Chapter One

James Potter pulled his robe tighter around him as gust of wind blew in from a nearby window. "Blimey, who leaves these open?",

As James closed the window he noticed the eerie absence of his counterpart, Head Girl, Lily Evans.

"She's either in the library doing homework or perhaps she's already finished her rounds.", Prongs mumbled to himself.

Despite a voice in his head telling him to continue his rounds, James made his way to the library.

It was a cold and eerie night, the hallway torches flickered and rain poured in gallons from big, gray clouds outside. James could feel the biting cold of the stone floor through his shoes and the castle was blanketed with an air of quiet sleep.

Opening the door silently, James peered inside. Lily wasn't there. He began searching through the rows of books but couldn't find her. Finally, he left the library and headed for Gryffindor Tower.

"For the last time, LEAVE.", the voice echoed from a nearby classroom. Alarmed, James pushed open the door. He stopped in his tracks when he saw who was in the deserted room.

Alice Longbottom stood over an unconscious Frank Longbottom. Tears streamed down her face and she was shaking. James ran over to Frank but as he reached to touch the body a cold air seeped through Frank's mouth.

Pursing his lips, James pulled out his wand and shouted "Riddikulus!", and watched the figure dissolve.

"Alice are you alright?", James asked nervously.

"Yes, just a little shaken up. Merlin that was foolish of me wasn't it? To think the boggart would leave because I told him to." she sniffed and wiped away her tears.

"I'm here if you want to talk."

"No, I think I'll just go find Frank. But James,", Alice gave him a warm smile, "Thank you.".

Prongs watched her leave. He had thought her boggart would be something else. Why was it dead Frank? "They're not dating are they? Oh well they must be simply very good friends.", he thought.

James had finally finished his rounds and was headed back to the tower. He desperately hoped the house elves hadn't put out the fire yet and that Remus hadn't hid his Potions notes again.

"Twiddlysticks.", he mumbled sleepily to the Fat Lady as he stumbled through the portrait hole.

However, as Prongs rounded the couch he spotted a full head of bright red hair on the couch.

Lily had fallen asleep on the seat still in her uniform and she was shivering as she slept.

James smiled and ran upstairs.

He returned with pillows and blankets from his own bed. He stocked the fire with extra wood and wrapped Lily up in his bedclothes. He busied himself in making sure Evans was comfortable as she slept. Lastly, he picked up her finished Transfiguration homework and placed it on the ground beside the couch.

As James went upstairs to go to bed he heard a sound come from the fireplace. Spinning round, James discovered the source of the noise. A house elf covered in soot was trying to put out the fire.

Upon catching sight of James the little elf scrambled about frantically whispering urged apologies.

"It's alright.", James laughed. The house elf immediately calmed down and stared at him with a look of interest.

"Put out the fire in the morning if you can, she'll be here the whole night Nelly.", he nodded to Lily's softly snoring from. Nelly seemed to understand and left but not before looking over her shoulder to witness a scene she was certain the other elves would be dying to hear.

James was standing over Lily, stroking her cheek softly.