Author's Note: Hey guys, second chapter pretty soon just because I had it done and I wanted it up before I left for Australia! Thaaaaat's right, I am going off to Australia! And New Zealand! I am super excited. Anyway, I didn't want everyone waiting a ton more time so that's why its pretty early. BUT... don't expect the other chapters to come this quickly though because they won't. (:
Disclaimer: J.K. owns all except my plot.
"Hey, Evans!"
Lily groaned inwardly and plowed on through the bustling people crowded around the train. She looked around at the students boarding their ride and walked towards them.
"Evans!"
Lily sighed. James Potter pushed his way through the crowd towards her. He was smiling apologetically and looked a tad scared of her as she rolled her eyes.
"What do you want, Potter?"
He looked surprised. "Er, well, you know how I, uh…"
"Killed every single fish that I had?" Lily offered tiredly as she boarded the train with her trunk.
"Yeah," James said quickly, stepping on after her. "And I'm really sorry. They were accidents, honest. Melvin had rotten luck."
Lily nodded because as much as she hated to admit it, she knew they were all accidents. It was commonly known of the Guppy fiasco and of all the fish after him.
Melvin, Lily's second fish was sent from her mother not more than three days after Lily arrived at school. He was a nice, small gold fish, though Lily was never sure if he lived long enough to see his owner.
--
The circular glass bowl had sat expectantly on the long Gryffindor table in the Great Hall, an orange ribbon tied around it, ending at a bow, matching the color of the fish inside it. James Potter walked in tiredly, his eyes half closed as he dragged his feet into the dim hall.
He sighed in annoyance. Just his luck; he woke up way too early and there was no food at the table. Crack! A house elf stood next to James, startling him thoroughly. The house elf peered at James curiously before vanishing, and the area in front of him appeared with food. He smiled slightly and reached for a pancake.
"No!" James breathed, watching wide-eyed as his arm hit the glass bowl he hadn't noticed due to his extreme fatigue. Water sloshed in the bowl and a bit trickled down the sides, but not much damage was done. He paled visibly, but thought, 'Thank Merlin' to himself.
He stared at the fish curiously. He read the note attached that read, "To Lily, Love Mum" in a small, loopy script. Suddenly, Sirius came sprinting into the hall smiling broadly as he planted his bottom on the seat next to James.
"I found out how to get to the kitchens!" he said excitedly.
"Wow," James said marveling and not caring to ask why Sirius was up before anybody else. "How'd you find the kitchens?"
"Easy," Sirius said nonchalantly, "I just asked Peeves."
It was apparent that Sirius was finding it very satisfying that James looked at him with blank eyes. He grinned and turned his head, waiting for James to ask.
"Peeves?" James asked curiously, absentmindedly grabbing for the syrup. "Who's Peeves?"
"Not a worry, mate," Sirius reassured him. "Peeves is on our side."
James began to pour syrup onto the tall stack of pancakes. He grinned at this.
"So Peeves is some guy looking for trouble?" James asked, pleased.
"Naturally," Sirius said smoothly, wiping his mouth on his sleeve. His face fell and he pointed to James arm. "Er, mate…"
James turned to look at what Sirius was pointing at.
"Oh bloody—" James yelled angrily in the empty hall. Sirius clapped a hand onto James mouth, and gasped.
"That's not that girl's—"
"Yes," James said miserably.
The fish bowl was now half full of maple syrup and the bright orange fish was lying in the midst of the contrasting liquids.
--
"Yes, well, I guess it's good I never met him," Lily said briskly, "But let's not forget Yelly, Melly, and Shelly."
James winced. "They came all together! Don't say them separately…"
Lily's mind wandered back to the memory and sighed ruefully.
--
James had been chasing her through one of the corridors up to the Astronomy Tower, Lily holding in her hand a small tank filled with three multi-colored fishes.
"POTTER NO!" Lily cried. "They're new! You'll kill them!"
"I won't!" James yelled to her, panting as he tried desperately to catch up. "I just want to show you that I can take care of your fish!"
"No!" Lily screamed as she halted at the edge of the Astronomy Tower's balcony. She was trapped.
"Just," James breathed, groping wildly towards Lily. "Just let me feed them!"
"You'll give them too much!" Lily said, her eyes welling with tears.
"I won't!"
"You will!"
"I won't!"
"You will!"
"I won't!"
Lily screamed. James had stepped forward and tried to grab the tank, but instead bumped her in the side and the tank went flying. It was as if they were watching it in slow motion—the tank was airborne, hutling through the air, a curve of the bowl hit and glass shattered everywhere, but the rest of the tank had gone falling off the edge. There was a distinct thud below them.
They both stared in shock, and Lily rounded on James, tears streaming down her cheeks.
"FISH HATER!"
--
"Lost souls…" Lily murmured as they walked down the train, trunks in tow. "I had only gotten them the day before."
"Yeah," James said awkwardly. "I'm very, very sorry about that."
"It's alright, I guess," she said resignedly. "But poor Pierre-Louis Lefèvre…"
"That was Snape's fault!" James said indignantly.
"No, Pierre-Louis Lefèvre died because of you as well," she snarled, stepping into a compartment where Sirius, Remus, and Peter were sitting chatting loudly.
"Sirius," James said, looking towards the dark-haired boy who was lounging in the corner, making purple sparks with his wand. Sirius looked at James questioningly.
"Didn't Pierre-Louis Lefèvre die because of Snape?" James asked as Lily rolled her eyes, sitting next to Peter.
"Er, who?" Sirius asked confusedly. James widened his eyes at him, and jerked his head towards Lily and sucked in his cheeks.
"Oh, yeah," Sirius said awkwardly. "One of the fish."
"Yes, didn't the fish die because of Snape?" James asked impatiently again, urging him with subtle nods.
"Yeah," Sirius said, avoiding Lily's gaze, "Sure."
"See?" James proclaimed, turning to Lily. "It wasn't my fault!"
"Whatever, Potter," Lily said, sighing. "I have a new pet this year and it's not a fish and you can't kill him."
"Oh yeah?" James challenged for a reason he couldn't quite understand. It wasn't as if he wanted to kill Lily's pets.
"Yes," Lily said calmly, pulling out a book. "Berodachbaladan."
The group stared at her for a moment, and then comprehension dawned on Remus' face. "If I'm not mistaken, one of the ancient Babylonian kings?"
"Yes," Lily said simply. "My whole family (besides myself) is Christian, you know."
"So where is this Berlo… er, pet you have?" James asked curiously.
"Berodachbaladan is hidden," Lily said, turning the page of her book lightly.
"Why?" James asked, cautiously sitting next to Lily.
"Because of you."
James frowned. "Lily, it's not like I'm going to hurt your pet. What is it?"
"A cat."
"Let me see it!" James huffed in a childish way. "Honestly, what can I do to it that would kill it?"
"You never know," Lily said, but stood up anyway and reached for a small cage on top of the rack James hadn't noticed she had brought in.
"This gorgeous kitty," Lily introduced, "is Berodachbaladan." She opened the latch.
Out came a hissing brown, tabby cat, clawing furiously at the Marauders, and they all screamed, jumping up and running around the compartment. Outside, people peeked out their doors, staring at the compartment which was issuing screams and yells.
"STOP IT, YOU'RE SCARING HIM!" Lily shrieked.
"IT'S EATING ME!" Sirius wailed, shaking his arm as the cat sunk his teeth into his creamy flesh.
The cat aimed for Remus who was standing on the seat, staring at the cat. The cat pulled out his claws viciously.
"AHH!" Remus yelled uncharacteristically, flailing his arms in circles as the cat threw itself at him clawing madly.
There was pounding on the door and the brisk voice of Professor McGonagall. "What is going on in there?" her muffled voice came from outside the door. This demand, however, went unnoticed as James yelped as the cat pounced on him.
"IT HAS RABIES!" James shouted, and swung his leg back and kicked the cat swiftly. It meowed pitifully, and everyone in the compartment froze, watching as the cat soared in the air, landing into the hands of Professor McGonagall.
"Berodachbaladan!" Lily cried, running to the cat. It lay immobile in the Professor's arms, and Lily poked it sadly. Tears were streaming down her face now, "Berodachbaladan, please be awake!"
Students were now crowding around the compartment, whispering to each other. Lily heard numerous, "What happened?" and she looked up angrily at the crowd.
"NOTHING HAPPENED BUT POTTER KILLED BERODACHBALADAN!"
Everyone stared at her blankly. "MY CAT!" she clarified. James winced. The crowed erupted in talk and James distinctly heard one voice say, "That James Potter loves killing Lily Evan's pets."
"I'm sorry," James said to Lily with pleading eyes. "I didn't mean to! It was attacking me and my friends!"
"He was just a kitty," Lily said tearfully, staring down at the immobile feline.
"Alright, alright, clear out students," Professor McGonagall said shortly. Once most of the students left to their own compartments, she laid the cat gingerly on the ground.
"Any last words?" Professor McGonagall asked kindly to Lily. She sighed. She was quiet for a moment, and then turned to James with a sad look in her eyes.
"You say something," she said suddenly. James's mouth dropped open. She had been angry at him, and how she wanted James to say something for her wretched dead cat?
James sighed inwardly. "Er, you were very brown and… kind. Rest in wholly matrimony."
"Rest in peace," Remus whispered.
"Rest in peace," James quickly, blushing. "You were… unique and not completely evil and posessed."
"I loved you, Berodachbaladan. You will always be in my heart," Lily said sadly, looking away.
Lily sniffed loudly, and with a swish of Professor McGonagall's wand, the cat disappeared. She turned to leave, and Lily closed the door. There was a moment's silence.
"I can't believe you," Lily seethed, walking towards James quickly, her innocent mood changing instantly. "You killed yet another one of my pets."
"It's because you let me see them!" James winced as she whipped out her wand.
"Oh, Potter, you are going to pay for this," Lily started. But as she opened her mouth to hex him, the compartment door slid open and Severus Snape stood there smirking, his dark eyes seen slightly under the mass of black, greasy hair that covered his face up to his nose.
"So," he said quietly, looking at James. He crossed his small arms, and glared at Potter with a triumphant look. "You killed another of the girl's pets, huh?"
"Leave, Snape," James warned, pulling his own wand out.
"Oh, honestly, put that away, Potter," Lily said, putting a hand on his wand.
"Get out of the way, Evans," he growled, and strode forward.
"You know, I never really liked you, Snape," he said slowly. Sirius appeared at his side in an instant and looked at Snape sneeringly.
"Black," Snape said with a tilt of his head.
"Snape," Sirius said stiffly.
"See you're still frolicking with the dandelions," Snape said, looking at the people in the room with disgust.
"See you're still smelly with a foot of grime coated on you," Sirius said airily. "What do you want?"
"Nothing," Snape said. "Just to… congratulate your friend here on killing that girl's cat."
"I didn't do it on purpose!" James said angrily. He turned to Lily with his brow furrowed in a pleading manner. "I swear."
"Whatever," Lily said coldly. "Severus, get out." Snape bowed mockingly, pivoted, and walked away. Sirius rolled his eyes and made a rude gesture with his hand. Lily rounded on Potter.
"You know, I don't think I'm ever going to behave myself around you anymore."
"Why's that?" James asked weakly.
"Because every time I do, I'm going to try to hex you into oblivion," she said in a sweet voice. She smacked her lips together and pulled him into a tight hug.
"Bye, James. Pray for yourself. I hope your summer will go well."
Lily turned, and walked out humming softly to herself. James let out a shaky laugh and turned to his friends.
"She was kidding, right?"
There you go, chapter two. (: Yes, it will be this dramatic probably throughout this fic. You'll hear the details of the summer in the next chapter going to their third year on the train. This goes out to Jenny and Fork Whore because I adore them and their wild personalities. . Review, please!