Chapter Two: Blue Mist.

Lily always loved the rush to get onto the train after entering platform 9 ¾. Although she always missed her parents and sometimes Petunia, it never really felt like home. Hogwarts was her home. Taking her bags to the end of the train to be put on. She slowly made her way to the train door, looking over the platform before heading onto the burgundy carriage. Weaving around the groups of friends reuniting after a holiday, was not fun. As the corridor that run next to the compartments we narrow, she was constantly having to wait for the younger students to move out of her way. Finally after thorough searching she found an empty one and sat down. Leaning back she slowly closed her eyes, relaxing. This 'relax' time however did not last long as Sirius, James and Marlene all barged their way into the silent space arguing.

"Being able to breath underwater is so much better then being able to walk on it. If you say anything different Sirius, you my friend, are wrong!" Marlene rambled on.

"But if I could walk on water do you know how awesome my Halloween costume would be? Imagine it, me walking on the lake dressed in a chiton and holding a Trident. I would definitely make a GREAT poseidon." Sirius argued back, frustrating Marlene even more.

"Hi" james quietly said as he sat down next to lily as the other two continued their pitiful argument.

Soon both Remus and Peter joined them in their compartment. Peter joining in on the ridiculous argument and Remus talking with james and lily. Both groups only had a small crossover of talking on the way their when, Sirius or Marlene wanted someone to agree with them. It the occasionally peter trying to leave the argument and Sirius then asking him to join him in his great costume plan, next simply lead to him going wide eyed, looking at James, lily, and Remus pleading them to help him get out of this. He was however, was only faced with smiles of amusement by all three.

The train began to decrease its speed telling everyone that they were nearing the end of their journey and after waiting behind students in the cramped corridor did they find themselves standing on the platform. The light had already began to dim as the group made their way towards the carriages. The ground was icy with the melting snow making it extremely difficult for lily to walk on. She did not only slip once but twice before she safely made it to an empty seat.

It took about twenty minutes to make their way to hogwarts. They conversations where light and mostly discussed what had happened over the holiday. And about how much they were not looking forward to having to do school work again.

Once inside the castle, they made their way to the great hall as everyone was starving and saw no need to go back to their rooms. As per usual Dumbledore made his speech, welcoming everyone back and hoping that they had all had a wonderful christmas, and that they were ready for the exams commencing in the spring. And to this James zoned out staring at the golden plate in front of him. His mind wandered to lily and their time spent together in the holiday, thankful for their friendship after five and a bit year of pure hatred, that she felt for him. But his mind also wandered to his parents, and what could happen to them as aurors. With voldemort growing stronger and stronger each day. James was soon bought out of his thought when a role came flying towards his head. Shooting up and glaring at sirius he was surrounded by laughter and smiles. All worries about what was happening outside the grounds was pushed to the back of his mind as he realised there was no use worrying about the future when anything could happen and it was out of his control. Especially as he still had a year and a half before leaving hogwarts.

The next morning lily woke up, happy to be back to her usual routine. Lily was a person of structure and although she hated waking up early, she couldn't wait to start off her year with defence against the dark arts. Yes it wasn't her best or favourite subject. She did like it as it was never too bad to learn a way to defend yourself. So after breakfast that's is exactly where lily went. As she entered the classroom she made her way to the side of the room to join a smirking sirius who was stuffing his face with chocolate, which he had probably stolen from the pouting remus next to him.

The class soon began to fill up as the lesson began.

"Today we will be learning the patronus charm. This is a defensive spell that will keep you safe against dementors." Professor Williams " everyone grab your wands and follow this wand action while saying expecto patronum, remember to think of your happiest memory". The whole class broke out into a chorus of words as they all attempted to successfully produce the spell.

Lily took a few moments to think about her happiest remembering about her holiday and the day with james. Slowly she took a breath and raised her wand. The words came out of her mouth with confidence as a blue mist appeared from the tip of the wand. The mist then transformed into a beautiful doe prancing around the room. Without a second thought she turned to james and looked him dead in the eye, smiled

"Beat that potter".

James had been leaning against the wall talking to sirius about the upcoming quidditch trials when lily had produced her patronus. He was stood in shock with his mouth slightly ajar, until lily challenged him. Gulping he stood up and walked over to lily giving her a smirk as he stood next to her. He like her raised his wand and summoned the blue mist. However his did not turn into a , his turned into a large, proud stag which strutted around him and lily.

His head darting to look at lily. Her eyes were not meeting his. No her eyes were looking at the door which had recently been used a a student had slammed it. Lily quickly followed in pursuit leaving james alone.

When lily reached the corridor and shouted for Tyler to stop. Slowly he turned to face her with a look of pure anger and pain.

"What lily, what could you possibly want"

" i want to know why you stormed out of that classroom and why you are so pissed of at me" lily replied with a look of worry.

Tylers eyes widened as he looked over the top of lily's head slowly looking down.

" What's wrong with me? Lily what's wrong with you!" he took a long breath before continuing "you and james obviously have feelings for eachother." lily was about to argue when tyler cut her off " you ditch the plans we made months ago, to go watch a game you don't even like. you constantly stare and flirt with him. For dumbledore's sake, you even have god damn matching patronuses." brushing his hand through his hair and down his face creating a sigh. " I can't do this anymore lily, and i don't think you can either. So for my sake and yours i'm ending this. I hope we can still be friends." with that tyler made his departure and left the hallway.

Lily couldn't explain what she was feeling. She knew she was meant to be devastated yet she just felt like a weight had been lifted off her shoulders. She recalled the conversation, if you could call it that, she just had. Think about the things he said. She understood where he was coming from. She had ditched him to go to the quidditch match with james. And she couldn't deny their patronuses but there were so many possibilities fo that wasn't there? But she does not have feelings for James Potter.

Turning around to head back to the classroom, she say james looking at her in front of the door.

"Are you okay?" james asked in a gentle tone.

"Please just leave me alone." lily sighed as she walked past him and the classroom. Suddenly deciding she wasn't in the mood for class or having to look and listen to James.