September 1st 1975

(Lily Evans)

Lily Evans was a mess.

The morning had not started off well. First Petunia, the recently turned 16 year old had pitched a fit about refusing to see Lily off at to school in favor of the company of her latest boyfriend – or as Mr. Evans so described the young gentlemen, -another one of those tattooed, cigarette smoking hooligans, then George Jr., her cat refused to be handled into his carry case and Lily now had a hissing cat locked away and long scratch marks to show for her effort, and to top it all off James Potter (the sod) sent another one of those ridiculous Howler letters proclaiming his (supposed) love.

No, it was not a good morning.

Her mind felt like a mad wreck of chaos and she wanted nothing more than to be alone until she could cool down, but knowing how things generally worked, she would probably be screeching it out at James Potter (the horrible) later.

Her fingers tapped impatiently along the windowsill of the car and she tried to arrange everything she had to do into a mental checklist, meet with the girls to find a compartment so she'd know where to find them, meet with Remus and head to the Prefects meeting –

"Ahem," Her father's eye caught hers out in the mirror.

"Sorry," She said, immediately realizing her mistake and choosing instead to tap her fingers soundlessly against her (sweaty) jeans covered legs.

"This is quite nice isn't it?" Mrs. Evans said trying desperately (not for the first time) to initiate some sort of conversation. "Us all together."

Lily loved her mother very much (she really did) but even if Merlin himself had joined them, the ambiance couldn't (wouldn't) even be near nice, actually considering Petunias views on magic (which she'd made abundantly clear this summer) she'd probably throw Merlin out by his pointy purple hat. And the thought of that was enough to make Lily giggle.

Mr. Evans' eyebrows raised in the mirror at his youngest daughter, and he now felt brave enough to speak, "So Lily, I suppose your lot has more efficient ways of avoiding this ruddy traffic?"

Lily's eyes brightened up and she (not for the first time) explained the Floo network and the fascinating concept of apparition and deciding to pay little attention to Petunia who had been huffing and staring at the window the entire ride.

By the end of it she had relaxed enough that she was only slightly (and that's what's important!) worried that her arrival (again slightly) was later than she had planned.

(Maisie Pevensie)

"Mum please don't hug me, we're in public."

"For heavens sake Maisie this is not a club, it's a train station. It is more than acceptable to interact with your mother here."

Mays eyes sparkled a little, but not as much as they normally would have or had the previous years when she'd made the same joke. But she obliged to her mothers wishes and fell into an embrace with the older woman. She gave her father a similar fleeting hug but threw her arms around the third adult.

Andrew Pevensie laughed and wrapped his granddaughter into a bear hug. May hid her face in the elder mans shoulder to compose herself for a moment and after so, stepped back and listened patiently, if not bored to her parents lectures.

"Now, its O.W.L. year remember to pay attention and study well."

"Extremely important."

"This affects your entire life."

"Your future is critical and relies on this."

Bored. Bored. Bored. She was bored, of this, tired, exhausted, annoyed even. Suddenly she couldn't stand here in her parents presence, she needed to be among her friends, where it was far easier to act as she always had.

But she stood here and talked to them as she always had, she nodded and agreed to study and behave and do all those things that parents asked. And with one last promise to whatever, how would she know, she didn't care, she didn't, she informed them of her decision to make her way onto the Hogwarts Express. She gave only her grandfather one last hug before her departure.

"Remember what I told you." The elderly gentleman muttered to her out of the earshot of her parents.

She nodded to him even though it had not been a question and waved a last goodbye to her parents.

She made her way through the corridors, silently coaching and vowing to herself that things would be fine this year, nothing that happened over summer had to affect her if she didn't want it to, right? Yes she would be fine, she was always fine.

She let herself into the compartment Alice had occupied and her friend looked up bewildered to see her.

"Hallo Alice. What are you reading?" May said good-naturedly, seating herself opposite her fellow Gryffindor.

Alice's kind face crinkled into a smile and the girls were soon immersed in conversation. It was only later when Alice joked to the rest that she'd nearly keeled over in shock that May was early for the first time in her life, that she wondered if perhaps it would be harder to be fine than she had thought.

(Marlene McKinnon)

"Dear Merlin, I might faint!" Sirius Black exclaimed. "McKinnon, you with a book? I dare say if this can happen, Peter might turn out to be a looker after all!"

Marlene rolled her eyes. "Rude Black."

Sirius chuckled. "Alright sorry Pete."

Marlene's eyes flashed to the good-looking boy. "May I help you?" She asked pointedly.

"We were looking for a compartment," Piped up the squeaky and small Peter Pettigrew.

"Well this one is occupied."

"Not sitting with your mates?" James Potter asked, dropping his rucksack on the seat next to her.

"Couldn't find them." Marlene said airily.

"I just met with May, they're right next door." Remus Lupin politely pointed out.

Marlene froze, realizing she'd just been caught in her lie. "Well, I- I must not have looked very hard."

Sirius snorted. "Obviously. But you're welcome to stay here McKinnon, we're lovely company."

Marlene sighed to herself. Times of Transfiguration could wait couldn't it? She hadn't even gotten to school yet! And not to mention how awfully dull it was, it couldn't hurt to sit the ride with her friends, who unlike her textbooks she'd hardly seen all summer. And not to mention that it wasn't like she'd be able to get any work done with the boys in the compartment anyway.

Convinced, Marlene stood and gracefully gathered her things. "Well thanks, for telling me where the girls were."

Sirius snorted again and Remus kicked him. "It was no problem Marlene." Remus smiled.

"Oi McKinnon, didn't know you were so into Transfiguration." James said waving around the abandoned textbook.

Marlene tried very much to disguise her distaste. "Er- yes, I find it… fascinating."

But clearly this was the wrong thing to say to James Potter who was top of the year at Transfiguration and apparently actually found it fascinating. He began to ramble off some random bit of information that try as Marlene might she couldn't wrap her head around.

"… I really think it's all a lot of rubbish what he says. I mean how does it make any sense? What are your thoughts?"

Marlene panicked. "Oh well, I agree, quite true!"

James looked confused. "Wait with me or Sarainhart?"

Marlene mumbled something she herself couldn't quite understand and before any of the boys could say anything, plucked her book out of James' hand and muttered a quick goodbye, ignoring Sirius' laughter behind her.

Outside, she looked forlornly at the compartment that harbored her friends but sighed and turned in the opposite direction, determined to find a solitary place where she could figure out who in hells name was Sarainhart.

(Alice Robards)

"And then I was like, I wouldn't go out with you even if the Giant Squid himself requested it of me!" May finished dramatically.

Alice laughed. "You're such a liar May. We all know you didn't actually say that."

May snickered. "Ok you caught me, but I thought it!"

"So, did you go on a date with the bloke?"

"Well yes but…"

Alice laughed again. "Then it doesn't count!"

"Of course it does! And anyway he wasn't even that…"

"Hullo girls." Marlene called from the door.

"Marlene!" Alice exclaimed. "We were wondering where you were!"

"She was wondering." May jibed good-naturedly.

"Rubbish." Alice said with a shake of her head. "Don't think I didn't hear you asking Remus to look out for her on her patrol."

"Aw Robards now Marlene will never let that go."

"I see James and Sirius had a profound effect on you this summer." Marlene observed.

Alice tilted her head, "How do you figure?"

Marlene giggled. "The use of the last name was the tip off."

The three girls laughed. "You're right!" Alice said. "She was just describing her last date exclusively as Matthews."

"Well that's because you complained when I used his other nickname!" May objected.

"That's because it was dirty."

"Ooh what was it?" Marlene asked.

And just as the expletive slipped from Mays mouth, the compartment door slid open.

"My, my what a mouth you have on you Ms. May." Came a deep voice.

"My, my are you unaware of knocking? What if we'd been nude in here?" May's quick response came back.

Alice turned to the boy at the door, expecting James or Sirius or even Remus, but in place was a tall, well-built, dark haired boy. He looked older than any of the fifth year boys and she had never seen him any classes so he must have been either a sixth or seventh year. His eyes were dark and his face was handsome and a small smile played on his mouth.

"I'm looking for James." He addressed May.

"So what should I do?" May laughed. "Haven't the faintest where he is, thank Merlin."

"Next compartment over." Marlene piped up. "He came while I was waiting there for you girls. Kicked me out he did."

"Thanks…." The boy said trailing off, seemingly embarrassed he didn't know her name.

"Marlene McKinnon." She replied. "And you are?" She asked demurely even though, as far as Alice could tell, she very well knew who he was.

"Frank Longbottom." He replied politely. "And you are?"

The compartment was silent for a moment.

"Alice, that's Alice Robards." May said.

Alice blinked, had that been addressed to her?

"Pleasure." Frank Longbottom said and then called his goodbyes and popped out of the compartment.

The second the door closed, Marlene turned to May and quite breathlessly "How in Merlins name do you know Frank Longbottom!" The blonde exclaimed.

May at this looked rather smug. "Well do you remember that party at James' house neither of you came to?"

Alice only nodded and Marlene swore quietly. "I'm going to kill my mum, I can't believe she didn't let me come! Frank Longbottom really!"

May looked at Marlene, "I thought you said you were sick?"

Alice's mind was away while Marlene muttered something, but for once she wasn't listening to her friends talk, all she could think about was Frank Longbottoms brilliant, brilliant smile.