Secrets & Lies

KyleGranger

Chapter 2

"Jim," Gertie said, "is something bothering you?"

James turned to see his two best friends looking at him from the opposite side of the compartment, as the stations platform quickly became bright green landscapes outside the window.

"I'm fine," he said turning to look back out the window.

Tracey and Gertie glanced at each other before giving up.

"So how was your summer," Gertie said talking to Tracey.

Tracey looked up from her lap and ran her fingers through her long brown hair getting it out of her view: "it was fine. My family and I went to Spain for a week like I told you in my letter. My brother ended up getting sick and we flooed home. We were supposed to be there for a month, but you know Twirp."

Gertie laughed. "James, how about you? How was your summer?"

James turned from looking out the window. "Er, it was fine. I spent a lot of time at my grandparents' house. And then I was in London for a weekend with Teddy's fiancé looking for a wedding dress."

Tracey giggled, "You went wedding dress shopping?"

"Er, I went to go to London for the weekend. I needed to get out of my house. Al gets annoying after a while and Lily always has her friends over," he said defensively.

"Okay, okay relax. How was your vacation Gert?"

"Really nice. My parents and I went to America for a wizarding convention, which was really awesome," Gertie said gleefully, her blonde hair relaxing gently on her shoulders.

"That's totally cool," Tracey said, flipping her hair behind her. "So, do you guys want to know something else that I did this summer?"

Gossip. This caught James' attention immediately.

"Spill," they said.

"So I go to Diagon Alley with the Twirp some random afternoon and I ran into Jake."

"Jake who?" Gertie asked.

"MacFarlan!" James answered. "Keep up!" They turned their attention back to Tracey.

"So I ran into him and we had lunch."

"Okay...?" James said leaning in, trying to find the point to this story.

"Oh well Twirp ended up getting lost somewhere. I found him in your uncle's shop, but before that me and Jake snogged," she said softly.

"You are so bad," James said sitting back with a smile on his face. "You and a seventh year. Who could've predicted that?"

"I could have," Gertie said turning her attention back to her books.

"Seriously, Gert, I need to find you a boyfriend," Tracey said.

"Ha! Good luck with that one," she said, "no boy could like me."

"Oh my god, Gertie," James came in, "why do you have to be such a downer? Look at you. Blonde and brains. You're hot!"

Gertie blushed and looked up at James who looked to Tracey who nodded approvingly.

The compartment's door slid open and in walked a short second year with red hair and tears in her eyes.

"Jay-," Lily whimpered, "I think Clarabell ate Rupert." She pulled a small ginger-haired cat from behind her back.

AHH! Tracey jumped from her seat. A grey rat took her spot.

"OH DEAR GOD," Tracey screamed.

"Nevermind," Lily said, scooping up the Hugo's pet rat and scurried out of the compartment, running into a tall sixth year just outside the door.

"Whoa," the boy said.

"Lily!" James shouted. "Ugh!" Lily turned to reveal a sympathetic expression towards her brother.

"Sorry," she whispered, turning to the tall boy and said again to him.

"Ha! Don't worry about it," the boy said and Lily rushed back into her compartment with the others. The boy then leaned into James, Tracey, and Gertie's compartment. "Kids," he said smiling at them. He focused he eyes on each of the girls', then finally on James'. James smiled back as the boy slid the door closed, then continued his way down the train corridor.

Okay, so I'm getting back into the swing of writing. I haven't written a fanfic in more than a couple years. I'm just trying to introduce characters in these first few chapters before moving on to the good stuff. Hope your enjoying.