Potter,
Nope.
-Lily Evans
Dear Lily Evans,
Would it help if I apologize?
-James Potter
Dear James Potter,
James Potter, Quidditch star, genius, and all around pompous git...apologizing?! I'm shocked!
-Lily Evans
Dear Lily Evans,
Don't you know it!
-James Potter
And now Lily was sitting at her desk, wondering what to do. She contemplated what would happen if she agreed to be friends with him and decided that she wanted to be friends with him, whether he was a Quidditch star, genius, and all around pompous git or not.
Dear James Potter, Quidditch star, genius, and all around pompous git,
I have decided that I forgive you and want to be your friend again, if you'll have me. Perhaps we can break you of your bad habits after all, hmm? I missed you too.
-Lily, superstar, brilliant genius, and angelic little girl!!!
Dear Lily,
Thank you.
-James
Dear James,
You're welcome, Jay!
-Lils
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James grinned slightly and ruffled his hair. His grandparents rushed all around, picking up things and making a last minute attempt to clean up before James's friends arrived. Sirius was coming soon, as well as Remus, Peter, and the girls. Peter was only staying the day, but James couldn't help but feel relieved of some sort. Ever since the beginning of the year when Peter strayed for so long, James had bad feelings about hi,. but what could he do? Peter was their friend, like it or not, and there wasn't anything anyone could do about it.
James sighed and ran his hand through his hair again. They were all staying for the remainder of the summer. James had decorated Kate and Lily's rooms himself, hoping they would like them. the others had stayed multiple times before and already had rooms of their own. Needless to say, the Potter manor was pretty big.
a commotion from the living room sent a grin to James's face and he couldn't help but launch himself up from where he had perched, waiting for his friends. At once he was in the living room, laughing as Remus and Chelsea stumbled out of the fireplace. They hurriedly pulled their trunks out and moved out of the way. Sirius came next, followed by Peter and Kate and finally Lily. James grinned and to the shock of his friends, engulfed Lily in a big hug. she laughed and buried her face in his shoulder; James did the same.
Lily pulled away and smirked at him. "Missed me much?" she asked. James nodded and smiled gently at her. She returned the favour. Noticing the tension between their friends, the two put their arms around each others shoulders and grinned.
"We're friends again," Lily explained to them. "We've decided to put our petty differences behind us." She hugged James again and gave him a big fat kiss on the cheek, making him blush, much to the displeasure of a certain, Sirius Black.
"what about me?" he asked with mock outrage. "Why don't I get hugs and kisses? For goodness sake, I'm only your boyfriend!" Lily smiled and stepped over to him, planting him kiss on his nose.
After they had all greeted each other, James showed them upstairs to their rooms, thankful that his grandparents hadn't appeared yet. They had all gathered in James's room after unpacking their trunks and getting used to the house.
"So, Prongs, m'boy, what's on the agenda today?" Sirius asked James as he lounged on James's bed. They were all perched in various places around the room.
"Well, I suppose e should see to lunch and you all have to meet Nana and Papa." James sighed and ruffled his hair, or, tried to at least as Lily, who was sitting next to him on the floor, smacked his hand away. James scowled at her.
"Nana and Papa?" she said, raising an eyebrow. James glanced at her and then to Sirius, Remus, and Chelsea in turn.
"My grandparents," James said shortly.
"Well, where are your parents--" Lily was cut off as James abruptly stood up and stalked out of the room, leaving a very confused group behind him. "What happened?" Lily asked.
Chelsea and Sirius exchanged looks, but it was Remus who spoke first.
"His parents are dead, Lily," he said.
"It's a bit of a touchy subject with him," Sirius added. Lily nodded and stood up as well. She headed towards the door, but stopped and looked around at the others.
"I'm just going to go...apologize," she said, mainly talking to Sirius, who nodded curtly at her.
"James! James!" she shouted as she ran down the hall after leaving their friends. She found him downstairs in the library in the back of the house. He was sitting with his back against one of the bookcases, his knees drawn up to his chest and his head in his hands.
"Go away, Lily. I don't feel like talking right now."
Lily sat down next to him and took his hands in hers, pulling them down on her lap, causing James took look up at her. She gently stroked the back of his hands with the pad of her thumb. She bit her lip and looked him in the eye.
"Oh, James, I'm so sorry, I didn't know. James, look at me." She brought up her hand and touched his cheek. He drew his gaze back to her face and she saw his stony expression. It scared her.
"Lily, don't be. Like you said, you didn't know. I'll a want, all I need, is to feel loved and then I'm fine. That's all I'll ever need. That's why I have my grandparents. That's why I have my friends."
Lily slid her arms around his neck and pushed his head down on to her shoulder, hugging him tight. He let his arms go around her. He let her hold him and heal him and couldn't help but let it feel right. He noticed everything about her. Her hair, her eyes, her whole presence was perfect and he loved it. He loved her. Pulling back, Lily smiled gently at him and stood up, holding out a hand to pull him up as well.
"Come on, I'm sure our friends are wondering what happened to us." James nodded and they headed out of the library and back upstairs to find their friends laughing and joking with each other, both feeling much better now that they were friends again and able to be there for each other. They slipped in the room and joined their friends, being watched by one particular one.
Sirius watched their every moves and couldn't help but feel sorry that he could never love Lily and much as James did. Somehow, in the back of his mind, Sirius knew that he would have to let her go, but just not yet. Right now they had the rest of the summer to think about before the school year started and many more tragedies occurred.
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"So kids, how was your day?" James's grandma, Aunt Rose, asked the group at dinner one night about a week before school was to start again. James shrugged. "Well, what are you going to do after dinner?"
"I don't know, Nana," James said finally, tossing his hands, one holding a fork, into the air.
"Jimmy, don't be rude," Rose said. James growled.
"Don't call me Jimmy, Grandma." Lily couldn't help but smile. She had never seen James this way before. And boy, did she really respect his grandmother. She was probably the only woman she knew who could keep James in her place. Lily swallowed and smiled at Rose.
"Aunt Rose, I have just gained a new respect for you," she said. Rose raised and eyebrow at the pretty girl.
"Is that so, Lily dear?" Lily nodded.
"You may be the only woman I know who can keep James this well-behaved," Lily explained to her.
"You have a pretty good handle on him yourself, you know. Tell me, Lily dear," the woman leaned forward onto her elbows, resting her chin on her folded hands. "How do you feel about my grandson?"
Lily immediately felt the blush creeping up to her cheeks as the whole table turned to look at her.
"I-I-I--"
"Lily...isn't...dating me, Gran," James stuttered.
"Oh, but I was just hoping that you two would get married soon. You're running out of time, Jamsie. I hope to see by next year little James's and Lily's running around the house. There's a good boy."
James swallowed and looked down at his food. Sirius, Remus, Kate, and Chelsea couldn't stand it anymore. They burst into laughter and a small smile even tugged on the corners of Rose's mouth. Lily and James looked at each other and grinned nervously.
"Well, I think that's enough for the night, kids!" Rose said, clapping her hands together twice to draw their attention to her. "Off to bed!" They all got up, but Rose stopped Lily and James with a tap on their shoulders. "I need to speak to you two after we clean up. Would you like to help clean?" They both nodded and told their friends they'd be up later.
After they had cleared dinner and sent James's grandfather, Joseph, up to bed, Lily, James, and Rose gathered in the library to talk. Lily and James sat on opposite ends of a couch by the fireplace and Rose sat on a chair across from them.
"So, my dears, how has the summer been for you both?" she asked, leaning back in her chair. Lily and James exchanged a look.
"What is it you really called us for?" James asked curiously, but his face immediately changed to that of a rather scared and small-looking Potter. "Not to embarrass me again, is it?" Rose smiled serenely. James gulped.
"Why can't you just embarrass him in front of everyone?" Lily asked, smiling at James.
"What?! I thought you were on my side!" James yelped. Lily laughed and and gave him an apologetic look.
"Well, not exactly," Rose replied, a grim smile one her face. She pursed her lips. "You two know about the prophecies, do you not? forgive me for not telling you about your powers earlier." This wiped the smiles of of their faces. Lily and James nodded grimly. "Do you know that it is almost time for the prophecies to come true, don't you? Not much longer and Lord Voldemort will be at his strongest."
Rose paused, searching for the right words.
"You have already heard of the newest prophecy, by your new Divination teacher, Sibyll Trelawney spun to Albus Dumbledore at the beginning of last year," Rose carried on. James and Lily nodded.
"The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches.... Born to those who have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies...and the Dark Lord will mark him as his equal, but he will have power the Dark Lord knows not...and either must die at the hand of the other for neither can live while the other survives.... The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord will be born as the seventh month dies...." James sighed after he recited the prophecy. "We've already defied him once. Twice more..." he looked at Lily, "and we're toast."
Lily tried hard not to laugh at the way he'd said that they were possibly going to die in a few short years. She knew this was a very serious conversation, but she couldn't help it. She knew the danger, 't stand to feel this depressed all the time. It wasn't healthy.
"Yes, this is why we need to discuss the future," Rose said. "I want you to put off all of that until it's absolutely too late. I don't want you two to die, but I know it must happen. I know that it could be the Longbottoms, as their son is scheduled to be born at the end of July, but Voldemort chose your son, Lily, James." A tear found it's way down her cheek. "Try-try not to fall in love too fast. Just because you have to save the world, doesn't mean that you have to do it now."
Lily and James nodded and then looked at each other.
"Should we tell the others? They don't know anything about this," Lily said, speaking for the first time during this whole conversation. Rose thought for a minute and then nodded.
"I daresay, they are probably waiting for you to go upstairs. Just, don't stay up too late tonight." Rose smiled gently at them. Lily and James got up and went around the small table in front of the couch to hug her before leaving the library and heading upstairs to their friends.
As expected, they were all waiting in James's room for the two friends to return. Sirius looked up expectantly.
"Well, did Aunty Rose try and embarrass you again? Because, you know she could've done it while we were down there still," he said impatiently. James scowled at him and flopped down on a sofa, Lily next to him.
"It was about the prophecies," James ground out. "About those stupid bloody prophecies!" James stood up and kicked the waste paper basket beside his desk. "Because of those blasted prophecies, neither Lily nor I can ever have a chance to fall in love!" he said, staring at Sirius, but gesturing towards Lily. "Will be stuck with each other forever!" He sat down with a huff, but it was now Lily's turn to yell.
"Well, it's your bloody fault you had to fall in love with me in the first place! You are so bloody stupid! You knew before I did about the prophecies and now our time is running out! Maybe if we just kill ourselves right now, none of this will ever happen! Go on! Just kill me now!"
"No!"
"And why not?!"
"Because you're not thinking straight, Lily, do you understand?! It doesn't matter that I fell in love with you too soon! You know what our future has in store for us, but obviously, you are too thick to see what is bloody plain in front of you!"
They were now both standing, nose to nose, glaring at each other and yelling loud enough that Rose and Joseph could hear them clear across the house.
"Maybe, it would just help if we stay away from each other. Like Rose said, we should put it off as long as possible," Lily said calmly, putting her hand on James's forearm. James nodded curtly and turned away from her, sitting back down on the couch.
Lily sat next to him and now looked around at the stunned faces of their friends.
"I suppose you would like to know what this is all about?" Lily asked primly.
"Actually, we already know all about it," Chelsea said tentatively. Lily switched her gaze to Sirius as she spoke.
"And who told you this?" she asked, her eyes boring into Sirius's head. Sirius gulped and looked down at his hands. "I thought so. All right." She sighed. "Sirius, how much did you tell them?"
"All of it except about the newest prophecy. It was necessary to explain why you and James made me leave the day of the fire." Lily leaned back on the couch and looked at James.
"Mind repeating it again?"
"Sure thing." James looked around at the group and smiled grimly before reciting the prophecy once again. "The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches.... Born to those who have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies...and the Dark Lord will mark him as his equal, but he will have power the Dark Lord knows not...and either must die at the hand of the other for neither can live while the other survives.... The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord will be born as the seventh month dies...."
Chelsea released a small sob and turned her head into Remus's chest. Kate was white and shaking with pent up energy, fear, and anger. Remus just stared blankly at Chelsea's hair.
"So, that means that you won't be with us much longer?" Remus said after a minute of silence. James and Lily nodded at their friend. "About how much longer do you have with us then?" he asked, not sure whether he really wanted to hear the answer or not. Lily and James exchanged a look.
"We only have a matter of years...about four or five, depending on how many times we run into Voldemort and how soon I get..." Lily looked at Sirius quickly, "how soon I get pregnant." Sirius tilted his head to the side and smiled grimly. So he knew, Lily thought.
"That won't be happening anytime soon...will it?" Kate asked worriedly.
"No!" Lily and James exclaimed at the same time. "I don't know," they said together. "Hey! Stop that! No you! This is strange. Stop mocking me! Ahhhh!" Lily and James jumped up and hid behind Sirius and Remus respectively.
"Whoa," was all Sirius said.
"No comment," Kate said, raising an eyebrow at Lily, who grinned sheepishly.
"Well, way to end a night," Remus said, laughter reflecting in his eyes. He looked down at Chelsea, who had obviously fallen asleep in his lap. "I'm putting her to bed. 'Night!"
A chorus of 'Nights! was shared as the friends departed and fell asleep in their separate bedrooms, dreaming about the future to come.
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The six friends flooed to a Wizard Post across the street from King's Cross Station on September First and walked across the street to the station. They put their trunks and owls on trolleys and one by one casually leaned on the brick wall between platforms nine and ten, falling through the entrance to the wizard platform, Platform 9 and 3/4, and the Hogwarts Express.
They loaded their trunks onto the bright red train and bid their goodbyes to Aunt Rose and Uncle Joseph Potter and, waving as they went, boarded the train with satisfied smiles on their faces.
Once they had settled in a compartment near the back of the train, the friends found themselves in a comfortable silence, content to just watch the scenery roll by.
About an hour into the train ride, Shelby Black, Camille Gribbick, and Marina Z. appeared in the compartment door, all wearing grim smiles.
"'Ello all! Mind if we join you again?" Shelby asked cheerily, waltzing into the compartment, Camille and Marina plastering smiles onto their faces as well and following her. Camille fluttered her eyelashes and sat down next Sirius and Peter again, smiling shyly. Lily found herself smiling at the fact that this small, now fourteen-year-old had Sirius and Peter completely wound around her pretty little finger.
"Hi Peter, Sirius," she said silkily. They gulped and nodded their heads shortly at her, trying their best to skootch as far away from her as possible. Lily felt a laugh bubbling in her throat and looked at James, who was grinning as well.
Shelby perched herself across the way from Camille on the seat by the window and Marina sat in between her and Lily. James was on the other side of Lily, and Remus and Chelsea had disappeared somewhere in the past hour and weren't back yet. They had taken a whole bag full of books with them, so Lily assumed they were studying or something...already. Kate was sitting next to Sirius, in the seat closest to the door.
"So, Shelby, how was your summer?" Lily asked the blondish Slytherin politely. Shelby smiled at her.
"Fine, thanks. Yours?" she replied.
"So-so. I had to spend it with those oafs over there," Lily said, gesturing towards James, Peter, and Sirius. She heard James give a Hey! from behind her and laughed, Shelby joining her.
Soon they had reached Hogsmeade Platform and the Slytherin girls had left to join their own house. The six friends, Chelsea and Remus had returned, got off the train and settled themselves in two separate carriages, which would take them to Hogwarts and, to Lily's constant curiosity, remained as horseless as ever. As they were riding up the sloping road to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Lily and James both found themselves extremely happy that another year was starting and that they were finally home where they belonged.
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Dumbledore stood up and instantly the Great Hall was in silence.
"Thank you. Students, Professors, Caretakers, House Elves, Ghouls, Ghosts, Boggarts, and Acromantulas, welcome to another fine year at Hogwarts!" Dumbledore said, his voice booming and reverberating around the giant Hall. Applause exploded at all of the tables and Dumbledore had to yell to make himself heard. "Yes, thank you, thank you. Now, without further ado," Dumbledore said with a flourish of his hand, "the Sorting Hat!" He clapped his hands twice and Professor McGonagall emerged from a room off of the Great Hall, carrying a stool with a tattered old hat upon it. She set it down in front of the middle of the teachers' table and stepped aside, pulling a long list out of a pocket in her robes.
"First year, come along, if you please," McGonagall said curtly. Out of the same room came a rather large group of scared looking eleven-year-olds. The professor directed them to stand in front of the hat and stay silent.
After a few seconds of complete silence, the hat opened its mouth, which in fact was a large rip in the front of it, scaring the First Years quite a bit. And then it began to sing:
"Ha! I am the Sorting Hat,
As many of you know,
I'm as clever as a cat,
Though I have no place to go.
I have no legs, as you can see,
No arms that you can tell,
But that doesn't stop me,
From casting my knowing spell.
I know where you belong here,
I know where you should be,
So sit and have a Butterbeer,
While sitting with old me.
You may belong in Hufflepuff,
Helga's loyal house,
Where they really know their stuff,
And are kind to bird and mouse.
Or you belong in wise old Ravenclaw,
If you are really smart,
They like their knowledge nice and raw,
And turn it into an art.
Perhaps in brave Gryffindor,
If you've a noble heart,
They really know their magic lore,
And that may set them apart.
Or yet in cunning Slytherin,
Where Purebloods are the b est,
They really need to cooperate,
And get along with all the rest.
So sit on down and try me on,
I promise I won't bite,
Be assured that you have won,
And assured that I am right.
For I'm as clever as a cat,
although you cannot see,
I am the old Sorting Hat,
The smartest there could be!"
They Hall burst into applause as the Sorting Hat finished its song and the Sorting commenced.
"HUFFLEPUFF!"
"RAVENCLAW!"
"SLYTHERIN!"
"GRYFFINDOR!"
"RAVENCLAW!"
The Sorting went on for half an hour, filled with much applause and cheer when each house got a new member. At the end, Gryffindor got seven new First Years, Ravenclaw got four, Hufflepuff, three, and Slytherin, fourteen.
And then Dumbledore got to his feet again as McGonagall took the Sorting Hat and the stool away. Dumbledore beamed at all his students again.
"Welcome," he said again. "Welcome new First Years! But alas, before we can eat, I have a few words that I would like to share with you all!" Dumbledore gaze shifted to Sirius, who had just let out a groan of frustration at not getting to eat. "Cooperation! Unity! Bravery! Nobility! Victory!" He sat down and after a minute of silence, applause exploded all around the Great Hall. He wasn't usually so serious during the Welcome Feast.
Immediately the tables were filled with the most delicious foods. There was everything Yorkshire Pudding, to Macaroni and Cheese, to fries, and some peppermint things that mostly they stayed away from.
And then the ghosts arrived. They flew into the Great Hall through the walls and closed doors, scaring most of the First Years and even some of the Second and Third Years. The Fat Friar zoomed along the Hufflepuff table, right through the food, and the Bloody Baron, whose robes were always covered in a nice, silvery blood, flew behind the Slytherin Table. Nearly Headless Nick popped up in the seat next to Sirius, content to watch him stuff his face.
"Hello, Sir Nicholas!" Lily said cheerily, smiling at their House Ghost. Nearly Headless Nick nodded and smiled in return, adjusting the ruff that kept his head atop his neck.
"Hey, Nick!" James called from a few seats down. Nick looked at James and waved.
"How have your summers been everyone?" Nick asked airily.
"Really nice. We all stayed at James's house," Chelsea said to the ghost. "How was yours?"
"Hello, Chelsea. My summer was...dismal, as always. Once again, my plea to join the Headless Hunt has been denied! Clearly, I am not headless enough for them. Oh, and, my dear, will you be joining us for my annual Death Day Party again?" Chelsea nodded enthusiastically.
"I can't wait! Do you mind if Remus comes with?" she asked.
"I don't mind. Hello, Remus."
"Sir Nicholas," Remus said, nodding his head in the ghost's direction once.
"Always the gentleman," Remus heard Nick say quietly to Chelsea. Chelsea laughed.
Soon they were all feeling quite full and quite sleepy when the plates full of desserts finally cleared and Dumbledore stood up again.
"Just a few start-of-term notices to tell you all! First Years should know that the Forbidden Forest on the castle grounds is in fact...forbiden! That also goes to all you Sixth Years who were thinking of sneaking off down there later!" Dumbledore announced, staring at the group of smiling Gryffindors. "Also, Mr. Filch and I would like to remind you that no magic is to be used in the corridors between classes.
"Also, Quidditch tryouts should be held in the second week of term. Anyone interested should contact their Head of House, Quidditch Team Captain, or Madame Hooch!
"And, without further ado, we shall sing the school song! Pick a tune, any tune! Ah, ready? Start!"
Dumbledore had shot the words out of his wand and now everyone started singing:
"Hogwarts, Hogwarts, Hoggy Warty Hogwarts,
Teach us something please,
Whether we be old and bald,
Or young with scabby knees,
Our heads could do with filling,
With some interesting stuff,
For now they're bare and full of air,
Dead flies and bits of fluff,
So teach us things worth knowing,
Bring back what we've forgot,
Just do your best, we'll do the rest,
And learn until our brains all rot."
the song ended at different times all around the Great Hall, the last singers being the seven Gryffindor Sixth Years, who had all picked the same tune: possibly the slowest wedding march in existence.
When they had all finished everyone clapped, especially Dumbledore who was grinning at Professor McGonagall, who looked like she couldn't care less. Dumbledore stood up again.
"Lovely, lovely! Now I believe it is time for bed! Trot you off!" Many laughed. Every year Dumbledore ended his Welcome Speech with 'Off you trot!' and this year was no different, no matter how he said it. It was a sort of comforting thought for all of them, as if Dumbledore was saying, change is good, but there will always be things that are the same.
Everyone got up from their House Tables and made their way towards the different common rooms in the castle, some to the Slytherin Dungeons, some to Gryffindor Tower or the Ravenclaw commons, or even the Hufflepuff Holes. And at last everyone was safe and sound in their beds, dreaming of the year to come.