A few carriages down, Severus Snape was in a compartment with Bellatrix Black, Rodolphus Lestrange, Muliciber, Rosier, Avery and Crabbe. He sat miserably in a corner while the others spoke in bitter and almost comically evil tones.

"Yes! That ought to teach that blood traitor cousin of mine in and the rest of...Gryffindor..." she spat at the word "...a lesson!"

Severus was bored now, as much as he hated Sirius and the rest of the marauders he couldn't partake in any act against Gryffindor. He sighed involuntarily, as he did every time he thought of her. He could go now! Go and apologise to her in time for the new term to start, they would be together again and he could ditch Bella and the rest.

"Errm...i'm just going to the toilet." he stood. The group stared at him, angry for disrupting and he ran out of the door.

She was probably in one of the end carriages with that gaggle of girls who regarded him somewhat like they regarded particularly unpleasant animals in Care of Magical Creatures. He sighed again then told himself that despite that he could still talk to her if he wanted, so in a sudden moment of confidence he marched down the corridor and to his delight saw a flash of her fiery red hair as he drew near the last compartment, she was laughing. He loved it when she laughed, her hair breezed about and her eyes burnt almost uncomfortably bright, Severus swiftly turned through the door and looked at her.

"Lily," He met her eyes as she turned around.

"Sev." she looked stunned and for a few seconds their eyes just fixed to each other.

Lily wasn't certain whether to slap him or hug him but she didn't have to decide. Severus came quickly to his senses and realised where she was. Sitting in a compartment with the usual Gryffindor crowd but also that stupid oaf Pettigrew and Lupin, a conundrum, near her was Sirius Black who was smirking infuriatingly (hatred bubbled in the pit of Severus's stomach) and right there, next to Lily with his arm arrogantly flung over the back of her chair, his glasses crooked, his hair ruffled...was Potter. Potter. Potter had been making her laugh. Potter was there with Lily. Potter with HIS Lily. Snape felt like someone had smacked the air out of him. Angry tears pricked hot in Severus's eyes and then Potter stood up: he and Sirius had gone all summer subdued and, though he was indeed a changed man whether Lily believed it or not, Severus was a different case.

"Snape, get out of here before I hex you out." his voice came with it's easy confidence. Lily looked stunned.

"Potter, get out of my way, I'm here to talk to Lily. Lily, what the hell are you doing with these prats?" Severus looked desperate and imploring.

"Oi! Good start Sniv, just march in here and insult us." Sirius was on his feet now as well but Lily stood up separating James and Sirius from Snape, she knew how she felt now.

"Severus I'm not really sure you've got any right to tell me who my friends can be anymore have you?" her voice was a little shaky, her cheeks were hot.

Arthur spoke up loyally:

"Snape, you're just upsetting everyone here so please just go!"

"NO! I came to talk to Lily and no one is going to stop me! Not gangly seventh years, sickly goodie goodies, fat idiots or a thick, arrogant Black who is probably a death eater like the rest of his family..." Severus trailed off and looked terrified, he'd gone too far and he knew it, the whole carriage held its' breath and stared in concern at Sirius, Snape had touched the sorest point he could and Sirius looked livid. He stepped dangerously forward.

"Snape, GET OUT." he spoke quietly but with so much anger it seemed to shake the air.

"James, Sirius will you both SIT DOWN!" Lily snapped. Marlene and Frank pulled the boys into their seats.

"Lily you can't seriously be hanging out with these pricks!" Severus was hurt and angry.

"Severus Snape who do you think you are? You threw away any right you ever had to discuss who I spend time with!" she yelled. Severus was so upset that he glared at the rest of the carriage and yelled back without meaning to.

"What? When I called you a mudblood? Well I'd come to apologise about that actually but seeing you with these idiots proves you're exactly that! A MUDBLOOD! A mudblood! A stuck up, worthless little Gryffindor mudblood!" It was out before Snape could stop it and just as before, he couldn't take it back. He'd never meant it but now he knew, before Lily even responded that whatever he wanted, that was it. Sirius pulled out his wand and James turned his head upwards with a look of pure thunder.

"Snape, get out!" Her eyes sparkled with fury, her face was drained but with flushed cheeks and her slender hand aimed the wand right at his heart, and with one last glance Snape's tears spilled over and he fled.

Lily let out a breath she'd been holding for some time, shuddered and collapsed down onto the seat. No-one dared to speak for a good few minutes. Molly, Mary and Alice sat beside Lily looking worried, Peter huddled silently in a corner and looked nervously from person to person, Remus stared concerned at Lily, Frank frowned in a corner considering what he had witnessed, Arthur sat quietly looking annoyed, he cared for Lily as they all did, James sat on top of the seat glowering and Sirius sat glaring at the spot where Snape had been and began to think darkly of all the ways he would make Snape pay for what he'd said; about Sirius being like his family, about the rest of his friends and above all about Evans.

Remus thought he was the only person who noticed Sirius' silence and the expression on his face, the black hatred which every now and then flickered into a dark smirk, he knew that face and it didn't end well. His brow furrowed. At least James was too distracted by Lily to think too much, all he knew was that Padfoot and Prongs were not the two to let Snape say those terrible things and not retaliate. Marlene too had noticed Sirius' look, her oldest if not best friend, she'd seen that look many times before, anger consumed his handsome features like nobody else she knew and she nudged him with her foot, their eyes meeting in wordless resolve. Finally Alice broke the silence:

"Well it wouldn't be Hogwarts without a bit of drama hey?"

"I think this is a record though…we're not even at school yet and it's kicked off." Arthur smiled even though it was hardly funny. The group was so supportive Lily almost forgot how much she was supposed to hate Potter and Black.

After a while the carriage relaxed a bit, Molly, Frank and Arthur chatted quietly about who the new defence against the dark arts teacher might be and Alice lay asleep with her head against Frank's shoulder. Lily was left to the lilting humour of Potter, Black (Sirius had re-joined his friends conversation so as to seem less conspicuous) and occasionally Remus. As arrogant and irritating as they could be, James seemed a bit more mature this year and even Black had stood up for her and done his best at soothing her afterwards, though maybe he just wanted an excuse to fight Snape, and she couldn't deny, they were both pretty funny, she didn't stop smiling the whole journey, despite her efforts.

They reached Hogsmeade station and typically it was pouring rain, Lily stayed behind with Remus to tidy their compartment whilst the others dashed off to claim their bags. He smiled kindly as he took the pumpkin pasty packets from her. She loved Remus. Not at all in a romantic way but she really did. He was a real friend, like a brother. The girls were amazing but they chatted so much and teased her in their friendly way, Remus was genuinely lovely all the time and contributed more thoughtfully, calmly to conversations than anyone she knew. The two were never apart in lessons, both top of their class, they worked impeccably together and he was actually hilarious, though not in Black's sarcastic, insulting humorous way, a more intellectual humour. She considered Remus for a moment, he had grown over the summer and his robes were too small, as always they were scruffy and a bit torn in places, his smile was kind and a little sad as it always seemed. He was so overshadowed by his best friends who slacked off the whole time but got top grades while also championing the Quidditch league, dominating the class comedy and being the centre of practically universal attention. People didn't notice him like they did Potter and Black but they loved him and trusted him, it was hard not to. The scars on his face and arms were numerous and darker, Lily ran her finger over a dark, slit shape across his cheekbone.

"Remus, you should see Madam Pomfrey!" she frowned worriedly

"I'll be seeing her for fresh wounds next week anyway." he replied somewhat bitterly.

"Lily you shouldn't worry about me. I'm fine."

"Well I just hope that's true."

Remus looked down, her green eyes weren't fiery as they always were when she was joking or arguing with Padfoot and Prongs, now they sparkled but softly, caringly. He smiled back.

"Come on, James will go spare if we don't get in their carriage!" Remus laughed. Lily rolled her eyes and he dropped the journey's litter into the bin then they walked side by side towards the threstral-drawn carriages which would take them to their beloved school, she slid her hand into his with a smile. The last few students were putting owl cages into the carriages and climbing in chattering to their friends.

"Come along you lot!" Rubeus Hagrid, a large lantern swinging precariously in his hand, was striding down the platform.

"Hagrid, you'll catch light to your beard if you aren't careful!" Lily smiled up at the gamekeeper.

"Ahh Miss Evans! Remus. Love'ly to 'ave you two back 'gain!" he grinned fondly behind an enormous black beard.

"You too Hagrid." Remus replied.

"I'd bet all the gold I 'ave that you two will make head boy an' girl next year. Anyway…hurry along now! Don't want you being late now do we!" he laughed, as if

Lily Evans and Remus Lupin could arrive late. As they wandered between carriages searching for their friends Remus turned to Lily:

"Lily, I hope you're ok, after Severus being stupid earlier? You know nothing he said was true?"

"Yeah thanks Remus, I know, I don't mind being a stupid, little mublood!" she smirked but Remus heard a the self-conscience edge to her voice.

"But you're not! No-one in their right mind could think you stupid. You're better at magic than any pure-blood I know by miles, cleverer than every other student here." Remus smiled shyly, even though he and Lily had been friends for four years he still felt nervous complementing her so emphatically.

"Thanks Remus." She beamed humbly but gratefully. "Oh here they are!" Lily by now had resigned to the fact that her friendship group had probably fused to Potter's for good, oh joy! Sirius and James were apologising flirtatiously to a crowd of younger girls who had hoped they'd share their carriages but when Lily clambered in James immediately ignored them and sat up in his seat by the door.

"Where have you two been?" he demanded. Remus was confused and a little worried to see James looked annoyed. Lily and Remus's friendship was so ridiculously innocent and platonic he didn't quite know what James could be thinking.

"We cleared up the carriage, had a quick chat with Hagrid then came to find you. Why?" Remus replied, puzzled.

"Nah, it's fine. Hello again Evans, did you see our greasy friend Snivellus on your travels?" Molly and Alice looked angrily at him for mentioning it.

"No, Potter I didn't." She arched her eyebrows.

"Oh, it's just he's got a rather lovely red mark on his face, I think Padfoot's dear cousin Bella may have gotten rather irritated with him snivelling around!" James grinned with delight.

"Well so has everyone else…" Lily snapped.

"And Bella gets irritated by everyone anyway, what a good pair." Sirius joked darkly.

"Precisely!"

And there it was. Their school, their life, their home: Hogwarts.