Lily dragged her trunk away from the opening into platform 9 3/4. She'd convinced her family to say bye to her at the car. She was muttering about trunks that wouldn't stay closed and stupid sisters and the prospect of the mauraders for another whole year.
James had a snitch in his pocket, as he wandered up to and through the barrier of Platform 9 and 3/4. He couldn't wait. He would see Remus, and Sirius, and Peter. And Evans.
She chose that moment to look behind her in order to be sure her trunk was still closed. "Potter." She said, sounding resigned. "I have the worst timing." She turned back, hoping to get away with him finding it necessary to supply a reply.
"Another year Evans." he said casually, pulling his trunk up the Platform.
"Master of the obvious." she quipped without turning back around.
"As always." he said, looking out for Sirius.
She shushed her squwaking owl by pulling out a treat. "Quiet now Ursula." she scolded fondly. She searched for her best friend, Willow. Lugging her trunk onto the train, she hoped to find a compartment by herself. Translation: Minus mauraders. Luckily, she was a prefect this year, so she'd have some time away anyway. Unless one of them had been made prefect. At the very thought she started laughing.
Willow was looking for an empty carriage or one that contained Lily. They bumped into each other while Lily was still laughing her head off.
"Lily!" Willow dropped her trunk
"Hi!" the other girl gasped breathlessly. "Sorry. Funny thought. Hey, this compartment's empty."
"Oh yea.." Willow grinned and opened the door.
Lily pulled her stuff in and sat down as did Willow. "I've already run into Potter once. This does not bode well for the rest of the year."
"Oh god... that fool?... That Snitch gets old really fast..."
"He didn't have it out. In fact, he was rather civil. But his mere presence is like undiluted bubotuber pus." Lily said firmly. Some things never changed, her opinion of James was one of them.
"Anyway, how was your summer?" asked Lily.
"It wasn't too bad, spent a few months abroad... nothing special. And yours?"
"I want to murder Petunia with my bare hands. Answer your question?" she inquired 'cheerfully'
.
"Ah... fun..."
The Marauders were relaxing in their compartment, indulging in various things to keep themselves entertained.
Remus, who was reading, had been made prefect, much to his friends pure astonishment. He was the only one of the marauders Lily actually ( at least admittedly) liked. Secretly Remus thought it made James rather jealous, because Lily sometimes called Remus by his first name and spoke to him in a civil manner. Once in a while they even joked around. While Remus was reading his DADA book, James was sharing a conversation with Sirius about one of their adventures during the summer.
Peter was eating. Already.
The wildly popular four (alright, Sirius and James were the wildly popular ones. Remus was merely well liked and Peter only tolerated because of his friends), were utterly unglamorous up close.
Remus ignored Sirius and James easily, used to them chattering. James had brought up the idea to go check who else had been given the 'P' badge
Remus looked up. "Or I could tell you, but whatever." he shrugged and got up.
James rose, it was an excuse to pester Evans. Peter grinned. "He just wants an excuse to go find Evans" He said through a mouthful of food. It came out more like ''e wan's to 'nd 'vans.
James looked at him alittle confused. not understanding him... He pushed the hair out of his face, and slid open the door of the compartment
Peter swallowed and followed them out, closing the door behind. Remus had left his book, and his prefect badge.
Lily sighed, she and Willow were having a Pity Party. "However, I did get a broom over the summer. The bad side? My trunk doesn't want to fit all my things and keeps popping open."
"Need one of those enlargement spells. They make more room in things apparently. Mum uses them all the time."
"Yeah, but no magic using adults at home, which made packing torture." though they were sharing their woes the subject of Potter's many refrains of 'go out with me, Evans!' had not yet been brought up.
"Let's hope Potter doesn't decide to start harping on at you again..."
"It's a tradition. He asks me out, I call him a bleeding idiot, he proposes marriage... I think if I said yes now he'd have a hearattack. Not that I'd EVER say yes. Ever." She said quickly. Too quickly. Either Willow didn't notice or simply knew better than to comment.
" Wouldn't be a great loss there..." Willow added as an after thought on James having a heart attack.
"Indeed." She replied, grinning.
"In fact, maybe I should. The look on his face would probably be priceless. I mean, it's not as if he'd actually want me to say yes!" Lily said. Willow laughed and stroked the cat she had just let out of its cage.
"You never know... it has been rumored that one of those four has a crush on you..."
"You're crazy." Lily retorted.
"That's why you love me." She said, just as James' head appeared at the window
Lily didn't notice. "Yes indeed." She laughed, pushing her long red hair behind her ears. Her profile was to the window.
James slid the door open, Sirius at his shoulder. " Evans, Penn." he nodded. Penn was Willow's last name.
Remus was behind them with Peter peeking over his shoulder.
"Potter, would you stop stalking me!?!"
" Nope...I'm on a little quest to find out who, out of our wonderful year group, got Prefect badges."
"I did. Now, can you leave?"
"I'm hurt! I thought you'd be pleased to see me!" He said as the snitch came loose from his pocket.
"You're delusional, Potter. When have I ever been pleased to see you?" Lily asked, eyes flashing at him, hands firmly planted on her hips. The sight of that damned snitch irritated her beyond belief. She was unaware of how pretty she was when she was pissed off, which she always was when James was around. Some would call this sexual tension, but if they did, they didn't do it around Lily.
"I don't know.... " He said, shrugging, and grinning.
Remus stole a careful glance at Willow. Willow glanced up at Remus carefully aswell. He was already looking out the window. He was very good at not getting caught. Only one other person noticed and she ignored it.
"Exactly. Anyway, no one else in this carriage is a prefect, your work here is done." She advised him wisely, head cocked slightly to one side.
James grinned and got up. "As you wish Evans." He said with a smile, snatching the snitch, and walking out past Sirius. Remus left after them, Peter trailing behind.
"Did he just do what I asked?" She tilted her head up, making sure there wasn't a bucket of some nasty liquid. "Either this is a dream, I'm going insane or there's a prank hidden here somewhere." she looked distressed. "Pinch me."
Willow leaned forward and pinched Lily. "Dont think so. Maybe this year will be different..."
Lily blinked, rubbing her arm absently. "Weird. Very, very weird.
"Yup..." Willows mind had wandered off
Lily raised an eyebrow at Willow. "Earth to Willow?"
"Huh? Oh hi...." She smiled.
"God Willow you'd think you... Oh my god. You like REMUS!!!!!! I knew it I knew it!" she squaled, loud enough for half the train to hear. Willow wondered how the hell she got that
A kid banged on the wall... "We dont care, will you bloody stop screaming!"
"Stop screaming yourself." She snapped back. She looked at Willow. "Don't act so shocked, just because the fucked-up four are too thick to notice doesn't mean I am. This just confirms a long held suspicion. Why didn't you tell me!?!" She threw her robes at Willow.
She caught them, and placed them next to her. "Because I hadn't told anyone." She sighed, looking down.
"Yes but I'm your best friend!" said Lily, looking pointedly at Willow.
"Fine, I'm telling you. I like Remus Lupin." She folded Lily's robes up and placed them on her trunk.
Lily grinned evilly. 'Now you just have to tell him." She said, taking her robes off her trunk and placing them in her lap.
Her eyes widened.... "I don't have to tell him anything..."
"C'mon, he totally likes you back."
"How d'you know that?"
"I can tell. I could tell you liked him, couldn't I?"
"Yea, I suppose..." She smiled
Lily smiled back. Then sat bolt upright. "Shit, I'm supposed to be patrolling!" She raced out of the compartment, slamming the door and racing down the hall.
Remus looked at James. "Did we just listen to Evans?"
"Yea..." James sighed, looking defeated
"Why?" Peter asked, looking thick.
"Because Peter..." James sighed, " We did..."
"Ok." Peter said.
Lily came careening past the marauders, hair flying behind her wildly, her too-big green sweater hanging off of one pale shoulder. James watched her.
"Earth to Prongs!" Remus called, waving his hand infront of james' face.
He looked round at him. "Yea?" he said
"You were in Evans-land." he said. "I have to go patrol, I'll see you all later."
"Great.... See ya Moony..." He said, Sirius and Peter echoed him.
Remus walked after Lily.
Lily began patrolling after a good telling off by the head boy.
James returned to his compartment, and proceeded to eat some Bertie Botts every flavored beans. What a brave soul.
Lily finally finished her patrol and headed back to her compartment. She was rather sidetracked, however, by a group of slytherins. She didn't hate all Slytherins, she was friends with several, but these were the ones she definitely didn't like. Bellatrix Black, Lucius Malfoy, Severus Snape, and their flunkies Nott, Crabbe and Goyle.
"Excuse me." She said. They didn't move. Snape stood behind Malfoy, his spot riddled face contorted into a sneer, his oily hair in his black eyes. All this was happening directly in front of James' compartment.
"Get out of my way." She said firmly, sounding quite calm but her eyes flashed and her hands were curled into tight fists.
James looked up, and saw Lily. He got up and slid the door open... "Gentlemen... and Snivellus," he grinned nastily
Snape grimaced. "Shut up Potter." he interjected.
"Giving Evans here trouble?" James inquired.
"I'm fine, Potter." she said without looking behind her.
"Always got to be rescued, Evans?" Asked Bellatrix Black nastily.
"Shut up Black." Lily snapped.
Sirius recognized the voice, and stepped out of the comparment to. "Yea Bella. Keep quiet."
"Dearest cousin. How lovely to see you. But friends with a mudblood? How... common of you." Bellatrix hissed. Lily stiffened. Nott, Crabbe and Goyle snickered.
" Don't call her that..." James said, getting agnry
"Potter I said I'm FINE!" Lily snapped. "Black, I'd think you could come up with new material. Besdies, do your research. I'm not exactly friends with the mayhem twins Black and Potter here." she said, addressing Bella. There was a definite difference in the way she said 'black' when speaking about Sirius and the way she said it when addressing Bella.
Bella sneered. "They seem pretty quick to jump to your defense." A battle of tongues looked about to insue between Lily and Bellatrix. The five Slytherin boys appeared ready to sit back and enjoy a cat fight but Sirius walked up to his cousin.
"Let her through."
"Or what, Sirius darling?" She said sweetly, batting her eyelashes. She loved getting on his nerves.
"Don't. Call me. Darling." He growled. Being an animagus was dangerous when it came to strong emotion
"Alright dear." Bella said, smirking. Lucius was chuckling. Snape had a smile on his face.
"Or dear. Just move." He said, trying to push a gap for Lily to move through.
"Look, just let me through." Lily said.
Bella shook her head. "Don't think so."
"And why not?..." James asked. He never got his answer.
"Black, Malfoy, Snape, I'm one of the best in DADA. I don't care if I am a prefect, let me through or you'll wish your parents had never met." She said in a low, controlled voice. Uh-oh. Her temper wasn't just lost, it was dead and buried.
Snape would only move if they others did. Black stared hard at his cousin. Bellatrix stared right back. Lily waited, no one moved.
If there was anything James and Sirius knew about Lily it was how she was with a wand in her hand. A wand she was currently fingering as though she was just ITCHING to blow someone to little peices. What they wouldn't've given for Remus to come break this up. It wasn't that they didn't like a good fight. They (especially James) just rather didn't fancy Lily losing her infamous temper and getting sent to Azkaban by the powerful parents of what might soon resemble chopped liver.
" Just let her through..." James said sternly.
"Practicing for your babies with Evans, Potter?" Malfoy sneered. "My house-elf is scarier than you."
"You seriously need a life." Sirius sighed. Lucius wasn't on the list of people he considered to talk to.
Lily burst out laughing. "Me? Babies? POTTER?!? Lucius, dear, did you forget to take your potions this morning?" She leaned against the wall, cackling with mirth. James did think that was going a bit far. On the other hand, neither did he think it that amusing an idea. Lucius looked a little startled. Lily stopped laughing. "Ok, You've insulted me, my soul bleeds, now was there something you wanted, not that I care, or are you just being annoying?"
The Slytherins didn't answer. Lily was sick of this. "Tarentallegra!" She shouted, sending Bella into a frantic tap dance. Malfoy raised his wand. "Expelliarmus!" Lily said quickly. The spell pushing him back against the wall and sending his wand flying. While Snape and the other three were in shock she shouldered past them.
James went back into his compartment. Siruis followed. James's eyes lingered on Evans before she disappeared. She was pretty impressive when pissed. "Mate, you may have to marry her, just because she's so much fun when pissed. As long as it's not at you." Sirius said, grinning a bit, though he was obviously bothered by the filth he was related to.
"Padfoot, shut it." James said good naturedly.
Lily stormed back to her compartment and threw the door open, sitting down with a terrible expression on her face. It was no wonder the first and second (and some of the third) years all called her 'Dragon Lady' behind her back.
Willow's cat jumped, and threw itself up into the luggage racks above. Willow got up. "You Ok?.." she asked.
"No." Lily snapped.
"What happened?..." she said, trying to get her cat down.
"Not what, who."
"Don't tell me it was those Slytherin scum!" she said, sitting next to her.
"Ok, I won't." the readhead replied.
She sighed. "Want me to go give each and every one of them a piece of my mind?" she paused "And wand?..." she added, trying to help her friend cheer up.
"Thanks but I already gave that bitch Bella a little dance lesson she'll never forget."
"You're evil." Willow said admiringly.
"Yes, I am." the red head smiled, agreeing.
The cat lept up beside Lily, and affectionately nuzzled her.
Lily sighed tiredly.
Willow glanced up at the window of their compartment, she wondered if the Witch with the snack trolley would turn up soon.
"Yargh, I'm almost wishing I was home, which is saying something."
" Oh, Lil..." Willow said, putting a hand on her shoulder. "The other kids at Hogwarts may be a pain in the arse, but where would you rather be? Here with me? Or at home, with Petunia?..."
"Point taken. Petunia's looking good." she giggled and sheilded herself.
" Oi!" She grinned, playfully trying to hit her over the head with the palm of her hand. Lily squealed as she thwaped Wllow's hands away.
They lapsed into silence as the train chugged along. The journey to hogwarts seemed to take forever.
"I'm so bored 'Low." she whined.
" Yea me too..." Willow had a pile of books at her side. She had read all the beginnings to her spell books, and knew what they were doing until christmas.
Lily had gotten to Diagon Alley way early and had read all her school books. Start to finish. Twice. Anything to stay shut in her room, away from Petunia. "Did I tell you I've read all my books twice?" she inquired.
"No... god.. you must've had a really shit time this summer."
"To put it lightly."
"I'm so sorry Lil.. If i had been around, you know you could've come to my place." Willow said.
"I know. 'Low, you're a better sister than Tuna will ever be." she said seriously.
Willow smiled. "Thanks..."
"Welcome. Anyway, enough mush. Let's go for a walk, Slytherins be damned."
"Yea, I need to get out of this box of a room. Max, you stay here." She said to the cat, putting her back into her basket, leaving the door half open so she could get out after they left. Lily headed out, taking an elastic off of her arm and twisting her hair into a bun as she walked. She secured it with the band and headed down the corridor. Willow followed. She was still in muggles clothes... they would soon start to get the warning to chage into their school robes. Lily was also wearing muggle clothes. An oversized green sweater she'd knicked from her father and jeans cut-off at the knee. The sweater hung to mid-calf.
They walked up the train, Willow briefly looking in each window to see who was about. They passed the compartment where all of the fucked up four, as Lily often refered to them, were sitting. Remus had returned from his patrol. James was poking a chocolate frog with his wand, Sirius was asleep... and Peter was once again stuffing his face. Willow took a prolonged look through that window. She had liked Remus since fourth year.. but hadn't said anything.
Lily had an evil idea. Smirking,she knocked twice on the door, opened it and shoved Willow in, then disappeared down the corridor, cackling. Willow would kill her later, but it would be worth it.
They all looked up at her. Well, apart from Sirius, who was fast asleep. She went bright red. "Err... Hi..."
Remus raised a brow.
The door had managed to close behind her. She backed up against it. Glancing at Remus, she froze. "I'll just.. be... erm... going now."
James thought of an idea, Yet another way to lure Evans back.
"Willow Penn." He said getting up. " I do believe you are going no where, until our dear Evans comes back for you.. "
Remus chuckled. "You're so damn desperate. It's hilarious."
The lone witch in the compartment rolled her eyes. She tried to open the door, but James' foot was stopping it from sliding. She gave up, and sat down next to Remus, looking fairly fed up. " He's right... I don't know why you dont give up with Lily," she paused "But then again..." Willow thought. She twiddled with the end of the long, neat braid her hair was in. "It is funny watching you squirm to do what you think will make her like you..." She said, smiling to herself. She glanced at Remus
James sighed. He sat down, his foot against the door still. "You're not leaving until Evans gets back."
Remus snorted. "Because that will make you so popular with her. You lack finesse, Prongs. Choclate. Moonlight," he shuddered almost imperceptibly. "poetry. In short, you're a mess."
Willow laughed lightly.
"Moony, lay off, would you?" He said, resting his head on his hands.
"But it's so much fun!" the werewolf protested.
"For you maybe." He retorted.
Willow was still twiddling with her hair, wondering where the hell Lily had got to. Lily came up to the door, peering in, still smirking evilly, arms filled with goodies.
James didn't notice. Willow got up quickly, and tried to pull open the door. "Lily!"
"Eep, I'm dead meat!" Lily exclaimed.
James looked up quickly, and pulled Willow away from the door. Not meaning to, he threw her right into Remus. "Ah ha! She returns." He grinned. Willow landed in Remus' lap. She went bright red, and tried to get up. She lost her balance and fell back, missing the fact that Lily had her wand pointed discreetly at her. Every time she tried to get up she fell.
James opened the door a little. " Come to get your friend back?"
"Actually, Remus can keep her, she'll probably murder me." Lily said wickedly. James looked confused, then round at the two, bundled in a pile in the corner of the compartment.
Willow's eyes were narrowed, her mouth, a small, mean, angry o, giving her the 'I'm so going to kill you' look. She couldn't get up. She was going redder and redder.
Remus was looking confused. The next time Willow tried to stand, he tried to help her up with his hands on her waist. They slipped and ran right over Willow's bottom. Lily burst into laughter, collapsing in the hallway, surrounded by candy.
"I'm... s..so.. Sorry.." Remus stammered at Willow, sounding more like Peter.
"Me too..." She said, trying to get up yet again. She fell yet again. James had noticed that Lily's wand was in her sleeve and discreetly pointed at her best friend. He looked vaguely impressed.
Willow twigged what she was doing. "Lily, please let me up." she pleaded.
James went to grab the wand off of her.
"James, you're no fun!" Lily giggled. Then she got up, scooping up her candy and murmrued the counter curse, taking off like a bat out of hell before her friend could murder her. She didn't realize she'd called James his first name.
Remus' jaw went slack. "Did she mean to do that?!"
James' eyes widened... " I have no idea. I don't think she realized." James was shocked. He didn't notice he was grinning as though he had slept with a hanger n his mouth.
Willow got up, glanced round at Lupin, before getting out of there as quick as she could go.
Lily was locking herself into her compartment. She took a deep breath, wondering where her friend was, and what was going on.
Willow got just out the door and tripped quite spectacularly over the edge of the door frame. Remus, with lightning reflexes, caught and steadied her. "Don't hurt her too badly." He said, surpressing a grin.
She smiled at him.. "Thanks. And yea. She may not have legs by the end of this journey, but I promise to restrain myself..."
James looked a little horrified that Willow wanted to mutilate Lily like that. " Hey... Lily has to keep her legs! I like 'em!" He said, a grin breaking through his mock horror.
Sirius snorted, but nodded thoughtfully. "Yes, they are rather nice legs."
"Are you ASKING for a beating Siri?" Remus inquired, one hand still lightly on Willow's shoulder. Willow had a hand resting on his side, which she had used to steady herself.
James turned to glare at him.
Sirius rolled his eyes. "You'd think she was his girlfriend..." Sirius muttered under his breath rebelliously, when James turned around. James sometimes scared him, but he was the crazy one, and anyway, he was bigger than James was. If the other boy had heard Sirius' little come back he simply hadn't bothered to answer.
Just then Lily came tip-toeing up the corridor, though out of James' sight, so far. She was trying to get past Willow without being seen. Willow was concentrating far too hard on Remus to notice her, and she thanked her lucky stars for teenaged horomones.
She managed to get to right behind Willow and Remus, gesturing for the others to keep their fat mouths shut.
The others saw her... " Oh Jamesy." Sirius grinned as james looked about to beat him for calling him Jamesy " Evans has returned..." he finished. The vomitous nickname was forgotten.
"Damn it Sirius!" she said crossly. Then she eyed Willow and Remus. "Comfy are we?" she said, always reckless, dispite being near a death scentence from Willow anyway. Willow's eyes widened and she pulled back from Remus' touch...
James spun round, " Ah ha!"
Peter seemed astonished that Lily was pushing it so far. She noticed. "Well if I'm going to die anyway, I may as well go out having made it so she'll NEVER live it down." She said, with a grin.
"You are so gonna die..." 'Low mouthed.
"Wait." She said, noticing something. "Why the hell am I using your first names?"
"Because dearest Lily..." James rolled out her name to see if it annoyed her. "after 5 years you appear to have got a soft spot for us."
"Ha! I have a softer spot in my heart for Bellatrix Black." she informed them.
James looked vaguely hurt though he qucikly covered it up with a smirk. Peter looked outraged. well, as outraged as you can be with pumpkin pasty on your chin. Sirius highly doubted anyone could have a soft spot for Bellatrix. Willow decided not to get involved, and was considering slipping away, taking Remus with her.
"Well, I have a soft spot for Remus." She winked at him lustily. "But don't we all." she smirked, trying not to burst into hysterical laughter. Remus looked stunned, to say the least. Willow went red, glancing up at him.
Remus mouthed 'let's go HIDE!' at Willow. She nodded and got out of the way of Lily, letting her move forward.. She then slipped past her, and along the train
"James, mate, I think shes a bit Hyper." Sirius said, confused by Lily's display. James looked more than a bit angry.
"God I was wondering how long that would take!" said Lily entering and dropping into a seat. She looked at their shocked faces. "You didn't get that I was trying to scare them into wandering off together?" she laughed.
James had had no idea. Peter shook his head, stuffing half a pumpkin pasty into his mouth
"I was better than I thought." she said. "I'll have to reassure poor Remus that I have no interest in him romantically." she kidded, grinning
"You were better than you thought." James said, sliding the door shut, watching them go off round a corner. He was torn between shock at her display and pleasure that she didn't like Remus that way.
"5 galleons that they come back and her lipstick's on his face." Lily said with a smile that would have done Satan proud.
"10 if they look slightly ravaged." Sirius put in.
"11 is Moony is grinning." James added. Peter just looked confused. James sat down opposite her. Sirius yawned.
"20 they're going out and Willow ends up forgiving me. No, thanking me."
"You're awful cocky." Peter observed.
"You I take it back, james. You're not master of the obvious. Pettigrew is." she said dispairingly.
"I never get a title." mourned James.
"You can be King of Rejection." she offered.
"I'm so flattered." he retorted.
"As well you should be, slave boy."
"They're awful strange Sirius." Peter put in in a stage whisper. Everyone looked at him. Suddenly he was bombarded with pumpkin pasties from all sides. "Heey what'd I do?!" he exclaimed, even as he picked them up and set them cherishingly into his lap.
"If you don't know I'm not telling you." the other three all said at once. The compartment lapsed into silence...
That lasted all of twenty seconds.
"I'm bored. Truth or dare anyone?" Lily asked wickedly.
James had a snitch in his pocket, as he wandered up to and through the barrier of Platform 9 and 3/4. He couldn't wait. He would see Remus, and Sirius, and Peter. And Evans.
She chose that moment to look behind her in order to be sure her trunk was still closed. "Potter." She said, sounding resigned. "I have the worst timing." She turned back, hoping to get away with him finding it necessary to supply a reply.
"Another year Evans." he said casually, pulling his trunk up the Platform.
"Master of the obvious." she quipped without turning back around.
"As always." he said, looking out for Sirius.
She shushed her squwaking owl by pulling out a treat. "Quiet now Ursula." she scolded fondly. She searched for her best friend, Willow. Lugging her trunk onto the train, she hoped to find a compartment by herself. Translation: Minus mauraders. Luckily, she was a prefect this year, so she'd have some time away anyway. Unless one of them had been made prefect. At the very thought she started laughing.
Willow was looking for an empty carriage or one that contained Lily. They bumped into each other while Lily was still laughing her head off.
"Lily!" Willow dropped her trunk
"Hi!" the other girl gasped breathlessly. "Sorry. Funny thought. Hey, this compartment's empty."
"Oh yea.." Willow grinned and opened the door.
Lily pulled her stuff in and sat down as did Willow. "I've already run into Potter once. This does not bode well for the rest of the year."
"Oh god... that fool?... That Snitch gets old really fast..."
"He didn't have it out. In fact, he was rather civil. But his mere presence is like undiluted bubotuber pus." Lily said firmly. Some things never changed, her opinion of James was one of them.
"Anyway, how was your summer?" asked Lily.
"It wasn't too bad, spent a few months abroad... nothing special. And yours?"
"I want to murder Petunia with my bare hands. Answer your question?" she inquired 'cheerfully'
.
"Ah... fun..."
The Marauders were relaxing in their compartment, indulging in various things to keep themselves entertained.
Remus, who was reading, had been made prefect, much to his friends pure astonishment. He was the only one of the marauders Lily actually ( at least admittedly) liked. Secretly Remus thought it made James rather jealous, because Lily sometimes called Remus by his first name and spoke to him in a civil manner. Once in a while they even joked around. While Remus was reading his DADA book, James was sharing a conversation with Sirius about one of their adventures during the summer.
Peter was eating. Already.
The wildly popular four (alright, Sirius and James were the wildly popular ones. Remus was merely well liked and Peter only tolerated because of his friends), were utterly unglamorous up close.
Remus ignored Sirius and James easily, used to them chattering. James had brought up the idea to go check who else had been given the 'P' badge
Remus looked up. "Or I could tell you, but whatever." he shrugged and got up.
James rose, it was an excuse to pester Evans. Peter grinned. "He just wants an excuse to go find Evans" He said through a mouthful of food. It came out more like ''e wan's to 'nd 'vans.
James looked at him alittle confused. not understanding him... He pushed the hair out of his face, and slid open the door of the compartment
Peter swallowed and followed them out, closing the door behind. Remus had left his book, and his prefect badge.
Lily sighed, she and Willow were having a Pity Party. "However, I did get a broom over the summer. The bad side? My trunk doesn't want to fit all my things and keeps popping open."
"Need one of those enlargement spells. They make more room in things apparently. Mum uses them all the time."
"Yeah, but no magic using adults at home, which made packing torture." though they were sharing their woes the subject of Potter's many refrains of 'go out with me, Evans!' had not yet been brought up.
"Let's hope Potter doesn't decide to start harping on at you again..."
"It's a tradition. He asks me out, I call him a bleeding idiot, he proposes marriage... I think if I said yes now he'd have a hearattack. Not that I'd EVER say yes. Ever." She said quickly. Too quickly. Either Willow didn't notice or simply knew better than to comment.
" Wouldn't be a great loss there..." Willow added as an after thought on James having a heart attack.
"Indeed." She replied, grinning.
"In fact, maybe I should. The look on his face would probably be priceless. I mean, it's not as if he'd actually want me to say yes!" Lily said. Willow laughed and stroked the cat she had just let out of its cage.
"You never know... it has been rumored that one of those four has a crush on you..."
"You're crazy." Lily retorted.
"That's why you love me." She said, just as James' head appeared at the window
Lily didn't notice. "Yes indeed." She laughed, pushing her long red hair behind her ears. Her profile was to the window.
James slid the door open, Sirius at his shoulder. " Evans, Penn." he nodded. Penn was Willow's last name.
Remus was behind them with Peter peeking over his shoulder.
"Potter, would you stop stalking me!?!"
" Nope...I'm on a little quest to find out who, out of our wonderful year group, got Prefect badges."
"I did. Now, can you leave?"
"I'm hurt! I thought you'd be pleased to see me!" He said as the snitch came loose from his pocket.
"You're delusional, Potter. When have I ever been pleased to see you?" Lily asked, eyes flashing at him, hands firmly planted on her hips. The sight of that damned snitch irritated her beyond belief. She was unaware of how pretty she was when she was pissed off, which she always was when James was around. Some would call this sexual tension, but if they did, they didn't do it around Lily.
"I don't know.... " He said, shrugging, and grinning.
Remus stole a careful glance at Willow. Willow glanced up at Remus carefully aswell. He was already looking out the window. He was very good at not getting caught. Only one other person noticed and she ignored it.
"Exactly. Anyway, no one else in this carriage is a prefect, your work here is done." She advised him wisely, head cocked slightly to one side.
James grinned and got up. "As you wish Evans." He said with a smile, snatching the snitch, and walking out past Sirius. Remus left after them, Peter trailing behind.
"Did he just do what I asked?" She tilted her head up, making sure there wasn't a bucket of some nasty liquid. "Either this is a dream, I'm going insane or there's a prank hidden here somewhere." she looked distressed. "Pinch me."
Willow leaned forward and pinched Lily. "Dont think so. Maybe this year will be different..."
Lily blinked, rubbing her arm absently. "Weird. Very, very weird.
"Yup..." Willows mind had wandered off
Lily raised an eyebrow at Willow. "Earth to Willow?"
"Huh? Oh hi...." She smiled.
"God Willow you'd think you... Oh my god. You like REMUS!!!!!! I knew it I knew it!" she squaled, loud enough for half the train to hear. Willow wondered how the hell she got that
A kid banged on the wall... "We dont care, will you bloody stop screaming!"
"Stop screaming yourself." She snapped back. She looked at Willow. "Don't act so shocked, just because the fucked-up four are too thick to notice doesn't mean I am. This just confirms a long held suspicion. Why didn't you tell me!?!" She threw her robes at Willow.
She caught them, and placed them next to her. "Because I hadn't told anyone." She sighed, looking down.
"Yes but I'm your best friend!" said Lily, looking pointedly at Willow.
"Fine, I'm telling you. I like Remus Lupin." She folded Lily's robes up and placed them on her trunk.
Lily grinned evilly. 'Now you just have to tell him." She said, taking her robes off her trunk and placing them in her lap.
Her eyes widened.... "I don't have to tell him anything..."
"C'mon, he totally likes you back."
"How d'you know that?"
"I can tell. I could tell you liked him, couldn't I?"
"Yea, I suppose..." She smiled
Lily smiled back. Then sat bolt upright. "Shit, I'm supposed to be patrolling!" She raced out of the compartment, slamming the door and racing down the hall.
Remus looked at James. "Did we just listen to Evans?"
"Yea..." James sighed, looking defeated
"Why?" Peter asked, looking thick.
"Because Peter..." James sighed, " We did..."
"Ok." Peter said.
Lily came careening past the marauders, hair flying behind her wildly, her too-big green sweater hanging off of one pale shoulder. James watched her.
"Earth to Prongs!" Remus called, waving his hand infront of james' face.
He looked round at him. "Yea?" he said
"You were in Evans-land." he said. "I have to go patrol, I'll see you all later."
"Great.... See ya Moony..." He said, Sirius and Peter echoed him.
Remus walked after Lily.
Lily began patrolling after a good telling off by the head boy.
James returned to his compartment, and proceeded to eat some Bertie Botts every flavored beans. What a brave soul.
Lily finally finished her patrol and headed back to her compartment. She was rather sidetracked, however, by a group of slytherins. She didn't hate all Slytherins, she was friends with several, but these were the ones she definitely didn't like. Bellatrix Black, Lucius Malfoy, Severus Snape, and their flunkies Nott, Crabbe and Goyle.
"Excuse me." She said. They didn't move. Snape stood behind Malfoy, his spot riddled face contorted into a sneer, his oily hair in his black eyes. All this was happening directly in front of James' compartment.
"Get out of my way." She said firmly, sounding quite calm but her eyes flashed and her hands were curled into tight fists.
James looked up, and saw Lily. He got up and slid the door open... "Gentlemen... and Snivellus," he grinned nastily
Snape grimaced. "Shut up Potter." he interjected.
"Giving Evans here trouble?" James inquired.
"I'm fine, Potter." she said without looking behind her.
"Always got to be rescued, Evans?" Asked Bellatrix Black nastily.
"Shut up Black." Lily snapped.
Sirius recognized the voice, and stepped out of the comparment to. "Yea Bella. Keep quiet."
"Dearest cousin. How lovely to see you. But friends with a mudblood? How... common of you." Bellatrix hissed. Lily stiffened. Nott, Crabbe and Goyle snickered.
" Don't call her that..." James said, getting agnry
"Potter I said I'm FINE!" Lily snapped. "Black, I'd think you could come up with new material. Besdies, do your research. I'm not exactly friends with the mayhem twins Black and Potter here." she said, addressing Bella. There was a definite difference in the way she said 'black' when speaking about Sirius and the way she said it when addressing Bella.
Bella sneered. "They seem pretty quick to jump to your defense." A battle of tongues looked about to insue between Lily and Bellatrix. The five Slytherin boys appeared ready to sit back and enjoy a cat fight but Sirius walked up to his cousin.
"Let her through."
"Or what, Sirius darling?" She said sweetly, batting her eyelashes. She loved getting on his nerves.
"Don't. Call me. Darling." He growled. Being an animagus was dangerous when it came to strong emotion
"Alright dear." Bella said, smirking. Lucius was chuckling. Snape had a smile on his face.
"Or dear. Just move." He said, trying to push a gap for Lily to move through.
"Look, just let me through." Lily said.
Bella shook her head. "Don't think so."
"And why not?..." James asked. He never got his answer.
"Black, Malfoy, Snape, I'm one of the best in DADA. I don't care if I am a prefect, let me through or you'll wish your parents had never met." She said in a low, controlled voice. Uh-oh. Her temper wasn't just lost, it was dead and buried.
Snape would only move if they others did. Black stared hard at his cousin. Bellatrix stared right back. Lily waited, no one moved.
If there was anything James and Sirius knew about Lily it was how she was with a wand in her hand. A wand she was currently fingering as though she was just ITCHING to blow someone to little peices. What they wouldn't've given for Remus to come break this up. It wasn't that they didn't like a good fight. They (especially James) just rather didn't fancy Lily losing her infamous temper and getting sent to Azkaban by the powerful parents of what might soon resemble chopped liver.
" Just let her through..." James said sternly.
"Practicing for your babies with Evans, Potter?" Malfoy sneered. "My house-elf is scarier than you."
"You seriously need a life." Sirius sighed. Lucius wasn't on the list of people he considered to talk to.
Lily burst out laughing. "Me? Babies? POTTER?!? Lucius, dear, did you forget to take your potions this morning?" She leaned against the wall, cackling with mirth. James did think that was going a bit far. On the other hand, neither did he think it that amusing an idea. Lucius looked a little startled. Lily stopped laughing. "Ok, You've insulted me, my soul bleeds, now was there something you wanted, not that I care, or are you just being annoying?"
The Slytherins didn't answer. Lily was sick of this. "Tarentallegra!" She shouted, sending Bella into a frantic tap dance. Malfoy raised his wand. "Expelliarmus!" Lily said quickly. The spell pushing him back against the wall and sending his wand flying. While Snape and the other three were in shock she shouldered past them.
James went back into his compartment. Siruis followed. James's eyes lingered on Evans before she disappeared. She was pretty impressive when pissed. "Mate, you may have to marry her, just because she's so much fun when pissed. As long as it's not at you." Sirius said, grinning a bit, though he was obviously bothered by the filth he was related to.
"Padfoot, shut it." James said good naturedly.
Lily stormed back to her compartment and threw the door open, sitting down with a terrible expression on her face. It was no wonder the first and second (and some of the third) years all called her 'Dragon Lady' behind her back.
Willow's cat jumped, and threw itself up into the luggage racks above. Willow got up. "You Ok?.." she asked.
"No." Lily snapped.
"What happened?..." she said, trying to get her cat down.
"Not what, who."
"Don't tell me it was those Slytherin scum!" she said, sitting next to her.
"Ok, I won't." the readhead replied.
She sighed. "Want me to go give each and every one of them a piece of my mind?" she paused "And wand?..." she added, trying to help her friend cheer up.
"Thanks but I already gave that bitch Bella a little dance lesson she'll never forget."
"You're evil." Willow said admiringly.
"Yes, I am." the red head smiled, agreeing.
The cat lept up beside Lily, and affectionately nuzzled her.
Lily sighed tiredly.
Willow glanced up at the window of their compartment, she wondered if the Witch with the snack trolley would turn up soon.
"Yargh, I'm almost wishing I was home, which is saying something."
" Oh, Lil..." Willow said, putting a hand on her shoulder. "The other kids at Hogwarts may be a pain in the arse, but where would you rather be? Here with me? Or at home, with Petunia?..."
"Point taken. Petunia's looking good." she giggled and sheilded herself.
" Oi!" She grinned, playfully trying to hit her over the head with the palm of her hand. Lily squealed as she thwaped Wllow's hands away.
They lapsed into silence as the train chugged along. The journey to hogwarts seemed to take forever.
"I'm so bored 'Low." she whined.
" Yea me too..." Willow had a pile of books at her side. She had read all the beginnings to her spell books, and knew what they were doing until christmas.
Lily had gotten to Diagon Alley way early and had read all her school books. Start to finish. Twice. Anything to stay shut in her room, away from Petunia. "Did I tell you I've read all my books twice?" she inquired.
"No... god.. you must've had a really shit time this summer."
"To put it lightly."
"I'm so sorry Lil.. If i had been around, you know you could've come to my place." Willow said.
"I know. 'Low, you're a better sister than Tuna will ever be." she said seriously.
Willow smiled. "Thanks..."
"Welcome. Anyway, enough mush. Let's go for a walk, Slytherins be damned."
"Yea, I need to get out of this box of a room. Max, you stay here." She said to the cat, putting her back into her basket, leaving the door half open so she could get out after they left. Lily headed out, taking an elastic off of her arm and twisting her hair into a bun as she walked. She secured it with the band and headed down the corridor. Willow followed. She was still in muggles clothes... they would soon start to get the warning to chage into their school robes. Lily was also wearing muggle clothes. An oversized green sweater she'd knicked from her father and jeans cut-off at the knee. The sweater hung to mid-calf.
They walked up the train, Willow briefly looking in each window to see who was about. They passed the compartment where all of the fucked up four, as Lily often refered to them, were sitting. Remus had returned from his patrol. James was poking a chocolate frog with his wand, Sirius was asleep... and Peter was once again stuffing his face. Willow took a prolonged look through that window. She had liked Remus since fourth year.. but hadn't said anything.
Lily had an evil idea. Smirking,she knocked twice on the door, opened it and shoved Willow in, then disappeared down the corridor, cackling. Willow would kill her later, but it would be worth it.
They all looked up at her. Well, apart from Sirius, who was fast asleep. She went bright red. "Err... Hi..."
Remus raised a brow.
The door had managed to close behind her. She backed up against it. Glancing at Remus, she froze. "I'll just.. be... erm... going now."
James thought of an idea, Yet another way to lure Evans back.
"Willow Penn." He said getting up. " I do believe you are going no where, until our dear Evans comes back for you.. "
Remus chuckled. "You're so damn desperate. It's hilarious."
The lone witch in the compartment rolled her eyes. She tried to open the door, but James' foot was stopping it from sliding. She gave up, and sat down next to Remus, looking fairly fed up. " He's right... I don't know why you dont give up with Lily," she paused "But then again..." Willow thought. She twiddled with the end of the long, neat braid her hair was in. "It is funny watching you squirm to do what you think will make her like you..." She said, smiling to herself. She glanced at Remus
James sighed. He sat down, his foot against the door still. "You're not leaving until Evans gets back."
Remus snorted. "Because that will make you so popular with her. You lack finesse, Prongs. Choclate. Moonlight," he shuddered almost imperceptibly. "poetry. In short, you're a mess."
Willow laughed lightly.
"Moony, lay off, would you?" He said, resting his head on his hands.
"But it's so much fun!" the werewolf protested.
"For you maybe." He retorted.
Willow was still twiddling with her hair, wondering where the hell Lily had got to. Lily came up to the door, peering in, still smirking evilly, arms filled with goodies.
James didn't notice. Willow got up quickly, and tried to pull open the door. "Lily!"
"Eep, I'm dead meat!" Lily exclaimed.
James looked up quickly, and pulled Willow away from the door. Not meaning to, he threw her right into Remus. "Ah ha! She returns." He grinned. Willow landed in Remus' lap. She went bright red, and tried to get up. She lost her balance and fell back, missing the fact that Lily had her wand pointed discreetly at her. Every time she tried to get up she fell.
James opened the door a little. " Come to get your friend back?"
"Actually, Remus can keep her, she'll probably murder me." Lily said wickedly. James looked confused, then round at the two, bundled in a pile in the corner of the compartment.
Willow's eyes were narrowed, her mouth, a small, mean, angry o, giving her the 'I'm so going to kill you' look. She couldn't get up. She was going redder and redder.
Remus was looking confused. The next time Willow tried to stand, he tried to help her up with his hands on her waist. They slipped and ran right over Willow's bottom. Lily burst into laughter, collapsing in the hallway, surrounded by candy.
"I'm... s..so.. Sorry.." Remus stammered at Willow, sounding more like Peter.
"Me too..." She said, trying to get up yet again. She fell yet again. James had noticed that Lily's wand was in her sleeve and discreetly pointed at her best friend. He looked vaguely impressed.
Willow twigged what she was doing. "Lily, please let me up." she pleaded.
James went to grab the wand off of her.
"James, you're no fun!" Lily giggled. Then she got up, scooping up her candy and murmrued the counter curse, taking off like a bat out of hell before her friend could murder her. She didn't realize she'd called James his first name.
Remus' jaw went slack. "Did she mean to do that?!"
James' eyes widened... " I have no idea. I don't think she realized." James was shocked. He didn't notice he was grinning as though he had slept with a hanger n his mouth.
Willow got up, glanced round at Lupin, before getting out of there as quick as she could go.
Lily was locking herself into her compartment. She took a deep breath, wondering where her friend was, and what was going on.
Willow got just out the door and tripped quite spectacularly over the edge of the door frame. Remus, with lightning reflexes, caught and steadied her. "Don't hurt her too badly." He said, surpressing a grin.
She smiled at him.. "Thanks. And yea. She may not have legs by the end of this journey, but I promise to restrain myself..."
James looked a little horrified that Willow wanted to mutilate Lily like that. " Hey... Lily has to keep her legs! I like 'em!" He said, a grin breaking through his mock horror.
Sirius snorted, but nodded thoughtfully. "Yes, they are rather nice legs."
"Are you ASKING for a beating Siri?" Remus inquired, one hand still lightly on Willow's shoulder. Willow had a hand resting on his side, which she had used to steady herself.
James turned to glare at him.
Sirius rolled his eyes. "You'd think she was his girlfriend..." Sirius muttered under his breath rebelliously, when James turned around. James sometimes scared him, but he was the crazy one, and anyway, he was bigger than James was. If the other boy had heard Sirius' little come back he simply hadn't bothered to answer.
Just then Lily came tip-toeing up the corridor, though out of James' sight, so far. She was trying to get past Willow without being seen. Willow was concentrating far too hard on Remus to notice her, and she thanked her lucky stars for teenaged horomones.
She managed to get to right behind Willow and Remus, gesturing for the others to keep their fat mouths shut.
The others saw her... " Oh Jamesy." Sirius grinned as james looked about to beat him for calling him Jamesy " Evans has returned..." he finished. The vomitous nickname was forgotten.
"Damn it Sirius!" she said crossly. Then she eyed Willow and Remus. "Comfy are we?" she said, always reckless, dispite being near a death scentence from Willow anyway. Willow's eyes widened and she pulled back from Remus' touch...
James spun round, " Ah ha!"
Peter seemed astonished that Lily was pushing it so far. She noticed. "Well if I'm going to die anyway, I may as well go out having made it so she'll NEVER live it down." She said, with a grin.
"You are so gonna die..." 'Low mouthed.
"Wait." She said, noticing something. "Why the hell am I using your first names?"
"Because dearest Lily..." James rolled out her name to see if it annoyed her. "after 5 years you appear to have got a soft spot for us."
"Ha! I have a softer spot in my heart for Bellatrix Black." she informed them.
James looked vaguely hurt though he qucikly covered it up with a smirk. Peter looked outraged. well, as outraged as you can be with pumpkin pasty on your chin. Sirius highly doubted anyone could have a soft spot for Bellatrix. Willow decided not to get involved, and was considering slipping away, taking Remus with her.
"Well, I have a soft spot for Remus." She winked at him lustily. "But don't we all." she smirked, trying not to burst into hysterical laughter. Remus looked stunned, to say the least. Willow went red, glancing up at him.
Remus mouthed 'let's go HIDE!' at Willow. She nodded and got out of the way of Lily, letting her move forward.. She then slipped past her, and along the train
"James, mate, I think shes a bit Hyper." Sirius said, confused by Lily's display. James looked more than a bit angry.
"God I was wondering how long that would take!" said Lily entering and dropping into a seat. She looked at their shocked faces. "You didn't get that I was trying to scare them into wandering off together?" she laughed.
James had had no idea. Peter shook his head, stuffing half a pumpkin pasty into his mouth
"I was better than I thought." she said. "I'll have to reassure poor Remus that I have no interest in him romantically." she kidded, grinning
"You were better than you thought." James said, sliding the door shut, watching them go off round a corner. He was torn between shock at her display and pleasure that she didn't like Remus that way.
"5 galleons that they come back and her lipstick's on his face." Lily said with a smile that would have done Satan proud.
"10 if they look slightly ravaged." Sirius put in.
"11 is Moony is grinning." James added. Peter just looked confused. James sat down opposite her. Sirius yawned.
"20 they're going out and Willow ends up forgiving me. No, thanking me."
"You're awful cocky." Peter observed.
"You I take it back, james. You're not master of the obvious. Pettigrew is." she said dispairingly.
"I never get a title." mourned James.
"You can be King of Rejection." she offered.
"I'm so flattered." he retorted.
"As well you should be, slave boy."
"They're awful strange Sirius." Peter put in in a stage whisper. Everyone looked at him. Suddenly he was bombarded with pumpkin pasties from all sides. "Heey what'd I do?!" he exclaimed, even as he picked them up and set them cherishingly into his lap.
"If you don't know I'm not telling you." the other three all said at once. The compartment lapsed into silence...
That lasted all of twenty seconds.
"I'm bored. Truth or dare anyone?" Lily asked wickedly.