Okay so here's the new chapter. I wrote a sorting hat song in it, and I've never been good with rhyming and stuff so it probably sucks. But what's a girl to do? Hope you like it.

"firs' years, Follow me. firs' years this way" The familiar voice of Hagrid, the Hogwarts game keeper, sounded as lily got off the train. Hagrid was a very nice man and always willing to help. He had helped her in Care of Magical Creatures when she'd had troubles with it.

When they reached Hogwarts and entered the great hall, lily immediately took a seat on the Gryffindor table. She was famished; she had missed the trolley while doing rounds with Remus and she couldn't wait for the-start-of-term banquet. But first there was the sorting ceremony.

"They all look so scared" Marlene whispered from beside lily, nodding to the line of first years walking to the top of the hall where professor McGonagall had placed the stool holding the sorting hat. Lily remembered how scared she had been when she first arrived at Hogwarts and couldn't blame them.

Lily looked at the Sorting hat just in time to see it open the rip that played as its mouth and speak:

Once a year I'm taken

And placed upon your heads

There's no secret in your minds

That will not be shed

And as I delve in your minds

I will lurk and see

What characteristics you hold

And what house you shall be

You might belong in Gryffindor,

Where dwell the brave of heart,

Such courage holds a Gryffindor would always set him apart.

You might belong to Hufflepuff,

Where the just and loyal lie

You could always count on Hufflepuff

Not to cast you aside

Or maybe Ravenclaw

Will be the house of your kind

For Ravenclaw is always open

For those with willing minds

But perhaps your place is in Slytherin

Now there's a witty lot

For none can be as cunning

To achieve what they want.

But bear in mind my warning

For it is a duty I bear

To bestow on you my wisdom

And tell you to beware

Though war rages outside our gates

And different houses hold your name

But differences should do nothing

United we should remain

Here my song ends

So don't fret and stay

Place me upon your heads

I will not lead you astray

Clapping filled the great hall, though everyone was a bit in a shock. They did not expect the hat to mention the war. "Well this is new" Dorcas said as Professor McGonagall called the names of the first years. "Does the hat really expect the houses to be united now?"

James snorted from opposite side of where lily was sitting "Fat chance of that"

"Don't be so quick to refuse the idea, James" Sirius said, patting James on the shoulder from his place beside him "You know I promised my lovely cousin Beatrice to accompany her on a shopping spree"

Lily laughed along with everyone else and watched as Dumbledore stood up after McGonagall took the Sorting hat away. "Welcome! Welcome to a new year at Hogwarts. I hope this year holds nothing but success to each and every one of you. Now as always, I would like to remind you that the Forbidden Forest is out of bounds." Smirks were exchanged between the Marauders and Lily resisted the urge to roll her eyes "Furthermore, I would like to add to what our Sorting hat has warned us. Hogwarts will always be safe, a haven for everyone in need. We must put all our differences aside to prosper. Now I shan't leave you waiting to eat any longer. Let the feast begin" and at once dishes of all kinds of food appeared on the tables.

"Hey, look at the staff table. I'm guessing that's our new Defense against the Dark Arts teacher." Lily looked and saw a man sitting next to professor McGonagall. He was discussing something with Professor Flitwick. His face was long and pointed, with a small nose and big eyes. "He looks more cheerful than our previous teacher."

"Well if we don't like him, at least he'll only last a year" Lily joked and ate a piece of her stake. Everyone knew not one Defense against the Dark Arts teacher has lasted more than a year. Lily reached for some bread when Mary grabbed her arm.

"Nice watch, Lils. Is it new? I've never seen you wearing it" Mary said as she examined the watch on Lily's wrist "It looks old"

Lily quickly snatched her hand away and laughed nervously at a confused looking Mary. It was her dad's watch, his favorite one. And Lily had stolen it from her mom's room after the funeral. She couldn't tell Mary that because she knew she'd feel awkward probably say "I'm sorry" which is idiotic since she'd have nothing to be sorry about but that's how people acted when dealing with a person who'd lost a loved one. "It's an old watch I thought I had lost, two years ago" Lily explained, "just found it this summer. Now please pass the mashed potatoes"

Mary did as she was asked but cast a subtle glance at Marlene who shrugged at her. Mary decided not to comment on the fact that what Lily was wearing was a men's watch, knowing it would get her nowhere.

The rest of the evening was spent exchanging jokes and stories about summer. It felt good to be back at Hogwarts. Lily loved being with her family but being at Hogwarts, even in the first night, managed to make her feel normal again.

No one could ever say sixth year was easy. They hadn't been back a week and she already had an eleven-inch essay on the pros and cons of a Felix felicitous potion, a fifteen-inch essay for transfiguration and she still hadn't even had her first Defense Against the Dark Arts class, which she had right after breakfast today.

"Five galleons says the new teacher is as annoying as the last one." Dorcas whispered to Lily as they walked in their classroom and took their seats. Marlene, Mary, and the Marauders were in this class as well. They had just taken their seats when the professor strolled in, his robes billowing behind him as he walked to the front of the class. "Set your books aside, they will not be needed in this session."

Lily put her book back just like everyone else and turned to the Professor, who did not speak till the last book had been. "Now, as some of you know by now. I am your new Defense against the Dark Arts Professor. My name is Bernie Horcut and you shall call me Professor Horcut." A soft smile came upon his face "No, you are all N.E.W.T. students now, next year you will perform your examinations and what I am about to teach you today is essential to pass."

Professor Horcut went on, explaining how his main focus this term will be on non-verbal spells. "Can anyone tell me what the advantages of non-verbal spells are?" Lily was about to raise her hand to answer when another hand came up. "Yes, please state your name before answering questions so I may memorize it."

"Remus Lupin" Remus stated. He was sitting straight in his chair, tapping his wand on the desk unconsciously "Non-verbal spells provide surprise. Your opponent wouldn't be able to shield himself if he didn't expect the curse and wouldn't know what your chosen curse is"

"Correct, five points to Gryffindor" Professor Horcut said and used his wand to elevate the chalk on the black board to write 'element of surprise' "Now non-verbal spells are hard because they require concentration. I don't expect any of you to get it right on the first try but practice makes perfect. So I want you all to pair with another classmate and one shall try to disarm the other who shall in turn attempt to block the spell, all non-verbally. No mumbling about incantations"

Dorcas and Lily immediately paired. Expelliarmus she repeated over and over in her head but she thought the only good that was doing was to make her look constipated. Dora wasn't fairing that well either, she was frowning, her wand in hand and her eyes closed but nothing was happening.

Lily looked around the classroom and laughed when she saw James mumbling under his breath and turning Sirius's hair an astonishing shade of blue, in which Sirius retaliated by changing James's square glasses to pink heart-shaped ones. They weren't really trying and the professor was too busy answering a question to notice what they were doing.

Suddenly Lily felt a force blow her wand away from her hand. She looked back at Dorcas only to see her having the same shocked look Lily had. "Did you just-"

"I-I think I did"

"Ah! Wonderful." Professor Horcut exclaimed happily "Our first non-verbal spell. Now be honest…" he trailed on

"Dorcas Meadows" Dorcas stated, a grin curving her lips at the accomplishment

"Yes, good work, Dorcas. Now be honest, was there any cheating involved? No mumbling of the incantation?" He looked questionably at Lily and she shook her head. "Superb! Twenty points to Gryffindor, perfect for the first session. Now I want you all to practice the use of non-verbal spells which, I assure you, you will be using in several classes. I expect immense improvement in our next session. Class dismissed"

The sounds of students shuffling about filled the class and Lily walked over to Dorcas "Not bad, Dora. Think you could help me with it?"

"I'm not exactly sure how it worked" Dorcas said honestly "I just saw you watching Sirius and James and thought it was the perfect opportunity to disarm you. So I just imagined myself saying it, imagined your wand flying out of your hand and…Poof!"

"Very creative use of vocabulary Dorcas" Sirius said stopping with the others beside the two girls "I mean really, how vast is your dictionary" He grinned at her and winked when she made a rude gesture "Anyway, why was Evans watching me and Prongs, huh? Finally realized what handsome blokes we are?"

Lily was about to just tell him to go away but Dorcas sent her a look that clearly told her not to be mean. The only Marauder Lily considered a friend was Remus Lupin. And if Marlene, Dorcas, and Mary hadn't been friends with James and Sirius, Lily wouldn't have hesitated to throw that remark. But she had promised Dorcas that morning that she would at least try to give them a chance.

"No I was actually admiring your new look" Lily said with a grin "You should make the change permanent, Black. Blue suits you"

"Oh you have no idea what change suits Sirius the most, Evans." James winked at Sirius "Isn't that right, Padfoot?"

"We have Transfiguration next, you know" Marlene said "Do you really want to be late to McGonagall's class"

"McGonagall loves me" Sirius said confidently "She wouldn't mind"

"Which is exactly why you've she's given you half of the detentions you have earned since first year" Remus said sarcastically "Honestly Sirius, you really need to get your ego knocked down a few notches "

"That's what we're here for, Remus" Marlene grinned devilishly "We all know Black's head would be enormous if it wasn't for us."

"You want enormous, Mar? Well that's easy to-"

"I really don't want to hear the rest of that sentence" Lily interrupted and then smirked when Sirius winked at her "Come on let's go to class."