Happy Fourth of July for those who celebrate! (:

"You're all dismissed." A cheer erupted as soon as the words left Slughorn's mouth. "Now I expect you all to have a good Christmas!" He rubbed his stomach, "I sure will!"

By tomorrow morning, most students would be on the train to meet their parents on the platform. During their little talk at the beginning of the week, James had briefly mentioned sharing a compartment with her and her friends. Lily didn't respond though.

"Are you packed, Lils? Alice and I are going to spend the night in your dorm since we're not going to see you over break!" Marlene rambled on guiding Lily out of the doorway.

"I'm sure that'll be fine." Lily could make room somewhere for them. It was a wonder how many girls could fit into a bed at a sleep over.

"We both packed too. Got ahead of the game so we could bombard you." Alice informed her. "We were prepared for once in our lives.."

Lily laughed. "Wonderful."

"Marlene and Alice are staying here tonight in my room."

James was sprawled out on the couch next to a lit fire doing absolutely nothing at all. Most likely more than ready to just go home to his mum.

"We won't be too loud. They just want to spend some time with me before the hols." She continued after getting no response.

"One condition." His head was hanging off the couch.

"Should I be scared?"

"Mildly." He responded, "You sit with me on the train ride home."

"I see no harm in that." It wouldn't be any different from eating a meal or sitting in the common room with them.

"What are your plans for the night?" From the looks of it, he didn't have many plans.

"Exactly this. And nothing more. Maybe I'll move to my bed eventually. Don't know yet." He looked rather comfy.

"Yeah? No Sirius? Remus? Peter?" She'd taken a spot right on his chest as if he were the couch. He didn't flinch.

"I'm going to see those fools all break. This is my break right here." Even he needed a break from them. "They're coming and staying the second half of break with me. The first part is gonna be spent... Ya'know... doing funeral stuff."

"Makes sense."

"How many letters should I expect from you?"

"Excuse me?" Why did he always have to be so blunt about things?

"Head business."

"Potter, you can't use us being Head students as away for you to get to me." He tended to do it quite often.

"I know."

Loud banging on the common room door interrupted them. Lily jumped from the couch and answered the door to reveal Alice and Marlene in their pajamas. "You ready for us, Lils?" Marlene was grinning.

Lily gestured for the two girls to enter. Both ran inside, talking at the same time, and telling Lily what they had planned for the night.

"Evening Potter." Alice greeted, "Now Lils, let's get you in your jammies." She pushed the girl towards her bedroom.

"Oy, Lils. I'm going to need my scarf back for the break." James yelled just before all three girls were completely in the next room. "Promise you can have it back as soon as we get back to school."

A blush spread across her cheeks. Bloody wanker. She shut the door rather forcefully behind her. When she turned around, Marlene and Alice were in fits laughing.

"So, Lilykins," Marlene threw herself on Lily's bed. "Why do you have his scarf in your possession?"

She crossed her arms across her chest. "Not that it's any of your business, but I wore it to his last Quidditch game. He told me it was good luck for someone to do so."

The laughing fit continued. Both girls were now rolling around on Lily's bed holding their sides.

"And you fell for it, Lils? You know that's not true, right? I mean, I've heard of girls wearing their boyfriends' scarves. But, Lily…" Alice had a large smirk on her face.

Lily's face was bright red from anger and embarrassment.

"Is this is? Must be." The scarf had been wrapped around her bedpost and was now being held up by Marlene.

"Matter of fact it is." Lily snatched the garment up, opened her door, and tossed it. "We're not here to talk about this, okay?"

"Reckon we are now." Alice sat up. "Go on, Lily. What else don't we know? Any snog sessions? Broom closest shags? Have you held hands yet?"

They'd linked arms a couple times. He'd managed to put his arm around her. She put her hands to her forehead and shook her head. "It's not what you think."

"It's not what you think, Lils. He's pulling a fast one on you and you're enjoying every minute of it, aren't you?" Marlene was correct. Lily didn't want to come to that conclusion…. But she was right.

"We're good friends. I mean, we're both Head students. We share a common room. What would you expect? That we would be fighting all day and miserable?"

"Yes." Marlene and Alice answered at the same time.

Lily rummaged through her drawers pulling out a pair of old cotton pants and a large button-down to wear to bed. "I really don't see any problems with our friendship." She had stripped of her clothes and was standing in her undergarments. "I like it. Surprisingly enough. He's a good person. Same with his friends. You'll see. Since we're all sharing a compartment tomorrow on the way home."

"Says who?" Alice asked.

"Me." Lily was now buttoning up her shirt. "You guys aren't that only ones who can spring things upon people."

"The things we do for you, Lily Evans." Alice groaned.

"Thank you. Alykins." Alice wrinkled her nose as Lily jumped into the bed between the two girls. All three erupted into laughter.

"Don't make me do this. Don't put us through this hell, Lily. Please! I beg you." Lily was dragging Alice down the corridor of the train. "I can't do this. I won't make it."

"Boo hoo hoo." Sirius was leaning against the frame of the compartment as they approached. "It's a couple hour ride. If you're good, Alice, you can even sit on my lap!"

Frank didn't seem to like the comment. He grunted and grabbed onto to Alice's arm to show that she wasn't interested.

"Ladies first." Sirius let the three girls in before rudely cutting in front of Frank and letting Frank shut the door behind them.

Remus was leaning against the window with his a book in his lap and Peter sat next to him. James was across from him in the other window seat with Sirius next to him. Alice looked back and forth between Peter and Sirius and decided, after a minute, that sitting next to Peter would be less stressful. Frank slid in next to her. Marlene looked at Lily, begging her with her eyes to sit next to Sirius. She obeyed.

The atmosphere in the compartment was thick and awkward. No one seemed to know what to say.

"So, what're your plans for the break?" Remus had looked up from his book to look at everyone.

No one answered.

"I'm spending the holidays with my parents. They mentioned having dinner with my sister's fiancé's parents." Lily answered. "Yourself, Remus?"

"Well, my mum and I are going to take a little trip to visit my aunt. Also gonna spend a few days with James." He responded.

"Sounds like some jolly good fun." Peter grinned. "I'm spending the break with my Gram! She's such a delight. Spoils me rotten with food. "

"Well," Marlene had seemed to catch on that they were all sharing their plans. "I'm traveling to Spain. We spend Christmas there every year." Lucky girl, thought Lily.

Lily kicked Alice with her foot. "Er, right. Meeting Frank's family." Frank nodded his head. They all took this as his plans as well.

"Whatever James is doing." Sirius shrugged.

James was quiet. "Nothing fun. Just my dad's funeral." He avoided eye contact with the others while Sirius patted his best mate on the shoulder. "Mum mentioned maybe heading off somewhere warm for a couple days. Reckon that'll be fun."

Sirius let out a cry of joy causing everyone to laugh. Sirius Black always seemed to be the comic relief. Even James smiled.

Lily was surprised how calm James was during the last week. He didn't cry. He went on with his week just as normal and didn't let anyone faze him. Even after a nasty incident with a couple Slytherins yelling nasty things at him. He casually mentioned that if they weren't quiet, they would receive a detention, and went on his way.

The rest of the ride went as expected. There was little conversation and Lily wished she had been as smart as Remus to bring a book. By the end of the ride, Sirius and James were passed out on each other; Remus had almost finished his book; Peter had told Marlene and Lily his entire life story; and Alice and Frank were sitting awfully close.

Just as the train came to a halt, James and Sirius both jumped up. "Are we to the platform?" James asked at once, stretching his arms above his head. As he brought them down, he "accidently" hit his best mate in the head.

"Finally." Remus said as he gathered his things. "You know my mum was the first one here. Probably getting impatient out on the platform. Have a good holiday!" He was the first one out of the compartment. Closely followed by Peter.

"Oh, Lils! I'll miss you! You too Alice!" The three girls exchanged hugs. Alice left closely huddled with Frank. Marlene gave Lily three more hugs before she left.

She was soon engulfed in the arms of Sirius Black. "Oh, Lily! My darling Lily. How will I function without you for these next couple weeks! My life is in ruins." He was yelling right into her ear causing her to flinch with every word.

She awkwardly patted his back. "You'll do just fine, Black."

"I know." He gave her a cheeky grin and pushed past her.

With all the goodbyes, Lily was just now beginning to gather her belongs and pull her bag from underneath her seat. "How is one supposed to wish another luck at a funeral? I've never had to do so." Lily asked James who was still seated.

"Don't know. Never had to do it either." He stood up. He'd only brought a small bag with him.

"Well, you know what I mean. Just have a good vacation?" Was that good enough?

"I'll try the best I can." He shrugged. "Farewell hug?"

"I suppose I can give you that much. Over dramatically, she huffed, closed her eyes, and held her arms out wide. "Make it quick."

She expected the two arms to gather her and hold her close for too long. What she didn't expect was to be pushed back slightly by a pair of lips against her own. Her hands were pressed against his chest in a failed attempt to push him away.

He pulled away and released her hair and waist from his grip. He arms fell limply to her sides. He grinned while her own face showed no expression. She'd just let him kiss her without much struggle.

"I told you'd I'd try to snog you." His hand was back on her waist. "Didn't think it'd be quite that easy though." He pressed his lips against her cheek and then right below her ear. "Write me, yes?" He was whispering right in her ear. And without another word, he was gone to find his mum.

Lily grabbed her abandoned bag from the ground. Her mind was racing. He was a bloody git. How could he do that to her? She should have expected it. She knew she should have bolted from the compartment.

She found her parents right away. They embraced as her mum told her how much she had missed her. "And Petunia expects us to be ready at exactly noon tomorrow. You know how she is, Lils. She wants everything to be perfect when we meet her fiancé's parents. I bought you a dress to wear."

"I don't imagine they're kind folks." Her dad mumbled, "Not if they're anything like that big ol' walrus." Lily laughed as her father received a slap on his shoulder from her mother.

"Let's get going. You look a flushed, Lily dear. Is everything okay?" Her mum was feeling her cheeks.

"I'm okay, Mummy. Just tired." She lied. Her dad grabbed her bag from her as they left. "And hungry. Very, very hungry."

Lily Evans certainly felt something strange back in the train. Something she couldn't explain.

hehehe review please? (: