To the Reader:
I am very sorry if you are not contented by the shortness of the chapter. And to think there was only one chapter! Yes I know that sucks. It was just that my First Quarterly exams were up and I had to study to keep up in my Math. (I really suck at arithmetic. Too bad, too bad.) and Biology. Please be patient with my progress. I'm still a newbie, you know. Also, pardon my mistake. There has been an error. I said fresh from the third year. That was actually fourth year. I'm so sorry! I missed that one.
Anyway, thank you for reading. Please review after reading. I would appreciate it greatly. I still lack sleep so I have to hit the bed early.
Yawn, yawn, yawn. Kopiko
Shadows on Hogwarts Express
Sinking into the bathtub until her eyes were above the above warm water, Lily let herself relax at the privacy she had. A few moments without parents who screamed at you for not arriving early enough to clean the dishes but not worried even at her overly untidy state and an increasingly irritating sister who avoided contact with her as if she had leprosy was sort of paradise. Here she had time to pick up her thoughts.
Lily: "That was an extremely warm homecoming for me! Imagine coming home sullen, hungry and dirty then the moment you open the door your parents yell at you for not coming home for dinner to clean the dishes and when you come near your sister she goes 'Eww, don't touch me. You're gross.' I had to answer back at them, now they are absolutely angry with me. Top it off that when you meet your crush, he finds you at a very embarrassing state and you realize that he is actually one big ass hole. Oh God, just a fantastic last vacation day! ***Sigh*** At least he spoke to me, the very first time he spoke to me. But still, I thought he was nice even though he acts like Peeves especially when he's with Sirius Black. Why didn't I realize that he was overly rude? Why? Why? Why? Hmm. I wish I were at school. At least there are priorities to think about. Speaking about priorities, where did I put my Charms essay? Ah! Yes, yes, in the book. How silly of me to forget. Ow! Great, just great! There's a bruise on my thigh as large as my palm. How unlucky could I get! I think my whole world turned upside down today. Oh, hello Tabby. Here kitty, kitty! Don't scowl! I know you are a pine marten! Silly cat. Out again, messing my life for me? I wonder why you always smell sweet. You look starving. That reminds me I'm starving too. And the water is already cold! God! How long was I in here? I'm all shriveled up like an old prune! Surprising, they had not even knocked at the door to see if I had drowned.
Across London, James was lying eagle spread on his untidy bed strewn with the handkerchief still at hand. Everyone in the house was asleep except for him.
James: " So. Tired. Can't move. Can't believe Mum! As if one day of shopping in a muggle place wasn't enough, she made me wash the dishes. What does she think of me? A house elf? Tch! How thick can she get?! But still, I'm glad mum sent me to that place. L.E.? Who could that be? I'm so sure I've seen here somewhere. Wait a minute. She knew my name. Maybe she's from school or in the neighborhood. Nah. Not from the neighborhood. I don't go out in here. Maybe from the school. And if she's from school, what house? Hufflepuff? No. She's smart, considering that she was carrying a book almost half her weight. Maybe she's from Ravenclaw. How stupid of me not to notice her. Maybe she's new. But she doesn't look like a second year. I think I should've apologized to her instead. And ask her name too. L.E. . Hmm. Lorelei, Lovely, Lavender, Lory, Leigh, Leslie.AAARGGH! Guessing her name won't work. If only I knew her. I think I won't forget the color of her hair. But what if the initials in the handkerchief was not hers but her boyfriend's? I hope not. Seriously. Speaking of, I haven't heard from Sirius for quite some time now. Maybe I should tell him of the girl. Maybe he knows. Nah. He's too preoccupied with other things. He hasn't got anytime for women. Too bad for him, he's good looking and rich with many connections too. I wonder if Pettigrew has a crush. He'd have a hard time asking her for even a date. Remus? Come to think about it, Moony is the one who is closer to women than we are. If he only wasn't that poor and a werewolf too. Who could blame him from being bitten by a werewolf? Speaking of, Padfoot and I could already go with Moony. It's nice to know you're an Animagi when the others aren't. Wish it was full-moon. Then we could go on exploring. O drat! I forgot to pack my Invisibility Cloak. Where's that? Ah! There you are! In you go with my luggage. Argh. So tired. Must sleep. Maybe I'll even dream of her name. Weird. The handkerchief still smells faintly of roses."
In the crowded platforms of the train station, Lily managed to maneuver her luggage. Finally she arrived at the post between platforms 9 and ten wherein the barrier to Platform 9 and three-quarters was disguised as a stone column. The trick to get through was to walk through the seemingly stone passage. But Lily did not walk through as usual. She glanced back behind her and sighed. No one was with her unlike the past three years. Her family was still cold towards her and when her father dropped her at the train station, he did not even said goodbye but just drove away. She gathered her tattered self and went through the barrier. She was a bit early since there was only a thin crowd at the platform. She sullenly tried to heave her luggage bag up but was unsuccessful. A helping hand at last hoisted the bag and she turned to thank her helper.
She was facing Remus Lupin. Great, she thought, Potter's friend. "Thank you," she mumbled and offering her shaking hand. "I'm _"
"Evans, right? Lily Evans?" he smiled rather weakly. He looked awfully haggard with many silver strands in his dark hair. It was noticeable that he had large dark circles framing his eyes and his cheekbones stood prominently, giving him a sickly look. But his smile made up for his ill appearances.
She gaped at him. "How did you know? Why do you know?"
He raised one incredulous eyebrow. "Why not? You're in Gryffindor too, with the same dormitory as I for the last four years. Why not then?"
"But others don't even know me. But why?" she mumbled incoherently.
"Sorry. I did not hear what you said first. Why did you ask why?"
She slapped her forehead comically at asking the question. "Yeah. Right. I know. But some doesn't. Anyway, what an awfully stupid question. Sorry, I'm quite out of it today. Sorry again and thank you." She said rapidly and disappeared into the now thick crowd.
Remus blinked once, then twice. How funny of her to ask why. Then a friendly voice called for his name.
"Moony!!!" two voices actually chorused but sounding as one. With a wide grin, he faced them.
"All right, James? Sirius?" he hailed the two of them. "All right yourself. He's not. Says he had forgotten a name." Sirius nudged James with his elbow.
"Why?" Remus was wondering what have caused James' wakefulness. "Forgotten a player's name? Sorry. Can't help you there. Not much at Quidditch"
Sirius Black snickered at the flushed face of his best friend. "Nah. It was a girl. James met a girl who actually disliked him and now he likes her. Too bad, I don't know girls with names starting with those initials."
"A lot of people don't like James. I've got one in mind. But Severus is not a girl. Come to think of it, I wonder what he looks like when he's a girl?" Remus grinned widely at James.
Sirius chuckled against his own will. Severus Snape was their arch-enemy, especially to James who extremely hated Snivelly, as they called him. It was hard to imagine him being a girl, complete with a shocking pink frilled lace dress (frills that could almost outmatch Sir Nick's, the Gryffindor house ghost who wore outrageously sized neck frills to stabilize his nearly severed head) with a matching ribbon on his greasy hair (Sirius doubted if the ribbon would stay on his greasy hair) gushing and giggling coyly around James. He laughed until his stomach hurt as Remus looked ready to puke, sharing the same thoughts as Sirius.
"I do not like her!" James sounded indignant at the suggestion of him liking an unexplainably hot-tempered girl. "Just plain curious."
"Oh. Of course you're 'just plain curious' as you put it. Not sleeping thinking of names is not a sign of curiosity, Prongs. It's obsession." Remus teased James.
"Anyway, do you know a girl whose name starts with L and E?" James asked, hiding his embarrassment. The image of Lily came instantly. Remus replied. "Copper hair, waist length, quite on the small side, slender with shining green eyes?"
James stood upright and shook Remus. "God, you know her! How did you know her?"
"You'll know a person especially when she has her back at you and if you have lived in the same dormitory with her for three years." He replied coolly but quite surprised at his ignorance of her actual existence.
James turned and saw the back of the mysterious woman. So she was a Gryffindor, he thought. "What's her name?" he whispered to Remus.
"Lily Evans. Nice name, don't you think?" Remus smiled at the enchanted face of his friend and hooking a arm around his neck.
Lily sensed the stare of James and slowly turned around and their eyes met. And her eyes, exquisitely almond shaped with the color of emeralds, rounded with fear and hid in the crowd. She was afraid at the sight that Potter and Black were staring at her. Maybe they would make her pay for slapping him so hard, considering that they would make anyone pay if that anyone would go against them. A frightening prospect. But instead of sneaking shyly away, she raised a defiant copper eyebrow then she stalked away to the coach.
James, who was looking at her, followed when she tried to walk away. He disentangled himself from his friends and followed the elusive redhead. Unfortunately, Pettigrew arrived and greeted him. He greeted him too but when he looked at where Lily had been, she was gone. Instead a most unwelcome figure was standing on the same place as she did.
Severus Snape.
He groaned inwardly. He wasn't up to fighting Snape but he was snarling at him.
"Isn't it our old friend, Snivellus?" Sirius coolly exclaimed. Remus frowned and looked at both at them straight at the eye then shook his head.
"Not yet, James, Sirius. Leave him. No fighting yet. The school term had not even started. We're not allowed to use magic." He whispered hurriedly. And pushed the two to them away. But as they were walking away, Snape said aloud:
"Searching for someone, Potty? I'm sure you cant find her, with that overgrown head of yours."
James retorted bitterly: "At least I have better chances of seeing than you and your slimy nose, Snivelly."
"Don't you think I did not see that redhead? I saw her too. Amazing how low can you go to like a mudblood." He spoke back with scathing tones.
At two quick strides, James reached Severus and shoved the palm of his hand to his nose. Snape fell back and was teary eyed, feeling the broken bridge of his nose.
"Tell you what, Snivel-freak? Being a mudblood is better than to be a DISGUSTING slime ball like you." He hissed with his teeth clenched and threw Snape unceremoniously to the ground, brushing his clothes haughtily and strode away, oblivious to the boy sprawled at the ground cursing with his every breath and the crowd roaring in cheers for the victor of the fight.
Infuriated, James walked to inside the train to find a compartment with his three friends close behind. In his anger, when they closed the compartment door behind them, he shattered the glass panel.
Sirius drew out his wand and muttered: "Reparo." And the glass was good as new. After a long while, there was silence, mainly because James wasn't looking at them. But when he glanced at Sirius and Remus, they were smiling idiotically at him. "What?" he said irritably.
"Never I thought I would see the day James Potter would beat up someone because of a woman." Sirius patted James teasingly on the head.
"You know what Sirius," he muttered.
"What?"
"Go to hell." James snapped, much to his friend's delight. But inside, he was thinking deeply, why did he act out so rashly at beating Severus because of the insult he threw towards.what was the girl's name?.oh yeah. Lily. Lily Evans. The train of thoughts switched tracks he savored the unique sound of her name. Unique but very beautiful. Remus leaned and looked thoughtfully on the glass window viewing the countryside. Apparently, he remembered something since he let out a exclaiming shout and jumped on his feet, unfortunately hitting his head on the train ceiling. His three companions looked at him round-eyed. It wasn't like Lupin to be very jumpy. After rubbing his head, he nudged Sirius rather painfully on the rib in his eagerness, much to the other's annoyance.
"Did you notice the way Evans sneaked off James?" he started.
Sirius looked pensive for a while. "I thought she looked afraid and irritated at him. Why?" he asked, interested.
Remus smiled as he whispered hurriedly: "I talked to Evans a bit before you came along. She said something about people not knowing her even if they lived in the same dormitory for four years."
Sirius snickered audibly and James frowned at the two of them.
"Cut out the secrecy will you? Spit it out!" he demanded impatiently.
"Hey James, you really didn't know Evans' name before you asked Moony, did you?" Sirius asked.
"No, of course he didn't. Why would he be asking about her name. You know what James, I could tell she didn't liked her name forgotten. She's quite upset about it even." Lupin added.
"Wha-How did you know?" James blurted out.
Remus retold his conversation with the girl as James listened quite sullenly. After a while, he murmured: "I wish I could apologize to her."
"Why won't you?" Peter spoke, startling them all since they thought he was still asleep. "You know, you could apologize to her. I'm sure she's just inside any compartment." He said.
Before James could answer, all three of his grinning friends hauled him out of their compartment and pushed him before them, looking sideways for Lily's compartment.
Then when they found it, Sirius whispered: "Come on. Apologize. We're just behind here." And then they stood back to see his efforts, trying to keep hidden in the opposite compartment.
James swallowed audibly and he felt his hands go uncomfortably sweaty. With shaky hands, he opened the compartment door and confronted the girl with beautiful copper hair and startling green eyes.
Lily looked up from her book to see who opened their compartment. Seeing James Potter standing with his hands in his pockets and staring haughtily at her, he looked as if she was in for it. Gathering her scattered will, she met his warm amber gaze with one of her eyebrows raised, oblivious to her giggling friends. For a while, there was a thick silence between them.
"What do you want?" she spoke coldly.
James felt that his throat was too dry to make a sound. What was he doing there and what was he about to say. The speech he made earlier in the compartment escaped like a Chocolate Frog in a wide open box. Suddenly he blurted out something he actually did not hear himself causing Lily Evans to narrow her eyes and shut the compartment door in his face while Peter and Sirius were cheering wildly along with some spectators from other compartments. Remus was wryly smiling.
Shaken, his friends had to haul him back to their own compartment. Remus said: "We said apologize to her, not to upset her more."
"What did I say?" he asked, his voice unusually croaky.
Sirius roared more into laughter. "You did not hear yourself, Prongs? God, almost everybody one mile in radius could have heard you loud and clear."
"What did I say?" he almost shouted.
"You said: There's no use in drooling for me, Evans. I'm to good for you." Peter snickered in his robes.
His jaw dropped. "I said that? You're kidding right?" James said.
"Do you think all of us would be laughing like this if we were kidding you?" Remus replied as a cart arrived filled with food. The witch who was pushing the cart asked them if they would like some food.
James took a Cauldron Cake and prodded it with his fork. "I cant believe I said those things to her. For sure she wouldn't speak to me again. Damn it." He told himself while mashing the cake to a pulp on his plate without himself realizing it.
"James?" Peter tapped his shoulder slightly.
"Hm?"
"Are you sure you want to eat your cauldron cake like that?"
James focused back to his cake which looked sadly like a lump of shit. Not at all appetizing. Cursing softly, he forcefully forked the cake into his mouth. Why was he so agitated? In his irked condition, the icing was haplessly covering his mouth.
Sirius looked at the sullen figure of his best friend. He muttered 'oh boy' under his breath and shook his rather handsome head. It was apparent to him that James was starting to have a crush to that Evans.
Lily huddled in the corner of an empty compartment. The skies were threatening to pour and it was starting to feel cold. She evacuated the compartment where she was once sitting because she was highly irritated by the knowing looks being shot at her by her friends. Alone in the compartment, she stared at the rolling gray clouds. How presumptuous of that Potter to almost say that she was like a dying for him and he was too high for her. She chided silently to herself that it was the price for liking even for a bit someone who was of higher footing than her. It was true, however, that he was too high for her but she did not drool for him. "I Did not, did not, DID NOT!" she said aloud to herself. She gathered the puddle of gray and black fur and cuddled it. She thought to herself that the company of books and animals were much more comforting than the presence of humans, especially the arrogant, cold and obnoxious James Potter. With this thought, cuddled up with her cat, Lily slept in her small corner.
James was restless in his corner, doodling in a piece of parchment. It was all too strange to feel like this. He felt altogether awkward, shy and scared towards Lily with flocks of butterflies in his stomach. The words that he said to her were still bitter in his mouth. He must make amends with her anyhow. He looked at his companions. Sirius was asleep, so was Remus and Pettigrew. It was strange that the cold was making all of them drowsy. He bit his lower lip and walked as cautiously as possible to the compartment door. He almost tripped by Sirius's foot but still they remained asleep. Slowly and carefully, he succeeded in getting out of their compartment. He looked at the other compartments to see where Lily was. He found her at the last compartment, asleep as well and a stray hair wandering to frame her seemingly fragile heart-shaped face. Her lids shut in deep slumber and she looked like an angel more tempting than the devil himself. He entered the compartment and seated himself beside her. He had the urge to brush the stray hair off her face but risking her being awake and her to lash out at him, so he clenched his hands into balls instead at his side. Then the train jerked violently to a stop that he was displaced from his seat. Lily fell from her seat and her head would have hit the floor if not James caught it. She was still fast asleep. A cold sense of dread chilled his blood when she did not wake up. It was all too strange, all of the others were asleep. Why did he not notice it at all? And why wasn't he affected if it was a spell.
"Evans, Evans." He called to Lily but still she did not stir. He lay her down on the couch and moved quickly out. He was on the center aisle when he felt the heavy cold and he immediately felt drowsy. He fell and heard his glasses snap. An imminent shadow was on the very opposite end of the hallway and was approaching him. The lights flickered then shut out and the once gentle cold was already freezing and his eyelids were very, very heavy. He felt weak, so weak he could not move a muscle. The shadow was now standing in front of his crouching figure and took hold of his arm. The grip was icy and steel-like. No sound escaped him. With its grip, it began to draw James's life away from him. He heard an unsheathing of a weapon and the shadow dropped him. It retreated as a slim figure had a curiously designed dagger drawn and charged at it. Unable to resist the drowsiness more, he fell into heavy slumber too, feeling oddly safe now that someone had come to ward the shadow away.
Suddenly, he woke up in a jerk and he was already in their compartment. The sky was darkening. Sirius was shaking him. "James, put on your robes. It's nearly time."
"Wha-" he started and he looked at him.
"You. You're awake?!" he said incredulously at his best friend.
Sirius rapped his head and said "Of course I am. Why shouldn't I be?"
"But the shadow. You were all asleep. You wouldn't even wake up!" he nearly shouted.
Remus looked at him strangely. "We all slept, yes. But we did wake up, you know." He said.
"Maybe you were dreaming." Peter quipped also.
"No way." He whispered to himself. He fumbled for his glasses but found that they were in his pocket rather than on his nose. It was badly snapped in half. Sirius grabbed it away from him.
"Why did you break your glasses? Oculus Reparo." Black frowningly murmured as the spell fixed the glasses.
"I did not. It was broken when I fell down."
"Fell down where?" Now, his best friend was taking him seriously.
"In the center aisle. I'm telling you the truth." James threw his hand into his hair and messed it up.
Pettigrew looked at him and remarked: "What's that?!" pointing at James's forearm.
James looked at his forearm too and he saw that a great black hand-shaped bruise was imprinted on his skin. He may not be dreaming as the others said. The bruise was all too real to ignore. He raised his head and met the worried stares of his friends.
Remus croaked: "What happened? James?"
But James's clear amber eyes were clouded with a sudden chill and foreboding. This was an ill omen. Too ill to ignore. He cannot answer their stares since he himself did not know exactly what happened.
I am very sorry if you are not contented by the shortness of the chapter. And to think there was only one chapter! Yes I know that sucks. It was just that my First Quarterly exams were up and I had to study to keep up in my Math. (I really suck at arithmetic. Too bad, too bad.) and Biology. Please be patient with my progress. I'm still a newbie, you know. Also, pardon my mistake. There has been an error. I said fresh from the third year. That was actually fourth year. I'm so sorry! I missed that one.
Anyway, thank you for reading. Please review after reading. I would appreciate it greatly. I still lack sleep so I have to hit the bed early.
Yawn, yawn, yawn. Kopiko
Shadows on Hogwarts Express
Sinking into the bathtub until her eyes were above the above warm water, Lily let herself relax at the privacy she had. A few moments without parents who screamed at you for not arriving early enough to clean the dishes but not worried even at her overly untidy state and an increasingly irritating sister who avoided contact with her as if she had leprosy was sort of paradise. Here she had time to pick up her thoughts.
Lily: "That was an extremely warm homecoming for me! Imagine coming home sullen, hungry and dirty then the moment you open the door your parents yell at you for not coming home for dinner to clean the dishes and when you come near your sister she goes 'Eww, don't touch me. You're gross.' I had to answer back at them, now they are absolutely angry with me. Top it off that when you meet your crush, he finds you at a very embarrassing state and you realize that he is actually one big ass hole. Oh God, just a fantastic last vacation day! ***Sigh*** At least he spoke to me, the very first time he spoke to me. But still, I thought he was nice even though he acts like Peeves especially when he's with Sirius Black. Why didn't I realize that he was overly rude? Why? Why? Why? Hmm. I wish I were at school. At least there are priorities to think about. Speaking about priorities, where did I put my Charms essay? Ah! Yes, yes, in the book. How silly of me to forget. Ow! Great, just great! There's a bruise on my thigh as large as my palm. How unlucky could I get! I think my whole world turned upside down today. Oh, hello Tabby. Here kitty, kitty! Don't scowl! I know you are a pine marten! Silly cat. Out again, messing my life for me? I wonder why you always smell sweet. You look starving. That reminds me I'm starving too. And the water is already cold! God! How long was I in here? I'm all shriveled up like an old prune! Surprising, they had not even knocked at the door to see if I had drowned.
Across London, James was lying eagle spread on his untidy bed strewn with the handkerchief still at hand. Everyone in the house was asleep except for him.
James: " So. Tired. Can't move. Can't believe Mum! As if one day of shopping in a muggle place wasn't enough, she made me wash the dishes. What does she think of me? A house elf? Tch! How thick can she get?! But still, I'm glad mum sent me to that place. L.E.? Who could that be? I'm so sure I've seen here somewhere. Wait a minute. She knew my name. Maybe she's from school or in the neighborhood. Nah. Not from the neighborhood. I don't go out in here. Maybe from the school. And if she's from school, what house? Hufflepuff? No. She's smart, considering that she was carrying a book almost half her weight. Maybe she's from Ravenclaw. How stupid of me not to notice her. Maybe she's new. But she doesn't look like a second year. I think I should've apologized to her instead. And ask her name too. L.E. . Hmm. Lorelei, Lovely, Lavender, Lory, Leigh, Leslie.AAARGGH! Guessing her name won't work. If only I knew her. I think I won't forget the color of her hair. But what if the initials in the handkerchief was not hers but her boyfriend's? I hope not. Seriously. Speaking of, I haven't heard from Sirius for quite some time now. Maybe I should tell him of the girl. Maybe he knows. Nah. He's too preoccupied with other things. He hasn't got anytime for women. Too bad for him, he's good looking and rich with many connections too. I wonder if Pettigrew has a crush. He'd have a hard time asking her for even a date. Remus? Come to think about it, Moony is the one who is closer to women than we are. If he only wasn't that poor and a werewolf too. Who could blame him from being bitten by a werewolf? Speaking of, Padfoot and I could already go with Moony. It's nice to know you're an Animagi when the others aren't. Wish it was full-moon. Then we could go on exploring. O drat! I forgot to pack my Invisibility Cloak. Where's that? Ah! There you are! In you go with my luggage. Argh. So tired. Must sleep. Maybe I'll even dream of her name. Weird. The handkerchief still smells faintly of roses."
In the crowded platforms of the train station, Lily managed to maneuver her luggage. Finally she arrived at the post between platforms 9 and ten wherein the barrier to Platform 9 and three-quarters was disguised as a stone column. The trick to get through was to walk through the seemingly stone passage. But Lily did not walk through as usual. She glanced back behind her and sighed. No one was with her unlike the past three years. Her family was still cold towards her and when her father dropped her at the train station, he did not even said goodbye but just drove away. She gathered her tattered self and went through the barrier. She was a bit early since there was only a thin crowd at the platform. She sullenly tried to heave her luggage bag up but was unsuccessful. A helping hand at last hoisted the bag and she turned to thank her helper.
She was facing Remus Lupin. Great, she thought, Potter's friend. "Thank you," she mumbled and offering her shaking hand. "I'm _"
"Evans, right? Lily Evans?" he smiled rather weakly. He looked awfully haggard with many silver strands in his dark hair. It was noticeable that he had large dark circles framing his eyes and his cheekbones stood prominently, giving him a sickly look. But his smile made up for his ill appearances.
She gaped at him. "How did you know? Why do you know?"
He raised one incredulous eyebrow. "Why not? You're in Gryffindor too, with the same dormitory as I for the last four years. Why not then?"
"But others don't even know me. But why?" she mumbled incoherently.
"Sorry. I did not hear what you said first. Why did you ask why?"
She slapped her forehead comically at asking the question. "Yeah. Right. I know. But some doesn't. Anyway, what an awfully stupid question. Sorry, I'm quite out of it today. Sorry again and thank you." She said rapidly and disappeared into the now thick crowd.
Remus blinked once, then twice. How funny of her to ask why. Then a friendly voice called for his name.
"Moony!!!" two voices actually chorused but sounding as one. With a wide grin, he faced them.
"All right, James? Sirius?" he hailed the two of them. "All right yourself. He's not. Says he had forgotten a name." Sirius nudged James with his elbow.
"Why?" Remus was wondering what have caused James' wakefulness. "Forgotten a player's name? Sorry. Can't help you there. Not much at Quidditch"
Sirius Black snickered at the flushed face of his best friend. "Nah. It was a girl. James met a girl who actually disliked him and now he likes her. Too bad, I don't know girls with names starting with those initials."
"A lot of people don't like James. I've got one in mind. But Severus is not a girl. Come to think of it, I wonder what he looks like when he's a girl?" Remus grinned widely at James.
Sirius chuckled against his own will. Severus Snape was their arch-enemy, especially to James who extremely hated Snivelly, as they called him. It was hard to imagine him being a girl, complete with a shocking pink frilled lace dress (frills that could almost outmatch Sir Nick's, the Gryffindor house ghost who wore outrageously sized neck frills to stabilize his nearly severed head) with a matching ribbon on his greasy hair (Sirius doubted if the ribbon would stay on his greasy hair) gushing and giggling coyly around James. He laughed until his stomach hurt as Remus looked ready to puke, sharing the same thoughts as Sirius.
"I do not like her!" James sounded indignant at the suggestion of him liking an unexplainably hot-tempered girl. "Just plain curious."
"Oh. Of course you're 'just plain curious' as you put it. Not sleeping thinking of names is not a sign of curiosity, Prongs. It's obsession." Remus teased James.
"Anyway, do you know a girl whose name starts with L and E?" James asked, hiding his embarrassment. The image of Lily came instantly. Remus replied. "Copper hair, waist length, quite on the small side, slender with shining green eyes?"
James stood upright and shook Remus. "God, you know her! How did you know her?"
"You'll know a person especially when she has her back at you and if you have lived in the same dormitory with her for three years." He replied coolly but quite surprised at his ignorance of her actual existence.
James turned and saw the back of the mysterious woman. So she was a Gryffindor, he thought. "What's her name?" he whispered to Remus.
"Lily Evans. Nice name, don't you think?" Remus smiled at the enchanted face of his friend and hooking a arm around his neck.
Lily sensed the stare of James and slowly turned around and their eyes met. And her eyes, exquisitely almond shaped with the color of emeralds, rounded with fear and hid in the crowd. She was afraid at the sight that Potter and Black were staring at her. Maybe they would make her pay for slapping him so hard, considering that they would make anyone pay if that anyone would go against them. A frightening prospect. But instead of sneaking shyly away, she raised a defiant copper eyebrow then she stalked away to the coach.
James, who was looking at her, followed when she tried to walk away. He disentangled himself from his friends and followed the elusive redhead. Unfortunately, Pettigrew arrived and greeted him. He greeted him too but when he looked at where Lily had been, she was gone. Instead a most unwelcome figure was standing on the same place as she did.
Severus Snape.
He groaned inwardly. He wasn't up to fighting Snape but he was snarling at him.
"Isn't it our old friend, Snivellus?" Sirius coolly exclaimed. Remus frowned and looked at both at them straight at the eye then shook his head.
"Not yet, James, Sirius. Leave him. No fighting yet. The school term had not even started. We're not allowed to use magic." He whispered hurriedly. And pushed the two to them away. But as they were walking away, Snape said aloud:
"Searching for someone, Potty? I'm sure you cant find her, with that overgrown head of yours."
James retorted bitterly: "At least I have better chances of seeing than you and your slimy nose, Snivelly."
"Don't you think I did not see that redhead? I saw her too. Amazing how low can you go to like a mudblood." He spoke back with scathing tones.
At two quick strides, James reached Severus and shoved the palm of his hand to his nose. Snape fell back and was teary eyed, feeling the broken bridge of his nose.
"Tell you what, Snivel-freak? Being a mudblood is better than to be a DISGUSTING slime ball like you." He hissed with his teeth clenched and threw Snape unceremoniously to the ground, brushing his clothes haughtily and strode away, oblivious to the boy sprawled at the ground cursing with his every breath and the crowd roaring in cheers for the victor of the fight.
Infuriated, James walked to inside the train to find a compartment with his three friends close behind. In his anger, when they closed the compartment door behind them, he shattered the glass panel.
Sirius drew out his wand and muttered: "Reparo." And the glass was good as new. After a long while, there was silence, mainly because James wasn't looking at them. But when he glanced at Sirius and Remus, they were smiling idiotically at him. "What?" he said irritably.
"Never I thought I would see the day James Potter would beat up someone because of a woman." Sirius patted James teasingly on the head.
"You know what Sirius," he muttered.
"What?"
"Go to hell." James snapped, much to his friend's delight. But inside, he was thinking deeply, why did he act out so rashly at beating Severus because of the insult he threw towards.what was the girl's name?.oh yeah. Lily. Lily Evans. The train of thoughts switched tracks he savored the unique sound of her name. Unique but very beautiful. Remus leaned and looked thoughtfully on the glass window viewing the countryside. Apparently, he remembered something since he let out a exclaiming shout and jumped on his feet, unfortunately hitting his head on the train ceiling. His three companions looked at him round-eyed. It wasn't like Lupin to be very jumpy. After rubbing his head, he nudged Sirius rather painfully on the rib in his eagerness, much to the other's annoyance.
"Did you notice the way Evans sneaked off James?" he started.
Sirius looked pensive for a while. "I thought she looked afraid and irritated at him. Why?" he asked, interested.
Remus smiled as he whispered hurriedly: "I talked to Evans a bit before you came along. She said something about people not knowing her even if they lived in the same dormitory for four years."
Sirius snickered audibly and James frowned at the two of them.
"Cut out the secrecy will you? Spit it out!" he demanded impatiently.
"Hey James, you really didn't know Evans' name before you asked Moony, did you?" Sirius asked.
"No, of course he didn't. Why would he be asking about her name. You know what James, I could tell she didn't liked her name forgotten. She's quite upset about it even." Lupin added.
"Wha-How did you know?" James blurted out.
Remus retold his conversation with the girl as James listened quite sullenly. After a while, he murmured: "I wish I could apologize to her."
"Why won't you?" Peter spoke, startling them all since they thought he was still asleep. "You know, you could apologize to her. I'm sure she's just inside any compartment." He said.
Before James could answer, all three of his grinning friends hauled him out of their compartment and pushed him before them, looking sideways for Lily's compartment.
Then when they found it, Sirius whispered: "Come on. Apologize. We're just behind here." And then they stood back to see his efforts, trying to keep hidden in the opposite compartment.
James swallowed audibly and he felt his hands go uncomfortably sweaty. With shaky hands, he opened the compartment door and confronted the girl with beautiful copper hair and startling green eyes.
Lily looked up from her book to see who opened their compartment. Seeing James Potter standing with his hands in his pockets and staring haughtily at her, he looked as if she was in for it. Gathering her scattered will, she met his warm amber gaze with one of her eyebrows raised, oblivious to her giggling friends. For a while, there was a thick silence between them.
"What do you want?" she spoke coldly.
James felt that his throat was too dry to make a sound. What was he doing there and what was he about to say. The speech he made earlier in the compartment escaped like a Chocolate Frog in a wide open box. Suddenly he blurted out something he actually did not hear himself causing Lily Evans to narrow her eyes and shut the compartment door in his face while Peter and Sirius were cheering wildly along with some spectators from other compartments. Remus was wryly smiling.
Shaken, his friends had to haul him back to their own compartment. Remus said: "We said apologize to her, not to upset her more."
"What did I say?" he asked, his voice unusually croaky.
Sirius roared more into laughter. "You did not hear yourself, Prongs? God, almost everybody one mile in radius could have heard you loud and clear."
"What did I say?" he almost shouted.
"You said: There's no use in drooling for me, Evans. I'm to good for you." Peter snickered in his robes.
His jaw dropped. "I said that? You're kidding right?" James said.
"Do you think all of us would be laughing like this if we were kidding you?" Remus replied as a cart arrived filled with food. The witch who was pushing the cart asked them if they would like some food.
James took a Cauldron Cake and prodded it with his fork. "I cant believe I said those things to her. For sure she wouldn't speak to me again. Damn it." He told himself while mashing the cake to a pulp on his plate without himself realizing it.
"James?" Peter tapped his shoulder slightly.
"Hm?"
"Are you sure you want to eat your cauldron cake like that?"
James focused back to his cake which looked sadly like a lump of shit. Not at all appetizing. Cursing softly, he forcefully forked the cake into his mouth. Why was he so agitated? In his irked condition, the icing was haplessly covering his mouth.
Sirius looked at the sullen figure of his best friend. He muttered 'oh boy' under his breath and shook his rather handsome head. It was apparent to him that James was starting to have a crush to that Evans.
Lily huddled in the corner of an empty compartment. The skies were threatening to pour and it was starting to feel cold. She evacuated the compartment where she was once sitting because she was highly irritated by the knowing looks being shot at her by her friends. Alone in the compartment, she stared at the rolling gray clouds. How presumptuous of that Potter to almost say that she was like a dying for him and he was too high for her. She chided silently to herself that it was the price for liking even for a bit someone who was of higher footing than her. It was true, however, that he was too high for her but she did not drool for him. "I Did not, did not, DID NOT!" she said aloud to herself. She gathered the puddle of gray and black fur and cuddled it. She thought to herself that the company of books and animals were much more comforting than the presence of humans, especially the arrogant, cold and obnoxious James Potter. With this thought, cuddled up with her cat, Lily slept in her small corner.
James was restless in his corner, doodling in a piece of parchment. It was all too strange to feel like this. He felt altogether awkward, shy and scared towards Lily with flocks of butterflies in his stomach. The words that he said to her were still bitter in his mouth. He must make amends with her anyhow. He looked at his companions. Sirius was asleep, so was Remus and Pettigrew. It was strange that the cold was making all of them drowsy. He bit his lower lip and walked as cautiously as possible to the compartment door. He almost tripped by Sirius's foot but still they remained asleep. Slowly and carefully, he succeeded in getting out of their compartment. He looked at the other compartments to see where Lily was. He found her at the last compartment, asleep as well and a stray hair wandering to frame her seemingly fragile heart-shaped face. Her lids shut in deep slumber and she looked like an angel more tempting than the devil himself. He entered the compartment and seated himself beside her. He had the urge to brush the stray hair off her face but risking her being awake and her to lash out at him, so he clenched his hands into balls instead at his side. Then the train jerked violently to a stop that he was displaced from his seat. Lily fell from her seat and her head would have hit the floor if not James caught it. She was still fast asleep. A cold sense of dread chilled his blood when she did not wake up. It was all too strange, all of the others were asleep. Why did he not notice it at all? And why wasn't he affected if it was a spell.
"Evans, Evans." He called to Lily but still she did not stir. He lay her down on the couch and moved quickly out. He was on the center aisle when he felt the heavy cold and he immediately felt drowsy. He fell and heard his glasses snap. An imminent shadow was on the very opposite end of the hallway and was approaching him. The lights flickered then shut out and the once gentle cold was already freezing and his eyelids were very, very heavy. He felt weak, so weak he could not move a muscle. The shadow was now standing in front of his crouching figure and took hold of his arm. The grip was icy and steel-like. No sound escaped him. With its grip, it began to draw James's life away from him. He heard an unsheathing of a weapon and the shadow dropped him. It retreated as a slim figure had a curiously designed dagger drawn and charged at it. Unable to resist the drowsiness more, he fell into heavy slumber too, feeling oddly safe now that someone had come to ward the shadow away.
Suddenly, he woke up in a jerk and he was already in their compartment. The sky was darkening. Sirius was shaking him. "James, put on your robes. It's nearly time."
"Wha-" he started and he looked at him.
"You. You're awake?!" he said incredulously at his best friend.
Sirius rapped his head and said "Of course I am. Why shouldn't I be?"
"But the shadow. You were all asleep. You wouldn't even wake up!" he nearly shouted.
Remus looked at him strangely. "We all slept, yes. But we did wake up, you know." He said.
"Maybe you were dreaming." Peter quipped also.
"No way." He whispered to himself. He fumbled for his glasses but found that they were in his pocket rather than on his nose. It was badly snapped in half. Sirius grabbed it away from him.
"Why did you break your glasses? Oculus Reparo." Black frowningly murmured as the spell fixed the glasses.
"I did not. It was broken when I fell down."
"Fell down where?" Now, his best friend was taking him seriously.
"In the center aisle. I'm telling you the truth." James threw his hand into his hair and messed it up.
Pettigrew looked at him and remarked: "What's that?!" pointing at James's forearm.
James looked at his forearm too and he saw that a great black hand-shaped bruise was imprinted on his skin. He may not be dreaming as the others said. The bruise was all too real to ignore. He raised his head and met the worried stares of his friends.
Remus croaked: "What happened? James?"
But James's clear amber eyes were clouded with a sudden chill and foreboding. This was an ill omen. Too ill to ignore. He cannot answer their stares since he himself did not know exactly what happened.