Chapter 5
"Mum, I have to go!" Lily sighed impatiently, looking anxiously over at the clock that hung at Kings Cross Station.
"I know dear, I'm just going to miss you," Mrs. Evans said sadly. "Write often."
"I will mum, I promise. I love you."
"Love you too, Lily dear." With one last wave, Lily sprinted off toward the barrier, flew through it, and as she was running toward the train, her belongings scattered every which way.
"Ah bloody hell," She cursed, and started running around after her things, trying to ignore the piercing whistle warning her the train was leaving momentarily.
"Need some help?" a voice asked her from the steps of the Express, and she whirled around. James Potter was standing there very relaxed, leaning against the railing.
"Yes please," she sighed reluctantly, and James grinned, jumped off the train and began to help her.
"Y'know, you could just do this," James said.
"What?" Lily snapped, grabbing a pair of earrings off a newspaper that was lying on the station floor.
"Accio!" James said firmly, pointing his wand at a pair of jeans.
"Why didn't I think of that?" Lily cried, and whipped out her wand. "Accio! Accio! ACCIO!"
"Lily, the trains starting to move."
"Dammit! Accio! Accio! Accio!" Lily cried hurriedly, stuffing her things back into her trunk, and sprinted toward the moving train. To her relief, James jumped on first and helped her on, though she would never tell him she was happy he did. The two of them collapsed onto the floor and began laughing uncontrollably.
"Why I've never tried to catch a moving train before, I don't know," James hiccuped, and got up onto his feet.
"That was fun, let's do it again!" Lily grinned breathlessly, forgetting all about her supposed hatred for James and let him help her up.
"I would, but a) we probably wouldn't catch it this time and b) we have a prefect meeting to run."
"Bloody head duties," Lily pouted jokingly, following James into the Heads compartment.
"Ah they're not that bad, seeing as we get our own rooms and common room and everything!" James grinned excitedly, sitting down across from Lily.
"You're kidding! I've never had my own room in my life. Who told you?"
"Gideon, seeing as Fabian was head boy and all last year. You've never had your own room?"
"Nope, I've always had to share with my older sister, Petunia."
"Do you get along?"
"Not at all. We were close when we were younger, but then after I got my Hogwarts letter, she got so unbelievably jealous she's hated me from that moment on."
"That's terrible!" James frowned.
"What about you? Do you have any siblings?"
"Nope, not one. I wish I did though, I've always wanted a little sister."
"Why a sister? They really arent all that much fun," Lily said, wrinkling her nose a bit and James laughed.
"Oh I dunno…just someone I could be all overprotective of. I can't be of Meghan cause she'd have my head for dinner, and I don't know Rose all that well, and you've always hated me…oh. Whoops."
"Er…this isn't awkward."
"Look Lily, I know I've been a jerk these past years, and I've finally gotten it through my head that you can't stand me, so since we're gonna be working together this year, I thought maybe I could turn over a new leaf so that we're not always arguing and having screaming matches."
"That would be nice. I'd get laryngitis a hell of a lot less."
"I'm sorry I've been so intolerable."
"I suppose I can forgive you…but you really embarrassed me when you asked me out all those times when everyone knew you didn't like me. It hurt a lot."
"I know, and I'm sorry. I wish there was someway to take it all back but there's not. I was stupid and naïve, and being a bastard to you was probably one of the stupidest things I have ever done."
"That's really nice, Po-James," Lily smiled. "I suppose we can turn over a new leaf (I sound like my mom) this year."
"Great!" James said excitedly.
"What's great?" Remus asked curiously, walking into the room with Marlene, who replaced Lily as 7th year Gryffindor prefect, and Frank and Alice who were 6th year prefects for Gryffindor.
"Just ideas for the year," Lily said, not wanting a big fuss over her and James' possible healthier relationship.
"Ah, planning already. Another sign that points to 'Gryffindors have no lives,'" someone sneered from the doorway, and James cracked his knuckles as Severus Snape, Narcissa Black, Rodolphus Lestrange, Bellatrix Black, Regulus Black and Rita Skeeter entered the room.
"Yeah cause you guys have huge ones, worshiping a murderous insane freak," Gideon Prewett smirked from the doorway, as he entered with the rest of the Ravenclaw prefects and the 5th year Gryffindor prefects. "Where's all the Hufflepuffs?"
"We're here!" Ashley Abbot said from the doorway, and she plus 5 other Hufflepuffs entered the room. "So is everyone here?"
"Yup I think so. But some are welcome to leave if they like," Frank scowled, glaring daggers at the Slytherin bunch. Before they could say anything, Lily cut in.
"So as you know, James and I are the new heads-
"Woah James? Did Dumbledore get pissed drunk or something?" Frank laughed.
"Ha, ha very funny," James said sarcastically.
"Since when have you called James…James?" Ashley asked Lily curiously, and Lily shrugged.
"Since we started working together. Now lets get this meeting over with so we can all get back to an enjoyable ride."
"Who says enjoyable anymore?" Rodolphus snorted.
"Me, and if you've got a problem with that, I'll gladly sort it out," Lily said darkly, glaring harshly at Rodolphus. He cowered a bit under her stare, and then turned to Bellatrix so he wouldn't have to look at Lily any longer. "Now pretty much the only things we need to let you know in this meeting are passwords and patrol hours. Our first real meeting will be on September 3d. These meetings will be weekly, every Wednesday at 7:00 PM to be exact, so make sure not to schedule Quidditch rehearsals at those times."
"Now, passwords," James said, taking over for Lily. "They're just incantations I hope you've learned over the years, so they should be fairly easy to remember. Gryffindor is Expecto Patronum, Hufflepuff is Wingardium Leviosa, Ravenclaw is Aguamenti, and Slytherin is Scourgify. I'm handing out patrol schedules, and if you have a problem conflicting with those times, you can swap with someone else," James instructed, and as he handed a schedule to Remus he whispered, "I made them up, and don't worry, all your times are no where near the full moon."
"I knew there was a reason why I've staid your friend all these years," Remus grinned.
"For the train ride, each set of prefects and me and Lily will patrol for an hour each. Gryffindor 5th years, you're patrolling starting now. Then Hufflepuff 5th years, then Ravenclaw 5th years, then Slytherin 5th years. Then the same order of houses but for 6th years, then 7th years, then Lily and me. Any questions?" Everyone shook their heads no, and everyone started filtering out of the room.
"Guys, we're sitting in the normal compartment in the back. Let's go," Remus urged, not wanting to miss the food trolley.
"Don't worry, Sirius will buy enough to feed an army of giants and still have some left over," James laughed.
"Yeah I know, but he'll eat it all!" Remus whined, and started walking faster toward the compartment.
"You're here!" Sirius squeaked after the 3 had walked in.
"What the hell happened to your voice?" James asked, amused, taking a seat next to Meghan.
"Rose got pissed off again," Meghan grinned.
"You told her the spell!" Sirius squeaked again, but this time to Meghan. "I don't know the counter curse!"
"Sirius, mate. James made up that spell," Remus laughed. "Ask him."
"James?" Sirius asked weakly, looking up at him hopefully. Sighing, James took out his wand and muttered the counter curse. "I LOVE YOU PRONGS!" Sirius shouted in his normal voice, and threw his arms around his best friend.
"Okay mate, let go of me," James grimaced, and Sirius lowered his arms sheepishly.
"What'd he do this time?" Lily asked Meghan and Rose curiously.
"He was talking," Meghan laughed.
"Yeah, crap about Gideon," Rose frowned. "And by the way, he's not a pig headed man whore. I didn't contradict you on that one," she added, looking daggers at Sirius, who just shrugged.
"Er, Rose, yeah he is," Remus said sensibly.
"Remus, you're my brother, I can do so much more than make you talk like a mouse."
"Okay, shutting up now," Remus grinned, and Rose smirked.
"Hey Rose, what have I told you about smirking?" James asked slyly.
"That I look like-oh," she frowned, and instantly stopped smirking. "I'm going to find Gideon. I'll be back later." Rose disappeared into the hallway, leaving the rest of the group alone.
"So, how were the rest of your breaks?" Meghan asked Lily and Remus.
"Terrible. Petunia got engaged, and all she did was tell me brag about her wedding plans," Lily scowled.
"It's not Vernon is it?" Meghan asked hopefully.
"Unfortunately, it is. I don't see why she brags about him, he's not good at anything. Except boring me to death."
"I am so sorry," Meghan said sympathetically. "When's the wedding?"
"April, so I have to go home for Easter break whether I want to or not."
"She wants you at the wedding?" Meghan asked, surprised.
"Oh gee, you're real nice," Lily said sarcastically and Meghan laughed.
"I didn't mean it like that."
"No, she doesn't want me there, but mum is making her make me a bridesmaid."
"Let me guess, she's making the dresses pink," Meghan smirked.
"How did you know?" Lily asked with fake amazement. "God I hate her."
"I can see why," Remus frowned. "She sounds like a bitch."
"She is!" Meghan and Lily said at the same time.
"Now do you want a sister?" Lily asked James.
"I said I wanted a little sister, not an older sister," he pointed out.
"True, true."
"Wait, you guys were talking?" Sirius gaped.
"Er…yes."
"Like civilized people?" he made sure.
"Er…yes?"
"Holy mother, I can't believe it!" he cried. "The day has finally come where there won't be any fighting in the halls, no screaming in the common room, no angry notes in class. My life is completely normal!"
"You're forgetting the Slytherins still exist," Meghan laughed, and Sirius pouted.
"Ruin my happy moment, thanks Meghan. Fun sucker."
"I love you too, Sirius."
"Awww really? We can prove it, you know," he winked, and Meghan looked at him, a little disgusted.
"Alright, how bout tonight?" she asked seductively, and Sirius' mouth dropped open. "We can meet in your dorm, and then I can kick your ass!" she grinned, and Sirius spirits collapsed.
"Sure, get my hopes up," he sulked. "You really are a fun sucker, you know."
"Actually I thought kicking your ass sounded fun," Meghan said thoughtfully.
"Yeah it really does," Lily agreed.
"Those in favor of kicking Sirius' ass say aye," James said. "Aye."
"Aye!" Remus grinned.
"Aye," Meghan and Lily said together.
"Aye," Sirius said, and then paused. "Wait, what are we voting on?" No one answered him due to the fact they were all laughing too hard. "You all suck," he pouted. "I'm going to go cry in the loo."
"Very manly, Pads," Remus managed to choke out. Sirius just stuck out his tongue at him, and left the room.
"What are we going to do with him?" Lily sighed exasperatedly.
"I have no idea," Meghan laughed.
"Hello everyone!" Dumbledore smiled from the staff table. "Welcome to our first years, and welcome back to everyone else! I hope you all had an enjoyable train ride-
"Ha, see, Dumbledore says enjoyable," Lily whispered to James and Remus, who grinned.
"-And didn't get yourselves into too much trouble," he said, his blue eyes twinkling over in Sirius and James' direction. "I don't want to take up too much of your time because I am sure you are all just as hungry as I am-
"More," James, Sirius and Meghan all said at once.
"-So I will make these announcements quick. First of all, I would like to welcome Professor Howitt, our new Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor." A tall, bald man with a dark red beard stood up, and smiled warmly at the students. "I trust you will all treat him well, as this is also his first year of teaching. Secondly, the Forbidden Forrest is strictly forbidden, hence the title. No one should go in there unless given permission, which isn't granted often."
"Yeah just once a month," Remus whispered to Sirius and James.
"Thirdly, Hogsmeade is off limits to anyone below 3d year or without a parent or guardian signature. And lastly, our new Head Boy and Girl are James Potter and Lily Evans. If you have any questions, or simply don't want to be put in detention, the information is out there. So, dig in!"
"YES!" Sirius, James and Meghan cried happily, and instantly began piling mounds of food onto their plates.
"How they do it, I will never know," Remus sighed, shaking his head.
"Yeah cause you're so much better," Rose said sarcastically, looking down at his already filled plate which he was still adding to."
"Oh be quiet," Remus said, sticking his tongue out.
"See, why can't I have a sibling I can have fun with?" Lily whined, and Rose and Remus laughed.
"We don't have fun, Lily. Our relationship is strictly serious."
"Someone said my name?"
"We weren't talking about you, Sirius," Remus sighed.
"Hey guys, you'll never guess who Peter is sitting with," James said through a mouthful of mashed potatoes.
"Who?"
"The Slytherins."
"WHAT?"
"Yeah, look!" Lily said disbelievingly, looking over at the Slytherin table. Sure enough Peter was sitting inbetween Bellatrix and Severus Snape.
"Why that little rat," Sirius scowled. "I bet he was friends with them all along!"
"Why would you think that?" Rose asked curiously, looking over at the frightened looking boy. "He probably just got mislead and frightened. Maybe you should welcome him back into the Marauders," she suggested, her heart going out for the poor boy.
"He tried to kill you," Meghan pointed out.
"You say it so harshly…he merely tried to hold me underwater for a bit so that he wouldn't have to be jealous of me and Gideon any longer."
"You're too nice," Lily frowned. "You were bitching at him, Rose. You usually don't do that."
"No, not to Peter. Everyone else, yes. I've always felt bad for him though."
"Why's that?" James asked.
"Because in the Marauders, there's you three, James, Sirius and Remus, and then Peter. You three are all smart, brave, funny, laid back, outgoing, tall, fit, athletic…then there's Peter."
"I see what she means," Lily agreed.
"Yeah Peter was always being outshined by you guys. He probably felt like he could never be good enough," Meghan added.
"Huh. I never thought about it that way," James frowned. "Damn I feel bad, now. Do you think we should talk to him?"
"Not if he's befriending the Slytherins. Look at him!" Sirius scowled, looking over at the Slytherin table again where Peter was sitting, looking terrified.
"It couldn't hurt," Lily said. "I bet he'd be more than thrilled."
"Are you sure?" Remus asked.
"99," Lily smiled.
"Fine. We'll talk to him tonight," Sirius relented.
"Are you sure you're okay with this, Rose?" James asked her.
"Yeah why wouldn't I be?" she shrugged, taking a bite out of her pork chop.
"You'd think if someone tried to kill you you'd remember." Sirius said
"Seriously, y'all have to get over that. I don't care anymore. So he was a little angry, so what? It's not like he'd do it again. And maybe if you actually stuck up for him once in a while and didn't completely ignore him most days, he'd actually become a better person because he'd have true friends."
"This is like the cheesiest conversation I've had in my life," Meghan laughed.
"I'm sure it's happier than other conversations you've had," James grinned, and Meghan grinned back, remembering the 'burning or drowning' conversation.
"Y'all? Why don't you go back to the states," Sirius smirked at Rose, who glared at him.
"I can say whatever the hell I want."
"Oooh touchy, are we," Sirius smirked. "Calm down, Red. I'm just playing with you."
"Why me?" Rose asked no one in particular, and buried her head in her arms.
"Because for some odd reason you hate me and I'd like to know how."
"Hey guys, Great Hall is clearing up. We should probably go," Meghan said.
"Alright. Hey James, what about our room?"
"You have your own room? Man you really are starting a better relationship," Sirius laughed, avoiding punches from both James and Lily.
"It's not ready yet. It'll be ready on Wednesday."
"Okay then. Thank god, I don't know what I'm going to do without our late night conversations," Lily said to Meghan and Rose, who nodded.
"Well we can still have them tonight and tomorrow!" Meghan said cheerfully. "C'mon lets go, I have to tell you something."
"Girls and their gossip," James sighed, shaking his head. "C'mon, we should probably go talk to Peter."
"I guess so," Remus said reluctantly. "Crap I gotta lead the first years. I'll meet you guys upstairs. Hey James, what about patrolling?"
"Patrolling doesn't start till tomorrow. I'm free!"
"Alright. See you guys in a minute." James and Sirius waved, and headed toward the Gryffindor common room.
"So what exactly are we going to say to Pete?" James asked.
"Probably something along the lines of…Rose forgives you so we thought we should too. I'm sorry we were such bastards when you tried to kill a girl over a guy?"
"No, too harsh. Knowing Peter, he'll probably start apologizing first anyway, and if he doesn't we'll improvise."
"Great plan. That's what we do when it comes to pranks. I still don't know if we should do this, though. What if he tries it again?"
"I doubt he will. He'll have to sit with the Slytherins again," James laughed. "You know he's afraid of them. Plus, we kinda have to. He knows all about Remus and he can tell everyone we're animagi."
"Keep it down," Rose hissed from behind them, and they jumped. "People can hear you."
"What are you doing on the guys staircase?" James asked curiously.
"I was hoping for a lucky night," she said sarcastically, and Sirius opened his arms wide.
"I am open for business."
"I'm closed," she scowled. "I need my stuff-some of it is in Remus' trunk."
"You couldn't fit it all in your own?" Sirius snorted.
"No, cause I'm not going back. I had to take everything I need from my room for after school as well."
"Is Remus?"
"Yes."
"Why arent you?" Sirius asked.
"I'm just not," Rose said vaguely, walking over to Remus' trunk and pulling out a few items.
"Hey all," Meghan grinned. "Rose, Lily needs to tell us a story. But I need my pajamas. James, where's your trunk?"
"Right here," James sighed. "What is it with everyone packing their stuff in our trunks?" he asked Sirius.
"No one packed anything in mine," Sirius said happily.
"Actually, all my thongs are in your trunk," Meghan said seriously, and Sirius looked at her in surprise.
"You can't have it back!" Sirius cried, throwing his arms protectively around his trunk.
"Get your own women's underwear." Meghan laughed. "And I was just kidding. I don't have anything in your trunk."
"I knew that. And for your information, I have a whole drawer full," he bragged.
"Yeah cause that's something to be proud of," Rose said, rolling her eyes. "I'm going back-goodnight, boys."
"Night Rose!"
"You can just sleep here, Red."
"Sirius! My sister!" Remus sighed exasperatedly, coming into the room.
"Dude, I forgot."
"You have huge issues," Rose said, shaking her head. "Night Remus."
"G'night." Rose left the room, leaving Meghan alone with the Marauders.
"Well good luck with Peter," she said. "I should be going too."
"No stay! I'm nothing without you!" James cried dramatically, throwing his arms around her legs.
"Awww…Get over it!" Meghan laughed, shaking James off.
"You're nice," James pouted.
"Damn, you're turning into Sirius," Meghan said, wrinkling her nose, and Sirius looked indignant.
"Hey!"
"What? You both pout like 4 year olds now!"
"She's right, you know," Remus nodded.
"Well I'm gonna go and see what Lily has to tell me and Rose."
"Make sure you tell us!" Sirius said, waving goodbye.
"I won't!" Meghan said cheerfully. "Night everyone."
"G'night!" Meghan left the room, leaving the Marauders to wait impatiently for Peter.
"Where is he?" Sirius grumbled.
"Oh…you're still awake," Peter said weakly, coming into the room.
"Mhm, we are," James said.
"I'm sorry," Peter apologized again.
"Look Pete, Rose has forgiven you so we decided we really should too, seeing as we weren't even the ones you tried to kill," Sirius said.
"Alright Padfoot, let me and Remus do the talking," James said, shoving Sirius out of the way. "Sorry bout him, you know he doesn't know how to do anything." Peter let out a small laugh. "But when we saw you with the Slytherins, we felt so terrible, and the girls made us realize how horrible we've been to you and well…I forgive you."
"I do too," Remus said.
"You have my bow," Sirius said in a very elfish manner, and everyone looked at him strangely. "What? The moment reminded me of Lord of the Rings! Okay, I forgive you too. You three are no fun at all," he pouted.
"So you really forgive me?" Peter asked hopefully.
"Really."
"I don't know what possessed me to do that, anyway. I've always liked her…just seeing them snogging made me so angry…"
"I understand, Pete," Sirius said sympathetically, and everyone looked at him and surprise.
"You do, do you?" Remus asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Huh? Understand what? I'm sleepy. What class do we have first tomorrow? Why can't pigs fly? Who created the boogyman?"
"Sirius, what the hell?" James laughed. "Just tell us if you like Rose."
"I don't, I don't, I don't, I don't!"
"Sure, Padfoot," Peter said skeptically. "But also…Snape and Malfoy made me do it."
"Malfoy?"
"Yeah, the blonde kid that graduated three years ago? He's good friends with Snape, and Snape lives in the same neighborhood as me, and well, they told me that if I didn't do it then they'd get Voldemort to torture my parents."
"What?" James asked, his eyes wide.
"Yeah. I don't see why they want her dead, I mean, she's so nice! But they were saying they wanted all of you dead and Meghan and Lily too."
"Why?" Remus asked.
"I know it's not just because you're Gryffindors, it's something bigger," Peter said. "They wouldn't tell me exactly but I overheard them."
"Damn, Pete. I'm so sorry about all this," Sirius said.
"It's alright. I tried to commit murder, that's not something I'm exactly proud of. My stupid scaredy cat got in the way."
"Don't worry about it Pete, we forgive you. And so do the girls. So, once again you are Mr. Wormtail."
"Thanks guys. I never thought you'd forgive me."
"I'm glad we did. And we need to keep tabs on Snape. I want to find out what they're up to," Remus frowned.
"We should get to sleep," James suggested. "See you all in the morning."
"Night Prongs."
"So what's this story you have to tell us?" Rose asked curiously.
"Well it's about James."
"Oh this is getting good already," Meghan grinned.
"Well he's just being so sweet…it's weird. Like he helped me onto the train, and he said that being a bastard to me was one of the stupidest mistakes of his life, and I don't know if he's just doing all this cause we're working together or if he actually wants to be my friend."
"I think he wants to be friends," Meghan said. "If it was just working you guys would be a lot less friendlier. I'm surprised you forgave him this quickly."
"Well I haven't all together, but I'm seeing how being nice turns out. Plus he was being so nice about it, I couldn't very well say no I still hate you."
"So you still hate him?" Rose asked, confused.
"No…yes…I don't know! He's just changed."
"He really has. I didn't see a slutty girl with him all summer." Meghan said.
"No way!" Lily said, amazed.
"Yes way."
"Wow he really has changed."
"Told you."
"Look guys, hate to cut this conversation short, but it's 1:00," Rose pointed out.
"It is? How'd that happen?" Meghan asked.
"The clocks broken," Lily laughed. "But we really should get to bed, we don't want to be miserable our first day."
"True enough. Night everyone," Meghan yawned.
"G'night."
hope you liked it and please review?