Lilys POV

6th year

"Ooohh, he's kind of cute!" Alice said

"Yeah I guess-buzz cuts aren't really my thing" I told her.

"Well, what about him?" she asked, pointing to a tall guy who looked too old to be at Hogwarts, with curly blonde hair passing by our compartment on the Hogwarts Express.

"He looks 25 years old!"

"Come on Lily! You can't seem to be pleased!"

"No, I'm just not very interested in pursuing a relationship this year. We're half-way through term, and I've made excellent marks all year. I'm not going to ruin it by getting a boyfriend."

"Oh please!" said Alice, waving her hand in disbelief. "You haven't even bothered leaving this compartment! Nobody will be interested anyways, you just study. You're no fun!"

"I am too!"

"But you aren't!"

"Listen, Alice," I said, "I appreciate this and all, but I don't really want a boyfriend."

"That's what I thought too, before I met Amos! He's so perfect! Everytime I see him…."

After that I tuned Alice out. I knew everything she was going to say: how she and Amos Diggory would be together forever, how she hated leaving his side, how he loved her and told her everyday, blah blah blah. The only thing Alice ever talked about anymore was her beloved boyfriend, and quite frankly, it made me want to hit her. It wasn't Alice, it was Amos. He was kind and nice, and he really did care for Alice, but he treated her like dirt when his friends were around. He wouldn't talk to her or pay attention to her, and he often ditched her for his friends. Then, she'd come to me all upset, but within the hour she'd apologize to him for nothing. She couldn't even see what was happening.

People were interested in me. I was fun. I had a boyfriend last year. His name was George Abbott. We broke up because he thought I was cheating on him with James Potter, which was so untrue, but I had a feeling that Potter was behind it. I'd never told anybody but my sister Petunia about James, and all she did was scoff and murmur something about him probably being dirt poor and desperate, when she had it dead wrong.

James Potter could get any girl in the whole school to date him if he wanted to, and just about every time I saw him, he was charming some 5th year in the hall.

Everybody knew, of course. Everybody knew that James liked me because he never made any effort to hide it.

He screwed with people minds. He was arrogant, and rude, always in detention, his hair was always a mess, and he only wanted me because he couldn't have me.

"Are you listening to me?" Alice snapped, interrupting my thoughts.

"Yes." I lied.

"What did I just say?"

"Amos loves you and tells you everyday, he's perfect, you'll never break up." I recited.

"Oh." she said. "So, is there a reason you don't want a boyfriend? I mean, other than "studying"?" She made quotation marks in the air.

"No." I replied. "There isn't. And you're misusing those finger quotations. I really do study, it's not a euphemism."

"Not even because maybe you have a little crush on somebody else?"

"Nope." I told her. "Nobody here I'm interested in."

"Really?" Alice replied "Because I couldn't help but notice Severus kept glancing our way has we boarded."

"I know what your thinking, Alice, but I promise, me and Sev will only ever be friends"

"Mmhm..Well, he-"

She was cut of by a knock on our compartment door. It slowly slid open just a crack. It was Peter, one of the many, if not three, friends Potter had.

"Umm...Oh, hi Lily," he stammered "Ah, I was just wondering if I c-could sit here with you, there's no more room a-anywhere else. Y-You see, I boarded a bit late, we had to make an emergency trip to Diagon Ally, to get buy a new owl for me to send letters to my parents, you see, because I smothered mine last night by accident. I don't know why he was under my pillow in the first place! So-"

"Sure Peter, its fine." I said. Alice looked at me with a "He's crazy, let's not let the owl murderer be alone with us" look.

"Thanks! Come on in guys!" Peter shouted down the hall.

Guys? Well, didn't see that one coming-Stupid Lily! Never say yes to a Marauder! You say yes to one, you say yes to all!

In walked Sirius, Remus, Peter and Potter, all carrying their trunks.

"Hiya Lily!" greeted Sirius, shoving his trunk in the storage compartments.

"Lily, Alice! Great to see you two again!" Remus exclaimed.

"Great to see you again too Remus," Alice said looking annoyed, crossing her arms and glaring at me.

Sorry, I mouthed.

She nodded in acceptance of my apology, and scooted over for Sirius to make room for the four extra people in our compartment-They can hold 6 at most, but that means no leg room for us.

"Hey Lily," said James, putting his luggage up with the others. "Fancy seeing you here! Who knew Peter would find this compartment empty? What a coincidence."

"Yeah, big coincidence.." I muttered.

Peter plopped himself down next to me, which was a relief, because if Peter was there, Potter wouldn't be.

"Move ya lump!" James said to Peter, who quickly scooted over and made room for James.

Alice raised her eyebrows at this, but I ignored her. The last thing I needed was to have Alice smirking all day about how "James has a crush on Lily".

"So, Alice," Sirius said suggestively, "There isn't to much room in here. Wanna sit on my lap?"

"Got a boyfriend, Black." Alice replied.

"I don't think he'd mind if you were a bit courteous to our friends here, and gave them a bit more space" Sirius put his arm around Ali.

"Don't touch me Black, or I will make it both physically and scientifically impossible for you ever to have children!"

Sirius immediately pulled his hand back, and said "Don't be mean, Ali! Just trying to be thoughtful!"

James looked at me, "How's your crazy sister? Is she in therapy yet?" Sirius laughed.

"Excuse me?" I said, turning to him. "There is nothing wrong with my sister, and I pray you remember not to mention it to me again. Me and my sister may argue, but she is still my best friend in the world and you can mind your own business!" James stared at me for a moment longer, before looking at Sirius.

"Jeeze…" James said, looking at me. "Take a joke, Evans, you don't need to overreact."

"I don't appreciate my family being the butt of your horrible sense of humor."

It was silent for a few seconds.

"It's like you could cut through the sexual tension between them with a knife." Sirius muttered to Remus.

"I can hear you." I snapped.

Sirius held up his hands in defense.

James knows I'm insecure about my sister. He knows how she treats me, and he knows that even though she isn't really my best friend in the world, she's still family.

Sirius and Potter seemed to be having a silent conversation. James head jerked towards me, and Sirius nodded.

"What is this?" asked Alice, gesturing to the two of them.

"Nothing," Potter said, "Sirius was just confused has to what the color red looks like, so I had to point him in the right direction," he said, referring to my startling red hair. .

"Oh Merlin, how much longer will this ride be?" I asked.

Potter looked at his watch. "About an hour and 45 minutes. And believe me, you aren't the only one who wants to get out of here."

"Good." I said through gritted teeth. "Your ego is making me claustrophobic."

"You know, maybe I don't mind. In fact, I was hoping we could get a little closer during this ride." he said, sliding his arm around my waist. And I have to say that felt pretty good. I didn't want him to take his hand away...Or no...Wait, yes I did, he was Potter, of course I wanted him to take his arm off me!

So I pried his hand off my body, and put it back on his lap.

"Sooo..." Remus said awkwardly.

"Yep.."

"Pretty cool..."

"Uh-huh.."

All four of the Marauders chimed in, making the situation even more awkward than before.

We sat there in silence for a few minutes, until finally somebody broke it.

"I have to use the loo, " Alice said, standing up.

No! No Alice! Don't leave me here alone!

"Me too" Remus said, and Peter just got up and followed him without saying anything.

So it was me, Potter, and Black.

"So who's Alice dating?" Sirius asked. "Anybody interesting?"

"Amos Diggory." I replied.

"He still goes to school here?"

"Yeaahh…" I said with a "You're kidding, right?" look.

"Then where is he?"

"He's at a Heads meeting at the front of the train."

"Is he coming back?"

"Why are you asking so many questions, Sirius?"

"Just ...curious...Excuse me, I have to go to the front of the train."

What? This was planned!. I didn't care how hormonal Black was, he could wait until somebody else came back to keep me company to go pick a fight with Diggory.

"Wait-!" I called after him, but he was already starting down the hall

Another awkward few minutes went by in silence, and then I noticed that James hadn't moved from our smushed together position.

"James, you can scoot over now" I told him.

"You're right, I could."

"Take a hint, four eyes, that means scoot over now." I said shoving him. He chuckled and flashed a smirk at my pathetic shove.

"So Lily," he said, " What's going on between you and Snivilous? Noticed he was watching you this morning. Is he just possessive, or has he got a bit of a thing for you?"

"Neither. He doesn't have a thing for me, we're just friends."

"Well that's a relief. Thought maybe you were taken by some greasy haired git, who's never showered in his whole life."

"Hey!" I said defensively, "For your information, he'll never be more than a friend to me! Although the thought of dating him just to make you mad is convincing!" I was starting to raise my voice.

"Calm down, Evans." James said. "It's just a joke." He turned in his spot on the bench, one leg folded on the seat, the other on the ground.

"Yeah, well I don't find your jokes very funny."

"I thought you two didn't really talk anymore, after what happened last year."

"We don't."

"Then why do you defend him?" James asked.

"Because he still has feelings. You go around being arrogant and playing awful tricks on him, and it just makes you more rotten then you already are, while it makes him angry. One of these days he isn't going to take it anymore and knock you on your arse!"

James scooted closer, put his arm around my waist again, and pulled me towards him, "You know, Evans, I've grown up a lot in these three holiday weeks. Christmas can change a man. Maybe I won't play awful tricks, even on Sniv-"

"My name is Lily." I interrupted, looking him in the eye, and pulling away.

"-Ok, Lily." he said, pulling me back, " Maybe you need to cool down a bit. I bet a date with me would help..."

"No." I said bluntly.

I was so close to him now, he was whispering. He put his hand on my lower back, still whispering.

"You always say that, Lily, but I don't think you mean it. Maybe if you just gave it a shot, you'd find you like me.."

"Maybe if I could shoot you, I'd figure out I have a talent." I muttered

I could smell his breath now. It was minty and sweet. I was almost on his lap from how close we were. Why wasn't I pulling away? Just pull away Lily and this will all be over. The awkward silence would be preferable. So would being lost in the Forbidden Forest. Or being Peter's owl.

"Please Lily… Go on one date with me. I'll never bother you again, I promise...One measly trip to Hogsmede, that's all..."

His forehead met mine, and he said the same 9 words I'd been hearing since second year.

"Lily, will you go on a date with me?"

And then he kissed me. I didn't know what I was doing. I leaned into the kiss, and wrapped my arms around his neck, while his were around my waist again. Why did I continue to kiss him? I knew I was only leading him on, but I couldn't help it! He was such a good kisser, and I wanted him to kiss me.

NO. No, you don't.

Then why aren't you stopping?

"Helloooooo!"

We backed away from each other quickly, startled by the voice. It was Sirius. Thank goodness it wasn't Alice.

"Ahh, hi Sirius, we were just uhh.. well…" James stammered, running his fingers through his hair, messing it up even more than it already was.

Sirius laughed, and said, "Don't worry, I won't tell. Its about time you kissed him though Evans! The way he talks about you, I would have figured that he'd have gotten to that years ago!"

James and I looked at Sirius, and then I looked at James. He blushed and gave me a small smile.

"Don't say that much..." he muttered

"Oh sure! 'Lily this, and Lily that! Lily's so beautiful! I love Lily! Why wont she go out with me! I love her Sirius!'" He mocked in a high pitched voice.

"Oh is that your impression of James?" Remus said, walking in.

"Pretty accurate, right?" Sirius said, nudging Remus' shoulder.

"Uuughhhhh," James moaned in the seat next to me, putting his head in his hands, and looking embarrassed. Merlin, his face was redder than mine.

"Well, I don't think his voice is that high. Anymore."

The boys laughed at James' expense, and James looked like he wanted to punch them.

"What's so funny?" Alice asked, closing the door behind her has she came back to the compartment.

"I'll tell you later," I whispered.

"Soo...I just saw your boyfriend, Amos Diggory, Ali." Sirius said, once him and Remus settled down. "Seems like a prick if you ask me-"

"Well nobody did ask you, so back off a bit, ok? I like him, and he likes me. I'm not breaking up with him, not for anyone, but especially not for you."

"Fine, but when you two do break up, please come crying to me." Sirius winked at her.

Alice turned to me. "Lily, trade me spots." We both started to get up, when James grabbed my hand.

"Uuuhh...no, umm," He said looking at his hand, has if he was wondering what he had just done. "Ah, I mean, Remus will trade you spots, right Remmy? Besides, Alice, door seats are better."

"Um..Ok. I guess." She moved over to sit next to the sliding door, and gave me a look that said 'What the bloody hell just happened?'

I looked at James questioningly, and he just blushed and looked away.

"Hey!" Sirius exclaimed, "Where's Wormtail?"

"Who?" Alice and I said at the same time.

"Peter!"

"I'll go find him," Remus said

Remus got up left the compartment.

"What was that all about?" Alice asked

"What was what all about?" Potter said

"Earlier when I came in! Everybody was laughing and no one will tell me why! We're you talking about me?"

"No, Alice, they weren't talking about you, don't worry," I reassured her

"Then what? And why can't I sit next to Lily?"

"Well, I can answer both those questions with one answer!" Sirius said, "You see, when I came back from talking to your prissy boyfriend, I walked in here to find Lily and James the middle of-"

"Arm wrestling!" I broke Sirius off. I would tell Ali later, but I didn't want to embarrass James anymore. I could tell that he was already going to have to deal with this when they got to the dorms, I didn't want Alice to be pestering him too. "And I won. Remus and Black just thought that was very humorous that James Potter got beaten by a girl. Although personally, I think he let me win."

"Oh… Oh yeah that's defiantly what happened." James chimed in

"Oh. I guess that's sort of funny..." Alice said, but I could tell she wasn't buying it.

James looked at me gratefully, and I gave him a faint smile. James looked at me again, and when I noticed it he grinned widely.

Suddenly, the train stopped. We were back at Hogwarts.