Past Long Forgotten
Chapter 1 - An Owl and a Letter
Written 2002-2003, with Hids
This is the first entry I've written in this diary. I'm half-expecting this to be some sort of prank, as it was Sirius who gave me this. He's such a trouble maker! He's been the prankster next door since I can remember. Course he's best friends with James Potter so I guess it's ok. James is the sensible one in that duo - thank god he is able to create some order in Sirius' life.
It was a bit of a nasty shock when I found out they were wizards.
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It was a chilly August morning. Lily Evans woke up to the usual chaos coming from Sirius' backyard next door which involved throwing water bombs at Lily's cat Snookie while James Potter tried to contain his laughter, but failed miserably.
Lily threw open her window. "Sirius Black! Leave the poor thing alone!"
"It's not my fault," Sirius called back innocently. "It's my evil hand."
A water bomb exploded on the house next to the open window.
"See?" Sirius continued.
Lily looked over to the other boy. "James, do you think you could put an end to this?"
A sharp knock on Lily's door interrupted the conversation. Petunia, a dim- witted stick of a girl who vaguely resembled Lily, strutted in, "What's all the commotion? I'm trying to sleep."
Lily eyed the too short skirt and too-tight top. "Yeah I bet you were."
Petunia stuck her long neck out of the window and suddenly all was forgotten. She giggled, "Hi Sirius!"
"Petunia." Sighed Lily. "You're not still on about him are you?"
"He's so handsome." Petunia smiled dreamily.
Lily groaned before turning away. She wouldn't take any of this.
"If you want a five-yr-old as a date..." Lily sighed. "Then sure. Ring up Sirius Black."
Lily pulled on some clothes and dashed down to save her sopping cat. She didn't look up until she heard James say meekly, "Hi Lily."
"Hey James." She picked up her cat. "Please do try to keep Sirius on a leash, please."
Suddenly Lily felt an immense coldness down her back. Someone had tipped water on her.
"SIRIUS!" she screeched, picking up a disused water bomb and lobbed it at the prankster.
SMACK!
Sirius muttered through the water dripping down his face, "Never upset a red head."
"You'd better remember that, you dog." She turned away, keeping half an eye on Sirius.
Something flittered in her side vision.
"What was that?" she demanded.
"An owl." James yawned.
Lily spun around and saw Sirius catch the owl. Lily pointed. "What is an owl doing here at daytime? They're nocturnal!"
But Sirius wasn't listening to her. He was clutching a letter like it was the key to his parent's liquor cabinet. He slowly opened the envelope. He mouthed wordlessly then turned to James. "I got in! I got in! We're going to be classmates!"
Sirius jumped around and threw himself onto James who tried to mirror Sirius' excitement (although he looked reluctant).
"What's the news?" Lily asked curiously, dropping the cat.
She'd rarely seen Sirius this happy about writing. She didn't think he could read.
"He got into Hogwarts!" James grinned over at her.
Lily stared at him for a very long time. "Hog a what?"
"Oops." James laughed at her, although Lily didn't see what was funny.
Suddenly, an owl swooped low over their heads and onto the fence to Lily's yard. Sirius looked up from his letter and said, "I think Lily got an owl too."
"You think?" James put in sarcastically.
Lily ran to the owl and snatched the letter off it. She tore it open and as she read, her eyes widened. She turned to the waiting boys. "I got in too."
"I'm going to torture you all through school." Sirius grinned sinisterly. J
ames nudged him hard in the ribs.
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From that day on, I knew I was a witch. Or, as Sirius would say, a muggle with magical powers. Petunia, upon learning what Sirius was, rather lost her interest in him. And so I boarded the Hogwarts Express with James and Sirius. They thought they were being funny by saying in loud voices, 'There's a muggle on the station!'
As I enlisted their help putting my trunk up, I bumped into a rather shaggy looking boy who was a little worse for wear.
"Sorry!" I gasped.
He said it was alright and introduced himself as Remus Lupin. He was cute, in a puppy dog sort of way, but I wouldn't go out with him. He said he was waiting for his friend, Peter Pettigrew. Just then a small chubby boy ran up to Remus and punched him on the shoulder. I didn't think it was that hard, but Remus staggered sideways.
"Peter!" I recall Remus growling. "Don't do that!"
Peter muttered, "Sissy."
But he looked a little hurt behind his cocky manner. To cheer him up, I said he and Remus could sit with me. I pointed out that they'd have to watch themselves if Sirius was around. By the end of the train ride, those four were planning pranks together.
What had I done?