HURRICANE, CHAPTER ONE
Sophia, Lily, Madeline, Becca, and Claire Evans sat in their own compartment on the Hogwarts Express on the way to the new term. The five of them spread out and sat- no, sprawled- themselves over the seats, their trunks piled in one corner or in the overhead compartment, their owls in their respective cages placed on the trunks or hanging from the ceiling. Lily scanned the pages of her novels while Claire sat in a secluded corner, writing in her journal and the rest of the sisters chatted amongst themselves. A cozy, friendly feeling emanated from their section of the train. As people walked around, virtually everyone stopped in to say a quick hello, many of whom stayed for a conversation much longer than "hello" with one of the charismatic girls.
James Potter, Sirius Black, Remus Lupin, and Peter Pettigrew, four popular Gryffindor boys who called themselves the Marauders, were stationed in a compartment a few down from the Evans. These boys were each brilliant to some degree, and on the most part handsome. Above everything, the Marauders loved pranks, jokes, and trouble in general. They were jovial 16-year olds, but still had secrets. Serious, quiet, and reserved Remus was a werewolf; none but his closest friends and the headmaster knew this. To aide him in his time of need, the other Marauders had become Animages to keep the wolf company during the full moon. James, the genius, star-Quidditch player, and all-around perfect boy transformed into a deer; Sirius, the jokester ladies- man heartbreaker turned into a large black dog; and Peter, not as bright, good-looking, or well-liked as the other boys, but cunning in his own way, became a rat. The four had covert adventures once a month together during the few nights Remus was indisposed; they found secret passageways to Hogsmeade and around the school, and played pranks on unsuspecting people all year round.
James, Sirius, and Remus decided to leave the compartment for awhile, leaving Peter, who was asleep, deep into his mid-afternoon nap. They stopped in at other compartments to greet people and have a quick laugh.
"Phew," Remus said as Sirius slid the glass door shut behind him. "I thought Amos would never let us leave." The three boys glanced at each other sideways, and then broke out into laughter. Diggory and his group of Hufflepuff friends took every opportunity they had to get on friendly terms with the Marauders and brag a little, to the extreme amusement of the Gryffindors. They walked a little farther down the corridor, laughing until Sirius hit James and Remus as they came to the last compartment on their car. James peered through the fuzzy glass into the section. He vaguely saw five red heads, and knew immediately who they were.
"Should we even risk it?" James asked his friends. "Last June I think Sophia was a little mad about that whole mud-throwing victory party at the Slytherins after the Quidditch Cup."
"Sent you a Howler at home, too?" Sirius asked, his face breaking into a grin. James nodded, not able to conceal his smile anymore. Remus knocked on the compartment door before his companions could stop him.
"Come in," a cheerful voice called from within. He opened the door and the three boys sidled in, carefully sliding the door shut behind them as they tried to find space in the crowded room. Sirius and Remus immediately struck up conversation with the Evans sisters, but James could just survey the room.
Claire, with her reddish brown hair and chestnut eyes, was curled up in the far corner, staring blankly out the window at the scenery rushing past and writing in her journal. Next to her sat freckly Madeline cross-legged, who was braiding Becca's straight shoulder-length almost blonde hair. Across them were Lily and Sophia, the oldest sisters. Sophia had long, straight hair, which was a carrot-like color with hints of coffee. She had intense blue eyes and a penchant for rules. She was strict, as the Marauders knew all too well, but laughed easily and was extremely forgiving. The "Head Girl" badge was gleaming in the sunlight on the trunk that she was leaning against.
But James's eyes were drawn to Lily. She was lying down on the seat, her feet facing Sophia and her back on the seat, her head resting sideways on an arm that dangled over the edge and a lollipop sticking out of her mouth. Her deep, dark red waves splayed out under her, accenting her peachy, perfectly unblemished complexion. Sophia's intense eyes were nothing compared to Lily's emerald ones; you could easily get lost in them without noticing. She seemed to have grown a little taller, but that wasn't the only thing that appeared to have grown; through the blue knit sweater and jeans that Miranda Evans insisted that she wear to cover her, James could tell that she had matured and developed curves.
Lily caught James staring. She blushed a little and sat up, taking the lollipop out her mouth to playfully stick her tongue out at him. The flash of her Prefect badge she had pinned to her back startled him and brought him back to reality. "Hi," she said, turning around to look at him.
"H-h-hi Lily," he stammered. It wasn't often that James Potter was at a loss for words.
"How has your summer been?" she asked in a friendly tone, situating herself in a more comfortable position and putting the lollipop back in her mouth.
"It was, uh, great," he replied. He watched as she shook her wavy hair over one shoulder and leaned her head on the carpeted wall of the compartment. Why can't I think of something to say now, when it's important he thought to himself. Awkward silence ensued between them, though the conversation never dragged between Remus, Sirius, and the other Evans.
Suddenly something hit him on the temple. He turned to Lily, who had an innocent look on her face, though it was obvious that she was trying to conceal a smile. "Gotcha," she grinned. He bent down to pick up whatever had hit him, and moved to flick the paper ball back at her.
"Na-ah," she said, smiling broadly, showing her perfect white teeth. "You try to pull that with me, Mr. Potter, and I'll take points away from Gryffindor," she pointed to her Prefect badge on her back with a slender, crimson-polished finger. James smiled back.
"Me? Never," he exclaimed, a look of mock horror on his face. "Why would you ever suggest such a thing?" They both broke out into laughter.
Moments later the witch with the food cart rolled by. "We should be arriving at the Hogsmeade station in about 10 minutes, students should prepare for their arrival," she called down the train.
"Well boys," Becca said. "Bye, bye!" she waved. Sophia got up to close the door behind the boys, but Sirius put his hand on it to stop her.
"Are you sure I can't stay to watch the fun of robe changing?" he asked playfully.
"Don't push your luck, Black," she replied. Remus came and pulled Sirius away with a comic look on his face. The girls broke out into laughter. James poked his head in one last time.
"See you girls later!" he said, winking at Lily.
"Good-BYE," Sophia said a little more forcefully as she slid the door shut. She sat back down, a huge smile on her face.
Claire looked up from her journal for the first time in almost the whole train ride. "Lil, you KNOW what Mother said, you CAN'T do anything with him. I have a feeling this year's going to be hard ENOUGH without James Potter and his little 'Marauder' friends," she said seriously.
Lily got up and walked over to her little sister, ruffling her hair with one perfectly manicured hand while the other cradled the cross on her necklace. "Don't worry so much Claire. I'll be fine," she said nonchalantly. "But seriously, I won't do anything bad. Well, too bad."
Sophia, Lily, Madeline, Becca, and Claire Evans sat in their own compartment on the Hogwarts Express on the way to the new term. The five of them spread out and sat- no, sprawled- themselves over the seats, their trunks piled in one corner or in the overhead compartment, their owls in their respective cages placed on the trunks or hanging from the ceiling. Lily scanned the pages of her novels while Claire sat in a secluded corner, writing in her journal and the rest of the sisters chatted amongst themselves. A cozy, friendly feeling emanated from their section of the train. As people walked around, virtually everyone stopped in to say a quick hello, many of whom stayed for a conversation much longer than "hello" with one of the charismatic girls.
James Potter, Sirius Black, Remus Lupin, and Peter Pettigrew, four popular Gryffindor boys who called themselves the Marauders, were stationed in a compartment a few down from the Evans. These boys were each brilliant to some degree, and on the most part handsome. Above everything, the Marauders loved pranks, jokes, and trouble in general. They were jovial 16-year olds, but still had secrets. Serious, quiet, and reserved Remus was a werewolf; none but his closest friends and the headmaster knew this. To aide him in his time of need, the other Marauders had become Animages to keep the wolf company during the full moon. James, the genius, star-Quidditch player, and all-around perfect boy transformed into a deer; Sirius, the jokester ladies- man heartbreaker turned into a large black dog; and Peter, not as bright, good-looking, or well-liked as the other boys, but cunning in his own way, became a rat. The four had covert adventures once a month together during the few nights Remus was indisposed; they found secret passageways to Hogsmeade and around the school, and played pranks on unsuspecting people all year round.
James, Sirius, and Remus decided to leave the compartment for awhile, leaving Peter, who was asleep, deep into his mid-afternoon nap. They stopped in at other compartments to greet people and have a quick laugh.
"Phew," Remus said as Sirius slid the glass door shut behind him. "I thought Amos would never let us leave." The three boys glanced at each other sideways, and then broke out into laughter. Diggory and his group of Hufflepuff friends took every opportunity they had to get on friendly terms with the Marauders and brag a little, to the extreme amusement of the Gryffindors. They walked a little farther down the corridor, laughing until Sirius hit James and Remus as they came to the last compartment on their car. James peered through the fuzzy glass into the section. He vaguely saw five red heads, and knew immediately who they were.
"Should we even risk it?" James asked his friends. "Last June I think Sophia was a little mad about that whole mud-throwing victory party at the Slytherins after the Quidditch Cup."
"Sent you a Howler at home, too?" Sirius asked, his face breaking into a grin. James nodded, not able to conceal his smile anymore. Remus knocked on the compartment door before his companions could stop him.
"Come in," a cheerful voice called from within. He opened the door and the three boys sidled in, carefully sliding the door shut behind them as they tried to find space in the crowded room. Sirius and Remus immediately struck up conversation with the Evans sisters, but James could just survey the room.
Claire, with her reddish brown hair and chestnut eyes, was curled up in the far corner, staring blankly out the window at the scenery rushing past and writing in her journal. Next to her sat freckly Madeline cross-legged, who was braiding Becca's straight shoulder-length almost blonde hair. Across them were Lily and Sophia, the oldest sisters. Sophia had long, straight hair, which was a carrot-like color with hints of coffee. She had intense blue eyes and a penchant for rules. She was strict, as the Marauders knew all too well, but laughed easily and was extremely forgiving. The "Head Girl" badge was gleaming in the sunlight on the trunk that she was leaning against.
But James's eyes were drawn to Lily. She was lying down on the seat, her feet facing Sophia and her back on the seat, her head resting sideways on an arm that dangled over the edge and a lollipop sticking out of her mouth. Her deep, dark red waves splayed out under her, accenting her peachy, perfectly unblemished complexion. Sophia's intense eyes were nothing compared to Lily's emerald ones; you could easily get lost in them without noticing. She seemed to have grown a little taller, but that wasn't the only thing that appeared to have grown; through the blue knit sweater and jeans that Miranda Evans insisted that she wear to cover her, James could tell that she had matured and developed curves.
Lily caught James staring. She blushed a little and sat up, taking the lollipop out her mouth to playfully stick her tongue out at him. The flash of her Prefect badge she had pinned to her back startled him and brought him back to reality. "Hi," she said, turning around to look at him.
"H-h-hi Lily," he stammered. It wasn't often that James Potter was at a loss for words.
"How has your summer been?" she asked in a friendly tone, situating herself in a more comfortable position and putting the lollipop back in her mouth.
"It was, uh, great," he replied. He watched as she shook her wavy hair over one shoulder and leaned her head on the carpeted wall of the compartment. Why can't I think of something to say now, when it's important he thought to himself. Awkward silence ensued between them, though the conversation never dragged between Remus, Sirius, and the other Evans.
Suddenly something hit him on the temple. He turned to Lily, who had an innocent look on her face, though it was obvious that she was trying to conceal a smile. "Gotcha," she grinned. He bent down to pick up whatever had hit him, and moved to flick the paper ball back at her.
"Na-ah," she said, smiling broadly, showing her perfect white teeth. "You try to pull that with me, Mr. Potter, and I'll take points away from Gryffindor," she pointed to her Prefect badge on her back with a slender, crimson-polished finger. James smiled back.
"Me? Never," he exclaimed, a look of mock horror on his face. "Why would you ever suggest such a thing?" They both broke out into laughter.
Moments later the witch with the food cart rolled by. "We should be arriving at the Hogsmeade station in about 10 minutes, students should prepare for their arrival," she called down the train.
"Well boys," Becca said. "Bye, bye!" she waved. Sophia got up to close the door behind the boys, but Sirius put his hand on it to stop her.
"Are you sure I can't stay to watch the fun of robe changing?" he asked playfully.
"Don't push your luck, Black," she replied. Remus came and pulled Sirius away with a comic look on his face. The girls broke out into laughter. James poked his head in one last time.
"See you girls later!" he said, winking at Lily.
"Good-BYE," Sophia said a little more forcefully as she slid the door shut. She sat back down, a huge smile on her face.
Claire looked up from her journal for the first time in almost the whole train ride. "Lil, you KNOW what Mother said, you CAN'T do anything with him. I have a feeling this year's going to be hard ENOUGH without James Potter and his little 'Marauder' friends," she said seriously.
Lily got up and walked over to her little sister, ruffling her hair with one perfectly manicured hand while the other cradled the cross on her necklace. "Don't worry so much Claire. I'll be fine," she said nonchalantly. "But seriously, I won't do anything bad. Well, too bad."