I Solemnly Swear: A Marauders Story

Chapter one, First Year And Dead Rats

Tabitha Sartzetakis was walking down Diagon Alley along with her parents. She turned her eyes in every direction, gazing in awe at everything. Unlike her parents, it was the girl's first time in Britain...in fact it was her first time out of Greece.

Both Mr. Achilles Sartzetakis and Mrs. Andromache Kanaris had studied at Hogwarts School Of Witchcraft And Wizardry, thus, London wasn't a big deal for them. They smiled sweetly at their daughter's excitement as she saw the huge white building: Gringott's.

"Tabby, why don't you sit out here while your father and I change the money," said Mrs. Sartzetakis. "We'll be out in a minute."

Tabby watched as her mum and dad walked in through the giant doors. She sighed deeply as she sat down on one stair. She allowed her eyes to wonder in boredom, first she spotted a thin blonde lady with the most curious hat ever! It had a dead vulture! She was dragging a boy with a round face black hair and freckles to a stored called ' Flourish and Blotts'. "Frank Longbottom!" Tabby heard her say "We are not getting any ice cream until we buy your books!"

She couldn't help but chuckle at this, nevertheless, her eyes kept wondering. Soon she spotted another interesting scene. A boy with dark hair who looked about her age accompanied by a rather ugly house-elf, who kept muttering out loud, something about the boy.

"Shut up, Kreacher!" the boy said. "Do we have everything?"

"Kreacher thinks so, yes," replied the house-elf.

"Good, then let's go."

The boy and the house-elf walked away, Tabby kept an eye on them until they could no longer be seen. Tabby was about to go inside for her parents when a girl with red hair and bright green eyes sat by her.

The girl turned to Tabby and smiled. "Hello," she said, "I'm Lillian Evans."

"Oh, hello, I'm Tabitha Sartzetakis," Tabby said. "Are you going to Hogwarts too?"

"Yea, I'm a first year." Lily smiled. "Are you exited about it?"

"About what?"

"About school!"

"Oh, that..." She thought for a while. "Yeah, pretty much. You?"

Lily nodded. "I'm really nervous you know, my parents are Muggles so I haven't a clue about magic, and I don't know anybody either..."

"Me neither."

"Hmmm...let's do something," said Lily, let's meet at King's Cross, that way we won't be alone!"

"Hey, that sounds great!" Tabby smiled, she had found a friend after all. "Oh, here come my parents..." she stood up.

"Hi honey, ready to go?" her mum asked.

"Yup," said Tabby. "Bye, Lily, see you at King's Cross!"

**

September first had finally arrived, and Tabby couldn't be more nervous as her mother woke her up in the morning. She got up and began to dress up slowly. It could be worse, she thought, at least I have Lily.

After breakfast, her father and uncle (they were staying in her father's brother's house) got her trunk inside the car, as Tabby hopped in the back seat with Niveus, her white rat in her hands. Mrs. Sartzetakis sat gracefully in the front seat.

"Are you nervous, dear?" she asked sweetly. Tabitha only nodded in response. "Don't worry, I'm sure you'll fit in just fine, and besides you've already made a friend! She sure seems a lovely girl."

Tabitha nodded again, no matter what her mother said, she was nervous anyway. She petted Niveus as her father got it and started the engine. "Here we go!" he said.

They drove quickly to King's Cross, and got there rather early, too early in Tabby's opinion, they would have to wait for Lily to arrive.

"Look, Tabby, isn't that Lily?" said her father.

It was Lily, Tabby could see her red hair even from where she was (and it was quite a long distance, mind you...) she walked in her direction, her parents in tow and waved at her.

"Hi," said Tabby.

"Hi! How are you?" asked Lily.

"Um...nervous," Tabby said.

"Oh, don't be, dear," said Mrs. Evans, a bright red head with blue eyes and freckles. "I'm sure both of you will do right fine!"

Tabitha's parents soon joined them. "Hello," said Mr. Sartzetakis extending his hand towards Mrs. Evans, "I'm Achilles Sartzetakis, pleasure to meet you."

"Hello, I'm Helen, Lily's mother," she said, "the pleasure's mine."

"Hi, I'm Andromache," said Tabitha's mum while shaking hands with Mrs. Evans, "This is my daughter Tabitha."

"Oh, yes, Lily has told me a lot about you," she smiled. "Well, it's about time we cross the barrier, isn't it?"

Both families crossed over to platform nine and three quarters quickly, luckily King's Cross wasn't crowded, so no one saw this odd happening. Platform nine and three quarters, however, was filled with Hogwarts students. A man in charge of the luggage took both Lily's and Tabby's trunks to the luggage compartment, and soon both girls were hugging their parents and hopping on the train.

They walked down the corridors looking for an empty compartment. Most of them were already occupied by older students, but after a long search they found one.

"Come on, I think this is the only one left," said Lily.

The girls walked in and saw a boy, a first year probably, sleeping. He had light brown hair and a very pale complexion. Both girls looked at him curiously.

"Do you think he'll mind us sitting here?" asked tabby.

"I don't think so," Lily said. "Do you think he's all right, though? He looks a bit sick, doesn't he?"

Tabby shrugged sitting down next to the boy and placing Niveus next to her. Lily sat by the window in front of the sleeping boy. The train finally begun moving and Niveus shrieked and ran towards Tabby for shelter.

"It's alright, Niveus, you silly old rat..." Tabby chuckled.

"Awww...what a cute rat!" said Lily.

"He's quite nice, isn't he?" said Tabby. "It was from my uncle, he gave it to me when I came here from Greece. He says he can turn him yellow with a simple spell, but I don't know it...he can do some tricks though."

"Really?" Lily asked with eyes wide open in amusement.

"Yeah, look: Niveus, up!"

Niveus hopped. Lily squealed in delight. Both girls laughed as the rat performed one trick after another.

Suddenly the compartment door opened. A boy came in hurriedly. He had glasses and the messiest black hair ever. He looked at the girls blankly and popped his head out again.

"Hey, Sirius!" he yelled, "I've found one!"

Soon another boy came in; he had dark hair and eyes. Tabitha thought she had seen him before, but she wasn't sure.

"Hi," the boy said sitting next to Tabby, "Name's Black, Sirius Black, and he's James Potter."

In response, Tabitha shrieked loudly and began to cry desperately.

"W-what? What did I do?! W-why are you crying?!"

Lily ran towards her friend "Tabby, what's wrong?" she asked.

"Ni-Niveus, " she said between sobs, "he sat on Niveus."

Lily looked at Sirius sternly. "Get up!"

Sirius obeyed and got up revealing poor old Niveus lying dead where his butt used to be.

Tabby saw her rat dead and looking angrily at Sirius she yelled, "ARE YOU BLODDY BLIND? YOU'VE JUST SAT ON MY RAT AND KILLED HIM!"

"Hey...I...I didn't...it wasn't my fault!" he said, "seats are made for people anyway!"

"What?!" asked Lily. "How can you say that, you jerk!? It was your fault! You sat on the poor thing and killed him!"

"She could've told me her rat was there!" Sirius yelled pointing at Tabitha

James tugged at his friend's sleeve. "You could say you're sorry..."

"What?! No way, it was her fault for being stupid!"

"I-am-not-stupid!" sobbed Tabby. "You're the only one stupid enough to not admit it was your fault!"

"MURDERER!" roared Lily.

"Hey! He's not a murderer!" said James, "your friend should've told him the rat was there."

"SHUT UP!"

"NO YOU SHUT UP!"

"NO, YOU!"

"NO,YOU!"

"DON'T SHUT HER UP!" yelled Tabby.

"OH, JAMES CAN SHUT UP WHO EVER HE WANTS!"

"YEAH, SAYS WHO?"

"SAYS ME!"

"Oh, shut up and just say you're sorry, or is it too difficult for you to actually join three words together?"

"No, cause I'm doing that right now, you idiot...maybe it's difficult for you!"

Tabby rolled her eyes, Lily kept bickering with James, and Sirius stared at her surprised. "That's it?" he asked. "I won, I won, I'm the..."

Tabby had had enough. The boy was celebrating his victory by dancing around, but before Sirius could say: "I'm the best" the girl punched him hard on the face.

Sirius howled in pain and then everything turned into a bigger chaos...if possible, that is: Lily laughed insanely at Sirius, who lay on the floor screaming, James yelled and Tabitha apologised. Sirius suddenly got up on his feet and got hold of Tabby's shoulder length hair, yanking at it.

"But I said I was sorry!" yelled Tabby.

"Well, I don't forgive you!"

"Ugh! DIEEEE!" Tabitha pulled Sirius hair with all her strength.

"LET GOOO!!!" yelled Sirius.

Lily tried by al means (which included: biting, kicking and scratching, among others) to get Sirius to release Tabby and James tried to stop Lily from hurting Sirius, even more.

The compartment was hell on earth, a real pandemonium, and to this mess the sleeping boy woke up. He stretched his arms and rubbed his cheek.

The four battling kids stopped their little war and looked at the boy.

"Hi," he said, "are we there yet?"

**

It was already dark when the Hogwarts express arrived at Hogsmeade station, and when Tabby jumped out of the train a cold wind greeted her. She was happy to breathe fresh air again, and to be out and away from those...boys.

"Firs' years, over here!" a huge man carrying a lamp, yelled, "Firs' years over here!"

Lily and Tabby walked over to him. The man was taller than anyone Tabby had ever seen, and hairier too. He had a black and tangled hair and a beard to match. He would've been scary if it wasn't for the warm look in his brown eyes.

"Hello, girls," he smiled. "Quick, get yourselves on a boat we should get moving."

The girls got in the only boat left, in which there were a boy and a girl who looked very much alike and who were arguing.

"Ma come, sorella!" said the boy, "Come avere lei conseguito perdere il rospo?

"Lui voluto essere liberate, fratello, e poi lui saltato in il lago."

"Incredibile!" snorted the boy. He then, seemed to suddenly notice the girls presence. "Hello," he said smiling, "I'm Pietro Zabini, pleasure to meet you."

"Hi, I'm Lily, and she's Tabitha, nice to meet you."

The boy smiled and with his eyes twinkling said, "Tabitha, and Lily...those are beautiful names for two beautiful ladies," he said charmingly. The girl sitting next to him elbowed him and cleared her throat. "Oh! Yeah, she's my sister Cara."

"Hi," Cara said, "so are you nervous?"

"Very," Lily said, "but I can't wait to get sorted!"

"Hmmm...I wonder what we'll have to do," mussed Tabby.

"Maybe fight dragons! Or a...how do you call them? ah, yes Banshee."

"Pietro, fratello mío...that would work if any of us knew how to do that kind of magic," she said. "Honestly, and you're supposed to be smarter cause you were born first? Ha!"

"Hahah...very funny sorellina!"

Tabby and Lily sighed as the Zabini twins started a new discussion in Italian, at least they were already very near the castle, Tabby thought, as she sighed deeply and aloud her eyes to wonder.

**

Professor McGonagall lead a group of terrified eleven year old kids to the great hall, once there they walked to the front of the huge room and stood shakily in a line.

Four tables stood in front of their eyes, one for Ravenclaw, one for Hufflepuff, one for Gryffindor and a last one for Slytherin. These were the four houses where, according to the hat's decision, they would spend most of the time, or so said professor McGonagall. The only thing that worried Tabby at that time was being separated from Lily, her only friend so far. Lily in the other hand was almost sure she would faint and all that occupied her mind was staying on her feet.

"Now when I call your name, you will and sit on the stool and put on the hat and when the hat announces your house, you will sit at the appropriate table," said professor McGonagall.

"Abbot, Marie!" professor McGonagall called the first in her list.

A girl with sandy light brown hair who looked extremely pale and frightened walked shakily towards the stool. She sat down and put on the hat, which covered her face up to the nose. "Hufflepuff!" exclaimed the hat.

The girl, who seemed to be alive again and walked towards the Hufflepuff house which had erupted into clapping and whistling.

When Professor McGonagall reached B, she called Narcissa Black, who was sorted into Slytherin, and then Sirius Black, who was sorted into Gryffindor.

Finally it was Lily's time. Professor McGonagall said her name and she walked to the stool.

"Good, luck," whispered Tabby.

Lily sat on the stool and soon enough heard a voice. "Hmmm," said the hat, "you are a very difficult one, miss Evans, yes...very smart my dear, very intelligent, you'd make a good Ravenclaw...oh, and decided too, eh? That's Slytherin. Hmmm...you do have all the qualities of a good Hufflepuff as well, kindness, loyalty...but no, Helga isn't the one for you, nor is Salazar or Rowena, you have too much bravery in you, yes. Hmmm...a difficult choice, but I think you'll be better in...Gryffindor!"

Lily walked to the Gryffindor table, smiling like the Cheshire cat.

Professor McGonagall went through letter F (" Fawcett, Laura!" - "Hufflepuff!")

To G (" Goldstein, Gregory!" - "Ravenclaw!") to L ("Lupin, Remus!" - "Gryffindor!") to M (" Montague, Juliet!" - "Slytherin!") to N ("Nott, Cassandra!" - "Slytherin!") to P ("Potter, James!"- "Gryffindor!") Q ("Quirke, Emily!" - "Ravenclaw!") and finally came Tabby's turn.

"Sartzetakis, Tabitha!" called professor McGonagall.

Tabby sat up on the stool, and placed the hat on her head, to her surprise the hat begun speaking. "Why so nervous, dear? You do have much bravery boiling in you blood...bah! This is no difficult choice; you truly are a...Gryffindor!!"

Tabby sighed deeply and walked happily to the Gryffindor table, where Lily already was waiting for her. "I knew we'd be together, Tabby!" she said.

Only two children where still waiting to be sorted, the Zabini twins, Cara and Pietro. Cara went first and was sorted into Slytherin, Pietro being her twin, was sorted into Slytherin too.

Once the ceremony was over, professor Dumbledore welcomed them to a new school year, and informed the new students about the grounds that were out of bounds, after that said, the feast begun.

Lily and Tabby talked with Ashley Dukes while they ate. Tabby looked around at her fellow students...a chubby looking boy, called Peter, Remus(the boy who was sleeping in the train), Potter and Black.

Tabitha, Lily, Ashley and a second year boy called Francis Wood were discussing Hogwarts when suddenly Black came in.

"Hey, Tabitha, whatever's- your- last name," he whispered.

Tabitha looked at him and frowned. "What?"

"You shouldn't be taking to that loser..."

"What? Why not?"

"Because."

"I can talk to who ever I want, thank you."

"Well, suit yourself...I forgot you were a loser too."

"Jerk," muttered Tabby.

Sirius turned to James. "She loves me," he said.