~*AN*~ Hey! Amoura here! I just wanted to put in a quick AN and say that
the only thing I own in this story are the plot and any character names you
don't recognize. The rest belongs to J.K. Rowling. Isn't' she a genius
for creating the Harry Potter series? I know I should have probably put
this in for the first chapter, but I goofed. Everyone does every once in a
while.
I'm glad you like the story so far. I have it posted on another site as well, but I thought it might be cool to post it here. Not to mention I'll probably hit a bigger reading group. I love to have others read my works. Give me back lots of input. I'd like to hear anything you have to say about the story, whether it be good or bad. Thanks! Now enjoy!
Mrs. Evans drove her daughter to Kings Cross train station where they would meet up with the Avalon family. Rini's older brother and sister, Luther and Saria, were already on the train.
Lily saw Rini and squealed her name. "Lily, come on!" Rini squealed back. Lily put her trunk and other belongings, including Emrys, on the train with Rini's. They got off and said good-bye to their parents. Then they got on the train again to search for a compartment. As they got to the last car of the train, a welcome sight greeted them. There stood James, Sirius, Remus, and, though less welcome, Peter. Sirius lightly kicked James, who was in front, on his heel. They switched places.
The girls reached the boys right after this transaction had taken place. Sirius, now in front, took Lily's hand and kissed it. "Your carriage awaits, My Lady," he said with a smile. Lily decided to play along.
She curtsied and said, "Greatly appreciated, My Lord." Sirius then led her into the compartment.
James smiled at Rini. "My Lady," he said with a bow and a kiss of the hand.
"My Lord," she replied, and let James lead her into the compartment with Remus and Peter following them in, snickering. On one side of the compartment, when you looked at it, from left to right were Rini, James, Lily and Sirius. Across from them sat Remus and Peter.
They talked for a bit and promptly at 11 o'clock the train set off. Little more than 10 minutes into the train ride, Lily started to feel sleepy. Less than 5 minutes later, she had fallen asleep. Her head fell to the right onto James shoulder. A smile started to spread across his face but faded quickly. The smile had formed because he had an angel sleeping on his shoulder. It had faded when James remembered that Sirius had a HUGE crush on the same angel. When James looked at Sirius to tell him it wasn't his fault, Sirius had a faintly hurt expression.
The ride was mostly peaceful. Lily's head kept rolling back and forth onto James and Sirius's shoulders. When her head was on James's shoulder, Sirius was unusually quiet.
About half way through the ride, a banging on the compartment door woke Lily up. Then the door slid open. Four VERY unwanted people were behind the door. Lucius Malfoy, Severus Snape, and two people Lily didn't know. Lily groaned and turned her head back toward Sirius.
"What do you want?" James snapped.
"Oh, nothing," Lucius said lazily. "Just wanted to introduce the little first years to their elders. This is Cory Crabbe and that's Gregorus Goyle. I hope you all listen to our representative in your year, Potter. You better listen to Snape."
"Like hell we will listen to that... that... JERK!!!" Lily yelled. She stood up with everyone staring at her. "It'll be a cold day in Hell when we listen to that piece of filth and the likes of you! You, who judge others on who and what their parents are!" and she slammed the compartment door in their faces.
Everyone looked at Lily as she sat back down, placed her head on Sirius's shoulder, and prepared to go back to sleep. Everyone continued to stare at her. She snapped her eyes open, lifted her head, and snapped, "What?"
"Was that Lily Evans I just heard yelling?!" Rini exclaimed. "Was that the calm, mellow girl who would just tell her very aggravating older sister to just be quiet and leave her alone?" Now she was being sarcastic.
"I'm tired! Let me go back to sleep!" Lily snapped, and then said softly, "Sirius, you don't mind if I use you as a pillow do you?"
"No, go ahead," Sirius said quickly. As Lily laid her head down, Sirius blushed. Everyone except Lily saw and started snickering. Sirius told them sternly, but quietly to be quiet. In a matter of minutes, Lily's deep breaths and soft snoring told everyone she was asleep.
When Lily woke up again, it was because someone was shaking her. She looked at the owner of the shoulder and found herself looking at James. "I'm so sorry, James. I didn't mean to sleep on you," Lily quickly said and raised her head off his shoulder.
James was smiling as he said, "Don't worry about it. Right now, you and Rini need to change into your school robes. Us boys will be outside. We'll be arriving at Hogwarts in an hour or two." Then James left Rini and Lily alone in the compartment.
Lily looked at Rini and saw her staring with disbelief. "What?" Lily asked her sleepily.
"Oh, nothing. You just have two totally good looking guys having a silent but totally obvious fight over you!"
"Huh? What are you talking about?" Lily looked at Rini as if she were crazy.
"ARE YOU BLIND? I've hung around with them my whole life, and I've never seen Sirius look at any girl the way he looks at you when he is brave enough to look at you! James looked at me like that once before, but he had just spent a month in an all boys' camp! Plus, it's more intense with you! It's obvious they both like you!"
"Rini, let's just get changed, okay. The sooner we change the sooner they can change," Lily said, sounding very much like her mother had when she ended the argument with Petunia.
Meanwhile, out in the hall, the boys stood waiting patiently. Remus kept looking back and forth between James and Sirius who, though they weren't saying anything, weren't being very friendly. "Will you two stop it!" It was more of a demand then a question.
"Stop what, Remus?" James asked indignantly.
"This competing with each other for Lily! If she likes either one of you she'll bloody well let you know." Remus was looking at both boys closely.
"Well, if he would stop taking an interest to every girl I—"Sirius started. He had just finished saying 'I' when the door slid open and the boys and girls switched places.
After everyone was changed, they sat in the compartment talking. Lily was asking and being told all about the wizarding world. Quidditch was very interesting to her. Flying brooms, balls that move on their own, 50-foot high hoops; it was all so fascinating.
They arrived at Hogsmeade Station. Leaving all their stuff on the train, they got off and heard a voice saying: "Firs' years! Firs' years this way!" The voice belonged to a man to big to be true.
"That's Hagrid," James said knowingly. "His full name is Rubeus Hagrid. Mum and Dad invite him over during the summer. They say he went to school here but was expelled in his third year. The headmaster let him stay and be trained as groundskeeper and one of his duties is to take the first years to and from the castle in the beginning and the end of the year."
"Wow. So your parents and he were in the same year?" Rini asked.
"No, they were 3 years ahead of him. In their last year here they really got to know him and became friends." By this time they had reached Hagrid. "Hello Hagrid," James said with a smile.
"Oh, hello James," Hagrid said looking down. "Already got yer lit'le group of friends, do yeh?"
"Yea," said James and he introduced all his friends. "This is Sirius Black, Remus Lupin, Peter Pettigrew, Rini Avalon, and Lily Evans. Everyone, this is Hagrid." Everyone looked at Hagrid and said hello. Then Hagrid called first years one last time and led all the first years to the edge of a lake. There, everyone had his or her first look at the school. Hogwarts didn't look like ordinary schools; on the contrary, it was a castle. Hagrid instructed them to get in the little boats along the edge of the lake. Hagrid had a boat to himself while everyone else sat 3 or 4 in a boat. James, Sirius, and Peter were in one boat and Lily, Rini, and Remus were in another.
Lily was staring at the castle when she heard Remus say, "Hey Lily, I reckon James and Sirius like you."
Lily looked at Remus. "That's what Rini said."
She said it right as Rini said, "That's what I said!"
"I don't think they'll be the only ones," Remus said smiling. "I mean, you're very beautiful with that dark, fiery red hair, those brilliant emerald green eyes. I can almost guaranty that most, if not all, the younger male students try to ask you out." As Remus said this, Lily's face kept turning brighter shades of red. In another boat, James Sirius, and Peter were silent.
When they reached the castle, the 6 rejoined each other. They walked in with the rest of the first years. Hagrid, who was in front, met a woman with a stern face, dark brown hair pulled back in a tight bun, and square spectacle in front of her eyes. She wore robes of a dark green. "Hello, Professor McGonnagal," Hagrid greeted her cheerily.
Professor McGonnagal looked at the first years. "We shall be entering the Great Hall momentarily. There, you shall be sorted into your houses. The four houses are Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, and Slytherin. While at Hogwarts, your houses will be like your family. You will eat at the same table, sleep in the same tower or dungeon. The students surrounding you that are sorted into the same house as you will be your classmates. Houses may be joined for classes such as Gryffindor with Ravenclaw, Ravenclaw with Slytherin, and so on. An unbiased judge of character will choose your houses for you. It could care less which house is believed to be better, so it shall sort you properly. Now, is everyone ready? Then let's go," and with that she turned on her heel and started down the many corridors to the Great Hall.
They entered a large room with five tables. Four out of the five had colored clothes on them and were surrounded by students. At the head of the hall, the fifth table stood covered with a black cloth with the teachers sitting on the one side, looking at the students. They walked in front of the teachers' table.
Professor McGonnagal pulled out a 3-legged stool. Then she placed a tattered old wizard's hat on it. Then, quite suddenly, a rip near the brim of the hat opened and the hat burst into song. While the students and teachers applauded the hat when it had finished its song, Lily glanced at the other first years and saw that some looked a bit relieved. All they had to do was put on an old hat.
Professor McGonnagal pulled out a roll of parchment. "When I call your name, come sit on the stool, put on the hat, and then join your table when it has been announced." Everyone then started worrying whether or not they'd be with their friends. Professor McGonnagal called out the first name, "Avalon, Serena."
Rini walked up to the stool and sat down. Professor McGonnagal had just put the hat on her head when it shouted: "GRYFFINDOR!" Rini quickly hopped off the stool and walked to the cheering table with the dark red tablecloth. Her bother and sister were cheering the loudest as they were also in Gryffindor.
"Avito, Horrus."
A boy with matted blonde hair walked up to the stool, sat down, and had the hat put on his head. A few seconds later, the hat shouted, "SLYTHERIN!" He took the hat off his head and headed to the now cheering table that was covered with a dark green cloth.
Professor McGonnagal then called, "Black, Sirius."
Sirius walked up and put the hat on. "GRYFFINDOR!" It had shouted the house as fast as it had with Rini. Sirius eagerly went and sat by her.
"Corsa, Charis."
A girl with brown shoulder length hair walked up to the hat. Charis put the hat on. A good bit of time passed till the hat shouted, "RAVENCLAW!" Charis walked to the cheering table with a peacock blue cloth.
"Dolmen, Sarah."
A very timid girl with strawberry blonde hair walked up the stool and put the hat on. "HUFFLEPUFF!" Sarah went to the cheering table cover with a yellow cloth.
"Evans, Lily."
Lily walked up and put the hat on. The most unexpected thing happened. She heard a voice in her ear. "A very powerful witch you could be. With the right training of course. But which house to place you in is very complicated. I see a great deal of courage in you but it is matched by your eagerness to prove yourself and by your thirst for knowledge. Ravenclaw or Gryffindor would suit you well."
Lily kept thinking, 'Just let me be with my friends. Let me be with my friends.'
"Want to be with your friends, do you. Very trusting of your friends. I see the house your want to be in, and it corresponds with one of the houses you're best suited for, so I guess it will be GRYFFINDOR!" The hat had shouted Gryffindor to the entire hall. Lily quickly went and joined Rini and Sirius.
Professor McGonnagal continued with the sorting. She came to Remus's name. He walked up to the stool and put the hat on. He too heard the little voice. "I see great fear in you, young Remus Lupin. You fear they will find out and no longer be your friends. Courageous it was for you to even come here, even with the precautions Dumbledore has set up. I would not fear young Remus. No doubt you be long to GRYFFINDOR!" Once again he had shouted the name of the house to the whole school.
Professor McGonnagal continued once again. Unfortunately, all of the gang didn't stay together. When Peter's name was called, the hat shouted Hufflepuff. He glumly went and sat with the rest of the new Hufflepuffs. Lily turned to Sirius, Rini, and Remus and whispered, "Truth be told, I'm glad he's not with us. There's just something about him that's just... I don't know, very fishy; ratty."
Then Professor McGonnagal came to James's name. The hat shouted Gryffindor just as quickly as it had for Rini and Sirius. Then it was Severus Snape's turn. The hat, without a doubt in it's little brain, immediately shouted, "SLYTHERIN!" Severus turned to his table with a wide smile. Professor McGonnagal finished then sorting. The last person was "Zoombanni, Christopher," who was sorted into Ravenclaw.
Professor McGonnagal then took the sorting hat and the stool and put them in a room adjoined to the hall. She took her place at the table as the headmaster, Professor Albus Dumbledore, stood up. He cleared his throat and said, "Welcome to another year at Hogwarts! May this year be as pleasant as last year. As is always, nobody is allowed into the Dark Forest. It is forbidden. Now, I have three words to say: Zim, zap, zoom! Thank you." He sat back down.
Lily looked at James, as if asking if Hagrid had ever told him about Headmaster Dumbledore. Then she looked at the table and saw, with great surprise, that it had filled up with food. "How did this get here?!" she exclaimed.
"The house elves sent it up," James said.
"The WHAT?"
"House elves. They're elves that their sole joy in life is to cook, clean, and serve their masters. Dad told me this school has about a hundred of them. The house elves make the food and then use what little magic they have to send it up to these tables." James had a look of excitement on his face as he said this.
"And how does you're father know all this?" Lily's expression was so innocent you wouldn't even guess she was forming a devious plan.
James didn't even give it a thought. "Well, when Dad was at school, he found a lot of secret passages and so on. He also found the way into the kitchens. They're right below us. There are four tables in the exact location of these tables here. So, you see, it's very easy to see how it gets here."
"And he was never caught? No one ever knew?" Lily asked sweetly.
Sirius answered. "Well, Mr. and Mrs. Potter have a feeling their headmaster knew and if he didn't, Professor Dumbledore did. When our parents were at school, Dumbledore was the Transfiguration's teacher." Sirius looked at James with a smug look, as if saying, 'You're not the only one that can give information about the school and it's history!'
Lily didn't notice the look. "Do all witches and wizards know as much about the school as you do? I mean, all about the kitchens and Hagrid and Dumbledore?"
"No," James said reaching for some steak and kidney pudding. "Sirius and I just know what our parents told us."
"Yea," Sirius added. "They were best friends in school just like us, right James. It also helped them to have a Potter family heirloom that James now has."
"What is it?" Lily asked quietly, leaning in closer to the boys. "What's the heirloom?"
"Umm," James looked at Sirius. "We're not supposed to tell. Sirius shouldn't have even said as much as he did."
"Why?"
"Because Dad told me not to tell anyone." Lily looked disappointed. "Why do you want to know anyway?" James demanded.
Lily blushed. "I was just hoping that whatever it was could help me get Severus and Lucius back for treating me the way they did," she answered quietly.
"Don't worry Lily," Sirius said with a hint of anger in his voice. "We'll get Snape and Malfoy for you."
Lily blushed, murmured her thanks to the boys, and became interested in what was on her plate.
Finally, after everyone had finished dinner and dessert, Professor Dumbledore stood up again. The hall quieted down. "Now it's time for our school song." He flicked his wand and a ribbon of silver came out of the end and formed words.
"Now, everyone choose your favorite tune and sing!"
"Hogwarts, Hogwarts, Hoggy Warty Hogwarts.
Teach us something please,
Whether we are 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."
Everyone ended at different times. James, Sirius, and Rini's brother Luther were the last to stop singing as they were singing a very slow funeral march. Lily got the impression the Luther had told James and Sirius to do so. When they had finished, everyone applauded with Dumbledore being the loudest. "Music," he said. "The most beautiful thing to my ears. Now then, time for everyone to go to bed. Please follow your prefects to your dormitories. Off you go, off you go." Everyone left the hall slowly for they were all tired.
When they reached one of the many corridors of the castle, they stopped in front of a portrait of a fat lady in a pink dress. "Password," she said.
A girl in the front said, "Hinky punk!" and the portrait of the Fat Lady swung open. "Now remember," the girl shouted to everyone, "to enter the dorm you have to use the password. Without it, the Fat Lady will not let you in. Most importantly, you are not to tell anyone our password or where our dorm is just as they are not to tell you theirs."
She walked in and the first years followed. "My name," she said, "is Anna- Marie Faylin. I am but one of Gryffindor's prefects." Anna then pointed to a stairwell and said, "This is the girls' dormitory and," pointing to another, "this is the boys' dormitory. Your things are in your rooms already. As of now, you stand in the common room. While not in class, the library, or at any other engagements; you will be in this here room doing homework or what you please, as long as it's appropriate. Now, as it is already fairly late, off to bed. EVERYONE!" The 'everyone' was to all of those in second year and above. It was Friday night.
I'm glad you like the story so far. I have it posted on another site as well, but I thought it might be cool to post it here. Not to mention I'll probably hit a bigger reading group. I love to have others read my works. Give me back lots of input. I'd like to hear anything you have to say about the story, whether it be good or bad. Thanks! Now enjoy!
Mrs. Evans drove her daughter to Kings Cross train station where they would meet up with the Avalon family. Rini's older brother and sister, Luther and Saria, were already on the train.
Lily saw Rini and squealed her name. "Lily, come on!" Rini squealed back. Lily put her trunk and other belongings, including Emrys, on the train with Rini's. They got off and said good-bye to their parents. Then they got on the train again to search for a compartment. As they got to the last car of the train, a welcome sight greeted them. There stood James, Sirius, Remus, and, though less welcome, Peter. Sirius lightly kicked James, who was in front, on his heel. They switched places.
The girls reached the boys right after this transaction had taken place. Sirius, now in front, took Lily's hand and kissed it. "Your carriage awaits, My Lady," he said with a smile. Lily decided to play along.
She curtsied and said, "Greatly appreciated, My Lord." Sirius then led her into the compartment.
James smiled at Rini. "My Lady," he said with a bow and a kiss of the hand.
"My Lord," she replied, and let James lead her into the compartment with Remus and Peter following them in, snickering. On one side of the compartment, when you looked at it, from left to right were Rini, James, Lily and Sirius. Across from them sat Remus and Peter.
They talked for a bit and promptly at 11 o'clock the train set off. Little more than 10 minutes into the train ride, Lily started to feel sleepy. Less than 5 minutes later, she had fallen asleep. Her head fell to the right onto James shoulder. A smile started to spread across his face but faded quickly. The smile had formed because he had an angel sleeping on his shoulder. It had faded when James remembered that Sirius had a HUGE crush on the same angel. When James looked at Sirius to tell him it wasn't his fault, Sirius had a faintly hurt expression.
The ride was mostly peaceful. Lily's head kept rolling back and forth onto James and Sirius's shoulders. When her head was on James's shoulder, Sirius was unusually quiet.
About half way through the ride, a banging on the compartment door woke Lily up. Then the door slid open. Four VERY unwanted people were behind the door. Lucius Malfoy, Severus Snape, and two people Lily didn't know. Lily groaned and turned her head back toward Sirius.
"What do you want?" James snapped.
"Oh, nothing," Lucius said lazily. "Just wanted to introduce the little first years to their elders. This is Cory Crabbe and that's Gregorus Goyle. I hope you all listen to our representative in your year, Potter. You better listen to Snape."
"Like hell we will listen to that... that... JERK!!!" Lily yelled. She stood up with everyone staring at her. "It'll be a cold day in Hell when we listen to that piece of filth and the likes of you! You, who judge others on who and what their parents are!" and she slammed the compartment door in their faces.
Everyone looked at Lily as she sat back down, placed her head on Sirius's shoulder, and prepared to go back to sleep. Everyone continued to stare at her. She snapped her eyes open, lifted her head, and snapped, "What?"
"Was that Lily Evans I just heard yelling?!" Rini exclaimed. "Was that the calm, mellow girl who would just tell her very aggravating older sister to just be quiet and leave her alone?" Now she was being sarcastic.
"I'm tired! Let me go back to sleep!" Lily snapped, and then said softly, "Sirius, you don't mind if I use you as a pillow do you?"
"No, go ahead," Sirius said quickly. As Lily laid her head down, Sirius blushed. Everyone except Lily saw and started snickering. Sirius told them sternly, but quietly to be quiet. In a matter of minutes, Lily's deep breaths and soft snoring told everyone she was asleep.
When Lily woke up again, it was because someone was shaking her. She looked at the owner of the shoulder and found herself looking at James. "I'm so sorry, James. I didn't mean to sleep on you," Lily quickly said and raised her head off his shoulder.
James was smiling as he said, "Don't worry about it. Right now, you and Rini need to change into your school robes. Us boys will be outside. We'll be arriving at Hogwarts in an hour or two." Then James left Rini and Lily alone in the compartment.
Lily looked at Rini and saw her staring with disbelief. "What?" Lily asked her sleepily.
"Oh, nothing. You just have two totally good looking guys having a silent but totally obvious fight over you!"
"Huh? What are you talking about?" Lily looked at Rini as if she were crazy.
"ARE YOU BLIND? I've hung around with them my whole life, and I've never seen Sirius look at any girl the way he looks at you when he is brave enough to look at you! James looked at me like that once before, but he had just spent a month in an all boys' camp! Plus, it's more intense with you! It's obvious they both like you!"
"Rini, let's just get changed, okay. The sooner we change the sooner they can change," Lily said, sounding very much like her mother had when she ended the argument with Petunia.
Meanwhile, out in the hall, the boys stood waiting patiently. Remus kept looking back and forth between James and Sirius who, though they weren't saying anything, weren't being very friendly. "Will you two stop it!" It was more of a demand then a question.
"Stop what, Remus?" James asked indignantly.
"This competing with each other for Lily! If she likes either one of you she'll bloody well let you know." Remus was looking at both boys closely.
"Well, if he would stop taking an interest to every girl I—"Sirius started. He had just finished saying 'I' when the door slid open and the boys and girls switched places.
After everyone was changed, they sat in the compartment talking. Lily was asking and being told all about the wizarding world. Quidditch was very interesting to her. Flying brooms, balls that move on their own, 50-foot high hoops; it was all so fascinating.
They arrived at Hogsmeade Station. Leaving all their stuff on the train, they got off and heard a voice saying: "Firs' years! Firs' years this way!" The voice belonged to a man to big to be true.
"That's Hagrid," James said knowingly. "His full name is Rubeus Hagrid. Mum and Dad invite him over during the summer. They say he went to school here but was expelled in his third year. The headmaster let him stay and be trained as groundskeeper and one of his duties is to take the first years to and from the castle in the beginning and the end of the year."
"Wow. So your parents and he were in the same year?" Rini asked.
"No, they were 3 years ahead of him. In their last year here they really got to know him and became friends." By this time they had reached Hagrid. "Hello Hagrid," James said with a smile.
"Oh, hello James," Hagrid said looking down. "Already got yer lit'le group of friends, do yeh?"
"Yea," said James and he introduced all his friends. "This is Sirius Black, Remus Lupin, Peter Pettigrew, Rini Avalon, and Lily Evans. Everyone, this is Hagrid." Everyone looked at Hagrid and said hello. Then Hagrid called first years one last time and led all the first years to the edge of a lake. There, everyone had his or her first look at the school. Hogwarts didn't look like ordinary schools; on the contrary, it was a castle. Hagrid instructed them to get in the little boats along the edge of the lake. Hagrid had a boat to himself while everyone else sat 3 or 4 in a boat. James, Sirius, and Peter were in one boat and Lily, Rini, and Remus were in another.
Lily was staring at the castle when she heard Remus say, "Hey Lily, I reckon James and Sirius like you."
Lily looked at Remus. "That's what Rini said."
She said it right as Rini said, "That's what I said!"
"I don't think they'll be the only ones," Remus said smiling. "I mean, you're very beautiful with that dark, fiery red hair, those brilliant emerald green eyes. I can almost guaranty that most, if not all, the younger male students try to ask you out." As Remus said this, Lily's face kept turning brighter shades of red. In another boat, James Sirius, and Peter were silent.
When they reached the castle, the 6 rejoined each other. They walked in with the rest of the first years. Hagrid, who was in front, met a woman with a stern face, dark brown hair pulled back in a tight bun, and square spectacle in front of her eyes. She wore robes of a dark green. "Hello, Professor McGonnagal," Hagrid greeted her cheerily.
Professor McGonnagal looked at the first years. "We shall be entering the Great Hall momentarily. There, you shall be sorted into your houses. The four houses are Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, and Slytherin. While at Hogwarts, your houses will be like your family. You will eat at the same table, sleep in the same tower or dungeon. The students surrounding you that are sorted into the same house as you will be your classmates. Houses may be joined for classes such as Gryffindor with Ravenclaw, Ravenclaw with Slytherin, and so on. An unbiased judge of character will choose your houses for you. It could care less which house is believed to be better, so it shall sort you properly. Now, is everyone ready? Then let's go," and with that she turned on her heel and started down the many corridors to the Great Hall.
They entered a large room with five tables. Four out of the five had colored clothes on them and were surrounded by students. At the head of the hall, the fifth table stood covered with a black cloth with the teachers sitting on the one side, looking at the students. They walked in front of the teachers' table.
Professor McGonnagal pulled out a 3-legged stool. Then she placed a tattered old wizard's hat on it. Then, quite suddenly, a rip near the brim of the hat opened and the hat burst into song. While the students and teachers applauded the hat when it had finished its song, Lily glanced at the other first years and saw that some looked a bit relieved. All they had to do was put on an old hat.
Professor McGonnagal pulled out a roll of parchment. "When I call your name, come sit on the stool, put on the hat, and then join your table when it has been announced." Everyone then started worrying whether or not they'd be with their friends. Professor McGonnagal called out the first name, "Avalon, Serena."
Rini walked up to the stool and sat down. Professor McGonnagal had just put the hat on her head when it shouted: "GRYFFINDOR!" Rini quickly hopped off the stool and walked to the cheering table with the dark red tablecloth. Her bother and sister were cheering the loudest as they were also in Gryffindor.
"Avito, Horrus."
A boy with matted blonde hair walked up to the stool, sat down, and had the hat put on his head. A few seconds later, the hat shouted, "SLYTHERIN!" He took the hat off his head and headed to the now cheering table that was covered with a dark green cloth.
Professor McGonnagal then called, "Black, Sirius."
Sirius walked up and put the hat on. "GRYFFINDOR!" It had shouted the house as fast as it had with Rini. Sirius eagerly went and sat by her.
"Corsa, Charis."
A girl with brown shoulder length hair walked up to the hat. Charis put the hat on. A good bit of time passed till the hat shouted, "RAVENCLAW!" Charis walked to the cheering table with a peacock blue cloth.
"Dolmen, Sarah."
A very timid girl with strawberry blonde hair walked up the stool and put the hat on. "HUFFLEPUFF!" Sarah went to the cheering table cover with a yellow cloth.
"Evans, Lily."
Lily walked up and put the hat on. The most unexpected thing happened. She heard a voice in her ear. "A very powerful witch you could be. With the right training of course. But which house to place you in is very complicated. I see a great deal of courage in you but it is matched by your eagerness to prove yourself and by your thirst for knowledge. Ravenclaw or Gryffindor would suit you well."
Lily kept thinking, 'Just let me be with my friends. Let me be with my friends.'
"Want to be with your friends, do you. Very trusting of your friends. I see the house your want to be in, and it corresponds with one of the houses you're best suited for, so I guess it will be GRYFFINDOR!" The hat had shouted Gryffindor to the entire hall. Lily quickly went and joined Rini and Sirius.
Professor McGonnagal continued with the sorting. She came to Remus's name. He walked up to the stool and put the hat on. He too heard the little voice. "I see great fear in you, young Remus Lupin. You fear they will find out and no longer be your friends. Courageous it was for you to even come here, even with the precautions Dumbledore has set up. I would not fear young Remus. No doubt you be long to GRYFFINDOR!" Once again he had shouted the name of the house to the whole school.
Professor McGonnagal continued once again. Unfortunately, all of the gang didn't stay together. When Peter's name was called, the hat shouted Hufflepuff. He glumly went and sat with the rest of the new Hufflepuffs. Lily turned to Sirius, Rini, and Remus and whispered, "Truth be told, I'm glad he's not with us. There's just something about him that's just... I don't know, very fishy; ratty."
Then Professor McGonnagal came to James's name. The hat shouted Gryffindor just as quickly as it had for Rini and Sirius. Then it was Severus Snape's turn. The hat, without a doubt in it's little brain, immediately shouted, "SLYTHERIN!" Severus turned to his table with a wide smile. Professor McGonnagal finished then sorting. The last person was "Zoombanni, Christopher," who was sorted into Ravenclaw.
Professor McGonnagal then took the sorting hat and the stool and put them in a room adjoined to the hall. She took her place at the table as the headmaster, Professor Albus Dumbledore, stood up. He cleared his throat and said, "Welcome to another year at Hogwarts! May this year be as pleasant as last year. As is always, nobody is allowed into the Dark Forest. It is forbidden. Now, I have three words to say: Zim, zap, zoom! Thank you." He sat back down.
Lily looked at James, as if asking if Hagrid had ever told him about Headmaster Dumbledore. Then she looked at the table and saw, with great surprise, that it had filled up with food. "How did this get here?!" she exclaimed.
"The house elves sent it up," James said.
"The WHAT?"
"House elves. They're elves that their sole joy in life is to cook, clean, and serve their masters. Dad told me this school has about a hundred of them. The house elves make the food and then use what little magic they have to send it up to these tables." James had a look of excitement on his face as he said this.
"And how does you're father know all this?" Lily's expression was so innocent you wouldn't even guess she was forming a devious plan.
James didn't even give it a thought. "Well, when Dad was at school, he found a lot of secret passages and so on. He also found the way into the kitchens. They're right below us. There are four tables in the exact location of these tables here. So, you see, it's very easy to see how it gets here."
"And he was never caught? No one ever knew?" Lily asked sweetly.
Sirius answered. "Well, Mr. and Mrs. Potter have a feeling their headmaster knew and if he didn't, Professor Dumbledore did. When our parents were at school, Dumbledore was the Transfiguration's teacher." Sirius looked at James with a smug look, as if saying, 'You're not the only one that can give information about the school and it's history!'
Lily didn't notice the look. "Do all witches and wizards know as much about the school as you do? I mean, all about the kitchens and Hagrid and Dumbledore?"
"No," James said reaching for some steak and kidney pudding. "Sirius and I just know what our parents told us."
"Yea," Sirius added. "They were best friends in school just like us, right James. It also helped them to have a Potter family heirloom that James now has."
"What is it?" Lily asked quietly, leaning in closer to the boys. "What's the heirloom?"
"Umm," James looked at Sirius. "We're not supposed to tell. Sirius shouldn't have even said as much as he did."
"Why?"
"Because Dad told me not to tell anyone." Lily looked disappointed. "Why do you want to know anyway?" James demanded.
Lily blushed. "I was just hoping that whatever it was could help me get Severus and Lucius back for treating me the way they did," she answered quietly.
"Don't worry Lily," Sirius said with a hint of anger in his voice. "We'll get Snape and Malfoy for you."
Lily blushed, murmured her thanks to the boys, and became interested in what was on her plate.
Finally, after everyone had finished dinner and dessert, Professor Dumbledore stood up again. The hall quieted down. "Now it's time for our school song." He flicked his wand and a ribbon of silver came out of the end and formed words.
"Now, everyone choose your favorite tune and sing!"
"Hogwarts, Hogwarts, Hoggy Warty Hogwarts.
Teach us something please,
Whether we are 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."
Everyone ended at different times. James, Sirius, and Rini's brother Luther were the last to stop singing as they were singing a very slow funeral march. Lily got the impression the Luther had told James and Sirius to do so. When they had finished, everyone applauded with Dumbledore being the loudest. "Music," he said. "The most beautiful thing to my ears. Now then, time for everyone to go to bed. Please follow your prefects to your dormitories. Off you go, off you go." Everyone left the hall slowly for they were all tired.
When they reached one of the many corridors of the castle, they stopped in front of a portrait of a fat lady in a pink dress. "Password," she said.
A girl in the front said, "Hinky punk!" and the portrait of the Fat Lady swung open. "Now remember," the girl shouted to everyone, "to enter the dorm you have to use the password. Without it, the Fat Lady will not let you in. Most importantly, you are not to tell anyone our password or where our dorm is just as they are not to tell you theirs."
She walked in and the first years followed. "My name," she said, "is Anna- Marie Faylin. I am but one of Gryffindor's prefects." Anna then pointed to a stairwell and said, "This is the girls' dormitory and," pointing to another, "this is the boys' dormitory. Your things are in your rooms already. As of now, you stand in the common room. While not in class, the library, or at any other engagements; you will be in this here room doing homework or what you please, as long as it's appropriate. Now, as it is already fairly late, off to bed. EVERYONE!" The 'everyone' was to all of those in second year and above. It was Friday night.
