Arlinya: sitting on the floor in the traditional Japanese seiza (sitting on her legs) I'm sooo sorry for this chapter being over two months late. I've had a hectic couple of months what with studying for my dreaded AP exams (Lit and Bio) and getting ready for graduation. The computer I load my stories onto the web from contracted a virus and has been whacky for quite a while. Please forgive me bows deeply, head touching the floor. There will be more author babble at the end of the chapter.
DISCLAIMER: Characters of the Harry Potter world do not belong to me, but to the great J. K. Rowling et all (she KILLED HIM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!cries briefly) This is loosely based on the fifth book but much of the information in said book is disregarded. This was started long before the fifth book came out, possibly even before book four came out, and thus, is obviously an AU. If you don't like the idea, the back button is conveniently placed along the top of your browser. If you do like the story, please leave a comment. I'm very self-conscious about my writing and I don't think I'm doing all that great a job. Feel free to CONSTRUCTIVELY criticize my work, I want to make it better. I only own the plot, personalities of the characters, and several Original Characters who are NOT, under any circumstances, up for sale. On with the fic.
Train Rides and a Sorting
Lily and Remus made it to Platform Nine-and-Three-Quarters by 9:30 a.m. on September First. Being so early, they were the first ones there. Lily had said goodbye to her parents earlier that morning (Petunia being nowhere in sight), before heading over to Remus' house. Now, Lily and Remus said goodbye to Philip and Iris before climbing onto the train. They chose a compartment at the very rear of the train and settled in, Remus reading a book and Lily sketching a picture in her new art book.
Later, as the train pulled away from the platform, the door to their compartment opened. In stepped a loud young man with black hair and blue eyes. His sniggering caused the cousins to look up in confusion. Just as he started to close the compartment door, Lily swore she heard a quiet explosion. Glancing at Remus, she confirmed her suspicion when he nodded his head. The young man turned around and noticed the pair.
"Hi! I'm Sirius Black," he said. The smile on his face actually grew brighter at the thought of meeting new people.
"Remus Lupin."
"Lily Evans."
"Lily as in the flower?" Sirius asked. Lily nodded. "Oh. Okay. Well, are you half-bloods, full, or Muggles?"
"Remus is a full-blooded wizard of the Lupin family and I'm a Muggle. A pleasure to meet you," Lily replied.
"What did you just do?" Remus asked, gesturing to the hallway.
"Threw a dung bomb in with a bunch of slimy gits who yelled at me when I entered their compartment. It was so sweet. How'd you know? It was pretty far down the train."
"We both have really good hearing," Lily said, returning to her drawing.
"Huh! Do either of you like playing pranks?" Sirius asked, taking a seat.
"We were both the champion pranksters at our primary school," Remus said. "You?"
"Of course! Let's be friends," he said, holding out a hand to Remus. Remus, still unused to being offered friendship, shied away from the hand. He wanted to take it, he really did, but he was too scared of being betrayed when Sirius found out. Lily, sensing her cousin's turmoil, once again looked up. Seeing the tableau before her, she sighed.
"Remus... It's alright. Trust him. I KNOW that he will never betray you. Trust ME at least," Lily whispered in a mix of Gaelic and Russian. Remus then slowly took Sirius' hand. Sirius, who didn't seem phased by Remus not taking his hand right away, pumped his hand up and down enthusiastically.
"Sorry if I scare you. My cousins say I have a tendency to be rather boisterous!" Sirius said. Lily raised an eyebrow and was about to comment, when she had her hand pulled out and shook vigorously by the slightly deranged young boy.
"That's alright.... I'm sure we can deal with that. It is just that neither of us has had many friends in primary school. We were too...shall we say...different," Lily replied.
"That's the curse of being a strong Wizard or Witch, Muggle-born or not," came a new voice from the compartment door. None of them had heard the compartment door open. In the doorway stood a young man with black hair, warm chocolate brown eyes, and black glasses.
"Hey Jimmy! Long time no see!" Sirius cried, pouncing on the boy. The boy in the doorway quickly ducked and side-stepped Sirius. Sirius flew out of the door and landed on someone else just outside of the door with an "Oof!" from Sirius and a cry of pain from whoever he landed on.
"Would you kindly GET OFF OF ME?!" screamed a girl's voice. Sirius quickly got up. "THANK you!"
Lily got up and helped the young woman stand. Taking a good look at the young woman, she noticed it was the young woman she had caught a glimpse of in Ollivander's.
"Thank you... Sorry about inflicting Sirius on you. I'm Natalia Potter and the boy who ducked is my twin, James. A pleasure to meet you," said the girl, brushing herself off.
"I'm Lily Evans and that," she said, pointing to Remus, "is MY cousin, Remus Lupin. A pleasure to meet you Natalia."
"A pleasure," Remus mumbled. None of the occupants could tell if he meant it. Lily's head jerked around and she stared at Remus for a bit. Eventually, she gave up, sighed, and sat beside him.
When the train started moving, Natalia had already sat down beside Sirius and was quietly reprimanding him for scaring their new friends. James sat beside Lily and watched as she carefully shaded the picture she had been working on. Remus stuck his nose back into his book and continued reading. He did not come out from behind the book until their arrival at Hogwarts.
To the group of five, Hogwarts was a wonderful sight. They split up into two groups for the boats: Remus, Lily, and Natalia in one boat, Sirius and James in another. Arabella, recognizing Lily and Remus, was the last person into their boat, filling it to capacity. She quickly introduced herself to Natalia and the three girls chatted the entire ride to Hogwarts, becoming close friends. In the boat with James and Sirius was a small, pudgy boy with blond hair and blue eyes who shyly introduced himself as Peter. The last member of their boat was a girl named Meredith Bones, who had long, blonde hair and beautiful crystal blue eyes.
Everyone was nervous when they entered the Great Hall. Looking up at the ceiling, Lily gasped in wonder. Dumbledore had told the cousins about the ceiling, but actually seeing it was a different matter entirely. They gathered in front of the teacher's table, where Dumbledore winked at Lily and Remus. By this time, Remus was shaking, worried he would end up in Slytherin. Lily, without looking, suddenly took his hand in hers, gripping tightly. But her grip did not instill further fear in Remus because, although no one except Dumbledore noticed, an emerald light surrounded the two, calming Remus down.
The Sorting Hat amused everyone with its tune (AN: I can only come up with one song and I already used it) about the Houses and how it sorted them. After that, Dumbledore motioned to a professor in her mid-fifties with graying hair in a no-nonsense bun and eyes hidden behind a stout frame of glasses. "Professor McGonagle, you may begin," he said quietly.
(AN: I'll only be hitting on what I feel are major Characters. The rest of the cast will fill out only as necessary)
"Black, Sirius."
'An interesting contradiction, aren't you young Black. You are hardly like your mother's family. Well, only one place to put you!'
"Griffindor!" Sirius whipped the Hat off, threw it at Professor McGonagle, and dashed to Griffindor table, which was cheering at the selection of its first new addition.
"Evans, Lily," cried Professor McGonagle. Lily released Remus, although the green aura lingered for a minute more and sat on the stool. As the Sorting Hat was placed on her head, it slipped forward, covering her face as well.
'Well... Well... I see... Quite the mind you have Ms. Evans,' the Sorting Hat whispered into Lily's mind after a minute or so. 'Beautiful, but complicated... I see a lot of potential in you young fairy, I only hope you fulfill the destiny I sense within you. Come talk to me often in your Grandfather's office, we shall speak more,' he concluded. The next words were said out loud, "Griffindor!" Lily removed the Hat, placed it gently on the stool, and with a wave to Remus and a wink to Dumbledore, sat at the table across from Sirius.
"Figg, Arabella."
'A pity about your mother young one, but you will do her proud. Good luck, and stay strong.'
"Griffindor!" Arabella sat next to Sirius.
"Lupin, Remus," came McGonagle's voice. It was a bit softer and all the teachers who had not been watching the Sorting turned to look at the boy who walked shakily onto the stage. The entire room seemed to quiet down as the Sorting Hat was lowered onto Remus' head.
'Poor little wolf! To become what you are in saving another's life... Your bravery for that feat alone would secure you your place in Griffindor. Be warned, the journey ahead is fraught with enemies and dangers. Trust in your friends and all shall be well,' whispered the Sorting Hat.
"Griffindor!" Remus gladly took the Hat off and walked to Lily's side. He sat down and rested his head on her shoulders, closing his eyes. Lily ran her hand through his hair absently as she continued to watch the Sorting Ceremony.
"Malfoy, Lucius."
'Marry Narcissa Ping.'
"Slytherin!"
"Pettigrew, Peter."
The Sorting Hat took about eleven minutes with Peter, being uncertain where to put him. Eventually, it seemed to shrug and called out, "Griffindor!" in a rather uncertain voice. Peter took his seat at the end of the table, far away from everyone else.
"Potter, James."
'Ah, the Lord of the Forest, a pleasure to speak with you. There is only one place you belong and that is...'
"Griffindor!" James took the seat on Lily's other side, regarding the cousins with worry as to Remus' state of well-being.
"Potter, Natalia," McGonagle called, a hint of fear in her voice. The Potter family had always been a group of pranksters, it seemed to be a family tradition. To have two Potters at once was cause for concern in her eyes.
'ANOTHER Potter, eh? Well, you all have too much courage and integrity to go anywhere else...'
"Griffindor!" Natalia took the Hat off and raced to the seat next to Sirius.
"Snape, Severus."
'Don't let your mind deceive your heart. Follow the path you feel is the right one. Trust in the one whose music calms the soul of one who is punished for being a hero,' the Hat whispered to the boy with greasy black hair.
"Slytherin!"
The Sorting ended when a Young, Lianna was Sorted into Hufflepuff.
After a wonderful feast and Dumbledore's customary speech, all First-years were led to their new dorms by Fifth-year prefects. For Griffindor, the Prefects were Molly Pitcher and Arthur Weasley.
AN: That's the end of the chapter.... Sorry its so short. Like I said at the beginning, I apologize for this chapter's lateness. I was not only busy and sick, but I had no inspiration. My new muse, Kiriko, has given me quite a bit of inspiration for the next few chapters. (A young, thirteen-year-old girl with sky blue hair and light gray eyes peers out from behind Arlinya and waves at the crowd) She's rather shy, so you probably won't see her much. Special thanks goes out to my reviewers. I think I even got put on a favorites list by someone, which is quite an honor for a first time author. I also give special thanks to my calabash kazoku, who will be the basis of many character interactions in future chapters, especially my imouto who will provide the behavior of one Natalia Potter and has pushed me to continue writing whenever I am down. It's been a wild ride guys, thanks for the great five years we shared! I'll catch you all sometime in July, I hope, so I'll see you later (or, as the Japanese say, Matta ne!).