The Empath

After everyone said goodbye to Lupin, Tonks, and Mrs. Weasley, they boarded the Hogwarts Express. Harry had only just let go of Lily's hand, to help her pull her trunk into a compartment at the end of the train.

"Alright, now that we've found a compartment, we'll see you later. We have a prefects meeting," Hermione told Harry and Lily before Ginny and Ron followed her out of the compartment.

"Well, I guess it's just us," Harry told Lily and then sat down.

"Yeah," she murmured and sat down next to him.

"Don't be nervous. You'll do fine, and besides, everyone will love you," he reassured her.

"Well, let's see, I'm going to show up on my first night at Hogwarts with Harry Potter, the most famous boy in the wizarding world, so all of the girls are going to hate me from the start. And my father is supposedly an escaped murderer, yeah, I can see how you'd come to that assumption," Lily said rolling her eyes.

"Hey, Harry, can I sit in her with you?" asked Neville Longbottom when he stuck his head in the compartment.

"Sure Neville, come in. Have a seat," Harry said, getting up and helping Neville with his trunk. "This is Lily, by the way. Lily this is a friend of mine, Neville Longbottom."

"Nice to meet you, Lily," said Neville as he shook her hand with his eyes open three time their normal size, staring at Lily.

"It's nice to meet you too, Neville."

"Who are we meeting?" asked Dean Thomas as he walked into the compartment alone.

"Dean, meet Lily. Lily this is Dean Thomas, another friend," Harry introduced them.

Much to Harry's misfortune, Dean sat down next to Lily after shaking her hand, staring at her like Neville still was.

"Dean, where's Seamus?" Harry asked him, trying to get his attention away from Lily.

"Seamus? Oh, yeah, er - " Dean said as if trying to awaken himself. He looked at Harry. "Seamus is a prefect this year along with Parvati, they're at the prefects meeting."

"Oh, where's Lavender then?" Harry asked him, trying to keep his attention away from Lily.

"She's with Padma and some other Ravenclaws in the front of the train," he answered him and turned to Lily again.

After what seemed like forever, the train stopped and they all filed out of the compartment.

"Oh there you are," said Ginny when she, Hermione, Ron, and Seamus caught up with them.

"Who's that?" Seamus asked goggling at Lily.

"This is Lily," Dean told him.

"Dean! What are you doing?" Ginny asked him sounding annoyed at the fact that her boyfriend was drooling over her new friend.

"Nothing at all Ginny, I'm just welcoming the new girl," Dean answered her and quickly ran over to her side. Seamus took his place next to Lily with no hesitation.

"You're too old to be a first year, and I've never seen you before," Seamus said as if he were trying to work out a complicated mathematical equation.

"It's my sixth year, and I just moved here from France," Lily told him.

"Cool, we've never had a student transfer from another school before. C'est très agréable pour vous rencontrer, mon nom est Seamus Finnigan," he said, taking her hand and gently kissing it.

"It's very nice to meet you too, Seamus," Lily replied, quickly taking her hand away.

"I picked up some French when some of the Beauxbatons students came here a few years ago," Seamus told her.

"Okay, enough of that. We have to get in a carriage," Hermione said sounding annoyed.

Hermione and Ron left to take another carriage since they only held six people each.

"Let me help you," Seamus said, opening the carriage door and taking Lily's hand to help her in.

"No, really, it's alright. I'm fine," Lily tried to explain to him, but he didn't take notice and helped her into the carriage anyway.

Harry and Ginny were the last to get in. When Harry sat down, he looked at Seamus, who was sitting next to Lily, and felt very angry at Seamus for so bluntly flirting with Lily. It was one thing when Fred and George did it, Harry didn't even care when they flirted with her, but Seamus was really making him mad.

"Lily, it's getting a bit drafty over here next to the door. You know how I get chilled. You wouldn't mind too horribly much switching places with me, would you?" Ginny asked Lily and then threw a quick grin in Harry's direction, who returned it with a much wider grin.

"Oh, sure, no problem, Ginny," Lily said happily. She stood up and sat next to Harry, leaving a very disappointed Seamus.

Harry made a mental note to remember to thank Ginny later as Lily smiled brightly up at him and nudged a little closer. He smiled back.

"We're here," Ginny announced when the carriages stopped.

Seamus sprang to his feet and jumped out of the carriage.

"Allow me to help you, Lily?" he asked, taking her hand.

"Thank you very much, Seamus," she replied, stepped out of the carriage, and stood to the side next to Seamus as the rest of the boys filed out.

"Dean!" Ginny said sounding annoyed. She was waiting to step out of the carriage herself.

"Yes?" he asked without turning around to look at her.

"Forget it!" she seethed to herself.

"Here Ginny, let me help you," Harry said stepping forward and stretched out his hand for Ginny to take.

"Thank you, Harry," Ginny told him as she glared daggers at he boyfriend.

They all started to walk up to the castle.

"Wait, where's Harry?" Lily asked as she turned around and saw him. She took his hand in hers and pulled him next to her. "Glad we're out of there," she whispered.

"Yeah. I told you, my friends would love you," he whispered back. "Nervous?"

"A little, yeah. Is it really that obvious?"

"Well, only to my hand that I've lost total and complete feeling of."

"Oh, Harry, I'm so sorry!" she said letting go of his hand.

"No, it's alright," he assured her and took her hand back. "That's what I'm here for."

"Mr. Potter, Ms. Black, a word if you don't mind?" Professor McGonagall asked, standing on the step of the castle.

"Yes, of course Professor," Harry said, shaking his head to trying to get his concentration off of Lily and onto Professor McGonagall's words.

Still hand in hand, they followed her into her office.

"Would you like me to speak to you separately or together?" she asked them.

"Professor, this isn't about what I think it may be about is it?" Lily asked her sounding confused. "Because, Professor, I assure you that you don't have to worry about me and Harry. After all we- "

"Ms. Black, I have no cause nor concern about whatever kind of relationship that you and Mr. Potter may or may not be developing. I am simply here to make you aware of a few minor details that the two of you might find worth knowing for the following school year."

"What you mean Professor? Is it something that has to do with The Order?" Harry asked her.

"No, no, nothing like that," she answered him shaking her head. "I just wanted to let you know, Ms. Black, that Madam Pomfrey will be making your potion daily and you can go to the hospital wing and get it from her every morning. She'll give it to you in a flask so that you can take it as needed throughout the day. Also, Professor Dumbledore has asked that you do not let anyone know about how Professor Snape raised you. Tell the others about this as well. This is very important, Ms. Black, you mustn't have any contact with Professor Snape whatsoever outside of classes. Do you understand the importance of this?"

"Yes, Professor I do," Lily told her looking slightly letdown.

"Professor Snape informed us of the details which we are going to say is your history. As for anything else you wish to reveal about yourself, it is completely up to you."

"And what about me Professor?" Harry asked her.

"Oh, yes, Mr. Potter," she said as a wide grin spread across her face. "I am please to inform you that you are the new Gryffindor Quidditch Captain."

Harry suddenly felt a flood of happiness run through him.

"Quidditch Captain?" he asked in amazement. "Really?"

"Yes, Mr. Potter. Professor Dumbledore and I thought you were the most suited for the job," she told him, still smiling at him.

"Congratulations, Harry," Lily said as she grabbed him around his neck and hugged him.

"Thank you. Thank you so much, Professor McGonagall! I won't let you down!"

"I trust that you wont, Mr. Potter! Gryffindor deserves to win the Quidditch Cup again this year!" she said insistently. "And if it doesn't get in the way of your studies, Professor Dumbledore has given you permission to continue the Defense Against The Dark Arts group that you started."

"Yes, Professor. Thank you again."

"Now, lets be on our way. The feast will be starting soon," she said ushering Harry and Lily out of her office.

Harry was beaming as they entered the Great Hall. He was smiling brightly at Lily who was still holding his hand.

"I'll see the two of you later," Professor McGonagall said before departing to get the first years.

"Ms. Black!" They heard someone shout. When they looked over to the Hufflepuff table, they saw Professor Sprout quickly walking toward them. "Ms. Black, how wonderful it is to meet you! I'm Professor Sprout, Head of Hufflepuff House."

"It's wonderful to meet you too, Professor," Lily said, smiling.

"You look so much like your mother! I was Head of Hufflepuff house when she went to school here as well," Professor Sprout told her, beaming. "I thought that I could introduce you to your fellow classmates in Hufflepuff before the Sorting Ceremony."

"That's sounds lovely. I'll see you tomorrow morning before breakfast, Harry?" she asked turning to him.

"Yes, of course. I'll see you then. And I'll tell the others what Professor McGonagall said."

"Okay, bye then," she said as she regretfully let go of his hand.

Harry slowly walked to the Gryffindor table while watching Lily walk to the Hufflepuff table.

"It's a big castle, but I'm sure you'll see her again mate," Ron said, interrupting him from his thoughts.

"Yeah, I know. I just wanted to make sure that she's alright. It's her first day, and she's nervous. I can't imagine how completely nerve-racking it would be to transfer from another school sixth year. I mean just look, everyone in the Hall's staring at her.

"Oh, I know. Come on this way, we're sitting over here. That's a good boy," Ron said, steering Harry over to their table.

"So, Harry, what did Professor McGonagall want?" Hermione asked when he and Ron sat down.

"Oh, she wanted to tell Lily that she can get her potion from Madam Pomfrey and not to tell anyone that Snape raised her," he told them lowering his voice.

"What did she need you there for?" Ron asked him.

"She wanted to tell me that I'm the new Gryffindor Quidditch Captain," he answered him nonchalantly as a grin spread across his face.

"Quidditch Captain? Quidditch Captain? Do you hear that everyone? Harry's the new Gryffindor Quidditch Captain!!" Ron shouted down the table making everyone cheer.

~ ~ ~

"I wonder what they're all shouting about," said Justin Finch-Fletchley curiously.

"Harry's the new Gryffindor Quidditch captain," Lily told him, looking over at Harry fondly.

"How do you know Harry Potter?" a very pretty girl with shoulder length brown hair named Paris Sittle asked her.

"Well, our families have some what of a history with each other and we just met over the summer," she told her.

"I know that everyone wants to know, but are just to afraid to ask, so I'm just going to come out and ask. Is Sirius Black your father or in anyway related to you?" the short haired blonde sitting next to her named Emily Tarone asked.

"Yes, my mother's name was Hannah Patil and my father's name is Sirius Black," she told them, inwardly crossing her fingers.

"Really? Well, er - you don't need to tell us anymore than you're ready for us to know. We're just getting to know you a bit, that's all," Emily told her smiling.

"Thank you." Lily was grateful for their kindness.

"Hey, look who's staring at Lily," Paris said nodding over to the Slytherin table.

"Draco Malfoy," said a girl with long blonde hair named Katie McClain. She was sitting opposite of Lily. "Those are his two goons sitting next to him, Crabbe and Goyle, I believe. The one girl who's glaring at you is Pansy Parkinson."

"Draco hates Harry," Ernie Macmillan told her.

"The feeling's mutual. Harry's told me about him," Lily said taking a quick glance at Draco and turning back around.

"He's hated him ever since the first day of school. Pretty stupid of him if you ask me."

"Why's that Ernie?" Justin asked him.

"Well, think about it, You-Know-Who is Harry's archenemy, right?" he asked, to which they all nodded. "Yeah, well Harry's faced You-Know-Who five times now, and he came out fine. I mean, does Draco really think that Harry's really afraid of him at all? If You-Know-Who can't beat Harry than what makes Draco think that he's any match for him?" Ernie said and they all nodded in agreement.

Professor McGonagall put the four-legged stool in the front of the Great Hall and placed the Sorting Hat on it. Everyone in the Hall went quiet as a long tear near the brim of the hat opened wide like a mouth, and the hate broke into song:

After the Sorting Ceremony was over, Professor Dumbledore stood up, and the hall, which was full of chattering teens, quickly quieted.

"Welcome to another year at Hogwarts! I must admit that it is good to be back myself." The entire hall filled with cheering and clapping from the students and the teachers. "Thank you, thank you, now there is only one thing left to say, tuck in." Dumbledore finished and sat down as food appeared out of nowhere and filled all of the plates.

The five long tables in the Great Hall were filled with delicious foods that satisfied everyone's diverse tastes. Lily took a sip of her pumpkin juice, and as she set it back down on the table a small white lily fell next to her plate.

"What's that?" Paris asked.

"I dunno," she answered her. As she picked up the lily, it turned into a small piece of parchment and fell open into the palm of her hand.

"It's from Harry, he wants me to meet him in the entrance hall tomorrow," Lily told them.

"That's so sweet," Paris said looking at the parchment.

"It's just a just a piece of parchment," Justin stated.

"Not that you stupid prat! The fact that he sent it over as a lily. It's just sweet," she told him.

Lily took out her wand and waved it once over the parchment, wiping it clean. She thought for a moment, and then did it again. A message appeared on the note that read:

"A seeker's desire," she said as she pointed her wand at the parchment. It then transformed into a golden snitch.

"That's really cool!" Ernie said watching it fly over to Harry.

Lily watched as Harry quickly grabbed it and read the letter. He looked up and smiled at her. She smiled back at him and began to eat her dinner.

~ ~ ~

"That was strange," Hermione said as she, Ron, and Harry were walking up to the Gryffindor common room.

"What are you talking about?" Harry asked her.

"She's talking about how there weren't any new teachers at the staff table, so we still don't know who the new Defense Against The Dark Arts teacher is," said Ron, taking Hermione's hand.

"How very observant of you Ron," Hermione told him, making him blush.

"We'll probably find out tomorrow when classes start," Harry stated.

"Yeah, probably. I'm so tired," Hermione sighed and leaned her head on Ron's shoulder while they walked up the stairs.

"Then I'll carry you up," Ron said and picked her up. She quickly put her hands around his neck.

"How can you do that?" she asked him, slightly shocked.

"Quidditch," he replied simply.

"The next time I complain about you playing Quidditch, remind me of this, okay?"

"Okay."

"Oh, Hermione, thanks for helping me with that lily thing. I think she really liked it," Harry said after saying the password to the Fat Lady and walking into the Common room.

"You're welcome Harry."

Harry said goodnight to Hermione and Ron and left to go to bed to let them say goodnight alone. He thought of Lily smiling at him from the Hufflepuff table as he drifted off to sleep.

~ ~ ~

The next morning Lily woke up early, got dressed, and ran down to the entrance hall. When she got there, someone grabbed her from behind. She grabbed the person's wrist and twisted it causing the person to release her.

While her hand was still twisting the person's wrist, she turned around and slammed them against the wall, and quickly pulled out a dagger from her robes, only to find herself eye to eye with Goyle. The Slytherin seemed surprised and in a great deal of pain, but she didn't loosen her grip. In fact, she pressed the blade further into his neck only just before the point of breaking through his skin.

"Welcome to Hogwarts," a voice from behind her said, and she released the Slytherin as people filed in from the Great Hall to see what the commotion was all about. She turned around to look at the owner of the voice and put the dagger back in its sheath in her robes.

She was about to ask him a question when she heard the much larger and now very embarrassed and angry Slytherin start to say something. She reached for a smaller dagger from inside her boot, and without hesitation she quickly turn and threw it at him. It caught the sleeve of his robes and pinned his arm to the wall causing him to curse. That was meant to hit him, hit the wall with a loud blow, but only leave scorch marks on the wall.

"Well looks like that might have hurt," she retorted watching the large boy struggle to pull the dagger out of the wall. "Oh, no worries, you can keep the dagger. Think of it as a parting gift." She turned back to the blonde as Harry, Ron, Ginny, and Hermione ran through the crowd and to her side.

"What the hell do you think you're doing, Malfoy?" Harry yelled putting his arm in front of Lily protectively.

"This doesn't concern you, Potter!" Draco shot back, glaring fiercely at him. "I was just giving the new girl a little test."

"A test?" Lily questioned him.

"Yes, my dear, a test," he answered as Professor McGonagall, Professor Snape, and Dumbledore pushed through the crowd.

"What's going on here?" Professor McGonagall asked sternly as she saw Goyle still trying to pry the dagger off the wall.

"And what was this test supposed to prove?" she asked ignoring Professor McGonagall's question.

"It was supposed to prove to me if you're worthy of being my girlfriend or not," he answered her grinning. Lily pushed pass Harry's hand and walked closer to Draco, too close for Harry's liking.

"And did I past this test?" she asked coyly and bit her bottom lip.

"With flying colors," he answered her getting even closer. "You don't actually think that Potter's the best that this school has to offer do you?"

"Well I'm new and don't really know anyone," she told him blushing while still biting her lip as she flirted with the Slytherin.

"Well, allow me to introduce myself, my name is Draco Malfoy and you are certainly worthy enough to accompany me to the first visit to the village of Hogsmeade," he winked, reached for her hand, and gently kissed it.

"Are you sure that I'm worthy of such an honor?" she asked. Harry's eyes were bulging out of his head out of shock from the fact that Lily was so openly hitting on Draco.

"I am most definitely sure," he said grinning at the fact that he had her eating out of the palm of his hand and the look on Harry's face.

"Aren't I a lucky girl?" she said still holding onto his hand. "Now, I'm going to go eat breakfast before class starts and you can go to hell," she said calmly, still smiling.

She let go of his hand and stepped back. Her face suddenly changing from her flirtatious smile to a very angry glare.

"How dare you! You have one of your big goons attack me, and now you're asking me out? The only reason you want to go out with me is because you know your archenemy Harry Potter does. Yes, he told me all about you. And though my relationship with Harry isn't official, nor is it really defined, I am his, not yours," she said as she turned around and started to walk toward the very shocked and impressed looking Harry.

She leaned in and kissed him on his cheek.

"Come on Harry, let's go get some breakfast. I'll eat with you at the Gryffindor table," she told him with loving eyes.

"Okay," he replied still in a confused state of shock.

She looked over at the group of fellow Hufflepuffs who she had been sitting with at dinner the night before. They too looked shocked and amused as they nodded, letting her know that it was okay. She took Harry's hand and started to walk toward the Great Hall. When she passed Draco, she stopped and stepped closer to him, not letting go of Harry's hand.

"For your information Harry Potter is the best that this school has to offer especially compared to the likes of you," she spat at him and you could see that anger was raging inside of him. He was about to say something when she quickly added, "and next time you go looking for a girlfriend, make sure that she isn't your cousin. You know? Just to make sure you won't have to deal with a any family rivalry." She turned around and continued to walk toward the Great Hall with Harry at her side.

As she was leaving, she turned her head and saw a very proud looking Snape, who nodded in approval and went to free Goyle from the dagger, that still had him pined to the wall no matter how hard he and now Crabbe tried to free him from it.

"Sir aren't you going to do something about this?" Draco wined to Professor Snape. "She could have very well of killed Crabbe."

"He most certainly will not!! She was only defending her self Mr. Malfoy and I trust that you will do better to welcome new students to the school in the future," Professor McGonagall told the discussed looking Draco. "for it is most unfortunate that you didn't this time. Mr. Malfoy, you, Mr. Goyle, and Mr. Crabbe, will all receive two weeks detention and as soon as Slytherin House receives enough points, fifty point will be taken away."

"He can't call his father this time," Hermione said when she and Ron caught up with Harry and Lily.

"Well, he can, but I don't think that Dumbledore's going to listen to any wining from Lucius Malfoy anytime soon," said Ron, completely delighted with what just happened.