A/N: SO here's chapter 2. Plan is 1 chapter for every month of the school year, with posts to match each month. October will be up on/around October 15 (whatever the closest Saturday). So happy you enjoyed the first chapter, hope this one is fulfilling!


Kings Cross is full to the brim come September 1st, bodies pressing in every direction, each person's mind already set on their final destination.

Which is lucky, all things considered, since the students of Hogwarts and their families seem less than concerned with remaining unnoticed. Whether for good or ill, Beauxbatons had a strictly enforced set of rules about travel to and from the glistening castle staying 'normal' enough that Muggles wouldn't take interest. Effective though it was, Lily always felt on edge her first day of school, knowing her parents could hardly afford mounting fines for each little infraction.

She'd worked herself into a lather first and second year before finally deciding to send her owl Circe ahead, simply bringing what looked like a decorative gilded cage with her otherwise perfectly Muggle trunk and bags.

She'd often wondered though, whether anyone really looked - would anyone see a few kids with owls or a bloke or two wearing a gladiator's helmet and think 'There's a wizard if I've ever seen one'?

But that debate was for another day, and largely seemed unimportant here, since she'd just seen a broom toting, owl carrying, golf-cleat wearing wizard shuffling his brood toward the platform and not so quietly instructing them to 'mind the Muggles.' Britain seemed less than concerned with actually enforcing the Statute of Secrecy today, and she couldn't blame them.

Starting off school with such a heavy pall over her head was never fun and really, going back to school after a summer of sun and relaxation was always a mix of emotions. Why add a civil infraction to it?

Lily's mind doesn't linger on thoughts of the past for long as she plunges her way through the trick wall and onto Platform 9 & ¾ where it appears the overdone behavior exhibited beyond the wall was indeed an attempt at tamping down on the more unusual aspects of the wizarding world.

Toads leap to and fro over boots and from atop broad brimmed hats while wands lift trunks aloft and float them slowly onto the brilliant red train.

Freshly scrubbed and shined, the Hogwarts Express puts Lily in mind of the sickly sweet cherries she used to mix with her drinks to feel grown up at her mum and dad's work parties. Students from eleven to nearly eighteen shuffle onto the train, varied levels of composure spread throughout and less determined by age than a layman would guess.

But Lily's had her share of instructing youths to know that one's number of years on earth somehow automatically begets the ability to remain calm and rational when excited.

Still, weeks spent assistant teaching at the Muggle primary for summer school hadn't prepared her for wild children armed with wands. Her experience with such things was as a wild, wand wielding child herself. It was only now that she truly pitied her professors. What a terror she must have been.

More families jostle around her and Lily lets herself get swept into the stream of students boarding the train. She gets a few odd looks, the youngest terrified as if she's a large student sent to torture them, but mostly everyone seems caught up in their own lives though they're all converging on the same milestone event together.

She debates where the best situated place will be to execute her vague instruction to act as faculty chaperone, eventually settling on a small compartment in the Prefect's carriage. There weren't instructions to do rounds, simply to be 'available' and perhaps offer a word or two before the Prefects ended their meeting.

Albus had promised she'd have a counterpart to fill in the rest and perhaps help pass the time, but she'd learned sometimes Dumbledore promised above delivery, though his intentions were good. So Lily relaxes against the cozy brushed velvet cushions, cracks open her brand new mystery novel, and settles in for the long haul.

It's just minutes 'til eleven, the conductor calling out the final warning as students rush to claim last minute places among their peers and a few remaining trunks are shoved roughly in where barely enough room exists, when Lily really begins to think she's not going to have a companion for the trip.

Which is fine, but odd. Unless this is some strange new professor hazing, which is also fine, though she can't quite reckon to what end. The final sounding of the train whistle pierces the din of last minute boarders, jolting mothers and fathers alike into action, blowing kisses, shouting last minute instructions, while the most mischievous students fake an inability to hear.

Lily peers out her open window and chuckles to herself as a fiery haired mother gestures, dramatically as she can with two twin boys wrapped about her like little ginger monkeys, and a student that's presumably her son finally takes pity and nods in understanding. As he ducks his head back into the train, Lily does the same, only to find herself in the company of a new traveling companion. And if she takes a moment to enjoy the close, figure-hugging fit of his very Muggle t-shirt and trousers, who could honestly blame her?

It's only a brief diversion; Lily recovers in moments and raises a brow. "Fan of last minute arrivals?"

"I make an entrance."

"I'm sure, Potter."

With graceful ease she finds enviable, James drops a worn leather satchel onto the seat opposite hers and falls into place at its side, feet already propped up about an arm's length to her left.

"Make yourself at home."

He flushes. "Well you picked about the tiniest compartment on the train."

"As far as I could tell, I was alone."

"I'd never abandon you, Evans," he replies, all the loftiness of a gallant knight, "T'would be an affront to my honor."

Lily hums, "I suppose being on time isn't part of the chivalric code?"

"I was on time," James corrects, "And you've done your homework. Bold Gryffindor from wild moor."

"We had houses at Beauxbatons, but it seems a bit more - competitive at Hogwarts."

"Aye," James agrees, "It's all in good fun. Perhaps not so much in my early years, but things have changed. As you well know."

"I've read up on the houses, I'd like to know where I'd have gone," Lily muses, eyes following the view as it gradually shifts from busy city streets to sparsely populated countryside.

"You've got the hair for Gryffindor," James says with a grin.

"That's why you're sorted with a hat, eh? Scalp massage to uncover your deepest, darkest secrets."

"You jest," James laughs, but sobers slightly, "You probably would've been in Gryffindor. We'd have been mates, you and I."

"Didn't you say you were a little arse?"

"Loveable prat, to be precise," James corrects, flipping his pack open and retrieving a couple of chilled bottles before handing one to Lily.

"Contraband."

"No alcohol, it's practically mother's milk."

Flicking her wand, Lily frees the cork and takes a long drag. "Can't say no to free Butterbeer."

"Who said free? That'll be five sickles."

Chuckling, Lily sets her book aside and glances at James. "It's only two at Rosy's."

"Delivery charge."

"I'm beginning to think referring to yourself as a prat in the past tense is a mistake."

"Make that ten sickles."


Easy chatter carries them through the first leg of the trip, and then an abundance of purchases (either completed by James or at his goading) from the Trolley Lady fills another half hour before Lily decides to be at least semi-useful and take a turn about the train.

As she straightens her skirt and makes for the door, James is already slumped across his bench, arm thrown over his eyes and glasses abandoned. "I'll stay here in case of an emergency."

"I can rest easy knowing your vigilance."

He snorts and lifts his elbow to peer at her. "You're welcome."

"I'll try not to wake you when I come in."

"'Ta."

If there had been more argument about her taking a round, Lily'd be disappointed at the completely un-exciting doings of the student body. But James hadn't done much more than smirk at her and splay himself out for an afternoon kip, so she's free to be mostly relieved that she's not signed up for ten months teaching hellspawn ways to do even more damage with their magic.

She does pause to greet a few nervous looking first years, thank a prefect or two, and charm a packet of crisps out of the Trolley Lady before turning back up at her and James' compartment.

Resisting temptation to the contrary, Lily slides the door open gently, wincing at the squeal that would wake a light sleeper, and slips inside. Only to find James wide awake, glasses reclaimed, and currently about twenty pages into her book.

He glances up, spectacles slipping down the bridge of his nose, and grins. "This detective's a bit of an arse. I like him."

"Can't imagine why," Lily says, tossing him one of her schmoozed bags of crisps and dropping into her seat.

The remainder of the trip passes quickly enough. They take turns changing with the other standing guard outside - Lily'll begin her one woman campaign for Muggle clothes come the first day of classes - and soon the train is chugging to a stop.

Hagrid, the very real and definitely mischievous groundskeeper calls out his welcome from the platform and thunder of disembarking students sounds in the hall. In a handful of minutes, the train is largely cleared, the first sets of students already trundling off toward the castle in gloomy looking carriages either propelled by magic or dragged by some invisible beasts.

Given the way a few of the oldest children cast lingering glances, Lily's inclined to believe the latter and guess further that it's a herd of thestrals. Though she can hardly be called a creatures expert.

The rush of young witches and wizards fills Hogsmeade station, the youngest nervously picking their way toward the waiting boats as they bob in the dark waters.

Lily ends up squeezing into one of the last few carriages with a few students who seem torn between being curious about her and being annoyed that they can't gossip too harshly with a teacher in earshot.

Still, they manage to get on alright, asking her what subject she'll be teaching, giving her tips and bits of trivia about the school, and the closer they get, daydreaming about what foods will be offered at the welcome feast.

The first sight of Hogwarts had been dazzling enough in the early morning light nearly a month ago, but lit in the bronze glow of hundreds of torches, the moon wide and bright overhead - Lily's never felt magic more palpably.

She follows the students up through the main entrance, spying a few of the nervous first years attempting glances out from a holding chamber, before wandering toward the antechamber reserved particularly for faculty. It's the easiest way to reach the dais where she'll be expected to eat meals for the foreseeable future. For the first time since she arrived - re-arrived - in Scotland, nerves begin to set in and she paces a few circuits in the abandoned corridor. After some internal - and a few possibly verbal - pep talks, she slips inside and claims one of the few free seats left at the head table. Sirius sends her a salute a few places down before diving back into whatever wild tale he was regaling Professor Sprout with, while Remus continues whatever presumably intellectual discourse he's started with the professors Lily thinks teach Astronomy and Ancient Runes.

The four house tables are mostly full when a shadow looms just over her shoulder, luckily interrupting her downward nervous spiral about never remembering her colleagues' names and making everyone hate her. "Can I sit here?"

Lily glances up to find her earlier travel companion grinning nervously as he waits. "Well, considering the fact that this is the only seat left, it would be cruel of me to say no."

Remus raises his brows, making meaningful eye contact with Lily before he returns to his conversation. A bit of a flush rises on James' cheeks but he slips into the seat next to Lily's and seems recovered enough from whatever oddness that was within a few moments.

"So how fantastic was it to make the little sprogs so uncomfortable on the ride up?"

"You would enjoy that."

"I enjoy molding young minds."

"And freaking them out."

The only answer she receives is a roguish wink (or the best wink James can manage apparently) before Dumbledore calls the hall to order and a semblance of silence descends.


The sorting ceremony had been filled with just as much pomp and circumstance as Lily was promised, complete with an enchanted hat coming to life and serenading them all with a song about friendship and the importance of avoiding division.

Overall, it's not a terrible way to begin the school year and the literal feast that follows doesn't hurt either.

None of which does much in the way of settling her nerves come Monday morning when she's making her way toward the Great Hall with wobbly knees and a hollow feeling in her stomach.

Still, she manages to keep her face lit and bright, taking a seat just as the platters fill with every good thing you'd ever want for breakfast - steaming sausage links, crisp toast, eggs cooked any way you could imagine...suddenly her previously miniscule appetite perks up.

As she's plating a second spoonful of eggs and eyeing the broad tureen full of oatmeal just to her left, the chair next to hers pulls out and she's treated to a new table mate.

"Alright?"

Toast and loaded butter knife in hand, Lily smirks. "You know sitting next to me will mean choosing between Sirius and Remus."

He hums and crunches into a crispy strip of bacon. "It's good to keep them guessing. Can't be too available. I'll get taken for granted."

Lily hums, "You do need to manage expectations."

"Too right."

In the end, Remus wins the unwitting race, arriving a few minutes after James and claiming the seat on his left. "How's the vittles?"

Lily passes over a plate of toast and smiles, "Delicious. Though my appetite is a little suppressed at the moment."

"You'll do fine," Remus says, spreading a pat of butter over his toast.

Spoon hovering over the brown sugar, James chuckles and elbows Lily, "You'd better be, Remus' reputation is on the line."

A barking laugh sounds from the side entrance and Sirius Black joins them with a disgustingly elegant swish of his robes. "I would gift you with a witty retort, but it appears my presence is unwanted this morning."

Remus crunches into his toast and sends Lily a conspiratorial wink. "Well if you want your pick of seating, perhaps you should be more prompt. First bell is in ten minutes."

Scooting his chair back, James pats his thigh and crooks his finger at Sirius. "Come on, have a sit."

"That's a good way to start rumors less than forty-eight hours into the school year."

Sirius ruffles James' hair and turns toward the last vacant seat at Flitwick's side. He's halfway there when he tosses back over his shoulder, "Alas, James, our love is doomed by untimely breakfast arrivals."

Laughter and continued banter - including Sirius, despite his distance two seats down - carries Lily through the remainder of breakfast, and she manages to swallow down a decent meal.

When she rises to leave - her classroom is a bit of a walk from the Great Hall - James reaches over and squeezes her fingers beneath the table. "G'luck, Professor Evans."

She smiles and begins making her way toward her classroom.