Five Friends

Chapter 1

"There is no such thing as Platform 9 and 3/4! I knew it, it's all some kind of a joke. Any minute now, some candid camera show is going to appear and laugh hysterically at us all!" Petunia Evans shrieked.

"No they won't, Petunia!" Lily Evans said to her sister irritably. Her emerald eyes shone with excitement as a finger twirled a lock of her long red hair, remembering the events of the past few days...an owl swooping into the kitchen one day at breakfast and dropping a letter on her lap, discovering she was a witch, going to Diagon Alley and getting supplies to get supplies for her new school, Hogwarts...

"Dears, don't fight," Their mother said calmly, used to all of the arguing between them. "Platform 9 and 3/4 should be somewhere in between Platforms 9 and 10."

Just then, a family in billowing, black robes came stalking past. The mother and father were wearing expressions of disgust as they looked around them, and their son did also. They all had black, greasy hair, and the child was extremely pale. Lily's heart nearly jumped into her throat as she realized these people had an owl. They had to be wizards! The parents left, leaving the boy standing there checking over his luggage.

Her own family was still arguing about where the Platform was, so they didn't notice when Lily walked up to him and asked politely, "Excuse me, but how do you get to Platform 9 and 3/4?"

The boy turned over to look at her and his face twisted into a sneer. "You don't know?" he asked, his voice incredibly nasty. Seeing her shake her head, he said, "Then you must be Muggle-born." Lily nodded, wondering what he was getting at. His sneer grew more menacing and he hissed, "You shouldn't be allowed to go to Hogwarts, Mudblood. All of you Muggle-born scum should just go back where you came from--" His sentence was cut short as he gasped in pain.

Lily, not really understanding what he was calling her but realizing it was insults, had twisted his arm behind his back and was holding it there. The boy tried to wiggle free, but Lily wouldn't let go. "What did you call me?" she asked angrily.

"I called you a Mudblood." he replied defiantly.

Lily pinned his arm behind him with more force. "And what does that mean?" Once again, he couldn't speak, this time because someone different interrupted him.

"Go girl with the red hair! I've always wanted to see Snape in pain." Lily, still holding onto the boy's arm, whirled him around and came face-to-face with two other boys. One had dark brown hair and brown eyes and had a muscular build. She realized he was the one that spoke to her. The other was skinny and had messy black hair that stood up in every direction. He also had sparkling blue eyes behind black glasses.

"So Snape is his name, is it? Well, Snape, let this be a reminder not to call me Mudblood ever again...whatever it means." With that, Lily let go of his arm and Snape glared at them before grabbing his trunk and heaving it away.

The boy with the glasses shook his head. "He called you a Mudblood?"

"Pay up, James, I told you he would insult someone before he even got on the train!" The other boy shouted gleefully. Glasses-boy dug around in the pockets of his robe and pulled out several gold pieces--Galleons, Lily realized--and passed them over. "My name's Sirius. Sirius Black. And that greasy git you just taught a lesson was Severus Snape."

"Hi Sirius. My name's Lily Evans," Lily held out a hand and Sirius shook it, still bounding with energy.

"James, I'm going into the train to get us a good compartment. Meet me there!" Sirius yelled, then sprinted off towards the solid metal barrier in between Platforms Nine and Ten. Lily watched him carefully...he was running straight towards the wall!

Lily gasped. "He's going to crash!" James didn't reply, and she continued to watch Sirius run--right when he should have hit the wall and had a concussion, he disappeared. "How did he do that?" she asked, astonished.

James chuckled. "It's enchanted so that witches and wizards can get through to the Hogwarts Express. You can just walk right through it. I take it you're a first year?" Lily nodded. "And you're Muggle-born."

"What the deal with me being Muggle-born?!" Lily cried, exasperated.

"I doesn't mean anything to me, or Sirius. Some wizarding families pride themselves on being 'pure-blooded' and they think Muggle-borns shouldn't be allowed in Hogwarts. Like Snape there. 'Mudblood' is a really foul name for someone born in a Muggle family...about time he got what you gave him. I would've cursed him, but we're not allowed to do magic until we get to the castle." James explained.

Lily's head swam with all the information. "Oh," was her stupid reply. But at that moment, her mother called, "Lily dear! Over here, sweety!" Lily turned back to James and smiled. "See you on the train," she said kindly.

"See you."

Lily walked back over to her family and explained about what just happened. Then she told them that she ought to get going on the train to make sure she got a good seat, and to her luck, they smiled and said okay. Lily's mother started to cry, exclaiming that her baby was so special, going to Hogwarts and being a witch. This made Lily keen on leaving, since they were making a scene, and she quickly kissed her parents good bye. Petunia stuck her tongue out at her, and Lily returned it before pushing her heavy trunk on her trolley towards the barrier.

She walked a little faster. She was almost there...inches away...she closed her eyes, waiting for the blow, but it never came. She opened her eyes and found herself in front of a giant scarlet train gleaming Hogwarts Express. "Woah," she said softly. Not wanting to waste time, Lily took her trunk of the trolley once she got to the steps on the train. Slowly, she raised her trunk step by step until it was on the carpeted floor. She silently thanked her earlier karate lessons for giving her this kind of strength.

Idiley walking along, she came to a stop in front of a door and heard voices. "And Snape was just standing there, looking evil, while she held his arm!" Lots of laughter followed, and Lily grinned. So, they were re-telling the story of Snape...she pushed the door open.

Everyone in that particular compartment glanced up. Lily recognized James and Sirius, along with two different boys she'd never seen. One had sandy brown hair and looked kind of sick, the other one was small and kind of chubby with watery eyes. "Here's the lady of the hour!" Sirius proclaimed, jumping up and shaking Lily's hand.

"Nice job on Snape. I've never seen him before, but he sounds awful. By the way, my name's Remus Lupin," the sick looking boy said from his seat. Lily smiled and at him.

"I'm Peter Pettigrew," the watery-eyed boy said, voice kind of squeaky. Lily also smiled at him.

"I'm Lily Evans," Lily said, grinning widely. "Mind if I sit in here?" After hearing them all agree, she went back outside and pushed her trunk in with ease.

The boy were impressed, she could tell by the looks on their faces. "I used to take karate lessons, it comes in handy," Lily explained, glad to be able to explain something to them rather than the other way around. "Karate is--er--a kind of fighting."

Sirius's eyes lit up. "You can take fighting lessons? Wicked!" James rolled his eyes and they all laughed.

A knock sounded on the door, and a witch came in with a giant cart of sweets. "Anything off the cart?" she asked, and everyone leapt up. Lily scanned the cart critically, then decided on some Chocolate Frogs. She paid the lady and sat down. Sirius soon joined her with a package that said Droobles Best Blowing Gum, Remus and James had something called Bertie Bott's Every Flavored Beans, and Peter had some Cauldron Cakes.

James ripped open his package and came out with a white bean. He popped it in his mouth only to spit it back out. "Socks!" he said. Remus laughed.

"Trust me to get a shoe flavored one now..." He, too, opened his package and pulled out a innocent looking red bean. He slowly bit it in half, then swallowed it with his eyes starting to water. "Jalepeno pepper!" he choked out, then excused himself to go and get some water.

Lily looked down at her own package of Chocolate Frogs. She took one out and made sure it wasn't moving. Satisfied that it wasn't, she slowly took a bite and grinned. "Good chocolate," she said through a mouthful.

"What's the card?" Peter asked.

"Card?" Lily asked blankly.

"The card in the package." Remus said, having just returned.

Lily picked up her package and found a card sitting in it, waiting to be picked up. She turned it over and saw that it had a picture on it--and it was moving! It showed a man with a long, white beard and hair and twinkling blue eyes under half moon glasses. Underneath it she read the name Albus Dumbledore--currently Headmaster at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. "The picture moves!" she cried, astonished.

James said, "Of course it does!"

Lily looked around at her friends: James, Peter, Remus, and Sirius. She had only been on this train for a few minutes, and she already had the best friends she could ever hope to find.

Part 2 of Chapter 1

When I call your name, come put the Sorting Hat on and then walk to the appropriate House," Professor McGonagall said to all the new first years. Lily was starting to like the witch: as strict as she may be, she commanded respect from her students and had things her way.

"Abberson, Joshua!" A very pale boy shakily walked up the stool and put the Sorting Hat on his head. After a second or two, the Hat screeched to the Hall, "SLYTHERIN!" Lily shuddered. Having read Hogwarts, A History, she knew that Slytherin turned out more evil and cruel wizards and witches than any other house. Personally, she wanted to get into Gryffindor, which seemed by far the best house.

"Avery, Kirk!"  Another pale boy walked up to the hat, and Lily couldn't help but whisper to Remus (who was standing in front of her), "Why are they so nervous? It's only a hat." Remus shrugged in reply. "SLYTHERIN!" The Hat screamed again. The Slytherin table once again erupted in cheers.

McGonagall looked down at her parchment. "Black, Sirius!" Sirius walked confidently up to the Hat, waving at McGonagall before slipping it onto his head. After a moment or two, it announced him as a Gryffindor. Sirius took off the hat, grinning, and walked over to the Gryffindor table, shaking hands with several older students.

About five or six more students went and got Sorted, and by the time McGonagall called, "Evans, Lily!" each House had at least two new first years. Lily walked up the Hat a little nervously, sat down, and slid the Hat on her head. A tiny voice said in her ear, "Hello. Let's see...you've got courage, yes...also a smart mind, maybe a little too smart for Ravenclaw...you're cunning, but not enough for Slytherin...Hufflepuff just won't do...yes, dear, you're a GRYFFINDOR!" The last word was shouted to the Great Hall, and Lily took off the Hat, feeling relieved. She sat down next to Sirius and crossed her fingers that hew new friends would also be in Gryffindor.

The line was slowly getting shorter and shorter, and each time there was a new Gryffindor, Lily and Sirius would cheer until they became hoarse. Finally, after much waiting, McGonagall called, "Lupin, Remus!" Remus started towards the Hat, even paler than usual. Lily saw him glance up at the staff table and Dumbledore gave him a small wink. It looked as if they'd met each other before...Lily made a mental note to ask him about that later on. About thirty seconds later, the Hat interrupted Lily's wondering by shouting, "GRYFFINDOR!" This time Lily and Sirius cheered louder than ever, and Remus collapsed into a chair beside them.

"Nerving, Sally!" A girl in front of James glided over to the Hat and then joined the Ravenclaw table. Peter was looking very nervous, and Lily knew why: it was almost his turn.

Sure enough, the next name to be called was, "Pettigrew, Peter!" Peter, trembling from head to toe, walked up the stool and placed it on his head. Lily, Remus, and Sirius held their breath--"S--GRYFFINDOR!" Lily wasn't sure if she'd heard correctly. The Hat obviously started to say Slytherin, but then changed its mind. Lily shook her head. No matter. Peter was in Gryffindor now! She clapped and cheered.

"Potter, James!" James, not looking an inch worrisome, placed the Hat over his head. Almost as soon as it touched his head it said, "GRYFFINDOR!" Yes!, Lily thought.

Sirius yelled, "Go James!" loudly and slapped him on the back as he sat down.

They all were Gryffindors through and through.

* * * * *

One week later, Lily was in a considerably good mood.

Her classes had been challenging, especially Transfiguration. She hadn't gotten that match to change into a needle, and she doubt she would anytime soon. All she had done was got hers silver and pointy. James and Sirius, on the other hand, managed to make theirs become a perfect needle. McGonagall gave them a rare smile.

Charms was a different story. James and Sirius did manage to get their feathers to float, but just barely in the air. Lily made hers fly straight into the ceiling, to her delight and James's disappointment.

History of Magic was deadly boring, taught by an old ghost who people say got up to teach one morning and simply left his body behind, turing into a full-fledged ghost Professor. Lily wondered it he even knew he wasn't among the living, breathing people anymore. Anyway, she prided herself on achieving what Sirius and James couldn't manage to do--she stayed awake in class.

Defense Against the Dark Arts was Lily's second favorite class, next to Charms. Professor Kiggle, a nice man who obviously knew what he was doing, taught them all about the dangers of certain creatures, particularly vampires. He also told the the class that not all these creatures were dark and evil--just misunderstood. Remus seemed to like when he said that and was very cheerful the rest of the day.

Astronomy was at midnight every Wednesday, high in the Astronomy Tower. Professor Sinistra made them write down the changes in the stars' patterns, any ways that the planets acted "strangely", and so forth. Peter was a great Astronomer, he caught onto the lesson very quickly.

Herbology was done in the Greenhouses, and every lesson they would come out of it dirty and sweaty. One boy in their year, Frank Longbottom, was exceptionally good at it, and when Peter had trouble, he gladly offered his assistance. Lily remember thinking to ask him to help her with her Herbology homework that she really didn't understand.

Every class had suddenly become a contest, because of the bet. Lily bet that she would have the highest grades after she graduated from seventh year, and James bet the same, only saying that he would have the highest average. The wager was ten Galleons, only it wasn't really the gold that mattered to Lily. She wanted desperately to beat James...they had become friendly rivals, always competing. They had even written down the bet and signed it to prove, when they were seventeen, that they had both agreed on it.

Meanwhile, after Sirius had gotten his second detention in three days, he confessed his own goal: "I want to beat the record for most detentions in Hogwarts history."

But now Lily was in the present, sitting down next to Remus at dinner that night. Remus was looking very sickly, he occasionally shivered or grimaced in pain, and Lily noticed that he was deathly pale. "Remus, are you all right?" she asked in concern.

"Yeah, yeah I'm fine," Remus muttered. At that exact moment, Professor Kiggle walked up to them and laid a hand on his shoulder.

"Remus...your mother is ill. She requested to see you. You can leave tonight, if you wish."

Remus stared up at Kiggle for a moment in confusion, then comprehension dawned on his face. "Oh," he said slowly. "I'll come now." He shakily stood up, and with Kiggle's support, made his way out of the Great Hall.

As soon as they left, Sirius and James came bounding in...and James had purple hair.

Lily started laughing and couldn't stop. "What--happened--to--you?" she gasped.

"Sirius thought it would be funny to dye my hair a different color after I pulled a little prank of him myself. It's so funny," James said dryly, while Lily looked closely at Sirius to try and see a prank done to him--and then noticed his eyes, which kept flashing different colors. She laughed once more. "We were practicing for the Slytherins but got a little carried away." He leaned over Lily's clean plate and saw his reflection, then laughed.

"Where's Remus?" James asked, looking around.

"Kiggle just came up and said his mother was sick, and he left," Lily said. "I hope she's okay," she added.

James frowned in thought and Sirius looked a little abashed. "Poor guy doesn't need any more heartache. He's always sick already," Sirius said. Lily nodded in agreement.

"I feel so sorry for Lupin," came a voice from behind them. They all whirled around to see Snape sneering.

"Shut up, Snape," Lily snapped. Sirius and James stood at her side, wearing a cold look and ready do defend her, if neccessary.

Snape's lip curled. "I think it's nice that you have to get Black and Potter to back you up because they're the only ones that will hang out with you."

"Now, Snape," Lily said, shaking in rage, "Unless you'd like me to show you what a Muggle-born can do to a certain arm?" James and Sirius howled with laughter and Lily suppressed a small smile. Snape glared before turning on his heel and leaving, to their relief.

James watched him go, his face a mask of intense dislike. He commented, "Sometimes I wonder exactly how far that stick is shoved up his--"

"James!" Lily scolded, not wanting him to get (another) detention for foul language. James grinned at her, and she felt her heart flutter. Wait--flutter? Wasn't that what you get when you like someone? No, she told herself, I don't like James--you can't fall in love at eleven! I just like his smile.

Right?