'Sorry Tulip, I can't let you out of your cage.' Lily said apologetically while she offered her owl treats. 'You know Petunia would freak out and demand I put you back.'

Tulip only looked at her dismissively before turning her head away from the treat and giving Lily the silent treatment. Lily sighed. The summer holidays were really her least favourite part of the year. A solid 2 months with Petunia, the sister who hated her. Even Hogwarts with the pranks of James Potter and Sirius Black was better than having to deal with Petunia.

'LILY!' came Petunia's shrill screech. Her bedroom burst open and Petunia stood there, her hair piled up and her horse-like features scrunched up into an expression resembling an angry vulture. 'Where the hell is my favourite blouse?'

'What?' Yawned Lily, standing up and stretching.

'You know what! My favourite blouse! It's not in my room, so you must have taken it! I need it TONIGHT for my friend's birthday party!'

'Sorry Petunia, but I don't have it! You must've left it in the dryer or something.' Lily replied mellowly, sitting back down on her bed. God, she was just so done with Petunia accusing her of everything that went wrong in her life.

'No, I know I didn't! You stole it! You-' Petunia was cut of by the sight of an owl flying towards Lily's window. With a stamp of her foot and a look of utter disgust on her face, she marched out of Lily's room and slammed the door.

Lily smiled in relief and opened the window to let the owl in. Anything that got Petunia to stop screaming at her was a welcome sight. The owl was a tawny one, with specks of white on its feathers. Lily recognised it as Marlene's owl, Dream. She opened the letter, Dream waiting patiently for her to write a reply.

Dear Lily,

I know you're at home with your sister so I hope Dream didn't freak her out too much. I was just wondering if you'd want to stay at my house from tomorrow until the start of school, seeing as we all need to get out new textbooks from Diagon Alley anyway and it'll be better to go together. Sally and Mary are coming here as well. So are James and Sirius, but I hope you can stand to be around them.

Marlene xxx

Lily smiled and quickly scribbled a reply.

Dear Marly,

Sure I'll come over! I'll just tell my parents and pack then I'll be over as soon as I can. Dream did freak Petunia out a bit but it drove her out of my room which was a good thing. See you soon!

Lily xxx

Lily gave her reply to Dream, who hooted and flew off out the window again. She couldn't understand why Potter and Black were there as well. They were better than they were last year, that was true, but why would Marlene intentionally invite them to her house? She sighed and looked around at the piles of clothes around her which needed packing. This was going to take a long time.

.o.O.o.

'Lily!' Marlene cried, throwing her arms around her. 'Come in, come in!'

Mary and Sally were both standing behind Marlene, looking slightly awkward.

'How long have you guys been here?' Lily asked.

'About 2 hours.' Sally replied, looking slightly put out by Marlene's enthusiastic greeting to Lily. Apparently she hadn't got quite the same level of enthusiasm when she arrived.

'James and Sirius are upstairs.' Marlene told Lily, handing her a glass of lemonade. 'OI! BLACK! POTTER! GET DOWN HERE! LILY ARRIVED!' She yelled up the stairs.

Lily hearda scuffle and some footsteps before seeing Sirius and James walk down the stairs, sniggering and apparently plotting something, as usual.

'Lilykins!' Sirius ran to greet her far too excitedly, running down the stairs and giving her a bear hug.

'Uh- hi Black. And don't call me Lilykins.' She said when he pulled back. James was standing behind him.

'Hi Evans.' He said, grinning cockily, a grin that would make most Hogwarts girls swoon. Thank god Lily was immune to his charm, even though she noticed it. But she'd never admit that to anyone, least of all herself.

Lily rolled her green eyes at his smirk. 'Hi, Potter.'

There was a silence. None of them seemed to know what to say.

'Hey, look! Our Hogwarts letters are arriving!' Sally pointed to outside the window.

Sure enough, 6 owls were soaring down to them. How they always knew where they were supposed to fly, Lily would never figure out. How could they possibly have known to come to Marlene's house? She'd only just arrived. Marlene opened the window to let the owls in, and the white one on the end flew to Lily and held out it's leg for her to take.

'Dear god, are these teachers trying to kill us?' Marlene said incredulously, scanning the long list of textbooks required for seventh years after having ripped open the envelope.

'I know right?' Lily agreed, reading her own list before skipping to the end of her letter. 'Oh my god!'

'What? What is it?' Everyone except James crowded around her to read it.

Dear Miss Evans,

First of all, may I offer you my warmest congratulations on becoming head girl. After observing your behaviour for the past 6 years, it seemed that you were perfect for this role. I expect that you will not abuse this position in any way and you will work with the head boy very well, who I chose as I thought you two would make a very responsible pair, as well as individually. You will have your own dormitories, which you can set your own password to. I look forward to seeing you in September.

Best wishes,

Professor A.W.P.B Dumbledore

'Congratulations Lily, I know you've wanted this since you were about 12.' Mary said, hugging her. 'Hey, now we can ride in the prefects compartment together and you can boss me around!'

James, who had not moved since he had got his letter, was staring at his envelope in shock.

'What is it, Prongs?' Sirius asked, having noticed his face. Putting his hand into his envelope, James drew out a head boy badge.

'Are you kidding?' Marlene snatched his envelope and read his letter aloud for everyone to hear. 'Dear Mr Potter, I'm pleased to inform you that you are now head boy, as well as quidditch captain. I'm sure you will be surprised with this news, but I am sure that I made the right choice. I certainly believe that you and the head girl will make a fantastic pair and you will not abuse your position of authority. You will be sharing a dormitory with the head girl, which you can set your own password to. I'd like to offer you my warmest congratulations. Best wishes, Professor A.P.W.B Dumbledore'

Sirius shook his head. 'Are you kidding? Half of the marauders have roles of responsibility now?' He sighed in exasperation. 'Don't worry Prongs, we'll corrupt you just like we did Moony when he became a prefect.'

'You won't abuse your position of authority, indeed.' Lily snorted. '10 galleons says he gives a Slytherin detention on the first day of school.'

'Nobody's dumb enough to take that bet, Lily, we all know that's exactly what he'll do.'

'Hey Padfoot, I can give you detention now.' James said, grinning.

'Yeah, but you won't, because I know loads of secrets of yours.' Sirius replied happily.

'Yeah, okay, fine.'

'Good luck, Lilykins. Your dormitory is gonna be filled with marauders from now on.'

Lily hadn't even thought of that yet. A whole year of having 4 boys notorious for pranks in her dormitory? She'd never make it through the school year without committing 4 murders.

'Oh no. We're gonna be setting some ground rules once we get to school.'

'Yeah, right. You'll never manage to keep us out of there.'

Lily just rolled her eyes, resolving to cross this bridge when they came to it.

.o.O.o.

Lily sighed. It was 1am, and she just couldn't sleep. She didn't know what it was, but she was exhausted yet her body refused to let her rest. With a sigh, she got up and opened the door. If she couldn't sleep, she might as well make herself some warm milk to help. She slowly walked down the stairs, admiring the intricate handrail. The McKinnon's were a rich pureblood family and she had been to Marlene's house before, but their wealth never failed to impress her. She busied herself in their kitchen, waving her wand and making the kettle boil. A dark figure suddenly appeared in the doorway, causing Lily to shriek and drop her cup.

'Evans? What are you doing at this time?'

That was Potter's voice. Thank Merlin.

'Potter? I'm just getting myself some milk to help myself get to sleep. What're you doing here? Setting a booby trap?'

'No actually, I was going to do the same thing. Padfoot is snoring and keeping me up.'

Lily laughed. 'Um- would you like me to make you some too?'

'Yes, please.'

There was an awkward silence, before James said, 'Hey, Evans, I was wondering if-'

'Oh in the name of Merlin, Potter, I don't mind being head girl with you but no I will not go out with you.'

James was silent for a moment. 'Uh- right. Actually, what I was going to ask was whether we could just work together this year. I know you don't particularly like me, but I was hoping we could at least make it through the year without any major curses being inflicted on one another.'

Lily blushed. Already she was embarrassed by him and the term hadn't even started yet.

'Yeah- yeah, I think that would be okay.'

'Great.'

The kettle suddenly dinged, conveniently saving them from another awkward silence. They both got up and Lily poured out two cups of milk. Lily gave him his cup and she looked up at him. He was taller than she remembered, and his messy black hair had grown out a little. Maybe working with him won't be so bad, she thought.

'Thanks.' He said, and walked out of the room.

Lily stared after him. After all, he was going to be sharing for dormitory for the next year. She should at least try to make it work, right? If he kept the not asking her out thing going, she might be able to tolerate him. She smiled to herself and went back upstairs to her room.

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