Hogwarts' Original Pranksters' Fantastic First Year

HOGWARTS ORIGINAL PRANKSTERSÂ’ FANTASTIC FIRST YEAR
Chapter 1: Overture

The letter arrived at about the end of breakfast. James was eating up his last piece of toast when the owl flew in through the window onto the table, startling his mother.

Elizabeth Potter reached out a slightly shaking hand in order to untie the roll of parchment elegantly tied up to the birdÂ’s foot. ItÂ’s mission accomplished, the owl stuffed its head under its wing, waiting for some water in return for its services. Mrs Potter glanced at the envelope, then handed it to her son, all excited:

"ThatÂ’s for you, Jimmy! ItÂ’s from the school, I know it! Just read!"

James took the envelope hesitantly and opened it.


HOGWARTS SCHOOL OF WITCHCRAFT AND WIZARDRY

Headmaster: Albus Dumbledore

(Order of Merlin, First Class, Grand Sorc., Chief Warlock, Supreme Mugwump, International Confed. Of Wizards)

Dear Mr Potter,

We are pleased to inform you that you have a place at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find enclosed a list of al necessary books and equipment.

Term begins on 1 September. We await your owl by no later than 31 July.

Yours sincerely,

Rowena Walsh

Deputy Headmistress

"Oh my, Jimmy dear, that’s fantastic!" cried his mother as she hugged him. "I knew you’d make it anyway, I’m so excited, just wait until your dad hears it, too bad he left before breakfast –"

James was only half-listening. He felt oddly tense, and a small lump of excitement started to develop in his throat, as he turned the idea over and over in his mind. IÂ’m going to Hogwarts. I'm going to Hogwarts Â…

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The place which his whole family had been through before him. The place where all young English wizards and witches studied Magic Arts.

James Potter knew he was magical somehow since his third birthday, when, annoyed by a particularly sharp-clawed cat, he had found himself five feet away without anyoneÂ’s help. So this letter was not really a surprise, but it sealed for good his arrival in the magical world. He wrote the answer just after breakfast and sent it away with the same owl, then he went outside to play with his dadÂ’s old broom, under a July sun that never seemed so bright.

James was eleven. He was already rather tall for his age; tall enough to keep his primary school mates from trying to pick a quarrel with him anyway; but this was not the only reason he was respected. He was a likeable sort, winning everyone’s liking naturally by his good nature, his frank and unaffected manners and his sense of humour. Girls liked the dreamy way he looked with his untidy jet-black mop with tangles of hair – though rather short – going all over the place, and with his big dark-green eyes shining behind round glasses. His mates knew he was always ready for a good laugh, or ready to pull a joke on someone as long as it wasn’t nasty or humiliating. In short, James got on with everybody.

And yet, while flying on his dadÂ’s old Stratus 60, James couldnÂ’t help but think how great it would have been if heÂ’d had a brother, or a real friend whom he could share the huge Potter Mansion with, and everything it contained. He did have lots of mates at school who were just perfect to share a good laugh with, or to lend him a quill if he broke his; but he had not one true friend. None of his pals ever thought of inviting him for the afternoon, and he would face the teacherÂ’s wrath alone whenever he hit a snag in a joke. ThatÂ’s why he was so curious to see how it would turn out to be at Hogwarts. Let things be different, he hoped. Just different.

The following days dragged on so slowly that James asked his mother several times if time couldn’t be sped up. Back home in the evening the day James got his letter, William Potter had spoken for a long time about the legacy of wizards, the family’s honour – almost all the Potters had been sorted into the same house at Hogwarts, that is Gryffindor – and all pure-blooded families to see or to avoid. ‘As for the others’, as he had said, ‘just wait and see’. He just didn’t know, but James was half-listening again anyway. He wondered what the castle would look from inside.

Then the moment came to buy the school stuff – the list arrived along with the letter: uniform (sets of black robes, a winter cloak, and a pointed hat, all in black), books and equipment, including of course a magic wand. And the best place to buy it all was hidden in the heart of London.

James had already been to Diagon Alley, and he knew the way. Once they got into London – the Muggle way – they were greeted by a driving tepid summer rain. Mrs Potter let her son lead the way to the Leaky Cauldron with a smile on her face. He spotted it easily – it was still stuck between a little bookshop and a butcher’s.

"I shouldÂ’ve brought a larger umbrella," Mrs Potter said, pushing the door of the dingy little pub. James shrugged and stepped in behind her shaking his soaked mop.

James liked the Leaky Cauldron, even despite the darkness and the piles of dust lingering in the corners where spiders ruled Â… He always found it quite pleasant. His mother stepped across the pub, smiling along to the customers she knew. When the barman asked her whether sheÂ’d have her usual currant juice on the rocks, she gave a broad grin and pointed at James. He was eyeing with great interest a dwarf standing up on a chair, with a few cards in his hand, bawling to a wizard sitting at the same table, "YouÂ’ve cheated! Blimey, I did see youÂ’ve cheated!"

"My big boyÂ’s starting Hogwarts in September," Mrs Potter proudly told the barman. "WeÂ’re going to buy his equipment."

"Ah," said the barman, his smile revealing the hole left by his two upper incisors which were missing. "Good thing for him, it is, Mrs Potter. But – I think the Snape boy’s starting school this year, too."

"Snape? TheyÂ’re quite close to He-Must-Not-Be-Named, arenÂ’t they? IÂ’m suspicious of those people, you can never know Â…"

"So I heard. Anyway, I met the boy along with his parents just now; they darted past me without even a look."

"Rudest people, they are, indeed."

The wizard finally calmed down the dwarf by offering him his own tankard of Butterbeer; James turned to his mother, who glanced at him and cried, "Oh God, Jimmy, I almost forgot about you! Please excuse us, Nigel," she said to the still-smiling barman standing behind the counter – James liked him and his pirate smile – "but we have to go! See, Jimmy here can’t keep still!"

"My nameÂ’s James, Mum," James said in an exasperated tone. He was now eleven, about to get into Hogwarts, if only she could stop with that silly nickname Â…

They both stepped out into the little courtyard at the back of the pub. It was still raining, but James didn’t want his mother to enchant her umbrella for him. He liked this soft and tepid rain, it was quite agreeable after early August burning heat – and besides, he felt quite stupid under the umbrella. However, as his glasses were so clouded by the rain he couldn’t see three feet forward, he was relieved when Mrs Potter picked them from his nose, and tapping them with her wand muttering, "Impervius. Honestly, Jimmy …" James put his glasses on again; now they repelled water. He clearly saw his mother counting the bricks of the wall and tapped one with her wand. A hole opened, growing larger and larger, and James and his mother walked into Diagon Alley.

Despite the rain, they were lots of people in the alley, and James watched the familiar ballet of coloured robes smiling. About all wizards and witches had cast a Rain Shield Charm or were holding a real Muggle umbrella, and the result was an interesting tableau indeed; you could also see the few Muggle parents coming with their wizarding children to get their school things. They were the only ones who bore astonished looks on their faces.

"LetÂ’s see that list," muttered Mrs Potter getting the parchment out of her purse. "Oh yes, the robes. Madam Malkin mustÂ’ve finished them now. Poor woman, such a fire is enough to ruin everyoneÂ’s business Â… YouÂ’ll fetch your uniforms while IÂ’ll get your rolls of parchment, quills and telescope. There," she added, handing James a small bag full of golden Galleons before he could say a single word, "there must be enough in it for your robes and books, and while you are at it, get your wand. Then weÂ’ll get you a cauldron, and all the stuff you need for your Potions class. Oh dear, I know I forgot something Â…"

James opened his mouth but his mother cut him with a frown, "Can I trust you, James?"

"Yes, Mum," he finally uttered, relieved that she at least ceased treating him like a mummyÂ’s boy. "ItÂ’s okay, IÂ’ll go to Madam MalkinÂ’s, then Mr OllivanderÂ’s, then to the bookshop; letÂ’s meet again at Florean FortrescueÂ’s in three quarters of hours, alright?"

Mrs PotterÂ’s cheeks flushed pink as she kissed her son on the cheek and cried, "Oh Jimmy dear, IÂ’m so proud of you Â…" James, feeling slightly embarrassed, watched her heading toward a shop whose shop window showed rolls of parchment of every size and quills of every kind. He sighed. Some things seem to change slowly. Then he turned about and walked to Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions.

The store looked quite normal; although, according to what James had heard, fire had destroyed a lot of robes kept in the back of the shop few days ago. When Madam Malkin arrived, she took him to the back of the shop and had him sit on a tool a few feet away from another boy. He asked her about the shop politely, but the small witch just shook her head sadly. She asked him his name and disappeared behind a large curtain. James peeked around, and his eyes fell on the boy sitting next to him, who was glancing around too, with his nose in the air. James couldnÂ’t help but peer at him.

The boy must be his age; he was about the same height as him, tall and rather skinny. He wasn’t wearing wizard robes, but was dressed the Muggle way, with a tee-shirt and a pair of worn-out-looking jean trousers and jacket, still wet with rain. His matted jet-black mop was almost as bad as James’ was, but his wet locks fell lower on his neck, curling a little. An unreadable expression floated on his face, just like his warm sort of grin, something between sarcasm, calm irony and slight insolence. And when he turned questioning eyes to James, James almost started: he had never seen eyes of this colour. They were a very light, limpid blue, twinkling with mischief, laughter, and – at that moment – curiosity, "Hi," he said, raising an eyebrow.

"Hi", James finally answered; then he brought his stool forward and asked, spurred by curiosity, "YouÂ’re a Muggle, arenÂ’t you?"

"Er Â… yeah, well, sort of. YouÂ’re a wizard, arenÂ’t you?"

That was immediately followed by an ironic grin, obviously coming from someone who never takes anything seriously, and especially not himself. James smiled back, "Er Â… yeah, sort of. Are your parents with you? TheyÂ’re all Muggles in your family?"

"Nope, my dadÂ’s a Muggle. IÂ’ve come with my sisÂ’. SheÂ’s a witch, sheÂ’s gone over there to buy some new books. SheÂ’s been going to Hogwarts for four years now and sheÂ’s a pain in the neck. What Â’bout you?"

"My mum left me hanging about here. SheÂ’s up there buying my quills, rolls of parchment, and the stuff that was on the list."

"So youÂ’re an abandonee, too, arenÂ’t you?"

"Yeah, you can say that Â…" The two boys started to laugh. Then James extended his hand to the boy, who shook it feelingly, "IÂ’m James Potter."

"Sirius Black. And donÂ’t laugh, I didnÂ’t chose."

James frowned slightly, "Why dÂ’you say that? I like the name Sirius. IÂ’d like to have an unusual name like this, JamesÂ’s so common ... At least, SiriusÂ’ cool."

"That’s not what they kept saying at school," Sirius said, grinning again. "They said that – wait – oh yeah, that ’twas ‘a freak’s freaky name’. Mind you, it’s not that I disliked being ‘the freak’, on the contrary! Plus I like this name. The Dog Star. Cool."

"Have you ever actually cast a real spell?"

Sirius thought for a moment, then, "Yeah, five or six years ago, there was that big twit trying to scare the living daylights outta me and get my snack; he ended up on the ground with very long and very green hair. I still dunno how I did it," he ended with a wolfish kind of grin, "but it was worth while!"

The two boys laughed again; Madam Malkin came back, handling two bundles, "There, my dears. Have a good school year!"

Sirius looked rather ashamed as they got out of the shop, "What am I gonna look like in these? Oy, girlsÂ’re gonna make fun of me Â…"

"TheyÂ’re used to seeing boys wearing robes, donÂ’t worry," said James, friendly clapping him on the shoulder. "Look, I am a boy, right? DonÂ’t I look absolutely superb in these robes?"

"Er Â… DÂ’you really want to know that?"

One glance was enough for James to see Sirius was joking.

"My sister told me to buy a magic wand," Sirius said. "Do you know where the shop is?"

"Yeah, Ollivander’s, just down over there –"

They walked down the street wisecracking cheerfully, without taking notice of the rain that soaked them to the skin. Once they had reached the wand makerÂ’s, Sirius shook his drenched dark mop in a dog sort of way before stepping in behind James.

It was a tiny, silent place, and the two boys got actually the same impression; it was as if they were standing in a really huge library, not being able to speak without being heard miles away. There was a single chair standing in the middle of the room; James sat down after sharing a glance with Sirius, who shook his head. He preferred to stand up. During a few endless seconds, nothing happened, then the small doorbell let out a rusty chiming sound and a girl stumbled in.

At first, all the boys could see was a huge umbrella, and a wet skirt sticking against two plump little legs that were shaking slightly. Then the umbrella was shut, and the girl brushed her matted elbow-long auburn hair out of her face, and both Sirius’ and James’ faces broke into a broad grin. This dark-flame coloured hair had hidden till then the most startling eyes they ever seen – no kidding. Just imagine two glittering big green eyes, framed by long, dark eyelashes, and you may get an idea of what the apparition looked like. However, the eyes looked uneasy as they peeked around, as if they were expecting to see a dragon turning up without a warning.

"Hey there," James said with a smile. The girl relaxed a bit, "Hi. ItÂ’s the wand shop, isnÂ’t it?"

"Yep, it is," Sirius said. "First year at Hogwarts, too?"

The girl nodded. Sirius nudged James; James jumped out of the chair and pointed it to the newcomer, "Er, sorry, want to sit?"

She chuckled, "Yeah, right, call me disabled – no, keep it for yourself, you arrived first."

"WhatÂ’s your name?" James asked.

"Lily Evans. I guess I’m what you guys call ‘Muggle-born’. All my family’s Muggles."

"Really?" James was staring at her with great interest. Lily started to laugh again – her laugh was warm, almost musical, "Why are you staring at me like this? Have I grown another head or something?"

"IÂ’ve never seen one so closely," James answered earnestly Â…

This line broke the heavy silence that reigned over the room; Sirius and Lily burst out laughing, and James followed heartily.

"By the way, WhatÂ’re your names?"

"James Potter."

"Sirius Black."

"Like the star? Wow, cool."

"See, I told you so. Oy Lily, do you mind boys wearing robes?"

"Nope. Everybody wears these where weÂ’re going, anyway."

"Ah! See, Sirius?"

"Mmhh Â… yeah, well Â…"

They were about to laugh again, but suddenly heard a soft, as though muffled voice said "Good afternoon to you three." They started a little; an old man was standing in the doorway, his wide, grey eyes shining out of the darkness like two moons.

"Hello," Lily ventured. James and Sirius fidgeted slightly; they looked obviously uneasy, especially Sirius. Mr Ollivander stared at the little gang for a few minutes, then Lily took a step back, "They came before me." Mr Ollivander shot her a quick glance. The silvery eyes didnÂ’t make her flinch. Then he turned to James, "Would you be the first, Mr Potter, please?"

"How comes he knows your name?" Lily whispered as James stepped forward. He answered in the same tone, "IÂ’ve already been here, he knows me."

Mr Ollivander took a tape measure out of his pocket, a long one with silvery markings, and started measuring James. Then the wands maker let the tap measure take its own measurements – Lily was a bit taken aback when it measured between James’ nostrils – and fetched some boxes down from the shelves.

"Try this one, Mr Potter," he said as he took a wand out of its box. "Ash wood, eight and a half inches, with a dragon heartstring within." James took the stick gently but firmly and waved it; nothing happened. Mr Ollivander took it from his hand and gave him another one.

"Here: pinewood and dragon heartstring again, nine and a quarter inches. A different dragon, of course. You can’t find two identical Ollivander wands, like you won’t find two quite identical dragons. I may add that you won’t find any wand better than Ollivander’s in all England. Your father had dragon heartstring in his first wand too, I remember it well – baytree, nine inches, springy. There, try this one. Mahogany, phoenix feather, eleven inches. Excellent for Transfiguration."

James felt it the second he caught the wand – a rush of warmth radiating from the tips of his fingers, as little white blue sparks flew out from the stick. Mr Ollivander’s eyes glittered as he slipped the wand in a paper bag.

"This wand chose you, Mr Potter, now take care of it," he said solemnly. "Seven Galleons."

James took the bag and handed seven golden coins out of the purse his mother had given him; then he got back to Lily and Sirius as the wand maker said, "Next, please". Lily and Sirius looked at each other; Sirius finally stepped forward.

"It seems to me I know you," said Mr Ollivander frowning. "You are Altaïr Black’s second child, after Vega Black, aren’t you?" James’ eyes swiftly flicked toward Sirius, who nodded. He looked a bit pale. "I guessed right, then. You’ve got your mother’s eyes. Her first wand was made of walnut, eleven inches long, quite bendy."

Sirius looked even more uneasy than the minute before as Mr Ollivander measured him too.

"How is your sister? SheÂ’s still satisfied with her wand, isnÂ’t she? I remember every single customer who crossed this doorstep, and every wand I sold. That one contained a unicorn heartstring, quite rare, you know. Hazel wood, twelve inches, rather whippy. Wait a second, please."

He disappeared into the shelves again; Sirius just got enough time to mutter under his breath to James, "Does he always tell his customers all about the wands he sold, or is it just to impress ickle firsties?" James shrugged with a smile on his face; Mr Ollivander was back, holding a couple of boxes, "I think I have the perfect match for you here, Mr Black. Ebony, dragon heartstring, eleven and a half inches. Swishy, rather powerful. Try it."

Sirius took the wand for a second; then he jumped suddenly and dropped it with a yelp, "Oy! That thingyÂ’s hot!"

James began to chuckle as Mr Ollivander frowned, "If you happen to feel a slight warmth at your first touch on the wand, then itÂ’s because it chose you. Please take it back."

Sirius bent down, looking a bit sheepish, and picked up the ebony wand. This time, he tightened his grip around the wand, and didnÂ’t flinch when golden red sparks shot out from the tip. He even looked delighted.

"So thatÂ’s my wand? Mine? And I found it first time? Wow, thatÂ’s neat Â…"

He searched his numerous pockets and managed to find seven Galleons and ten Sickles that he handed to Mr Ollivander. Then he returned to his new friends and shot a quizzical look at Lily: "Good luck, old girl!"

Lily shot him a murderous glance and walked with a firm step to Mr Ollivander. His staring, wide, pale eyes were smiling at her, "Ah, some new blood Â… YouÂ’re Muggle-born, arenÂ’t you, child?"

"Yes," she answered, without batting an eyelid. "My nameÂ’s Lily Evans."

"All right, Miss Evans. LetÂ’s see Â…"

And the ritual began for the third time: the tape measure, the wands ... After a ten unsuccessful tries, Lily finally found her own wand: made of willow and a unicornÂ’s mane hair, ten and a quarter inches, swishy. A nice wand for all Charm work, according to its maker. Lily was quite proud of it as she went out again. She picked up her huge umbrella and almost forced the boys to take refuge under it, "CÂ’mon, James, youÂ’re taller than me, take that blasted umbrella or one of the two of you will end up with one eye pocked out. So, weÂ’ve got pieces of magical creatures in our wands. A phoenix, a dragon and a unicorn! Quite cool, eh?"

"Quite. IÂ’ve got a piece of a dragonÂ’s heart in mine ... Gee, I still donÂ’t believe it Â…"

Sirius took his wand out of his bag and was slightly disappointed to see no sparks anymore.

"That normal, do you think?"

"Of course," James said. "Otherwise just picture the panic, with these blue, red or violet sparks flying out each time you pick your wa – ouch!!"

James had bumped into someone; Sirius let out a yelp – he almost had his left eye poked out by the stranger’s umbrella rib. Lily watched with a pout of disgust at the crooked nose, the dark, cold eyes flashing nastiness, and the greasy black hair.

"CanÂ’t watch it, boy?" barked the newcomer. "Do you look where youÂ’re going sometimes?"

"Sorry," James muttered, shrugging. After all, they were watching it – well, kind of, with that giant umbrella. "We didn’t see you."

"You should change your glasses! Looks like you need some better ones!"

Maybe it was the nasty look in these dark eyes, or the wicked tone, but James really did not like the guy. He shot him daggers and made a menacing motion but Sirius spoke before heÂ’d done something, "Tell me, slimeball, before we get on such sweet terms, have you got a wand here?"

"No, but –"

"No ‘no but’s. You haven’t got a wand, we’ve got three. Brand news."

"And they are three of us anyway", James added, still scowling.

"So," Sirius ended, his voice dangerously calm, "if you havenÂ’t got anything more interesting to tell us, please, just scram."

If looks could kill, both Sirius and James would have fall down dead. But Sirius grinned – this wolfish grin of his, unveiling his eye-teeth – and the guy didn’t insist. However you could hear him cursing his way down the street.

"Got yourself a new friend here, Sirius?" Lily said smiling, as they entered the bookshop – James was desperately trying to shut the umbrella. "You’ve gone a bit too far anyway. That’s not very wise, nor serious if you excuse the pathetic pun –"

"No prob, IÂ’m used to that one. But youÂ’ll see soon that IÂ’m not a wise or a serious person. Well, I do everything in order not to be."

"Perfect, I ended up with two nutters. Looks like schoolÂ’s gonna be interesting."

"You bet! Wait a sec – oh, no …"

"WhatÂ’s the matter, James?"

"I came here to buy my books and my mumÂ’s got the list Â…"

"Oy, how stupid."

"Don't worry, James. I must buy my books too. IÂ’ve got my list here."

"Gee, thanks, Lily. You saved my life here."

"Not at all!"

Lily took the list out of her purse and glanced at it. James looked at it too and frowned: that list was much longer than his.

"Why are there so many books?"

"Well, those are the books of the list, and I was advised to read these ones."

"Hogwarts, a History, An Encyclopaedia of Magical Creatures, The Dark Arts and How to Protect Yourself Â… And A Study of TodayÂ’s Magical Society? WhatÂ’s the use of reading all that stuff?"

Lily blushed a little, "I donÂ’t know anything about your world! How you live, your society, your attitude towards Muggles Â… All I want is not to look like an idiot Muggle when I come to school."

"You know, Lily," Sirius cut in, "there’re loads of Muggle-born kids who knew nothing before they come to Hogwarts! Look at me for instance. My Ma was a witch, but my Da’s all Muggle, he brought us up my sister and me – I don’t know an inch of what James here knows, but I don’t make a fuss of it! Just relax!"

"Sirius’s right," James said with a reassuring smile. "As for me, I come from an old wizarding family, I know how to fly a broom and stuff, but –"

"Fly a broom?" Sirius looked both pleased and scared. The blend gave an interesting result. "Wow, ‘that true? We’ll learn it too? I thought Vega was just kidding!"

"Yeah, thereÂ’re flying lessons Â… Well, I know some stuff like flying or holding a wand Â… but thatÂ’s all I can do! I canÂ’t cast any important spell, or tell you one date in History of Magic, and I certainly wonÂ’t turn into an animal Â… We all start at the same level."

Lily looked relieved, but determined. "Ok, boys. But I do want to buy some of these books. They look interesting. LetÂ’s start with this list Â… By the way, Sirius, have you already bought your books?"

Sirius shifted uneasily, "No, my sisterÂ’s giving me hers. From when she was in first year."

Lily didnÂ’t see what was wrong in getting oneÂ’s sisterÂ’s books, and after all SiriusÂ’ sister couldnÂ’t be worse than Petunia. Sometimes she was outright unbearable. Lily shrugged and began her quest for schoolbooks along with James. Sirius sauntered for a while in the store, with his hands in his pockets, looking at the books and the titles on the covers. They sold everything that could be read: schoolbooks of course, but also old, venerable-looking books of magic spells, brand new little pocket books, recipes books you could tell apart from the others ten feet away by the smell of cabbage, and there was even a cage in a dark corner, containing hirsute-looking books with four feet, staring at you with little orange-red eyes Â… everything.

There were lots of people in the shop, most of them being students coming to get their books just like Lily and James were. Lily almost stumbled over a boy sitting on the ground, reading. He jumped up and apologised; Lily smiled and said it was all right, and she was glad to see a smile spreading on the boy's rather pale face. Then he leaned against the wall and started reading again.

When the three of them – or rather the two of them – finished buying their books, they left the shop; and it was still raining. Lily sighed as James unfolded the umbrella once again.

"IÂ’m starting to get fed up, you know", she said. "I love rain, especially in summer, but enough is enough."

"You said it. WhereÂ’re we gonna go now?"

"I heard thereÂ’s a pet shop down there, IÂ’d like to get a pet, since weÂ’re allowed to."

"Yes, the Magical Menagerie? Just over there. YouÂ’ll see, itÂ’s a real mess inside. I wonder when they finally have a separated shop for the owls."

"Thanks, James. LetÂ’s go, then."

They walked down the street to the Magical Menagerie; they would have spotted it miles away by the smell – a strong smell of cat’s litter, owl’s cages, stagnant water and loads of other things they didn't even want to think of. But the inside was definitely worth it.

It wasnÂ’t very vast, and the walls were crowded with cages with animals of all sorts. There were venomous snails drooling their best, bellowing bullfrogs, big black rats fooling about in their cage, jet-black, yellow-eyed ravens Â… and even some odd, little hairy creatures Lily found lovely, who seemed to be trying to accomplish the feat of singing together the whole vast repertoire of the Beatles. As they started Help!, Lily asked some advice of the witch standing behind the counter.

"You can choose between a toad, a cat and an owl, canÂ’t you?" the witch said very rapidly. "I tell you right now, an owl is far more useful than a cat or a toad. It can carry letters, it doesnÂ’t slobber, no risk of allergy and no need of a litter. If you want to have a pet, better make it useful."

A bit taken aback by the stream of words, Lily just nodded. She chose a small owl with red-brown feathers, who was sleeping peacefully, with her head stuck under her wing. She was still sleeping when the witch took her cage off the shelf and handed it to a beaming Lily. She found the owl positively cute.

The rain was getting lighter when they got out this time. There still were lots of people in Diagon Alley, but Lily could see the boy she almost stumbled over at Flourish and BlottsÂ’; he was still reading, this time leaning against an apothecaryÂ’s shop window, with his light-brown hair falling over his eyes.

"WhatÂ’re you calling your owl?" asked James, still holding the umbrella, while Sirius tried to pat the owl through the cage bars. Lily thought for a second then finally said, "Nina, I think."

"Ouch! Isn’t it a bit odd for an owl, Nina?" Sirius asked, swifting his fingers out of the cage – Nina had woken up and bit him.

"I like that name, plus sheÂ’s my owl, so thatÂ’s Nina. ThatÂ’s all."

"Ok, ok," chuckled James to calm things down, "thatÂ’s Nina. Where do we go now?"

"Dunno," Sirius said with a shrug. "My sister told me to wait for her at Florean Fortrescue’s but I don’t know the place. She told me it’d take her a full hour, so –"

"I’m to meet my Mum at Florean’s, too," James said as they stopped near a grassy bank. "That’s the café up there, nice little place –"

"That was them! With that stupid umbrella!"

James, Lily and Sirius swivelled round: five boys of their age stood in front of them. They only recognised the first – he was the crooked-nosed, greasy-haired guy James had bumped into. He looked more confident now that he had some rear to lean on. He planted himself in front of James and Sirius with a lofty look on his ugly face.

"What is it about?" James asked innocently. The boy scowled, "It is about, as you said, you and your little friend here being disrespectful towards me just now. And I really do not like people being disrespectful towards me."

"And who are you to say so, Al Capone, Voldemort or something?" Sirius joked. To Lily’s surprise, the five boys shuddered; as for James, he gave a little start and watched Sirius carefully. Almost all magic people were afraid of naming aloud the one who was already considered as the most powerful Dark Wizard of the century. But James found ridiculous somewhere being afraid to say a name, even if he was just a little boy; he said it quite naturally, in spite – or rather because – of the reaction he almost always got. He enjoyed the gasp many people would give, just like the greasy-haired kid just did.

Then the boy pulled himself together and said, "My name is Severus Snape." He couldn’t have said ‘King of England’ with more pride. James, Sirius and Lily exchanged sarcastic looks. The boy obviously had waited for a great impression, but none of the three knew that name. A bit nonplussed by how little reaction their friend had got, the four others standing behind him introduced themselves.

"Evan Rosier, Edward Wilkes, Thomas Avery."

"HeÂ’s Michael Nott."

James shrugged, "James Potter."

"Sirius Black."

"Lily Evans."

Once Sirius and Lily had said their names, Snape gave a contemptuous snort.

"I’ve heard of the Potters, but Black and Evans – you’re Mudbloods, aren’t you?"

This time, James went very red, and while Lily and Sirius stared in amazement, he threw himself at Snape, pinned him to the ground and clouted him. Wilkes hurled himself at James quickly; Sirius pitched into the fight, and as a result the two others got mixed in, too. Lily rapidly took away Nina’s cage and the bags containing their purchases; then she did something nobody had expected from her, as she was ‘just’ a girl: she grabbed Rosier by his hair and pulled him back. No gentleman at all, Rosier hit her back, and soon no one could perceive anything. It was a real free-for-all, a very non-magic hand-to-hand fight. James kept punching Snape, Snape hit him as hard as he could, Sirius bit Avery and tripped Wilkes up, Wilkes tried to help his friend Rosier who was struggling with Lily still gripping his hair, as she kicked Nott away to keep him from helping the others …

Rain and mud half blinded them but they wouldn’t let go, especially James. ‘Mudblood’ was the most insulting thing a wizard would call a Muggle-born. As if this was just a matter of ‘dirty’ or ‘pure’ blood. James hated that idea worse than anything. Sirius punched and struggled blindly, out of sheer self-defence instinct. He only had a vague idea of what the insult meant, but he hated the thought of someone spitting mean things at him or at someone he liked. And he felt he actually liked these two.

As for Lily, she was starting to get weaker. Rosier and Nott were both taller and stronger – in Nott’s case, much heavier – and even if she was no a weak person, she must admit that two adversaries were maybe a bit too much to handle. She could sense Sirius next to her giving out a bit too, and she didn't know how James was doing. She bit, scratched, did her best, but then Nott knocked her over against the bank and Rosier stepped closer. His eyes flashed fiercely out of his black eye; he moved forward, with his hand raised, Lily closed her eyes and bit hard on her lip – then she heard a high-pitched yelp, and her eyes snapped open: Rosier was on the ground struggling against someone who literally leaped towards him, and who was now punching him blindly just like Lily was a few seconds before. When he saw the scene, Wilkes let go of Sirius and threw himself at the newcomer in order to help Rosier who was now in a tight corner.

The now counterbalanced parties could have kept on wrestling this way if the noise and the shouts hadn’t caught the attention of their parents and Diagon Alley strollers, curious to watch kids fighting the Muggle way. They eventually pulled children apart – not easily – and then the two opponents stood on each side of an imaginary line, each one facing his own rocket …

"James William Potter!!! Have you no shame, fighting like a fishwife!!!"

James made himself small. His mother never seemed so angry. As for Sirius, he was in deep conversation with a girl of about sixteen, with long, a bit wavy raven-black hair, and blue eyes more sombre than Sirius’ – she was certainly his sister, Vega. Nobody scolded Lily, as she had come alone – she lived near by – but she was rather upset, too.

"I thought you would know better!" growled a dark-eyed, hatchet-faced man down to a sheepish-looking Severus Snape. "Wrestling like a common Muggle, you, coming from a family that has had only pure-blooded wizards for fourteen generations!"

"But Mum," James tried to tell his mother, "this guy called my pals Mudbloods!"

"So youÂ’re throwing yourself at him because of that? ThereÂ’s always some other means to sort things out! And stop fidgeting like this, youÂ’ve got a nasty cut just on your cheek Â…"

Vega Black also tried and mend as much as she could her little brother’s numerous bruises and cuts as she lectured him too – in a slightly different tone though.

"Honestly, Si! Do you really think the thing was worth reacting this way? I mean this is ridiculous, starting such a fight because a snobbish little git called you something! Surely he just wanted to provoke you, and of course you started straight off! Well, smart move, little brother!"

"Excuse me –"

SnapeÂ’s father had tapped on VegaÂ’s shoulder; she turned about, her brows furrowed.

"It seems you just called my son a ‘little snobbish git’, didn’t you?" Mr Snape said coldly. Vega shrugged as Mrs Potter turned to him.

"YouÂ’d better keep it quiet, you! After all, your son did start this all! He shouldnÂ’t have called these children Mudbloods!"

"Severus never provokes, Madam. The others must have done or said something first. Maybe those boys are the ones lying here."

"Sirius may be a cursed so-and-so," exclaimed Vega scandalised, "but he is no liar!"

"You seem very naive, Miss," Mr Rosier said stepping forward, "it’s obvious your Sirius’s no angel either –"

"Watch it, you – !"

As he saw the conversation turning into an adults fight, James quietly stepped away from his mother toward Sirius and Lily, and to the one who brought them his help.

"Thanks, mate," Sirius said grinning. "WeÂ’d have had a tough moment without you, I guess."

"I dunno why you did that," echoed James, "but that was really nice of you."

Lily examined closely the rather pale but smiling face and the light-brown hair that fell on the eyes; these eyes were an undefinable shade, between blue and grey.

"I know you!" she said. "You were at Flourish and BlottsÂ’, and I saw you standing near the apothecaryÂ’s, in front of the Magical Menagerie! Were you following us or something?"

"Not really." The boy’s voice was soft and low, and his eyes were smiling. "I was following those ones actually. I saw you bumping into each other near the bookshop, and knowing Severus –"

"Do you know him?"

"We went to the same school for some time. He was always hanging about with his little gang; I knew they were somewhere round here, so I suspected he was up to something. There were five of them, only three of you, he didn’t like you – that’s a bit of a good recommendation – and I had a little score to settle with Rosier."

"Why?" James said, raising an eyebrow. The boy gave a placidly sarcastic smile, like a sort of mix between JamesÂ’ and SiriusÂ’ smiles, Lily thought.

"Well, he once sat upon my owl, so I stole his fluffy rat."

Then, as he saw the othersÂ’ surprised and dubious expression, he shrugged, "We were at nursery school. But the bloke half suffocated my owl. Poor thing."

The three friends started laughing, then Lily asked, "WhatÂ’s your name?"

"Remus Lupin. I know itÂ’s weird, but I didnÂ’t choose."

The three others introduced themselves.

"James Potter. My mumÂ’s over here, sheÂ’s the one shouting at SnapeÂ’s dad."

"Sirius Black, and this crazy black-haired girl who just slapped Rosier’s dad’s face – yeah, go, Vega, go! – well, she’s my sister."

"Lily Evans, I live in London, so I came alone. WhoÂ’s with you?"

Remus opened his mouth to answer, but he was cut by a shout behind them: "Remus! I wouldÂ’ve been surprised otherwise! What happened this time?"

The woman had ash-blond hair and dark velvet-blue eyes that flashed toward Remus; he was suddenly very interested in his shoelaces. James rescued him.

"ItÂ’s our fault, Madam. Somebody called Lily and Sirius here Mudbloods, so we fought. Remus saw what had happened and gave us a good hand. We would have been really outnumbered without him."

"Well, if this was in order to defend a just cause –" Mrs Lupin said in a softer voice. "You are the Potter boy, James, aren’t you? I know your mum a little, she’s a lovely sort of person."

James stole a glance at his mother who was still shouting at the parents of SnapeÂ’s gang, along with a furious Vega Black who looked as loud-mouthed as her brother. Lovely, he thought, yes, sort of. As long as you donÂ’t get her angry.

"What about you two?"

"My nameÂ’s Lily Evans."

"Sirius Black, MaÂ’am."

"Are you Muggle-born?"

"Yes," Lily said rather proudly, "IÂ’m the only witch in my family."

"IÂ’m half and half," Sirius said. "My DaÂ’s a Muggle, but my Ma was a witch."

There was a short pause. Remus wiped the blood dripping from his cut lower lip with his sleeve; Lily tried to comb her hair with her fingers, which was a losing battle. Mrs Lupin took her wand and started checking over the four children one by one, mending Sirius’ black eye, Remus’ lip, James’ cheek – his mother didn’t have time to finish – and Lily’s cheeks and forehead covered with bruises. We’re really in a sorry state, Lily thought, watching the three boys. Covered with bumps, bruises, cuts and – ouch! I don’t believe it, this Rosier moron bit me …

Her knuckles ached, her knee was still cut, her face was covered with mud and rain, her skirt was dirty and ripped – why then did she feel so cheerful, so happy? And she wasn’t the only one to feel so apparently: she could see James grinning broadly as he chatted with Remus and Sirius. The blue-grey eyes were shining softly, but the clear-blue ones were literally blazing. They talked as though they had known each others for ages, and Lily felt this brawl had created a bond between the four of them. Like a common cause that had them gather together for quite a long time, she reckoned.

It was very reassuring to start a seven-year school career in a place so unknown to her, with these new friends.

Mrs Lupin left them to go and pull the adults apart with the help of some regular customers of Diagon Alley – they weren’t far from brawling just like the children were. While they ‘talked’ with a great many gestures and shouts, the responsible ones – James, Sirius, Lily and Remus on one side, Severus Snape and his gang on the other side – watched tranquilly. The first four ones even started to bet. Then the discussion quietened down gradually, the voices lowered, and later on the opponents broke apart, still glaring at each other. James quickly waved goodbye to his new friends as he followed his mother who strode away, grumbling under her breath. Vega took Sirius away too.

Lily stayed with Remus and his mum for a while and finished up her purchases; Mrs Lupin insisted on helping her carrying her bags home. They got out of Diagon Alley through the Leaky Cauldron, and Lily was home a few streets further. She warmly thanked Remus and his mother, rushed up the steps four at time, then pushed the door open, still all excited.