Chapter 1 - The Reunion
James and Lily walked down the platform, their hands grasping their trolleys as they navigated their way around the hundreds of students. James' eyes scanned the crowd as he searched for his best friends. He had just spent the most wonderful week with Lily at his parent's house and thankfully for him, his parents greatly approved of her. Of course, he knew that they would. Lily was impossible to not love! Her gentle nature and warm spirit seemed to give everyone strength no matter how bad the situation. When James looked at her he knew that he had finally realised what it meant to be in love, to be two halves of a whole. When he was with Lily he felt like he could conquer the world!
'There they are!' gasped Lily as she pointed at a handsome young man with a mane of shoulder length black hair. It was Sirius.
'Prongs! Long time no see mate, how you been?' said James, patting Sirius on the back.
'Not bad. Thanks for letting me stay at your house last week by the way. I don't think I'd have been here to return to Hogwarts if my dear mother had got hold of me' laughed Sirius as he embraced Lily.
'Anytime mate!' James turned to Lily. 'Do you want to find us a seat on the train while I find Moony and Wormtail?'
'Yeah of course. And while you're at it maybe you could think up a nickname for me' whispered Lily in James' ear. James' heart skipped a beat as her waterfall of golden hair brushed his cheek. With a cheeky smile Lily rushed over to her friend Mary who helped her heave her suitcase on to the train.
'So how's it going between you two then?' Sirius asked James. 'Still can't believe you kicked me out of your house so you two could have some quality alone time' teased Sirius, nudging James light-heartedly in the ribs.
'It was…..amazing! I can't really put it into words. She just gets me, you know, we just fit! Maybe if I hadn't been such a prat we would've had more time together. Bloody hell I sound soft, sorry you had to listen to that.' James said apologetically to Sirius who had been biting on his fist throughout James' monologue trying to resist the urge to snort with laughter.
'Ah it's good to be back!' The voice came from over Sirius' shoulder and the slightly gaunt but jovial face of Remus Lupin, accompanied by Peter Pettigrew, came into view.
'Great timing' chuckled Sirius. 'You just saved me from having to hear more of James' cringe inducing exploits with Evans'. The three of them burst into laughter and embraced, James blushing slightly although Peter still seemed to have missed the joke. It felt so good to be reunited after 2 months; the Marauders together again for the last year of Hogwarts. James could not have dreamed of having such good friends, when they were apart he felt like a piece of him was missing. Lily was what had got him through the Summer, she felt like one of the boys now! Her forgiving and kind nature was one that James could not appreciate more and he felt so lucky that she had chosen him. He wasn't going to lose her!
'Plan for the year boys is make the most of it!' declared James, his arms enclosing his comrades. 'This is our last chance, our last year at Hogwarts! After this it all gets serious…..and you know I hate to be serious!'