A/N: Here it is, as promised! I hope you all enjoy, and please, please review? Even to tell me that you hate it, as long as you say why. Next update... Maybe not til after the weekend. :)

Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter, but I do own a pack of Glow Sticks. :D

-&-

September First of 1997.

A day I will never forget, for as long as I live.

I hurried into Platform 9 and ¾ with Alice, Marlene, Dorcas, Frank, and the Marauders. The platform was a blur of noise and colour. We made our way through the crowds blindly, trying to see through the thick smoke that filled the station. Someone grabbed my hand, and I stiffened, immediately reaching for my wand.

"It's only me, Lily."

James. I relaxed, tucking my wand back into my pocket.

"We should get our things into the Head's Compartment," I heard him say as he lifted my trunk onto the Hogwarts Express. "Then make sure that everyone gets on the train safely."

We dragged our trunks to the Head's Compartment, which had couches and a writing desk. I looked longingly at the couch, tired and sleepy. James chuckled when he saw my face.

"As soon as we finish the Prefect's meeting, you can sleep."

I nodded, and wordlessly, we stepped off the train. We wandered around the platform, helping first years get settled in and breaking up a few fights here and there. The atmosphere seemed different from all the other times I'd been at the platform. The first years were hugging their parents, crying, when in earlier years, they were laughing and running around, excited to be leaving for Hogwarts. The upperclassmen, like always, were promising to write to their parents – except this time they actually meant it. Parents looked more worried than usual.

I scanned the platform, looking for my friend, Mary McDonald, before remembering that her parents had stopped her from attending Hogwarts for her sixth year. The war had caused many parents to pull their children out of school. Alice thought it was silly – after all, what safer place is there than Hogwarts, especially with Albus Dumbledore as Headmaster? But I understood. It was only natural to want to keep your family together. At least you knew they were safe.

The warning whistle blew, and James helped me on to the train. Swarms of parents rushed up to the windows, waving goodbye. Many of them were crying. For some, it would be the last time they saw their children. We waited for the doors to close and the train to start moving before we walked to the Prefect's Compartment.

"Where are your parents?"

"They're on a business trip in France. They would have rescheduled so that they could see Sirius and I off, but we convinced them not to."

"Oh. You – "

A loud explosion interrupted my question, and I had to grab James' arm as the train shook. Screams erupted from the compartments. James and I pulled our wands out quickly.

"What the fuck was that?"

I let go of him and hurried towards a window. His hand encircled my wrist, pulling me back. I turned on him, glaring. "James, I really need to see what's going on – "

I was knocked to the ground as jets of red and green light rushed inside the train. I opened my eyes to see James' face over mine. Even though we were in the middle of an attack, my stomach flopped at our closeness.

"Ambush," he panted, rolling off of me.

"Death Eaters?"

His face was grim. "Who else?"

I got on my hands and knees. "We have to get to the prefects and have them spread out along the train."

James and I crawled along the corridor, shouting for everyone to get down and cast Shield Charms as the jets of light continued coming. We were nearing the Prefects Compartment when the compartment to our left opened and Sirius and Peter exited, also on all fours.

"Prongs! "

"We're being attacked! I need you two to go around the train and make sure everyone's safe." He ducked as a streak of green light rushed over his head. "Bloody hell - Lily and I will send out the prefects. Go!"

James and I continued down the train, barely dodging the curses sent inside. I pushed open the door of the Prefects Compartment to find the prefects crouched down on the floor. They had taken up stations by the windows, firing spells out of them at the attackers. I watched as Remus dove to the floor, narrowly missing a spell. Two sixth year Hufflepuffs worked side by side, one Shielding and the other Stunning.

I felt a surge of pride. These were the people James and I would be leading.

"Everyone, go around the train! Rally whoever's old enough to help – cast Shield Charms, fight back!"

The prefects scrambled out the door, heads low to avoid the spells. The new fifth year prefects looked terrified, and I couldn't blame them. When they received the badge, they'd only expected their first duty as prefects to be patrolling around the Hogwarts Express. And now they were thrust into the middle of battle, charged with protecting other students.

James had turned to follow them. I tugged at his wrist, the way he had done to me earlier. "We need to contact Dumbledore or the Ministry! We can't fight them off alone!"

"I'm sure the Aurors learned of the ambush by now," he said.

"Then they would have gotten here already!"

He nodded, shut his eyes for a brief moment and pointed his wand at the window. "Expecto Patronum!" I watched in disbelief as a silvery stag emerged from the tip of his wand and leapt off the train.

"Dumbledore will send help," he said, pushing me out of the compartment. "I'll explain later. Now, we need to fight."

I looked at him, adrenaline rushing through my veins. I was scared. We outnumbered the Death Eaters, but they obviously had more experience and skill. They knew Dark Magic, for Merlin's sake. It was inevitable that a few students would, at the very least, get seriously hurt. He grabbed my hand and squeezed it.

"Ready?"

"Ready."

With that, we stepped out of the compartment into the throngs of the first of the many battles we would fight in.

-&-

A/N: I hope you liked it! Any mistakes are mine. Is anyone willing to Beta for me? Also, if you've come across any good fics, I could use some fanfic recommendations. Please review!