Lily's face broke out into a wide grin. She strode purposefully through the train station, her body pulled by the magnetic force waiting for her, just beyond the brick wall. She turned over her shoulder and blew one last kiss to her parents. Her mother's green eyes, mirrors of her own, were full of tears and her father's typically stern countenance was breached by a smile. She waved at the pair of them. "Love you Lily-bean". She heard her mother's familiar voice call.
"Love you too!" She shouted over the steady rumble of people and trains. Her brain was thick with conflicting emotions. Lily hated goodbyes, the idea of parting; she would miss her parents. She did every year. Even as she got older, it didn't change. But adrenaline thrummed through her veins, and it kept the sadness from penetrating her body. She couldn't wait to be back. Back at Hogwarts, where she belonged. She turned to face the solid brick wall that should have rejected her body, but instead; it engulfed her. It accepted her into its momentary blackness. Her heart picked up pace as she plunged into the dark in between beyond the brick. Her parent's faces stuck in her mind, in the momentary darkness, her tiny mother leaning against her strong sturdy father. "I'll miss you." She whispered to herself. She willed herself not to dwell on the face that was missing from the mental family photo. Although she knew they could no longer see her, as her body had been swallowed by the solid brick wall, she blew them one last invisible kiss. Just as the darkness began to feel oppressive, she was thrust out into the light, her senses on overdrive, as she blinked rapidly, in the shadow of the scarlet body of the Hogwarts Express.
The platform was alive. Robed students intermingled with frantic parents by the train, like an army of ants swarming on the ground. Lily smiled kindly at a group of younger students she thought she recognized, pretty sure that they were second year Ravenclaws. She wove her way through the crowd, letting the chatter and the laughter fill out her excitement.
She made her way up to the scarlet engine, and lugging her trunk behind her, she climbed on board. Lily took a deep breath, inhaling the familiar scent musty of old parchment, as it mixed with the peppery smell of magic. It made her nose tingle. As she stepped into the corridor she smiled at the familiar red interior design. She felt renewed with a peppy vigor, that only magic could breathe into her. She wandered up the corridor, scanning the compartments as she went. She waved to a few of her fellow Seventh Years, exchanging the blasé pleasantries that were echoed throughout the train. Lily knew that soon she would tire of the "How are you"s, the "How was your summer"s and the "I've missed you"s, but for the moment they retained their sincerity.
"I can't believe we're seventh years." Alice Prewett squealed when she saw Lily.
"I know. It doesn't quite feel real, does it?" Lily said, as Alice embraced her enthusiastically.
"No! I just can't wrap my head around it." Lily smiled, feeling light and bouncy. "Well I've got to run and meet Frank." Alice squeaked. "But I'll see you at the feast!"
"Yeah, see you!" Lily waved cheerfully at the overeager Hufflepuff.
As she made her way down the train, it suddenly dawned on her that this was her final year at Hogwarts, the beginning of the end. She felt a sudden panic, suddenly feeling like running back through the wall behind her towards her mum and dad. One more year, and she'd be thrust out into the real world. It was both a wonderful and terrifying prospect. She didn't know where the future would take her, and she wasn't even sure she knew where she wanted it to. What had seemed like a world full of opportunities from the comfort of the white arm chair in her room, sudden felt like a world full of decisions that she wasn't ready to make. She took a deep breath, steadying herself with the scent of the familiar coupled with the unknown. It was all going to be fine. She couldn't help herself but grin. It was going to be everything she had ever hoped for.
Dragging her heavy trunk down the corridor, and silently cursing herself for packing her unabridged copy of Hogwarts a history, Lily searched for her friends in the crowd. The thrilling sensation of being back hadn't quite overtaken the sudden isolation she felt. She silently wished her own parent's faces were not absent from the large crowd gathered around the train. It was unfair, she thought, that just because they were muggles, they couldn't even access the platform. She scanned the crowd, her eyes peeled for a pale heart shaped face, or a blue eyes peeking out from under a cap, but her dearest friends were no where to be found. As was typical of each summer, the girls had been faithful correspondents in the beginning, but their letters had grown fewer and farther between as the months dragged on. It was expected that each girl would become involved in her home life, but it had still been too long since Lily had seen either one of them. She boarded the train. Lilly peeked into each compartment that she passed, each with no luck. She was starting to grow anxious, when she heard an excited squeal from behind her.
Alexa ran towards her, nearly trampling a group of small first years, to embrace her old friend. Lily threw her arms around her friend's neck, both bubbling with happiness. "Lily!" Alexa shrieked, "How are you? How have you been? I've barely heard from you all summer! I've missed you terribly!"
Alexa continued to spew questions, speaking so quickly that Lily could barely follow what she was saying. With a laugh, Lilly dragged her off to find seats, her calm restored. She felt the weight of uncertainty lift off her shoulders, and the acid in the pit of her stomach settle down. She felt ready to face her final year at Hogwarts, at least she would with her friends by her side.
As soon as the two of them had settled into an empty compartment, they were joined by Maggie, and the squealing began once more. The trio had been inseparable since the beginning of their first year. They had sat together on this same train as shy eleven year olds.
None of them had known what to say to one another, and for the first hour of the train ride, Lily had sat picking nervously at her split ends. Maggie had been the one to break the silence. Lily could remember it like it was yesterday. "So, what house do you think you'll be in?" she had mumbled, her eyes not leaving the floor. Lily remembered the way that the panic had flooded up inside her, reddening her cheeks. Being a muggleborn, she didn't even know what a 'house' was. Both the other girls hoped to be in Gryffindor, but Maggie suspected that she might end up in Ravenclaw. They had turned to her, as though she was going to volunteer her own prediction, but she had quickly turned her head and looked out the window. Lily had sat quietly while the other two discussed their family histories, sharing the sorting horror stories of mums, dads, brothers and cousins.
Finally, Lily plucked up the courage to ask the girls what a house was. The other two had giggled, but not in a mean spirited way. Maggie and Alexa were happy to give Lily the low down on all the houses, revealing the good, the bad, and the ugly. By the end of the train, they had gone from a compartment of somber faced eleven year old strangers, to giggling best friends.
While Cassidy and Alexa jabbered excitedly in the background, Lily stared out the window, watching the weaving patterns of young witches and wizards as they made their way to the train. She remembered her first trip to Hogwarts.
Her muggle parents hadn't had a clue what to think. They had driven to the train station, her mother anxiously reaching for her hand the whole time. "I'm fine! You don't need to lead me around like a baby!" the eleven year old Lily had reprimanded her. She wished that there was someone to hold her hand now. She laughed at the irony, her first ride on the Hogwarts express she had been bold and fearless, but now as a veteran, she was terrified for her final ride.
"Lils?" Alexa asked, staring a Lily's blank face. "uh Lily? Are you in there?"
Lily laughed and shook herself out from her thoughts. "Sorry, I was just thinking," she muttered, still clearly distracted.
"I said, did you get Head Girl? Is it you? I figure it can't be anyone else!"
"Oh yeah!" Lily said, quickly rejoining the world outside her own head. "I did. I'm so happy. I really didn't think it would be me! I thought that maybe Almeda Feltkin would have beaten me. She's such an awful suck-up."
"Oh shut up Lil! We knew you'd get it, we told you all last term that you had it in the bag."
Lily blushed at her friend's kind praise. She knew that she was one of the top witches in their year. There was no denying that. But she was certainly modest enough not to assume that she was the best. Lily did her work quietly, not for the praise of teachers, and the envy of her classmates, but she simply liked to work. She was a quiet bright girl, who loved nothing better than a challenge.
"Speaking of which," Lily began "I should start over to the Head's compartment soon, to lead the first prefects meeting."
"Do you know who the Head Boy is yet?" Maggie asked.
"I haven't a clue." Lily answered. "McGonagall's letter didn't say."
"I'm betting on Remus Lupin," Alexa declared. "He's such a... rule follower."
"Are you accusing me of being a rule follower?" Lily cried with mock surprise. "Why I would never do such a thing!" The girls burst into a chorus of giggles at the very thought. Lily's perfect reputation preceded her. She was a brilliant student, a loyal friend, and a bit of a teachers pet; the very image of a good girl.
Lily felt simply lightheaded with happiness, other than the nervous butterflies, fluttering in her stomach, she felt calm, cheerful, and comfortable. Her whole body felt warm and relaxed here. She was on her way back, and she was surrounded by girls who knew and loved her. Basking in her own joy for a few minutes, she joined the other two in gossip threaded with plans for the coming year.
"Alexa..." Lily began, with a secretive smile on her face, "Anything, er, new with you and Sirius over the summer?" Alexa's angelic face blushed like a summer rose. She could barely contain her smile, just at the sound of his name.
"Well, we didn't see much of each other... any of each other, really." she started, the smile dropping from her face. "I wrote him a few owls, but he never seemed very interested in me..."
"Have you seen him yet?" Maggie butted in, always impatient.
"Er, no. I've been avoiding it really."
"But why?" Lily asked, her face riddled by concern. "Did anything happen? Was there a falling out? Or did it just sort of trail off?"
"It just faded." Alexa said glumly. "It was really only a little fling anyway."
Well, he's certainly not going to find any girl in Hogwarts prettier than you!" Lily said firmly.
"And if he bloody well keeps ignoring you, I'll kick his ass. Someone needs to knock some sense into him." Maggie threw an arm around her friends small shoulders. Alexa managed a small smile, at the thought of tiny, but fiery Maggie taking down the huge Sirius Black.
"Take care of her Mags," Lily whispered. "She's got to face him sometime. Make it soon."
Maggie gave her a small nod, and continued patting Alexa on her thin shoulders. Alexa gave a little sigh, and perked up a little.
"Where are you going Lily?" She asked, a little bit of her old sparkle creeping back into her voice. Lily had stood up and began to lift her trunk down, watching her beautiful friend with a look of motherly concern.
"I've got to go and meet the Head Boy! And prepare for the first Prefects meeting." she answered. "But don't worry, it shouldn't take long."
"Good luck Lily!" they chorused, as she headed out into the corridor.
"Hurry back! And tell us who the Head Boy is, or I might die of excitement!" Alexa added. There was nothing like a new bit of gossip to lift her spirits.
Lily smiled cheerily at them through the compartment window. Her heart thumped with anticipation. This was it. Her big chance to prove to Hogwarts that she was a good leader, it was finally her turn.
A gentle breeze blew James Potters' hair into his eyes, as he emerged from the barrier, and strolled onto Platform 9 3/4. The sun beat down on the hot brick of the train station. It had been an unbearably hot summer, and the unusually warm weather had carried through to September. His red cotton t-shirt clung to his chest, sticking to the little beads of sweat that were already starting there. He felt slightly uncomfortable in the heat, but the heady excitement of the school year kept the weather from his mind. Pulling his heavy trunk with ease out of the seemingly solid wall of the barrier behind him, he glanced up at the gleaming scarlet engine of the Hogwarts Express.
He strode purposefully towards the train, his powerful, muscular legs carrying him swiftly across the platform. Propelled by the thrill that came with every new school year, he had left his parents, and even Sirius struggling to catch up with him. Quickly noticing their absence, he whirled around with a laugh, and shouted, "Oy Sirius! Are you trying to miss the train?" Sirius sprinted towards him at full speed, running right into him, and nearly knocking him down. James recovered speedily, and returned the favor with a friendly shove. Sirius ruffled James' hair, threw his arm nonchalantly over his shoulder, and the two boys set off.
The throng of students was pushing every which way, and the noise was so loud James could barely hear himself think over the din. Frantic mothers of first years were squealing nervously, and saying tearful goodbyes. Sixth year girls were giggling excitedly, and even goggling at James and Sirius. Fifth year boys were yelling, and cursing. Everywhere there were hellos mixing with goodbyes.
The crowd of students parted for James and Sirius, and they smiled jovially down at their young admirers. James ran his fingers through his hair, checking his reflection in the polished window of the train, making sure his hair looked thoroughly wind blown. While Sirius tossed his head, and winked cheekily at a group of pretty fifth year Ravenclaw girls.
"My brother told me about them! That's James Potter and Sirius Black!" a wiry young blond boy was whispering excitedly to his friend. "Yeah, that's James on the left. He's captain of the Quidditch Team and everything. He's a seriously brilliant player. Definitely professional material, maybe the best Hogwarts has ever seen! And well, the other one is Sirius Black. He's always getting into some sort of trouble, you know? The two of them pull some really quality pranks..." The young boy's voice faded out of earshot as they boarded the train.
"The infamous Sirius Black and James Potter, eh?" Sirius shouted as they walked down the corridor. "It sounds like they've built us into legends here mate," James roared with laughter. It was good to be back, home, where he belonged.
"The young ones needn't worry," James said seriously to his best friend, "I'm sure they'll have their fill of pranks before the year is up. After all, this is the grand finale. We'll go out with a bang."
They seemed like boys again themselves, as they made their way to their compartment, gossiping about their bold plans for the coming school year. Of course, they had spent the summer scheming, but no concrete plans had been made for the "back to school" prank. Sirius had spent the summer with James, just as he had for the past four summers. He didn't exactly see eye to eye with his pure blood loving parents. It had become customary for Sirius to spend all holidays with the Potter family. He even had his own bedroom in their house in Godric's Hollow.
They had spent the summer playing lazy games of one on one quidditch in the Potters' yard, playing wizards chess or exploding snap, and sleeping the days away. At night, they would sneak out of Godric's Hollow to the nearby muggle village of Grimsby and sit down by the beach. Some nights they would go into the pub and chat up the pretty young muggle girls. James laughed and flirted mindlessly, but his heart wasn't really in it. Sometimes, he would even stumble after one into the alley; but he never brought any home for the night. They were simply a game to him. Sirius on the other hand was a different story. There was a different muggle girl in his bed every weekend, with the exception of one especially stunning brunette, who had managed to hold his attention for about two weeks before being replaced. The nights that they didn't go into the pub they spent walking along the shore, talking about the future, wondering. They spoke of all their joys and all of their fears. It was a dangerous time, but neither of them felt the weight of darkness on their shoulders right now.
"Well, lets see," James began, "We could persuade all of the house elves to swap out the pumpkin juice for fire whiskey during the first feast..."
"Or we could bewitch old Professor Boulstridge's cane to follow him around, and hit him on the head..."
"Or it could just abandon him and hit all of the Slytherins on the head. I'd like to see old Snivelous Snape being chased down the hallway by a cane."
"Chase him all the way to the shower, so he could wash the grease out his hair!"
At the thought of a floating cane, beating their enemies over the head repeatedly, the boys burst into raucous laughter. The self-proclaimed kings of Hogwarts lugged their royal bags down the corridor of the train searching for a compartment.
Shouts, and whistles heralded their entrance. Girls looked longingly at them from under their long full lashes, young boys stared with admiration, and their peers looked on them with a sort of worshipful envy.
They found a cabin that suited their fancy at the very back of the train. Shortly after they had settled in, Sirius lounging across the bench, with his feet propped up, and James looking nonchalantly out the window, they were joined by none other than Remus Lupin. His usually serious face broke into a smile at the sight of his old friends.
"Mooney!" James shouted, jumping up and pulling his mate into the compartment. Sirius stood on the bench and let out a loud howl, proclaiming the arrival of their "furry" friend. "How've you been holding up Moon?" Sirius asked, clapping him on the back, after the three of them had resettled themselves.
"As well as ever," he said with a little sigh, "I'm glad to be back."
"Ah, yessir Remus" James said, patting his friend's thin shoulders. "It's good to be back, and just in time too" he added, "Padfoot and I have been playing it dangerously safe this summer. It's about time there's been a little mischief." The three boys all laughed. It was the final beginning, their last big entrance; they were going to make the most of it.
Peter Pettigrew was the last one to join them in the compartment, even his watery eyes lit up to see his three closest friends gathered in the little compartment.
"Wormy!" Sirius shouted, clapping their smallest friend on the back. "You've arrived just in time."
The four boys put their heads together, and whispered in hushed excitement. "Alright," James said, taking the lead, "I say that we head down to the kitchens before the feast…"
"Sorry to interrupt James, but-"
"What's up Mooney?"
"Can we finish this up after the prefects meeting? I want to change into my robes before hand."
"Come on Remus," Sirius whined, "You need to get your priorities straight,"
"Oh yes," Remus smiled knowingly. "My prefect responsibilities aren't nearly as important as pranking the Slytherins."
"That's the spirit!" Sirius clapped him on the back.
"Who said it has to be the Slytherins?" Peter chimed in.
"I figured it was implied that it would be the Slytherins."
"I guess you're right." Peter gave in.
"Shit," James swore. "I completely forgot about the Prefect's meeting."
"But you aren't a prefect…" Remus pointed out. Sirius tutted.
"Oh Remus…" He said, shaking his head in mock disbelief.
"No!" Remus gasped in shock. "No way." James and Sirus grinned back at him, while Peter just looked confused. "Now this must be the prank… because there is no way that Dumbledore would EVER…"
"Jealous? Are you Moon?" James elbowed his friend jokingly in the ribs.
"Jealous? I-" Remus paused, seemingly lost for words. "Congratulations James." He said, a serious smile on his face.
"Thanks Moon." He said. "I've got to run, I've got to change before the meeting, and go meet up with the Head Girl."
"Give Evans a good snog for me."
"Oh bugger off, Padfoot."
"You'd better snog her soon." Sirius taunted, "Or I'll have to have a go at it myself."
"I'd like to see you try," James scoffed.
"Lily Evans, head girl. Now that would be something for my little black book."
"Oh god, Sirius. You don't actually keep a little black book do you?" Remus asked with a look of disgust.
"Books. It's plural." James answered for him.
"That is truly foul, you know that?" Lupin asked, looking superiorly at the two of them.
"Now, now." Sirius, stood up in mock anger. "The lot of you are making me out to be some sort of womanizing, play boy."
"And?" The three of them asked simultaneously.
"I would never." He scoffed with mock incredulity. "This is not a conversation for my virgin ears." The other three started to snicker. "I don't even believe in pre-marital cuddling." Sirius declared, accompanied by a chorus of laughter from the other three Marauders.
"Laugh all you want, but it's the truth." He paused, and then let out a snort. "All right, even I couldn't keep a straight face through that." They all chortled.
"All right, I'm off to meet Evans." James said, with an air of calculated casualness.
"All right Jamsie," Sirius clapped him on the back, "but after this meeting, you're all ours. Deal?"
"Deal."
"We've got to plan the prank,"
"And the party to follow the feast," James added.
"And so it begins," Remus said with a sigh.
"Come off it Remus," James chided. "You know you love the trouble we drag you into."
"That I do." He grinned.
"See you James!" Peter said wheezily as James exited the compartment. He strode down the corridor, not even stopping to enjoy the stares, and the excited chatter that followed him wherever he went. All thoughts of the prank, the party, and even the very pretty sixth year girls waving to him were drowned out as he approached the Head compartment. Lily Evans was on his mind, and she was enough to silence everything else.
James looked at her through the window of the compartment, and she nearly broke his heart. She was already sitting there, waiting for- well he supposed it was actually him that she was waiting for. The idea of that brought a smile to his face. He took a moment just to look at her, hands folded in her lap, dark red hair tucked behind her ears. It was her eyes that got him though. They always did. Green like a cat's and clever too. But today they lacked the fierce aggressiveness that they usually took on when she looked at James. "Even Lily Evans lets her guard down to day dream," he smiled, and reached for the door handle.