Disclaimer: I do not own and am in no way affiliated with anything to do with Harry Potter(although I wish I was). I only own the characters I create.

Chapter 1:

James

The mingling of scents, sights, and sounds was overwhelming as James Potter stood at the train station, waiting to board the Hogwarts Express. Mothers, tearily kissing their children goodbye, friends, reuniting with open arms, and teachers bustling about, trying to scoop everyone onto the train. However, all of this was lost on James. He had just seen a flash of red hair that could only mean one thing. Lily Evans was here.

Lily Evans. How could he even begin to describe that girl? She was highly intelligent, extremely adept at Potions, vivacious, beautiful, mysterious, and she hated him with a passion. For the last six years he had been hopelessly in love with her and she could not stand it. Every time he tried to tell her, or make something happen between them she had shot him down. Last year on Valentines Day he hired a group of cupids and bought most of the chocolate from Honeydukes Sweet Shop. When Lily entered the Great Hall, she was surrounded by the cupids, then offered the chocolate and James' undying love. He was in the Hospital Wing for 3 days.

Needless to say, she was not interested. But that did not stop him from running after her now, abandoning Sirius, his trunk and owl.

"Lil-"

"James!" he heard a familiar voice yell. "James, over here!" James stopped running and swung his head around to see Remus' face beaming by his trunk. "Why were you running like a maniac?" Remus laughed.

"Lily, why else?" James sighed. "I was running after her, I don't know why I always do that."

"Honestly? I don't think anyone does. But come here!" Remus pulled him and Sirius into an embrace. "It's been all summer! All I've heard from you two have been lousy owls."

"Yeah, well Sirius was busy getting himself settled at my house, wasn't he," James said. "I reckon my mum loves him more than she loves me."

"I reckon so, mate," Sirius said. "She was crying an awful lot today, and it didn't seem to be about you." James whacked him in the arm. Sirius yelped.

"Come on, you know you deserved that," James said. Sirius grinned and punched him playfully in the shoulder. "Wait, where's Peter? I haven't seen him here yet and we've been waiting an hour, Mum was rather insane about the whole thing, said she didn't want a repeat of last year."

"Yeah, McGonagall wasn't too happy about that either. But I haven't seen Peter either, although I only just got here. Do you think he's trying to catch rats in the alley again?" Remus asked.

"No. I really hope that was just the once. Let's get on the train, shall we? It's gonna leave in like 5 minutes, and I want to get a good compartment so we don't have to share with Snivellus again." They boarded the train and headed to the Gryffindor part, with Remus at the front. "There's only one compartment that's not full, but I think...yeah, Lily is in there," Remus sighed.

"Lily? Evans?" James asked excitedly.

"Yes, Lily Evans, who else?" Remus said. "But listen James, remember when we decided it would be better if you backed off a little, and just let her be for a while? So that she could have some time to think things through?"

"Yes, of course I remember, but didn't you say it was the only compartment that's not full? So we have to take it!" James said happily.

"Okay, but just try not to be so..."
"Clingy?" Sirius said. "Because James, you really are clingy, mate." James brushed aside them and opened the compartment door.

"Lily!" he exclaimed. Lily stood up with a warning look on her face. "Look, Lily, before you get all defensive, this is the only compartment left, and I promise not to be all..." he glanced at Sirius, "Clingy."

"Really? You, not clingy? I'd like to see this." She plopped back down.

James took a moment to take in his surroundings. The compartment was comfortable looking, with red seats corded with gold fabric, and a huge window currently looking at Platform 9 ¾. Lily was sitting directly opposite from where he was standing now, with her best friends Rose and Giselle. Rose had waist length blonde hair and gray-blue eyes, and she was just as smart as Lily, although she was better suited for Arithmancy and Charms. She was warmer to James than Lily was, and James rather thought she liked Sirius. Giselle had black hair and cocoa brown eyes with turquoise outlining the iris. She was exquisitely beautiful, perhaps as beautiful as Lily was. She was in James' Divination class, one of the 4 people that were, but she much preferred Transfiguration.

All three girls were surveying the newcomers with zeal. "Hello, boys," Giselle said, "How was your summer?" The three boys entered the compartment and sat down; James next to Giselle, Sirius next to Rose, and Remus next to James. James winked at Lily, who shuddered. Rose rolled her eyes.

"Ours was great, thanks for asking," Remus said, "Although it was rather hot this summer, and we didn't get to hang out at all...come to think of it it was pretty lousy."

"Yeah, we're really glad to get back to Hogwarts," James said, "It's been a long three months."

"I can't wait to get to the Hogwarts!" Sirius exclaimed, "All of the food! Don't get me wrong, James' mum is a great cook, and James isn't bad himself-" he was cut off as James glared at him, "Padfoot, you promised you wouldn't tell anyone about that!" he hissed.

"Oh right...sorry. Accident," Sirius smirked. Giselle snickered into her hand. All of a sudden, they heard a deafening whistle and the train gave a great lurch. They turned around to look out the window and saw Platform 9 ¾ appear to be moving.

"The train! It's starting! Only 6 more hours to go before we get to Hogwarts!" Rose announced.

"Yeah, which means 6 more hours with James," Lily sighed. "I was looking forward to these hours as my last James free ones." James gave Lily a hurt expression and Lily looked somewhat taken aback. "Well, I'm just happy to be on our way, regardless of who we're with," Giselle replied. "Besides, think of all the candy! Where is..." She trailed off.

"Yes?" Remus asked.

"Well, I was trying to think of the name of the lady who pushes the food trolley and I just realized, I have no idea what it is!" Giselle said, surprised.

"Oh my god, you're right!" Lily said, "This is ridiculous! It's our 7th year and we don't even know her name! We should ask!"

"We can't ask, Lily! I mean, how would you feel if someone you've known for six years asked what your name was?" Rose questioned.

"Yeah, let's just take our food and go," James said. "Look, here she is!" The trolley slowly inched down the hall towards their compartment. As soon as the lady pushing it came into sight, they leaped up and began to select their food. Pumpkin pasties, Bertie Botts Every Flavored Beans, Droobles Best Blowing Gum, cauldron cakes, licorice wands, Chocolate Frogs, Fizzing Whizbees, Acid Pops(James could not for the life of him understand why someone would want to eat them; probably Dumbledore put them on, as they were a favorite of his), Pepper Imps, and much much more. Five hours later, everyone was starting to crash from the sugar, and changing into their robes. The boys went out while the girls changed, and vice versa. When they were done they all squeezed back into the compartment except for Remus and Lily, who had to go for Head Girl and Boy meetings,.

Giselle yawned and put her head on Rose's lap. James did the same on Sirius'.

"Oy! Get off, whaddyou think you're doing!" Sirius yelled in James' ear.

"What? Giselle is doing it!" James said.

"Well they're girls, aren't they! Girls are strange!" Sirius shoved James' head off. James looked at Sirius reproachfully and sulked in the corner. Giselle and Rose started laughing.

"You know, James, you're alright," Rose said. "Lily always talks about you like you're horrid, but I don't think you are. I think you're rather cute, actually." Rose had the tendency to say exactly what she meant, James noticed. "Lily talks about me like I'm horrid?" James gasped.

"Yes. But I think it's all an act. I think she warmed up to you somewhat last year and if you play it right, something could happen this year. You've just got to not be so clingy."

"Clingy? What is it with people and that word!" James shook his head. "I guess I can be a little...maybe a little clingy. But don't worry people, my Lilykins will come around." Rose snorted into her pie, "Lilykins? No wonder you have to keep asking her out!"

"Yes, Lily hates pet names," Giselle said matter-of-factly. "Ever since her sister...well, never mind."

"No, what?" James asked, "Ever since her sister what?" But the train came to a halting stop and they got thrown off their seats into a huge pile on the floor. Rose was on top of Sirius and James was on top of Giselle.

"Ooh la la," said Sirius, "I never knew, Rose." Rose blushed immensely and jumped up. "I don't know what you're talking about." She put her long, dirty-blonde hair into a ponytail and practically ran out of the compartment. "Ni-ice, Sirius," Giselle said, "Do you scare all the girls away?"

"You wish," he said, "Just be glad I haven't scared you yet." Giselle poked him and followed Rose.

James sighed and looked at Sirius. "Just us again, eh?"

"Yeah. But at least we get to sit with everyone at dinner. I think you've made quite an impression on Lily, mate, she doesn't seem to despise you quite as much."

"Gee, thanks Padfoot," James scoffed. He was quiet for a minute as he rolled his things down the corridor. "You really think so? I mean, I thought we had a good time today, laughing and everything, but I guess I never thought she would actually like me, as she's been hating me for the last six years."

"Well, think about what Rose said. Who knows her better than that? Besides Giselle, I mean? And Rose is rather...erm, how do I put this...blunt? She's not afraid to say what she thinks, and she is brilliant, so mostly what she thinks is right. I think you may have a chance this year Prongs, if you play it right!" Sirius clapped James on the back and brushed past him with a, "Hey! Mary! I've been meaning to talk to you about..."

James just stood there for a minute, reflecting on what had been said. True, Lily had laughed at his jokes and touched his arm a couple of times, but whenever she did this she caught herself and looked horrified. Well, whatever the case, James vowed to himself that he would, he would, make her fall in love with him this year.

Lily

Three hours later, Lily was exhausted, full, and happy. She had just spent the last hour watching James and Sirius make fools of themselves in front of McGonagall, who, by the way, James called Minnie. She shuddered at the memory and climbed the stairs to their dorm.

"LILY!" All Lily saw was a flash of mahogany hair as Eloise flung herself across the room onto Lily. This managed to make them both fall, Eloise on top of Lily, in a pile half on her trunk and half on the floor.

"Eloise...gerrof!" Lily said.

"Sorry! I was just so happy to see you! I saw Rose and Gizz at dinner, where were you?"

"I was next to them, but you probably didn't see me because I was laughing at Potter. He put corn on all of his teeth and started pretending to be a woodchuck...it was...well, it was amusing to say the least."

"Potter? I'm not surprised. Ha. Anyway, my bed is over here and I'm sure you're just as tired as I am, so I'll let us both get to bed. We can catch up tomorrow in Transfiguration." She turned to walk away but Lily said,

"You know me. I'll be studying in Transfiguration, which I reckon you should do as well." Eloise smiled at her and walked away. Lily thought she heard her muttering under her breath.

She picked up her trunks off the floor and brushed them off. The house elves must have unpacked them, she thought, so her stuff wasn't all jumbled up inside. She walked over to Giselle's bed(on the right of hers)and sat down on it. Rose was already there, and both of them looked up as she entered the hangings.

"Hey," yawned Giselle, "We were just talking about you. Which period is your Charms class?"
"Er...I believe it's fourth, right after lunch," she declared. They compared schedules. "Good, so we all have the same classes, except for Rose who has Divination," she confirmed.

"Yeah," said Rose, "With James." She yawned and said, "It's extremely late and I have got to go to bed. Lily, you're a bitch in the morning regardless, but you're worse when you get no sl-come on Lily, there's no point in denying it. 'Night."

"'Night," they replied. Lily grinned at Giselle and went into the bathroom to take a shower and brush her teeth, passing Eloise on the way. She was sprawled on the bed with an appendage to each side. Lily chuckled and closed her curtains.

"Ahhhhh," Lily thought as she stepped into the warm water. She washed her body with her favorite grapefruit soap and her hair with her raspberry shampoo. As she stepped out, she felt warm and fuzzy and happy to be at Hogwarts. Then she got into her bed, pulled up her flannel sheets, and fell asleep instantly.