Chapter 3

"Well, well, well. If it isn't old Snivellus. Have a nice summer? Wash your hair at all?" Sirius sneered at the greasy haired boy in front of him.

"Don't you dare!" Snape drew his wand, his face quickly colouring.

"Ooh! I'm so scared, Peter- help, he's got his wand out! What are you going to do with that, eh? Conjure up a bottle of shampoo?" Peter, who was always eager to be impressed, laughed. Around them, people from various compartments were peeping their heads around the doors. "Looks like we've got an audience. All the better!" Sirius smiled menacingly. "What's it to be, Snivellus, will I turn you into a toad? Or a slimy old worm. Yes I think that would suit you better. Though it wouldn't make much of a difference. What do you think?"

"Your threats don't frighten me, Black, LEVI-"

"Oi! Stop!"

They all turned to face James, who had just come out of the Marauders' compartment.

"Put you wand away Snape! Or I'll give you detention. Come on Sirius, Peter," James ushered them back in. As they took their seats, Sirius mumbled;

"What was that all about Prongs? We had him on his own for once!" James just glared at him and said quietly;

"I'm Head Boy now, thing are going to be different."

"Blimey James, I didn't think you were going to take this so seriously!" James just shrugged at stared absent mindedly out of the window.

Sirius was puzzled. Was it just him, or had James Potter actually acted mature? What was the world coming to? Sighing, he picked up another chocolate frog dropped into his mouth.

"So, Lily, how was your prefect meeting?" Alice asked innocently as the four girls made their way through Hogsmeade station.

"Haha, I know you all know! What on earth possessed Dumbledore to appoint someone like him as head boy?" Lily replied irritably, checking Darwin was safely secured.

Marlene shrugged.

"You know Dumbledore, he's mad, that's what they all say!"

"I'm beginning to think that's true." The girls all laughed.

"Look on the bright side, at least he'll have to act more maturely now, and all of his group, what with Remus being a prefect too- that only leaves Sirius and Peter. Sirius wont do anything without James and Peter is a bit of a wimp, you have to admit!" Alice pointed out.

"Oh, I suppose!" Lily said resignedly, but she didn't sound very convinced.

"Anyway, moving on to more important topics," Mary began with a sly tone. "Has Frank asked you out yet, Alice?" Alice blushed bright red and suddenly found the ground very interesting.

"Welcome, one and all! I would like to say a number of things, but for now, let's leave it at Tiddle blink, ho!"

The Great Hall was filled excited voices as the plates in front of the students filled up. Everyone immediately delved into the mountains of food that had appeared on the five long tables. Lily found she couldn't help glancing over at James every few minutes.

"Relax, Lily, what's making you so nervous looking?" Marlene said, concerned about her best friend's strange behaviour. Lily, who hadn't been paying attention, flinched as Marlene put her had on her shoulder.

"Wha- Oh, nothing, just nervous about our N.E.W.T.s, that's all!" Marlene looked sceptical, but nodded and turned to Alice, who appeared to have misjudged the strength of a heating spell and in her panic, had cause a mini explosion.

Lily glanced again at James, who was laughing heartily at something Sirius had just said. Whatever happened this year, it would certainly be interesting.