Chapter Two

Lily pushed open the door to her friends' compartment with slightly too much force, causing the glass to shatter.

"Reparo," she muttered angrily, pointing her wand at the damage.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa, Lily," Audrey stared at her friend. "What's got you in such a bad mood?"

"James Potter." Lily replied shortly, sitting down. "That prat is Head Boy."

Jessica suddenly cracked up laughing. "Sorry…" she said weakly. "But you know I always thought you two would make the perfect couple. Despite your… differences."

"The perfect couple?" Lily gaped at her friend. "Sorry, but there is no way on this bloody planet that James Potter and I could even have a friendship, let alone something more."

"Aw, Lils," Audrey said, sitting down next to Lily and putting an arm around her. "Look on the bright side. At least you don't have Sirius – "

She was cut off by the door of the compartment opening. Standing there were James Potter, Sirius Black, Remus Lupin and Peter Pettigrew, otherwise known by the entire student population as the Marauders. However, no-one but the Marauders seemed to know why.

"- constantly following you." Audrey muttered under her breath.

"Audrey!" Sirius cried, collapsing in the spot next to her. "My favourite person!"

Audrey replied by clicking her tongue impatiently.

Remus and Peter, meanwhile, decided to take their places next to Jessica, leaving James a spot opposite Lily. Lily took this as a hint to look away.

"Aw, come on, Evans." James said, ruffling his hair once more. "Do you really think you'll catch a disease if you look at me too long?"

"Yes," was all Lily said in reply. James grinned, and continued to stare at her.

"So…" Jessica said, trying to start conversation. "I heard you're Quidditch captain this year, Potter? I was thinking of trying out for Chaser."

"Are you serious?" Lily and Audrey gasped.

"Yes?" Sirius replied, jerking his head at the sound of the word.

"Oh, shut up." Everyone said as one, and Sirius pretended to fall asleep on Audrey's shoulder. She pushed his head off. He shot her his puppy-dog face.

"Don't even try." Audrey muttered, dangerously, pointing a finger at him.

"So are you really thinking of trying out for Chaser?" Lily asked Jessica. "What about the last two years, where you whinged about how annoying Quidditch could be?"

Jessica wrinkled her nose. "That's when I was going out with that Dirk idiot from Hufflepuff. All he ever talked about was Quidditch, and how great a keeper he was. Now that I'm done with him, I have a lot more respect for the game."

"Good on you," James said. "I'm holding tryouts in the first week…so be sure to turn up."

"Yeah, we'll come watch you, Jess!" Audrey said, nodding.

Sirius began imitating her, nodding vigorously, and received a slap on the head.

Lily walked through the doors in to the Great Hall, which was already full of students.

This is home, she thought. Away from Petunia and her idiotic boyfriend, Vernon. Back to the magical world in which she truly belonged.

Lily, Audrey and Jessica found seats at the far end of the Gryffindor table. To their annoyance (Lily's and Audrey's especially), the Marauders decided to sit with them.

Lily felt her stomach rumble, and wished the Sorting would pass quickly. It did, luckily, and the hall was full of buzzing conversation.

Professor Dumbledore suddenly stood up to deliver his speech, and the hall fell silent. "Welcome, those old and new. Welcome to those too young for even a certain spell to be crammed into their heads, and welcome to those so old that their poor eyesight has lead them to wear half-moon spectacles. Now, tuck in." He sat down, leaving all students, especially first years, puzzled.

"Hi beautiful," Sirius addressed Audrey, his mouth already stuffed full of potato.

She glared at him. "Hi annoying," and continued to eat.

Remus and Peter, meanwhile were discussing what classes they were taking for the year, and how often they planned on studying for their NEWTs.

"Do you think eight hours a day will be enough?" squeaked Peter, accidentily choking on his pumpkin juice.

Sirius rolled his eyes. "Live a little, Wormtail," he said, waving his arms around.

"What is it with you guys and those strange nicknames?" Lily asked.

"Yeah, why are you called "Padfoot"?" Jessica asked Sirius.

Sirius coughed and looked at James for support. "Uh…well," James began. "Everyone likes to think of what animal they'd like to be at some stage, right?"

"No?" Audrey interrupted.

"Erm…well, it was Sirius' idea." James said, pointing across the table.

"Thanks heaps, mate," was the reply.

"Well James has always wanted to be a stag…so he gets the name Prongs. I am the loyal dog, so I get Padfoot. Peter's kind of small, so he's just a rat. And Remus…well he just likes the name Moony…" Sirius' voice trailed off.

"Did I ever mention you're off your rocker?" Audrey asked, in mock concern.

"Well…yes." Sirius admitted. "But I bet you've also mentioned how irresistible you find me." He added, winking.

James decided this would be a good time to turn the topic of conversation around.

"McGonagall asked me to hold tryouts this Thursday." He said. "So Sirius, Jess, you'll be there?"

"Of course." Jessica said. "Lily, why don't you try out for Chaser? Even if I make the team, we'll still need one more. You know you're good on a broom."

Lily was unsure about this. "Um…well, I don't really think –"

"Excellent!" James cut her off. "See you Thursday, 5 o' clock then." He said, winking at her.

"Jessica!" Lily said loudly.

Lily ran up to her dormitory to grab her scarf, and then met James outside the portrait hole to begin patrolling the corridors.

"Where to first?" he asked, kindly.

Why's he being so nice? Came the voice inside Lily's head. How can he be so terribly annoying in one situation, and then start acting politely towards me the next?

She shook her head. "Let's try the 4th floor," she suggested. "And the broom cupboards. There's most likely to be snogging couples that should be in bed."

"You seem to know a lot about that," he told her, flashing one of his grins.

She shrugged. "Amos Diggory used to take me there." She said. "After I dumped him, he started bringing a different girl to the same room every night."

James stared at her. "You went out with Diggory? That idiot? You could do so much better than him."

"Oh really?" Lily said bitterly. "And I suppose you think you qualify to be on the list of people I could do better with?"

James scratched his head. "I never said that. I just mean…well, you should be happy. And Diggory's not the guy for that. I know that at the least."

Lily could not think of a reply for this, and pulled open the door of a broom cupboard. Inside, Amos Diggory was tightly embraced with a blonde Ravenclaw girl, their lips locked.

"Out." Lily said, menacingly. "Ten points from each of your houses. Now get to bed."

Diggory and the girl, who Lily recognised as Ashley Parker, stalked off, glaring at the Head Boy and Girl.

Lily felt a hand on her shoulder, causing her to spin around. It was James.

"Don't touch me." She snapped. "I don't need you trying to make me feel better, when I'm really quite fine."

She sighed. "I'm going to bed. Goodnight."

Not a great chapter...I know. Next one will be very long, I promise. :D

Disclaimer: Nothing but the storyline.