When You Wish Upon a Star

Chapter Five: Of Carp and Quidditch
By Christabell

The eight students headed up towards the Gryffindor common room, with Lily looking around in amazement.

“Wow... this school is so much nicer than Durmstrang. The only nice thing about that school was the headmaster... at least he was nice to me. He let me transfer here. But it was always so cold, and damp there, like you were trapped in a dungeon. And everything was about the dark arts. The charms we were taught were utterly complex ones that you really don’t ever want to use. We were taught to transform people into horribly grotesque figures. I remember in my second year, when we learned human transformation, one kid was used as the example in the front of the class because he had been talking too much. The professor told us what not to do. And showed us what could happen on the student. Everyone laughed at him and the professor decided to leave him like that to teach him a lesson. After class, I transformed him back because the professor refused to, but it was horrible. Poor kid ended up transferring to some other school because he was so scared of the teacher. But the headmaster was so clueless... I don’t even think he knew half of the dark magic we were being taught. Some of our professors would put charms on us preventing us from telling the headmaster what was happening. It was so awful. At least it won’t be like that here.” Lily shivered at the memory, and James put his arm around her and pulled her close.

“Of course it won’t be like that here.” he said reassuringly. Arabella looked shocked at the gesture.

“Wait.. you two... you aren’t.. no, you can’t be... I mean, you just...” she stuttered. James laughed.

“If you’re trying to ask if we’re together, then the answer would be yes. If that’s not what you meant, then I’m afraid I have no idea what you are saying, and therefore, can not help you,” he said, his eyes lighting up as he smiled.

“Oh wow. That was fast, huh James?”

“Aw, shut it, Arabella. Sirius, get over here and shut her up!” Sirius grinned and quickly came over to Arabella, happy to oblige. And promptly kissed her on the lips.

“Sirius Black! I can’t believe you!” she shrieked. She heard several people laughing. It was then that she remembered that it was not just the eight of them. They were leading all of Gryffindor up to the common room. She groaned, and Lily gave her a questioning look.

“What’s that matter Arabella? Anything other than Sirius?” Arabella nodded.

“Lily, look behind us. I think that we all forgot about them,” she said. Lily turned around, only to see a bunch of younger students giggling at the show the eight seventh years were putting on.

Finally, the crowd reached the common room. As the older children settled into their regular routines, the first years looked on, a bit intimidated. Seeing this, James took charge.

“Alright. Can all the first years come over here to Lily and I? There, that’s better. Welcome to Hogwarts. I’m James, and this is Lily, and you are lucky enough to have the Head Girl and Boy both in your house. Alright, the boys dormitory is up the staircase on the left, and the girls dormitory is up the staircase on the right. If you have any questions, just ask Lily or I, and if you can’t find either of us, just ask one of the older students.” The first years, a bit calmer now, headed up to their dorms. “Oh carp! Lily, we’re late! We’re supposed to meet Dumbledore in his office right now.” James grabbed her hand and pulled her out of the common room and the two set off running. As they were running, Lily thought about what James had said right before they had left Gryffindor Tower.

“James... why did you say carp?” James laughed.

“To make a long story short, my mom always used to freak out when I would say crap, and one day, Sirius was over and he looked at the fish my mom was making. Being very excited at the sight of food, he yelled, ‘Oh, Carp!” My mom thought he had said ‘Oh crap’ and was about to get mad when I fell down laughing. And it’s just stuck since then.” At that moment, they arrived at Dumbledore’s office and James started yelling out different types of candy.

“Cockroach clusters! Bertie’s Every Flavor Jelly Beans! Chocolate Frogs! ummm.... Sweet tarts!” With that, the door opened, and Lily and James entered his office.

“Why is his password a muggle candy?” Lily asked.

“It’s just one that I’m very fond of,” came the reply. Dumbledore had answered.

“Sorry we’re late, sir. We were telling the first years what to do,” Lily explained, slightly out of breath.

“Think nothing of it,” Dumbledore said. “Come, sit down. I just want to go over all the rules and the duties of the Head Students with you.” For the next thirty minutes, the two students and Dumbledore discussed the plans for the new year. Soon, Lily was informed of everything that she would have found out if she had attended Hogwarts for the full seven years.

“Well, I suppose that’s it. Oh yes. One more thing. James, as the new Quidditch Captain, I assume that you can take care of tryouts this year. And Lily, by looking at everything Headmaster Maloney sent me, I saw that you were on the quidditch team as a seeker for several years. I suggest that you try out, seeing that last year’s seeker graduated. And make sure the team is good this year. At the end of the season, we’re going to be hosting a tournament for the top three teams from all the wizarding schools in Europe - Hogwarts, obviously, Durmstrang, and Beauxbatons. That’s all. Have a good night,” he said, winking at the two as they left the office. As soon as they were gone, James was full of questions.

“Lily, why didn’t you tell me that you were a seeker? How good are you? How many years have you played? Are you gonna tryout?” Lily laughed at James’ enthusiastic approach to quidditch.

“James, honestly, one question at a time. I didn’t tell you because it never came up while we were talking on the train. I can’t really say how good I am, but my team did win the championship every year I was there. And of course I’m trying out. Stupid question.” James’ whole face lit up.

“You’re gonna be on the team, Lily! We’re gonna win all of the games. We’re gonna kick some Slytherin arse!” Lily giggled, thoroughly amused by James’ childish antics, but then stopped suddenly.

“James, I know you want me to be on the team, but you have to promise me something.” She looked at him intently. “Don’t chose me over someone else just because we are together. Don’t even think about letting that influence the decision. Once people find out about us, they will think that you will let off easily. So promise that you will grade me twice as hard as everyone else. If I think that you let me on because anything other than my quidditch skills, I will be furious.” James looked at her innocently.

“Are you accusing me, James Potter the perfect, of favoritism? How dare you! I would never do that. I believe myself to be above that!” he proclaimed.
“Oh, so you’re perfect now, are you? And ever so modest...” Lily said sarcastically. James grinned.

“Fine. If you’re going to be that way, I suppose I must take that back. Only when I’m with you can I be perfect. Because you take away everything bad in my life when ever you are near. Come on, let’s go for a walk outside.”

“Oh James, making up for your lack of modesty... how sweet!” she exclaimed. James looked at her, confused. “You made up for it with cheesyness... mind you, I’m not saying it’s a bad thing...” Laughing, he grabbed her hand, and the two slowly walked towards the lake, just enjoying their time together.

******

As they reached the lake, the two teenagers lay down, curled up in each others arms, watching the sun set. Lily rolled over to face James.

“James, I’m so afraid that I will wake up to find that this is a dream. Today has been so amazing. I found friends who accepted me for who I am, I fit in for the first time ever, I’m Head Girl, and well, I found you. It’s just... incredible.” She sighed happily. “But what if none of this is real?” James placed a light kiss on her forehead.

“It’s no dream, Lily. It feels that way for me too. You’re so unique and interesting, and everytime I saw you today, I just wanted to hold you and kiss you.” Lily smiled in contentment, and snuggled up closer to James.

“James? Feel free to act on that anytime. I certainly will not mind.” He grinned widely.

“I will. Trust me on that one.”

They lay there in silence, occasionally kissing. Lily stared up at the sky, and silently found her star and made a wish. I wish that life will always be this wonderful.