Author's note: and so the action begins…please, PLEASE send me feedback as it will only make the story better…also, I realize I forgot the disclaimer on the prologue, but I figure these things are pretty much understood… enjoy!
one: in which the beginning is begun
The chandelier swung dangerously as the train swerved at an acute angle along the tracks. The tinkle of the crystals combined with the regular thumps of the car wheels and the whirring of the engine to create an unusual and slightly disconcerting cacophony.
That, combined with the slamming of carriage doors, the patter of feet, the thump of falling luggage and the shrieks of laughter echoing along the corridor, was the excuse Lily Evans gave herself for not studying on the long ride to the castle. To pass the time, she had engaged herself in the worthy task of eating her way steadily through Remus' stash of sweets. She then pasted each of the cellophane wrappers to the compartment window using her wand, creating a brilliant mosaic through which the sun shone. Thousands of jewel-colored lights danced and flickered across the floor and walls of the Prefect's car as the train bumped along towards Hogwarts, leaning precariously at each turn.
Her friend, Remus Lupin, was sprawled over the seat across from her, flipping through the Prefect's Manual, an amused grin playing about his lips. He was a tall, slightly lanky boy of sixteen, pale and slim without being awkward. His sandy hair was slightly unkempt and slightly too long, so that some bits stuck up or out irregularly, the shade at odds with his dark eyebrows, lending his face a brooding, almost fierce, quality. His light amber eyes, with their unusually large pupils, flickered across the page with interest, although Lily noted with slight alarm how dark the circles, perpetually present under his eyes, had become in the two months since she'd last seen him. She knew better than to comment, however.
"According to our handy manual," Remus said interestedly, his face hidden by his book, "there are 367 ways a Prefect can tie their tie incorrectly, all of which were documented by the caretaker in 1851."
"Really?" Lily replied, distractedly pasting an orange toffee wrapper to her growing oeuvre. " And are they actually listed, or are we referred to another source if we wish to discover the details to that fascinating anecdote of academia?"
"It doesn't say, but I have no doubt that said documents can be procured. In fact, I will find them first thing once we can get into the library, for your reading pleasure, or course," he said, laughing as he tossed the manual back on top of his trunk.
Lily rolled her eyes before popping a caramel into her mouth, sizing up the best location for a blue wrapper. Apparently she hadn't lost any of her cynicism over the summer, Remus noted. "What, no summer flings to change your mind?" he asked, voicing his thoughts aloud and without preamble.
Slightly surprised, Lily cocked her head to one side, pausing for a moment to search for a suitably biting reply. "Unfortunately, I ate all those that approached me before I could stop myself," she joked, the corners of her lips twitching as she fought not to laugh, sarcasm dripping from every word. "Of which there were many, of course. I have a nice little bone closet at home, actually, which has a 'welcome' mat before the door and which I decorate with doilies."
"It's funny how you can be so quaint and twisted at the same time," he replied lightly, riffling through his bag in search of his prefect badge. A painful jab to his thumb, accompanied by a loud oath, proclaimed its' retrieval.
"Serves you right." Lily frowned at the window, perturbed by the concentration of green wrappers in the lower left-hand corner. The composition was unbalanced, but it seemed too annoying to take down and redo the entire section now. "And you, Moony?" She called him by their old nickname. "How did you fair in the unpredictable realm of love?"
"I was staying with James for the summer," Remus replied, noting the slight hardening of Lily's jaw at the mention of James Potter. "Hardly the setting for romance."
"No, I suppose not," she said acidly. "I'm sure Potter required all your care and attention at all times. Goodness knows what would happen if he had to share anything."
Remus smiled to himself as Lily stared haughtily in the other direction. In a certain way, it was comforting to know that some things never changed. "Do I detect some bitterness, coming from perfect Prefect Lily? Surely not, surely I imagine it only!" he taunted her quietly, flicking fallen candy wrappers at a scowling Lily. " Perhaps she could be referring to the sharing of things such as the spotlight? Or perhaps she was referring more specifically to the Quidditch captaincy?"
Lily stared daggers at him, trying to wipe that patronizing grin off his ridiculous face. Remus may have been her closest friend, ever since the shared secret ofa certainunfortunate incident back in their second year, but that didn't mean he didn't abuse his perceptiveness in order to spark her already incendiary temper.
"I have no idea what it is you speak of, O Moony the Wise…-Arse," she added triumphantly. "I…"
She was interrupted by the carriage door slamming open, to reveal Sirius Black, clad in all his Hogwarts finery and brandishing his wand like a rapier for no apparent reason.
"I have had a revelation," he announced grandly, promptly seating himself on Lily's lap and giving her a smacking kiss on the forehead as she attempted to bat him away with a History of Magic textbook, having dropped her wand in surprise at his assault. "Why look, it's my favorite flower and Chaser! I'm assuming your look of outrage springs from your anger towards evil Fate, who separated you from me for a whole two months."
"Sirius, darrrling," she exclaimed, purposely over-rolling the Rs as her left hand searched the floor, only the sparks in her eyes betraying her tone. "I can't tell you how thrilled I am that, after a full two months absence, you choose so charitably to plant your fat arse on me." She paused, her fingers finally grasping the object of her search. " And now that I have found my wand," she continued calmly, "kindly get off me before I hex you into oblivion, starting with your behind."
"I'm afraid she's serious," commented a mirthful Remus. "No pun intended, or course," he added, eyeing his friends with amusement
Unruffled, Sirius swaggered nonchalantly across the car and settled himself on a pillow that had fallen to the floor. "Now, Lily," he said kindly, "a perfect Prefect in you position - pause everyone, to admire my alliteration- cannot afford to have temper like that. What, pray tell, would your superiors say? In a moment of anger, you must have broken twenty rules…"
"Twenty-two, actually," Remus deadpanned. "By the way, Sirius, what was your revelation?"
"Forgotten and irrelevant," Sirius replied dissmisively, delicately pulling a candy wrapper off his pants. His action jostled his coat pocket, causing the top of a small silver flask to peak out.
"Sirius, have you been drinking again?" Remus asked sharply.
"No, of course not."
"Sirius, we're on the school train!" Lily stated exasperatedly. "And we're Prefects!"
Sirius grinned roguishly, the smile he always wore when cornered. "Only a nip, my friends, only a nip, not to worry. Ease up on the italics, Lily. You're making me nauseous."
"And I'm sure that nausea has nothing to do with the contents of your flagon there. Well, this has been delightful," she said as she unfolded her legs and stepped nimbly toward the compartment door. "I had almost forgotten the joys of living with you lot, but now-"
As she reached for the door handle, it slid smoothly open, revealing none other than James Potter, about to step in but now standing tensely in the doorframe. He too was already in his school uniform, his shoes scuffed, his shirt untucked and wrinkled, his tie flung carelessly around his neck, not yet tied. His appearance made quite a contrast when compared with Sirius' immaculately polished, ironed and starched ensemble.
His carelessness irritated Lily beyond measure. It was part of his whole personae of confidence bordering on arrogance, and it infuriated her.
"Potter," she said shortly by way of greeting, without moving to let him pass.
He eyed her questioningly, eyebrow raised, as he surveyed the eclectic combination of school kilt, muggle T-shirt (emblazoned with something called "Rolling Stones") under her grey uniform cardigan with the Gryffindor Crest adorning the breast pocket. He noted with particular satisfaction that her socks were of two different colors.
"Evans," he said tersely, stepping to one side with an exaggerated swagger to allow her to pass.
"It's amazing Potter," she hissed as she slipped by him, "how your hair appears wind-blown even though you haven't even stepped onto the pitch yet. If one didn't know better, they might think you actually spent time in front of a mirror styling it like that on purpose."
"So sorry, Evans, that my grooming offends you. However, a lesser person might interpret your spite for jealousy. A little bird informed me of your aspirations to be the next Quidditch captain…"
"Don't flatter yourself, Potter. I'm sure there was a tiny pang somewhere in there when you failed to be chosen for a prefect…for the second year in a row." With that, Lily spun on her heel and traipsed lightly off.
"She is insufferable," James snarled, slamming the compartment doors closed slightly harder than was necessary. He swept a pile of candy wrappers off a seat before plopping himself down, ignoring Sirius' wildly rolling eyes and Remus' sigh of resignation. "Who ate all of this garbage, anyway? Never mind, let me guess..."
For a few minutes, they sat in silence, James chewing his lip and glancing around the compartment.
"Yeah, the Prefects' car is definitely a step up from the normal ones," observed Sirius, having followed James' stare.
"Jesus! What happened to the window?" James exclaimed, ignoring his friend's comment. Then… "There's too much green in the lower left-hand corner."
A/N: more to come…when? Only time will tell…I hate to be predictable, it ruins the enigma…R&R, please.