Chapter 4

Badoura slowly began putting on her robes. She had almost forgotten the prefect badge that was to accompany her robes at all times. When they all had finished changing, Lily pinned her own badge on carefully. Jules laughed at them both. "You two are such goody two shoes," she said laughing lightly. Lily and Badoura didn't mind. They both knew Jules was all talk and no action.

Just as the train was stopping James, Remus, Sirius and Peter arrived in their compartment. "Just like you to choose the last compartment in the train. We've been searching for you," said James watching Lily with admiration.

"Yes, well, it's not as if we wanted YOU to find us, is it," Lily said ignoring James' constant stare. "Besides Badoura and I have to go check in with the prefects, excuse us."

Badoura let Lily drag her out of the compartment slightly unwillingly. "Lily, he is really a very nice guy once you get to know him. Even though he can be a bit of a prat around you," Badoura said once out of earshot. Lily rolled her eyes and clearly was choosing not to respond.

They arrived in the prefect compartment a little breathless. Badoura glanced around. Conversation was scarce. They were all looking around wildly for anything to entertain them with, so that when Badoura and Lily strolled in, they were the focus of the attention. "We just came to report in," said Lily confidently. Badoura didn't notice that William Nott was also in the compartment, until he was standing right in front of her.

Lily began conversation with a slightly overweight fifth year, while Badoura struggled to move away from William. William spoke before she had time to slip away, "You always look nice in your robes."

"You heard what I said to you earlier didn't you," Badoura said gaining more confidence the longer she spoke, "I believe I said nicely, to shove off."

All he did was smile. That's all he ever did. Badoura's confidence shattered with one look at his perfectly sculpted face. Badoura sighed knowing that if he didn't get the picture now, he never would. "So, uh, what are we supposed to do," she said trying to regain the confidence she had only seconds ago.

He looked around the compartment at the dull faces of the other prefects. "Well, we haven't done anything so far," he said, "Besides being a prefect will be easy."

"Oh, is that so," said Badoura finding him much easier to talk to in places that were not intimidating.

"You know all we are going to have to do is scold prats who get into trouble," he said. His voice told her that he already had a few in his mind. Badoura didn't get to find out who he was talking about because at that moment the train came to a stop. Badoura fell forward into William's chest. She quickly recovered herself. She was glad that she never blushed, or else this would have been a time she would have done it.

William watched her carefully as she hurried Lily out of the compartment. "Let's find Jules and Nadine."

"That was the sorriest crowd I have ever seen," Lily said shaking her head, "Did you notice how half of them weren't even speaking."

Lily and Badoura caught up with Jules and Nadine near the carriages. "I hope that it doesn't rain," Nadine said looking up at the sky. And suddenly as if the clouds had heard her, it began to pour.

"Nice one Nadine," Jules said grumpily.

Badoura climbed into the carriage five minute later, soaked. She looked around at Jules, Lily and Nadine. They all were shivering in their cold wet robes. Badoura sat up very straight. She liked being strong. They always looked up to her about that fact.

"Badoura, please don't be mad," Nadine said furrowing her brow, since she only had one long brow, "I am not going be on the Quidditch team this year."

"WHAT," Badoura said shocked, "WHY."

"My parents want me to focus on my studies, not on Quidditch," Nadine said trying desperately to get Badoura's approval.

"Nadine, what am I supposed to do against Slytherin? Those girls will crush me flat in the locker room. Without you there I am going to be dead before the match ever starts. Besides you always get good grades," Badoura said in a pleading voice.

"I…I," Nadine said faltering.

"It is fine," Badoura said sensing tears, "I am sure we will find someone to replace you. Don't worry about it, okay," she said patting Nadine on the back. Nadine nodded slightly.

The feast was long and tiring. Badoura was cold and need the sleep she had lost earlier that morning. She had forgotten to tell Lily, who was chatting with James. Jules was talking to Sirius and Remus. They both adored her. She was beautiful. Badoura hated that she was jealous that everyone like Jules, but she couldn't help it, as much as she loved her.

Lily and Badoura did not stay in the common room with Jules and Nadine. They instead went straight up to their four poster beds. They both sat on Badoura's bed and talked quietly to each other. Badoura told her about what she had seen earlier that morning. Lily's eyes widened.

"I don't know who it was," Badoura said looking at the fire in the bedroom.

Lily shivered slightly, "I don't think it's very good to see things in the fire, Badoura."

Badoura looked out the window. The rain pounded lightly against it. Whatever she saw, she didn't like.