The Journey Begins: January 1972

James Potter had always liked train journeys, and the Hogwarts Express was, of course, the greatest of them all. Watching the steady shift in the scenery that flashed by the window- from wide Cambridgeshire fields to glowering, snow-capped mountains- was fascinating, even he could admit that. More importantly, however, there was a food trolley stocked with all manner of tooth-rotting goodies. There were no teachers or parents to censor him either, which meant nothing other than pure, unrestrained freedom to make as much mischief as he chose. Even the prefects weren't particularly bothered about what people got up to on the train so long as it didn't cause any lasting damage. From the moment they pulled out of King's Cross Station, therefore, James had settled down to enjoy eight hours' of fiendish plotting in the company of a pile of brightly-coloured sweets and his equally devious partners-in-crime. It was bliss, perfect bliss.

Or at least, it was for the most part. A notable exception being the moment when Emmeline Vance walked in.

"Hey Potter, Potter. Do you fancy Lily Evans?"

There was a rasping noise as James choked on a Bertie Botts' Every Flavour Bean in disgust- and for once not because of the taste. The action set off a rather theatrical fit of coughing and he doubled over as a thoroughly alarmed Remus Lupin thumped him on the back.

"What- the- hell- Vance?!" He wheezed dramatically.

The dark-haired girl at the compartment door didn't seem particularly moved by his little performance. Instead, she simply stared at him expectantly. James gave one or two last, pitiful, hacking coughs for effect and straightened up, goggling at her. "Where in the name of Merlin's skimpiest bikini did you get that idea?"

"Well why not? What's wrong with Evans? She seems nice enough."

"Well she's got a funny way of showing it. You know what she called Sirius? A poodle!" James was suddenly very defensive of his friend, despite having teased Sirius over that particular appellation for the past month. "He looks nothing like a poodle- a mangy hound yes, but not a poodle! And she's friends with that Snape kid so there must be something wrong with her," He added, wrinkling his nose. "Seriously Vance. Me, fancy Lily Evans? I'd rather drink undiluted bubotuber pus."

Emmeline gazed at him thoughtfully, spinning a curl around her finger as she did so. "Mm. Well, if you say so."

"I do say so!" He couldn't help but be outraged. The nerve of her! "How did you even come up with this whole thing?"

The girl shrugged. "Oh well it was just that you tease her so much," She answered blithely, as if it were obvious. "My mum says boys often tease girls to hide the fact that they're secretly in love with them."

"Well your mum needs her head seen to," James said rudely. "Do I need to say it again? I am not, nor will I ever be, in love with Evans. I mean- it's just- that's bloody revolting."

Vance still looked disbelieving and James could feel his face turning purple, his fingers itching for his wand. Luckily, Remus took control of the situation before he could do anything stupid.

"Look, Vance you've got your answer. You can tell your friend Skeeter to mind her own business and if I were you, I'd clear out before James implodes. It means he'll blow up, but inwards not outwards," He added, when she looked confused. "Now if you don't mind, we'd like you to leave us alone."

Vance looked for a moment as if she might argue, but a glance at James' puce countenance seemed to make her rethink. Instead, she settled for assuming a lofty expression and sniffed haughtily, "Fine, but when he's crying over her picture in the middle of the night, don't say I didn't warn you."

And with that, she span round on her heel and marched away down the corridor.

James slumped back in his seat. "Honestly, can you believe her?" He muttered, scowling after her as he shovelled Bertie Botts' Every Flavour Beans into his mouth angrily. "I mean, what was that?"

"Don't mind Vance, I heard Professor McGonagall say she's just got a very over-active imagination. She'll grow out of it." Remus said reasonably, picking up his copy of 'The Adventures of Martin Miggs' and once again busying himself with the latest tales of the Mad Muggle's vacuum cleaner problems.

After a moment, however, he remarked with an air of nonchalance. "You're really sure you don't fancy Evans though, aren't you?"

"Not you too!" His friend's howl of betrayal echoed around the carriage, causing several of the occupants of neighbouring compartments to jump. Remus winced and shrunk down behind his magazine. "Alright, alright, I was just asking. I wouldn't blame you if you did. She's not that bad, really."

"She's a girl," James whined in disgust, as though her gender explained everything. "And she's friends with Snivellus."

"Ok, I get it. You don't like Evans. Point taken. I just thought-" But whatever Remus thought was never revealed, for at that moment the compartment door was thrown open and Sirius Black stalked in, wearing a murderous expression.

James seized upon the distraction gladly. "Alright, mate? Have a good Christmas?"

"Oh yeah, it was fan-bloody-tastic," The other boy threw his trunk into the overhead rack as though it had personally offended him. "The conversation over Christmas dinner was particularly sparkling, I thought. Apparently, the fact that I forgot which fork to use is proof that Gryffindor house is full of, and I quote, "ill-bred peasants and filthy degenerates'."

"Ah well, that's us, filthy degenerates to the core," James joked, looking sympathetic. "Cheer up though, we'll be back at Hogwarts soon. Pete's probably been almost civilised, without us there to show him how to behave."

"Yeah, how many times d'you reckon Peeves has locked him in the girls' toilets so far? Must be at least a dozen…" Remus piped up, encouraged by Sirius' slight smile and within a few minutes the three boys were laughing and talking happily again, Black family dinners having been entirely forgotten.

So, for that matter, had all thoughts of Lily Evans. But Emmeline Vance didn't give up so easily. For her, this was only the beginning.

Yes, I know it's been done before, but I couldn't resist having a crack at a Jily fic. I suppose I'm also hoping to show something of how they interacted with their friends at Hogwarts too though, so maybe that's something I can do differently!

Other chapters are likely to be quite a bit longer. I have shamelessly pilfered the title and summary quote for this piece from Mary Hopkin's 1968 song "Those Were the Days" but that song just suits the Marauders Era so well that I couldn't really help myself.

Anyway, hope you enjoy. Please review, that really helps :)