Disclaimer: I. DO. NOT. OWN. HARRY. POTTER! I wish I did though *sigh*. I do, however, own Aliya and Lizzie!
A/N: I'm so sorry it took so long, but i was waiting for reviews! Please, review so i know how many people are reading this! If only two or three are reading this and care enough to leave a review, I'll update SLOWER, like once every 7-10 days. Until then, I'll update fast, at least once/twice a week
ALSO, I have a question for you all: Do you think I should write all seven years in one entire chunk? It'll end up taking FOREVER and be less detailed, and I'll probably take forever to finish it. Or, I could do it "books" (year one, year two) plus, maybe, summers if anything important happens like Sirius running away. Or, i could do it in "sections", like two books at a time. I know i edited this AFTER I posted the chapter, so forgive me if I repeat myself next chapter (which is almost done; I wrote it in the wrong tense and it is being converted) but I won't post it unless I get some reviews! Please, people, I don't want to make a huge, time-consuming effort if nobody is going to appreciate it.
I really don't like this chapter...if you have any suggestions, please tell me!
Also, there's about one/two chapters left in first year, then second will be fast, slow down a bit in the middle, and rush past the end.
Thanks a lot to all my reviewers, and to my wonderful beta, siriuslydangerous, cuz she's the one to fix it and make me update!
Chapter Three
James
Oh, Merlin. I offered up a weak grin when I noticed that six people were looking at me. Sirius was shaking his head, a fake-mournful look on his face. Remus' ears were bright red as he gazed at Lily, casting worried glances at me every so often. The Indian girl — Aliya — was whispering in the other girls' ears, and all three of them started to giggle as they looked at Lily and I.
And Lily? Well, Lily was glaring at me, her eyes flashing and her face reddening.
"Potter, you better listen because I'm going to only say this once, and only once," She said, her voice deadly. She was looking at me with such a face of disgust, well, let's just say that if looks could kill, I'd be dead by now. "I will never, ever go out with a prat like you! I'd only ever go out with you if you pushed yourself into the lake and drowned! You've been nothing but mean to me since the moment we met, and I'm telling you, leave me alone, or else!"
Lily spun on her heel, and for a crazy moment it looked like she was going to jump in the lake and swim back to Hogwarts, but, thankfully, Sirius stopped her.
In a cool voice he inquired how she was planning to get to Hogwarts, and I felt horrible when her face crumpled and she sat down heavily on a rock, her face covered by her hands.
Remus had a star-struck look in his eyes, but I could barely summon up enough jealousy to tell him she was off-limits: after all, she made it pretty clear she would go out with anyone but me. Even Remus. Even, gasp, Snape.
I copied her actions, sitting down on a rock. I would have to make it up to her. Why? Inquired the prankster part of my brain. Let her wallow in sorrow. We should prank her for her words; show her we aren't interested in her. It's a brilliant idea!
And it was. What right did Lily have to say all of that? She deserved it. I glanced at my fellow pranksters. Sirius looked angry at the fire-breather, and Remus looked dejected. They would both help me; I was sure of it.
Why the hell did you say something like that, anyway? I thought you didn't fancy her — or was that a lie? My brain taunted me.
I thought — I thought maybe she felt the same way, I realized. And I don't fancy her. Not anymore. I swear!
Right, my brain said and thankfully, kept silent. I knew it was true this time, right? How could I fancy her after what she said?
I couldn't. Problem solved.
Sirius nudged me and motioned for Remus to follow. "We can't stay out here; we're going to get in huge trouble. Let's go."
"You aren't going anywhere, Mr. Black." A sharp and strict voice rang out, cutting the silence like a knife cuts butter. "Except, maybe, the Headmaster's office!"
Together, we slowly turned and came face to face with a teacher — and not just any teacher…it was Professor McGonagell herself.
My dad had warned me about her; why, oh why didn't I listen?
••••••••••••••••••
Lily
I froze as I heard a prim tone reprimand Potter's friend. Oh, god. This is not good at all. I would be expelled on my very first night because of Potter!
I decided right then and there that I preferred my home to Hogwarts. Nothing, aside from meeting Aliya, Alice, and Lizzie, had gone right for me! Silent tears spilled down my face. The teacher hadn't spotted my friends and I, but I knew it was merely a matter of time.
Alice looked stricken as she realized that we had been discovered, and the other girls – plus that kind boy – huddled around me. We were all wearing identically horrified looks, and I can tell that we were all thinking the same thing: would we be expelled?
Severus, who had been strangely quiet throughout this entire spectacle, was standing off to the side. I could tell by the way he held himself that he hadn't realized the teacher was there, because he was too caught up in his thoughts concerning Potter and I. I wanted nothing more to go up to him and promise Sev that he was always Number One, as far as boys went, but I was too afraid of the teacher.
"…not only did you two drag Mr. Snape into this mess, you—" the teacher gave a gasp, probably as she turned and saw the huddle that was facing the lake. "Turn around, all of you!"
With a heavy heart I turned to face our prosecutor. A tall, strict woman with a rigid posture and a commanding air, her brown hair twisted into a tight bun. She was neat and tidy; there wasn't a stain on her robes or a hair out of place. Our chances of getting off unpunished had almost completely disappeared. This woman was not a woman to trifle with.
"That's four — no, five students, five more students! Eight people, Mr. Potter, and Mr. Black! As for the rest of you, what do you have to say for yourself?"
We all shared a look, before, surprisingly, Lizzie spoke up. I didn't know who I thought would answer, if I didn't…the boy who apologized, maybe, or perhaps Aliya. I didn't think Alice would say anything, since she was clearly shy and rather scared by the sight of the professor, but Lizzie? I couldn't figure out why she spoke up. Not to be mean, or anything, but she seemed like the kind of person to keep silent.
"Please, Professor, we didn't mean to come out here," she said plaintively. "We couldn't help it though."
"And why not, Miss—"
"Donnels, Ma'am. Lizzie Donnels." Lizzie interrupted, but at a glare from the professor, she felt silent.
"Mr. Snape says he was lured here. Do you have any idea why he would say such a thing, Mr. Black?" the professor thankfully turned her attention to James' friend.
"We didn't do anything, Professor. He came on his own."
The professor looks annoyed, and my stomach turned over. This wasn;t good, not at all. I mentally cursed Black.
"It's obvious," the professor's lips pursed and thinned, much like Petunia's do when she's annoyed.. "It's obvious we are not getting anywhere. Maybe a visit to Professor Dumbledore will encourage you to be more truthful. Come along, now."
With a baleful glare at Black, Aliya tugged on my arm, and we followed cautiously after the professor.
Of three things I was certain: 1) Potter and Black were the biggest toe rags I knew, 2) the third boy wasn't that bad, and 3) whatever happened in Dumbledore's office was Potter's fault, and I officially hated Potter.
••••••
James
"Explain yourself, Mr. Potter! Mr. Hagrid says he didn't see you in the boats. Why was that? Do you have any idea what could've happened to you? The entire school knows what happened, since about half of the first years failed to show up for the sorting, and I know exactly who they are! What business did you have that was more important then the sorting? Also, not only did you two drag Mr. Snape into this mess, you—"
McGonagall (thankfully) paused in her rant as she turned around as saw the number of students who were out of bounds. I mentally counted them along with McGonagall. I was starting to wonder how she thought with her bun that tight.
"That's four — no, five students, five more students! Eight people, Mr. Potter, and Mr. Black! As for the rest of you, what do you have to say for yourself?"
Sirius rolled his eyes at me, mouthing, 'Relax, we aren't going to be expelled. We'll be famous!'
Yes, well, I'd rather be famous without the stern lecture and doubtless detentions, thanks.
But, I knew he was right. We wouldn't be expelled. I didn't know much about Sirius' family, except that they were obviously well off and influential, and there was no possible way I was going to be expelled. The Potter's were practically royalty! As it were, my great (times a few greats) grandparents were royalty, and I was the sole heir to it all.
I was not going to be expelled.
I watched as that blond girl, Lizzie Donnels, tried to redeem Lily's crew, which I thought was surprising. Maybe I should fancy her instead, I thought idly. She's pretty, blond, and obviously loyal and probably smart. Perfect, unlike Lily.
McGonagall turned and glared at Sirius and I. "Mr. Snape says he was lured here. Do you have any idea why he would say such a thing, Mr. Black?" she demanded, her tone booking no argument.
"We didn't do anything, Professor. He came on his own," Sirius remarked truthfully, though I admit he could have done so with more tact.
McGonagall's lips pursed and thinned so much that they became white. According to my father, he had only seen that look nine times in his entire seven years at Hogwarts, and here it was on the very first night!
"It's obvious," McGonagall turned regally on one heel. "It's obvious we are not getting anywhere. Maybe a visit to Professor Dumbledore will encourage you to be more truthful. Come along, now."
With a 'calm down' look from Sirius, we slowly followed after the professor. As we went, I felt myself unconsciously performing "The Walk" as we went, and I saw Sirius do the same thing. We have to look cool, you know.
McGonagall led us down to the boats. "Normally I would say four in a boat, but seeing as there is only one boat, and Conjured boats are never safe, we shall all have to fit. Engorgio." The boat grew rapidly until it could easily fit 10 adults.
"Wicked…" I breathed, thinking of the possibilities this enabled! Engorgio. Remember that. Engorgio.
We all clambered in, and McGonagall tapped the boat with her wand, and we sped off across the blackness to the Headmaster, and, ultimately, our fate.
•••••
Lily
Uhh. This was not good. I groaned softly and hunched down in the boat, my arms wrapped firmly around my stomach. I hated boats. I loathed them, really. I hated regular boats, going at regular speeds, let alone huge, rocking boats that sped by as fast as a car.
"Lily? Are you all right?" Aliya had a look of concern on her face. I grinned weakly and mouthed 'I'm fine.'
Lizzie leaned over Aliya to look at me. "She doesn't look alright. Hey, Lil, your face is turning green, like your eyes!" Why did she seem so amused by my pain?
Alice, who was sitting across from me, next to who I learned was named Remus, peered at me with concern. "Are you boat-sick?"
I nodded weakly, and flinched as we bobbed in the water, lurching to the right. Those pastries and chocolate I had eaten earlier lurched in my stomach, and a clasped a hand to my mouth, in an effort to stop them from exiting my stomach.
"Miss Evans, are you alright?" the professor asked crisply, alerting everyone's attention to my pasty face. I groaned again, half in sickness, and half in embarrassment. "Oh my."
Looking up, however, I nearly forgot my sickness when I caught my first-ever sight of Hogwarts. It was beautiful. Tall, regal and bright, the castle was absolutely wonderful.
"Come along, now." The professor tapped the boat with her wand when we reached the shore of the lake, and jumped crisply out.
We, less gracefully, followed.
"Reducio," the professor pointed her wand at the boat, and it shrunk. Magic was so cool.
She walked briskly up to the door, which opened automatically, and we all trooped in after her. We walked down a corridor, turned right, and as we walked down the hall, sounds of laughter and talk greeted us.
"This is the Great Hall, where you'll eat all your meals with your House every day. Wait here." The professor knocked on the door and a small, ugly man opened it, glaring at us. I caught a glimpse of faces peering out at us, before the doors swung shut.
"Well, then." Aliya voiced what I was thinking.
"What's the matter? Scared? I'm not going to get in trouble." Black said in a condescending tone.
"On the contrary, since all of this was your fault, I daresay you are going to get in trouble!" Lizzie argued. The three of them, Aliya, Lizzie and Black, began to argue about whose fault it was. I hoped it wouldn't get to serious.
I just groaned, though a voice in the back of my head noted how Potter wasn't joining in.
So? He's just waiting for the right moment.
Right. That was it.
***
"Miss Evans, I presume?" The Headmaster peered at me from over his half-moon spectacles. I hope he only chose to address me because the others are too busy gaping at his office in awe, I thought randomly before I answered.
"Yes, sir."
"There's no need for that, Miss Evans—may I call you Lily?" It was weird, but as I looked at the Headmaster, I got the strangest impression that his eyes were twinkling.
"Yes, Professor," I replied. Call me Lily? Was he mad?
Actually, that could very well be it, seeing as we weren't expelled yet.
"Have a lemon drop, will you? And some tea? You must be starved."
Right. So, instead of getting expelled, we get tea and candy? Not that I was complaining or anything. Dumbledore waved his wand and eight teacups appeared.
I might as well take one, right? Enjoy it whilst I can.
"Now, I am to understand that you only missed the Sorting to go after your boyfriend?" Dumbledore persisted. I blushed; Sev, my boyfriend?! No way. Dumbledore was crazy!
"No, sir, well yes, sir, but Sev, er, Severus Snape, he isn't my boyfriend," I stammered.
Okay, I wasn't imagining it. Dumbledore's eyes were twinkling. "Oh, I didn't mean Mr. Snape, here. I meant Mr. Potter. You two make such a sweet couple."
"WHAT?" I spluttered, spraying tea everywhere. Aliya, Lizzie and Alice, who were cooing over a red bird in the corner (they seemed to not have noticed the Headmaster), came running. The Devil and his Advocate were sniggering in the corner with (traitor) Remus. "I think you're misunderstood, Professor. Potter and I aren't dating. I don't even like him!"
Dumbledore peered at me and I got the impression that he was peering into my soul. "Anything you say, Miss Evans.
"Now, the matter still remains that you missed the Sorting. Care to humor an old man and tell me why?"
Aliya froze, Lizzie's eyes widened, and Alice gave a squeak of fear. As for me, well, I glanced over to where He was laughing and goofing off. It would serve him right…
"Yes, sir," I said boldly. "It was because of Potter and Black, sir."
The reaction to that was instantaneous. Potter and Black turned, identically horrified and angry looks on their faces. Aliya and Lizzie were at first shocked into silence, before they began to giggle. Alice looked at me in surprise, awe, and a little bit warily. Severus was smirking proudly. Remus just looked at me in disappointment, and Dumbledore looked like he was fighting a smile, though his eyes reflected disappointment as well. Why did I suddenly feel so ashamed?
"And why is that, Miss Evans?"
"Well, they snuck away from the platform, and while we were boarding the boats they started throwing powder into the crowd," I said. Alice gave me an encouraging look. "There was chaos, and through it I saw Sev walking away, and then I saw Potter, Black and a third person in the trees. We followed them, to make sure they didn't hurt Sev. They were going to push him into the lake, Professor, but we stopped them."
I didn't say anything about what Potter had said. That was private.
"I see." Dumbledore raised an eyebrow at me and I blushed. "Miss Evans, are you sure this is what happened?"
"Yes, sir," I said, and although he looked disbelievingly at me, he settled back in his chair and surveyed us, his eyes lacking that twinkle.
We were in for it now.
•••
James
Of all of the stupid, un-loyal, tattletale-ish, prattish, gittish things to do! She sold me out! The nerve of her!
I watched in growing anger as She spitefully told Dumbledore about our prank. Ugh! The—the—the—arg! This. Meant. War!
"Miss Evans, are you sure this is what happened?"
This was it! Her chance to redeem herself…and she blew it.
Evans was such a sneak!
"First, however, we have some matters to get too. In a normal case, I would assign detentions and take off house points—"
"We aren't going to get expelled?" Evans whined. It almost seemed as though she was sad about it!
"Oh no, dear girl. Now, there is a problem. All the other first years have already been sorted into a House. Seeing as you missed it," Dumbledore turned. I squeezed my eyes shut. We weren't going to be Sorted, then? Oh Merlin! What was I going to tell my Dad? Even worse—what was I going to tell Mum? "So, in order to fix that slight bump, you will be Sorted right here!" finished the Headmaster cheerfully.
Thank Merlin.
"Now let's see…We have a Black, you'll be first, followed by—" mused Dumbledore.
"Me, sir. Lizzie Donnels, sir."
"Ah, yes. Miss Donnels, followed by Miss Evans, then Mr. Lupin, and, let's see—Potter and Patil—Miss Patil, then Mr. Potter, then Mr. Snape, and finally Miss Winters. Wonderful!" he clapped his hands together. "Accio Sorting Hat!"
A weathered, pointy hat zoomed into the room.
"Now, Mr. Black, simply put the hat on," instructed Dumbledore. I glanced at my friend. His normally cocky expression was replaced by one of weary acceptance and disappointment. He seemed so dejected that I mouthed 'See you in Gryffindor' to cheer him up, but he only mouthed 'I'm sorry, James' before sitting on the empty chair besides Evans and slipping the hat on.
It thought. And thought. And thought, and Sirius' face slowly changed from sadness to surprise and then slight happiness.
"It better be—" I heard it mutter. It paused, a slit in the front opening, before it shouted, "GRYFFINDOR!"
Sirius toppled off the chair in surprise. Alice Winters, Remus, and Snape all gasped loudly. Wait a minute…Black. Like, The Blacks? The Only-Slytherin-For-Centuries Blacks? I could tell by looking at everyone's faces, that this was the truth. I'd heard about the Blacks, of course; Mum always muttered disapprovingly to Dad, but I'd never connected Sirius Black with them.
I felt a swell of pride, seeing Sirius sorted into Gryffindor. He wasn't like them. I knew he wasn't.
"GRYFFINDOR!" The hat startled me from my thoughts. I shook my head and saw the three girls squeal and surround the pretty blond who had just been sorted. Yes! Now my new crush and I will be together!
It was Her turn now. Not Gryffindor, I muttered to myself. Not Gryffindor. Not Gryffindor!
I gulped as the hat opened it's brim…
•••
Lily
Yes! "You got into Gryffindor!" Alice hugged Lizzie. "That's the best house!"
"Why was everyone so surprised about Black?" I muttered to Alice, seeing as only the purebloods (and Sev) seemed surprised about Black.
"Tell you later, it's your turn," muttered Alice back.
It's my turn? Oh, god. Please let me get into a good house, I prayed. Lizzie handed me the frayed hat and I slipped it on.
'Hmmm. Interesting…' a voice said in my ear. I jumped and glanced up at Dumbledore, who nodded at me encouragingly.
"What's interesting, uh, sir?" I thought, feeling very stupid.
'No need to call me sir, and what's interesting is where to place you.'
"Is that a problem, Mr. Hat?" I felt very childish calling it (him?) "Mr. Hat", but what was I supposed to call it?
'Not at all. It seems to me as though you would fit in any House.'
Fit in any house? Yeah, right. I never fit in anywhere. Wincing, I shrugged off memories of schoolchildren and classmates chanting things like "Know-It-All" and "Bookworm", and, in reference to my magic, even "Freak" a couple of times.
'You have an above-average mind, great loyalty to your friends, clever cunning, and you hold much bravery in your heart.'
"Well, if any House, could I be in one with all me friends? The girl you just sorted, and Aliya Patil and Alice Winter. Also, if it's possible, not James Potter, please." I didn't know if I was allowed to ask it favors like that, but it was worth a try.
The hat was silent before it started to shake on my head. It took me a moment, but I realized it was laughing. Weird.
'Miss Evans, everyone knows I can look into your head to sort you; but what others forget is that I can look into your heart.'
My heart? The hat (Merlin's a nice name for a hat, isn't it?) is crazy. My heart didn't have anything to do with it.
'But it does, Miss Evans. You may deny it all you like, but there's only one place you belong, and you belong with only one person. You belong in—GRYFFINDOR!'"
Dumbledore, who had been looking a slight worried at the length of my sorting, gave a small smile and a wink at me.
Barmy old men and know-it-all hats.
•••••••
James
Why in Merlin's name was She taking so long?! It just had to be Evans, didn't it? Only she would take forever getting sorted, and seem like she's talking to the thing!
I watched as she first looked very surprised when the hat slipped over her head, before worried, and thoughtful. She even smiled a few times, before looking mutinously around at Dumbledore. I faintly wondered what it was telling her (or if she was making it all up to get attention), before reminding myself that I didn't care about her.
Not at all.
"GRYFFINDOR!" the hat yelled gleefully, catching me by surprise. I groaned, and Sirius rolled his eyes at me. Of course she would get into MY house. Damn-it, would that girl ever leave me alone?
I watched with a sort of detached feeling as Remus Lupin was sorted ("GRYFFINDOR!" The hat yelled after about a minute or two), thinking that at least I had two allies with dealing with Her, although Remus seemed rather smitten.
Aliya Patil got quickly sorted into Gryffindor as well (What was up with all the Gryffindors? I bet none of the other first years got sorted into Gryffindor, seeing as there usually was three or four girls/boys in each year), and then it was my turn at last.
Aliya tossed me the hat and I sat down confidently.
'So you are the James Potter that other girl talked about,' mused a voice in my ear. From Evans' expression I had gathered it would talk, so I had an unruffled look on my face.
"Guilty as charged," I thought.
'Although there is only one place for you, young Mr. Potter, I give you some advice. There is a very special girl in your House that you would do well to befriend.' I suddenly had a sneaking suspicion of who this 'special girl' was, and it didn't sound promising.
"Who is it?" I nervously asked the hat.
'I cannot tell you just yet; however, I took a rather long time to Sort her. Keep that in mind, and for your house, yes, it better be…
"GRYFFINDOR!"
Yes! If it weren't for the fact that Evans was in my house (and no she was not the girl the hat warned me about! Impossible!), this would've been the best day of my life.
•••
Lily
What? Oh, no! Not Potter! While I was thrilled to see that Aliya, Lizzie and I were in the same house, Potter couldn't be!
Sev gave me a regretful smile as he slipped the hat over his head, and I felt a pang of guilt in my stomach for not asking for him to be in my house. I recalled a conversation we had had when he was teaching me about Houses.
FLASHBACK
"There are four houses at Hogwarts, and the people in each one are supposed to have 'distinguishing qualities' or something like that. In Hufflepuff—" Sev lectured.
I snorted a laugh. "Hufflepuff? That's such a funny name!"
He grinned when I did. "Yeah, it is, isn't it? They were named after the four founders, you know. Their last names. Anyway, Hufflepuff is supposedly for the "loyal" people, but they're just the pushovers. Ravenclaw is the brainiacs; Gryffindor is for the sort of people who run blindly into danger and all that. Hotheaded fools. Slytherin is the best house—the one with the clever, sly ones who know what they want. I'm definitely going to be a Slytherin, and I bet you'd be one too."
Severus grinned at me shyly through a lock of black hair and I smiled back. "If I'm with you, Sev, I don't care what house I'm in."
I'd never seen Severus smile so widely.
END FLASHBACK
Oh, no. That's why he was smiling remorsefully at me. Sev was a Slytherin, through and through, and we both knew it. And now I was a Gryffindor, their archrivals.
Why, oh why?
Even though I knew what was coming, I couldn't help but feel a thrill of disappointment when the hat called "SLYTHERIN!". I could, on the other hand, feel a thrill of supreme hatred when Potter and Black narrowed their eyes at Severus and muttered darkly among themselves. Really, this House rivalry was so immature! What did it matter if Sev was a Slytherin?
"GRYFFINDOR!" Alice was quickly sorted into Gryfiindor, and Dumbledore clapped his hands together.
"Mr. Snape, you may report to the dungeons and your Head of House for your punishment. The rest of you, Professor McGonagall left your punishment up to me. Now…"
****
Shyly (at least I was. Cough-Potter-Cough-Black-Cough), we waited in front of the "Fat Lady", a picture of an extremely fat lady. You see, Dumbledore "forgot" to give us the password to our house.
"Lion's Rule, Snake's Drool!" A prefect walked past and said the password. Black and Potter snickered at the password, but Alice, Aliya and I rolled our eyes. Lizzie and Remus just walked into the room.
It was brilliant. Done in red and gold, there were tables and comfy couches everywhere, and people were chatting and laughing with each other. When we entered, however, the room fell silent.
Oh, bother.
"You must be the firsties that didn't show up for the sorting," one boy said politely. He looked to be about thirteen or so, and smiled at Alice (who blushed and looked down. Hmmm…Is love in the air?) "I'm Frank. Frank, uh, Longbottom."
Frank finished his statement with a blush at his last name. I couldn't blame him; I mean, Longbottom? Really.
"I'm Lizzie, that's Aliya, the girl with the red hair's Lily, and she's Alice," Lizzie informed him with a wink. Alice blushed redder.
"I can't believe—" A red-headed boy pushed to the front and grinned.
"That you would—" an identical boy stood next to his twin.
"Dare to miss the Sorting!" the first boy concluded. They grinned at us.
"You have style…"
"We like it!"
"I'm Gideon and he's Fabian Prewett." The second twin said. I felt bad for them: I mean, redheaded and a twin? Talk about unfair.
"We have to go straight to bed," Alice pulled on my arm, her blush still evident. Frank winked at her and she fled. Grinning, I followed. It had been a very eventful first night.
Tomorrow there would be questions asked, and classes to attend. There would be detentions to go to and magic to be learned, but today it was time to tease Alice a bit and sleep the night away.