A/N: Chapter four :D
Thanks to everyone for reading and reviewing the last chapter, I'm glad you all seem to be enjoying it
I'm not sure who was the Minister for Magic during the Marauders Era, so for simplicities sake, I'm using Millicent Bagnold.
And now onto review responses :)
larabrambleofbywater: I love your name, is it anything to do with LOTR? Coz I love that :). yes! This story was posted ages ago, but after a few annoying glitches, it was deleted. It's nice to see an old reader around, I had quite a few readers last time around and it broke my heart to see it go. Yeah Holly was Evey, but for some reason, the name Holly seemed to fit more, you know. I'm glad you like the OC's too, that's something I always worry about, whether they're believable enough. Glad you enjoyed it, and thanks for reviewing, I hope you stick around :)
quirky-as-alice: Thanks! ha, Sirius is my favourite character too, if I'm honest. Thanks for reading :)
Fairywolf: Thank you very much, I'm glad you're enjoying it, and it means alot to hear you say it's well written and fun to read too :) I'm gonna try for an update a day, pending real life and what not, but there shouldn't be too much time between updates. Thanks for reading :)
appleeater123: Thank you, I'm glad you're enjoying it! Here's chapter four, hope it's a good read!
The Marauders Tale: The Hogwarts Years
Chapter Four
Our First Day
Lily awoke bright and early next morning, the excitement of beginning her first classes at Hogwarts too great to ignore. The sun was bright, though a definite chill could be felt getting ready to set in, as was custom during September. Lily rolled over, and chuckled quietly at Holly, who was tangled in her blanket, completely knocked out, dark hair strewn and matted across her face. Lily rolled to her right, and saw Chris's empty bed. She frowned, and then heard the unmistakeable sound of someone singing rather badly.
"She's been in there for ages," mumbled a disgruntled Bridget from somewhere in the room, "Hasn't shut up since she got up".
Continuing to chuckle to herself, Lily pulled herself out of bed, sorted through her uniform and tip toed towards the dormitories bathroom. She pulled open the door and nabbed herself a shower stall, cringing at the out of tune song Chris was currently belting out.
After a rather long shower, which she thoroughly enjoyed, Lily readied herself quickly and entered the dorm room.
"Lil's will you please tell this idiot to leave me alone before I hex her," grumbled Holly from beneath her blanket. Lily giggled, shaking her head, and dragged Chris away from Holly's bed, "Here Chris, make yourself useful and plait my hair".
"Sure thing boss," a fully dressed Chris mock saluted, and sat on the end of Lily's bed to plait her auburn locks. They heard Holly grumble something inaudible, and amble toward the showers. The three girls burst out laughing when they heard Holly scream at her new friends for using all of the hot water. Clearly Holly Knight was not a morning person.
"So, excited for your first day Lils?" asked Chris, fastening one of Lily's plaits with a pretty green ribbon she found in her own hair accessories collection.
"Yes - a little nervous though, I mean, what if I can't even do any magic...what if they've made a big mistake?" asked Lily worriedly.
Bridget smiled sympathetically from her bed, "Lily, you have nothing to worry about. Whether you're a Muggle-born or a pure-blood, we're all in the same boat. You seem really smart; you'll get the gist of it straight away".
Lily grinned in thanks, "Thanks Bridget".
"No problem," smiled Bridget, as Chris continued fastening the second braid with a ribbon.
"Oh I love your hair, it's so thick. Mine always stays so flat," she grumbled, pulling at her straight platinum locks.
"At least yours is straight, mine is full of kinks," admitted Lily, "Anyway, why are worrying about hair?"
Chris shrugged, and the three Gryffindors giggled. They glanced at the door when a freshly washed Holly entered, tapping her hair with her wand and drying it instantly, "And then there's little miss perfection," teased Chris.
"Shut up," grumbled Holly, throwing her hair back in a messy bun, "I need coffee or something," she yawned.
"You're eleven!" cried Chris incredulously.
"Come on, let's get down to breakfast," laughed Lily, jumping to her feet. The three others nodded, leaving their book bags after deciding they would pick them up once they knew what lessons they would have today.
~**~
James glanced up from the Gryffindor table and spotted the Gryffindor girls chatting happily as they entered the hall. For some reason, he felt a strange urge to shout the girls over.
"Guys, scoot up," he hissed, nudging a slightly groggy Sirius.
"S'matter James," mumbled Sirius, rubbing his tired eyes.
"Just move," he whispered, as Lily and her friends came closer. He plastered a grin to his face, which quickly disappeared as the girls took seats next to some second year boys who were ogling the young girls unabashedly.
"There, I moved," sounded Sirius. James glared at him, and returned to his breakfast, slightly downhearted, and more than a little confused
"Urgh, double Potions....with the Slytherin's!" Sirius stuffed his timetable Professor McGonagall had just given them into his bag and raised his head to the cloudy ceiling, "Did I do something wrong big guy?"
Peter chuckled, causing him to choke on a piece of toast, and Remus having to slap him rather hard on the back.
"Don't worry Sirius, I'm sure it won't be that bad," reasoned Remus as a watery eyed Peter mumbled his thanks and downed a glass of pumpkin juice.
"Oh really," said Sirius darkly, "You dont know what the Slytherin's are like, I do".
Remus shrugged, and went back to reading his copy of the Daily Prophet. Sirius rolled his eyes, and glanced at James, who seemed to be in a mood.
"What's up Potter?" he asked loudly. James glared at Sirius, and glanced at Lily, who was immersed in her timetable.
"No idea," James muttered, looking thoroughly bemused, "Reckon that Lily girl is still angry at us?"
Sirius shrugged, pouring himself another cup of coffee, "No idea, ask her".
James grumbled something, and returned to his breakfast. Why was he down? He should be happy, giddy, joyful, even. Shaking his head, James decided it was far too early to even attempt to sort through his thoughts.
Pushing it to the back of his mind, he cheered up slightly, and joined Sirius in an early morning eating contest.
Further down the table, Lily glanced up at the Gryffindor boys, two of which were heartily beginning an eating contest, the third, cheering them on and bouncing in his seat, and the fourth, quietly reading a copy of the Daily Prophet.
"Urgh, look at them, so childish," she muttered, grimacing at Sirius, who opened his mouth and showed Remus a mouthful of half chewed bacon. Holly looked up from her copy of the Daily Prophet, and Chris and Bridget peered from behind their timetables.
"Who?" they chorused.
"Potter and Black," replied Lily, "Look at them!"
"That looks fun," mused Chris, watching as James in particular tried to shove an entire sausage in his mouth. Bridget snorted, and returned to her breakfast.
"Day dreaming about Potter, are we?" teased Holly, returning to her paper. She frowned at the article she saw.
Mysterious Disappearances in Kent
Reports of a mass Muggle disappearance in Kent have surfaced this morning as Minister for Magic Millicent Bagnold ordered the launch of a full enquiry.
"We do not wish to alarm the public" said a rather flustered Bagnold, "however these recent disappearing's seem to be the work of He Who Must Not Be Named, who has made public knowledge of his distaste towards Muggles and the Muggle world. We currently have no official leads; however a full enquiry will be made....
"I knew it was only a matter of time," whispered Holly.
"What?" asked Lily, Bridget and Chris in unison.
Holly handed her friends the paper, and bit her lip. Lily frowned, and glanced at Chris, "That's awful, who is this man?"
Bridget sighed and set down her fork, "Call's himself You Know Who, or He Who Must Not Be Named. Well, we call him that," she looked around her for signs of anyone listening; "You're not supposed to say his name".
Chris nodded sadly, "He hates Muggles, and anything to do with Muggles. I'd bet my last Galleon he's behind the disappearances".
"Have there been others?" asked Lily.
"A few," replied Bridget, "Nobody really thought anything of them until You Know Who made himself shown...good job we're safe at Hogwarts".
"Yes, but if he hates Muggles...what about our families?" asked Lily fearfully, glancing at Holly, whose father was a Muggle. Holly bit her lip, and attempted a smile, "Listen, let's not worry about that alright, we still need to go and get our bags".
The three other girls nodded, and the friends got up from the breakfast table, and hurried back to the Gryffindor common room.
~**~
"Welcome first years, to Potions!"
A short, rounded man, with gingery blonde hair and an enormous walrus-style moustache raised his arms jovially to the class, eliciting several snickers from James and Sirius. His pale, gooseberry coloured eyes glinted happily at his students, as he turned to the board behind him.
"Potions are an intricate art. To create elixirs and draughts to the standard I expect from my students will take hard work, dedication and perseverance, however, I do believe you all capable," he added with a wink. Lily caught his eye, and smiled, deciding she liked her potions professor. He seemed very jolly.
"Now, as a little starter, today we will attempt to create the Boil-Cure Potion, a simple little concoction," he added. He flicked his wand slightly, and a list of ingredients appeared on the board.
"Now, since this is your first day I will allow you to choose your own partners, however after your exams in fifth year, I will be placing you in the best suited pairs I believe you will work well in, just a little warning there. Now, chop chop!"
Professor Slughorn clapped his hands together, as his students hurried around choosing their own partners.
Lily turned to Holly, who was sitting next to her, "Holly, do you mind if I work with Sev today? I haven't seen him since the sorting".
Holly glanced over to where Severus was sitting alone, eyeing Lily hopefully, and nodded a little dejectedly.
"Sure, go ahead, I'll just work with..." she glanced around the room, frowning, "Uhhh..."
Professor Slughorn suddenly appeared, and paired Holly with a Slytherin girl named Janet Sharpe, much to Holly's annoyance.
"I really dont trust that Severus fellow," Chris whispered. Bridget nodded, her amber eyes flashing in annoyance as she heard Severus's rather slimy sounding cackle.
"Yeah, me neither, he seems a little creepy to me".
Chris nodded fervently, "You should have seen him on the train. Me and Holly tried talking to him, he was very rude".
Bridget looked over to Holly, who was sitting next to the unpleasant looking Janet, grimacing and clearly cursing her misfortune.
"Poor Holly, reckon she'll make it?"
Chris sniggered, and watched as Holly shot the girls a pleading look, to which they burst into laughter. Poor Holly indeed.
Potions passed rather uneventfully, unless you count Holly almost losing her cool with her Slytherin partner and resorting to storming away from the girl and complaining rather loudly to Slughorn that she couldn't take another minute of insults from her, or Peter adding too many stewed horned slugs and causing a large green cloud of something that smelt very similar to rotten eggs and cheese. Slughorn remarked on how adept his class seemed, (apart from Peter of course) as almost everyone managed to follow the instructions well and produce acceptable concoctions. Lily and Severus, in particular, seemed to have a natural affinity towards potions; however the biggest surprise came when Professor Slughorn announced James and Sirius's Boil-Cure potion to be 'exceptional'.
"We're just naturally talented," laughed Sirius, as Slughorn turned away from their desk beaming. Sirius caught the eye of Holly, and winked, resulting in a particularly hard shove from James.
"She's family, therefore off limits," he muttered.
Sirius scoffed, "We have rules already?"
"Yes," mumbled James, his thoughts drifting to a certain red head sitting a few seats away. He chanced a glance in her direction, and saw her scowling. He attempted a smile, which she must have interpreted as a smirk, and she rolled her eyes and returned to her conversation with Severus.
"I dont get it, she'll speak to Snivellus, but not me. What have I done?" cried James in exasperation.
"Why do you care?" asked Sirius, raising a dark eyebrow "She's just a girl".
James huffed, and remained silent for the rest of the lesson.
That afternoon the Gryffindors had their very first Transfiguration lesson, which was taught by their Head of House, Professor Minerva McGonagall. According to the older students, McGonagall was a strict, but fair teacher, who generally tended not to favour her house, or any particular student.
When the class entered the Transfiguration classroom along with the Ravenclaws, they were surprised to find no one there, save for a silver-grey tabby cat with the strangest markings around its eyes, they almost looked like glasses.
"And I thought we'd have trouble with that one," Sirius remarked, pointing to the vacated teachers desk, "She looked a bit stuffy, to be honest".
James nodded, throwing his bag down at an empty seat. He'd decided to sit with Sirius for all of his lessons. Not that there was anything wrong with Remus or Peter, but they were both rather quiet, and didn't seem to joke around as much as Sirius did.
James was about to reply when the cat at the front of the classroom suddenly jumped from the desk, and transformed into their Professor.
"Holy Hippogriff!"
"Well, I can't say I haven't heard that one before, Mr Black," sounded a stern voice laced with amusement. Sirius gaped at the woman who now stood before him. She was tall, wearing long fitted robes and a pointed witches hat. Square spectacles rested on a pointed nose, and her hair was scraped back into a tight, black bun flecked with grey.
"How in the name of Merlin did you do that!" said Sirius incredulously above the applause of his classmates. Professor McGonagall merely turned back to her desk, waving her wand towards the blackboard.
"I expect only your best when it comes to my lesson," McGonagall turned to face the class, who were clambering into seats, "I will not tolerate any less. Transfiguration can be dangerous if not properly used. Today we will begin with a simple spell. Miss Moore, could you please give each of your classmates a matchstick," Bridget took the box of wooden matches handed to her and began giving them out, "You will today attempt to Transfigure these matches into needles".
James looked down at the small wooden match stick in front of him. He looked around the classroom to see how the others were getting on. Behind him, Peter was prodding the match stick with his wand, whilst Remus was waving his slightly and muttering under his breath.
After several attempts, James found he was finally getting the hang of it. His match stick had first, gotten rather sharp at one end, and finally, he was left with a perfectly formed needle.
"I did it!" James held up his needle and showed Sirius, "Knew I'd get Transfiguration straight away," he grinned at his friend, who matched the smile, holding up his own needle.
"Minnie! Minnie, look!" Sirius cried, waving his arms in the air towards Professor McGonagall. Several students sniggered, and McGonagall quirked a thin eyebrow, her lip's tightening.
"Mr Black, whilst I am pleased you have managed to successfully transfigure your match stick, if I ever hear you address me as 'Minnie' ever again, I shall make sure you're remaining Hogwarts evenings are spent cleaning the trophy room," the Professor turned back to Christina, who's match stick had decided to grow legs and tap dance across her desk.
Sirius pouted, and let his arms fall to his side.
"Minerva it is then," he muttered, to which James snorted and punched him playfully in the arm.
"Remus, Pete, did you two get it?" James spun round in his seat and leant towards his other two friends. Peter merely shook his head, and held up his match stick, "Not yet".
"Remus?"
Remus looked up from his now pointy match stick, and silently shook his head. Remus had been very quiet since James had first spoken to him, even the night before when he and Sirius, and even Peter were talking excitedly about the upcoming lessons, his input was limited to yes and no answers. James hoped he'd come out of his shell soon, he seemed like a nice enough boy.
"You're getting there," James assured Remus, "Mine went pointy too before it turned into a needle".
Remus offered James a small smile, then turned back to his match stick. James sighed, and swivelled back around to face the front of the class.
"He's just nervous, he'll be just as loud as us in no time," Sirius grinned, patting James on the back.
James nodded, "Hopefully, poor guy seemed so jumpy last night".
Sirius merely shrugged, and began fashioning a paper aeroplane out of a scrap piece of parchment.
The rest of the day passed just as uneventfully, unless you count James and Sirius receiving the very first detention to be handed out in the entire school for levitating Heloise Gibson's pencil case out of the window, causing it to fall several storeys and smash everything inside. Whilst James and Sirius thought this quite an achievement, it being their first attempt at the Wingardium Leviosa charm, Lily merely complained throughout dinner that they were troublemakers and would be kicked out of Hogwarts by the end of the week. Nobody was quite sure why Lily seemed to have such a problem with the boys, but thought it best not to ask. She could get quite snappy when she wanted to.
~**~
After dinner, Lily, Holly, Bridget and Chris settled themselves on the squashy sofas in front of a merrily crackling fire in the Gryffindor common room. Barny, Chris's tabby cat, rolled around playfully on the rug whilst Chris dragged a small piece of string along the ground for him to chase. Holly was reading Quidditch through the Ages, whilst Bridget decided to try and teach Lily wizard's chess, which she was failing miserably at.
"Lils, it's just like normal chess, except the pieces move," sighed Bridget.
"I know that," snapped Lily, "I've never been able to play normal chess either".
Bridget frowned at the abrupt tone in which Lily spoke, "Lils, are you alright?"
"I'm fine," sighed Lily, "Well...no I'm not. I spotted Potter and his cronies hassling Sev after Charms when you three went to the loo. What right does he have picking on someone, Severus hasn't done anything wrong!"
Holly sighed from behind her book, and rubbed her eyes tiredly, "We know Lils, but you know what people are like. Once you dont like someone, that's it. James has always been like that. I'll have a word with him if you like?"
"Yeah, if you dont mind," smiled Lily, "I know you aren't particularly fond of Sev either, but he's a really good friend, and he doesn't deserve this".
"I know Lils, I know," replied Holly soothingly. She glanced towards the portrait hole, and saw her brother, James, Sirius, Remus and Peter climb through.
"Teaching them your mischievous ways already bro?" called Holly.
"Of course, it is my duty after all," smirked Jonny. He turned to James and his friends, "I'll see you guys later, I have a date with a rather beautiful Ravenclaw in about half an hour, and if I'm late all the good broom closets will be taken".
James and his friends roared with laughter and bade goodbye to Jonny. They wandered over to the girls, and took seats on the armchairs vacant.
"So girls, how was your first day?" asked Sirius casually, eyeing Holly up rather appreciatively. Holly snorted at his look, and returned to her book.
"Fine, I guess...Potions was a beast mind you," admitted Chris, her eyes fixated on the string she was toying Barny with.
"Naaa, Potions was easy. Herbology was a bit boring, but Jonny said we get to the good stuff in second year," said James.
"I liked Charms, I think that will be a really enjoyable class," started Lily, directing her answer more to the girls than the boys.
"Yes Charms will probably be one of my better subjects," smiled Remus. Lily smiled back. Remus had been quieter than James and Sirius in their lessons, she noticed, and he seemed kinder than the latter. She decided she'd probably get on best with Remus, if she got on with him at all. She doubted she'd get a chance, with those two around.
"What about you Pete?" asked Sirius, casually flicking his dark hair out of his eyes, "What was your favourite class today?"
"Uhhh...Herbology, I guess," he squeaked. Apparently Peter became even shyer in the presence of the girls.
"Well, I'm tired, you three coming?" asked Lily, glancing at the girls. Holly nodded, and tossed her book at James who had been eyeing it hopefully, and followed Lily, Bridget and Chris up to the girl's dormitory.
James waited until the girls were out of earshot, before allowing a large grin to spread across his face.
"What?" asked Remus, quirking an eyebrow.
"She didn't glare at me...she didn't mutter anything!" he said excitedly. Remus and Sirius exchanged amused glances, and shook their heads.
"James mate, it's your first day and you already fancy the pants of that one".
James rolled his eyes, and tossed a cushion at Sirius, still unable and uncaring to hide his glee.
~**~
Lily flopped down onto her bed, sighing as she sank into the squashy mattress.
"Lily just forget about them," said Bridget soothingly.
"I don't even know why they annoy me so much," she cried in frustration.
Chris chuckled, "I think they seem alright, James and Sirius might be a little misbehaved, but Remus and Peter seem cool".
Holly nodded, "Too quiet though, once they come out of their shells I'm sure they'll be just as rowdy as the James and Black. And anyway, James isn't that bad, trust me, I grew up with him!"
"So do any of you remember your first bits of magic?" asked Chris, deciding to change the subject, "I was three, my mum said. She told me that one of my cousins had stolen my teddy bear, so in a rage, I ended up sending my toy bricks flying through the air at her," she grinned sheepishly, "Apparently I was never allowed toy bricks ever again".
The girls laughed, and Bridget was the next to speak.
"I was five, I actually remember it. There used to be this old tree by the lake near where I live, and all of the kids would go and try to climb to the top. Anyway, I made to the top, but I fell when I was climbing back down...but I kind of bounced when I landed," she grinned, "Everyone thought there was a trampoline buried under the ground, we spent weeks digging for it".
"I was four," said Holly after the girls had finished laughing at Bridget's story, "We were at James' house actually, and my aunt had made this really wonderful looking chocolate cake. So me and James tried to get it, but we couldn't reach. I just kind of...wished for it, and it started floating towards us," she paused, "I think James has respected me ever since for that".
The three other girls laughed again, then everyone looked at Lily.
Lily flushed a little, "Well...I don't remember my exact first bit of magic...but I do remember one thing. I was young...me and my sister Petunia were at the park near my house...I must have done magic before, because I remember my sister saying that I wasn't allowed to do it. Anyway, I made this flower move its petals, all by itself! It was incredible!"
"Does your sister not like magic?" asked Chris.
Lily shook her head sadly, trying her best to block the memory of the incident at the platform, "No, I think she's afraid of it. She hasn't been the same around me since I got my letter".
Bridget shook her head sadly, "That's too bad...maybe she'll come around once she see's all the amazing things you can do".
"I think that's the problem, that she can't do it," Lily sighed, "I think she's jealous".
The girls looked sadly at Lily. Holly got up and hugged her.
"You have us. I'm sure we're all going to be great friends!"
Lily smiled, her heart swelling. They were right. Only a day into her schooling, and she already had three wonderful friends. But Petunia was her sister, and no one could ever, or would ever, replace her. Maybe Bridget was right, maybe she would come around.
Hopefully Bridget was right.
Good? Bad? Let me know :)
