Until The End

"Come on, this one is empty," Marlene dragged her new friend into a cabin. She sat crisscrossed near the window while Lily closed the door and took a seat in front of her, "so Lily, you’re a muggle-born right ?" 

“Hum sorry, I'm a what ?” Lily must have looked lost for at least ten minutes. She was staring at everything and everyone with wide eyes. Moreover, she was surprised by this Marlene girl who seemed so comfortable talking to her or leaving her parents for a whole year. 

To be honest, Lily was starting to stress about this whole Hogwarts thing. At first, she was thrilled at the idea of learning real magic, but the more she thought about it, the more she felt like she might not actually be special. 

“A muggle-born as in a witch whose folks are muggles,” Marlene got her out of her head in time before she started to think too much, “Muggles are non-wizards.” She explained.

“Oh, well then yes I am,” Lily glanced out the window as the train started to leave. Most of the kids were by the windows too, waving at their family one last time as they left, “If you’re not muggle-born, you must be used to all this right ?”

“That I am,” the blond girl exclaimed, “I’ve gone to all of my siblings’ first days so all this fuss is old news to me.” 

Lily took more time to analyse Marlene. She had in fact a lot of moles on her face and neck and her roots were darker than her natural hair colour. She also had a dimple on her right cheek when she smiled. And she smiled a lot. Not that Lily was complaining, on the contrary, she felt more relaxed now that she had met Marlene. 

She was so easygoing, confident and pretty that Lily felt her cheeks heat up when she smiled. Don’t ask her why, she just admired the girl a lot. Marlene was everything Lily wished to be.

As Lily was about to ask her about school, a loud knock at the door cut her off. One second later, a fire of a girl entered the cabin. She was not a fire because of her hair - as that would be Lily - but because in just one look, Lily’s cheeks burnt once again. 

What was wrong with her today ?! 

“Hello girls, do you mind if I join you ?” She leaned over the door, “All the other cabins are full.” 

The girl’s hair was the most eye-catching feature about the girl. She had an afro puff on which she had put pink butterfly clips. Her chocolate skin contrasted with the faint pink glitters she had on her lips. As for her eyes, they held a mischievous light. Lily almost felt like she could see right into her soul. As if in only one glimpse she could tell Lily's past, present, and future. However, she seemed rather petite, even more than Lily if she stood up. Next to Marlene, the height difference would be blatant. 

“Of course !” Marlene’s smile brightened once more as she made room for their new guest, “The name’s Marlene Mckinnon, and this is Lily Evans, my friend !” 

“I’m Mary Mcdonald,” Mary sat and focused on Lily for what felt like hours to the redhead, “You’re like me aren’t you, Lily?”

“Like you ?” Lily was starting to feel really stupid. She hadn’t stopped asking questions ever since she got here. 

“Your parents aren’t wizards.” Mary didn’t even ask, she simply affirmed it as if Lily’s private life was common knowledge. 

Now if we’re talking magic, Mary was definitely a witch. She had this aura around her that screamed magic.

Lily simply nodded, too intimidated to actually answer the not-so-question question. It’s true that she felt comfortable around those girls, there was something reassuring about them. Yet she still had this little voice in the back of her head whispering. 

They don’t really care. You just met them. 

She was familiar with that voice by now, though she wished it would leave her alone for once. 

Mary’s eyes longed a bit more on Lily than needed before she turned back to Marlene, asking about hogwarts. 

“Tell me Marlene,” She said, leaning on her knees, “What will await us at Hogwarts ? Gnomes ? Talking animals ? Werewolves ?” 

“What ?! oh how I love muggleborns !” Marlene laughed loudly, “None of that don’t worry, although we might study about some of those i guess. No, what will happen first for us first years, is the house sorting.”

“House sorting ?” Lily finally talked, her curiosity winning over her anxiety. 

“Yep,” Marlene stood up to get her bag and search for something, “There’s Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff and Slytherin. We are assigned a house based on our core values and personality.”

“Do we know what each house requires ?” Lily followed Marlene’s move, not noticing the way Mary analysed her and not marlene.

The blond finally found what she was looking for and handed a book to Mary who declined with a scoff.

“Books are definitely not for me”  

“Yeah, me neither,” Marlene then offered it to Lily who took it, more than happy to learn about Hogwarts, “In here, you’ll have the answer to all of your questions. Hogwarts: a history is a must for students if you don’t want to be lost.”

While Lily read the summary, Marlene started explaining the houses’ values.

“Ravenclaw requires wit, intelligence and knowledge, although one of my brother is a ravenclaw and he’s the stupidest person I know,” she explained, “Hufflepuff is for the hard workers and loyal hearts, that explains why none of my brother got into this one. Slytherin represents cunningness and ambition. A few in my family got into this house but I don’t talk much with them.”

“And Gryffindor ?” Mary asked.

“Oh Gryffindor is the best one that’s for sure !” Marlene seemed even more enthusiastic when talking about this house,”It shows the bravery and chivalry of your heart. The most important value of this house is the will to help others, regardless of who they are.”

“Yes I can see that,” Mary eyed Marlene, amused. She then turned to Lily, “You could be a gryffindor too although ravenclaw suits you as well.” 

“Yeah I figured I would end up here too.” Lily felt much more at ease with a book in her hand. She had something to distract herself from the overthinking, “From what I hear, you could be a slytherin but I don’t want to assume anything.” 

“It does seem fitting for me.” Mary grinned. 

“Man that would suck though !” Marlene whined, “You’re my new friends and we wouldn’t be in the same house !” 

Mary laughed at Marlene’s pouting and patted her shoulder comfortingly. “Don’t worry, Marls, if we’re the ones for you, we’ll definitely stay friends.” 

The nickname Mary gave seemed so naturally said that it didn’t feel weird to any of them. 

“Yeah but it’s not the same !!” Marlene fake cried on Mary’s shoulder, while the second tried to keep a straight face.

And for the first time today, Lily finally laughed. It was more of a chuckle if you'd ask her, but it was loud enough for the girls to hear it. Mary’s smile brightened and another one grew on Marlene’s hidden face. 

They knew it. Lily had a beautiful laugh. 

________________

Once they arrived at Hogwarts, the girls were practically attached by the hips. Lily was surprised by the ease she had when talking with them. Her smile had in fact grown wider and wider with every minute spent with Mary and Marlene. And by the time they got out of the train, they became the closest friends Lily has ever had - besides Severus. 

They had put on their robes, with the missing coloured ties and got out of the train, Mary in the middle, Marlene on her left and Lily on her right. While the other students walked away by the forest, the first years took a few boats, along with the gamekeeper of the school, Rubeus Hagrid. Lily, Mary and Marlene took one for themselves and while Marlene babbled about the building of the school, the two muggle borns stared in awe at the beauty of this place. 

The word magical wouldn’t even be strong enough to describe this paradise. 

Lily couldn’t even tell if it was real or not. Perhaps it was all a dream, but she sure hoped it wasn’t. The crescent moon reflected on the Black Lake and lily briefly wondered what she might find in a magical lake. If wizards existed, surely mermaids would be common right ? 

The daydream wasn’t over, even inside the school. There were paintings everywhere but that wasn’t the shocking part. 

The paintings moved !? 

Lily was sure that if she wasn’t so busy admiring everything, she could tell who the muggle borns were simply by looking at their reaction. She was watching a portrait of a woman - certainly a witch - waving politely at her when Mary elbowed her gently to get her attention. 

“Lils, is it just me or is there a ghost just above us ?!” She murmured, staring at a big floating man who was playing with the torches.

“It’s not just you…” She replied, now also staring at the -dead- man. 

“His name is Peeves,” Marlene informed happily, “My brothers told me he was a prankster so be careful around him.”

Well, that was reassuring.

The girls followed the first years guided by professor Mcgonagall - who Lily recognised as the woman who helped her in the summer - and entered the Great Hall. 

Now that was intimidating. 

All of the other students were already here, spread in four tables, babbling and joking together but the fuss stopped once the first year stepped in. Lily felt so small in such a big place. Unconsciously, she pinched the skin of her hand but was quickly interrupted by Mary who took both her and Marlene’s gently. When Lily looked at her, she was met with a comforting smile. For once, it wasn’t a disapproving look and that made Lily’s stomach flip.

On Mary’s left side, Marlene was excitingly bouncing on her feet, while on her right, Lily took a deep shaky breath, trying to stay calm. Mary watched both girls’ reactions and chuckled quietly.

A hat was brought in front of the whole room, as well as a stool. The first years were supposed to sit here when they were called to be assigned a house.

Wait… They were supposed to do what now ?!

Oh gosh, it came from a daydream to a nightmare too fast for Lily. She wouldn’t be able to do it. Have you seen the numbers of students here ?! So many eyes looking at her. Too many whispers about her. It was too much for her. 

A hand squeeze brought her back to reality and Lily glanced once more at her friends and then at the other first years. They all seemed as scared as Lily - if not more for some. She was not alone in this too. She had Mary and Marlene.

“Sirius Black.” Professor Mcgonagall called the third or fourth student to the stool. 

A small kid with amazing long black hair walked up to the stool confidently. As soon as the hat was placed on his head, it shouted “Gryffindor” and the assured look of the boy switched to a horrified one. 

Wasn’t Gryffindor supposed to be the best house ? Perhaps he just wanted to be somewhere else.

A few names later, Lily was called. 

She took a deep breath and slowly let go of Mary’s hand with one last squeeze. The walk to the stool felt like an eternity to the redhead and the eyes on her back seemed to slow her down even more. Once sat, she closed her eyes tight and the sorting hat started talking. 

Ahh a strong mind, very intelligent and craving to learn more. 

Lily was proud of that. 

As well as a big heart and a sense of morals. Ravenclaw would be suited for you but you will grow much more in

“GRYFFINDOR”

As soon as the hat announced the house followed by a roar of applause, Lily got up and hastened to the right table. She sat not too far from the other boy who was sorted, Sirius if she remembered well. 

Wow. Gryffindor. Lily clearly wasn’t expecting that. She thought ravenclaw would be the one but she wasn’t complaining either. She knew at least Marlene would be with her. 

It turned out that Marlene was in fact not the only one to be sorted in Gryffindor. Mary, too, was a Grynffindor and smiled widely at her friends hugging them both.

They were together, it was all that mattered right now. 

After a long list of names, Severus was finally called. Lily followed his move to the stool and silently wished for him to be in Gryffindor. She would have all her friends with her that way. 

“SLYTHERIN”

Unfortunately, she couldn’t have everything. And so, her best friend gave her one last look she couldn’t really decipher and headed towards his table. 

It’s alright. Lily wasn’t confident about a lot of things but her friendship with sev' wasn’t one of them. 

Severus was her best friend until the end. 

The headmaster, Albus Dumbledor, Marlene had told her, stood up and welcomed the new students before announcing dinner. 

Lily sighed contently. The hardest part was behind her. 

Now it's time to learn some magic.