Disclaimer: The wonderful J.K Rowling owns Harry Potter, not me.
There was a boy in my compartment. A boy with a rather ruffled head of dark brown hair, glasses, and blue eyes that were looking down at me.
A boy that made my life at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry miserable.
The one and only James Potter.
When I heard the compartment door slide open, I was expecting either Emmeline or Marlene to come bursting through, immediately blurting out a rather exciting summary of their summers. I was expecting the annual tell-me-what-you-did-over-two-months-of-vacation chat, filled with a snack of chocolate frogs and the disgusting Pepper Imps that Emma was absolutely obsessed with.
I was not expecting a view of grey and white sneakers between my legs.
Me, being the incredibly awkward person I am, was in the middle of an intense session of pulling my flaming red hair back into a messy bun. And naturally, the only good way to get a half decent bun is to situate yourself into a squatting position with your head dangling down between your legs and from there, and only from there, begin to pull back and mold your hair into a bun like shape.
When my mind registered the fact that another human being was in the room, I tried to crane my neck from in between my legs to see who this mysterious person was. At first I thought that this guy was one of Marlene's new "friends." After all, it would not be the first time Emmeline and I were stuck trying to make small talk with a complete stranger that Marlene invited to join us on the train. But when I saw the messy hair and glasses, traits that unquestionably belonged to James Potter, I knew I had made a mistake staying in my pre-bun making stance.
My cheeks flamed immediately, an unfortunate trait of mine that has been cursing my existence ever since I was born. I yanked myself out of my upside down position and tried to appear somewhat calm as I messed with my hair to try to make it look presentable.
James looked very uncomfortable and his eyes were practically glued to the floor. For a second, I felt a bit bad for him. I mean, guys don't understand how intense the perfect messy bun process is. Honestly, this whole situation shouldn't be this weird, but I guess finding a frazzled girl staring at you from between her legs would make any bloke feel a bit awkward. I felt like I should either scream or run or do something because of course this kind of situation would only happen to me.
Instead, a half mad laugh slipped out, which I'm afraid made the situation a million times more awkward.
"Erm wrong compartment. Sorry." James mumbled, ruffling his hair.
I cocked my head at him suspiciously. I was surprised that he didn't insult me or tease me or broadcast my embarrassment throughout the rest of the train or something. Normally Potter tries to make my years at Hogwarts living hell, but this was different. It was like he was actually trying to be polite. I made a mental note to stay vigilant for the rest of the night just in case he had something else planned.
"Oh, it's alright." I replied, trying to be somewhat civil.
We both stood in the most uncomfortable silence for a few seconds that seemed to drag on forever. I wasn't sure if I should try to politely deliver the message that the conversation was over or what. I mean, it wasn't as if I could excuse myself and leave my own compartment.
Ugh.
My eyes wandered to a gleaming badge pinned to James' Hogwarts robes that I hadn't noticed before. It was the badge that the Head Boy would wear and it was almost identical to the one I had pinned on my own robes, apart from the title. My eyes widened in shock and I swear the world was against me.
James cleared his throat nervously, and stuck his hands in his pockets (a habit I had grown used to after meeting him when I was eleven.)
"Well, I better go find Sirius and Remus." He ran a hand through his already messy hair. "Err...sorry about this whole thing."
He gave me a half wave, still focused on the apparently so interesting floor, and opened the compartment door.
My mind was still stuck on the fact that he was wearing the Head Boy badge. I couldn't even process what that meant.
"Wait! Potter!" I blurted out, in spite of my mind desperately screaming at me to not even consider the possibility of James being Head Boy.
James turned around, "Lily?" He seemed confused, which was completely valid. I never talk to him unless it's absolutely necessary, let alone start a conversation.
I gesture to the badge pinned on my robe. "Are you...um..."
He quickly glances down as if he was just as surprised to find the pin there as I was. His hands return to his pockets again.
Oh, bugger.
"Oh um…that." James stutters. "I guess Dumbledore thought I might be alright for Head Boy. Sirius and Remus wouldn't stop laughing when I told them."
I stayed silent, wondering why in the name of Merlin's beard Dumbledore would torture me like this.
"I told you Dumbledore was losing it." He gives me a weak laugh, scanning my face nervously for my reaction.
And honestly, what was my reaction? James Potter has been awful to me ever since I met him. He started teasing me in my first few years at Hogwarts and then began occasionally pranking me along with Sirius. And then when I was a third year, he began the endless game of asking me out. I don't understand his logic; why would a girl you relentlessly made fun of want to suddenly date you? And so every time he asked, he got the same sharp rejection.
And to have to work with him, James Potter, who was practically the biggest troublemaker at Hogwarts was absolutely mad.
I love my headmaster to bits and pieces, but Dumbledore, what were you thinking?!
I somehow managed to give Potter a weak laugh/sigh and turned to head back to the window seat in my compartment. I willed myself not to lose my cool about this. I mean sure, the situation isn't exactly ideal, but it's not necessarily Potter's fault. Although, if he didn't happen to be so likable to all of the Hogwarts professors even though all he does is wreak havoc on the school…
I turned to face the window and heard the compartment door slide to a close. Potter must have left. Sighing loudly, now that I could let it out, I pulled out my copy of the latest Daily Prophet and began to catch up on the recent events that occurred in the Wizarding World. Spending the summer with my sister Petunia, who is completely against anything magic related, you can imagine how hard it is to stay involved in the Wizarding community. I picked up the newspaper in Diagon Alley while I was purchasing my school supplies.
Scanning the pages, I saw article after article of stories that involved Voldemort and his followers harming muggles, muggleborns, and pretty much anyone who was against him. As a muggleborn, it was obvious that I was at risk. Over the years, I slowly witnessed Voldemort's power grow. Nobody thought that he and his allies would become this strong. Although I'd like to ignore it, I know I'm no longer safe anymore. News of the deaths of several students' parents and family members had spread around the school last year and I had a feeling that this year was going to be worse.
With a start, I was jerked out of my thoughts by the sound of the compartment door opening. I prayed that life wouldn't be against me again and slowly turned to face the unknown visitor.
Marlene McKinnon and Emmeline Vance stood there, each smiling widely at me.
I breathed out a sigh of relief and rushed over to give them both a hug. I hadn't been able to see them during the summer because my Mum, bless her heart, decided that Petunia and I needed to spend more quality time with each other. I don't think Mum will ever give up on us becoming friends again.
"Lily!" Marlene squealed, squeezing me tightly into a giant hug.
"Marlee!" I let her squish me into a one and only "Marlene hug", which I had been exposed to ever since my first year of Hogwarts.
"I missed you all so much! Spending my entire summer with Tuney was dreadful." I told them as I gave Emmeline a hug.
I pulled back for a good look at Marlene and Emmeline. Marlene looked like the summer did her good. Her blonde hair seemed to be a shade lighter and her nose was splattered with light freckles. Emmeline was as lovely as always, with beautiful wavy brown hair spilling down her back. And as for me…well my carrot colored hair looked just the same as always.
We all settled into the compartment, which basically meant that the floor was scattered with empty chocolate frog boxes and pepper imps (which Emma tried to force feed Marlene and I, but we dodged them.) Marlene and Emmeline told me all about their summers. While we were in the middle of an intense debate over the best food at the Hogwarts feast, a small third year boy slid open the door to our compartment.
"Excuse me. Umm Lily, James asked me to come and tell you that the prefect meeting is in the process of beginning. He wanted to make sure you didn't miss it…" The young boy stammered.
We all froze and stared at one another. The look on Emma's face was an expression of pure sympathy. She understood my hatred for James, and knew that messing up, and being late for my own meeting nonetheless, would be forever humiliating.
Literally. Everyone. In. Hogwarts. Would. Know.
THAT THEIR BLOODY AWFUL HEAD GIRL SCREWED UP.
Ahem.
Marlene's facial expression portrayed amusement with a touch of pity. Of course she would find this funny. Whenever I ranted about James, she always told me that I really didn't know him and that he was actually a decent bloke. But, Marlene had been mates with James for a while now, so I figure that her opinion doesn't really count.
The poor third year messenger stayed frozen in the door way, waiting for an answer.
"Oh! Um err I guess I'll be right there…" I replied, hopping to my feet and leaving the compartment, shooting several help me looks at Emmeline.
Emmeline shrugged her shoulders helplessly and mouthed "good luck" at me. I dunno, I was hoping that maybe she might help me hatch an elaborate escape plan in which we jump off the train and run far away from my embarrassing Head Girl mistake, but you know a simple "good luck" would suffice, I suppose.
On my way to the compartment I was supposed to be in a good FIVE MINUTES AGO, I began to try to give myself a little pep talk. I honestly don't judge anybody who gives themselves a good self-motivating pep talk. Pep talks are not to be looked down upon.
"Oh, get it together Lily. You are a bloody Gryffindor, for Merlin's sake." I mumble under my breath, ignoring the weird look I got from a second year that just happened to be walking by.
I'll just apologize and say I was busy…or I lost track of time. Or something.
Now, I dunno if I was going crazy or something, but it appeared that the at least two minute walk down to the right compartment took about thirty seconds. I had no idea why the world was trying to get back at me so badly today. I mean, everybody knows that you need at least three minutes for a solid pep talk.
I took a deep breath in, lingered at the door as long as it was sociably acceptable to, and entered the compartment. Immediately James caught my eyes and mouthed come here to me. As I made my way over to him, I surveyed the room for any damage I may have done, knowing that I was incredible late. All of the prefects were chattering amongst themselves and none seemed to be angry, so James must have kept them entertained while I snuck in.
"Alright. Hullo everyone. Welcome to your first prefect meeting of the year. I'll try to make this as painless as possible."
A few nervous prefects offered weak laughs.
"I am James Potter and this is Lily Evans." James gestured over at me and I gave a little wave, trying to ignore the heat creeping into my cheeks.
The older prefects that knew James and I hooted.
"Ahh…you'll get her this time, Potter!"
At this point my karma had giving up trying to be somewhat good, and my cheeks turned a repulsing shade of tomato red, yet again.
"Actually he better not—"
James coughed, appearing immensely uncomfortable.
"Well, let's move on. Prefects, the headmaster had asked for you all to step out of your compartments and patrol the corridor every so often, making sure that everyone is safe for the remainder of the train ride." James stated.
"Also, make it your responsibility to look out for our new first years on the way from the Great Hall to the dormitories later tonight. We wouldn't want them getting lost." I chimed in, feeling it was important to actually participate in this meeting at least once.
James and I looked at each other, silently questioning if we had forgot to say anything important.
"Alright. I 'spouse that's all. You can head back now." James said, finally wrapping up the meeting.
We both waited as the prefects stumbled out of the compartment, some complaining about how slow everybody was and others groaning.
Merlin, I hope I wasn't like that.
Before I got a chance to make my own escape, James' blue eyes caught mine and he gave me an apologetic smile.
"Sorry about them. They just don't know when to shut up."
"Hmm... That wasn't your attitude a few years ago." I muttered under my breath, making my way out the door.
"Oh, come on Evans! I didn't mean it like that." He called at my retreating figure.
For some reason, his comment made me angry. I was so confused by his sudden change in personality and I wasn't sure if I believed it. I mean, Potter was absolutely awful to me last year. You can't just go around pretending that last year never happened. It's bound to get a girl a bit mad.
"People can change Evans. I thought you would understand that." James said softly, sounding almost sad, before turning the corner and walking the other way with his hands in his pockets.
…
AN: Well if you made it through the chapter to this very section, thank you so much! *claps* If you fancy staying around for the next chapter then you can favorite/follow/comment if you'd like!