James yawned and stretched, he looked up bleary eyed at the celling. They had played poker way into the night, James cleared up as usual, handy for when he was older. What he did hate was the duvet. He preferred the sheets he had at home, duvet made him too hot. James pulled himself out his bed and drew the curtains.
Sirius was still in bed while Lupin was sitting on the edge of his bed reading.
"Morning." Said James yawning, "Always an early riser?"
Lupin nodded with a smile and stood up. "One of my worse traits I'm afraid. He looked over at Sirius.
"What about him?" asked Lupin pointing at Sirius.
"He needs coaxing." James leaned over to his bedside table and picked up a mini quaffle. With an aim he threw it at Sirius, it hit him on the head and he woke with a start. He looked round blindly before his eyes fell on James.
"Bastard." He said rolling over. James picked up another one and threw it at him. The same thing happened again.
"Quit it!" snapped Sirius.
"See, perseverance." Said James. Sirius sat up and yawned.
"You guys are bellends." Said Sirius sleepily. He got up and yawned and walked round to his wardrobe. James and Lupin smirked.
"Looks like that Peter's gone." Said James pointing to the remaining empty bed.
"Strange guy wasn't he?" said Lupin getting changed.
"Agreed." Said James, "Can't say we didn't try to interact."
"We better get going." Said Lupin, "We have to get our timetables now."
The Marauders Proudly Present James Potter and Lily Evans In: The Marauders Year One
Chapter Twelve
My First Day
Written By Chambers10
James changed into his new uniform. It felt good pulling on the maroon and gold tie for the first time, he pulled his robes on and grabbed his satchel. He ruffled his already unruly hair and followed Lupin and bleary eyes Sirius out to the common room.
The rest of the first years where waiting in the common room, sitting on the sofas. Frank was with them rasping his food on the floor.
"There you guys are." He said, "Right, now you're here we can get going." They followed Frank down he same maze of corridors and stairs to the familiar great hall which was half of students. James sat with Sirius who was already making himself a full English, James decided to follow suit. Start as you mean to go on. After finishing he was disturbed by McGonagall coming over.
"Mr Potter, nice to see you again." she said handing him a piece of parchment.
"Nice to see you to Minnie." Said James looking back over his shoulder. "Big year planned."
"With you here. It's about to be a lot busier."
"You make me sound so predictable." Said James.
"Because sometimes you are to like your father." Said McGonagall, "And I knew him very well." She handed James the parchment.
"I will look forward to seeing you in my lesson James." She said moving on the hand out more timetables.
"You know Professor McGonagall?" asked Lupin.
"Yeah," said James looking at the parchment. "Her and my mum where friends right the way through Hogwarts and after. Basically grew up with her."
"I heard she was a stiff." Said Sirius.
"When she wants to be but overall ok." Said James. "Great…potions with Slytherin's first thing on a Monday morning." He sighed and placed his timetable in his robe inside pocket.
"I think the words kill me now are very apt." said Sirius.
"To a good year." Said Remus trying to sound cheerful, but shut up by James and Sirius's disapproving scowl.
Lily sat down nervously and ate her porridge, it was nearly two in the morning before Lily had gone to bed. One day in and she was already missing home, she had to get a grip. She plastered a smile on her face and decided to meet it head on.
"Miss Evans. Your timetable." Lily looked up and saw Professor McGonagall with a piece of paper by her. Lily took it and looked down at the classes. Transfiguration, Herbology, charms, astronomy. Where was maths? English, science? And then the rooms. Where were they supposed to go, how did they know where to go.
"Uhm…thanks." Said Lily. She looked at the first lesson, potions with the Slytherin's in the dungeons. Lily's heart gave a little lift, at least she would be with Sev first thing. Her eyes darted over to the Slytherin table where Sev was talking to some other boys. She was glad he was making friends.
"Come on Lily, or where going to be late." Dorcas smiled kindly and hoisted her bag on her shoulder. Lily stood and did the same with her satchel and the five strong group made its way to Alice and Frank who were waiting with the other prefects.
"So what do you have first?" asked Alice.
"Potions with professor Slughorn." Said Marlene.
"OK we'll just wait for the boys and we'll get going." Said Alice.
"Jesus what's taking them so long." Asked Lily. Alice looked over and sighed, her face then went into a smile.
"Boy's being boys." Lily looked over and saw that…Peter's was it, no, Potter. Yeah Potter, Black and Lupin talking to a group of girls from Ravenclaw. One of the girls laughed and flicked her hair behind her ear, while Potter ran a hand through the mess on the top of his head.
"Oi, boys, they'll be here at break." Said Frank.
"Leave them alone, there making friends, we should be encouraging them." said Alice. Lily rolled her eyes as the group came over.
"Are we ready?" asked Alice.
"I am now." said Black, "Soon as James stops talking to every girl who battered their eye lids at him." Potter just smiled and shook his head.
"Can't help it if they like me." He said shrugging. "Come on." He said hitting Black on the shoulder, "Let's go make some magic." They walked after Frank who was leading the group away. Lily eyed them coldly as they walked away.
"You don't like him?" asked Dorcas.
"Who is he?" asked Lily. Dorcas's eyes darted over to Potter and back at Lily.
"That's James Potter." She said, "Adventurous, thrill seeking, attention seeking idiot."
"Sounds like an idiot." Said Lily.
"Oh you have no idea." Said Dorcas chuckling walking away. Lily stood confused for a moment before walking with the group. The route down to the dungeons was easy enough to remember, right out the great hall and down this corridor lit by torches. They passed a few rooms before descending down a hug spiral staircase which must have been at least four stories down. The temperature significantly dropped as the descended lower and lower. They suddenly stopped outside a classroom.
"This is Professor Slughorn's room for first years." Said Frank, "Probably the easiest room to find. We'll be here for when you're finished." With that they walked away, after that another set off footsteps came from the other end of the dungeons. The Slytherin's came up, they reminded Lily of Wendy and her gang and stayed close.
"Here we are guys." The Slytherin prefect said, "Professor's Slughorn's room for first years. We'll be here when you finish. Like Frank and Alice they walked away leaving the group on the other side of the door.
"Well, well Potter." One of the Slytherin boys said. "Bet you're happy to be here."
"As pleased as I am to see you Gibbs." Said James, "Still polishing that silver medal? I read somewhere that gold medals don't need to be polished as much."
Lily looked at Gibbs. He was almost as tall as Potter, but broader round the shoulders. He had dark brown skin, blue eyes and brown hair.
Gibbs's eyes narrowed at Potter who just smirked as he rested on the stone wall with one foot against it.
"You were lucky."
"What about the previous 7 times before that?" asked Potter, "Luck? Or that fact that I am just better than you."
"We'll prove that at Quidditch this year." Said Gibbs. Potter scoffed.
"We'll have to wait for that." Said Potter, "First years aren't allowed on the teams, remember."
"Yeah, well my dad's –"
"On the governors and can overturn it. I don't need bribery to get on the house team, I'd get in on pure talent."
"We'll see." Said Gibbs. With that, thankfully for Lily the door opened.
"Ah! First years!" the Professor's voice boomed, "Please do come in, do come in." The group filed in. Lily got a seat with Sev near the front of the class while everyone else seemed to split off into houses. She turned to see Potter and Black at the back with that Lupin and Pettigrew at the next bench. Potter had that stupid smirk on his face as he looked around the room. Lily turned round, if she didn't have to see him then he couldn't annoy her.
"What do you think we'll be doing?" asked Lily excitedly.
"Something boring." Said Sev, "Apparently we won't be doing practical for a while."
"Theory can still be fun." Said Lily, "Learning how."
"I suppose." Said Sev, "But I was looking forward to making something."
"Patience." Said Lily opening her book and pulling out her new quill and ink. "We'll be doing it before you know it." Sev smiled and pulled out his stuff as well. She could hear laughing from behind her.
Ignore them, she told herself , there just… she paused, they weren't laughing about her, where they? No, they couldn't, they didn't know her. They were boys, it's what they do she told herself. Just ignore them. She smiled to herself.
"What are you smiling at?" asked Sev.
"New surroundings." Said Lily, "It's nice to be at the start of something now rather than the end." She folded her arms on the desk and leaned forward on them.
"Plus I'm finally at school with you." She said, "So I have a friend with me."
"Ok class settle down." Said Professor Slughorn laughing a little nervously. The class settled down finally, this gave Lily a chance to inspect her teacher. He was very plump. His rich food belly hanging over trousers which were taking the starting, though not as much as his belt. In a way he reminded Lily of a giant walrus. But he had a kind, happy face with a big bushy moustache while wearing a tweed jacket and waist jacket with a pocket watch chain hanging from the fabric.
"Well, welcome to Hogwarts first years. Now I know this is your first lesson so I'll try and make it as interesting as possible. Now, unfortunately it would be irresponsible of me to make you make a potion on your first day." A few people groaned, Lily let out a small sigh in disappointment.
"But today I'll be teaching you what sort of potions you will be making in the future in my classes. Which I think you'll find really interesting." He laughed again, but the room was still silent.
"Yes, well… get your books out and parchment and we'll begin shall we?" Lily opened her book but was distracted by a whizzing sound, and sound of paper hitting a head. Sev turned round frantically to see where it had come from. Lily did to, noticing a couple of girls giggling in the corner. She half expected one of the boys at the back to do it, but Potter and black where heads down getting on with their work.
"You ok Sev?"
"Fine." Said Sev stiffly, "Just a piece of paper, that's all." Lily nodded and looked towards the front.
"God I hope our other lessons aren't like that." Said Sirius as they walked out, "I could feel myself learning something."
"Same." Said James as they waited for the rest of the Gryffindor's to file out. "I was kinda hoping to be brewing living death."
"Why living death?"
"After that lesson do you need a reason." Said Sirius. Alice and Frank where all ready waiting for them, chatting idly about something which made Alice laugh and shove him gently.
"There you are." She said sweetly, "Have a good lesson?"
"It was all theory." Said Isabel, "Really boring all he did was drone on about what he could be making."
"He did that to us as well for the first few lessons." Said Frank, "Don't worry, it'll get better, which brings us onto what you have next."
"Charms with Hufflepuffs." Said Remus.
"Flitwick's room." said Frank, "Come on then, and keep up."
James knew Hogwarts was a strange place, he had been told so by other kids in the circle. But for some reason he never believed them until he was here. Overall, a hundred and forty two staircases. Most of them were normal, but there were some that liked to have lives of their own. On the way up to Flitwick's room one of the staircases swivelled which caught most of them off guard. James made a mental note, find out these patterns.
Lily sat down in the room next to mousy boy who looked at her sceptically. Flitwick had split them up in a seating plan, and Lily found herself next to this boy. His stare unnerved her, like when she met Sev for the first time.
"You're the Muggle born." He said. Lily turned to face him.
"Excuse me?" asked Lily taken aback.
"You're the muggleborn? Who's just joined?" he asked again.
"If you must know, yes." Said Lily getting her things out, wondering why it was important.
"If you have any trouble, stick with me." He said, "I've heard you lot don't catch on as quick as the rest of us." Lily glared at him. But his voice dripped with sincerity, he actually thought he was helping her.
"Oh thanks." Said Lily through gritted teeth. He smiled cheerfully, thinking he had done good.
"I'm Adam by the way, in case you're wondering." He said, "Adam Rotherman."
"I'm Lily."
"No last name?"
"Not that I want to give out." She said.
"Ok class, shall we begin."
Like Slughorn's lesson, it was all theory, not how to use a wand but more along the lines of what they'll be doing in the next seven years. Flitwick though seemed less on an idiot than Slughorn in James's eyes. Sure he had to stand on a pile of books to actually see the class but he spoke level and said that charms was a very dangerous and difficult subject, but necessary if they wanted to get a good job in the wizarding world like a healer or a Auror. That's what James had his sights set on. An Auror.
Like his parents, going off and catching dark wizards, like Jonathan Croak in a way. Or James Bond the muggle equivalent. After charms, lunch. James, Sirius and Remus where sitting in the great hall eating.
"Boring as hell." Said Sirius, "I was told this was a place of magic."
"Don't worry, my parents lie to me to." Said James.
"About what?"
"Santa Claus, the bogey man." Said James, "You honestly think they're gonna let first years do magic. You must be mad."
"What, you want to be a book worm?" asked Sirius.
"No, I want to blow up something as much as you." Said James. "But like you I'm bored."
"So can we do?" James smirked and pulled out a peashooter. He pointed to where Severus Snape and Lily Evans where eating.
"Remember to remain as inconspicuous as possible." James loaded the pea shooter and took aim. With a burst of breath he launched it across the great hall and hit Snape in the back of the head.
James went back to his lunch, Sirius and Remus had done the same and stifled there laughs to as Snape and Evans looked round them.
"Got em." Said Sirius.
"See," said James, "There are other ways to have fun."
James threw his bag onto the sofa and sunk into it, only to be joined by Remus and Sirius. James ran his hands up into his hair and ruffled it quite roughly.
"Something bothering you?" asked Remus.
"Yeah, I'm bored, I want to do magic." Said James.
"Hey boys." Isabel and Jessica sat down on the sofa opposite. "Been boring today hasn't it."
"We were just saying that." Said Remus.
"We were thinking about something to do." Said James.
"Shame there's no pool." Said Isabel. "Hey girls!" she waved her arms. James looked over and the rest of the girls came over. There were seven of them overall, and they varied in attractiveness. James loved Gryffindor.
"Potter was thinking of doing something, you girls in?" Dorcas folded her arms and eyed him sceptically.
"No water around, which means explosives might be involved." Said Dorcas.
"We could always play poker." Said Sirius.
"Poker?" Evans said surprised.
"Yes, not literally poke her." said James, she rolled her eyes at him. "Me and the guys were playing last night. Fancy a game."
"Well we haven't got homework." Said Mary, "I don't see why not? What do you think Lily?" Evans looked a little uneasy.
"I suppose we could. But I don't know how to play." She said.
"Don't worry, we'll teach you." Said James getting up. "Make yourselves comfortable and I'll get the set." James got cards and made his way back, everyone was gathered round the sofas and the table chatting away. James pulled a chair and began to shuffle the cards.
"So how do we play?" asked Evans, "My parents never showed me."
"Really easy when you get the hang of It." said James, "Come sit over here and I'll coach you through it." She looked round nervously at the other girls.
"He doesn't bite, and he is rather good." Said Dorcas, "You could learn something from him."
Evans sighed and swapped places with Isabel who had smiled, but in a very unfriendly sort of way. She sat down at the edge of the sofa but looked uncomfortable to be there. James had never seen her before until the train, even then she had been crying.
"You ok Evans." She turned and looked at him.
"Yeah." She breathed out, "Just a little nervous I'll screw up." James could feel heat in his cheeks and looked away.
"You'll do fine." Said James, "I'll deal and help you along." He looked up, hoping he wasn't to red and smiled at her. He chuckled when she looked down. He dealt out two cards to everyone.
"No limit hold em poker." Said James, "I'll deal and help Evans so's to give you guys a chance."
"Oh how kind of you Potter." Said Marlene sarcastically.
"Always kind isn't he." Said Sirius.
"From what I've heard you two are trouble." Said Mary.
"Oh who told you that." Said James in mock surprise.
"Adam Rotherman in Hufflepuff." Replied Mary, "Said you played pranks on him."
James and Sirius exchanged smirks.
"You did?"
"Course they did." Said Isabel inspecting her cards. "But Adam Rotherman isn't all he's cracked up to be."
"Got that right Izzie." Said James finishing dealing.
"Do you two know each other then?" asked Evans.
"Since birth." Said James. "Part of the higher social circle."
"What is that?" asked Evans, "I've had people ask me what circle I'm from and have no idea what it means." There was a silence as all eyes descended on her.
"It's quite easy to explain." Said James, "You see, there are quite a few old wizarding families around. Hundreds of years of marrying other pureblood wizards so they have quite large cash reserves."
"There rich?" asked Evans.
"Yeah," said James, "Same families socialising with each other for hundreds of years. Me, Izzie, Sirius, Jess and Dorcas are in what's called the higher circle because of our family's history. There are others, the Bones, the Malfoy's the McKinnon's and other families from Europe, and America to."
"Really. Can other families join the circle?"
"Kind of." Said James, "You see, there are three main circles, higher, medium and lower. Now the only way you can get higher is by marrying someone in a higher social circle than you."
"Oh…what about people who aren't in circles?"
"Well there still accepted by the wizarding community." Said James laying out the first three cards. "But the older snobbier generation don't really want anything to do with them, think it's bad for reputation."
"Oh." Said Lily.
"But if anyone asks you what your circle is, tell them the truth that your muggle born." Said James. "Because that's how you'll find your real friends."
"Wait…do some people have a problem with muggle borns?"
"Lily," said Dorcas gently, "There is a minority, but only a minority who think that magic should be kept within the magical world and not opened up to muggles."
"What do you think?"
"The more the better," said Isabel, "It keeps adding something new to the world rather than being stuck with these old ideas. Like telephones, amazing things, can't imagine my life without one. One day you'll be able to carry it around with you." James noticed Evans smile.
"Stick with us kid." He picked up her cards and inspected it, a jack of diamonds and an ace of clubs.
"You'll do just fine. So, who's in?"
Lily was lying awake again, but for completely different reasons. Not because she missed home, well she did. But what Potter, Isabel and the others had told her about the social circles. But more to the point, the fact that some people didn't like muggle borns, like herself, or Mary. But Sev had assured her it wasn't a problem, and no one had held it against her so far. She looked round her bed.
The maroon curtains blocking out any moon light coming through into the room. Very claustrophobic, maybe she just needed to get used to it. She turned over and hugged her pillow a little tighter. She had nothing to be afraid of, people would accept her. The girls in her class had, and the boys didn't seem too bad. Potter and Black where a little arrogant and full of themselves but they knew what they were doing. Potter was very good at poker, he had taught her the game and how to win. But one piece of advice had stuck in her head.
"Always play the person across from you."
"Why?"
"Because you need to read them, guess what they're doing."
He didn't seem too bad, maybe they got off on the wrong foot on the train. Her mother had always said to look for the good in people. She would keep an eye on him, he might be a useful friend to have around. According to Dorcas he was attention seeking, and an adventurer, but he seemed really smart to.
Lily found Sev at morning break outside the great hall as the arranged. They walked around the castle for a bit trying to get their bearings of the place, chatting idly as they went on.
"So what did you do last night?" asked Sev.
"We played poker." Said Lily.
"Poker?"
"Yeah Poker. With the rest of the first years." Said Lily, "It was really good."
"But you can't play." Pointed out Sev.
"I can now." said Lily smiling, "Potter taught me."
"Potter!" Said Sev heatedly.
"Yeah." Said Lily, slightly taken aback. "He taught me how to play. Why, do you know him."
Sev turned away and snorted dismissively. "He's bad news Lily, I wouldn't associate yourself with him."
"I know he acted like a prat on the train." Said Lily, "But he didn't seem so bad, a little full of himself-"
"That's an understatement." Said Sev bitterly. "You shouldn't be seen with him."
"Why?"
"He's bad news."
"That's what people said about you." Said Lily, "But I gave you a chance."
"Yeah." Said Snape, "But you don't know Potter."
"Well describe him to me." Said Lily.
"He's not what you think he is." Said Sev, "Some big Quidditch prodigy, he's arrogant, self-indulgent, reckless, relishes in his status."
"Doesn't strike me like that." Said Lily thoughtfully.
"Which begs the question why do you even talk to him." said Sev, not really acknowledging Lily's thought.
"Look, I have to share a common room, and go to lessons with him." said Lily, "It's in my interests to get along with him."
"He's still and arrogant berk." Said Sev.
"Why don't you like him so much?" asked Lily.
"Quidditch." Said Sev.
"Quidditch? As in that sport you all play."
"Yeah." Said Sev resting on a wall. "Me and him played for opposite teams."
"Was he good?" Sev looked up angrily, Lily decided not to push the issue.
"All you need to know is that he'll show his true colours to you eventually." Warned Sev. Lily nodded and shrugged.
"Ok, there was something else I wanted to ask you." Said Lily, "Is it true some people don't like muggle borns?" Snape's eyes widened in shock.
"Uhm…" he spluttered. "I Er…where did you hear that."
"I was asking about those social circles." Said Lily, "They were explaining it to me yesterday. And they said that some of the higher social circles don't like people like me. Is that true?"
Snape didn't answer straight away, instead trying to find the right words. "Yes." he said finally. "But not all of them, and you won't have to worry about that here." He gingerly placed a hand on her shoulder.
"I promise you that."
The week itself grew more interesting as it went on. Lessons became more practical, she was finally able to use her wand for a lesson in transfiguration, turning a pencil into a needle. After much huffing and puffing she was finally able to switch the tip. But her frustration was aimed at the people who were doing it right easily. Potter and Black had been able to do it in a flash. She was tempted to ask them for help, but her stubborn streak and pride as always got in her way.
It wasn't until her last try that she did, which was accompanied by a high five with Dorcas. And she felt proud as she held it in her hand, she had transformed something, her, Lily Evans.
"Well done Miss Evans." Said Professor McGonagall as she walked past. Lily smiled to herself.
"Oh my god that was amazing," said Lily, "I really need to carry on with this."
"Not until Monday." Pointed out Sarah, "We have Friday afternoons off."
"Do we?" Said Lily checking her timetable. Sure enough they had the afternoon off. "So we do."
"Well Potter said him and the guys were going to see the whomping willow." Said Dorcas, "I really wanted to see it to, you fancy coming."
It was agreed among the majority to go down to the willow. Lily wasn't so sure, the name whomping willow did have an ominous tone to it that. They made their way down the grounds to a set of stone stairs. Down the bottom was a huge tree that stood motionless. Stood by its where three back dots Lily identified as Potter, Black, and Lupin. The girls made their way down.
"Is that it?" asked Lily.
"Yeah," said Sarah, "Don't what they're doing."
"It doesn't look very whomping." Said Marlene, as they approached. The tree just looked like any other tree, its branches swaying gently in the midday breeze.
"It will." Said Potter. "I saw one of these in forests of Germany." He picked up a stone from the ground.
"All it needs is a little coaxing." He threw the rock, it sailed through the air and echoed as it hit the trunk. The tree suddenly lurched into life, a branch violently swung at James. Lily gasped as it only missed him by inches.
"See, coaxing." Said James.
"Are you mad!" said Jessica, "You could of died."
"Stop being so melodramatic." Said James eyeing it carefully.
"What are you up to James." Said Isabel. Potter removed his robes and rolled up his sleeves.
"Got my back?" asked James.
"As always." Said Sirius doing the same thing. Lily didn't know what he was doing, or planning on doing.
"He wouldn't." said Dorcas lightly.
"He wouldn't what?" asked Lily perplexed.
"Potter! Don't you dare you idiot!" Said Dorcas loudly.
"Don't you know it." said Potter calling back. He sprinted off towards the tree.
"POTTER!" shouted Dorcas. Lily watched amazed as James ran towards the tree, it swept a branch across. Potter somersaulted underneath it and then side stepped to miss and oncoming branch coming down. The ground reverberated as the branch smacked the floor. He was on the move again as he dodged a branch trying to take his legs away. It was like watching a cross between dancer and a gymnast. The way he moved to avoid the branches was mesmerising, using different spins and jumps to avoid getting hit. A branch came across him. He held his arms up and the branch hit them. He flipped up in the air, almost doing a backward flip before landing in on a branch. The branch started to shake violently throwing Potter around. And he was riding it like it was rodeo.
Lily watched open mouthed as the branch threw him in the air. Another branch came across and hit him across his chest. Potter fell sharply towards the ground and slammed into the ground, Lily gasped again.
"Look out!" shouted Lily. Potter looked up, the tree and pulled itself all the way back, it then threw itself forward. Potter backward rolled and started to run back as the tree slammed into the ground. Potter dodged the branches and forward rolled.
He struck an impressive sight as the tree slowly pulled away, and he slowly got to his feet. He brushed his chest off and looked up with a grin.
Lily stood open mouthed. She couldn't believe he'd just done that. How could someone do that, go on so willingly into danger. He could have been killed and her didn't even care.
"Are you insane!" said Lily without thinking. "You could of died!"
"I knew what I was doing." Said James wincing, he felt his chest. "Besides I'm here, no harm done."
"No harm done, Potter you could of died." Said Isabel.
"You know me better than that Izzie." Said James.
"I don't know why I'm not surprised." Said Dorcas, "Of course you were always going to do that."
"Quite a spectacle, no?"
"No Potter, it was dangerous." Said Sarah. "That willow is dangerous."
"Not that dangerous or I wouldn't be here." He said.
Dorcas rolled her eyes. "Come on girls, leave him, it will only feed his ego, and let him have his day." Lily looked back at Potter who was now laughing with Black and Lupin and going over something. He was certainly like no one Lily had ever met.
"I can't believe he did that." Said Dorcas, "His mother would blow her nut if she caught him doing that."
"Guess some things never change." Said Isabel, "Kinda reminded me of what he did at Mrs Hudson's, except with a tree!"
"How did he pass that again?" asked Jess.
"His dad probably bribed her." said Dorcas. "Wouldn't surprise me."
"What did he do?" asked Lily.
"He was brash and pulled a prank because he was bored." Said Jess.
"So why do you keep hanging out with him?" asked Lily, Dorcas and Isabel exchanged wry looks at each other.
"He's unique." Said Dorcas, "No one else like him."
"Is that a good thing?"
"You should see some of the guys we had to put up with." Said Isabel, "James is a breath of fresh air. Funny and always up for a laugh."
"And nearly killing himself." Said Lily.
"It's part of the parcel, you can't have one without the other." Said Dorcas. "But he's had it hard over the last four years, it's good to finally see him get back to normal." Isabel nodded in agreement.
"Why, what's happened with him?" asked Lily.
"Not our story to tell." Said Dorcas. "Let's go get some lunch."
Inspired by what the boys had done on the first night the girls dorm had gone a bit of a transformation. They had made a tent from a small sheet which all seven of them had crammed underneath. Lily had used a Lumos charm to light up the tent, and now they were all laughing and joking underneath.
"Come on Lily, tell us about you." Said Dorcas.
"Yeah." Chimed in Marlene, "Growing up as a muggle must have been really cool."
"Not really." Said Lily, opening a chocolate frog. Which she had now become very attached to and placed it in her mouth.
"I suppose it was like any other childhood." Said Lily, "Except without all the…magic." She finished quietly.
"But how did you know you were a witch." Asked Sarah, "You must have done something magical."
"I saved myself from drowning once." Said Lily, "But I really didn't know what it was then."
"So how did you find out?" asked Isabel eating a bar of chocolate.
"Well…I was first told by Severus Snape." Said Lily. All the girls sucked in the air.
"Snape?" said Jess, "As in that greasy haired loser."
"He is not a loser." Said Lily, "He was the first friend I had. He told me I was witch after he'd been following me."
"Sounds creepy." Said Mary raising an eyebrow.
"He accepted me." Said Lily. "Because I did know my powers. For a long time. And people where afraid of me."
"…where you bullied Lily?" asked Isabel lightly. Lily nodded.
"They were scared of me and lashed out in the only way they knew." Said Lily. "But that's behind me now." she said smiling looking up. "I know Hogwarts will be different."
"So is that why you hang out with Snape then." Asked Jess.
"There's nothing wrong with him." said Lily, "Sure he's a little…unorthodox."
"A little." Said Dorcas, "I hear he hangs out with Avery and Mulciber." Isabel turned her nose up.
"Those two are creeps." She said, "I'm glad James and Sirius drove them out."
"What did they do to them?" asked Mary.
"They were into this dark magic stuff." Said Dorcas, "They tried to use some on a friend of ours, Faith Chambers. Potter and Black found them and stopped them."
"How?"
"There's a reason Avery has a lazy eye." said Isabel. Dorcas nodded, as did Jess while Lily and Mary exchanged uncertain looks at each other.
"Doesn't he get into trouble?" asked Lily, "From his parents?" Isabel and Doracas snorted.
"His mum might give him a stern word but overall no."
"Why?"
"He's a golden child." Said Jess, "His mum was baron for years, saw James as a miracle."
"They wouldn't say a bad thing about him." said Dorcas, "He's just immature rather than mean."
"Sounds spoilt to me." Said Mary.
"He's not spoilt that's for sure." Said Isabel, "He's actually quite unassuming. Unlike some of the boys in the social circle."
"Are a lot of them spoilt then?" asked Lily.
"Snap their fingers and mummy and daddy get it. Mostly it's down to their guilty conscious." Said Isabel.
"Guilty Conscious?" said Mary.
"Most people have their parents in high ranking ministry positions." Said Dorcas,
"Or live of their family's wealth." Interjected Jess.
"Apart from James's parents." Said Isabel, "His mum and Dad are Auror's."
"What's an Auror?"
"Dark wizard catcher." Said Sarah, "Really dangerous stuff."
"So his Parents are off on missions round the year." Said Isabel, "I think he's reckless for the attention."
"How did we get on to talking about Potter?" asked Marlene.
"I think it was when Lily couldn't stop blushing when he was teaching her poker." Said Isabel. Lily felt the heat flush to her cheeks as the other girls giggled manically.
"I was not." Said Lily smiling.
"Oh come of it." said Mary, "I saw you Lily."
"Yeah, your cheeks were as red as your hair." Said Isabel.
"Not as flushed as yours when James saved you from that pool." Said Dorcas. Isabel did go very red indeed as the rest of them laughed to.
"It was one time." said Isabel quietly.
"And you've been smitten with him ever since." Said Dorcas. She handed out some more chocolate to the group. Lily took it and began to nibble. She remembered back to when she and Elle had sleepovers, but never like this. Not an entire group, but Lily felt herself opening to her new friends. They made her feel welcome, and were willing to give her advice.
But when was all said and done, Lily would still find herself in the confidence of her four poster bed, crying at the world she left behind.