Disclaimer: None of the characters (except for in later chapters) in this fanficition belong to moi. They all belong to the wonderful J. K. Rowling. So please don't sue me. Oh yes, but several characters coming up in future chapters are mine... I'll let you know, though! Thank you for your time and patience. And now on to the story! *Giggles insanely*

A/N: Paragraphs in italics are flashbacks, if you couldn't figure that out. That is all....

Chapter Six: The Hogwarts Express

Lily grunted with exertion as she dragged a trunk as large as she was through door to her room. Tomorrow she was to be off to her new school. She sighed as she threw various items into the trunk. Ten whole months without seeing James, without hearing so much as a rude little peep from him. It made her smile.

Of course, she had seen him numerous times after he invited himself into her house and ate her food, but it was with his parents, and he was being perfectly civil. She had also seen him running around the outside of his home with another dark-haired boy. They set off a couple loud explosions in the nearby woods, she knew that. What she didn't know was how they got their grubby little paws on explosives.

Lily looked to her trunk. She still couldn't believe the items that were in there. Just a few days ago, she and her father made a trip back to London to visit Diagon Alley, following the directions she received in the letter. What she saw was right out of her wildest dreams.

First, they had to find a dirty little pub called the Leaky Cauldron. Lily could find it perfectly, nestled right between a book shop and record shop, but her father didn't fair as well.

"Lily, I think you're going a bit crazy. There's nothing there!"

Lily shook her head. "Dad, look. Right there. Between the music shop and book store. See the sign? It says 'The Leaky Cauldron.' This is it!"

Richard sighed. "I think it's time we asked for directions. Obviously there's been some sort of misprint in the letter."

Lily grabbed her father's hand roughly and started to lead him to the pub. He tried to yank his hand away. "Lily, be rational!"

"Fine, do it the hard way," Lily said as she opened the door and disappeared inside.

Richard stood rooted to the spot, dumbfounded. His daughter had just disappeared! Suddenly a small hand reached out to grab his wrist, and Richard felt himself being dragged through a doorway. The pocket of his pants became hitched on the door latch. He tugged himself free and looked about.

The pub was small, but it was filled with people of every sort. Actually, he wasn't sure if half the people were people. Some had green skin and boils, others looked perfectly human only they were dressed in very strange garb. A few in the corner glared at him with golden eyes, their sharp teeth jutting below the jaw.

"Well, this certainly looks like the place," Richard said sheepishly.

Lily smiled as she thought back. The Alley itself was even more spectacular. It twisted and turned sharply at odd angles everywhere, with the strangest looking shops lining the road. Hundreds of people milled about, and she saw a great deal of children her age and older. They, no doubt, were preparing for school also.

The shops held many off-the-wall things, like beetle eyes, strange books that glowed different colors, solid gold cauldrons, dragon liver, multicolored dress robes, and flying broomsticks. The most interesting of these shops, however, was the one called Ollivander's.

But Mr. Ollivander said he would not accept their Muggle money. It had to be in Galleons, Sickles, and Knuts. So he redirected them to the Wizard's Bank, Gringotts, to exchange their cash. Ho hum. That part wasn't very exciting, except for the fact that short little men with very hairy faces and pointy ears in velvet suits rushed about all over the place. She actually saw two of them knock each other over from behind large piles of precious gems.

After buying all of her school supplies (plus some things she didn't need), she went back to Ollivander's to get her magic wand.

He was a rather old man, with the palest grey eyes she had ever seen. At first glance, it might have seemed as if his eyes were pure white. He ran around his small shop at an alarming speed, gathering long boxes of every kind from the shelves.

"Here. Try this," Mr. Ollivander said. He handed her a long stick. "Cherry, phoenix feather. Thirteen inches. Give it a wave."

Lily did so, and almost immediately a window behind her cracked. "Sorry...."

Mr. Ollivander didn't say a word, just yanked the wand from her hand and gave her another one. "Oak. Dragon heart string, nine inches. Inflexible."

But before she had a chance to wave that one, it too was yanked away. He gave her nearly twenty other wands, all of them being taken away. Lily actually began to feel as if there was some sort of mistake, that she wasn't magical after all. When she dared to voice that thought out loud, Mr. Ollivander shunted it off. "Nonsense. The wand chooses the wizard, Miss Evans. Your wand just happens to be particularly shy. It doesn't seem to want to show itself. Willow. Unicorn tail hair. Ten and a quarter inches. Pleasantly swishy. Give it a try, dear."

Lily took the wand and instantly felt a pulsing in her fingertips. The wand felt pleasingly warm, and began to glow with a pale silver light.

"Wonderful child!" Mr. Ollivander cried. He gently took the wand from her hand and all but danced to the checkout.

Lily snapped the lid of her trunk shut with a smile. Tomorrow would be an exciting day.

***

Lily jogged up ahead of her family, trying to figure out exactly where platform 9¾ was.

"Lily, it isn't here!" her mother shouted for about the hundredth time that morning. "We've asked everyone! Didn't you see the way that gentleman looked at us when we asked him?"

Lily went to lean her tired form on the barrier between platforms nine and ten. "We can't give up now." Suddenly Lily let out a terrified squeak, and the next moment she was lying flat on her back looking at the ceiling. Groggily, she rubbed her head and looked up.

Above her was a scarlet sign that read Platform 9¾. And to her left was the most amazing steam engine she had seen in her life. It was a bright candy apple red, with golden wheels that shone in the bright morning sunlight. Golden letters on the side spelled: The Hogwarts Express.

Lily's face broke into a huge grin as she went crashing again through the barrier.

"Mum, Dad, Petunia! Over here!"

Mr. Evans rushed over to his daughter's side, his face bright red. "Lily Evans! Where were you? You disappeared— You had us worried sick!"

"Oh, you should see this," Lily laughed. She grabbed Petunia's hand quickly and dashed through the barrier again. Only this time there was a sickening crack and a howl of pain. Petunia reeled back from the brick wall, clutching her bloodied fingers. Mother rushed over to her older daughter with worry. Petunia couldn't get through the barrier.

Lily came back through the wall with a look of shock on her face. Petunia was doubled over with soft sobs, clutching her injured hand to her chest, and mother was by her side, smoothing out her hair.

"Oh no. Petunia, I'm so sorry! I didn't know you couldn't come through!"

Petunia heard herself choke out the words "It's alright," but she glared up at her younger sister through a veil of blonde hair. Her sister just had to rub everything in, didn't she? Not only did she get the letter, but she could pass through the barrier, while Petunia could not. It was like a slap in the face.

Lily's face was one of genuine grief. Petunia felt herself despise that face, with her lightly freckled, perfect nose and bright green eyes. You probably did that to make me look like a fool, didn't you? Petunia thought venomously.

Lily went over to hug her sister as an apology. Petunia felt her muscles stiffen.

"The train leaves in just a few minutes," Lily said softly, speaking to her parents, but not taking her eyes off her sister, "I guess I should say goodbye then,"

Marianne sobbed as she went to hug her daughter one last time. Lily could feel her mother's body shaking just a bit with each breath. They both knew it would be the longest they would ever be from each other. "I love you mum," Lily whispered.

Next Lily went to Richard, who stooped down to give her a quick kiss on the forehead. "Be good," he told her, "Do your best and stay out of trouble." he smiled. Lily grinned back.

"I love you too, daddy."

Lily turned to smile at her sister one last time before leaving. Petunia's face was set like stone. Unnerved, she picked up her trunk and proceeded to drag it to the barrier.

Petunia hesitated, but grudgingly went up to her sister and grabbed her by the shoulder with her good hand. Lily whirled around.

Petunia's eyes stared coldly down into her sister's. Then in a whisper that could only be heard by the two of them, Petunia said, "You lucky little pin-headed twit... You'd better make us proud." she gave Lily's shoulder a squeeze. Then turned and walked away. She didn't look back.

Lily gazed at her sister sadly before turning herself and walking through the barrier. She didn't stop for anything. Just squeezed her way between the throngs of teary-eyed people. She shoved a few of them out of the way bad-temperedly. Tears filled her own eyes. She wouldn't cry though.

Lily was finally able to wrestle her trunk into the steam engine as its whistle blew. She sat down wearily in the empty compartment and rested her head on the window. She watched tiredly as all the waving people grew smaller and smaller in the distance. She watched as the small children ran along the platform, trying to catch up to the train as it sped away. Then she closed her eyes and let the movement of the train soothe her. And she thought.

She thought of the way her sister glared at her when she injured her hand just then. She had never seen such hatred coming from her sister's eyes before.

Lily couldn't understand it. She and Petunia had a very good relationship before this. In fact, Petunia was actually a very good sister. She always used to talk while walking home from school, joking and laughing, with Lily. Sometimes she even invited Lily to come along when she went out with her friends. She never really seemed to be ashamed of having her little sister tag along everywhere. She taught Lily to sew when she was younger and even did her hair when she was little.

Of course her sister could get snappish and irritable. She would sometimes get very moody when Lily dared to enter her room without knocking, and she would throw things at her sister to get her out. Soft things, of course though. She was unbearably surly during the move, but it had hurt her, too.

She definitely wasn't the perfect sister, but she was good, nonetheless. Good enough for Lily.

Then she remembered Petunia looking down on her coldly. Even when her sister was upset before, she never glared at Lily like that.

"You lucky little pin-headed twit... You'd better make us proud."

Lily bit her lip. There was ice in that voice that she had never heard before. She couldn't understand it. It scared her.

And though she tried not to, Lily cried.

¤~*~¤~*~¤~*~¤

James and his tall, dark haired friend Sirius stumbled down the hallway to an empty compartment, laughing heartily all the way. He and Sirius had just finished with giving another first-year a hard time. The poor boy's name was Snate, or Snake, or something, and the two friends were making fun of him for his greasy slicked-backed hair. In all truth, James felt the tiniest bit of shame in laughing at the poor kid, but it was just too funny. Besides, once Sirius got going, he was as hard to stop as a freight train.

Sirius reached passed James to slide open the compartment door. "That look on his face was just too funny!"

"Yeah, I guess it was..."

"What do you mean you guess?"

"Never mind,"

"James, what's eating you?" Sirius looked at his best friend with a look of worriment on his face.

But James didn't answer. His attention was turned to something else. There was someone else in the compartment that they hadn't noticed before. It was a rather tired-looking boy with sandy brown hair, his nose stuck in a book entitled The Dark Forces: A Guide to Self-Protection. But what caught James's eye was that he was small. His legs swung above the floor by a good three inches, and he only looked to be about eight or nine years old. The boy also seemed not to notice that James and Sirius were standing in the doorway. Either that, or he did not care.

"I didn't know they were letting dwarves in this year," Sirius said. There was no malice in his voice, however. It was just playful banter, the kind that Sirius always used to speak.

The smaller boy seemed to notice that and looked up. Both James and Sirius broke out into a grin.

"Sorry about him. He only has about three brain cells to his name."

At that comment, Sirius laughed and slapped the back of James's head. James, (now with his glasses dangling dangerously from one ear and under the nose), stuck out his hand. "Anyways, the name's James Potter."

The smaller boy took his hand, but before he got the chance to speak, Sirius pointed to his own chest. "And this idiot's name is Sirius Black."

James stopped and stared at his friend. "You know you just called yourself an idiot,"

"I know. I knew that was going to be the way you introduce me, so I saved you the trouble."

"No I wasn't,"

"Oh yes you were. I know you James..."

The boy snorted into his book. James and Sirius stopped bickering abruptly. "And you are?" they both asked.

"Remus Lupin," he smiled and returned to his book.

"Why are you reading this?" Sirius asked as he took the book from Remus's hands, "We haven't even started school yet!"

"He can read and get a head start on things if he wants to! Besides, Defense Against the Dark Arts is supposed to be very exciting and... exciting!"

Sirius rolled his blue eyes. "Honestly James, you don't really believe what she said do you?" He turned to Remus, "My cousin Sarah—" at this he pulled a face— "said that you had to pass an admittance exam or they'd send you home. Can you believe THAT?"

"If they don't give you a test then," Remus asked, "what do they do then?"

James shrugged. "Maybe they have you do something that every witch or wizard can do. Like the magic you're able to do when you're scared or angry.... To make sure that you really are a wizard."

Sirius had a look of revelation cross his face. "Maybe.... Maybe they have you blow colored sparks from your ass!"

"You do that when you're scared? Oh, that's priceless!"

"Hey! I never said—!"

Remus laughed again, but he turned back to his book. James saw the section he was reading. Werewolves. It seemed very interesting to Remus at least.

And James took a closer look at the smaller boy. His clothes were desperately wrinkled, like they had been tossed in some corner for a week. He also had great bags underneath his eyes, making him look as if he hadn't slept a wink in days. Yet despite that, even though he was reading, James knew the boy was alert at all times. He might be looking out for someone. Possibly it was that Slytherin third year, Marc Doyle. He was always looking for new little first years to pick on. James knew that, because Sarah had told him.

None of the boys spoke for a few minutes. Both Sirius and James expected for Remus to look up from his book, to talk, but he said nothing. He looked totally content with the company of his book. But James knew. The boy was shy.

Sirius finally lost his temper. "It's quite obvious that he doesn't want us here, isn't it?"

"Yeah... I guess he doesn't," James said half-heartedly.

As if on cue, Remus looked up from his book. He was just in time to see the other boys get up to drag their luggage to another compartment. "C'mon. Let's go."

They thought they heard the sound of Remus's feet as he slid to the ground and half expected him to call out to them. He didn't. As they turned down the corridor, James looked back to see if Remus was following them. He wasn't. James felt bad. The poor kid looked lonely, and James just wanted to be friendly. Just like how he thought Lily looked lonely and frustrated, and needed company. When he tried to be nice, it almost always blew up in his face.

As soon as they were in an empty compartment, Sirius turned to face James. "I really didn't like that Lupin kid anyways. He seemed... strange... to me." Whenever Sirius's feelings got hurt, he always tried to put all the blame on someone else. James rolled his eyes.

"You say that about everyone we meet." James switched to the tone of a nagging mother. "Honestly boy, I can't take you anywhere!"

"No, really James. He didn't seem... right..."

James threw his hands up in an I give up expression and sprawled out over two seats. "He seemed alright to me. Just a bit quiet."

Sirius sat down on the floor. "Exactly. He was quiet... Too quiet."

"Kid's just shy,"

"He was reading a book. Reading a book James. We haven't even started a bloody term yet. And he didn't even bother to notice us until I said something."

"Like I said. He's a shy one, he is."

This time it was Sirius's turn to throw his hands in the air. "He's got something wrong with him, I tell ya! Believe me James, I can tell these things!"

James only laughed at his friend's paranoia.

A/N: Ok.... Chapter six... done.... My fingers hurt, my eyes hurt, my butt's numb, all because I slaved over this dumb plastic box for four hours each in two days to bring you this. I hope you enjoy it! :) Oh, and if you don't like the way I portray Remus, well tough toenails. I get sick and tired of reading Marauder stories with him being oh-so-popular and handsome just like Sirius and James. My friend Ali hated the way I made him (yes, the Ali in the fic is based on real-life Ali, just so's you now...)...

Also, for those people who said they liked my fast updates? That's an illusion. I already had the first five chapters typed out. From about the seventh chapter on, the updates are going to be coming a bit slower. It takes me about 2-3 days to write a chapter, but now it may take about 5-7. I'm sorry about this, it's just that I re-started school recently, and between that and extra-curricular activities, I just won't have time to write some nights.

Also it could be that I can't type for beans, but that's really not my problem, now is it? Ok, maybe it is....

I'm very sorry to all of you, but if you all really like the story, I'll find some way to continue as fast as I can. Love to you all.