Chapter Text
Lily looked around the train and sighs softly, pulling herself on and taking her bags with her. The train was darker than usual, the chatter more closed off and different than usual. She let out a soft noise as she accidentally placed her bags on her foot and immediately lifted her foot up. She bit her lip and pulled her bags behind her as she went to find her place on the train. Her cat made a soft meow and she sighed softly, leading the way along.
As she passed each compartment, she quickly looked to make sure there was no trouble going on, her Head Girl badge shining on her chest and she sighed tiredly. She eventually got to a compartment and looked into it. Inside were the Marauders; Remus Lupin, Peter Pettigrew, Sirius Black and James Potter. She hesitated but the tiredness on her face must have shown because Remus got up and went over.
“Lily? Are you okay?” Concern was written all over his face as he scanned her for any injuries quickly but, luckily, all he noticed was the fact that she was tired, and that was really all there was to it. He breathed a soft sigh of relief, though it was purely platonic as he didn’t like her like that.
Lily offered a small smile to him. “I’m… I’m okay, Remus. Just… tired.” She ran her fingers through her hair and pulled her bags closer to her so any passing student was actually allowed to pass and go to their seats.
“Well, you can come sit with us if you want. You shouldn’t have to keep wondering along to look for an empty compartment!” He smiled at her and looked at the other three. Sirius looked up from his book and offered a small smile, Peter waved happily and James just stared out the window, cloak pulled over him, seemingly lost in thought. Lily just nodded and walked in, gaze still on James.
Remus shifted their baggage and moved to where Sirius and Peter sat, sitting between the two and letting her get in, leaving plenty of space for her bags and for her to sit next to James. She smiled once again, after breaking her gaze away from James, and placed her bags in the overhead locker before sitting next to James.
After a couple of minutes, her gaze returned to James, concerned. He seemed tired and she could see the spark from his eyes was gone. And she knew exactly why from all the whispers of the sixth years before she got on the train, mainly the Slytherins. His parents had passed away.
She looked down at her feet. She never thought she’d admit it but she did miss the way he would tease her. She knew it was affectionate, he’d been asking her out for about two or three years now, but it annoyed her at the time. She didn’t really know how to act around this new, more mature James Potter. She gently placed a hand on his shoulder to get his attention, seeing as the other Marauders were now lost in conversation.
James looked at her, raising a questioning eyebrow. His curly black hair fell over his glasses, blocking his vision slightly, but anyone was still able to see his deep blue orbs staring at her. This time, however, was different. They seemed empty, sad and defensive. If he didn’t already have friends, he probably wouldn’t talk to anyone. This, however, was Lily. He liked Lily, and he knew she was sensitive but funny, beautiful and playful. But he didn’t have the courage to tease her so he stayed silent, looking at her beautiful green eyes, waiting for what she was going to say patiently.
“I heard about your parents… Are you alright?” she asked softly, her eyes filled with concern. Usually, it would be annoyance or irritancy but not this year. This year she was concerned for him and everyone. A small part of her was glad she was Head Girl; she was perfectly willing to care for anyone and everyone. But James… James was different. His laughter was gone. He wasn’t James without his laughter. He was a stranger.
“I’m okay, Lily…” He offered a weak smile and rested his head against the train window. He noticed her badge and slowly uncovered his shirt, showing a shiny badge similar to hers but with his name on it instead and with Head Boy. “Partners in crime, huh?” he joked and laughed softly. It felt so good for him to laugh and it was almost music to her ears knowing the old James was still in there a little bit, as much as he annoyed her when he was around.
“Yeah… we are.” She smiled back at him and pulled her book out of her small carry bag she had next to her. Her cat jumped up and curled up on her lap as she started to read her book peacefully, ignoring the sound of the hooting train as it bumped along the tracks. She smiled and felt a bit of excitement mixed with sadness. She was returning to her home, her school, where she was accepted for once in her life. But… Lord Voldemort was out there and he could strike at any time. He had already killed few people, but it would inevitably rise, and she hoped it wouldn’t hurt anyone she knew, especially anyone at Hogwarts. She couldn’t imagine what that would feel like.
She shook that thought away and scanned the train compartment she was in. Peter and Remus were playing some sort of card game and laughing, Sirius occasionally chuckling at the silliness of the two, James had brightened up a bit and was watching them with a small smile on his face and she felt a wave of calmness come over her. Sure, she may have hated these boys in other years but they had grown up and she had watched them do so. The holidays had especially changed them. A small feeling rose in her chest. She couldn’t quite identify it. But she knew it was good and, as she looked over at James, it became stronger.
Maybe she had already found a permanent home.