I don't know what an enbie is, but, yeah, anyone who reads my stories is much loved and thanked from Arizona :)
Actually, I stopped using alcohol in this particular story a LONG time ago. If people are drinking in this story, they will be drinking soda, juice, or lemonade.
On Wednesday, September 1st, 2021, Lily found herself sharing the very back compartment of the Hogwarts Express with Devon, Hugo, James, Albus, Courtney, Stephanie, and Samantha.
As the day of the return trip to Hogwarts approached, Lily had suspected that she would have some feelings of sadness and emptiness when the Hogwarts Express pulled out of King's Cross station and Ainsley wasn't on it.
But, to her surprise, Lily felt completely at peace with Ainsley's absence from the train as it departed.
In fact, thinking of Ainsley actually made Lily feel happy. Happy because she knew how much the opportunity of becoming a student at the Ultimate University of Wizarding Healing meant to Ainsley and was happy to know Ainsley was starting down that path. Granted, it was easier for Lily to feel this way when she knew that Ainsley wasn't totally gone from her life and that she'd still see her friend Ainsley at least once a month. Still, Lily's reaction of being happy for Ainsley to have that opportunity rather than sad for herself that Ainsley wouldn't be part of her day to day life at Hogwarts anymore was classic Lily.
Instead of feeling sad Ainsley wouldn't be a Hogwarts student anymore, Lily's predominant emotion on this day was one of happiness. Happiness that Courtney would now be starting as a Hogwarts student.
While Courtney had been allowed to stay at Hogwarts as a guest for the last few months of the previous school year, she had never ridden on the Hogwarts Express before. Courtney had wanted her first ever ride on the Hogwarts to come on her first day as a Hogwarts student. As such, outgoing headmistress McGonagall had made arrangements for Courtney to take the Knight Bus home at the end of the previous school year.
"Hey, Courtney, " piped up Lily kindly, "Welcome to being a Hogwarts student. We're all very happy to have you."
"Thanks for the warm welcome, Lily!' grinned Courtney, "But I would expect nothing less from the GOAT of friendship! "
"Hey, Courtney, you're in Gryffindor, right?" asked Lily hopefully.
"Yep, " answered Courtney happily, "I followed sis's lead! I took a miniature figure of Aslan to my sorting to make it clear I wanted to be a lion! Just like Stephanie did!"
"That was so cool!" grinned Samantha.
"It worked for me, and it worked for Courtney!" smirked Stephanie, "Like sister like sister!"
"Courtney?" asked Lily curiously, "What kind of wand do you have?"
"Ten inches, cedar and unicorn hair!" said Courtney happily.
"Unicorn hair wands choose pure hearted witches and wizards, and cedar wands choose loyal witches and wizards of high character, " piped up James.
"That's fitting then, " said Hugo proudly, "Ever since we've known her, Courtney has certainly proven herself to be a good person."
"I'm so lucky to be part of the Circle of Eighteen, " said Courtney warmly, "It's really nice being able to come to Hogwarts with my friendship group already built."
"I respect the hell out of you, Courtney, for the fact that you clearly appreciate the relationships you already possess, " said Lily kindly, "But don't be afraid to make friends with the Gryffindors in your year."
"I won' t do that!" declared Courtney fiercely, " My loyalty is forevermore to the Circle of Eighteen!"
This was exactly the mindset that Lily wanted to stamp out of Courtney.
"Courtney, " said Lily gently, "The name Circle of Eighteen isn't carved in stone you know."
"The Circle of Eighteen can expand, " added Albus.
"Exactly, " said Lily seriously, "Courtney, I truly feel like you should try to make a few friends amongst the Gryffindors in your own year. It doesn't have to happen on the first day or be with all of them, but, as the students in your own year are the people, you'll be sharing classes with, you'll want to have a few friends in your own house in your own year."
"I'm a special case because I'm the only Gryffindor in my year, " said James matter of factly, "I made some good friends amongst the students in the other houses in my year, mostly notably Megan Nash of Slytherin, but it's not the same. You, Courtney, do have the opportunity to make some friends in your own house in your own. Don't squander that opportunity."
"I couldn't have said it better myself, " said Lily approvingly, smiling between James and Courtney.
"They don't have to be your closest friends, " explained Albus, "But they should be people you look forward to seeing every school day."
"Well put, Albus, " said Lily cheerfully.
"I'm a perfect example of how friendship groups grow, " said Devon happily, "Myself, my muggle friends, and my magical friends have all combined to form the Circle of Eighteen, thanks largely to Lily's efforts."
"I know, " said Lily matter of factly, "That, as much as she deeply appreciates her place in the Circle of Eighteen, Rachel Robins genuinely regrets not having made friends with any of the students in Gryffindor in her own year while she was at Hogwarts. "
"Are you saying, " asked Courtney slowly, "That if I make friends with a few of the Gryffindors in my own year that you will accept them into the Circle of Eighteen?"
"You're catching on, Courtney, " said Lily brightly, "I'm more than open to expanding the circle. I actually sent letters to three students I will be sharing the Hogwarts Planning Club with this year, that being Travis Edwards of Ravenclaw, Roger Romo of Hufflepuff, and Megan Nash of Slytherin inviting them to join our circle. Travis and Roger both declined the invite, indicating to me in their responses that they prefer to be loners most of the time. Megan, meanwhile, politely informed me that she is already part of a friendship circle of her own that contains Slytherins in her own and the years and below hers. While James has formed a good friendship with Megan from having frequently partnered and worked with her in class, and while I hope to become good friends with Megan though the Hogwarts Planning Club this year, she ultimately has own friendship group and I respect that completely."
"But you're still completely open minded about expanding the circle, " said Hugo proudly.
"Yes, " said Lily warmly, "Courtney, I truly and sincerely hope that you make a few friends in Gryffindor in your own year."
"Thanks, Lily, " said Courtney glowingly with a twinkle in her eyes.
Lily was pleased to see the look now residing on Courtney's face. Lily was now confident that Courtney would make some friends in Gryffindor in her own year.