"Good idea, Lily!" James laughed, filling up a bucket with water.
She shrugged. "What can I say? I was meant to be an evil genius."
After pouring a few pounds of ice in, they quietly dragged the bucket up the stairs to room number twelve. Lily opened the door and crept in.
"Don't even think about it," Remus grumbled from underneath the covers.
Lily's eyes opened in surprise. "How'd you know we were there?"
"Go for Sirius instead," he replied, not answering the question.
Lily opened her mouth to ask again, but James nudged her.
"Forget it," he whispered when they reached the hallway and had shut back the door. "We've asked him questions before, and trust me, if you keep asking he'll just get really mad. It's pointless. Come on, Sirius is in room thirteen."
Even though Lily was still curious, they proceeded on.
When they reached the side of his bed, Lily had to hold back a snigger. Sirius had drool seeping down the side of his face and his hair was sticking straight up.
"One… two… three!" James cried, and they tipped it over.
Sirius sat up screaming.
Lily laughed so hard that tears started to pour down the side of her face.
••••
As night came nearer, Lily grew sleepier. She felt like he hadn't closed her eyes for ages.
She'd just put on her pajamas when there was a knock on her door.
"Who is it?" she called, walking across the room.
"James."
She opened the door. "Did you know, at this hour, most people sleep?"
"Ha ha. I was on my way up to my room; I'm number eleven. I was wondering something…" his voice trailed off.
"Spit it out."
"Er… well, yes… you see; would you like to sit on the train with the rest of us tomorrow? It'd be awfully boring without you there."
"Yeah right; with you marauders creeping around, I don't know if exciting will even be able to begin to explain the mischief you guys come up with. Like, did you know? When we were eating our ice cream yesterday Sirius slipped some candies that looked like nuts into yours and your teeth turned blue for about half an hour?"
"That's why Peter was laughing when you left!" James said, a look of realization crossing his face. "Ah, well, I'll get him back-again- for that little stunt… and, marauder? I like the word but I've no idea what it means."
"It's like a prankster… a mischief maker."
"Okay," he smiled. "...now, will you sit with us?"
"All right, but as long as you don't turn my teeth blue. Promise?"
"Promise. Good night."
"Sleep well, James."
"And you."
When he turned the corner, he felt like he was about to pass out. Lily had taken his breath away.
••••
The next morning, James awoke Lily by jumping on her bed.
"James Potter, what are you doing?"
"Well, obviously, I'm having the time of my life. Wake up, though."
"Hello, I'm already awake." Lily rolled her eyes, whilst smiling. "Who'd you think was talking? A zombie?"
"Gosh, I should hope not… but you sure look like one!" He ran as Lily jumped out from underneath the covers, punching him with pillows. As he raced out the door, she closed it.
"Oy, get ready, though! Train leaves in half an hour!"
"Oh my gosh!" she screeched, then threw on her clothes. After hurriedly making her bed then messily re-packing the objects that she'd taken out before, she flung open her door then yelled up the stairs to number eleven: "James, can you help me get my trunk?"
"Yeah. Anyway, I have a soft spot for a damsel in distress." He winked, then picked up her trunk and placed it on his shoulders.
"Oh, yes, because I'm so helpless," she laughed, then did something she never thought that she'd ever do. She pantsed him. Right there, on the stairs. He blushed as his red and white striped boxers appeared.
"Pull them back up," he hissed. "Before anyone comes!"
She sighed and got down on her knees to pull them up and had just gotten them over his hips when Sirius and Remus appeared.
"Um, woah!" Sirius cried, his eyes growing big and his mouth dropping open.
Remus stepped back. "I did not see that one coming."
Lily and James both had faces as red as an apple.
"It's not like that!" James choked, burying his face into the side of Lily's trunk.
"Oh my gosh.." Lily said, standing up. "You guys are nasty. It's so not like that! It's not!"
"Right… well, when you two are ready to come down, we'll be by the fireplace," Remus sniggered, pointing downwards as they walked passed.
Lily banged her head against the wall. "Oh… my… gosh. That was so embarrassing."
"Tell me about it," James whispered, face still red. "Come on, let's go down there before they get any more bright ideas."
"Right," Lily replied shortly, following him.
"Okay, do you know what this is, Lily?" Peter asked, holding out a jar of green powder.
"Er… no."
"It's called Floo Power," Sirius said, cutting off Peter before he could continue to explain. "You take a pinch of it, throw it in the fire, then step inside. Then, you say the place of where you'd like to go- in our case, Platform 9 ¾ - and you'll be there. Make sure you get out of the way fast, though. Lots of kids get there that way. Tom will signal when we can go… Come on James, now that you're a man, why don't you go first?"
Lily punched him in the arm. "Shut up."
"Ouch, that almost hurt," he stuck his tongue out at him, which she tried to grab. "Are you after me now, Lily?"
Lily rolled her eyes, then took a little bit of the green dust. "I'll go first."
"Are you sure?" Peter asked, surprised. "It's a frightful feeling, going through that fireplace."
"Just 'cause you're a baby," Sirius chuckled.
Lily threw the powder in. "You're so lame, Sirius."
As she walked into the fire, the now green flames tickled up her legs. It was quite a sensation. "Platform Nine and Three Quarters!"
The flames rose above her head, then she found herself spinning faster and faster… She tucked in her elbows, afraid to hit the gates that were rushing past her narrow space.
As she was sent crashing into a cobblestone floor, she felt as if her knees were about to buckle and make her fall. Fortunately, a man working at the station helped her away from the fireplace and instructed her to the train.
"You might want to hurry, though," he said, his accent rough and full of concern. "Kids are boarding fast and you'll want to get a compartment to yourself."
"Thanks very much," Lily smiled up at him. "See you!"
"Good bye."
With that, she boarded the train, ready to start her adventure to Hogwarts.