James Potter was making his way to the scarlet steam engine, looking for his friends. He hadn't been there long having just left his house. He had just said emotional goodbyes to his parents who were getting a little elderly and couldn't make the trip with him to the platform. As he turned, he heard an attractive female voice say "Hello, James." He looked and saw a pretty sixth year girl he barely recognized and winked at her. She blushed and hurried away. He turned back to the mass of people looking for anyone familiar. "Oi! Potter!" yelled an unfamiliar voice behind him. He already knew that it wasn't anyone he was searching for but turned back to the source anyways. James slowly realized it was a Hufflepuff from their year. As he raised his hand to wave, he saw his best friend over the boy's shoulder. James left him in mid sentence, not caring to notice the boy's hurt look.
He met Sirius half way, noticing many female eyes flickering to him. With dark shaggy hair and clear gray eyes, Sirius Black was always the object of many girls' affection. But he never got all the attention, since just as many girls seemed to enjoy James Potter's perfectly messy black hair and bright hazel eyes. The fact that he was Gryffindor's Quidditch hero never seemed to go against him either. Actually, most to all girls seemed to love him. All but one. The beautiful red head was standing a few yards away talking to her parents but James pretended not to see. When he reached Sirius, he punched him hard in the arm and said sarcastically, "Long time no see."
Sirius grinned back easily and said, "I'm glad that's over. Got all my stuff, Prongs. I guess be around for a little while."
"Damn," James muttered, pretending to be upset by the news. Sirius had left James's house, which he stayed at all summer, for the last week to collect all things and tell his parents that he would never be back. He was more than happy to share his house with his best friend, especially if it meant that Sirius never had to return to his home.
"Shall we find Remus and Peter?" Sirius asked, mockingly bowing James forward. James stepped gently forward and pretended to blush. The crowd of girls laughed hysterically trying to catch their attention. Unfortunately, James was watching the red head turn to the source of noise. Her stunning green eyes narrowed as they met James's hazel ones. He raised his hand to wave, but she just rolled her eyes and turned away.
"That went well," muttered James.
"Hm?" Sirius asked barley turning his head to see James's dejected look and said, "Ah, Evans?" He quickly turned back away and gave a charming smile to a curvy 7th year girl. Sirius couldn't stand hearing James obsess over such a girl when he could have anyone he wanted. They got on to the Hogwarts Express and went a short distance to the best compartment on the train. It had been the Marauder's compartment ever since 3rd year and no one even tried to steal it since they cursed anyone who came within distance of it. James tried not to pay attention to his racing heart as Lily Evans was boarding the train a few people behind them.
As Sirius and James made their way, Snape passed, but apparently didn't see them. Sirius stuck his leg out at the last minute and sent Snape sprawling. Several people on and off the train started laughing along with Sirius. But James pushed Sirius forward into their compartment before Snape could react. He didn't want to have to duel Snape in front of Lily, especially since it seemed to piss her off so much. He had one more year, one last chance.
Once the door was close, Sirius turned and looked at James with question in his eyes. James merely shrugged and said lamely, "I didn't want to have to duel…" Sirius looked at him with a slight smirk as if he understood more than he did. But then again, he probably did. He turned to Remus and Peter, who had been inside all along talking, and said happily, "Moony! Wormtail! Cute hair cut, Moony." Remus's usually somewhat long light brown hair had been shaven, probably by his mother's orders. She hated it when Remus's hair got long while he was away. She had said once in a letter that it made him look like a wild animal. That sent all the Marauders into hysterics for 10 minutes. James wasn't paying attention to conversation at all. The train started to move under their feet. As it gathered speed, Peter asked, "How do you feel? Last ride to Hogwarts."
"Glad," Sirius and James answered at the same time. "One year and I'm gone," James continued happily.
"Is that any way for Head Boy to talk?" ask Sirius with amusement. Sirius had ragged on James all summer for getting the badge, as he very well should have. James had no idea what Dumbledore was thinking.
James grinned and said, "Ah, Padfoot, I can just smell the jealousy. Speaking of which," he continued as Sirius opened his mouth to argue, "I must make my way to the Head's compartment for my important meeting." He ended the statement sarcastically and asked Remus if he was coming.
"Nah, I got a while but have fun with Evans," he said his brow eyes twinkling.
"What?!" James nearly yelled, halfway through the door. Sirius rolled his eyes and Peter said, "Well, obviously she's Head Girl, you git." James considered this looking into Peters' squinty watery eyes under his sandy blonde bowl cut hair. Then he put on a high voice and asked, "Does my hair look alright?"
"Just go!" said Sirius pushing him out of the compartment door and slamming it. Grinning, James made his way to the front of the train.