Welcome

Harry was still staring at James and Sirius when he felt someone pull him by the shirt.

"Come on, later you talk to them." Ginny smiled.

They walked through some people to reach the train, and there they saw James and Sirius again, this time along with Remus and Peter (Harry clutched his fists when Peter hugged James). They got in, and walked until the end of the train, entering the only free cabin.

"Now there's no way back." Ron gazed through the window. Suddenly, a rumbling noise frightened them all, making them withdraw the wands.

"What is this?" Neville asked as he walked silently to the door. Before he could get out, it was opened by no one but James, accompanied by a laughing Sirius, a scared Peter and a rolling eyes Remus.

"I told you not to dare her, Prongs." Remus said, raising an eyebrow when he saw the compartment was taken. "Guess we're going to search for another place, boys."

James stared curious at the group.

"Who are you?"

"New students." Harry answered, trying not to laugh.

"You don't look like first years…" Sirius said, and Harry noticed he was looking at Ginny and Hermione.

"We're not. We were… Transferred." Hermione explained, and James opened an arrogant smile.

"Of course, that's why you don't know this is our compartment."

"Your compartment?" Harry raised his eyebrows.

"Yes. Every year we go to Hogwarts in this compartment. Now, if you please…" James motioned to the door with his hand. Harry felt his face turn red.

"We're not leaving! Who says it's yours?"

"I do. Now, please, I don't want any trouble."

Hermione rose beside Harry.

"You can't just book one of the compartments for yourself. It's against the school laws."

"She's right, James…" Remus smiled friendly. "Let's go."

"No! It's our last year! We have to go in this compartment."

Harry rolled his eyes, gazing at a Head Boy's badge in his chest.

"You're Head Boy, should know the rules." He said ironically, pointing to the badge. For the first time, James blushed.

"This… This is…"

"That's right, Prongs. You're Head Boy." Remus commented, and they could feel jealously in his voice.

"Whatever, let's sit here!" Sirius threw himself on the seats. Peter sat right beside him.

"I guess everyone fits in here. Don't you, Prongs?" he asked, shy. James, sulking, sat near them.

"What's your name?" he asked Harry.

"Harry. And these are Ron, Hermione, Ginny, Luna and Neville."

"Ok. I'm James, this is Sirius. There you see Peter, and the worried bloke is Remus."

Remus rolled his eyes and put his head through the half – opened door.

"Congratulations, James. You just called the Head Girl's attention. Here she comes."

Less than a minute later the boy opened briskly again. Her long auburn hair was tied back.

"What's happening here?"

"Lily!" James rose up instantly."How are you?"

The girl turned her bright green eyes at him and narrowed them.

"What are you doing here as I have to walk around the train alone?"

"Waiting… For you?" James smiled embarrassed.

"Where was Dumbledore's mind? Here, Potter, I'm you partner, not you baby sitter. I thought you were looking the compartments, not messing around with…Who are they?" she said, dragging him outside the cabin.

"New students." Remus answered monotonous. Lily saw him, and seemed to forget the anger. Quickly she went towards him, enlacing his neck with her arms.

"Rem! Didn't see you at the platform! How are you?"

This time James looked annoyed.

"Welcome to Hogwarts, then! I'm Lily Evans, Head Girl. Anything you need just ask me, since as I can see, Potter here don't know how to welcome properly."

When they left, Harry heard Sirius talk to Peter and Remus.

"Bet he can't stand a month as Head Boy."

"How much?" Peter took a piece of chocolate out of his pocket.

"Ten galleons. What do you think, Remus?'

"I wish the best." Remus shrugged his shoulders.

"Don't lie, Moony." Sirius said sarcastically. "Even James knows that you want his place."

"That's not true."

"Of course it is, stupid. Do you think James wanted to be chosen? Now besides the quidditch practice he'll have to spend some nights patrolling."

"But he'll also have extra credit if he wants to work at the ministry." Hermione commented, and Sirius looked incredulous at her.

"Gosh, here comes another Moony. Screw the extra credit! If you do well in our NEWT's they won't care if you were almost expelled."

Harry laughed, and Sirius turned his gaze at him.

"Don't I know you? I'm sure I've already seen your face somewhere…"

"No, you don't" Harry said quickly, as Ginny pretended to cough beside him.

Some minutes later, a blond girl appeared at the door, gazing inside confused:

"Have you seen Dorcas and Lene?"

Peter blushed strongly and muttered:

"No… No, E – Emmeline".

She sighed, making some hair fly around her.

"Oh, damn. They're crazy, went to look after Lily and didn't come back. Pettigrew, can I have a piece?"

Harry and Ron grinned when the atmosphere at the compartment changed briskly. Peter was fighting with himself, between keeping the chocolate and pleasing Emmeline. Finally he cut a piece of the bar he was eating and gave to her.

"Thanks, Pettigrew."

"C-Call me Peter." He said before she could go. Harry thought he would pass out of emotion when Sirius tapped his back.

"That's right, big boy! James, you just lost it!" Sirius said when James arrived.

"What happened, Padfoot?"

"Wormtail here is hitting on Emmeline."

"Oho! Go on, maybe she gets you, Pete!"

"They're mad. " Ron said to Harry, who nodded. Behind them, Neville and Luna started to play chess, as Hermione and Ginny broached to see James and Sirius' talk.

"So, what about the ginger head?"

Sighing, James shook his head.

"She hates me, Pads. If I jinx Snape, she complains. I just forgot his existence, and she says I despise people!"

Sirius laughed.

"Give up."

"No!" Harry yelled at once, making everybody look at him.

"Excuse me?" James asked.

"Don't give up."

"You don't know her." He said, as if a complete stranger talking about his love life was very common. "If I get on with this, she'll curse me."

"Have you tried ignoring her?" Hermione asked, stopping to pretend she wasn't listening.

"Ignore Evans? Are you mad?"

"Of course! Oh, you're so thick. If you run after her for so long, she must have created a bond with you, as if a boy hitting of her was like a measure system for confidence and somewhat tranquilizing. As she feels happy enough about you asking her out, she doesn't need anyone else to pay attention on her. But she feels also guilty for liking the fact that you like her, so she treats you badly."

"What is she talking about?" Sirius asked Ron, who shrugged his shoulders.

"I dunno."

"Ahn… Ok." James wondered. "What you're saying must be exactly… Good?"

"Let's change, we're almost there." Hermione rolled eyes.

When he saw Hogwarts and Hogsmeade Village, Harry couldn't believe who was just beside him, trying to make Ron and Neville look "cooler". Remus stopped by his side and said:

"Beautiful, isn't it? I'm always glad when we arrive. Except, of course, when Sirius and James locked me with the trunks. But this time doesn't count."

"This is Hogwarts will be nice."

"If you think this now, New Kid, you'll find it more, later." Peter arrived, clutching Remus. "Hey, you should apart them, James left Ron's hair creepy."

"Ready?" Ginny asked later when they were walking to the carriages. Beyond them the Marauders were holding each other's shoulders, trying to walk as one. Peter was almost falling.

"Hello!"

Harry and the others turned back. Lily, along with Emmeline and other three girls were running to them.

"Hi, how are you? You're Harry, right?" she asked a little clumsy. Her face was red because of the run, but she smiled.

"Yes."

"Oh, thank God, I thought Potter had told me the wrong names to make fun of me. I guess I've already said that, but I'm Lily Evans. This is Emmeline, you already know her, and those are Marlene, Dorcas and Alice."

Luna stepped forward, pointing to Dorcas' neck.

"You're with a lunar stone necklace."

"I am! It frightens smelling gnomes!"

Harry had never saw Luna so happy. Her blue eyes wide with happiness as she showed the girl all the things her father had found. Neville and Ron grinned as they ignored the rest of the world to talk about strange theories about the moon and radishes.

"They're crazy, these two." Marlene smiled, rolling her eyes. "Let's go?" she walked along with Ginny and Emmeline. Harry and Lily smiled to each other, and he could see the girl's famous green eyes sparkling.

"So… Already know your house?" they entered the carriage.

"Gryffindor, like you."

"Nice." She blushed.

"Heard you're very good at Potions." Harry tried to keep the talk.

"Oh, yes, I love it! Who told you? Remus, of course, he likes to talk about me…"

"James did."

"Potter?"

"Yep."

"He was sarcastic. I'm sure of it. Don't believe in anything he says about me."

"But he said you liked Potions." Harry smiled.

Lily became silent as Harry continued smiling. Marlene, sitting in front of them, started:

"Relax, she's always like that. Look, we're there!"

The Main Hall was full that night, and they were almost dragged by Sirius to their corner of the table. When Professor Dumbledore rose to give them the Welcome warns, the noise broke off. Finally, Harry felt home, looking at James.

"Welcome, welcome, to another year at Hogwarts! New and old students. This year we have six more new students, in the seventh year. Their names: Harry Parker, Ronald Weasley, Ginevra Weasley, Hermione Granger, Neville Lewis and Luna Lovegood. They were already selected, and will take place on Gryffindor. I hope all of you, Gryffindor students or not, shall give your most warm welcome."

James smiled to Harry.

"I must remind you that the forbidden object's list was a little big extended, and for those who are interested, the list is fixed on Mr. Filch's office. Students who want to join their house's quidditch team must contact the captain or responsible professor. "James swelled his chest. "And also would like to tell you once more that our forest is forbidden to students, even though some insist in disobeying this rule." He gazed at James and Sirius.

"He always tells us not to go there." Sirius said with his mouth full of food. "That's why I like Dumbledore. He's persistent."

"He has a good reason to do so." Hermione reprimand and Ron rolled his eyes.

"Hermoine, 'ut up."

"Ron, you're disgusting." Ginny complained, and Remus grinned.

"Here she comes, James."

Lily was heading on their direction, and when she saw James she sat right in front of him.

"The password… The common room's password."

"What is it?"

"Sea urchins opening."

"Who's the moron who created this?"

"You ask me?"

"Oho, you too think it's stupid." James winked to her. Lily blushed.

"So so… Whatever, Potter. About the quidditch practice, try to place them on days without patrol."

"She's so nice." Peter sighed when she left. "Here, Prongs. Take a chocolate. You'll need it."