Chapter Three: Back to Hogwarts
Lily joined Marlene and Alice in their compartment on the train. She wasn't surprised to see Frank Longbottom, a seventh-year Gryffindor there too. Alice had filled her two friends in at the beginning of August. Frank had started to write Alice over the summer holidays, he had always been pleasant to her but she never thought he had any feelings for her. Frank was a sweetheart and Lily approved whole-heartedly of him. What did surprise her a little was the presence of Frank's friends, Aiden Boone and Colin Smith. She joined the game of exploding snap and laughed when one of Marlene's eyebrows got a little singed.
The six teens were exchanging stories about their summers when someone knocked on the compartment door and slid it open. Remus popped his head, "Lily, it's our turn for patrols." Lily got up and stretched her legs as Remus greeted the other five Gryffindors. Marlene smirked as Colin watched Lily exit the compartment.
"Fancy her much, Smith?" Marlene grinned as she saw the blush creep up the boy's face. He shrugged and turned back to Aiden who was running some sort of analysis on the Chudley Canons.
Remus and Lily walked down the train listening for any signs of trouble and occasionally looking into a compartment. "Have a good summer?"
Lily smiled at Remus. "It was really nice. I visited with Alice and Marlene at the beginning of August. Did you have a good holiday?"
Remus told her about spending time with his sick mother. He got some reading in that he hadn't been able to do while away at school. Neither prefect commented on the fact the Remus had undoubtedly spent much of is summer with the other three sixth year boys. Remus had considered trying to apologize for what had happened at the end of last term but Lily had treated him no different than she normally did when they had met in the Prefects' Carriage that morning so he figured it was in the past. They got to the end of the train and turned around. A crowd of fifth-year Slytherins had blocked their passage.
"Going somewhere mudblood?" A lanky brown-haired boy sneered at Lily.
Lily didn't bat an eyelash. "Five points from Slytherin. Now move. Unless you lot want a detention before we've even gotten to school." Lily marched right through the boys. Remus followed her, wary of the group of boys. Both students let out their breath as they entered the next car. Remus stopped outside of a compartment. Lily peered and rolled her eyes. Sirius Black was making faces at her. She said goodbye to Remus and caught James Potter's eye. He nodded and smiled and continued talking with Peter about something.
Lily scratched her head as she made her way back towards the front of the train. Still on the lookout for trouble, she took it as an opportunity to say hello to more friends of hers. A handful of sixth-year Ravenclaws, including fellow prefect Emmeline Vance, waved to her as she walked by. Lily was in a bit of a stupor by the time she had made it back to Marlene and Alice. From the Slytherin boys to Potter to the seventh-year boys sharing her compartment, school hadn't even started yet and it seemed like the year had already been turned on its head. Frank, Aiden, and Colin had gone off to find the trolley when Lily entered the compartment.
Alice was dozing in the window seat and Marlene was reading Witch Weekly across from her. In a very nonchalant manner Marlene asked Lily what she thought of Frank and his friends. Lily thought Frank was great, definitely a good match for Alice.
"Colin seems like a pretty nice bloke too." Marlene didn't look up when she said this.
"Trying to play matchmaker, Marlene?" Lily smiled, she couldn't deny that Colin was easy on the eyes. He was a good student too. "I'll play your game, McKinnon."
Marlene was grinning ear to ear when she looked up. Despite the ominous shadow of NEWT classes, sixth year was going to be a lot of fun. "If he asked you to go out with him?"
"Why don't we just start with hanging out as friends first? See where it goes from there?" Marlene pretended to scowl but couldn't hold it. She smiled at Lily and the two girls started to laugh. Alice jolted up in her seat making Lily and Marlene laugh even harder. The three girls were rolling around in fits of giggles when their compartment companions returned with arms full of sweets. Once they'd regained their composure they dug into the pile of sweets. Lily cautiously accepted a handful of Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans from Colin. She wrinkled her nose when she realized the bean she had chosen was liver flavoured. Colin laughed at her and pulled a white one from her hand.
With a triumphant grin, Colin exclaimed, "Coconut!" Causing another round of laughter in the compartment.
Sirius sat at the table and glared at Colin Smith. There wasn't going to be anybody to take away his best mate's girl. James hadn't said one word yet on the matter. He had grilled Moony after his patrol of the train but had tried to play it as cool as possible when he saw Lily. Remus was no help at all.
"Prongs, are you seeing this mate?" Sirius was overly indignant. The boys thought he might be more annoyed at Colin than James was and that was saying something. James let out a sigh and shook his head at Sirius. If Lily wanted to date Colin Smith, Lily could date Colin Smith. Who was he to say anything otherwise.
"Padfoot, the prank. Focus on that." James was trying really hard not to look past him at Lily. "It bothers me, I'm not saying it doesn't but I think Lily deserves to be happy…even if I'm not the one giving her that happiness."
Remus observed James. While none of them had turned seventeen yet James was different from last year. He'd noticed that over the summer too. It had come in little snippets. Not sending owls to Lily. Keeping Sirius under control. Convincing Sirius that they should make their pranks funny not harmful. Remus nudged Peter as McGonagall led the first-years into the Great Hall. Sirius was a little ball of energy and Remus was certain that the Transfiguration professor hadn't missed his excitement. James nodded encouragingly to the first-year students who made eye contact with him. The Marauders waited impatiently as the Sorting Hat sang its song. McGonagall called the first student, Adams, Eliza.
"Gryffindor!" Many things happened at once. The students at the Gryffindor table cheered for their new housemate. McGonagall removed the hat from the little girl's head. Eliza Adams jumped down from the stool and moved to the cheering table. And the lion from the Gryffindor became alive. The lion's head emerged from the banner and roared so loud the hall went silent. Every student and teacher looked up at the banner. After a moment, the banner went silent and returned to its normal state.
McGonagall called the next student. The boy was sorted into Slytherin and the snake's head emerged from the green and silver banner. The hiss was heard over the cheering. It was a clever bit of magic that the boys had spent the better part of August perfecting so they could get it right for the Sorting. McGonagall pretended not to notice but the Marauders didn't miss the smile and twinkle in Dumbledore's eye.
"I can't wait to find out what sound a badger makes," Peter squealed as two students were sorted into Ravenclaw and another student was sorted to Gryffindor.
"Keep your panties on there, Wormy," Sirius laughed as the next student moved up to the stool.
"Hufflepuff!" The most unnatural sound came from the badger head popping out of its banner. The entire hall began to laugh.
"It sounds like you Pete, like you're trying to get it on with broad!" Sirius was wheezing from laughing so hard. Soon the entire hall was calling for more Hufflepuffs to be sorted so they could enjoy the hilarious sounds coming from the black and yellow banner. The boys took joy in watching Professor McGonagall try to maintain a straight face every time that particular banner was alive.
Finally, Dumbledore stood after the last student was sorted. Professor McGonagall took away the stool and Sorting Hat. "Welcome back! I hope you all enjoyed a summer of emptying your heads. I must say that this has been the most amusing Sorting I've ever experienced." His blue eyes caught the Marauders for but a moment. "I think we should all remember that laughter and love are the most powerful magic in this world. Now, I won't keep you from your dinner a moment longer!"
The trays, platters, and tureens on the long tables filled with food. The first-year students were in pure awe. Sirius, James, and Peter didn't wait a moment to pile their plates high with food. Remus, ever the mannered-Marauder, piled an appropriate amount of food on his plate and used both fork and knife. The hall was filled with sound. Students laughing. Asking for housemates to pass this or that from out of reach. For a little while, the outside world vanished. The killings and disappearances. The dark mark. None of that mattered. Everyone was reunited with their friends, a year of learning and hard work was ahead of them, Hogwarts was a bright light in what was becoming a sea of darkness.
"Alright, Evans?" Colin sat down next to Frank.
"Mhmm. Just trying to decide what classes to continue with. I've been thinking about it all summer." Lily blushed and brushed a stray hair out of her face.
"Just take everything Lily, I'm sure you'll quickly master being in two places at once." Marlene piled chips onto her plate. She was not much of a morning person and Alice had already pushed a mug of coffee towards her.
Lily scowled at her. "I just don't know what I should continue with. I would love to continue everything but I know that's not realistic and I want to be able to focus on my NEWT classes."
"Do you have an idea of what you want to do after Hogwarts? I know you met with McGonagall last year to discuss that but even if you're thinking of multiple careers it can help to narrow down classes." Frank and Colin looked at the three girls.
"Honestly, I think I might go for Auror." Everyone at the table looked at Alice. Auror wasn't exactly the first career they would pick by looking at her. She was the smallest of the three girls and slight in stature. But she was brilliant and could keep a cool head.
Marlene frowned, "I don't really know. I've never given much thought to it. My father works at the Ministry and I guess I always figured that's where I'd end up."
When Lily was a kid she had always wanted to be a doctor when she grew up. Even though that wasn't really the norm, women weren't considered capable. Nursing certainly but not becoming a physician. "I think I'd be happy as a Healer. I spoke with McGonagall about last term when she was giving career advice. I wasn't sure then but I think I'm more sure now."
"You'd make a great Healer, Lily!" Colin smiled at her. "You're empathetic but you also know when to be assertive and you're a brilliant witch!"
At that moment, none other than Sirius Black walked by. "You're a brilliant witch. Fancy her much, Smith? Thanks, McKinnon." Sirius swiped Marlene's coffee off the table before Remus dragged him away. Lily couldn't help but notice the flush creeping up Colin's neck and face.
Sirius slumped down into the seat next to Peter and Remus sat next to James. "You really need to sort out Smith, mate. He's moving in on what's rightfully yours."
"Lily is not a piece of meat that can be owned, Padfoot." Remus looked like he was already over the term. In part, it was that the full moon was coming up next week and he was already beginning to feel tired.
"I know Prongs has fancied her for a long time, but that doesn't make her 'rightfully' his." Peter shoved a piece of toast into his face.
"Wormy, think about it. Has Evans ever had a boyfriend? No. She hasn't. Because every boy in this school knows that she belongs to James." Sirius looked at James to verify.
James glanced down the table to where Lily was sitting with her friends. She was laughing and smiling. That smile tugged at his heart and for a moment he wanted to go down there and join her. He wanted her to laugh at the things he said and smile at him the way she was smiling at Smith. But there was the part of him that had appeared over the summer that made him stay where he was. "Padfoot, I think I need to let her go."
The other three boys whipped their heads to look at James. Remus was in awe, Peter was confused, and Sirius looked dumbstruck. "But mate, she's your girl. You told me that first day she would be yours and we didn't even know what that meant."
"I…I think I need to give her space. I don't think she'll ever accept me if she doesn't see that I'm not an arrogant, bullying toerag anymore. We'll still play pranks, Padfoot, but I think it's time to grow up. This summer – well you saw the things in the Prophet this summer, the world is changing out there and soon we'll be in it." James ruffled his hair, making it messier than his bedhead already was.
Remus kicked Sirius hard under the table. "That's really mature, James."
"Who cares about being mature? We'll never be as young as we are now. Ever. Again." Sirius pouted and poured more coffee into the mug he had stolen from Marlene.
Professor McGonagall was making her way towards them. "Mr. Black, Mr. Potter, Mr. Lupin, and Mr. Pettigrew. I hope our banners won't sporadically start making noises this morning. I trust you have all given thought to the classes you'll be taking."
Peter went as white as the milk in his glass. McGonagall pursed her lips and turned to Remus first, "Mr. Lupin, have you given any more thought to your career path over the summer?"
Remus shook his head, "Professor, if it's all the same, I'll continue with everything except Astronomy."
"That's nine NEWT classes, Mr. Lupin." Professor McGonagall gave him a knowing look, "You believe you will be able to keep up with all that work?"
The boy winced at the sound of how much work that would be. It was a difficult load for someone without his affliction. "I'll drop Care of Magical Creatures then too."
McGonagall tapped a card and handed it to Remus. "Mr. Potter, still plan to go into Auror training? Right, so you'll need Herbology, Charms, Defence Against the Dark Arts, and Transfiguration. I see you also received OWLs in Astronomy, and Arithmancy."
"I'd like to continue with all of those classes Professor." James accepted his timetable from her.
The woman didn't even ask Sirius what he would be taking. She handed him an identical timetable. "There will be no mischief this year. NEWT level is challenging and I will not have you two wreaking havoc, is that understood?"
James and Sirius made their eyes as big as they could and nodded. It might last until the end of the week. At least no one could say that Minerva McGonagall didn't try to keep them in line. "Mr. Pettigrew, while you received OWLs in eight of classes last term you only scored high enough in six of them to continue."
Peter flushed, he knew that he wasn't as strong academically as his friends. He accepted the card from her. Remus smiled at him encouragingly. He would still be in most of his friends' classes. The upside was that he would have less work and a considerable amount less than Remus. Professor McGonagall continued down the table handing out timetables. She asked the third-year students what classes they were adding and some older students asked to drop some classes. She stopped in front of the mixed cluster of sixth- and seventh-year Gryffindors further down the table. A handful of the seventh-year students told her they were dropping this class or that. While the sixth-years were picking classes, McGonagall had to silence the seventh-year students as they tried to persuade people to take this and not take that.
"Ms. McKinnon, still thinking of the Ministry?" Marlene shrugged her shoulders. She decided she'd continue with everything except for Care of Magical Creatures. She still had a solid timetable with her classes.
Alice surprised McGonagall when she told she now had plans to become an Auror. She dropped Astronomy even though she had managed an E on her OWL. McGonagall gave her the five core classes that were required for Auror training and Alice chose to continue in Ancient Runes and Arithmancy. Lily confirmed her plans to become a Healer, something everyone seemed to support.
"You and Mr. Lupin are going to need to work hard these next two years, Ms. Evans," McGonagall handed Lily the timetable, "Make sure you support each other."
The first week of term was gone in the blink of an eye. The sixth-year students were sure the new pace would kill them. By the end of that week nearly every single one of them had fallen asleep in some class or other. Classes had started on a Thursday this term, they had foolishly thought that the first weekend was going to be spent catching up with each other. In reality, every sixth- and seventh- year student was found in the library that weekend. Foretelling their year to come.