To Gild a Lily: Chapter 4

After finally figuring out where the barrier was, gathering the nerve to get through it and getting her stuff onto the train, Lily was relieved to have found a compartment all to herself with twenty minutes left before the train departed. She threw her bag onto the overhead compartment and flopped down onto the bench-like seat, closing her eyes and letting out a deep breath; relaxing for the first time all day.

"Hello?" A voice came from the doorway, "Mind if I sit down?"

Lily sat up, feeling somewhat deprived. A very pretty girl stood in the doorway; she looked about eleven as well. She had a soft olive complexion with chocolaty brown eyes and long, thick ebony hair that fell about halfway down her back. She had a small, ski-jump nose and a vivacious rosebud mouth. She had a strong chin, which suggested confidence and daring. Lily smiled and shook her head.

"Please," Lily replied.

The girl trudged though the doorway, dragging her overloaded trunk behind her. She was attempting to lift her trunk onto the luggage rack, but couldn't seem to lift it above her shoulders.

"Here, let me help," Lily stood up next to the girl, and with their combined efforts were able to hoist the heavy trunk onto the rack. The girl sighed triumphantly and sat down opposite Lily.

"I'm Evangeline Knight, but you can call me Eva." The girl said, "What's your name?" Lily couldn't help but grin at the girl's boldness.

"I'm Lily Evans," Lily said, though without as much confidence as Eva.

"So do you come form a wizarding family? Do you already know magic? What house do you think you'll be in?" Eva said this all very quickly; Lily had a difficult time keeping up.

"No, I'm a muggleborn. I don't know any magic. What are houses? Are your parents witches or wizards?" Lily replied.

"Nope; I'm muggleborn too," She began, sounding somewhat disappointed, "I head this boy in Diagon Alley talking about the houses," She shrugged, "I can't remember what they were called though or anything." Lily nodded.

"So where do you live?" Lily asked.

"My parents just bought a place in Surrey, I think it's on a street called Wisteria Walk? I'm not sure; they're moving everything in today. I'm just glad I don't have to be apart of it."

"That's right next to where I live!" Lily said excitedly; she'd actually have a friend that's a witch in the neighborhood!

"Awesome!"

The girls then began to talk about their families. Lily explained all about Petunia while Eva described how her father was British and her mother was Italian, and how the closest thing she had to a sibling was her cousin, Marco, who was a complete jerk. Apparently he was only with them during summer holidays, which wouldn't do Eva any good considering this was the only time that she was home all year. They had been talking for about ten minutes before another voice came from the door, a soft, gentle one.

"Hi," Both girls looked up to see an averaged height, willowy girl who also looked their age. She was slender and had light blonde hair that was tied into half a ponytail. She had large, almond shaped eyes that were sapphire blue in color. She was gentle looking with soft features and a fair complexion. "May I sit down?"

"Of course!" Lily and Eva chorused, ushering her into the compartment. After another combined trunk lifting effort, the girl sat down next to Lily and across from Eva.

"I'm Eva," Eva stated promptly.

"I'm Lily," Lily smiled and tried to ask her where she was from, but Eva was quicker.

"Are your parents wizards? Or are you muggleborn? Where are you from? Do you know what the houses are?"

The girl looked startled and nervous. Lily shot Eva a warning glare; Eva shrugged.

"I'm Fiona, Fiona Kent. Yes, my parents are wizards, but no I don't know any magic. The four houses are Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin, and whichever house you're put in is based on your personality." After blurting all of this out quite rapidly, Felicity was left breathless, but smiled meekly all the same.

Eva blinked. "Really? Well I wasn't going to show anyone this, but last year I was reading that you can make it rain by doing some sort of dance." Without missing a beat, Eva promptly jumped up onto the seat and began to throw her head wildly about, dark hair all over the place, and her arms swinging madly on her sides while stomping her feet mercilessly on the seat. Lily was stifling a laugh while Fiona looked nothing short of baffled.

"Merlin save us," Another voice came from the doorway; a male voice, "Does she always act like this?"

Eva stopped almost immediately and brushed her thick hair out of her slightly pink face.

"Excuse me, but I don't remember inviting you in here," She began, flushed, "You can clear off now."

But at that exact moment, the train had begun to move, causing Eva to lose her balance. She fell from her position on the seat right into the arms of the boy in the doorway. He had medium length, pure black hair and shining grey eyes. To describe the boy in one word would be simple: gorgeous. He had a dominant nose and a strong, clefted chin. His hair fell perfectly into his eyes, and just above his ears. Upon catching Eva, his handsome face fell into shock, comprehending what had just happened. He stumbled backwards slightly, out of sheer shook, but recovered quickly. He gave a Hugh Grant-ish grin and raised his perfectly arched eyebrows.

"You were saying?"

Eva grumbled something inaudible and jumped out of the boy's muscular arms.

"Lily!" James Potter's voice came into the compartment from over the other boy's shoulder. He came rushing into the compartment, pushing the other boy clear into Eva who scowled slightly.

"So you're the Lily he keeps talking about!" Another boy crossed the threshold of the compartment; "He hasn't shut up about you for days!" Lily grinned.

"It's true," admitted James, "I haven't really spoken or thought of much else."

"I'm Remus Lupin," said the boy who had just entered. He had short, sandy colored blonde hair and tired looking pale blue eyes.

"Sirius Black," the boy next to Eva said, "and you're Lily..?"

"Evans," Lily replied.

"Right, then what are your names?" Sirius asked Eva and Felicity.

"I'm Evangeline Knight," Eva replied immediately, although she avoided Sirius's penetrating eyes while saying this, "But Eva's fine."

"And I'm Fiona Kent," Fiona said softly, "Why don't you all sit down?"

After everyone had finally been introduced a little more, they figured out that they were all first years. James and Sirius explained the houses a little more, and they discussed that until the lunch trolley came around. James bought lunch for everyone, ("He's practically rich," Sirius explained,) and Lily and Eva had a lot of fun with the magical food. (Eva more than Lily though, she couldn't get over how the chocolate frogs actually moved! Sirius rolled his eyes at this.)

Before any of them knew what was happening it had become dark outside and the train slowly halted to a stop.

"WE'RE HERE!" Eva screamed in delight, jumping up and grabbing her trunk. She swung it off the rack with such force that it revolved over her head and hit Sirius painfully in the face.

"Hey! Watch it!"

But Eva was long out of the compartment, racing towards the boats. Lily smiled and rolled her eyes; Eva was going to be a fun person to be friends with.

"Can I get your trunk?" James asked gallantly, bowing as though her servant. Lily giggled in spite of herself and held out her hand.

"Of course," She replied; James grinned and kissed her hand suavely. Lily watched as he easily brought her bag down from above them and offered her his arm. She took it, grinning, and followed the rest of her new friends out to the boats.