Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or any of the stuff J.K. Rowling created.

Chapter Two

Making Friends…Kinda

I woke up about an hour and a half later when the door to my dormitory opened and light pooled in. A light appeared and then was extinguished immediately.

"Sorry! I didn't know…"

"No, it's OK. You can turn it back on or whatever you did." I got out of bed and looked at the two girls who were standing in the doorway. Both were really pretty. The one who had spoken was average height, and had beautiful green eyes, wavy fire-red hair that fell down to the middle of her back, and she wore a caring expression. The girl behind her was taller than the first, a couple inches shorter than me, and had short violet hair, brown eyes, and looked kind of thoughtful.

"Hey," the taller girl said, stepping inside the room and dropping her trunk by her bed. "aren't you…"

"…the one who was a complete jerk to the Headmaster? Yup, that would be me."

The shorter one shook her head slowly. "I didn't think you were a first year…none of them are that brave to stand up against the Headmaster on their first day. But we'd never seen you before and with the Ceremony…we didn't know what to think."

"It's kind of a long story," I said. Definitely not something I wanted to get into with two complete strangers.

As if she read my thoughts, the tall one said, "That's okay. Maybe when you become more comfortable around us."

The shorter one held out her hand and I shook it. "I'm Lily. Lily Evans."

"And I'm Nymphadora Tonks," the tall one said, shaking my hand. "But don't call me Nymphadora. Tonks is just fine." I laughed. I liked these two, and already I knew we were going to be friends and I was comfortable with them.

"Nike. Don't have a last name."

"Yeah, you're name is pronounced nick-ee, not nii-k." Tonks smiled.

"That's fine," Lily said, unpacking her trunk.

"You're not what we thought you would be," Tonks said, pointing a dark brown stick that she had in her right hand at her trunk. Her trunk opened and emptied itself and the contents put themselves away.

She looked over at me and laughed. "What? You don't do magic?"

"Yeah, I do, but…we have to use that?" I had seen the people who came to take me down use them, but I thought it was some weapon that only they used.

"Use what?" Tonks asked.

"That," I said, pointing.

"A wand?" Lily asked. "As far as we know, yes, you do, or else you can't control your magic."

"Oh, well that's great. I'm a freak."

Tonks smiled wryly. "I'm gonna get along great with you."

"Haven't you got one?" Lily asked, appearing to be the reasonable one of the two.

"I don't have many things that you guys have got."

"Didn't you receive the letter?"

"No. They could never find me." Now Lily and Tonks were both curious. I sighed. Obviously I would have to tell them some of my story. I would give them a short, summed-up version.

"I never knew my parents. Ever since I was born I've been alone, kind of, living in the woods."

"How did you survive when you were too little to do anything for yourself?" Tonks looked puzzled.

I smiled at my memory. "The animals. What else?"

"What kinds?" Tonks asked, perched on her bed, fascinated.

"All of them. Every single one that lived nearby."

"How did they get along? Don't different animals eat each other or fight?" Lily asked, appalled.

"They managed to put their differences and separate needs aside. They all took turns to watch over me and taught me many different things."

"How long did you stay there with them?"

"Until I was five. Then Ministry of Magic and the people here found out about me."

"How?" Tonks and Lily said in unison.

"I don't know. But one day the animals and I sensed something was amiss, so we decided it was best that I went away. A couple of days later I found out I had magic, and I automatically knew about the wizarding world, the schools for other kids of my kind, and the Ministry."

"Did you ever get close to getting caught?"

"A couple of times. But I fought them off with magic and physical force."

"Wow. How long have you been on the run?" Lily asked as she finished unpacking.

"Eight years," I said, proud of myself.

"It's amazing that you were never put on the wanted signs. We almost thought they were bringing a criminal here," Lily said.

"There were rumors about you going around, and yes, some of them were that you were a very dangerous and highly wanted criminal who they were bringing here to Hogwarts. They thought once you arrived here you would kill us all," Tonks said.

"And you believed that one?" I asked, smirking.

"No, not really," Lily said.

"Anyways…four boys overheard some professors talking about you, who they called 'The Fugitive' and the rumors flew. Most of them were started by the four who wanted to get a good laugh at everyone who was scared and freaking out. Months after the first rumor, more horrible ones came, and then out of nowhere, just before we got out of school last year, Professor Vera announced you would be here this year. Of course, none of us believed him. So all of us returned to Hogwarts and many more arrived. Then Aurors were standing outside the train and they demanded that we stay away from the first compartment, they even said we better not even glance inside. Nike, I just can't believe you managed to beat up them Aurors! They're supposed to be the hardest ones to beat! They're the best out there, the most brilliant fighters in the world! How'd you do it?" Tonks asked. Clearly she was a fighter too.

"How'd you finally get caught?" Lily asked, rolling her eyes at her friend.

"I messed up and there were way too many. I'd rather not get into it, if you don't mind," I said as the unpleasant memory came to me.

"Oh," she said. We were all quiet.

"So… How can you do magic without a wand?" Tonks asked, both curious and wanting to change the subject.

"I don't know. Concentration is really all I need," I said, grateful for the subject change.

"Well you're going to need one here or else you probably won't be able to participate in the classes," Lily said. "It's really quite astonishing how you get your wand."

"Why?" I asked.

She laughed. "It picks you."

Just as I was about to reply we heard a yell.

"JAMES POTTER!"

Lily and Tonks rolled their eyes. "Now what did that jerk do?" Lily asked, exasperated.

"Who?" I asked.

"Come on, you're going to meet the boys who heard about you first," Tonks said, and we walked out the door.

A short small boy was standing at the top of the stairs, glaring at a tall slightly muscled teenage guy that had untidy jet black hair that stuck up in all directions and black rounded glasses that covered his mischievous crystal blue eyes. Standing next to him was an unnaturally tall and pale guy that had short light brown hair, pale blue-ish-gray eyes, and two long jagged scars that went from one side of his face to the other. And standing on the other side of the one in the middle was the guy from the train. They all were extremely attractive, and they were the three guys that had laughed during the Sorting Ceremony.

"What Kyle?" the middle guy, James, said, bored.

The small kid, Kyle, yelled, "Don't 'what' me Potter!"

By now there were other kids coming out of their rooms or looking up from downstairs to see what the commotion was about.

"What else should I say then?" James asked, raising an eyebrow.

"You jinxed me!" Kyle accused, ignoring his question.

"James?" The guy from the train laughed. "He'd never do something like that. Would he Moony?"

The taller guy smiled, which made him look a lot less scary and intimidating, and said, "I should think not, Padfoot, my friend."

James nodded at his two friends. "You see Kyle? You should watch yourself before you start blaming people. Next time if you accuse me without proof, I won't be so forgiving. Next time I'll—"

"You'll do nothing!" Lily said, stepping forward angrily. The four guys turned to look our way.

"Good evening Evans," James said, smiling warmly, the arrogant look disappearing. Lily's eyes narrowed. He sighed and said exasperatedly, "What have I done to you now?"

"Nothing to me. But you're a complete berk to everyone else," she said, trying to not lose her temper.

James looked at Tonks. "Nymphadora—"

"DON'T CALL ME NYMPHADORA!" Tonks yelled, her hair turning an even brighter red then Lily's. Wow. That was an awesome trick.

"She's gonna bite your head off, mate," the guy named Moony muttered.

"I just might, Lupin, and yours'll be next," Tonks hissed. The guy named Padfoot laughed and Moony (Lupin?) turned red.

"Oh we haven't forgotten you, Black," Lily snapped.

"Yeah, because you could—" Padfoot (Black?) started to say.

"So these are the neighborhood idiots who need to be put in their place?" I asked Lily and Tonks, stepping forward so I was even with them and not hidden behind them anymore.

A hushed silence filled the room as every pair of eyes fell on me.

James' eyes widened and Moony/Lupin cocked his head like he was a dog. Padfoot/Black smiled and said, "I don't think we're number one on that list."

James regained his composure and followed along with his friend. "How right you are! I think we may have dropped down to the number two spot. What a shame."

I could see where this was going. I walked forward until I was standing directly in front of them.

"Oh I'm sorry. I know how much it must be hurting you three to finally realize you're a bunch of nothings. Is there anything I can do to help ease your pain?" The room filled with laughter and James and Padfoot/Black got really mad while Moony/Lupin chuckled good-naturedly.

"Sure there is Nike, my friend," Tonks said evenly.

"Cut their big fat heads off and replace them with much smaller and smarter ones," Lily said, her face lit up with joy, as if this was something she had been waiting for.

"Hmm…" I said, tapping my foot. I turned to Kyle. "What do you say boy?"

He was laughing so hard tears were streaming down his face. I wasn't sure if they were caused by the spell James had put on him or the show that was going on. I mean, I didn't think it was that funny. "I think that's a wonderful idea!"

I turned back to James, Moony/Lupin, and Padfoot/Black. "Shape up or I just might agree to what our friends are wanting. You got it?" I stepped forward so I was almost touching them, and all three took an automatic step back, knowing that right now, I probably wasn't a force they should/could reckon with.

I smiled sweetly at them. "Good-night boys." I turned around and walked back into our room, Lily and Tonks right behind me. They closed the door and we all started to laugh.

"Thank you," Lily managed to get out.

"You're really a good friend," Tonks agreed.

I fell back on my bed, happy for once in a long time.

After we had all calmed down, I asked, "So what's the deal with them?"

All happiness faded.

"The ringleader, the one with untidy hair, is James Potter, Quidditch superstar and heartthrob. He thinks he's so cool and irresistible. He carries a Snitch around and purposely messes up his hair so it seems he just stepped off his broom. He's a total arrogant fat-head and he thinks that everyone is beneath him and should fall at his feet and start worshipping him like he's Merlin himself," Lily said furiously, clutching a pillow in a death grip. I had no idea what some of those words meant, but I knew now was not the time to ask.

"Remus Lupin, the tall one, is more mysterious of the three, but is just as much of a twit as the rest of them. He thinks he's too good for everyone except his friends, and he thinks he can break the rules and do whatever he wants—"

"Yeah, but they all do that," Lily interrupted Tonks. I got the feeling Lily didn't mind this Lupin kid at all.

"He's worse though," she argued.

"True, I guess."

"Anyways, girls chase after him almost as much as they chase after Potter and Black, although I can't see why—"

"He's really sweet, nice, caring, and smart," Lily offered. Tonks ignored her.

"But of course, like his cronies, he refuses them all and acts like he's too good for them," Tonks finished, glaring. Her jaw was set. I could tell she disliked this one the most out of the three.

"And the third?" I asked when it seemed they weren't going to say anything. Both looked over at me.

"Sirius Black," Tonks said. "Every bit as arrogant as the other two except even more so, and he's such a total prat. He's got a sharp tongue and is always speaking in the Sarcastic Language. He and Potter are practically brothers; they've known each other forever I guess." I could believe that. When I was next to him, there was that really almost overly confident air that surrounded him. Not that that was a bad thing…although it could be.

"He hates it when people stand up and defy him, especially when they make a fool of him and his friends," Lily looked at me with pity at this. "and always gets them back pretty bad. He absolutely loves his revenge."

"Of all three he's the most favored of the girls and a select few guys, he's handsome obviously, he does everything right, if you know what I mean, and he's extremely smart, yet it never shows, does it?" Tonks asked, smiling slightly.

"Doesn't seem like it. Things'll change though. I may be just as bad as they are—"

"No!" they both exclaimed.

"You're really not that bad," Lily said.

"You were probably just really mad that they had dragged you away from your home without a choice. I know I would've been," Tonks agreed.

I sighed. They and that professor sure relied on this house that I was in for judging me. Why?

"I'm probably more like them than either of us'll want to admit, but that's okay. I'll change, and so will they."

"Is that a threat or a promise?" Tonks laughed.

I grinned. "Both."

A/N: So…I know this chapter was kind of boring. No, scratch that, it was definitely really boring. But I had to introduce Lily, Tonks, and the Marauders somehow. Not to mention how the girls feel

'bout them. Hope I didn't put you to sleep or anything. Promise the next chapter will be better! Well, at least it should be better…I think it is at least.

Oh, and I have officially finished writing this story as of right now and am starting on the second installment, but I'sa updating this one chapter at a time to see if you people are actually reading this, and if it's worth my time to put it up here for you guys to read. And if not…oh well, I write for me and my friends…

And Oh my god! I've gotten my first review ever! Thanks so much Rumbledroar's Army! Hope this chapter doesn't disappoint you!

And you know what else is truly amazing? I already have two people (TWO!) that have added this story to their favorites list! Thanks you two! You rock!

And yes, I might sound crazy right now…but I'm very, very happy. I had no idea that something like that would happen already.

Anyways…please review!

Nike :)