Chapter 12 – Back to Hogwarts.
Lily woke up; looking over at her alarm clock it was only six thirty in the morning. She laid in bed looking up at the ceiling trying to get back to sleep, but after what felt like hours Lily rolled over and took another look at her alarm clock, it was still on seven, but heaving a sigh, Lily threw her legs out of bed and walked over to the bathroom to take a shower before changing in to a pair of light blue jeans and a green t-shirt, before sitting down at her dressing table picking up her brush, brushing her hair before tying it up in a messy bun, and throwing her brush into the open trunk, at the foot of her bed.
Once dressed Lily went through the ritual of checking, double then triple checking that she had everything packed in her truck. Lily hated leaving things behind; if she did forget something it would be guaranteed that it would be something important. It was only last year that she had left behind a spell book, and had to hope that her parents would be able to find it and sent it to her.
Satisfied that everything that she needed was in her trunk, and her bird Borrise was locked in his cadge, looking disproving. Lily walked out of her room and down to the kitchen for some toast, waiting for the Potters to pick her up and take her to Kings Cross station with them.
"Morning Lily, can't believe that its time for you to go back already, the summers gone so quickly." Pat said coming into the kitchen and patting Lily on the head, before walking over to the kettle and switching it on.
"I know, and so much has happened. Who would have thought that I would be going back to school with James." Lily said the last part more to her orange juice then to her Nan, who was busy putting coffee and milk into a cup.
"Well dear, it's always the unexpected that's usually turns out to be the best." Pat said sitting down opposite Lily on the table with her mug of coffee. "I'm going to miss you kiddo, I was just getting used to the extra company." Pat looked across at her granddaughter with a sad smile on her face.
"I'll be back before you know it Nan, and I promise I'll write all the time. It will feel like I'm still here." Lily smiled a warm smile over the table, just as there was a knock on the door.
Opening the door Lily came face to face with the happy, smiling faces of James and Sirius.
"Morning Lils, morning Pat." James said looking at Pat who had just appeared in the doorway.
"Morning James, how are you? You better look after my Lily here, when you get back to school." Pat smiled warmly all existence off the sadness wiped from her face.
"I'm good thank you, and I'll do my best to look after her for you." James smiled politely, while Lily rolled her eyes and suppressing a laugh at how polite James was being towards her Nan.
"So where's the trunk?" Sirius asked breaking the silence, which had occurred.
"Oh Nan this is Sirius Black, Sirius this is my Nan Pat. And my trunks still in my room." Lily introduced Sirius to her Nan.
"Nice to meet you their Sirius. Well I'll let you young boys go and grab Lily's trunk while I finish my coffee." Pat walked back into the kitchen leaving the three teenagers by themselves.
Five minutes later and Lily's trunk was loaded in the car along with James and Sirius's. Standing on the front door step with her Nan, Lily turned around and wrapped her Nan into a hug.
"I'll miss you Nan, but I promise I'll write and tell you everything that I'm up to." Lily said pulling away from the hug and looking at her Nan.
"Just make sure that you have fun! And remember to bring back some of those chocolates!" Pat smiled, pushing Lily lightly towards to the awaiting car.
"Bye Nan"
Lily walked towards the car, and took a seat next to James, before noticing how much space was in the back of the car. James and Sirius were casually sitting with plenty of room between them, while Moria, and Henry were sitting on a sofa style seat, rather then the conventional two car seats.
Twenty minutes later and the car pulled outside Kings Cross Station, James and Sirius jumped out of the car and getting three-luggage trolleys. Once the trolleys were all loaded, the three teenagers, Moria and Henry walked towards Platform 2 ¾.
"Right James, Lily you first." Henry said as they all stood by the barrier. "Quickly now." Lily and James pushed their trolleys through the barrier and walked onto the station, the scarlet red Hogwarts express, waiting at the platform.
Lily automatic tried looking over the heads of everyone on the platform, trying to spot her best friend, but seeming everyone seemed to be slightly taller then Lily trying to spot Isabel was proving a hard task.
"Isabel's over there." James pointed over to a girl who had long brown hair, and glittering blue eyes, wearing a pair of blue jean and a blue t-shirt, just as Sirius and Remus came over.
"See you guys in a minute." With that Lily took off after Isabel, leaving the three boys to load the entire luggage on the train.
"ISSY!" Lily shouted as she reached her friend, and embraced her in a tight hug with a huge smile on her face.
"OH MY GAWD LILY." Issy shouted back once they had pulled apart now both jumping up and down on the platform. "You have got so much to tell me young lady." Issy laughed looking over at the three most popular hansom teenagers who were talking to James's parents. Most probably getting a talk on staying out of trouble Lily thought with a large smile still evident on her face.
"Come on, I've got to say bye to the Potter, then we can get a compartment and I'll tell you everything, umm right after I've been to the prefects meeting thing." Lily pulled Issy towards the Potters.
"Ah Lily thought you were going to run off without saying bye for a minute there." Henry laughed, much like James.
"I wouldn't do a thing like that!" Lily laughed.
"Who's your friend, Lily dear?" Moria asked looking as Issy.
"Oh this is my best friend Isabel."
"Nice to finally meet one of Lily's friends." Moria smiled over at Issy, who smiled politely back, for once having the problem of not knowing what to say.
"Now take care of yourself, and try and keep these three in line, I can't tell you how many letter's I've had about them." But to Lily's surprise there was a happy glint to her eyes.
"I will try. Bye Moria, Bye Henry." Lily smiled.
James said bye to his parents, and all five of them boarded the Hogwarts Express.
"Oh Lils I put your luggage in our compartment, as you conveniently forgot to wheel it with you." James looked at her smiling.
"Oh yeah." Lily looked up at the ceiling laughing, "Must have slipped my mind."
Walking along the train, it seemed that every compartment had been taken, apart from the last one, which Lily clearly new was the maunderous compartment. Letting out a sigh Lily looked as Issy
"Looks like were gonna have to share a compartment, I guess I'll tell you everything after the feast tonight." Lily's eyes looked apologetically at her friend.
"There is always a space for two lovely ladies, like yourself in our compartment." Sirius smiled a cheeky smile towards the two.
"I'd feel to sorry for Issy, having to sit with you two berks while I go to the prefects meeting. I'm going to be late for the meeting!" Lily's eyes went suddenly wide realising the time.
"Lils its fine, I'm sure I can hold my own against them two! If not you can always give them lines." Issy laughed following James and Sirius as Lily and Remus walked quickly towards the prefect's compartment.
Sirius opened the door to "their" compartment, and then stood to one side.
"Ladies first." Sirius smiled towards Issy, who looked a little shocked for a moment. Issy like Lily was used to the maunderous to be a little arrogant, and conceited, not polite. Walking past Sirius and James, Issy took a seat next to the window, as the other two walked in and took seats.
"Isabel isn't it?" Sirius asked knowing that Issy hated being called by her real name.
"No it's not, and you know it!"
"Not Isabel, umm could it be Isabella then?" James asked now joining in with the annoying of Lily's friend.
"No, why is yours Jamie?" Issy retaliated, with a knowing smile, Issy knew that James hated beyond anything else was to be called Jamie.
"Touché." James laughed as the door opened, and in stepped the one and only Kate.
"May we help you?" Sirius asked making it sound like Kate must have been lost.
"I came here to talk to James."
"Well what is it you wish to talk about?" James asked now looking at Kate intrigued as to what she had to say.
"I would like to speak to you alone." Kate looked at the other two occupants in the compartment.
"Come on Issy, let's go find some food." Issy got up from her seat and followed Sirius out of the compartment.
Once the compartment door was nearly closed Sirius pulled Issy to one side, close to the gap, between the door and the doorframe.
"How about we take a listen to what she's got to say. Especially after what she said in Diagon Alley."
"What happened in Diagon Alley?" Issy asked confused.
"Oh, I thought Lily would have told you, lets just say she said a few things about Lily, and it didn't go down to well." Sirius turned away from Issy and they were now both listening intensely to the conversation happening inside the compartment.
"James, I wanted to talk about what happened in Diagon Alley the other day, I mean it isn't really over between us is it?" Kate was looking hopefully into James's eyes.
"Kate I don't want to be with you anymore. Especially as you can't accept my friends, popular or not." James stated clearly.
"But James, why start messing with your popularity and hanging around with the book worms? They are the ones probably using you for your popularity." Kate threw her blond hair behind her shoulders, smiling at James.
"Using me for my popularity, more like you want to use me to keep yours!" James said pointedly. Looking at the anger now flashing in her eyes.
"I have popularity if I'm dating you or not!" Kate snarled.
"Glad we cleared that up anything else?"
"James, you can not seriously be turning me down!" Kate raised her voice looking at James desperately.
"I can turn you down, and I am turning you down."
"You wait, those two freaks that your hanging around with will be the ruining of your popularity, that Evans is so used to being a lonely looser that she will never get used to being around other people, and will pull you lot into hiding with her." Kate turned on her heels and marched out of the compartment leaving behind a shocked James.
Once the compartment door opened Sirius made no inclination to hide the fact that they were listening from outside of the door, and gave her a wave as she left, while Issy took a more tactical approach and as Kate walked past put out her foot, and watched as Kate fell ungracefully to the floor of the carriage. Sirius let out a bark laugh as James put his head out of the carriage and joined in with the laughter. Issy was standing there with a smug look on her face.
Getting up from the floor of the carriage, just as Remus and Lily came walking up the carriage to join the others.
"You wait, I'll get you back for that!" Kate said dangerously to Issy, who let out a small laugh.
"Oh please, like I'm scared of you! You'd be to worried about braking a nail to do anything." Issy said laughing still as she turned around and walked back into the compartment, followed by the rest of the gang.
"Well done, couldn't have said or done it better myself." Sirius said clapping his hand together and bowing at Issy.
"Why thank you, thank you." Issy smiled plopping herself back in the seat by the window.
Lily took the seat opposite and the three boys spread themselves around the compartment. Remus and Lily were looking at each other wondering what they had missed, for the commotion in the corridor.
"So you gonna clue us in?" Remus asked looking around the compartment.
"Oh Kate being her usual charming self Moony, you caught the best part, thanks to Isabel over here." Sirius smiled.
"Call me Isabel one more time, and I'll hex you into next century!" Issy pointed her want at Sirius threatenly. Sirius raised his eyebrows at the wand.
"Haven't known you two minutes and your already threatening me!" Sirius said in a high-pitched voice with a smile on his face, obviously feeling that calling Issy Isabel again would undoubtedly be a mistake.
"So who's up for a game of exploding snap?" James asked pulling out a pack of cards.
"I think I'll pass." Lily said looking at the mysterious glint in all three boys eyes, as they all sat around in a circle.
"Not me I'm in!" Issy said taking a seat between Sirius and Remus completing the circle. Lily instead pulled out "Pride and Prejudice" from her trunk and began reading, every now and then looking up when a yell or scream was heard, not envying them at all.
The door of the compartment opened and an elderly witch popped her head in." Anything from the carriage my dears?" she asked.
Within moments the carriage was full of every variety of sweets imaginable, and before Lily could say anything a chocolate frog was being thrown over to her.
"Don't worry, it's a ritual, help yourselves." James said with a mouth full of cauldron cake and throwing a pumpkin pastry now at Lily, who caught it just before it hit her in the face. "Thanks."
Before long the large quantity of cakes and sweets had been consumed. Mainly by James and Sirius, and everyone was sitting around the compartment, thinking about what to do next.
"How about truths, get more acquainted with each other." Issy said looking at everyone in the compartment, who nodded his or her heads in agreement.
"I'll go first." Sirius said looking over at Lily, Lily looked straight back not breaking eye contact. "Right Lillian, the question that's on all of our minds I'm sure, why did you finally give Prongs here a chance?" Everyone in the compartment turned to look at Lily eagerly awaiting the answer.
Lily sat there for a moment, taking in the question, she had prepared herself for any question Sirius could ask, other then one, just thrown at her.
"Umm well, I guess it was – I dunno he was there when I needed someone to lean on, and well I kindda told my parents I would give him a second chance against my own better judgement, so I guess I was just doing it for them, it was more a doing it to keep my word, then actually giving James a chance. I guess I was doing it because Issy wasn't around and I needed someone to umm be there." Lily looked up from the chair that she had been talking to throughout her little speech, now looking up at James who had hurt in his eyes. Everyone else was looking shocked at what Lily had just said, Issy was looking at Lily with an expression of shock and sadness, while Sirius and Remus looked utter bewildered.
"Well I'm going to go and er get changed, we will probably be there soon." James said getting up from his seat and stepping out into the corridor.
"Should someone go after him?" Remus asked looking at Sirius.
"Umm, I guess so." Sirius said looking up at the door.
"No it should be me who goes." Lily said getting up from her seat and heading towards the door.
"You're the one who just sent him out there do you really think it's such a good idea?" Issy said speaking up for the first time.
"Yes." Lily said as she opened the door and disappeared down the corridor.
"Do you think that was a good idea?" Issy asked Remus and Sirius who shrugged, looking a little worried.
Lily found James ten minutes later standing in one of the carriage corridors looking out of the window, wearing his Hogwarts uniform. James could see Lily walking slowly towards him, but at the moment he didn't quiet feel like talking to her after finding out all the advances he thought they had made on becoming friends over the summer was a lie.
"James." Lily said softly taping James on the shoulder expecting him to turn around and smile. But to Lily's shock he stood still facing the window.
"James I know your upset with me."
"Really Lily, would you blame me, after finding out that everything you had said over the summer was a lie?" James turned quickly around catching Lily of guard; she tripped over her own foot and fell against the wall on the opposite side.
"James please just hear me out please." Lily looked pleadingly into James's eyes, and to James's dismay he found it hard to be angry with Lily when she looked that worried, so he stood there allowing Lily to speak.
"James, I'm sorry, I didn't mean for it to come out like that. I wanted to say that at first I only gave you a chance because of my parents, but once I got to know you I actually wanted to give you a chance, I wanted to give you the chance, the chance that you had deserved for a while. I guess I didn't expect you to be the person you turned out to be, the person I began to know, the person that I became friends with. You once said that you would rather be friends with me then fight, and well I feel the same, I would rather be friends with you then fight with you all the time. Please I don't want to go back to fighting with you. Over the past month I have learnt that there is a total different side to you that I never gave you the chance to show before, and well I like that side of you, and I don't want to loose you as a friend." Lily finished looking at the wall.
"Lily you waffle on way to much when you're apologising." James looked at Lily who was still looking at the wall. "Look Lily." James stepped over to her and put two fingers under her chin so that she was looking directly at her. "I don't want to loose you as a friend either." James looked intensely into Lily's eyes.
Without realising what was happening James moved in closer to Lily still gazing wordlessly into her eyes, then slowly moving his head so that their faces were inches away from one another. Lily's emerald green eyes were looking into James's swirling hazel ones, wondering what on earth was happening.
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Hey, thanks for the reviews, and they are going back to sixth year!
Lorna
