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'Alright you three, keep out of trouble!' Mrs. Weasley said as she pulled Lily into a hug and kissed her forehead.
The girl blushed slightly; she wasn't used to this kind of affection from a mother, but Mrs. Weasley was now her mother.
Warm grey eyes watched as the redhead let go from the woman's embrace, waved her goodbye and hoped into the train, following her friends.
'It will be very exciting!' Hermione said cheerfully, leading Ron and Lily down the corridor; they were searching for an empty compartment. 'I mean as eighth years we will have our own common room, all the house will be put together so we can form friendships; of course dorm mates will be from the same house, but this is a nice opportunity!'
'If that means bonding with Malfoy and those buffoons of his, I'll pass,' Ron groaned and Hermione smacked him on the arm.
'You are Head Boy for Merlin's sake!' she scolded him and Ron sent her a 'sorry look'.
'Doesn't that mean-,' Lily started between chuckles, 'that you have two be into the prefect compartment?'
'We're going there after we leave our stuff, oh yes look!' Ron pointed to an empty compartment and they all rushed inside.
Ron helped the girls put their trunks in the baggage place and the Head Boy and Girl changed into their robes quickly, leaving Lily alone in the compartment.
She just took one of her books and tried to read, but her mind was always going elsewhere.
She groaned and closed the book right when Ginny, Luna and Neville took a look in her compartment.
'Can we sit here, Gryffindor queen?' Neville grinned and Lily nodded, a small smile appearing on her face.
'Thank you, Lils,' Ginny smiled and sat down next to the other redhead.
'What are you doing here, all alone?' Luna asked, her eyes big and wide as always.
'Miss. Granger and Mr. Weasley are on head duties,' Lily said softly, also thinking about a snogging session between her best friends.
'Are they head girl and boy?' Neville asked, not believing what he had heard until Lily nodded slightly. 'Merlin's beard that is awesome!'
And as soon as the three started talking about different things, Lily zoned out and stared out of the window. The Hogwarts Express was going like always through the beautiful Scotland. She watched in awe as forests appeared then mountains then lakes, she was really in love with the train journeys back home because the scenery was always as lovely as she remembered.
But was it going to be the same home Lily remembered, without him?
The memory of their first kiss was still fresh in her mind, it was right after the last DA lesson before the Christmas holidays.
And he had a girlfriend, but he still looked like he enjoyed kissing Lily.
Just a year after they broke things off due to jealousy and Will didn't wait very long to confess to her.
And in the end they were both scared to show each other what they feel so that was why they became something too late.
Lily didn't even see him a whole year due to her horcrux hunt and when the war came, she didn't even get to say goodbye.
A small tear rolled down Lily's cheek, but she wiped it away before anyone could see it.
'How was your summer, Lils?' Neville asked and the girl noticed that her best friends were back.
'It was alright,' she replied and ignored Hermione's and Ron's disapproving looks.
'Glad to hear that,' the boy said softly, although understanding what she had gone through.
'I think I'll go change,' the redhead stood up and took her robes from the trunk. 'In case I fall asleep and don't have enough time after I wake up.'
'Go ahead, Lils,' Hermione smiled sweetly. 'We'll get you something from the trolley.'
'Thanks,' she muttered and when the door to the compartment was closed, she let out a breath and began walking down the corridor.
Every person was staring at her from every compartment. Lily understood them; she would stare too if the girl who finished him off would pass their compartment. But she didn't like the stares; they reminded her of that damn night and loosing him.
She let out a groan when she was safely inside the little train bathroom and began to change.
Lily didn't even know when her hair messed itself, she just brushed it that morning!
After her tie was in place, she tried to brush her hair with her fingers, doing little to nothing to adjust it.
She groaned again. 'Potters and their stupid messy hair, dad don't laugh at me from heaven!'
Lily punched the air slightly and put her muggle clothes on one arm. She often talked like that to herself, it felt like they were still alive. She could almost hear James' laugh as her mother, Lily tried to tame her daughter's hair.
'That is a battle you lost long ago, Lils,' the man roared with laughter.
'Potters don't give up!' the woman said calmly and attacked the red hair with the brush once more.
But that never happened, because she hadn't experienced a life with her family.
And so Lily tried to hold tears again as she walked back to her compartment, but on the way she bumped into someone who caught her shoulders to not let her fall.
'Oh sorry, sorry!' she apologized and stepped back and that's when she saw him.
'No problem, Potter,' Draco smirked. 'Just next time be careful, I might just think you bumped into me on purpose.'
His friends, Blaise, Pansy and Nott were looking curiously at them.
'Oh f-,' Lily started and ran past him only to have her arm grabbed by the same man.
'A-are you okay?' he asked and she found concern in his tone.
That's when the tears began to fall and she jerked her arm away from his, running to her compartment.
Draco stared after her, speechless.
'Draco?' Pansy's voice pierced her ears.
'Coming,' he replied simply and slid open the compartment door.
Neither of her friends asked Lily why she was crying. She knew Hermione, Ron or Ginny told them not too, convinced it was some Will thing again.
And it was; what Draco said were words spoken to her years ago, when Will was still alive. But the way Malfoy said it, was...different. It didn't hold his superiority or pride, it was just a tone full of amusement, a childish dream; was Draco bloody Malfoy changing?
And Lily saw them again, those god damn Thestrals that reminded her of every soul that left.
Neville held a hand to help her climb into the carriage and Lily gratefully took it, not wanting to see those creatures anymore.
The carriage's way to Hogwarts was as magnificent as always. The castle would appear in front of them and all the magic would enter their very souls, Lily was at home.
But as Lily entered the Great Hall and took a seat at the Gryffindor table, there wasn't Dumbledore to greet them, but Professor McGonagall who smiled brightly at all of them.
There wasn't Snape to set his cold stare on the students that weren't in his house, but Slughorn who waved at the sea of students that were walking into the room lit by flying candles and had a ceiling that reflected the sky outside. Now it was full of stars and Lily considered counting, but a new teacher stole her eye.
This one had a straight posture and was tall, his hair was black like the feathers of a raven and his eyes were a piercing blue. A scar ran from under his left eye to his right cheek. He was having a conversation with professor Sprout about plants or whatever.
'Do you think he is the new DADA teacher?' Hermione whispered and Lily jumped, clearly a bit startled.
'Looks like one, has that scar on his face,' Ron muttered grumpily, waiting for the feast to begin.
'I hope the one year teacher curse is finished and we will have a decent professor for our last year,' Lily smiled shyly when the professor noticed her glare and also smiled.
'He totally seems nice, the people we've met with scars on their faces were nice so far,' Hermione said looking at Lily and the redhead raised a brow in amusement.
'Er-Lily why were you—' Ron started but Hermione smacked him hard on the hand and he stopped at once, whimpering.
'Don't worry about me guys,' she smiled softly and Hermione muttered an apology to Ron. 'It'll pass, I'll move on; I did it so many times,' and as she continued an old conversation she once had, the question escaped her mouth. 'He seems changed, doesn't he? Draco.'
Both Ron and Hermione turned around, as they were sat across from Lily, so they got a better view of the blonde. He was laughing at some joke Blaise said, and his features were soft and his grey eyes were warm.
Before Hermione or Ron could open their mouths to reply, the little professor Flitwick, followed by a bunch of first years, walked into the Great Hall and the chattering stopped at once.
The professor put down the old stool Lily knew too well as she watched many of other children sit on it, of course in the two years she didn't get into trouble before she stepped into the castle.
'Thinking about that time we arrived to Hogwarts into a flying car, aren't you?' Ron asked and Lily chuckled.
'That was some awesome arrival you two had,' Hermione muttered a bit annoyed, but the amused grin betrayed her.
The sorting began and Lily almost started watering at the thought of all of her favorite dishes appearing in front of her in a few moments. Ron seemed to have the same expression and the bushy haired girl rolled her eyes.
'Seriously now, what is wrong with redheads?'
'I'm sorry Mione, but food is always the greatest,' Lily muttered and a small smile appeared on her lips.
Hermione shot her a 'that's your opinion' look and attempted to do some small talk with her boyfriend.
Lily's attention fell on the blonde that was seated at the Slytherin table. His blonde locks were messy and falling into his eyes, not the perfect hairstyle he always had. His cheeks were rosy and so were his lips. His grey eyes were shining with joy. Well that's certainly a new one, Lily thought.
Draco caught her staring and grinned at her. Lily almost fell off her seat in surprise, getting a little chuckle from the blonde across the room.
'You okay, Lils?' Ron asked, laughing slightly.
'Spectacular.'
Then, the sorting ended. When Professor McGonagall nodded, food magically appeared on the table and they tuck in, hungrier than they felt before.
Lily's plate was filled with golden boiled potatoes, steak, macaroni, a few vegetables and salad, which she ate happily.
When dessert came, she snatched the treacle tart before Ron could look at it.
When their bellies were full and chatter started to fill the room, Professor McGonagall stood up and smiled brightly at the sea of students that shut their mouths.
'Welcome for the new students and welcome back for our old ones! I am very glad to see you here, safe and healthy, ready to learn! The threat is gone and the wizarding world is safe again so we should clap for the heroes that won the battle and allowed us to be safe today!' her voice echoed through the hall and the sea of students burst into applauses, most of them trying to get a sight of Lily who was clapping awkwardly.
When the noise died, McGonagall cleared her throat. 'As you know, the Forbidden Forest is just as it's name, forbidden. I would like that all the first years know this and some of our older students-,' she glared at the golden trio for a moment, '-should know this too. We have two new teachers this year! Professor Annabelle Longforth who will teach Muggle Studies,' the Headmaster pointed to the blonde witch with big green eyes and soft features that stood up and smiled as the students clapped. 'And Professor Jonathan Blossom who will
take the Defense Against the Dark Arts desk.'
The cheering that followed for the new professor was so loud that Lily was convinced Madam Rosmerta heard them all the way from The Three Broomsticks.
As the encouraging noise died, Lily could see the warm smile that appeared on Professor Blossoms' face, that spread all the way to his sparkling blue eyes.
'We wish them luck and hope they will stick with us for as long as they can. Now, we also are welcoming the students that couldn't finish their studies last year, due to the events that took place in May. The eighth years will share some classes with the seventh years, and they could always go to their house common rooms if needed, but from today, they would all share a common room. Our new Head Boy and Girl will show you the way and tell you the password, and I hope it will feel just like home. Now you should all get a good night of sleep to make sure you aren't late for the first day of classes, good night!'
At that, students began to stand and make their way to their common rooms. The sound of 'first years, after me!' was coming from 4 different voices, just as she remembered.
Lily waited with Hermione and Ron for all the eight years to gather around them.
'Alright guys!' Hermione started cheerfully, receiving some glares from the Slytherins. 'The common rooms is located on the 6th floor, in the north wing, follow us!'
And they all followed after Hermione and Ron. Lily walked not too far behind them, lost in thought. The feeling of someone's eyes on her back snapped the girl out of her daze and she turned her head slightly too glance at the blonde. He seemed lost in thought as well.
After maybe 10 minutes of walking, they arrived in front of a painting with and old wizard, sitting casually in his armchair.
'The password is Phoenix,' Hermione said and the old wizard in the painting nodded with a smile, letting them in.
Colors was the first word that came to Lily's mind. It was full of red, green, blue and yellow, the house colors. The 4 banners were hanged on opposite walls, two on each one. The fireplace was holding playful flames that lit the common room, apart from the candles that were on the windowsills and desks. Fluffy sofas and armchairs, each a different color were put around the room, making it indeed feel like home.
'Alright,' Hermione started, her voice a bit shaky. 'Boys to the left, girls to the right. Don't worry, your dorm mates are from your house only. You will find your rooms by the list of names that are written on the doors. If you need anything, Ron and I are always ready to help you,' -Ron sent her a disapproving look- 'good night now!'
As the boys and girls went on to find their rooms, Lily waited for Hermione to stop kissing Ron good night. She felt alone.
Her thoughts were interrupted by someone brushing their shoulder against hers and Lily looked up in time to see Draco. 'Good night, Potter.'
'Good night.'
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This is honestly the longest chapter I wrote in my entire life, I hope you enjoyed it xo.💘💘
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