CHAPTER 2:

The whole lot of us arrived at Hogsmeade a tad bit early around dusk. Patrick made many attempts to start up a conversation during the boat ride to the castle but I was in no mood. Just like every year before, everyone, with the exception of the first years entered the Great Hall. As the students piled in robe after robe, the professors and Headmistress McGonagall were enthralled in a heated discussion.

"We simply cannot educate the students of you-know-who, they will cease to accept the fact that he does not exist anymore! We shouldn't scare them!" shrieked Professor Longbottom, still sporting his herbology lab coat.

"The children deserve the right to know of our past, the dangers of horcruxes. Do we want history to repeat itself?" hissed Professor Lovegood, the new Care of Magical Creatures teacher.

Just then, McGonagall whispered,

"Shhush Luna! The students have arrived!"

The headmistress turned around, she had aged even more over the summer; the wrinkles that stretched across her face had deepened greatly. Her thin body looked so fragile that it seemed as if it could break at any given moment.

"Ahh", she sighed with great joy.

"Welcome back to Hogwarts, we will commence the Sorting Hat Ceremony any moment now. Go ahead and take a seat at your designated house tables."

There was a shuffling of feet and swishing of robes and everyone was in their seats. The mahogany doors of the Great Hall opened with a loud CREAK and the newbies stumbled in, gaping at the translucent ceiling and staring at the crumpled, wrinkly sorting hat.

The first student to go was a so-called "pure-blood" named Penelope Harrow.

"Rumors say her mum was a Slytherin prefect; Pansy Parkinson, I believe." whispered Patrick.

Before the hat even touched her dark head of hair he declared,

"Sssslytherin!" The Slytherin table erupted with applause as she ran in their direction with a large smirk painted across her face.

Penelope was followed by many Gryffindors and Slytherins along with the occasional "Hufflepuff!" or "Ravenclaw!".

"Attention, attention!" McGonagall's voice wavered as she declared,

"This year, we will be adding a new course: Hogwarts History to the curriculum that is mandatory for all students in their 4th year and older to take."

"Pffffft rubbish, and Hogwarts History is soooo interesting. This is my 7th year for goodness sake, give me a rest!" muttered James as he banged his head against the table.

The old and weary headmistress declared,

"James Sirius Potter, if nothing good can come out of that mouth of yours you might as well keep it shut."

James turned the color of a tomato as the rest of Hogwarts glared at him.

McGonagall announced,

"Without further ado, let the feast..BEGIN!"

This had always been my favorite part of returning to Hogwarts every year. Heaping plates of food filled the tables and pumpkin juice appeared in the goblets. A sudden jolt traveled through my shoulders as someone pinched them. Ready to slap the culprit as I turned around, I squealed,

"Rosie!"

"Ohh, Lily, darling where were you at the platform? I couldn't find you!"

I jerked my head toward Patrick and raised my eyebrows.

Rose laughed and flipped her auburn hair,

"Blimey! You've got yourself a good-looking one this time! 10 times better than Tim Goyle."

I smirked,

"Says the girl that is going out with her dad's arch nemesis."

"Well excuse me, but Scorpius is not my dad's enemy, his father Draco is." Rosie scoffed as she waved to Scorpius on the other end of the Gryffindor table.

"I assume I will see you in the dormitories on time today and not spending the night with the boy in a broom cupboard?" I gave Rose a hinting wink.

Blushing until her cheeks were redder than her hair, Rose nodded, gave me a hug and walked briskly back to her seat by Scorpius. I leaned my head on Patrick's shoulder and sighed,

"What are we going to do with her? She's as wild and untamed as her frizzy, red, hair."

"Well, I say you let her make her own mistakes. After all, Scorpius is a pretty decent fellow." Patrick said as he wrapped his arm around me.

"I dunno, I just worry about her."

He smiled with sincerity, "Silly Lily, we all worry about her. Now, I really think you need some rest. You're as pale as a ghost, feeling alright?"

I shook my head, feeling quite dizzy and feverish. I retired to the Gryffindor Commons room earlier than the others with Patrick. He looked into my eyes and spoke in a gentle voice,

"I have an important question for you. Will you g-g-go to the dance with me?" His subtle Irish accent melted my heart as a smile worked its way to my mouth.

"Well it's about time!" I beamed from ear to ear.

He looked relieved.

I flung my arms around him and gave him a peck on the cheek.

I mused, "I can't wait!"

"Haha. Alrighty then, see ya tomorrow." He chuckled.

I practically floated up the stairs to the girl's dormitories. Is this what Cloud 9 feels like? Maybe this year wouldn't be half as bad. Right then, I heard a voice. The voice sent chills down my spine as it whispered, "Alas, Lily Potter, I have found you and I will kill you once more." I screamed and Patrick clambered up the stairs panting,

"What's wrong?"

"Oh..um. Nothing, I-er saw a spider."

On second thought, there really is no such thing as a normal year at Hogwarts.