Author's Note: Hello! This is my first Harry Potter fanfic. It's been brewing in my mind for a while, and I have finally found the time to put pen to paper-or, rather, fingers to keys. Anyways, I hope you all enjoy! And please, don't forget to review. (Be kind, please!) It would mean the world to me. I hope to turn this into a series of novellas (or perhaps novels) of James's years at Hogwarts with the Marauders and Lily. Note: The title may be changed later on. If you have any suggestions for a better title as I write the story, let me know.

-RebelRaven

Chapter One

James Potter pushed his cart through the throng of people at King's Cross Station, wide-eyed as he scanned the crowd.

"Goodness me, it's not as if you've never seen the railway station before," his mother, Euphemia, snapped. But the corner of her mouth was slightly lifted, and her eyes twinkled with amusement.

"I know, it's just I've never seen it right before going on the greatest adventure of my life," James declared.

Euphemia ruffled his hair. "Well, come on, then. Oh, where did your father go?"

"Relax, dear, I'm here," Fleamont Potter declared, placing a hand on his wife's shoulder. "Now, James, are you aware of how to get onto Platform 9 ¾?"

James shook his head, his mop of jet black hair momentarily blocking his view. Just then, a boy about James's age with light brown hair and a tall, rigid posture pushed his cart through the entirely solid ticket box and disappeared. A man, presumably his father, did the same, followed by a woman with the same thin, honey-brown hair as the boy.

"I guess that's how you do it?" James deduced.

His father nodded. "Go on, then."

James took a deep breath and pushed his cart through the barrier. To his surprise, he was not met with solid metal, but rather an entirely new platform. The people on this platform were a tad more eccentric-looking than those at King's Cross's main entrance. Some were dressed in flowing wizard's robes, and some in articles of clothing that didn't seem to match, such as skiing boots and a sun hat. But that's the way it usually was in the wizarding world, and James had gotten used to it.

"Now, darling, do you have your books?"

"Yes, Mum."

"And your robes?"

"Yes, Mother."

Euphemia smiled and laid a hand on her son's cheek. "I love you, my boy. Stay safe, and don't forget to write."

"Stay out of trouble," James's father warned, clapping a hand on his son's shoulder. "We love you no matter what, but if I get two letters from the headmaster within the first week, that might just be pushing it…Oh, you know I'm joking," he added, as his son began to defend himself. "Goodbye, James."

"Make friends!" the boy's mother added.

James rushed up the steps to the Hogwarts Express, turning back once to grin at his parents. "I will."


Lily Evans set down her bags and turned this way and that, her head craned upwards, her eyes taking in everything there was to see on Platform 9 ¾. Her mother looked nervous as she attempted to still Lily long enough to adjust her collar, while Mr. Evans simply smiled widely and Lily's sister, Petunia, crossed her arms and huffed.

"I really don't see what the big deal is," Petunia whined. "It's not as if she hasn't gone to school before."

"Yes, but she's never gone to a magic school," Mr. Evans said, not even bothering to glance at Petunia as he bent down to kiss his youngest daughter's head. "Now, my dear, you'll be very good, won't you? And you'll write to us every week?"

Lily smiled, looking perfectly angelic in her crisp white dress, her red hair tied back with a powder blue ribbon. "I'll write to you every day." She raised her head high and allowed her mother to adjust her clothing, before giving each of her parents a tight hug.

She then turned to her sister. "Oh, Petunia, you will write to me, won't you? I know you'll be busy with school, but I will miss you so much!"

Petunia stood stiff as a board as Lily threw her porcelain arms around her older sister's neck. "I love you," she whispered in her ear. Petunia did not respond.

"Well, darling, you'd best get on the train," Mrs. Evans said, giving her daughter's collar one last adjustment. Lily groaned, but she was smiling. "Mum, I'll be fine. Don't worry. Now, I love you all, and please don't try to miss me too much. It will be Christmas before you know it!"

Lily sped up the steps of the Hogwarts Express, handing her bag to the porter. She took one last glance back at her family, suddenly feeling a touch of apprehension about what was awaiting her on that train. She waved in a final farewell, then turned around to face her fate.