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Chapter 2

James Potter Fan Club

Jessica read for about twenty minutes after the train began its journey. Her legs were draped across Remus' lap, and her back was propped against the cool glass window that looked out at the scenery, which passed them by. As she turned the page to chapter ten, the compartment door slid open, and Lily and James walked in. It was a tight fit as they squeezed in next to Sirius and Sophia.

"You're back so soon?" Sirius' eyes twinkled impishly as he grinned at the Head Boy and Head Girl.

"We don't really have to do much," Lily said as she began passing around Chocolate Frogs, which she had gotten from the Trolley Lady. "All we have to do is patrol every twenty or so minutes, and make sure that no one is breaking any rules."

"You didn't happen to see Snivellus anywhere, did you?" Peter unwrapped his chocolate frog and bit the head off.

James sighed, feigning disappointment. "Sadly, no. We saw no sign of Snivelly."

"I wish you guys would just try and ignore him," Lily said disapprovingly, folding her arms across her chest.

"It's kind of hard to ignore him when he's constantly taking the opportunity to try and attack us behind our backs," Remus chimed in, looking up from his book.

Lily turned to Jessica. "What do you think, Jess? You've been pretty quiet."

Jessica lowered her book onto her lap and looked up at them. She hated it when she was asked to choose sides. Couldn't they see that she would rather stay out of it? But James, Sirius and Lily all seemed to be waiting for her input, so she sighed. "Well, while I agree that it would be best to ignore Snive-I mean Snape, we can't just sit around and do nothing each time he tries to hex one of us. We should be allowed to defend ourselves. I mean, if he aims a curse at you, then sure, fighting back is mandatory. But if he happens to call Sirius a washed up womanizing has been, no offense, Sirius, then it's probably best to ignore him."

"That has to be the worst insult, ever, Jessica," Sirius teased.

Jessica lifted her book again. "Yes, well, I don't exactly make it my life mission coming up with insults."

James and Lily soon left the compartment once again to go on another patrol. By that time, Jessica's cat, Paris, grew tired of being confined into her basket and yowled from underneath the seat, demanding to be let out. Jessica obliged her, and soon the fluffy white feline was curled up in Remus' lap.

"I'm going to go change," Jessica said as she stood up and stepped past the others to go into the miniscule girls' lavatory, carrying her robes and uniform with her. After bumping against the toilet and the sink a few times, she'd managed to get dressed. As she came out of the lavatory, carrying her casuals, someone barreled into her, nearly causing her to fall over. Jessica caught a glimpse of gleaming dark brown hair and the yellow hem of Hufflepuff robes, the same as hers. When Jessica was finally released, she found herself looking up into the dark eyes of Dorcas Meadowes.

"I missed you! Why didn't you write to me over the summer?" Dorcas pretended to pout. "You have no idea how bored I was."

Jessica smoothed down her skirt. "I actually spent my summer at the beach, and had no way to get an Owl to you."

"You went to the beach this summer and you didn't invite me?" Dorcas frowned.

"Sophia is the one who invited me. I didn't really think about writing anyone. I'm sorry."

Dorcas grinned from ear to ear and pulled Jessica in for another hug. "Oh, you're just the cutest thing, ever! I can't stay mad at you!"

Nestled in the confines of her fondness of Dorcas, Jessica had to admit there was a tiny bit of envy. Dorcas seemed to always be carefree. She almost always had a smile on her face, and she had an aura of confidence that Jessica wished that she herself possessed.

Jessica pulled away, feeling uncomfortable as Dorcas gushed over her. Instead, she did allow her friend to loop her arm through hers as the two of them made their way back to the compartment. Somewhere down the narrow corridor, the two of them spotted Marlene McKinnon, who seemed to be handing out fliers.

"Hey, Dorcas, Jessica! Would you like to join?" Marlene waved the flier in front of their faces. Jessica had to back away a few steps to be able to read.

"A James Potter Fan Club? Er...sounds interesting."

Marlene pressed a flier into each of their hands. "You're friends with James," she directed at Jessica. "Do you think you could persuade him to speak at our first meeting about his experiences and success?"

Jessica rubbed the back of her neck. "Er...I don't know. I mean, he'll probably be busy with Quidditch, his classes, Head Boy duties. Not to mention, he kind of has a girlfriend."

Marlene's elated expression fell. "A girlfriend? When did this happen?"

"Over the summer. Lily and him got together."

"Yes, so don't even think about trying to ruin it," Dorcas threatened.

Jessica grabbed Dorcas by the arm and pulled her away before the scene could turn violent. "I don't know why you do that," she said.

"I don't like her, Jessica. She's practically been obsessed with James since fourth year. I doubt the fact that he's going out with Lily now will deter her. You know she's not above wrecking a relationship just to get what she wants. Look at what happened to Trevor and Sydney during sixth year."

"I try to avoid that sort of drama," Jessica muttered.

"You avoid a lot of things. You really need to stop hiding in that shell you've built around yourself."

"I'm not hiding in a shell!" Jessica cried indignantly, before closing her eyes and taking a deep breath. "I just think that there are more important things to worry about."

"Bahahahahahaha! Are you serious?" Sirius snatched the flier from Jessica and looked at it. "This is too great!"

James rolled his eyes. "I'm glad you're having fun with this."

"As if James didn't have a big enough ego already," Sophia teased.

"I'll have you know that my ego has deflated quite a bit." James pretended to be insulted.

Jessica stepped over Sirius's outstretched legs and sat down next to Remus. He'd been mostly quiet during the trip, choosing to read the book that Jessica had suggested to them on their vacation, The Catcher in the Rye. He, along with everyone else, had already changed into their robes. "I'm actually surprised Marlene didn't start a fanclub much sooner."

"Right?" Dorcas agreed as she leaned against the entrance of the compartment, since there wasn't really any room for her to sit. "She even seemed eager to have you speak at their first meeting."

Lily scowled. "I really don't think that's going to happen. James is going to be busy with other things, aren't you?"

"Huh? Oh...sure. Maybe a few years ago I might have been into it, but now it seems kind of immature."

"Says the guy who tacked up immature pictures of Snape in his skivvies all over the corridors last year," Remus said, his lips twitching in amusement.

James folded his arms across his chest and grinned smugly as he sat back in his seat. "It's too bad we didn't think of putting a Permanent Sticking Charm on them."

"But was it really worth the month's worth of detention that McGonagall gave you?" Jessica asked as she lightly rubbed her cat's stomach.

Sirius gave her a look. "It's always worth it when Snivelly is involved."

The hours passed by quickly. Soon, the train began to slow down and pulled into the Hogsmeade Station where Hagrid was waiting, waving his large lantern.

"Firs' Years this way!" he called. Remus stepped off of the train and helped Jessica down as well. "All right there, you two?"

"Hi, Hagrid." Jessica smiled. She had always liked Hagrid. Ever since she was a first year, he always invited her over for a bit of tea and hardened biscuits. While his cooking skills were questionable, she admired his love for animals, despite the fact that they were often dangerous. "How's Cinnamon?"

Cinnamon was a female hippogriff that Jessica had started helping Hagrid take care of in her third year.

"She's all righ'. Jus' gave birth." Hagrid sounded so proud. "A spry little thing if I do say so meself. I'll see ya Friday?"

Jessica nodded and walked towards one of the carriages with the others. "I was hoping we could spend the day together, Friday," Remus said sounding a little disappointed.

"You can come with me, you know. I could use a little bit of your help."

He leaned forward to kiss her. Just as he did, Sirius climbed into the carriage with Sophia. "Why do you guys act like that whenever I'm around?"

Remus and Jessica looked at each other in bewilderment. "Like what?" Remus asked. "We're not doing anything."

"It's the way you're looking at each other, all lovey dovey. It's kind of gross."

"Don't you snog anything with a pair of boobs and nice legs?" Sophia reminded him. "You kind of have no room to talk."

Sirius and Sophia launched into an argument, and Jessica turned away, slightly embarrassed. She wished that Sirius wouldn't make such a big deal about Remus and her kissing. She felt awkward enough kissing him in front of others. The turrets of the school soon came into view. Jessica soon forgot her discomfort. She could almost smell the food, and hoped that the sorting wouldn't take too long. The Chocolate Frogs she'd eaten had seemed so long ago. The carriages soon came to a stop and they stepped out of it, and were met by James, Lily, Peter, and Dorcas who had ridden in another carriage. Together, they stepped inside the Entrance Hall.