Author's Note:

Hey! This story was a way of passing a few days of my summer holidays =) It's a Lily/James fanfic, and it's all very new to me, so bear with it. I normally write twilight fics, so there you go. The idea came to me while I was spending a very boring three hours on my flight to Spain, where I am now, until late August. So, enjoy, read and review!

XxMissJacobxX

P.S. Sorry Bitterbeginnings, I know you would have loved to edit it, hehe. But I know you're on your holidays too!

Disclaimer: Most of the characters in the story belongs to the marvelous JK Rowling. I'm not her, sadly ;)

The Selected Students

Dear Year Sevens,

After a few meetings in between your headmaster and the ministry for magic, and it has been decided that this year Hogwarts will be holding the seventh Golden Wizards contest this year. The contest is in order to find the most powerful male and female youngsters that will be given an opportunity to become Aurors in the near future. Any year seven willing to compete must fill in the form given below, complete with a signature of a parent or guardian. The contest will consist of three tasks, much like the Triwizard Tournament, that will test skill, courage, knowledge and logic. There will be two wizards chosen from each school for the contest, one male and one female, and these will complete each task. The other schools competing already have their students chosen, and are in the list below. We hope the contest will both unite the schools competing and help the contestants gain skills they will need in later life.

Students chosen from competing schools:

Beauxbatons:

Remi Bagot

Anne Lacroix

Durmstrang:

Iván Stanka

Ana Stanka

Azores Institute:

Yarra Lagos

Davi Mendes

"Hey James!" cried out a familiar voice, ringing out through the grounds for all the students to hear.

It was the first Sunday afternoon since school had started and everyone was relaxing in the sunshine outside. James removed a few strands of hair from his eyes and looked up to see who it was.

"Hey Padfoot, Moony" he smiled. He loved being with his best friends.

"Angela over there keeps bugging me about whether or not you are going to enter the Golden Wizard Contest. I think she said something about you two being chosen together or something" Sirius said in a mock voice, sitting down beside him on the grass.

"But you guys know I already entered, right?" James asked curiously

"Yes, we do" Remus answered with a smile, "but somehow Padfoot here doesn't seem to understand this"

"I do too! I just think its funny how all the chicks at this school think you're going to end up being chosen as the male Hogwarts contestant."

"We'll see tonight, wont we?" James said.

Tonight was the day that McGonagall would be announcing the two contestants from Hogwarts for the Golden Wizards Contest. James really wished he would be chosen, it had always been a dream of his to be an Auror. As confident as everyone was that he would be chosen, he wasn't so sure of it himself. He had heard the other day that Thane Hatcher, a complete moron from Slytherin who hated James had a high chance of getting chosen, since his dad knew the judges. The thought had been nagging him all afternoon. What would people think of the Marauders, if he wasn't chosen?

The Marauders consisted of a group of childish, funny, intelligent, adventurous and scandalous seventh year boys. Everyone longed to be part of their group. There was Sirius Black, with his flirtatious smile and gorgeous looks that made all the girls swoon, James Potter, who was Quidditch captain and an equal flirt, Remus Lupin, with his patient and friendly personality, and Peter, who no-one knew why he was included, since he had nothing special about him, apart from his being friends with the Marauders. The Marauders ruled the school, and everyone knew it. They were never seen without each other, and were always smiling and always happy. James knew he had to be chosen, if he wanted to stay on top.

James stretched and got to his feet, he couldn't wait any longer.

"Let's get going, I think the feast will start soon"

"Not until another hour, Prongs" Remus said.

"But we could get going, I'm sure there's no problem if we just-"

"James, I know you want to know who got the place but you're going to have to wait"

"But I really-"James moaned, impatiently bouncing on his feet.

"Anne Lacroix…" Sirius muttered all of a sudden.

Remus and James stopped their bickering and turned towards Sirius.

"What?" they asked in unison

"I bet she's hot. I read the list of the other contestants and Anne sounded very hot to me. I like French girls."

"You like every single girl you meet, Sirius" James said, laughing at his friend.

"But this one is special" he defended.

"You haven't met her yet!" Remus exclaimed.

"So?" Sirius raised his eyebrows and licked his lips in a sexy-looking way.

"We all know you don't care about that Padfoot. Look at all those girls you bring to our dormitory when we go to Hogsmeade" Lupin said with a smile.

Sirius tried to deny it but since it was the truth, he just shrugged and gave a slight smile.

"Speaking of Hogsmeade, we need to get some Firewhisky for the common room party we're having tonight, if, that is, you get the place in the contest"

"Just use the kitchens" James suggested, "The elves are sure to have some"

He was feeling worse each minute, since he was now positive he wouldn't be chosen. He had never wanted anything more in his life. Well, he had, but that thing was impossible. Lily Evans would never go out with him. She hated him.

James sneaked a glance at her; she was sitting a few meters from him, next to the lake, reading a book.

"Can we go now?" he asked Remus.

Remus followed James' gaze and understood why he wanted to leave.

"Okay, we can zip down to the kitchens quickly before the feast"

"Fine by me" Sirius agreed, and so they all sat up and began their walk towards the castle doors.

Lily Evans wove through the crowd of students near the door, looking for her best friends Heather and Anne. They had promised to meet before entering the feast but Lily hadn't expected so many people would be doing the same thing. Everyone was out here and not inside. It seemed as if they were scared to enter the Great Hall and find out the winners. She was not particularly worried herself, for she knew there were many other choices in life apart from being an Auror.

From behind her, an arm appeared and linked itself with Lily's. It was Heather. A petite brunette with baby blue eyes, many would take her as a joke or look at her as something you would want to hug, but these people were completely off track. Heather was muggle-born and had attended Karate classes since she was three, and had a feisty temper. Lily loved Heather for all of these things, but was always careful to avoid getting on Heathers bad side.

"Hey Lil" Heather said with a smile, "Lets find Anne, she was with me a second ago but she went off to flirt with Hugo"

"Typical" Lily smirked, but at spotting her friend in lip-lock with Hugo Rogers, Ravenclaw Quidditch captain and seventh-year hottie, she aimed a thumb up in her direction.

"Let's just head inside to sit down and let her join us later" Heather suggested, knowing that her friend was always late to any type of meeting because she was a total flirt who could never get enough of any guy.

The great hall was decorated with large, shiny banners that had the words "Youngest Golden Wizards Challenge" inscribed upon them in flashing gold letters. The five YGWC (Youngest Golden Wizards Challenge) judges and representatives were seated on a table that had been added near the front of the headmaster's chair, each smiling warmly as the students hurried into the hall impatiently.

Lily walked over to sit near the end of the Gryffindor table, were there was no-one sitting yet, but Heather grabbed her arm and sat next to the Marauders, who were laughing at some joke that Remus had just told.

They ceased laughing as soon as they saw them. Remus immediately put his arm around Heather. The two of them had been going out since the 5th year and it was sickening, how perfect they were for each other. Heather loved him though, so Lily didn't ever point out how obvious it was that Remus was a werewolf. She often wondered if Heather even knew about this.

"Hey Heather, Lily" Sirius said casually, while winking at some Slytherin first years who were passing by.

"Hi" said Heather

"Hey" Lily responded, smiling.

Lily felt really awkward, all of a sudden, because Potter was at the table.

"So who do you think is going to be chosen?" Remus asked Heather in an interested voice.

"Well I heard Thane had a chance," Lily said, "But Remus, you have a much higher chance than him".

She hoped her voice didn't sound too wobbly, because that was exactly what her insides felt like

"We think it will be James and Lily here" Sirius said with a wink in Lily's direction.

Lily scowled and James pulled a face of utter disgust.

"That's not true!" James said in his defense.

"I would rather be with the giant squid than with Potter" Lily said with a disgusted voice.

"Well it's strange, I bet that most girls in this school would love to be with me" James said, in a boastful voice.

Sirius and Peter whistled at James' courage and Remus flinched a bit, because he knew that that comment was way out of order. But Lily was fuming. She couldn't stand Potter. He was a stupid, attention-seeking, arrogant, childish, immature boy who couldn't be more than five minutes without looking at himself in the mirror or running his hands through his hair or playing with his snitch to attract attention. Lily couldn't think of a comeback so she glared at Potter and quickly turned her attention to the YGWC judges, who were motioning for silence so that they could speak. Finally, the great hall was silent; as the last students hurried in and got onto their seats (Anne sitting on Lily's left).

The first of the four judges was female, slightly chubby with long reddish-brown hair, which was shoulder length and curly. She cleared her throat and began:

"Welcome, students, to the choosing of the Hogwarts contestants for the competition. I know you are all very excited and anxious to see if it is indeed you who has been selected, and we are also much honored to present the names of the elected students. Before we do so, of course, I would like to let Mr. Selwyn to give a few words" The woman beckoned to a small man sitting on her right, who was wearing a pair of spectacles and carrying a cane. Most students in the hall had been listening closely the last few seconds, but as Mr. Selwyn stood up many lost interest. Lily heard whispers across the table but she chose to ignore them and kept listening.

"Thank you for allowing me to give my opinion and words before the elected are chosen. This whole last week we have been watching the youngsters that entered and grading them on social skills, helpfulness, character, skills…" Mr. Selwyn began

Lilly couldn't ignore the whispers anymore; they were much more interesting than the speech.

"..could you be so mean to poor Lily?" Remus' voice traveled across the table to Lily's ear, she had already given up on Mr. Selwyn's speech.

"…she will never go out with you now" Sirius voice whispered

"Not that she ever was going to"

She felt the Marauders' glance in her direction but she kept staring fixedly at Mr. Selwyn.

"…Give it up, James, its useless now. She hates you anyway."

"I don't care, she's a cold-hearted bitch and I have no idea what I ever saw in her" James' voice answered, "She never does anything and she never has any fun. I don't understand how she has any friends"

Lily stifled a gasp. How could Potter say such things? Now, the anger was excruciatingly painful. How could that bastard say things like that? If he had something to say, he should say it to her face, and not when he thought she wasn't listening. But more than anything, she was hurt. She couldn't believe that the one of the marauders, the most popular people in school, thought such things of her. And why did she mind what they thought so much? From now on, she would choose too ignore the childish Potter. This was it.

Applause broke out through the great hall, and Lily realized Selwyn had finished his speech. She clapped too, pretending she was perfectly fine, and that no part of her body wanted to turn around and hex Potter into oblivion.

"And without further ado, I shall read off the male and female students who have been chosen for the competition." The Woman was speaking again, pulling out a scroll of paper, "The male contestant is-" she paused for effect, leaving the great hall in complete silence, "Potter, James".

All of the Gryffindors broke into applause and cat-calls, and shouts of glee. The marauders started a chant of "Potter, Potter" and the Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws joined in. Lily was one of the only ones who wasn't celebrating the fact that one of the most popular guys in school had won. She just slouched low in her chair. Potter? That freak? He had no ounce of skill in his bones, and certainly no helpfulness! She only pitied the girl who would be elected next. Of course, it wouldn't be her, it couldn't be Lily, because that would be a death sentence. Working with Potter? They would come out last in the competition.

Yet as the woman judge called for silence again and pulled out a second piece of parchment to announce the second name, (and as Lily watched all the girls in her year leaning forwards in their seats in anticipation) she crossed her fingers and wished on all she had that it wouldn't be her name that was chosen.

"And the female Hogwarts contestant is…"

Lily knew it wasn't going to be her, it couldn't be her, and it shouldn't be her.

"Evans, Lily"

And as the Gryffindors once more broke out into cheers of glee, no-one heard Lily and James's screams of fury and disgust, or saw James bang his fist against the table in anger, or observed as Lily toppled her glass of water over the tablecloth, making Anne and Heather all wet.

That's it for now, I'll have another update next week sometime. RR, please! Thanks.

XxMissJacobxX