Disclaimer: Harry Potter does not belong to me, but to JKR!

Manage Me

Chapter2: The Inner Circle


Lily's compartment on the train was bursting with the sounds of a joyous reunion. The four 6th year Gryffindor girls were inseparable at school and the three month break had been long for all of them, but they were quickly sinking back into their typical routine.

Charlotte and Emily Davenport, pureblood identical twins with opposite personalities, were speaking animatedly about their summer Holiday in Italy. The twins were finishing each other's sentences about masquerades, gondolas, and the Italian magical history tour that Emily had insisted on taking. Emily was one of the top students in their year, sharp as a tack and with a dry sense of humor. Em's appreciation of Italian history ran far deeper than that of her sisters, Charlotte had been more taken with Italian men and so did not not jump in over much while Emily spoke of the history of the Venice Canal system. However she did interrupt with a story about a gondolier she snogged instead of attending the Medici family manor, much to Emily's chagrin. Charlotte, though she and Emily shared the same features, wore her hair longer so it curled at the ends, ans she had sun kissed chestnut highlights. Charlotte, though more concerned with boys and beauty magazines than Emily, did share in her sisters sharp wit and was cunning in her own sly way.

Lily and Anne could not help but laugh until their sides hurt as Charlotte related her tale of a snogging session gone awry on the canals of Venice.

"…I only speak enough Italian to know when someone wants more. How was I supposed to know he was saying watch out the side walk ends?"

Anne White, a half blood and Lily's third best friend, was clutching her stomach gasping for breath between laughs "What do you mean ends?"

Charlotte flipped her curling sun kissed hair daintily, "Well, it ended and the canal began."

Lily wiped tears from her eyes, "Tell me you fell in. Oh please tell me you fell in a canal while snogging some smarmy Italian."

"Oh tosh! Of course I didn't." She rolled her eyes and smiled coyly. "The smarmy Italian was not so lucky."

A fresh gale of laughter swept the compartment as all four girls, even Emily who had held out until the end, were holding their sides and gasping with mirth. Lily suddenly realized how much she had missed this. The laughter and friendship, sharing stories, even just having people to talk to, all of these things had been absent from her summer holiday. Her Gryffindor friends had all gone travelling across Europe, and her child hood friend had turned himself into someone she didn't recognize. But she had moved on from that now and it was firmly behind her. This compartment and the people in it, the rest of her house, and her lovely ginger cat would all be there for her in the months to come. The summer had been a trial but she knew that if she had survived three months in a house with no one but Petunia for company, 6th year at Hogwarts would be a breeze without Severus Snape.

"Have I introduced you ladies to Sir Lionel?" She held the ginger cat in her lap up and nuzzled into his cheeks, squishing his whiskers. Sir Lionel was met with a chorus of Ohs and Aws from the twins. But Anne, always the comedian, clutched his paw and curtseyed deeply, Anne's blond curls bounced against her shoulders as the train jostled her almost to floor.

"Oh my Lord! What a pleasure to make your acquaintance! Are you perhaps related to the Duke?"

All four girls erupted with giggles, unable and unwilling to bring themselves under control, all feeling the determination to carry the infections cheerful atmosphere into their sixth year at Hogwarts.


The feast was in full swing. The first years had been sorted and Sirius had already earned a detention from Mcgonagall for bewitching all of the benches at the Slytherin table with a slippery jinx. When everyone had stood to greet the head master, Sirius, with Mooney's help, had surreptitiously jinxed all the slytherin benches, so that when everyone took their seats again, the entire slytherin house had slid right off and onto the floor. All should have been well for James Potter.

But it wasn't.

He was agitated and cross, partially because Padfoot and Mooney had teased him mercilessly for his early morning chat with enemy-turned-friend (kind of) Lily Evans, but mostly because of the Quidditch manager Debacle.

In between ribbing James about Lily, Moony had told Peter and Sirius about his decision to step down as Gryffindor team manager. And James, in between withstanding the combined wit of his friends, shared his concerns about Remus's potential replacement.

Peter was quiet, but an excellent listener and thus the appointed lead gossip of the group (although he preferred intelligence gatherer), interrupted Remus who was trying to convince Padfoot and Prongs to have faith in McGonagall.

"... she has the teams best interest in her sights. She wants to win almost as bad as you do James."

"You know, I've got a list of everyone who wanted Manager last year. There were quite a lot of people who were looking to get it before Mooney stepped up." He took a big bite of pudding before looking at the silent faces of his friends, who were all a little dumbfounded by Peter's choice to keep silent until now.

"Well?" James and Sirius asked in unison, looking comical with treacle tart hanging out of their mouths.

Swallowing hastily Peter obliged. "There were a few blokes, Hastings was interested, but then he made the team as a reserve chaser and Donavan was also keen on it, but now he's a beater." Peter paused and the atmosphere was almost hopeful as James and Sirius anticipated the rest of the Gryffindor men interested in the Manager job.

"But everyone else was a girl. The entire fifth year girls dormitory spoke to McGonagall about getting the job. There were a few other girls, no one younger than third year." Peter shrugged in apology; feeling sorry for dashing the hopes of his friends. The Managers Job was not terribly glamorous, and the only real draw for anyone who didn't already play on the team might have been working with dashing Quidditch Captain James Potter.

The feast was over and all the other houses had started ushering the younger students through the large doors of the great hall. Mooney jumped up with a hasty wave goodbye to his friends, his fellow Gryffindor prefects were waiting on him to usher the younger students to the common room. However his fellow sixth year, Lily, was conspicuously absent.

James, who was not please by the news that the entire fifth year female population of Gryffindor was interested in managing his Quidditch team, stood up as abruptly as Remus.

"Im talking to McGonagall now, there is no way I can wait, not with the thought of Amber Roberts managing the team."

Sirius shuddered dramatically at the thought of obnoxious fifth year Amber Roberts, the ring leader of an overzealous group of girls who had a habit of stalking him and his fellow Marauders. He clapped James on the back "God speed man, don't let me down."


Lily subconsciously smoothed her some hair behind her ear and tugged down her skirt before knocking on Professor McGonagall's door.

"Enter."

Behind the door Professor McGonagall smiled as Lily passed the threshold. Usually an imperious woman who's persona gave the distinct impression that nonsense would be met with an iron fist, McGonagall's smile, that could almost be described as scheming, was unsettling. Even to Lily who was, of course, on the Professors good side.

"Good evening Professor." Lily stood awkwardly just inside the door way, unsure of what to make of the professors mood.

"Please have a seat Mrs. Evans; I would like to discuss something rather unorthodox with you. Mr. Lupin has abdicated his position as Manager for the Gryffindor team and I have heard from Horace what a Quidditch aficionado you are. I know your father is a muggle sports columnist and, despite the fact that the position of manager is not often awarded to someone who has not enquired, I would like to offer you the opportunity to manage the Gryffindor team."

Lily stared at McGonagall across the desk in disbelief, but could not hide the interest and excitement that flickered across her face. She would love the opportunity to work with the team. Quidditch held a special magic for her that went beyond transfiguration and charms. The combination of flying ability and athleticism was just amazing to her and her own lack of flying ability only added to her wonder. Last year when the position had opened, Lily had seriously considered speaking to McGonagall about it, but up until recently she would not have considered attempting a working relationship with James Potter.

Last year Severus would have had a fit if she had purposely chosen to work with James Potter, he had actually yelled at Lily when she brought it up at the start of year. Until fifth year she hadn't really thought about what her friendship with Severus had cost her, because until fifth year, he had looked at her without prejudice and as an equal. But now that had all changed, it was painfully obvious what Snape thought of her. After her truce with James, Lily's view had changed and over the summer she had realized Severus's negative outlook on her own house and his growing hatred for muggleborns had effected too many of her choices. She was lucky to have made friends like Emily, Charlotte, and Anne who had understood her loyalty to him and her hope that maybe she could sway Snape from his interest in the dark arts and blood purity. They had looked past it and befriended her in their second year.

Severus Snape's opinion was no longer importaint to her, and that made it much easier to accepting the position. But Lily still had lingering doubts about working with James, but they had never really had a go at getting along so she would not know until she tried. Lily just hoped he would be as open to the idea as she was.

Luck would have it that at that moment James Potter actually barged into McGonagall's office breathing heavy and looking slightly crazed.

"Please Professor…as captain…don't appoint a manager." He was bent forward with his hands on his knees. "Sorry I, er, ran from the great hall." Looking up, James finally saw Lily Looking at him with wide eyes sitting forward on her chair, as if she wanted to get up.

Wait. Lily Evans?

"Professor, you want Evans to be manager?" James was connecting the dots, putting together what he had heard in the hallway just before barging in and what he was looking at. Meeting Lily's incredulous stare, he gaped like a fish out of water, shocked but not unpleasantly so.

Professor McGonagall was not amused and the iron fist replaced her former smile, but not the twinkle in her eye. "Yes Potter. Miss Evans is more than qualified and I know she will be diligent in helping the team succeed this year." She smiled at the Lily and dismissed them, and only then did Lily realize she had never said yes, but she had already decided she didint want to say no, so it was a moot point.

After being ushered rather abruptly from the professors office, the two walked up to the tower together. It was a silent walk, but only slightly uncomfortable as both sixth years were deep in thought. James remembered their chat on the platform that morning, thinking about the sports section covered in Lily's small script and her assessment of the Falcons v. Cannons match that coincided with his own. As far as Managers go, Lily would definitely be useful. But James knew, even if she couldn't tell a quaffle from the snitch, he was over the moon to have Lily managing the team.

As they approached the entrance to the common room, James broke the silence.

"Evans, I…" He intended to tell Lily how glad he was to have her, but she interrupted.

"Look James. I know that I've always been rather vocal about thinking you were a bullying toe rag, and yes, perhaps for the first five years, one of my best mates was a blood prejudice slytherin bastard. But I love Quidditch. I'll put as much effort into the team as you do, and I consider it my responsibility to do the best job as manager that I can." She looked at him then, her face turned up to meet his eyes, and he saw her determination. "I'll do it all, schedule the pitch, help you organize the play book, track player statistics, anything the team needs I will get it done."

James knew that developing their working relationship would be hard, considering their interactions up to this point had been hostile at best. Standing together in front of the portrait of the Fat Lady, he felt good about where this was going, he knew if they both tried, a working relationship would be a cinch. Friendship wouldn't even be that hard. He was more than willing to have her working as Manager for the Gryffindor team, he just had to get Lily to understand that.

"I Know you will go above and beyond Evans, really I could not be happier to have you." James ruffled his hair awkwardly, hoping he wasn't laying it on too thick. "I'm looking forward to the help, I mean Mooney is one of my best mates and all, but he didn't do anything useful last season. I thought McGonagall was giving the job to one of those 5th year girls." He shuddered at the thought and smiled at her with honest hazel eyes, encouraging her to embrace the idea of an Evans-Potter relationship that didn't involve hexes and angry shouting.

Rather than look fully relieved, Lily shifted from foot to foot and looked down, hiding her face behind a curtain of red.

"I just thought, because you were back to calling me Evans, and what you said in McGonagall's office, that you didn't want to work with me. And really, like I said, I understand, it's…"

"Lily! That's not it." He put a hand on her shoulder, causing her to jerk her head up. "Using last names is just, I dunno, the way it works with Quidditch, no one uses first names on the pitch. And I'll admit, old habits die hard, but Lily Evans, I could not be happier that you have been appointed to the position of Gryffindor Team Manager."

Lily smiled up at him, hesitant but real, in a way that James had never seen directed at him. That look sent chills racing down his spine and warm awareness of his hand still on her shoulder.

"Then what do you call Charlotte and Emily? Isn't that confusing?"

"Always asking the tough questions aren't you Lily. Well I call Charlotte Dave, mostly because it annoys her, and Emily is Port. Dave-en Port. Get it?" James was smiling cheekily at the explanation and Lily found it hard not laugh at the thought of Charlotte Davenport answering to the nickname Dave.

"I meant it Lily, I'm glad to have you on as manager, and the rest of the team is going to be thrilled, obviously."

"Good, me too James."


Preparing for bed that evening, Lily related the story of her meeting with McGonagall and her new position as Manager of the Gryffindor Quidditch team to her dorm mates.

Charlotte, Emily, and Anne were the starting chasers for the Gryffindor team, and they were a force to be reckoned with. The combination of the Davenport twin powers and their five years of living with Anne helped them to function like a well-oiled scoring machine. That and Potter's practice regimen was so intense, it would be impossible for the girls not to be a stellar group of chasers.

For the three team mates, learning that their fourth roommate and best friend would be joining them on the Quidditch team was like Christmas come early. Charlotte Squealed and hugged Lily tightly to her, yammering on a bout all the fun things Lily could now partake in. Em came to the rescue pulling her out of Charlotte's arms with a smile.

"I always thought you would make an excellent manager. McGonagall knows what she is doing, and she does not mess around with her house team."

Anne High fived her, as a half blood she was more familiar with the muggle custom, and at that moment a high five was called for.

The girls moved around the room chattering mostly about the Quidditch team.

Anne pushed open one of the tower windows, the early September air was pleasant and all four sixth years were clinging to summer. Anne was in her matching tie-dye pj shorts and t-shirt, stuffing her books in her bag, wondering why they wouldn't all fit, forgetting she had not cast her enlarging charm yet. She looked up at Lily who was putting her clothes away in her bureau. Taking pity, Lily waved her wand and cast the charm on Anne's bag.

"Oh thanks Lils. By the way, being manager and all…What about James?"

Lily shrugged as she pulled her pajamas out of her trunk and began to get dressed for bed.

"We decided to start over. Remember when I yelled at him last year? And I said he can't expect to date me without knowing me first?" She pulled on her Gryffindor stripped boxer shorts and turned her back to remove her shirt and bra in exchange for her thin white night shirt. "He said I was right." She turned back around to face Anne, and found all three of her roommates looking at her with varying expressions of amusement and skepticism.

"What? Just because we argue doesn't mean we won't work it out in the end. Plus I promise to put Quidditch above all and any petty disputes I have with James."

Em gave Lily her signature eyebrow raise, "I'll believe it when I see it."

"Just trust me alright?" Lily turned one shoulder and looked over her back at her bum, quickly changing the subject. "Do you think I've out grown these pj's?"

It seemed that Lily's declaration of putting all disputes with James to the side was soon to be tested. Instead of Charlotte or Anne answering her clothing related question, it was a male voice that chimed in from the wall next to her bed.

"No they look perfect."

The slightly strangled voice of James Potter was one of the last voices she expected to hear at that moment. And in her surprise and anger Lily acted in an instant, but even if she had paused to think about it, she probably would have done the same thing and sent a strong bat bogey hex at the male intruder in her room.

"How in Dumbledore's name did you get in here?" Lily shouted angrily at a very gooey James Potter.

She could hear her friends laughing hysterically in the background, Emily paused her merriment long enough to shout "Secret Passage!"

"Why in the hell are you using a SECRET PASSAGE to sneak into the girl's dormitory at night? Wait a second. What secret passage?" Her voice continued to rise in pitch as she grew angrier, and she looked like she might hex James a second time.

James had cleared some of the goo off of his face, "Come on Lily, how was I supposed to know you wore so little to bed?"

Lily crosser her arms and continued to glare, her green eyes practically shooting sparks. "You aren't supposed to know what I wear to bed Potter! That's the point of separate dormitories."

"She has you there Prongsie." The sound of Sirius Black's voice coming from behind James shocked Lily into awareness of her lack of clothing. The secret passage doorway was hidden behind the tapestry on the wall by her bed; it led to the boy's dorm and came out in their bathroom. Sirius Black appeared fully from behind the tapestry and wiggled his eyebrows at her.

"Nice t-shirt Lily-flower."

She grunted indignantly and jumped behind the closest thing, her bed curtain, and poked her head out.

"Oh are Remus and Peter coming as well? It's a shame I didn't decide to sleep naked tonight, just so I could have put on a proper show." Her voice was dripping with sarcasm but the effect was ruined by the bed curtain, in the same deep red as her cheeks.

She glared at her friends, who were all still recovering on Anne's bed. They were all conspicuously clothed in their bathrobes.

"You lot knew they were coming didn't you? Traitors."

She huffed behind her bed curtain. It wouldn't be so bad if she hadn't filled out a bit over the summer. She wasn't a bean pole anymore, and she was starting to notice it in the way her clothes fit her. Thankfully, Charlotte brought her a peace offering in the form of her bath robe.

When she came out from behind the curtain, Sirius and Em had managed to clean James off and Walter 'Walley' Donavan the teams other beater, and Samuel 'Sam' Cavendish team keeper, had also appeared. Seemingly through the window Alice had opened earlier, as they were both carrying their brooms over their shoulder.

"What is going on? What is the Quidditch team doing in the sixth year girl's dormitory?" Lily sank on to her bed waiting for an explanation.

James started to answer; But Lily shot him a look and fingered her wand.

"Feeling lucky Potter?"

He chuckled nervously and sat on the end of her bed.

"Back to Potter are we?"

"It's a Quidditch thing."

Em interrupted their squabble from Anne's bed, to the point as always.

"Yes Lily this is the Quidditch team. It's our annual first meeting, and now that you are the manager of the team, you are part of the inner circle so to speak."

James continued, hesitant at first afraid Lily would hex him again. "Winning the Quidditch cup is a big deal. Even within our own house, we need to be secretive about the team; anyone could overhear us talking about strategy or say something by accident to someone who shouldn't hear it."

Lily was looking rather bemused, she had no idea Quidditch required such a high level of secrecy. But if this is how the team worked, she would go with it.

He pulled out a leather bound notebook and handed it to her. "This is your team book, its enchanted so you can talk to anyone on the team, just write their team number at the top of the page and the note will show up on whatever page is open." He pulled out a second book and a quill, "Here I'll show you. Umm, what number do you want?"

Lily looked up startled, the rest of the team was sitting on Em and Anne's beds chatting while James gave her this orientation of sorts. She hadn't thought she would actually be a team member with a number, just a manager who pitched in to help out with the dirty work.

"Um any number will do." She wasn't sure how she was supposed to become a member of the team. She was ready to help organize practice space, keep practices private, set up equipment and help record player stats; she didn't know where the rest of team fit in. Specifically, where James Potter fit in the grand scheme of things.

"Alright, you can be lucky number 7." He winked at her and opened his leather bound book and began scribbling in it.

Her own book soon changed minutely in appearance. A beautiful golden knot border shimmered around the cover. She hadn't noticed it before and she ran her fingers over it, marveling at the intricate and thin gold pattern.

"Open it, when the cover design appears it means you have a message."

She opened it to a random page and messy script blossomed across the parchment.

Lily,

I'm sorry I saw you in your skimpy night clothes. I told your roommates to tell you about the passage and I thought you knew we were coming.

I hope you can still call me James,

James

Lily didn't want to, but she smiled. It was the best apology she would get from James Potter.

"James," He smiled his roguish smile, one she thought was a typical Potter smile, but seeing it up close she noticed it was far warmer than she remembered it. "Let's talk Quidditch."


Late into the night, James was laying awake in bed, unable to banish the image of Lily Evans' perfect bum in small Gryffindor stripped boxer shorts. It was becoming obvious to him that arguing with his new team manger was going to be the least of his problems.


A.N: Wow writing is hard work! I hope people like it!

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