These characters belong to the great JKR (with the exception of those I made up). I'm merely playing in her world.
The train whistled loudly and Lily knew that she was very, very late. She had completely forgot to set her alarm and had slept in by 2 hours, plus Lily had left finishing packing until this morning BECAUSE she had meant to wake up early to do it. It didn't help that she was couldn't decide whether or not to bring her record player and vinyl's, weighing up the benefit of taking them with the severe decrease of space in her trunk. It was only after her mum had poked her head in and said that it was time to go that Lily realised how unorganised she had been, narrowly making it through to platform 9¾ with a minute to spare. Her luggage was floating behind her, following the wand in her outstretched hand. She weaved through the maze of teary-eyed parents who were coercing their children on the train to write every week. Heavily panting, it was a relief when she saw an uncrowded entrance to a carriage, but of course that was when the train decided to move. Lily gave out a small cry and resumed running for the door. There was a figure standing in the doorway holding out a hand towards her, she grabbed them and was pulled inside just as the train began to pick up speed. After making sure her trunk, bag and owl had made it in with her; she turned to see who had helped her.
"JAMES?"
"Surprised?" He grinned, and Lily couldn't help but smile back.
"Did you get my last letter? I didn't know if Pegasus would get it to you in time."
Lily rolled her eyes, "only you would name your owl after a flying horse. And yes, I did get it but what I don't get is your inability to appreciate the absolute musical triumph that is Fanfare for the Common Man. Why James, why?!"
"Well I'll understand that once you understand the genius of Hampus Prod and his five singing toads."
"Ha! I certainly think you have –"
"Ahem," someone coughed behind them.
"Sirius?" Lily said, "When did you get here?"
"I've always been here. James dragged me along when he realised you hadn't arrived yet." He did not look amused. "And don't get me wring, I love how you two are now the bestest of buds but your sickly sweet friendship makes me want to barf, plus I am hungry and would like to hear what Peter got up to over the past month. Ruddy git sends me one letter saying how his family is off to Spain for August and I don't hear a single thing afterwards." His face had deepened into a scowl as he pushed past them to head down the corridor. Sirius was true; their mutual hatred had developed into mutual friendship over the course of sixth year but Lily did not think that it had developed as far as 'sickly sweet'.
"Well… do you need help with your stuff?" James asked, slightly flushed.
"No, it's fine. I'll quickly take it down to the luggage hold, plus I need to get over to the prefects carriage anyway so I'm not late for the first meeting, such a great impression as Head Girl that'll be."
"Ah Lily, about that… um well… there is something I didn't -" but Lily had already bustled away, luggage, bag, and cage in tow.
Shit, thought James, I knew I should've told her that I was Head Boy.
Lily had hastily changed into her robes and b-lined it towards the prefect carriage. She was looking forward to seeing who Dumbledore had made prefects this year as well as the Head Boy. It could be Remus, I haven't heard from him all break. Which was unusual since she normally talked a lot to Remus since they shared a desk in Potions and Charms. The corridor was empty until the end of the hallway when a door opened and Melinda crashed into Lily, leaving them both pretzeled on the ground.
"Mel!" Lily exclaimed as she started to pull herself up. "Look, we'll have all the time to chat tonight but right now I am 2 minutes away from being late for the prefects meeting. Love you." Hugging her befuddled friend, she turned and disappeared into the next carriage.
Her first impression of the new fifth year prefects was mixed. She was happy to see that Jamie Ludstrom and Alissa Morgan were chosen from Gryffindor, they were both like Remus: kind but maintained order. The new Ravenclaw prefects were a bit of a worry; Lily had seen them around and thought their names were Gwen and Adam. Smart, of course, but a bit too bookish. Adam always had his head in a Quidditch book, whether it was on technique, history or the properties that different broom shapes had. Gwen perpetually had an open book around her; she seemed to be the only person at Hogwarts more enthusiastic about the History of Magic than Professor Binns. The fifth year Hufflepuff and Syltherin prefects were new faces but they all looked competent enough. Lily walked through to the meeting area; she waved and smiled at the familiar faces, thanking those who congratulated her on getting Head Girl. Her pleasant mood disappeared when she saw James sitting next to Remus chatting with the Hufflepuff seventh year prefects.
"James." That alone stopped the conversation. Lily didn't technically shout but it was enough for everyone to pay attention. "This is for prefects only. Please leave." They might have become fast friends but that didn't stop Lily from easily getting annoyed at James' disregard for the school rules.
Awkward silence enveloped the room. James stood up, looking slightly embarrassed, "Ah Lily. Can we quickly talk somewhere private?"
He ushered her to an empty cabin and cast Muffliato so that snooping prefects couldn't add to what was, most probably, fast spreading gossip.
"What's this about James?" Lily looked genuinely confused at what was happening.
"I'm Head Boy. AndbeforeyousayanythingI'mreallysorryandIshouldhavetoldyou."
"Wait, what?"
"I'm really sorry and I should've told you." Lily couldn't believe it, he actually looked abashed. James was Head Boy? But how? I mean, he is the Quidditch captain and gets quite high marks but he spends every second weekend in detention. Lily echoed her thoughts:
"But… But how?"
"I know right? I promise you I spent majority of the summer asking myself the same question. I tried sending back the badge and letter but ten more just came back. Dumbledore is such an old kook. Why? Do you think I don't deserve it?" James started to frown and took the offensive.
"No! You do deserve it. It's just surprising, you know. I thought Remus might have had a chance, or maybe Paul. They are just usually chosen from the prefects. What I don't understand is why you never told me!" Her voice began to rise, "We spend all of summer talking and I even wrote to you when I got my letter!"
"I can –" James stopped and focused on behind Lily. A group had formed outside the cabin, they were trying to remain unseen by peaking from around the corner. James scowled and pointed his wand to the curtain and their conversation was obscured.
"I can explain. I tried. Like seriously, I spent a good half hour trying to find a way to tell you."
Lily scoffed, "you could've tried 'hey Lily guess what? I'm Head Boy, who'da thunk?'"
"But... But... ugh I'm sorry. I should've told you."
Lily's expression softened and a sympathetic smile spread across her face, "hey, it's ok. Just don't hide important things, that's the point of being friends. Now lets go whip these prefects into shape!" Her face became blank with a hint of a frown as she turned towards the door and with a flick of her wand glared at those courageous enough to try and listen in. She left and started to gather everyone for the meeting, leaving James standing in the cabin confused. Remus quickly stepped inside with a curious look.
"What was that about?"
"Hmm? Oh, I kind of didn't tell Lily I was Head Boy…"
"Dude no wonder she was cross. How would you feel if she didn't tell you?"
"Well bummed I suppose, mainly because we have become such good friends. But anyway your suggestion if flawed for no other girl in our year could meet her level so the only way she wouldn't become Head Girl is if someone paid out Dumbledore."
"Be careful James. You guys are finally on compatible terms and I want a peaceful final year. No unnecessary drama. Plus she's a good mate and I don't want to pick sides."
"Hey! What happened to bros before hoes?"
"It would help if the HEAD BOY was also in the room so we could start this," Lily interjected from the other room, forcing James to drop the matter.
The meeting went off without a hitch. There were the usual protocol explanations as well as handing out pieces of parchment to each person, which had their House's new password on them. Lily had remembered to give the general spiel to the fifth years such as conning the House point system. "Don't even think about it, it's enchanted to know when a deduction or reward is given unjustly," she said to the Slytherin girl, whose name turned out to be Lori, when she looked unconvinced and smug. Truth be told, Lily didn't believe it herself, since it was most likely an old rumour passed down among the prefects, but it did help to deflate some of the fifth years heads. Lily also remembered to ask that if anyone had a preference for a patrol partner they were to send her an owl by the weekend at the latest.
Lily called the meeting to an end after half an hour and following a quick assignment of patrol duty she sat down in one of the compartments, exhausted. The other seventh year Gryffindor's James, Remus and Tamora followed suit.
Lily smiled to James, "See? Wasn't that hard."
"Ha 'wasn't that hard' I didn't say a single thing. I just sat there and nodded along with what you were saying."
"Well then next meeting you can do everything!"
"But you do a splendid job!"
"That's what I thought too…"
James was smiling mischievously but Lily was too tired to maintain the banter. Instead she turned to Tamora.
"Tammy how was Switzerland?"
"Oh you know, the usual, lots of hiking and eating chocolate and cheese. Also was able to find an old library in Zurich, which had everything you would want to know about Transfiguration."
"Stellar! Did you hear about that giant that was found by muggles on the German-Swiss border?"
"Well duh – my mum had to go fix that. You would have thought that the European ministry could handle it but all their memory charm specialists were off in Romania after six dragons got loose."
"Woah, that sounds rad, but I missed you! I'm glad your back though, Mel only sent a letter once every week, and mum and dad are saving to help Petunia pay for her wedding so I couldn't do much this summer - AND REMUS." Lily interrupted the conversation between the boys, "Where was my letter from you this summer?"
Remus stuttered, "I, I, I was going to write but my parents decided we were going to visit friends in Spain and then I connected with Peter for the last few weeks. I'm sorry I just forgot to send you anything. If it makes you feel any better the only thing James and Sirius got was a message on a scrap piece of parchment saying 'Off to Spain. See you in September'."
"That does ease the pain," Lily said dramatically, as the train came to a stop.
"I'm looking forward to Hogwarts this year. I've missed the place. The food, the classes, the people."
"The damp, the changing stairs, the people," James retorted.
"It's all about perspective James, all about perspective." Lily said, and with that she pulled Tamora out with her all the while exclaiming that they should immediately find Mel for a reunion group hug.
James chuckled after they had left. It was going to be an interesting year.
A/N Hi people, this is my first go at writing this sort of thing so give me any type of feedback. Second chapter should be out soon.