"Quidditch!" thought Lily happily. She was holding her all new Windwhipper 360, currently the newest and fastest broom of the time. She had played Seeker for the Gryffindor Quidditch team since she was in second-year, and every summer when she looked forward to going back to Hogwarts, Quidditch was always one of the main reasons. The only bad thing about Quidditch was that James Potter was the Captain of the Gryffindor Quidditch team; he had been since fifth-year. Like Lily, he had joined the team at second-year, playing as Chaser. The two were so good at Quidditch that they were nicknamed the 'Dynamic Duo', as they were the main reasons that Gryffindor always won the Quidditch cup. Sure, there were doubts when the Gryffindor team accepted not one, which was rare enough, but two second years. After the first game of the season, Gryffindor vs Ravenclaw. Gryffindor thrashed Ravenclaw 840-160, setting an all new Hogwarts record for the greatest point difference of two teams in history. Needless to say, the doubts were quickly diminished and after, no one would admit that they doubted James and Lily again.
Other than Quidditch, James and Lily shared a lot in common (not that Lily wanted to admit that), including their dueling skill. They were excellent in dueling, with only Sirius Black being able to best them, and that was only if he was given a handicap. With the exception of Peter Pettigrew, the Mauraders were all proficient in dueling. In fact, Remus Lupin came close after Sirius as fourth in the school. As for James and Lily, their positions were always switching as first and second because they could never keep a winning streak against each other. Every time they dueled, it was considered a big event in Hogwarts and bets were exchanged betwee the other students in the favor of who would win.
The other depressing thing in Lily's life was that even though she was Head Girl, something that she had wanted to be since first year, James Potter was made Head Boy too. She still could not understand why Dumbledore would choose James Potter. For goodness' sake, she had already questioned the man's sanity when he chose James as Quidditch Captain in fifth-year. Well, this certainly proved that the old man was off his rocker.
Admittedly, James had gotten better and stopped hexing others for the fun of it. She was pretty sure he still did it to Snape, but she had come to the stage when she admitted that Snape was indeed, a deserving and slimy git. In fact, every time she saw the Mauraders bullying Snape in the corridors, she would be very reluctant to stop them. And she felt guilty about it. Wasn't she supposed to be the Head Girl? (Then again, as the Head Boy, James had no qualms about hurting Snape whatsoever.)
Just then, James knocked on Lily's dorm door. "Time to go, Lils," Lily liked James a lot more now, and had even allowed him to call her using the old nickname her father had given her when she was young. Their relationship had improved drastically, and now Lily was even James' date for the seventh-year welcome-back ball, held right after Christmas. Not that she had a choice though; it was a tradition that the Head Girl and Head Boy go to the ball together.
She picked up her book and opened the door. She hardly spared James a glance and grabbed his arm. "Come on, we're gonna be late," she mumbled. James glanced at the book under her arm and chuckled, shaking his head. Plainly amused, he followed her out of their private dormitory. Without a word, he ushered Lily back into the Great Hall and with a great roar at their arrival, the ball started.
After the ball, Lily and James went back to their dormitory eagerly. They knew they had to get as much rest as possible because they were on patrol duty that night (Why, McGonagall, why?). Tiredly, they both stumbled up to their respective dormitory and quickly fell asleep.
At midnight, James and Lily woke up and started their rounds. The first few minutes were in silence as they were both too sleepy to talk. However, after they passed the first few levels, James had awoken enough to start a conversation, and Lily grudgingly complied.
"So, did you like the ball just now?" he asked.
"I guess," Lily dignified an answer and refused to speak more.
After a few unsuccessful tries to get Lily to open up, James finally gave up and the two of them lapsed into a comfortable silence. Lily was literally asleep on her feet, several times she stumbled and almost fell. James, noticing this, steadied her with one arm on her elbow. He smirked and commented, "Not used to sleeping late, are you, Goody-Two-Shoes?"
"Shut up," yawned Lily, scowling at James.
A few minutes later, though, Lily ventured curiously, "Do you sleep late that often that you are used to this, then?" James just quirked an eyebrow at her and chuckled. Lily rolled her eyes, smiling. Did she even have to ask? If all the stories James had told her were true, he and his friends robbed the castle's kitchens almost every night ("What do you mean it's wrong? A growing boy needs his strength!")
Her thoughts were rudely interrupted by a howl from the distance. Both she and James froze and turned instinctively towards the brightly lit window conveniently located beside them. Wait a minute. Brightly lit? Lily gazed up at the sky. She found her answer immediately.
Hanging in the sky, as if mocking her, was a silvery orb, which had just emerged from the misty clouds.
Tonight was a full moon.
