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Chp. 1 The New Head Boy, a Missed Sorting, and an odd friendship

7th year. Finally. No more sharing a dorm with four other snotty rich Gryffindor idiots. Angela, Melissa, Emily, and Gabriella. How Lily had put up with them for the past six years she couldn't tell. Not that she had anything against Gryffindor. Just her dorm mates. They were all the children of millionaires who acted like they owned everything. But now, after being named head girl, she had a dormitory all to herself. And of course, the head boy would either be Remus Lupin or Thomas Jones, Slytherin pureblood millionaire. Lilly was unsure of what Dumbledore's decision would be, but she hoped it was Remus. Even though he was a Marauder, he was a decent guy.

"LILLYKINS!!!"

Now there was a sight for sore eyes. Sirius Black. Hottest boy at Hogwarts. Biggest head at Hogwarts. Not much bigger than his best friend's however. James Potter. Lily did have to admit that James was exceptionally good looking, but his gigantic ego made her want nothing to do with him.

Lily ignored Sirius' calls and continued walking towards platform 9 ¾.

"LILLYKINS! OH LILLYKINS!!!" Sirius screeched after her.

"Just one more year, Lily. That's it. One more year." Lily muttered to herself. "What do you want Black?" She asked, turning to face him.

"I believe congratulations are in order, for the most exquisite new Head Girl," he said, catching up with her.

"Thanks. Now goodbye," she answered back, and continued walking.

"I suppose you've heard who head boy is?" Sirius continued, following her.

"Remus."

"Nope. Guess again," Sirius said gleefully.

"Thomas Jones." Lily said.

"Nope. This came as a real shocker," Sirius said as he and Lily casually leaned against the barrier and came out on Platform 9 ¾.

Suddenly, Lily had a moment of horrifying realization.

"No, it couldn't be. Dumbledore would never…"

"Oh yes he would! It is the one and only James Potter!" Sirius announced, a grin spreading across his face. Before Lily could react, he spotted Angela, one of Lily's former dorm mates. "Oh, look, Angela. Bye Lils!"

Lily watched Sirius run after Angela, then boarded the Hogwarts Express. She found an empty compartment and locked the door. Being the New Head Girl, she decided to begin setting a good example by changing into her robes. She had just begun to put her tie on when there was a knock on the door. Lily opened it slowly, and before she could close it again, James Potter rushed in and slammed the door, effectively locking it.

"What are you doing here Potter?" Lily asked, turning so her back was to him.

"Sorry if it's an inconvenience to you…Lily…" There was a hint of bitterness in his voice. He did not sound the same as he when Lily had last seen him at the beginning of summer. "Why are you already in your robes?"

" I'm setting a good example for the rest of the student body, as should you. Who were you running from anyway?" She asked, continuing with her tie again.

" Melissa. She was trying to get me with her new spell she invented. It turns your hair green."

" Crap! I can't get this to work!" Lily muttered, her tie turning out backwards instead of the way she wanted it.

"Here let me help," James offered, grabbing the tie and began working with it. Lily tried to pull away, but James had her backed against a wall, and she could only wait until he finished. "There. You really should know how to do that by now. How have you gotten by for the past six years without being able to tie a tie?"
"I can tie a tie! It's just, I…cut my hand this summer. Real bad, and It's hard for me to do anything with it…so yeah…that's why." Lily began, and the train lurched forward. James watched her leave the compartment, a smile spreading across his face.

"So, first years. When I call your name, you will come up and sit on the stool. I will place the sorting hat on your head, and you will be sorted." McGonagall said, as she began reading names of the list of new first years. This was the scene that was going on at the front of the Great Hall, but neither Lily nor James were their to witness it. Instead, they were in Professor Dumbledore's office, being lectured by not only Professor Dumbledore, but by Professor Flitwick as well.
"I expect much more from the two of you. Getting caught in a screaming match in the first prefect meeting is unacceptable. Now whatever the problem is between the two of you, I want you to stay here and sort it out. In the meantime, I'm going to the feast. I will talk to Professor McGonagall about your punishment." And with that, Dumbledore and Flitwick left the office to return to the feast.

James continued to stare at the wall, and Lily wouldn't look at him. They stayed like that for a few moments until Lily broke the silence.
"James?"

"What do you want Lily?" He asked, a hard look on his face.

" James, what happened to you this summer? You are completely different from last year."

"You know how my dad died two years ago?" He asked. Lily nodded, remembering. "Well, mum married a new guy this summer. He seemed great. You know, the family loving guy who's great with kids…well, turns out, he's a really bad guy Lils," James whispered, and Lily smiled at the use of her old nickname. "The first time I knew was when I found my mum sleeping on the couch one night. She had said she had work to do, but I think she was just avoiding him. They started to have shouting matches. Then, I wake up one morning, and she's got a black eye. The next time he hit her, I hit him back. I had to go to St. Mungo's for a week because of how bad he jinxed me. Now mum's too afraid to divorce him, so she just stays away as much as she can." Lily stared at him, and a tear trickled slowly down her cheek.

"I'm so sorry James. Nobody deserves that. I only wish I could do something to help."

"Nah, it's ok. Once I'm out of here, I can become an auror, and then he won't know what hit him," James joked, smiling. Lily giggled, then sighed.

"Friends?" she asked, holding out her hand.

" Just friends?" James asked back, a hopeful sound in his voice.

"Yes James, just friends. And just because I say this now, doesn't mean I won't report you or your Marauder buddies if they do something…out of line. Got it?"

"So it's more of, I promise not to kill you if you promise not to kill me thing?" James asked.

"Potter, you made my first three years at Hogwarts a living hell. Then, when you decided you were in love with me, you began following me around and trying to get me to go out with you, and when I would say no, you would just ask again. Our history does not lend for an easy friendship. Sorry. But I'm not saying that it's not a possibility in the future." Lily said mysteriously, then walked out of the door back to the great hall. James watched her leave in amazement, sitting back in his chair.