Disclaimer: I do not own anything from the HP universe. Please don't sue me!
Frank, Marigold, Lily and Petunia Evans appeared to be, to any enquiring eye that may be looking through the living room window, an average family. Frank was an accountant, who went to work every morning in a suit and tie with a briefcase. Marigold spent her days taking care of the house and her family. Lily was known to all the neighbours to be a pretty and bright girl, who went to a prestigious school abroad. Petunia, who although did not have the looks or brains to match her sister, was still always neatly presented and well-spoken. They were, altogether, a very respectable family.
However, any-one who chose to eavesdrop on the conversation taking place in that living room would very soon have learnt that this family was far from normal.
"Remember, Lily… No funny business! No mention of that unnatural school you go to… Or of your freakish friends!" The horse-faced girl, Petunia, hissed at the red headed girl through her teeth, as though afraid someone was outside the window reading her lips.
Marigold cut in before Lily could open her mouth.
"Petunia, dear, Lily remembers all this. She promised not to mention her special talents, although why you think it is necessary when you think so much of this young man…"
"Talents? Talents!?" Petunia no longer hissed through her teeth, but shrieked out her words. "You think it's good? That she comes home with bags full of, of, rat tails and frog spawn! That owls zoom into our house at all hours of the day or night! Was it nice last week when that ridiculous friend of hers just appeared on our front door step!? It sounded like a car back-firing! What if someone had seen?"
"Marlene apologized for scaring you! And, well, she thought it would have been rude if she'd Apparated straight into the house! That's very bad manners in our world-"
"Your world? Your world? Well then I wish very much that your world was far away from our world! I wish you'd go join your world and never come-"
"That is quite enough, Petunia." Frank finally spoke up, having decided the women of the house had been arguing long enough. "Petunia, Lily has been very patient with you, especially considering where you wanted to say where she is during the year. For the last time, we are proud that your sister is a witch and she was specially chosen. I hope one day you share our pride, and apologise to your sister. However, right now we are all waiting to meet your young man with respect and open mind. I suggest you consider a similar outlook in relation to Lily." He had spoken firmly, in a way that suggested the matter was now closed. Lily looked flushed, she was remembering how her sister had wanted to tell her boyfriend that she spent most of her time at a mental asylum, and was only let out on special occasions. Before she could dwell too much on this point however, the door bell rang.
Petunia rushed to the door while Marigold fixed a smile on her face and followed her. Frank squeezed Lily's hand reassuringly.
"Remember, Lily, your mother and I are very proud to have you in our family." Lily smiled at her father. Her smile grew wider and more gleeful however, when she saw the monstrosity that took up the doorway leading into the room.
Vernon Dursley was quite a man. In fact, he looked large enough to be three men. He wore a double breasted jacket with a red and white striped tie that made him look like he belonged in an acapella group. He puffed his chest out and looked around the room, apparently quite impressed with himself and believing everyone else would share his own sentiments. Petunia squeezed in the doorway behind him, holding his large loafy hand, looking at him in adoration. Marigold followed behind them, looking bemused.
"Vernon Dursley. It's a pleasure to meet you Mr. Evans."
"It's a pleasure to meet you too, son." They shook hands firmly, and then Vernon sat down. Apparently he didn't think Lily was important enough to warrant any kind of greeting.
I wonder what things Petunia has told him about me, thought Lily miserably.
As the evening progressed, Lily was sure Petunia would think it was going quite well. Vernon monopolized the conversation with talk of his plans to follow his father's footsteps by joining the family company. What was impressive however, was his ability to monopolise the conversation while shoveling unprecedented large amounts of food into his mouth. Impressive, and disgusting. Petunia followed his words with glowing eyes, every now and then sending Lily very pointed looks as if to say See how lucky I am!
It was everything that Petunia had been hoping for, all the focus was on her and Vernon, and Lily hadn't spoken a word. However, just as the pudding was being cleared, everything went wrong.
There was a tap-tap-tap on the dining room window. Petunia looked up in alarm at that familiar sound. Lily's stomach lurched at the expectation of Petunia's reaction. Her parents exchanged worried glances.
I'll just ignore it. I'll just ignore it and it will go to my bedroom window and Petunia won't be angry with me.
Vernon however, could not read minds and was not aware of Lily's plan.
"What is that ruddy.. What's that at the window?" For a large man he moved quickly, and pushed the window open. In flew a large bird, an owl in fact. Perhaps this could have been explained and reasoned away, if there was not a letter attached to it with Lily Evans written on the envelope in green ink.
Lily took the letter with shaking hands.
Petunia immediately tried to go into damage control.
"It's just my sister, you see… She's a little deranged… obsessed with the strangest things. A funny hobby… Trying to train owls as carrier pigeons…"
However, then another owl flew through the open window. This one was carrying a newspaper, and dropped it at Vernon's feet. Vernon Dursley bent over, dumb-struck at the events, and unfolded the news-paper. He blinked, rubbed his eyes, and then looked again…
"Are the pictures on this paper…moving?"
Petunia looked at Lily in rage.
"Get away from me you freak… You've ruined everything!" She jumped up from her seat at the table, pulled the paper out of Vernons hands and began smacking Lily with it, while alternately pushing her from the room.
"Stop it! Tuney, stop! I'm going, I'm- You're hurting me!" As she screamed out the last of the words there was a large bang, and the paper Petunia was assaulting Lily with turned into a handful of flower petals which fell to the floor.
Lily took one look at Petunia's irate face, and ran from the room.
She closed her bedroom door to dim the sounds coming from downstairs, and sat on her bed. Finally, she realized she was still holding the letter in her hands.
Couldn't have picked a worse time, Professor Dumbledore, thought Lily glumly as she opened her envelope. From her envelope, fell a shiny silver badge. Her expression quickly turned to a grin. She opened the letter and scanned quickly, catching words such as congratulations, Head Girl, responsibility, honour, Potter… Wait! Potter? She quickly scanned back, and groaned. "We entrust that you, and your fellow Head, James Potter, will do an exemplary job as this year's Head students, and look forward to seeing you on September 1st."
Lily lay back on her bed with a thump.
James Potter! He isn't even a prefect! He's broken all the records for detentions! It's one prank after another! What could Dumbledore be thinking, after everything Potter has done! Ever since he was eleven years old, it's been nothing but mischief and marauding!
Lily lay stewing for a long while, whilst the sounds of downstairs debacle continued to rage on. Then she remembered her father's words to Petunia… About the importance of respect and an open mind. Disgruntled, Lily tried to look for the silver lining.
Well he does do a good job as Quidditch captain. So he does possess some leadership skills. Also, his pranks are always more funny than nasty. Well, except for Snape… Lily immediately turned her mind away from Severus, which caused her pain. It was Dumbledore's decision. I have to trust his judgement. I just have to work with Potter, be civil, get the job done. It's not like I have to join the James Potter Fan Club and follow him around asking him to sign my books. Lily sighed. To Potter's credit, he had seemed more embarrassed by these requests in the last year than previous times. She shook herself. This was not about James Potter. She Lily Evans, had been made Head Girl. She could deal with Potter. Right now, she was just going to give herself a pat on the back and be proud of herself.
*
James Potter was sitting down to Sunday dinner with his family, which consisted of his parents and his best friend, Sirius Black, who was his honorary brother and member of the Potter family. No-one looking in their window would have deemed them normal, but then again nobody would have been able to look through the window. Any muggle who approached the front door step without expressed request would suddenly remember they had an urgent appointment and leave.
Sirius Black, was right now regaling Alistair and Helen Potter with his latest flying motorcycle story.
"- so then I saw one of those Muggle vehicles chasing after me, you know the ones with the flashing lights on top? And thought to myself, time to scarper! So I hit the invisibility booster, and took off into the night!"
Alistair roared with laughter whilst Helen looked concerned.
"But Sirius, dear, what if the ministry found out? You know you could get in quite some trouble for bewitching that thing. I've heard Arthur Weasley is drafting some sort of Misuse of Muggle Artifacts legislation.." This just made Alistair laugh harder.
"Young Weasley? If he did that he'd have to put himself under arrest! You should see what's in that house of his and Molly's! The other day when I popped in for lunch, I had to cast a quick shield charm, because a push bike tried to attack me!"
James Potter was no longer listening to his family. James Potter was distracted by the owl that had landed on his roast beef. He frowned as he opened his letter from Hogwarts.
"Bit early, isn't it?" Asked Sirius, as he tucked into his roasted potatoes. "And where's mine? Surely Minnie hasn't finally done what she's been threatening all these years and had Dumbledore expel me?" Suddenly he started choking on his potatoes at the sight of what was in James' hand. It was a badge. A shiny silver badge with the letters HB on it.
Helen burst into tears and hugged James as Alistair patted his son on the back.
James mouthed wordlessly.
"But... you, me, detentions! Dungbombs! Firecrackers.. flying soup..last year! Discolouring charms. Screaming pillows! Ageing potions!"
"Yes well, no more dear! You're Head Boy now, no more of that my dear. You have to set an example now!"
Sirius hurriedly swallowed his potatoes.
"Let's not be hasty Mrs. P. James, mate… Well, bad luck and all. But we could use this to our advantage you know! Now we don't need to watch out for the prefects! Just the teachers."
James finally strung together a full sentence.
"What in the bloody hell is Dumbledore thinking?"
"Professor Dumbledore, dear."
Sirius had snatched James letter and was reading it quickly. Suddenly an animalistic grin stretched across his face.
"There's a silver lining, mate. Guess who Head Girl is?"
James's heart stopped. Sirius correctly interpreted his expression.
"That's right! Lily Evans! You will be "sharing responsibilities" to quote Dumbly, with the lovely fiery haired Lily!"
"Well now doesn't that work out nicely?" Helen beamed as she sat back down. "Now you'll have all year to impress her, dear. I'm sure it will work out this time."
James tuned out as Sirius began to crack jokes about his new status. He actually felt… anxious. Being Quidditch Captain was one thing, he was good at Quidditch. But Head Boy? He'd have to take care of first year, make schedules for the Prefects, work with the teachers… Work with Lily. He couldn't let Lily down. Or Dumbledore. He realised, that Seventh Year was not going to be the mischief marathon he and Sirius had planned. He hadn't asked for this, but as he looked at his mother's frail face alight with joy, he knew he couldn't turn it down. He would make his parents proud. He caught eyes with Sirius, and also decided too that he wouldn't have to give up pranks completely. He was sure he could strike up some sort of balance. Or at least be more subtle. And Lily… Well, working more closely with her would definitely be incentive enough to at least try this responsibility gig.
This is my first fanfiction and I'm not quite sure how to use the site... so feedback would be more than lovely!