Alice wished she could just go with her father directly to the school. Skipping the train ride would be much better. She had dragged her feet all the way to the train station. She had told her mother she could get there on her own this year. She was one of the first students to get to the train she loaded her stuff into a compartment somewhere in the middle and sat down opened up a book she'd been reading all summer. It wasn't too much longer till the platform was bustling with people. Parents dropping off first years. Second years shouting to their friends. Students boarding the train several at a time.

Alice was no longer able to concentrate on her book and closed it to watch the platform. As if her eye was drawn by him at once she found James, laughing with his siblings as he followed their mother along the platform to meet their cousins. He was handsome and since their meeting yesterday he was all that Alice could think about. There was no way he would ever notice her again. She had chalked him helping her at the store to a fluke. She also theorized that he'd only helped in case someone was watching him.

Alice watched as they got closer to the train and James looked up and their eye's connected. Alice looked way quickly. She didn't need any distractions. NEWTS would be hard enough as it is. She ducked low and hoped that he wouldn't get any ideas. Or maybe she was imagining things. Whatever the case she was going to lie low for now.

It wasn't much longer before the final whistle blew and the stragglers began to jump on the train, and it started to move. Alice wondered if Kaylee would be able to find her. After it seemed like the train passengers had settled into their seats and compartments Alice relaxed. She preferred to be with only Kaylee or not bothered by others. Kaylee should have found her by now. The was a knock on the door and it slid open. To reveal James Potter. "Hi," he said. "May I join you, everywhere else is full, and Fred is making out with his new girlfriend already."

He's got a girlfriend already?" Alice said surprised last she heard Fred had decided to stay single for the rest of his life.

"Yeah… he lasted all summer and then he met this girl literally five minutes ago she said she was looking for her friend. I have no idea how things escalated so quickly." James chuckled.

"Oh, well in that case sure," Alice said stammering just a little. She looked away from his face and out the window trying to hide her embarrassment.

"Thanks," he said as he sat across from Alice. "Forgive me, but I can't seem to recall your name." James said. "I'm James, which I sure you knew since you knew who Fred was."

"Er… Alice," She said quietly.

"Oh, you're Professor Longbottom's daughter!" James said, "I see it now!" He got excited and then calmed down quickly. "I'm sorry… I should have known."

"It's okay," Alice said. "I'm not exactly popular or whatever."

"That's crazy because everyone loves your dad," James said.

"Yeah, and I'm in Hufflepuff not Gryffindor so not many people associate us together." Which is totally true. Alice could swear that there are people in her house that don't even realize that he's her dad.

"Good point, but I still feel like a complete wanker." James said.

"It's really ok because I kind of like being anonymous sometimes," Alice shrugged.

"That does sound nice," James said a tinge of jealousy in his voice. If James was being totally honest, he'd love to have a day where he was totally anonymous. Not that he hated the attention of that being in the public's eye was totally bad, he just wished that he could just for once not be what everyone thought he was. The player the debonair rich kid. Or whatever. He just wanted to be James who liked to play quidditch and who liked people who were real. As he glanced back at Alice, he began to think that she was the one. When he'd first seen her, he was going to be what people thought of him. Alice was to be another conquest… Now he wanted her and only her. Suddenly he felt nervous, his palms were sweaty and there were butterflies in his stomach. "So… other than Potions what other N.E.W.T classes are you taking?" James asked. He thought the best thing for him to do would be to take things real slow and really get to know Alice on a mor personal level.

"Herbology, Charms, Transfiguration, and Care of Magical Creatures," Alice said. "I er… want to be a healer. What about you, James?" She asked.

"Potions, Defense, Transfiguration and Charms," James told her. "I think I might follow in my dad's steps but the call of quidditch professional is very strong. So, I'm kind of stuck between two ideas."

"What ever you decide, I'm sure you'll be great at," Alice said reassuringly. James grinned making Alice blush again. "I wonder what Kaylee has gotten up to. This train isn't that big."

"Kaylee?" James asked as he started laughing "Tall thin dark skinned with long brown hair?"

"Yeah, you didn't see her, did you?" Alice asked.

"You aren't going to believe this," James said through his hearty laughter. "She's the one Fred was snogging."

"Figures," Alice sighed. "It makes sense though." Alice looked toward the door. As a few students passed by. "She and Fred are pretty much perfect for each other if the rumors are to be believed."

"The Fred I know is a bit of a charmer, but really sweet."

"Kaylee, is a flirt with a heart of gold." Alice chuckled. "So perfect for each other."

"What about you?" James asked as the butterflies did back flips in his stomach. He liked her laugh and the way her eyes lit up when she smiled. "Who is your perfect guy?"

"I don't know." Alice said shrugging. "Truth be told I'm, er… I'm not… I'm… I er I'm focused on getting through me NEWTS." James' heart sank. He should have known that she wasn't interested in him. "I just don't want to be distracted by drama right now." It made sense to James but it's kind of hurt a little. "You alright James?" Alice asked she saw him frown momentarily.

"I'm fine," James said trying to sound normal. "I get where your coming from OWLs were hard enough, and now we've got all our career goals hanging on these last couple of years." James did understand. He should have been as focused on his careers as Alice. He admired her because of it.

An hour or so later the lunch trolly was coming through. "Anything off the trolly dears?" she asked as James opened the door to get a pastie and some chocolate frogs.

"Would you like anything Alice?" James asked.

"I'll have a pumpkin Pastie," Alice said reaching into her bag to for 2 sickles it would cost.

"I've got it," James said handing the trolly Witch the money for the snacks.

"Thank you," Alice said blushing. "But you didn't have to."

"You're welcome, it's the least I could do since my cousin has detained your best friend this whole time." James said handing her the pumpkin pastie.