Dear Lily, As always, James

Dear Lily, As always, James

*********************

Chapter Two: My Gryffindor Girl

**********

"And this was when he was eleven?" asked Harry.

"Why yes. He was always trying to beat me at Exploding Snap but was not able to do so."

"That's not exactly what I meant. I mean, is it normal to really be in love at eleven?"

"Well your father was, or it could have been an obsession. Though he always did seem to love Lily. It was what he did, his favorite pass time. It took up his whole day with the exception of Quidditch, friends, and homework. He would almost seem like a stalker." Remus then looked over to Harry. He seemed to be elsewhere, looking out of the dusty window.

"Harry?"

"Huh?"

"Where were you just now?"

"Just somewhere."

"Are you going to read the rest of the letters?"

"Oh right." He took the letter underneath, presuming that they were in order and slit it open, just as he had done for the last. He didn't take it out but cocked his head towards Remus.

"Have these ever been read before?"

"I'm sure they have."

"But by who? They were re-sealed."

"Maybe James wanted it that way."

"Yeah maybe he did."

**********

I think Remus was interested in the Patricia Patil. He flew into a very long conversation. I was talking to Narcissa Harlem, who told me to call her Nar. And I swear that Patricia told Remus to call her Pat. But since I could call her Nar, she decided that she was going to call me Jamsie. This scared be a bit but not as much when I heard Patricia call Remus, Remmy. Even though I had this beautiful girl, willing to talk to me and be with me, I couldn't stop thinking about the girl on the Hogwarts Express. Until I knew her name, she was the Hogwarts Express Girl, the girl of my dreams.

**********

"So where you from Jamsie?" Narcissa said with a half smile.

James was getting very uncomfortable and wished that the boats would go faster. It seemed that it had been hours. "I'm from Godric's Hollow."

"Wow! That would mean you're the heir of Gryffindor!"

"I guess you could say that." James put his hand through his hair, a habit of his when he was nervous.

"You must be really, really brave."

Usually this would have flattered James but something had caught his eye.

**********

It was her. My Hogwarts Express Girl. She wasn't talking to anybody in her boat but was instead leaning over the side, stroking the water with her fingers. She seemed to be leaning further, and further, and further. I was afraid she'd fall in. So I shouted that she should sit up and I guess I startled her. She fell in, but nobody else did. I quickly took off my cloak, robes, tie, and sweater. All I had on was my white shirt that had been underneath the sweater and my pants. Thank god I had a belt. I put my glasses on Remus' lap and dove in. The water was freezing cold. She hadn't surfaced yet so I went after her.

**********

The water was very murky making it hard for James to see. There was a shimmer of light and he made his way towards it. The shimmer of light turned out to be a gold locket on the neck of the girl. James quickly put her over his shoulders and pushed off of the sandy bottom. When he had reached the surface he had heard screams. But he couldn't understand them. He swam to the nearest boat. It happened to be the one she had fallen out of. James saw the dull outline of a dark figure. He couldn't tell if it was a girl or boy because he couldn't see properly without his glasses.

"Help me lift her," said James in a faint whisper. As the figure came closer, his vision became clearer. It was a boy with shoulder length dark black- brown hair. He took a hold of the girl over James' shoulders and lifted her up. James pushed her back to try and help. He did help getting the girl up but just plunged himself back under the freezing cold water. When he felt that there was nothing to push, he re surfaced. He grabbed the side of the boat, and lifted himself up. He toppled onto the boat and could feel his breathing start to slow. His chest was rising less and less. He was so cold. He lifted his hand to his hair, which had icicles in it. His arm flopped back down to his side.

"Alice! Get over here! I think he's going unconscious." James saw that it was the boy that had helped him with his Hogwarts Express Girl. A girl with strawberry hair appeared at his side. She wrapped him in a blanket that must have had a warming charm on it. James suddenly felt very warm and cozy. His eyes started to droop. Then as suddenly as he had become warm, and hand slapped him across the face. He eyes bolted open. It was his Hogwarts Express Girl, the supposed girl of his dreams. She had a bump on her head and James assumed that she had hit the side of the boat when she fell in.

"Good to see that you're better. After a fall like that."

"I wouldn't have fallen in if you hadn't screamed at me to sit up!"

"You shouldn't have been leaning and I wouldn't have had to tell you to sit up."

"You are a..." The girl was interrupted by the giggles of the first years.

The girl now looked at them as though she could throw daggers. The giggling stopped instantly.

"We're here!" said the voice of the Keeper of Keys and Grounds of Hogwarts.

**********

Even though she was very wet and looked as angry as my Aunt Matilda, she was still beautiful. The walk up the big stone steps seemed very short. My eyes were always on her, the way her hair, even when wet, shimmered in the moonlight. Soon enough, I saw the entrance to Hogwarts. The doors opened by themselves, which gave of a very eerie sort of effect. We all stepped in, me still being wet, and looked around. The floor was marble so I tried not to make much movement. I didn't want to fall and make myself look like an idiot. I still had a blanket wrapped around me. We all stood there not knowing what to do, just waiting for something, I suppose.

**********

"Good evening." said the voice of the Deputy Headmistress, Minerva McGonagall.

All of the students turned to see her. She was wearing robes of emerald green and a pointed black hat. She then began to speak of all the houses: Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, and Slytherin. She explained the process of the sorting hat also. Then she left through the doors to the left. She soon returned, with a smile that really didn't seem to suit her. James could tell from the moment that he saw the Deputy Headmistress that she was not one to cross.

"We are ready for you now."

**********

I was told stories of the Great Hall of Hogwarts but none of them matched exactly what I saw. The ceiling showed the night sky, no clouds were in sight and the stars were bright. The many floating candles casting shadows on the walls and tapestries hung with each house pride. The four long tables with students and one with professors had plates and flasks not yet filled with food and drink. I looked toward the Gryffindor table, searching for a face I knew but I couldn't. They all were blurred. The hat then burst into song. I can't remember what it was but I clapped when it was done. The sorting began and I briefly remember my Hogwarts Express Girl getting sorted. I was extremely mad.

**********

"Remus! Why didn't you tell me!" James' face was flushed with anger.

"I thought you were listening." said Remus, trying to tune in. He knew that he was soon to be called to be sorted.

"Did you at least get her name?"

"I wasn't paying attention either. Though I know that she's in Gryffindor."

"Yes!" James controlled himself from jumping up and down.

"Why is that so exciting?" asked Remus just for the heck of it.

"Because I'm the heir of Gryffindor!"

"Oh right. I forgot."

Remus' attention went back to the front.

"Lupin, Remus."

He stepped forward and sat on the stool. It only took a few seconds until the hat shouted, "Gryffindor!"

The Gryffindor table cheered. Then it was the M, N, no O and after O is P.

"Potter, James!"

James made his way easily because there wasn't many left to be sorted. He placed the hat on his head. It went over his eyes. It was dark and he couldn't see much.

"A Potter, I see," said the hat in his ear. "You are an heir of Gryffindor so that is where you shall be!" Then to the whole school the hat announced, "Gryffindor!"

**********

Gryffindor! Those were the best words I've ever heard. I have to thank you Godric! Now I'm in the same house of my Hogwarts Express Girl. Well, I guess now I could call her my Gryffindor Girl, still the girl of my dreams, and always will be.

**********