Not the Same(James Potter Fanfiction)

Chapter 1- The Encounter

        I sat laughing as my younger sister, Leanna, was rushing through our simple, suburban house, packing for our ride back to Hogwarts. Her fiery red hair was tied up in a bun, her wand sticking out of it. I watched her jarring and hasty motions, and perched myself on the kitchen table, continuing to giggle as her mood grew darker. She stopped her panic to stare at me.
"You know, Sam," began Lee as she glared angrily at me, "you could help me out here."
"Well, yes, I suppose I could. However, I would rather chill on my counter and laugh at your idiocracy." I informed the fourteen year old, still chuckling.
"That's a table, not a countertop, idiot."
"Bitch, it is a counter if I want it to be, whatcha gonna do about it?" I asked her jokingly. Lee just sighed and went back to searching. Normally, I would also be panicking about the same thing, since I, as well, procrastinate. But, this year, Tabby came over and packed it for me, because apparently she "can't trust me." My older brother, Ryan, sat shirtless on the couch, watching a cartoon. I moved over to the other end of the couch, and stared unconsciously at the TV, and waited for my mother to finish dinner.
I grinned as I met up with Lucky and Tabby on the platform for the Hogwarts Express. Lucky and Tabby are the nicknames I gave to my two best friends, Lucy and Blake. We had the nicknames for each other based on our patronuses. Lucy has the patronus of a rabbit, Blake and I believe it is do to her generally innocent nature, as well as her incredible ability to run fast and hide well. She took up the name Lucky because of the supposed luck a rabbit's foot can bring. Blake has the patronus of a cat, Lucy and I speculate this is due to her ability to switch between a regal and playful personality, not forgetting how she is quick to talk big in bad situations, in order to appear to be a bigger threat. And finally, I have the patronus of a viper. Lucy and Blake tell me that they can mostly see me as a viper when I'm cornered, as well as when I am insulted. When fighting with someone, I like to strike quickly, in order to reduce their chance of preparing. Due to the war on Muggle borns, my siblings and I were taught how to fight at an early age, due to my mothers fears. I'm also known, amongst Slytherins, to have venomous words, in the sense that, when I say something, it may not take immediate effect, but they will think of it later.
"Hey, Sam, let's grab a compartment before the train starts moving." Lucy stated, grabbing my arm and yanking me out of my thoughts. She pulled me through the crowds by my elbow, Blake had run ahead to insure an empty compartment. Lucy and I searched the train for where Blake had gone.
"You know, every year we fuck up by sending Blake ahead, every year we regret it and claim we won't do it again, and we still send her off! It's like we never learn." Lucky exclaimed exasperated as the train took off.
"Maybe it's not so much that we never learn, and more so because we never give ourselves another option by always getting on the train at the last minute." I suggested as we were being jolted every so often while walking to the back of the train. Eventually, we found her in the last compartment, reading next to two Gryffindors. I slid the door open and entered without hesitation. I went to put my trunk up and on the overhead shelf, when I felt a hand stopping me from lifting it placed on my trunk handle.
"I've got this, it's probably too heavy for you." And as the redhead twin decided to "offer help" I felt my annoyance level rise. I was for some reason not happy with the comment. So, I said nothing, but I pulled the Gryffindors hand off my trunk, and lifted it overhead and onto the shelf with little issue. I looked to my left to see Blake, smirking a bit from behind her book at the somewhat shocked look on the twins face. I took my seat by the window and across from Tabby, I began staring out of it and fantasizing of places I could be, and people I could be meeting. I felt my eyes begin to droop as the time went by slowly. The twin's once annoying chatter about pranks and such became white noise. I focused my ears in on Lucky's unwavering humming of an old ballet routine. I was lulled to sleep, my head leaned against the cool window.
When I next awoke, the trolley lady was next in our compartment, talking about chocolate dogs or something. I was still half asleep, so all of Lucky's worrying over what candy I wanted sounded far off. I would later find that she chose a bunch of dark chocolate frogs for me. I was so out of it I lied down on the seats, and scrunching my legs into a fetal position, taking up two seats, and complained about the cold. I felt a warm blanket drape across me as I yawned. I felt around and found that the blanket was a robe, however I really didn't care enough to think too much about it. I fell asleep again, my face buried into the back cushion of the seats.
I felt the train jolt a bit, shocking me out of my sleep. I sat up groggily and looked over at the twins and my friends, as the Gryffindor robe that had been laying over me slide down my body, revealing my over the shoulder black tee shirt and plaid pleated skirt. I scooped up the robe and returned it to the closest twin, mumbling a brief, "Thanks." My eyes trailed through the compartment, to see Lucky was engaged in a conversation with one of the twins about quidditch teams and such. She had an appreciation of the sport, because her old childhood friend was obsessed with it. I still hate that fucker, he completely ignored and sometimes targeted Lucky after she was placed in Slytherin. Fortunately, she has an uncanny ability to get herself out of harmful situations just by running, or talking sense to the person. I took notice of Tabby's absence.
I glanced at the twin next to me, "Where's Blake?"
"She's at her prefect meeting." He replied nonchalantly.
I yawned and stretched my arms out, and asked him, "What's the name of you and your brother? And year as well."
"I'm Fabian and my brothers name is Gideon. We're both sixth years." He replied, turning and facing me a bit. From then on we both chatted and ate chocolate frogs together. Generally speaking the ride to Hogwarts went smoother than expect for a bunch of Slytherins and Gryffindors in the same compartment.
When we arrived at the stations, we all met up with Tabby, who was quick to pick up on the comfortable and joking atmosphere, and begin to mess around as well. We split ways with the twins after a carriage ride together, when we finally got to the Great Hall.
The moment Fabian and Gideon left, Tabby blurted out, "James Potter is a Prefect... As well as Lily Evans." Tabby didn't like to stay updated with any gossip, unless it was about James Potter or Sirius Black, for no other reason than, James scared her, and Sirius was Lucky's old best friend. We all sat down at the long table full of Slytherins, as they were all excitedly chattering about our new DADA teacher. The children were sorted and the dinner passed by like any other, and as such we got up to leave the Great Hall. When we had stayed util the very end, where almost no one was left. The three of us walked out and ran into the Marauders, with Lily.
Lily was the first to speak by asking, "Why are you all not in full uniform, especially you Blake. I may need to report you and get your Prefect badge revoked" I was shocked by how pleased Evans was with herself. Tabby hadn't gone already because she had forced the other Prefect to deal with the first years.
"Evans, please," Tabby began, her pissiness due to exhaustion was dripping from her words, "I am going to need you to take you superiority complex down a notch. I was too tired to care about getting dressed, and Sam and Lucy just don't give a fuck. Don't you have a sibling? Have you not learned yet what happens when you snitch? Don't you know the common saying, 'Snitches get stitches'?" And with that empty threat, Tabby strutted down the hallway. I assessed the group, and noticed James's twitching hand. He quickly thrusted his hand into his robe pocket, and drew out his wand, beginning to throw out a curse. I grabbed his wand and took it, instinctively, before the words even formed on his mouth. Everyone except Lucky was staring, wide-eyed. Lucky was fully aware of the extensive training I undergo to be a good fighter and dueler. I threw his wand over against the back wall, grabbed Lucky's hand and ran to the Slytherin common room. I think the only reason I didn't stay and fight, was because the odds were 5 to 2, if shit got real I would be toast.