II. Mistake 2—Who Invited Emmeline?

Emmeline is in our compartment.

Who invited her?

We are back to school which means we are on the Hogwarts Express. I'd already gone and attended that stupid Heads meeting in which James acted like a total idiot—I'm not even going to bother recapping it. Low and behold, I return to see Emmeline and James in the compartment. Selene and Emmeline are chatting, and James looked like he wanted to be anywhere but there. At least Marlene was glaring at him. I knew we were best mates for a reason.

"How did you get here before me?" I demanded as I situated myself across from Marlene.

"Lily," Emmeline said, smiling showing every perfect white tooth. Urgh, "How was your summer?"

"Terrible," I said attempting to smile.

"Lily," Selene shot me a stern look, "Lily's just…er…"

"Upset that James is Head Boy?" Emmeline asked shrewdly, "I know. We were all surprised weren't we love," she cooed at James. James just ruffled his hair.

"Yeah. Surprised," he said dully, shooting me a look, "Let's get out of here, yeah?"

"No, I'm talking with Selene," Emmeline said briskly turning back to my mate.

Selene invited her? Everyone knows I can't stand her—Selene especially! I mean I guess everyone doesn't know. Emmeline doesn't know I can't stand her, but what can I say? I hate her because she's too…perfect? She's perfectly nice to me. She's ridiculously smart. She's pretty and well liked by most people.

Except me.

I don't even have a good reason.

I suppose I could say she has a bad taste in men. Yeah…I'll go with that. I can't stand her because she's dating Potter. Well. That just makes me sound jealous…which doesn't make sense. If I'm jealous of Emmeline, it's not because of James Potter.

It's because she's passing Transfiguration with flying colors.

"I never did say Congratulations, Lily."

"What?" I asked, forcing myself to look at the brunette girl. Her hair was so…straight. It didn't ever frizz. It was the perfect length, just above her shoulders, held back by her headband.

"I was saying congratulations on Head Girl," she said, smiling pleasantly. I tugged on my red braid. My hair had been such a wreck this morning that I'd just given up and braided it.

Mine wasn't straight.

It was a mass of curly red waves. Marlene used to joke that they'd turn into red snakes one day and I'd be a redhead Medusa—only more terrifying. I don't know why she ever thought that was funny. Marlene has always had a shitty sense of humor though.

"Oh—thanks. I thought it was going to be you," I admitted before I could stop myself.

Emmeline just gave a tight smile, "Yes…well…I'm sure Dumbledore knew what he was doing…" she trailed off and gave me a bracing look, "You'll make a lovely Head Girl, Lily."

"Thanks," I mumbled.

Emmeline turned back to Selene, and I caught Marlene's eye. She just gave me an unreadable look. I had just crossed over so we could whisper properly without Potter eavesdropping—he's been sulking in the corner—when the compartment door opened.

"There you are Prongs!" Sirius cried cheerfully. Prongs? Following behind him was a mousy haired boy who was a head shorter than Sirius. He grinned at everyone.

"Hey."

That was Peter Pettigrew. I waited, knowing the other was sure to follow. Sure enough, the tall and thin Remus Lupin ducked inside. He looked extra pale today, and his sandy blonde hair was in disarray. He hadn't shown up in meeting, and I sort of wanted to ask him where he'd been, but I held back. I probably didn't want to know. Around those four, you tend to be better off if you don't ask questions.

"We sitting here?" Remus asked. He spotted me and looked away quickly.

Yes. I know you weren't at meeting Remus, I thought, staring at the back of his head. He always tries to get out of everything. It was really irritating when we were Prefect partners. He always had to 'visit his mum'. Really now? I mean, Severus had his own ideas but they were so ludicrous… I should be more worried about Potter though. He'll be ten times as bad as Remus. I can already tell. Urgh…

"Sure," Emmeline said brightly, "I was just catching up with Selene here about our summers," she glanced at Marlene and me. I suppose we were being sort of rude…ignoring her and all. Not that she was talking to us either. Well…except for my 'congratulations'. I still don't know what her intent was with that. I know there's an ulterior motive.

Selene would tell me that I was crazy and need to quit jumping to conclusions.

Well, we'll see what happens when I'm right.

Emmeline is evil. I just haven't been able to prove it yet.

"Hey Lily," Remus said, sitting next to me as Peter and Sirius at across from us, "Hello Marlene."

I gave a curt nod. Who invited them again? Oh yeah…Emmeline.

I knew I didn't like her for a better reason than her having prettier hair than me. She brings the Marauders with her, and that's never a good thing. Oh yeah. Maybe I haven't mentioned it. They call themselves the Marauders—how childish do they get? I swear they still act like a bunch of second years.

"How was your summer?" Remus asked.

"It was fine," I said shrugging.

"I thought you said it was terrible?" James interrupted, cocking an eyebrow speaking me for the first time. He hadn't actually spoken to me at the Heads meeting—not directly. All he did was make 'funny' comments while I tried to explain their jobs as Prefects. He's so immature. Completely inadequate for this job.

I never will understand what is with that boy. One minute he's mocking me and the next ignoring me completely. Then he'll turn around and start flirting with me—oh Merlin's breeches I certainly hope not.

I wasn't aware he'd been listening earlier anyway. You know, since he was sulking about having to be within ten feet of me, "Er—yes—well—it was terribly…terribly boring," I corrected hastily, "Beside, Petunia's a right old cow. That's enough to make anyone's summer terrible."

Marlene snorted at this. She knew all about my sister, Petunia.

"What about a cow?" Peter asked, frowning as he tried to join the conversation, "You live on a farm, Evans?"

I rolled my eyes and didn't bother to answer.

"Who's Petunia?" Potter asked, ignoring Peter's question as well.

"She's her sister," Marlene offered. I shot her a glare. I did not need him knowing anything else about me. Who knew what he'd do with that information! I mean, I can't really see what he would do…but Potter is pretty devious when he wanted to be.

He could've been a Slytherin, I reckon.

I wonder what he would say if I told him that. I don't think he'd take it very well.

"Lily!" Marlene snapped.

"What?"

"Will you pay attention when I'm talking to you?" she asked exasperatedly.

"Sorry…"

I was distracted however, when Emmeline attempted to squeeze down at the other end next to James. Marlene was now squished against me, and I was squished against Remus.

"There really isn't room for this," I muttered. Marlene squeezed out and went to sit by Sirius, "I think there are too many people in this compartment," I said, giving the boys a pointed look.

"Yeah…well, good luck finding an empty compartment, Evans," Sirius said, grinning cheekily.

Did I mention I hate him?

Marlene snorted and looked to Selene, so I glanced at her too. Could Selene be any more obvious? She was staring at Sirius rather unabashedly, so I watched humorously as Marlene threw a jellybean at her head.

"Hey!" she glared at Marlene, "What? Are we first years?"

"I thought you liked the green ones," Marlene said shrugging, pulling out another jelly bean, "Or how about a nice red one…cherry maybe?" she asked, tossing it at Selene.

"Quit it, will you," Selene snapped, crossing her arms. She glanced at Emmeline for support, but she was sort of draped over her boyfriend forgetting that the rest of us in this compartment had to witness them.

"I missed you this summer," Emmeline cooed loud enough to get all our attentions. I mimed gagging at Marlene. Of course, we were now sitting across from everyone, so they all saw. Well, not Emmeline or James. They were rather…preoccupied.

Remus sniggered beside me, and I grinned, "What? I'd be embarrassed if I were her."

Although that's not completely true. I mean, I'd probably coo at my boyfriend too. Maybe not in public. I would never have this problem though because if I were Emmeline, I wouldn't be dating James Potter.

"Be nice," Selene warned me. I said nothing but crossed my arms. Marlene whispered something to Sirius, and he began laughing raucously. I noticed Selene's eyes narrow in their direction, so I tried to make it a more…er integrated conversation.

"What's so funny?" I asked.

"You probably don't want to know," Peter said, smirking.

"Wormtail is right," Remus said nodding, "You probably don't…"

"Marlene said it," I pointed out, "And what's with those nicknames anyway? They're stupid."

"I think they're cute," Emmeline said. Oh. I wasn't aware she was part of this conversation.

Shouldn't she be drooling over her boyfriend?

"Cute?" the three of them said in unison, all wearing looks of disgust. Even Potter looked revolted. I inwardly laughed…but not outwardly because Selene is friends with Emmeline for some weird reason and she's already upset with the fact I've been ignoring her the entire train ride.

"Yeah…you four," Emmeline giggled, "You're all so silly…isn't that right Jamsie."

Sirius made a loud coughing noise, and Marlene slapped his back. We all stared at him, "Jellybean?" he offered weakly.

Emmeline ignored him turning back to James talking about who knows what.

Probably Transfiguration.

You know, the one class that has made its life's ambition to give me hell.

But then Emmeline let out one of those giggling screams of hers. I know it's completely unfair to hate her for this because I've done the girly scream too…but not by myself. And definitely not on the Hogwarts Express where my stomach is rumbling because jellybeans are not a nutritious meal.

Sirius looks revolted as he stares at her. I chuckle, and he smirks at me.

"You know what I want to know Evans?" he asks in a low voice.

"Er—no?"

Why is Sirius Black talking to me anyway? Sirius just smirks and leans towards me and asks, "Who the hell invited her in here anyway?"

Marlene and I exchanged looks and laughed. Selene threw us both angry looks before turning back towards the window again.

I really don't mind though. It's her fault for inviting Emmeline in to begin with.