Chapter Two

Lily
It doesn't take long for me to find Marlene's carriage; I can hear all the way from the other side of the train she's that loud.
I push the door open and find all four of my best friends sitting and chatting happily.
"Lil!" Alice and Mary say.
"Hey Miss Head Girl!" Em smiles.
Marlene just grins through a mouthful of chocolate frog.
"Hey guys!" I say happily, as I sit down between Alice and Marlene, picking Percy up off Marlene's lap and onto mine.
"How was the Prefect meeting? Was it weird leading it?" Marlene asks, almost as soon as I sit down.
I look at her suspiciously, but I reply, desperate to vent about Potter, "Trust me, it probably would've been great if he wasn't Head Boy. I mean, can you believe Dumbledore chose Potter! I thought for sure he was going to choose Remus! Remus's the Prefect! But Potter just went on about how great he was, and how everyone needs to give all the confiscated goods to him, so he can pass them onto Filch! Yeah, like he's really going to pass that on!"
"That'll be five galleons please," Marlene says to Em.
Em sighs and pulls four galleons out of her pocket, "That's all I got," she says, "I'll give you the rest at school."
"Why?" I ask.
"Oh we made a bet that you would start talking about Potter in the first minute," Marlene says to me, before turning back to look at Em and Mary, "told you she was into him."
The two snort with laughter, and I fold my arms glaring at Marlene, "I am NOT into Potter, please, he is a complete egotistical jerk."
The corner of everyone's mouth twitches, as they try not to laugh at me; I give a huff of annoyance, helping myself to a chocolate frog.
"Okay, I bet twenty galleons that they will get together, or at least kiss this year," Mary says.
"I ain't betting against that," Marlene says, "James has kissed every girl in our year except Lily and possibly a few Slytherins."
"There is no way he has kissed every girl in our year, I mean, he hasn't kissed all of you," I point out.
"Wanna bet?" Marlene says.
I just glare at her; I know she's kissed Potter, on more than one occasion.
"If you have kissed James Potter put up your hand," Marlene says.
All four of them put their hands up.
"Seriously? All of you?!"
"I don't know what to tell you Lil, but he gets around," Alice says seriously.
"Ugh, whatever, can you please stop talking about him," I groan.
"Okay, how's Benjy?" Em asks, grinning cheekily.
I sigh, "I dunno, I haven't seen him since we broke up before summer."
"So you didn't talk to him all summer?" Mary asks.
I shake my head and shrug, "He's probably pretty busy with auror training anyway."
Alice shakes her head vigorously as she tries to swallow her large mouthful of chocolate frog, "Frank told me that Ben dropped out! And he's gone straight into full time for," her voice drops slightly, "the Order!"
"Whoa, he dropped out?" Em says, "but he was so dedicated!"
"I know right!" Alice says nodding her head.
"Is Frank enjoying auror training?" Mary asks.
"Yeah, he loves it," Alice answers enthusiastically, but lowering her voice for the next bit, "but he's been doing some work for the Order, and he says that that is easily more interesting and exciting, cause it's real hands on stuff, they don't get told much of what is really happening at the Ministry, they're trying to make it sound not as bad."
"So the 50 deaths a day is trying to make it sound not as bad," Marlene says sarcastically, holding up a copy of today's Daily Prophet that reads, 'THE MUGGLE MURDERS: ARE THEY TURNING INTO MASSACRES?'
"Well, I'm for sure not going to bother with auror training," says Em, "I'm joining the Order, the second school's over."
Marlene nods in agreement.
"I dunno," I say, "Auror training would be really cool, especially for later on."
"Yeah, Frank says he's learnt loads of new stuff," Alice adds.
"Yeah, but I want to be out there doing hands-on stuff, actually fighting Voldemort," Marlene whispers, excitement in her voice.
I shiver slightly at the sound of the name, and the others flinch. Marlene is the only one who says his names still, I say it sometimes, but only when I feel it is really needed. There is just something about, about saying it, like it's a curse. I know it's just name and that it's ridiculous to fear it, but I just can't help myself.
"I highly doubt Ben is battling with You-Know-Who himself every other day, it's more likely he's just doing small tasks," I point out.
"Frank said they were just passing on information from one hide out to another mainly," Alice adds.
"Yes, but at least they're doing something, you know," Mary says firmly, and everyone nods and murmurs in agreement.

James
"HEY! Guess who's back!"
There is a roaring chorus of 'Prongs!' as I pull open the carriage door and am greeted by the rest of the marauders.
"Mate!" Sirius says as I fall down into my usual spot next to him, grabbing a chocolate frog and eating it ravenously.
"How's the Head Boy?" Sirius says in a mocking voice.
"Oh quite grand," I say, in an ironic pompous manner, "but seriously, that Prefect's cabin is so big and comfy, I'm amazed you ever came back to slum it with us in these past years, Moony," I say to Remus, who is sitting opposite me, next to Peter.
"I still don't understand, not just why, but how you got to be Head Boy," Peter says.
"It's a mystery to all of us," Remus says, and Sirius gives a snort of laughter.
"Evans didn't seen to happy, huh, Prongs," Sirius grins, nudging me in the ribs with his elbow.
"Oh shut-up, she is totally into me, I changed me cigarette into a blackbird and she just couldn't get enough of it. Plus I'm gonna be spending a lot of time with her this year, so she is going to have to succumb to the Potter charm," I say, running my fingers through my hair, almost subconsciously.
Remus and Peter both roll their eyes, but Sirius turns to me and says confidently, "I bet you 10 fucking galleons that you will NOT go on a date with Lily Evans," he holds out his hand and I shake it.
"You got yourself a deal, Padfoot."
We chat for a while discussing everything from Voldemort to Quidditch, about 20 minutes later Remus excuses himself, to go and find his girlfriend, Daisy Matthews. I go with him, wanting to talk about Lily.
Remus, of course, sees right through this.
"Prongs, I'm not here to give you ten top tips on how to hook up with Lily Evans," he says as we walk down the train corridor.
"I don't want to hook up with her," I moan.
"Oh does James want a big boy relationship," Remus says with a smirk.
"No, but seriously, you're good friends with her, why does she hate me so much, everyone else loves me!" I ask, bewildered.
"And, you've answered your own question," Remus says.
"What?"
Remus turns to face me, "Deflate your ego, some girls might like a big ego, but not Lily. Be more mature, and stop jinxing people just because you can."
I grin, "Well that doesn't sound to hard!"
"And, don't be mean to Snape," Remus adds with a sigh.
"What?! But they're not even friends anymore!" I protest.
"Yes, but she probably still has some lasting affection for him, even if they're not friends."
"Merlin, I do not understand girls in the slightest!" I say raising my eyebrows.
"Yes, well, if you maybe tried talking to them, rather than just sticking your tongue down their throat... Now if you excuse me I have to go and do both with my girlfriend." Remus motions to a compartment a few doors down.
I frown for a few moments thinking.
"You know what, Moony," I say, a grin spreading across my face, "I can do that, all I have to do is just ignore Snivillus, or turn him to something like a toad or a fly,"
"James," Remus says in a warning voice, but I ignore him.
"I now have the all the tools I need to get Miss Lily Evans to go out with me! Hi-five mate!" I say loudly, slapping Moony's palm.
As I turn and walk back up the train I call out loudly, "Have fun snogging Daisy Matthews!"
I know Remus well enough to know what his reaction is without even looking at him. At that very moment he rolled his eyes, while shaking hi head and laughing half with amusement, half with exasperation.