Disclaimer- Obviously, everything you recognise belongs to the incomparable J. K Rowling but the new stuff is mine. Sorry if there are some inconsistencies with the Harry Potter series but I tried to make it match as much as possible.
Thanks for visiting and please read on! Chapter Two- an Unpromising beginningUnable to string anymore than two words together, James hopped off the train. He was torn between the greatest ecstasy (Lily had kissed him!) and a horrible feeling of disappointment and confusion. Why had she slapped him? Girls! She was the one who kissed him…and yet, she seemed so mad about it. James was at a complete loss. However, his ponderings were interrupted abruptly. Feeling a light touch on his shoulder he looked up, only to see Rose's (Sirius had briefed him on Lily's friend's names) twinkling face before him.
"Hey there," she grinned.
"Confused Potter?" Priya asked- walking up on James's right.
James rolled his eyes, "what the hell was that all about? It was as if she thought that kissing me was totally disgusting!"
"Well dur, it was for her," Rose said in a completely superior tone.
"Completely, utterly, humiliating," Priya rejoined, hardly able to control the laughter in her voice. James looked at Rose sadly, not knowing what to say. Unable to see him so unbelievably lost and confused, she decided to explain.
"See, we were playing truth or dare, right with Charlotte and Sophie. They dared Lily to kiss you."
"Man, was she pissed. But it was a matter of honour see and Lils doesn't back down on her promises," Priya explained.
James' face suddenly clouded over with anger. So she didn't really like him at all! Damn…
"Sophie Miller has got this plan, that if you and Lily get together, she'll have an excuse to hang around with your gang," Rose said, trying to break the awkward silence.
James didn't answer, and instead asked, "how on earth do I get her to like me? Rose, Priya, I desperately need your help. All summer, I couldn't get her out of my head. She's. Always. There."
"Wow, oh my god, did you hear that Rose? He asked for our help! Plus, he knows our names!" Priya shrieked.
"Definitely an improvement. Reckon we should take this down, as an achievement in the history of mankind? James Potter asking for our help. Aaah, this is a moment to remember," Rose laughed.
"Excuse me, I think you're forgetting the fact that he knows our names," Priya added, beginning to giggle.
"Will you two just shut up? You going to help me or not?" James said feeling irritated.
"No," the girls said together, running off to join Lily, who was walking a few metres ahead. Priya, her conscience giving in, turned and threw a sympathetic smile towards James, and winked. Hardly trying to decipher what that meant, James stared at the platform ground, dragging his feet along, and feeling extremely depressed. He was strongly tempted to jinx the two of them, but knew that neither Remus nor Lily would ever forgive him if he did. Besides, he didn't jinx anyone who annoyed him anymore (well, except Snape perhaps). That was the James of Old. Still, he really hated girls sometimes, even the dazzling Lily. If they would only say what they really meant…He felt a need to go off on a rant, similar to Sirius's, but turned to see his two best friends seemed to have disappeared.
"Padfoot? Moony?" James yelled, but was cut short, as he bumped into someone.
"Sorry mate- I didn't see you there," James said quickly, looking up, taken aback to see a tall boy with startling green eyes standing before him. James had never seen him before.
"Hey, no worries man," the boy stuck his hand out, speaking in a thick Irish accent, "I'm Chris, Chris O'Toole." The name seemed oddly familiar to James, but he shrugged it off and extended his hand.
"James Potter. Listen, you haven't seen a really tall guy have you? About your height, black hair, blue eyes, tanned skin, dozens of girls running after him…"
"Might have, actually. I think he headed off towards the school," Chris smiled. After a moment's silence, he added, "hey, look at your badge! You're Head Boy! Can you show me around, please? I have no idea where to go- it's my first year at Hogwarts."
James groaned inwardly, the last thing he wanted was a new kid, asking him millions of useless questions. But, unfortunately, it was his duty as head boy to lend a helping hand…
"Sure thing, come on, let's go find a carriage. What year are you in anyway?" James said, trying to keep his voice light.
"Seven. It's our last year at school, hey? Kinda stressful, actually."
"Tell me about it," James began, immediately identifying with the newcomer, "my family is expecting me to get about 12 Newts…"
Chris smiled again and answered, "at least they've got expectations… Whoa, what's with the horses pulling the carriages?" Forked tongues flickering, ghostly white skin and deep, dark eyes…these creatures were definitely bizarre.
Chris can see the Threstrels? He's seen someone die, the poor guy… Not wanting Chris to feel out of place, he answered, "yeah, they are kinda creepy. Got an amazing sense of direction though. Come on, hop in… I can't wait to get to the feast. I'm absolutely starving!"
Lily, Rose and Priya left the Gryffindor Common Room together the next morning, busily discussing their timetables.
"Not bad," Rose announced, after a deep analysis of their lessons, "only three lessons with those damned Slytherins."
"Nah, there's four- look- Quidditch, Potions, Transfiguration and Charms," Priya corrected.
Lily sighed, "what? That's even worse than last year. There's only so much of guys like Snape a girl can stand…"
"What about guys like Potter," Priya questioned slyly.
"Oh shut up, not you guys too," Lily sighed, not really wanting to get into a heated debate so early in the morning.
"Well, if you ask me, he looked pretty bummed out after yesterday's-err...incident," Rose began.
Lily scowled, and quickly made her way towards the Gryffindor table. She had tried extremely hard to forget about yesterday's kiss, but had done so unsuccessfully. Even though she despised James, she couldn't help but feel extremely guilty. The poor thing had looked so confused when she had left him yesterday…maybe slapping him had gone a bit too far. Still, it was about time he came back to reality- the universe didn't really evolve around him and the rest of his gang. It was about time somebody let him know. She began to butter a piece of toast, while Priya and Rose began on their bowls of cornflakes.
"Aargh, watch out you two," Priya muttered, "the Bimbos of Gryffindor are on their way." Rose grinned- this was definitely going to be interesting. However, Lily seemed to be contenting herself with remaining quiet- for the time being.
"Morning girls," Sophie began breezily, "seen the new hottie?"
Rose, her curiosity getting the better of her, asked "who?" (while trying to avoid Lily's glare.)
"His name's Chris O'Toole, tall, green eyes, sandy hair, in our year, and totally single. He's already befriended James," (Lily groaned) "and he's absolutely gorgeous, coz you've gotta lurrve his accent. He got sorted into Gryffindor last night you know. He told me he was awfully relieved. I met him at the owlery this morning," Charlotte informed them.
Priya, not really interested in idle gossip, pulled out The Daily Prophet from under the fruit bowl. She gasped, and dropped the apple on which she had been munching. "Guys," she whispered, "listen to this-:
Mayhem at Hogwarts
The Ministry of Magic has officially dispatched a warning letter to the students (and their families) attending HogwartsSchool of Witchcraft and Wizardry. A reliable source has informed the Ministry that Voldemort plans to launch an attack on the ancient school, in an attempt to destabilise arguably the greatest wizard of our time, Albus Dumbledore. Students are being encouraged to report any suspicious activity, and to be aware of any strangers entering and leaving the castle "I instruct not only those at Hogwarts, but the rest of the wizarding world to remain on high alert," Cornelius Fudge announced this morning, "Should Hogwarts fall, the magical world is sure to fall into disarray-?
Here Priya stopped, glaring at Charlotte for interrupting her, with her hysterical giggling. She lifted her head, to see James Potter staring straight at Lily and ruffling his hair nervously.
"You know, my cheek still aches from yesterday," he informed them loudly, though Lily simply grinned at his statement, "anyway; I'm just supposed to tell you that we have a meeting tonight, at 6pm with Dumbledore."
"We? I think not Potter. What makes you think I'd enter a room by choice, if you happen to inhibit it?"
James looked as if he was going to explode, but Chris came up from behind him (causing Charlotte to dive under the table to hide her maniacal giggling).
"Potter, Sirius is looking everywhere for you. He reckons he's lost the Map- or something, don't really know what he's talking about…"
"Look, I kid you not. You're Head Girl, I'm Head Boy, there's not really much I can do about it, is there?" James shot at Lily angrily, "Come on Chris, let's go. The map is under my bed, I told Padfoot that last night…"
The pair walked away in the direction of the Common Room. As soon as James was out of earshot, Lily began to shriek-
"Oh, my, god. You have got to be kidding me."
"I know!" Charlotte yelped, returning from under the table, "I mean like, what on earth are you going to wear?"
Lily groaned and chose to ignore this idiotic comment. "Did anyone feel it necessary to tell me that I have to spend the majority of my last year at Hogwarts with James Potter? Anyone at all?"
"That's Chris O'Toole?" Rose asked, stars in her eyes. Priya sighed at her two best friends. This was going to be a very long year.
Please read and review! It's what keeps me going! Yup, Chris is the last to be introduced. And now that everyone is all introduced and happy, and there have been some hints about peoples prospective love interests we can get INTO THE STORY.
Many thanks to izzy and rose again for helping me come up with Chris. Isn't he cool? I have a soft spot for Irish blokes.
Anyway I am perfectly aware that it is practically impossible that the marauders ever had a friend called Chris, but here's where poetic license comes into play. He's a major character and plus rose needed a love interest. Must dash as the radio is playing the new human nature song. They ROCK!