It's been too long…Here I am after a two-year break in my fanfic career. Two more years of high school under my belt (only one more left!!), two years into more developed writing, and two years' worth of experiences. I decided it's about time I came back and gave writing another chance…Here goes…
Prologue
Credibility. It's really what anyone's life is about, thought Lily Evans, walking her feet higher up the wall of the train compartment and then pushing back, letting her legs fall to the seat. Two wads of gum clung to the ceiling for dear life. Fumbling in her Muggle purse to find the ten-and-a-quarter-inch, swishy willow which was as unique to her as her brilliantly red hair, she considered which spell she would use to remove the sweets. Because really, you can't fake a personality. Either you are, or you're not. And once you decide you are, then you must be. People come to you knowing who you are. They expect you to act a certain way. And that is your credibility. I am Head Girl. I don't put up with bullshit. I am serious, responsible, motivated, but funny. I treat everyone the same unless they give me a reason to either regard them dearly or detest them entirely. That is what makes me-
"Lily!"
A smile matched in size only by Lily's frown splayed itself across James Potter's face as he so enthusiastically slid open the door and pranced in like the compartment was his living room and Lily was the biggest present under the Christmas tree on the morning of December 25th. The metaphor extended itself a lot further than that, really. Imagine, if you will, Lily being a particularly stubborn present, wrapped in quite the confusing manner and sealed tightly shut with trailing ribbons and extra sticky tape. Of course James had not managed to figure her out quite yet.
Lily quickly sat up, flicked her wand so that the gum shot into James' nostrils, and glared at him with the high-caliber glare that could only be produced by Lily Evans and directed towards the general vicinity of James Potter. Quite used to this non-verbal death wish and yet highly non-plussed when he realized nothing in Lily's attitude towards him had changed over the summer, James pulled a handkerchief out of his pocket, discreetly blew the gum into it, and continued to talk (and possibly risk a limb, his dignity, or both at the same time).
"Hey, listen, someone mentioned to me that you were chosen for Head Girl this year, so I decided I ought to come see if it's true and congratulate you." Glancing at the badge she had laid on the seat next to her, he pressed on. "Obviously I didn't expect any less of you, Lils. And as a thoughtful congratulations gift, I think I'll grace you with the news that you'll be spending the year with me, your fabulous counter-part, none other than Head Boy."
Lily still had not parted her lips to satisfy James with a response. Her glare now lowered its target from the boy's face to his chest, where he had already attached his unnecessarily polished badge. Perhaps she believed that if she stared at it long enough, she could will it to disappear. And by "it," she did not know if she was talking about the badge or its owner.
James was one of the few people Lily had indeed placed on her "detest entirely" list. Everything about him, from his unkempt hair (aided by the fingers which constantly rumpled it) to his inflated ego, seemed to annoy her. Oh yeah, and the fact that he asks me out nearly every day.
"All right…No need to bore me with all the details about your summer or anything. I'm in the next compartment over with my mates if you decide to start utilizing your vocal chords, savvy? Catch you later, Lils," James offered, quite dejected, as he managed to leave before her glare burned a hole in his face (as he very well thought it would).
Furrowing her eyebrows, Lily lied down again as the word "credibility" came back to mind. She could not really think straight, though. Standing up and adjusting her robes, she walked over to the next compartment and tapped on the glass.
The Maurauders ceased their conversation at once and all quickly looked up. Lily glanced at six shocked eyes and one hazel pair which qualified as more than ecstatic. James hurried over to open the sliding door, eagerly awaiting an apology.
Lily had opened her mouth to ask to join them (at least they would help pass the three-hour train ride more quickly, seeing as how her best friend was off in some compartment with her boyfriend), but upon noticing James' thoroughly thrilled expression, she frowned and said, "I- just wanted to let you know…my name is Lily, not Lils."
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So there you go…Just some food for thought while I arrange my ideas and decide where to go with this…As always, reviews are encouraged, and, of course, highly appreciated. The first chapter should be up within the next few days.
-Marina