Mischief Managed (Discontinued)

CHAPTER ONE

   Steam was belching from the train engine. Owls hooted to each other through the mist, cats purred loudly. Friends were greeting each other, laughing, catching up, helping each other pull their trunks up onto the train. Others were already chatting inside of compartments, holding their pets. Some were hugging, kissing, and saying goodbye to their parents or siblings, some of whom were crying, some smiling warmly.

   A tall boy with black, very messy hair and a pair of round glasses was on his toes, peering through the misty platform, searching for his friends. James Potter sighed, pushed his trolley forward, in the direction of the train, and waited there. He glanced at his watch, reached up a hand to his head, and ruffled up his hair so it was artfully messy.

   A flash of red caught his eye. He turned quickly, and saw the beautiful Lily Evans, talking to her parents, her sister hesitantly standing behind them. After nodding at her parents, Lily turned and walked over to the greasy-, black-haired Severus Snape. A flash of annoyance and anger surged through James.

   "Oi! James!"

   The call made James spin. Long, dark hair falling elegantly into his face, Sirius walked toward James, grinning.

   "Sirius, where have you been? I've been looking all over for you!" said James.

   "Ah, Regulus had to double-check that he had everything in his trunk. You know, four times."

   James smirked. Right before he was about to answer, he heard a shout from behind him and turned.

   "Sirius! James! Over here!"

   James grinned more broadly. Remus Lupin was smiling and squeezing through the crowd towards them, pushing his trolley laden with trunks. He was already dressed in his black and scarlet school robes, and the usual few books were clutched in his arms.

   "Ah, Remus!" called James. Then, "Where's little Peter? Anyone know?"

   Remus shook his head, as did Sirius. Sirius, looking over his shoulder at Lily and Snape, said, "James. . . . it's Evans. Over there. With Snivellus," he added, looking disgusted.

   James turned and said, "I know. Wish I could just curse the skinny slime ball, right here." He twirled his wand, already thinking of excuses he could make if he were to cast a spell on Snape. He reached up his hand again and messed up his hair, a hopeful look on his face. Lily had glanced in his direction but looked away quickly after noticing who it was staring at her.

   At that moment, a voice squeaked from behind them all, "James! R - Remus! Sirius!" and they all turned to find Peter, small as ever, pushing his trolley toward them as fast as he could through the noisy crowd. James could barely see him, he was so short, and his trunks were stacked up high.

   "Peter! We were beginning to suspect you'd never show up!" said Sirius with a small bark of laughter.

   Peter's face tinged slightly pink, and he mumbled, "Sorry. . . ." and began a quiet rant on why he was so late.

   James grinned. "Oh, don't explain. Just try not to get trampled on the train while we look for a compartment." He and Sirius roared with laughter. Peter turned even pinker, and Remus smiled slightly, looking up from his book.

   "C'mon, guys, let's get on the train," he said. "We'll want to find an empty compartment, won't we? So we don't have to split up."

   They all hurried to get on the train, but unluckily for them, so did everybody else. The steam still covering Platform 9 ¾, everybody was fighting to get through to the train. When James, Sirius, Remus, and Peter had managed to climb aboard, they searched for an empty compartment.