James hefted his trunk onto the train next to Sirius before jumping on. Making their way over to what had become "the Marauders compartment", James couldn't help but laugh a little as he saw the first years and their mothers. Setting his trunk down on the luggage rack, he looked out the train window and watched a dark curly-haired boy with a tearful mother who kept hugging him and straightening his mussed hair fondly.
James shook his head with a grin. "Padfoot, remember when we were first years?" Sirius grunted as he slid his trunk onto the luggage rack.
James leaned back in his seat, the memories flooding him. "My mother was so worried, exactly like her." He said, pointing to the woman outside the train. "And she kept telling me to behave and listen to the professors and all that." He shook his head again. "It feels like only yesterday, doesn't it?" He asked, looking at Sirius.
Sirius stared at him, and sat down on the plush seat across from him. "It feels like only yesterday when you were acting the 15-year-old schoolboy you are, not an old granny reliving her childhood."
James laughed as the feeling of nostalgia left him. He ran his fingers through his hair, rumpling it. "You're right, we've got loads of… time." His voice trailed away as Lily Evans walked past their compartment.
"Hold on a second?" He didn't wait for Sirius to answer, but jumped up and started out of the compartment.
Sirius caught him just before he stepped out. "Whoa, hold on." He said, looking at James. "This is Evans you're talking about. Why don't you just let her settle in before she gets the daily dose of Prongs?"
James stared at him.
Sirius continued, his voice calm like a doctor's- "As you said, you've got loads of time. What's the rush?"
James took a deep breath. "You're right." He said, turning to look wistfully at Lily's retreating figure.
I worked all summer on getting over her, but now…
Lily paused in front of an open compartment door, laughing as someone called out to her. James watched closely as the sunlight poured in through the train window, covering her so she appeared completely bathed in light. The golden streaks in her auburn hair shined, and she turned slightly until she could see James watching her. Her laugh died when she saw him, and
her emerald green eyes held his gaze for a millisecond before she turned around and walked swiftly to her compartment.
James started to feel the familiar ache in his chest, the one that he felt whenever he was around her.
There's something so surreal about her; the way she walks, the way her voice sounds. Her milky skin, like an angel… and her eyes are so brilliantly expressive…sparkling with mirth, or glinting in anger…
Sirius whistled softly. "You've got your work cut out for you, mate." He said sympathetically.
They reentered their compartment and sat down, James still in a daze. He shook of the feeling and held his head up high with determination in his eyes. "This will be the year-"
"-that Lily Evans will finally realize she's in love with you." Remus finished his sentence as he turned into the open doorway of the compartment, Peter trailing him closely.
James grinned. "And cheerio to you too, mate."
"So, Moony," He asked as Remus set his trunk down, "how was your summer?"
"Overall, not bad." He shook his dirty blond hair out of his eyes. "Except I was staying with my cousins," he paused and looked at James, "-the ones who don't know I'm a werewolf- and when full moon came around I could barely get away even on the pretense of a sick stomach."
James leaned forward and clapped him on the shoulder thoughtfully. "Speaking of which, I think we'll finally figure it out this year."
Remus and Sirius rolled their eyes.
James stared at him in mock amazement. "What, you don't believe me?"
Remus shrugged.
James continued- "After two years straight of me telling you that I had found the missing link, and letting you down every time, you still don't believe me?" He rumpled his hair as the other Marauders laughed.
Remus laughed. "I don't blame you, Prongs. I know Animagi is one of the most difficult arts of Transfiguration to master."
James shook his head, and his eyes filled with determination again. "But seriously, we're going to figure it out."
Remus nodded slowly.
He turned to Sirius. "So, Padfoot, how was your summer?"
James smirked. "It couldn't have been too bad. He could have wandered over to Prentice's house any old time."
Sirius raised one eyebrow, the rest of his face not moving a muscle. "Venois? Why would I want to do that? Maybe I've gotten over her."
James snorted. "That's about as likely as me getting over Lily."
Sirius broke down, grinning sheepishly.
"You spent all summer with Venois?" Remus persisted.
Sirius groaned and leaned his head back into the seat. "Actually, no. My mother made us spend a month at my cousin Bella and Cissy's house." He chuckled darkly. "Not to mention my own brother, with his stupid superiority complex."
Suddenly Peter laughed aloud, looking at Sirius. "I get it. Instead of 'inferiority complex. '"
The other three Marauders looked at each other in before bursting out laughing.