My eyes flew open. I could feel myself trembling as I turned around.

'Ok...,' I muttered to myself. 'I just ran through a wall...'

'You know, talking to yourself is the first sign of insanity.'

I whirled around, my eyes locking with the dusky blue eyes of a girl about my age, her hair long, dead straight and a shimmering blonde. She grinned lopsidedly, dimples flashing in her cheeks as she held out her hand. 'Sam Merrywand, pleased to meet you.'

I shook her hand, still in a daze until I gave my head a teeny shake. 'Lily. Lily Evans, likewise.'

'Muggle born?'

'Excuse me?'

'I'll take that as a yes. Come on.' She led the way, weaving between a mass of people until, looming from behind the crowd, I finally saw the Hogwarts Express and stopped in my tracks. It was like something from a fairy tale. Typical London weather and the grey of the platform created a huge contrast to the bright red paint glinting in the dim cloud-filtered sunlight. I couldn't help but smile, the red just cheered everyone up, just by symbolism, if anything. This, I decided suddenly, was going to be good.

'Lily, over here!' I turned and pushed my trolley towards Sam. Together we hauled our trunks up onto the train. She grabbed my hand, instant best friends, and we headed together down the corridor of the train. As we walked I looked around, catching snatches of weird conversations.

'... the best keeper ever, I can't wait until we start Qudditch...'

'... werewolves, honestly, that's the only thing I'm scared of...'

'... how long until we get food?'

I caught a glimpse of the boy who was asking this question. His hair was longish, falling elegantly into his eyes and his blue eyes warm; he was incredibly good looking. I heard a mumbled and suggestive 'ooh, hello!' from Sam and frowned. Like I said, I was highly intelligent. I was also a good judge of character. Prankster, it was clear. This boy was trouble.

'What about here?' Sam asked. Before I could open my mouth to protest, she'd hauled me into the compartment and, me being so little, I tumbled lightly onto the floor with a muffled 'oof!'

'Oh., hello, what have we here?'

Using one hand, I pushed my hair out of my eyes and looked up. Four boys were sitting on the seats around me and Sam was standing in front of me, giggling. One boy, sitting opposite the handsome hungry one, reached out and held out a hand to help me to my feet. Even standing, I was only a little taller than him. He grinned and hitched his glasses higher on his nose. 'James Potter.'

I blinked. He had an arrogant way about him. I shrugged off my first impression and smiled slightly.

'Lily Evans.'

'Have a nice trip, Evans?'

I glanced at the long haired boy, lounging back with a smirk on his face.

'Yeah, actually, although the scenery wasn't too pleasing.'

He just laughed. 'Sirius Black. First years, too?'

Sam raised an eyebrow and planted herself on the seat beside him as Niamh brushed herself against my leg before loping around the compartment, eager to explore. I watched as she reached the compartment door. Suddenly she halted and tore back towards me, leaping into my arms. I looked up and saw a small, greasy looking boy standing in the doorway.

'Potter...' he sneered.

I was too preoccupied with Niamh trembling in my arms I didn't hear what they were saying until Potter and Black projected themselves across the compartment and threw themselves at the boy, fists flying. Sam was yelling and, dropping Niamh, I ran over. Big mistake.

Reaching down to grasp Potter's arm I didn't see his elbow fly back until it was too late. The bone of his elbow connected with my cheekbone and I tumbled to the floor for the second time. In my opinion I'd spent way too much time being thrown around that day. My head was ringing and, believe me, you do see stars.

'Lily!'

I struggled to my feet, blinking hard, swaying slightly. One of the other boys had a firm grip on my arm and I pulled myself roughly away.

'Evans, wait!'

The greasy boy had already gone, slipped away when Potter and Black had realized I had almost been knocked out. But I didn't wait. I scooped up Niamh and, with Sam right behind me, hurried out of the compartment.