Chapter Four

The Focus Changes

(Lily)

"Smile for the Ca-err…performance?" said a girl with long blonde hair in a bun. "That.was awful, Sarrie!" hissed Lily. They stood on a small stage in front of the curtains. Lily was wearing baggy jeans and a woolen sweater, and Sarrie was holding a very old camera; or so it seemed. "But..it doesn't matter, she must be out cold from last night anyways, plus," she sniffed a bit, "you're leaving today, and I'm leaving too and so are the guys and," she smiled evilly, "I get the car but still I won't see till Christmas!" she exclaimed. "Oh dreadful, only less than six months, my goodness, how will I survive with only…FIVE owls a day, please let me cry incessantly." Lily replied sarcastically, while Sarrie scowled and jumped off the stage with her camera floating behind her.

"Besides," said Sarrie with a sly note, "my dear friend will be there to record all your precious moments!" With that remark Lily also jumped off the stage chasing Sarrie to the exit. Being faster, she blocked the doors with a glare, "If I so much as see that horrid-horrid…whatever it is, I will DESTROY IT!" she exclaimed. Sarrie laughed and pushed Lily out of the way to the lobby and outside towards a small car.

Two boys stood leaning against the small green car, with seemingly poker faces. Lily scowled as she saw their smirks, and with that they went inside. The same owl on Lily's head once more. Sarrie started up and they were on their way. Ten minutes later they arrived at the station. "It's so relieving to live so close to the station like this, I mean imagine using the floo or something? "Or would still be back at home" grumbled Lily. She ignored the stares from the Muggles at her owl. He was always on her head except for classes, besides that, it hardly left unless directly, firmly told to. Otherwise, Lily throwing it out the window after an hour of scratching and feathers everywhere.

"Well, I guess this is where we part," said Sarrie sighing dramatically. Lily rolled her eyes; Jean and Marc looked the other way trying to avoid the irritating fluff fest. "Make sure to owl me everyday; and if anything goes wrong send Kilie!" she said staring at Lily reproachfully. "Yes, Yes mother hen, now if you don't mind I have a train to catch!"

Jean and Marc gave their usual wave 'good bye' while Sarrie tried to asphyxiate her to death with a bear hug. Finally, they became a spot in the busy crowd, and Lily was left to her own. "Another year, eh Kilie?" she whispered to her owl. The owl hooted softly, earning more stares as Lily smirked.

The platform was crowded as usual with families saying goodbye and the clock said, half past ten. Placing her trunk away she found an empty compartment in the very end of the train. It was almost not even there, as the door was quite peculiar. It seemed it was a closet, had Lily not been curious to peek in. Inside, the compartment was the same size as others.

Lily was about to sit down when noticed a lady staring out the window in the seat. The lady turned to face Lily. Yet Lily's heart stopped, her face paled more than usual, and she let out a silent scream. The lady was nonplussed, and even smiled. She was about to say something, when Lily having reached the door, stumbled out and shut it loudly.

She was breathing erratically, her mind racing. She nearly yelped as a hand touched her shoulder. Turning around she met cool, gray eyes. "What is wrong? You seem to have seen a dementor of some sort." He asked. "Nothing, I just…thought I saw something, but it's nothing, really." she replied. Draco stared and said nothing, it was a lie an outright lies, but he did not question further. That was all he was going to get anyways. The only person who could not pressured to admit anything was Lily, the first she told was the end of the story, nothing more or less. Draco respected that resilience but it annoyed him many a time.

Draco rolled his eyes and turned around and walked to the compartment across the previous one. "How is the 'almighty' Malfoy staying in one of the last compartments on the train?" she asked changing the subject. He didn't respond, in fact he closed the door and sat down.

Lily, confused stood standing, alert for…problems. "D,Draco, what-"You haven't answered any of my letters. Last few summers, I accepted your excuses but now, what the hell is going on? Did you move and decide it would be funny not to tell me or are you hiding something…else?" he blurted, turning to stare at thin air. She was gone.

Lily had walked out after the first question. She didn't see what direction except away from Draco. Questions, answers she couldn't give. Of course, she couldn't run forever, but she could sure as hell try.

She had dazed off when something solid bumped into her. She fell to the floor, distracted. It took a second when she located the hand in front of her face. "Are you okay?" asked a quiet voice. She stared at the hand, and looked up to the face and met emerald eyes. "Yes, Potter. What d'you care? Have to meddle in everyone else's life?" she snarled. He narrowed his eyes and glared, still he kept his hand stretched before her.

Spitefully, she got up on her own and glared at Potter. "Oh, yes, I forgot; Slytherin are too proper to accept the help of a Gryffindor" he replied sardonically. Lily only glared in response and stalked off in the same direction until she saw Draco coming up the same way. Turning back towards Potter, she desperately searched for an escape. 'Draco or Potter?'

She chose Potter, grabbing his hand and went into the nearest compartment. She stayed paralyzed until she heard the footsteps an angry Slytherin pass when she breathed again. Sagging her shoulders she sighed out loud.

"So? What are you a fugitive of your own house or what?" he spat. She scowled and didn't reply for a minute. "Look, Potter, it's nothing personal, but" here she placed her real expression, "I didn't mean to be so…rude, I just, I can't really explain, I just decided to take out all my anger on the first thing I ran into… "Me." He finished for her. "Yes, also," she paused looking out of the compartment, "I'm, rather…avoiding Draco so I'm eternally grateful for not making noise while he passed." She added nervously.

Harry laughed, a Slytherin on the run from their own, and that Draco Arsehole Malfoy? He shook his head and walked out without a reply. The corridor was crowded with students looking for last minute compartments. He decided to do his own before it was too late.

Of course as normal luck would have it, he, Neville, and Luna Lovegood were the odd one out. Ron and Hermione, and Ginny were with the Prefects. So the trio went in search for a compartment. Ironically, the only compartment they hadn't searched in was the one where Harry had previously been in—hiding from Malfoy. There were shouts and such coming from the compartments. Apparently hidden by the commotion of the farewells between students and their families.

"WHAT? I SAID NO! ALRIGHT!" he heard Lily shout. As he was about to approach the door, a fuming Ferret swung the door open and glared evilly at Harry, stalking to the Prefects' Compartment. Lily was inside with her owl (surprise) now ruffled on her head once more. She didn't notice, or chose not to notice, Harry and the others entering. Though they asked, she merely shrugged and continued her furious gaze toward the window.

The whole train ride continued in small chatter between Neville and Harry, occasionally with Luna, but not a word from the brooding girl. Ginny, Hermione and Ron, returned to the silent compartment with confused expressions. "So, erm, who's died?" asked Ginny bluntly.

Everyone stared, and Lily smiled at Ginny but quickly focused her gaze toward the window…again. Ginny rolled her eyes and sat down next to Lily who "strangely" had the misfortune of no one sitting next to her. Hermione and Ron sat down next to Harry and the Trio began their own hushed conversation.

"How blunt, Ginny, and random." Murmured Lily from her window. Ginny smirked, "And you are staring at or out the window like it was your life line." Lily rolled her eyes and scowled at Ginny, for a brief second. For a moment, Ginny could faintly see the reflection of the other girl in the window. An expression she had never seen or thought possible on Lily's face. A melancholy in competition with Harry's at his worst, yet serene, not submissive, just…different. She stared for a second before it was gone.

"Ginny?" Lily called, Ginny started, it seemed that it had all been a dream, a strange daydream. She found everyone in the compartment staring at her. It was then, she realized that she was on the floor. How that had happened was the question on everyone's face. She blushed lightly, still puzzled by the dream or vision she had. It had to be real, how can one doze off and not realize it? It was all so strange…

"Are you okay?" asked Harry. Ginny focused for a second on the hand before her and was able to shakily stand up. She sat down again and closed here eyes for a second. Then opened her eyes seeing as everyone stared at her expectantly. " I uh, don't know what happened?" she muttered softly. Hermione proceeded explain how Ginny dazed off and collapsed out of her seat. "Wow." Was all she replied. "Do you remember anything?" Harry asked. Ginny was about to say what she saw, but thought against it. 'Must have been a silly dream, right?' She shook her head, and replied she couldn't for sake of Merlin remember what had happened.

There was a minute of "are you sure" and then silence. Ron started up on the Cannons, distracting the others. "Lily…" Lily made no reply and walked out of the compartment, it was as if she had not heard or noticed Ginny at all. 'What is going on?' Ginny thought to herself.

"So, are you going to answer my question?" started a voice behind Lily when she had left the compartment. Draco still did not give up on his interrogation. "Malfoy, Shut the fuck up and leave me alone." She hissed at him without looking back. "You do realize we are in the same house, therefore I'll get to you…eventually." He snapped back. She stiffened and kept walking away. She ran into the kind witch with the cart full of candy and other assortments. It was foolish, but for once she followed her whim and got a chocolate frog. The money was only for emergencies, but in such an emotional state, she was likely to lose control.

Walking toward the restroom she locked herself in, as pathetic as it seemed, no one could really bother her here for a few minutes. She opened the chocolate frog, staring at what type of jump the candy would make before she could eat it. Thankfully, the toilet seat was closed or else, a very disgusting, soggy chocolate frog. Lily sighed as it stilled and she had a bite. It was heavenly for her nerves. How could some many stressful events occur in one train ride…it wasn't even over and she was exhausted.

Lily was almost finished when a soft knock came to the door. She rolled her eyes and cleaned up the wrappings and threw them in the trash bin. She opened the door and came to face the lady from earlier in the strange compartment. Before she could even move, the lady walked in and closed the door behind her. "Hello Lily." She said in a low voice. Lily was too shocked to move. "Wh-I –you are. Is this a dream?" Lily sputtered.

The lady smiled and shook her head. Instead she sang a soft tune. Lily immediately recognized the tune and almost squealed in utter joy. "ISOBEL!" she half-whispered. "I thought, but, you're here and…am so lost…" Lily finished lamely as she embraced the latter, Isobel. Isobel grinned and shook her head. "Lily dearest, you always was lost; in fact you don't even need to put a "I'm Lost" sign from the expressions you have most of the time."

Lily pouted and gave Isobel a "nice" hand gesture to express her feelings on the before said comment. Isobel ignored her, "So how is my little terror of sister doing, especially here." She asked smirking. Lily glared and pushed Isobel to the side and walked out of the restroom.

Author's Note

Hee, ok I know: What about Harry? Or Who cares about this randomly inserted character? But she has a big impact on the upcoming war so, just bear with me. Next chapter is Harry!

A/N: The song below does NOT belong to me. I can't think of who it belongs to right now, since I typed it as I heard it. Everyone else except Lily and the people in the dream (excluding Harry) belong to JKR.