Disclaimer: Nothing recognisable belongs to me.

Chapter 12: Fourth Year.

Third year came and went, and it hadn't brought Lily with it. Still no news. The year went quickly with Hogsmeade trips, new subjects to study. Christmas passed and the group attended Arthur and Molly's wedding. January passed with heavy snow and snowball fights. February gave the boys and girls an awkward Valentine's encounter with Sirius and Alice. Marlene wasn't impressed, neither was Frank, and two new relationships formed. The Marauders were made, and secrets promised. Exams happened, then it was the summer again. The group had given up hope of ever seeing Lily again.

James hopped onto the train, waving goodbye to his parents before heading to find his friends. He made it through the train and realised they weren't here yet so went to find an empty compartment. Finding only one compartment with a person curled up by the window he slid in, glancing their way before settling in to wait for the others to show up.

He didn't have to wait long before Sirius and Peter were lugging their stuff through the door, laughing about something they'd just seen on the platform.

"Alright mate, good summer?"

"Yeah, dad got me a new broom!"

Remus came next, waving to his parents out the window.

Marlene and Alice were last, Alice dragging Frank with her, shouting goodbye to a very round Molly as she came. "Don't pop him out before christmas hols!"

"God Alice!"

"What? She's pregnant!"

They spent the journey playing games and talking about their summers, ignoring the figure by the window who still seemed to be asleep.

At about 6pm they arrived in Hogsmeade station and headed for the horseless carriages, the hooded figure trailing after them. As they lugged their stuff onto the platform the figure overtook them, following the crowding students towards the carriages. The group followed closely behind, wondering who this new person seemed to be.

As they neared the carriages the person stopped, staring just ahead of the next carriage. Alice almost knocked them over, stumbling to a halt. "Sorry about that! Are you ok?" The figure didn't respond to anything.

"What's she looking at?"

"Shhh Sirius!"

"What?"

James turned to him, "Wait, how'd you know they're a girl?"

Sirius shrugged and pointed "The shoes." They all looked at the pumps on the girls feet.

They looked up as she started walking towards the front of the carriage.

Marlene leant in "What do you think she's doing?"

The others shrugged as they watched her reach out a hand to touch whatever she was seeing.

"Nothing pulls the carriages right?" The others agreed with James, what was the girl stroking when nothing was there?

They watched the girl reach out to hug what could be assumed to be the neck of an invisible horse, before turning and climbing into the carriage as it left.

"They left without us!"

After the group had trudged up to the castle the sorting ceremony was already over and everyone was digging into the mouthwatering feast. The group sat down, filling their plates as they looked around at the new first years. They scanned the whole great hall before realising the didn't see the hooded girl from earlier.

"Who do you think she was?"

Remus shrugged, "Probably a transfer student."

Sirius nodded "She was probably a year younger than us or something."

"I guess we'll find out at some point."

They found out that night. They hung out in the common room for a while before people started trickling to bed. Soon just the Marauders and the girls were up. The girls headed up first, the boys not far behind. The boys had just reached their door when they heard the screams. They ran back down the stairs and found Marlene and Alice stumbling down the girls staircase.

"What happened?"

"Are you guys ok?"

Alice was paler than usual, and Marlene sat down as her shaking legs wouldn't hold her up. Sirius headed over to her, Peter went to grab Frank from the dorm.

After Frank and Sirius had moved the girls closer to the fire they noticed someone else descending the girls staircase, they stopped at the base.

Alice looked up, whimpered and pointed. The boys looked as the girl from the train removed her hood and waved.

Their jaws dropped in shock, James took a step closer.

"Lily?"