Author's Note: Working on revising all of "My Life as a Hogwart's Sitcom." Same story, just more polished (in theory). So here's my take on the '77-'78 School Year at Hogwarts.
If you have read this already, please note there are some minor changes. The backbone is still the same.
Chapter 1: And So Begins Seventh Year...
Thursday, September 1, 1977; Hogwarts Express
All I could do was stare out of the window of my empty compartment of the Hogwarts Express and look at the remaining families on Platform 9 3/4 outside, trying to finish up their goodbyes since the train was only moments from departing from the sounds of the whistles. I already said my goodbyes to my family (sans Petunia, of course, of which I am not surprised) and really wanted to snag a good compartment as soon as possible. So goodbyes were quick and effective. We were old pros at this, seeing how we've done it since September 1971 (it was raining).
And when I say "good," I mean "empty."
Well, temporarily so. I want my friends to be able to join me and a compartment of nervous first years or gossipy fourth years was not going to cut it. I also didn't want-
"Evans! Just the girl I was looking for!"
Dammit. Thwarted. Five minutes after the train took off has to be a new record.
Not that I'm keeping track.
Glancing up, I saw a tall, spectacled boy my age standing there in jeans and a t-shirt. "And why, pray tell, would you be looking for me, Potter?"
"I was just wondering if you wou-"
"No."
"Okay, that was easy." And with one swipe of his fingers through his messy, dark hair, he was off.
Every single day since fifth year... the boy doesn't know when to quit. Although I never did notice the way his eyes sparkled when he asks... or how well the jersey knit of t-shirts cling to his Quidditch-made body... Quit it, Lily! I had to shake my head to get rid of those thoughts.
I'm supposed to hate James Potter. I'm supposed to hate James Potter. I'm supposed to hate James Potter.
"Lily! Oh, how I've missed you, love! Sorry for not writing so much over the summer! I was distracted..."
Dorcas Meadowes's entrance into the small compartment snapped me out of my internal chanting just in time. She was already in her Gryffindor robes with a scarlet headband holding back her long, dark hair. Her blue eyes lit up when she saw me sitting there.
"You weren't distracted. You broke your arm. I forgive you," I said, smiling up at her. Then I noticed she was sniffing the air. "What in Merlin's name are you doing?"
"I know that smell. James ask you out, again?"
"How'd you reckon?" I smirked, raising an eyebrow.
"I know that cologne anywhere. So many nights of Dueling Club would make anyone know that smell."
I hadn't noticed it until Dorcas mentioned it. It was nice, actually. Not too musky, with a hint of cedar...
No! I'm supposed to hate James Potter. I'm supposed to hate James Potter. I'm supposed to hate James Potter.
"Where's Ems?" Dorcas asked, once again snapping me out of my chanting. She tilted her head and looked at me. "You're acting weird... you feeling okay?"
"I think the train's bumpier than usual..." I lied.
"I think you're barmy, Lils. The train's as smooth as always. Hey, Dor! I see your arm's in one piece. Finally."
Emmeline Vance walked into the compartment, robes flowing around her when she moved. She was beautiful with her dark, curly hair pulled to the side in a ponytail. Many guys fancied her but she was like the rest of our group. Studies took the primary focus over boys, although dating was not out of the question. In fact, it was a common topic of ours.
"What did you do, anyway?" I asked Dorcas. "You weren't able to write after your note that had, 'Broke Arm. Write Hard. Love, Me' scribbled on it, remember? Eloquent. Looked like it was written by a serial killer."
"Because I wrote it with my right hand. I'm a lefty," she said, waving her left hand. "So of course, I broke the left one. Skiing with the family in America. Usually, people break their legs skiing. No, I'm a non-conformist. I broke my arm. Don't ask me how. I just remember going down the slope, losing my balance, getting snow up my nose, and then waking up in the hospital with a goose egg on my head and a cast on my arm."
"Graceful, Dor," I smirked. "Snow up your nose. Attractive. And not what one would normally hear after summer holiday," I teased.
"Not to change the subject but I just realized something," Emmeline said, looking around. "Where's Marles?"
"I'm not sure... I haven't seen her," Dorcas replied. "She might be visiting another compartment."
Marlene McKinnon is the fourth member of our circle, all of us Seventh Year Gryffindors. We always ride on the train together, so her absence is quite bizarre.
"She may have found the guys," Dorcas realized. "She mentioned something about looking for Remus."
Then I remember that she and Remus grew up in the same neighborhood and magical kids have some sort of radar and find each other. This is something I know from experience.
As if on cue, Remus appeared at the door, his hair wavy and hitting his ears. Marlene was at his side.
"Hey, girls! Didn't think I'd abandon you, right?" she said, smirking. She had her long, blonde hair French braided behind her, reaching the small of her back. Made me think how much my fiery, red hair stood out amongst my girlfriends. Such the curse of the Ginger.
"I figured I'd walk Marlene back," Remus said, "since I need to trade her for Lily." He was the only "Maruader" that called me by my first name but I was okay with that. Remus was cool. The rest... well, let's just say they leave something to be desired.
Like sanity.
"I didn't do it," I said out of reflex. I don't know why I did, seeing that I've never even had a minute of detention in my entire life, Muggle or Magical. The girls and Remus chuckled.
"Nah, Prefects meeting. James reminded me that you needed to come along, being Head Girl. Or did you forget?" He raised his eyebrow at me since he knew I knew better. There's always a Prefect's meeting on the train to school and the Head Boy and Girl always run it.
Then the exact words he used hit me.
"Why would Potter know that I needed to be there?" I questioned. "Since when did he care about the Prefects' Meeting outside of it being prime prank time due to all of us being distracted and stealing you away for a spell?"
"Since he became Head Boy. You didn't know?" he replied.
Shit. Shit. Shit. Shit. Shit.
"You're pulling my leg," I said, flatly. Sure he can't be serious.
"Nope. James got the position. Now if you don't relax and come along, we'll both be late."
I moaned loudly. "Fine. I'm coming." I got up and left with Remus, head lowered and feet dragging.
"Relax, Lils," Marlene told me as I was leaving. "He's really not that bad once you get to know him. Give the boy a chance. I think he deserves one after all this time. It's our last year, after all, and you're stuck with him. It would make things smoother."
I just gave her a look that could easily be translated into, "you're a git, your speaking privileges have been revoked." Or at least that's what I meant it to mean. I think they just got, "shut up." That works, too.
"Lily, Marlene is right. Relax," Remus said quietly, putting his arm around my hanging shoulders. "He's taking it seriously, trust me. I know him better than most people. He's a changed man." He gave my shoulders a squeeze when we reached the door. "You ready?"
"I feel like I'm walking to my execution," I admitted.
"Just breathe. You know what you're doing." And with that we entered the Prefects' compartment. It was full of students. Two per year per house including myself, plus one. I felt my palms swear but I didn't know if it was the nerves of speaking in front of the Prefects as Head Girl for the first time or the handsome man standing in front of them, already telling them the ins-and-outs of being a Prefect.
NO. I'm suppose to hate James Potter. I'm suppose to hate James Potter. I'm suppose to hate James Potter. I'm suppose to hate James Potter. I'm suppose to hate James Potter. I'm suppose to hate James-
"Here's our Head Girl, Lily Evans," James declared, introducing me to the Prefects. Sure, I knew most of them but there were eight new Fifth Years that I was unsure about. I waved.
"Hey, everyone. I'm excited for this year and I hope you are, too," I told them.
Wow. Eloquent. Original. Good job.
I wanted to slap myself.
James leaned over to me, close enough that the smell of his cologne engulfed me. It was so pleasant... (I'm supposed to hate James Potter).
"Hey, I filled them in before you guys got here. I knew you two know it all already since you've heard it before. I hope you don't mind," he said quietly (I'm supposed to hate James Potter). "Do you mind if we just wrap it up early? Some of them are getting fidgety."
"Sounds good to me," I replied with a shrug. I wanted out as quick as the others. I turned to the Prefects. "Looks like our new Head Boy covered everything before I got here, so you all can return to your friends if you like. You're also more than welcome to stay here. We will send you all notices about the first meeting within the next few days so we can schedule rounds."
Everyone was packing up to leave and I started walking towards the door. I noticed Remus and James whispering but figured they were planning the next prank, so I went to leave. That's when I felt someone grab my elbow.
"Hey, Evans? Can I speak to you a moment?"
Oi. What does he want now? I almost had my getaway!
Remus went to walk past me, close enough to whisper quickly, "Remember what Marles said. Just give him a listen." With that, he left.
There were a few Prefects left, so James took me out into the hallway. His grip was gentle...
It's official, I've gone mental. I really need to stop thinking about every little thing he does. It's just the same, annoying, frustrating James Potter that I have known the past six year.
Except this one seems different. More grown up?
Once we were out in the hallway, James turned to me. "Evans, I just wanted to apologize."
I stood there and blinked at him. "You want to what?"
Okay, revision. I've gone mental and my hearing is acting up.
"Apologize. Look, I've been thinking all summer about it and I want to start fresh. I don't care if you don't believe me or trust me or anything. Just wanted to tell you that. If you need back up, ask Sirius. Drove the poor guy insane with it all summer."
I stared at him for a moment or two, not believing what I was hearing. He's been nothing but an arrogant prick for as long as I could remember. Is now any different? Then I thought of Marles and Remus, took a deep breath, and looked up at James.
"Hi, I'm Lily. Lily Evans. I'm the Head Girl here and a Gryffindor. Glad to meet you," I said and extended my hand.
He stared at my hand and then back at me. "What are you doing?"
"You wanted to start fresh. I'm starting fresh." I kept my hand extended.
He smiled. It was a nice smile, the type that causes you to involuntarily smile back. "In that case," he said, taking my hand in a firm handshake, "I'm James Potter. Head Boy, fellow Gryffindor, and Quidditch Captain and Chaser. Pleasure to meet you, Lily."
It sounded nice when he called me that.
I looked up at him. "Now what?"
"Well, the guys are waiting for me and I assume the girls are waiting for you. So I guess I'll see you at sorting?"
"Okay, see you there. I want to make it back to the compartment before the trolley, anyway," I told him as my stomach growled. He didn't notice or was polite enough not to point it out.
He smirked and walked off.
I waited a moment before leaving.
That wasn't as painful as I expected. Maybe Marles and Remus were right?
I thought about it while I walked back to the compartment. The girls were there surrounded in sweets and wrappers.
"Oh, damn. I missed the trolley, didn't I?" I sat down and pouted.
"Don't fret, my pet!" Marlene said with a smile. "I grabbed a few Pumpkin Pasties and some Licorice Wands for you!"
She knew me too well. "Marles, I love you."
"So, what took so long? We saw Remus pass by a while ago, then James passed by about a minute or so before you arrived," Emmeline asked.
"James and I talked a little after the meeting."
Dorcas fumbled her box of Bertie Bott's Every Flavor beans, spilling a few on the floor. Marlene froze in place, a piece of Drooble's Best Blowing Gum halfway to her mouth. Emmeline dropped her Chocolate Frog box and its inhabitant was currently hopping around the compartment and repeatedly into the door. They all just stared at me.
Suddenly, I felt naked.
"...What? Why are you looking at me like that?"
"We didn't hear any yelling..." Dorcas said in awe.
"And James didn't look maimed..." Emmeline added.
"Because we didn't fight?" I replied with a shrug. That caused her to drop the box of beans altogether, spilling the contents everywhere. Emmeline was still frozen, staring at me and holding the empty Chocolate Frog box. Marlene was beaming.
"I'm so proud!" she exclaimed, pouncing me in a tight hug. "Told you he was a good guy!"
"Marles... I can't breathe..."
"Ooops! Sorry!" She released her hold on my and handed over my goodies. I sat next to Dorcas and opened one of the Pumpkin Pasties and bit into the crispy shell. It tasted so good, especially with how famished I felt. I sat there in my little moment for a few minutes before I realized Dorcas and Emmeline were still staring at me.
I swallowed and smiled. "Guys, you can stop looking at me like that. You know what? This 'fresh start,' as he calls it? It feels good. No stress going into school wondering what dimwitted thing he was going to say to me next."
"Nice to know you guys will get along, seeing how the Head Boy and Girl share a suite in the castle," Emmeline said, a sly smile creeping across her face.
"Good feeling's gone," I said, slumping over. All I could do was take another bite of the pumpkin goodness in my hand.
"Don't tell me you didn't know you guys have a private suite," Dorcas said.
"I think it's great. You guys can really get to be friends that way, like it or not!" Marlene said, beaming.
I just sat there. Thinking about it, I remember hearing some of the other Prefects last year mentioning their hope to be Head Boy or Girl just because of the suite. "Yeah, I remember NOW. Does he know? He didn't mention it and you'd think he would if he's trying to get on my good side."
Marlene thought about it for a minute or two. "You know what? I don't think he does. Or at least he doesn't remember. You'd think he would have mentioned it at some point, and I hung out with the guys a bit this summer so I know he didn't. Surprised Remus never mentioned it."
At that moment the compartment door slid open with a confused looking James was standing there. He turned to me with a look that seemed to be a combination of confusion, worry, excitement, and euphoria. "Did you know we share a suite?" Dorcas, Marlene, and Emmeline couldn't suppress their laughter. I just sat there and smirked awkwardly.
Yeah, seventh year was going to be... interesting.