The Hogwarts Express started with a rumble, and a puff of steam was emitted from its top accompanied by a loud whistle. The Hogwarts students hurried to get aboard.

"Lucy!!" Lily shouted, embracing her friend as they struggled through the stream of students to their train compartment. "I missed you so much!" They squeezed through the glass doors and flopped into their seats.

"I missed you too Lily! How was your summer?" Lucy asked, examining her red haired companion.

Lily smiled wryly. "Okay I guess… Petunia and her 'gorgeous' Vern-" she was interrupted by a slam.

"Gorgeous?" James Potter began. "Surely you were talking about me Evans!" He said, grinning as he and Sirius squeezed in next to her. Remus and Peter settled next to Lucy.

"Not in your dreams, Potter." She retaliated, glaring at him. The train jerked to a start as they began on their journey.

He laughed and leaned in close to her. "Go out with me Evans?" He whispered flirtatiously in her ear for the thousandth time. She groaned and ignored him.

Sirius tapped against James's shoulder. "It's a start Prongs, at least she didn't say no," he laughed. Lily, blocking out the conversation, analyzed Sirius and continued down the line of Marauders. Peter looked.. a little worshiping, and the sandy haired Remus appeared to be pale (if not more than usual) and a little sickly. A prefects badge rested on his chest, as it did with Lily's. The shaggy but attractive Sirius looked like, well, Sirius, and James looked handsome and as though he was enjoying every minute of his day. Everything was normal.

"So, Lily, did you see the moon last night?" Lucy asked. "It was so beautiful! It had that orangish tint when it's almost full and-" Remus coughed.

"Erm, actually, I thought it looked quite hideous and slightly as though it was planning on swallowing up the earth in two seconds, if you ask me," Sirius said jokingly but ruining it by casting a concerned glance at Remus. Lily and Lucy looked at each other, confused, but passed it off as worry for Remus's health. They sat awkwardly, listening to the noisy chatter coming from the other kids.

"So… how was your summer Evans?" James asked.

She frowned. "As I was saying before, Petunia and her hideous Vernon don't seem to want to leave the house, claiming it's theirs, and Tunia can't stand having the freak in her house and Mum and Dad are angry cause we're fighting and everyone was fighting and Lucy didn't respond to my letters and my quill broke and-" James covered her mouth, paying no mind to her struggling and continued the conversation with Sirius. "Padfoot, how was YOUR summer?" He inquired once again.

"Well, Mr. Prongs, my summer was quite marvelous as it was spent with you and several times with Mr. Moony and Mr. Wormtail." He responded. "How about your's Mr. Moony?"

Remus looked up, smiled, and then leaned back against the seat. His eyes were closed in seconds. The 6th years stared at his sleeping figure for a moment, but soon enough Peter chirped up. "The trolley's here!" He squeaked, leaning over to open up the glass doors. An old woman peeked her head through, interrupting the silence. "Anything from the trolley dears?" She asked. James grimaced as Lily bit down on his hand and he grudgingly released her. "I'll have two chocolate frogs and a pumpkin pasty please," she requested politely, holding out 2 silver sickles and a brown knut. The woman handed the products to her and proceeded to take James, Sirius, and Peter's hungry demands. When they were done, the three settled back in, feasting on their food. After what seemed forever, the train whistle blew once more.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

Albus Dumbledore looked upon the Hogwarts students warily, his eyes lingering on the four troublemakers of his years. What trick was it going to be today? He chuckled quietly and, finally, spoke into his wand.

"Tuck in!"

James, Sirius, Peter, and Remus all attacked their plates like starving wild hyenas (in Lucy and Lily's opinion) which frankly, made Lily want to gag. "You're going to choke one day," she told them, laughing as Peter looked up slowly.

James paused in his munching. "Are you sure you won't go out with me?" He asked yet again. Lily looked at him blankly and then stared at her plate, not as hungry as she once was. Not phased, James turned to Remus. "So Mr. Moony, how's the furry little problem doing?" He asked. Lily and Lucy shared a glance. They had heard 'furry little problem' before, but still had no clue to what it was.

"Erm… It'll be around tomorrow," He replied, wincing. Sirius patted his shoulder comfortingly but was distracted as a pretty Ravenclaw walked by, rocking her hips to the extreme as she passed the two black haired boys. James noticed his gaping. "I think that's Jennifer Chang," he told him, "She asked me out last year to Hogsmeade." "And you said…?"

James stared at him as though the answer was obvious. "Yes of course! She's a horrible kisser though," He said, shaking his head sadly. Sirius did the same. Boys, Lily thought to herself. All they care about are female bodies and the amount of contact with them. After another twenty minutes of talking and eating, Dumbledore's voice rang out once more.

"Prefects, please see Professor McGonagall now and then lead your houses to your common rooms," he commanded, and stepped down from the podium. Another year had begun.

Once Lily and Remus led the excited first years to the common room and given everyone the password, Lily and Lucy settled down in a plush couch facing the fireplace.

"Lily, Lucy!!!" A voice squealed.

The girls flew up, squeezing their blond, blue eyed friend in a hug. "Sara! I missed you soo much!" Lily said, her voice high with excitement. The three settled back onto the couch. The Marauders flopped down in chairs around them (much to the disappointment of the other 6th year boys who had been eyeing Lily, Lucy, and Sara,) and immediately began to talk.

"Moony, what's your first class?" Sirius asked.

Remus scratched his ear, "Potions with Professor Slughorn." He told him.

Lily and James looked up, "Same here," Lily informed them. James looked at her and ran a hand through his messy black hair, "me too! You must be so excited Evans!" He grinned. Lily's emerald green eyes sparkled dangerously as she narrowed them. Lucy pushed her against the couch, holding her back from any attack. They continued to compare schedules (in which Lily noticed with disdain that hers and James were quite alike) until Remus yawned and declared he could stay up no longer. The friend's eyes followed him as he made his way to the male sleeping quarters. Lucy too, longed to settle into her four poster bed. "I think I'll join him," she announced, and turned the opposite direction of Remus and climbed the stairs to the female sleeping area. Peter got up without a word and followed Remus.

"Well then.." Sirius began. "James, when's your free quarter?"

James examined his schedule. "3rd block, after Charms." Lily moaned inwardly, hers was the same. James apparently saw her and grinned. "I guess we'll have plenty of time to snog then eh?" He got up and took Lucy's spot on the couch, putting his arm around Lily. She tried to push it off but to no avail.

Sara looked blankly at Sirius and moved to sit next to him, which caused him to smile widely and do the same as James.

James admired Lily when she closed her eyes and pretended to ignore him. He loved the way her eyes sparkled when she was angry, or when she was really pleased. He loved her thick red hair and the way it flowed down her shoulders. Sirius noticed James's admiration and decided to help out his best friend before Lily noticed. "Mr. Prongs, I daresay Evans is enjoying your attentions very much! She hasn't pushed you off yet!"

"Ahh yes, Mr. Padfoot, I agree amiably!" James laughed. Sara stared at Lily.

"Uh, guys.. I think she fell asleep!" Sara giggled, and got up to poke her. Lily twitched but otherwise didn't respond. James stood up, leaned over Lily and picked her up bridal style. "Where to?" He asked, and began to walk to the girls sleeping area.

"James I don't think that's a good idea.. The stairs, they don't let-" Sara cut off and she and Sirius burst out laughing when the stairs changed and James slid down a slide on his butt. Lily didn't wake up.

James sat on the ground for a few seconds before he stood up with difficulty, trying to keep Lily in a comfortable position. "You know what?" He steamed, and walked over to Sirius, dropping Lily into his surprised arms. "Hang on once second," he said, and rushed up to the male sleeping quarters. Moments later, he came back holding his broom. "Put Lily on here," He instructed Sirius. After quite a bit of struggling, they finally got Lily to slump over on the floating broom. James sat behind her , hugging her waist with one arm. Sara grinned, knowing Lily did not like heights, and therefore was very afraid of flying. James flew up the stairs and right up to Lily's four poster bed. The room was filled with quiet breathing by sleeping girls.

He laid her gently onto the bed, and pushed covers over her sleeping body. Then, bending over he whispered into her ear. "Sleep well, Lily." He kissed her lightly on the cheek and left, flying silently into the common room.