Disclaimer: Anything you recognize is not mine! Surprise, surprise!
Author's note: Although I know you will fully enjoy my story, I won't be updating very often. This is a result of the fact that the odd people down at Comcast don't want to drive to my house and set up the Internet connection. I am able to update every other weekend (dad's house.) Anyways, if you want a story that's going to be moving fast don't read mine, but I'll do my best!!!
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Chapter 1: Why bother?
James…
James on his bed starring out the window. Drops of water splashed and drizzled down. It was the ancient tribal dance of a summer storm. He could here the rain patter on the roof of his empty mansion. His mother was in France with Emma, his little sister shopping for the new school term. His father was on business in Bulgaria. He turned to the leather journal that sat in his lap. It was a present from his father many years ago. James had begun to fill the pages with his thoughts, favorite quotes, and anything that seemed important.
For James, life was dull. He did the same thing every day. He was destined to work in the ministry like his father. It was all too much for James to take. It was destiny for James to become a nothing. When he was younger life held so many new experiences and excitement. What is the point of living when you aren't actually living at all? One thing was certain life wasn't this, what James was living. He looked around the room at all his expensive things and sighed. He fell into his satin pillows with a thud and fell asleep.
"James! Up, up, up!" His mother called from the hallway.
"What?" he mumbled mid-yawn.
"Sweetie," she said smiling. Mrs. Potter was very elegant, and she loved her family dearly. Her dark brown hair was long and curled at the end. She wore a floral skirt and white button up shirt.
"Why aren't you in France?" he asked getting up.
"Well, it's Monday. School starts today, remember? Oh James, you slept in your clothes?" she asked worriedly.
"Right, I guess I did," he said with a small smile.
" I told Regina Black that we would meet them at the station," she noted happily. Sirius Black was one of James's best friends. They included Remus Lupin and Peter Pettigrew. They were the famous Marauders of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, or so they liked to think. It was a little nickname they came up with in their first year. The boys were instantly best friends sharing their love for pranks and Quidditch, although each was very unique.
James Potter was tall and had deep brown hair. When looking into his eyes you felt as though you were lost in the woods on a beautiful fall day, but the intentional kind of lost. His hair was rather messy. It couldn't be tamed. Although it gave him a somewhat "I don't care," look. It matched his "I don't care, what's the point?" lifestyle. He was an extremely good Quidditch player. He played seeker on the Gryffindor house team. His best class was Defense Against the Dark Arts, it was his only true passion. James was brilliant, and loved a good joke. He would be extremely popular, except he hated the "popular" kids at Hogwarts. He swore they were manufactured in a warehouse behind Flourish and Blotts.
Sirius Black was extremely good-looking. He had light brown hair and blue eyes. Sirius was the biggest prankster in the entire wizarding world. He was a rebel, and had produced a flying motorcycle by fifth year. His hair was shoulder-length. Sirius loved Quidditch and Transfiguration. He played as a Beater on the Gryffindor house team. Sirius also hated the kids in school that had no other concern besides their clothes or dates. It was a crime to be that selfish that you didn't know what was beyond you and your clique.
Remus Lupin was the understanding one. He had blonde hair and blue eyes. He would have been very sweet, but he always had a far off look on his face. Remus played as keep on the Gryffindor house team. His favorite topic in school was History of Magic. Remus was very open-minded, and he rarely judged. He had a deep secret that kept him from getting close to anyone besides the Marauders. Remus was a werewolf. Sirius, Peter, and James were the most decent people. He was lucky to have them as friends. When they found out they didn't shun him, they found a way for them to travel the grounds with him as illegal animagus. This means they can change into an animal whenever they please. Thus, they adopted the nicknames Prongs for James who became a stag, Moony for Remus who obviously became a werewolf, Padfoot for Sirius who became a dog, and Wormtail for Peter who became a rat.
Peter was as crazy as they come. He had black hair and brown eyes. Peter was short, but skinny. He would do anything to get somebody to laugh. Peter loved Herbology. They all knew he would become some famous scientist one day. Peter loved punk-rock music. He played as a chaser on the Gryffindor house team. Peter hated "popularity" because he would never be "popular." The popular kids shunned him because of how crazy he was, but the Marauders always thought up some crazy scheme to get them back when they did. So the crazy Marauders were James's best friends, he couldn't survive without them.
Summer break was killing James. He hated it because he never got to see any of his friends. James changed into a black t-shirt and khaki cords. He didn't bother brushing his hair as her stumbled down the grand staircase. He slipped on his sneakers and walked into the sunroom for breakfast. His mother was sitting at the table. She looked up from the morning paper and smiled at James. Across the table James's father had come home. He was working on the crossword puzzle. Emma was sitting eating a waffle.
"James!" his father chimed as he hugged his son. James smiled at him. He grabbed a fork and poked a piece of his sister's waffle.
"Hey! Leggo my eggo!" she said forcefully.
"Mmm…" he mumbled with a smile.
"So, are you excited for school?" his mother asked.
"Sure," James mumbled sarcastically.
"Well I am!" Emma beamed, "Did I show you the outfit I bought in Paris? You'll just die!"
"I think I might survive this one," James noted.
"Does anyone know the newest broom proto-type?" Mr. Potter asked looking annoyed at his crossword, "Cleansweep260 doesn't seem to fit!"
"Oh they came out with a new one. It's called a Meteor, I think." James said unexcitedly.
"Well, sounds pretty cool!" Mr. Potter smiled.
"Oh, I guess," James mumbled.
"Well, look at the time! You don't want to be late!" Mrs. Potter said.
"I have to go into the Ministry this morning. Have a great term! I am going to miss you so much!" Mr. Potter smiled hugging his children. James thought to himself how his father must be pretty used to that feeling by now. James grabbed his trunk and his owl, Grakus. James was happy to be going back, but at the same time nothing excited him anymore. All except maybe Defense Against the Dark Arts Class. They loaded into the car and left for Kings Cross Station.
The train station was crowded as usual. James rolled his eyes and shoved his way through the crowd.
"Emily! Emily Potter!" A woman cried out, "Oh there you are! Sirius went on the train already. He told me to tell you, James, that he grabbed the last compartment."
"Oh, thanks," James said.
"Yes, well you best be on your way dears!" Mrs. Black explained. Mrs. Potter hugged and kissed her children. She watched them pass through the magical gateway to platform 9 ¾. Then she and Mrs. Black went to Mona's Kettle for tea.
The train whistled sounding the departure in three minutes. Emma laughed and ran up with her friends in the front of the train. As James boarded he heard the strangest noise. A girl was singing out-loud. Actually it was very loud. People at Hogwarts were usually very self-conscious. He had never heard anyone sing like that before. Even among his friends, they were too cool to make fools of themselves. James gave a look of interest. He slid the compartment door over to gaze upon this odd girl.
There she was, Lily Evans. Lily had auburn hair that was pulled into a messy, wild bun. She had headphones on and was singing the song pretending she had drumsticks. In her hand was a copy of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain. She was starring out the window. When she noticed James she quickly removed her headphones. Then James noticed her most striking feature. Lily had shimmering green eyes. They were vibrant and shined like the grass always seems to on a sunny spring day.
"Oh…Haha…did I bother you?" she laughed.
"No…actually you…uh…were you singing?" he asked.
"Oh that bad?" She asked with a laugh, "how much glass broke?"
"Ha.…none…uh…I'm James…James Potter," he introduced.
"Well James Potter, I'm Lily Evans," she explained. "I'm a transfer student from America. Sixth year, you?"
"I'm in sixth too," he smiled. This girl perplexed him. She was so outrageous. How could anyone be so carefree? He instantly thought she was gorgeous, but she confused him. Like a 600 piece puzzle, you were always figuring out wonderful new bits of Lily that were so crazy and colorful, yet they all fit beautifully.
"Well I have a friend waiting for me…so…I…have to go," he managed to say.
"Oh, okay well I hope we're in the same house. It was very nice meeting you," she smiled again and flipped back on her headphones.
James shook his head still confused as he walked to the back of the train. He entered the last compartment. Remus, Peter, and Sirius were waiting for him.
"Prongs! We thought you were lost man!" Peter laughed.
"It wouldn't be unlike you to get lost on a five car train," joked Sirius.
"Right, well I met a transfer," James explained.
"Really? From where?" asked the wise Remus.
"Uh…America…I think," James recalled. "Her name was Lily Evans."
"That's cool. Hey, did I tell you Dumbledore is going to let me keep my motorcycle at school?" Sirius asked excitedly.
"You're crazy," James mumbled.
"Ah…not nearly as crazy as you Prongsie my boy!" Sirius laughed.
The ride was filled with plots to humiliate other students in the school who were too full of themselves. In the Marauders' eyes they were doing society a favor. They laughed and talked about all the new things they were going to learn that year. James couldn't help but remind himself of Lily. She was so different from every other person he knew. He looked out the window at the castle.
"Home at last," James said under his breath. Sirius came over.
"Could anything be sweeter?" he asked.
"Not right now," Remus replied. They gazed at the same fond image as every other year. The same topics were discussed as every other year. The same food was served on the trolley. The same man drove the train. The same classroom awaited them. Even the same classmates rode in the train along with them, all except one, and this year felt somehow very different.
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Note from the author: So how did you like the first chapter? I really would like some feedback. Although I would appreciate if you are going to trash my writing please include how I can make it better. Also if you are going to say how much you liked it include what you liked about it! Thanks so much for reading my fanfic!
Very appreciatively,
Lilducky18
