Previously:
She paled considerably, so by the time James, Sirius, Remus, and Peter got their trolleys in there and turned around to face her, her face was as white as snow and she wasn't at all blinking. In fact, the only movement she made was with her legs, which were carrying her backwards until she felt the trains metal against her back and she could backup no more.
"Lily, love, what is it?" James asked, concerned.
Lily's trembling form stayed the same as she utter one word, still looking at whatever was frightening her, "Malfoy."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"What?!" James exclaimed while the three other Marauders whipped around and scanned the crowd with wary eyes.
Lily's gaze never wavered. She slowly raised her wavering right arm and pointed with her index finger to a certain spot in the crowds. They all four followed the gaze and finally found themselves looking straight at the blonde haired, cruel boy himself. He, like Lily, was just standing completely still. Though, he, instead of a look of pure horror, had an evil smirk upon his face, cold hard eyes never leaving Lily's.
Finally, Lily moved, inching closer to James instinctively. She dropped her arm, and said in a voice that sounded to be on the brink of hysterical, "It's Malfoy. Oh my God, it's Malfoy!"
"What the hell is he doing here?" James said so quietly they almost couldn't hear him. He wrapped his arm around her small frame and grabbed her hand with his free one, calming her down.
"The git's coming over here," Sirius murmured furiously. Lily's eyes caught Sirius fingering his wand cautiously.
"It's alright, Lily," Remus said, his gaze not on her but glaring at the approaching Malfoy, "He won't lay a finger on you while we're here."
"Well well well, if it isn't the Gryffindor-geeks." Malfoy drawled when he reached them.
"What the hell are you doing here, Malfoy?!" Sirius demanded angrily.
Malfoy raised one eyebrow and looked at him, a look of mock surprise on his face, "Didn't you know?" he paused and then turned to look James right in the eye as he continued, "The new Minister of Magic, Mr. Fudge, allowed me to return." He smirked.
Lily's eyes widened greatly as she spoke, horror-struck, "You're admitted back to Hogwarts?!"
Malfoy turned to her, "That's right, Mudblood. Aw, and I see you're up and about again. Had a little spill, did you?" he said tauntingly.
Lily glared back at him defiantly, "No thanks to you."
"Well, there's bound to be another time. After all, as the old saying goes, 'History always repeats itself'." He stopped, a significant look in his eye, "In the strangest places, might I add. From the people you would least expect..." he stepped closer to her and she felt James' arm tightening. He said very, very quietly, "Or maybe it could be the person you expect the most."
"You better stay away from her." Remus said in his calm, yet dangerous voice.
"And if I don't?" he said, initiating an argument, not taking his eyes off Lily.
"You'll wish Fudge hadn't allowed you to return," James said angrily.
"Such a pretty little thing she is. Wouldn't want someone to…mistreat her." Malfoy went on, seeming to not even acknowledge him. Lily tensed when she thought she saw a lustful, animal look upon Malfoy's face. But it was gone before she could be sure.
James felt her tense and gripped her hand tighter. Malfoy caught this and started to smirk again. "Oh, this is precious. A Potter and a Mudblood." A disgusted look fell upon his face as he spoke to James with a voice full of sarcasm and contempt, "Your parents must be thrilled."
"They are," James said forcefully.
"G-get out of here, Malfoy." Peter spoke for the first time, his face pale, his form trembling violently.
Malfoy vehemently stalked to Peter, causing him to squeak in terror, "And if I don't, you little half-blood, what will you do about it?"
Peter's mouth opened and closed like a gold fish out of water, an occasional squeal emitting.
Sirius now pulled his wand all the way out of his robes, pointing it heatedly at Malfoy, "Get the bloody hell out of here Malfoy!" he exclaimed.
Malfoy eyed the wand warily with his eyes set in a glare. Looking one last time at Peter, he turned and walked towards the train, but not before saying to the five of them, "I'd watch my back if I were you this year." He turned again to face them, a calm look upon his face, though Lily could see the fury and cruelty in his eyes, "Your time is coming." And with that, he boarded the train.
Lily realized just how tight James was holding her then. Squeezing his hand, she saw him relax a little.
"I can't believe Fudge allowed that git to come back to Hogwarts." Sirius ranted.
"I can't believe Dumbledore allowed him to return." Remus said, bewildered.
"One thing's for sure. Lily will not be going anywhere alone at all this year!" Sirius went on furiously, not loosing his train of thought. "He's tried to kill her once, he'll try it again!"
"Calm down, Sirius," Lily said pleadingly. His ranting was alarming her, mostly because it held truth within it. Sirius was right. Malfoy tried once, and he'll try again. What was stopping him? After all, if Dumbledore wouldn't keep him out of Hogwarts, no one would.
"Why on earth would Dumbledore allow him to return? He had proof that Malfoy attempted to kill Lily," Peter said, just as bewildered as Remus.
"Fudge must have overruled him on this." James said, coming into the conversation. His knowledge of politics from his father was kicking in, "Technically, the Fudge has more power than Dumbledore. Sure, Dumbledore may have a lot more respect from everyone than Fudge does, but that doesn't matter. Fudge holds office to Minister of Magic; that makes him in charge of the wizarding world. And that includes Hogwarts."
Lily swallowed visibly. Sirius had finally calmed down and was shaking his head, disgustedly. Remus looked absolutely lost. How could Dumbledore have no power in this? Peter looked as terrified as ever. James was staring at the ground, scowling, his free hands jammed into his pockets.
They just sat there in silence, the voices of other people from the crowds filling their ears. Finally, Sirius spoke up, face set in a revolted way, "You know, James, your father was wrong about something." James and the rest looked up at him; he went on, shaking his head, "Not even Hogwarts is safe now."
Peter shuddered, as the others let Sirius' words sink in. Lily sighed quietly and said in a whisper, tugging on James, "C'mon guys, let's just go find a compartment."
They nodded and followed her onto the train.
Lily, in front, pushed her way through the mass of students, old and new, in the halls. She was about to open a compartment to look in when suddenly, someone bumped into her. Lily looked up and found herself face to face with Cassandra Wellington.
"Hello Cassandra," Lily said with as much enthusiasm as she could muster up, still rather shaken with all that just happened within a span of fifteen minutes.
"Hello Evans," Cassandra answered stiffly, straightening her shoulders, holding her head high, very snobbishly. She had grown a little during summer break, reaching about 5 inches passed Lily's small frame.
"How was your summer?" Lily asked politely, aware of James and the rest of her friends approaching through the throng of students.
"It was lovely," Cassandra said, a little coolly and with a trace of sarcasm.
Lily paused, waiting for Cassandra to say something else. When it became evident that she had no intention of going on, Lily spoke, "Well, I had a lovely summer as well. All though, towards the end of it, it sort of went downhill."
Cassandra pursed her lips a little. Finally, as Lily went on, she snapped, "Listen Evans, I don't need your pity!" she practically shouted.
Lily jumped a bit at the outburst, surprised. "W-what do you mean, Cassandra?" she asked, genuinely confused.
"I know you're just trying to find a way to start talking about my father and his departure from the Ministry. Well, I have news for you, little Miss Nosey, with or without the dumb Ministry, the Wellington name will still hold meaning!" with that, she huffed passed Lily and the Marauders, who were all gaping at her.
Lily scratched her head, a little befuddled at what had just taken place. She looked back at James for answers, but he just shrugged and said, "Don't fret about it Lily, she's always had her knickers in a twist."
Lily shrugged and sighed as she turned around and opened the compartment door in front of her, inwardly celebrating that it was void of any students.
She took a seat, leaning back against the cushioned backrest, and closed her eyes. James took a seat next to her, Sirius, Remus, and Peter taking seats across from them.
She rubbed her forehead; a trait that James knew well enough to realize that Lily had a major headache. "Lily, love, are you alright?" he asked, taking her hand in his.
She opened her eyes to look at him, smiling gently, "I'm fine; it's just a lot to take within the duration of twenty minutes. First Malfoy, now Cassandra." She sighed, "What will be next?" she asked rhetorically.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
They spent a good three hours of the train ride trying to keep up a light conversation. Remus and James even started a chess game.
James, after loosing another game to Remus, turned to look back at his girlfriend. "Remember, we have to go to the Prefects compartment in a while." He reminded her. She took a look at her muggle watch and nodded.
"We have about thirty minutes." She said.
Those thirty minutes passed by quickly and before they knew it, Lily and James were walking along the narrow hall to the prefect's compartment. Lily looked lazily out the window and said nonchalantly to James, "It's starting to rain."
James looked out another window and said, grinning back at her, "Doesn't look the cheeriest outside today, does it?"
Lily smiled back and shrugged, "I like it. It feels cozy in here."
James grabbed her hand, and gave her a quick peck on the cheek. Finally, they reached the compartment, they hands breaking apart.
James opened it for them and let Lily enter while he followed, closing it behind him. Most of the prefects were there already. Most gave them smiles and waves, while some, mainly Snape, gave them a scowl, which they gladly returned.
About five minutes later, the head boy and girl walked in. Not surprisingly, Frank Longbottom had been made head boy, and Shelia Abrahamson, a studious brown haired Ravenclaw, had been appointed head girl.
Smiling brightly at everyone, the two new heads started the meeting.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Back with Sirius, Remus, and Peter, things were boring and lazy. With James' absence, Sirius had taken his spot and playing chess with Remus. Peter was twiddling his thumbs, finally deciding to speak, "I'm going to find the trolley lady and get us some snacks."
"Get me some chocolate frogs," Sirius said, handing Peter some knuts.
"I'll take a large bag of Every Flavor Jelly Beans," Remus said, also handing Peter some knuts
"Alright, I'll be back soon," Peter said, walking out the compartment.
Just at that moment, the lights in the compartment flickered. Sirius and Remus stopped what they were going and looked up curiously at them.
"Must be the storm," Remus reasoned, glancing out the window, which showed the start of a soon to be large rainstorm.
Sirius nodded, "Right," he said, moving his bishop.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Back in the prefect's compartment, things were just about wrapping up. Frank was going over their duties for a second time, making sure they understood.
"Alright, everyone thank you for being so patient. This meeting is adjourned." Shelia said, smiling brightly at them, standing up along with the others.
Suddenly, they were all very aware of the lack of speed from the train. Everyone glanced out the window, and sure enough, they were slowing down.
"I wonder why we're stopping." Lily said thoughtfully.
James along with the rest, shrugged.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"I wonder why we're stopping," Remus said thoughtfully, standing up to look out the window.
"Alright, guys, I got the snacks," Peter said, walking back into the room with an armload of sweets. His face took on a confused look and he asked, "Why are we stopping?"
"That's what we were just wondering ourselves," Sirius answered, standing up as well and walking towards the window next to Remus, his brows furrowed, "We're not in Hogsmeade yet, are we?" he asked, squinting to get a good look through the downpour. All he could see what wide open field, not a thing but grass and rain and lightning in sight.
"No way, it's too early. We've only been traveling for about four hours." Remus said, checking his muggle watch.
"This day is going from weird to just plain peculiar in a matter of minutes," Sirius said, still squinting out into the open fields. A big burst of thunder boomed. Peter squeaked in fright.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
BOOM!
Lily jumped and James' arms wrapped around her. A murmur started among everyone in the compartment, all of which were just staring wondering out the window into the wide open fields.
"This is very odd," Frank said, pensively.
The lights started to flick horribly. The murmurs rose a bit. Suddenly the lights went all the way out.
"What happened to the lights?" Susan Abigail, a fifth year Hufflepuff, asked.
"It's probably just the storm," Shelia said, trying her best to sound sincere, but inwardly, they all knew differently. The train would not stop because of a storm, it didn't even have a conductor, and the lights, well, let's just say that everything, even the train, was running on magic. It was not likely that the magic would just…run out.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"What is going on?!" Sirius exclaimed as the lights started to flicker and eventually went all the way out.
Remus looked absolutely at a loss for words, "I have no idea." He finally said.
Peter suddenly let out his, by far, loudest squeak. The sound was loud enough to surprise the other two as they turned to look at him, finding his shaking finger pointing out the window, eyes widened greatly.
Remus and Sirius snapped their heads back around to the window. Soon, their eyes widened as big was Peter's.
"Ooooooh…shit." Sirius said softly.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"…Well we can't just stay here and wait for some muggle to find us!" Shelia argued with Frank.
"I'm sure the train will start up again in a matter of minutes." Frank reasoned. "It's probably just a little mistake Dumbledore made when he charmed it."
"Frank!" Shelia said, rolling her eyes, "When has Dumbledore ever messed up a charm!?"
"Oh no." Lily, the only one still looking out the window, said, horrified, causing all arguing in the room to stop.
"What?" Frank asked, walking back with the others to her side.
"Deatheaters." Lily murmured, her glance not at all wavering.
A collective gasped emitted from the room. Frank, Shelia, and James pushed their way to Lily's side, looking out the window. Sure enough, about fifty Deatheaters were marching through the wet fields to the train; the lightning and thunder making it seem all the more terrifying.
"What do we do?!" someone shouted hysterically.
"We've got to get Dumbledore down here. And quick!" Frank exclaimed.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
A/N- how was that? I hope you enjoyed it! Here's the next preview.
*"I'll go."
*"No way am I letting you."
*"You left your wand back in our compartment."
*"Anybody else volunteering?"
*"They're getting closer!"
*"W-what do we do?" "What we seem to do best, Wormtail. Fight."
*"I've got your back."
*"Everyone, stay here."
*"Everyone, please remain calm."
*The wind whipped her hair into her face.
*"Lily, hurry up, they're getting closer…and I think they see you."
*"I found her!"
*"Not so fast."
*"James, get inside!"
*"You'd fight a sixteen year old, wandless, girl?"
I think I'll leave it at that. Thank you to everyone who reviewed!!!