Chapter Two

The smell of train exhaust and fresh night air greeted me as I stepped off the train. Lily joined me and Stacy said goodbye to us and rushed over to a group of Ravenclaw boys that she wanted to flirt with.

"Well I suppose we should go find a carriage before all the good ones are taken," Lily said and we walked by a group of Slytherin Seventh years that whistled and cat called at us.

Suddenly there was a loud bang and a haze of grey smoke filled all around us. After a few seconds it cleared and revealed James Potter pointing his wand at the group of Slytherin boys that were pulling themselves off the ground and looking confused.

"Apologize to them," James yelled and I realized that he had attacked the boys for calling at us.

"Potter what the hell are you doing," Lily yelled walking over to him. But James threw her out of the way just as one of the Slytherin boys shot a spell that hit James in the chest and sent him back a few feet.

Now a crowd started to form around us and I rushed over to Sirius just as he broke through to defend his friend.

"Don't get involved Black," I said pushing him back. But he was stronger then me and was able to push me aside to join in the fight.

"Damn him," Lily said climbing to her feet and blowing on an open wound on her palm. "I cut it on a rock."

Now Remus and Peter had jumped in on the fight and spells were flying left and right. The suddenly everyone ditched their wands and began punching and kicking each other. I took Lily's cut hand in mine and made sure she didn't get any dirt or pebbles in it.

"That's it I can't watch this anymore," she said in disgusted and pulled out her wand and shot it at James and a Slytherin boy who were battling it out. The both froze and so did everyone else to see what happened.

Lily walked over to James and unfroze him. "Grow up Potter," she said angrily before walking away.

"Lily, wait," he said getting to his feet and rushing after her. I followed and Sirius joined me as we headed to the horseless carriages.

"You never think do you Potter," Lily said furiously as she followed him into the carriage. "I'm not your girlfriend. If guys wanna look at me or talk to me or even whistle at me they can. And they will do it without getting attacked by you."

"Evans how can you be mad at me. I attacked those guys because they disrespected you and your friend."

"DO YOU SEE SIRIUS ATTACKING THEM BECAUSE THEY WHISTLED AT RILEY TOO," Lily screamed.

"Well I did attack…" but Sirius received a 'shut up Black' from both Lily and Potter. So he sat back in his seat next to me and folded his arm angrily.

The rest of the ride up to the school was spent listening to Lily and James battling. Sirius and I have put up with that for six years now so it's nothing new to us.

"And why do you have to jinx Snape to huh?" Lily asked following us out of the carriage outside the school. "What did he ever do to you?"

"He didn't do anything, it's just fun," Sirius said and received a smack from Lily. Sirius grabbed her by the wrist and twisted until she cried out in pain.

"I'm not James, Lily. Don't think you can slap me and get away with it." Sirius glared at Lily as she tried to wiggle free.

"Ouch…Black…ouch let me go." Tears filled Lily's eyes and I tried to remove Sirius' grip but he was too strong and told me to back away.

"Let her go Black," James said in an angry tone that I have never heard him use with his friend.

"That's right, take her side. She'll never like you anyway," Sirius said but he let go and headed into the castle but he was greeted by Professor McGonagall.

"Potter and Black, follow me you two." She squeezed her lips together until they turned white. "Never in all my years here have I ever heard of a fight happening before the term begins. Twenty point from Gryffindor from both of you and a weeks worth of detention."

"C'mon Lily," I said following them into the main hall. "I'll go with you to the hospital wing."

"No it stopped bleeding and I'm starving. Besides Madam Pomfrey will be in the Great Hall." I shrugged and followed Lily into the Great Hall and we took a seat at the Gryffindor table. Stacy joined us shortly after looking very happy with herself.

"Chris Terry and I are now official," she said very giddily. "What happened to James and Sirius?"

"They are with McGonagall getting detention," I said before Lily could go off on a tangent about them. "Oh yeah and we are down forty points."

"Great, well at least we know Lily will get them all back for us tomorrow when classes begin," Stacy said with only half her attention with us and the other half gazing at her newest boyfriend. I wonder how long this one will last.

The Great Hall quieted down and the old ratty Sorting Hat did its song and sorted all the first years into the four houses before Dumbledore made a little speech and the food was served.

I took a drumstick and some potatoes just to keep everyone off my back. James and Sirius also reappeared around this time looking pretty angry and not speaking to each other. Sirius took the empty seat next to me and James sat further down next to some seventh years.

"What's the damage?" I asked sipping my pumpkin juice and picking at my chicken.

"Well we would have only had a weeks worth of detention but Potter couldn't keep his mouth shut so now we both have a month. God I hate how he always puts me second to Lily."

"Well maybe you just need a girlfriend to put before him," I suggested and Sirius looked at me in a weird way that made me blush. "I was kidding."

"Yeah…uh…I knew that."

Finally Dumbledore stood up and said a few words that no one could understand and we were all dismissed to go to our warm beds. I followed the group of Gryffindors up to the portrait of the fat lady and we all climbed through the portrait hole.

The Gryffindor common room was warm and welcoming. The Gryffindor common room was full of squashy arm chairs and unsteady tables. A large fireplace cuddled a warm and welcoming fire. It was amazing how much I felt safe in Hogwarts and it was a feeling I had not had all summer.

"You ok Riles?" Sirius ask coming up behind me and massaging my shoulders.

"Yeah why?" I asked a little surprised.

"Well let's see," Sirius said leading me to one of the couches and pushing me down on it. "You stop in the middle of the common room, randomly I might add, and stare into the fire like there's a pot of gold ready for the taking."

"I was just thinking. I'm just glad to be back. I finally feel like I'm safe." Sirius took a seat on the coffee table across from me and rested his hands on his knees.

"Well I'm glad. Listen Riles I've only been around you for a few hours and I can see how different you are. I want you to be happy again. I want my spunky Riles back," Sirius joked and I nodded and forced a smile.

If only he knew how unhappy and different I was. If only he knew what was waiting to explode inside me. If only they all knew.