Sophie Hennessy nervously tucked locks of light brown hair behind her ears. She was only twelve, one of the youngest third years in Gryffindor, with a birthday almost exactly at end of term. She hated practical exams, especially in Potions. With Severus Snape sitting right beside her, every sniff or chuckle of disdain made her feel more and more inadequate.
"So incompetent," he whispered spitefully while looking at her.
"Well you're oily and ugly and I don't like you," she pitifully shot back.
Severus narrowed his dark eyes at her. She bit her lip, quickly looking back to her Potions book. A vile of invisibility potion shouldn't be this hard, she quietly thought to herself, rereading the ingredient list.
She sprinkled some green seeds into the cauldron, it immediately made a hissing noise and emitted a shower of green drops all over herself and Severus. Sophie felt her eyes burn with tears as the whole class stared directly at her.
"That was bloody insane," she voice said from behind her.
Sophie slowly turned around to face the spirited Lily Evans. She knew Lily's name and had talked to her a couple of times, but Sophie was an introvert and didn't make friends easily.
Lily made her way over to Sophie's cauldron, sniffing the contents and making a face.
"You've added too much of the Diaphanous Root, it makes the mixture too potent, I think," she said diplomatically, reaching for a knife to chop up more of the become Extinctify Herb, the other main ingredient of the potion.
Sophie let out a shaky sigh and smiled as Lily dumped the herb in to the cauldron.
"Anyone with half a brain would know that. Who do you think you are, you grimy, pathetic mudblood," Severus jeered to Lily.
Lily's head snapped up and her bright green eyes narrowed. "Nobody asked your opinion, Snivilus."
"Yeah, you heard Evans!"
A tall, lanky boy stomped up to them from his desk. He had messy black hair and expressive brown eyes. He crossed his arms and stood defensively by Lily, who rolled her eyes and looked annoyed.
"The same goes to you Potter," she said through her teeth.
Sophie simply looked to her potion, which was now the smooth silver color it was supposed to be. She pulled a ladle off the wall, pouring the slick mixture into a glass vile and placing it on Professor Marinas desk.
"I don't need you to defend me, not to mention the fact that you do a horrible job at it," Lily snapped into the messy haired boy's face.
"Oh yeah! How so?" He asked cynically.
Lily pointed a finger to the door, which Severus Snape was slinking out of. The boy's jaw dropped and he hurried back to his own table and began furiously whispering with a long haired, scruffy boy that was sitting with his feet up on the table.
"So what's your name again?" Lily asked, turning back to Sophie.
"Sophia Hennessy. But everyone calls me Sophie," she said quietly, tucking her Potions book back into her bag.
"Well I'm Lily. That moron's James and his unhygienic friend is Sirius," Lily said pointing to each person accordingly.
Sophie nodded, trying to smile and look casual. Lily furrowed her thin brows, staring intently at Sophie.
"You're really quiet."
Sophie felt her cheeks flush and Lily laughed genuinely.
"No!" she said while still laughing. "It's not a bad thing, you just remind me of one of Potter's friends. You should eat with us at lunch, then you can meet Remus, you'll like him."
Sophie nodded eagerly. "Sure, that'd be great."
She followed Lily to the Dining Hall where the red head plopped down next to Isabelle Pompano, the Italian girl that the majority of the Gryffindor boys lusted after. It didn't surprise Sophie. It was the typical thing, the two prettiest girls in Gryffindor would be friends.
"Bella!" Lily called over the noise of the Dining Hall. "This is Sophie, she's cute and quiet and can't mix a potion to save her life."
Sophie's cheeks burned again as Isabelle laughed along with Lily.
"Oh don't feel bad," Isabelle said while pouring some lemonade for herself. "I'm such a procrastinator, all of the Professor's hate me."
"Marauders at twelve-o-clock," Lily said in a low voice.
Sure enough James Potter and his scruffy friend were sauntering in. There were two others beside them, a chubby, clumsy boy named Peter who Sophie had unfortunately been paired with in Transfiguration in their first year. He had successfully transformed their button half into a ladybug with the wings, and it flew into McGonagall's face.
The other boy was one that Sophie had only seen around school and in the library. She didn't know his name, but she knew that he always looked like he needed more sleep or a hot cup of soup. He always looked tired, and he was very quiet and a teachers favorite.
"Evans and Pompano, my favorite duo," The scruffy one said smoothly as he sat down, grabbing an apple.
Isabelle
made a face. "Only you'd like us more if we wore less, right,
Sirius?"
Sirius shrugged, taking a bite from the apple. "It's
a small request, nothing major."
Lily and Isabelle exchanged looks, rolling their eyes in unison.
"Guys," Lily said officially, getting their attention. "This is Sophie. She's sweet and I like her so could you at least try and act like normal people, not like the barbarians you normally are?"
Sirius laughed, looking Sophie up and down. "Do normal people get to stare barbarically?"
Lily flicked a peanut at him, hitting him directly in the forehead.
"You're mean. Very mean," he grumbled, turning to James.
"That's Remus," Lily said, pointing to the tired looking boy who was reading a book.
He glanced up, smiling at Sophie. "Hi."
Sophie smiled at him, scooping potatoes onto her plate. Lily was in the process of tugging The Daily Prophet out of James's hands.
"You don't need it, you only want it because I have it," he protested, giving her his best puppy face.
Lily rolled her glimmering eyes, not affected. "You're so beastly and childish I surprised you even know what a newspaper is!"
Isabelle stifled a laugh and leaned over to Sophie. "Yes, they always act like that. Welcome to the group."
Sophie chuckled, taking a small bite of potatoes, glad to finally be able to say she was a part of something.
