Chapter 1: Rendez-vous in Diagon Alley

A/N: Hi everyone, this is my second story – but to be honest, I didn't get far in the first one because I wasn't really into it, but trust me I feel like this one is going to be good. So please read and PLEASE review because it makes me feel like I'm writing these stories for a reason and that people really like them!

Disclaimer: I really wish I was J.K. Rowling but sadly I'm not and I really respect her and I love her work so anything you recognise is instantly to be in her credit!

"Hey Lils?" Mary shouted at me from across Flourish and Blotts. "You think I should buy these quills? I mean on one hand, I don't really need them, but on the other…I NEED them!"

That was Mary, tentative like always. "Mary, just get them. You know you want them, and you know you'll end up getting them. So just save yourself a little time."

Mary McDonald. My best friend for 6 years, ever since I met her on the platform when we were both bright eyed, bushy tailed, confused young girls off to our first year at Hogwarts. She's never let me down and I know I can always count on her, and I know she's always thought the same of me. We're both in Gryffindor, and share a dorm room with our other two best friends: Marlene McKinnon and Alice Prewett.

"Hi Lily, hey Mary," Alice said perkily, walking through the front door. Her greeting was followed by a cheery 'ding' from the gold bell hanging above the entrance. I could see her out of the corner in my eye in a bright yellow sundress with little daisies sewn all over it and I ran over to give her a hug.

"Hey Alice! It's been so long! How were your holidays? How was France? Did you go to see the Eiffel Tower? Is it amazing?" I said, babbling through the sentences, my tongue getting thoroughly twisted in the process.

"Woah. Woah. WOAH. Give the girl a little space to breathe, Lils, before she collapses into a puddle of yellow sunshine," Mary chuckled walking towards us with piles of books and quills loaded on her arms. She placed them on the worn countertop of the shop and gave Alice a classic bear hug.

"Haha, I missed you too Mary," Alice laughed returning the hug and then standing to face both of us. "And to answer your questions Lily, yes it's been ages, my holidays were great, France was great, yes I went to the Eiffel tower and yes it was amazing, AND," she paused to take a big breath, "I got you both something." She handed us two small gift wrapped boxes and while I took ages to unwrap it (I wanted to conserve the paper), Mary ripped hers open in about a second flat.

"Jeez Louise Lils, it's paper not gold!" Mary said opening her box to reveal a beautiful snow globe with the Eiffel tower sitting inside. Obviously Alice had charmed it so that the snow fell constantly, and there were four girls standing just in front; me, Mary, Alice and Marlene. I got the same thing and gave another hug to Alice. "They're beautiful Alice!"

"Yeah I love them too, I made myself one and also got one for Marlene, I'll give it to her when we see her later at Florean's." Alice replied.

Alice Prewett was one of the perkiest, most cheerful girls I've ever met and she never seemed to be sad. She was also incredibly smart and I was very jealous of that. She was the second person I met before going to Hogwarts, after Mary of course, because she ended up sitting in the same carriage as us, along with Marlene.

"I'll just buy this stuff, ok guys? And then we can head out to meet Marlene for ice-cream." Mary said turning to face the shopkeeper and handed him a couple of coins. She then picked everything up and placed it all in her backpack, walking towards us with a smile. "Ok, ready," she said.

We walked out of the shop in a line of three and walked down the bright streets of Diagon Alley. Students were milling about everywhere – everyone from First to Seventh year Hogwarts kids. Some of the younger boys were ogling at the newest products from Quality Quidditch supplies, while the girls were patting some of the cats sitting outside of the Magical Menagerie. Older students were stocking up on potion ingredients and new writing equipment for the coming years and lots of first years were piling into Ollivanders to buy their first wands.

We finally arrived at Florean Fortescue's Ice-cream parlour and took one of the empty tables just in front of the shop. "Don't you all remember the first time you walked into Diagon Alley and just couldn't contain your wonder?" I said feeling intensely sentimental.

"Yeah when we were all young and innocent, right Lily?" exclaimed a voice behind us. We all turned around and Marlene jogged towards us with a massive grin on her face. When she reached us she leant down and gave each of us a hug before collapsing onto a chair. "Well ladies, the party may start now for I have arrived!"

Marlene McKinnon was the loudest and oldest of our group and we all considered her the older sister of us three. She was incredibly fashionable, but somehow the sportiest of all of us – she'd played chaser on the Gryffindor Quidditch team for 4 years. She was quite a tease and would always tell us about everything on her mind.

"So, how is three quarters of the power four going?" Marlene asked, tilting her head for effect. We all laughed, nodded and smiled, incredibly glad that we would finally be able to spend every day together again.

"Well, I have some great news to tell you all!" I said, barely able to contain my excitement, "I…

"You made Head Girl." Marlene, Mary and Alice finished my sentenced simultaneously. I nodded quickly in happiness. "That's amazing Lils, we all knew you would!" Mary smiled clapping me on the back. "Yeah, old Dumbledore's had you pegged for that job since you arrived in first year!" Marlene agreed, rubbing my hair in a sisterly sort of way. "I'm so proud of you Lily!" Alice said giving me a hug.

"And you do know who Dumbledore has chosen for Head Boy right?" Marlene said, a coy grin sitting on her face.

"Amos Diggory?" I questioned.

"Nope."

"Um, Blake Jacking?"

"Nuh-uh."

"Remus? Oh please tell me it's Remus!"

"Sorry, Lily, but no, it's not Remus."

"Who? I don't know! Who?" I gave up, looking pointedly at Marlene, hoping against all odds that she wouldn't tell me some horrible Slytherin would be working alongside me all year, and sharing the Head's Dormitory with me. Oh gee, that would be torture. I'd probably quit straight away!

"It's James. James Potter." She whispered, purposely attempting to avoid my gaze. "According to James, Lupin turned down the offer at the end of sixth year, so Dumbledore chose James because he thought he was 'perfectly capable of the position'." Marlene continued, trying to take my shock and anger away. "Look Lily, I know you hate him, but after what that slimy little git Snape did to you, don't you think it's time to forgive and forget? I've known James since I was little and you'll be surprised at how similar you to are! Maybe this whole Head business will just let you see it!"

"Guys, you don't get it. We've always hated each other and I'm pretty sure we always will," I said quickly, trying to prove them wrong.

"But, Lils, Potter doesn't hate you. If anything he loves you! So even though you feel that way, Potter most certainly doesn't, so basically you're halfway there to being a couple!" Mary said, agreeing with Marlene and trying to calm me down at the same time.

"A COUPLE? Never will I ever go out with him!"

"Okay, whatever you say Lily, but can you at least try to get along with him? You know for the good of the school?" Alice asked hopefully.

Darn. She got me good with that one. My friends all knew I'd do anything for Hogwarts. "Fine." I said. "I'll try."