The large group crammed into car 132, forcing Peter and Lily to curl up on the floor due to the limited seating. James was fuming, muttering curses under his breath. Alice looped her arm around his shoulders, partly to calm him down and partly to restrain him from punching a wall, an activity he was known for. And he wasn't the only angry one. Kat had been clenching her fists so tightly that her nails left crescent moons in her palm so deep they threatened to draw blood. Angry tears pricked at the corners of her eyes but she refused to cry. An awkward silence blanketed the cabin, no one quite knowing what to say that wouldn't set either of the two off into a tantrum. James and Kat were scary enough on their own, but combined they were guaranteed to be a terror. Finally, Marlene was brave enough to speak up.
"Kat, you have to tell us what happened. We can't help if-"
"I don't want help; and I've already told you what happened," Kat hissed through clenched teeth. Her jaw was guaranteed to be sore later, and not from the activity the group was secretly expecting.
"All you said was that Sirius left, you didn't-" Lily started to argue but was quickly silenced by Peter's hand on her shoulder.
"Peter was there, he heard everything. Tell them Pete. Tell them why he left," Kat ranted, pointing an accusatory finger at Pete. All eyes turned to the mousy boy seated on the floor and he began to stutter, jumbled syllables pouring out of his mouth.
"I mean he- I didn't- He just-" Peter began waving his hands, a nervous habit that drove most of his friends crazy. Lily gently placed her hands on his and held them still. Pete took a deep breath, closed his eyes and continued. "Sirius said he was leaving because he wanted to fight. He wanted Kat to come with him but when she didn't go he got angry and started shouting and then he just left."
"Where did he go?" asked Alice curiously, although they all could assume the answer.
"Beats me," Pete replied. "But I watched him get off the train. Who knows where he took off too."
"Shit, I need a smoke," James stood up and pried himself from Alice's grasp. "Anyone want to join me?" Kat stood up as well and followed into the hall. As the door closed behind her, she heard Marlene mutter something incoherent, earning a few chuckles.
"Do you have any on you? Mine are in my trunk."
James nodded and held a box of cheap cigarettes out to Kat and she quickly took one, glancing around to be sure that no one saw their transaction. She followed James down the hall and into an empty cabin, where they cracked the window to let the smoke out, lest they arouse suspicion. Kat pulled a Zippo lighter out of her pocket and lit the tip, but realized her mistake when James let out a hearty laugh.
"Aren't you a witch? On your way to a school of Witchcraft?" He plucked the lighter from her hand, examining it with curiosity. "This is fascinating, how do Muggles come up with this?"
"Oh shove off," Kat punched James in the arm and took back her lighter. "It requires a lot less thought than conjuring up a flame does." She then lit James's outheld cigarette, took a long draw of hers, and blew the smoke out the open window.
The trees flew by impossibly fast, turning into a blur of dark green with patches of blue in between. In a few seconds they were past the forest and were treated to a view of the sun setting over an expansive lake. Compared to her home in Arizona, Northern England was a sight for sore eyes. Even though she would miss the sunshine, Kat had a love for the green that was everywhere here. A much more welcome environment than sandy dunes and rocky cliffs.
"We should be there soon," James commented, interrupting her thoughts. "I have a feeling this year is gonna be our year."
"Well it sure started out pretty shitty," Kat replied, exhaling another large cloud of smoke. "Maybe things will look up tonight. We're still having a party right? Down by the lake?"
"Why wouldn't we? It's a tradition," James paused. "With or without Pads." Kat leaned her head against the window and went back to watching the sunset.
"I'm sorry for letting him leave," she commented after a period of silence. "I should have said something to make him stay."
"Oh shut up," James scolded. "We both know that once that kid gets something in his head there isn't anything anyone can do to stop him."
Kat knew he was right, but she still couldn't get the image of him leaving out of her head.
-A few minutes after James and Kat left, the groups chatter was interrupted by a rap on the door. An attractive teenager dressed in a prim Ravenclaw uniform opened it and poked his head in.
"Has anyone seen Clearwater? He owes me 5 Galleons and he's not getting out of it this time," Noah McKinnon's shit-eating grin widened when he saw Marlene. "Oh hey Monroe, how was your summer?"
"Pretty good, I guess," she smiled back. "Clearwater didn't come down here, sorry."
"No problem. See you around." He took off down the hallway, slamming the door shut behind him.
"Oh you're on Monroe terms now, are you?" Alice wiggled her thin eyebrows.
"Oh shove off," Marlene replied.
"Bite me," Alice jokingly growled back.
"Merlin, the train is cold this year," Marlene said, curling her jacket tighter around her in a patheic attempt to change the subject. Peter rolled his eyes and a few others laughed. "What? I'm freezing!"
"Mars, you're always cold," Peter retorted.
"Maybe you should go fetch Noah McKinnon. He'll keep you warm," Lily threw an exaggerated wink in Marlene's direction.
"Ooooh, McKinnon!" Alice and Peter chorused.
"Isn't he a Ravenclaw? You wouldn't betray your house would you Mar?" Remus mockingly questioned her. Marlene, ever the level head, wasn't phased.
"Listen, all I ever said was that he was quite fit, I never said anything else," She glanced down and noticed Lily's purse sitting on the ground. In an effort to distract the conversation from herself, she grabbed the bag, and reached inside.
"Mar don't!" Lily laughed. She made a sad attempt to grab her belongings back, but Marlene had already fished a small black notebook out of her bag and was paging through it. Inside she found numerous portraits, some of strangers or maybe family members, but most of the pages were filled with impressive drawings of their small group of friends.
"Lily! You never said you could draw!" Everyone crowded in around Marlene to get a closer look.
"These are terrible, you guys, I really don't want-" The redhead protested, her face growing pink. At that statement the entire group erupted in protest. Amid the chaos, James and Kat returned, and in remarkably better spirits. Marlene beckoned them to come closer and admire Lily's work
"Lils what are you saying? This is amazing! Did you really draw these from memory?" Alice plucked the book from Marlene. "Look Rem, it looks just like you! She even got your hair right!" Remus turned the same shade as Lily, grabbing the sketchbook away from Alice. He turned a few more pages before letting out a bark like laugh that was quickly stifled by his hand.
"Sorry Lils, it's just that-" He started laughing again and turned the book around, revealing an impressively drawn sketch of James in women's clothing. "This really compliments your figure Prongs!" James rolled his eyes, taking his seat back next to Alice.
"I don't need a corset to be beautiful Moony," James retorted. "I was born this way." The room erupted in a mixture of laughs and protests again. Remus leaned over and smacked James on the arm before handing Lily her sketchbook back, who placed it back in her bag gratefully.
"So, who's up for a game of Exploding Snap?" Peter asked, pulling a deck from his back pocket. James nodded eagerly, and the rest settled in to watch. With the mood almost back to normal, Marlene felt that maybe- just maybe- there was a chance the year would go back to normal. Eventually.
-"I say we place a charmed line, and if any Slytherin crosses it, they're turned into a troll," James slurred through his mouthful of mashed potatoes. The group was seated in the Great Hall, enjoying the plentiful food that had been prepared for them and discussing plans for their party later that night. "That way none of them can sneak in."
"Yeah, they'll be too busy murdering us all," Marlene rolled her eyes and took another large spoonful of sweet potatoes, placing it on her plate. Kat snorted in response.
"That's attractive babe," Lily commented, earning a slap to her left arm across the table.
"What if we just dye their hair red and gold instead?" Kat suggested, indicating the flag emblazoned with the Gryffindor colors and emblem hanging above them with a nod of her head.
"I guess I can settle," James pouted. "Trolls would've been so much more interesting."
"Yeah, and deadly," Kat rolled her eyes and shoved the boy seated next to her, causing him to tip backward off the stool. James grabbed Kat's arm, pulling her down next to him onto the stone floor.
"If I'm going down, you're going down with me," He laughed, sparkles filling his hazel eyes. Kat groaned, stood up, and offered James a hand.
"You're going to be the death of me, I swear," she sighed.
"Don't I know it," he replied, returning to his seat next to her. James couldn't help but notice the awkward glances paid toward him and Kat. He glanced over to Kat, who also seemed to notice their newfound attention. Shrugging it off, he spooned some chicken onto his plate and dug in. Several others cleared their throats and followed suit. "So, back to the matter at hand. Slytherin trolls."
"James, we've been over this," Marlene rolled her eyes. "Besides who would know how to do that magic anyway?" Almost simultaneously, the group turned their heads to look pointedly at Remus who was mid-sip of his pumpkin juice. His eyes widened and he coughed, spitting a large amount of his drink across the table at Peter. Peter suddenly stood up, wiping the sticky liquid from his face and murmured a quick excuse to leave before hurrying out of the Great Hall.
"Sorry Pete," Remus shouted after him. "Is there alcohol in here?" Remus held his drink up, asking the question mostly to James.
"Guilty as charged," James pulled a flask from the inside pocket of his robes. "Just trying to get the party started a little early." He then tipped a small amount into everyone's cup, hitting himself twice and then Kat a second time after she elbowed him in the ribs.
"To our last year at Hogwarts," Marlene said, holding her goblet up high in the middle of the table.
"To our last year at Hogwarts," everyone chorused, not quite in unison. Heavy glances were cast to the empty seat between James and Peter's previous spot, but it wasn't acknowledged. Not yet.
Lily threw open the window, letting the clear scent of evergreen wash over her. Although other common rooms may be easier to access, or closer to the kitchens, there was no arguing that the best view was found from Gryffindor tower. A lush forest blanketed a large corner of the grounds, fanning onto the majestic mountains surrounding the valley where Hogwarts was nestled. If she craned her head far enough to the left, she could see the Whomping Willow gently swaying. A bit to the right and over a large hill, she could see the tallest peaks in Hogsmeade and the Shrieking Shack sat high on a hill a bit further back. Her view was interrupted by a hand on her shoulder and Kat suddenly appearing in front of her to climb out said window. Lily sighed.
"Kat, aren't you ever afraid that you're going to fall?" Kat laughed loudly.
"You're funny Lils," the rambunctious Gryffindor stood on the windowsill, reaching to grab the gutter above her. "I don't fall." And with that, she hoisted herself onto the steeply pointed roof of the tower.
"You just scare me sometimes," Lily shouted up to her. "I don't want you hurt."
"Then by all means Lily-flower, join me," Kat poked her head over the edge, tightly curled hair bouncing into her eyes that were full to the brim with her rebel spirit. Lily rolled her eyes but nevertheless grabbed onto her outstretched hand and joined her on the roof.
"Got any smokes?" Kat asked innocently.
"I know you have smokes on you Kat. Besides, I don't smoke."
"Oh that's right. Lily Evans, innocent soul who won't light up with a friend but will spy on Tony Clearwater while he's in the prefect's bathroom in fifth year." Lily gasped and sputtered at this statement.
"Katherine, you dared me to do that, and you never paid me 4 Galleons for it,"
"Well consider this your payment then," Kat held out a cigarette to Lily and, defeatedly, she took it. Kat smirked, taking a long draw from hers.
"Can I be honest with you about something?" Kat asked after a pause. Lily mumbled an affirmative. "Part of me wishes I had gone with him." Her throat constricted, barely letting Kat finish her sentence.
"Well yeah," Lily replied. "You love him. There's no doubt that you would want to be with him right now. Don't beat yourself up Katie." With a gentle touch, she stroked Kat's bare shoulder, feeling the goosebumps covering her dark skin.
"He probably hates me now." Hot tears began to stream down her face. Kat wasn't one to cry, and Lily was shocked at the sudden display of emotion.
"Love, he doesn't hate you," Lily brushed a tear from her friend's cheek. "He's scared is all. That poor kid has had a damn rough time of it lately and he probably just needs some time alone. He'll come back eventually, I promise." With a deep sigh, Kat turned to Lily with a grim smile on her face.
"Thank you, Lils," The two embraced for a long time, enjoying the warmth emanating from each other, heating up their chilled bones from the damp September night.
"Jem wants to get things set up down by the forest, how bloody long does it take you lot to smoke a fag?" Marlene shouted from below them. Lily and Kat started laughing, and snuffed out their cigarettes on the roof before sliding down and carefully making their way back inside.
"Sorry Mars, didn't mean to keep you waiting," Lily laced her arms in both Kat's and Marlene's, leading her group down the stairs and into the common room. Alice was seated on the plush red couch, gazing into the crackling fireplace. She turned around when she heard the three approaching, grinning widely.
"Finally ready?" She jumped over the back of the couch and looped her arm into Marlene's, adding herself onto their train. "Let's get this party started!"
AN: Here is chapter 3! For anyone here since the beginning, thanks for waiting! It's been a long process but I'm finally on track with chapters. As always, big thanks to my beta reader Anca for sticking through my terrible writing and helping me bring it up to par :) A review a day keeps You-Know-Who away! Ciao, ~Sarah