Disclaimer: Nothing belongs to me! don't sue!
Chapter 1
It was the last year for Lily Evans at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. For the last six years her home had been the enormous castle, with its long halls and interesting classes. She sighed deeply, already missing the school. Seven years, she thought was too long a time.
She finished braiding her thick red hair in a hurry. She was surprised the bell had not ringed yet. Walking quickly she made her way down to her Charms class; she spotted her friend Remus Lupin looking nervously around. Lily looked at him, he looked worn-out. She had noticed along with most of the school that Remus was always sick, a reason he was most of the time gone from the castle.
"Hey Remus!" she said happily. "How are you feeling?" she asked conversationally. She was surprised by how sharply Remus looked at her. "Er- I heard from Lessa that you went home because you were sick," she added quickly.
"I'm fine," he said. Lily noticed how his brows relaxed. She nodded and turned to leave. "Hey, Lily," he called, Lily turned. "Thanks for helping in the essay for Charms I scraped through." Lily blushed and smiled.
"It was nothing," she said. Again she saw him dart his head around nervously, before she could ask what was going on they heard a burst of laughter, a door slam shut with great force and feet scurrying towards them. Two students appeared, sweaty but cocky and triumphant.
Lily recognized them. Sirius Black: the handsomest guy in school that all girls pined for. Except Lily, she was immune. He had black, sleek hair and the most gorgeous gray eyes, but what girls went crazy for was the smile.
James Potter was the second student; also handsome, in Gryffindor, captain of the Quidditch team and the Head Boy. James Potter was muscular, tall and had black messy hair that he always ran his hand through. His hazel eyes were enough to make any girl woozy.
Lily gave both of them a reproving look. As Head Girl, Lily should be reminding other students to behave. But here she was telling the Head Boy!
"See you in class Remus," she said coldly. Lily Evans did not like James Potter. He was ….
"Wait a minute where are you going?" James Potter asked. "A girl should never have to walk to class by herself. I'll walk you." He finished his sentence with a grin that quiet clearly said 'you-can't- resist me!'
Lily wanted to slap the smile off his face.
"No, thank you," Lily said. "I am not a dog that needs to be walked. I know my way to class perfectly well." She had not taken half a step when she heard Sirius Black laugh. She knew she would have to pay for speaking to Potter that way.
"Immature, irresponsible, self-centered, arrogant, bully…" Before she could finish, she felt something tug at her arm. Her notebook fell and Lily turned to be facing the angry eyes of James Potter.
"I'm sorry if I hurt your ego," Lily said with apathy. James didn't answer instead he picked the notebook and handed it to her. Lily smiled and took it – James let it drop. Lily's eyes flashed dangerously and she suppressed a scream of rage as James kicked the notebook away from her. Then without his eyes ever leaving hers she walked to the notebook and he kicked it again.
"Argggh!" Lily cried, "You little beast! Give me back my notebook this instant!"
Lily was beyond herself in rage. This was no way for the Head Girl to behave.
James gave the notebook one final kick. Lily saw it soar up into the air and land perfectly in the foot of the door of her class. James waited for Lily there, angrily Lily walked to him and picked the notebook up, before she could say anything James moved closer to her and began speak in her ear.
"Next time," he said, "let me hold your hand." He turned and was gone.
Angrily Lily made her way into her seat ignoring the professor and sat on either side of her friends. Lessa Campbell, was the same height as Lily, above five feet, she was slim and had electric blonde hair and clear blue eyes. Leidianna Fowl, sitting on her left had honey brown hair and blue eyes. Hers were deeper and more passionate.
At that moment Leidianna was laughing, Lessa was trying to hide her own smile. Both girls found the little scene between James and Lily funny.
Anger flowed through Lily's intense emerald green eyes, as she stared at her friends laughing. Leidianna tried to suppress her laugh but ended snorting out, causing students to turn.
"I-I am s-sorry, is just that, I thought it was so funny. Lily's anger boiled, her face became so red, she looked comical.
"Oh yes! Wonderfully funny, graciously funny, to be embarrassed the way I was! I don't think so!"
Professor Flitwick gave Lily a reproving look and continued with the lesson.
Lessa laughed all of a sudden and was followed by Leidianna. Having no choice Lily began to laugh.
"All right, it was a little funny," she admitted.
Leidianna stared at Lily and suppressed a gasp, whenever Lily thought James had been a tiny bit decent – disaster followed.
"Lily may I remind you that you are now Head Girl!" Leidianna hissed. "If you start a war with Potter again Dumbledore will surely take your badge!"
"Who said anything about a war?" Lily whispered from the corner of her mouth. Professor Flitwick was sending them disapproving looks.
"Lily, the last time you said those words was in our fourth year!" Lessa interrupted. "I am surprised you are still here!"
"I have to do something!" Lily hissed and even more quietly Lily murmured in a firm whisper. "This means war Potter!"
She had to think of something, a prank that should embarrass Potter, but that wouldn't incriminate her. She had skipped dinner and went straight into patrolling.
Lily could take only so much of Black's taunting. She didn't know why she bother dwelling on Black's comments. They treated everyone like dirt beneath their toes. Cursing anyone who dares to stand their way, literally. Lily frowned, moving briskly along the corridor.
Lily loved the patrolling part of her duties as Head Girl. She had freedom to explore the castle and had come to find many passages and rooms she did not believe existed. Besides, walking helped her take out her anger on Potter and his gang.
"That self assured idiot! He thinks he is above all law, he and his gang."
Lily's fantasy of getting Potter in trouble had diminished through the years.
Ever since Lily had sat in the stool with the Sorting Hat below her ears and Potter had made her red hair turn to carrots. He had appeared at her side and pulled one of her thick carrots, and munching he had yelled, "Carrot! Carrot!"
Ever since, Lily hated him. The whole school had laughed and Lily might have forgiving him but he kept on playing pranks on her. And they were never caught.
No one knew it was them who had been out of bed and that they had jinxed the Slytherin Quidditch team to croak like frogs and move like pigeons. Lily knew but had no proof! Marauders, that's what they called themselves. And each had a secret name known only to themselves.
"You like that, you little Mudblood!" Someone hissed from inside a classroom. Lily stopped to listen. "Hit him again – maybe our message isn't clear enough!" Lily's eyes hardened as she heard a thud and a small yelp.
She recognized those voices- Slytherins. Quickly Lily walked to the classroom and threw the door open.
"Step away from him!" she demanded in a firm voice. Her eyes quickly took in the scene. Two seventh year Slytherins beating on a smaller boy of twelve. "Name?" she asked the boy.
"Max Pancy," he whispered.
"Go to the nurse, and then head for your common room."
The boy nodded and fled. She turned her face to the bullies. If there was anything she hated it was bullies.
"Rosier and Travers," she said with disgust, "Fifty points each from Slytherin."
Rosier and Travers laughed.
"The Mudblood is taking points off from us!" Rosier chanted. He took a step forward and Lily took her wand out.
"Don't forget Rosier, you may be a Slytherin but I know more about jinxes and hexes than you'll ever need."
Rosier sneered but hesitated watching Lily hold her wand steady, bile rose in her mouth as Rosier fingered her hair.
"You know Evans; I always wondered why you stayed in this school. It isn't for the likes of you."
"Petrificus Totalus!" Lily hissed to Travers. Travers' body sprang together in a full body bind his body with no balance fell face down.
Rosier grabbed Lily's wand hand in a grip to break fingers. Lily gasped but didn't let go of her wand. Rosier angrily smacked her hand against the wall, hard. Lily whimpered and let go of her wand. Rosier smirked and Lily furious swung at him with her left fist. She made contact with his neck, near his windpipe. Gasping and chocking he let go of her. Lily took her wand again only to find Travers up.
Lily cursed as Travers kicked her wand away and threw himself at her.
Lily vaguely realized that the door opened. Just as she saw Travers fist coming down on her Lily felt him off her.
James Potter stood in the room; he had cornered Travers and Rosier and held two wands in his hands. Rosier with a roar threw himself at James and Travers grabbed Lily by the neck.
Rosier grabbed one of the wands and hurled it out of James' reach. James punched Rosier on the face and turned to Lily. He flicked his wand in her direction and a thin, smoke like shield appeared. Travers shouted in pain as the shield began to burn his wrist. He let go. Potter looked at both of them his wand on them. He made a move too complicated for Lily to follow.
"Now you'll think again before going for L- the Head Girl!" he said in a dead whisper. "You will have detention and I'll talk to Hagrid – I think the owlery needs cleaning." His jaws clenched. "Leave."
They left.
Once gone Lily slid into the floor gasping. He walked to her and knelt beside her.
"Are you all right?" he asked. Lily looked at him – was he concerned?
Lily nodded and tried to stand. James offered his hand but Lily ignored it.
"Are you all right?" he asked again.
"Yes." Lily said crisply. She hadn't forgotten what he had done earlier in the day. Lily put her hand to her neck and flinched. She saw James tense.
"What are you doing here?" she asked angrily. Potter looked at her in disbelief.
"What do you mean?" he asked treading carefully.
"I mean you are out of bed, past curfew. Fifteen points from Gryffindor."
"What! Why?" Potter roared. "I'm Head Boy I'm supposed to be patrolling the halls!"
Lily looked at her watch.
"No," she said coolly. "Today your patrolling time ended at 10:45. It is 11:30."
Potter shook his head in disbelief and anger. Before he could argue back Lily had already left the room.
"Damn her!" he whispered.
"And if I see Black, Lupin, or Pettigrew with you it will be another further twenty points," she added rounding the corner.
James followed her with his eyes till she was out of sight.
"Damn her! All right Sirius, you can take it off now," James said. "I'll have to report this to Dumbledore," he said with disgust.
"Are you sure? Lily is crazy!"
James nodded and turned to face Sirius. They bend down over a statue outside the classroom and began to whisper.
"Twenty points from Gryffindor Potter! I warned you!"
Sirius growled and James fumed in anger. Lily smirked and left happily to bed. She was tired and still had a lot of homework to finish for tomorrow.
Lily was the last one of her friends to go down to breakfast the next morning. She was early, but late in her usual schedule. She had sat down and grabbed a cup of coffee when the owls arrived with the day's mail.
Her tawny owl Ella found Lily and put the envelope in her outstretched hand. Lily opened it and began to read; surprised to see her father's writing.
She barely finished the usual greeting when a Howler rattled the ceiling and made her ears throb.
"DAY ONE POTTER!"
The scarlet envelope turned to flames and the ashes fell on James' breakfast. Lily put her letter away and helped herself to toast.
Three owls carrying a massive package made their way to the Gryffindor Table. Once they found James they flew to the top and together they let go of the package. Midway through the air the package opened.
SPLAT!
Sirius and Remus in either side of Potter covered their noses and the dragon dung landed on James.
A sign appeared on top of James' head, big enough to be seen by all of the Great Hall.
Norweinian Fertilizer!
The hall rang with laughter and Lily glowed in her seat. Leidianna and Lessa were staring at Lily, unsure whether she was responsible for the display. Discretely Lily made as if she was reading the newspaper, from the corner of her eye she saw James red-faced and angry.
She saw him take out his wand and muttering furiously said, "Scourgify!" Lily frowned as the dung was removed from James. She put the paper down and noticed that twice he had tried to catch her eye. On the third time Lily looked up and laughed at him.
She heard Leidianna's comment on their last transfiguration class. Lily looked at her schedule.
"Oh!" she groaned. "Transfiguration is first today! I can't believe I forgot. MgGonagall is going to be on my case!" Lily could feel James' eyes on her and she wanted to leave, "I'll see you in class," she said and left.
Lily almost ran out of the Hall. She was about to turn the corner when James bellowed from the entrance Hall. Lily turned around and faced him, her emerald eyes poured coolly into his angry hazel ones.
"Yes, Mr. Potter, how may I help you?" her tone was casual and polite.
"I know it was you who sent those owls. Step carefully Evans, because I will fight back." James turned and left to the Gryffindor Common Room.
Professor MgGonagall was on Lily's case that day. She made Lily stay after class to tell her very seriously that she would be assigned a tutor if she didn't improve. Three times a week. Lily gave the Professor her word that she would try harder.
After Transfiguration Lily went off to Potions. She wasn't having any trouble with that class; in fact she was competing with Snape for top student.
Charms: Lily excelled in that class. There was no one better than Lily. She knew all the charms in all seven books and most of the ones found in the library. Defense Against the Dark Arts was her second favorite. Lily, James, Sirius, and Snape were top four.
When the day was over she went to the common room. She had extra work from MgGonagall. She was tired after her patrolling but happy that it was James who had the late vigil that night.
She hurried through the extra work knowing she was doing as badly as she had in class.
"Oh well," she thought "It can't be helpful if I am a dunce in Transfiguration."
It wasn't until half past three that Lily grabbed her things and went to the dormitory.
Lily felt she had only slept for five minutes when she woke up to people poking her.
"What's wrong with her?"
"This is the first time she overslept in Seven years!"
"Do you think she is sick?"
It took seconds for Lily to recognize the voice of Lessa and Leidianna.
Lily yawned and looked around her.
"What you doing?" she asked sleepily.
"Are you sick?" Lessa asked, looking hopeful.
"No," Lily said confused.
"Then why are you still in bed?" Lessa asked startled.
"Oh, I was up late doing homework," she answered.
"What did I tell you!" Leidianna said. "I knew it! Lily Evans! When will you become responsible enough to take care of yourself?"
Lily frowned but got up and got ready.
"Am I late for breakfast?" she asked.
"No," they chorused.
"Good, I didn't want to miss the most important meal of the day."
First thing Lily did entering the Great Hall was search for James. She found him at the end of the Gryffindor table looking straight at her. Lily smiled smugly and waved. James in turn gave her his cockiest grin ever, but his eyes told her that he hadn't forgotten about the day before.
Lily smiled at him but she was unsettled. James was planning something. Sirius and James were huddled together and whispering, and though it seemed important not once did James remove his eyes from Lily. Remus was near James but concentrating on his book. Peter, Lily saw, was nowhere.
The mail arrived like everyday; Lily chuckled when she saw James finally broke his contact with her to look wearily at the owls.
An owl did come for James, delivering a Howler. James caught it and found Lily's eyes again. Still looking at her, he opened it.
"Let the Games begin Potter!"
A box flew from nowhere and landed on his bowl spraying him with porridge. Few people laughed, but they grew silent when they saw the box shake.
James took the box and looking at Lily opened it.
On cue the candles blew out, and the Great Hall became dark, there were a few gasps from students as a golden weak light began to rise from the base.
The light grew reaching the enchanted ceiling and expanded throughout all of the Gryffindor Table. The light did not touch any student but James. The box shook harder and out came a poof and a stag appeared. White and ghost like, a dog appeared at its side.
Lily saw Sirius and Remus pale, James shook his head and Lily heard him say 'boggart.'
James pulled out his wand and sought Lily in the semi darkness. Lily's smile widened as James pointing his wand at the boggart shouted,
"Riddikulus!"
The stag and dog left and the candles lighted themselves. Everyone caught sight of James turning into a giant frog still in uniform and croaking out the Hogwarts School song.
The Hall rang with laughter and it was Sirius who turned James back to his self.
James sat back on his seat and nodded to Sirius who smiled and walked towards Lily.
"Good morning Lessa," Lessa smiled at Sirius. "Leidianna," he said still smirking. He turned to face Lily and his face gathered into a confused look. "Is it Lily?" he asked. Lily rolled her eyes and looked away. Sirius in turn ignored Lily and turned to her friends. Lessa and Leidianna gasped, the handsomest guy in school was talking to them. "Lessa, Leidianna," he said giving them all his charm. "Evans is your friend right?"
Lessa and Leidianna nodded. Lily, her eyes narrowed looked Sirius over. He caught Lily staring at him and a smile clicked on his face, but only for a second before it disappeared.
"Anyway, ladies, next weekend we can go to the village and I was wondering if any of you would be interested in being my date."
Lessa and Leidianna all but fainted, when Sirius gave them his most charming smile.
Coolly Lily put down her glass of pumpkin juice.
"Why are you asking them out Black?" Lily asked carefully. Sirius turned to look at her, "As far as I know you already have a date for next weekend; Anna Ferguson."
Sirius had the decency to blush.
"Well, I'll let you girls go back to your breakfast then." He smiled to James as he returned to his seat. Lily turned to face Lessa and Leidianna, who naturally were still gaping after Sirius.
"Oh snap out of it, you two," Lily said laughing. She served herself a bowl of cinnamon porridge. She heard laughter from James and Sirius and ignored them.
Lessa turned to Lily and asked for help in her Transfiguration homework. Lily snorted.
"You want my help?" Lily laughed. She stopped. Her eyes returned to her bowl, she has felt a porridge lump in her plate and she hated those. Engrossed Lily picked it up with her spoon.
A horrified, ear splitting, blood curling scream was heard at all corners of the castle.
Lily gasped ad grabbed her napkin cleaning her tongue. She had gotten a rat! A rat in her food! A huge stinging white rat! Lily panicked she pushed the plate away from her and pushed herself away from the table. She fell and brought the bowl down with her. The rat landed on her chest, Lily bit down a scream when she noticed the rat was alive. Disgusted Lily pushed it off her and saw it start skidding out of the Great Hall. Every girl in the Hall began to scream and some to hurl at the side. It was chaos, some of the guys laughed and continued with their meal, avoiding the porridge.
She stood up, her robes ruined. Angrily Lily muttered the spell that cleaned her robes. Lessa and Leidianna were fussing with her, making sure she was all right. Lily ignored them, her eyes searching.
She spotted James Potter laughing with Sirius Black, Lily's face reddened as Professor MgGonagall reached her. Lily gulped, Professor MgGonagall was known for her temper and her give away lip that became paper thin at her worst.
"Ms. Evans are you all right?"
"Yes, Professor, and excuse my behavior but there was a rat inside my food."
"What? What are you talking about Ms. Evans?"
"A rat! My food had a rat!" Lily said irritated.
"I will head for the kitchen at this moment and see who played this trick on you." Professor MgGonagall had just turned when Lily made her way to where James celebrated his victory.
Remus, she saw, saw her and quickly buried himself in a book. Peter was still nowhere to be seen. Neither James nor Sirius saw Lily. She reached them, grabbed a pitcher of milk and it down James' back.
James gasped and turned, his victory was nowhere to be seen on his face. It was quickly being replaced with new, hot, anger.
From nowhere approached Professor Dumbledore at Lily's side as she pulled out her wand.
"Ms. Evans, Mr. Potter would you two be kind as to follow me." Lily nodded and faced him but Dumbledore had already turned, Lily caught but a glimpse of his lips twitching into a smile.
He led them to the stone gargoyle and it was there that Lily risked looking at James. He was starring back with the most annoying look: Lily blushed and looked down.
"Chocolate frogs," Dumbledore said, not noticing the exchange between the Head Boy and Girl. "Follow me." The stone gargoyle moved itself and made way to a staircase.
Lily had been inside Dumbledore's office twice before, both times she had been in trouble with James.
Dumbledore motioned for them to take a seat; only one chair remained Lily stood and ignored the chair. James on the other hand held out the chair to her.
"Please seat, I'll get my own."
He waved his wand and a nice comfy chair appeared next to Lily's.
"Thank you," Lily said blushing and then frowning. Why was she blushing all of a sudden?
"Now," said Dumbledore, "I am here to discuss with you the previous incidents in the Great Hall. I believe it was the rat your food Ms. Evans, the milk pitcher down James' head, the owls for yesterday and the singing today."
Lily glanced at Dumbledore quickly- she noticed his mouth twitched. She quickly pretended to be engrossed in her shoelaces.
James cleared his throat.
"Professor, I must interrupt, but I must take the blame for most of the events. It has been my fault." Lily stared at him, her eyes narrowed, she knew Potter, – he was up to something. "You see one of my friends from France is really mad at me when I said Hogwarts is the best place to be and thus this morning relates. As to the fertilizer, yesterday, I believe Sirius has something to do with it. How a rat found itself in Ms. Evans food I cannot say. But I can excuse her behavior on personal grounds."
Lily gasped at him. He said it all clearly, and seriously, even she believed him.
"Very well, I just hope that today's encounters don't lead to another war like the one in your fourth year. You are Heads now, so please behave accordingly. Return to your classes."
Lily and James got up and left. James still being cautious held the door open for Lily.
Once out of the office James turned on his heel and left.
"Wait!" Lily called after him. James turned around and looked at Lily.
"Yes, Ms. Evans, how may I help you?"
Lily smiled recognizing the words and tone as her own.
"Thanks for what you did back there."
James just sniffed and turned to go again. Lily sighed and said 'conceited' under her breath.
James whirled. "Come again?"
"What?" Lily asked feigning confusion.
"What did you say?" James asked his eyes narrowed.
"I said conceited."
"You've got some nerve," James said angrily.
"And you are a pompous, arrogant, pig whose whole life has been pampered by his rich parents!"
James took a step to Lily and angrily held her at arms length.
"At least I know my place and where I belong!" he whispered furiously.
SLAP!
James taken by surprise staggered for a few seconds and saw that Lily was crying. Before he could say anything Lily turned and left, leaving behind a very distraught James, still massaging his jaw.