The Road Not Taken
1. I Swear I'll Marry Her
"Off you go, Jamie." His dad urged him forward, though the son didn't need it. He flashed a devilish grin over his shoulder and disappeared into the crowd thronging for the train. Steam swirled through the air and laughter saturated it. James reveled in it all, already knowing it was going to be a fantastic year.
"James!" The boy turned at the sound of his name, his eyes sparkling mischievously.
"Ah, Sirius," he said as the other boy fell into step beside him. "I've just had the most brilliant idea! Have you seen the amount of pastries they've loaded on there?" Sirius shook his head, his face splitting into a grin that matched James'.
"There must have been at least 500 pumpkin pasties. I mean, really, it was quite impressive for such a short ride. How far is Hogwarts?"
"Oh, I'd say a day's passage. Not too long, maybe. Your dad send anything with you?"
"I didn't tell you?" James and Sirius jumped nimbly of the steps into the train, settling into an empty compartment. James set his shoulder bag on the seat next to him and then looked smugly at Sirius. "Mum didn't want him to, but Dad gave it to me anyway."
"What'd he give you?" James tossed the bag to his friend.
"Check it, Sirius." Sirius dug in the bag, his eyes widening in disbelief.
"No way!" He pulled out a cloak, patterned in a spider web of designs, iridescent in the light that slanted through the compartment window. "He gave you his invisibility cloak?"
"Well, kind of. He said I could borrow it, anyway." James smirked to himself, looking out at the crowded platform. The first warning whistle had blown and the panic was beginning to set in. "Mum told him absolutely not. She thinks that it will just get me into trouble—she doesn't trust me. Can you believe that Sirius? My own mother doesn't trust me!"
"I wouldn't either, if I were her," Sirius snorted back, stuffing the cloak back in the bag. "I mean, you don't plan to use the cloak for good things, do you, Jamie?"
"Of course not, Siri," James replied snidely. "I mean, Hogwarts is cool and all, but what kind of a year would it be with rules? Besides, I hear that McGonagall needs a little spice in her life."
The last warning whistle sounded and the rest of the students clambered for the train. James and Sirius waved at their families. Sirius' brother waved back sadly as his parents stared sternly, without seeing. James' parents clutched each other's hands, his mother blowing kisses, both waving enthusiastically. Even with how cruel Sirius' parents seemed, both boys' guardians were proud of their young boys.
The train began moving soon after. Sirius extracted a deck of exploding snap out of his pocket and the boys played several rounds before their cards were decimated. The boys talked for a long time, discussing which house they expected to be put in, which class they thought would be the easiest, and how easy or hard it would be to sneak food from the kitchens.
"That reminds me," Sirius said, rubbing his stomach as it grumbled loudly. "I'm starving! Where's the lady with the cart?"
"I don't know." James stood and leaned out the door of the compartment. There was no sign of the lady in either direction.
"Well, I'm not waiting," Sirius said exasperatedly, striding out the door. "I'll check this way, you check that way. I want Licorice Whips and Pumpkin Pasties, if you find her."
"Droobles and Cauldron Cakes, if you find her. And chocolate frogs." The boys nodded at each other, and set off in opposite directions.
James walked leisurely down the carpeted hallway, peering curiously into different compartments as he passed. Several were full of first years, but many were older and ignored him.
He had just caught sight of the trolley when the train jolted violently. He grasped the handle of the nearest compartment door to keep from falling, and it slid open, nearly knocking him to the floor anyway.
After he gained his balance, he peered into the compartment.
"I'm sorry," he said, noticing a slim, mousy boy directly to the left, his long legs splayed awkwardly in front of him. His hazel eyes were wide with surprise, peeking over the cover of a book stamped with runes that James couldn't read.
Another boy was sitting in a corner by the window. His hair fell in black sheets around his face, hiding his large nose and shiny black eyes. He looked at James with a great amount of dislike, for the other boy's gaze had landed on the only girl in the compartment.
Her hair was long and silky, slightly curly, the color of the deepest red in a sunset. Wide green eyes stared appraisingly at the boy. Her figure was slim and her face had the soft roundness of an angel. James thought that he had never seen anyone more beautiful.
Distracted, and embarrassed, as she had caught him staring, he sifted his hand through his hair.
"Hi," the girl said brightly, standing up and holding out her hand. "I'm Lily, and this is Remus and Severus." James gently shook her hand, savoring the softness of her skin.
"James," he managed to reply. "Sorry for the interruption. I kind of, uh, tripped here."
"Oh, it's no problem. Would you like to join us?"
James looked at her eager face and was opening his mouth to say yes when he heard his name being sang in an obnoxiously falsetto voice.
"Jammmmiiiiiiieeee! Oh, Jamsies! Come out, come out, wherever you are!" James put a hand to his face and lowered his head in shame. Leave it to Sirius to ruin it. "Ah! There you are, James, ole pal. Hey! Why didn't you come get me?" Sirius came quickly to James' side, annoyance on his face. "You could have at least hollered for me—" he broke off quite suddenly, catching sight of Lily.
A flashy, attractive smile grew on his face. "Well, well, well, who do we have here?"
"This is Lily," James told him, sending a glare at his friend. "And Lily, this is—" Sirius pushed past him, reaching out a hand.
"I'm Sirius," Sirius said, his voice low. He kissed the back of Lily's hand and flashed his teeth again. "Sirius Black, for future reference." Lily blushed and giggled girlishly.
"I'll keep that in mind, Mr. Black."
"Well, it was nice meeting you all, but we really have to get going," James said quickly, disliking the way Lily and Sirius were looking at each other. He grabbed Sirius by the back of his shirt and hauled him off down the hall.
"Bye," Lily called after them, shaking her head in wonder at the two handsome boys disappearing into another train car. Severus caught her eye as she sat down, an eyebrow raised. "What?" she shot at him, blushing again. He shrugged and went back to staring out the window.
Meanwhile, James was rounding on Sirius.
"God, you are such an imbecile," he said, glaring at Sirius like he was a bit of mud on new shoes. "And what was that all about?"
"I was just being charming," Sirius replied indignantly. "What's got your panties in a twist?"
"Nothing," James growled, tossing himself into the compartment.
"What? Tell me, James. "The two boys glared at each other hotly for several minutes before Sirius realized it. "Oh. I get it. You like her." James was quick to deny it, a little too quick, and Sirius shook his head. "All you had to do was say so. She's pretty, but, uh, you met her first."
"I don't like her. Have her if you want."
"Oh, please. Don't even give me that." James sat fuming for several more minutes before a soft smile lighted his lips.
"My heart about bust out of my chest the moment I saw her," he admitted, not meeting Sirius's 'I told you so' look.
"Well, she is gorgeous, of course," Sirius contemplated, slumping down onto the seat. James gave him another loathsome look. "But, she's all yours, mate. You saw her first. I respect the guy code."
"Mmhmm," James sighed to himself, sinking slowly back onto his own bench, appreciating the view of a pretty lake. "You know what, Sirius?"
"What James?"
"I'm going to marry that girl some day."
"Uh huh. You keep believing that, James."
"I swear, man. I'm going to marry her."
A/N XD Lily and James are such a powerful couple, and I have always wondered what happened during their years at Hogwarts. How did James finally get to her? Why did Lily hate him so much? This is my take on it all. Please read and review :) Tell me if it's sweet, cheesey...all comments and criticism are welcome :)