Lily sat alone in the Great Hall, staring dejectedly at the empty seats around her. After the Hogwarts Express stopped at Hogsmeade Station she had disembarked with Sev, only to be stopped by a giant of a man named Hagrid who said she was to be brought her to the castle with the first years. After the boat ride, Lily had entered the castle and, as she was a fifth year, she had been sorted privately before the rest of the school arrived. Remembering Severus' words about his own house, when the hat was plopped on her head she immediately asked to be placed in Slytherin.
"Slytherin?" the hat whispered from its perch on her head. "Hmm…I don't know. I see many possibilities for you. You could do very well in Ravenclaw; there's plenty of brains there. Oh, and I see much dedication and loyalty. A hufflepuff perhaps? No, that doesn't seem quite right. You might be a Slytherin. I see plenty of ambition. Yes, you could do very well there. But it seems a waste when there's so much bravery…so much courage. No my dear, I think you're a Gryffindor."
Gryffindor? she wondered.
"Yes, yes. I am absolutely sure now. Without a doubt you are a GRYFFINDOR!" The hat bellowed the last word so the professors standing around heard. A severe looking witch who stood beside Lily cracked a smile and plucked the hat from Lily's head.
"Wonderful," the witch said. "Welcome to Gryffindor House, Miss Evans. My name is Professor McGonagall and I'm your new head of house. Be warned, I do not tolerate any misconduct from my students. Now, are you aware of the house points system?"
Lily shook her head.
"Well," McGonagall continued, pointing to four large hourglasses in the hall, filled with different stones. "Anything you do well will earn your house points. Any rule breaking will lose points. Gryffindor's hourglass is the one with the rubies. I trust you will only add them."
Lily nodded once more, staring at the hourglass. It was real. She was at Hogwarts, sorted into a house and all.
Sev will be so disappointed, she thought sadly as the sound of hundreds of footsteps rang through the hall.
"That will be your schoolmates," McGonagall said crisply, turning to face the large doors. "I suggest you go and take a seat, Miss Evans. Gryffindor is the table on the right."
Lily obeyed and slid into a seat halfway down the long table. She stared at the table top, wringing her hands anxiously. The realization sank in that she did not know anyone. Sev had been her only friend coming in and she had assumed they would eat together. Now she was alone. She thought briefly of James and wondered which house he was in before chastising herself.
Forget about him.
Students flooded into the Great Hall, all clad in identical black robes and wondering who the red haired girl sitting at the Gryffindor table all alone was.
Lily continued staring at the table, violently wishing she were home. As the seats around her filled up she heard Professor McGonagall begin the sorting of all the tiny first years lined up by the doors. She looked up and saw James only a few seats down from her, though on the other side of the table. He was deep in discussion with his friend Sirius from the train and when he looked up their eyes locked for a brief moment before Lily looked away, her cheeks burning.
"Are you Lily Evans?" a voice asked from Lily's right. She turned to face the girl who had just sat down. She had dark brown hair which fell to her armpits and equally dark eyes.
Lily nodded, glancing over the girl who was smiling at her now. The girl stuck her hand out and grasped one of Lily's.
"I'm Marlene. Marlene McKinnon, I'm a fifth year also! McGonagall told us there was a new girl. Is it true you're muggle born? And that you've been homeschooled? Blimey, I don't know anyone else who has been homeschooled. What about you, Alice?"
Alice, who sat on Marlene's other side and had a round face and shoulder length golden curls turned towards them, her blue eyes gazing kindly on Lily.
"No, I don't think I do. Give her some space, Marls. She's probably exhausted. I'm Alice Fortescue by the way," she introduced herself to Lily. "We're your new roommates."
"Nice to meet you," Lily offered with a small smile before the hall went quiet. Dumbledore, the man who had come to Lily's house four years ago to explain magic and Hogwarts to her parents stood at the front of the room, poised to speak.
"Welcome," the headmaster boomed, his voice reverberating around the room. "I trust you all enjoyed your holidays. And now we have come back together for another year filled with learning and fun." He glanced around at the students, his eyes twinkling. "Let us remember while we are here that we are one castle, one school. We are united by these walls. And so I implore all of you not to allow any prejudices or petty jealousies tear you apart. There is much evil in this world and we must be united when we fight it."
The hall was dead silent, all eyes trained on the silver haired wizard in front of them. Dumbledore glanced around, allowing his words to sink in before grinning broadly. "And with that, let us eat!" he cried merrily.
Lily gasped as food appeared on the table out of nowhere. Every conceivable thing she could have wished to eat now sat in front of her. Marlene and Alice reached forwards enthusiastically and began heaping potatoes and chicken pot pie on their plates. Glancing around at all the students around her who seemed just as enthusiastic, she reached forward for the plate of mashed potatoes in front of her.
She reached the plate at the same time as the boy sitting across from her.
"Oh!" she said quickly. "I'm sorry, please go ahead."
"Thanks," the boy said, giving her a curious look. He quickly loaded several spoonfuls of potatoes onto his plate before handing her the dish.
"You're the new girl, aren't you?" he asked, giving Lily a small smile. He was good looking, she decided, even though he looked a bit thin and tired. His light brown hair was neat and his blue eyes were kind. When he smiled he had a small dimple on the right side of his face.
"Yes," she answered with what she hoped came across as confidence. "Lily Evans," she introduced herself, extending her hand across the table.
"Remus Lupin," he answered, taking her hand. "You're a fifth year too, correct?"
"I am," Lily said. Feeling her face flush she hurried on, intent on avoiding any probing question. "I was taught at home until now. My mother was too ill to permit me to come to school."
To her surprise Remus did not ask questions or offer half sincere apologies, as most people did when she said that. Instead, his grey eyes crinkled sympathetically as he reached over the bowl of potatoes and gave her hand a small squeeze.
"My mum's sick too," he whispered, dropping her hand and looking at the table. "I have to go visit often. It does make being at school difficult."
Lily smiled and felt a rush of affection for this kind boy she had just met.
"Oh good, Lily, I'm so glad you met Remus!" Marlene's loud exclamation jarred her and she dropped Remus' hand hurriedly and turned to see the dark haired girl beaming at her. "Isn't he a doll?" Marlene exclaimed, smiling at Remus. "Really, I don't think you'll find a better bloke anywhere else."
Remus turned pink and dropped his gaze to his plate. The mousy haired boy who sat between Remus and Sirius Black frowned at Marlene.
"Oh, Pete, don't give me that look," Marlene said reproachfully. "You know I adore you but honestly, none of you compare to Remus."
"Hey!"
Lily groaned as she heard James' voice enter the mix.
"What's this about not being able to compare to Remus, McKinnon?" James demanded, glaring at Marlene, who simply shrugged.
"Just that he's a sweetheart and not a prat like you," She replied haughtily but with a twinkle in her eye. James' glare intensified and Marlene's lips twitched into a smile. Suppressing a laugh she turned to Alice and then to Lily.
"Don't you girls think so? That Remus is a sweetheart and James is a prat?"
"Marls—" Alice said gently, glancing from her teasing friend to the very unamused James. "Come on, it's the first night."
"You know, Marlene," Lily spoke up quickly, looking determinedly at the girl and not at James. "I think I would agree with you."
Marlene's smile became even wider. "I knew we would be best friends, Lily Evans!" she cried, enveloping Lily into a hug.
"Where do I come in in this competition?" Sirius demanded. Marlene let go of Lily and pretended to look thoughtful.
"Hmm….I think….I think…." She rubbed her chin in mock concentration and broke into laughter at the sight of Sirius' eager expression. "Oh, I don't know, Black." Her voice was softer now. "I was just winding Jamesy up, you know how funny he is when someone says he's second best."
"I do not!" James pouted from his seat. Lily tried to ignore how adorable he looked when he stuck out his bottom lip like that. He had done that over the summer when pleading with her to go with him to the beach or stay out for just another half an hour-
No. Stop it.
"Lily, why did you say you were homeschooled again?" Marlene asked her suddenly.
"Er—my mother was ill," Lily mumbled, chewing on her lip.
"Oh, I'm sorry," Alice said kindly, reaching across Marlene to squeeze Lily's shoulder. "It's lovely you're here now, though. And don't worry, Marls and I will show you around and make sure you know everything you need."
"So did your parents teach you at home, then?" Marlene asked.
"No. They're actually muggles, my parents are," Lily answered. "Professor Dumbledore arranged for a tutor—"
"You're muggle-born?" Remus broke in, his eyebrows raised.
"Yes," Lily replied evenly. "Professor Dumbledore arranged for a tutor to come and teach me so I've learned all the same lessons as you lot."
"Wow," Marlene breathed. "So have you met any other wizards before now? Besides Dumbledore and your tutor, of course."
"Er, yes," Lily said. "Severus lives near me and he told me most things about wizards—"
"Severus Snape?" Marlene asked incredulously, her eyes bulging. She whipped around to stare at the Slytherin table, where Severus sat with his friends, before turning back to Lily. "You know Snape?"
"We're friends," Lily said defensively, color rising to her cheeks. "We've known each other since we were nine and he's the one who told me I was a witch and who told me all about Hogwarts and the wizarding world."
Marlene gave a small snort and looked up at Remus.
"And she's muggle-born," she murmured, a humorless smile on her face. "Severus Snape is friends with our Lily who is a muggle-born. Fancy that."
"I know," Remus replied, looking concerned. "I don't know how—"
"What?" Lily demanded, looking between them. "He always said it doesn't matter that my family is all muggles. It just matters that I'm magical."
"He told you that?" Remus asked in disbelief, staring at Lily as though she had two heads.
"Yes."
"Wow," Alice whispered, her eyes wide. "Oh, Lily. Do you know anything about what's going on here?"
"What do you mean?" Lily asked. All three of the others cringed and looked at her apologetically.
Marlene swiftly threw an arm around Lily's shoulders and gave her a large smile. "We'll explain it later, love," she said brightly, glancing at Alice and Remus. "There's uh—just a couple things you should know now that you're here but there's no reason to ruin a perfectly good feast by talking about them now. Right, Alice?"
"Right," Alice agreed, though in a much more subdued voice.
"Oy! Remus are you done flirting with James' love interest?" Sirius Black's voice cut through the conversation and Lily felt her face flame up immediately. The meal had been going so well with no mention of her summer escapades with a certain hazel-eyed wizard.
"What's this?" Marlene exclaimed, looking from a beet-red Lily to James, who punched Sirius hard in the shoulder.
"Nothing," Lily mumbled, hastily shoving a forkful of food in her mouth.
"Remember that bird James wouldn't shut up about in his letters this summer?" Sirius asked Marlene, grinning ear to ear. "Said it was a red-headed muggle girl who lived in the town his parents had dragged him to?"
Comprehension dawned on their faces as Marlene, Remus and Alice all turned to stare at Lily, who was wishing the floor would open up and swallow her whole.
"You were James' summer romance?" Remus asked. "And you didn't—ah, but he obviously didn't tell you he was a wizard and I'm sure you assumed he was a muggle."
"Why didn't you tell us?" Marlene shrieked, nearly overturning the jug of pumpkin juice. "You and James, oh! I see it now, you two are a wonderful couple! Were you just trying to hide it for the first night or—oh what a prat I am, I'm sure you were hoping he would sit by you!"
"No," Lily muttered, still staring at the table. "No, we're not a—a couple. Anymore."
"Oh." Marlene's face fell. "So you guys—oh—and you're not—"
"Marls, shut up," James said tersely. Lily glanced up and saw to her mild relief he looked just as embarrassed as she felt. His ears were bright red and he was staring fixedly at his empty plate.
"Right, well," Marlene stammered. "Well, Lily, who did you say your tutor was?"
They talked about Dorcas and how Lily learned all the lessons at home until Remus and Alice, the two Gryffindor fifth year prefects, stood up to help guide first years to the common room.
"You should come too, Lily," Alice said. "I can show you where the common room is. The castle's a little tricky for the first few weeks."
"Yeah, good idea," Lily said, quickly rising from the table. Taking care not to look at anyone seated, she followed Alice who was calling "First years! Follow me please! First years over here!"
Their little group walked quietly through the corridors, going up several flights of stairs.
"You'll have to excuse Marlene sometimes," Alice told Lily as they led the group of eleven-year-olds. "She means well and she really is a sweetheart but sometimes she gets carried away—"
"It's okay, really," Lily said earnestly. "I didn't mean to make everyone uncomfortable. It's just the thing with James. It ended rather abruptly and it's still not…I don't know. It's done. It's just too recent for it to not be uncomfortable, you know?"
Alice smiled gently at her. "Yes, I know. It's okay, we were just a little taken aback, that's all."
Lily nodded. They continued on in silence for a few moments until reaching a portrait of a very fat woman who grinned and waved at them.
"Tippecanoe," Alice said. The portrait swung open and Lily looked around at the circular common room. They must be in one of the towers, she thought as she caught sight of the view of the grounds and lake afforded by the large window. The room was decorated with red and gold furniture and accents. There were several tables for students to work at and a fireplace surrounded by couches and squashy armchairs.
"Our dormitory is this way," Alice told her, pointing towards one of the spiral staircases. Remus waved goodnight to them both and then started up the staircase on the opposite end of the room, a line of young boys following him.
Lily climbed the staircase with Alice. They arrived in the fifth year girl's dormitory, which held six four-poster beds. Alice flopped down on one and Lily went to the bed next to her and threw herself down on it.
"Marlene's in here too," Alice said, her voice muffled. "And then there's three other girls who you probably won't meet until tomorrow; they weren't sitting by us at dinner. Mary MacDonald is a muggle-born like you. She goes along with us sometimes. And then there's Sarah Carroll and Emmeline Vance. They're alright I suppose, though Sarah Carroll is the biggest gossip I've ever met."
"Okay," Lily said through a yawn.
"It's okay if you want to go to bed." Alice looked over sympathetically. "It might be better, actually. If you're in bed when Marley gets here she won't interrogate you about James tonight."
Lily groaned and Alice laughed. Lily rolled off the bed and changed into her pajamas. She climbed into her new bed, snuggling beneath the blankets.
"Thank you for being so kind today, Alice," she said. "You and Marlene both. I was so nervous sitting at that table by myself."
"No problem, Lily," Alice replied. "The first night is always the hardest. I hope yours wasn't too terrible, even if Marlene and Sirius badgered you with questions about James."
"Well, it was bound to happen," Lily mused before sitting up to draw the curtains around her bed. "Goodnight, Alice. See you tomorrow."
"Goodnight, Lily."
Lily pulled her curtains shut and fell asleep almost immediately, dreaming of the wonders Hogwarts held for her and a certain pair of hazel eyes which she hadn't allowed herself to look at all night.
Author's Note: Thank you so much to everyone who has followed, favorited, and reviewed this story. It means so much! I hope you enjoyed the chapter and please continue to review, I want to hear your thoughts!
Edited 9/30/2016
