pilot
“I’m sure you’ll fit right in here, Miss Evans,” Lily snaps her gaze from the students walking past on the grounds below the office back to Headmistress McGonagall, realizing she finished giving Lily her student onboarding speech. Lily shoots her a sweet smile, feeling a little bad that she wasn’t listening to McGonagall in the slightest. Lily couldn’t be to blame though, surely. It’s her first day at Hogwarts Academy, and it’s so much bigger than she was anticipating. Sure, it’s the largest boarding school on the east coast, but–
Ok. Yeah. Nevermind. It’s huge. Lily had done tons of research on the school when she began her application process, but she must’ve overlooked the population size. And the people in the population. Some of the richest families on the East Coast and beyond send their children here. Their heirs. Lily may have stalked a few Instagram accounts on the way into Woodbury. She doesn’t want to make any assumptions about anybody here before she’s met them, but there’s no denying these kids are extremely privileged. And where privilege goes, assholes tend to follow.
Lily turns her whole attention to McGonagall, who is, embarrassingly, waiting expectantly for any sign of acknowledgment from her. Lily spurs into action quickly, her cheeks warming. “Thank you, Headmistress. I think I’ll get on just fine.” McGonagall nods severely, continuing. “I’d like to introduce you to your guide for the week. He’s just..” The headmistress tuts, striding over to the door to her large corner office, pulling open the heavy oak and peering around the corner of the sitting room outside. She opens the door wider on her way back in, making room for someone else to come in. And he does. A boy comes in behind McGonagall, and he’s - well.
He’s honestly not what Lily expected, and exactly what she expected at the same time.
He’s extremely tall. Even pushing five foot eight and he towers over Lily. He’s wearing soft looking, worn jeans and a brown knit sweater that compliments his amber colored eyes and dirty blonde hair. The most striking thing about the boy, though, is the jagged scar that pulls through his left eyebrow all the way down to the right side of his chin, puckering his lip slightly. She thinks the scar may even travel farther, reaching below his jaw. Lily doesn’t let her eyes linger too long, not wanting to make the lanky boy uncomfortable. He’s wearing a lanyard around his neck, which, upon further inspection, seems slightly discolored in places, almost bruised looking. It's hard to tell with the collared shirt under his sweater and the shadows in the room. She squints to read the name on the lanyard, but can't quite make it out.
“This is Remus, he’ll be your student advisor for this first week that you’re here, and will help you get to your classes and answer any questions you may have about Hogwarts.” McGonagall says from a few paces away from the two. McGonagall seems to be studying the boy, a slightly concerned look flashing in her eyes before disappearing completely. Odd. Lily stands from the comfortable chair she’d been situated in in front of the Headmistress’ desk and sticks her hand out to the boy in front of her, giving him a warm grin, tilting her head back just slightly to meet his eyes. “Pleased to meet you, Remus. I’m Lily. Lily Evans.” Remus takes her hand easily, giving a quick, firm shake before dropping her freckled hand. He meets her eyes for a moment before looking away again, his lips pursed
He doesn’t smile back.
Lily tries her darndest to suppress the frown of confusion that tries to bully its way onto her face as she gathers her backpack and printed out schedule. “Alright, then. You two should be off.” McGonagall lets her eyes linger on the boy a few moments longer before turnig to Lily, a small reassuring smile on the corner of her lips. “Welcome to Hogwarts, Miss Evans. Enjoy your first day.”
. . . .
Lily and this Remus kid are walking down the corridor in complete silence. And Lily is so confused.
He’s supposed to be making her feel welcome here right?
Well, he’s doing an awful job at it. The only words he’s uttered the entire time was to ask her what class she had first. His voice was oddly scratchy and quiet, not really what she was expecting of the towering boy. But that’s where they’re going now. Remus’ extremely long legs are taking him to their destination much quicker than Lily is used to, and she’s a fast walker. But she refuses to fall behind, so she keeps pace with some difficulty. She’s feeling flushed when they make it to her first class, Honors Rhetoric and Composition. “I’ll be here when the bell rings.” Remus says, and Lily almost jumps.
Almost.
She did not jump.
She looks up at Remus, and oh, she’s not going to let his uncaring attitude kick her spark on the very first day here. So she smiles her Lily Evans smile, all teeth and bright and sweet. “Thanks.” She says before walking through the large door frame into her first class of her junior year at Hogwarts Prep.
- - - - - - - - - - -
Sirius and James are fucking around, as always.
Sirius is telling an overly-dramatized version of the reason he landed a detention on the first day of school with Filch, their mortal enemy, and James is chuckling along, genuinely pleased to listen to his best mate talk his ear off, knowing he wasn’t able to do this with anyone all summer. Sirius is just getting to the part where he’d stolen a student advisor lanyard and was going around telling new students they’d been unenrolled from their classes and were expected to leave, when she walks in. James turns at the motion in the doorway, seeing the back of Remus’ head walking away, and he’s about to call out to him when he sees her.
And wow.
The laughter dies on James’ lips as he takes her in. She’s walking to an open desk not far from where James and Sirius and seated together. She’s wearing a white, soft looking sweater and a skirt with tights underneath. Her freckly cheeks are a little pink, making her long red hair look even more vibrant. She tucks a loose strand of it behind her ear, and that’s when James catches a glimpse of her eyes. And wow. James doesn’t know if he’s ever seen eyes like that before. They’re green, obviously green, but the morning light filtering through the old glass windows in the classroom hits them and they look golden yellow. And James is entranced. He realizes he’s openly staring, but she doesn’t notice, pulling a spiral notebook and pen out of her bookbag. He doesn’t snap out of it until-
“-mes. James. James. Hello? Do I need to make a scene? I can make a scene. Actually, I don’t care, I'm going to make a scene anyway-” James snaps his head to his best friend and claps a hand over Sirius’ mouth as he draws in a large breath, preparing to really make a scene. Sirius mumbles something incoherent, and wastes no time in licking James’ palm. James doesn’t even flinch, just grinning and moving his hand away from Sirius mouth.
“Sorry, Pads. Don’t know where I went there.” James says, stealing one last look at the redhead before Professor Edgecomb begins class. James can feel Sirius’ narrowed eyes looking at the side of his head for a moment before seemingly brushing it off and focusing on Edgecomb starting introductions.
James can barely hear Edgecomb going over the semester’s syllabus because she’s just there and she’s so pretty and she’s biting the end of her pen in concentration and holy shit James has to talk to this girl before he dies.
Class could not be over sooner.
James didn’t get a single thing out of his bookbag all class, which is not the norm for him, he’s typically an avid notetaker, it helps him focus. But James doesn’t think even notetaking would keep him from watching her all class. When class is finally finished, the redheaded girl is getting up and James scrambles to catch up to her as she quickly begins walking out of the classroom.
Of course Edgecomb uses this moment to bother him.
“Mr. Potter, I couldn’t help but notice you didn’t take a single note during class today.” Professor Edgecomb begins, blocking James’ escape, thus blocking his path to talk to the girl. James locks eyes with Edgecomb, slapping a grin on his face quickly, forcing charm to drip from his features. “Professor! So glad I have you again for Rhetoric this year,” James begins, his eyes moving back and forth from the woman to the door. “And don’t worry, I’ve already read your- incredibly detailed, might I add– syllabus top to bottom! That’s why I didn’t take any notes.” James finishes, discreetly inching towards the door. Edgecomb eyes him severely, but moves from her place barricading the door. “Alright. I’m sure you’ll ace the quiz over it on Wednesday, then, Mr. Potter. Have a good day.” James barely catches what she said, already bursting out the door and looking from right to left wildly. And there she is. She’s across the corridor, walking towards Remus, who is leaning against the wall with a book in his scarred hand. James jogs across the hallway, narrowly missing a few student’s in the process, apologizing over his shoulder a few times. Just before the girl reaches Lupin, James reaches her. He slides in front of her in a way he would think of as smooth.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Lily is walking across the busy corridor after Rhetoric and is about to make it to Lupin so he can direct her to her next class when he slides in front of her, skidding slightly, a curl of unruly hair falling in front of his round glasses. Lily recognizes him from class, who was catching glimpses of her when he thought she wouldn’t notice.
She noticed.
Lily jumps, stopping her movement so as to not bump into the boy who is currently interrupting her schedule.
“Hey! I’m James. James Potter.” the boy grins, sticking a tanned hand between them. Lily smiles back at him, previous confusion abandoned for the moment and she takes his hand. “I’m Lily. Lily Evans.” and the boy’s already large smile widens impossibly, his warm brown eyes twinkling behind the glasses. “It’s nice to meet you, Lily. You’re new, then?” James asks, and he actually seems interested, not like he feels obligated to ask her questions.
“Yeah, it’s my first year here. I take it you’re not new, then?” Lily responds, and she only notices now that their hands are still connected between them.
Neither of them move to let go.
“Nah, been going here for forever. Came here after elementary school. Cause it’s only junior and senior high, of course.” James adds at the end of his sentence, leaving no room for Lily to be confused or question his answer. It’s quite nice. James is very perceptive. And pretty-
“Ahem.”
Both of them jump. “Moony! When did you get there, bud?” James says, letting go of Lily’s hand and looking up at Remus. James is tall, but Remus is still at least four inches taller. James is looking at Remus, but his body is still facing Lily, careful not to close her off from him and Remus.
“James.” Remus greets, looking only slightly annoyed. He has an almost fond look on his face, but it’s as though he’s trying to fight the corner of his scarred mouth from turning up. “Been here the whole time.” Remus continues, glancing down at Lily quickly. “I’m sure I’d love to stay and chat, but I have to escort Lily to her next class.” He picks up the lanyard around his neck, waggling it in James’ face a little, an exasperated look replacing the almost-fond. James frowns at the boy. "Moony, are you alrigh-" Remus interrupts James quickly, "I'm fine, James. Can we please go?" Remus seems almost pleading, searching James' eyes in almost silent conversation. James drops the subject immediately, pursing his lips and turning back to Lily. “Right. Well, can I at least get your n-” James starts, but Remus interrupts him, beginning his quick pace down the slowly emptying corridor. “No time to waste, bud. Gotta get to-” Remus glances down at the schedule he pulled out of his pocket. “-Chemistry.” James wastes no time in responding, beginning to walk with the two. “What a coincidence! That’s what I have, too!” he says, grinning at Lily. Remus gives him a long look. “No, you don’t. You took chem last year. We were in the same class, idiot.” James deflates goodnaturedly. “Oh yeah. Forgot. Oh well, it was worth a shot.” James stops walking alongside Remus and Lily, instead watching them walk down the now empty hallway. “See you later, Lily Evans!” James calls to her, and Lily looks back at him, grinning amusedly. Her cheeks have warmed again. She ought to get used to that. “Bye, James Potter.” She calls back, and they watch each other for a moment until Remus huffs and leads Lily around a corner, hiding James from view.
Wow.