Hey Lily,' is said as I entered the Prefect carriage, 'Can I sit here?'
'Sure,' she replied, not looking at me. I sat on the seat next to her and
looked at her. She was very pretty, with pale skin, long, wavy red hair and
green almond-shaped eyes. She was reading the Standard Book of Spells Grade
7 and was studying the Malefaction Hex.
Soon after I had sat down, several prefects came into the carriage and sat
opposite myself and Lily. One was Deborah Hawkins, a black-haired fifth-
year with brown eyes. Beside her, was Ursula Grater, a stocky fifth year
with blue eyes and dark blonde hair. On the seat opposite myself was
Gordian Parkinson, a boy in sixth year with a very thick fringe and dark,
thoughtful eyes. They were the only ones I recognised.
I coughed. 'So,' I said, a little louder than what I'd have liked, but it
got everyone's attention all the same. 'Is there anyone missing?'
I glanced around, counting. No-one moved.
'Err, good then, I suppose.' I mumbled.
I whispered urgently into Lily's ear. 'What do we do now?'
She rolled her eyes and took a breath.
'OK, everyone. Darren Potts and Michael Cline, you're Slytherin? You take
care of the Slytherin first-years, show them where to go and everything,
tell them your password and make sure they know where to go. Kieran
Hampshire and Deborah Hawkins, you do the same for Hufflepuff, Ursula
Grater and Frankie Tillman, you do that for Ravenclaw. Myself, James and
the Gryffindor prefects will do our bit for Gryffindor. Everyone got that?'
Most people nodded, whereas the Slytherin prefects just stared blankly at a
piece of Droobles Best Blowing Gum that had been wedged between their
seats.
Since Lily had gone back to her book, I cleared my throat and said, 'Is
Wednesday OK for everyone, for the next meeting?'
A few murmurs of 'sure' and 'fine' satisfied me as I turned to head out of
the carriage, back to my friends, but Lily stopped me.
'Where are you going?' she asked.
'Back to my friends,' I replied, continuing to proceed through the carriage
door.
'Oh, back to the Marauders, eh?' she said, smiling.
'Yeah.' I said, feeling uncomfortable.
'OK, see you at Hogwarts then,'
'Yeah,' I repeated, 'shall we meet in the Entrance Hall?'
She nodded and I turned yet again to the door.
* 'So,' grinned Sirius as I came through the door, 'looks like Evans likes you James, finally.' 'Shut up,' I smirked, feeling pleased. Was it actually obvious that she liked me, or was Sirius joking? I had known my best friend for over six years, I could usually tell when he was lying, but this time I wasn't sure. 'Want a Chocolate Frog, James?' said Sirius, flipping one over to me. I opened it and chewed, staring at the card that lay in my hand. It was Professor Dumbledore, head of Hogwarts and one of the most ingenious wizards alive. He gazed intently back at me, smiling underneath his long white beard. I remembered the first time I ever saw Dumbledore, in my first year at Hogwarts. All I'd ever heard about him was precise, he was a magnificent wizard, and I looked up to him. Yeah, occasionally I'd gotten into a bit of bother, but he'd always understood the minds of us students, it was as if he had never really grown out of childhood and into adulthood. I respected him, and I still do. He was always there for pupils if anyone had a problem. He'd listen if we had anything troubling us, even if the world was about to come to and end, I'm sure he would listen. His eyes were so kind, and twinkly. I used to believe that people with twinkly eyes were good, and Dumbledore was one of those people. 'Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.' boomed the driver over the loudspeaker. I froze in my seat, my heart beating with excitement. I was home.
* 'So,' grinned Sirius as I came through the door, 'looks like Evans likes you James, finally.' 'Shut up,' I smirked, feeling pleased. Was it actually obvious that she liked me, or was Sirius joking? I had known my best friend for over six years, I could usually tell when he was lying, but this time I wasn't sure. 'Want a Chocolate Frog, James?' said Sirius, flipping one over to me. I opened it and chewed, staring at the card that lay in my hand. It was Professor Dumbledore, head of Hogwarts and one of the most ingenious wizards alive. He gazed intently back at me, smiling underneath his long white beard. I remembered the first time I ever saw Dumbledore, in my first year at Hogwarts. All I'd ever heard about him was precise, he was a magnificent wizard, and I looked up to him. Yeah, occasionally I'd gotten into a bit of bother, but he'd always understood the minds of us students, it was as if he had never really grown out of childhood and into adulthood. I respected him, and I still do. He was always there for pupils if anyone had a problem. He'd listen if we had anything troubling us, even if the world was about to come to and end, I'm sure he would listen. His eyes were so kind, and twinkly. I used to believe that people with twinkly eyes were good, and Dumbledore was one of those people. 'Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.' boomed the driver over the loudspeaker. I froze in my seat, my heart beating with excitement. I was home.