Disclaimer: Not mine. JK Rowling's.
A/N: And the next chapter comes...I've been meaning to update for a while, but haven't had the chance. Gah I'm sorry about that.
Here's a deal: every review I get for this chapter = another chapter updated THIS WEEK, and they're gonna be TOTALLY AWESOME. If I Don't get any, you guys will just have to wait until next week. Mwahaha, I'm evil.
(Brownie points if you can figure out the reference up there!)
Lily's face turned the color of her hair, and this did not escape James. He thought it was cute, in a really adorable kind of way. At this point, Sirius began to urge James to leave, saying "James, if you don't hurry up we'll lose our compartment!" James took the hint that his curly haired friend wanted to leave, and wished his new lady friends goodbye. Not one to be subtle, James took Lily's hand and gently kissed it. He then turned around to leave before Lily could protest.
Not bothering to wait until they were out of earshot of Alice and Lily, Sirius began to skip down the corridor of the train and sing "JAMES HAS A CRUSH! JAMESEY-POO-POO IS IN LURRRRRVE!". Horrified at both what Sirius was saying and at the nickname he had used, the golden eyed boy tackled his friend to the ground. As Sirius bit Jame's hand in a (futile) escape attempt, the Head Boy came over and broke up the fight. Jame's was still furious, but Sirius grinned, knowing all would be forgiven soon enough.
Before long, the Hogwarts Express reached the castle. As per usual, the first years were herded by the Games Keeper and rode enchanted row boats across the lake. Without realizing it, James began craning his neck trying to find Lily; he wanted to share a boat with her. Sirius followed his friend's gaze to a certain red head and punched him playfully in the arm. Although he played along, wincing playfully, James really didn't have time to mess around; if he wanted to sit with Lily, he'd have to move quickly.
Pushing and shoving his way through the crowd certainly didn't make James any new friends, but he didn't care. The black haired boy met Lily just in time to catch a boat. He tapped her on the shoulder and asked "Hey Lily! Would you-" but was caught off guard by her waving her hand in his face.
James peered over Lily's shoulder and saw her talking to another boy. She simply waved Jame's away with a flick of her wrist, totally engrossed in her conversation. Truthfully, Lily would have much rather been with James, but she was too embarrassed by her faux-pas on the train to speak to him. So, she continued to talk to her new friend, Severus.
Lily continued to make polite conversation with Severus, learning that he wanted to be sorted into Slytherin and his father was a muggle. Ever thankful to have found someone who understood and was a part of the muggle world, Lily made a mental note to have him explain some wizarding things to her.
"I can't believe she just waved me away like that, like a beggar on the street. Why would she rather talk to him than me? I'm much more interesting- and good looking- than he is. Stupid long, greasy hair. His eyes are beady My eyes aren't beady. Why does she like him better? I hate him..." James mumbled to himself while working through the crowds -much more violently than before- trying to find Sirius again.
The rest of the evening is a blur to both Lily and James, at least until the sorting begins. Completely awestruck by the idea of a hat that could read one's most intimate thoughts and desires, Lily's jaw dropped. Alice ever so delicately said to her green eyed friend "Shut your mouth, Lily! You're letting the flies in!". Although she knew the comment was meant as a joke, Lily couldn't help but feel a little hurt.
"Of course I'm surprised, I've never seen anything like this before. I'm a muggle born!" thought Lily.
As Professor Dumbledore read through the list of incoming students alphabetically, Lily couldn't pay attention to where the hat sorted anyone, she was too nervous about her own sorting. She asked Alice about the characteristics of each house, as she hadn't been able to listen to the Sorting Hat's song either. After learning that Gryffindors were brave, Ravenclaws were smart, Slytherins were cunning with dark side, and Hufflepuffs were kind and fair, Lily decided she would be perfectly happy being sorted into either Gryffindor or Ravenclaw.
"Evans, Lily" boomed Dumbledore. Oh how Lily despised having a name that came early in the alphabet. She stood up slowly from her seat next to Alice, and squeezed her friend's hand tightly for good luck. Suddenly, the isle leading the Sorting Hat seemed much longer, and Lily began to feel queezy at the thought of the entire school watching her. Shakily, she made her way to the stool.
Seeing how nervous Lily looked, Dumbledore gave Lily an encouraging smile. She tried to smile back, but it ended up being more of a grimace. The redhead sat on the three-legged stool while the Sorting hat was placed on her head. She could hear him speaking, it was like he was in her head. "You have the brains of a Ravenclaw, but the heart of a Gryffindor..." the hat mused aloud. Finally, he shouted "GRYFFINDOR!" for the entire hall to hear. As the Gryffindor table applauded her, Lily flushed with a mix of joy and embarrassment knowing that she would now be in the same house as James Potter.