[b][u]Chapter four: Continued.[/b][/u]

Rachel tried to follow my gaze, but seeing as she didn't know anyone who was seated at my table, she didn't quite understand the big fuss. "What's wrong, Lils?" She asked me, a puzzled look on her face, an eyebrow arched.

It had taken me a few seconds to get back to the real world again, and I groaned. "What would you say," I began. "If I told you that earlier this afternoon I found out that two of my least favorite people in the world, are on board this ship as well, and I just found out I'll be spending a table with them for the rest of the week during both breakfast and dinner, and possibly lunch as well?"

Rach looked puzzled at first, and then she started to laugh. "Well, that's just your luck then." She said, wiping the tears from her eyes, trying to hold back her laughter. "What a small world this is."

Just then, my mother had noticed me as well, and motioned me to have my seat and have dinner with them. I took a deep breath, and started to walk towards the table, Rach close beside me. "Well, look at the bright side." She said, grinning.

"Is there a bright side to this story then?" I asked, not quite being able to keep the disapproval out of my voice.

"There certainly is, Lils." Rach said. "Seems like they have a little daughter. She seems about the age when they desperately need to be occupied by lets say playing games on a certain deck on this ship with a certain guy who possibly has some interests in a certain red-haired woman called Lily?"

I narrowed my eyes slightly, scanned the table for a second time, when I saw her. She had the same eyes as her big brother, almond shaped and hazel, but her mother's hair, thick and chocolate blonde and straight. She couldn't be older then about a year or seven. A small smile appeared on my lips. Would she be bribed into it?

Just then, I had arrived at my table. Rach waved me goodbye. "Good luck, Lils." She said, grinning. I sighed slightly. "Thanks, I'm going to need it." I said, with a small sarcastic undertone in my voice. Rach giggled once, and then she walked away from us, towards her own table and her uncle and aunt. Once I had taken my seat, I grabbed the menu from my plate and hid my face behind it, desperately trying not to meet nor James' or Sirius' gaze. I tried to catch Rach's eye, but just then noticed she was a bit to preoccupied with watching the two young men at my table. I tried to suppress a grin when I thought of the possibility of her using them to win her bet. I was sure Sirius wouldn't mind, he wasn't one for a steady girlfriend.

My mother just turned to me right then. "We have already given our orders to the waiter." She said, apparently still slightly annoyed that I was a bit to late. "I ordered mushroom ravioli for you. You like that, right?"

I nodded. "That sounds good, thanks." I muttered. Seeing as there was no further use for looking at a menu when there was already ordered, I put it down next to my plate. I didn't quite know what to do to keep myself occupied, and I didn't quite felt like having a conversation with Potter and Black, so I was sure this was going to be the longest dinner ever. I folded my hands in my lap, and looked around, rather bored. Mr. Potter had to notice I didn't have much to talk about, as he started talking about school to me. "So, Lily." He started, smiling. "From what I've heard from James and Sirius you are doing pretty well in school. Most muggle-borns seem to get pretty nervous when they first go to a school like Hogwarts, because it is all so new to them. But all that hadn't applied to you I assume."

I smiled shyly. "I try my best I guess." I said. "Some just happen to have the advantage of being a part of this world since they were born, but that doesn't always mean they're the best at everything. Everyone has to start at the very beginning, so being nervous isn't quite necessary if you ask me. We all have to learn the same, no one really has a head start."

Mr. Potter nodded approvingly at my words. "All very true." He said. Then he turned to his daughter, who I had never seen in my life. "You heard what Lily said, Kaylee. You may have the advantage of knowing about it all since you were born, but just like everyone else you'll have to start at the beginning, no matter what you think about it." He laughed, and so did everyone else at the table, except from my sister, who had a very sour look on her face, and Vernon.

Kaylee folded her little arms in front of her chest and frowned. "But you know I have a big brother who would gladly help me out and provide me my head start, now won't you Jamesy?" She said in a sugar sweet voice. James laughed. "And what would you do to return the favor, little Kay Kay?" He asked, an amused look on his face, pulling her ponytail playfully. "Just what I always do." She exclaimed, shrugging. Then she turned to me. "You know most of his pranks are my idea, but he would never admit it. He isn't one for sharing credit."

"That's just because there is no credit to share, Kay Kay." He said, laughing. Kaylee rolled her eyes. "Suuure." She said. "Then whose idea was it to put the itching powder in Malfoy's clothes and hairbrush on April 1st? Indeed. Mine." She leaned back in her seat, a satisfied smile on her little round face.

I frowned. "But I guess it was his idea to put into my clothes and hairbrush instead of Lucius's, now wasn't it?" I said, looking into Potter's direction, leaning onto the table with one arm, but before he could answer, of course, Kaylee answered first. She rolled her eyes. "Oh James, won't you ever learn?" She said. "Pulling pranks on the girl you like will never impress her! It will just make her angry. Or in the case of a fiery red-head, murderous." The entire table started laughing again, but I could swear I could hear James mutter something like "What would you know about it, little seven-year-old." Good, so my guess about her age had been right.

At that time, luckily, our meal was served. I tried to eat it fast, but not to fast. I didn't want anyone to notice I was in a hurry. Not that I had anywhere to go, but Potter and Black were getting on my nerves a bit. I couldn't tell why though, as they didn't do something wrong particularly. It was probably just the years of annoyance that creped up at that point. I was finished when my mother was. I gave her one pleading look, and she nodded once at me, smiling. I muttered a small apology at the rest of the people at the table, and stood up, making my way out of the restaurant. Little did I know that I was being followed outside…