I've done three chapters already, yet they still haven't reached Hogwarts. I promise that in this chapter I will not be as descriptive. I'll try to be as general as possible. Forgive me if I do become too descriptive. There's a bit of language in this chapter.

Chapter 4: Sugar Quills and Long Speeches

I bent down to tie my shoelace. When I glanced up again, I was alone. It appeared that Evans had fled.

Shrugging it off, I proceeded to my compartment.

I slid the door open and seated myself next to Sirius. Evans was in deep conversation with Prewett, obviously talking about me. It seemed that neither of them had noticed me enter. I could hear every word of their conversation, and apparently, so could the rest of the compartment.

"I'm telling you Alice, he hasn't changed at all!" Evans was saying heatedly.

"Nonsense. You're-"

Peter accidentally nudged Sirius's foot, which made Sirius jump and bang his head loudly on the luggage rack above our heads. He swore angrily at Peter, while rubbing his head gingerly.

The sudden noise caused Evans and Prewett to look up and flush. Feeling uncomfortable, I nudged aside Sirius and sat by the window, so that I was as far away as possible from Evans. Evans looked stiffly away from me, her face tinged with red, while Prewett gave me an embarrassed and apologetic look. Sirius looked at Remus, and something flashed in between them, and Peter glanced eagerly at me and Evans, clearly hoping for some action. Jones seemed like she didn't know what to say to cover the awkward moment.

Thankfully, the trolley lady served as a distraction. "Anything from the trolley, dears?'

She looked expectantly at us. I sighed and handed over a fistful of coins. "The usual," I said, my smile fake.

A sharp "ahem" sounded from me. It sounded suspiciously like Jones.

"Make it double," I corrected myself.

The trolley lady grinned toothily at me. She presented me with the requested items. I had to take two trips to bring it all back into the compartment. I dumped it unceremoniously on the floor.

"Dig in," I said in delight. The girls looked on in disgust as we boys dove in.

I managed to snatch a few Sugar Quills and a bar of chocolate from Moony. He stared longingly at it as I devoured it. Everyone knew that he had a weakness for chocolate.

The girls had a look on their faces similar to the one McGonagall wore when she was regarding a particularly nasty (cough, Lestrange, cough) Slytherin. All four of them looked revolted.

"You," proclaimed Jones "are gross. No one eats food off of the floor."

"Come on," said Sirius. It sounded garbled because he still was chewing. All of us received a peek at the contents in his mouth. Was that a Cockroach Cluster I saw?

He swallowed and said "Come on, Jones, it's all wrapped in plastic."

"It's not spiked, either." I offered Evans a Sugar Quill. She wrinkled her nose.

"Come on, now, I know you're hungry," I coaxed, waving it in front of her face.

She eyed it, and then, in one swift movement, knocked back on the floor.

I rolled my eyes. "Fine. Thanks for rejecting me again."

Her eyes flashed. I knew that she saw what I was saying.

Remus began choking and spluttered for assistance. It took several thumps on his back to make him swallow completely. Chocolate, no doubt, was the culprit.

The rest of the train ride was uneventful. Pettigrew fell asleep, and the rest of us were conversing in low tones.

The train let us off at Hogsmeade. Everybody flooded towards the carriages, and Hagrid was already calling to the first years. I was swept towards the carriages, before a hand grabbed my shoulder.

It was Potter. He pulled me wordlessly towards the lake.

"What's going on?" I tried to ask, but was stopped short when I saw the lake, and an isolated boat drifting idly on the edge.

"Heads have to go separately," he explained briefly, "We're supposed to get there before everyone else does. The Heads of Houses want to speak with us before everyone comes."

I stared at him, surprised. Where had he learned this information?

He caught my look. "Remus," he said shortly.

I nodded, making a mental note to ask Remus later who had he received that from.

Potter climbed into the boat, and held out his hand to help me.

"I don't need your help, Potter. I'm perfectly capable of getting in by myself." I snapped, then carelessly stepped onto the edge.

A moment of terror, as I teetered precariously on the edge. Then, I fell forward, arms windmilling wildly. I would've cracked my skull had something not broken my fall. Something incredibly warm and soft.

Next thing I knew, someone started laughing. I turned red as I realized whose lap I was laying on.

"'Capable of getting in by myself' my ass." chortled Potter.

I was getting more humiliated by the second. I pushed myself roughly out of his lap, thankful that none of my friends were around. They'd probably die from laughing so hard.

He was still chuckling by the time we reached Hogwarts. Meanwhile, I was growing even madder.

We entered the Great Hall. His laughter was reverberating through the air.

"Shut up, Potter," I snapped, slapping his arm.

"Ouch, woman, no need to be abusive," he said, amusement still evident in his voice.

I let his words float over my head. I was still taking in the sight of Hogwarts.

"Imagine, this is the last we're ever going to enter this hall and have our breaths taken away," I murmured wistfully, forgetting who I was talking to for a moment.

For once, Potter didn't make some sarcastic comment.

McGonagall interrupted my daze. I jumped, startled. Where had she come from?

"Trip alright?" she asked briskly, and without waiting for an answer, she began her long talk about rules and responsibilities and blah blah blah.

I let her voice fade dully into the background. I had heard this speech as a prefect. Instead, I immersed myself in my own thoughts.

Today had been bizarre. I was Head Girl, as expected, but Potter was Head Boy. Why on Earth did Dumbledore make him the Head Boy? He could've picked someone more respectable, like Remus Lupin, or (sigh) Amos Diggory.

Potter was jabbing me in the ribs with his elbow. I hissed in pain and smiled weakly at McGonagall.

She gave me a stern glance. "I know you may have heard this before, Miss Evans, but that is not a reason to not pay attention."

I bowed my head. "Sorry, Professor," I mumbled.

McGonagall finished her speech in the next few minutes and then hurried away to the teachers' table.

"So, Evans, what're we going to choose as our password?" asked Potter.

I gave him a confused look.

"Oh, right, you weren't listening," he smirked. "The password to the Heads' Dorm rooms."

I groaned. I was being tortured even more? What had I done to deserve this punishment?

"I dunno, pick whatever you want."

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