The Marauders. Bright Beginnings

Chapter Three: New Year, New Friends?

The next morning, Lily woke early. Silently, so as not to disturb her dorm mates, who were still sleeping, she got ready for the day and headed down to the common room. As she looked out of the window, the Hogwarts grounds were shrouded in mist, promising a grey and melancholic first day of school.

She settled down in her favourite window seat, close to the now cold fireplace, with her copy of Hogwarts: A History. She had read the volume many times, and it continued to be one of her favourites. Even though Lily had now been part of the wizarding community for about four years, Hogwarts' peculiarities never failed to amaze her.

She was just getting to the part about the Great Hall's bewitched ceiling, when she heard footsteps on the staircase that led down from the boys' dormitory. Lily closed her book to see Remus Lupin step into the common room, wearing not only his uniform, but a somewhat shabby outdoor coat made of beige tweed. He looked surprised to see her, but not unpleased, and approached her with a smile.

"Good morning, Lupin," she said with what she hoped to be a neutral, yet not unkind smile. "Why are you up at this hour? Planning on leaving the castle on your own, are you?"

"Remus," he replied with an impish grin. "And I could ask you the same."
"Sorry?"

"Call me Remus," he said when he caught on to Lily's confusion.

Lily frowned at the prospect of being on a first-name basis with one of James Potter's cronies, then realized she was forgetting her manners and gave a polite nod. "Very well then," she said and held out her hand. "I'm Lily."

"I know," said Remus, grinning even wider, as he shook her hand. His grip was firm and steady. Maybe Lily could come to like him after all.

"Aren't you the funny kind," she said, stifling a smile. "But you haven't answered my question yet. Why are you up already at this ungodly hour?"

"I'm going to go for a walk. I enjoy the peace and quiet, that's all," announced Remus and Lily found herself surprised by this relatively banal reason.

"Oh, alright then, go ahead," she said. "I don't want to keep you from exercising," she added with a grin.

"I guess I'll see you around then," said Remus and bit his lips, as if he wanted to add something but did not quite dare to. He gave her an awkward wave and disappeared through the portrait hole; Lily turned her attention back to Hogwarts: A History.

Gradually, the rest of Gryffindor house awoke and the first students passed the common room – and Lily – on their way to breakfast. Amongst them were her dorm mates Emmeline Vance and Stella Fortescue. Lily and Emmeline exchanged the conspiratorial smiles of those who enjoy getting up early, while the latter was essentially dragging a tired and constantly yawning Stella behind her. The two were quite the unlikely pair; Emmeline was brilliant, but somewhat socially awkward, while Stella enjoyed a good gossip and did not think too much of schoolwork. Nevertheless, they had been inseparable ever since first year, amongst other reasons due to their mutual dislike of Potions – something Lily could not identify with for the life of her. She liked the two but found them annoying at times.

All in all, she was happy with her own friends – except for their constant tardiness, that was showing once again on this September morning. Marlene, and consequently Mary, were late as usual, but when classes were bound to start in half an hour and they still had not shown up, Lily went to check on them. Trying to read at the noise level created by the passers-by was an impossible quest at any rate.

When she stepped into the dorm, she faced six four-poster beds that looked very much like earlier this morning, when she had left; Emmeline's, Stella's and her own unoccupied, the other three with drawn red curtains and the sound of light – or, in Mary's case, not so light – snoring emerging from them.