The Marauders Rise (II)

Homeward Bound

June 1, 1974

On the Hogwarts Express, the Marauders are sitting in their own apartment on the train.

JAMES: You sure you're gonna be okay, going home for the summer?

SIRIUS: Yeah, I'll be fine. Bellatrix and Narcissa shouldn't show up at Grimmauld Place anymore. And as for my brother, I'll try to keep in line.

JAMES: Okay. And be sure to write us often, okay?

REMUS: Totally.

SIRIUS: I will.

JAMES: We'll have a better year in the fall, trust me.

REMUS: For sure.

PETER: And don't forget- we'll be Animagi soon!

SIRIUS: (smiling) I can't wait.

REMUS: Speaking of that- James, I've gotta ask you something.

JAMES: What?

REMUS: When McGonagall asked you who knew about me being a werewolf, and offered to teach you how to become Animagi-

JAMES: Yeah?

REMUS: Why didn't you tell her Lily's name, as well? You knew she was the first person to know.

SIRIUS: Oh, yeah. Why didn't you tell McGonagall that Lily knew?

JAMES: I don't know, I guess- I just wanted the whole Animagi thing to be for just us, you know? I didn't want her to spoil anything. Besides, if we let her in on it, she totally would've told Mary and Marlene, and at that point, the whole school would've known-

SIRIUS: True.

REMUS: Yeah, I guess it's for the best.

JAMES: It is. Trust me, we don't need Evans. We're gonna be just fine on our own.

PETER: (glancing out the window) I can see the station! We're almost there!

Together, the four friends gather up their bags and begin to exit the train.

JAMES: You coming, Sirius?

SIRIUS: (still gathering his belongings in his trunk) Yeah, I'll be right there. Go ahead without me.

JAMES, REMUS, and PETER alight from the train, leaving only SIRIUS in the compartment, still trying to shut his trunk, which is bursting with disorganized possessions. Suddenly, MARLENE appears in the doorway.

MARLENE: Hey, stranger.

SIRIUS: (looking up) Hey.

MARLENE: You all good there?

SIRIUS: Yeah, yeah, I'm fine. (He finally gets the trunk shut and stands up to face her). Ready to go home?

MARLENE: (smiling) Not particularly. (She leans forward and briefly kisses him on the lips before picking up her own trunk) Come on, loser. They're waiting for us.

SIRIUS smiles as he follows MARLENE out of the compartment and onto the steamy and crowded King's Cross station.