The train whistle rung loudly in her ears as she made her way through the crowd of students. Her mother and sister were struggling behind her, obviously not yet accustomed to the system of the wizarding world. This would be Lily's final year at Hogwarts, and though she was excited she couldn't help but feel sad as well; this would be her last time boarding the train to Hogwarts.

Lily turned to hug her mother, and hopefully talk to her sister, though Petunia was nowhere in sight. Samantha Evans embraced her daughter and then held her back at arm's length. "Now, don't worry about us. You just have a good year, alright?"

Lily nodded and gave her mother one last hug, but let her eyes scan the room. Petunia stood near the exit, waiting for Mrs. Evans, a frown on her face. When Lily and her sister's eyes met, Petunia turned her back to her, her posture rigid. Lily sighed quietly and then pulled away from her mother.

"I'll see you soon, mum," Lily said and hurried towards the train. But before she could board it, however, someone grabbed her arm. She turned to see Alice Collins, a petite girl with short brown hair and bright brown eyes. Lily emitted a girly squeal, which was very uncharacteristic of her, and pulled the girl into a tight hug.

"Why didn't you ever write me back?" Lily asked, her otherwise happy tone marred by her annoyance. "How was your summer?"

Alice's cheeks flushed a dark scarlet, and she didn't answer her friend until they were in their compartment. "Frank finally asked me out this summer! I'll save you all the gory details, but oh my goodness, he is so sweet. I really like him."

Lily grinned and relaxed back into her seat, crossing her arms lightly over her chest. "I know, but it's a wonder how you and Frank never noticed it yourselves. I would have bet that you might have said something first. You can be a little impatient."

"I agree," Lily went rigid at the sound of James Potter. He was leaning casually against the door frame, his hair in its usual dark disarray, and his glasses were sliding down the bridge of his nose. He pushed them back up with his forefinger and grinned. "Lily and I did make a bet, though. I said that Frank would ask you out first… so I guess you owe me, Evans."

"We did not make a bet, and I don't owe you a thing, Potter." Lily quipped, hiding her clenched fists.

"Go out with me," he had been saying the same four words for the past four years; and every time, Lily rejected him, and had even once said that she would rather date the Giant Squid before James became an option. She grit her teeth in annoyance and turned her bright green eyes on him.

"I will never date you, Potter," she snapped. James sat next to her, and even though she tried to slide away from him, he kept sliding closer to her.

"Please? Why won't you go out with me just once?"

"I don't like beggars, Potter, that's why. Now leave before I hex you into oblivion!"

James stood, looking awfully deflated, and left the small compartment, leaving behind a flustered Lily and an amused Alice.

"You like him..."

Lily gasped. "No I don't! Alice, you've seen and experienced firsthand everything he's done to us. How could you even think that?"

Alice snickered and shook her head. "Oh, wait till I tell Mary!"

"Tell Mary what?" Asked a tall, thin, and light-haired girl. Her cheeks were flushed a bright red, and she had a stupid grin on her face. Her blue eyes had an uncharacteristic sparkle.

"Another run-in with Sirius Black, I assume?" Lily said knowingly.

"You assume correctly," Mary sat down beside Alice and crossed her legs. "Now what were you going to tell me?"

"Lily likes James!" Alice blurted.

"What? You like Potter? Well, it's about time you realized it, because we all did-" Mary flung her hands up towards the sky. "PRAISE MERLIN! You've seen the light my friend."

"No I don't! Jeez, how many times do I have to say I. Don't. Like. James. Potter!"

"How cute," Alice and Mary shared a smirk. "Why do you deny it, Lily?"

"What is there to deny?" Lily clenched and unclenched her fists in anger. Alice and Mary knew quite well to stop messing with their friend- they knew her temper- but they couldn't help themselves. For the first year James had been asking Lily out, they had known she didn't think much of him, but when their fifth year came about, they knew something was up. No one would just automatically hate someone so much, for just a few little things that they did. It wasn't plausible, at least not to them.

Lily sighed suddenly and stood. "I have a meeting to get to," she said brusquely. "I'll see you two at dinner."

When Lily disappeared out of the compartment, Mary turned to look at Alice. "So, what's the plan?"

"I don't know, but we have to come up with something."

"Should I talk to Sirius?"

"He might tell James..." Alice mused.

"I'll give him a reason not to," Mary winked. "Promise."

"Gross," Alice shuddered. "But fine. We'll meet after dinner, on the seventh floor corrdior. Bring only him, okay? I'll bring Frank, because he's smart, and is good with keeping things secret. That, and he'll help keep Sirius quiet."

Mary nodded, but then a frown replaced her devious smile. "What if Lily finds out? She'd kill us."

Alice shook her head. "She won't find out, because we're keeping this a secret. And besides, it's not like we're trying to hook them up. James knows that he likes her, but Lily doesn't want to admit that she likes him. We're just going to... help her figure it out, I guess you could say."

"If she finds out, I had nothing to do with this."