Chapter 3- A Train Off Tracks
Memorable Quotes from last chapter
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I won't be some superficial Marauder. I will be James Potter.
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Lesson one for dear old Lily; expect the unexpected.
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People can take anything away from you
But they can never take away your truth
But the question is,
Can you handle mine?
They say I'm crazy
I really don't care
That's my prerogative -Britney Spears
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James sat reading his book but not absorbing one word of the writing. He hoped to strike a conversation with Lily, to
impress upon her his astounding wit and charm. The memory of Remus' advice stayed with him and he decided against
it. Let her come to you, he thought.
He was right. He was getting nowhere just sitting in the compartment. So, if he wasn't going to talk with Lily, why not enjoy the train ride with the Marauders? He always had a good time with them. So, he stood and opened the compartment door.
"See you later, Lily," James said as he exited. Lily was somewhat dumbstruck by his surprising behavior.
Not just the fact that he had left her alone without harassing her, he hadn't even called her by her surname. It was an unwritten rule that the two of them called upon each other by their last names. It was normally Evans, not Lily. It normally showed the mutual frustration shared between the two of them. What was up with the new and unexpected manners? Was Potter polite? No. The answer was simple. Potter was not polite. Potter had no charm and he certainly had no impression on Lily.
Lily thought about it and realized she didn't want to spend the train ride alone. So, she set out to find her two best friends, Addison McKinnon and Maimee Hout. They always had a way of making her smile. Something Potter rarely achieved. She headed to the back of the train, towards the their usual compartment. She opened the door.
"Hey guys, I just escaped Potter. God, he is so annoying," Lily said.
She looked up and saw six heads looking in her direction opposed to the to the two she was used to referring to.
All of them were staring at her in confusion. Obviously, James had just finished telling them how he had left her alone and hadn't done anything.
Now, Lily was basically exaggerating and they knew it. She felt her face grow hot. She decided to just sit down and not think about it. Yet, the only seat left was between Addison and James. She sat down and saw James shift uncomfortably.
"Why are you guys in our compartment anyways?" Lily asked.
"Actually, it's our compartment," Sirius said. "Your friends needed a place to sit."
"Oh," Lily said quietly. She noticed James looking down at the floor.
"What's wrong with you, Potter?" she asked him.
"I am sure you don't want to sit next to me right now," he answered.
"It could be worst. I don't fancy sitting next to You-Know-Who anytime soon," Lily said, nervously laughing. At that precise moment, the train gave a violent jerk and the lights in the compartment flickered for a moment before completely dying out. Lily felt herself fall to the ground as the train shook again. She responded by instinct and pulled out her wand and muttered, "Lumos". She found that she wasn't the only one to do so. James had lit his as well.
Everyone was landed on the floor in an uncomfortable jumble. Addison had landed on Remus and Sirius and Maimee had landed between Remus and James. Lily was twisted in-between all of them. It looked as if Remus was stepping on Maimee's hair and Addison was elbowing Remus in the face. They all heard a howl of pain and Addison quickly began apologizing to Remus.
"Oh my goodness, Remus. Did I get your face?" Addison asked.
"No, but your knee is stuck in my balls and let me tell you that's no picnic," Sirius's muffled voice said.
Everyone laughed except Sirius.
"It's not funny. James, you know how bad it hurts," Sirius said.
"He's right," James said.
"Wow, suspicious movements on the train that send us all to the ground. Flickering lights. Seems a little eerie to me," Addison said.
"Yes. Someone should be checking this out right now," Lily said.
"Hmm. Who would be qualified enough for that job?" Addison pondered. "Perhaps, no! Not the Head Boy and Girl!"
"Oh!" Lily and James said, getting up and crushing several people while doing so. They mumbled apologies while leaving the compartment.
The aisles were empty. Obviously everyone was too afraid to see what all the commotion was. The normally gleaming torches were put out. There seemed to be no noise, no disturbance whatsoever. Lily cautiously held her wand out and started to head towards the drivers compartment. Yet, a strong yet caring hand held her back. James had stopped her from leading the way. Lily sent a reproachful look while James replied with a genuine grin.
"Sorry, just trying to be a gentleman," James said.
"Well isn't the saying Ladies First?" Lily asked.
"Yes, it is. But I would feel horrible if you got hurt," James said. So, Lily let him go first. They approached the compartment, hoping sincerely that nothing was wrong.
James knew from intuition that there indeed was something wrong. The train had stopped moving and noise was coming from the compartment. A scream was heard, clear as day. Both Lily and James blasted open the door with a jet of blue light and entered it.
That's when she saw them. Nothing could have explained the rush of blood to her head or the cold sweat on her palms. Not Dementors, no. But, something much worst. She saw them. Hooded, masked, and with hands of fury. The woman who walked around with the cart full of goodies was stunned and the driver was in the process of being pinned against the wall. He was putting up a very good fight. They were outnumbered.
Lily lifted her wand quickly to send a spell, leaving three death eaters unconscious. There were so many of them. It seemed as if Voldemort had sent his entire army on the train to fight. Why, was beyond Lily. Lily didn't hesitate anymore as the Death Eaters were approaching them. James was warding them off like flies though. Lily noticed how concentrated he was. She sent a spell at the Death Eater who was trying to hurt the driver. The Death Eater seemed to have sprouted tentacles and fell to the ground. The driver just stood in shock.
Just leave them all to us why don't you, Lily thought bitterly.
There was no way she and James could take them all. That was when she thought of it.
We're not outnumbered. They're the ones with a disadvantage. You can't be outnumbered when you're on a train full of 1000 kids who know magic. It's not possible, she thought.
Both James and Lily backed up. It seemed as if James had the same idea as Lily. Lily let out a blood curdling scream as James muttered, "Protego". Lily ducked out of the compartment and saw a few heads peaking out into the aisles.
"There are Death Eaters on this train. I don't know why and I don't know how but we need to defend ourselves. Someone send an owl to Professor Dumbledore, right now. Get your wands out and get ready to fight," Lily shouted. Mostly everyone headed in to get their wands or send an owl. Not that many owls could get intercepted. She did see Sirius exit, his wand in hand.
"There are loads of them Sirius," Lily said, panicking.
"Calm down. We'll take care of them. You go and get the Prefects and older students," Sirius said. He entered the compartment and Lily knew he was fighting alongside James. The door opened suddenly, and James was backing up. Lily saw the Death Eaters slowly walking towards him and Sirius. Each and every one of them had their wands raised and Lily knew there were hidden looks of satisfaction. Whatever they wanted or whoever they wanted, they had now come closer to getting it.
"We have him, we have him. The Dark Lord will be pleased," they all chanted. James heard Lily let out a cry. This was it, they were done for. The three of them were going to be killed by Death Eaters leaving the rest of the Hogwarts population fair game.
"Not if I can help it," James shouted, answering his own thoughts. He lunged himself at the Death Eaters and Sirius began to fight. Lily saw spells of colors she herself had never even seen. Lily quickly went off to warn the others so she could return to fight.
There was something bothering her, what were they doing on the train?
A/N: Please review!