Never Forget Me

Written by Mysticofthepen and Womanofthepast

Disclaimer: We do not own anything of Harry Potter. All credit, money, praise, etc. MUST go to J.K. Rowling as she is the most brilliant woman in the world. We personally thank her for creating Harry Potter and allowing all of us to reside within the colorful world that she has created for all of us.

James couldn't believe it. Today would be the last time he would board the Hogwarts Express for the new school year. Yes, James Potter had made it through to his seventh year and at the end would be graduating. How it was possibly, not even he had a clue about. His goal had been to not get expelled on his first day of school. He had been able to accomplish that minuscule goal, but there was one goal he hadn't been able to achieve. He hadn't yet captured Lily Evan's heart and he had one year left in order to do so.

Memories flew in his mind as he headed toward the station, memories of that first train ride. He could hardly believe that seven years had passed from that day. So much had happened on that day. So much that had shaped his life from that moment on.

Eleven year old James Potter walked upon the train. He tried to look confident, but deep down he was scared. He entered a compartment where two other boys sat. He smiled at them.

"Hi. Can I sit here with you guys?" He asked them. The chocolate brown haired lad nodded while the grayish blonde boy just looked down at his hands.

"Yeah, come on in mate," The darker haired boy said to him. James smiled.

"Thanks. I'm James Potter. Who are you?" He asked.

"I'm Remus Lupin, at your service," Remus had replied. Then he poked the boy that was sitting next to him.

"Hmm? Oh. I'm Peter Pettigrew," he said softly.

"Nice to meet you both," James had said.

"And I am Sirius Black, commander of this here compartment. Arg... Give me all your galleons," a boy with darker brown hair said as he stood in the door way of the compartment.

"Black... Aren't you a part of the notorious Black family?" James asked, his eyes narrowing. He had always been taught to hate the Black family, that they were evil people that did evil deeds.

"Well sure, I'm a part of that damned family, but I'm not like them. Your parents taught you to hate us. Well they aren't too far off, just not all of us. I don't agree with what my family does," Sirius retorted.

"How can we be so sure?" Remus asked him.

"Because I don't have a mark. I refused to take it and was thrown out of my house," he answered back.

"A mark?" Peter asked meekly.

"Sure. Each member at age ten must decide if they are in with the evil or out. I chose out and was thrown out on the street," Sirius replied.

"How can we know for sure that you aren't lying to us?" James asked him suspiciously. Sirius shrugged.

"I don't know. I guess you can't. I'll be leaving you all I guess," he said gloomly. James looked over at Remus who nodded his head.

"Hey, you can stay. We believe you. But if you try to kill us we'll kick your ass," James said, swearing for the first time in his life. He liked how it sounded. Sirius turned around and smiled.

"Thanks. I promise you won't regret it."

Regret it they didn't. Sirius had been the best friend that James had ever had.

"Arg there matey Jamesy! Ready for our final adventure upon this here train?" Sirius said, acting like a pirate once again. James laughed and shook his head.

"You acted like a pirate the first time we met you," James said, turning around to look at his friend.

"Really? Wow, how do you remember shit like that?" Sirius asked him with wide eyes. James shrugged.

"I don't know," James said quietly.

"Are you alright James?" Remus asked him, clapping his friend upon his shoulder. James nodded.

"It's just odd. This is the last time we will get on this train to go to Hogwarts," James said.They stopped and looked at each other.

"We have to make this year count," Sirius said solemnly. James nodded.

"Yeah and now that I'm Head Boy, we can really cause some hell!" James exclaimed. The group cheered and they ran through the barrier and onto the crimson colored train that was Hogwarts Express.

OoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOo

Lily Evans was having similiar thoughts. She couldn't believe that her life at Hogwarts was coming to an end. She had made such wonderful friendships here. What would life hold for her after being in those hallowed halls?

And what about James?

She shook her head to get rid of the thoughts. Yes, he had been nice to her all year last year. He hadn't really pushed her into dating him and she had come to know him as the real James, not the arrogant prat that he protrayed so often to the outside world. Yet, she wasn't ready to ever think of him in a context outside of school.

She took a deep breath and held back the tears that threatened to flow from her emerald green eyes. This would be the last first day she would have, the last time she would go through this barrier for her first day, and it hurt her. She took another deep breath and went through the barrier. She walked quietly upon the train after securing her trunk and looked for her dear friends.

"Lily!" A deep voice exclaimed. She spun around and saw Sirius behind her, his arms were outstretched. She smiled brightly and went to hug him.

"Hello Sirius. How have you been?" She asked as he proceeded to smash the air out of her lungs. Sirius laughed.

"Grand! How have you been? Come, this is the compartment that we all first met in. We should sit in here today," he said, motioning towards the compartment.

"I'm great. Wow, this is where we all met for the first time?" Lily asked, slightly shocked. Sirius nodded.

Lily Evans was scared. No, she was more than scared, she was petrified. Never before had she been in a position where she was so new at something. She had only found out months prior that she was a witch and now here she was on the train to start her schooling in the subject. The fact that she was new didn't scare her entirely, it was more the fact that she knew absolutely no one on this train.

She walked down the compartment, trying to find a spot to sit with the others. She couldn't tell who were first years like herself or if they were older. She decided to take a chance. She opened the compartment and smiled shyly.

"May I please join you?" She had asked the motely crew. She looked around the compartment. There was a small boy with grayish blonde hair that wouldn't look her in the eye, another boy with chocolate brown hair was smiling at her softly, the boy next to him with the jet black hair had his eyes blugging out of his head, and the boy next to that gave her a very funny look.

"Arg... come with us matey and join the ship of First Years," he had arged like a pirate. Lily giggled softly as she came into the compartment.

"Seems like yesterday doesn't it?" Sirius asked her as he plopped down in his seat. Lily nodded.

"Hey I got some pumpkin shi... Hey Lily!" James' signature voice said as he came into the compartment. Lily just looked at him and shook her head.

"Swearing again Potter?" She asked him. James flashed her a grin.

"Of course Lily Bily. What else do I do? At least I refrained from ending it in front of you," James retorted. Lily rolled her eyes.