A large pillow hit me square in the face; not the most pleasant way to be woken up. I glared up to see which of my oh-so-kindly brothers was responsible. It was James.
“James, what the hell? You don’t even live here anymore! Go away...”
“Fine, fine, have it your way. But the Hogwarts Express leaves in one hour and I thought you might be interested.”
I sat bolt upright and looked straight at him. “What? Why didn’t you wake me sooner?!”
“Meh this way’s more fun.” He grinned. Doucheface.
I grabbed the pillow he had just thrown at me and aimed it at his face but he caught it swiftly and smirked at me. Stupid brother with his stupid Quidditch skills.
“How are you up before me anyway?” I questioned, climbing out of bed and rubbing my eyes.
James sat on the end of my bed. “Is it so bad that I wanted to see my little sister before she goes off to school for the year?”
I gave him a withering look. “Fine, mum’s making pancakes.” There you go. “But, also to see you off and stuff.” He said, shaking his fringe out of his eyes.
I laughed and he scowled at me; he was growing his hair out again and I always tease him about it saying it makes him look gay when he does that hair flick thing.
Well it does; just saying.
“So Mum says we’re leaving in half an hour.” He grinned again and left the room.
I wandered across my room which would normally have been a mission to divert around piles of clothes and various other debris but this morning it was all packed in my trunk. Throwing on the first outfit I could find, I grabbed a mascara and attacked my lashes before tossing it into the top of my bag, staring into my mirror blankly and deciding my hair looked fine.
After a quick scan to check I hadn’t left anything necessary behind, I shoved my small bag onto my shoulder and hauled my heavy trunk to the door, struggling to hoist it into the hallway. Why couldn’t James be hanging round now to help me lift it?
“Oh you’re finally up!” I turned to see my dad coming up the stairs with a sarcastic look. “James said you kept going back to sleep.” Gee, thanks for that James.
“Yeah well James says a lot of things, dad.” I gave him a significant look and gestured towards my trunk with my head. He came over to help me haul it across the landing.
“Seriously Lils, how much have you packed?” he said breathlessly as we both struggled with the trunk.
“Dad, my trunk hasn’t gotten heavier; you’ve just gotten older.” I joked and stuck my tongue out at him.
Dad laughed and turned towards the staircase. “Al!” he yelled down the stairs.
“What?!” my other brother shouted back. (This is a standard method of conversation in the Potter household)
“Come and help me with Lily’s trunk please!” he replied as Al wandered up the stairs.
Al was so laid back about everything it actually kind of annoyed me at times. When you’re doing your OWLs, are stressed about said OWLs and go to your older brother for advice hoping he can relate as he is also sitting NEWTs at the same time, the last thing you want to be told is ‘Just wing it. You’re smart Lils.’
Al brushed his dark hair out from his green eyes and grasped the other side of my trunk; my side got distinctly lighter. Together we edged down the stairs holding a corner of the trunk each. Well, actually I was only pretending to hold my corner.
Depositing the trunk in the middle of the hall (wonder who’ll trip over it first?), I made my way into the kitchen to see James enjoying a large stack of pancakes.
“Where’s Lottie this morning?” I asked him as I sat down next to him at the kitchen table. Lottie was James’ girlfriend of three years and the two were practically inseparable since they moved in together four months ago.
“Still in Scotland with her cousins.” He replied thickly through a mouthful of pancakes. Nice.
“She is so lucky to have you James.” I said sarcastically in a sing-song voice.
Mum placed a plate of pancakes in front of me and smiled sadly. “What’s up?” I asked, highly suspecting the reason.
“I just can’t believe my little girl is already going into sixth year.” She said in a soppy fashion; unlike Mum really.
“Aww little Lilykins is all grown up.” James teased stealing a pancake from my plate. He’d already had about fifty; stupid brother with his stupid Quidditch player’s metabolism.
“Believe it Mum. It’s already happened to James and Al, you should be used to it by now.” I joked, attempting to lighten the situation.
Dad walked into the kitchen. “Ready to go Lils?” he asked. I looked at him incredulously, still halfway through my breakfast.
“Er, no.”
“Oh, well everyone else is.” I stared at him and looked around the kitchen. Mum was still cooking pancakes, James was still finishing his pancakes and Al appeared behind Dad apparently looking for something. Probably pancakes.
“Who is ‘everyone else’? We don’t need to leave for another ten minutes.” I said, checking the clock on the kitchen wall.
“Yeah she’s right Harry.” Mum said looking just as confused as me. James finished his pancakes and left the room saying something about checking for the post; probably expecting a letter from Lottie.
“Looking forward to sixth year then Lily?” Dad asked me as a loud crash sounded from the hall.
“Ouch!” James yelled. “Lily, can you not leave your trunk in the middle of the hall in future?” he said angrily appearing in the kitchen doorway and massaging his head.
“Sorry clumsy.” I replied brushing past him and going upstairs to check I had everything.
I emerged five minutes later with everything for the upcoming year and, to my surprise, found that the rest of my family were ready to go too; I was expecting to have to wait for ages for at least one person.
“Hey, can I drive there?” James asked expectantly.
“No!” the entire family chorused knowing full well what a risk that would be.
“Ok, ok. I was just wondering.” James said defensively as he opened the back car door and climbed in.
It was kind of a surreal experience, sitting in the back of the car in between my two brothers with my mum and dad in the front. Nowadays, September 1st was probably the only time we were all in the car at the same time.
I was looking straight ahead as we drove along when I felt something tap my right shoulder. Without thinking, I turned to my left where James sat smirking out of the window.
“James I know that was you.” He looked at me innocently.
“I don’t know what you mean.” He replied. I looked at him for a second then suddenly reached over and messed up the front of his hair.
“Lily!” he yelled, sounding nothing like the twenty year old he was supposed to be and attempting to flatten his hair again.
“James!” I mimicked him.
“It’s like you’re kids again.” Mum said, shaking her head. Meh, growing up’s overrated; just saying.
We arrived at Kings Cross with minutes to spare before the Hogwarts Express left. Rushing through the barrier to Platform 9¾ (the novelty had long since worn off), I walked right into a small student already in Hogwarts robes. A first year.
“Sorry.” I apologised half-heartedly to probably the smallest first year girl I had ever seen. She gave me a terrified look and rushed off.
“See you at Christmas Lily.” Dad said pulling me into an engulfing hug and kissing the top of my head.
“Bye Dad.” I said as he released me. I’m not really one for emotional, sappy farewell scenes so I felt a little uncomfortable.
Mum gave me a hug and kiss. “Don’t forget to write to us when you get there.”
“Bye Sis” Al said giving me a quick hug.
“See ya Lils.” James hugged me too. This was too good an opportunity to miss. As he released me I once again attacked his hair with my hand.
“Again Lily? Seriously?” he said grinning and I laughed before saying goodbye to my parents again and boarding the train.
The train began to move and I stood watching my parents before realising I had no idea where any of my friends were. Great, I don’t look like a loner at all.
“Lily Lily Lily Lily!” a voice squealed from behind me. I turned to see a brunette girl hurtling towards me and I braced myself as she collided into me, enveloping me in a hug.
“Hey Evie.” I hugged my friend back.
“Found her Liss!” she yelled over her shoulder and I grinned as my best friend Lissie came running down the corridor towards me.
We’d been best friends since first year as Lissie was one of the few girls in my dorm who hadn’t quizzed me about my dad upon meeting me. So we became ‘Lily and Lissie’ and were practically inseparable for the whole of first year. Then in second year we became friendlier with Evie who was also in Gryffindor and they were now my two best girl friends.
I followed them back down the corridor towards what was presumably their compartment hoping my third best friend was in there.
“Lily!” a male voice said, attacking me with a hug before I’d even crossed the threshold.
“Joey!” I mimicked him and hugged him back happily before releasing him.
“Oh my God! Joe, you cut your hair!” he grinned sheepishly and ran his hand through his dark hair which was now about an inch long all over; previously it had just reached the top of his collar.
“You like it?” he asked apprehensively.
“Yeah, it’s cute.” I smiled and proceeded to sit down in the compartment finding myself face to face with most of the other Gryffindor sixth years.
Ok so I know what you’re thinking: my best friend’s a guy so we probably have hidden feelings for each other and will end up getting married etcetera etcetera. Not me and Joe. Honestly, we’re best friends and nothing more.
“Er, Rueben, what the hell are you doing?” I asked one of the Gryffindor boys in the year who was currently staring at the ceiling and attempting to balance his wand on the bridge of his nose. He looked right at me, allowing his wand to fall into his lap and roll onto the floor. Joe and his friend Laurence sniggered.
“Just seeing if it was possible.” He said with a shrug. Rueben’s sweet but he is, without a doubt, the dumbest guy I’ve ever met.
“Well I’d better go check on the first years again.” Joe sighed and turned to the door. You’ve got to love his enthusiasm.
“Off you go prefect Joe.” I joked repeating the phrase I had said constantly throughout fifth year. Joe rolled his eyes.
“Not that again, Lils.” He said exasperatedly as he left the room. Whatever, I know he loves it really.
The compartment door slid open again. I looked up to see Miles, a boy in Hufflepuff. Damn, this was gonna be awkward.
He threw a magazine into Laurence’s lap (I recognised it as Quidditch Weekly) and grinned at him. “Look at page seven- oh, um hi Lily.” He noticed me and stared at his feet.
“Miles.” I acknowledged him. We’d had a pretty disastrous night together at the Christmas ball last year mainly because Miles and his mates had decided it would be a great idea to down firewhiskey beforehand. Let’s just say, Miles gets quite friendly when he’s had a drink and had successfully managed to embarrass me in front of my brother, a handful of cousins and Professor McGonagall.
“Er, yeah there’s a pretty funny article on page seven .” He tailed off quietly. I decided to save everyone in the compartment from the unbearable awkwardness and leave, muttering briefly about going to the toilet.
I walked past several compartments looking for someone I knew that I could talk to until Miles had left and spotted Joe returning from his prefect’s rounds.
He looked up at me and grimaced, shaking his dark haired head. “Bloody first years. I swear we were never that annoying.”
“We weren’t.” I replied. “Nor were we ever that small.” I added, remembering the tiny first year from the platform.
“Hmm maybe you were, Lils.” He joked and patted the top of my head. Joe is the only person who can tease me about my height (or lack of it) and get away with it. Anyone else would find themselves hexed into oblivion.
“Hey! I’ll have you know I’ve grown an inch and a half over the summer.” I retorted with an indignant look.
“The thing is Lily, so did I.” Joe teased me and stood up straight towering over me. I scowled at him hoping he hadn’t noticed that I was only pretending I’d grown an inch and a half and in truth I’ve been the same stupidly short height of five foot two inches since fourth year.
“What are you doing out here anyway?” He asked as I realised that he wasn’t joking and he had actually grown even taller than me over the summer. Damn him.
“Miles came in to tell Laurence some Quidditch thing so I left.” I told him simply as we walked back to our compartment. He gave me an understanding look being fully aware of the whole situation.
Passing a compartment containing a large group of sixth year Ravenclaw girls, I noticed one of them, a blonde girl named Camilla, waving out at me and Joe. I recognised her from potions lessons in fourth year but we’d never really had a proper conversation so I uncertainly waved back turning to Joe and preparing to give him a confused look.
He was cheerily waving and smiling at her. She hadn’t been waving at me at all. Great.
I hurriedly carried on down the train corridor to cover my mistake and Joe followed me. People really should specify clearly who they’re waving at; just saying.
Joe had a stupid smile on his face. “What was that about?” I asked him.
“Camilla’s a prefect too, that’s all.” He replied and I gave him a suspicious look. I have two brothers, loads of male cousins and my best friend is a guy; I knew what that stupid smile was about.
“Is that really all? I think there’s more to it.” I teased and nudged him with a knowing look. “You’d be a cute couple.” I added glancing back at where her compartment was as if that would help him to see it.
Joe looked uncomfortable. “Race you back Small Fry.” He dashed off.
“Yay, you brought back my favourite nickname!” I yelled sarcastically to his retreating figure and walking resignedly back to my friends.
Author's Note
Thanks for reading! This chapter was kind of an introduction to get to know all the characters so not much happened but don't worry! There's plenty of story to come :) Big thankyou to the people who favourited last chapter! Please let me know what you thought of this story in a review :)
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