Disclaimer: Harry Potter isn't mine, but this story is.

A.N. Apologies for not updating sooner- exams and other such excuses :P but now it's the holidays, so I should have more time to write.

Chapter 5:-Impressions

It was kind of funny how classes seemed so similar and yet so different. Lily hadn't been sure what to expect, but somehow the familiar note taking in classes that dragged on followed by rushed journeys to the next classroom (and occasional hair-pulling at even more dead-ends) comforted her. It was still school, even if they were teaching potions instead of science and transfiguration in the place of maths. She had ended up having lunch by herself since everyone seemed to be in clichés already and she hadn't seen Natalie anywhere. Tired but oddly content, Lily made her way to the field for her first flying lesson. After all, what would a witch be without a broom? Lily thought with a small smile to herself.

Walking out into the bright afternoon sun, she paused to allow her eyes to adjust to the sudden change and lurched forward as somebody walked right into her. She would have been able to maintain her balance if the person who had bumped into her had not also reached out to try to prevent them from falling. Overbalanced, they fell to the ground in a tangle of robes and limbs.

"I'm so sorry. I shouldn't have stopped …like ……that." Looking up, Lily's words trailed off as she gazed into amused pools of green, gold and brown. Ick I have to stop doing that. Blinking slowly, she tried to shake herself out of the daze she was in as James brushed the tousled black hair out of his face, and stood up, offering a hand to help her up.

"Nah, it was my fault for rushing to get to the field," he said easily, pulling a light grimace, as Sirius teased,

"Yeah, couldn't wait to get to the flying could you? And you call me impatient!"

Lily placed her hand in James' and pulled herself up. She shot James a grateful look before looking down to adjust her robes, missing the slightly glazed look that appeared on his face at her smile.

"Come on, we'd better go or we'll be late," the pragmatic Remus said, mischievously adding "and have to use the old brooms that splinter". Both he and Lily laughed at the identical looks of horror on Sirius and James' faces as they practically ran to the field.

A sun-streaked blond woman directed them to a pile of brooms, her light blue eyes, stern but kind. Her skin was also quite dark from being in the sun, and really contrasted with her short spiked hair. She didn't look like you average professor, even in her robes. In fact the robes seemed a bit misplaced on her, a bit too formal and constraining. But once she got on her broom, Lily realised why this Madam Hooch look so odd on the ground. She sat on the broom like it was an extension of her, or she was part of it, and flew in the air like she belonged in the sky.

She had them all stand in a row and place their chosen brooms on the ground. Remus had kindly picked one for her, aware of her ignorance, and now Lily hesitantly held her hand over it. Around her brooms jumped into the hands of a few boys and girls at they're word "up", and James and Sirius were practically jumping out of their skins in their enthusiasm to start flying. Other students were not having as much luck as the brooms either blatantly ignored their increasing shouts or quivered as if laughing at their inadequacy. Trying not to worry that she'd be like that too, her naturally competitive side determined to get it right the first go, she somewhat confidently said "up". Apparently the broom had not noticed the note of uncertainty and anxiety in her voice, leaping into her hand so suddenly that Lily couldn't help but stare in disbelief at her success.

"See, no trouble at all. It's easy really." James called to Lily, trying to reassure her, his naive arrogance failing to notice that he had managed to insult all the other students who could not get their brooms to behave. Blithely unaware of the glares sent his way, he continued, "I've been flying before I was old enough to walk. That's what my mum says. She says I'm as good as my grandpa, who was the best Chaser in 1936." Being the child he was, he tried to impress this pretty green-eyed girl with the hair like fire and a smile like his mother's, not realising that his childish arrogance and insensitivity only served to make her angry and affronted. Lily had always been taught that it was "not nice" to boast, especially if it made people feel bad. So she naturally assumed that everyone had been taught the same and that if they did boast then they were rude, mean and proud. Keeping her anger in check, she said

"Well, good for you," and proceeded to ignore him as Madam Hooch took them through the basics of flying. He's so sure of himself. I guess that just goes to show that some people might seem nice and polite but can be arrogant and mean. Lily thought to herself as she carefully pushed off the ground. She quickly forgot about James as she flew around slowly at first, then more confidently, feeling more at home in the air than the ground. Like Madam Hooch. Maybe that's why she likes the sky better. She felt light and free, and the wind across her face and in her hair was just heavenly. I could stay like this forever.

All too soon, the class was over and Lily reluctantly landed on the ground, still feeling strangely weightless as she went back to her dorm to get ready for dinner.

In the dorm on the other end of the staircase, James pondered over the red-haired girl. He was a bit puzzled over her slightly cold response when he had just been trying to be friendly with her.

"Hey, Remus, who was that red-haired girl?" He asked his knowledgeable friend, hoping he knew. Both Sirius and Remus turned to look at him in confusion, and Remus said slowly, "Uh…Lily…?" At James' blank look, Sirius clarified,

"You know the girl from the train? Ring any bells? You sure you didn't leave your mind in the clouds, mate?"

Understanding and amusement flickered on Remus' face as he gave a soft chuckle "Oh, except you weren't wearing your glasses, so you didn't see what she looked like."

Sirius smirked as James aimed a glare in his direction and said "And whose fault was that I wonder…"

"Hey don't look at me. I… am innocent." Sirius said dramatically, scowling when both his friends snorted and exchanged a knowing look.

"Sirius, I've known you nearly all my life. And you, my friend, are never innocent." James said.

"And I have only known you a few weeks, but from what I do know, I have to agree whole-heartedly with James." Remus said with a grin.

"Hey that's not fair! You're teaming up against me! And Remus, you met James and I at the same time, how come you trust what he says more than what I say?" Sirius demanded.

Before Remus could reply James cut in with a self-righteous voice, "Because I, am more trustworthy."

"No, I am!" Sirius said indignantly.

And from there the argument just degenerated into "No I am"s as Remus sat on his bed, shaking his head at the silly childishness of his friends. Not that he was complaining or anything. When you were what he was, silly friends were better than no friends, and somehow he trusted these two loyal if somewhat immature boys. At first shy and afraid they'd know just by looking at him, he'd been touched when the two seemingly arrogant outspoken boys had gone out of their way to make friends with this weak looking boy who did not look like he belonged in the Quidditch club they had met in. He knew what Lily thought of James, as he had felt the same at first. But perhaps him not having any friends made his standards a bit lower, at least so he thought until he realised that behind all the arrogance and seeming careless inconsideration was a steadfast, generous and kind boy who had not quite learned to watch his words. James had a good heart and good intentions. He just hadn't learned how to properly show that. Sirius was as loyal as you could get, and passionate in whatever he believed in. At first glance Sirius was easy to read and characterise, but as Remus got to know him better, he realised that there was more to Sirius. James might have been a puzzle, but Sirius was a labyrinth. There are times when he gets this look in his eyes, like he's seen more that he should. Or when he talks about his family, which was only once in a blue moon.

Speaking of which, it was full moon in a week. It had been easier keeping it a secret when they had only hung out together occasionally at the Quidditch club. Now, living in the same dorm, his secret would be much harder to keep but he was sure he would manage. He couldn't think, didn't want to think of what their reactions would be if they found out…Giving himself a mental shake, he told himself I'll cross that bridge when I get to it, if I get to it. If not there's no point worrying about it. You'd think I'd have learned that by now. Focussing instead on what had become a pillow fight he grinned, grabbed a pillow and joined in.