Just Friends, Right? -- 1

Author: Cattie

Rating: PG

Genre: Romance, possibly comedy later

A/N: Okay, first long shot HP fic, and I will finish this fic, I promise! I could do with some suggestions for a title, and considering this thing doesn't even have a plot, well, then I think it is a hopeless cause. Oh well, Title suggestions can be e-mailed to me, or left in a review. Thanks!

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'August 31st

Dear Diary,

Oh my gosh, I saw the cutest guy today.

I met him in Diagon Alley, when I went to fetch my new robes.

I was walking out of the store, and I was off in my own little dream world, when I fell over a.... actually, I don't know what I fell over, I guess it mustn't be important.

So, I was walking out of the store, I fell over, and he caught me.

He had messy black hair, and the cutest brown eyes with tiny little golden flecks in them...

And now I, Lily Evans, sound like a lovesick teenager. Lovesick over someone who sounds like…. James Potter! Oh man! Remind me to be sick later.

Anyways, I can't get him out of my mind. Maybe a couple of dozen dates when I get back to Hogwarts will do it. After all, I'm starting Fifth year tomorrow.

Lily ~*'

I snapped my diary shut, not really wanting to write anything, just wanting to waste some time while in the car, on the way to the train station. I gazed out of the window, dreaming away, when suddenly I noticed I could see my reflection.

I'm not one of those mirror-hogging brat, no, not me, but I did feel rather self-conscious this year; I had changed alot over the summer.

I was always considered pretty during my first four years, but now, as according to all my muggle friends, I looked 'stunning'.

I had to admit, I looked pretty nice, my reflection telling me that my shoulder length deep-red hair was hanging perfectly naturally, my emerald eyes were flashing, my oh-so pale skin looked okay, and if I kept biting my lips they would turn a deep-red color, instead of the usual pink.

My new robes would look fine on me, but I couldn't very well wear them to the station. So I was wearing muggle clothing instead, ripped jeans and a vest top.

I was in the middle of trying to guess what destructive new pranks James and Sirius had come up with this summer, and trying to figure out if Remus was 'incapacitated' at the moment, when the car stopped and Dad leaned over to me.

"Earth to Tiger, we're here"

Those were all the words I needed to get going, and I jumped out of the car, grabbed my trunk, and said happy good-byes to Mom and Dad, sending my best wishes to the no-doubt scowling Petunia at home, all the time setting new land-speed records.

As I made a dive for the barrier to get to Platform 9¾, I saw a familiar set of heads just in front of me, and my grin became wider. So Remus isn't 'incapacitated' this time!

I landed smoothly on the platform, despite my thoughts being elsewhere, and waited for them to come through.

Firstly came a little blond boy, Peter. I waved him over to me, and motioned for silence.

Then came a tall, long black haired boy, with a bellowing laugh and cheeky grin, Sirius. I didn't wave him over, as I knew the other two would find him too easily, and as Peter and I made small talk, and laughed at Sirius' poor attempts at finding him, Remus landed nearby, looking rather more flustered than the other two.

He picked himself up, smoothed out him ruffled brown hair, and joined Sirius, his eyes scanning the platform for Peter, and probably me now.

As his eyes went across to where we were standing, I ducked, and my heart went out to him. He looked even more tired than he had the other years, his bluey-grey eyes gazing tiredly around, his skin pale and ashen, it must have been the full moon just before he came.

As I was pre-occupied with Remus, I didn't spot the last member of our party come through the barrier, but I saw him well enough when he joined Sirius and Remus.

If it was at all possible, his messy black hair had become even messier, and his glasses were on askew, covering what I knew to be brown eyes.

I whispered to Peter to go over to them now, finishing our conversation, and he dragged his trunk over to where the 3 boys were standing.

I saw them all move towards the train, all scanning the platform, probably for my red hair. I always share a compartment with them, ever since first year, and we're all good friends, even Peter and I, although some think different.

I waited until James had turned his back to me, then levitating my trunk behind me I raced for him, diving onto his back and knocking us both to the floor in a tangle of limbs.

He was underneath me by the end of our little wrestling match, and I was in fit of giggles. Oh, why did I have to be ticklish, and why did James have to know!

As my giggles subsided, I placed his glasses straighter on his face, and brushed some dust off his forehead.

He was staring at me in a strange way, almost longingly, with a hint of disbelief, but I didn't care, as I knew I was staring at him in the same way.

I let my hand rest in his hair, fiddling with a little piece with my fingers, and his hand moved up to tuck a stray piece of hair behind my ear, and little jolts of electricity buzzed under my skin wherever his hand touched.

Our faces were inching closer together, lips almost touching, when a shrill whistle jolted me from my stupor, and I leapt to my feet.

"Well, Potter, nice to see you again" I stuttered, although it was meant to come out cool, calm and collected, as if I'd never been close to kissing him, but instead every word became a stutter, and I blushed viciously.

"Nice to see you too, Li- Evans." He said, straightening his clothing, and running a hand through his disheveled hair.

We slipped into silence, not having anything more to say to each other, and both of us feeling rather awkward, until I turned to lift my trunk onto the train, and found Peter grinning at me, holding my trunk on-board the train.

As usual he was being friendly in the nice way he had, carrying our stuff, if we let him, and during my tickle fight he must've grabbed my trunk and hoisted it on-board.

As I bent down to brush some dirt from the knees of my jeans I felt familiar arms slip around my waist, and a voice whisper into my ear

"Nice ass, Lils. Can we start this year over again though? Please?"

I felt a shiver race down my spine, and as I turned around to see James' brown eyes pleading with me, and I couldn't help noticing the little golden flecks in them.

"Okay Jamsie, lets start over" I giggled, a niggling little thought in the back of my head telling me that I should try and get out of his arms, but I felt so… safe, I guess, that I never wanted to leave.

I kissed him quickly on the nose and then turned round and tried to walk off, throwing a casual "How was your summer, James?" over my shoulder, but not quite making the impact I wanted, as he seemed determined not to let go.

"James" I giggled again, wriggling in his arms, hoping he would let go, but to no avail.

Suddenly he swung me up into his arms, and I flung my arms around his neck, shrieking indignantly, as he boarded the express, and walked to the carriage where Remus, Sirius and Peter were already sat.

As James finally sat me down, in his lap, no less, I spotted a small, tired looking girl in the corner of our carriage. I scooted out of James' lap, promising to return, and moved to sit by the girl.

"Hi, I'm Lily Evans, Gryffindor" I said cheerily, holding my hand out to shake.

"Catalina Illusio, Gryffindor also." She said, a small smile playing on her face momentarily.

"What year are you in? I'm Fifth" I said, casting my eye over the girl, and noting her petite frame thought she couldn't be any more than Second year.

"I'm in Fourth, but I'm meant to be in Fifth. Few problems at my old school, Berne Academy, Switzerland" She replied, her smile sticking this time, but a very small smile at that.

"So, you're French Swiss? Or from the German part?" I inquired, as the girl didn't seem to be of either ethnicity.

"Oh, neither, I'm fully British, but my parents moved to Switzerland a few years ago." She assured, sliding one of her textbooks into the bag.

"Do you want to come and sit with us? The boys don't bite. Much, anyways" I offered, with a slight giggle at my last comment.

However poor a joke I had just made, she seemed to find it funny, and giggled along, before accepting my invitation with a cheerful 'Sure'

As I wandered back over to the boys, sitting back down in James' lap and stealing his glasses, rendering him semi-blind for a while, Catalina slid into the spare seat between Remus and Sirius, her shyness somewhat forgotten as she giggled along with me at the semi-blind James' attempts at getting his glasses back from me.

I introduced her to the others, and then went back to my teasing of James, noting happily that she seemed to be chatting away happily with Remus, I wasn't sure what about though.

The train ride flew by in a blur, consisting of Sirius vanishing and then returning, proudly admitting to planting dungbombs in Snape's carriage, Peter discussing Quidditch with his friend from Hufflepuff, Andy, and then leaving with him, promising to sit with us at the feast, Catalina and Remus continuing their hushed conversation, and me teasing James mercilessly, then taking finally taking pity on him and handing back his glasses, but not before putting a small charm on them to make him see everything in the wrong colours for the rest of the day.

We all changed into our robes as we neared the end of the train journey, then proceeded to chatter on about various little things, and finally arrived at the platform.

As we all climbed off the express, several people pointed our way, and despite being used to attention, it was rather unnerving.

We walked towards the coaches, which would take us to Hogwarts, Remus and Catalina still continuing their conversation, and me and James almost talking, with Sirius popping up occasionally, and jumping on James' back a lot.

Finally, we got to the coach, and James, Sirius and Remus jumped aboard, Remus then helping Catalina on and settling her in the seat next to him, with Sirius and James acting like prats, being overly attentive and old fashioned in getting me inside the carriage and seated carefully on James' lap.

The ride there was usual, with some good natured bickering between me and James, and Sirius almost falling out a few times, and then we were there.

Hogwarts loomed impressively over the horizon, it's weathered turrets standing out against the afternoon sky, and the mists rising to reveal the massive oak entrance doors being opened, by magic, of course, and some students walking through them, trunks levitating behind them.

We all tumbled out of the carriage, and strolled towards the Great Hall, taking seats towards the far end of the Gryffindor table, me next to James, with Sirius on his other side, Remus, Catalina and Peter, who had arrived back and been filled in on all that he had missed, opposite us.

Dumbledore began his usual little speech, and the sorting flew by in a flash, Gryffindor welcoming 3 new girls, (Fox, Sydnie, a shy muggle-born, then McKinley, Diamond, and McKinley, Sapphire, a lively pair of half-blood twins, who bounced incorrigibly through-out the whole meal, but you couldn't help liking) and 3 new boys, (Hartill, Jake, a cocky young pure-blood, who reminded me a lot of Sirius, Russell, Bryan, a half-blood young boy, who seemed to be very studious, and serious, and finally Tyler, Karl, another loud boy, but muggle-born.)

McGonagall finally finished with Zambra, Luke, who quickly became 'RAVENCLAW' then went to sit down, but was reminded of something by Dumbledore.

"Ah, yes. This year we have one more student, a transfer student from Switzerland, in her Fourth Year, who has already been sorted to Gryffindor. Welcome, Catalina Illusio." She announced, as Sirius prodded Catalina to her feet, where she bowed and smiled shyly at the hall, before sitting down quickly and blushing.

After that the feast appeared, and, as per usual, not much talking was done as the boys stuffed their faces and Catalina and me ate casually.

We headed up to the common room after finishing, all talking animatedly, despite Sirius' moans of still being hungry, gave the password to the Fat Lady ('Cherry Drops') and entered, sitting around and talking, Catalina leaving us occasionally to talk to the people from her own year, but always returning to sit down next to Remus, which Sirius teased him relentlessly about.

Eventually we were all heading to bed, and as I walked from the Fourth year's room (where I had just said bye to Catalina) I wondered what this year would be like, then walked into my own room, chatting to the other girls while I got ready for bed, and climbed in, only to be met with an invisible hand over my mouth and another one around my waist.

"James" I whispered, before biting on the fingers over my mouth and sighing.

"What now?" I whispered, trying not to sound too annoyed, but really, I was very tired, now was not the best time for him to sneak into my room.

"Oh, nothing really, just felt like being near you, Lily-Flower" he replied, in a hushed whisper, moving his bitten hand to join his other around my waist.

"Good then, be near me while I sleep" was my reply, before lying down in his arms, using his chest as a pillow.

"Actually, I wanted to congratulate you on behalf of Remus, he's very glad you found Catalina today, he enjoys having another werewolf to talk to." He replied, ever the smart-arse.

"Good, so I was right when I thought she looked as tired as Remus today, it was full moon just before they came. Night Jamsie." I muttered, my eyes already beginning to close.

"Don't I get a good-night kiss, Lily, my sweet?" he pleaded, but I was too far gone to do anything but mutter 'In the morning' and let the darkness take me down into a deep, dreamless sleep.

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First Chapter over! Please review!