Chapter One The Great Escape

It was the day of the Hogsmeade trip and James' hair (as usual) had retaken its messy form, rather than the plastered down look James had tried to achieve with it. At nine o'clock, James went to the Great Hall. Judging by the bewitched ceiling, it was stormy out and cloudy. Bad day for Hogsmeade, in anyone's opinion. James wandered into the Hall trying to smoothen out his hair and look cool at the same time. Quite Impossible!

"James! " James spun around and saw Lily running toward him. "Oh do NOT tell me you're going to talk to your friends! We must get in line for Hogsmeade. It's unbearable to be in the back." Lily pulled James along and caught Moony's eye. He gave him the what-am-I-supposed-to-do-look as he was jostled into line.

"So Lily." James said with his hands in his pocket and eyes on the floor. "What are we gonna do here?" He asked, looking into her green eyes. Lily smiled and laughed.

"I guess get a butterbeer and look at the new items. I don't know. What do you want to do?" She asked. Before James could answer, they were at the front of the line.

The sour caretaker looked at them, thinking 'another couple.' And smirked. His scrawny hairs were sticking up and his breath smelled of garlic. The smell became intensely strong when he opened his mouth and said "Names?"

"Err James Potter and-"James said.

"Lily Evans" Lily interrupted. She gave James a stern look. James had forgotten how independent Lily was.

The nasty caretaker shook his head and muttered something to himself. "Go on." He snapped. "Carriage Five if you're riding together. If you're riding separate, carriage five for Potter and Carriage eight for Evans." James and Lily walked through the oak doors. As James looked at Lily, he felt the muggy air slap his face. She must have felt his eyes on her face because she turned scarlet.

As they hopped into the carriage and shut the doors, James began to once again smooth his hair flat. After five minutes of awkward silence, Lily began to talk.

"So how's your mum?" She asked.

"She's fine, thanks. And yours?" He asked back.

"Well my mum is just fine. Petunia is quite another story." Lily told him. She smiled.

"Isn't your sister a muggle? I think it's pretty awesome that your parents are muggles and you're a witch." He grinned. As the line of carriages pulled into Hogsmeade, they became quiet again. James leaped out of the carriage and held the door for Lily. Even though she was smiling, James knew he was taking her independence. As Lily adjusted herself, James watched her with interest.

"So a butterbeer then?" James asked curiously

Lily suddenly stopped fixing. "That's fine."

They headed toward the Three Broomsticks, got a butterbeer and then decided to go to Honeyduke's. James payed for her candy, her butterbeer, her lunch and a newspaper subscription. As they loaded back into the carriage, Lily said "I had fun today." She was smiling and looked happy.

A green flash nearly missed Lily and James. "Oh my god!" James shouted. "What was that?! And where's wormtail. Wormtail..."