As Lily was loading her trunk into the car, Lily was recalling in her mind one year ago when she first had to do a similar task.
My how time passes by, she thought.
It was one year ago that Lily made her first trip to Platform Nine and Three-Quarters at the King Cross Station. One year ago when she met her best friends Jade, Carly, and Penny. It was one year ago when she met, Sirius, Remus, and James.
James Potter. I can't believe I've known that prat for one year, she said to herself. She couldn't stand him really. From the very moment he set foot in their compartment with his annoying partner in crime Sirius, Lily knew she would have her hands full with him. She felt a strange feeling inside of her. She didn't know exactly what it was, but she interpreted it as hate, making her to hate James Potter.
She loaded her trunk and ate some breakfast with the family. Petunia was still asleep because her parents reluctantly agreed that she could stay by herself for the morning. Petunia did NOT want to see Lily off at her "freak school" so she begged her parents to stay. Lily was somewhat relieved that Petunia wasn't going with her, so after breakfast she made sure she had everything and waited patiently in the car.
Soon her parents were inside the car as well.
"All ready, dearest?"
"Yes, mum. Where's daddy?"
"He's coming… just giving Petunia last minute rules. You know, don't mess up the house, don't answer the door, no boys…..
"Oh I see." said Lily. Like any boys would want to visit her… she thought in her mind.
They were on their way, and an hour later they were finally at the train station. They unloaded Lily's thing and placed it on a cart. Lily and her mum waited for her dad to park the car.
"Now Lily, make sure you do just as good as you did last year. I want you to do the best that you can, ok?"
"Yes, mum."
"That's good my dear. I know how much fun you have at this school. I just want you to be successful while you are still having fun. I see your eyes light up anytime me or your father mentions 'Hogwarts' or any other magic-related word. I just want you to be happy.
"I know, mum. Thanks."
"You're welcome dearest. By the way, have you met any boys over there at Hogwarts?"
"Mum!!! I'm only 12 years old. Please don't start with this. I don't need any boys in my life right now."
"I'm only checking Lily. Cause you know, if you do come across a certain special someone, you can always owl me for advice. DO NOT owl your father. He knows nothing about girls whatsoever." her mum chuckled.
"Mum, I don't think I'll be owling you about boys anytime soon."
"Well, you do keep on telling us about your one friend… what's his name… Jim?"
"James Potter. And he is just a virus to me. I don't think I will ever find an interest in him.. well except when he is sinking at the bottom of the castle lake." she said smiling, thinking of the scenario.
"Lily, don't say that. Be nice."
"But how can I be nice when he is just a dumb stupid prat!"
"He's a boy, Lily, boys are like that at your age. Why I wouldn't be surprised if you and him got together someday."
"Mum, do not wish nightmares upon me… I swear if I have one dream about that mangy git.. I'll….. JADE!!!!!!!!!!"
"HI LILY!!!" said Jade as the two embraced hugging each other tightly. "Oh, hi Mrs. Evans!! Good to see you again."
"Hello Jade." Lily's mum smiled. "How was your summer?"
"Oh, it was great. Though I wish I could've seen Lily more often after our outing at the mall."
"Don't remind me, Jade." snapped Lily. She didn't want to reminisce on the fateful day she just had to have another run-in with that stupid James Potter.
"Hush, Lily." said her mum.
Soon her dad came by with Jade's parents and both of the families were walking towards the ninth and tenth platform. This time, it was Lily's father who was lecturing her about random things.
"Lily, I want you to owl us if you need anything. Stick by your friends at all times, and don't go gallivanting around at night."
"Yes, Daddy." she sulked. Her father's mention of gallivanting at night only reminded her of a certain boy and his cronies. God I hope he doesn't talk about…
"And NO BOYS!"
Bingo.
"I swear if I ever catch a boy with my Flower I'll…."
"Calm down, hunny. Lily already established to me that she would not be involving with any relationships whatsoever with boys." said her mum. Jade stood there speechless, while her parents laughed.
"Well it's time to go, you two." said Mrs. Chapman. Both girls hugged their parents respectively and ran with their carts together towards the barrier between Platforms 9 and 10. When they opened their eyes, they were once again at the Hogwarts Train Station Platform 9 ¾. Lily and Jade began unloading their carts and gave their trunks to a man that said they would load them for the girls. They walked in and found a compartment all to themselves and waited for Penny and Carly to come along.
"Lily, were my ears clear? You said that you wouldn't be involved with boys?"
"Yes, Jade, and that stands final. No boys. Not one. Zero. Zilch. Zip."
"Whatever, Lily, you're very pretty. Ain't no way you're gonna be away from boys for long."
"Did I just hear boys??" said a voice. Carly was standing there alongside Penny beaming. The four of them shared hugs with each other and each took a seat as they began to talk about their summer.
"Well, Carly and I have just been hanging around a lot." said Penny. "See, she tells me about things like R—"
"Shut up Penny! They don't need to hear any of that sort." shouted Carly, blushing.
"Oh, no… I know that blush anywhere." said Jade. "A boy?"
"A boy." said Penny. She then got hit on the shoulder by Carly. Lily rolled her eyes.
"Oh no not this topic again." she said.
"What, Lily, you don't like boys?" asked Penny.
"Well she likes boys, but she wants nothing to do with them. She thinks they are a waste of our time." said Jade.
"Well… well they are!!!!!"
"Shut up, Lily." said Jade.
Carly was sitting there with an appalled look on her face. "But. but…. Lily!! What about Ja---" Lily covered her mouth before she could finish.
"One mention of that name and I will pull out all of your hair."
"Whose name is that?" replied a deep voice coming from the compartment door. All four girls turned their heads to see four familiar faces smiling at them, each girl remembering that one year ago, was when they met the group who would later on deem themselves as the Marauders.
Sirius Black was smiling on the far right side, brushing his smooth black hair back. He seemed to have grown a couple of inches, but still maintained his mischievous glint that makes him a mastermind of manipulation.
Remus Lupin was standing right next to Sirius, his even longer, sandy brown hair falling over his face. He was smiling mostly at Carly, his best friend other than the Marauders. Remus always had that look on: that mature, yet childish face, that only he could pull off.
Peter Pettigrew didn't change one bit. He didn't get any taller, his hair didn't grown any longer, but it almost looked as if one leg of his was shorter than the other. In fact, he may have gotten a little fatter over the months. Nonetheless, the odd ball of the Marauders was standing there smiling at the girls, having inherited a goofy grin from one of his friends standing right next to him.
The person who spoke was between Peter and Sirius. His messy black hair just got even messier. His spectacles were resting just above the bridge of his nose, and he had that infamous grin that made most girls melt, but also made a redhead more irritated. This was why he used it so much, really. Still, James Potter, the leader of the Marauders, had his stupid grin, and it seemed as if he was using all of his boyish charm on Lily.
"Well, if it isn't the four stooges." said Lily while the other girls smirked.
"At your service." said James with a wink.
"Pleasure." piped in Sirius.
"Oh my God… it's déjà vu." said Jade. "It was exactly one year ago when you two idiots showed up in our lives with those stupid words of yours."
Remus laughed. "So that's how you came to met them, boys? With five measly words? I was expecting something more funny or something coming from you log."
"Well what can I say… these girls make us speechless sometimes." said Sirius. Jade was surprised at this remark.
"Yeah, I mean, who in their right mind could ever be smooth with these ladies." said James. Lily was just as surprised as Jade was, but still had her stern tone.
"What do you want, Potter."
"Now now, I just came to say hi."
"Oh… hi."
"Hi."
"Ok you can go now."
James laughed. "They're kicking us out boys. Looks like we're just gonna have to find ourselves our own compartment."
"Well let's get to it then." said Peter.
The Marauders walked past the girls waving at them and slid into their own compartment. As soon as the door closed, the girls looked at each other with stunned faces.
"Oh my Goodness, what's happened to them. They're all… all… nice!" piped Jade.
"Hey, Remus has always been nice." said Carly
"Yeah, but he wasn't as hot as he is now, ain't he Carly." said Penny with a wink.
"Hey!!! Remus has always been cute." She was blushing furiously now.
"I'm surprised they didn't pull any pranks on us." interrupted Lily. She couldn't stop thinking about that look that James was giving her. That same look that caught her attention one year ago. Suddenly, a thud was heard and the girls turned.
"Oh I wouldn't be too sure about that!!" yelled Jade. Apparently she tried to get up and her right leg shrank. Lily was laughing until she caught site of her reflection.
"AHHH! I'M AN EGGPLANT!"
"Hey….. what happened to my fingers?!?!?!" flustered Carly as she tried to pick up her Chocolate Frog.
Penny was rolling with laughter. "Well they didn't do anything to… hey!!!" Penny tried to take a bite of her candy, but only took a bite out of a nice American one-cent penny. Her candy was now changing into many pennies, until it came to about at least fifty American cents.
Lily was furious. It was one year ago when they pulled such a stunt. Now, she would shout out the name of the culprit like she did…..
one year ago.
"JAMES POTTER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"