Of Deer and Flowers

Chapter twelve

The Cloak

July 15,

Dear Jane,

You won't believe this! It seems the closer Petunia gets to that git Vernon, the more fights we seem to have. I don't like to fight, really I don't, but it seems for every decent conversation we have there's an argument!

"Anamagi!" James exclaimed, and Remus looked up curiously.

"What?"

"We'll all become Anamagi! That's how we'll be able to stay with you during the full moon!"

"Where'd you get that idea?" Sirius asked. James pointed to the Transfiguration book.

"We're learning the theory this year."

"But how are we going to do this with out getting caught?" James only grinned.

"Don't worry Peter, there's a way. We just have to wait till it's light enough to go to the attic!" Remus grinned.

"So your saying you have a way to sneak around the school without getting caught?" James only nodded.

The next morning James led the way up to the attic. Sneezing the moment he'd got up the ladder, Remus looked around. Dust was every where. Drifting off old boxes and furniture the stuff flew through the air, landing on the floor. The dust was packed tight in the corners and Remus resisted the urge to grab a broom. Sirius went to take a seat in an old rocking chair and yelped as it collapsed under his weight.

Shifting his attention, Remus watched James who was lifting a small Mahogany trunk out of a corner. He stared curiously as James lifted the lid and pulled out a long silvery cloak.

"Is that . . .?" James swung it around his shoulders. His grin disappearing with the rest of him.

~*~*~*~*~*~

Lily grinned as she jumped off the train. Running to join Christy in a carriage the two girls chatted all the way to Hogwarts as if they hadn't even spoken on the train.

About fifteen minutes after everybody had gotten in to the castle the first years were lined up, and the hat was brought out to sing.

Red is for brave

Yellow loyal

Lions roar

Badgers toil

Blue for brains

Green is clever

Eagle's smart

Serpents endeavor

These the four

Houses be

Just and true

Ambitious, brave

Through times of peace

And close shave

Friends for a time they were

Time goes on

But friendships end

We must admit

Snake and Lion don't blend

Thus one left the school

But come now,

Don't fret you minds

Those are now

Gone past times

Your houses

I'll now sort!

Lily didn't really pay attention to the sorting, only to the faces of those sorted. Several of the new first years looked sad, as if there had been some sort of tragedy in their life they wanted to forget. Come to think of it most of the school seemed forlorn, even the Mauraders were somewhat subdued. Watching an especially sad girl join the Gryffindor table Lily sighed.

Making her way down to her dorm room, Lily studied the faces of the other students. She really had to keep up with the wizarding world during the summer! Something had happened and she wasn't quite sure what. Giving the password a prefect had told her earlier. Lily collapsed on her bed and fell straight asleep.