:2. Starting All Over Again:

Lily and Emma had a lot to talk about on the train. They hadn't seen each other all summer because Lily had been visiting some distant relatives in Australia. They were now beginning their seventh and last year on Hogwarts and they were especially excited about the ball they would have around April. They were discussing what to wear when the door to their compartment opened and a boy with very untidy black hair and glasses stuck his head in at the door.

"Hey you two beautiful girls", James said. Lily sneered when she saw his head Boy-badge.

"Are you enjoying yourselves? You know, we marauders just talked about you two not having dates for the ball. And we think we might be able to help y…."

"Would you mind leaving us alone?", Lily said sarcastic and looked at James with anger.

"Now, now, my dear Evans."

James sat down next to her.

"Can't we just forget the past and start over? I really want us to be friends, and since we're Head Boy and Girl we have to set an example."

He actually sounded very serious which barely ever happened but Lily knew what her answer was. She turned to look at him and found herself gazing into his deep hazel eyes. For a moment she hesitated but then she shook her head like she reproved herself.

"No, that won't happen. I'm tired of you always following me. I'm going to ask them to find another Head Girl."

James looked hurt but Lily turned away from him. The door to the compartment opened again and Lily was glad she could concentrate on the new arrival instead of James.

"Hey Prongs, I thought you'd be here. Evans."

Sirius nodded at Lily and turned to Emma.

"Hey, Emma. You forgot this in our compartment."

He handed her a book and when she took it their hands touched. They both looked embarrassed and Emma blushed.

"I wondered where that was", she said with a little voice while she looked at the floor. Sirius ran his fingers through his hair and for a second Lily actually hoped that it was her fingers but she pushed the thought away. There was an awkward silence but then Sirius exclaimed:

"Well, are you coming Prongs? I have this great idea. We might not be able to get Moony in on it but I'm sure Wormtail will be thrilled to help us out."

Sirius left the compartment smirking and James followed. Lily was determined not to look at him.

"I can't believe James actually thought I would fall for that! What do you think, Emma? Emma?"

"Ohh… sorry. What did you say?"

"Never mind. What was it Sirius brought you?"

"Just a book I forgot while I was in their compartment saying hallo."

Emma was still blushing and Lily wondered if Emma might have left the book in there on purpose.

"Oi, we're nearly there. We better go change", exclaimed Emma with an exaggerated cheerfulness that only made Lily more suspicious.

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After they had left the train Lily and Emma found one of the horseless coaches to sit in. It no longer bothered them that the coaches seemed to move by themselves even though they both came from muggle-families. There were simply too many weird things to wonder about them all.

"Hey, do you have room for a couple more?" James' head had appeared and he smiled like his conversation with Lily had never taken place.

"Sirius! Remus! Peter! I found a coach!", he yelled and a few seconds later they were all huddled together in the coach. Lily didn't even have time to protest, which she was almost sure she would have.

Remus was a bookworm like Lily and those two got along really well but Lily often felt that he didn't let her see the real him.

Peter was the odd-man-out in the group. He was nothing like the others and actually kind of stupid and creepy. But still there was something about him that made Lily pity him. Especially at that moment where he was clinging desperately to the side of the coach so he wouldn't fall out.

It was a very quiet ride to the castle and that was a bit strange because if anyone knew how to break a silence it was the infamous Marauders.