"Take care of yourself dear and have a wonderful year!" Elizabeth Lupin stood at Platform 9 3/4 hugging her aunt and uncle as she said goodbye. "I will Aunt Mary," she said. "Have a good year Remus, take care of your cousin," her uncle said to his son. Remus just rolled his eyes, "I will Dad." They said their goodbyes and went to find their friends. The train station was crowded as usual with parents embracing their children and seeing them off, anxious and awed-looking first years, and friends excitedly greeting each other after a long break apart. "Oh, I found Lily, catch up with you in a little while Rem," she said when she saw the familiar redhead she had become best friends with over the past five years. Just after she walked off to see Lily, Remus turned to face none other than James Potter and Sirius Black, his two best friends, the infamous other Marauders and Gryffindor heartthrobs. "Moony!" exclaimed James. "Padfoot! Prongs! How've your summers been?" he asked them cheerfully. "It was great! Sirius came and stayed at my house over the summer!" James said enthusiastically. "Moony, who was that girl you were with before we got here? She was quite attractive," asked Sirius. "Who? Liz? As in my cousin Liz, you know the one you've been friends with since first year?" Remus said, giving him a look of disgust. "No way! That was Liz?! She looks so different, I wouldn't have recognized her," James said, a bit surprised at how different she looked. "Yeah, she's definitely changed," Sirius said softly, spotting her in the crowd laughing and talking with Lily.
It was true, she had changed a lot physically over the summer. Her dark hair fell in its natural, loose ringlets reaching a little past her shoulders. Her grey eyes rivaled Sirius', perhaps even more piecing and enchanting, her flawless pale skin glowed, her cheeks slightly pink, and she had gotten perfect curves on her slim, athletic figure. She had always been pretty and Sirius always thought so. He asked her out multiple times every year since first year. They were best friends, she was different, the only girl to ever resist his charm and refuse him. For some reason, that had always drawn him to her. This is going to be an interesting year, he thought. The three Marauders continued to talk as they boarded the train, knowing that Peter saved their usual compartment.
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Two hours later, the boys were already planning their next prank. Remus, who had been and come back from the prefects meeting, was reading but still paying attention and contributing to the conversation here and there. Peter was sitting next to James, closer to the door, staring at the other three with admiration, not really adding much to their plans. Suddenly the compartment door slid open, revealing a beaming Liz and a flustered Lily. "Hello boys!" she said, dragging Lily into the compartment, shutting the door behind her. She sat down between her cousin and Sirius, leaving a glaring Lily to sit between a grinning James and Peter. "And where have you been young lady?" asked Sirius in a mock angry tone. "Oh, you know, seeing friends, taunting Slytherins, going to the prefect's meeting, the usual," she replied with an innocent expression. "The prefect's meeting was an hour ago," Remus said smiling, looking at his cousin with amusement. "Oh, I forgot to mention, we ran into your charming relatives Sirius," she said turning to the handsome boy on her left. "Oh really? Do they send their love?" he asked with the smirk that made most girls melt and go weak in the knees.
Liz was not most girls. She was one of Sirius' best friends. She was gorgeous, intelligent, witty, brave, and had an amazing knack for avoiding and getting out of trouble, as well as concocting pranks with the boys. She was a fellow Marauder and the perfect girl in every way his equal. The only problem was that she refused him. Her dazzling grey eyes sparkled as she replied, "Of course they did," her voice dripping with sarcasm, "Bella called me a blood traitor and Lily well, you now the word. I resisted the urge to hex and or punch her, and Regulus hit on me, again. "What did you say to him?" Sirius asked her, just barely succeeding in hiding the anger and jealousy that threatened to reveal itself in his voice. "I told him to bugger off and that if he ever tried anything his head would be sticking out of his arse." A small evil smile played on her features. "Well done mate," he said putting his arm around her, struggling to hide the happiness and relief he felt. He had never wanted anything more than to keep her in his arms. Five years of repressed feelings were trying to make themselves known.
For Liz, his behaviour wasn't anything out of the ordinary. She leaned against him as she did with James, but not so much Remus, since they were cousins, and rested her head on his shoulder. She felt so safe and happy in his arms and he smelled so good. No, she thought, I shouldn't be thinking this! He's my best mate! Yes you should, face it, you like him! came another voice in her head. The mental argument continued on until the topic of pranks came up. The five Marauders were together again and all were more than eager to start planning for the upcoming year. Since Lily "hated" James she refused to join the Marauders and she didn't understand how both Liz and Remus were part of the group. The topic eventually changed to quidditch and Liz dropped out of the conversation with the boys, not wanting to deal with their obsession with the sport. Liz loved playing it but she was nowhere near as into it as the boys were. Instead she started up a conversation with Lily about the upcoming year. Remus had returned to his book and Peter had fallen asleep and James and Sirius were in a heated conversation about quidditch teams. All of them knew to stay out of these conversations.
Liz and Sirius had separated earlier, about halfway through their plans. "Liz, let's go get changed into our uniforms. We're getting closer I expect," said Lily suddenly. Liz nodded in agreement as both girls stood to get their uniforms. "Alright see you boys in a bit. Don't miss us too much!" said Liz as they left the compartment. "This is the year lads," said James once he was sure they were gone, "This is the year Lily Evans will fall for me." Sirius just shook his head with an amused smirk, "You're almost as obsessed with her as you are with quidditch." James gave a goofy grin, "She's perfect mate. She's the one for me, I know it! What about you and Liz? You two looked rather comfortable together, not to mention you haven't even asked her out yet, that's a new record for you! We've been on the train for four hours and you haven't even brought it up!" The smirk was wiped off of Sirius' face. "Oh, I see, you fancy her don't you? You really fancy her," said James smugly, a knowing look on his face. Remus was now paying full attention to the conversation. "You did look rather tense when she brought up your brother hitting on her," added Remus, studying his friend. "No I didn't!" Sirius protested. Remus gave him a skeptical look. "Oh, go read a book Moony," he said in exasperation. Remus chuckled but didn't pick up his book. "Come off it mate! Don't lie to us, we know you like her, so just admit it!" said James, allowing a sly grin to just barely form on his features.
Both boys stared at their friend waiting for his reply. "Alright, alright, I fancy her okay! I've always liked her! She's perfect; she's smart, witty, gorgeous, brave, loyal, she's just… she's just brilliant!" Sirius looked down, his face bright red. "Is the Sirius Black blushing over a girl! I never thought I'd see the day, did you Remus," said James in mock shock, "Welcome to my world mate."