Disclaimer: Based on material all belonging to JKR

On the train and traveling to Hogwarts for their final year.

Lily was gazing absent-mindedly out of the window, contemplating David Mackintosh. Completely out of the blue the boy had sent her a letter towards the end of summer.

Dear Lily,

Hope your summers gone ok so far. I know this is a bit weird, seeing as we don't know each other all that well, but to me we seemed to get along rather well towards the end of exams, and so when I got back from France I thought I'd just write and see if you felt like having a bit of a pen-pal thing. Thought we could continue our conversation on conspiracy theories within the ministry! Anyway, hope to hear from you soon,

David x

She had sent a very prompt reply saying she'd simply love to. But, this morning, much to her surprise he asked if perhaps she'd like to be more than friends. They had only been talking for a couple of weeks, what was he thinking? But then, a little voice in the corner of her mind hadn't been that surprised he'd asked, which confused her. She had told him quite nicely how taken aback, yet pleased she was, and said she'd simply need a little time to think it over. But then, that little voice knew very well what her answer should be, even though she was now thinking she should just agree to it.

"Lily?"

"hmm?"

"What do you think you're going to say to him then?"

Alice was looking at her expectantly. Lily didn't really feel like discussing the matter, but she feigned a grin anyway, putting on a display of eager anticipation, "Don't know yet...what do you think?!"

Alice started grinning as well, "I really don't know, how long were you even talking to him for?? He is so nice but I really didn't see that coming!" Lily giggled,

"I know neither did I!" or had she? "We'd only been talking for a couple of weeks, but he seems keen. What do you think I should do?!"

Alice frowned thoughtfully, "You haven't been out with anyone in a while Lils, maybe you should accept!" She laughed excitedly

"Perhaps I should!" replied Lily, laughing in response. Alice looked away suddenly as the trolley pulled up,

"Oh I'm starving!"

Lily let her fake laughing stop and took the opportunity to return to staring out of the window. Someone's foot tapped her on the shin and she turned, Lauren was looking at her over the top of her magazine, an eyebrow raised pointedly.

"What?" Lily frowned

"You're not interested in him are you?" It was barely a question. Lauren knew very well the answer.

Lily sighed, "Perhaps not...he is nice though."

"I'm sure he is, but I'm also sure that where he took your letters as a response to whatever feelings he has for you, you were simply enjoying a new friendship. You have a problem of seeming really excitable around boys you know, like you laugh a lot, and where you think your being friendly, they see flirty, that's my opinion anyway."

"But I like having boys as friends," Lily moaned, "I know you're not that impressed with them, but they're really a lot of fun most of them. They're adventurous! When I was little I used to play with loads, and they never thought I was flirting then."

"You mean like Severus?" she asked. She didn't sound particularly negative in any way, and her face was fairly normal, but Lily knew the dislike was there.

"Yes Lauren, like Severus."

"We're not talking about him again are we?" Alice said suddenly, sitting herself down with a rather large pile of food, "I thought he wasn't your friend any more."

"He isn't, don't worry we're not talking about him." It was hard for Lily to keep the regret out of her voice. He'd been a very special friend to her when they were young.

"Well good. Lauren stop gawking at the food, I didn't get it all for myself you know! Look, here's pumpkin pasties for you both." Smiling gratefully they all proceeded to eat and soon the topic was changed to ones of a more light hearted nature, the three of them giggling happily. But Lily kept being distracted slightly. She knew, now Lauren had said what she had not wanted to admit to herself, that she must proceed to tell David that she wanted simply to remain friends, and the thought did not appeal to her.

"Lily?"

"Huh?" Lauren and Alice were looking at her. She realised she'd been silent for quite a while, and sighed, "I'm going to say no to David, I just... don't fancy him."

Alice made noises of disappointment, while Lauren nodded sympathetically.

"Well that's a shame," Alice said, and then she looked at Lily closely, "Lily, have you ever fancied anyone? I mean, you've gone out with one or two but it was never serious or anything you know?."

Lily shrugged, "um... dunno." She'd been attracted to one or two sure, but actually liking them? She liked them as friends, as enemies even, but she'd never actually fallen for one. She wondered if she was OK with that...

Sitting in the great hall the following morning, Lauren was busy filling both Alice and Lily in on some rather interesting gossip when David walked by. He was a good looking enough guy Lily supposed, he had golden sort of hair and rather blue eyes, but sadly it had not been enough to tempt her. There was an akward silence as he passed, smiling at Lily yet looking at the ground whilst he did.

"I take it you gave your reply then," Lauren said quietly, and Lily nodded.

"How did he take it?" whispered Alice. Lily shrugged,

"He seemed a bit taken aback to be honest. Said 'oh' and I said 'really sorry' and all that. He just stood there shrugging a lot."

"LILY!"

Lily whipped her head round and a huge grin appeared instantaneously on her face.

"Remus! It's so good to see you!" Getting up from the bench the two of them hugged warmly.

"How did your summer go?" she demanded, whilst briefly examining his face. It was an never-ending worry to her, but he always seemed to look just a little bit more strained, or a bit more tired, every time she saw him, and she'd never been able to work out why.

"Fabulous," he said laughing, "Yours? It must have been fairly interesting, I heard you got asked out just yesterday!"

"How on earth do you know already?! And well, yes I did, but I turned him down,"

He looked at her with mock sympathy written all over his face,

"Oh Lily...Waiting for James no doubt!! Quite understandable! The two of you would be a match made - ""

"Never." She interrupted quickly, making Remus smile. She wondered vaguely why James hadn't spoken to her already this year, he usually had some arrogant routine prepared to ask her out again for the millionth time, almost as soon as the Hogwarts express pulled out of the platform.

"Tell me all about your summer then!" she urged Remus, "I want details!" He rolled his eyes, but smiled and started to relate his summer to her. She listened but found her mind wandering. Where was Potter? He always made such a racket whenever he arrived each year... up to mischief with his pal Sirius. Up to no good, she thought darkly. She let her eyes quickly search the rest of the table. There was Peter Pettigrew, (she felt sorry for him, blatantly pulled into schemes in which he wanted no part), Sirius Black, leaning on the bench more arrogantly than ever...but where was Potter? Probably right behind me, she thought wryly, ready to tell me again why he is so good, and why I should absolutely be with him. She really hated him. True, last year his bullying had definitely slowed, but that was hardly cause to think he was any more special than any other boy in here. Suddenly Remus stopped talking and stared at her chest. She blinked...no, Remus had never been that kind of boy! And then he looked up, trying hard to hold a very large grin in. She frowned,

"What?"

"Why Lily, head girl are we?"

She looked at him suspiciously, "I am...and...?"

Remus looked near to bursting from the hilarity.

"Remus, for goodness sake, what!?"

"Have you seen who's head boy yet?"

Her eyes narrowed, "No...They said I'd have to find out later in the week because he wouldn't be arriving till then..."

Finally, Remus, giggling histerically pointed towards his friends, "Who is missing?"

She didn't even need to look. The horror, the absolute horror of her situation dawned on her. Her mouth fell open, but no words came out, she simply gaped in disbelief.

"Lily, what's the matter?" Lauren asked curiously, both she and Alice kept glancing at Remus, who was still giggling. And it was he who told them, quite happily, about the new head-boy that year. Their mouths fell open too which made Remus laugh even harder.

"Excuse me," he said wiping a tear of joy from his eye, "I must return to my friends!" He dashed away, and sure enough shouts of glee soon could be heard from his table. Lily sat down miserably, James Potter, that arrogant toerag, was none other than Head-boy.

The next few days were filled with dread. Every time she did one of her duties, every time she was referred to as 'head-girl', every time Remus or any of Potter's friends walked past her she was reminded of her fate – having to share a whole year with ...Him. The idea made her feel sick. One part that particularly nagged at her was the large and wonderful bathroom at the top of Gryffindor tower, reserved only for head boy and head girl- she would have to share that with him!! Impossible!! It could not happen! Who had even made that cretin head boy? He was hardly worthy of the position. And he certainly would never fulfil any of his duties properly. He would use his position to bully and manipulate wherever possible, bending the rules for him and his friends. If anything she though probably Remus would have been Head Boy, he had been Prefect after all, and he was by far the more responsible of the two...not to mention the nicer, and less big-headed. It nagged at her the rest of the week, she barely listened in classes to the new very complicated ideas being introduced, or Alice and Lauren as they poured out the gossip from everyone's summers. All she could think about was the unfairness of having to be around Potter for basically, the rest of the year. She hated him. And hated him even more for not just turning up and getting it over with. Where was he?