As the steam erupting from the scarlet train cleared, James Potter, accompanied by his closest friends and fellow rule breakers, caught sight of a mass of long, gleaming red hair, that matched the brilliance of the Hogwarts Express.
The owner of the mane, Lily Evans, was busy farewelling her parents, who in turn took numerous photos of their daughter in between gushes of their pride of the shiny badge with the initials HG pinned to Lily's robes. Lily's joy was evident on the grin stretched across her face, and she gladly took each compliment. However her excited and animated expressions wavered upon her hearing the distinct cry of "Evans!". Nonetheless, Lily fixed her smile for one last photo with her parents, before allowing her eyes to form comfortably into the slits that she reserved for Potter.
After taking several deep, calming breaths, Lily turned around to face her nightmare, which was moving at an extremely fast pace, and sported an overly excited smile.
"Evans." James panted again, his glasses slightly askew and a hand unconsciously ruffling his hair, like a peacock parading its feathers. James had planned this moment nearly all summer, and yet he still didn't know exactly what to say.
"Potter. What. Do. You. Want?" Lily replied flatly, each word distinct, immediately seeing his face fall slightly. Lily was so annoyed that the first person to talk to her was her unwanted, highly resented, and fiercely attractive obsessive stalker, that- for a few moments- she did not notice the shining badge that looked much too similar to her own. It was only when the chant of "Potter is Head Boy, Potter is Head Boy" -sung by James' best friend, Sirius Black- became audible over the babble of excited first years and crying parents, that Lily's piercing glare zoomed to the small, telltale shield on James' jumper.
James still had his smile plastered on his face when looking at Lily, but quickly shot Sirius a warning glare. Turning his face back, James scruffed up his hair, his expression turning anxious. He stood in front of Lily expectantly, waiting for the storm that would soon come. It took Lily a while to overcome her sense of unconsciousness, leaving James free to gaze at the freckles dotted on Lily's cheeks and nose: they almost matched the fiery red colour of her hair, and made her emerald-green eyes all the more striking. James' eyes had just made their way to the full, rosy lips that contrasted with her pale skin, when Lily's voice cut across his thoughts like steel.
"Dumbledore made you Head Boy." Lily muttered icily, rather than questioned. Despite every bone in her body wanting to challenge such a situation, the very real HB badge stopped her through gaining false hope. There would be absolutely no hope for her seventh and final year, Lily thought sadly to herself.
James had rather been hoping that this conversation- as well as her glare- would be left for later down the track, allowing him time to ask Lily Evans, the girl of his every thought and action, trivial questions that would show his mature and caring side. This differed greatly to the former, less subtle yells of "Evans, will you bloody go out with me already?!" across the great hall. Of course Lily had not forgotten these embarrassments any less than James strived to correct himself.
"Yes, um, yes Dumbledore did, er, make me Head Boy... How were your holidays?" James added pathetically. When it came to Lily, his planned conversations, witty jokes and adventurous stories all came to mush. Again, James ruffled his hair unnecessarily. Lily didn't even bother replying in words, rather making her silent opinions extremely loud through the murderous expression on her face. To finish off her feelings on the matter, Lily spun around. Thankfully she caught sight of her friends and stalked off to meet them, mumbling threats and curses all the while.
Sirius had only just reach James when all had taken place, and heartily patted his best friend on the back and exclaimed loudly "Honestly, I think that went brilliantly. I wouldn't be surprised if she asked you out by the end of the week". James just continued to look helplessly, one hand extended, after Lily's disappearing figure.
"I cannot believe Dumbledore made Potter Head Boy. My goldfish could be trusted more with this position than Potter." Lily blasted to her friends, Alice Jones and Emma Lake. Her voice turned to a sneer each time she mentioned James' surname.
"Isn't that the goldfish that Alice accidentally transfigured into a needle, which your mum then used to hem your robes?" Emma giggled, trying to lighten the mood.
"True, yet totally irrelevant!" Replied Lily, exasperated. Such cases as these were not to be helped by humour Lily protested to herself.
"What was Dumbledore thinking?" Alice wondered aloud. In the six years she had known James, she had never seen him open his mouth without either hearing him curse a Slytherin, or ask Lily out on a date. Usually one followed the other. Lily groaned in agreement before throwing her head in her hands. When Lily had first received her badge and Hogwarts letter, she had been happy beyond belief. It had seemed like all the years of private studying and pristine results had been worth it. Now it was if being the near-perfect student deserved punishment.
These reflections lasted until most of the crowds of parents and friends had dispersed, and the train master of the Hogwarts Express gave a loud, warning whistle.
"Well if there is anyone who can be mature enough to deal with having to babysit Potter for the whole school year, it's you, L." Emma added as the three girls made their way onto the train.