A word of warning: I am fairly unreliable, I have to say. Also, not that confident in my writing abilities (probably for a good reason). I don't know if I'll even continue this story, or if I'll have frequent decent length chapters but I'll try. Also, I overuse commas, and my writing style will probably change frequently:/ I'll try to stick to canon but I can't say that'll I'll be following it exactly. Please point out if I get something vital MAJORLY wrong. This is my first story but uh I suppose reviews are appreciated? Thanks(:
Copyright: I don't own Harry Potter, or anything affiliated with it. J.K Rowling's property thanks.
Chapter 1: Expectations
A belief that someone will or should achieve something.
It wasn't every day a renowned prankster with what appeared to most people to be the biggest (or second biggest, if you were counting his best friend, which he wasn't, and hadn't been for a while) detention record in Hogwarts vast history got awarded Head Boy on a regular visit from the greatest headmaster the school had ever seen. Of course, it wasn't James wasn't an everyday person - not that he believed that. Despite the frequent propositions he made towards our other protagonist, Lily Evans, that stated he did, James was actually quite firm in his belief that he was nothing special. If asked, Miss Evans would agree. Not that he ever actually asked her opinion. When he had first got his weighted letter, James wondered if McGonagall had felt the need to reinstate his Quidditch Captain status but that made no sense. His next thought turned to his prankster friends, and he wondered whether whatever was in there could in fact turn out to be quite foul. However, with a twinge of repressed sadness, James remembered that those days were apparently long gone. The pranksters weren't even whole any more. Not after last year. All this happened while he held the heavy envelope in his hands while his mother and father lazily ate their breakfast as if their son wasn't potentially pondering what could be his biggest mistake. And then he opened it. The badge fell on his foot. His cry of pain was what made them start paying attention. Muttering slightly, though not very loudly so he could avoid a reprimand from his mother, James bent down and picked up the badge. Even though he had quite resigned himself to the fact that it wouldn't be anything good, he still let out a yelp when the 'HB' glinted back at him, tauntingly red and gold. Upon spying the usually coveted badge his mother proceeded to scoop him up as if he wasn't a lanky sixteen year old.
"Oh Jamie!"
"Mum! Gerroff, it probably isn't-"
"James, m'boy!"
"Oh Dad, not you too!"
"My boy! Head-"
"It's really no big de-"
"No big deal! My son finally showing pride in his-"
"Of course, Mad-Eye will be pleased, your application will look-"
"Okay! It's good! Let me go please?" James finally managed to finish a sentence, and with an exaggerated sigh his mother relinquished him from the mass of bodies. He ran a hand up to his hair and then dropped it remembering she didn't like it when he did that.
"What would you like to celebrate?" His mother asked fondly, admiring his badge (somehow having pilfered it whilst she'd fondly tried to murder him).
"What don't I have?" James smirked. A flash of red ran through his mind and he had to stop himself from grimacing.
On the other side of the country, a much different reaction was taking place.
"I GOT HEADGIRL. I GOT HEADGIRL." Whilst previously Lily had been the only occupant of the Evans household actually awake, she wasn't alone anymore. Grumbling, her sister and father had both left their rooms with mutinous looks around the same time. The sight of the dour blonde duo barely quelled the fizzing in Lily's stomach as she avidly started to read the accompanying letter, explaining her duties and what a great responsibility it was.
"Wow. You're headfreak. Can I sleep now?" This was enough to make Lily's exuberance falter, and she looked to her father as if to ask him to deny it. He didn't.
"Yeah. Try to stay that way for, oh I don't know, forever?" Lily fixed a glare on her sister, hoping that Petunia hadn't seen how much the familiar barb still hurt her. Petunia only sniffed at her, before turning on her heel and marching up the stairs in her hideous matching nightgown and slippers.
Once the elder was gone, Brian Evans (that's Dr. Evans to you) awkwardly nodded at his younger daughter and muttered his congratulations before heading back up himself.
Lily sank to the chair, looking round at the empty chairs and shaking her head slightly. If her mother was here..
She stopped that thought in its tracks. It would do her no good to try. She'd just gotten Head Girl for goodness' sake! Instead, Lily herself trotted off upstairs, determined to talk to someone who would share her elation.
Dear Rhi,
I doubt you'll have heard - well of course you haven't, you're the first one I'm telling! But anyway, irrelevant. I GOT HEADGIRL! Same horrid reaction from Dad and Tuney but I suppose I shouldn't have expected any more than that. You know what they're like.. Remember that time with the goldfish and the chocolate cake? Anyway, how's your summer? Tenerife? I can't believe it's been over two weeks since the last time we even talked! We have got catching up to do! Aside from my AMAZING news, do you have the Arithmancy homework? I know, I know, swotty but Professor Marik said he's going to start giving me a week of detention for every assignment I don't do and knowing my luck we'll have it first day back. Who even knows what his problem is? How's Ronan? I heard he got his hair dyed and I thought you'd know better than that gossip Leanne Mayes, y'know seen as how you're the one actually going out with him (Not that she'd ever admit that, snooty cow. How would she even know anyway?)
Graham and I broke up. I know, shocker right? You don't want to know why, but lets just say it involves him, that weird Ravenclaw who's practically albino, the one who always wears that pink cardigan, and an overdressed poodle. Like I said, you don't want to know why. Anyway, that got me thinking about guys (a certain one guy) actually interested in me, or at least so he claims to be, and I know you're always saying there could be a decent person beneath that mop (I still hold to my wig theory). So..drumroll please.. I'm giving him a chance this year!
Anyway, much love, enjoy the essay,
Lily (NEW HEAD GIRL!)
Dear Remus,
May I please start by saying I am sooo sorry! And you can take Quidditch Captain if you want in compensation (Seriously, don't though). Also, you're talking to your new Head Boy. That's right, Dumbledore has finally gone off his rocker definably this time. Oh the fun. Have I mentioned I'm sorry? But enough of that, school isn't for the holidays! Unless it's Quidditch.. But you don't like Quidditch really. Weirdo. How's your furry little problem? I really can floo over if you need me y'know, and I read about this great spell that's meant to make sure cuts can't get infected. Y'know... in case your.. rabbit bites you. Anyway. Writing. Holidays. No.
Your favourite person, light of your life,
James xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxooxoxoxo
(Sorry it's short, promise they'll get longer. Sorry if I've cocked it up, or if it really was that bad to begin with. Sorry.)