A/N Here it is! Please Read and Review!

Life, Love and Jelly Beans

Chapter 2

Now, this brings me back to King's Cross Station, where Lily was, looking for the Hogwarts Express which could be found on platform 9 and 3/4.

As I mentioned before, Lily was lost in thought thinking all this through in her head once again, for what seemed like the thousandth time, but she could still find nothing to explain it all. She had even seen the magic with her own eyes when she went to Diagon Alley with her parents. She had seen all the other witches and wizards, and some of the magical things they had done. She even had her very own wand to prove it!

With that thought, she slid her hand into her pocket and closed her hand around the long Willow wand, as if checking to make sure that it hadn't hopped out and run away while she wasn't looking.

Nope, it's real all right, she thought to herself. Then, quite suddenly, she was interrupted from her thoughts as she bumped into her mother, who had been walking in front of her, but had stopped dead in her tracks.

"See, i told you." Mrs. Evans was saying to her husband, with her hands on her hips. "Where on earth would they have a platform 9 and 3/4? Do you see one here?" she spread her arms out to indicate the signs for platforms 9 and 10. Do you?

Of course Mr. Evans could not answer that, and he was quite taken aback at the tone his own wife had used with him, as well as the fiery look she had in her eyes.

"Well... I... uhhh..." he stammered, lost for words.

Mrs. Evans then let out a sigh and let her arms fall to her sides. "Oh I'm sorry dear, all this magic business has gotten me quite stressed out." She brought her hands up to her face and rubbed her temples. "I didn't mean to shout at you.

"It's quite all right darling. I know how you must be feeling. Maybe we should ask somebody...

At this, Lily cut in. "Are you crazy dad? If you ask somebody, they'll wonder how much drink you've had!

"Lily! Don't speak to your father like that." Snapped Mrs. Evans.

Lily just sighed and rolled her eyes. Why did her parents have to be so weird? ÔWhat if it's genetic?' she wondered with horror.

Suddenly Lily felt a tap on her shoulder. She spun around but found nobody there. ÔOh great, I think I just found out the answer to my question. Now I'm imagining that people are taping me on the shoulder.' She rolled her eyes once more before turning around, and found that her nose was 2 inches away from another strange nose.

She screamed and jumped back. By doing so, she was able to see who the strange nose belonged to more clearly. It belonged to a boy about the same age as her, with messy black hair, brown eyes and a huge grin on his face.

"Ha!" he laughed triumphantly. "I scared you!

"Scared? Scared? You wish. I was just surprised. I mean, how often to you turn around and find a stranger 2 inches from your nose?

The boy looked a bit deflated after her comment, but quickly changed the subject.

"Well, anyway... I just figured that you looked a little bit lost, and I figured I could help you!" At this he bowed and said in a fake french accent, "James Potter at your service, mademoiselle." Lily just rolled her eyes and sighed impatiently.

If James noticed, he didn't show it, because he continued in the same phoney accent, "DOes this mademoiselle have a name?

"My name is Lily. Now go away." she said. This James fellow was quite annoying. She then turned away to find out where her parents had gotten to. She spotted them a little ways off talking to another couple, and Their expressions seemed far more relaxed.

Lily started walking towards them, and she found that James was following her.

She turned and yelled at him, "Why are you following me?

He just smiled at her and said, "Those are my parents." Then he walked past her smugly and went to join his parents.

Lily stood where she was with a thought of dread crossing her mind. "Urg... if my parents become friends with his..." She didn't get to finish her thought because she heard her mom call to her. She sighed and made her way over to the group.

"Lily , this is Mr. and Mrs. Potter, and this is their son James." Mrs. Evans told Lily as soon as she arrived. "They're wizards too, and they're going to help us get to that blasted platform." she added, emphasising the word Ôblasted'.

"Pleased to meet you Lily." Mrs. Potter said politely, holding out her hand to Lily. Lily shook her hand, and then Mrs. Potter nudged James and said through a smile, "James, dear, where are your manners?

"Oh, it's all right Mom. I already met Lily." His grin returned.

Lily didn't want to be reminded to she tried making conversation. "So, how exactly do you get to platform 9 and 3/4?" she inquired.

"Well it's quite simple really..." began Mr. Potter, but he was quickly interrupted by James, whose whole face had lit up at the mention of the platform.

"Ohh, Lily! I'll show you! I'll show you! Hop in!" he said indicating his trolley.

"Umm... excuse me?" said Lily, not quite understanding what he was talking about.

"Aww come on!" but before Lily got the chance to answer, he scooped her up and dumped her into his trolley along with his trunk.

Lily screamed and James started running in the direction of... a WALL! Her screams ceased. She was so shocked that no sounds could escape from her mouth. Thoughts ran through her head like, "This is it... this is how it's all going to end. And all because of this stupid maniac!!!

Right before the collision, Lily covered her eyes and silently said a little prayer. " Take care of my family, my friends, oh and even Petunia!

After a few moments of nothing happening, she felt a tap on her shoulder. She peeked though her fingers to see. Well... there didn't seem to be anything wrong... everything was normal.

Then she looked up at the face grinning down at her. She exploded.

"JAMES, YOU IDIOT!!!! YOU COULD HAVE KILLED US!!!!" she screamed.

"Whoa, whoa, Lily, Lily. Settle down. I got you here safe and sound didn't I? No worries!" James reassured her.

"What? And where exactly is here?" she asked impatiently.

At this James let out a little laugh. " Platform 9 and 3/4 of course." He spread his arms out to show the platform full of Hogwarts students and parents, some of which were looking curiously in their direction. Lily seemed to have not noticed while she was busy shouting at James.

James had a look of triumph on his face. It made Lily sick.

"Well... well... ARG!!!" she screamed in frustration and stormed off to find her parents.

Lily found an empty compartment on the Hogwarts express and as soon as she got comfortable, she took out a well-worn book from her bag that she was currently reading. ÔElla Enchanted'.

It was her favourite book, and she'd read it so many times she could probably recite it by heart from beginning to end. It was what she read whenever she was nervous, or scared, or sad, or angry, or lonely... or even happy for that matter... okay, okay, she read it all the time. It was even the book she had been reading when she had received the Hogwarts letter.

Lily didn't get very far in her reading because soon the compartment door slid open and a head of dark hair popped through.

"Mind if we join you?" the girl asked.

Lily shook her head and said, "Come on in.

"Thanks. I'm Natalia Blake, and this is Amelia Summers." she said indicating the girl who had followed her in, who was also very pretty.

ÔWow,' thought Lily. ÔThey're both really pretty!' Natalia was a tallish slender girl with black hair just past her shoulders. She was wearing it in two loose pig tails. She had dark brown eyes and a dazzling smile. Amelia had light brown hair down to her elbows, with natural golden and honey highlights. She had blue eyes and she also had a very pretty smile.

"I'm Lily Evans.

"Nice to meet you Lily Evans." said Natalia, who seemed to be the least shy of the two. "You a first year?" she asked.

"Yeah.

"Us too." replied Natalia.

"Yeah, I'm really nervous..." added Amelia. "But I think it's best if we just don't think about it. So what are you reading?" she asked Lily, pointing at the book in Lily's hands.

"Oh this." Lily said looking down. "It's ÔElla Enchanted' by Gail Carson Levine. It's my favourite book.

"Really? Wow, that's my favourite book too!" exclaimed Natalia. At that, she reached into her bag and took out her own equally worn copy.

"I've read it, like, a million times!" she continued.

"ME TOO!

The rest of the train ride, the girls talked and found out that they had more things in common. They talked about books, music and pigged out on chocolate frogs and Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans. Lily had never tried them before and was quite unfortunate to find a seaweed flavoured one.

"Ewwww!!!" she cried.

"What did you get?" asked Amelia.

"Seaweed!" cried Lily.

"Awww, common. It can't be that bad! Just think of sushi." pointed out Natalia.

"But i hate sushi!

"Really? I love it. Maybe you just haven't given it enough of a chance." said Natalia, the corners of her mouth twitching.

"Yeah, I love it too." said Amelia. "Hey, I just got the best idea! We should have a sushi party sometime!" exclaimed a giggling Amelia.

"Umm... no, that's okay..." answered Lily, with a look of disgust on her face. The two girls just laughed even louder.

The rest of the train ride passed very quickly and they soon could see the Hogwarts Castle.

Lily was speechless. It was beautiful! The moon shone onto it making it glow eerily, but the little lights in the windows made it look more welcoming.

"Wow!" cried Amelia. When she was able to tear her eyes away from the beautiful sight, she said, "It's just like my brother told me! He's in his third year and he's in Gryffindor, so I'm hoping to be sorted into Gryffindor too. Then I'll be able to bug him!" She rubbed her hands together excitedly and made an evil little grin with her tongue sticking out. The girls all burst out laughing.

All the first years filed into the Great Hall and stopped in front of the four long wooden house tables packed with older students.

Lily was squashed in between Natalia and a boy with longish black hair. She couldn't help but notice that he was very good looking. Natalia seemed to have noticed too because she kept glancing past Lily to get another look.

After the hat sang its song - which surprised most of the first years, but all the other students seemed to have found it quite natural - the first years were called up alphabetically to be sorted.

Since there were no ÔA's, they started with the ÔB's. Professor McGonagall, a tall black haired witch, also the head of Gryffindor, was calling out students' names and the first one called was, "Black, Sirius!

The boy beside Lily stepped forward, revealing a grinning James, clapping madly. Lily rolled her eyes and thought, "Oh brother!

Sirius picked up the hat, sat down on the stool and placed the hat on his head. After a few moments, the hat cried out, "Gryffindor!

There was a roar of applause from the Gryffindor table. Sirius gave James a thumbs up, shook his fists in the air for victory and bounded off to sit with the other students from his house.

"Blake, Natalia!

Natalia flashed a smile at Lily and went towards the stool. She stuck the hat on her head and a moment later the hat cried out, "Gryffindor!

Natalia looked relieved as she went and sat next to Sirius who was gawking like an idiot.

The list went on with a couple sorted into Ravenclaw, some into Hufflepuff another Gryffindor and three Slytherins. Each table erupted with applause with each new member of their house.

Soon it was Lily's turn to be sorted.

"Evans, Lily!

She could hear her heart beating in her ears, felt her face getting hot and her palms getting all sweaty. She stepped forward slowly and walked over to where the hat was. She glanced nervously in Natalia's direction. She gave Lily a reassuring smile and showed Lily she had her fingers crossed.

Lily felt a little calmer as she sat down and put the hat on her head. She shut her eyes tight and held her breath. She could hear some whispering, and she was wondering where it was coming from. As soon as she figured out it was the hat thinking about what house to place her in, she heard it yell out, "Gryffindor!

There was a roar from the Gryffindor table as Lily sighed a sigh of relief and headed over to Natalia who was jumping up and down with excitement. Once Lily reached her, she was engulfed in a giant bear hug.

"Umm... " she gasped. "Can't... breath...!

"Whoops! Sorry Lily!" she apologised, still grinning.

Lily sat down and listened to the other names, dreading when James would be called up.

"He's not gonna be in Gryffindor, he's not gonna be in Gryffindor." she thought, without much conviction.

When James' name was called, Sirius jumped up and applauded very loudly. When he noticed nobody else clapping as exuberantly as him, he slowly sat down. He leaned forward and whispered to the girls, "Sheesh... tough crowd!

Lily suppressed a giggle, and returned her attention to the hat.

James already had it on his head, and yet again the hat yelled out, "Gryffindor!

As great applause erupted around her (especially from Sirius) Lily glimpsed James winking at her. She groaned and thought, "This is gonna be one long year...

A/N There's chapter 2 for you! Review and tell me what you think! Also, I'm kinda at a writers block for chapter 3, cuz I already have some done... but if anybody has any ideas for good pranks for the Marauders to pull on Lily and her friends, then write it in your review, or else e-mail me at funkyrocker14hotmail.com. It would be much appreciated! Thanx!

funkyrocker