Finally, lily thought, the end of summer she could get away from petunia, her sister. She had been driving her crazy for weeks about her new boyfriend Vernon. He had a job she would say. He was so thoughtful she would say. He was an arse is what lily would say.
"Mum" no answer. "Mum" no answer. "MUM!"
"Alright, alright I'm coming there's no need to shout". Lily sighed. Really. Rose Evans came down the stairs much too slowly for lily's liking she was going to miss the train!
"Whatever, look I need to go now" she was apperating to kings cross.
"Okay, just be good and remember to owl me every week". No chance.
"Yeah sure, tell dad I said by when he gets home"
"Of course, you should get yourself to the station you're going to make yourself late". Me? Huh?
Lily hugged her mother and began to leave the door when petunia stepped through. Shit! So close! Lily smiled.
"Hi Tuney, I was just about to leave" the permanent scowl on petunias face remained ever constant.
"freak, just leave, your outstaying your welcome"
"PETUNIA!" Her mother called from behind her.
"I'm gonna go" lily exited quickly dragging her trunk behind her and hearing the screaming match coming from inside the house between her sister and mother. I need to get out of here lily thought, straight away. She then turned on the spot and apperated to kings cross.
20 minutes. Lily thought she may actually make it! She got to the space outside platforms 9 and 10. Lily always hated this bit her muggle born instincts always told her that she was going to hit the wall. 1-2-3 and she was through. She saw the scarlet train and her stomach did a leap she was going to her real home. She was going to Hogwarts!
She saw them huddled in a group just along from her. Three girls, four boys the marauders Alice Prewett, Mary MacDonald and Marlene Mckinnon. She headed straight for them, after levitating her trunk to follow on behind her. "Hey, guys". They all turned with grins on their faces.
"Lily!" Marlene her best friend called.
"What's the news then?"
"How did you know?" Alice asked.
"Oh, come on you were all huddled in a group looking secretive" lily began to get suspicious. The all had a slight giggle
"Show her" Sirius said to James and "it's hilarious" to lily.
Oh god what now? She thought just as James pulled out a badge. Lily was surprised and James gestured for her to take a look. A red badge with a gold strip and the words "HEAD BOY" written in black. Lily began to giggle, "You know you should really give this back to whoever you took this from. All that was given too lily in return was blank looks, James however had a slight smirk. "What?"
"It's mine, Evans" James confirmed still with his trademark smirk.
"You're joking?"
"Nope" James confirmed once more.
Lily began to laugh uncontrollably.
"Alright, it's not that funny" James mocked a hurt expression.
"No, you will think it is" just then lily pulled out a similar badge however the inscription this time was "HEAD GIIRL"
They all saw the badge Sirius, Remus and Peter joining in too with her laughter, whereas the girls had a somewhat mischievous smile all over each of their faces. James however just remained starring at the badge with absolute glee.
"Wait, so that means you two are going to be living together?" Mary interrupted her smile broadening, she, Marlene and Alice had wanted her and James to get together ever since they had started to become friends 6 months ago claiming the sexual tension was unbearable. Yeah, right lily and James potter.
"I'm sure well make it work, right Evans?" James said fishing to see whether she was okay with this or not.
"Sure we will potter, as long as you do all your duties!" she agreed pointing a nock finger at James. That was confirmation enough for him.
"Right, well we better get on the train" said peter. They all nodded in agreement.
As the rest went on the train James took his opportunity to talk to lily about the situation, of which he was ecstatic about. He was backing off with the whole asking her out thing because he liked being her friend and being around her. But he did still like her, and sometimes it was hard to be around her because of that but it was worth it.
"Hey lil, so your cool with this whole head dorm thing?"
"Yeah its fine, might even be kinda fun" she said in a playful voice, whilst walking away. James knew she did that in a harmless way but it still made his heart leap with joy.
Why did I say that? Lily thought. Stupid thing to say to a guy who was clearly just your friend. But lily couldn't help it she found that every time she was around him since they became friends she just flirted, it was natural.
The train ride went smoothly. Lily and James took the prefects through what would happen through the year and to lily's surprise James held his own and put a lot of impute into the meetings. After rounds they met the marauders and girls and sat and talked the whole way home.
Lily and the girls got into the first carriage with the marauders trailing behind them.
"So, you and James?" Marlene asked.
Lily sighed, she knew this was coming she just hoped it would be after dinner. "Yes, what of it?"
"It's just well you know what this is going to do don't you?" Alice supplied
Lily was confused. "Huh?"
"Well its kind obvious, this whole living together thing is just gonna push you too together even more"
"Come on lil, its gotta be you two. If it isn't what hope have the rest of us got?" Marlene agreed.
"Oh, I get it this is the whole me and James are in love thing"
"Well, James is in love with you and the sooner you realise that and that you feel the same way the better" Mary said with nods f agreement from the other two girls.
Lily just shook her head and snickered.
"oh come on lil just admit it, you two are great friends, you used to hate him now your together all the time, all you do is flirt" lily cast her mind back to the moment on the train platform, "… not to mention the fact that he used to ask you out whenever he saw you" Marlene said
Lily saw her chance and caught on fast, "you are correct Marlene he used to ask me out but now we are just friends.
Mary shook her head "lil, I honestly don't know how you can be so smart in subjects and still be dumb as hell about things that are happening in front of your eyes. James wants you to see him in a different light so he's not asking you out, but think back to when he's around you he always watches what he says, a smile erupts on his face when he sees you, he flirts back to you plus, he gets nervous when he's around you"
"I think you guys are barking up the wrong tree" lily said whilst stepping off the carriage."
"Was that something about barking Evans?" Sirius called from behind her. Brilliant, now this conversation can end, thanks Black!
"Im sure it would be nothing to do with you padfoot!" James retorted giving lily a winning smile. Lily felt amazingly better after receiving it and sent one straight back.
"What were we saying about James smile before?" Mary whispered in lily's ear as she went past. Lily sent her an evil look and Mary just laughed at it. Although lily couldn't help but think that the smile had lifted her a bit, but that could easily be a friend passing on their happiness, James was after all a very happy and cheerful person.
After dinner the group went to check out the heads wing. James and lily each received a note saying to go to the fourth floor east corridor and look for a portrait of a night with the Hogwarts emblem on his shield. They found the portrait with great difficulty as the whole hall was covered in paintings.
Remus spotted it first. "Hey guys I think I found it!"
They all rushed over
"My name is sir Tantrott, I am keeper of the heads wing. I must see your head badges to allow you to gain entry and create a password." The night said. Lily and James showed them the badges. "And now a password that should be changed often, I will remind you of this however you must be both here to change it".
James looked at lily "password? Guys, close your ears don't want you lot in and out all the time" James mocked with the ever present smirk when he found himself funny.
"Oh come on prongs, you know you want me in there all the time you will get bored of Evans!" Sirius joked
"What who could get bored of lil?" James exclaimed with a massive grin. Lily's heart leapt, but she didn't know why.
"You're fairly entertaining yourself, Potter!" Lily retorted ignoring the smirks on the girls faces.
"That's real good to know Evans." James said his grin now from ear to ear "Look we can just set a password and change it when they leave" lily nodded in agreement "okay, how about Bukowski?"
"Yeah sure he's-"
"your favourite muggle writer I know"
Lily was taken aback she was sure she had only mentioned that around James once.
"Bukowski it is then!" said sir Tantrott. The portrait swung open.
As the group stepped through they all realised something simultaneously, they were going to spend a lot of time in here.
The wing had been designed specifically for them Gryffindor colours surrounding the room. In the corner by a staircase that most likely led to their rooms sat two desks positioned in an "L" shape. A fireplace sat at the back of the room ablaze with a coffee table directly in front. A red sofa sat parallel to the table with an arm chair facing inward on either side. The room was homely. The room was perfect.
"This place is awesome!" Peter said what everyone was thinking.
Lily tugged on James' arm "come on lets go and see the bedrooms!"
"Want me in your bedroom already Evans the only the first day!"
Lily let out a laugh "Well there's no harm in a bit of fun is there?" she teased, but James' face still lit up.
"okay you two we know your eager to rip each other's clothes off but at least wait till the tours over, yeah?" Marlene broke in. James and lily ignored her for a short time laughing at each other's joke to try and not make a big deal about it. However, they soon got their wits about them and lily gave Mary a scowl as James dragged her upstairs by the hand.
At the top of a slightly winding staircase a hallway split, the door on the left saying "LILY EVANS" and on the right "JAMES POTTER" each with the Gryffindor crest underneath each name.
James still holding lily's hand the delight of them both said "shall we see yours first since you're so eager to get me into your bed!"
"Why not I think were both eager to see it" lily teased. They both walked into lily's new bedroom.
The rest of the group were still outside.
"I'm sorry but how do they not see it?" said Mary.
"I think we need to start making bets on what time they get together in the year" Sirius suggested. They all laughed in agreement until…
"YOU DO REALISE WE CAN HEAR YOU!" called lily from the room. They all fell silent and hesitantly approached the room.
Lily and James were stood in the centre of the room. James' expression light and playful whereas lily's of hate and outrage. The room had again painted red walls with a king size bed against the back wall. An oak cupboard stood in the corner and a blue armchair beside the bed and an owl perch by a window.
"We, eh didn't realise" Remus attempted.
"Well next time, just don't say anything yeah?" lily retorted.
Remus was about to answer when James stepped in "Oh, come on lil you know its just cause were so adorable alone, and put us together, why wouldn't you expect it?" James made it sound like he was teasing but he truly meant the last bit. He expected it, their friends expected it, why didn't she?
Lily's expression eased and the gang breathed a sigh of relief. Phew. "You know what I can see are adorable qualities" lily answered. They again stared at each other. Until Marys hand swung between their eye line.
"Right you two will never be anything more than friends" Mary teased before receiving a scowl from both of them.
"So the room looks good" said peter trying to diffuse the tension.
"Oh yes! Cant wait to spend all my free time in here, right Evans?" said James raising his eyebrow.
"Ha! In your dreams Potter!"
"Now, now just wait and see"
"You do realise that you encourage them"
"It's how I spend my tie Evans, but I'm sure we can change that!" Lily just laughed and pushed him away she wasn't quite sure if he was still joking him or not but it felt kinda good to be his playful with him.
The group went to see James' room it was relatively similar except the broom stand and large glass door instead of a window that could be used from flying straight from the room, but lily wasn't bothered about that she would not be doing any flying if she could help it!
The rest of the group left after James and lily found their trunks in their personal common room. After unpacking James and lily stayed went downstairs to chat in front of the fire.
"So it's clear to me that the group think we are in love!" James said trying to put it into the conversation for a while and just blurting it out.
"Oh, yeah. Ridicules right?" lily was trying to see what he thought. Why was she bothered?
"Well like I said were adorable!" lily laughed in response "It's just… I mean….."
"James?" he looked up "your stuttering".
"Right yeah, it's just hypothetically, it wouldn't be the worst thing in the world if we got together would it?"
"Look, James I…."
"No its cool I shouldn't have said anything I just wanted to see where you stand". James smiled but he was hurt, he thought she liked him, but maybe all this flirting was just lily and he never noticed. But, then again there wasn't a lot he didn't know about lily.
Why am I mad at myself? Lily thought she didn't like James like that, did she?
They continued their conversation on into the night and parted ways ten minutes to midnight.