Chapter 3:Professor Dumbledore's Announcements
((Ok, the whole thing about Lily and James is that James was so stressed and a bit depressed of not being able to have Lily that he desperately went to some other person who he knew would accept him for who he was. Veronica is simply an extra comfort to James. So James still wants Lily, but he uses what he has to work with to his own needs.))
I'm so sorry this took so long- I have been so stressed lately and have hardly had time to breath. I'll try to update as much as possible, but exams are coming up soon and I'm a bit nervous… Sorry for the wait!
James walked back to the compartment where he had found Lily in earlier. He found the Marauders and the girls sitting around, talking about Quidditch.
"Bulgaria has absolutely no chance of taking the cup this year! Everyone is saying that France will be the one to take it!" Sirius said, tossing a few Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans into his mouth.
"That's what they say, Padfoot. Haven't you remembered the new Irish line up? My cousin, Sean, is on the team playing chaser. Bloody brilliant, he is out on the field." James said as he took a seat in between Veronica and Lily.
"Oh please, and let me guess- Your family owns the oh so popular wizarding band Chopped Pumpkins?" Lily said, rolling her eyes.
"Well actually, my mother-"
"Ok, Prongs, we understand." Remus said.
James looked over at Lily while everyone was still bragging over their favorite Quidditch teams. Even though she was bickering and fighting, he still thought she looked as beautiful as she did when she was in dress robes. He turned his head to look the other way, over at Veronica. She was adjusting her lip gloss and frowning as she ran the fingers of her free hand through her hair. To James, she looked utterly stuck up and snobby. Veronica was all for herself and didn't really care about anyone else.
The eight Gryffindors sat around their compartment, discussing their summers and their expectations of the new school year until they reached their destination- Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
James and Lily waved hurried good-byes, as they had to reach the castle first to make sure the students were safe and under control after they had finished decorating. They got into the Heads' carriage while the other students were still sorting about the station.
James looked over at Lily, who was twiddling her fingers and looking down at her feet.
"Something a matter, Lily?"
"No, nothing at all." she lied, not looking at James.
"Are you sure? I mean the way you acted at the meeting made me wonder if you were feeling alright."
"I'm fine." She snapped a bit lippy before adding, "Sorry."
"It's ok." he said, drifting off.
There was a brief moment where Lily and James met eyes before looking elsewhere.
"So I heard about you and Veronica." Lily stated, breaking the uncanny silence.
"Yeah." James spit out, as it was the only thing he could think of to say.
"Congratulations." Lily said, frowning slightly.
James nodded his head, recognizing her support.
"Do you like her a lot?" Lily asked, turning a pale pink color.
"She's alri- I mean she's great. One if a kind, definitely. But she's absolutely nothing compared to what I could have with…"
"With who?"
"Nothing. No one."
Lily sighed before opening the carriage door, as they had reached the entrance of Hogwarts. She climbed out, followed by James, who was feverously messing up his hair.
They entered the Great Hall together before quickly magicing the tables in their correct spots and decorating in appropriate decorations.
"Shame this is the last time we'll ever experience the great warm feeling of a welcoming feast, don't you think?" Liliy said, placing the staff table.
"Yeah. I'm certainly going to miss this place." James sighed, setting plates on tables in sets of ten.
Just as Lily had finished setting knives, the sets of second through seventh years began pouring into the Great Hall and sitting at their own House table. Lily and James stood near the staff table, over looking the students and making sure they were on best behavior.
Lily saw Hallie, Keily, and Veronica filing into their seats at the Gryffindor table. She waved at the three. Hallie and Keily returned the wave, but Veronica blew a kiss. Lily looked over at James who had returned the kiss that Veronica sent.
From the staff door on the right, entered Professor Dumbledore followed by the rest of the staff. He ushered Lily and James to go and sit down now, as their work was completed.
Lily sat next to James and in between Sirius. Lily had never been too partial to Sirius, as he always was making pranks at her, which caused her to become a bit upset with his behavior.
"Welcome, welcome to the start of the new year! This year is going to be very interesting and I'm sure that everyone will find this year one of their hardest yet. We should start off the celebration by welcoming and sorting the first years to our school."
The doors of the Great Hall opened and in came a trail of students, led by Professor McGonagall. They all crowded in front of the House tables and the staff table.
Dumbledore began talking about the rules and Filch's list of things that were not allowed in the school.
Then, it hit Lily like a lightening bolt. She and James had forgotten to set out the sorting hat.
"James, James!" Lily hissed, hitting James on the arm, while he was talking to Veronica. "We forgot all about the sorting hat! We better go and get it while Dumbledore keeps talking."
"No need to go and get it, Lily. We can always just use the Summoning Charm. Accio Sorting Hat!"
The sorting hat flew from the entrance doors and landed on the stool that was placed in between the first years and the staff table.
Dumbledore concluded his speech and sat down.
Professor McGonagall faced the first years and pulled a scroll of parchment out from within her robes.
"Now, when I call your name, please come up here and sit on this stool to be sorted. The sorting hat will be placed on your head and your house will be decided."
The sorting began with "Aaron, Michelle" and ended with "Zylcox, Mathew."
Dumbledore stood once more, to address the students again.
"I have an announcement to make. Over the past twelve years, the Ministry and I have been putting together a special organization in which some of the seventh year students will be traveling to different parts of the world, in order to learn about the ways other foreign schools teach their pupils. Now, when I call your name, would you please stand up and come over to the area between the staff table and the house tables."
Dumbledore straightened his robes and looked out among the sea of students before clicking his fingers together and making a scroll appear.
"James Potter."
James shrugged his shoulders and walked to the spot Dumbledore had indicated, hands in his pockets.
"Sirius Black."
Sirius gave a small whoop into the air before joining James and giving him a high five.
"Lily Evans."
Lily smiled and stood up next to Sirius, feeling a bit relieved that she was one that was picked.
"Samantha Moss."
A very pretty Ravenclaw that Sirius had liked since third year joined the group.
"Veronica Boulvea."
Lily rolled her eyes before looking at James, who didn't even smile. Sirius, on the other hand was looking quite pleased that Veronica was chosen, along with Samantha.
"Steven Taylor."
A dreamy looking Hufflepuff joined the line of students and shook Veronica's hand, whose eyes were large and round.
"These six students have been chosen to participate in the international trade of students. For the first half of the school year, the students will be away from the scene. Some will be in Beauxbeautons, the French school, others in Durmstrang. Only the brightest and most brilliant students are allowed to attend. As only six from each school is allowed, it was a very difficult decision to make."
Dumbledore turned and pointed his wand at James and Lily before saying "Accio!"
Their Head badges were stripped from their robes and Dumbledore caught them in his hand.
"Since you two will be gone for the first half of the year, your badges will be handed to some other worthy students until you will return."
Dumbledore flicked his wand again and the two badges were zoomed towards another set of students, Hallie Daniels and Remus Lupin.
"Congratulations, Hallie and Remus." Dumbledore clapped.
"So, on further notes, it is in my instructions that the six of you chosen students prepare for tomorrow, as you will have a long journey. Mind you, there is a meeting after dinner if you would like to know the conditions of your expeditions."
The rest of the school and staff began to clap before the six students returned to their seats.
Veronica, James, Lily, and Sirius were all congratulated on their success as students before platters upon platters filled the tables with scrumptious looking food.
Sirius rubbed his hands together and licked his lips before pulling the nearest platter of bangers towards him.
The Gryffindor ate their welcoming feast in a festive cheer, having people stop by occasionally to congratulate James, Lily, Veronica, and Sirius on their news.
After many of the platters had been left empty, Dumbledore dismissed the students back to their dorms. Sirius, Lily, Veronica, and James waved good-bye to their fellow housemates before meeting Dumbledore concerning the trips.
All six of the seventh years stood upon Dumbledore, their mines flowing with curiosity and excitement. Lily couldn't help but be just a bit scared. It was rare occasions like these that Lily began to think of all the things she would be risking or giving up. Lily was actually looking forward to spending time with her friends and exploring the foreign territories.
"Alright, as I have already stated, you are the brightest students in this school and I must pressure you to impress the students and staff. The Ministry has been preparing this whole trip for quite some time now and you all should not let them down."
Dumbledore looked directly at Sirius and James before directing himself back to order.
"Now, I will be telling you of your location and what your trip criteria and ideals shall be. Mr. Black, Miss Moss and Miss Boulvea shall be studying at the school of Durmstrang. You will learn the aspects of what the Professors are trying to teach and how they teach them. You are in for a very difficult road, facing many obstacles as Durmstrang is quite different from the Hogwarts you know of."
Sirius rolled his eyes. Nothing was difficult to him, for he was Sirius Black.
"Now, as you figured, the remaining group of students will be attending Beauxbeauton in France. That is Mr. Potter, Mr. Taylor, and Miss Evans."
Steven smiled at Lily, who returned the smile politely. Steven smiled at James, who returned a glare.
"You will find that Beauxbeautons is a very, very advanced school in both Transfiguration and in their Charm work. You all should do very well there. Your objective is to figure out the traditions that Beaubeauton Professors use in order to strengthen your own studies here at Hogwarts."
Dumbledore paused and took a deep breath.
"Now, I advise you all to go to bed, as you will be waking at the crack of dawn. And I mean, literally. Good night."
Dumbledore turned with a sweep of his robes and walked out of the Great Hall.
Samantha and Steven were the first to leave the Great Hall. Sirius proceeded to talk to James.
"Man, can you believe the nutter! Splitting us up? That's crazy talk, that is!"
And then Veronica got into the picture.
"I know, seriously! How am I supposed to have snog session with James if he's so far away from me? It's just not fair! I think we should complain to Dumbledore and change the arrangements!"
"No, we can't." James spit out a bit quickly, before recovering. "I mean, it's been extensive work and we can't go against what has been said. It's for the best. Besides, Lily is really good at Charms and I think she would be upset if she was cheated out of learning new techniques, am I right?"
"Yes." Lily said, with a slight snobbish attitude.
There was no way Veronica would be spoiling her time with James.
Veronica gave a bratty little "Uh!" before storming out of the Great Hall. James did not follow her, but stuck around to walk back up with Sirius and Lily.
They began talking about what they expected of their trips and arranged a system to exchange letters and keep in contact. James and Lily dropped Sirius off at Gryffindor dorm before heading up to the Head's dorm for the first and last night for quite some time.
James said the password to a beautiful Asian woman before climbing through the portrait hole. Lily followed, before gasping at how wonderful the common room looked.
It was in maroon and gold, the Gryffindor colors. A large stone fireplace was surrounded by two arm chairs and a sofa. Beyond this were two spiral staircases, twirling in opposite directions.
Lily followed James up the first staircase, which lead to one of the bedrooms, Lily's bedroom. There were books stacked on a corner of a desk. Maroon fabric hung over Lily's large four-poster bed. The window of her room looked over the entire Quidditch pitch and part of the lake. Stars were in the sky and Lily admired the view for a minute before going out of the room to find James' room.
James' room looked almost the same as Lily's, except his desk was covered with books on Quidditch and books about being an Auror. Lily wasn't sure what those were for, but thought nothing more of it.
The two went downstairs to find their bathroom. The bathroom, in James' opinion, was like heaven. There was a huge bath, which looked to be made of marble. In the bottom of the bath was what looked like jewels and bits of diamond.
The two returned to their common room to find two packages lying on one of the tables. One package was addressed to each of them. They opened them, Lily finding a Time Turner and James, an Invisibility Cloak.
Within Lily's package contained a note that read:
Lily-
Use this wisely as it will be an aid in your life. This may be a sort of life support that can reverse what is wrong into what is right.
Albus Dumbledore
Lily stood puzzled. What did it mean 'an aid in your life'?
James' package also contained a note, his a bit more personal than Lily's.
James-
Please, no more sneaking into the library for a bit more studying- unless you have to. I have discovered what is hidden within this school and have a funny feeling you will too.
Albus Dumbledore
After James finished reading his note, he looked up to see Lily starring at him.
"You got an invisibility cloak. That's really interesting… Those are quite rare, aren't they?" she said, her voice a bit unfocused and unclear.
"Yes, you got a Time Turner, I see."
"Uh-huh, it's a bit odd though, what Dumbledore said in my letter."
"What did it say?"
"It said that it is like a life support and will reverse what is wrong into what is right. That's unusual, don't you think?"
"Yes, sounds a bit threatening if you ask me."
"I know." Lily said, before dragging off.
James looked Lily in the eye. Her eyes were no longer sparkling, but looked a bit confused, sad, and even a little angry.
"Are you okay, Lily?" James asked, with total concern.
"I'm not sure."
And with that, Lily turned to her staircase before descending away.
James stood in the common room for a brief moment before following her.
