As We Return|| September 1, 1976
The past three months had faded by in a haze. When she hadn’t been drunk Gwen had made sure to keep herself stoned. Everything had seemed to fall apart the moment she left King’s Cross last May. Her family had been there to great her and her sister, but just as quickly as they had asked about the quidditch season did talk turn to her sisters academic success and how they were looking forward to see how Gwen proved herself in her OWLs the following year.
Gwen would send hours on end up in the air over the next few months. She loved flying, and she loved playing quidditch. Her father had pulled a few strings and she was able to practice with the England National Team a few times a week. She had been able to refine her skills and she was going to be unstoppable on the pitch this year. When she wasn’t in the air though she had found herself hopping from pub to pub in Muggle London and making some interesting friends. One friend in particular she found herself drawn to more than the others.
Harper and Gwen had met as a party last summer so running into him one night at a club was a nice surprise. They spend the night catching up and drinking and after a quickie in the bathroom Gwen found her way back home. Through out the first few weeks of the summer they kept running into each other and patterned continued. It wasn’t until she started hanging out with him more outside of clubs that his temper really showed. It wasn’t anything she couldn’t handle, nothing that she hadn’t run into before. Plus with her dedication to her sport and the fact that she played one of the more dangerous position made it easy to play off the bruises as accidents. Though the finger like bruises around her neck were not so easy. That had to be hidden beneath high collars and glamour spells.
Now here she was once again, sitting in the back of the Hogwarts Express headed north to school. Opening the window slightly she leaned back and pulled out a pack of cigarets and quickly lit one up taking a long drag. Closing her eyes she felt the glamour spells she had on slowly melt away as her energy faded. They always did take a lot of her to keep up. At least she would have a few hours to herself before she had to put them back up. Most of them wouldn’t be a big deal it was just the multicolored shiner and faded hand like pattern along her neck she didn’t want to explain over and over again.
Dark hair fell into his line of sight as James flopped down onto the springy cushioned bench of the Hogwarts Express. Mother was right. I should’ve cut it. He admitted to himself. With his left hand he combed through the front of his hair twice, trying to get it to stay out of his eyes. Each time he let go the fringe ended up back in his face. A deep sigh escaped the boys lips and his arms rested at his sides. A quick survey of the cabin revealed his three best friends in the world sitting opposite him. “What then?” he asked abruptly, “Have I contracted cooties in the last ten seconds?” James pretended to waft the air around him towards his friends as if to spread his germs in their direction. “Common, you’re all subject to catch them any way, we share everything after all.” No one moved to get up. Remus and Sirius actually shared a covert look as if James had gone mad, followed by a look so loving it made James want to throw up a little. James rolled his eyes, picked Petter up by his robe collar and shuttled Pettigrew across the cabin and into the seat beside himself.
James had other business to attend to, but after creating such a scene over having one of his mates sit beside him he did not feel as though leaving the cabin at this exact moment was justifiable. Instead he figured it could wait and he settled back into the seat, putting one ankle up on the other knee and his hands behind his head, elbows extended out. “How were your summers?” James asked, with an incredible serious look plastered on his face. An immense uproar of laughter answered his questions, as James’ joke hit his friends ears. They had spent most of the summer under one roof, there was no need for silly first-of-the-year icebreakers such as this. James joined in their laughing fit as he reflected on what had been a relatively uneventful summer. At the end of their fifth year, James had been granted permission for Siruis to come live with the Potters full time. Little did his mother know that Sirius living under the same roof as James often meant Remus and Peter would be over, unexplained, for days at a time. The boys had promised no mischief that would ruin their suppers, but that hardly meant no mischief...
The scenery outside began to shift, and James recognized the country side that signified they were nearly half way home. Suddenly he was aware that he had not yet seen another important person in his life. After bidding his friends a good rest of the train ride, and suffering several jabs that included the word “prat” he departed into the trains hallway. He poked his head into every cabin, mostly to be an arse, as you could for the most part see who was in the cabins from out side. Each time he entered a cabin and did not find who he was looking for he would utter a quick “Damn” and then shut the door. From a spectators point of view the spectacle would’ve seemed quite bizarre and comical. “Damn. damn. dammit.” James continued down the corridor with no luck. Upon opening the last cabin in the hallway he spotted a red head with green eyes who had earned his affection. “Why hello Evans.” He spoke, tipping an invisible hat to her and the others in the carriage, he closed the door before her retort hit his ears. It was better that way. This was the first time, possibly ever that he was searching for a girl other than Evans, and would not allow Lily to be a holdup.
James spotter her, in the cabin opposite him. Gwen was lounging with a lit cigarette. He immediately took inventory of her appearance; she looked beautiful as ever, her cool body language never failed to trip James up. It took no more than a once over for James to notice the bruises, but he knew better than to let his eyes linger, so he couldn’t be sure if the marks were made with fingers or broomsticks. Who had it been this time, her father? mother? or just someone on the team she’d been practicing with. They had only seen each other once over the break, but James had attempted several owls sent Gwen’s way. James knocked before entering, but walked through the door way before getting a reply. “Ay, beautiful.” James said grinning, he always grinned like an idiot upon seeing Gwen. “How’s my girl?” he asked, taking the seat beside her and lightly toughing her cheek. James was in the habit of exhibiting only the most gentle care towards Gwen, he knew that this may have been the first compassionate touch she has received in three months.
