Lily turned just in time to see both her parents disappearing back through the barrier. She looked around at the bustle on platform 9 ¾ and appreciated that this was the last time she would be boarding the Hogwarts express. She tugged on her trunk and pulled her backpack onto her shoulders before climbing onto the shiny red steam train. As she made her way through the corridor, peering into the compartments, she saw many new faces, but also many old friends. One compartment in particular held extra joy for her. She saw her two best friends, Melody and Sarah. Melody was busily flipping through a large book, while Sarah was fussing with her silky blonde hair. Lily pushed into the small room and both girls jumped up to hug her.

"It's been way too long Lils!" she heard Melody say into the side of her faded pink hoodie.

"Yeah, way to write me back! Gosh, it's only been months!" Sarah's indignation stuck out, but was quickly replaced by the squeals that so often accompanied a happy reunion.

"I'm sorry; I just got so busy with extra reading and schoolwork that I didn't have much time to write." Lily apologized. Her friends sighed and flopped back down as she pulled her baggage in through the door. She reached up to sling her trunk onto the shelf, and just as she was balancing one foot on the edge of the seat she felt her legs get knocked out from under her.

"Oi!" she screamed as she tumbled to the floor. She looked up to see the deep blue eyes of Sirius Black. His black hair fell forward and tickled her face. Sirius had become her friend, even though he was always fooling around and pulling pranks. As he grew up though, his loyalty and bravery also stuck out to her and the two became friends.

"hey! What are you doing to poor little Lily?" She heard the deep voice of James from the doorway. As she go up she walked right up to him, inches from his chest, got on tip toes and leaned mere centimeters from his face, and whispered

"Poor …Little… Who….?"

She felt a shiver run through James' and giggled at her teasing game.

"It's not nice to be such a tease Lily, you night just give me a heart attack one day." He retorted as he regained his composure.

"And would that be a bad thing?" she laughed back. They both moved to go sit down, he sat next to Serious, and she next to Melody. They had both just sat down when a disheveled Remus Lupin poked his head through the door

"Lily, James, it's time for the Head's meeting"

Lily sighed exasperatedly, was she ever going to get to just sit down for a second?

She and James made their way down the corridor of the train, he was trailing right behind her.

"Hey Lily" He whispered right in her ear. She jumped at the shock, but didn't move as he pulled her long red hair over her shoulder.

He leaned in closer and tickled her ear with his words

"I can be a tease too…" and with that he leaned away. She felt immediately the loss of his presence, and turned around to make sure he was still there. When she turned he was closer than she expected. She looked up with her Emerald eyes into the Hazel of his. His dark lashes rimmed his eyes so perfectly, and the messy black hair was falling forward onto his forehead. She just stood there looking at him, not glaring or reprimanding, just looking.

The two of them continued their walk to the Head's meeting where they met with the Prefects and told them their duties for the year. Lily wasn't paying full attention the whole time; instead she was dealing with an onslaught of emotions boiling in her head.

What happened with her and James? She had always hated his pranks and he used to be so arrogant. But now when she looked into his eyes she didn't see any of the old spark of mischief. All she saw now was the soft warm flame of love. She saw love when she looked into his eyes.

As they left the meeting he lightly let his arm brush her, a gesture that left her with goosebumps.

"Lily, you seemed a little distant during the meeting, is everything okay?" Woah! was this actual concern coming from Potter. Was he being nice? Something really had changed with him…

"I'm fine Potter, just thinking about schoolwork" she replied, lying blithely.

"Just like you Lily, we're not even at school yet and books are already on your mind." They both laughed, and her sweet laughter rung in his ears, as did his deep chuckle in hers. Just before they reached the compartment with all of their friends, she felt his soft hand wind around hers. As she turned her face up to see his, he leaned down and their noses brushed. Her breath caught in her throat, and she prepared herself for his lips. She breathed in his clean scent and felt his arms wrapping around her waist. He leaned over to her ear and she felt the slight wind of his words

"See, told ya I could be a tease too!"

And with that he was gone, and she was left breathless in the corridor.