Hi everyone! I know that this may be a little confusing, but I've changed Lily's friend's names. Jacky is now Natalie and Victoria is now Sarah. Sorry if this confuses any of you but I felt that I needed to change the characters because of the events that occur later in the story. Also, I've updated chapters 1 and 2. There is no major difference, just the names and a few changes in the order of some paragraphs.
Chapter 3 – The Inter-School Quidditch Tournament
"Hurry up please!" called Professor Dumbledore from the front of the Great Hall, "I have an important announcement to make."
Abruptly, everyone fell silent.
"Thank you. Now as you know, last night I mentioned that I had a special announcement that would have to wait until morning," began Professor Dumbledore, smiling, "It is my pleasure to announce that this year, Hogwarts will host The Inter-School Quidditch Cup." He paused as chatter erupted. Students that had grown up in wizarding families, including James, Sirius, Nat and Sarah began to talk excitedly while those who hadn't grown up in wizarding families looked at their friends with bewildered looks. Lily was one of the later.
"Forgive me," began Professor Dumbledore, silencing the chatter immediately, "But I feel that I must explain to those of us who do not know what the Inter-School Quidditch Cup is. The Inter-School Quidditch Cup was started in 1798 by the four major wizarding schools in Europe. These four schools decided that every two years, they would get together and have an inter school Quidditch competition, and thus the competition began. Unfortunately, the event has not taken place for many years, as Braveheart and Durmstrang did not have the numbers necessary to compete. The three schools, Beauxbaton, Durmstrang and Braveheart, will arrive on Halloween." Dumbledore paused, as his eyes swept the hall.
"One Quidditch team of seven players each will be selected from each school and the teams will compete in three matches spaced through out the year. The seven Hogwarts students will be exempt from end of year exams. As a result of the Inter School Quidditch Cup, our Quidditch matches at Hogwarts will be canceled for this year as we feel that the House teams would suffer if they had players missing. However, the Quidditch Cup at Hogwarts will take place next year as planned. As another safety measure, there will be an age restriction of 15 and over. This is for your own safety and we, the head of the four schools, feel that it is necessary. If you wish to sign up, please place your name with you Head who will then pass the lists on to a panel of teachers. The teams will be named on Halloween. That is all for now. I will leave you to finish your breakfast." The talk in the Hall began to escalate once Dumbledore had sat down as everyone turned to their neighbor and began to talk about the new development.
"Are you going to sign up," Remus asked James, Sirius and Nat
"Definitely," replied James
"Hell, yeah," replied Sirius, starting on his second plate of toast.
"Yeah I think so," said Nat, a little nervously.
"What's up, Nat," asked Sarah, looking worried, "Surely you want to be on the team?"
"I do," replied Nat, "But I'm a little worried that they won't pick me 'cause I'm a girl."
"Natalie," began Lily, "You're the only girl at Hogwarts at the moment that is ON a Quidditch team. And you're better than half the boys on the team anyway."
"Hey!" cried James and Sirius, looking up from their breakfast, looking offended.
Lily glared at James and Sirius' before continuing, "Nat, you know it's true. You should try out. I think that even if you don't get in, you'd be happy that you gave it ago."
"Ok, I'll talk to McGonagall after the lesson after lunch today,' decided Nat, looking slightly happier.
"Good," said Lily, "I'm going to head to class early. See you there." And she stood up and swept out of the Great Hall.
As Lily left the Great Hall, Sirius glanced in James direction. James seemed to get the hint, as he also rose from the table. The others were too deep in conversation to notice him leave.
"Hey Lily! Wait up!" James called down the corridor.
Lily stopped. 'What now' she thought to herself. Turning around, she saw James running up the corridor. She half wanted to turn around and keep on walking, but she didn't.
"Thanks," puffed James, when he finally caught up with her, "I wanted to ask you something."
Lily was began to feel uneasy. 'What on earth could James have to say to her?'
"Will you go out with me?" asked James
"WHAT!" yelled Lily, who had been lost in her own thoughts.
"Shhhh," whispered James, and he took hold of her arm and pulled her into the nearest classroom. Shutting the door he turned to face Lily. He wasn't surprised to she her with her arms crossed, glaring at him.
"What," she repeated, still glaring at him.
"Will you go out with me," James repeated.
Lily glared at James for a minute longer before answering, "Ummm," she said, with a convincing look of concentration on her face. "No." And she turned and walked out of the classroom.
James stood shock still for a moment. This wasn't the first time Lily had rejected him. She had done it numerous times the year before, but, he had actually began to hope that she may have changed her mind. He turned and ran after Lily, catching her only a few paces from the door.
"What now James!" yelled Lily, now really fed up.
"Why won't you go out with me," asked James.
"Do you want the short list or the long," she asked, folding her arms across her chest and leaning against the wall. She could see this would take a while. At least she had headed off to class early.
"Ummm, replied James.
"Well apart from the fact that you continuously asked me out ALL of last year and I continuously said NO but you didn't get the picture," started Lily before James had replied, "You're really up you self," She was not surprised to see James' mouth open in shock. "You think that you can have any girl in the school; that they'll all throw themselves at you. You're arrogant and most of all, you're a PRAT."
James was shocked. He wasn't arrogant… He wasn't up himself… Ok, yes, he thought that he could have any girl in the school, but that was because they WERE falling over each other to get to him.
"Are we finished now," asked Lily, looking at her watch, "Only the bells about to ring and I would like to get to class."
James was still too shocked to speak but nodded.
"Good," replied Lily, and she walked off in the direction of the Charms Classroom.
ooooooo
She just could not understand them. Oh well, they're boys, thought Lily, I'm not supposed to be able to understand them. Smiling slightly, she sat down at the Gryffindor table in the Great Hall next to Nat. They had just finished the afternoon class of Transfiguration but James wasn't anywhere to be seen. He hadn't been in any classes today and wasn't at dinner. Well, I did just reject him, she thought. But I rejected him all last year; it should have sunk in by now that I DON'T want to go out with him. She looked across the table and was surprised to see Remus sitting with Peter. She turned to ask Nat why Remus was out of the Hospital Wing, but she was already deep in conversation with Sarah.
"I didn't know Remus was out of the Hospital Wing," said Sirius, sitting down on Lily's other side.
"Yeah I know," she replied, "He does look a little sick still though doesn't he?" She noticed that he was very pale, almost grey and he had deep circles under his eyes.
Turning back to Lily, Sirius replied, "Yeah, he does seem look ill," Turning to look up and down the table again, he asked, "Where's James, by the way? I think he wanted to talk to you after class."
"I have no idea," she lied, "I have seen him since this morning."
"Oh well," sighed Sirius.
Lily expected him to say more, but he didn't. He was gazing absent-mindedly down the table. Following his gaze, she found that he was staring directly at Nat. And that she was staring back.
Smiling, Lily asked, "So have you asked her out yet?"
"No," he replied, still gazing down the table at Nat, even though she had turned back to Sarah.
"There's a Hogsmeade visit this weekend, why don't you ask her to go with you then?" suggested Lily.
"Yeah, I think that I will." And with that he dived into his plate of food.
Meanwhile…
…In the Gryffindor tower…
James lay on his four-poster bed, his head in his hands, deep in thought. Why did Lily continuously reject him? He wasn't that bad a guy… And he was really beginning to like her. That's one of the reasons her agreed to the dare in the first place. He had liked her ever since the beginning of fifth year. Now I've ruined what chance I had with Lily, he thought. He was disturbed by the unmistakable sound of people entering the Gryffindor common room. Oh well, he thought, it's probably better if I just stay here. He rolled onto his back and stared at the ceiling. He couldn't stop thinking about Lily. He really liked her but she didn't seem to like him. I'll have to change that, he thought to himself, and with that, he fell into an uneasy sleep full of… Lily.
ooooooo
As the end of October drew nearer, so to the arrival of the three other schools on Halloween. Rumors were circulating about who had put there name down and who the 'mysterious' teacher from Hogwarts was. Of course these were all rumors.
Lily and Remus, along with the other fifth and sixth year prefects, were so busy helping with the decorating of the Great Hall for the Halloween Welcoming Feast, that they forgot that Sirius' birthday was on the 30th of October.
Lily knew that the Marauder's always celebrated each others birthday's in style. So she wasn't surprised to find that the whole of Gryffindor was invited to Sirius birthday this year. After dinner, everyone made there way back to the Gryffindor common room as the party was to start at seven o'clock. As Lily climbed in through the portrait hole, she found the whole common room alive with excitement and unrecognizable. Balloons, streamers and sparkles were everywhere, tables and chairs were draped red and gold cloths and the tables were groaning under the amount of food the boys had been able to conjure up. They was also an almost in-numerable supply of Butterbeer, sitting on one of the tables near a window. There was barely any room to move but still couples were dancing on the dance floor in the middle of the common room.
Standing next to a gold draped chair by the window, near the table of Butterbeers, Lily was enjoying watching Nat and Sirius dance. Finally, she thought to herself, they've gotten together. Sarah had gone off to talk to Remus and they were standing in a corner talking together. As she sipped her third Butterbeer, she began to wonder if any her friends would date a 'Marauder'. She decided that, yes Nat and Sirius would probably end up together, and Sarah may end up going out with Remus, but she had no inclination to date Peter and most certainly no James. By then she was beginning to get bored and thought that she might head up to bed, when she felt a tap on her shoulder. She turned around to find James standing behind her.
"Lily, would you like to dance?" asked James
Lily was shocked. "James…" she began.
"Just as friends," James added hastily, worried that Lily might say no.
He offered her his hand. Why not, she thought to herself, I have no one else to talk to and he did say just as friends and it's not as if I'm drunk of anything. She placed her hand on his and he led her onto the dance floor. There was a slow song playing on the wireless that Lily suspected was one of The Weird Sister 'slow songs'. Seconds after, Lily found herself with her arms around James neck, swaying to the music. So far, she had not looked into his face, afraid that she would see the same 'look' in his eyes that she had seem in class and on the train. They danced in each other's arms until the song ended. Lily pulled away and began to move off the dance floor, when she felt James gently take hold of her arm.
"One more," was all he said.
This time, Lily accepted without hesitation. The song was another longer, slow one and Lily found herself enjoying the feeling of James' arms around her. They made her feel warm and safe, like nothing could hurt her. Abruptly she pulled away. No, I won't think about James like that, she thought to herself as James, who at first was slightly shocked by her pulling away, led her through the crowd to the edge of the dance floor. This is James Potter! The boys who spent the first four years of Hogwarts pulling stupid little pranks on you and the last year asking you out!
"Lily," said James, bringing Lily back to reality.
"Thanks James, it was really…' she began, but was lost for words.
James grinned. He saw straight through Lily. "That's ok," he said, and with a slight wave, he walked away. Lily felt half glad, half disappointed that he had gone. No, she told herself firmly. I'm not at all disappointed that he's gone. She shook herself slightly and decided to go find one of her friends. She looked around and saw Nat still dancing with Sirius, so she decided not to bother her. She finally found Sarah, not with Remus but with Fabian Prewett. They were sitting in two chairs by the fire, talking and laughing. She decided that she'd better no disturb Sarah either, so she headed of in the direction of the girls stair. She was just getting into bed, when Sarah came in.
"How was your night?" asked Sarah
"Oh, it was ok," replied Lily, "What about you? You and Fabian," she finished casually.
By then Sarah was changed and about to get into her bed, but instead she came and sat down on Lily's.
"Lily," began Sarah, "Fabian and I have known each other since we were five. My brother and Fabian's brother are best friends."
"You seemed to be having a good time with Fabian," replied Lily, thinking about Sarah and this mysterious person from her youth, "He's really nice. Would you ever go out with him" asked Lily.
"I don't know Lily. I really don't know" exclaimed Sarah, getting up from Lily's bed and getting into her own. "I know him too well but… Goodnight Lily," said Sarah, her voice slightly muffled as she pulled the sheets over herself.
"Goodnight Sarah," replied Lily, "I hope that Nat doesn't stay up too late. But, the way she and Sirius were dancing; they could be there all night. At least it's Saturday tomorrow."
"Yeah," replied Sarah, sounding sleepy. Abruptly, Sarah sat up in her bed. She turned to face Lily. "Speaking of 'couples'," began Sarah, "I saw you and James dancing two dances together."
Lily was glad that it was dark, so that Sarah didn't see her smile. "It was only two dances and I said yes only on friendly term," replied Lily.
"Yeah, ok," said Sarah, lying back down on her bed, not sounding at all convinced.
Lily smiled and rolled on her side so that she was facing away from Sarah. Sarah had brought up a point that Lily didn't want to think about. What if other people thought that she and James were going out now? She'd have to talk to him in the morning and tell him not to get any ideas. Boys, she thought rolling onto her back, they really mess up things. James and Nat were two examples. A year ago, Nat would have been the first of the three girls up here, now she was the last. And a few years ago, James hadn't even been her friend, then last year, he had continuously asked her out and this year, there was something different about him and the way he acted towards her! She sighed. I'll deal with that in the morning, she thought and fell straight to sleep. She didn't even wake up when Nat entered the dormitory three hours later and fell asleep, fully clothed.
ooooooo
It was finally Halloween; the day the three other schools were due to arrive. Everyone finished class at lunch time and then assembled on the front steps to greet the other schools. Everyone was silent. The only sound was the rustling of the trees in the forbidden forest. Seconds passed, then minutes. Finally, Anna, Sarah's younger sister, shouted, "Look! The Gates!"
Sure enough, the gates to Hogwarts were slowly opening. Through the open gates came five beautiful carriages, each pulled by two black horses. As the carriages drew to a halt outside Hogwarts, the students saw a symbol of a heart crossed by a sword and a wand, embossed onto the carriage doors and the horses' bridles.
Seconds later, the first carriage door opened and out stepped a strongly built man, with short dark brown and broad shoulders, dressed in, what appeared at first glance to be armor, but was actually just a shiny material. At a clap if his hands, the other carriage doors opened and out stepped around 18 students, all boys. They assembled behind their head who then proceeded to walk towards Dumbledore. Upon reaching him, he exclaimed, "Ahhh, Dumbledore! How long has it been?"
"Far to long, my dear, Hulio," replied Dumbledore, as they clasped hands. "Would you like to wait for Robertson and Madame Devont or head inside?"
Edwardo Hulio glanced back at his students. They were staring up at Hogwarts in awe. "I think my students will be able to stand the wait," he replied with a slight smile on his face.
"Excellent," replied Dumbledore, as he turned towards the Forbidden Forest. "And unless, I'm much mistaken, the delegates from Beauxbaton approach."
The announcement had an immediate effect. Everyone began whispering amongst themselves and searching the grounds of Hogwarts for any sign of the approaching school.
"There!" cried a third year, pointing towards the Forbidden Forest. "The Sky!"
They turned as one body, towards the Forbidden Forest, where they saw a giant 'thing' hurtling through the sky towards them.
As it came closer, they realized that it was a giant, powder blue carriage pulled by golden horses, the size of small elephants. The students glimpsed a coat of arms, two wands crossed both emitting sparks, before the door was thrown open and out stepped a beautiful woman. She had long brown hair and was dressed in blue silk from head to toe.
"My dear Madam Devont, what a pleasure it is to have you at Hogwarts," said Dumbledore, with a slight bow.
"It is so good to be here," replied Madam Devont.
"Robertson has not yet arrived. Would you prefer to wait for him or step inside?" asked Dumbledore, addressing the question to both Madam Devont and Hulio.
"I think that we will step inside," replied Madam Devont, gesturing behind her. It was only then that the students realized that there were around 20 students standing behind Madame Devont; five girls and 15 boys. They were looking up at Hogwarts with apprehension and all appeared to be shivering, due to there uniforms made of silk like their headmistress.
Dumbledore nodded his head and Madame Devont gestured again to her students, and they followed her up the stone steps of Hogwarts, into the Entrance Hall. Dumbledore then inclined his head towards Hulio.
"We will remain Dumbledore," said Hulio, answering Dumbledore's un-asked question.
Dumbledore again inclined his head, before turning to stare out across the grounds of Hogwarts.
"Look at the lake," called someone from the front of the students. Sure enough, the usually calm surface of the lake was suddenly rippling with life. Second later, a dark pole rose out of the water, followed by a dark shape.
"It's a boat," called a third year.
The boat was now gliding slowly towards the shore of the lake. A great splash echoed across the grounds, as an anchor was dropped into the water, followed by the creak of a plank being lowered. Silent figures walked single file off the ship and made their way up the sloping grounds of Hogwarts. As the figures stepped into the light flooding from the Entrance Hall, the assembled students noticed that the figures bulkiness was due to the large fur coats that they wore over their uniforms.
"Gregorio!" said Dumbledore, as the students and their head moved towards him.
"Dumbledore! So good to be back at dear old Hogwarts," replied Gregorio Robertson.
"Now," called Dumbledore to Hogwarts students, "as all the schools are present, it you would like to forward in after our guests," he nodded towards Hulio nodded to his students, and they moved towards the Entrance Hall, closely followed by Robertson and his students. After them, came the assembly of Hogwarts students and teachers
Once all the students and teachers were seated in the Great Hall; Durmstrang at the Slytherin table, Beauxbatons at the Ravenclaw table and Braveheart at the Gryffindor table, Dumbledore rose to his feet, arms out-stretched.
"Welcome, my dear friends, to Hogwarts," said Dumbledore, looking at each of the three visiting schools in turn. "I know that you have all had a long journey, so speeches will have to wait until after dinner."
Dumbledore sat down and was soon engaged in conversation by Robertson. The Great Hall was extravagantly decorated. There were the usual lives bats, fluttering over the four house tables, but there were also huge carved pumpkins, large enough to fit five people comfortably, sitting at intervals around the Great Hall. The walls and tabled were covered in ever changing coloured cloths that reflected the eerie light let off by the pumpkins. The golden goblets and plates filled with delicious food prepared by the house elves in the kitchens. There were more dished than normal, many of them looked from foreign places. The chatter in the Hall, however, was no more than usual.
The students from Durmstrang and Braveheart were gazing around the Hall in awe and amazement. The students from Durmstrang had finally removed their thick coats to reveal blood red robes. The students from Beauxbaton were also gazing around, taking in every inch of the Great Hall, from the carved pumpkins to the live bats. Their looks, however, were not of awe or amazement, but of indifference. To them the castle was unremarkable and almost not worthy of their attention. They too had taken off their cloaks and revealed robes of fine, light blue silk.
James and Sirius were talking about the Inter School Quidditch Tournament and how different the matches would be to 'normal' Hogwarts Quidditch. Sirius was only paying half attention as he was watching Nat out of the corner of his eye. Every time she moved her head, her blonde hair caught the light. Quite a few boys from Braveheart were also watching Nat, Sirius was well aware of this, but Nat had no clue. She was too engaged in a conversation with Sarah and Lily about Sirius' birthday last night. Peter was sitting across from Sirius and James, talking to Remus about their Transfiguration assignment. Peter was no great shakes at Transfiguration, so he often asked Remus or Lily for help in the assignments. They were always willing to help him, but both refused, point blank to let him, or anyone else, copy their work.
"So did you and James really dance two dances together," asked Nat. Sarah had just told Nat what had happened last night, for Nat had been too engrossed by Sirius to notice anything around her.
"Yes, we did," replied Lily, shaking back her auburn hair, "but only as friends. I told him that.'
"Yeah, whatever," replied Nat, in the same tone of voice Sarah had used the night before, "But you know that James probably forgot about 'dancing just as friends' as soon as you agreed to dance with him."
"Yes, I've already thought about that and I've decided that I'm going to talk to James after dinner to make sure that he knows that it was a one-off thing and only as friends," she replied, crossing her arms across her chest, like she always did when she felt insecure.
"You do that," replied Nat, picking up her fork again and beginning to eat, "I just hope that you know what you're doing. You know how James reacts sometimes…"
"Nat, give her a break, I'm sure she knows what she's doing," scowled Sarah. She then looked up the table to where the Marauder's sat. She had noticed Sirius, and many of the Braveheart boys was staring at Nat and thought that, if she brought it up, it would probably direct Natalie's attention away from for at least a short period of time.
"You know that Sirius has been watching you for the entire meal," she said, trying to hide a smile, "and I think I know why too."
"And why would that be," asked Nat, looking up the table to Sirius.
"Nat," said Lily, glancing around at the great number of people watching Nat. Catching on to what Sarah was trying to do, she continued, "You have half the Braveheart boys looking at you like you're some sort of goddess and I think that Sirius may feel just a little protective of you."
Nat made a disbelieving noise.
"It's true you know," added Sarah, "He really likes you and I think that you like him to."
"I do," agreed Nat, glancing up at Sirius, who was still looking at her out of the corner of his eye, "it was amazing when we were dancing. It felt … so warm and safe, like he would always protect me."
Lily shuddered. Nat had said exactly how she had felt when she and James were dancing.
"What's up Lil," asked Sarah, who had seem Lily shudder and looked concerned. "Are you ok?"
"Yeah, I'm fine," replied Lily truthfully, glancing in James' direction. Sarah saw the direction of her glance and looked up the table as well. When she saw that lily was looking at James, she smiled.
"Lily," whispered Sarah, so Nat wouldn't hear, "It's ok if you like James. I mean, I'm sure he'd be over the moon about it…"
"I do not like James," whispered Lily, frowning at Sarah, "Why would I like someone who spent the first four years of school pranking me and the last year asking me out!"
Sarah just shook her head and continued her dinner.
Lily glanced up at James again. He and Sirius were now deep in conversation with Remus and Peter, leaning over something that James had on his lap.
I do not like James, she told herself firmly. How could I ever like someone that stupid. What I felt when I was dancing with him was just… But she couldn't explain the feeling away. She could not say that the feeling had never existed because she knew it had, or that she had been drunk because she knew that she had been somber the whole night. Why did James have to like her! Why couldn't he like one of the many girls that liked him back!
"Lily!" came Sarah's voice, "Dumbledore's making his speech."
Lily tuned back into reality just in time to hear the beginning of Dumbledore's speech.
"Now that we are all well fed, there are a few loose ends that I would like to tie up. The students from Bravehearts, Durmstrang and Beauxbatons have already submitted their names to their heads. For Hogwarts students, tonight is the last opportunity to submit you name to your head of house. The four teams will be drawn tomorrow night after the Halloween Feast. As I have said previously, there will be no Hogwarts Quidditch Cup Tournament this year as a result of the Inter-School Quidditch Tournament. Also, there will be a Hogsmeade visit tomorrow for students third year and above. Off to bed with you all."
There was a loud grating of chairs as everyone stood and began to leave the Great Hall. The Hogwarts students climbed the Marble Staircase to their respective common rooms while the other schools walked out of the Great Hall, down the front steps and out into the grounds. The Durmstrang students walked back to their ship and Beauxbatons and Braveheart to their respective carriages.
Lily was climbing the Marble Staircase when she remembered that she had not yet talked to James about their dance last night. She looked ahead, down the crowded corridor and was relieved to see James and Sirius only five meters ahead.
She quickened her pace and quickly caught up to them.
"James," she called. James turned, looking surprised. "Could I have a word," asked Lily.
James exchanged a glance of surprise with Sirius before following Lily into the library, the closest room. She shut the door quietly behind them and muttered 'Lumos' so that they could see. Turning, she found James leaning against a wall, arms folded across his chest, looking extremely hot. No, don't think about that, she told herself. You've come here to tell James not to get any ideas, not to think about how hot he is.
She shook herself lightly. "James, I wanted to talk to you about last night." She took a breath before continuing. "I agreed to dance with you, on the condition that it was only friendly. I don't want you to get any ideas or thinking that I like you or anything along those lines and I want you to know that I still won't go out with you." She took a deep breath. She hadn't meant to get that carried away but it had all come spilling out.
James only raised his eyebrows, a look of skepticism on his face.
"James I mean it." When James did not reply, she added "And don't look at me like that," For James' face had changed dramatically. He no longer looked skeptical, he was looking at her differently; there was something about his eyes that enthralled Lily. He was moving closer towards her. She knew that she should move away before James got the wrong idea again but her legs were not co operating with her brain.
James was now less than 30 centimeters from her. She tore her eyes away from his and looked at her shoes instead. Seconds later, she felt a hand gently tip her chip upwards. She looked up. James' face was inches away from hers; his lips moving closer and closer. His lips first touched hers and she felt a tingle go from her head to her toes. The kiss was gentle at first but steadily grew in passion. She felt James push her backwards against the wall. Her arms went up around his neck and before she knew what she was doing, she was kissing him back. It was unlike anything Lily had ever experienced before. She had kissed many guys before, but there was something different, something special about this particular kiss. Her brain was telling her to get out of there, but part of her wanted to stay. It was the later part that had controlled her mind until now. She pushed away from James. James looked shocked at her abrupt change of mind. His hair was a mess; messier than usually and both their uniforms were skewed and twisted. Lily abruptly turned and rushed out of the library, leaving a thoroughly dazed looking James.
Hey everyone! Sorry about not updating recently. I've just finished my final maths exam, so I haven't had much time to write. I promise that I'll update quicker for the next chapter. I'm almost on holidays too, so there will be heaps of chappies over Christmas.
Meagy: thank you for your review. I changed the descriptions in chapter 1 and spread them out a bit. I also took out the names of Amos' Hufflepuff friends and just called them 'Friend 1' and 'Friend 2' as I don't think they don't play any further role in the story and if they do, they'll get a name. plz keep reviewing!
jjchicken: hey chicky. Thank you sssssssssssssooooooooo much for adding me to you fav authors. I feel so honored! I hope that you like the chapter. I'm definitely keeping on writing. I also think that I'll write another story over the holidays – a Hermione/draco fic or a ginny fic. Not sure yet. Keep reading!
majik man: thanx for the review. Lily and Amos will get described a bit more in the coming chapters. I hope that you like the story. Keep reading!
magenta-orange: in the coming chapters, I'll try to make more action. There should be heaps of action surrounding the Inter-School Quidditch Tournament and Braveheart. And there will be more action between characters i.e. relationships. Let me know what you think. Thanx for the review and plz keep reading.
softlove91: hey tina. I love your reviews. I'll try to give Sarah (who was Vickie) a stronger story line. She has a relatively big part in the next chapter, I think. Plz keep reviewing
PadfootsLuva: I hope you like the lily/james bits in that chapter. I wasn't planning on making them kiss… it just sort of happened. Natalie (previously Jacky) and Sirius will heat up in the next couple of chapters. Keep reading and reviewing – I luv your reviews!