Disclaimer: Sadly, i do not own harry potter or any of the characters, but at least in this story the plot is mine. take that j.k. rowling. mwhaha

"Firs' years! Firs' years this way!" The familiar call of Hagrid soothed my nerves as I stepped onto the platform. I was finally home. Free from the house I had grown up in, to the place where I truly shined. Here was the place that I could finally be myself. At my house, it was always a constant battle with Petunia who had hated me since the day my letter arrived. My mother always tried to convince me that she was just jealous but part of me blamed myself for us breaking up. If only I had tried to keep it together with her more, or to try and do something for her. But no, she decided that shutting me out as a freak was the best way to go. That was her choice however.

I looked around the platform trying to find my best friends. I could see the castle from here and the tiny boats on the lake, with the castle reflected beautifully like a picture. Because I had made head girl I hadn't seen my friends yet. The whole time I was in the heads carriage and had to run the prefects meeting alone. The head boy decided to not show up. I wonder who it is. I thought it was Remus but the only reason he wouldn't show is if it's a full moon and it's not. I suppose it could be Richard Quibbly from Ravenclaw. He was always very smart, but I doubt he would skip the meeting. As I'm thinking up possibilities of who it could possibly be I hear someone call my name.

"Lily!" I turn around and see a group of six people waiting by an empty carriage for me. There is Alice Martin, a shy girl with a very round face and the deepest blue eyes imaginable, Mary McDonald, who was a quarter Japanese and it showed in her slightly slanted eyes and beautiful complexion, Emeline Vance, or Emma, whose curly brown hair and brown eyes mixed with her American accent could always make me laugh, and then, to my surprise, the Marauders.

The Marauders, consisting of James Potter, Sirius Black, Remus Lupin, and Peter Pettigrew, who was oddly not present. Out of all of them the most striking was Sirius Black. With his wavy, shoulder length, irresistible, black hair and striking hair, most woman threw themselves at his feet. And also some of the men. He had a boisterous laugh and a personality to match. I don't think I've ever seen him with anything but a smile on his face. But now he had a slight frown. But then again, this summer had changed many things with many people.

James Potter was next in the looks line, even I had to admit. Being quiddich captain had given him a body of a god, not to mention the unruly jet black hair that was just aching to have hands run through. His startling hazel eyes gave him the serious yet slightly intimidating look also. But most of the time they were filled with laughter. The only thing that could be counted as different was his glasses, but they seemed to make him even more attractive, adding the impression that he was smart.

Remus Lupin was very good looking for being a werewolf. I had found out easily, ever since we did boggarts in third grade. I had asked him about it, and he told me his whole story. When he realized that it wasn't going to change anything about my view on him, we had became very good friends and still remained so. He was slightly underweight because of his "furry little problem" as his friends liked to refer to it as, but he was naturally good looking and his brown eyes could make you melt. Other than the marauders I don't think anyone but me knew about him being a werewolf, and hopefully it would remain that way.

Even though Peter Pettigrew was not there, I thought of him because he so usually was. It was odd to see the Marauders without the short, slightly overweight boy who followed them around like an adoring servant. His pale, watering blue eyes made him look slightly like a rat, not to mention his front teeth protruded slightly too far out from his bottoms. He seemed nice however, but most of the girls only used him to try to get closer to the other three.

I smiled and as I make my way over to them, I can't help but realize that James has grown even more over the summer. He must be around six foot now. My petite height of 5' 5" seemed even more small standing next to him. I'm the shortest of my friends, but definitely the loudest. I'm not afraid to say what's on my mind, but I would never mouth off to the teachers. Emma says I'm beautiful, but I'm not sure. My red hair is half way down my back and is the only one thing I love about myself. It's naturally curly but of course, with one wave of my wand it can be straight. My emerald green eyes seem to big for my face but Alice promises that they're just perfect and that she would kill for them.

James and I have had an interesting past, that's for sure. From hating each other, to a truce, then hating each other again, then finally deciding to be try out being friends. Not that he actually ever hated me. Instead, he insists that he has loved me ever since he first laid eyes on me. But that can't be true. I was a small 11 year old girl with wide eyes and braces. Of course, the first day I was at Hogwarts I went to Madame Pomfrey's office and had them removed and straightened. God, I love magic. But anyway, James and I had come to an agreement this summer. We were going to be friends, or at least not enemies. No more yelling in the common room or the Great Hall. Six years of fighting was long enough. We were both seventeen now. It was time to act like it.

When I finally reached them I was blind sided by a huge hug, if I can even call it that, from Sirius of all people. He seemed to be cutting off my whole air supply however so I started hitting him in the back of the head.

"Sirius.. uhhgh.. I can't breath.. Gerrof me." He didn't even seem to hear me however but he finally let go of the embrace.

"Hello Lily!" There was that bright smile I was so use to seeing on Sirius' face. It seemed like forever ago that we had all spent two weeks of the previous summer at his house to "bond". That had been when James and I had come to the agreement of being friends.

"Hello Sirius." I smiled at him and then moved on to hug Remus who gave me a slight squeeze and a hello and then let go. Of course, the ever so respectful one. Next was Mary who squealed and jumped up and down before running and screaming into my arms. After that was then Alice, who gave me a kiss on the cheek and a hug. Emma almost tackled me just as tight as Sirius but at least this time I could breath. She whispered in my ear that she needed to talk to me and I nodded so she would understand. Lastly was James. I wasn't sure what to do. We had never hugged before and I wasn't sure if this was what we were suppose to do now that we were friends.

Before I could talk myself out of it and before it got to awkward I put my arms around him quickly but he surprised me by whispering in my ear ever so quietly, "Hello Lily." The way he said it surprised me. Not only had he used my first name for the first time, there wasn't a trace of arrogance or even infatuation in his voice. It seemed like a tired surrender. I looked up at him and then only then, did I see that James had changed over the summer. No longer was he the carefree teenager who loved to joke around. He had matured greatly. Just from that one look I could tell. Something must have happened to him that summer but I had no idea what it could possibly be. But only after thirty seconds of staring up at him did I realize we were still in an embrace and the Marauders and the girls were staring at us with suspicious expressions on their faces. I quickly stepped back and scooted away from him. He dropped his eyes from mine and didn't look again.

Remus cleared his throat and began to talk. God bless him. He's always so aware of just what I need. "We should probably get going you know. These carriages don't just move themselves." We all laughed lightly at the joke. We had learned about thestrals in sixth year so we all knew now that what was once considered a big mystery was actually just an animal. Of course, I'd find out later that I wasn't the only one who could see them now.

When I was seven years old, my father died. He was in a car, the passenger seat, and he was going fishing with a friend. He loved to fish. He went every Sunday morning. It was very early and his friend fell asleep behind the wheel and drove into an intersection where he was hit by a semi truck. I was in the back seat. It was the first time he was going to take me fishing. Thankfully, I was on the driver's side, or I would have been killed instantly, at least that's what the doctors say. But little did anyone know that I hadn't originally been on the drivers side. I had started out the ride on the passenger's side with my seat belt on, but right when the truck was coming and I screamed, something moved me to the other side. Now I know that I must have done accidental magic but back then, it really scared me. But now I know better. But I had been able to see the thestrals since my first year.

We all hopped into the carriage and I was squeezed in between James and Emma. Squeezing seven people into a carriage was a pretty amazing feat saying as the norm is about four, so we were all pretty squished. I was very aware of James' leg resting against mine and his hand almost touching mine but when I looked up at him he didn't seem to notice. Stop making such a big deal out of things, Lily. You're being ridiculous. The ride to the castle went pleasantly discussing classes and the latest pranks but one person said not a word the whole entire time. James.

After arriving at the castle we all filed into the great hall. We sat down at the Gryffindor table, of course, and stared longingly at the plates.

"Come on, come on, come on. I am so hungry!" Sirius whined as he picked up his fork and knife and banged them on the table.

"Have a little respect Sirius. We still have to wait for the sorting!" Alice said glaring at the utensils in his hands until he set them down.

"Just look how tiny they are! I personally do not think we ever looked that small. They're almost as short as Professor Flitwick." joked Emma.

"We were that small though. And that trusting. Like nothing could ever hurt us. But those kids should be aware that that isn't how things are now. Voldemort is rising and they need to know the truth." Everyone looked towards James as he said the first thing of the night. A strange hush surrounded our table and was only broken when the Sorting Hat started it's song.

"Hello you new little children,

hello the ones who have returned,

Hopefully you will have retained

all of the things you have learned.

There is no hat just like me,

For I am the Hogwarts Sorting Hat

And I determine where you ought to be.

You might belong in Gryffindor,

Where dwell the brave at heart,

Their determination, nerve, and just

Set Gryffindors apart;

You might be put in Slytherin,

Where the cunning folks use any means

Be the best of the best

And they are very keen.

You might belong in Hufflepuff,

Where they are loyal and just,

Or you might belong in Ravenclaw,

Where brains and smarts are a must.

So grab me up and put me on,

Do not be afraid!

And don't get in a flap!

You're in safe hands (Though I have none)

For I'm a Thinking Cap!

(A/n.. last four lines are from Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone)

Everyone applauded politely as the first name was called. The sorting continued until the last name (Sarah Zi) was sorted into Hufflepuff. Dumbledore said a few short words and then the food arrived magically in front of them.

"Thank the lord. I am starving." Sirius said as he shoved pork into his mouth. He didn't even bother with the fork just reaching with his hands.

"That is absolutely disgusting." I tell him. While I'm picking up my fork and putting some mince meat pie on my plate I look up with the feeling someone is watching me. Turning around I see that Severus Snape is staring at me from the Slytherin table.

We lock eyes for a moment before I turn around with a shudder. For one moment James hand rests on my knee and he leans down to whisper in my ear.

"Are you okay?" his voice sends even more shivers up my spine. He sounds so worried about me. When did he become such a, such a… man?

"I'm fine." I mutter before digging into my food only to realize I have lost my appetite. Everything looks disgusting. "Does anyone know who Head Boy is? I know we share a dorm but he didn't show up to the meeting." changing the subject, I try to control my swirling emotions.

"Oh, yes Evans. I'm Head Boy and it's not a prank." James shows me his badge and I feel completely shocked. "I'm sorry I didn't show up to the meeting. I had a problem that I had to discuss with Dumbledore first."

"How were you discussing with Dumbledore on the train then?" I retorted getting angry that he had just ditched the heads meeting.

"He has his ways. It is Dumbledore after all. He told me to remind you that we're suppose to go to his office after the feast to find out where our dorm is. He also said something about enjoying Chocolate Frogs, whatever that means." James replies, saying more than he has the whole night.

"Well that's fine then, I suppose." I sit there quietly the rest of the meal as more small talk takes place but I can't find myself to eat anything.

A/N: Please comment and review. Critisism is welcome! It will only get better from here.