A/N: Because I haven't said it for a while, I just thought I'd remind you all that AnnaSmiles, my beta, is awesome! And Merry Christmas to you all!
As the Hogwarts Express began to pull out of Hogsmeade station the following day, I twisted my neck around for my last view of Hogwarts before returning in September. The train began to build up speed and after a view seconds the castle, the station, and the waving form of Hagrid were sliding out of view. I turned back around to face my friends, and Alice quickly challenged me to a game of chess.
After a relatively uneventful hour, I began to grow bored of the continuous chess games between myself, Alice, and Emmeline, and so, as the latter two began yet another game, I climbed back up off the floor and onto a seat by the window. I stared out at the countryside zooming past for a short while, barely noticing the noises of friendly banter, issued commands, and pieces beating each other up behind me. Then, growing restless again, I reached up to my trunk, opened it, and pulled out a book. This didn't keep me occupied for long either; I was unable to concentrate, no doubt due to the sound of the battle being fought behind me, which grew steadily louder as it neared its completion. I closed my book, sighed loudly, and placed it down on the seat next to me, just as Emmeline executed her final move with a flourish, trapping Alice's king on the back rank with her two rooks.
"Beginner's luck," grumbled Alice, scowling at the small pile of her pieces at the edge of the board.
"Not my fault you fell for that fork and lost your queen," retorted Emmeline smugly. "It was pretty obvious, you know."
Alice, still with an annoyed expression on her face, turned instead to look at me. "Lils, do us all a favour, and come and beat Emmeline before she starts getting too full of herself."
However, I simply smiled faintly and said, "No, thanks."
My two friends looked at me in surprise. I'd never been one to turn down a game of chess.
"What's up, Lil?" asked Emmeline, concern in her voice.
"Honestly, it's nothing. I'm just a little tired; that's all," I replied, hoping that this would suffice as an excuse.
It didn't.
"Come on, you've been quiet since yesterday evening. We're your best friends; you can't have expected us not to notice," pressed Emmeline.
"You can tell us, you know, Lily. Whatever it is," Alice chipped in.
"Truth be told, I'm not even sure what's wrong," I said, resigning myself to the fact that they wouldn't leave me alone before I gave some sort of explanation. "I can't concentrate on anything; I feel restless all the time; I'm constantly wanting to do something but I don't know what; and after a while I just keep getting bored and want to do something else." Having spoken everything that was on my mind, I lapsed into silence for a moment, before concluding, "Like I said, I'm probably just tired." I went back to staring out of the window.
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw my two friends looking each other. As far as I could tell, they were restraining themselves from giggling, but I had no idea what they found amusing. I saw Alice making a gesture in my general direction, followed by Emmeline shaking her head. She then addressed me, saying, "Look, it's nearly lunch time. We'll go and get some food from the trolley and bring it back, that'll cheer you up a bit! Okay?"
"Okay," I said, smiling at her, but still wondering what it was they had communicated to each other without words in the seconds before. As they left the compartment, the door sliding shut behind them, I made my decision. I gave them a couple of seconds headstart, then slid the compartment door back open, pulling out my wand and looking left and right down the corridor. After seeing them heading towards the front of the train on my right, I cast a charm I had invented myself last year, inspired by one of Severus' charms that was used to prevent eavesdropping. My version did the exact opposite.
Feeling slightly guilty for spying on my friends, I whispered, "Amplificato!" I immediately heard Alice's voice, as clear as though she were speaking right next to me.
"Don't you think we should say something to her?" she asked.
Still looking down the corridor, I saw Emmeline shake her head. Through the charm, I heard her reply, "She'll know soon enough, and it's better she figures it out for herself." Then the two moved into the next carriage, out of sight, and the charm broke.
Thoroughly bewildered, I returned to my seat in our compartment. I had absolutely no idea what they had interpreted my behaviour to mean, but they obviously thought it was significant. I was certain that I was just tired, or that it was perhaps a feeling brought on by the end of term. Surely there was nothing unusual or even remotely interesting about any of it. I began to gaze out over the countryside again, deep in thought.
About a minute later, the compartment door opened; I looked round, expecting to see Alice and Emmeline carrying armfuls of Pumpkin Pasties, but it wasn't them. It was James. For some reason, I felt the same lurching feeling in my stomach I had done last night after he had pulled me out of the lake. I was also inexplicably nervous.
"Hi," I said, slightly breathlessly. As I said this, I looked behind him, out into the carriage, for any sign of the other Marauders. They weren't there. "Where are the others?"
"Went to get food," he replied. "I just fancied a bit of a wander round, to be honest…Bit restless. Where are Alice and Emmeline?"
"Same, getting food," I said. We looked at each other for a few seconds before I said, slightly awkwardly, "Um… why don't you sit down?"
He grinned and sat. Another moment or two passed in silence before he said, "Got much planned for the summer?"
"Not really," I replied. "Mostly I'll just be glad of the rest. It's been an eventful year. Mum and Dad might have stuff planned though; a few days away in the country, maybe. How about you?"
He chuckled. "Oh, it's going to be a right laugh with Sirius around too. Can't wait! If nothing else, I'll have to keep him busy to keep his mind off his family," he said with a slightly grim expression, before continuing, "but I'm sure he'll be alright."
Our conversation continued for another minute or two before the door slid open again, and this time it really was Alice and Emmeline, bearing large amounts of food. They stopped short at the sight of me and James in lively conversation.
"Oh, hi, James!" said Emmeline, in a very cheery fashion. I stared at her.
"Oh… hi," said James, looking a little put out. "Um… well, I'll leave you guys alone then…"
"You don't have to go," I said, feeling the words coming out before I could stop them. Everyone looked at me, and I felt myself blushing slightly.
James looked at me for a second before saying, "Nah, it's alright. If I'm lucky, there'll be some food waiting for me in my compartment too. See you later, Lily."
"Yeah… see you," I said, smiling at him as he left. Alice and Emmeline stood aside to let him past, and the door closed behind him. I watched it for a few seconds, forgetting that the other two were there; that is, until they both burst out laughing.
Starting slightly, I watched them, a little annoyed, as they sat down opposite me. "Honestly, what is it with you two?" I asked irritably.
"Haven't figured it out yet?" giggled Emmeline. I stared, completely clueless as to what she meant.
"Figured what out?" I snapped.
"You fancy James!" the two of them chorused.
I opened my mouth to issue my usual denial to this statement; but for some reason, it wouldn't come out. I sat with my mouth open for a few seconds, causing yet more laughter from the two girls opposite me. I shut it, and then I opened my mouth again; and this time, my attempt at speech was successful.
"Oh, bollocks."
A/N: Please review! ^_^