The Other War // James Potter & Lily Evans

train rides;

The first time James Potter had set foot in Hogwarts castle, he remembered relishing the feeling of home and belonging and the knowledge that seventh year, his final year, was so long away. But as he boarded the scarlet steam train bound for Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, the looming prospect of having to step out into the cold and unforgiving world was beyond fathomable and every fibre of his being yearned for more years that he could spend with his friends, roaming candlelit corridors and causing the ruckus and chaos that everyone had learnt to put up with.

Sirius fell into place next to James as they shoved past all of the students retreating into their compartments, preparing for the journey to Hogwarts. The compartment that James and Sirius finally occupied already contained Remus and Peter who were already in their robes. Remus looked up from his book as the two clambered in loudly. He smiled slightly and James noticed the strain, the tension in his face. He was merely of age yet he had the eyes of someone who had carried the weight of so much more than anyone off seventeen years should have had to. His hair the already carried small grey flecks and his face certainly had more scars than he remembered. It was times like these, that James truly admired Remus Lupin.

The Marauders were not what you would concoct as a typical group of friends; the Quidditch captain, the player, the brains and the pudgy mascot, but James felt at home with them all. He knew he would trust them with his life. Peter grinned as James and Sirius took their seats after changing into their robes.

"What?" James asked slowly, noticing Peter's grin.

"Well," Peter said, rolling the word around his tongue. He nodded at the Head Boy badge that rested next to the Gryffindor emblem on James's robes. James raised an eyebrow. "Now that you're head boy, you won't be able to prank with us."

James scoffed, his fingers dancing through his hair. He couldn't really see why Peter was grinning at the situation but he didn't mention it. "Rubbish." James said. "This piece of metal doesn't mean anything... Except for the fact that I can get Snape in trouble."

Sirius sat up straighter, his hair falling into his eyes. "You know, Prongs, it's beyond me as to what made old Dumbledore think that you'd be a good head boy. I though Remus would be crowned as head," he stopped to consider what to say next. "Diggory at least, but you?" He shook his head in dismay. "Never."

James chuckled. "Thoughtful as always." Sirius returned the smile and saluted.

The train started with a jolt, beginning it's long journey to Hogwarts. Slowly, all of the people standing Platform 9 and 3/4 were nothing but shrinking dots in the distance and the train was happily chugging through the vast green landscapes.

"So if you're head boy," Sirius said slowly, "Who's head girl?"

"My galleons are on Bones from Hufflepuff," Peter replied.

"A Hufflepuff?" Sirius questioned his opinion.

"Hey, Hufflepuffs are very overlooked."

Sirius snorted.

"Huh, I would have said Lily. Lily Evans, but whatever sweetens your tea." Remus said quietly. At this, James looked up.

"Evans?" He said.

"Sounds about right," Remus shrugged. "I mean, on her OWLs she got an O in all but flying, and she's floating about The Slug Club every Saturday, I wouldn't be surprised if Slughorn asked Dumbledore to appoint her as head." He placed a bean between his lips. "I'm just saying."

James watched, deep in thought as Remus bit down on the bean and turned bright red. "Chilli," he choked out. But James didn't offer his friend a second glance, instead he said,

"Heads have to do rounds, don't they?"

"Yeah," Sirius said.

"Every Wednesday," Remus added.

"Around the whole castle," Peter grinned.

James sank into his seat a little bit more.

"Let me put it this way, Prongs," Remus said matter-of-factly. "You have to do rounds every Wednesday around the whole school, but-you get to do them with Head Girl and ten galleons says it's Evans."

"Anything at all from the trolley?" An airy voice wafted through the open door of the compartment. The four looked up. Peter licked his lips. Sirius reached into his pocket and pulled out several golden coins.

"Some of everything." And he handed over the coins.