Here it is, chapter two!! I can't promise that I'll always update this quickly, but I'll do my best.

Thanks to everyone who reviewed chapter one!!

Disclaimer: J.K. Rowling is a genius and created nearly everyone and everything in this story. If you recognize it, it's hers.

The Makings of Forever

~Chapter 2: Things Blow Up~

The Hogwarts Express rolled on toward its destination, past big cities, small villages, and wide expanses of farmland. As the sun began to dip ever so slightly behind the clouds, the terrain outside became wilder. Scraggly trees, rocky fields, and purple moors whizzed past the windows, but most of the passengers were too busy catching up with their friends to notice.

James and Remus were engrossed in their fifth game of Exploding Snap, each set on upholding his honor in a long-running tournament. Peter was peppering Sirius with questions about the flat he had rented over the summer.

"How can you afford a place of your own? You can't have a job while you're at school," Peter said.

"For the hundredth time, Wormtail, my Uncle Alphard kicked it in June and left me most of his gold. And I only rented the flat for the summer. If I don't go home with James for Christmas, Mrs. Potter swears she'll disown me, and even I can't stand being kicked out of two families," Sirius said.

James laughed. "And you'd starve without my mum's cooking.

Sirius grinned. "That too."

The four boys looked up as the compartment door opened. "All right if I join you?" Lily asked.

"Sure," said Remus.

James gathered up the Exploding Snap cards, leaving the seat next to him conveniently empty. Lily glanced around the compartment and looked as if she was about to take the spot by James when the cards blew up in his face. The others burst out laughing, and Lily took a seat next to Sirius on the opposite bench.

"I think I'll be safer over here," she said with a cheeky smile.

"That's the fun of the game – you never know what's going to happen," James said casually, but he was grateful for the smoke that hung in the air and obscured his mortified face.

Lily turned to Sirius. "Claudia told me you got your own flat! Did you really?"

Sirius nodded and explained the situation to her.

"Your own place! That's brilliant! I'm sorry to hear about your uncle, though," she added.

Sirius shrugged. "It's okay. I hardly knew him. The rest of the family tried to pretend he didn't exist because he was such a disgrace. I think he only left me the money because I had enough guts to tell my dear old mum to stuff it."

Lily looked a bit surprised by this pronouncement, but she didn't say anything. James took advantage of the brief silence to ask, "How was your summer, Evans?"

"It was fine. Kind of quiet. I went to the shore for a week, but that was about it," she said.

"Family all okay?" James pressed seriously.

Lily nodded. "Yes, everyone's fine. I have a cousin who lives in Devon where that factory blew up,

but she's fine, and I think it was just a coincidence. Nothing to do with me at least."

"That's good," said Remus.

"I know I'm Muggle-born, but I'm just a seventeen-year-old student," Lily continued. "I don't think I really pose that much of a threat. All the same, though, I try to keep Mum and Dad pretty sheltered from the news of You-Know-Who. I don't want them worrying while I'm at school."

"You never know, though," said James. "My mum heard that Danny Brocklehurst's fiancée lost her parents. She's Muggle-born, and she was working as a waitress. She wasn't even fighting You-Know-Who or anything."

"I know what you mean," Peter chimed in. "My sister's rabbit was killed by a fox. He was just an innocent little animal."

Sirius snorted. "I highly doubt Voldemort was interested in your sister's pet rabbit."

"You never know," Peter muttered. "And don't say the name." He turned to sulk out the steadily darkening window.

There was a moment of awkward silence. Then James said, "Well, this conversation has gotten sufficiently depressing. Anyone up for another game of Exploding Snap?"

Lily grinned. "Are you planning to not have a face left when we get to the castle?"

He shrugged. "I've got plenty of other things the girls are interested in."

"Oh, really?" said Lily, her eyes narrowing.

James couldn't help himself. "Yep. Want to find out?"

Lily stood up, incensed. "James Potter, you are an arrogant prat! I came down here because you seemed to be turning into less of an idiot at the end of last term, but I guess I was wrong!" She marched out of the compartment, slamming the door behind.

James hurried after her, leaning out into the corridor and shouting, "Evans, wait! I'm sorry! I didn't mean –"

But his words were drowned out by a deafening CRACK. The pack of cards he was holding exploded in his face once more. Covered with soot, James slammed the door shut again and flopped down next to Sirius, who was laughing uncontrollably. Across from him, Remus was trying valiantly but unsuccessfully to keep a straight face. Peter was still sulking, too dramatic to look at James.

"You know, Lily's probably going to like you even less than she does now if you wind up headless," Sirius managed, gasping for breath.

James glared at his friends. "Shut up," he said darkly, gingerly feeling his singed eyebrows. He turned to stare out the window with Peter, thinking that he might have just, quite literally, blown his chances with Lily Evans.

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Thanks for reading!! Please let me know what you think!!

--A Chocolate Frog