The morning of the journey to Kings Cross station came quickly and was causing panic to everyone. Although most students had sworn to their parents that they had packed everything the previous night, it seemed as though most of them were still looking for books and extra socks as they rushed around pushing the clock to the minute. James Potter was no exception.
"Mum I'm coming soon! Relax!" James yelled down the staircase to a frantic Mrs. Potter. "Padfoot, have you seen my quidditch robes? I know they're here somewhere…" he added to his friend.
"Sorry, mate haven't seen 'em!" Sirius said as he sat on his trunk so it would close properly. "Did you check behind the door?"
"Oh yeah!" James breathed. Sure enough, the robes were behind the door and the two boys were finally ready to leave for the train.
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Lily Evans prided herself on being a punctual individual. Today was not a day to demonstrate it though, as she rushed about searching for last items that were to be packed.
"Lily, let's go! It's time to leave!" Mr. Evans shouted up the staircase.
"Yes, I'm coming!" Lily said as she turned off the light in her room. Finally she would be out of this prison. She would be away from Petunia and at her real home with her friends. The only thing standing between her and her freedom was the car ride there and an apparent solid barrier between the muggle world and the hogwarts express.
As they drove away, Lily took one last look at her house. It would be awhile before she would be back there, and soon enough, she would return in the summer but then it would no longer be a mere 2 months before she would leave again, she would never return to Hogwarts as a student. With a sad sigh, Lily turned her head away and thought of the good things to come. Being a seventh year would be great! She had also been appointed Head Girl, and now had a lot of responsibilities. She wondered who the Head Boy would be as the car drove further and further away from her home, but closer and closer to her sanctuary.
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As James searched his bag for something, Sirius was watching the students who passed by him.
"Wow, look how short the first years are! Do you ever remember being that small?" Sirius said as a few first years passed by them.
"Not really, maybe it's 'cause we're taller now," James said as he pinned something on his robes.
"Yeah, possibly, but they still look like midgets to me! This year is definitely going to be the best! Hmm, we should really start planning pranks on the Slytherins. Maybe we could make it so they all have shocking pink hair!" Sirius said excitedly, noticing that James was pinning something to his robes, he asked, "James, what's that? You're not…you are! James Potter is Head Boy! Why didn't you tell me?"
"Umm, cause I knew you'd laugh and make fun of me all summer! Plus, I thought maybe it was a joke. I mean, I wasn't even prefect. I figured Remus would be a given for Head Boy," James explained. He was right about Sirius laughing at him, for he was collapsed on the ground holding his sides.
"Ha! You! Head..Boy! What's..gotten..into..Dumbledore!" Sirius managed to spit out between breaths.
Eventually he got up and continued to snort every time he looked at James' badge. James' hoped other people would be more welcoming about his new authority, not that he would use it much. Why would he want to make other peoples lives miserable when he could totally relate to mischief and bad behavior? Unless, he were to use it against Slytherins. Yes, definitely that could work. I This year is gonna rule! /I James thought to himself as he made his way down to the Heads compartment. I I wonder who the Head Girl will be. I hope she's not a nightmare, after all, I will be spending a lot of time with her /I When James entered the compartment there was no one to be found. He took a seat and waiting eagerly to see his new partner walk threw the doors.
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I Oh I have to hurry! What will the new Head Boy think if I'm late the first meeting? /I Lily hurried onto the train and rushed into the compartment. "Sorry, I'm late! You must think I'm terrible! I'm usually very punctual; it's just today-" Lily stopped abruptly for she realized she was speaking to James Potter.
"Tardiness is a bad habit, Evans!" James said tauntingly. I Yes! I'm working with Evans! The most beautiful girl in the school and my one true love! Now she'll have to love me! /I
"You're not H-head boy! Y-y-you can't be! You weren't even a prefect!" Lily stammered out. This could not be happening. Lily had been so please with herself and now she wished she wasn't wearing a badge at all.
"I know, it's a miracle. I think it's a sign we're meant to be together! But anyways, enough about our future together, we can talk about that later. Right now we have to discuss the things on this list," James held out a list and started reading it out loud, but to deaf ears for Lily wasn't listening at all.
I No, not Potter! Why would he be made prefect? The only thing he's good at is making trouble. Well, actually he is rather smart, but that's beside the point! What is wrong with Dumbledore? Maybe it's joke. No, this isn't even funny! I wish someone would just jump out and say "Haha! Got you Lily!"… /I
"LILY! Were you even listening? We have to go talk to the prefects!" James said.
"Oh, right…Okay, well then let's go!" Lily said as if it had been James who was daydreaming. As they walked off to the other compartment, James was thanking the Lord for his luck, and Lily was cursing him to the devil.
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In the Prefects compartment, James and Lily explained them their duties and answered questions. James new a surprising amount of information on the Prefect's responsibilities and answered quite a few questions himself. Lily figured it was because his close friend Remus was a prefect. Lily's eyes rested on Remus as she thought about this. He was a sandy haired boy, who was fairly attractive. Lily had always got along well with Remus, mainly because he was the most responsible out of all the Marauders. Remus was very smart and was always willing to help some one out. Lily always felt comfortable around him and could tell him anything. Even though he was close with James, she trusted that he wouldn't spread around her secrets and troubles.
"So, is that all?" James asked in a bored tone. When no one answered he took that as a yes and dismissed all of them. Remus hung back with him and Lily.
"Wow, James Potter has authority! Beware!" Remus said in a slightly mocking voice. He wasn't angry about not getting Head Boy, although he had rather expected it, but he was happy for James all the same.
"Well, I guess we'll see you around, Evans," James said as he and Remus left to find their fellow marauders.
"Yeah, bye," Lily answered not really paying attention. She sat alone in that compartment for several minutes, and then got up and went to find her friends.
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After Lily had searched every compartment, her eyes rested on the last one. She knew that she would find her friends in here. She also knew that she would find the Marauders in here. I Just my luck. /I She took a deep breathe and slid the door open. She was right with both her assumptions, for sitting inside the compartment was everyone she had expected. She saw before her: Remus, Peter, Sirius, James, Shayla and Lindsay. As soon as everyone had realized Lily was in their presence, Lindsay and Shayla let out high pitched squeals and ran to hug her.
"Oh my goodness! It feels like forever!" Lindsay said as she hugged Lily as tight as she could.
"I know! I know!" Lily said as she let go of her old friend. Lily saw her properly since her arrival and noticed she had cut her blonde hair so that it lay just past her shoulders. "You cut your hair!"
"Yeah, I got bored of it. I think I want to change the colour now though," Lindsay said as she thought about different colours. Lindsay was a beautiful girl and very talented. She was blessed with artistic talent and a beautiful singing voice. Her eyes were blue and she had a gorgeous smile. Although she sometimes had troubles with her lessons, she still tried very hard and did pretty well.
"I like it like that, it makes your eyes look really nice," Remus said suddenly. Lindsay blushed and muttered a thanks.
The train ride there was very fun. Although Lily didn't want to admit it, the Marauders were making the trip very enjoyable. About midway to Hogwarts, James got up to go get more food from the witch up front. A few minutes after he left, Lily excused herself to go to the bathroom. As she made her way to the rest rooms, she heard James' voice and couldn't help but go see whom he was talking to. As soon as Lily walked in on the scene, she wished she hadn't.
"Oh look, Potter, it's your mudblood girlfriend!" said the drawling voice of Severus Snape. James turned around and spotted Lily. She could see the fear in his eyes, which was something that usually wasn't there.
"Watch your mouth! She's better than you'll ever be!" James yelled at Snape. How he hated him. Just looking at him made him want to lash out in rage.
"I'll say whatever I want, Potter! I am above that filth and proud to be so. She should not be aloud in this school and so long as she and other dirt like her are here, I will put them threw hell!" Snape spat at him. Lily now had tears in her eyes. Although Snape had been horrible since the day they met, it was still hurtful to hear his words. She looked at James and saw that he was about to explode. She didn't want him to fight for her; it wasn't worth it for Snape.
"James, let's go, he's not worth it," she said softly as she put a soothing arm over his hand. James looked into her eyes and all his feelings of hate melted away. In Lily's eyes, he saw hope. He lowered his wand and turned away. Just as they were about to leave Snape sent a curse towards James and it hit him in the back of the head. James collapsed on the floor and was out cold.
"What's your problem? We were just about to leave you alone!" Lily cried as she bent over James. She felt a pulse and relief spread threw her body. Snape started towards her and Lily jumped to her feet. "What do you want?" she screamed. She saw the look in his eye and panic spread all through out her body.
"Oh, Lily, you know what I want. Although you are a mudblood, it doesn't stop you from being beautiful, so you cannot blame me for my urges," Snape breathed as he slammed her against the compartment wall. Lily was trembling and started to cry when voices echoed in the compartment.
"STUPEFY!" bellowed 2 voices. Snape was thrown off Lily and landed unconscious on the floor. Shayla ran over to Lily who was shocked and could barely breathe. Sirius went over to James who was still on the ground not moving.
"Oh thank you guys! I don't know what would have happened! H-h-he just came at me…with this ter-terrible look in his eyes!" She was sobbing into Shayla's shoulder.
"It's okay, Lily, we're here now," Shayla told her softly. She was so glad she and Sirius had decided to go for a walk to stretch their legs. They had heard Lily's cries and came running to find her. Shayla prayed that James was okay. She was sure the nurse could heal him.
They sent an owl ahead to warn Dumbledore that James would be arriving unconscious. The year had been off to a sad start. Lily couldn't help but notice how helpless James looked. She was blaming herself. If only she hadn't interfered! James was a very good wizard; he could have taken care of Snape. I Why do I always interfere? I should have let him hexe the bastard and be done with it! But no, I have to be "honorable". I hope Snape dies in his sleep. He has to get punished for this! /I She cheered herself up a bit by thinking of evil punishments for him. Soon they arrived at the school and Lily was finally home. Although it was not the feeling she had planned on. She was still thinking about what Snape had said. And wondering if he would try to do something to her again. I Please let us all get threw this year safely, God. Please. /I she prayed silently as she stepped out of the carriage and headed for the doors. A new year was about to begin, one that would change the rest of her life.
