Chapter One – Head Boy

It was like coming home.

Lily Evans gazed around, smiling, as she walked onto platform nine and three quarters. There were witches and wizards everywhere – excited young first-years, rowdy fifth-years, older seventh-years and everyone in between. Parents hugged their children goodbye; old friends embraced after the long holiday apart. Owls hooted and cats yowled, adding to the general clamour.

"Lily!" a familiar voice called. Lily turned and grinned widely as her friend Mary hurried towards her. They hugged tightly, and Mary rushed through an excited greeting. "It's great to see you again! I missed you so much over the holidays! I can't believe it, our last year at Hogwarts! And you're Head Girl! I knew you would be, you're too smart for your own good! I wonder who's Head Boy, maybe it's Alistair Robin, you the guy from – " She stopped suddenly, and dropped her voice to a scathing whisper. "Look who it is. The Fearsome Foursome."

Lily followed Mary's gaze and scowled. James Potter and his friends were standing in a group nearby, all laughing loudly. Even as Lily watched, Potter turned around, and their eyes met. His laughter faded, and he gave her a small smile before turning back to his friends. Lily frowned suspiciously. Where was the arrogant smirk he usually directed at her? And what about that ridiculous hair-ruffling move that she found so irritating? He had barely looked at her!

"Oh look, it's Andrea!" Mary exclaimed, instantly forgetting the 'Fearsome Foursome'. She dragged Lily over to their friend and again they exchanged enthusiastic greetings. But, happy though she was, Lily couldn't help but glance over at Potter and his friends every now and then. And every time she did, her smile faded a little…

Lily followed her friends as they searched for an empty compartment. The three of them were still chatting eagerly, sharing the intricate little details of their holidays that could not be expressed in a letter, when Mary suddenly cut Andrea off in mid-sentence to say, "Look, Lily, it's Snivellus." She sneered as she used the cruel nickname that Potter and his friends had invented. Lily scowled, but did not look at her ex-best friend. "I have to sit in the Heads carriage," she said as they found an empty compartment.

"Oh…" Mary said, sounding disappointed.

"We'll see you at school, then," Andrea said brightly, and Lily smiled at them both before walking up to the front of the train. She suddenly felt nervous, and excited. She was Head Girl…and she was about to discover the identity of Head Boy, the boy she would be sharing duties and dormitory with for the rest of the year.

Lily combed her fingers through her hair, making sure it was neat, then took a deep breath and stepped into the carriage. Four of the new prefects were already seated, and they all looked up when she entered. But there was no seventh-year boy to seen…yet.

Lily sighed and took a seat. The prefects watched her expectantly, so she told them, "We just have to wait until the Head Boy and the other prefects get here, then you'll find out what's expected of you this year." She glanced at the clock. The train had already been travelling for five minutes. "They should be here soon."

Just as she finished speaking, the carriage door opened, and in walked a nervous-looking fifth-year. He took a seat with the other prefects, and Lily stared out the window. Alistair Robin…It was a possibility. He was shy, but very clever. Or it could be Jeff Blair; he was quite popular. Or maybe –

The carriage door slid open again, and Lily turned to see who it was, suppressing sudden nerves. He walked through the door, and she gasped in shock. This couldn't be right. James…Potter? James Potter, as Head Boy? As her partner?

"Hello, Evans," he said pleasantly, sitting beside her.

"You…You're Head Boy?" she demanded.

"That's what it said in the letter," he said casually.

Lily narrowed her eyes. "And who did you have to Confund to get it?"

An expression of mock-hurt crossed his features, and his eyes glinted with mischief. "Why, Evans!" he said grandly. "What makes you think that I would have to Confund someone for such a privilege? Don't you think I deserve it?"

Lily snorted derisively. "Deserve it? That'll be the day. You're too much of an arrogant, conceited, bullying – "

He looked away as he spoke, cutting her off in mid-sentence. "I already know why you hate me," he said grimly, all traces of humour gone. "You don't need to remind me."

Lily stared at the back of his head, surprised. She had never seen him like this before. He was the confident, self-assured, egotistical James Potter! Why the sudden change of attitude?

She jumped in surprise as the carriage door opened, admitting the last three prefects. They took seats, and Lily glanced at Potter, who would not meet her eyes. They knew what they had to do – it had been explained in the letter – and to do it, they needed to be able to co-operate. If they couldn't, things were going to get very awkward.

"James Potter?" Mary said incredulously, for the 14th time. They were in the Gryffindor common room, relaxing before the fire. It was late, and most of the other students had gone to bed.

"James Potter?" Mary said again.

"How could he be Head Boy?" Andrea wondered. "He's such a bully! Not to mention his friends."

"James Potter?" 16th.

Lily was silent. She stared into the crackling flames, feeling surprised and nervous and annoyed and angry all at the same time.

"I can't believe it. James Potter?" Mary shook her head.

"I'm going to bed," Lily sighed, standing up.

"That's a good idea," Andrea said tiredly. "'Night, Lily."

"Good night," Lily replied, then headed to her new dormitory. The Heads dormitory, where they had their own small common room and bathroom. There were two doors on opposite sides of the common room, one with a label that read 'Lily Evans' and the other, 'James Potter'.

The common room was empty when she walked in. That was no surprise. Lily slumped down in the couch before the low-burning fire, feeling tired but not wanting to go to bed. She just wanted some peace and quiet, some privacy, in which she could think.

She hated James Potter. The idiot had spent the first few years of their time at school together bullying her best friend, relentlessly pursuing her, constantly bugging her and asking her out. He spent more time messing up his hair than he did thinking, and he was always showing off with that stupid snitch! He was full of himself, he was arrogant, he was annoying, he was –

He was walking into the common room, grinning widely. Lily hurriedly straightened in the couch, and he looked at her, noticing her for the first time. The grin slid off his face instantly, and he asked, "What are you doing here?"

"This is my dormitory, too," Lily said pointedly.

"I know…I just thought you'd be in bed already." He looked uncomfortable, and his hand went, almost of its own accord, to ruffle his hair.

She couldn't help it. The movement was just so…so familiar, so James, that she had to smile. His eyes widened in surprise, and she was instantly mortified. "Goodnight, Potter," she said hurriedly, then escaped to her room before he could reply. She changed into her pyjamas, her mind in a whirl. She had smiled at him! Why had she done such a stupid thing? She hated him, for Merlin's sake! She hated the irritating swine! How could she smile at him?

Lunch break the next day found Lily sitting with Mary and Andrea outside in the shade of a large tree. They were discussing careers; Mary wanted to work in the Ministry and Andrea wanted to be a Healer at St. Mungo's. Lily hadn't told them what she wanted to be; she was afraid they would laugh, or tell her she couldn't do it. After all, female Aurors weren't common.

"Come on, Lily, tell us!" Mary begged.

"We told you what we want to be," Andrea pointed out.

"I don't know," Lily said, smiling. "I'm still thinking."

"But you told us five minutes ago that you didn't want to tell us!" Mary cried.

Lily blinked. "What?"

"You said – "

"Oi, Potter! Petrificus Totalus!"

Lily froze. The voice belonged to Severus. She scrambled to her feet and looked around, but she couldn't see them. She hurried around the wide trunk of the tree, and hesitated. Severus was standing over James, his wand out, his face black as a thundercloud. James was lying immobile on the grass, one hand half-way to the wand in his pocket.

"You can't leave her alone, can you?" Severus yelled. Lily glanced around, but the only people who had noticed the yelling had been her, Andrea and Mary. Not far off sat Sirius, Remus and Peter, but they were oblivious to the predicament their friend was in.

"You're always pestering her! Always stalking her!" Severus continued, his eyes blazing. He waved his wand and yelled, "Impedimenta!" The force of the spell flung James across the ground. Lily gasped, thinking desperately. She didn't want to defend James, but this was just wrong…

"Now you're Head Boy!" Severus shouted. "I don't know how you managed it, but you DON'T DESERVE IT! YOU DON'T DESERVE LILY! Crucio!"

"Oh my gosh…" Andrea whispered. Lily just stared in shock. Severus, once her best friend, had used an Unforgivable Curse.

Hi! Thanks so much for reading my story! It's my first long fanfic, and my first Harry Potter one, so I hope you're enjoying it so far! Please review and tell me what you think; constructive criticism is very much appreciated! Thanks again,

DarkenedWaters