AN: This story is probably going to alternate POVs between Lily and James, and depending on how the story progresses, maybe Sirius too. Also, part of the conversation in the train is basically directly from page 671 in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, so please, J. K. Rowling, don't sue me. I'm quoting you.
Disclaimer: I don't own Lily Evans, James Potter, Sirius Black, etc, etc.
Chapter 1: The First Encounter
Lily's POV:
As I walked up to King's Cross Station, I wondered where Platform 9 3/4 was.
"Maybe we should ask one of the employees," my mother offered.
"Mum, don't be stupid, they won't know where the Hogwarts Express is. Oh, hey look, he's got an owl! He's probably a Hogwarts student!" I said, seeing a boy, about my age, with tousled hair and glasses, lugging his trunk and a cage with an owl in it.
I went up to him and his parents and asked if they knew how to Platform 9 3/4.
"Muggle-born, eh?" said the boy's mother, "Yes, come with us, we'll show you. James, be a dear and show, er…"
"Lily," I provided, "Lily Evans."
"Lily, then, nice to meet you, this is James Potter," she said, gesturing towards her son, "Well then, James, show Lily how to get to the Express."
Grinning in the way of a boy who liked being in the center of attention, James ran at a brick post between platforms 9 and 10.
Wincing in anticipation of the crash, I looked up after a moment to see James… gone!
"Here, Lily, I'll take you and your sister through," said Mrs. Potter, "And then your parents can come with my husband."
She walked forward, holding Petunia and me by the shoulders, and walked us right through the post.
"Wow," said Petunia, wide eyed, as my parents appeared on the platform with Mr. Potter.
"Lily! Lily! Oh, I've been looking everywhere for you!" said Severus, running up to me, Petunia pointedly turning her back.
"Hey Sev!" I cried, grinning, "Why didn't you help me get through the barrier?"
"Oh, darn, I forgot, Lily, it's just so normal for me, this magic stuff, you know? How'd you get through, anyway?" Severus asked.
"Another wizarding family," I replied.
"Well, come on, Lily, let's go get a compartment or they'll be none left!" Saying goodbye to my parents and Petunia, I followed Severus onto the train.
After peeking in a few full compartments, we found one that was partially empty, with only four boys inside. Recognizing one of them to be James Potter, I greeted them and told Severus that the Potters were the ones who had helped me through the barrier.
"Them!?" his eyes narrowed, "Potter's parents are so 'important' that their son's probably a stuck up git."
"Be nice," I teased, poking him.
We overheard the boys talking about what house they wanted to be in, so Severus and I started discussing it too.
"You'd better be in Slytherin," he told me.
"Slytherin?" James said, "Who wants to be in Slytherin, I'd leave, wouldn't you?"
For the first time I looked at the boys sitting with him. One was short, plump, and had a rather mouseish air about him. Another was taller, blond, and looked nice, like he'd be a good friend. The third had hair similar to James', except his was longer. He looked a bit uncomfortable.
"My whole family's been in Slytherin," the third boy muttered.
"Blimey," said James, "and I thought you seemed all right!"
The other boy grinned. "Maybe I'll break the tradition. Where are you heading, if you've got a choice?"
Lifting an invisible sword, James said, "'Gryffindor, where dwell the brave at heart!' Like my dad."
Beside me, Severus sniggered.
"Got a problem with that, Snivellus?" James said, the other boys laughing at the nickname, except for the tall, blond one.
"If you'd rather be brawny than brainy, be my guest," Severus sneered.
"Where're you hoping to go, seeing as you're neither?" asked the third boy.
This time all four boys roared with laughter, and I looked at them with disgust.
"Come on, Sev, let's find another compartment." Their laughs echoed in my ears as we left.