Hey guys! Ok, this is pretty much going to be a "missing moments" collection, from Harry's parents years at Hogwarts up until their death. I hope you enjoy!
Disclaimer: Well, if Harry Potter, and everyone and everything even remotely related to him belonged to ME, I really wouldn't be writing pathetic attempts at fan fiction, now would I? And if u really WANT to sue me for my whole 2 pennies, then feel free.
Part 1: The Very First Train Ride and the Sorting
Platform 9 ¾ was crowded, as usual. Filled with screeching owls, anxious parents, and of course the students. James Potter, and his best-friend-since-before-he-could-remember, Sirius Black grinned as they passed through the barrier from muggle London onto the platform, only too thrilled to be starting their first year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. So many pranks, so little time! They had been about escape into the throng of people when the ever unwanted "Just one minute boys," was heard. Groaning, Sirius and James turned around to see the somewhat foreboding figures of their mothers looming down at them.
" Now listen, Honey. DO try to be good, won't you? I don't want any letters from Hogwarts saying that you've blown something irreplaceable up, or that you've jinxed all the Slytherins, nasty though they may be, ok?" Angela Potter looked pleadingly at her son.
" Don't worry, mum," James looked at his mother innocently, completely omitting his promise to be good from his reply to her concerns.
"Same thing goes for you, Sirius. No, don't give me that look, I know perfectly well that you're behind half the disastrous things you and James get yourself into. I'm warning you now- watch yourself." Selena Black gave her son a you-better-listen-to-me-or-else look, one that she and her friend Angela had both had to master, thanks to young misters Potter and Black.
" Mum, would I do anything of the kind? It hurts me that you should accuse your only son, your flesh and blood, your pride and joy, your only reason for living-"
"SIRIUS!"
"Not to worry, mum. And Mrs. Potter, I'll make sure Jamie here doesn't get into too much trouble either. He'll be safe with me!" Sirius flashed both women what he seemed to think was the perfect smile. His mother looked tiredly at him, while Mrs. Potter just laughed at his antics.
"Alright, Sirius, but be good. Write to your father and me when you get to Hogwarts. I love you sweetie." With that his mother kissed him, and when she looked up there were tears in her eyes. She just watched him, muttering, "my baby, already going off to Hogwarts…"
James had been getting much of the same treatment, to both boys' utter disgust, so with quick good byes, and last whispered directions to secret passages (courtesy of their fathers) they left their parents and boarded the gleaming Hogwarts Express. Sirius expressed his glee at their newfound freedom at once, by cursing Severus Snape, and old family enemy, with pink robes and fluffy bunny ears. Bolting, while shaking with laughter, the boys made their way into the first compartment they came to, locking the door behind them, because, as they had discovered from previous encounters, Snape had a rather-er- short temper, and he ESPECIALLY disliked the color pink. Unfortunately for them, one of the people who occupied the compartment they had barged into seemed to be very much the same, at least as far as the temper went.
As they turned around, they came face-to-face with a rather disgruntled girl, who apparently did not appreciate her "privacy being invaded" as she made extremely clear with just facial expressions.
"Excuse me, but who are you, and what exactly are you doing here?" she asked menacingly, as if she would have rather have hexed them. Apparently, they had walked into somewhat of a private conversation. Sirius gallantly introduced himself,
"Well, my lovely lady, I am Sirius Black, and this is-"
"James Potter," James supplied hurriedly, before Sirius introduced him as someone he would not want to be introduced as. Sirius had a tendency to do things like that. Before the red headed girl they had spoken to had a chance to say anything, one of the other occupants of the compartment spoke up quickly.
"I'm Katelyn-Kate-Young and that's Amanda Johnson" she said pointing to a pretty, quiet blonde, "and that" she said, pointing to the read head, "is Lily Evans. Now that we're all introduced, you can leave…" Kate pushed her short black hair out of her face, but played with one of the curls, a sign that the boys would soon learn meant she was nervous about something. Lily still looked like she was ready to murder them both, and Amanda just surveyed them, seemingly calm. James and Sirius grinned identical grins.
"Now, where's the fun in that?!" James asked. "We want to get to know such beautiful girls. No, I think it would be a much better idea if we just stayed here, don't you Sirius?" But Sirius never had a chance to answer. Lily, it seemed, had had enough of this. With one almighty push, she shoved both boys out while screaming "OUT!" The compartment door, which had somehow opened, slammed shut, and they heard locking spells being put on it. Sirius looked put out. "Well," he said, "THAT wasn't very nice."
Both boys grudgingly got up, and went in search of a new compartment. The train had begun to move, so they stepped into the first compartment that they could find that was not already full. The dweller of this compartment, thankfully, was much nicer than those of the last compartment they had entered. It was a boy, their age, it seemed, with hazel eyes, and sandy hair. He looked up at them, and gave them a small smile. "Hello," he said, "I'm Remus Lupin." James grinned, and said "James Potter, and this idiot is Sirius Black." Sirius grinned at Remus, and slapped James upside the head at the same time. Remus smiled timidly back, as though he was afraid that the boys wouldn't like him. Sirius, however, cleared that up in a minute, proclaiming, "Well, o-newly-found-friend, d'you wanna play some exploding snap?" Remus grinned, and in his eyes was a mischief not unlike that of the two boys facing him. 'Well,' he thought, 'maybe I will make some friend after all….'
* * *
Meanwhile, the girls were finishing up their own conversation. They had been drawn to each other- they had never spoken to each other before today, but already they were the best of friends, each wondering whether or not to tell the others of their huge secrets, secrets that they were still trying to come to terms with themselves. After all, they had only been told when their letters had come, and so it had come as quite a shock. Kate had just made up her mind to tell them- after all, if they were going to be her friends, they deserved to know, and she felt that she could trust them completely- when Sirius and James had barged in. Now that they had left, she seemed to have lost her thread, and the three just sat looking at each other. Kate mentally shook herself, and took a deep breath. "um, you guys? There's something I need to tell you…."
** ** **
James, Sirius, and Remus got off the train, the excitement written all over their faces. James looked around, and he spotted three girls climbing into a little boat. He nudged Sirius and Remus, and said softly, "Hey, look, it's that girl- what's her name? Oh yea, Lily Evans. I dunno, Sirius, you think it's time for some payback?" Sirius grinned, "But of course James. My dad gave me the perfect spell, I've been itching to try it on someone, it'll be the perfect start of term prank!" Remus just looked at them, amused, and then delighted that they included him in on the prank, although he felt a little bad, the girl hadn't really done anything to him, after all. But he didn't want to lose his friends before he'd even really gotten to know them, and truly, it sounded like a lot of fun. So, he threw his hesitation away, and smiled what would become a trademark smile-mischief and kindness packaged into one- and began to help his new friends.
They got into another boat, Sirius explaining the plan as they moved toward Hogwarts Castle. Once they got to the castle and were properly awed, they made their way into the school, led by a youngish teacher, and they found the perfect chance to cast the spell. It wouldn't work until Evans ate something, which was all the better, since it meant that it would go off in the Great Hall, in front of the rest of the school. Sirius muttered the spell, and then turned back to his friends, who were talking about Gryffindor, and how they wouldn't want to be in any other house, although Ravenclaw MIGHT be an okay alternative, if they absolutely couldn't get into their first choice. Sirius was about to add that he would feed himself to the giant squid they had seen on their way over to the castle when he felt a light tap on his shoulder, and someone say, "Excuse me." He turned around to see none other than Lily Evans, who looked rather ashamed. The three boys faced her, with James about to make s nasty comment, when she said,
"I wanted to apologize for earlier, on the train. I'm afraid we were in the middle of something very important, and when you came in, I…well, I have a typical red-head temper. I was incredibly rude, and I am so very sorry. Although," she said with a tiny smile, "Kate would have been much worse had you stayed any longer, I think I rather did you a favor, but really, I am sorry." She looked at the three boys, suddenly realizing that she didn't know the third boy. Addressing herself to him, she said, "I'm Lily Evans, by the way." She looked at Sirius and James, half expectantly, half still ashamed. Sirius and James, of course, forgave her immediately, and told her so. She smiled at them, and went back to her group of friends. Remus watched her leave, and then turned to the boys.
"Boy are you gonna have fun explaining our prank to her now." Both boys groaned, suddenly realizing Remus was right. Well, that was going to be a fun conversation….
** ** **
The pale first years followed Professor McGonagall into the Great Hall, under the scrutiny of the rest of the school. Lily felt as though a hundred butterflies had made her stomach their new permanent resident, and it seemed that her friends, and the three boys she had met, were experiencing the same feelings. Remus looked pale, and James looked green, and Sirius was just talking about all sorts of nonsense that didn't make sense. Amanda, or Mandy, looked as if she was going to pass out any minute, and Kate was playing with her curl and had become very irritable. The three girls had become very close, and Lily had already shared her biggest secret, and from what the girls had told her, they had shared their secrets too, secrets that they really shouldn't have told anyone. She remembered their conversation, and the few minutes of silence that had followed- Lily was a powerful mage, or would be with some training, and some up-and-coming dark lord was out for her power. Mandy was a true Seer, something apparently extremely rare, and she too was wanted by the dark lord, because Seers were valuable assets to whomever they sided with. Kate, Dumbledore had written, was an animagi-by-birth, which was extremely rare. She had said that she had looked them up (she was a pure blood witch, and had access to such books and things) and it had said that she would have two forms, both magical, and with special powers. Her letter had said that the dark lord wanted her as well (surprise, surprise, the sarcastic part of Lily's mind commented) but Dumbledore couldn't tell her the exact reasons quite yet.
Lily sighed, it was probably a very good thing that she had found such friends, people she could talk to about this, because she really didn't understand it all. She looked up at the headmaster, Albus Dumbledore, and was surprised as he gave her a knowing smile, and he glanced at her two best friends. She would almost say that he had MEANT for the three to meet, from that look…..Vaguely, she heard, "Black, Sirius!" be called out, and a loud "GRYFFINDOR!" be shouted by the Sorting Hat, something which amazed Lily. Soon it would be her turn….and sure enough, a few names later, "Evans, Lily!" was called. She slowly made her way up there, wondering what would happen if the hat couldn't place her, and marveling at the fact that she could walk straight and not collapse. She sat on the stool, and as Professor McGonagall placed the hat on her head, she heard a little voice in her ear.
"hmmm," it said, "you're rather smart, aren't you? Ravenclaw perhaps? Yes, maybe…wait, no, maybe not, a little too bold for a Ravenclaw, lots of courage too…oh my goodness, yes, you and your friends are destined for greatness, although I fear…well, never mind…yes, yes, your future lies in GRYFFINDOR!" Relieved, Lily set the hat down on the stool and practically ran to the cheering table, sitting down across from Sirius. Greatness, hmm? She watched as Mandy, Remus, James and Kate were all sorted into Gryffindor as well, along with another boy- Peter Pettigrew, a friendly looking boy, and no other girls. 'Well,' Lily thought, 'maybe we'll get a dorm just for us, then.' As the sorting came to a close, with a good too many Slytherins, who all seemed rather mean and unpleasant, Professor Dumbledore stood up to speak.
"Welcome, all of you, to another year at Hogwarts. First years, please note that the Forest is forbidden, and all students, I would like to call to your attention that a Whomping Willow has been added to our grounds," at this, Lily noticed Remus squirm, and wondered about it, "and I must ask you not to go too close to it, as the result could be rather painful. Now, enjoy our lovely feast!" and with that, the tables were filled with the most delectable looking food.
As Lily took a bite of potato streudel, she wondered why on earth Sirius and James looked more sick and afraid now than they had before the sorting. That was, until, she had opened her mouth to ask and a loud squawking met her ears, and that of everyone else within hearing distance. Kate looked at her in shock, and then dove into her pocket and pulled out a mirror, and showed Lily her reflection, causing her to scream-squawk- very loudly. They had turned her into a chicken- a shimmery, lavender chicken with great big elephant ears, and as she looked, her neck was lengthening into a giraffe's neck. She opened her mouth again, but this time, fire came out, so she quickly shut it. She was growing patches of scales, and she had the long tail of a phoenix and a unicorn's horn. All in all, she looked absolutely ridiculous, and the entire great all was laughing. McGonagall quickly took the curse off, and as Lily regained her real form, the laughing only grew stronger. Lily smiled good-naturedly at everyone around her, and then looked at the two boys sitting in front of her, who looked hopefully at her-she was smiling, so maybe she wasn't mad? Their hopes were dashed, however, when her smile turned into a deadly glare, and she said, oh so quietly, "Consider yourselves dead." And thus was the beginning of one of the greatest rivalries Hogwarts had yet seen.
So, did you love it? Hate it? Review, pretty pretty please! Or I might hafta have Sirius come and curse you…..