You're More Than a Friend

Chapter 2 –Trains and Willows

~AN: Thankies to my reviewer! I don't know how to make it accept anonymous reviews. Please r/r and tell me. Don't worry, the next few chapters are longish.~

7 Years Later

James Potter sat on the grass reading about the jelly-legs curse, in Curses And Counter Curses, by Professor Vindictus Viridian, when Lily Evans came flying up.

~(I don't mean flying as in broomstick flying, just running really fast)~

"James! Guess what!" She exclaimed flopping down beside him.

He glanced up. "Hi yourself." He said.

She grinned. "Yeah, hi. But guess what!"

"You've finally grown a brain?"

"No silly! I've already got one, and this is even better news than that!"

"You've found out you're an alien from another planet?"

"No! Even better!"

"Well if it's none of those things, it can only be that you were accepted into that very exclusive boarding school you've been going on about for months, which, I must say, you have never mentioned the name of."

Lily grinned and clapped her hands, "Yes! I was accepted! And you aren't going to find out what it's called either." She stuck her tongue out at him, her eyes sparkling.

In the 7 years since he had met Lily, he had decided that her eyes were not like his slime set, but more like the leaves of a willow, constantly changing, but always beautiful. She was sweet and fun loving, although very shy. She was also very smart, and James was glad she hadn't gone to his primary school, The Magical Man Public School, but rather, the local Godric Hollow Comprehensive. If she had gone to his primary, (which she couldn't for 2 reasons, 1 she was a girl and 2 she wasn't magical,) she would have beaten him at everything. She still wore here hair in the same braids that she had when she was 4, but they were longer now, reaching ¾'s of the way down her back. She had an intriguing, although not pretty face, with a smatter of freckles, a little turned up nose, high cheekbones and wide eyes. Her whole face would go an interesting shade of pink whenever anyone outside her's and James's immediate families spoke to her.

He was called out of his daydream by a harsh voice calling, "Lily! Lily Evans get your but over here now!" The girl who owned the voice, a blond with a horsy face and too much neck, marched over and slapped Lily square across the face.

"Ow!" Lily cried out, cradling her assaulted cheek.

Petunia grabbed her sister by her braids. "I've been calling you for the past 15 minutes." She hissed. "Version's coming over and you need to make yourself respectable. And no funny stuff while he's here got it, freak."

James got up, his whole face going red. "You leave her alone Petunia Evans." He said warningly, "Or I'll…"

"You'll what Potter?" Petunia smirked. "You won't do anything or I'll set Vernon on you. Move it Lily." She dragged Lily away, still holding her braids.

"Bye James." Lily called out.

James clenched his fists. Petunia was right, there was nothing he could do. He was short for 11, but he had an athletic build and he was fast. But that great oaf Vernon Dursley was just looking for an excuse to hit him. But he was sick of the way Petunia treated Lily. And Lily just put up with it. Lily was one of his best friends, and he had to do something.

The rest of the school holidays passed quickly, and it was soon September 1st. Lily and James traveled to Kings Cross Station together. Once their mothers had left they stood, looking at each other awkwardly, until Lily gave James a quick hug, and walked away, the words, 'See you next summer.' Echoing in his head.

Sirius slapped James on the back. "Well James, she's not your usual type, but she does have a certain allure about her, if you know what I mean." He waggled his eyebrows.

James turned on Sirius, "You leave her alone Sirius Black, she's not your type. She's too innocent."

"She didn't look very innocent when she was hugging you." Sirius said.

"We've known each other since we were 4! She's like a sister to me!" James exclaimed.

Sirius raised an eyebrow, "Uh huh. C'mon, let's get through the barrier

Lily looked around, a confused expression on her face. My ticket says Platform 9 ¾ but I don't see it. She thought.

"Need any help?"

Lily jumped, and turned around.

"Excuse me?" She said.

The boy standing behind her ran his fingers through his disheveled sandy hair. "I said do you need any help?" He repeated

"Wha, what do you mean?"

"Look, I know you must be a muggle-born witch about to start at Hogwarts."

"How do you know that?"

"You're prancing between 9 and 10 like a constipated ballerina. Besides, you have and owl."

Lily wrinkled her nose at his analogy, "Eew."

Th boy grinned, "Yeah it is a bit."

"But yes, I would like some help. How do I get to Platform 9¾?"

"You see the barrier between 9 and 10?"

"Yes, I'm confused, not stupid!" She said hotly.

Th boy grinned again, "Whoa, feisty. You got over your shyness fast."

Lily blushed. "Well, it's just you remind me of someone I know."

"Anyone special?"

"No… he's just a friend."

"Ok. I'm Remus Lupin by the way."

"Lily Evans."

"Nice to meet you Lily. Ok, now back to the barrier between 9 and 10."

"Yeah?"

"Walk straight through it."

"What? Are you crazy?" She asked.

He grinned. "Only slightly. But seriously. Walk through it. On the other side is Platform 9¾. Do it at a run if you're nervous."

"Can we do it together?"

Remus shrugged. "Why not."

They both walked through the barrier.

"So what school did you go to Lily?"

"Godric Hollow Comp. You?"

"The MMPS. I went with my two best friends Sirius Black and…"

"I hate to interrupt, but we should really get on the train. Can I sit with you?"

Remus nodded, "I don't see why not."

They both got on the train and walked down to the last compartment. As they opened the door Remus began, "Guys this is…" When he was interrupted by his old best friend James and his new friend Lily saying at exactly the same time,

"James?"

"Lily?"