Hello! Welcome to Manage Me! My first real endeavor at Harry Potter FanFiction!
Summary: Lily and James come to an understanding at the end of 5th year. Through joint efforts with the Gryffindor quidditch team they grow to become friends and more, learning the things that kept them apart originally are what eventually draw them together.
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter!
Manage Me
It wasn't as if he hadn't been expecting it. Standing in a hallway with one of his best mates, James Potter grumbled to himself. He had known Remus wanted to break the news to him for half the summer but half of him had hoped Remus would feel to much guilt to go with through with it.
"Prongs, I'm sorry I just can't keep doing it." It was more a nervous plea than a statement of resignation, made with shifting eyes and wringing fingers a plenty. James sighed knowing he could not ask Remus to keep doing something he wasn't invested in even if he wished he could persuade him otherwise.
"Moony don't sweat it, McGonagall will pick someone else." His hand automatically rose to sweep through his already messy mop of hair, belaying his discomfort with the idea of a stranger taking up Moony's post. "I know you only volunteered last year to help me out, and really, you didn't even do much."
The slight jib eased the discomfort as it was meant too and both boys laughed and turned to head back into the sitting room down the hall.
"Really James, that's why I am stepping down, so that this year you can have a manager who knows something about the sport, who can hopefully give you a hand, maybe even make your job easier." The smile and easy confidence had returned to Remus's face as he nudged James with his elbow.
James smiled back, with less ease and confidence in the truth of that statement. More than likely the post would be filled by a raving 4th year chit who would only show up to stare at his male quidditch mates and make herself even less helpful that Remus had been. But he did not share these fears as they reemerged into the sitting room occupied by the rest of his friends.
Tomorrow started their 6th year at Hogwarts and tomorrow he would beg Professor McGonagall not to appoint any manager at all.
Platform 9 ¾ was deserted when 16 year old Lily Evans arrived. She was not surprised however, as it was 7:34 in the morning and the train did not depart until 11am.
She stood for a moment and marveled at the empty platform, void of even the shining red steam engine she would be boarding in a few hours. In the five years she had been coming to the platform, it had never been empty before, not even close. The uncharacteristic emptiness filled her with an uneasy awareness of how alone she was. The ominous cover of the Daily Prophet she carried with her was a reminder of how stupid it was to be by oneself during these dark times. She shrugged nervously to herself, knowing there was nothing to be done about it now.
Mr. Evans usually scrambled his schedule to make the time to deliver his youngest to the Hogwarts Express, juggling the sporting events he covered and submitting his articles well before his deadlines so he could afford the hour it took to see her off. He took his job as a sports writer very seriously and was one of the most respected in his field. This year he had been unable to find the time on September the 1st and Lily was honestly surprised it had taken this long for her father to disappear from this aspect of her life as well. Her sister petunia had reluctantly agreed to deliver Lily to Kings Cross on her way to work only after Lily had threatened that missing the train would only mean she would still be at home.
If this had happened before this year, it would have been easy to travel to Kings Cross with Severus. But that was no longer an option, Severus was no longer an option and she pushed it out of her mind, not wanting to dwell on what she had lost at the end of fifth year.
With a sigh she double checked that her wand was tucked safely into her zip up and wheeled her trunk against a wall. She set herself on it crossing her legs, her kitten curled in his small cage next to her. She felt safer with her back against the wall and the platform visible all around her. Lily Evans stared sadly at the cover of the Daily Prophet for a moment before flipping to the sport section.
Two hours later she still sat alone, now hoping that the train would arrive before anyone else appeared on the platform, allowing her to hide her extremely early arrival and avoid the need to explain. However at 9:30 she still sat feeling slightly awkward that she would soon be discovered but she suppressed it, reminding herself there was nothing embarrassing about being prompt. Busying herself with the paper, she pretended not to notice the boisterous group entering at the other end of the platform.
"Mum! We are here even before the train; I told you we could have slept in." James looked smugly down at his mother with a gleam of mischief in his hazel eyes.
His mother, a petit woman with the same mischievous air, laughed and swatted his arm. "Oh James, I can't help that you are finally growing up! Last year I woke you lot at the same time and we almost missed the train."
Her heels clicked as she walked further onto the platform, gesturing with her arms wide, "I did always like seeing the platform empty as a girl," she smiled and turned in a circle, catching sight of Lily against the far wall, "Oh but look! We are not the first! Isn't that Miss Evans?"
His head shot up in surprise, and at the sight of the slight red head sitting on her trunk a huge grin spread across his face. It took no time for James to cross the platform, the sound of his mother's tittering voice stalling his three friends in the background.
At the end of 5th year, James Potter and Lily Evans had come to an understanding. A number of events had transpired just before OWLS, resulting in a fight the likes of which had not been seen in the Gryffindor common room. By the end of OWLS week, James had had times to think on the last thing Lily had shouted at him.
"Potter, how do you expect to date me when you don't even know me?"
That is exactly what he resolved to do. At the start of summer, he had stopped her on the platform and told her so.
"Evans!" He shouted, chasing after her off the train. She whirled hair flying and shot him a venomous glare.
"I am going to get to know you Evans. Because you were right." Eyes wide, he held his breath as she looked up at him, her expression softening in thought as she stayed silent for a long moment.
"In that case, you could try calling me Lily." Her smile was small and hesitant and did not reach her eyes, as though she didn't feel comfortable with her own decision. She turned to leave but James called out again.
"Lily!" She stopped but did not turn around. "Have a good summer." He waved her off and smiled brilliantly.She smiled hesitantly and called over her shoulder,
"Same to you James."
With thoughts of what had passed between them the last time they had stood on the platform, James approached her with an exuberant smile, only slightly hesitant of disturbing the tenuous peace they had established at the start of summer. Lily seemed completely unaware of his approach, poring over the paper with a pencil and a focused expression.
"Hey Lily."
The sound of his voice shocked her out of a quidditch score haze; her arms flew up sending the paper and pencil flying. The trunk, still on the trolley, rolled forward as she hopped back against the brick wall. She let out a loud squeak and her green eyes were large when they caught with James hazel ones. She was falling backwards but he stepped quickly forward, blocking the trolley with his leg and stopping her fall with his hands, catching Lily behind her head and waist.
His smile was dazzling but honest as he said "Caught you." as if she were the snitch.
She stared dumbfounded as he lifted her easily and slid the trunk back under her bum. Lily's mind jumped from memories of their last encounter on the platform, to her lonely summer spent friendless for the first time and why; in her mind she thought to herself 'give him a chance'.
"Potter." His eyes flashed and she stuttered "er...James" wondering why she suddenly found herself so inarticulate.
But potter didn't miss a beat, "Present" he quipped "more than I can say for you."
She bristled momentarily before seeing the look of amusement in his eye, tinged only with warmth and lacking any of the malice she thought to see.
Cool it Lily
"Sorry, you startled me. Oh bother! and now I've lost my pencil." She scrambled about the top of the trunk collecting the sports section and scooting closer to the cat cage to make room for James on the end. She did not notice the steadying hand James left on the trunk keeping it from rolling before sitting down, long legs stretched in front of him.
Lily kept her eyes trained on the sports page for a moment longer before looking at James, feeling slightly unsure of how to approach him as a candidate for friendship, so she tried to kept it light.
"How long have you been on the platform? I think it looks quite odd without the train." She cringed to herself wondering why she hadn't gone with the generic 'how was your summer?' but seeing as that was also a subject she wished to avoid, she supposed it was a lose/lose situation.
James cast a side long look at her before gazing at the spot soon to be filled by the massive engine. "Oh no I've only just arrived with Mum and the guys. How long have you been here?" His tone was conspiring, as if he suspected something and Lily had a suspicion that James would be displeased to learn she had sat at the station alone for over two hours. "Long enough to read the Prophet cover to cover I see, oh and is that the muggle paper as well?"
He had turned his full gaze on her and behind his glasses she could see the beginnings of a reprimand. Reminding herself of her promise to James Potter of a second chance she firmly skirted the issue, giving him the choice to move towards friendship rather than to adopt his usual high handed attitude. "Yes. Well, nothing interesting in either today I'm afraid. Have you seen the sports page? There is a very interesting preview of the rest of the season." She held it out to him, hoping he would disregard the notes covering the margins, a clear sign she has indeed been here for some time.
He scanned the pages and behind his glasses his eyes narrowed once again. Fearing the upcoming rebuke from pretentious Potter, Lily prepared herself to let go of the idea of James Potter as a candidate for friendship. So when the next words out of his mouth were, "You really think the Canons are going to beat the Falcons United this weekend?" She took longer than usual to answer.
"Well, yes. The Falcons will be forced to start their back up seeker because Nathenson is suspended, and he is definitely back up for a reason, rather awful if you ask me. Not to mention Faungood has been out for a month, his arm will be out of practice. And yes the Canons as a team are rather rubbish this season, but not their keeper. Racking up points will be hard for the Harpies without their chasers in tip top shape, especially against McPherson." She paused and looked up at his face, noting that both eye brows were raised behind his glasses before continuing "Besides I can't resist rooting for the underdog."
James let out a low whistle and leaned back against the wall. "Well Miss Evans, I never knew you were so well versed in quidditch! I am pleasantly surprised."
She looked down with a half-smile "You aren't going to argue? No one picks the Cannons over anyone, especially not against the Falmouth Falcons."
"No I think you are spot on. Sirius and I have been arguing over that match for about a week in fact. I am glad to have found an ally."
Lily laughed at that "I think that is the first time we have agreed on anything."
The Hogwarts Expressed had arrived unnoticed by the two as they spoke, and the platform was suddenly filled with people. Lily found herself relieved to have her first encounter with James Potter unfolding quite well. Knowing that even as friends they would have their share of disputes, she was glad to have avoided any confrontation in their first conversation of the year. It felt like a fresh start.
He walked her to the train and helped her unload her trunk, her cat cage she kept with her. The ginger tom cat was on the small side, with big light green cat eyes and long whiskers.
James looked closely into the cage, smirking at the similarities in coloring between kitten and owner. "What's his name?"
"Sir Lionel." Lily's tone was matter of fact as she pushed aside a twinge of uncertainty, worried the bullying toe rag Potter she remembered from her first five years at Hogwarts would reemerge to taunt her. Even she acknowledged naming her cat a peer of the realm was a bit odd.
Instead he smiled and asked "Little lion is it?"
Internally she chided herself 'relax' and to James she smiled. "No it's Sir Lionel. You can drop the tittle once you become better acquainted." She pulled her messenger bag over her shoulder "Thanks James, I'll see you on the train."
Across the platform Remus Lupin was grinning smugly, while one Sirius Black, was gaping like a fish. Having expected the first of many catastrophic fights to explode between James and Lily, the sight of them sitting together on her trunk looking almost amicable had been rather shocking.
"It would seem Mrs. Potter was right about him growing up."
Thanks for reading! Comments and critiques are appreciated!