Chapter 2:
Arriving Back
James and Sirius received their supply lists the next day. They had a few extra books on the list; The Standard Book of Spells (Grade 6), Advanced Potion-Making, Confronting the Faceless, A Guide to Advanced Transfiguration and Advanced Rune Translation. Mr and Mrs Potter took them into Diagon Alley almost immediately. "You'll need new uniforms as well boys," Mrs Potter told them both, "you've grown so much this summer!"
They quickly made their way into Madam Malkin's robe makers shop. Dorea automatically made her way to the front of the shop and was greeted by the shop owner herself. "The boys both need five new plain white buttoned shirts, a new house tie (both Gryffindor of course), two new grey jumpers with the house coloured neckline, three pairs of grey trousers, one open black tied robe with the Gryffindor emblem as well as new grey blazers as well please."
"Very well," Madam Malkin smiled, "if I could just take their measurements."
"They've both grown several inches over the last month," Dorea smiled dotingly.
"Indeed," Madam Malkin measured them quickly with her magical measuring tape, "your robes will be ready within the hour."
They quickly went from shop to shop collecting the things they needed for the school year. Dorea and Charlus decided to go and pick up the robes from Madam Malkin's whilst the boys went into their favourite shops before lunch. They ran into several friends. They saw Emmeline Vance and Dorcas Meadowes looking at broomsticks. "Emmie is looking good," Sirius commented.
"She always does," James grinned wolfishly.
"Why don't you ask her out?" Sirius asked.
"Ah… after first year?" James laughed. "I don't think so."
"Why not?" Sirius grinned, "you don't still like Evans do you?"
"I… I barely know her," James admitted, "and I do so love to tease her but..."
"You still like her," Sirius laughed.
"No!"
"You do don't you," Sirius smiled, "well maybe this year you might win her over."
"Win her over?" James laughed bitterly, "as if."
Throughout the last two weeks the boys heard many reports of muggleborns and muggles being attacked by the Death Eaters. There had been multiple deaths. They had even recognised several of names; a few had been ministry employees that James knew as a result of his father's profession, whilst other's were the parents of his class mates, and yet worse some were names they knew from Hogwarts; Louise Kwan a Ravenclaw, Preston Rowland and Tegan Ryan of Gryffindor and Georgette Baker of Hufflepuff.
The platform lacked its usual buzz of excitement on the first of September. The platform was as full as ever yet there was a morose atmosphere. The Gryffindors quickly said goodbye to their parents and boarded the Hogwart's Express. Lily was boarding the train when Snape came towards her, "Lily."
"Go away Snape," Lily replied without even looking at him.
"You haven't replied to my letters," Snape moaned.
"I didn't even read them," Lily lied coldly.
"I'm so sorry Lily," Snape carried on.
"Leave me alone."
The marauders came forward at that moment. James pulled his wand out, "You heard the lady, leave her alone."
"Like I'd listen to you Potter," Snape retorted.
"Perhaps not but you should listen to her," James replied, "and if you won't then you will listen to my wand."
"Is that a threat?"
"No duh… sometimes you are so stupid," Sirius laughed.
Remus took Lily by the arm and helped her onto the train, "come on guys."
The marauders entered the train after Lily. Lily wasn't sure if she should be grateful to the boys for rescuing her or angry with them for interfering. They walked down the train until they found the other Gryffindor sixth years in a compartment. Peter quickly took a seat by the window. He had lost a lot of weight over the summer and looked like he hadn't slept in several weeks. Opposite him sat Kate Stone reading her new charms book. Marlene was sat some way along the bench from Kate. Sirius went and sat next to his girlfriend, putting his arm around her. Remus sat between Kate and Marlene so that he could talk to Kate, leaving Lily and James to sit with Peter. Alice and Frank came in a moment or so later and forced James and Lily further down the bench to make room for them. They talked animatedly; no one mentioned that one of their number was missing although each of them felt the loss.
Lily looked at her watch, "we better go to the prefects carriage Remus."
"I suppose we ought," Remus smiled, "see you all in a bit."
They quickly left the compartment and walked down the train towards the prefects carriage. Terry Hamman and Abigale Morris were the new Head Boy and Girl. Sirius had been unimpressed when he had realised his ex-girlfriend was the new headgirl. The head boy was particularly stuffy and so Kate and Remus sat towards the back making jokes at his expense. When their meeting was finished, they quickly patrolled the train before heading back to join their friends. When they arrived, Sirius asked after Peter, "where's he gone?"
"Not sure," James replied, "I think he just wanted to be alone."
Remus sighed before nodding.
"How is he doing?" Lily asked.
"Not great," James replied honestly.
Lily found herself sitting next to James once more. She leant against the wall of the compartment and put her feet up on the bench between her and James. She opened up a book that she had hidden in her school bag and began reading. Every so often she would glance up at her friends to see what they were talking about. James caught her eyes; she couldn't believe how different he looked. He had grown over the summer. He'd always been broad shouldered and attractive looking but there was something different about him. She couldn't put her finger on it. He lifted his gaze to meet hers and smiled. It wasn't his usual teasing smirk but something sweeter. After an hour of reading, Lily put her book away and sat back against the seat once more. She was much closer to James than she'd realised. Their shoulders kept bumping. She put her head back against the seat and closed her eyes.
James was incredibly surprised when he felt Lily's head fall onto his shoulder. He looked over at the sleeping girl; she really was incredibly beautiful with her fiery hair to match her fiery temper. They remained in that position for the rest of the journey. At one point James even had the courage to rest his head gently on hers. He sighed as he smelt her shampoo; strawberries.
When the train pulled to a stop at the station, most of the Gryffindor sixth years were asleep. Lily woke up and took a deep breath. She smiled at the smells that greeted her. It was raining outside and she had left the window open so there was the smell of fresh rain but there was also something more. She was very attached to the smell although she had never managed to place it; it was a woodsy, musty smell mingled with lemon, not to mention an underlying cleanness almost like fresh linen. She was surprised to find her head on James' shoulder. Moments later the Gryffindor friends were running for the carriages to get to the castle. James noticed that Lily didn't have a coat and so offered her his jacket to wear. She took it happily; surprised by his kindness. James let her keep the jacket all through dinner as she was shivering with cold.
Snape watched from the Slytherin table as Lily snuggled into James Potter's jacket. He couldn't help feeling jealous and so when the feast was over and the Gryffindors left, he followed after them and tried to hex James but James saw it coming and put up a blocking spell. "Give it a rest Snivellus," Potter scolded him, "are we really going to do this every day?" He acted bored for Lily's benefit, if he were honest he would happily hex the unfortunate Slytherin every day.
They walked away towards the tower. When they entered the common room, they said their goodnights and went their different ways. Lily turned to Potter, "Thank you."
"For what?" James asked in confusion.
"For not hurting him," Lily smiled shyly.
"He was only jealous," James grinned, "I'd feel exactly the same way if I saw you wearing someone else's jacket."
She leant up to feel his jacket underneath her fingertips, "I should give you this back."
"Ah hold on to it," James grinned, "You never know when you might get cold again."
She smiled, a response on her tongue but James beat her to it, "he loves you, you know."
"What makes you think that?"
"Because I know how it feels to love you Lily Evans. I see it in his eyes and besides, don't take my word for it… his amortentia smells just like mine."
"And what does yours smell like?" Lily could barely breathe.
"When I smell that potion my senses are consumed by you… I smell strawberries; your shampoo… mango and pineapple; your perfume… peppermint; your toothpaste… your minty breath…" James laughed gently, "and finally I smell roses… because of…"
"Our second year."
James nodded sadly, "you see, I do not blame him for attacking me tonight. I would have likely done the same. Goodnight Evans."
"Night Potter."
When Lily was finally alone in her room she allowed herself to smell James' jacket. She wanted to work out why she had been so keen to keep it. She couldn't possibly like James Charlus Potter. That woodsy, musty smell was back mingling with a clean linen and lemon smell; her own personal love potion. She sighed, shit.
Don't think that Lily and James are about to rush into a relationship... they're not! lol. I just thought they needed something to start pulling them together.
