DISCLAIMER: I don't own anything you recognise! I just own some of the plot!

A/N: This is just a one shot, but a few people have expressed interest in writing a sequel or more chapters. Please leave a review telling me what you think!

A tawny owl flew through the clear blue sky of England on its journey to the Potter Mansion. The beating of its wings seemed to get more forced and came at longer intervals. After being airborne for 2 and a half hours, the owl finally spied its destination. Bending its head and readying itself for the descent, the bird glided down and perched itself precariously on the porch railing at the back of the house.

Had there been no one there to notice the owl's arrival, it may have fainted with exhaustion but lucky for the owl however, the infamous Marauders had deemed the porch as a worthy resting place and quickly came to the bird's aid.

A tall, lean boy with brown hair picked the bird up gingerly and carried it to a small fountain where the owl sipped at the water. Once it had seemed to have enough, the boy untied the package that was the reason for the owl's long journey and walked back to where his three best friends were sitting.

"What have you got there Moony?" A muscular black haired boy called out when his friend was in speaking distance.

"I don't know Pads, but it's addressed to you James. Open it!" Remus Lupin, or Moony; as he was affectionately dubbed by his friends, threw the package to James and waited eagerly to see what it was.

A boy with brown hair and glasses caught the package which was tossed to him and pulled out its contents. "It's a letter from Professor Dumbledore!" Looking up at his friends, the shock which was registered on his face seemed to be reflected on theirs too.

"Well hurry up and read it Prongs!" Sirius urged while rolling his eyes.

"Shut up Padfoot, I'm getting there you git."

It seemed that Sirius was used to these comments because it had no effect on him whatsoever and he went back to stuffing his face with pies, the task he had been in the middle of before the owl's arrival.

The fourth boy watched as Sirius devoured the pies, and decided that food was to be shared him, or there was to be no food at all. Blue eyes looking beadily at the pies, the short boy marched over to the plate of pies and took it back to his own seat.

Ignoring Sirius' outraged cries, James began to read out the letter.

To Mr Potter,

It is my great pleasure to inform you that you have been awarded the position of Head Boy of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. This position holds great responsibility and will require your utmost dedication, and I am sure you will uphold the reputation that all the previous Head Boys have set.

You will be working alongside Miss Evans who has been offered the position of Head Girl and I hope the two of you will put your differences behind you and come together as great leaders of this prestigious school.

There are dark times coming Mr Potter, and I believe you and Miss Evans can help unite Hogwarts resist the evil that is plaguing the magical world. The Head Students have always done exceptionally well and I expect nothing less from you and Miss Evans. Keep in mind that this is a great honour, and if you do not believe that you can fulfil the duties of Head Boy then please respond to this letter by Friday at the latest.

Congratulations once again, and I am looking forward to working closely with you in the coming year.

Hoping you are enjoying your holidays,

Professor Albus Dumbledore

Headmaster of Hogwarts school of Witchcraft and Wizardry

Chuckling, James Potter put down the letter saying,

"Alright mates. Good prank, but a little too obvious I'd say! Okay, so who was it? Who sent the letter?"

His grin faded as he looked up at the flabbergasted faces of his best friends, and he looked from Remus to Sirius to Peter, waiting till one of them owned up.

Slowly forming words, Remus told James that he did not play any part in the prank, and if the fact that Sirius had fallen off his chair, and that Peter was still holding his pie centimetres away from his open mouth as he had been for the last minute had anything to say for themselves, it seemed that they didn't either.

"But... but you know as well as I do that this badge is for you Moony! Me? Head Boy? Yeah, that's just as likely as Lily agreeing to go out with me!" James scoffed as he sat back down in his hammock.

"Well it's official," Sirius stood up, looking his friends directly in the eye, "Dumbledore's cracked. There is no other reasonable explanation. Prongs as Head Boy? Hahah! Yep, Dumbledore's either cracked, or he's smoking crack. So take your pick boys, but Dumbledore sure isn't the smartest wizard any more!"

Peter glanced up from his fourth pie to ask,

"...What's crack? Is it anything like the cake you get from the Madam Puddifoot's because that stuff is rank!"

The other three boys simultaneously turned their heads to stare at Wormtail with varying levels of disgust. Finally Sirius asked the unspoken question,

"WHAT KIND OF SELF RESPECTING DUDE GOES TO MADAM PUDIFOOT'S?"

Peter at least had the decency to look ashamed before he instantly changed topics.

"Well anyway, what do you guys reckon Dumbledore was smoking before he sent this?"

"Pot. Most likely."

"No Padfoot, I doubt Professor Dumbledore was smoking pot. That is the stupidest thing I have ever heard, and I've lived with you three for the past 6 years." Remus interrupted before the conversation could get any more out of hand. "But if I had to choose something, I would say he was drunk. I've heard the teachers have parties where there is firewhiskey, and they get off the hook!"

Looking at the wondering faces of his three best friends, Remus wondered why he even bothered with such people.

"Guys, I was joking..." He clarified for the benefit of everybody else.

Coming out of what seemed to be a trance, James announced that he was going to show his parents his letter and walked back into the house. Taking this as their cue to leave, the other three boys dispersed and went back to amusing themselves with whatever sixteen year old boys find amusing.

(That night)

Later that night the boys settled into their respective beds, trying to catch their breath after yet another pillow fight. Pulling feathers out of his hair, James looked in the general direction of his best friends' beds and asked,

"So guys, what do you think I should do? If I take the offer that means significantly less pranking! And that means I sleep in a different room from you guys too? That would make going out on full moon's harder to coordinate too. I mean, the map and the cloak will be in different rooms. It will be harder. But then again, I might finally have a chance with Evans. I don't know what to do, what do you guys think? ... Guys?"

Remus and Peter had fallen asleep after the exhausting pillow fight, so Sirius was the one who answered.

"Don't worry about us mate, we'll figure it out. Think about yourself, this will be great for your chances with Evans! This might finally be your year mate! Take the opportunity is what I say. But ultimately it's your choice. Just do what you think is right Prongs, I'm sure you'll choose the right option."

"...Wow, Padfoot you're going soft!" James chuckled as he settled back into his bed and turned off the light.

"Don't you dare tell anyone Prongs, or I swear I will make you regret it!"

James didn't have to see Sirius' face to picture the grin stretched out on it.

"Well thanks Paddy, I'll sleep on it."

"Alright, night James."

"Night Sirius." James smiled to himself as he drifted off into a peaceful slumber, Sirius really was his best mate.

(A few days later)

"Thank you both for attending this brief meeting, please take a seat." Professor Dumbledore gestured towards the two armchairs sitting opposite his desk as he watched James Potter and Lily Evans take their seats.

"Now, you both know why you are here. It is only Thursday, so you may change your mind and tell me tomorrow have either of you decided whether you would like to take the opportunity of being Heads of Hogwarts?"

Sweeping his coal black hair out of his eyes, James announced to the headmaster that he accepted.
"Yes, I would like to be Head Boy sir, and thank you for giving me this opportunity."

Even to himself, his voice didn't sound like his own. It sounded more serious than usual and had a quality that made it seem mature. James decided that he rather liked it, and smiled at Professor Dumbledore.

The Headmaster gave him one sweeping glance before saying,

"Congratulations in that case! It is good to have you on board Mr Potter, I'm sure my year will be just as lively as yours!" His blue eyes twinkling as always, turned to face Lily next.

"And you Miss Evans? Have you yet made a decision?"He smiles gently, as if he knew of the battle raging inside of Lily's head.

"No Professor, not yet. I am still wondering if Potter and I will make a good team, but I will get back to you tomorrow." Lily sneaked a glance at James' crestfallen face and quickly back to the slightly disappointed one of Professor Dumbledore.

"Very well Miss Evans, I look forward to hearing your response tomorrow." He nodded once at Lily, and then continued with the meeting.

The rest of the 20 minutes seemed to go by very slowly to James, as he thought about what Lily had said. She didn't know if they could make a good team? That meant she still didn't trust James, even after all he had done for her. Or rather, tried to do for her. His mind made up, he marched out of the Headmaster's office once the meeting had been adjourned and turned to face Lily.

"I know you don't think this is going to work Evans, but please give me a chance. I understand as much as you do that this is an extremely important position, and considering what kind of things are happening outside of these walls, I hardly think it would be fair to just mess around with something like this. There's only one more year left Evans, just one more year until we're out there too." Here James took a deep breath and looked directly into Lily's eyes, his own hazel ones shining with determination.

"I'm sorry about the way I have treated you in the past and that's going to end. If you want me to stop bothering you, then I will. I have changed Evans, and just the fact that I apologised should show you that. I'm a new person and I need you to know that. I'm going to work hard and help you out wherever and whenever I can. So I just want you to know that I will be a great partner to work with. So please don't let this opportunity get away just because of me. If you take up the offer of being Head Girl I will never ask you out again. If you hold up your end of the deal, so will I. Just... just think about it okay?"

Apparently taken aback so much she couldn't find any words to say, Lily just nodded her head mutely. Feeling that he had completed what he had come to do, James said goodbye to Lily and walked down the dimly lit corridors of Hogwarts to where he apparated directly outside his front door, leaving a surprised and confused Lily Evans in his wake.

(The following day)

It was late on Friday afternoon when the fireplace of the Potter Mansion began to crackle and spit, and Professor Dumbledore's face emerged.

"Good afternoon boys, is James around?" Peter and Sirius shrugged their shoulders before Remus informed the Headmaster that he was sending an owl.

"I'll go get him sir, just a minute!"

"Thank you Mr Lupin, tell James that I only have a few minutes before I have a meeting to attend!"

Nodding, Remus swiftly exited the room and Sirius and Peter looked around awkwardly, avoiding each other's and Professor Dumbledore's eye contact.

Luckily James entered the room a moment later, followed by a puffed out Remus who had clearly been running to wherever it was that James had been sitting.

"What is it Professor? Is something wrong?" Straight to the point as always, James urged Dumbledore to tell him what happened.

Smiling, Professor Dumbledore just said,

"Oh no, everything is fine James. I just wished to tell you that Miss Evans has accepted her position of Head Girl and that all the details are sorted! The two of you will be required to attend another meeting next week, where the password for the Head Dorm will be chosen, and patrolling duty rosters will be made."

James' smile widened as the professor spoke, and he said,

"That is great news Professor, I look forward to the meeting!"

"Well that is all from me, I trust you boys will enjoy the rest of your holidays, and I shall see you next week James!" With a smile, Professor Dumbledore extracted his head from the fireplace and James jumped up and down jubilantly, waving his fist in victory.

"I'M GOING TO SHARE DORM WITH EVANS, I'M GOING TO SHARE A DORM WITH EVANS!"

Just at that moment, a tapping could be heard from the window and the boys turned to find the source of the noise. A small white owl with a letter tied to its leg was staring right back at them, it's beady eyes trying to communicate some sort of silent message.

"Stop staring and open the window you idiot!" Remus' voice jolted James out of his little daydream as he raced to the window to let the small owl inside.

Opening the letter which was until recently tied to the owl's foot, James' eyes widened in shock.

"What is it Prongsy? Are you ok?"

"Evans...Evans sent me a letter!" James yelled in glee and walked back to his friends where they all pored over the letter.

To James,

Yes, I wrote James - not Potter- and you are probably wondering why. Well if Professor Dumbledore hasn't already told you – I accepted the position. So I figured that if we're going to be practically living together for this year, we may as well call each other by our first names.

I thought about what you said to me yesterday and decided that if you were as mature as you seemed to be, then we could work something out. You better be a responsible Head Boy and not let me regret taking the offer of being Head Girl, or there will be consequences! And yes I mean that, I am actually quite good at revenge.

Anyway I just wanted to let you know about the recent developments, so I guess I'll be going now.

Lily

P.s: I guess you should call me Lily too. And also, I have held up my end of the deal so you better hold up yours. As I said earlier, I am rather good at revenge.

"What deal is she talking about James? Please don't tell me you did something stupid yet again!" Remus buried his face in his hands, waiting to hear of what mess James had gotten himself into now.

"Bet? Oh yeah, I said that if she accepts the position of Head Girl, then I would never ask her out again!"

"WHAT?" Peter, Remus and Sirius practically exploded out of their seats when they heard this, appalled by this new piece of information.

"You've worked this hard to make sure Evans gets Head Girl, and now you can't even get together anymore? You idiot!" Sirius shook his head at James' stupidity and sat back in his chair.

However James just grinned at his friends saying,

"Don't worry boys. By the end of this year, she'll be the one asking me out!"

"How is that even possible? It's taken her six years just to say 'James' remember?" Remus, always the voice of reason pointed out.

James smiled as he put the letter down, it didn't matter what his friends thought. This was the year he would finally win over Lily Evans. He could just tell.

A/N: Please just take a minute to review, telling me whether you want a sequel or just your thoughts! Pretty please? With a cherry on top?