Chapter Thirty Eight: Home Away From Home.

I woke up a few days later with a sleepy yawn. Then a swirly feeling began to settle itself in my stomach. Today was the day I went back to Hogwarts! Then I felt something else. Dread maybe? Definitely something bad. I didn't want to leave Mum with Petunia.

I tumbled out of bed and shook Cassie awake. Bella snorted softly and rolled over when I yanked on her shoulder.

Cassie winked at me and said in a very loud voice; "Yes Sirius, Belle does want me to see you naked…"

Bella head shot up and she looked around wildly. "Sirius Black, if you dare… where is he?" She asked weakly as she realised she had been berating thin air.

"He's still in bed." Mum giggled from the doorway. "Although, I'm sure I wouldn't mind seeing him in his boxers!"

"Mum!" I gasped in a mock scolding voice.

"What? I'm still young you know!" She retorted whilst winking at me.

Then Sirius appeared behind her, wearing only his underwear.

I burst out laughing. "Looks like you got your wish Mum!" I gasped for oxygen and wandered into the bathroom, taking my clothes with me.

Mum blushed prettily, then raised an eyebrow as James strolled in, wearing only his boxers too.

"Hi all." He said cheerily.

"James?" Bella tried to contain her chuckles, but failed miserably.

"What?" He asked innocently.

"You're… wearing… your… boxers!" Cassie giggled madly.

He looked down and blushed. "Oops." He grinned sheepishly. "Sorry."

"Oh don't be sorry dear. I've got a very nice view!" Mum smiled airily as she walked down the stairs.

James blushed deeper and turned away.

"Oh don't leave! Lily'll get sad!" I heard Belle's snigger from the bathroom.

"I WILL NOT!" I yelled back.

I appeared from the bathroom, wearing my low-rise bootleg jeans and a midriff baring top. My boots lay on my bedroom floor. I grabbed a random brush from my vanity unit and began to attack my bed-head hair.

"What?" I asked, feeling eyes upon me. "Do I have VPL or something?" I turned to survey my butt in my full-length mirror.

I turned on my heel and caught James staring at me. He dropped his gaze hurriedly and almost ran off to get dressed.

"Kids! Breakfast!" Mum yelled.

"Coming!" We all yelled back. There was a mad dash to get down the stairs first, but Remus won, slipping past us all when we weren't looking. Well, that's what I like to think.

After breakfast, we hurried around flinging last-minute things into trunks and lugging them out to the car. I said a teary goodbye to Jewel and promised to send her letters, which Mum must read to her.

Mum grinned and climbed into the driver's seat.

We're off!

Sounds like a bloody horse race!

~~ At the Station ~~

"And write to me every weekend." Mum said, her voice muffled by the fact that her head was buried in my shoulder.

"Yes Mum. I love you." I called as we boarded the train.

Finding a compartment, I stowed my trunk and ran to the nearest window overlooking the platform. "Mum! You will work with Jewel whilst I'm away, won't you? And I left her hoof-pick in the manger. Love you Mum!" I cried as the train began to pull away.

I smiled at her one last time and sauntered back to our compartment.

My friends were playing Exploding Snap as I entered.

"Hey Lil. You okay?" Remus asked when I collapsed down next to him.

"Yeah, just…" I trailed off, staring out of the window.

"Your mum will be fine." James said suddenly.

My head shot up and I quirked a smile, before shaking my head at my own stupidity. "I'm just being silly."

"It's okay." Cassie grinned. "I won!" She crowed.

I rolled my eyes and cuffed her round the back of the head playfully.

"You will so regret that. You messed with the hair. Prepare to die!" Cass leapt to her feet.

I narrowed my eyes in a challenge and slid the compartment door open. Cassie responded to the challenge by bounding after me. I gave vent to a small squeak and ran down the train. As I passed one compartment, I bumped into someone.

"I'm sorry." I stuttered. "It was my fault…"

"No, it was my fault. I should apologise to you. I wasn't looking where I was going." He smiled at me suddenly. "Will Sudlow, by the way."

"Lily Evans." I shook his proffered hand. Cassie drew up beside us and smiled at Will.

"Hi, I'm Cassie Parks. Pleased to meet you."

"Will Sudlow." His warm blue eyes twinkled and his blonde hair fell adorably onto his forehead.

"Well, we must be going, see you around." Cassie dragged me back to our compartment, our earlier dispute forgotten.

As we burst in, the tower of cards that Sirius and Belle had been constructing exploded.

"You guys will never guess who we just met." Cass squealed excitedly.

"Um… the Grim Reaper?" Bella asked sarcastically.

I rolled my eyes. "No. Will Sudlow." I grinned.

Belle's eyes widened. "You must be kidding."

"Nope." I giggled.

"And he was simply charmed by our dear Lily." Cassie teased.

"He so was not!" I retorted.

James seemed to turn and glare at me for a second, but in the blink of an eye, the expression was lost.

My eyelids began to droop suddenly. As I was sat next to James, I laid my head on his shoulder, curled my legs underneath me and fell fast asleep.

~~ James' POV ~~

Lily began to squirm in the seat next to me. I ignored it and continued to talk heatedly, ok argue, with Sirius over which broom was better, the Nimbus 1000 or the Comet 230. I was rooting for the Nimbus, but Sirius beat me down with a childish; "I won." The he turned away so I couldn't argue back.

I felt a light weight on my shoulder. Looking down, I saw Lily, fast asleep on my shoulder. She shivered slightly and out of instinct, I pulled my cloak from my trunk and laid it over her, tucking the ends in so it didn't slide off her.

Sirius gave vent to a quiet chuckle, before turning back to Bella.

Again I gazed down at the vision of perfection on my right side. She looked so peaceful, just sleeping. A small smile crept onto her soft pink lips as she dreamt of God-knows-what.

For the rest of the journey, our compartment was relatively quiet and Lily slept on.

The overhead voice droned on; "We will be at Hogwarts in ten minutes. Please change to your school robes if you have not already done so."

I sighed heavily and shook Lily's shoulder. She stirred and her eyes fluttered open. She gazed uncomprehendably at me, before her eyes took on a focus.

"We at Hogwarts?" She mumbled sleepily.

"No, but we have to change into our robes love. Come on." I said softly.

"Okay." A dreamy smile adorned her features as she stood shakily. "I had a really great dream. I just can't remember how it ended."

I grinned. She was adorable when she was sleepy.

"Oh bugger!" She gasped suddenly.

"What is it?" I asked worriedly.

"I forgot to go to the Prefect compartment! I slept through the whole train ride!" She wailed.

"It's okay. I went and told them why you couldn't come. I got our schedules and brought your back with me too." Remus assured her.

"Oh thank you Remus!" She flung her arms around his neck. I felt a surge of jealousy, which was quickly pushed down when she hugged me too. "And thanks for letting me sleep on you!" She whispered in my ear.

"And what about me?" Sirius pouted.

Lily rolled her eyes good-naturedly and hugged him too.

The train chuffed to a stop and the doors flew open magically.

Students surged towards the exits, ways of freedom. We hung back and were the last ones out. There was only one carriage for all six of us to fit in. We guys climbed in and the girls positioned themselves accordingly. Cassie next to Remus and Bella next to Sirius. There was no room for Lily to sit on the seat, so she sat on my knee instead.

"You don't mind, do you?" She asked, spinning around to face me.

"Um… nope." I gulped.

"Oh good." She swivelled around again and began to talk to Remus about Prefect duties.

My mind was blissfully blank at that moment, and for that I am thankful.

The carriage shuddered to a stop and we all climbed out. We stood facing the stone exterior of Hogwarts and I sighed.

My home away from home.

~~~***~~~

Thank god that's finished!

Lol

M

xxx