Disclaimer: Everything you know belongs to the genius that is J.K.Rowling.
Lily and Arabella's Hogwarts Life, Chapter 4: Finally Hogwarts
The weeks flew by quickly for Lily, Arabella, Sirius and James, who became a close knitted group, and soon it was September 1st. Lily and Arabella used James' floo system to get to platform 9 ¾ and with teamwork the group managed to get their trunks into a compartment. Sirius was hanging halfway out the window as he was waving Remus and a boy Lily and Arabella thought to be Peter into the compartment. As the train ride started Lily asked Remus if she could talk to him alone. Remus followed her out of the compartment and further down they found an empty one. She turned to him. She tried to start but didn't know what to say. She bit her lip while trying to think of something to say. Eventually she just plunged out with it.
"Remus I know!" The boy paled and sat heavily down on a seat.
"You- you know? How?"
"Neither Sirius nor James told me, if that's what you're wondering about. I can see auras..."
"You can..." She nodded.
"But I still want to be your friend Remus. I haven't known you for that long a time, but from what I've seen you're a wonderful person. And I'll do anything I can to make you believe that as well." She lifted Remus' chin and looked into his eyes.
"Please believe me." She whispered with tears in her eyes. Remus smiled and she hugged him tightly. She seated herself next to him and leaned her head on his shoulder.
"Is there anything anyone can do to make life as a werewolf better?" She asked. "People are working on charms and potions and such, but no one has made any progress. What helps me is having good friends like you." Lily smiled.
"There's no way back now Lily, you're my friend for ever."
"Thank you for your trust Remus."
"Well there is something..."
"What? Something that could help? Tell me."
"I- I don't know..."
"Come on. I'm your friend remember." Lily said looking into his eyes.
"Well, Sirius, James and Peter are trying to become Animagi, that way they could stay with me when there's a full moon..." "How nice of them, but that is terribly hard. I know..."
"You know? How?" Remus asked. Lily looked at the floor.
"Nothing... I've just read it- that's all."
"Lily, you're lying. I can tell." Lily bit her lip again and looked up at him.
"Can you keep a secret?"
"Are you kidding?" He laughed. "I've kept mine for as long as I can remember! Of course I can keep a secret." Lily nervously twirled a strand of heir between her fingers.
"In Salem... An animagus came to the school and gave us a test. The winner of the test would get a surprise. And- well- Me and Bella got the same score and he decided to let both of us win... He taught us to become animagus. He said we didn't have to register 'til we finished school... So- I'm already animagus... I can probably help Sirius, James and Peter... And I can stay with you when it's full moon, if you want me to, as well..." She was hardly finished when Remus hugged her tightly.
"Really? You would do that--- for me?"
"Sure Remus. You're my friend."
Remus and Lily returned to the compartment smiling. They wouldn't tell the others what had happened, not yet anyway. As they left the train Lily and Arabella had to go with the first years, something about traditions. And they were glad. Now they got their first look of the castle as they crossed a huge lake in boats. The huge giant-like man who had led them over the lake gave them over to a strict looking lady who led the first years into a room while bringing Lily and Arabella into another. In the middle of the room a hat was placed on a three-legged chair.
"Evans, Lily." The woman said and gesticulated that Lily should sit on the chair and put the hat on her head. Lily did so.
"Hmm. Smart young women you are," Lily heard a voice say.
"But no Ravenclaw. You're trustworthy and loyal, but no Hufflepuff. And you sure got ambitions, but are definitely no Slytherin. And you've got heaps of courage, and I see a future for you in GRYFFINDOR." Lily lifted the hat of her head and grinned at the nervous Arabella.
"Figg, Arabella." Arabella got up and placed the hat on her head. After half a minute or so the hat called out
"GRYFFINDOR." And Arabella jumped up and hugged Lily after removing the hat.
"I'm Minerva McGonnalgal, Gryffindor's Head of House, and I hope you'll feel home here at Hogwarts." McGonnagal smiled at them and lifted up the chair and the hat. McGonnagal brought the hat and chair with her and collected the scared first years on her way to the great hall. Lily and Arabella stopped a second to study the beautiful sky above, and then tried to find the Gryffindor table. Lily's eyes soon spotted someone she never thought she'd see.
"Arabella." She whispered and poked the girl in her ribs.
"What?" Arabella demanded to know.
"Ain't that Iris?" Lily pointed out a girl with chestnut coloured hair and sparkling blue and green specked eyes.
"You know," Arabella said, looking at Lily. "I do think that's her." Iris Winter was the daughter of Lily's mothers brother, Lily's cousin. Lily had no idea she was a witch. Lily tiptoed over to Iris and carefully placed her hands over Iris' eyes.
"Who is it?" Lily asked in a wicked voice.
"Lily?" Iris shockingly asked and turned around. They had always played that game, and Iris knew that voice so well. Iris pulled Lily into a breaking hug.
"You want to sit?" Iris asked.
"Nah, I'm going over to Arabella..."
"Bella's a witch as well?"
"Yup, well I'm going over to Belle, Jamey and them."
"Jamey and them?"
"Mmm. James, Sirius, Remus and Peter."
"You know the Marauders? I've been in the same house as them, in the same year as them, for the last four years, and you—what—met them last week or something?"
"Got to know them a month ago or so, Jamie's my neighbour, and Sirius lives close by. Why?"
"They're the HOTTEST guys in school."
"Well, I'd better introduce you to them sometime then." Lily said and grinned, before hurrying over to Arabella and the Marauders. By that time McGonnagal had collected together all of the 1st years and had placed the hat and the chair infant of them. A brim opened on the hat and it started to sing.
Hello young students gathered here
And teachers old as well
Today more first years have arrived
To be chosen and I must tell:
On this day so very special
Nine-hundred and ninety-eight years away
The first of first years gathered here
To start on their magical way
To belong with Godric Gryffindor
You must be brave at heart
But to want to be one Rowena seeked
You must be pretty smart
Helga Hufflepuff she chose
The ones who you can really trust
But Salazar wanted none of them
He wants those who for power lust
First years I bid you this
Whatever houses you in may be
That you will grow and learn and become
What the founders and I found in thee
The students of the hall applauded and McGonnagal started to call up students. Eventually the sorting ended and the white-haired, white-bearded man rose.
"Again I will remind all of the students that The Forbidden Forest has got it name for a reason. Our new caretaker, Mr. Filch, has set up a list of illegal objects, which, if found, will be confiscated. Anyone who is interested may read the list in his office. Apart from the first years we have two new students, Lily Evans and Arabella Figg, who has transferred from Salem Academy For Witches. They have been chosen into Gryffindor and will start their fifth year. Chew in." The old man clapped his hands and food appeared on the tables. The group consistent of four boys and two girls enjoyed the food greatly and loud, rich laughter could be heard throughout the meal. As the six were about to leave the hall McGonnagal stopped Lily and handed her a letter before ushering her along after her friends. Lily stuffed the letter in her robe pocket and ran to catch up with her friends.
After some time the Gryffindors stopped infant of a huge moving portrait of a fat lady in a pink dress. James was a Prefect and the one closest to the portrait, so when the lady in the picture asked for a password James said: "Wysiwyg. Remember that password 1st years" and entered the hole behind the portrait.
"Wysiwyg? What's that?" Lily asked as the six of them has seated themselves around a table in the huge and comfortable common room in gold and red.
"Wysiwyg? Well it means 'what you see is what you get'."
"What's the next gonna be?" Remus wondered faintly.
"Ventriloquist perhaps," James said, "Or maybe valedictorian, or unobtrusive, no, no tunelessness of course..."
"It wasn't a question." Remus whined as James went on.
"Anyway. What letter did McGonnagal give you?" Arabella asked. Faintly you could still hear James: 'topsyturvey, terminology, tercentenary...'
"I don't know." Lily said and pulled out the letter. 'Synthesis, supplication, sumptuous, sufficiently, stipulation, squander, spontaneousness, sexagenarian, scrupulousness...' Lily opened the letter and pulled out a sheet of parchment and a little package.
Dear Miss. Evans
Our female fifth year prefect has resigned from her job as a prefect, and out of what I know of you, I think you will do a wonderful job. The other Gryffindor fifth year prefect is James Potter. Good Luck.
Head Master
Albus Dumbledore
And
Gryffindor Head of House
Minerva McGonnagal
"Hey, Jamie," Lily called, braking of James' ranting.
"What about genealogical, haughtiness, or even inappropriateness?"
"Hey, you have a talent for this. You should be the other prefect." James said.
"I am." She answered and wrapped up the little package that contained a shining prefects badge. Her friends congratulated her, and one-by-one the students crept up the stairs to their dormitories. At last the only one's left were James, Remus, Lily and Arabella. Arabella yawned and stretched, only three persons left.
"Remus?" He nodded.
"When's the next full moon?" Lily asked.
"Two weeks." She nodded. James looked from one to another.
"What's this supposed to mean? Why do you have to know that? And don't go with 'an Astronomy project'."
"He's my friend, and I want to know. That's all there is to it." Lily said casually.
"There's nothing you can do to help him." James cast back.
"Oh, there isn't?" She asked challenging.
"No," He said, "Unless... Lily!"
"What?"
"You can't join him, he'll kill you."
"Don't talk of me as I'm not here." Remus whispered.
"I'm sorry Remus, but it's true. She's not safe there, no one's safe there."
"He won't kill me." Lily said.
"Then he'll turn you into a werewolf."
"No he wont."
"There's no way he won't bite you-"
"I didn't said he wouldn't bite me, I said he wouldn't turn me into a werewolf."
"But any human bitten by a werewolf-"
"What if I'm not human?"
"You're trying to tell me—You're an Animagus?" James asked in whispers. She nodded.
"But- but- that's illegal!"
"Well, you want to become an illegal Animagus as well- don't try to deny it, Remus told me- and I don't have to register 'til I've finished school..." James slumped back onto his seat, visibly beaten.
"Very well, but- can you learn us- me, Sirius and Peter that is- to be Animagus as well?"
"Sure Jamie, me boy. But now I need my sleep. 'Night boys."