James and Sirius kicked open the carriage door to find Remus, Peter and Jen lounging on the seats.
"Are you pleased to see us?" Sirius said, a broad grin on his face.
"Ecstatic," Jen muttered from behind her quidditch magazine.
"Oh you could sound a bit happier to see me." With that Sirius sat down and stole the magazine out of her hands.
"Give that back you arse!"
" You know you love me really!" He told her giving her a cheeky grin and with that he bent down and kissed her. Remus and Peter looked at the pair in shock.
"You ever get the feeling that you've missed something?" Remus asked.
Pulling away from Jen, Sirius smiled.
"Oh did I forget to say? Jen and I got together this summer."
Remus rolled his eyes.
"Nice to be informed. Anyway," he asked looking at James, "shouldn't you be in the head's meeting?"
"There isn't one. Dumbledore said, that for reasons that would become clearer later, it would be better for the head girl if there were no meeting; something about a lot of questions and personal issues. I don't know." James sat down sighing. "It's weird though. There's always a heads meeting. Wonder what the issue is."
Two minutes later his question was answered when the door opened and Carrie came flying in.
"OH MY GOD! Have you heard the news?"
"What news?"
"You don't know? Really? Where have you been?"
Sirius glared at her,
"Just tell us!"
Carrie shut the door and took a seat.
"Okay. So you know the head's meeting has been cancelled?"
Remus nodded,
"Yeah, James just told us."
"I know why," Carrie grinned.
James groaned,
"Are you going to drag this out? Tell us already!"
"It's because of Evans."
Silence filled the carriage as they adjusted to the news. Jen sat up,
"What about her?"
"Is this a joke? You really don't know?"
"NO!"
"Alright. She's been disgraced. Her whole family has been actually. All over the muggle news and it's spread through the wizarding world now. They're all too ashamed to show their faces and personally, I'm surprised Evans has even come back to school. I wouldn't have."
"What on earth are you talking about?"
"Basically, you know her dad is deputy prime minister?"
"Yeah."
"Well he was arrested over the summer for fraud. Apparently he was stealing lots of the government's money secretly. He's been giving 20 years in jail. Anyway they've lost everything and when I say everything, I mean everything: Their house, their money, their cars, their jobs, their possessions, and their holiday home. The government took everything right down to their clothes. Said it was all government property apparently. They've even had to pull Lily's brother Steven out of his school, as their mum can't afford it. The only reason Lily's here is because Dumbledore cancelled this year's fees for her and gave them money from the fund so Lily could buy books and stuff. According to a muggle newspaper, they're living in some grotty one bedroom flat. You should see her though, she looks completely different; she's cut her hair really short and dyed it brown so she doesn't look like herself. Plus she's wearing really cheap clothes; I think they're her brother's. I saw her a few minutes ago. She was sitting in her carriage by herself because all her friends have ditched her now. People kept trying to get into the carriage to question her about it, but she's put some weird charm on the door."
Silence once again filled the carriage as the news soaked in. They all felt a small bit of pity towards her; she had been their friend.
"Couldn't happen to a nicer person," Sirius muttered, rolling his eyes. He then promptly turned back to his quidditch magazine.
James looked up shocked,
"Sirius!"
"Oh come on James. I know you fancied the pants of her and all, but you can't feel sorry for her. She was a complete bitch to everyone last year and now she's getting what she deserved."
"He's right you know," Jen sighed, "what goes around, comes around and all."
"I guess you're right. I see why Dumbledore cancelled the head's meeting. Didn't want her being questioned about it all."
Silence filled the air once more, until Peter spoke up,
"So did everyone have a good summer?"
The talk in the carriage turned to holiday with tales of amazing quidditch matches and getting lost in Finland. Soon Lily was completely forgotten.
The group sat watching the sorting and talking in quiet whispers about where McGonagall was. Flitwick had led in the first years and there had been no sign of her.
"Maybe she's left"
"Nah, she wouldn't leave. Loves this place to much."
As the final person was sorted (Thomas Johnson (Angelina Johnson's uncle) into Hufflepuff), the door opened and McGonagall appeared escorting a tall, brunette behind her.
"Take your seat Miss Evans." With that the girl sat down and McGonagall took her seat. The food appeared on tables and people began to eat while stealing glances at Lily. She was sat alone at the end of the Gryffindor table, not eating.
"Did you see her?"
"What's she down to her hair?"
"I bet she is so embarrassed!"
"Why did she bother to come back?"
"I know no-one wants her here."
"Looks like her friends have ditched her."
"I wonder if she'll go crawling back to the marauders."
"No way would they take her back!"Those were the type on conversations filling the air and the second dinner ended, Lily raced from the room.
"I know she was a complete cow, but I feel sorry for her, no matter what you lot say." Remus told the group as they walked back up to the tower.
"How on earth can you feel sorry for her?"
"Look I didn't tell you guys, but last year I talked to Lily. A proper talk. She seemed really upset and it was like she hated being in that group"
"Ever think she was playing you Remus?" Sirius pointed out.
"Whatever."
With that they continued to walk towards the tower. That was until they turned the corner; there stood Lily Evans and she was surrounded by her old "friends." Lana was standing in front of her talking.
"Look at poor old Lily Evans. No friends and not even two galleons to rub together. What's it like to be so poor? I heard you're so desperate for money that your mum has had to start selling herself, if you know what I mean. You'll be next!"
The group laughed and Marcus walked forward cupping her face,
"I'll have a go. Two galleons for a quickie behind the greenhouses."
"LEAVE HER ALONE!" James had stepped forward, wand drawn. "Go on! GO!"
The gang quickly scattered, pushing Lily to the floor on their way.
"Are you alright?" James asked, reaching out a hand to help her up.
"Just leave me alone!" She scrabbled up and stared at the group, "I've already had half the school having a pop at me and I don't need it from you guys as well. Come to have a good gloat did you? Rub it in my face that no one wants to know me. Laugh at the fact I can't afford school anymore and that I'm here because Dumbledore pities me. Want to point out the fact that the whole world is laughing at my family and me? Tell me that I'm not going to be seeing my dad for a long time? Giggle at the fact I came to school in my brother's clothes because we're too broke for me to have my own? WELL I'VE HEARD IT ALL ALREADY! JUST LEAVE-ME-ALONE!"
With that Lily fled, her sobs echoing down the hall.
"Well that was interesting."