Disclaimer: I OWN NOTHING! Is that good enough for you?
A/N: I don't know how soon the next chapters will be up but if you want to know when a chapter is posted just leave me your e-mail address in the review section and I'll e-mail you to let you know. Is that a fair deal? All right then… on with the story…
Chapter 2: Train Ride
James awoke before his three friends the next morning, which was highly unusual. The only known person to sleep later than James Potter was Sirius Black, and that was saying something. James hauled himself out of bed yawning and stretching the whole way. It was barely past sunrise, he noticed as he made his way to the bathroom to ready himself for the ride home. He decided against waking his friends, especially since Sirius wasn't looking forward to going home at all, but that was okay because he would be coming to James' house halfway through the summer anyway.
The common room was quiet when he reached it, yet it didn't surprise him. Everyone had been up pretty late the night before so James wasn't expecting anyone to show themselves until right before the carriages would leave for the Hogsmeade Station. James smiled as the memory from the night before replayed through his mind. They had had quite a time last night and the best part about it was that McGonagall didn't even come to break it up.
James made his way through the portrait hole and down the steps towards the Great Hall. Breakfast would start soon so he might as well go ahead and get a bite to eat before he returned to his packing. The Great Hall was empty except for a few teachers that graced the head table. James made his way over to the far side of the hall and sat down towards the far end of the Gryffindor table. He was only there a few moments when breakfast began to appear.
"Morning James."
James looked up at his greeter and was shocked when he saw Moony join him.
"Moony! You're up awfully early."
"Couldn't sleep. I saw you get up and thought I'd join you for a spot of breakfast."
"Excellent. Are the other two still asleep?"
"Peter was getting up as I left, and you know Sirius won't get up until right before he has to leave. I don't know how he does it because he never packs the night before."
"Ah, that's Sirius for you. I think he's been doing it for so long that it's become natural to pack that quickly."
Moony smiled and the friends began their breakfast. They ate in silence for a while until Peter showed up and started up conversation once more.
"Morning Moony, Prongs."
"Morning Wormtail," the two greeted together.
"Are the two of you packed yet?"
"No, I'm going to pack when I'm finished with breakfast, I don't know about Moony here though."
"I'm mostly packed, save a few items that I needed this morning in order to get ready. I can't say I'm too thrilled about going home though."
"Ah, you won't be there for very long Moony. My dad told me it was okay to have the three of you over this summer. I figured we can stay at my place for the entire month of August and then all go to Kings Cross together on September 1. What do you say?"
"I'm sure my parents won't mind. I don't think they notice that I'm there most of the time anyway," Moony answered.
"What about you Wormtail?"
"Well, I'm not sure. I'd have to ask my mom. She's a bit overprotective, as you know, so I'll have to owl you after I get home."
"Alright. Well, I'll see you two back up in the dorm. I'm going to go get packed."
James got up and headed back to the portrait of the Fat Lady. His mind, however, was wandering, thinking about the past year that he and his friends had. Sirius, Peter, and himself had finally managed to fully transform this year and joined Moony for the first time in the Shrieking Shack. As the year wore on, the braver the four became and they started roaming the grounds. That was when they came up with the idea of making a map. One that included all of the secret passageways they discovered while on their late night excursions. They went one step further and made the map able to identify people and their current location.
The map was finally finished and tucked safely away in James's trunk. It would be a very useful tool when they returned to school the following year.
James' mind snapped back to the present when he heard the fat lady ask for the password.
"Mandrake," James said and the portrait opened to reveal the small entrance to the Gryffindor Common Room. James made his way up the steps and back into his dorm room. Sirius was still fast asleep and snoring lightly. James rolled his eyes and began putting his things into his trunk.
In the girls' dormitory Lily, Arwen, Gabrielle, and Ariana were packed and ready to go. All they had left to pack were personal items that they had used that morning to get ready. When they finished getting ready they made their way to the Great Hall for breakfast. The girls sat down at the end of the Gryffindor table that was closest to the teachers and began to go over their summer plans.
"So the three of you are coming over to my place this summer right?" Ariana inquired.
"Yeah, my parents didn't have a problem with it at all. Where did you say you lived again?" Lily asked.
"Godric's Hollow."
"Okay well just owl me to let me know when you want me to come over."
"Sure Lily. What about you two?"
"I'll do anything to get away from my parents for the summer so you can count me in," Arwen replied. "Just owl me and I promise you I won't hesitate to come over."
"My parents shouldn't have a problem with it. I'll have to ask but just let me know a day and I'll be there," Gabrielle said.
"Great. I was thinking that maybe you could just come stay towards the end of August and we could all go to Kings Cross together. My parents said they'd take us."
"That's a great idea!" Lily said. The other two girls nodded their approval. The rest of the meal was eaten pretty much in silence except for the occasional comment about their O.W.L.s and how they had done.
When the time came for everyone to meet the carriages the girls ran back up to their dorms to grab their things and quickly made their way to the entrance hall so they wouldn't be left behind.
The Hogsmeade station was crowded with students who were storing their things and trying to find an empty compartment for all of their friends to fit in. James, Sirius, Peter, and Remus found a compartment at the back of the train, settled into it, and readied for the journey home.
Lily, Gabrielle, Ariana, and Arwen made their way towards the back of the train and unknowingly took the compartment right next to the Marauders. As soon as they were settled in the whistle blew and they were finally on the way back home.
Since the boys were up so late the night before, they were quite subdued on the ride home. They stayed in their compartment discussing everything from Quidditch to girls to their O.W.L.s. In the compartment next to theirs the girls were also having a discussion, however theirs had nothing to do with Quidditch and girls. They were discussing their O.W.L.s once again and making more detailed plans for their summer vacation.
The ride from Hogwarts to Platform 9 and ¾ seemed much shorter to the students on the train. The thought of going home for the summer and spending two months away from their friends and not being able to use magic (except the students who had turned 17) did not sound appealing to them. So when the train slowed and pulled into the platform everyone was hesitant to get their things and find their parents on the other side of the barrier.
The guard was standing by the barrier between platforms 9 and 10 and checking to make sure no one was looking while he was letting the student through 2 and 3 at a time. James, Sirius, Remus, and Peter went in pairs through the barrier to meet their families. James was the first to spot his mother and father and went to greet them with his three friends in tow.
James gave his mother a swift kiss on the cheek along with a hug and then turned to his father who gave him a quick hug.
"Hi mom, dad," James said.
"Hello James. Did you have a good school year?" his father asked him.
"Yes it was quite good. You remember Sirius, Remus, and Peter right?" There was a collective nod from his parents who smiled and greeted each of his friends with a handshake.
Sirius then spotted his parents and younger brother. "Well, it looks like my family is here. I should get going before they find some reason to punish me before we even get home. See you in August guys." Sirius quickly grabbed his trunk and his owl, Aries, and quickly made his way to his family. Remus and Peter spotted their families shortly thereafter, said their good-byes, and promised to come over near the beginning of August. James gave them one last wave and followed his parents out of the station to their car to start the journey home to Godric's Hollow.
Lily, Arwen, Gabrielle, and Ariana made their way through the barrier and Lily immediately spotted her parents. Her three friends followed her over to her parents and watched the reunion between the three persons. Behind her parents stood a girl with a deep scowl on her face that looked a bit older than Lily. Her friends soon found out that she was Lily's sister, Petunia.
"Mom, dad, I'd like you to meet my friends Arwen, Ariana, and Gabrielle. These are my parents Andrew and Rose Evans." Each girl took in turn to shake Lily's parents' hands.
Ariana leaned over and whispered to Lily, "Lily, who's that girl standing behind you parents? She looks like she swallowed stinksap!"
"Oh, I almost forgot, that's my sister, Petunia," at the sound of her name Petunia gave her sister a look of horror and tried to head back to the car but was caught by her mother. Petunia gave them a very small smile that looked more like a grimace. However, at that moment Ariana spotted her parents.
"Oh, there's my mum and dad. I should get going. I'll see you this summer Lily." Lily smiled and nodded and the four girls said their goodbyes. Arwen was the next to notice her parents. She grabbed her things, said her goodbyes and went to join her parents. Gabrielle followed shortly after Arwen and finally Lily was left with her parents and her sister. She gathered her things and followed her parents out to the car. After everything was stored safely in the trunk, with the exception of her owl Eros, Lily settled herself in the car and waited to begin her journey home.
A/N: I start my new job on Tuesday and I don't know when I'm going to have time to update but I'll do my best to at least make it weekly. Here's what you can look for in the next chapter:
-Sirius runs away to James' place
-Lily, Arwen, and Gabrielle go over to Ariana's house to find that the Marauders are staying with James who lives right across the street.
That's all for now. Please review and let me know what you think. I'm trying really hard to make it as close to the books as I can get it from the minimal facts that I have to work with. I am going to take some liberties with the characters and make them my own but I'd really like your input so please tell me what you think! Thanks!
~*BlackPhoenix82*~