SEVERUS SNAPE:

His face twisted in a mixture of distaste and hurt, at the fact his grandmother had literally just given him enough galleons to make it through the year and abandoned him at platform 9 and 3/4.

It was bad enough everyone at Hogwarts mocked him by calling him Snivellus, and the fact every time those Gryffindor blokes picked on him, he only escaped because pretty girls would plead for him, but now he would be forced to pretend like it didn't hurt his feelings that he had no one in the world who cared for him.

Severus Snape was a broken teenage boy. He had no friends outside the mandatory toleration of being a fellow Slytherin, and his Grandmother, the only family he had left, treated him like a disease carrier. He had nothing but the clothes on his back, his dusty Prefects badge, and a future that he doubted could possibly get worse.

His eyes wandered around the platform to where a good majority of the other children were busy saying goodbye to their parents and running off to grab a cabin with their friends. He would never be like them, and he supposed he'd have to accept that.

He caught a flash of familiar red nearby. 'Lily Evans,' he thought to himself, smiling briefly, and then frowning because he knew that wherever she went Potter was sure to go - They were like a bad nursery rhyme- Potter and Evans. They were infamous for their bickering, and all the same James' showing off to get her attention. He cringed ever so slightly, Lily was a perfectly fine person to think of, but he'd rather not start thinking of Potter. He climbed the steps of the train, shoving his trunk on a seat in an empty, and taking sitting down in the other. He pulled a book, a piece of parchment, and a quill out of his robe pocket, and began to work on some extra credit Summer Work for Defense Against the Dark Arts.

JAMES POTTER:

James Potter was standing nonplussed as his mother hugged him tightly, telling him to be careful and practically *begging* him not to make too much trouble this year.

"Yes, mother," he said absently, knowing full well that he was not going to hold himself to that utterly crazy rule. Not get in trouble? Hmm, that did not compute in James' brain!

With a final farewell, James broke free of his parents and waved at them over his shoulder a last time before sauntering off down Platform Nine and Three Quarters, idly pushing his trolley on which sat his trunk and a brass cage with his owl, Clunk, inside. He had named the owl Clunk, simply because it was the clumsiest creature he had ever had the misfortune to come across.

James looked around, searching for any sign of his friends. Perchance he might catch a glimpse of a figure with shaggy dark hair... or the slight, pale form of his other good friend...?

Alas, he has no such luck so far. He ran a hand through his hair absently, making it stick up even more. He decided he might as well keep looking for now. There was no point finding a cabin without them - it was unthinkable!

NARCISSA BLACK:

Narcissa got to the Plataform 9 and 3/4 with her parents. They said their farewells quieckly so she could get in the train and get away from those mudbloods who were starting to fill the plataform. She walk around a bit before looking inside a compartment and spotting Severus Snape. Well, he wasn't the type of person she would personally choose to socialize with, but he was Lucius friend and that alone was a lot. Therefore she entered the compartment.

'Hello, Severus. Had a good summer?' she asked just to be polite as she put her things inside the compartment and set in the empty seat across from him. 'So, have you seen Lucius?' she asked with her icy blue eyes on the guy. That answer she was interested in hearing.

ALEXIS PARKER:

Alexis had enjoyed riding in a car with her older sister to King's Cross, but that was mainly to the fact that Ella no longer went to Hogwarts and was now happily married. After they stopped she took off with just a farewell to Ella, dragging her trunk behind her with a golden retriever puppy at her heels. She had just gotten the dog that past August as a gift and the little thing followed her everywhere. Alexis soon found a trolley and stuffed her things on it as well as loading up Sugar on top so she wouldn't have to walk. She seemed to be watching the people as she walked through the barrier between 9 and 10, and soon found herself happily smiling at a crimson train engine. She looked around the platform for anyone that looked familiar.

Well there was Snivellus the Slimeball... Sirius' cousin Narcissa who wasn't one to even bother speaking too and then- Alexis grinned. "James Potter... Still have the messy hair and as cocky as ever and still not keeping out of trouble I'm glad to see," she said.

JAMES POTTER:

James stopped and turned, a slow side-ways grin appearing across his face. "Well, well, well," he chuckled, "if it isn't Miss Parker, back from her holidays, and ready to take every oppurtunity to call me a 'cocky egotisical twat' - which I think is a direct quote from last term." He smiled confidently.

He then grinned, honestly glad to see her again. "Had a good summer, Parker?" he asked conversationally. "I've been looking for Sirius and Remus and have yet to find them... I've been wandering about like an idiot for what feels like ages." He smirked a little.

SEVERUS SNAPE:

Severus Snape's eyes bore into Narcissa Black, looking at her, like she was out of her mind. He couldn't imagine a reason why she would want anything to do with him. She'd always hung around Lucius' clique, or what was left of it, seeing as how most of them had graduated namesake included. He knew she was using him, to find out about Lucius, but it was okay. A person pretending to be nice to him, was better than no one at all.

"I'm alive, " Severus replied to her first question, before asking her the same. He only wished to save her trouble of being bored with his answers. He knew she enjoyed the sound of her own voice.

She didn't take long with small talk, before she asked about Lucius. He found himself wondering why one, who everyone assumed was going to marry the boy would be asking him about Lucius Malfoy? Sure he knew him. His grandmother had been dragging him along for her tea sessions with his mother since he was seven, and he had heard more than his fair share of gossip.

"I haven't seen him personally, but I hear he got offered a promotion at the ministry. His mother seems to think he is quite well," he said thoughtfully, before sneering at her as in tradition. "Why wondering if your dad has managed to talk him into proposing to you yet?...Rest assured, they probably already have your name etched on the family tree.."

ALEXIS PARKER:

"You mean you haven't heard, Potter? They discovered that Snivellus was SOO much more interesting than you and are now plotting how to get you back for all the bad things you've done to that Slytherin twit. Last year after DADA OWLS though... Brilliant," replied Alexis. "My summer was alright though. It's hard to keep up with so many essays for my classes for the next two years. Department for the Control of Magical Creatures isn't the easiest to get into. But then Aurors are harder."

The golden retriever barked for attention. "And of course my new pet, whom I want to teach how to retrieve Slytherin Common Room Passwords as well as Slytherin uniforms for my own entertainment." She picked up the dog. "So how was your summer James?"

CORDELLA YEARDLEY:

Cordella Yeardely's eyes fell upon her parents faces. They looked so pleased, so happy for their baby girl. There was no one she loved as much as her parents. They raised her to be a good kid. The type of person that stood for their morals, and worked hard to get what they wanted. So far she'd achieved that much. She'd gotten good grades, became a prefect, made friends, and now she had the OWLs to set her up to make her dreams come true.

Ever since, she'd first stepped through Hogwarts doors and sat through classes with professors like Irvin, Hewitt, and Kettleburn she knew that she wanted to become a professor. She wanted to be around children, helping them form opinions, and learning between right and wrong. They'd told her during the previous year what she would need, and she achieved it. Now all she had to do was study hard, and pass all of her classes.

She hugged her parents gently, and told them goodbye taking off in the crowd of students to get onto the train. She was eager to start to year, and to see her friends. She really hadn't had a good conversation with anyone in a while; She was in desperate need of the latest news. She'd gotten a good laugh during the previous year, when Lily gave James a piece of her mind over his cruel, and unusual depantsing of Severus Snape better known to everyone as Snivellus.

Her thoughts were ruptured when she finally reached the train; she moved to put her trunk onboard and tripped on a loose shoe lace falling not so elegantly to the ground. Her first thought rather than get up, was pull her compact mirror out to her make sure there was nothing on her clothes or face. She liked her clothes neat, and smudge free. Her clothes were fine, but one of her bright yellow hair ribbons, tied to her light brown French braid plaits looked lopsided, and she nearly had a spasm trying to fix it.

LILY EVANS:

Lily Evans stepped out of her parent�s car and onto the platform at Kings Cross station. She brushed back her long red hair and straightened her silver Prefect badge on her robes before turning back to her parent's car. They were beaming at her, while her sister Petunia scowled.

"Good luck Lily dear! Say hello to all your friends for us!" her mother smiled.

"I will! Bye mum and dad, you too Petunia!" Lily smiled; Petunia rolled her eyes and stared out of the opposite window. Lily waved as they drove away, and began to push her trolley towards Platform 9 �.

Her owl, Flower, twittered happily in her cage, causing Lily to fasten the cover only tighter. Upon reaching the space between platforms nine and ten, she looked around her and ran through the column. She felt a rush of air hit her and she breathed a sigh of relief when she saw people in robes talking about �muggles� and the like.

She rushed over to one of the porters and gave him her trolley before rushing off with a swirl of her skirts.

�It�s great to be back,� she said to herself, �Petunia was being a bigger pain than usual!� As she continued down the side of the train, she caught a glance of Severus Snape, who seemed to be alone as usual. She began to scan the crowd for any familiar people, and just a little bit down from her, she heard the familiar voice of Alexis Parker. She grinned and rushed over, and expecting to meet the smile of her friend, looked up to see the smug face of James Potter. She mentally slapped herself to keep from smiling, and pretended he wasn�t there. She turned to Alexis and asked sweetly.

�Hullo Alexis! Was your summer nice?�

PETER PETTIGREW:

Peter was wandering around the Platform for any sign of Sirius, Remus or James. He just happened to be short enough that seeing over the crowd was not the easiest thing to do. He considered looking around the train, but the Marauders had never been known to learn one behind on the platform. Of course he also had the choice to transform and watch as people scurried away, and then he might be able to find the group. The one problem with that would be that someone might notice he was gone suddenly and then James or Sirius would never talk to him again, he shuddered to even think of it. For now he would just be lost in the crowd and hope someone would notice him around.

ALEXIS PARKER:

"Lily!" Exclaimed Alexis happily, ignoring anything James was about to say. "My summer was quite nice actually. The highlight being the fact that Poor Potter seems to have been abandoned by all his friends who have gone off to help Sni- Snape rid the world of him," said Alexis, catching herself about to call Snape by his usual nickname. She knew how to keep on both Lily and James' good sides for the most part, and it wasn't the easiest job. "Have you keep Petunia the magic- hating muggle from calling you names all summer?"

GWEN MCGREGOR:

"Yes mum," Gwen replied to almost all of her mother's questions. "Yes, mum...I promise to behave...Yes mum, I'll write often..." She looked over at Sirius for help, but he just shook with silent laughter. "Mum, Sirius and I are going to miss the train..." She picked up her owl's cage and kissed her mother on the cheek.

"All right... All right..." Mrs. McGregor said, "Hurry up you two, then. And, Sirius dear, if you need anything, don't hesitate to ask!" Sirius nodded, giving Gwen's mother an appreciative smile as they walked towards the croud on the platform.

Gwen spotted James, Lily, and Alexis in the mass of students, and walked over as Sirius took their baggage to a train attendant. "Hey guys!" She smiled, happy to be going back to Hogwarts. "Sirius will be over in a bit. My mum dropped him off with me after he sent an owl saying his mother had forgotten him at home this morning." She gave a half frown as Sirius walked up to the group.

SIRIUS BLACK:

"Oi everyone." He said, smiling. "Great to be back, isn't it..." He gazed at the train for a second, then turned back to James. "Seen Peter or Remus around yet? We better get a compartment soon, or it'll be all full and we'll probably get stuck with some git of a Slytherin..."

JAMES POTTER:

James smirked a little smugly at the mention of the end of last year. That incident with Snivellus had certainly been a memorable one. A small part of his brain thought he should probably feel a little sorry for what he'd done, but it was drowned out by the rest of his conceited thoughts.

>>"My summer was alright though. It's hard to keep up with so many essays for my classes for the next two years.Department for the Control of Magical Creatures isn't the easiest to get into. But then Aurors are harder." The golden retriever barked for attention. "And of course my new pet, whom I want to teach how to retrieve Slytherin Common Room Passwords as well as Slytherin uniforms for my own entertainment." She picked up the dog. "So how was your summer James?"<<

James gave the little dog a brief pat on the head, smiling, then opened his mouth to reply - but a flash of deep red hair and a grinning face broke him off in his thoughts and next thing he knew he'd been interupted before he even bagan speaking. Evans!

>>She grinned and rushed over, and expecting to meet the smile of her friend, looked up to see the smug face of James Potter. She mentally slapped herself to keep from smiling, and pretended he wasn't there. She turned to Alexis and asked sweetly. "Hullo Alexis! Was your summer nice?"-

>"Lily!" Exclaimed Alexis happily, ignoring anything James was about to say. "My summer was quite nice actually. The highlight being the fact that Poor Potter seems to have been abandoned by all his friends who have gone off to help Sni- Snape rid the world of him," said Alexis, catching herself about to call Snape by his usual nickname. She knew how to keep on both Lily and James' good sides for the most part, and it wasn't the easiest job.<<<

James folded his arms slightly, still wearing a half-cocked smile. "As if," he said simply, with a roll of his eyes. "The day Snivellus Snape amounts to anything but being a prick is the day I die," he said derisively.

That said, he was still very relieved when Gwen came up, announcing the imminant arrival of Sirius.

>>"Hey guys!" She smiled, happy to be going back to Hogwarts. "Sirius will be over in a bit. My mum dropped him off with me after he sent an owl saying his mother had forgotten him at home this morning." She gave a half frown as Sirius walked up to the group.<

>"Oi everyone." He said, smiling. "Great to be back, isn't it..." He gazed at the train for a second, then turned back to James. "Seen Peter or Remus around yet? We better get a compartment soon, or it'll be all full and we'll probably get stuck with some git of a Slytherin..."<<<

"Sirius!" James grinned and gave Sirius a clap on the back in greeting. "Was your summer okay?" he asked, almost cautiously.

At the mention of Remus or Peter again, James took a moment to glance around. Being tall, he didn't have a hard time picking out a familiar face. "Ah," he said, "I do believe I see little Peter over there, looking a bit lost," James chuckled, attempting to catch the boy's attention with a wave.

One thing was for sure, James was looking forward to the new year.

ALEXIS PARKER:

Alexis looked at James for a moment as if waiting for him to fall over dead. "I don't see you falling over dead yet, Potter..." She said with a slight grin.

Alexis smiled at Gwen's arrival and the immediate following of Sirius and Peter. "Morning all... Now if Remus would just show up we could get this circus on the train."

PETER PETTIGREW:

Peter smiled a bit when he finally caught sight of James and Sirius. He grabbed his trolley with one hand and went running through the crowd. "Hullo everyone!" exclaimed Peter happily, looking around at the small group of people. "Was everyone's summer alright? I spent mine helping Mum out. She wants to open a shop in Diagon Alley, so we were over at the Ministry plenty. So are you going to come sit with us Lily?" he asked the red-haired girl. He knew that she didn't like James, but he could hope.

LILY EVANS:

Lily let out a short laugh, �I can see that happening. There probably wasn�t any room left in their circle for anyone but Potter�s big head.� She smirked up at James, who didn�t seem any bit perturbed. �Petunia was simply horrible this summer!� she continued, her smile leaving her face and being replaced by a pout, �It seems that her dislike for me has grown, if that�s possible. I don�t think I want to go home this holiday�� Her eyes finally noticed the dog Alexis was holding and she smiled again, �Oh! A puppy! How sweet!� This was an excellent way to stop the discussion of Petunia. Just then, Gwen came over, cheery as usual. �Hullo Gwen!� she gave a small wave.

>>"Hey guys!" She smiled, happy to be going back to Hogwarts. "Sirius will be over in a bit.�<<

Lily roller her eyes, �Just who we need; now the duo will be complete�� she said under her breath as Sirius came over. Next, Peter came rushing over with his trolley and started talking about his mother and a shop they were going to open. Lily smiled; Peter was one of those boys who just followed James and Sirius around because they were cool. At least he wasn�t a stupid prat, she could say the same for Remus also.

�So are you going to come sit with us Lily?" Peter asked.

Lily looked over at James and Sirius, and then at Peter, �I suppose Alexis and Gwen will be, so why shouldn�t I?� She smiled before remembering something else, �I do have to go up to the prefect compartment first though. We have to discuss certain things. I�ll come with you though so I can put my bag in there.� She held up her carry-on bag and slung it over her shoulder again. Maybe the boys had matured somewhat over the summer. �Wishful thinking�� she thought to herself.

JAMES POTTER

"Because he's still a prick," James supplied serenely with a shrug, smile firmly in place. He mussed up his hair absently. "And I have no plans to die any time soon." He cast a half-glance at Lily. "No matter how much *some* people may wish otherwise," he added pointedly, idly flicking a speck of dirt off his dark blue jumper.

"Hullo everyone!" exclaimed Peter happily, looking around at the small group of people.

"Good to see you, Peter," James said pleasantly, flashing a grin. He certainly had missed the good company of his friends. Odd as it was, James suspected he grew more and more relucant to spend summer at home each year.

"Was everyone's summer alright? I spent mine helping Mum out. She wants to open a shop in Diagon Alley, so we were over at the Ministry plenty. So are you going to come sit with us Lily?" Peter asked.

'Please no, please no, please no...' James chanted to himself, a wincing expression on his face.

Lily looked over at James and Sirius, and then at Peter, "I suppose Alexis and Gwen will be, so why shouldn't I?"

'Darn.' James' shoulders slumped in defeat though he managed to keep his expression neutral now. Evans would be a sure sign of trouble. If she started screaming at him again for no reason he would be less than happy about it. Honestly, what was the deal with her anyway? She needed to lighten up...

>>She smiled before remembering something else, "I do have to go up to the prefect compartment first though. We have to discuss certain things. I'll come with you though so I can put my bag in there."<<

James put on a mock-appalled expression. "A Prefect? How come we didn't get made Prefect?" he directed at Sirius. "This is an outrage," he went on, grinning slightly. "We are model members of the Gryffindor community," he continued, straightening the collar of his jumper where there could have been a tie. "How could we not get elected?"

Lily slung her bag over her shoulder.

James had an idea. "Oh, let me take that for you, Evans," he said, holding her bag for her. Jeez, it was heavy. What was she carrying? Rocks? "Please, I insist," he said kindly. "What sort of gentleman would I be if I didn't help you get your belongings on to the train?"

He smiled an innocent smile, and put the bag over his own shoulder with an effort. Raising his left hand inconspicuously behind his back, he managed to plunge it in to his large back pocket and grab a dungbomb. He presently crammed it in to Lily Evans' bag.

Wouldn't *she* get a shock when she opened it next? His innocent smile never faltered and he looked perfectly content with carrying her contaminated bag for her. Slowly making his way through the throngs of students, Remus looked around for any sign of his friends. A small frown crossed his face. He wouldn't be able to sit with them because he was a prefect.

He stifled a yawn and continued moving through the crowds, hoping to bump into one of them. He caught a glimpse of black hair and moved towards the figure. "Sirius?" he called hopefully.

CORDELLA YEARDLEY:

Cordella fixed her lopsided ribbon, and quickly stood up taking the time to straighten her robes, and rub her prefects badge before re-attempting to climb onboard the Hogwarts Express. She quickly placed her things in a compartment with her roommates, and said a quick hello, before taking off to the front of the train where the Prefect/ Head boy and Girl compartments were. She looked in sheepishly, curious to see if anyone else had managed to come in yet. Prefect meetings were always the same; Severus would come in late as always with his greasy looks, and fowl attitude, Lily would be pleasant, but undoubtedly be sour after some interlude with James, and Remus would be his usual pale shade being his usual quiet self hidden by everyone else's outlandish ways. She was the perky, overachieving, organizing, always trying to make peace member of the group. There really wasn't much else to say about the other prefects, they all had their quirks; Some more than others. Cordella stepped in, first to arrive and took her usual seat next to the window but not looking out. She decided to use her spare time wisely, and double check that her trip outside the train had not left any evidence that she have missed.

LILY EVANS:

Lily rolled her eyes, �Oh, I wonder why. Maybe if you didn�t go picking on semi-innocent people you might be thought of as prefect material. Your friend Remus is one. Ask him why, maybe you can learn something about maturity�� She was mildly befuddled by James taking her bag from her.

"Oh, let me take that for you, Evans. Please, I insist," James said kindly. "What sort of gentleman would I be if I didn't help you get your belongings on to the train?" He smiled an innocent smile, and put the bag over his own shoulder with an effort.

Lily gaped at him. �Uh�� she honestly didn�t know what to think of it, �I guess, but I�ll need it once we get on board�� This was not normal � what was going on? Maybe he *had* matured� James sighed slightly, shaking his head in a rueful fashion. "Oh, I'm pained that you think so ill of me, Evans," he said with a sad expression. James decided he'd make a very good actor.

"Maturity? Maturity is my middle name. Well, actually it's Eugene," he admited, lowering his voice, "but the less said about that the better." He smiled slightly.

Lily gaped at him. "Uh�I guess, but I'll need it once we get on board�"

James nodded. "Of course," he said. He cast a glance back at the others. "Well, they seem to be rather stuck in their conversation. Should we go on ahead?" he asked idly.

This had to be one of his best plans yet. He squashed the guilty feeling in the back of his mind. After all, he reasoned, she did need to lighten up, right?... Right? Yes, of course she did. This would be such a good joke too...

He bit a lip and sighed inwardly. He raised a hand behind his back and slipped it in to Lily's bag. He found the dungbomb and he withdrew it, shoving it back in his pocket long with his other run- of-the-mill pranking objects.

He couldn't do it. He wouldn't prank Lily Evans.

SIRIUS BLACK:

"Summer was okay..." Sirius replied softly, "I mean, not the best, but Gwen let me hang out at her house, and so did James, so it wasn't terrible."

GWEN MCGREGOR:

Gwen was looking over Sirius' shoulder, glancing around at the many students who were bustling around the platform, when she noticed a familar visage. "Remus!" she called, waving her hand in the air.

LILY EVANS:

Lily tried to catch Alexis or Gwen�s eye but with no luck �O-okay,� she said, smiling timidly. They walked on in silence, Lily watching her feet. She noticed him shift his arm under her bag, but that was probably because she had about five schoolbooks inside there � she knew it was rather heavy. �Uhm� is my bag bothering you? I mean, I can take it back, you don�t need to�� Gah! Why did he have to be nice? It made her lose all of her anger towards him. (XD)

They stepped inside the train and walked down the semi-crowded hallway. Lily peeked inside a compartment at the end of the train, and grinned. �How about here?�

ALEXIS PARKER:

Alexis turned away quickly when she saw Remus. The last thing she need at the moment was someone noticing how her cheeks had suddenly gone the color of the Gryffindor flags at a mere glimpse. She kept a hold of Sugar and put a spell on her trunk so she could walk along without dragging it. She went to catch up with James and Lily. "You might have been made Prefect, Potter... Other than your record, persay, that follows you everywhere," she commented. "Remus is here though." She took a peak into the compartment that the two seemed to have found. "Looks perfect." She gave her trunk a slight nod and it went flying up to the holding racks.

PETER PETTIGREW:

Peter looked absolutely delighted when Remus showed up. "Well everyone's here now, or at least I think so," commented Peter. "Hullo Remus. Glad to be going back to Hogwarts?" He just slightly noticed Alexis turning heel and getting into the train as quick as possible. James smiled a side-ways smile and shook his head a little. "No, it's fine, I've got it," he assured her. And it certainly hasn't got a dungbomb in it, he thought flatly.

JAMES POTTER:

James thought Lily seemed a little - distracted, maybe flustered... and he supposed she was thrown off by his nice demeanor. Still, it wasn't as if he was a nasty person... a cruel sense of humour admittedly, but not a cruel personality in general.

He just wasn't so nice to people he didn't like... or who made a habit of shouting at him in public. Still, here he was, being perfectly amiable to Evans, who was one of those people.

Lily peeked inside a compartment at the end of the train, and grinned. "How about here?"

James looked in to the compartment, noting its empty status. "Sounds like a plan," he said readily, grinning briefly. Why did he suddenly feel like he didn't want to argue with her ever again? It was a highly irrational thought... Maybe he needed sleep or something.

"Umm, after you," he said somewhat awkwardly, gesturing to the compartment. He went in after her. "Oh, uh - you're bag," he said hesitantly, pulling the bag off his shoulder and hanging it back to her.

LILY EVANS:

Lily grinned at Alexis and sat down next to the window. She pushed her hair behind her ear and looked up when James began to speak again.

"Oh, uh - you're bag," James said hesitantly, pulling the bag off his shoulder and handing it back to her.

�Oh, thank you�� She placed it in her lap and checked her watch, �I still have five minutes until the prefect meeting, so I think I�ll just sit here for awhile.�

JAMES POTTER:

James nodded a little and ran a hand back through his hair, messing it up more. He then walked to the window and glanced out at the platform. "What's taking them so long...?" he muttered distractedly.

"Alexis," he said over his shoulder, "what were they doing out there when you left? Waiting for glue to set around their feet?" Really, they *should* have got on the train by now.

He raised the window, straightening his glasses as he did so. He scanned the crowd and caught sight of them just a little way to the left on the platform.

"Oy! You lot!" he called to them. "Get a move on, will you? I dunno about you but I want to be on this train when it starts off to Hogwarts!"

With a slight sideways smirk he drew back from the window and closed it again. "That ought to wake them up," he said optimistically to Lily, while managed not to meet her gaze.

ALEXIS PARKER:

"Honestly... If the train leaves them it's about no wonder," sighed Alexis, sitting down next to Lily. "Fine accomedations you've found here, Potter. 5 star is it? Now where will the rest of your group sit?" she joked.

PETER PETTIGREW

Peter was just content standing around with the others. James' yelling at them seemed to awake him to the fact that Lily was no where around. "I think we should get on the train before it leaves us all behind," commented Peter, heading for the door.

JAMES POTTER: "Your wit surprises me," James said, hand on his chin mock- thoughtfully as he sat down. "So original, so sharp - do you never cut yourself on it?" He tilted his head curiously to one side.

James found sarcasm so useful sometimes. Fireworks and Dungbombs were also essential, but sarcasm was still a must-have in his opinion.

As much as he liked Alexis -(yes, he did actually like her in spite of appearences) he still found some of her comments stinging at times - which spurred him to say waspish things back.

He folded his arms idly as he sat in his seat by the window and looked at the 'girl' in question. Young woman, technically. But James preferred not to be technical if he could help it. Gwen took Sirius' hand and together they followed Peter onto the train, letting him lead the way to James' compartment.

GWEN MCGREGOR:

"Sorry we took so long," Gwen said as she walked into the compartment. "There was an accident on the platform, and several trunks exploded with Filibuster's Fireworks. It was an interesting show. Something, maybe, James Potter would have created."

ALEXIS PARKER:

"Surprises you or surpasses?" Alexis asked, pushing her hair out of her face. "And no, I consider my wit dull enough not to cut myself. Though at times I get ahead of myself and then end up insulting myself, and that, my friend, is never a good thing to do, if I do say so myself." She smiled when Peter, Sirius and Gwen came walking in.

"There was an accident on the platform, and several trunks exploded with Filibuster's Fireworks," said Gwen, which only seemed to egg on Alexis a bit.

"Seems like you'll need to get new robes at the first Hogsmeade Weekend, James... Supposing your the only one with enough fireworks to pull off a stunt like that," commented Alexis, looking out the window. "Pity, and such a waste." She looked back at the door. She knew that with the others that Remus would be close behind, and there was little chance that she could keep away for too long, but then he was a prefect, which would leave her alone with James, Sirius, Gwen and Peter. Lovely...

JAMES POTTER:

James just looked at her, slightly disgruntled. He hated the way she always managed to make him look like an idiot.

It was worse, knowing what she said was true! She did surpass him in the ways of the wit. And it was really - really - annoying when she was right.

At least she insulted herself, he thought dryly. He could only hope he insulted herself as brutaly as she did him.

"There was an accident on the platform, and several trunks exploded with Filibuster's Fireworks," said Gwen.

James grinned a little. Ah, he wished he'd been around to see his plan come off. Sounded like it'd gone rather well.

He saw Alexis' look though, and knew she wasn't going to let this moment pass without comment...

"Seems like you'll need to get new robes at the first Hogsmeade Weekend, James... Supposing your the only one with enough fireworks to pull off a stunt like that," commented Alexis, looking out the window.

James merely smiled calmly, unbated. "No proof it was me, Parker." He shrugged a little and grinned faintly. He inspected his nails for a moment.

"The fireworks can't be traced back to me either - I made sure of that. Really, I look as innocent as - well -" he paused a moment "- as a really innocent person." He finished with a simple smile.

ALEXIS PARKER:

"No proof it wasn't, Potter... And since you've kindly admited it to a school prefect, you're not going to have the best start of year more than likely. And you look as innocent as He-Who-Must-Not-Be- Named of pleading he's innocent of murder," sighed Alexis. "Honestly. If you want to get away with pranks, try not admitting to them so quickly. It's the first rule, and someone like you should know that by now." She sat back in her seat and turned to Lily and the others. "Where exactly is Remus? Already in the Prefect section?" she asked them.