Lily was pissed off James Potter how could it be James Potter he hadn't even been a prefect, ugh ridiculous stupid big headed prat, how was she supposed to do a go job as head girl with him in a position of power opposing her at every turn. She couldn't be the sole head of the school and do her NEWTS as well. Since the end of sixth year she had promised her friends that she would at least try to be in the same room as Potter without causing a massive fight. She hadn't really had much choice when Lizzie had start to date Remus though when they had broken up she had thought things would go back to normal but it turned out that Remus and Lizzie though in compatible as a couple needed each other as friends. So now here they were their two groups coming together much more often he became hard to avoid. She had also softened in her abuse to him sixth year when his dad had become ill and died. But still how could he be head boy!
"I better go meet the prefects" she said getting up and leaving her two fellow seventh year Lizzie and Sarah.
"sure thing Lily see you later" they said watching her leave the carriage
"so what do you think" said Sarah smiling mischievously "will she kill James this year or will they finally get together"
"of course they will get together you can't hate someone as much as she seems to without really loving them"
"hahaha your so right" their heads turned as Sirius, Lupin and Wormtail walked in
"hey ladies" said Sirius with his customary wink he flopped down next to Sarah putting his arm around her she quickly extracted herself from his grip rolling her eyes
"Hello Sirius, Hey Remus, Peter good summer?"
"Yeah thanks Lizzie" answered Peter "how about you?"
"yeah was pretty lush thanks"
"James not with you?" asked Sarah as it was indeed curious to see the Marauders without the full compliment
"He has just gone up to the prefects compartment to meet Lily" Remus answered
"So what's the bet ladies will they kill each other or get together" said Sirius
"We are going for get together but what do you guys think?" answered Sarah
Lupin started "Well you know the biggest thing that makes Lily mad is that he acts so immature he is really not but he acts that way, just like someone else I know" he said with a knowing look at Sirius who jumped into responded but Remus continued "and well you know his dad passed away last year well I think that has started growing him up a bit he was grieving for ages but I think it has started to make him man up a little bit you know take on more responsibilities I think he has had to at home to be there for him mum you know?"
"I think as well some of the stuff about being an immature prat that Lily kept telling him as well might have had an effect he is besotted with her. Personally I hope that they will get together if it will just shut him up!" said Sirius clearly bored with the conversation
"Sorry Sirius are we not giving you enough attention" said Sarah turning to glare at him
"I will leave you with the responsibility of entertaining Siruis Sarah. Lizzie we better go see if the new heads are ready to great their prefects" Lizzie and Remus left they continued chatting till they reached the prefect compartment they could already see a few others taking their seats a few others came in after them then Lilly call the group to attention they turn to look at their new head boy and girl
"Obviously, Potter and I are Head Boy and Girl this year. This meeting is just to get you all to introduce yourselves to one another, for the older students to help the new fifth year prefects, and the like. All of you are to periodically patrol the corridors of the train and let either James or myself know of any escalated problem." She paused and looked at James then continued "Prefects can use the prefects' lounge and prefects' bathrooms on the fifth floor at Hogwarts. The password for these areas is 'Sugar Quill.' James and I will develop a sign-up sheet for you all in the prefects' lounge so you can sign up to do patrol of the hallways two nights a week. Also Dumbledore asked me to inform all of you that he would like for us all to practice some inter-house unity." She was interrupted by a loud "what!" coming from some of the prefects she paused James however answered before she could
"He understands that everyone is sorted into houses, becomes friends with those in their houses, and plays or supports the quidditch teams of their houses, but he would like us all to make an effort to encourage studying with students from other houses or meeting up with students from other houses. If you have any ways of doing this that you would like help with let us know"
At this Severus looked at James with utter dislike and disdain. "Potter, what if we think it best to not to meet up with those from other house? Why should we HAVE to join up with people we don't know or like?"
James looked up at him with a matching look of dislike "because Dumbledore is telling you to do it and to give it a chance. I'm not saying that this will work out perfectly."
Bellatrix jumped in before Severus could start an argument, "Awww, James, we'd be happy to give it a try for you, wouldn't we, Severus?"
Severus looked ready to spit fire with his eyes, but remained silent. Lily blinked. Did Bellatrix actually just flirt with Potter? What in the world was going on? She watched him roll his eyes at her blatant attention with an air that had seen it millions of times before. "Bella, this is not about me at all. It is Dumbledore's request of the Heads and the prefects to set an example for the other students."
Lily interrupted before this odd conversation would go any further, "Ok, well, we'll schedule a prefects' meeting at some point to discuss this further. The sign-up sheet will be up later tonight so you all can begin to sign up and begin patrol starting tomorrow see you all later." The prefects began to file out Lizzie came up to Lily
"Good job on your first meeting lady" she said smiling "you coming down to the carriage before you patrol a bit?"
"Thanks lovely, yeah in a bit I need to talk to James for a minute you go on" James saw Lily waiting for him and told Remus he would see him in a bit.
He looked at Lily giving her a smile "so what do you think friends?" he said hopefully
Lily looked at him before the meeting he had apologised and asked if they could be friends she knew that it would be better, make the year easier and he really did seem in earnest "yes James friends" his face lit up "on one condition" she said raising her eyes "ok" said James slightly nervously he knew that Lily was a particularly accomplished witch "you don't ask me out in ridiculously embarrassing fashions any more, friends don't do that"
James smiled at this "ok you got a deal, would a hug be totally inappropriate" Lily stepped forward and put her arms around him giving him a small smile as she hugged him stepping back she looked up at him she saw he had taken on the look of someone slightly punch drunk. Quickly he shook his head and his swagger seemed to return "so did you have a good summer" he asked her. They continued chatting as they made the way down to their friends in the carriage.
It was raining when they got off the Hogwarts express the others went ahead while Lily and James did a final check making sure all the first years had gone down to the boats and everyone else was heading to the carriages. Eventually they climbed into the final carriage. Lily looked across at James and noticed that he was very pale. She saw his eyes flashing to the thestral pulling the carriage and it dawned on her "you are not used to seeing them are you?"
He looked over at her slightly puzzled but shook his head "it was a shock when I saw them at the end of last year, I guess I forgot about them, can you see them too?"
"Yeah, I have always been able to see them" she said smiling at him glumly "To be honest I find them rather beautiful but I don't think you ever get used to what the remind you of"
"Who?" said James feeling slightly shocked that there was something that he didn't know about this girl who he liked since third year. Lily looked away from him staring at the rain pouring down the window she was silent for so long James though that she wasn't going to answer when he heard her small voice.
"it was my dad, a car accident I was eleven, it was just before I found out about being a witch, was in the passenger seat we were on a bridge a lorry smashed into us pushed us into the water I… " here she faltered James though she was going to cry really wanted to reach across and hug her but he just sat frozen in his seat. Then Lily quickly wiped her face and her tone changed suddenly becoming much more practical "and well I am clearly here so, anyway I spent my first year as a witch in the library trying to find a way to bring him bad but"
"No spell can awaken the dead" he said
"Exactly" she said looking across at him "it took me ages to finally see that was true. It worked out though, all that book time made me pretty smart" she said with a laugh.
James gave her a grin back "I am sure he would be really proud of you"
"Of course he would be I am amazing" she said giggling. "You know your dad would be proud of you too" she said softly reaching out and touching his arm.
"Yeah that was the last thing he said to me. I am determined to make sure that is true though, he was a great man my dad I am not going to let him down" Lily didn't know if he was saying this more to her or to himself she didn't move her hand though keeping it on his arm as they finished the carriage ride both lost in their own moment of memory. When they got out Lily smiled at him and scurried quickly into the entrance hall. James smiled back rubbing the place on his arm that she had touch and walked in after her.
After the feast having ensure all the first year Gryffindor's were settled and having made sure that indeed the older students were all sorted. Along with posting the prefect time table to the different house Lily finally made it to her own dormitory. She crept in thinking that her dorm mates would definitely be asleep however she was wrong she sat down and immediately "so Lily tell us what's going on with you and James?" said Lizzie jumping onto Lily's bed
"Friends is what is going on" said Lily "he apologised to me for acting like a 'big headed prat', I can't believe he quoted me, then he was actually really responsible in the heads meeting, after which I made him promise not to ask me out in embarrassing situations any more so yeah we are going to be friends" Lily didn't tell them about the carriage ride even though she somewhat felt that they had share a personal moment. She had seen James look across at her a lot during the feast and though this was not necessarily unusual the look defiantly seemed to be different than before. Lily didn't see the knowing look that passed between her two friends who both thought it unlikely that James and Lily would stay just friends. Lily however was happier than she had felt in a while maybe this year wouldn't be so hard after all.