She thought her life was over – but fate gave her another chance, in a world of magic. Now, running around Hogwarts with James Potter and his friends, she's about to make choices that will change the future in ways she never thought possible…

Marauder's Phase

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

There's One In Every World

In high school, I had an enemy. Her name was Sara Robertson, and we used to be best friends, until she ditched me and left me with no friends, just after my Nanna died. From that moment on, we became rivals, and were constantly fighting with each other.

I never expected to run into the Sara Robertson of the magic world.

When I did, I wondered vaguely if I wouldn't be better off being in Slytherin with Bellatrix…no, that was definitely worse. I hate Bellatrix.

But back to Sara.

The Marauders and I climbed the stairs with everyone else after my first official feast at Hogwarts had ended.

I was involved in a very deep discussion with Remus, about the subject of my lessons, and the others were listening in.

"Dumbledore wants to see what I know, he's going to give me a number of tests," I confided, telling them what Dumbledore had told me just after the feast had ended. "I don't think it will be anything I can't handle, but…" I was unwilling to tell them just how much magic I didn't know. I mean, sure, I had picked up spells such as Wingardium Leviosa, Rictumsempra and Stupefy fairly quickly – plus, I was an unregistered Animagi like James, Sirius and Peter – but the nature of these abilities was far from how ordinary wizards did things.

I wasn't exactly an ordinary witch, but I had no way of telling anyone about that – I'd be sent to St. Mungo's if I tried.

"We'll help you," James promised. "Padfoot and I know the spells you learn from first year to fourth year like the backs of our hands."

"Too right we do." Sirius grinned.

I rolled my eyes. So modest.

Suddenly, someone stepped in front of me, blocking my way upstairs, and I stopped. The Marauders stopped behind me.

A girl with golden blonde hair cut very short, and golden-green eyes, stood there with her arms crossed. Her Gryffindor scarf was tied loosely around her neck, and her robes seemed to be just a few sizes too big for her.

"So, you're the new girl, the one everyone's been talking about." It wasn't a question.

I nodded. "Yes, and you would be..?"

"The name's Serilda Roans." She said, sticking out her hand for me to shake. "Fifth year Gryffindor student," She cast a quick glance over her shoulder and muttered something that sounded distinctly like: "And I'd be Prefect too, if not for that Lily Evans…"

I immediately bristled, and glanced down at her hand. "What was that?" I asked her, softly.

She glanced at me and withdrew her hand. "Oh, just that some students are better than others. What with some mudbloods running around the school…"

"What!?" I yelled.

Remus grabbed me around the waist as I reached for my wand, infuriated instantly by Serilda's use of the word 'mudblood'.

"Calm down!" He whispered, half wrestling with me to get me around Serilda and up the staircase, to where the portrait of the Fat Lady was open, and other Gryffindor students were flooding into the common room.

"How could someone like that have ended up in Gryffindor!?" I asked fiercely, as we entered the common room. "Shouldn't she be in Slytherin?"

I think James was about to answer, his eyes were flashing angrily and I could tell he didn't like Serilda anymore than I did, but then his expression changed, and he said: "Hi there, Evans!"

We all looked up as Lily approached us, giving James a wry look, before turning to smile at me. "I didn't get to properly introduce myself to you before, but my name is Lily Evans."

Her hand I shook, with a smile. "Hi. I'm Emma Pax."

Lily laughed, a beautiful, tinkling sound. "I know. The entire school has been talking about you." She gave the Marauders a Look. "Only these guys could've managed this. Sneaking you into the school and all…" I remembered that she didn't know about them being Animagi.

I grinned. "Yeah, they're pretty sneaky."

Lily nodded in agreement. "Tell me about it, although some of them aren't as bad as others," And here she nodded at Remus.

"I had a feeling." I nodded.

"Well," Lily said briskly. "Come with me, and I'll show you to the fifth year girl's dorms." She walked off before James could say anything, which I think she did on purpose.

I blinked. Oh, yeah, I'd forgotten –now that I was an 'official' Hogwarts student, I couldn't stay in the boys dorm anymore.

That was a bit of a let down, but at least I'd get to know Lily better now, I realised, as I climbed the stairs and followed Lily into the fifth year girls dorm room.

"You can take the bed closest to the window," Lily said, indicating to it. "Looks like the house elves already made it up for you."

"Bless them," I said warmly, as I went over to the bed and, on closer inspection, found a new winter nightgown folded neatly on the pillow, and a note written and signed by Professor McGonagall, indicating that some things would be bought for me, and sent up to my room tomorrow.

I gulped.

"What's the matter?" Lily asked, obviously seeing my horrified expression.

I turned to her. "Umm…Lily? I have a confession to make…" I began but, just then, the door to the dorm burst open, and Serilda came in.

She glared at Lily, and then at me. "I'm tired now, so no more noise." She said, changing into her pyjamas, and glaring at the two other students who came in, and introduced themselves as…

"Molly Prewett and Alice Conners?" I echoed faintly, smiling at the two women who would one day become Molly Weasley and Alice Longbottom.

It's been a very weird night. I thought, as I slipped into my new pink winter night gown.

"Would you guys please shut up?" Serilda asked irritably. "And shut off the lights, it hurts my eyes!"

"That's Serilda," Lily whispered confidingly, as Alice went to fix up the lanterns. "She thinks she's the queen of this dorm, but she's alright at times."

Clearly, Lily didn't know that Serilda referred to her as a mudblood. It made me wonder again how such a girl could've wound up in Gryffindor with nice people like Lily, Alice and Molly.

As I fell asleep, a plan began to formulate in my mind, and I fell asleep smiling.