Disclaimer: I'm not JKR. I do not nor ever will own Harry Potter. I do however own the plot and all characters you don't recognize. No copyright infringement was intended.
The platform to the Hogwarts Express was just as bustling on the first of September as it always has been. Lily Evans was trying to find some of her friends in the crowd, but with no luck. After fifteen minutes of searching the platform, she decided to give up and head for their usually compartment on the train.
Once she boarded and stowed her trunk and owl away she set off for the third compartment on the left of the last car. Expecting to see her friends, Lily was quite surprised to the last person she wanted to. James Potter was sitting by the window with his arms folded in his lap. The moment he saw Lily though, he jumped to his feet and ruffled his already untidy black hair with a sickly handsome smile, "Hey Evans! I was waiting for you!" Lily couldn't believe that she wasn't even in the magical world not an hour and James Potter was starting already. "What do you want Potter?" she said coolly. His grin never left his face, "Just wanted to say hello to my darling Lily-flower." Lily shuddered, "It makes my physically ill when you call me that." His smirk had yet to falter. Lily just rolled her eyes in annoyance. She put on a sickening smile and stated as sweetly as she could muster, "Well then, now that you've said hello, you can go back to the rest of your cronies." Just as the words left her mouth, her best friend Erin came into the compartment, "Oh, sorry, am I interrupting anything?" Lily glared at her for a brief moment but James just grinned and ruffled his hair again, "No, not at all. I'm just on my way out." Erin smiled sweetly back, "Well goodbye then." James nodded once and starting walking out the door, but before he closed it, he looked to Lily, smiled and winked, "See you later Evans."
Erin sat down where James was sitting before and started looking out the window while twirling her long golden blonde hair; her blue eyes sparkling in the sunlight. Lily just stood there for a moment before she started to speak. "You know, he called me 'Lily-flower' yet again. I swear, if he calls me that again, and ruffles his damn hair once more, I'm going to hex him like there's no tomorrow!" Erin looked at Lily and stopped twirling her hair, "I think he looks cute when he ruffles his hair, like a little innocent boy. And he always calls you that; you should be used to it by now." Just then two other girls walked into the compartment. One tall girl with light brown hair just passed her shoulders and deep blue eyes, the other, although slightly shorter, but still tall with darker hair to her chin and brown eyes. The taller one spoke, "Who always calls Lils what?" Lily looked at the girl as though she had three heads, "Tiffany, who do you think!?! Potter of course!" The three other girls looked at each other desperately as Lily continued. They knew what was coming. "He had the audacity to cal me 'Lily-flower' again! You think he would've learned after what happened last year when I nearly hexed him! The lucky bastard! I would have done him good if Professor McGonagall hadn't showed up when she did!" Heather, the girl with the darker hair, muttered under her breath, but still clearly, "I think you fancy him." Erin and Tiffany stifled their laughter as Lily's emerald green eyes grew to the size of galleons and her jaw dropped nearly to the floor. Once she recovered from the shock of what she just heard, she was steaming from the ears. "That is outrageous! It's deeply disturbing actually! Why on Earth would I fancy Potter!?! He's a pompous, arrogant, self-absorbed prat!" Heather spoke again, "Well, you used to like him." Lily's mouth fell once more, "I can't believe you brought that up! I was in first year, before I knew any better! I was eleven years old for Merlin's sake!" Erin, Tiffany, and Heather just looked amused, but Lily looked furious. She just sat in the seat across from Erin reading some muggle book angrily, vaguely listening to what her friends were talking about. She heard something about red heads and hot tempers before she decided she had enough and tuned everything out.
By the time the train stopped, it was dark outside. Lily and her friends headed towards the horseless carriages. "Potter's back," Erin said under her breath to Lily and nodded her head slightly backwards. Lily looked over her shoulder quickly. Sure enough, James Potter and his three partners in crime were right behind them about ten feet back. Lily went to the next carriage. "I think this one's empty" she said as she looked in the small window. When she opened the door she was startled. Severus Snape was sitting in the dark shadows. "This carriage is taken Mudblood." Lily stared at him, "Well excuse me then Snivellus" she growled. She went to close the door, but she was stopped. James Potter was standing right behind her with his wand pointing right at Snape, "Apologize to her." Lily looked just as furious as both Snape and James, but she glared loathingly at James. "I've told you many times that I don't want you to make him apologize to me" she said through gritted teeth and then walked away.
Lily stormed away and found an empty carriage. Shortly after, Erin, Tiffany, and Heather joined her and the carriage headed towards the castle. Lily sat there staring at the floor. "Lils, he didn't do anything wrong." Lily looked up at Tiffany, "He doesn't always have to do that. I can handle it myself. I don't want Snape or any of the Slytherins to apologize to me because they fear being at the receiving end of Potter's wand! Potter thinks he can bully anyone into anything with his wand; I'd love to see him without it one day!" The rest of the trip up to the castle was silent.
The Great Hall was full of chattering students and laughter until Professor McGonagall started to speak. She brought out the sorting hat and the sorting ceremony began. The sorting hat sang its song and decided houses for the new first years. Once everyone was sorted, Dumbledore gave his usual speech. "Before we eat, I have a few announcements. For the first years and a few older students," he looked pointedly but with laughter in his eyes at James Potter and hiss three friends Sirius Black, Remus Lupin, and Peter Pettigrew, "that the forest on the grounds is forbidden to all students. Caretaker Filch also would like to remind everyone that magic is not to be used in the halls and a list of magical items that are prohibited can be seen on his office door. That is all." With a clap of his hands, all kinds of food appeared on all the long tables.
Five minutes into the feast, the Slytherin table was in an uproar. All heads turned to see what all the commotion was. Lily couldn't help herself to laugh. Whenever the Slytherins tried to stick their silverware into the food it would move on them. If they had managed to grab hold of a piece, it would fling back at them. Lily looked over at James Potter and his friends. They were laughing just as hard as everyone else, if not harder. Then she looked over towards the head table. Professor McGonagall was walking briskly towards the Gryffindor table. She stopped in front of the four boys. "Get into my office now." They immediately stopped laughing. Peter looked terrified, "It wasn't us Professor!" James and Sirius were still grinning, "Yeah, Professor, why would you think it was us?" McGonagall looked at them sternly, "Because Mr. Black, it's always the four of you. Now come on." The four stood up and followed McGonagall out of the Great Hall. Lily smiled to herself, "Serves them right!" Heather looked at her, "Oh come on Lils! You were laughing too. You have to admit that was good." "Yeah Lils, did you see Snape and Malfoy? Now Snape has to take a shower. Maybe he won't look so greasy now." Lily looked at them, "Fine, it was great. Just like usual, but I wouldn't give Potter the satisfaction of knowing that. His head would grow even bigger if he knew I enjoyed one of his little shows, and his head is big enough!" The rest of the feast was uneventful and everyone left as soon as they were finished.
When the four girls got up to the Gryffindor common room there was a crowd of people around Potter and his crew of troublemakers. Lily rolled her eyes, "I'm going up to bed." The three other girls said goodnight and then went and sat by the fire. Lily was at the landing at the bottom of the boys and girls dormitories when she heard her name being called by an all too familiar voice. "Evans! Wait a minute." She turned around and saw James coming up the stairs two at a time. "Potter, what do you want now? And hurry it up, I'm tired and want to go to bed." James' face broke into a huge grin, "Well, my cronies are still down stairs. That means my room's free. We can go up there if you'd like." Lily looked as though she'd be sick, but she still felt a slight blush creep to her face. "Potter, you truly disgust me and I will never go up to your room, or mine, with you!" James still grinned, "Well, there are many places in this castle where we could be alone." Lily wanted to hex him just then but she decided against it. Instead she took a deep breath and closed her eyes for a minute. "Fine, let me put it this way so maybe it'll seep into that thick skull of yours. I will never go anywhere with you! Now that that is settled, what did you want?" James' grin finally faded although his hazel eyes were full of delight. "I wanted to apologize to you." Lily was shocked; James Potter never apologized, to anyone, for anything. Lily's left eyebrow went up in suspicion, "Why?" "For butting in earlier at the carriages. I just don't like when anyone is called a you-know-what. It's disgusting." Lily was looking at his face and he seemed sincere. 'How can he be this good looking and so sweet sometimes when his head is as big as it is?' "Lily?" She looked back to him. "Do you except my apology?" "What? Oh right. I accept it, this time anyway. I can handle myself you know. I could hex him myself if I'd like." James smiled again, "I'm sure you're more then capable. You're not top of our year for nothing." Lily smiled involuntarily, "Well, I'm going up to my bedroom. Goodnight." She starting going up the stairs and felt James watching her. She was slapping herself mentally for thinking of good things about him. That is until she got to the top and he spoke again. "Goodnight Lily-flower." She stopped dead in her tracks and was ready to turn around and curse him, but then she heard him go back down the stairs to the common room. 'I swear, one more time, I will, I will hex him.'
The next morning Lily, along with everyone else headed to the Great Hall for breakfast and to receive their schedules. Lily glanced down at hers.
Monday
8:00am Potions
9:30am Potions
11:00am Lunch
12:30pm Defense Against the Dark Arts
2:00pm Transfiguration
Tuesday
8:00am Herbology
9:30am Herbology
11:00am Lunch
12:30pm Transfiguration
2:00pm Transfiguration
Wednesday
8:00am Potions
9:30am Potions
11:00am Lunch
12:30pm Defense Against the Dark Arts
2:00pm Defense Against the Dark Arts
Thursday
8:00am Charms
9:30am Charms
11:00am Lunch
12:30pm Herbology
2:00pm Defense Against the Dark Arts
Friday
8:00am Transfiguration
9:30am Transfiguration
11:00am Lunch
12:30 Defense Against the Dark Arts
2:00 Defense Against the Dark Arts
"I have double potions first thing in the morning on Mondays and Wednesdays! Riotous on a Monday morning!" Lily groaned inwardly. "And nearly everything is doubled! We have hardly any regular classes." Erin took Lily's schedule in her hand and compared it to hers, "We have everything together except when you have Herbology, I have Arithmancy!" "I'm with you in everything Lils." Tiffany smiled and so did Heather, "Me too!" Erin looked slightly down trodden when she gave Lily her schedule back, "I guess I'm the only one who'll be in Arithmancy. I can't believe all of you dropped it!" Lily looked at her, "We won't need it, and you do." "Oh, so just because I want to have a job and travel the world first class, I'm being punished!?!" Heather chortled with laughter, "You think being a curse breaker is going to allow you to travel first class! You think risking your life in exotic places and going down into mines and caves for some treasure that's guarded with some of the deadliest things is going to be first class!?!" Lily, Erin, and Tiffany all laughed.
Heather Marx was always the one to make the group laugh. Her heart was made of gold but she looked like she'd be made of ice. Her skin was very light but it looked even paler because of her dark hair and eyes. She was a ravenous beauty. Heather also was the most outspoken person Lily had ever met. She always voiced her opinion no matter what the subject. Heather also never said a bad thing about anyone unless she deeply loathed them or they hurt one of the people she cared for.
Tiffany Maltese was the emotional one of the group. Anyone who talked to her could read her like an open book; you always knew what she was up to. She also could be taken advantage of very easily. She trusted almost everyone and would do nearly anything for anybody. Tiffany was also very self conscience about her looks, but she really had nothing to worry about. She wasn't the prettiest girl in school, but she sure wasn't a dog either. Most of the guys in school would agree with that as well. She always has a boyfriend, but not a new one every month unlike Erin.
Erin Moran was a dare devil. She would try anything as long as she felt like she'd have fun; she also got bored very quickly also. Because of that, she never had a boyfriend last too long. Erin was a classic blue-eyed, blonde haired natural beauty (one of the prettiest girls in school too); but she wasn't some blonde bimbo. She never giggled and she always was thinking about something- and not boys and clothes. You could tell when she was really deep in thought; she would twirl her hair and stare off into space.
After breakfast, everyone headed towards their first classes. Lily, Heather, and Tiffany headed towards the greenhouses and Erin went to her Arithmancy class.
Half way to Greenhouse 3 Lily heard foot steps running behind her. She looked back, "Ahh! Please tell me he's going to Care of Magical Creatures!" Heather looked back and saw James Potter closing in on them and laughed. So did Tiffany. When James reached the girls he stopped running and Heather laughed again, "Sorry Lils, I don't think so." Lily glared at her and then stopped and turned to James. Heather and Tiffany kept walking.
"What do you want Potter?" James started to grin, "Well, I want you to go out with me, but I got your message clearly last night. You'll never date me." Lily's eyes widened in shock, "So you're gonna stop asking me out and leave me alone?!?" "Well, I'll stop asking you out for now, but I won't leave you alone. That would be kind of hard, considering we have all of the same classes." "We what? How? Why?" "Lily dear, you're preparing to be a healer, me, an auror. We need the same things. Remus and Sirius too." James nodded his head behind Lily and she looked back. Remus and Sirius caught up to them. "I'm stuck with the three of you with no escape for the next two years!?!" Sirius and Remus laughed, but James looked serious, "Lily-flower, you'll never escape me and since you can't escape me, you won't escape them." Lily looked at him in disgust, "I'm going to pretend I didn't hear you call me 'Lily-flower,' but amuse me. Why will I never be able to escape you?" James smiled again and started to walk towards the greenhouses again, "Come on Lily, you're a smart girl, you should know you can't escape the man you love." Lily laughed until she caught up to him, "You think you're a man?" "Lily-flower, not just a man, the man you love." James went to open the door to the greenhouse, but Lily stopped him. With her wand pointed directly to James' chest she spoke through gritted teeth, "Potter, you're one step above Snape! And I swear, if you call me 'Lily-flower' one more damn time, I'll hex you so badly you'll be afraid of the sight of a bloody wand!" With that she pushed James aside and entered Herbology class.
The Herbology assignment was to repot plants. Potter, Black, and Lupin decided to work at the table directly across of Lily, Heather, and Tiffany. Lily refused to look at them, but she knew James was watching her. She felt his eyes burning her skin. She also knew Heather was watching her and James. Lily was sure that Heather was just itching to say something and she was surprised that she hadn't done so already; usually Heather couldn't keep her mouth shut. Then Lily saw, out of the corner of her eye, Heather smile, "Hey! Lupin!" Lily looked up to see what exactly was going on. Remus looked up too, "Yeah Marx?" Heather smiled again, "Can I talk to you quickly, after class?" Remus smiled too, "Yeah, sure." Heather kept smiling at him; "Great," and then she went back to working on her plant. Lily looked to Heather, then to Tiffany who shrugged, and then back to Heather. "Heather? Gonna fill us in?" "No." Lily just stared at Heather for a minute then felt eyes watching her again. She had had enough. She looked up and stared right back at James, Remus, and Sirius. She smiled and waved sarcastically at them. James smiled back and ruffled his hair, and mumbled something that made Sirius and Remus laugh. Lily rolled her eyes. "Face it mate, no matter what you do, she's not gonna like you." "Yeah Prongs, never," Remus added to Sirius' statement. 'I guess those two aren't as naive as James. They can tell I don't like him.' Lily watched James turn to his friends, "That's where you two are wrong." Then he looked straight back at Lily and winked, "See, you two are wrong because she does like me. In fact, she loves me already. She just doesn't realize it yet." Lily's eyes narrowed on James and the bell rang for lunch, "You make me sick Potter! Come on Tiff, let's go find Erin. Heather, we'll see you when you're done with Lupin." Heather looked slightly shocked, but agreed.
The walk back to the castle was quite. Lily could tell that Tiffany wasn't sure what was going on and didn't know what to say. Finally, they arrived at the castle and found Erin walking down one of the staircases to the main hall. "Hey guys, where's Heather?" Lily rolled her eyes and answered in a disgusted voice, "Talking to Lupin." Erin eyed Lily with caution, "Lupin's not that bad Lils." "They're ALL prats!" "Lils, I didn't do anything to you so don't yell at me." Lily sighed, "I know, I'm sorry, it's just Potter. I swear, I can't bloody stand him." "What happened?" Lily shook her head, "I'll tell you when Heather gets back. She's gonna want to know the whole story I'm sure." With that they headed for their usual seats at the Gryffindor table.
About ten minutes into lunch, Heather showed up with the Marauders. She was walking in between Peter Pettigrew and Remus; James and Sirius were talking in hushed voices right behind them. Lily watched them and shook her head. She knew that they had to be planning something and with the way the day had been so far, she was feeling slightly nervous. Although Lily couldn't hear what James had whispered in Herbology, she knew it was about her. Why else would've Sirius and Remus say no matter what James did she wouldn't like him. What exactly did James plan on doing, Lily had no idea. As Lily was watching them, Heather left the group and sat in her usual spot next to Tiffany. James, Sirius, Remus, and Peter went to their spot a little further down the table.
When Heather sat down she smiled right at Lily, "So are you going to tell me what happened before Herbology?" "Only if you tell us what you wanted with Lupin." "Sorry, I can't." "Then sorry, I can't tell you." Heather rolled her eyes, "That's okay, James already told me." Lily looked at Heather, "I'm sure he didn't tell you exactly what happened. His ego is too big." "You're probably right; you usually are, so straighten it out for me. Otherwise I'm going to go with James' version." "Alright, but you have to tell us what you needed to talk to Lupin for." Heather looked like she was debating her options in her head, "Fine, but you can't say anything to anyone!" "Okay."
While they ate lunch, Lily told them what happened. Erin laughed when Lily told them she swore to James that she would make him afraid of a wand if he called her 'Lily-flower' ever again. "Come on Lils. You know you won't hex him. You've been saying that you would for three years now and you haven't once." Lily looked at her surprised, normally Heather would say something like that, not Erin. Erin would only say that to Lily if it was just them. "Well, the next time he does, I will. I promise you, I will. I've had enough of Potter." Erin smiled, "Well good. It's about time, but watch out for teachers. I don't think it would be good for a Prefect to get detention for hexing someone. Remus has a weeks worth for last night along with Potter, Black, and Peter." 'Damn her.' "Anyways, Heather, I believe you have something to say." Lily looked to Heather to get the subject off herself. Heather's eyes widened a little, but went back to normal quickly. "I just wanted to ask him something, that's all." "And what was that?" Erin asked and waved Heather on to continue. Lily could tell that Heather didn't want to say anything else. "Umm, well, I just, I just wanted to ask him how his mother was doing. You know how she's always sick and everything." Lily, Heather, and Tiffany didn't believe Heather, but they let it go.
After lunch all four of the girls had Transfiguration; so did the Marauders and all 6th year Ravenclaws who continued with Transfiguration. Lily sat at a table with Erin; Tiffany and Heather's table right next to them. Potter and Black sat behind Lily and Erin; Remus and Peter behind them. The six Ravenclaws all paired into twos and found seats. Professor McGonagall stood at the head of the class silently until everyone was seated. "The sixth year of Transfiguration is very important and not easy. This year we will specialize in advanced Transfigurations. We'll deal with larger, more magical animals and objects along with human transformations." McGonagall's eyes scanned each students face, "Mr. Black, Mr. Potter, is there something either one of you would like to say?" Lily looked back at them. It was obvious that they were trying not to laugh. "Sorry Professor, no" they answered in unison. McGonagall continued, "Good, you two already have a week of detention. Now on with seating arrangements." There was a groan from all directions of the classroom. "With this year being as difficult as it is, there will be assigned seats. I do not want any," McGonagall looked and Potter and Black, "mayhem whatsoever this year. I have already chosen partners for each of you. Please move to your new seat when I call your name." For the next five minutes McGonagall called out each students name and pointed to a seat. Erin was paired up with one of the Ravenclaw Prefects Kelsey York, Tiffany with a boy named Daniel, and Heather was paired with Remus; who both seemed happy with the arrangement. Lily got paired with Sirius Black, James' right hand. All she could think about was that it could have been worse; she could've been paired with Potter instead.
For the rest of the class, they took notes, at least Lily and the Ravenclaws did. Lily could see Heather and Remus passing notes to each other and Erin drawing on a spare piece of parchment Lily watched Sirius write down on a piece of parchment, but he never looked up at the board or McGonagall. James was doing the same. Knowing the two of them, Lily knew they had to be up to something rather then taking notes like a good student would.
A/N… What do you think? Please review and let me know. I was going to make this into two separate chapters, but I decided I'd make it into one instead. Sorry I don't have the second chapter up yet, I haven't been able to go online for some reason and I've been really busy with work. My only spare time is at night around 11 before I go to bed, so that's when I write. I'll try to post again ASAP.
