Lily Evans strode down Platform Nine and Three Quarters, green eyes darting back and forth for a glimpse of her friends…or people less welcome. The Marauders, for instance, would be a prime example. The scarlet train that would soon be taking her to Hogwarts for her final year belched smoke over the waiting passengers and let out a shrill whistle.

Her Head Girl's badge glinted in the light. She watched as parents hugged their children goodbye and smiled. Once upon a time she'd been that scared little first year. But not anymore. She was a seventh year now and Head Girl at that! Wait until Katie and Erika hear about this, she thought.

Suddenly she saw them, waving frantically to her. "Lily! Oh my gosh! I missed you!" Katie Erikson shouted, rushing over to her and giving her a hug. "How was your summer?"

"Fine," Lily grinned.

"More than fine! You're Head Girl! I knew you'd get it!" crowed Erika Lowell triumphantly.

Katie laughed. "Of course she would! Straight O student, prefect, teacher favorite, pretty…do I need to go on?" Lily just smiled again.

"Let's find a compartment," Erika suggested. "Come on!" she climbed onto the train, dragging her trunk. Katie and Lily followed.

As they opened the door to their normal compartment, Lily suddenly remembered. "Shoot! I was supposed to be in the prefects' compartment early! I'm meeting the new Head Boy to make up patrolling schedules for the prefects."

"Oh. Well, good luck!" Katie called after her as she dashed down the corridor. "She doesn't know who the new Head boy is?" Katie muttered to Erika.

"She's in for a big surprise," Erika answered.

James Potter nervously ruffled his hair. The new Head Girl was supposed to meet him here, and he didn't want to make a bad impression. Katie, one of Lily's best friends had just stopped him to deliver the news that Lily had been made Head Girl. Lily, he thought, the single most amazing girl in all of Hogwarts…An image of her smiling face clouded his thoughts, and he shook his head to rid him of those fantasies. He had matured over the summer, and this year Lily would be his – no matter the cost. The train whistled again and lurched forward. James grinned. Cue Lily.

Lily burst into the prefects' compartment, trying to keep her composure, but she lost that battle once she saw who was inside.

"James?" she gasped. She blushed when she realized she had put them on first name terms. She couldn't help but stare at him. His hazel eyes twinkled down at her as he smiled.

"Hey there, Lily," he grinned. Her heart missed a beat. Had his voice gotten deeper, or was it just her? Stop it, she told herself firmly, you HATE James Potter.

No you don't, said an annoying voice in the back of her head. I bet he still likes you…that'd be nice, wouldn't it?

She forced herself to focus. "Er…should we start, then?"

"Sure."

She sat nervously, smoothing her robes. "So…I thought we should, um, make a patrolling schedule for the prefects."

"Sounds good to me," said James, leaning back in his seat in the sunlight streaming in through the window. He almost seemed to sparkle. Lily squeezed her eyes shut and opened them once more.

The meeting proceeded in this manner, James being the distracting object preventing her from giving her full attention. The prefects eventually filed in, and none too soon for Lily's sanity. She noticed quite a few of the girls looking hopefully at James. Oh, no you don't, she found herself thinking, he likes me!

Lily stood and James followed suit. He spoke first, surprisingly. "Hello and congratulations on making prefect. I'm James potter, and this is Lily Evans. We've made a patrolling schedule for you…" He continued until the prefects had been filled in and had left. Then he sighed and said, "Glad that's over with."

Lily nodded in agreement, searching for some kind of topic. "Nice day," she commented.

James looked at her oddly. "Lily, it's starting to rain."

Lily brightened, to his obvious surprise. "Oh! I love to listen to the rain! It's so peaceful. At home, I used to sit on my porch during the rain and read…" she trailed off, blushing again. "Anyway, I like the rain," she finished lamely. "Uh…I have to go meet my friends. Bye, James!"

He blinked. Leaving that fast? He wondered, but only said, "See you around?"

She turned. "Yeah…see you around…James."