hey guys. sorry this chapter has taken so long; i've had a lot going on at school and I've also had a bad case of writers block. im still not 100% happy with this chapter though. please review 3

Remus: again, snatch does not own us. except for Zara Hyde and that annoying Hufflepuff prefect.

Remus leant on the wall between platforms nine and ten then slid through the barrier onto platform nine and three quarters. Wheeling his trolley towards the train, he tried to spot his friends through the thick white steam.

The four marauders and Lily had travelled from the Leaky Cauldron to Kings Cross together, but in the crowded station they had been separated. Remus had decided the best idea would just be to meet them on the platform, but obviously the others had not thought of the same idea.

He was about to give up and get onto the train when there was a loud crash and someone tripped over his trunk. The figure got up, brushed itself off, and stepped closer to Remus. It was Lily.

'Hey Remus. I found the others looking around one of the station shops. They think all the muggle stuff is amazing.' Lily sighed. 'Shall we get our stuff on the train? I reckon they're going to be a while...'

Remus laughed. 'Sounds like a plan. Yeah, James and Sirius get distracted like that. I wouldn't be surprised if they come running onto the platform at a minute to eleven.'

The two friends pulled their trunks onto the train and then set off to find and empty compartment.

As Remus and Lily walked through the carriage, there was a shout from the end of the corridor. 'OI! LILY! REMUS! WE'VE GOT A COMPARTMENT! COME AND JOIN US!' Alice Prewetts head was sticking out of the very last door.

'Cool! Thanks Alice!' Lily shouted back.

When they reached the compartment, Alice hugged them both. 'So glad to see you guys! How have your holidays been?'

Lily shrugged. 'So So. I didn't do much until I met up with the Marauders in Diagon Alley.'

'Speaking of the Marauders,' came a voice from the compartment, 'where are James and Sirius?' it was Frank Longbottom, a fellow Gryffindor and Alice's boyfriend.

'I think they're still at one of the Muggle station shops. They better hurry up though: its two minutes to eleven.' Lily told him, checking her watch. 'Oh well. If they miss the train they're got no-one to blame but themselves. Remus, we better be getting to the prefects carriage. We'll be back soon.' She told Alice and Frank.

The two left the compartment and started heading towards the front of the train.

'Do you know who the Head Girl is?' Remus asked.

Lily grinned mischievously. 'What?' Remus enquired. Then he laughed. 'Don't tell me you are...' At once an uncharacteristic smirk spread onto Remus's face, but Lily missed it.

When they reached the prefects carriage, Remus pulled the door open and stood aside. 'You first.' He said, still smirking.

There was no-one there, but they didn't have to wait long until the door slid open and a girl with long blonde hair and sparkling blue eyes walked in. She looked around, and spotted the only other occupants.

'Hi. Zara Hyde, fifth year Ravenclaw.' she said in a slightly dreamy voice, extending a hand. .Head Boy and Girl I'm presuming?' she asked. Remus shook her hand.

'Lily's Head Girl.' He told the Ravenclaw. 'I was offered the post of Head Boy, but I declined for personal reasons.'

Lily looked a Remus curiously, but didn't ask anything. Something caught Zara's attention and she wandered off, occasionally poking the air with her wand.

The carriage door opened again, and several people walked in. Remus checked his watch. 'Train should start moving any second.' He told Lily. 'Let's hope the others made it in time.'

Just as he finished speaking there was the shrill whistle of the train and the carriage started to move. Lily turned to Remus.

'We're off! Last year at Hogwarts! Oh dear, I think I'm going to cry.' She laughed, her bright green eyes sparkling.

More people arrived and soon the carriage became noisy. 'It looks like you're going to have to give your speech alone.' Remus told Lily.

'Whoever the head Boy is this year, I'm going to kill him. She replied angrily. 'He's supposed to be here. I am going to punch him when he turns up, regardless of who he is. Now I'm going to have to give this speech alone.'

Standing up, Lily looked around the room. 'OI! EVERYBODY SHUT UP!' Everyone looked up at her. 'Ok, thank you. Now, since the Head Boy isn't here, I-'

'Who is Head Boy this year?' interrupted a fifth year Hufflepuff. Lily stared angrily at him. Remus intervened. 'Don't interrupt the head Girl. You'll find out soon enough.'

Lily smiled at him appreciatively. 'Anyway, as I was saying, since the Hea-'

The far door in the carriage opened and every head turned.

'Am I late?' asked a voice, and in stepped James Potter, the head boy badge pinned to his shirt.