Chapter 3:
"Marlene!" I whipped around to see Lily rushing towards me, her red hair flying behind her.
"AH! Lily!" I shrieked and dropped my bags and hugged her tightly, "I missed you so much! Congratulations on making prefect!"
Lily rolled her eyes and stuck out her tongue, "I don't know what Professor Dumbledore is thinking…"
"That you are the smartest girl in our year?"
"That was rhetorical, Mar."
"Of course it was; why do you think I answered!" Lily laughed and hugged me again, "Oh, Marlene, you have no idea how much I missed you!" I winked back at her.
"Okay Lilykins! Time to hop aboard the Hogwarts Express! We have to grab a good compartment!" I took her arm and started to rush onto the train, but once we got on and I began dragging her down the long hallway, she resisted. "What's wrong Lily?"
"I'm sorry Mar, I have to sit with the other prefects, remember?" I gaped at her. No I did Not remember. "But Lily! We always sit together…" I pouted.
"I'm sorry, but I don't have a choice! No, don't give me that look, I'll see you later, okay?" with that, Lily turned around and began walking down the hall. I cursed under my breath and started searching for an empty compartment.
I finally found one and plopped down on the seat and suddenly found myself drifting off to sleep.
"Well well! Look what we have here! The princess is asleep!" from the depths of my slumber I could here someone snickering. The voice sounded very familiar…"The question is Prongs… what should we do? Wake her up so she can entertain us? Or let her sleep?" Sirius Black. An idea formed in my head.
"Wake her up of course! She's no fun asleep!" James Potter.
"Alright mate! Go wake her up!" I heard footsteps coming toward me, and shifted into a better position that would allow my plan to go smoothly. The footsteps stopped. "Is she…?"
"GO, she's still asleep!" That's right, keep coming closer… I felt a hand on my shoulder, then opened my eyes and pounced. HI YAW! "AHHH!" The two boys screamed. I threw my head back and laughed; then I looked down at the boy I was sitting on. "Hello Jamesie!" I snickered.
"Bloody Hell Marlene!" He struggled from underneath me, "Hey Sirius? Can I get some help here please?"
"Oh right, sorry mate," Suddenly two hands started tickling my sides, causing me to fall on my side in an attempt to get away.
"Okay! Truce! Truce!" The tickling stopped and I glared at the two boys. They just grinned back. "So Marlene, where's Evans?" James asked, Sirius snorted, earning him a jab in the side. I rolled my eyes, "She's sitting with the other prefects of course," Sirius nodded,
"That's where Moony is too,"
"Of course," I snorted and James laughed with me. The two boys settled down in the seat across from me,
"Anything off the trolley dears?" The kind old trolley lady stopped by our compartment and I looked at the boys. "Boys?" James looked at the old lady;
"I would like three chocolate frogs, and a packet of Drooble's Best Blowing Gum, and a box of Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans yes that's it I believe!" He handed her the money in exchange for the candy, "Anyone else want anything?" I stared at James blankly. Sirius stared at James blankly. James smiled and thanked the lady and then turned around to notice us staring at him. "What?"
"Why didn't you just take the whole thing," Sirius stuck out his tongue.
"Shut up Padfoot! I'm hungry!"
"No really now…" James sighed then ripped open the box of Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans and popped one in his mouth.
"GAH!" He spit the bean out, "Boogie…" Sirius fell over holding his sides and laughing, and I smiled at them. Sirius calmed down some and managed to sit back up on the seat and since I had nothing else to do, I studied my two friends. James's black hair, as usual, was sticking up in the back and his hazel eyes glittered behind his glasses. I'd known James and Sirius for years because of quidditch and we were all pretty good friends, despite James's constant need to harass Lily. I smiled at James who was talking loudly with Sirius. Sirius. His hair had fallen in his face covering his deep grey eyes. Wow. He had really pretty eyes… I leaned further forward in my seat suddenly overwhelmed by a desire to push the hair out of his face and…
"Hi guys! Marlene what are you doing?" My head whipped towards the voice
"Lily! Remus! Wha… What are you doing here?" I stood up and rushed over to hug Lily.
"We have to patrol the corridors. It's part of being a prefect," Remus explained.
"REMUS!" I tackled him in a hug too.
"Hello Marlene," he chuckled, "It's nice to see you too; so what have you three been up too?" Remus joined James and Sirius, and Lily plopped down next to me.
"Hey Evans, you're sure you don't want to sit next to me?"
"Never in a million years Potter," Lily stuck out her tongue.
The Hogwarts Express finally reached the school and we all tumbled off the train. When we finally reached the Great Hall and the sorting had finished, Lily and I said hi to some old friends. Lily whispered she'd be right back and ran off. Probably to say hi to Severus. I love Lily but that boy creeps me out. I plopped down next to Sirius who was in deep conversation with Hannah Smith and punched him in the arm,
"What do you want Marlene, can't you see I'm busy?" he hissed at me, I rolled my eyes and turned instead to talk to James.
"So Jamesie, did you practice over the summer? You were a little off last year," I winked.
"Bloody Hell Marlene! How many times do I have to tell you? I was growing quickly and it through me off balance! I only flew into you once!"
"Whatever you say Potter," I smiled, "This year is going to be great though, I got a new broom!" I smiled at him knowingly. His eyes widened, I knew he'd understand.
"No way… the…the…" his voice dropped.
"Of Course! My parents decided that since I'd been such a good girl I should receive a new broom," His jaw dropped.
"McKinnon I hate you,"
"No you don't,"
"Yeah I know," we laughed and then out of the corner of my eye a flash of red smacked me in the face.
"Lily!"
"Oh sorry Marlene!" I rubbed my cheek,
"Its fine…" I smiled at her.
"How's Snivellius, Evans?" James's smile had dropped off his face and he had a sarcastic smirk on his face. Lily just ignored him, James opened his mouth again but then Dumbledore began his yearly speech. I tuned him out and stared at my reflection in my plate. In my peripheral view I could see Sirius still heavily flirting with that Hannah Smith, so I turned my head to examine his actions. Who the hell did he think he was talking during Professor Dumbledore's talk? Why on earth does she think that Sirius will actually stay interested in her for more then 30 seconds? Sirius has the attention span of a puppy! He should be focused on other things, not that Girl! I mean…
"McKinnon!" Sirius slapped my shoulder.
"I'm sorry, can I help you Sirius?" I sniffed.
"You were staring at me!"
"Don't flatter yourself Black! I was listening to Dumbledore!"
"You were not, he stopped talking 5 minutes ago, besides the foods out and you haven't even touched it yet. I thought you, James, Remus, and I were having an eating competition again! They already started and you've just been staring at me," His face had an exasperated look on mixed with… curiosity?
"Sirius, I was Not staring at you! God, I think your huge ego is getting even bigger if that's possible. Whatever it is, it's clouding your vision,"
"Go to hell Marlene"
"Black you're here. I'm already there," I retorted. He rolled his eyes and began talking to Jonathan Corner.
"Marlene what was that all about?" Remus asked me, "Usually you and Sirius get along better," I looked across the table, smiled apologetically at my friend. James looking curiously between us. Lily, luckily, was involved in a conversation with Alice.
"Sorry Remus, I'm just a little tired after the train ride and Sirius's narcissism was getting to me," Remus gave me a look that said plainly, he didn't believe me. But it's true. It had to be, right? Sighing, I grabbed some food off the endless platters on the table, and took up conversation with Nearly Headless Nick who had conveniently floated by.
