Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter

Though I wish I did.

'Cause that would make me awesome! =]

2

The Train

James

"OY! Prongsie Pooh!"

I mentally cringed as Sirius' voice rang through the air. I turned to see him at the far end of the train, Peter just behind him, while Remus decided to take a seat in that particular corridor. I sighed, disentangling myself from the group of giggling, sixth year girls, beaming at him as I walked his way.

"What do you want, you lazy git?!" I shouted, unashamed as heads turned to glare at the source of the noise. When they saw who it was, however, they waved at me, while the girls merely smiled and played with their hair nervously. I tended to have that effect on people.

Well, except for one....

"I got a present for ya!" Padfoot shouted back, "And she's a right piece of work, this one!"

I frowned as I reached him, "Pad, how many times to I have to--" Sirius pointed at the lovely redhead inside the compartment. "Oh," was all that came out of my mouth.

Lily Evans was a beauty. I'd fancied her ever since first year, though she'd never given me the time of day. She was gorgeous, her long, beautiful auburn hair flowing down her back, stopping just before her waist. Her bright, penetrating, almond-shaped emerald eyes. The way she looked like a pissed off kitten when I made her angry. I tried to hide my smile to myself, though I knew it didn't work, merely by the look on Sirius' face.

I leaned towards my best mate, whispering low enough to where only he could hear, "I owe you one for this one, mate."

"No, you don't," Sirius replied, clapping me on the back, "After all, I only came in here for this Virgin Mary." He winked.

Mary McDonald, a friend of Lily's, rolled her eyes. "First of all, I'm not a virgin. And second, in your dreams, Black."

Padfoot grinned cheekily, "Of course, I forgot," he replied, "I'll see you there, let's say, two o'clock?"

A small scoff came from a corner of the compartment. My head whipped around quickly as Lily's soft, lovely voice scolded my best mate. "Honestly, Black, do you have any better pick-up lines?"

"As a matter of fact, I do," he replied, feigning outrage. Then, just as quickly, his face transformed into the charming smile he used on most of his victims. "Did it hurt when you fell from Heaven, babe? 'Cause you have got to be an angel."

Now it was Mary's turn to scoff, "Oh, please. You're using that line on Lily? You must be deranged!"

"Hey!" Lily frowned, "I'll have you know I'm a perfect angel."

"Yeah, I can just see your horns holding up the halo, hun," Mary laughed, the rest of the Marauders joining in. Lily's scowl stayed in place.

I walked over beside Lily, pointedly pushing Moony out of the way so I'd be able to sit beside her. "C'mon, Lilypad, cheer up," I said, unable to contain my grin, "We're going back to Hogwarts, after all! Second greatest place in the world!"

Mary laughed, moving her blonde bangs from her eyes, "Oh, really. And what exactly is it that beats Hogwarts?"

I shrugged, "My bed."

Lily rolled her eyes, shaking her head in apparent disgust. I frowned, upset that I couldn't find the source of her unhappiness.

"Don't take it personal, Potter," Mary said, "She's been like that all summer. Didn't even smile when she got her Head Badge."

My jaw dropped, and I stared at Lily openly, wondering why she wasn't dancing down the train like she normally would have done. I glanced back at McDonald, "Why?" I couldn't help but ask.

"Well-" Mary stopped short as Lily turned to look at her. No, not to look, to glare. Even I shrank in my seat at the venomous gaze. "Shut your trap, Mary," she growled.

Mary sat completely still, mouth gaping. After a moment of silence, she returned the gesture, "What did you say?"

"I said shut your trap," Lily replied coolly, "It's none of their business, anyway, and I'd much prefer it if you kept my personal life private, for once."

"Well, excuse me," she replied sarcastically, "Forgive me, Queen Evans, I just thought you'd like me to be a friend, 'for once'. Now I see you'd much prefer to be seen as you are now. Miserable, depressed, perfect Head Girl."

I began to cut in, to try and tell the ladies to stop arguing, but it did no use. "I do not think of myself as perfect!" Lily argued, "You very well know that! I just don't want you flapping your gums about my private life with people I don't trust, especially them!" Lily now stood on her feet, glaring down at Mary as she pointed her delicate finger at me and the other Marauders.

"Ouch," Sirius said, "I know I can be annoying, but am I that bad?"

"YES!" Everyone in the compartment agreed. Sirius frowned, feigning annoyance.

After a moment of silence, Mary seemed to have achieved a startling sense of calm. "I think I'd better go to another compartment," she informed us coolly, rising to her feet.

Lily, clearly not expecting this, called out to her, "Mary...wait-"

"Why?!" Mary rounded on Lily, not as much in control of herself as I thought she would have been, "So you can yell at me some more for trying to help you? I don't think so!" And, without another word, she left, leaving Lily standing in the doorway of the compartment in a state of both confusion and melancholy.

"Okaaay..." Remus said after several long, awkward moments of silence, "What the hell just happened?"

Lily

You took the words right out of my mouth, I thought as I turned back to the Marauders, numbly working my way back to the window seat. I stared straight ahead for a moment, gathering the remainder of my thoughts, before turning to look out the window once more.

"I don't know," Potter replied for me, shrugging. He was sitting just across from me, and I could feel his eyes boring into my skull, trying to catch a hold of my gaze. I didn't give him the satisfaction.

"So...." Black began as the silence started to change from something uncomfortable to something completely awkward, "Er, Lily. Head Girl, huh?" He smiled tightly, as if afraid of what I might say next.

I shrugged.

"Oh, c'mon, Lily," Remus cut in, "You've always wanted it. Why aren't you jumping around in joy or something? Eating as many chocolate frogs as you can?"

"Because that's Black's job," I replied immediately, instinctively. The room went utterly still.

"She lives!" Black exclaimed, and something I hadn't felt in a long while, a hint of a smile, traced my lips. "That's ten galleons, Wormtail."

Peter grumbled as he dug through his pockets, and I resisted the urge to roll my eyes. Of course they would be taking bets already. It was the Marauders, after all.

"All right, Prongsie, truth or dare," Sirius grinned as he took the galleons from Peter.

Potter grinned, "Dare, of course," he replied.

"Wait a minute," I cut in, "How do you know that game?"

Black shrugged, "I'm the Shag Me king. I've played this game with Muggle Borns since first year."

I rolled my eyes, "Of course."

Potter looked at me hopefully, "You want to join in?" He asked.

I narrowed my eyes doubtfully, taking in the expressions around the compartment. This wasn't going to be good. Four boys and one girl playing Truth or Dare? I shook my head, dismissing the thought. Who cared? "Yeah," I nodded, "I'm in."

"Sweet," Black grinned, "Alright, Lily, truth or dare?"

"Hey!" Potter interrupted, "I thought I was first!"

"Wait your turn, James, and let the lovely lady go first."

Potter frowned for a moment, feigning disappointment as Black turned to me. I thought about it for a moment, then decided to take the safe bet, "Truth."

"Excellent."

I frowned, maybe this wasn't such a good idea.

"Lily, are you a virgin?"

Definitely not a good idea.

Taking a long, deep breath, I replied calmly, "No."

I turned to Pettigrew, a smirk on my face, "Truth or Dare?" I asked.

"Uh...." Peter stammered, "Er...uh...erm...I don't know....uh, truth?"

I rolled my eyes, "Why do you hang out with these gits?" I asked, then, realizing what I'd said, I turned to Remus, "No offense to you, Remus. I actually find you somewhat decent."

Remus grinned. "None taken."

Pettigrew shrugged, "They're my friends," he replied, "How can I not hang out with them? Moony, your turn."

It went on like that forever, every time it came to be Black's or Potter's turn, however, they would always ask her silly questions.

"Lily?" Black asked.

"Truth, this time," I replied. They'd already learned where and when I'd lost my virginity, so I was somewhat expecting this next question.

"Who was he?" He grinned, while Potter seemed to turn a shade of green, as if he didn't want to hear the answer.

"I changed my mind, dare me." I sighed. If one thing could not be answered, it was this question. She didn't want them to know. It was too personal a question. And by the looks on their faces when they saw mine, they seemed to agree with me.

"Okay," Black thought about it a moment, then, suddenly, he beamed, as if he'd just come up with the perfect idea. "I dare you to kiss Prongsie over here. Full out, for at least two minutes."

I ground my teeth together, glaring at Black mercilessly. Potter merely stared at his best mate in clear amazement, either too happy beyond words, or too shocked to make him change his mind. "Hey, it's either this, you spill the beans, or you lose the shirt."

"That isn't part of the game!" I protested.

"It is when you play with the Marauders," Remus nodded, and I stared at him in outrage. He was supposed to be on my side! Frowning, out of options, I lifted the long-sleeved navy shirt I wore over my head, sitting it in my lap as I noticed the wide-eyed stare I was recieving from the boys in the compartment. "What?" I asked.

Remus shook his head in amazement, "I never thought I'd see the day," he laughed, "When Lily Evans would rather strip in front of the Marauders than play a silly game."

"Remmy, silence is golden, duct tape is silver," I informed him, "Which one do you think's easier for me to get?"

"Duct tape," Black cut in, earning himself a chorus of laughter from the boys. My frown stayed in place.

I looked down at my watch, groaning as I noticed what time it was. "Gotta go," I said, getting up and throwing on my shirt, "I'm late for the meeting."

"Damn! I forgot about that," Lupin murmured, rising to his feet.

I began to walk out the door, only to freeze as I noticed Potter following Remus and I. I rounded on him, "What do you want, Potter?" I demanded.

Potter shrugged, "Wouldn't want to start off the Prefect meeting without your Head Boy now, would you?"

I froze, my gaze falling on the pin he was now fastening onto his chest. My jaw clenched, my eyes narrowed. "Please tell me this is just a cruel joke and that pin belongs to Remus," I said coolly, eyeing the badge with utmost hate.

"Er..." Remmy's voice trailed off, "It's not a joke, Lily." He finally said.

All I could see was red. James Potter, Head Boy? No, it couldn't be. No, no, no, no, NO!

I closed my eyes, shutting out Potter, Lupin, everybody. It took several deep breaths and an assurance that it was a lie to calm me down. When I opened my eyes, they all stared at me, as if awaiting an explosion. I nodded, "Okay, then," I finally said, "Okay... Er, Remus, you and Potter stay here a bit longer. About five minutes, perhaps. By the time you reach the meeting, I think I'll be somewhat lucid." Taking another deep breath, I turned away from the infamous quartet, walking slowly to the other side of the train. I just need some time to myself, and then I'll be fine, I assured myself, taking slow, precise steps, breathing deeply through my nose, out slowly from my mouth. In. Out. In. Out. In-

"Evans!"

Out. In. Out. In. Out. In. Ou-

"Evans, wait up!" Potter was beside me in an instant, and I tried as hard as I could to block the git out. Then he had the audacity to grab a hold of my arm, to try and still me.

My breath left me in a hiss. "Potter, you have five seconds to release my arm," I warned venomously.

He didn't listen. "No," he argued, pulling me to a stop. Five. "Evans, I know you're angry, but-"

Four seconds.

"-can't we just find some way to compromise? To be on decent terms-"

Three.

"-with each other? It'd be a whole lot easier on both of us and-"

Two.

"-we wouldn't have to argue all the time. Much less ignore each other." He finished.

One.

I pulled my arm back, releasing it with as much force as I could muster, punching Potter square in the nose. He fell to the ground, clutching his nose as he yelled, "Bloody Hell!"

A couple of fourth years in a nearby compartment gasped, but I managed to ignore them. My hand was faintly stinging, but I couldn't help but hide the satisfied smirk on my face. I leaned forward, looking into the eyes of the bloodied up, shocked Head Boy. "I told you so," I murmured, turning away and continuing on my way. "Oh, and you might wanna find someone to fix that. Otherwise your nose will be as crooked as Dumbledore's."

Author's Note:

lol, sorry, I had to find a way to get the punch in. I'm sorry for making Lily seem bi-polar, but it's all a part of the story. =] hehe. She's just majorly depressed and all that. But can you blame her? I'd wanna clock Potter too, if I were in her shoes! Don't kill me for saying that, I'm just known for being blunt and speaking my mind. Please review, and I'll mention you in the next chapter come thursday.

I would say I love ya, but I don't know who you are,

Kacie.