Chapter 2

"That dirty, rotten slime-bag! Touching her like that, holding her like that, looking at her like that! It makes me want to puke!" James yelled as he paced around the compartment he and his friends were in.

"James, are you mad?" Sirius asked, in utter fake shock. James just glared at him.

"What's the problem mate?" Peter asked, trying to calm him down. It never was good to have James mad at you.

"Lucius Malfoy, that's the problem!" James said angrily, gesturing toward the door. "He's sitting in there, with Lily doing who knows what! Probably thinking about nasty stuff that he plans on doing with her!"

Sirius, James, and Remus all raised eyebrows at him. James looked back at them with a stony glare.

"I know what you're thinking, and I don't think about that stuff!" James said, but added in an undertone, "at least not very often." Peter, who sat closest to James, rolled his eyes when he heard him.

All the guys looked at James as he stared out the window, foaming at the mouth.

"Ok, so guys, what's our beginning of the year prank?" Sirius said, clapping his hands together to get everyone's attention.

"What was last year's?" Remus asked.

"Didn't we turn the hats a different color or something?" Peter asked.

"No, that was an 'end of the year' prank awhile ago," Sirius said, waving his hand at the thought. "Now that I think about it, it was actually pretty stupid."

"You got that right," James said, joining the conversation. "I can't believe we even used that."

"Hey, we were running low on pranks that year. That's when Lucious suddenly decided to take an interest in Lily. It's your fault we ran out," Sirius pointed out.

"Whatever," James said, glaring back out the window. Sirius, Peter, and Remus all looked at him for a moment and then went back to planning their prank. James half-listened to them but otherwise looked at the passing scenery thinking about Lily.

She didn't honestly like Lucius, did she?

"Hey! James! Get with it, we need your help planning the prank," Remus yelled, trying to get James' attention. James immediately snapped to attention.

"Sorry, I'll start paying attention," James said, turning so his whole body faced his friends. Remus, Sirius, and Peter all stared at him and then burst out laughing.

"Sure you will," Remus blurted out between laughs. James just glared at them.

"I promise; we have to get this prank figured out before we get to school. Let's get down to business!" James said. The four boys all sat in silence for a few minutes, all oblivious to the sounds around them. Suddenly, James' eye caught something outside. It was the rain; and suddenly an idea came to him. Why didn't he see it before? It was so obvious!

"I've got it!" James shouted. "It's so obvious!"

"Yeah say it, why don't you?" Remus yelled.

"It's raining right now. In the school, in the main hall, we'll see the rain coming down but it won't touch us or anything," James explained.

"And what does this have to do with a prank of any sort?" Peter asked.

"We make it so that the rain actually falls on us. We create rain or whatever so it's like the rain outside," James explained further.

All three boys sat staring at James with blank faces, thinking the plan over; and then they all smiled brightly. Words began to fly across the room as they thought out the details of the prank.

"Lily, darling, get up."

Lily heard the voice, but refused to open her eyes and awake. She snuggled closer to the firm cushion next to her. The cushion shook with laughter.

"Get up Lily; we need to change into our robes."

"It's too early to get up," Lily mumbled.

"It's almost 5 o'clock."

Lily finally consented and sat up. She opened her eyes and saw Lucius looking at her with a small smile. Lily smiled back.

"I hate getting up," Lily said.

"I noticed," Lucius said.

"Thank you for letting me sleep on you. I hope I didn't hurt you or anything," Lily said, standing up and stretching.

"No problem, but now that you're up, we'll get out so that you, girls, can change." Lucius stood up and walked out of the compartment with Severus and Chase behind him. When the door was shut, the questions started.

"You like Lucius don't you?" Rochelle asked.

"I well-" Lily started.

"You guys would make such a cute couple!" Julie squealed.

"Well I guess-"

"Oh my god, James would be so jealous!" Rochelle stated.

"Go out with him!" Julie said.

As Lily listened to Julie and Rochelle said and squeal, she couldn't help but laugh. Sure she like Lucius, and it would be great for James to finally realize he had no chance, but she wasn't going to be the one that would make the first move. It's all on Lucius now.

After a few minutes of talking, Rochelle, Julie, and Lily finally changed into their robes. They opened the door to find Lucius, Severus, and Chase leaning against a wall talking.

"It's all yours now," Rochelle said, as the girls moved out of the compartment and the boys moved in.

"So what are you going to do about Lily?" Severus asked when they were in the confines of the compartment.

"What about her?" Lucius asked as he rummaged through his trunk.

"You don't like her do you?" Chase asked, looking up at him.

"So what if I do?" Lucius asked, glaring at Chase.

"She may be hott, but she's a Gryffindor," Severus said. "Think of what your parents would say."

"She's a pureblood, they don't care about what house they're from," Lucius said, looking at Severus.

"They may not care too much, but it is something that they look at."

"You know what Severus? You should stop worrying about my love life and start worrying about yours, which right now you don't have," Lucius snapped. Severus blushed as he pulled on his robes. "Don't say a word Chase!" Lucius then yelled, just as Chase was about to open his mouth. It immediately shut.

Lucius finished putting on his robes and stalked out of the compartment. He slammed the door shut and turned around. He jumped at the sight before him. Lily stood staring at him.

"What was that about?" Lily asked.

"Uh, nothing," Lucius said, flustered.

"Ok, whatever you say," Lily said, flashing him a half-watt smile.

"Let's go, the train's stopped," Lucius said, grabbing her hand and pulling her away just as the compartment door was starting to open. Rochelle and Julie stared at each other confused, but then followed the two out.

"Hey, are you ok?" Lily asked Lucius after they had retreated outside with the rest of the student body.

"Yeah, I'm fine now," Lucius said, smiling at Lily. Lily blushed.

"Come on, lovers, lets get in the carriages," Rochelle said, taking Lily's arm and dragging her toward the carriages. Lily, Lucius, Rochelle, and Julie and all climbed into a horseless carriage. A few moments later, Chase and Severus both timidly climbed in.

"I've been waiting for this year for so long! I am so excited!" Lily exclaimed when the silence became overbearing.

"Why?" Julie asked with a raised eyebrow. Lily glared at her.

"My birthday!" Lily said.

"So? It's just a birthday, it comes every year and it goes every year," Chase said sullenly.

"Well, you don't get a Sweet Sixteen every year, now do you?" Lily asked.

"Well, no," Chase said, defeated.

"When is your birthday?" Lucius asked.

"In three days, September 4," Lily said proudly.

"Lily, you didn't give me enough time," Lucius said, smiling.

"Enough time for what?" Lily asked, confused.

"To get you a birthday present." Chase and Severus looked at each other and rolled their eyes.

"Oh Lucius, you don't need to get me a present!" Lily exclaimed. Rochelle and Julie both rolled their eyes.

"Ok, I can't take this a second longer. You two need to get together," Rochelle suddenly said.

"No kidding, you two already act like you're together," Severus added. Lily and Lucius both looked at each smiling.

"Quit butting into our business," Lily blushed. After Lily finished speaking the carriage stopped and everyone filed out; Lily being last. As Lily was about to step out of the carriage, she saw a hand sticking out to assist her. It was attached to Lucius. "Thank you," Lily said, taking the hand.

As Lily stepped out of the carriage and was safely on the ground, Lucius didn't let go of her hand. He's apparently going to listen to our friends, Lily thought, giving the hand a small squeeze, which is perfectly all right with me.