The Marauders and the girls had all met up and were sitting comfortably in a compartment, waiting for the train to leave.
"So, how was everyone's remaining days at home?" Remus asked the group at large.
They had spent a good length of time at James's over the summer, and were meeting up again for the first time since then.
"Pretty good, I spent most of the time with Harry and Sirius," James said, looking shyly at Lily, who was sitting across from him and was smiling at him. When James was playing with Harry, Lily saw a whole different side of James she'd never seen before. A side she didn't hate at all.
Next to Lily was Remus, and next to him was Emmeline, who spoke. "That's cool; your little brother is so adorable, James."
James smiled at her and looked over to Charlie who said, "I'd have to agree, he sure is energetic though, isn't he?"
"You have no idea," said Sirius, causing everyone to laugh. He was sitting in-between Charlie and James.
The floor of the Hogwarts Express then started to shake slowly, and the train began to leave the station.
"Well, that's our cue then. Ready to go, Evans?" James said, standing up; they had to go to their Heads' meeting. Lily looked up, surprised; she had seemed to be thinking deeply about something.
"What? Oh yeah, right. See you guys in a bit." Lily stood up and followed James out.
"Hey Lily, you OK?" James asked, as soon as they sat down in the Head's compartment, waiting for the new prefects to show.
"Why do you ask?" Lily said, surprised that he had called her Lily. She also was surprised she didn't contradict him on it.
"Well, when we were all talking the remainder of our summers, you seemed kind of distant and upset. Do you want to talk about it?" James asked, happily filling with glee that she wasn't biting his head off.
But to his disappointment, Lily suddenly started to cry.
"Oh Lily, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make you cry; I shouldn't have brought it up," James said hurriedly, grabbing her arm. She shook her head, and wiped her face, though the tears kept coming.
"You know how I left school for a month in the beginning of sixth year?" Lily murmured. James had to strain to hear her.
"Yeah," James said.
"Well, it was because my mother had passed away," Lily muttered.
"Oh, Lily; I'm sorry really." James said, mentally kicking himself.
"No, it's okay. It's just… well, this summer, when I was home, my sister Petunia decided to be… herself. Anyway, she kept yelling at me and such, saying I was a disgrace to the family, and 'if I'm such a good witch why can't I bring Mum back. Or why did I stop her from dying.' She put all the blame on me, when I knew it wasn't my fault, but after hearing it constantly I started to believe it. I mean Po - James, she's right, I should have been able to prevent it," Lily said, the tears now falling even more rapidly. James sat Lily down, and looked her in the eyes.
"Lily, you listen to me for the first time in your life. Just listen to me. You had nothing to do with your mother dying, and there is nothing you could have done, so don't blame yourself. Your mother's in a better place now and you'll see her one day after you've lived a nice long happy life. I'm almost positive your mother wouldn't want you beating yourself up over something you didn't even do; she's probably scolding you right now from up there." James said, gesturing to the ceiling, and hoping to make Lily laugh and she did a little.
"Yeah, I guess you're right," Lily said, wiping her eyes for the last time. "Thanks, I really appreciated that James, really, I did. Er, can you do me a favor, and just keep that between us? I really don't want Charlie, Emmeline, or Hestia to worry about me."
James smiled and nodded, "Anytime. And I promise I know what it's like." James said. Lily nodded, saying, "I didn't know you were religious."
James laughed and pulled something out from inside it shirt; it was a cross. "Catholic, like Remus. Yeah, my parents are really religious and they don't let me go anywhere with out this."
Lily laughed, and stood up as the door opened. The prefects entered and they began the meeting.
"….And then Caddy comes in, beater bat in hand, looking absolutely ecstatic!"
The compartment roared with laughter at an event that happen to Charlie over the summer, she was wiping her eyes, she was laughing so hard.
"What did he do when he found out?" Hestia asked.
"I haven't told him yet," Charlie said. The group laughed once again.
Sirius was watching Charlie, filled with admiration. If only he had the guts to tell her how he felt. Charlie, Emmeline, and Hestia left the compartment to go get changed. Sirius wished Charlie wouldn't, liking very much the black tank top and baggy camo pants she was wearing, but didn't say anything.
"So mates, got any ideas for pranks?" Sirius asked as him, Remus, and Peter dressed.
"Actually I do; I wrote a few down," Remus replied.
"James was telling me he had some ideas too," Peter said, and Sirius nodded.
"Excellent," Sirius commented.
"Your body? Yes, I know it's excellent," a feminine voice said from the open door. Peter, Remus, and Sirius just finished getting dressed and turned. In the door way were standing two very pretty girls, one with short brown hair and dark entrancing eyes and the other with long black hair and bright eyes.
"Jorkins, Meadows, how are you ladies?" Sirius said, putting on his knee-melting smile.
"Honestly Sirius, call me Bertha. It makes us friendlier, if you know what I mean." Bertha Jorkins said, moving closer to Sirius.
"Hey Peter, Remus," the girl named Meadows said, "When she's done, tell her I left and went to our compartment."
Remus nodded, and she left. Bertha's long hair was swinging as she moved closer and closer.
"Well, I didn't know this was a make-out session, I must've missed the notice." An Italian accent sounded from somewhere behind Bertha, who was blocking the doorway. Bertha's expression turned cold as she turned to see a five-foot blond glaring at her.
"Well, if you're going to keep that up, I suggest you find another compartment." Charlie said annoyance clear in her voice. br /
"What are you going to do if I don't, honestly?" Bertha asked Charlie, and Sirius shook his head.
"Come on, let's just leave. We are bothering them after all." Sirius tried leaving but Bertha ignored him.
"Well?" Bertha demanded glaring at Charlie.
"Well, let's make this blunt, shall we? That pretty little smirk will no longer be attached to your face." Charlie snapped.
Bertha rolled her eyes, saying, "You wouldn't do anything anyway. Come on, Sirius." She grabbed his hand and led him away.
"Prat," Charlie muttered, entering the compartment. Remus looked like he was trying not laugh, while clutching his sides.
The train ride ended, and everyone was sitting at the Gryffindor table. Sirius came back... and Lily and James came too, free of head duties.
James had a smile on his lips, and he was gazing happily into the distance.
"Hey Prongs," Sirius said, looking at James, who ignored him. He poked him, "Yo Prongs….Prongs?"
James jumped and turned to Sirius, "What! Can't you see that Lily and I had a conversation without her biting my head off, and that I'm trying to recuperate?"
Remus, Emmeline, and Peter snorted, Lily didn't hear as she was talking to Charlie and Hestia.
"So Sirius, did you enjoy yourself?" Charlie asked. She almost sounded bitter.
"Yeah, I did, actually. Why?" Sirius asked, annoyed. He didn't see why she would be mad.
"Stay away from her, if you want to be safe," Charlie said, looking directly at Sirius.
"Why should I? What, are you jealous?" Sirius asked, immediately regretting he did so. Charlie's eyes widened and her cheeks turned red not from embarrassment but from anger.
"No, I am not jealous, I just happen to know what Jorkins is planning on doing and if you hang out with her, you're only heading into danger. You should know enough to trust me on these things, Sirius." Charlie was glaring at him, anger punctuated in every syllable.
Sirius glared back. Inside, he didn't want to be fighting with her, but he didn't know what her problem was. "You're only saying that because you haven't liked her ever since what she called you back in third year. Why don't you put those things behind you and grow up a little?" Sirius said, mentally hitting himself. He had officially said the wrong thing and he knew it. Why did he do that?
"Fine, Sirius. If you want to be that way, then fine. Make sure Bertha helps you with being a beater, Beater doing your Ancient Runes homework and being a friend, cause I'm damned sure I'm no longer going to help you in that department. Don't you ever speak to me again! I hope you're happy now, Sirius. I grew up" Charlie said, turning her back to him just as the first years walked in. Silence fell over the group.
The sorting had begun. Many young and terrified faces stepped up onto the stool and sat down, shivering to the last finger. All new Gryffindors were welcomed happily by the Marauders, Sirius screaming the loudest to get the heat from his recent fight out of his system. Dumbledore then stood.
"Welcome! Welcome to a new year at Hogwarts. There is a time for speech making but now is not! However, I do offer a word of caution to you all concerning the current war taking place. Remember one thing, unity and trust is the key. For if we cannot unite together within these walls, and then the outside world will crush us and leave us broken and crumbled." Dumbledore paused, "However on a happier note, I'd like to welcome Professor Murdock, she will be filling the position for Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor." Dumbledore said after the sorting took place. Gryffindor got seven new first years.
Remus and Lily caught each other's eye and both shook their heads. They were getting deeper and deeper into this war, and nobody was at a jump start to make unity. But they had to try. Voldemort was getting stronger by the day, killing families and such; they had lost two students last year as it was. During the year, Last year, three people went home without a family, all being slaughtered by Voldemort.
"Well, James and I share a dorm. It's down the hall from the common room, so I'm not going to be with you guys anymore." They heard Lily say, "But I'll still hang out in the common room with you guys tonight until patrols."
"Oh, okay. So Lily, its James now?" Hestia teased.
"Yeah, we decided to use first names for the sake of our Head positions, we also decided to be friendlier towards one another." Lily lied through her teeth, but her friends bought it as did the Marauders. Lily and James had just begun using first names and it was nothing planned.
"So guys, want to plan a prank tonight?" Peter asked.
"No," Remus said, but to everyone's shock, so did James.
"Well, we have to wait, I want to prove I can do this Head thing, and besides, the longer we wait, the better it can be." James said and Sirius nodded.
"He's right," Sirius said. Remus shook his head, but didn't say anything else on the matter.
"So you see Hogwarts really isn't as scary as it seems to be. You'll be all right," Lily said to a new first year. Her name was Kylie Adams, and she had to meet with Dumbledore and didn't know how to get there. She was really a cute little girl with a mass of shoulder-length curly black hair and big bright blue eyes.
"Okay, thank you Lily. "You're so nice, it's no wonder you're Head Girl," Kylie said, grinning. Lily beamed, her face turning a bit pink.
It was nearing seven o' clock, and the Marauders, plus Lily, Hestia, Charlie, and Emmeline, were sitting in front of the common room fire just burning time by talking. The subject had recently gone on to the war. Sirius and Charlie still weren't talking but neither one was going to miss out on hanging out with their friends because of the other.
"Well, my parents are Aurors, and they're in danger everyday. I'm afraid for them and Harry. But I'm still going to be an Auror like Sirius as soon as I leave here; I want to join the fight," James said.
"Yeah, my parents are Aurors also. I want to fight, but I'm not becoming an Auror. I want to try and open a department for the rights of werewolves and other half-breeds. I mean, werewolves aren't evil things, and I hate the disrespect they get," Emmeline said. The Marauders all immediately turned to look at Remus who blushed; James raised his eyebrows.
"Luckily, no one in my family is in the fight, but I'm going to be an Auror also." Charlie said.
"Not me, I want to be a healer for the Aurors. But trust me, if need be, I'll join the fight in a heartbeat. " Lily said. "What about you three?" she asked Hestia, Peter, and Remus.
"I'm going to be an Auror, anything really as long as I can get a job." Remus said.
"I want to be a teacher, but I'd fight if I was needed," Hestia said.
"God, not me. I couldn't spend all my time here! I want to be in the Ministry, because a good job's all I want," Peter said.
"Well, James, it's time for patrols," Lily said, standing. James nodded and stood up. The two were headed to the door when Charlie called them back.
"Hey guys, be careful, okay? James, just keep an eye on Lily. Just make sure she stays safe, otherwise, it'll be your head." Charlie said her eyes bright. They always were when she knew something the others didn't; whenever she made any type of prediction or read any mind she got the same look. James looked taken aback, as did Lily.
"Yeah, I will. Thanks for the warning," James said. Lily just raised her eyebrows and Charlie shook her head.
Lily and James left and then Charlie turned to the group, who were staring at her curiously. She just sat down on the couch and began to read. Remus and Emmeline began to talk, as did Hestia and Peter. Sirius was kind of sitting there staring at Charlie, regretting everything he had said, but too proud to do anything about it.
Sirius then stood up and was heading to the dormitories when he heard something. "James is going to have a Quidditch meeting tomorrow morning. I am supposed to tell you, so if you plan on going, be ready by eleven-thirty," Charlie said, not looking up from her book. Sirius watched as her silver eyes moved along the lines and her long curls flowed down her back.
"I thought you were no longer going to help me with Quidditch," Sirius said.
"I didn't see the point of giving up something I love just because some people are prats." Charlie said like it was nothing. Sirius just turned and walked up the stairs.
"When are they going to realize they like each other and stop fighting?" Remus asked Emmeline as the two sat on the floor by the fire. Emmeline smiled.
"Well, maybe the same time someone else realizes the way they feel for someone and does something about it.," she said indifferently. She was twirling her brown hair around her finger and staring at Remus, who looked confused. That made her smile. In the firelight, her eyes looked a dark purple and were entrancing; Remus loved her this way.
"Er, what do you mean?" he asked her. She smiled, shook her head and stood up. He looked up at her.
"Remus, you're not as smart as you're given credit for," she said, and ruffled his hair. "Goodnight." And with that, Emmeline went to bed, leaving Remus to think.
"I wonder what Charlie meant?" Lily said, finally voicing her worries. James smiled.
"Hopefully nothing, but I guess we might as well be cautious either way. Don't worry Lils, big bad evil attention-seeking bullying toe rag Potter is here; he'll save you from anything," James said, smirking.
Lily laughed, "Can't really say that anymore, now can I?" she asked.
"What do you mean?" James asked. He couldn't believe his ears.
"Well, you've changed James, and definitely for the better. You remind me of something my mom gave me once," Lily said.
James was grinning so much; Lily had just complimented him! "Yeah? What's that?" he asked, desperate to let a good moment last.
"Oh well, it's this vial, and it was the last thing she gave me before she passed away. It's filled with petunia and lily petals, and the water inside it is meant to preserve the petals so they look like new. But I recently cracked the vial, and now it's wrapped up so the water won't leak and the petals will remain fresh. But I can't look at it with breaking it more; I wish I had a new vial for it. But anyway, at first I hated it because it made me so depressed, but as time went on I appreciated it a lot more. It became a lot more beautiful to me," Lily said, smiling.
James grinned. "So I'm beautiful to you?" he asked
Lily laughed, "Yes, when you are like this," she answered honestly and then blushed. So did James, but twice as much.
Suddenly, a scream resounded from somewhere below them. It came from the dungeons, where it was pitch black.
Lily made to run, but James grabbed her arm. "You stay behind me, and turn out your wand, but be as quiet as possible. Whether you want to or not, hold onto my hand. I'll know you're okay, and we won't have to communicate to know where the other person is."
Lily nodded her throat dry. She grabbed James's hand and suddenly felt secure as they walked down the stairs. His hand was much bigger then hers, but it made her feel safe and protected.
They walked slowly down into the dungeons. James walked silently, as did Lily. Lily was glad for once in her life she was with a Marauder after hours. She knew that James knew the school better then anyone.
Suddenly in the pitch dark, James stopped, and Lily heard a noise from ahead of him. A low murmuring, and then a crash resounded behind her. She moved closer to James, and looked around trying to see his face. She wasn't able to see him, but with a reassuring squeeze from his hand to hers, she felt slightly better. He slowly moved her against the wall and released her, and she was surprised to feel disappointment.
James then risked it. "Lumos, he said, and his wand lit the whole passage. There, lying a few feet ahead of them was a still body. The body of Kylie Adams.