Harry watched as the 5th year prefects escorted the new students to their dormitories. Lucius Malfoy was directing the way for the new Slytherins. Harry could hear one of the 6th year Gryffindors introducing himself to his father, "Hi, I'm Astrix Alixate. Welcome to Hogwarts."
"You're the Quidditch captian?" James asked.
"Yeah. Do you play?" Astrix asked.
"Yep. I play chaser. I can play seeker too but I prefer chaser." James said as he played with his hair.
"Well, this year the team is pretty much sorted but come see me next year." Astrix said as he stood up, "Right. I'm off to bed."
"Gryffindor first years!" a fifth year boy called, pressed against his chest was a prefect badge, "I'm Trev Mallory and this is Jennifer Dawn, your fifth year prefects." He continued as the new first years gathered around him and Jennifer.
"You can call me Jenny! There are six Gryffindor prefects in total, Mallory and myself in fifth year, Remy Olivier and Jackson Sheppard in sixth, and Riley Frazer and Hayley Dakota in seventh year." Jennifer Dawn said.
"And don't forget that our head boy is a Gryffindor – Kingsley Shacklebolt." Mallory said, "Right, well, anyway. Welcome to Gryffindor. Let's get you up to the common room."
Trev and Jenny led the way towards the Gryffindor common room. James walked with Sirius; admiring the portraits and moving staircases with open moved expressions. Lily was walking with Mary MacDonald a few steps behind the boys. When they reached the fat lady's portrait, the prefects turned and smiled at the new first years, "The password is Winglebeard. Do not forget it or you may find yourself sleeping out here." Mallory told them. The portrait swung open and the group walked into a large yet cosy room. The common room was decorated in the Gryffindor colours; red and gold. There were comfortable armchairs near the fire. They were already occupied by several older students. There were also tables where Lily could imagine herself studying. James was looking out of a nearby window that overlooked the Quidditch pitch – this would be his thinking spot, he decided as he sat on the window ledge.
Mallory called out to the first years once more, "Right boys follow me and girls follow Jenny to your dormitories." He began as he led the boys up a set of stairs to the right, "Now boys, something to remember is that if any of you try to gain entry to the girl dorms without permission you will… well let's just say, it's impossible."
The first year boys followed Mallory up the spiralling staircase and into a circular room near the very top of the tower. "This is the first year dormitory, make yourselves at home. It is passed curfew so you must stay within the Gryffindor tower until morning. Anyone caught leaving the tower will lose house points."
The boys looked around the room. There were five beds; with velvet curtains surrounding them. James and Sirius picked beds next to each other; with a window between them that looked out over the grounds. Remus picked the bed nearest the door. Frank shook hands with James, "Good to see you again Potter!" he said as he picked the other bed next to James'.
"Ah Longbottom. Have you spoken to Prewitt since the party? You know she likes you, right?" James meddled.
"No she doesn't. Don't be stupid." Longbottom frowned, turning red. Peter was left with the bed next to the bathroom in between Frank and Remus. "Anyway, should we all introduce ourselves? I'm Frank Longbottom." He said to the four other first year boys.
"James Potter," James said as he played with his hair.
"Sirius Black," Sirius said as he leaned back on his bed, "And yes near enough my whole family is in Slytherin and I'll probably be disowned." The boys all laughed gently.
"P-Peter Pettigrew," said Peter.
"Lupin. Remus Lupin. Should we unpack?"
The girls followed Jenny up the stairs towards the girls' dormitory. "This is your room. Make the most of it – this is probably the only place in the whole castle where you can escape the boys." Jenny laughed as she closed the door, leaving the girls to unpack.
The girls all picked beds quietly. "So… who's who?" one of the girls asked.
"I'm Alice Prewitt." Alice said shyly.
"As in pure-blood Prewitt? Friends of the Potters?" a girl with black long hair asked excitedly.
"Er, yeah. We're kind of related – sort of." Alice answered awkwardly.
"Isn't there a Potter in our class? He's really annoying. Arrogant." Lily said.
"That's James. We're really good friends. He's really great. He seems arrogant when you first meet him but I've never had a better friend – except maybe Frank." Alice replied openly.
"Did you go to the pure-blood party that the Potters threw, last month?" asked Mary MacDonald.
"Yes." Alice answered, unsure how to respond.
"I don't agree with pure-blood fanatics! I'm a half-blood. It really disgusts me that pure-blood fanatics are in Gryffindor!"
"I'm not a pure-blood fanatic and neither is my family or James for that matter." Alice replied icily. "The Potters throw those parties for a reason and it sure as hell isn't because they agree with the extremists."
"Then what is the reason?" Mary asked.
"I can't tell you." Alice replied before storming out of the room.
Lily couldn't understand what just happened. The girl with black hair turned on Mary, "Not all of us pure-bloods are prejudiced against muggle-borns, and half-bloods. I don't care about your blood status and I don't think James or Alice do either!"
"I really don't understand what just happened," Lily said questioningly.
"I'm Marlene McKinnon. I'm guessing you're a muggle-born?" She asked kindly.
"Er, yeah." Lily replied.
"Well some pure-blood wizards look down on muggle-borns and half-bloods because they believe them to have dirty blood or something. They have all sorts of horrible names for them, like mudbloods. The Potters and the Prewetts are anything but muggle haters. They support muggle-born rights and everyone knows that Charlus Potter is the most influential muggle supporter in the ministry. I think you need to apologise to Alice, Mary."
The boys were all unpacking their things when a girl ran into their dormitory crying. She ran straight into James' arm. She was sobbing. "Alice, whatever is the matter?" Everyone stopped unpacking and stared at the crying girl in Potter's arms.
"Mary MacDonald called me a pure-blood fanatic. She said you were too and your family." She said in between tears.
"Come now, Alice. Don't let her upset you. She's just misguided." James said soothingly. "Ignore her. She doesn't know you. Not like I do, or Frank does."
"She said that it's disgusting that pure-blood fanatics got into Gryffindor and that we were bad for having pure-blood parties. And the worst thing is, I can't even tell her the reason we have them."
"I know. I know, Alice. It really is very unfair." James responded. The boys all turned towards the door as they heard a quiet knock. Remus opened the door to find the rest of the first year girls waiting to come in.
"Can we come in?" Lily asked.
"Erm,.." Remus replied.
"Of course you can ladies." Potter said from where he stood holding Alice. "I'm guessing you are here to apologise to Miss Prewett?" Alice hid her face in James' neck, avoiding the other girls' eyes.
Mary stepped forward as if to say something but before she could speak Frank stepped forward until he was directly in front of the girl. He began, "You do not know Alice or her family. You have barely met her and you have already hurt her. Alice is the kindest; most gentlest person I know. And as for what you have said about the Potters; you should be ashamed of yourself. The Potter family may be rich but they have more loyalty and courage than they have galleons in Gringotts. It's because of people like them and Dumbledore that you can even attend this school." He said harshly.
"Frank," James begun.
"No, James. She should hear the truth." He then turned back to Mary, "yes. There are students in this school who wouldn't think twice about hexing you, just because you are a half-blood but James and Alice would never do that."
"Mary? It is Mary, right?" James asked.
"Yes," she replied trembling.
"Mary, I understand you are scared. I would be if I was a half-blood. But you need to be careful who you make into your enemies. You already have enough in Slytherin. It would be much more advantageous of you to have Alice Prewett as a friend. Not only is she an awesome friend but she is influential too. You need friends, Mary. Don't alienate your allies." James said maturely.
Alice laughed into his side. "What's so funny, Alice?" James asked.
"You sounded dead mature, James. You almost sounded like your father." She replied as she clutched her stomach in a fit of giggles. James laughed, before ruffling his hair in embarrassment.