THE UNICORN CHILD
SUMMARY--An abandoned child, raised by unicorns. seeing the world for the first time. A Marauder, prides in his adventures and clever pranks, dragging the day when he'd have to grow up. And then one day--"she look so familiar..."not your typical L/J story.
DISCLAIMER: not mine, not yours, JKR's.
Chapter 1—A New Student?
Months had passed since the incident in the Forbidden Forest. James had told his friends what happened to him while they were gone. Peter was terrified, saying James must be mental; Remus tried apologizing to James for biting him the way he did, but of course they all told him that it wasn't his fault; and Sirius, well, Sirius attempted to "hug" James and "sobbed" uncontrollably into his shoulder saying how he was going to thank all his lucky stars for keeping his best mate alive, and that he will personally express his gratitude toward the mysterious girl that saved James once he saw her with his own eyes. Sirius also suggested that they play an especially good prank on Snivellus to celebrate James' not dying, then again he just needed a good excuse.
The memory of that night slowly faded from James' mind.
One morning after Christmas break, the Marauders were happily walking down the halls of their huge and beloved school to have breakfast, at least three of them were walking. Sirius was jumping up and down again, trying to get to the Great Hall as fast as possible.
"Stop it Padfoot, you're scaring the first years." Remus reprimanded, though he was trying to keep a straight face at his friend's bizarre actions in the morning.
"But Moony!! It's breakfast!" Sirius whined, as if that explained it all.
James rolled his eyes.
"I saw that, Jamie boy!"
"Don't call be Jamie boy! And I know you saw, what are you going to do about it, Paddie-foot?"
"I'm going to steal your breakfast! That's what!"
"Sirius dear, not everyone's life revolves around breakfast." James was using the tone of talking to a 3 year old again.
Peter just shook his head. (A/N: the little rat!)
Finally the foursome arrived at the Great Hall, Sirius immediately dived for everything that was on the table, this attracted a few stares, as usual.
"Everything's fine, return to your own food." Remus told the gaping onlookers as he gracefully took a seat next to Sirius, "he's just a little hungry." They gave him the "ya-think?" look.
At this moment, Professor McGonagall came walking towards their table in her usual aloof manner.
"Mr. Potter, the Headmaster wishes to see you in his office after breakfast." She told James briskly. "And Mr. Lupin, please find a minute or two to kindly teach Mr. Black some proper table manners." She said looking disgustedly at Sirius wolfing down his food.
"I will try my best, Professor." Remus said flashing her a smile before she turned and left
As James was making his way to Dumbledore's office, he wondered what it was that the Headmaster wanted to talk to him about. He just hoped Professor Adrian hadn't told him about the "frog incident".
In no time James arrived in front of the Gargoyle, and as if on cue, it started moving. James jumped on the stairs and it brought him to the office door.
"Please come in Mr. Potter, you are prompt as always." Came Professor Dumbledore's voice.
He stepped into the office and saw Dumbledore seated at his desk. In front of the desk was two large armchairs with their backs turned to James. Dumbledore was smiling, James took that as a good sign, so he doesn't know about the frog thing, excellent.
"Have a seat James." Dumbledore said, "and no need to worry, you're not in trouble"
Damn he sees through everything.
James gratefully sat down on the armchair Dumbledore pointed at, and for the first time since he stepped into the office he noticed that he wasn't the only one invited here. In the armchair beside his sat a girl.
She looks so familiar...
Where has he seen her before? She was looking right back at him. She's so pretty too. Her hair is such a beautiful red, her eyes are emerald green, her-
"Mr. Potter?" Dumbledore's voice snapped him back to reality, he must've been staring.
"Mr. Potter, this is Miss Lily Evans, a new student." Dumbledore started, a twinkle in his eyes, "she is already sorted into Gryffindor house and will be attending sixth year classes. As you are also in sixth year and a prefect, I trust you to the task of showing Miss Evans to her classes and be her guide around the school so she could get used to it. I'm sure you know Hogwarts very well by now?" Here's that twinkle again, it's uncanny, he seems to know everything.
"Um...sure Professor." James answered, "I – ah- will be glad to show Lily around."
"Excellent! Thank you James. You may show Miss Evans to her classes now." said Dumbledore smiling.
James stood up, followed by Lily, and they left after biding their goodbye.
"So," James broke the silence, they were walking down to their first class, which was Potions, not a good way to start the day. "how do you like Hogwarts so far?"
She seems to be very uncomfortable in her school uniform, trying to loosen her tie.
"Do students here always wear these clothes? They are awfully tight!" she said, it's the first time she's spoken since James met her. She had a nice voice, he thought.
"Ah-yeah, it's our uniform, but it's not required on weekends and holidays." James wondered what she wore in her old school, if she had an old school.
"Are you a transfer student?" he asked.
She seems to be doing some quick thinking. "You could say that." she said vaguely.
"Where are you from then?" James persisted.
"Somewhere far." she said again.
James decided to drop it here, as she didn't seem to like the subject.
"I'm James Potter by the way." he said, "and our first class today is Potions, you gotta watch out for Professor Adrian, he—um—doesn't exactly like Gryffindors."
"Why?" she asked innocently.
"Well," how does he answer this, "you'll see."
Soon they had reached the dungeon classroom, by now the class has already started. And of course Professor Adrian wasn't too happy to be interrupted.
"Potter! Finally decided to grace us with your presence I see," he started, "5 points from Gryffindor for being late-"
"But Dumbledore--"
"Another 5 points for talking back! Now take a seat." James could hear the Slytherins snickering now as he moved towards where his friends were seated. They were all glaring at the Slytherins, Sirius is no doubt thinking a way to get back at them.
Professor Adrian's gaze fell on Lily, and so did everybody else's.
"You must be Miss Evans then?" he asked.
"Yes sir I am." She was looking right back at him, not a trace of fear in her eyes. Instead she was frowning slightly, with distaste. That's a first, James thought. Normally people would find Professor Adrian intimidating. Professor Adrian seemed to notice it too so he told her to find a seat, rather harshly.
She took a seat beside James and he whispered "I told you" to her when the teacher turned his back. She only smiled.
That smile!
He had seen that smile before, but where?
A/N: Thanks so much for the reviews, and I know this chapter really sucked, I will do better next time. Next chapter: more about Lily's background