Ch. 8 "Confrontations Part II"

Lily noticed, as she was staring motionlessly out the train window, that there were less farms and the trees had become more dense. "I think we're almost there," she said and looked away. Remus was reading, she noticed. Peter was asleep, Tanya had her head in James's lap, and Sara and Sirius were in a deep conversation. She blushed, sensing that no one had heard her and looked out the window again.

"Okay," Lily heard James say. Lily stole a glance at him. He put his Quidditch magazine down and was looking for her. "Do you know when?"

Lily opened her mouth to speak and was interrupted by someone on the loudspeaker. James looked over at Sirius and Sara. "Hey, could you guys keep it down? I can't really hear." They stopped talking and they all listened.

"Attention students: The Hogwarts Express will be arriving at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry in the next ten minutes, will the students please prepare for the feast -"

"Shut up, shut up, shut up, we get it," Sara interrupted. "So anyway . . ." She whispered something in Sirius's ear and he nodded and whispered something back.

Lily smiled, her mind racing with impossible answers for why Sara and Sirius were acting that way.

"Well, I guess that answered my question," James said. Lily looked over at him and smiled. Tanya suddenly yawned loudly and reached her arm up to James's head. She wrapped her hand around the back of James's neck and pulled his head down forcefully into a ferocious lip-lock. She opened her eyes, glanced at Lily and smiled.

Lily's eyes widened and turned away. Okay, Lily thought, so she wants to make me jealous. Yeah right, like that'll happen.

She felt the train start to slow down and she stood up. She went to her baggage, got out her robe and put it over her uniform, which she had put on earlier that morning. Sara looked up. "Oh! Right, we have to change." She looked down at her baggy jeans and shirt that she had thrown on. "Okay, I really need to change. Lily, come with me."

"Why do girls always have to travel in packs?" Sirius wondered aloud.

"Because," Sara said.

"Because why?"

"Because! Come, Lillian."

"I wonder why she didn't ask Tanya to go," said Peter once he had woken up.

"Yeah, I wonder why, too," Sirius said sarcastically and rolled his eyes. "God, Peter, you really need to catch up." Peter shrugged and picked up a piece of candy.

Sara and Lily walked over to the bathroom. "Why do girls always travel in packs?" Lily repeated. Sara shrugged. "I just do it because I like the company. God only knows what those other girls are thinking. Great, just great, someone's in the bathroom." Sara walked up to the door and pounded on it. "Hey you, hurry up in there!"

"Go to hell!" replied the other person.

"Gladly," Sara muttered. "Come on, I guess we have to find an empty compartment since SOME PEOPLE!" she screamed into the door. "Seemed to have forgotten their manners. But I don't mind. Let's hit the road, Jack."

Lily chuckled. "Ooh, this one's empty." Sara peered into the room. "It's not worthy of my presence," she decided.

"Okay then. Uh . . . this other one is the last one that's empty, all the other ones are taken."

"It'll do. Close the door."

Lily closed the door and sat down. "Hey, what were you and Sirius talking about?"

Sara buttoned up her shirt. "Uh, nothing." She caught Lily's glare and sighed. "Okay, I'm only telling you 'cause I know you won't tell. Me and Sirius are planning a huge prank on Tanya."

Lily smiled. "For once, I actually don't mind. She deserves it, too. So what are you going to do?"

Sara frowned. "Well, that's the thing. We haven't come up with any original ideas yet. Either it's too complicated or it's been done before. My brain is now on strike and is threatening to go into self-destruct mode."

"I'll try and think of something, if that means anything."

Sara smiled. "I think it will help. You have a very unique mind, but you're so quiet that nobody can hear it! Man, do I need new shoes."

"Nobody can hear my mind?"

"Exactly. Okay, I'm good, let's go." Sara led the way back to the compartment. "You know, as an added bonus to that makeover that you purposely delayed, I am going to give you the confidence boost of the century."

"And just how are you going to do that?" Lily asked curiously.

"I," Sara said, and she paused. "Okay, I honestly have no clue how, but don't worry, it'll come to me. I'll have an epiphany. God will connect to me in a magical zephyr that will blow my hair and excite me to no end, like if you have four espressos right in a row, then a sugar cookie. Yeah, that's right, a zephyr."

Lily laughed. "I can see it now. You've really had four espressos and a sugar cookie before?"

Sara opened the door and walked in. "Of course."

"Of course what?" asked Sirius.

Sara rolled her eyes. "Of course I'm pregnant."

Both Sirius's and Remus's jaws dropped. "What?" they both yelled in unison. Sara raised her eyebrows. "Jeez, I was joking! Man, what's the big deal, anyway?"

Remus blushed and looked down. "Hey, I'm just the father-figure around here," Sirius answered. Sara snorted. "Sure. Ooh, yay, we stopped."

Lily looked out the window, even though she could barely see anything. "It's pretty dark out," she commented and pushed her glasses back up to the bridge of her nose.

"I know," James answered. "Come on, guys. And girls," he added once he heard Sara's growl. "Let's go now so we get a free carriage. We can all fit in one, right?" He looked around and counted everybody.

"We should," Remus answered. "The carriages are big enough."

James nodded. "Alright then, let's hit the road."

"You forgot the 'Jack' part," commented Sara.

"What?"

"Nothing. It's a Muggle thing. Right Lily?" Lily nodded uncertainly and looked down again. Sara noticed the shyness and sighed. We really need to fix that, she thought.

Tanya stood up and stretched again. "Man, was I out. I don't think I've ever slept that long!" she said and threw herself against James. "I want a hug," she pouted. James smiled and hugged her, but Lily couldn't help but notice that the smile seemed forced. Weird, she thought as she stepped into the hallway. Sara followed her, then the Marauders, and Tanya brought up the rear.

"Man, I can't wait to eat," Sirius said once he stepped off the train.

"I know," agreed Sara. "I am so hungry." The group walked to the first carriage they saw and went inside. Sirius, who was the last one in, had a disgusted look on his face. "What is it?" Remus asked.

Sirius winced. "I saw my brother," he said darkly. Everyone except Tanya nodded knowingly. "So what?" she asked snappishly. Lily was getting the idea that she didn't like Sirius that much.

Sirius grimaced but was able to hold a straight face. "It's nothing."

Tanya shrugged and leaned on James. "Sure it is," she said sarcastically and smirked.

Both Sirius and Sara shot her death glares. "Why you little -" Sara started. Lily reached over and covered her mouth. "Come on, Sara, not now," she whispered. Sara leaned back in her seat and gritted her teeth.

Lily leaned back, too and looked out the window again. "You know," she said suddenly. Everyone looked at her expectantly and Lily blushed again. "What?" Sara asked.

Lily shrugged. "Nothing. It's just that . . . I mean, once this year is over, then the next year is over, we're out in the real world. It just seems really close now."

Everyone paused and thought about it. "I guess it kind of is," James said finally. "I've always felt really sheltered with the thought of going back to Hogwarts, and now we only get to do it one more time."

There was another pause. "Well, as long as we can use magic outside of school, I'm good," announced Sirius.

Sara looked at Lily and smiled. "I never thought of it that way," she said. "Remember that whole unique mind thing? That's exactly what I'm talking about."

Lily grinned. "It wasn't that unique. It was just more sudden."

Sara groaned loudly. "That whole modesty thing is really old, Lily. We need to fix that, too."

Lily smiled. "Sounds exciting."

"Oh, it will be," Sara reassured. "After all, a zephyr only comes once in a lifetime."

"You're sure it'll be a zephyr?" Lily asked.

Sara smiled widely. "I would bet my life on it if I could."

Sirius looked around. "Okay then. Er, am I the only one who has no idea what just happened?"

James shook his head. "You're not alone, Padfoot."

Lily laughed silentlyto herself and looked out the window (AGAIN). "Oh, good, we're here," she announced. "Finally," she added.

Thanks to all my reviewers, that's all I have to say.