CHAPTER THREE

Inside The Hogwarts Express

A few days later Lily went to King's Cross. There, she wondered how to get on platform nine and three-quarters, because there was no sign with that number on.

Petunia, who was still grounded, didn't go with Lily, Henrietta and George.

"Mum, where's platform nine and three-quarters?" she asked Henrietta, troubled. Henrietta bit her lower lip and shot a glance at George, who also frowned.

"Honey, there's no such platform as nine and three-quarters. There's a platform nine, and platform ten. Are you sure you read the letter correctly?"

"Yes," Lily snapped, "I know what I read."

Then, just before she burst into tears with despair, a tall girl tapped her. "What?" Lily croaked, trying hard to swallow back her tears.

"Are you going to Hogwarts, too?" she said, in a posh accent. Lily stared at her, wide-eyed.

"Yes," she replied at last, "how did you know I was a - "

"- Witch?" the girl finished off, with a tiny smile, "well, you've got an owl with you. Pretty strange if this was just an outing. Anyway, I'm going to Hogwarts, too."

"Really?" breathed Lily with relief. The girl nodded.

"I'll show you how to get on platform nine and three-quarters. Oh, and my name's Vivien Zade, but you can call me Vivien."

Vivien's large yellow cat-like eyes shone from behind her heavy eyelids, while her black hair made her face pale.

"I'm Lily Evans."

Lily turned and hugged her parents tightly, and she kissed them both on the cheek. "I'll send you letters with Crystal, if I can," she whispered, letting go.

Henrietta wiped away a tear that was about to fall off her chin. "Oh Lily, you will, won't you? And remember, both your Father and I love you very much."

Vivien stood awkwardly next to Lily. Lily gave her an embarrassed smile, and George and Henrietta left.

"So…how do we get on platform nine and three-quarters?"

"Follow me, and follow what I do," Vivien answered, in a low-tone. Lily shot her a curious look, but didn't question her.

Her hands tightened on her trolley, as she followed Vivien. "Don't stop, whatever you might think. Okay?"

"Okay," Lily repeated, confused. Vivien's walk started to speed up, and Lily had a hard time keeping up with her. That was when she noticed it: the brick wall, which separated platform nine from ten.

But Vivien's words came back to her: Don't stop, whatever you might think.

So Lily closed her eyes, expecting a crash…but there wasn't. The crash never came. Shouts and screams filled Lily's ears, and when her eyes snapped open, she saw crowds of students climbing onto the train. Lily breathed a sigh of relief, and Vivien grinned at her.

"Welcome to the…Hogwarts Express!"

0000

He was late, and James dread to think what would happen if he missed Hogwarts Express. So in the Muggle way (people who have no magical abilities whatsoever) Patrick drove James in Patrick's hired car to Kings Cross.

Bliss and Helen said goodbye to James when he went ("Oh James, how I love you so!" sobbed Helen) so it wouldn't make him feel guilty. They got out, and raced to Kings Cross.

James stood weary eyed at the wall, and then he looked back at Patrick. "Give the Slytherins hell," Patrick said to him, and gave him a kiss on the cheek. James laughed, his glasses askew.

"I will, Dad, I will."

James, holding the bar on his trolley, ran through the wall. He smiled to himself when he saw the students, and he soon found himself getting on the train.

0000

Lily and Vivien became friends, in just minutes. They were in a compartment to themselves, and Lily felt very lucky that they had found it.

Vivien soon told Lily about her being pureblood, and how her family hated Muggle-borns. Lily looked frightened at this (Vivien told her what 'Muggle', pureblood and half blood meant) until Vivien declared she loved everything about Muggles.

Suddenly, the compartment door swung open. Both Lily and Vivien looked up to see a very scared looking girl. She had short, honey-coloured hair, and small, slanted blue eyes.

"Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't know this compartment was taken." The girl blushed. Before she turned around to leave, Lily jumped up.

"It doesn't matter. You can stay. I'm Lily Evans, by the way." Lily thrust out her hand. The girl looked at Lily's hand as if it was diseased, but to Lily and Vivien's (Vivien was sure the girl would run away) amazement, the girl shook it.

"I'm Fenella Marshal, but you can call me Fen." They both sat down, and Vivien gave Fen a wave.

"I'm Vivien Zade."

"So, are you a pureblood?" Lily asked her, with curiosity. Fen's face fell.

"Why, are you two purebloods?"

Lily laughed out loud, and Fen's eyes darted to the door. "No, I'm Muggleborn," she said, and Fen looked relieved, "but Vivien here is a pureblood."

"I'm half blood," Fen stated, "my Father was a wizard, and my Mother was a Muggle."

Then the train started to move. Vivien rolled her eyes. "Finally, I was wondering why it was taking so long."

Lily bit her lower lip. "Do you know what Hogwarts is about, Vivien?"

Vivien gave her a hearty grin. "Yeah, somehow you get sorted into one house out of the four: Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, Gryffindor and Slytherin. Hufflepuff's are for the trusted and loyal; Ravenclaw is for the smart and the witty, Gryffindor is for the bold and the brave, and Slytherin…" Vivien's voice trailed off.

"And Slytherin?" Lily prompted her, quietly.

"For the ambitious and…bad."

"Bad?" repeated Lily, with a laugh, "bad people go to Slytherin?"

"Well; yes."

"But…Vivien, don't judge them by their history (if they had any history to judge) you need to get to know them; not avoid them as if they have the plague."

"It's better to avoid them, Lily," whispered Fen, "they're very bad, bad people."

Then out of the blue, yellow gunge fell from the wall onto Fen, Vivien and Lily's head and onto their laps.

"What the…..?" cried Vivien.

"Oh no, my new top has been ruined!" wailed Fen, and in came two laughing boys, and another boy who seemed more reserved.

Before she had even talked to them, Lily knew she hated them.

0000

James soon found a compartment, not empty which he hoped, but he knew the boy who was reading wouldn't disturb him.

He went in and sat down, with his mind reeling. He was happy to be out of the Potter household, and to be on Hogwarts Express. He wanted to talk to the boy who was reading, but stopped himself in time.

I didn't want to be disturbed, he thought, so why should he be?

Across from where he was sitting, James read the title of the book the boy was reading: Hogwarts: A History. James was more than startled. In fact, he was concerned for the boy.

"You reading that for fun?" he asked him. The boy's eyes flickered behind James; not quite meeting him in the eye.

"Yes," he answered, to James' disbelief. James hadn't even touched his Hogwarts books, despite telling his parents he had. (They wanted him to memorise everything before he left.)

"I'm James Potter," he said, finally.

The boy ran his fingers through his thick, curly blonde hair. "Remus Lupin."

They exchanged a smile, knowing both of them would become great friends. Before they said anything else, the compartment door swung open, and there stood a tall boy who was breathing hard and fast. His black sleek hair was soaked, and his grey eyes held warmth in them.

"Hi, can I join you?" he spoke in a lazy type way, his voice already low but pleasant to hear.

James shrugged, and he replied for both of them; "yeah sure, make your self at home."

The whistle blew, and the train started to move. "Merlin!" exclaimed the new-comer, "I was just on time!"

He collapsed next to James, and James looked out of the window. It was raining. He grinned at the person next to him.

"So…what's your name?"

"Sirius Black," he drawled, and it left James with a cold heart.

"James Potter."

It was a known fact that the Black's and the Potters hated each other, both pureblood families but respected different things. The Potters loved Muggles and supported the light side, while the Black's hated anything to do with Muggles, and supported the dark side.

Sirius sighed, as if he went through this everyday. "Look James, I'm not as bad as my family."

"How do I know?" James said, snootily. Remus remained in the shadows, not wanting to join in the heated discussion.

"I love Muggles, for one thing."

"You love Muggles?" James repeated, nastily.

"Well yeah; and I want to be in Gryffindor." That changed all the hostility in James.

He smiled at him, and he pointed his index finger to Remus. "That's Remus Lupin," he explained, and Sirius nodded.

"Hey, shall we ambush the compartment next to us?" James suggested. A wicked light brightened Sirius' stormy eyes.

"Yeah!"

They all laughed, and went into the compartment. The three girls glared at them, furious about the trick. James beamed, ignoring their withering scowls.

That's when he noticed her. It was the same girl who he called 'Carrots' from Ollivanders. Her hair seemed brighter then it was in Ollivanders, probably because she was next to a black haired girl and a brunette.

"You," the redhead hissed, recognising him.

"Yep, that's me," and, lowering his voice, "Carrots."

"My name's not Carrots," the redhead burst out, fiercely, "it's Lily Evans."

"Well, I'm James Potter."

They glared at each other, feeling each other's hatred. "Uh, you guys," the pretty brunette piped up, "shouldn't we, um, get changed into our robes?"

"Fen, we'll change when the boys get out," Lily snapped, and the girl called Fen blushed.

Sirius let out a bark of laughter. "Why do we have to get out? Shouldn't it be you?"

"No it shouldn't be us," the black-haired girl flared, "anyway, I know who you are; Sirius Black."

"Ah, Vivien Zade," said Sirius, smoothly, "you didn't turn up for my Parents' meeting, last Tuesday. They were expecting you."

Vivien's cheeks turned bright red. "I'm surprised you were there, Black. I always thought you detested the dark side."

Sirius' eyes clouded over, and he pulled out his wand. "Say that again, Zade, I dare you."

In malicious delight, Vivien repeated what she had said. What a cow, James thought in horror, as he watched in slow motion Sirius' wand creep up to her chest, then to her neck.

"I dare you, Black," goaded Vivien, echoing Sirius' words. Like James; Remus, Fen and Lily stood in frozen horror.

But before anything else was done, Remus managed to find his voice. "Leave her alone, Sirius! Don't get expelled before even stepping inside Hogwarts!"

James saw something in Sirius' eyes; he knew two voices were battling each other. Finally, common sense won. He pocketed his wand, and his hand fell down to his side.

"Can you leave, so we could get changed?" Lily asked politely. Sirius gritted his teeth, but he left with James and Remus anyway.

0000

As soon as Vivien had changed into her robes, she slumped down next to Lily. Vivien always wanted to have red hair – not ginger, but deep red. Vivien's never stood out, but her being tall for an eleven year old did help.

Lily was a midget compared to her, so Vivien felt a little happier. It was just Fen that was the problem. She knew that in a few years time Fen would become gorgeous, and so would Lily.

Sirius made her feel alive. He made her feel as if she existed, even just by one encounter. He paid her more attention than Lily and Fen, even if he nearly killed her.

Vivien felt sick that she could fancy someone like him, someone that acted so…recklessly.

"Vivien?" asked Lily, in a small voice, "are you alright?"

"I'm fine," she answered curtly, unaware that Fen shot Lily a concerned look.

The rain pelted down while Vivien's mind replayed the scene with Sirius. She knew he wasn't evil, unlike his deadly family. She was oblivious about Fen and Lily's concern; she was never good at figuring out people's feelings.

Vivien's family was filthy rich, but twice as scary as the Black's. They wanted Vivien to become a Deatheater when she was old enough, but Vivien didn't want to become a Deatheater. Her parents, Geraldine and Kamal, told her that if she refused to become a Deatheater, they would kill her.

A voice echoed through the train: "we will be reaching Hogwarts in five minutes time. Please leave your luggage on the train; it will be taken separately."

Vivien stifled a sob, as she fingered her hair locks. She was desperate to be loved; even her sister, Daphne, didn't love her. She hoped she wouldn't give her heart away too early, incase it got broken.

After all, Vivien was a romantic.

0000

Sirius strode back to the compartment in a rage. When James and Remus came in, Sirius closed the door with so much force that the glass broke.

"Really, Sirius," said Remus with reproach, "Reparo!"

"That girl," Sirius shouted, "had no right, no right to tell me - "

"We know, we know," Remus interrupted him, hastily. Sirius glared at him, his anger increasing. He wanted to kick something -hard- at a person, hell, even a pebble would do!

"Look Sirius," said James, quietly, "you shouting and storming everywhere won't help."

"I guess you're right," he admitted, slowly. He slumped down next to Remus. He glowered ahead: still furiously angry. "It's just that Zade had no right, James…"

"We all know that," James agreed, "but you don't need to kill her."

They didn't even realize that the train has stopped.

A/N: PETER HAS NOT BEEN CUT OUT OF THIS STORY. Even though I hate the little rat (and probably you guys hate him, too) I can't just pretend he didn't exist. Don't flame me about it, k? Question: who was that boy who shared the dormitory with the Marauders?

Thanks to:

phoenixfeathersong 004: thanks that you think that this story rocks:) :) :) :) :)

ghilliekitten: that was a good idea, thanks for it.

Piritesslass: thanks for the encouraging review

Freya Racinna: lol, yah, writing about bad people is fun ;)