Clair de Lune

Lily opens her sugar quill and tries to bite it. It's hard, so she hurts her teeth a bit, but she grins anyway. It tastes like cherry and a bit of bubblegum and something else Lily can't place.

"Delicious! Thanks, Alice," the redhead says cheerfully.

Severus, on the other hand, takes his sugar quill with surprise and eats it slowly, mumbling a thank you.

Lily nods again. "Sure. I'm a first year too, but my parents are Muggles."

This earns her sharp looks from the two Slytherin boys they're sitting with, but Lily ignores them.

"What're Sugar Quills?" she asks. Her parents hadn't let her in the sweet shops of Diagon Alley.

"Thanks, but I like your name. Everyone thinks I like lilies because I'm named Lily." She rolls her eyes. "Alice is a pretty name. Alice in Wonderland is one of my favourite stories."

Lily smiles and nods, though the boys sort of scoffed.

"Sure! I'm Lily. What's your name?"

Lily just shrugs, not taking it personally because she's not that fond of boys either.

"You're welcome," she calls after him.

Well... she's fond of a certain boy.

She stores her luggage and finds Severus' train compartment. He's sitting with a couple of other boys, but Lily doesn't mind.

"Hi, Severus!" she says cheerfully.

Severus beams at her and gives her a hug. "Hey, Lils. This is Crabbe and Goyle, they're in Slytherin."

Lily nods to them and sits with Severus, chatting amiably.

Lily stands on the platform with her parents and sister, listening to her mum go over the list of things she needed to do. Again.

"Mum, I'm going to be fine. I'm nearly twelve."

Petunia rolls her eyes a little.

"I'm just trying to help, dear."

"I know, Mum, but the train's about to leave. Please can I go find Severus?"

"Yes yes. Do you have your books?"

"Mum."

Lily's dad butts in before Mrs. Evans can continue.

"Have a good term, dear. Write us when you can to tell us... what was it called again?"

"Sorting, Da."

"Right, right. When you've been sorted."

"Love you both! Bye, Tuney!" Lily says, hugging all three of them before tugging her luggage cart onto the train.

There's a boy in front of her who's dropped his glasses. She bends and picks them up for him.

"Here you go."