James and Sirius spent the rest of the summer gleefully tearing around on Sirius' motorbike. They messed around with some pretty muggle mainly for fun but Sirius insisted that James keep trying to get over Lily at last that summer. It was with happy hearts that on September first, they boarded the Hogwarts Express.
After being dropped off by James' mum at platform nine and three quarters, and giving her quick peck on the cheek, the boys dragged their trunks into a compartment empty but for the other two marauders. After a happy reunion of many slaps on the back and summer tales, Remus said he should start out for the prefects meeting and Peter mumbled something about finding some food. James and Sirius, the most popular and handsome boys at school, trailed down the length of the train greeting friends and hexing enemies They were followed mainly by a group of giggling girls who eyed Sirius and James hopefully. Sirius paused to say, "Hey love!" to a girl he dated last year and hurried down the crowded corridor to find James who had found Lily, all his girls from the summer forgotten. Sirius smirked to himself and went over to join them.
"Hey Evans!" He said jovially.
"Hey Black! Good summer?"
But before he could reply James sent him a look as if to say, "Back off! She's mine!" before answering the question himself,
"Yea Evans, we had a great time. Sirius stayed at my place and it was pretty cool."
"Wasn't asking you Potter. My summer was good too, thanks for asking." She said sarcastically. "Gotta go! Prefect meeting." She turned sharply on her heel and retreated back down the corridor.
"OI EVANS!" James roared down the hallway towards her retreating back, "Go with me to the start of year feast?" She paused and called back over her shoulder,
"No way, Potter!" she hurried to the prefects compartment. James looked crestfallen while Sirius sniggered,
"When are you gonna learn she's just not into you, Prongs mate?"
"I can always keep trying!" He laughed back as they headed towards their compartment. On the way back they ran into one of Lily's closest fiends, Marlene McKinnon. James and Marlene greeted each other cordially while Sirius eyed her up and down and then said, spur of the moment,
" Well you sure look beautiful today love." Marlene blushed. "Fancy going to the feast with me tonight, love?"
"I guess so." She shrugged before running off to tell her friends that she was going to the feats with Sirius. Both boys chuckled all the way back to the compartment.
"You've got some nerve Padfoot!"
"Aww come on Prongs! You would've asked someone too if you hadn't just been rejected by Lily for what… the fiftieth time?" James shoved Sirius and they both collapsed into their compartment to lounge on their seats for the rest of the journey.
Meanwhile, as Lily entered the prefects compartment she couldn't help but think that James Potter looked, if possible, even more handsome this year. But she pushed that thought out of her head. "No! I've hated Potter forever. I can't start liking him now." She thought as she took a seat next to Remus.