Disclamer: Harry Potter ain't mine, sonny! It belong to that there woman called J.K Rowlings dangnabit!

Chapter 2:- Corners

I'm going to die. At this point I think I want to. Lily just managed to keep herself from banging her head repeatedly against the windowsill. How on earth do they find so much to talk about? Especially about things I don't think normal people even notice. Somehow I really don't think you have to worry about the minute freckle on the back of your neck! Why am I doing this again? Lily asked herself as she smiled and nodded at whatever it was that Linda had just said. Yes, the answer to everything. Just smile and nod. Doesn't matter who it is, that you weren't listening or that you had no idea what they were talking about. All you needed to do was smile and nod and it would all be good. But after nearly two hours of smiling and nodding her neck and cheek muscles were protesting.

I need a break.

Abruptly, Lily stood up and forced a small smile as she said,

"Sorry, if you'll excuse me I just need to stretch a bit," adding on " I really should freshen up a little before we arrive" when Anabelle raised an inquisitive eyebrow. Suspicions put to rest at the 'understandable' excuse, the girls returned to their discussion about whether it was trendier to have brown hair with bond highlights or blond hair with brown highlights.

Closing the door, Lily heaved a silent sigh of relief before arching into a stretch. Hmm…left or right? Lily pondered. Feeling a bit whimsical she closed her eyes and spun around. As luck would have it she didn't end up facing the door or crash into anything but veered to the left instead. Left it is then she thought and strolled down the corridor, the unaccustomed bulk of the robes she had put on before she left only slightly impinging her leggy stride. People often said she had a distinctive stride- some girls called it a bit too boyish, but Lily didn't really care as long as it got her where she wanted at the time she needed to be there. Some of the girls she knew tried to imitate that seductive hip swaying and ended up looking like "skinned chickens trying to do the tango", another quote she had adopted from Aunt Daisy. I think I spend too much time in her company. Lily thought wryly.

"Hello, dear. Would you like to buy some chocolate frogs or pumpkin pastries? A kind voice interrupted her musings. It came from a middle-aged woman with peaceful blue eyes and wispy brown hair tied in a messy bun, pushing what looked to be a food trolley.

"Oh, hello. Um…maybe a chocolate frog please?" mmm… chocolate

"That'll be 3 knuts for you dear, just because I like your smile. Oh my, look at that lovely blush! Well I'll see you around dear. Remember to keep smiling."

Bemused and slightly embarrassed Lily watched as the food lady knocked on a door and cheerfully strode in, confident of a welcome. Gee, maybe I should go around selling chocolates and biscuits too.

Or not.

Shrugging her shoulders, Lily concentrated on opening the packet in her hands. Was it just me, or did the packet just twitch? Right Lily, I'm sure that your chocolate is alive and moving. Don't be silly!

I knew I spent too long with those girls.

Peeling open the wrapper, she froze as the chocolate frog suddenly leapt out and started frantically hopping away. What on…? Stunned, she just stood there for a moment, blinking her eyes in disbelief, before rushing after her chocolate.

"Hey! Come back here, you… chocolate frog you!"

Great. Now she was talking to a chocolate, albeit a mobile chocolate frog that was trying to get away, but still… a chocolate.

I think I'm going insane. And I'm only eleven.

Rolling her eyes, she ran around the corner……and slammed right into what felt like a brick wall…with broken bits of brick sticking out of it.

Oww…

Grimacing in pain, she looked up from her sprawl on the floor only to find herself staring into of cold slate-gray eyes that at the moment were filled with an icy rage.

Uh…oh…

"Why don't you watch where you're going? Little first year pests like you should be locked up to prevent innocent bystanders from having to suffer the torture of your inherent clumsiness, inconsideration and utter stupidity!"

His voice was cultured and smooth, but his clipped tone was sharp, and intended to cut and wound. He flicked his pale blond hair out of his eyes as he looked down at her and sneered at her stuttering apology before brushing off his robe like it was contaminated and stalking off regally. Pompous arrogant twit! Lily thought crossly as she got up slowly, wincing at her sore muscles. I'm going to bruise, I just know it. All he did was stumble back a bit while I fall soundly and painfully on my bum and he acts as if I started World War 2. She entertained thoughts of giant hammers, pointy objects and a certain blond, gray-eyed boy before realizing that her chocolate frog was sitting just in the corner. Pouncing on it swiftly, she grabbed it and two seconds later was licking the chocolate off her fingers, feeling much better. Chocolate is THE great cure-all. She really pitied those dairy-intolerant people. How on earth do they survive? Although I suppose they don't really know what they're missing.

Feeling restless now, Lily looked down the corridor she was now on and frowned as she tried to think what to do next. A mischievous idea started to form in her head, one that had her still sticky fingers twitching in anticipation. The practical, obedient part of her was nearly having an epileptic fit but her naughty half, which she hardly indulged, was laughing diabolically, trying to shove her 'better' half under a blanket……

Sometimes she scared herself.

After a few more minutes of internal debate and struggle, her 'better' half was tied up and looking reproachfully at her 'naughty' half, who cheerfully ignored it.

Adrenalin pumping, Lily sprinted down the corridor, knocking on all the doors loudly then hid around the corner. A second later, a chorus of doors opening and confused voices questioning each other rang down the corridor, slowly degenerating in one case to a mild quarrel between irritable inhabitants. Giggling silently into her hands, Lily turned away from the corner…

Uh..oh…

Why do I keep doing this?

Three pairs of eyes were fixed on her from inside the compartment, which she had just barged into, each of them holding a varying mixture of amusement and surprise. Two of the boys had messy black hair, one had puppy-like gray eyes that showed what seemed like appreciation at her prank while the other……

His eyes…they're so pretty. I don't even know what colour they are…brown? No...hazel maybe? With green and gold flecks…

"I suppose you're the one responsible for that?" Shaking her head slightly to clear it from the mirage of swirling colours, she focused on the third boy who had spoken, suppressed laughter evident in his voice. He had sandy brown hair that hung a bit limply but his eyes were a bright warm blue and seemed to put some life into his tired and pale face. It was quite a delicate face, and he looked like a small breeze would push him over but there was a sense of quiet strength in his eyes, and determination in the set of his chin.

"Umm..uh…I don't know what you're talking about." Lily shrank into the wall, knowing by the unnatural warmth of her skin that she was blushing and hoping (knowing it was in vain) to hide the answer written all over her face.

"I'm sorry, I …." Come on…think Lily! What's a reasonable excuse?

"I must have gotten confused and walked into the wrong compartment," her voice was a higher pitch than normal and she just barely kept it from cracking. Brilliant! I'm sure they'll believe that Lily! She thought sarcastically to herself. All her protective instincts were screaming at her to run and she was just about to comply when the gray-eyed boy said,

"Come on, then. Take some pride in a job well done." Smiling in greeting he continued, "I'm Sirius by the way," then he paused thoughtfully "and I mean Sirius as in that's my name. Sirius. Not that I'm serious as in solemn serious…"

"Shut up Sirius, you're babbling. Just ignore him, he's always like this," the sandy haired boy interrupted at Lily's slightly bewildered yet amused look. "I'm Remus and this is James," jerking his head towards the last boy who waved and smiled. Is it just me, or do his eyes seem a bit unfocussed? He's doesn't seem to be really looking at me…like he needs glasses or something.

"I'm Lily," she said with a shy smile, wondering what to do next. So……do I make excuses and leave…or stay and try not to make a bigger fool of myself than I already have. Decisions, decisions…

"…first year?" Oops…and this is what happens when you don't pay attention.

"Sorry, what were you saying?" Lily asked James, who looked at her strangely and repeated his question,

"Is it your first year?"

"Oh, yes, it is. Is it yours as well?" Lily asked addressing all of them. They all nodded and Sirius chirped in,

"I'm looking forward to exploring Hogwarts, just think of all the secret passageways and long-forgotten hidden rooms we could find!"

"Yeah, I've heard a lot of things about Hogwarts from my older brother." Remus added. "Hey, are you both trying out for the quidditch team?" He asked, turning to his friends. Vigorous nods followed that question and the boys started an enthusiastic conversation about the various teams they supported.

Quidditch? Brooms…quaffles…snitches? What the…? I'm confused…

It was Remus who finally noticed Lily standing near the door, her head cocked to the side and her eyes wide in confusion.

"Did you want to come in and sit down, Lily?" The manners his mother's had drilled into him since he was young coming into play.

If I stay it'll become really obvious that I don't come from the wizarding world. I don't even know what this quidditch is, though it sounds like s sport, and that seems to be a really important thing here. Maybe I better leave…

"Um… no thanks. I think I have to go now. Maybe I'll see you guys some other time." Smiling awkwardly Lily excused herself, waving back when the boys dragged themselves out of their intense conversation to say goodbye.

Lily took her time getting back to her compartment, unaware of the conversation that took place once she had left the boy's compartment.

"You know, I think she might be a muggle." Remus said thoughtfully.

"Who? Lily?" Sirius asked in surprise.

"Yeah. She didn't seem to know what quidditch was. And I think everyone who's been brought up in the wizarding world has to know what quidditch is." Remus stated, more confident that he was right.

"Well, unless you're deaf, blind and a vegetable." James added in.

"Oh you mean like you, Jamesie?" Sirius said in an innocent voice.

James glared in Sirius's direction.

"The only reason I'm half-blind is because you," he jabbed his finger at the smirking Sirius, "stole my glasses."

"Who me?" Sirius spread his hands, as if showing he didn't have the glasses.

Rolling his eyes, James ignored him and said to Remus,

"Maybe she just didn't talk because she didn't like quidditch."

"No," Remus reflected "She seemed a bit shy but I think she really had no idea what quidditch was."

"Shy?" Sirius added doubtfully, "after playing that prank? I don't think so." Smiling at the memory he grinned. "Actually I quite liked her. That was a good prank she played. Not up to our standards but still, not bad for an amateur."

"Ooh, spent a bit of time looking for that word in the dictionary didn't you?" James teased Sirius, laughing at his insulted expression. Remus rolled his eyes, keeping both eyes on his two friends to make sure that not too much damage was done.

Not too far off in the horizon, Hogwarts towered silently, waiting for this year's new arrivals with anticipation. In just a short amount of time, its halls would once more be filled with conversation, laughter, quarrels and tears, but most importantly, of life.