No Matter What Happens

Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter. All familiar characters, events, etc. belong to J. K. Rowlings. Anything else is mine.

Chapter One: Return of the Marauders

As the shrill whistle of the scarlet Hogwarts train blew, Lily and her two friends met for the first time since the end of fourth year. Marissa Penton was slightly tall for her age with blonde hair and deep blue eyes. She was generally easygoing, but when someone made her angry she could be ferocious. Her other best friend was Jen Myser, an average height girl with straight black hair and dark brown eyes. She was the mischievous one of the group and also had a quick temper.

Lily dropped her luggage instantly as she saw her friends dodging the crowd of kids to reach her. They were dressed in their Muggle clothes as she was, desperately trying to lug their heavy bags and run to Lily all at once.

"Lily, you're a prefect!" Marissa cried, hugging Lily tightly. Lily grinned and nodded, "Yep, mum and dad were really pleased when they found out."

"And what about Petunia?" Jen asked with a smile. Both of her friends knew from Lily's stories that Petunia despised anything magical, even if Lily didn't fully realize.

"She avoided me for the rest of the summer and refused to talk to me unless absolutely necessary," Lily stated with a soft sigh. "But that's not the worst of it! She has this new boyfriend, Vernon, and he's a complete jerk to me! Every time he looks at me he gives me this nasty glare, like I'm something that needs to be stomped on."

"Then turn him into a bug and stomp on him," Jen suggested with a snigger. Lily laughed softly, "If only things were that simple, Je—"

"Oy—Evans!"

All three girls turned around to see a boy with messy jet-black hair coming towards Lily, three boys trailing behind him. Lily moaned and whirled back around to find Jen and Marissa giggling. "Honestly, not even ten minutes here and he's manages to find me," she declared in a frustrated tone. "He's like your own personal stalker," Jen agreed as James Potter and his fellow Marauders turned up behind Lily.

"Evans, I finally found you!" James said in a merry tone, seizing the opportunity and wrapping an arm around her shoulder. "Unfortunately," Lily added under her breath. She made a face and shrugged his arm off in habit. Then she turned to Remus, who was looking particularly ill. His blonde hair was pale and dull, and his eyes shone tired, but cheerful nevertheless.

"Hello Remus, are you feeling well?" Lily asked with a hint of concern. Remus was the only one of the Marauders that she could stand to be near. They often studied in the library together, along with a few other Gryffindor students.

Remus gave her a smile and nodded weakly, "Yeah. I just, er, stayed up late writing a few last minute letters." Seeing Lily's doubtful expression, he hastily changed the subject. "So, could you believe that I managed to become a prefect despite hanging around with these guys?"

Lily's face lit up at once, forgetting Remus's answer at once, "Really? A got a letter saying that I'm a prefect to!"

Meanwhile, James had given a fake gag, Peter stifled a snigger, and Sirius howled, "What!" James gave Remus a quizzical look after a moment, "Why didn't you tell us that you made the prefects?"

"I—I thought that you'd all make a big deal out of it," he stammered.

"Whaddaya mean?" Sirius cried, crashing his hand down on Remus's shoulder. "This is great news!"

"It is?" Peter squeaked, thoroughly confused. "Of course," Sirius replied with a sigh, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. "Moony won't turn us in to Professor McGonagall after our pranks!"

With a touch of irritation, Remus asked, "I won't?" While the group of boys started a heated discussion, Lily and her friends turned away to put their luggage on the train. The train would leave shortly and Lily would have to go to the prefect's carriage, as her letter instructed.

They got Lily and Marissa's items on without difficulty, though they had a slight problem with Jen's monstrous bags. While Jen stood back with a sheepish grin on her face, the other two grunted and finally managed to get them aboard the train just as a shrill whistle of the train blew. A few minutes later they were on their long journey to Hogwarts.

After Lily parted with her friends, she found herself making her way to the prefect carriage by herself. Other students strolled past her slowly, chattering happily to their friends. As she passed yet another compartment she could hear a door being thrust open by her. James Potter came hurtling out of it and crashed right into her.

"POTTER!" Lily felt herself stumble backwards in surprise, steadying herself and trying to maintain her fury. Through gritted teeth she asked, "What are you doing?"

He grinned and straightened himself up, "Terribly sorry, Evans." She felt her face burn from embarrassment as she brushed her red hair from her face, "If you don't mind, I need to be going now." She stepped past him coolly, only to hear someone call, "Hey Lily, wait up!" Remus had followed James out and was walking towards her. "We both need to head to the prefect carriage, right?"

Lily nodded and they both started once again, Remus calling behind him, "See ya later, Prongs!"

James started back into the compartment muttering, "Yeah, yeah." He slid the door shut and slumped down on the seat by Sirius. He and Peter looked as if they were ready to burst from laughing. Finally Sirius choked out, "Way to go, mate. We're not even at Hogwarts yet and you've managed to get on Lily's bad side."

James grinned halfheartedly, "I suppose it's just my Potter charm, eh? Ever since our third year." He smiled absentmindedly as his mind flashed to the crystal clear memory of when he had first been smitten by the lovely Lily Evans.

"Er—didn't she call you an arrogant jerk and threaten to hex you if you came near her again?" Peter asked with a frown.

Sirius elbowed Peter playfully in the arm and winked. "But it's the thought that counts!"


By the time the Hogwarts Express rolled to a stop, the sky was dark and no stars could be seen from behind thick clouds. Lily, Marissa, and Jen shuffled off the train, followed shortly by the Marauders and other familiar fifth years. Frank Longbottom could be seen up ahead, desperately trying to catch a glimpse of his girlfriend through the large mass of students. His slightly pudgy body had thinned up slightly since their previous year, and his face had become more mature and less childish-looking.

"Lily," he breathed as he caught sight of Lily and her friends. "Have you seen Alice yet—I've been looking for her!" When Lily shook her head apologetically, he mumbled a thanks and started into the crowd once more.

"Probably worried that she's out snogging with another guy already," Jen said in a low voice as she watched him disappear.

"Jen!" Lily cried while Marissa stifled a laugh. "You know Alice wouldn't do that to Frank."

"I was only kidding," Jen added hastily. Looking at the doubtful looks on both of their faces, she said, "Let's hurry and get a carriage." Then they started towards the horseless carriages, happy to be back at Hogwarts at last.


JustMe: Thanks!

Still a kinda short chapter, but don't worry! So what do you think of it so far? More action will come once class starts... that's bound to happen with the Marauders at school!

-Shadow Riku