CHAPTER TWO: The Dung Story

James had gone on the train before his friends to look for their usual compartment before any of the unknowing first-years nabbed it. Not that Sirius and James were scared to take it back but he knew Lily wouldn't like it if he did. As soon as the thought of Lily popped in his mind, James gave a cursory glance outside when something made his heart skip.

He had forgotten her. Well, maybe he hadn't quite forgotten her, but he had certainly put her out of his mind. Well, maybe he hadn't quite put her out of his mind but he had known that she wasn't exactly free to be with any boy; other than Paul Figgs, that is.

James scowled when he thought of Perfect-Everything-Paul; smart, responsible, captain and chaser of the Ravenclaw Quidditch team, the best student (after Lily, of course) of his year and blah-blah-blah-blah-BLAH! If it wasn't for James getting the position as Head Boy, no doubt Paul would have gotten it. James smiled evilly at the thought of besting any of Lily's boyfriends. Though James had no idea how, in the name of all that is sane, Dumbledore appointed him to this position; James had planned over the summer to use being Head Boy to his advantage on his conquest for Lily's affections.

It didn't matter that Paul is everything James isn't (rule-follower, kiss-ass, obedient, etcetera). Even if Lily were going out with a person that James absolutely despised, like Severus "Snivellus" Snape, he wouldn't do anything to ruin it. He maybe a ladies man (he chuckled at his conceitedness) but he's definitely no home-wreaker; he usually left those situations to his best mate, Sirius. So being the sort of man that he was – an honorable one, or so he would like to think – he consciously made the decision not to pursue her, despite his promise to Sirius that this will be the year Lily will return James's feelings.

All thoughts on not pursuing Lily disappeared as soon as James saw her walk towards his compartment with Remus. Merlin, has it only been two months, he thought. More like two centuries.

James watched as Lily threw back her head in the middle of a laugh, her auburn hair, vibrant and beautiful. Lily had an elfish look to her, almost ethereal. Just staring at her right now didn't confirm to James that she isn't an elusive ghost. The only things that didn't seem too out-of-this-world are her eyes.

James sighed as he looked at her emerald green eyes. James is fascinated with the almond-shaped eyes. The way they change colors according to her moods; a storming sea-green when she's angry, a grassy meadow-green when she's happy, a -----

"Woo hoo, Jimmy-boy!" Sirius shouted into James's ear, startling him out of his thoughts.

"Wha-what?" He stammered.

"Be careful Prongs, you're starting to sound like Wormtail." Sirius laughed as he took a seat next to James in the small compartment. Sirius was almost immediately followed by Remus and Peter. They took the seats opposite Sirius and James.

"How was your holiday, Sirius?" Remus asked while fidgeting in his seat. James instantly took in Remus' long face, which was even more pale than usual, and deducted that it's that time of the month again. Remus could actually pass for a ghost if you see him from afar; what with his hair graying and practically looking like an anorexic person. The dark circles under his piercing eyes are almost always prominent, more so when the days were drawing closer to his monthly transformation and his shaggy attire just made him look even more like a – uh – what's the word? Bum, yes, that's it.

This, of course, didn't put off the girls of Hogwarts. Rather, it did the opposite. To them, Remus is quote a man of mystery unquote and the fact that he disappeared once a month and seems to be a loner, even though he's one of the founding members of the Marauders, just added to his mystique.

"Great, didn't even wasted one thought on my family." Sirius cocked his head to one side as if in deep thought, "Was a bit surprised when I got a howler from mum. After all, I ran away last year, why get yelled for it now? And that's when the answer came to me:

"Most likely that Kreacher wasn't around to wipe her flabby arse and since I'm the house elf's substitute, she got upset when she realized I wasn't there." James immediately started choking on his laughter once the image of Sirius' mother's buttocks and a mean old house elf wiping it clean came to mind.

Remus simply shook his head, chuckling and Peter laughed nervously even though everyone in the compartment knew that Peter didn't know what in the world they were laughing about because he was busy looking out the window.

"What's so funny?" The sound was like music to James's ears and he quickly looked up to see Lily searching every Marauder's face for the source of amusement.

"Apparently, Sirius found it appropriate to share the fact that his mum has a flabby arse and she makes their house elf wipe it clean," Remus answered her. They all laughed again except James didn't laugh as hard as he did before. He felt self-conscious with Lily in the compartment and this annoyed him because he never felt insecure with any other girl.

Lily made her way next to Peter, who eagerly scooted over for her. James noticed how one of Peter's meaty legs practically sat on Lily's thin, shapely ones. She had to squeeze into the seat between Peter and the window and despite the fact that he was rather small, he took up most of her seat as well as his own. Lily was obviously uncomfortable especially with Peter staring at her in awe and wheezing loudly into her ear.

"Lily, can you sit by me? I need to tell you something." Lily didn't hesitate to cross over to where James sat and once she was ensconced, she breathed a sigh of relief. "Figured you needed help" He whispered into her ear. She laughed softly, making the corners of James mouth turn up devilishly.

"Uh, I have to go," Peter said suddenly and practically jumped onto his feet, sending the Chocolate Frogs he bought from the woman with the trolley flying all over. He rushed out, not bothering to clean up and slammed the compartment door shut behind him. Everyone stared after him for a moment before Sirius broke the silence.

"It must be a bit of painful constipation to send him running like that," The boys laughed but Lily sent him a disgusted look. "Seriously, I remember in our second year how Peter shot off to the bathroom like that once. I went after him when he wasn't back in the common room after about an hour and what I saw will forever haunt my dreams."

"What did you see?" Remus asked Sirius. James looked eager for the details and though Lily looked disinterested, you could tell she was paying attention.

"Well, I went in the bathroom and waited just outside his stall for him to come out. He, of course, didn't realize I was there. Suddenly I heard him muttering 'scourgify'. I, being the curious person that I am," Lily snorted at that "wondered what it was he wanted clean and so peeked over the door and that's when I saw it."

"What? WHAT?" James asked excitedly. Sirius paused another moment for effect then continued.

"Dung. Yep, I saw slimes of dung all over the walls." Lily let out a low moan that sounded very much like 'ewww'. James was on the floor, howling in laughter and holding his ribs tightly. Remus looked half amused and half disgusted.

"It was horrific. I practically gagged right then and took off while Wormtail cleaned after himself."

Lily shuddered as she imagined the repulsive sight and glared at Sirius, apparently for sharing the memory. She turned to James, who was back on his seat, and smiled at him before leaning in towards him.

"I've been meaning to talk with you. I know that in the past, our – uh – interaction, shall we say, has been anything but pleasant," Lily whispered. James felt a shudder run through his body when he felt her warm breath danced across his ear, "but I'd really like to talk to you tonight." She paused for a significant moment before adding "After everyone's gone to bed."

Upon hearing this, James immediately started playing in his mind the possibilities of what they're to talk about, or better yet, what they're going to do. One possibility that he wouldn't mind is a long night of snogging… and more.

"Why, Evans. Do you finally like me?" He taunted. Once the words were out of his mouth, he cursed his stupidity. The one thing that Lily hates the most is being taunted but surprisingly she smiled a rather mysterious smile.

"If I do, I wouldn't be the only one, now would I?" She got up from her seat and suddenly the place which Lily's thigh had warmed his leg felt cold. She made her way out of the compartment and said her goodbyes to the Marauders.

Thinking about the enigmatic message, a small frown shaped his features. What the bloody hell does that mean? He thought. It didn't tell him if she like-likes him or just like him.

"I couldn't help, Prongs, but notice how you and Lily were just whispering rather cozily." Sirius exchanged a knowing glance with Remus. "Will it be wrong of me to say that you'll be meeting Lily tonight?"

"Not that it's any of your business," James retorted, "but you wouldn't be wrong to say that,"

"Yeah, weird isn't it?" Remus wondered aloud. "Lily has made no effort to hide the fact that she has not liked you for the last six years. From the very moment you've pushed her into the lake that first day in our first year, you've been an enemy of hers." He paused, contemplating the question Sirius suddenly asked out loud.

"Why the sudden change of heart?"