Lily sat down in an empty carriage and took out a book as the train started to move. Her snowy owl, Luna, was out of her cage and sat happily munching on a crust of bread next to her.
Half an hour later a group of first and second years came tentatively into the carriage.
"Hello Lily," said the bravest.
She looked up, smiled and put her book down, "hello Ludo, did you have a nice summer?"
"Yes, thank you," he replied politely.
Taking this as their cue the others filed into the compartment to sit opposite her. Half of them were first years that she had helped to tutor the year before, the other half hopefuls that she would do the same for them. Tutoring was the only thing she did that made her stand out that little bit. There was something that just made her want to prove that she could be a better sister than Petunia and if she couldn't be a sister to her then she would try with someone else. It was rather an odd thing to think she knew, but feelings aren't exactly the kind of thing that can be turned on and off.
As for the others sat opposite her, most of them were quite shy about their, 'old friend' as they saw her. They couldn't understand why she bothered with them; it wasn't even as if they were all in her house. But it was a pretty well know fact amongst those at the lower end of the grade spectrum that if you ever needed help with schoolwork then Lily Evans was the person you went to. She'd help and not ask for anything in return; she didn't even seem to let on about it to anyone. And with her new position and all, it just made her even more of a puzzle.
She had, quite to her annoyance, been made a prefect at the beginning of this term. It was something that she just couldn't understand. Why on earth would she of all people be picked for that, when she had done almost everything in her power to be ordinary? But you couldn't argue with the Sorting Hat, and it made the decisions.
After about half an hour's awkward conversation and repeated assurances that if the new first years had any problems then they could come to her for help, the children left her to her book.
When the lady with the trolley came round Lily purchased a few chocolate frogs, a pumpkin pasty and a copy of the Daily Prophet. She'd just sat down when two tall boys came bursting into the compartment.
"Oh good, you're coming," said one, with a grin at the trolley lady.
"Sirius, you're so rude!" said his friend with an apologetic smile to the lady.
She laughed and sighed exasperatedly, "you two! I'm coming, just finished serving this young lady here and now I'm coming to you."
The two looked briefly at Lily but their eyes slid right over her and turned back to the food on the trolley.
As they bustled out the door talking loudly Lily grinned and thought to herself, 'men, always thinking about their stomachs!'
She knew that pair of course; they were only the two biggest trouble-makers in the whole school! James Potter and Sirius Black, they were practically joined at the hip; they should have been brothers. She felt a pang of envy; it would have been nice to have a brother.
Opening the pages of the Daily Prophet as she munched her way through the pasty she shook her head. More attacks, the headline read: 'Five dead within the last week, Panic grows within the Wizarding World.'
Worries increased last night as the latest attack was reported. Burt Jones was found dead by a muggle postman in the early hours of the morning. Officials worked fast to eliminate the murder from muggle records and thoughts as the news of the fifth murder in a week reached the ears of the Minister for Magic.
In an exclusive interview with the Daily Prophet Birnesly Tyverdale had this to say, "There is no cause for panic, things are under control and the matter is under current investigation."
The minister did not wish to comment about the mysterious signs that appear in the sky above the victim's final resting place, a skull with a snake protruding from the eye socket.
And while the Ministry continues to maintain that there is no problem this reporter urges the Wizarding World to be on their guard.
Lily frowned; the media always seemed to be stirring things up. She wasn't too worried about it, if the ministry said that there wasn't a problem then she was willing to believe them. And anyway, it wasn't as if there was any danger to her. She was going to be in the same building as Albus Dumbledore, the most powerful wizard of the time. It wouldn't take them long to hunt down this person and then it would be over. Certainly she would never have anything to do with it.
Turning the page she began to read an article discussing about the recent ban on flying carpets.
The train came to a halt and the corridors were soon filled with excited chattering and the banging of trunks being hauled down. Lily put Luna back into her cage and picked up the handle of her own truck, dragging it out into the corridor. She followed the stream of people, she'd already changed into her uniform, her prefect badge pinned exactly where it should be, and, she thought, fortunately covered with her hair.
Leaving her trunk on the platform with the mounting pile she waved encouragingly to the first years she had met before, who were stood looking pale and nervous next to the imposing figure that was Hagrid. Then she climbed into a waiting carriage and watched out her window as the castle drew nearer.
It was nice to be back, Lily sighed contentedly as she walked into the Great Hall. The candles burned brightly overhead and the air was filled with happy chatter. At that moment she didn't think there was a happier place on earth. Smiling happily to herself she walked over to take her seat with the rest of the Ravenclaws.
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A/N: Ah Lily, you are so naïve……^__^See I was quick to update right? Well reward me…with reviews!!