Chapter 9

Lily followed Sarah down the staircase to the Great hall the next morning, hungry and anxious, wondering if she could slip over to Gryffendor Table later on.

Lily sat next to Sarah on the wooden bench as the first of a flurry of owls arrived. Sarah paid for her copy of the Daily Prophet, and Lily began scarfing her toast. She was shocked when she noticed her parents' grey-and-black owl land in front of her breakfast, squawking loudly.

She unfurled the letter with trembling fingers.

Dear Lily

Don't feel horrible, no matter what your brother says. No, he didn't write yet.

We actually knew about this before your letter, it was in the Evening Prophet. It certainly was a shock, but there is no way we are mad at you in the least bit.

Now, you and I both know perfectly well that we can't go and do something rash like pull you from Hogwarts. You've been waiting for this since James got his first broom.

"Yeah, well I wasn't expecting this" Lily murmured under her breath.

Congratulations on your advanced classes! Just so you know, Hugo will be in your Herbology and History of Magic classes, so you can see your cousin there.

But really, if Slytherin really is torture, I'm sure your father and I can make some arrangements with Professor McGonagall. But only if you are really sure. There is always Beauxbatons, the school your aunt Phlegm – Fleur – attended. And word is going around that there is a Magic school across the pond in the States…

Try, just try, to enjoy this for the time being. Okay?

See you at Christmastime!

Lots of Love,

Mum

XOXO

Lily frowned when she felt a lump rise in her throat. "You okay?'" Sarah asked, resting her hand on Lily's forearm.

"Yeah. I…" Lily shook a stray lock of hair from her eyes. "I'm gonna sneak over to Griffendor. Why don't you ever head to Ravenclaw?"

"Oh." Sarah looked down and picked at her bacon. "My sister, Alyssa, is kinda a Squib. Her magic is like a one year old's, and she's sixteen. As for Marc and Daemon…"

Sarah gestured towards two 5th year boys – one with Sarah's raven hair, one with a shock of blonde – glumly. "They sort of reject me since I was landed in here."

"Sarah, that sucks." Lily stood up pulling her friend. "Come on. We're going over to my family. You can flirt with –" She shuddered for effect. "James as much as you want."

Sarah turned bright red and smiled sheepishly. "Then," Lily continued. "We're gonna set those jerks of yours straight."

They marched across the hall, and Lily plunked down right between Rose and Albus. She was hugged from both sides. "James, this is Sarah Parker. She is a little mental, because she thinks that you're cute. How funny is that?" Lily said.

Sarah punched her in the arm. Hugo laughed so hard pumpkin juice come out his nose. James turned pink.

"Anyways, you need to screw some jerks head on straight. Marc and Daemon Parker are being horrible to Sarah since she's Slytherin." Lily told James.

James snorted. "Marc and Daemon? Those guys are the saddest excuse for 15 year olds, ever. Remember I told you Al could beat them in anything?"

"What's with the doubtful note in there? I could beat you too." Albus said in mock anger.

"Lets just see about that!" James cried, standing and whipping out his wand, an enormous grin plastered to his face.

Lily pulled both brothers back to the bench. "Seriously, guys. Save it for the Parkers!"

"Don't hurt them, or anything… you really don't even have to…" Sarah stammered as the brothers put their heads together, whispering excitedly.

"Hey, those toad-brains deserve what's coming. Who are they to care if you are Slytherin?" Lily said, frowning.

"Ahem!" Albus said, sitting up straight. "Using my amazing brain abilities, James and I have the perfect plan!" James scowled then continued Albus' thought. "We're putting a drop of this into their pumpkin juice!" He said, holding up a small, deep purple vial. "This is going to KILL-"

Sarah screamed. "Don't kill them!"

James just laughed. "Going to kill their good grades! They drink this, and they are crazy dumb for the rest of the week! At the end of seven days, on their hands in bright green ink will say 'SLYTHERIN RULES, RAVENCLAW DROOLS' for another week." Sarah and Lily stared, and then broke into laughter.

"No, but seriously, Griffendor is the house." Albus said seriously.

Lily's smile dropped. "Great, now I'm gonna cry." She sniffed, badly concealing her grin with her hands over her face.

"Shut up." Rose said. "You'd better get back to Slytherin table. Here comes Fickleness!"

"See you guys in Herbology!" called Hugo from a few students down.

Sarah squeaked oddly and pulled Lily under the table. They scuttled away just in time.

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Hey

Just wanted to say, whenever I pictured the Potter kids, James was like, class-clown, rebel, skaterboy laid back guy, Albus always struck me as being a lot like me - cool but nerdy at the same time. And Lily always seemed the shy, emotional one.

Just so you know.