As soon as I went through the barrier at Platform 9 ¾ Cassy came running up to me screaming my name. "Lily! It's ten to 11:00! Why are you so late? You're usually the first one out of us here!" Cassy started dragging me to the train, "DD and Victoria are already on the train, they're holding us a compartment."
"OK! You need to relax, can you please let go of my arm? I'm more then capable to walk on my own. What's gotten into you?"
Cassy let go of my arm and shrugged her shoulders sheepishly. "I just want to get to our compartment, that's all. No harm in that, is there?"
"Cassy, what do you know that I don't. I've known you since first year; I know when you're lying."
"What is there to be lying about?" Cassy turned her head to look at me while we walked, so I just looked back at her. She knew what I was thinking. "I'm not lying about anything! I just want to get back to the compartment."
"I'm telling you now Cassy, if Potter is in that compartment, I will hex you." Even though I wasn't looking at her anymore, I knew she was rolling her eyes.
"Lils, how come no matter what we're talking about, the conversation always turns up to be about James?"
"It doesn't always lead to Potter, but when it does, I'm usually correct in my assumptions, am I not?"
"Not always!"
I let out a deep breath and shook my head; I was always right when it came to Potter! "Fine. Where in bloody hell is our compartment? We've walked almost the entire train."
Cassy started chewing her bottom lip slightly, "Well, we're in the second to last."
"You're joshing me correct?" Cassy shook her head no. "You mean the compartment before the last one is ours?" Cassy shook her head yes. "Why in Gods name would you do that to me?!?"
"It wasn't our faults, you usually get the compartment for us, but you weren't here! It was the only one free!"
"Of course. It would just be my luck that the one day I'm running late, the only compartment left is the one right next to…" I started to open the compartment door, "Potter!" First I shot daggers to Potter himself, then to Cassy, and then back to Potter.
He stared right back at me, but his eyes were warm rather then full of ice like mine. He also had his classic lopsided grin while I had a scowl upon my face. "It's nice to see you too Evans." That was a surprise, he never calls me Evans. It's usually Lily-flower. God I hate that name. Why my mother had to be obsessed with flowers is beyond me.
I rolled my eyes, "Right. Now what do you want?"
His smile turned mischievous and his eyebrows went up slightly, "Well…"
"Ugh. Don't say anything, just get out."
His smile faded, but his eyes were still alight with mischief, but that never went away. "No, I didn't, I didn't mean. All I wanted was if I could ask if I could speak to you."
"Isn't that what you're doing now?"
James' square jaw was clenched, "I meant in private Lily." That was another surprise. He actually sounded aggravated with me; he usually never looses his cool in front of me.
"So can I talk to you in private, please?"
I just looked at him, then to my friends, then to his. My eyes rested on Remus for a moment, and then I looked back to Potter. "Sorry, but no, I have a prefect meeting I have to attend at the head of the train. Maybe later." I said icily. I started to the compartment door, "I'll see you later girls. Remus, are you coming, we were supposed to be there 3 minutes ago." I left the compartment and I heard Remus leave behind me, but before he did he muttered "sorry mate,"
Remus caught up and started walking on the side of me. "What does Potter want to talk to me about?"
"Would it kill you to call him James?"
"It might. Now what does he want?"
"It's not my place to say and you know that Lily." After that he walked a little faster and walked in front on me. He always had to end the conversation.
I watched him as we walked. He was the only 16 year old that I knew who seemed to age twice as fast as everyone else, in looks and personality. When I first met Remus he was an average eleven year old, nothing seemed odd about him. But now, he almost seemed to be a wise old man, almost like Dumbledore. Remus even looked older then most of the boys in the school. His sandy brown hair looked grey at times, and his once blue eyes were now a stormy grey color. To top it all off, he always looked tired which made him look even older. I think I know why he is the way he is though I'm not sure.
When we got to the Prefect compartment we entered and sat down with the other sixth year prefects. The head boy and head girl hadn't shown up yet, so we didn't get reprimanded for being late. Once they did show up the meeting began. It was mostly for the fifth year prefects who needed to get instructions. About an hour later all the prefects except the fifth years were allowed to go to their compartments if they wished to. I was one of the first ones up and out of the compartment, Remus was right after me.
As I was walking back to my compartment I was nearly praying that Potter wouldn't be there waiting for me. I was relieved when I opened the compartment door and saw he wasn't. I did however notice Cassy. I swore to her that I would hex her if Potter was in the compartment and I never swear unless I mean it. I pulled out my wand from my pony tail (that's wear I keep it when I'm not wearing a robe) and pointed it right at her. "I swore I would hex you!"
"Lils, come on, put your wand away. You're not going to hex me; I'm your best friend!"
"Some best friend! You lied to me!"
"I did not! I never said James wasn't going to be here, and I really did want to get back to the compartment, I just didn't tell you why!"
I can't believe her! She knew that He was going to be here and she just skirted around it! I really should just blast her a good one! I was holding my wand so tight that my hand was shaking while I looked at her. I really wanted to hex her, but I couldn't, she was right, she was after all my best friend. After about a minute of staring at her I finally lowered my wand.
"Lils, I'm sorry, okay? I should have told you that he wanted to talk to you, but if I did then you would have went straight to the prefect compartment. I know you don't want to hear this, but I really think you should go talk to James. He sounded like he really wanted to speak to you."
I looked to DD and Victoria; they were both shaking their heads agreeing with Cassy. Why do they always have to do that to me? I started playing with my bracelet; I guess you could say that is a nervous habit of mine.
"I'll go find out what he wants, but if it's his usual pathetic plea to go out with me, I'm smacking him in the face and then leaving." With that I walked out of the compartment and went to the one next to mine. KNOCK KNOCK
Peter Pettigrew opened the door. His blue eyes watering like always and his face pinched like a rats. It was actually a bit eerie how much he resembled one, but he was a nice boy. He was just very quite unless Potter or Black was around. If either of them were around, he would do anything; it was almost as if they were his safe keepers because if anyone was to pick on him other then themselves, they would give that person a lesson or two on "respect" as they called it. Peter squeaked, "Prongs! It's Lily!"
I rolled my eyes when I saw Potter jump up out of his seat and ruffle his hair, "Well, let her in!"
Peter moved out of the way so I could go into the compartment, "What did you want to talk to me about Potter?"
He looked around the small room before he answered, "Umm, yea, I'd like to talk to you in private so, umm, boys, do you mind?" He nodded his head towards the door. Peter walked right out unfazed, Remus was close behind, but Sirius just sat there looking at me and Potter.
Remus stopped when he realized that Sirius hadn't moved. "Padfoot! Come on!" Sirius didn't even flinch, "Sirius lets go!" He still didn't leave, "Hey! Black!" That got Sirius' attention, he hated when anyone called him "Black." That was his family name and he hated it, everyone knew that. "Come on, let's leave them alone."
"But I want to know how it goes. I'm sure Jamesy here won't mind. Right Prongs?"
"Padfoot," Potter nodded towards the door again.
This time Sirius stood up, his dark eyes looked like a sad puppies, "Fine, I'll go, but I can't believe my best mate's throwing me out like this." After that he pushed past Remus and left. Remus followed.
"Now what do you want, I haven't got the whole train ride."
He obviously chose to ignore what I said because his response was just idiotic. "What did you do to your hair? It looks different."
"I didn't do anything to it. Now why am I here?"
"Oh, well it looks very nice, it always does. You have beautiful hair, you know?"
Does he have to do this every time I see him! "Thanks Potter, now get on with what you wanted to talk about or I'm leaving." You should just smack him Lily!
"Okay, I'll get on with it then." He took a deep breath, "So, how was your summer?"
I just looked at him; if this was what he wanted then I really would smack him, just for the hell of it. "Could you please just get to the point? Forget about the small talk!"
"Good, I didn't really want to talk about your summer anyhow; I wanted to talk about mine."
"Potter, I much rather be with my friends then having chit chat with you. I'm leaving." I started towards the door, but he stopped me. He actually grabbed my hand and stopped me. He never did that before; he usually was smart enough to just let me leave when I wanted to. I looked at him in the face then to our hands, and then back to his face, "Let go of me."
"I will, but only if you'll sit and listen to what I have to say."
"Fine, now let go of my arm." He let go and I went and sat back down. He sat in the sit across from me.
"I'm sorry if I hurt you. I didn't mean it if I did." He's such a gentlemen, it makes be sick.
"You didn't, but don't ever do that again. If you do, I'll hex you so fast you won't know what hit you."
He shook his head and laughed a little, "Understood. And I'm sorry again, I shouldn't have done that. If my mother saw me do something like that she would kill me, bring me back to life, and then kill me again. Any way, I've done a lot of thinking over the summer. Mostly about what you said at the end of last year." This was where he lowered his head and didn't look me in the eyes, "I wanted to tell you that umm, well, I wanted you to know that umm…" He put his hand to his face and ran it to his hair, "Damn this is hard. Okay. You were right. I am a big headed toe rag as you so eloquently put it."
I was slightly shocked, "Potter's admitting he's not perfect!"
"Yeah, I'm admitting I'm not perfect. But that's not all. I wanted to apologize for the way I've been to you. I must have given you hell really. I don't how you were able to tolerate me as well as you have. I don't know how anyone has."
I didn't know what to say. I was speechless; I had no idea what to say. So I didn't say anything, I just shook my head yes and stood up.
He stood up as well, "Wait, Lily before you go, I have one more thing I'd like to ask of you. I was wondering if you could possibly call me by my given name. You know, James? I kind of like it better then Potter. Especially the way you say it. You say it so venomously; I never knew a girl could be quite like you."
I gave a slightly cynical laugh, "I'll take that as a complement. And I'll try to refer to you as James; it's just that Potter rolls off the tongue so much more easily." With that I left the compartment and went to my own.
A/N: I'd like to thank everyone who has reviewed. I love getting those things. J Now I'd love to get more for this chapter. Tell me what you think of it. Suggestions and criticism are welcome.