Chapter 1
On Platform 9 and 3/4, two young women were spotted near the train. One had mid-back length red hair with brilliant green eyes. Her figure was slim and yet a bit curvy. Her name was Lily Evans and she was starting her last year at Hogwarts. She was at the top of her class and a role model for younger students.
"Come on, Cass, we're going to be late." Lily said to her best friend, Cassandra Young. Cassandra had clear blue eyes and shoulder-length, reddish-brown curly hair which was now in a braid. Cassandra pushed her glasses closer to her eyes and followed Lily. Cassandra, like Lily, was beginning her seventh year and was brilliant in her studies but less social than Lily.
Cassandra was born and raised in a pureblood family that didn't detest muggleborns. She had an older brother who had a legacy in Hogwarts; he was a skilled Quidditch player and a success with the fairer sex. Cassandra didn't believe she would be a legacy herself, but a nobody. That's how she felt most of the time, except when she was with Lily.
They boarded the train and joined Alice and Marlene in the compartment. They were also in their year and in Gryffindor, the same house as Lily and Cassandra.
"Hello, Cassandra, how was your summer?" Alice smiled at her.
"Fine, thanks. Yours?" Cassandra asked. Alice gave her the thumbs-up and looked up at Marlene, who rolled her eyes. Cassandra knew that look well. To Marlene, Cassandra was conceited and snobbish, but she wasn't like that at all. Cassandra didn't want to confront Marlene, so she ignored it.
The train began its way to the school. As it did so, the old witch with the trolley provided sweets in each compartment. Marlene was reading a muggle magazine and Alice went to look for her boyfriend, Frank Longbottom.
"Let's go change." Cassandra suggested to Lily. Lily nodded and they pulled out their school uniforms from their backpacks. They exited their compartment and headed to the restroom. As they were on their way, they heard a crash from one of the compartments.
"Prongs, you arse!"
"It's not my fault, Pads!"
"Merlin, help the both of you."
Lily and Cassandra noticed it opened to reveal four young men laughing hysterically. Prongs, as known as James Potter, was sprawled on the floor with his best friend Sirius Black. On the seats were Remus Lupin and Peter Pettigrew who were wiping their tears.
James noticed Lily and quickly got up on his feet. He smoothed his disheveled black hair and adjusted his round glasses.
"Alright, Evans?" He asked as his hazel eyes twinkled with glee. Cassandra could tell that James was crazy about Lily. Well, the whole school knew.
"Potter. I see you can't ride a train without making a scene." Lily said coldly. The other boys calmed down and looked at Lily and Cassandra.
"Hello, Cassandra. How are you?" Remus smiled at her.
She smiled shyly at him and replied "I'm okay, thank you. You?"
"Great, thanks. We were working on something new until it collapsed." Remus replied. They were called the Marauders. They loved to create pranks and use them around school. Only one of them had Cassandra's attention. Cassandra noticed that Sirius was obviously oblivious to her. But to her surprise, he addressed her.
"Hey, Young. You're a lot quieter than Evans." She gazed into his storm gray eyes and wondered how his dark curls felt like.
"Stating the obvious, mate." James spoke to Sirius. Cassandra smiled weakly.
"Anyway, where are you off to?" Sirius asked.
"Changing into our uniforms." Cassandra answered and looked down.
"Can I come, Lily flower?" James grinned as he suggested cheekily. Cassandra turned beet- root red when she understood the implication.
Lily slapped James and yelled "How dare you, Potter! Come on, Cass!"
Cassandra looked up and stared at a red faced James. His friends stood there, stunned. She left quickly with Lily and heard the boys laughing afterwards.
II
After quite some time, the train arrived at Hogwarts. Cassandra missed this wonderful place, but couldn't shake off the feeling that this year would be different.
Each house had a different table in the Great Hall. Lily and Cassandra sat in the Gryffindor table. Unfortunately, the Marauders sat near them.
"Oi, Evans!"
Lily groaned. "What now, Potter?"
"I'm willing to forgive you for our embarrassing incident on the train, if you kiss me on the cheek." James was pushing it.
'Bad idea', Cassandra thought and shook her head. She saw that Lily was furious, but didn't show it.
"Like I need your forgiveness. I'd rather kiss the Giant Squid!" Lily retorted. Dumbledore began his speech and presented the new Head Boy and Girl.
"Lily Evans and James Potter!"
"What?!" James and Lily yelled together, but for different reasons. James was thrilled that he would spend more time with Lily. Lily was shocked and upset.
"He's off his rocker, choosing Potter…" Lily muttered under her breath. Cassandra giggled. Lily glared at her, which silenced her.
Dumbledore introduced a new student from Durmstrang, a Bulgarian school for magic. He was tall and muscular, with gentle hazel eyes and messy black hair. The sorting hat was placed on his head – "Gryffindor!"
Most of the female population in Gryffindor was cheering.
"Damn, he's fine!" Marlene whispered.
"What a killer smile." Alice gushed. Cassandra bit her lip and Lily was equally enamored.
"I hope he isn't gay." One of the other girls said. He walked over to the table and saw a vacant seat near Lily. He smiled at her.
"Hello, my name's Alec. I couldn't stop looking at you. You look like a flower." Alec oozed with sex appeal and all the girls were looking at him.
Lily giggled softly. "My name is Lily, like the flower. You don't have an accent."
"You're perceptive. Well, I was born in the UK but we moved to Bulgaria when I was ten." Alec grinned. Cassandra could tell that James was very jealous. He glared at Alec the whole time.
"Calm down, mate." Remus tried to distract him, but it didn't help.
After dinner, the girls showed Alec around. When they arrived at the common room, they noticed the Marauders.
"Alec, these are James Potter, Remus Lupin, Peter Pettigrew and Sirius Black." Alice introduced.
James eyed Alec suspiciously. "You're from Durmstrang?"
Alec nodded. "I heard you're a good chaser."
James's chest swelled with pride and said "I heard about your skills too. Maybe you should try out for our team this year." When it came to Quidditch, James played fair.
"I'd like that. Lily, I'll see you tomorrow. Thanks for everything." Alec kissed Lily's cheek and went upstairs to the boys' dorms.
"What do you see in him?" James asked Lily.
"If you must know, he actually talks to me. He's nice and mature."
"I'm nice and mature." James asserted.
Lily raised her eyebrow. "I'll believe that when hell freezes over."
"You shouldn't date him." James commented. Cassandra and the other Marauders sat down.
Alice and Marlene fled the scene that was about to happen.
"Potter, you're not my father and certainly not my friend. You have no right to tell me who to date!" Lily tried her best to stay calm.
"I know I don't, but I care about you. I want what's best for you."
"Who? You? Don't be absurd."
James sighed.
"I know what's best for me and I have good intuition. It's really none of your business who I date." Lily said and went upstairs to her room.
There was silence in the room until Cassandra got up from the sofa.
"James, you should try talking to her, you know, to get on her good side. Support her and be there as a friend. Goodnight." And with that, she went up the stairs.
"Not so quiet anymore, huh, Padfoot?" Remus turned to Sirius, who gazed at the girls' stairs.
