I had both been longing and dreading this day. Longing because I was finally going to go home; to Hogwarts. And I'd been dreading it for three reasons.
1: It would signal the beginning of the end of my 7th year at Hogwarts
2: Severus would be at Hogwarts just waiting to pester me with his pointless apologies
3: James Potter was Head Boy. Which meant that I'd have to spend an unhealthy amount of time around him. Marlene found this more amusing than she should've (I still don't understand how she could play Qudditch on his team and still like him. Seriously)
"Lilly we'll really miss you!" My dad said and embraced me. He'd always smelled like newly roasted coffee and paper. It was a smell associated with love and security; one I always missed when I was gone. The first couple of years at Hogwarts I had brought one of his shirts with me so I wouldn't forget what he smelled like. He had noticed so I had stopped. But every year, no matter how many times I looked in my suitcase before I left the house he always managed to sneak down one of his shirts for me. It was a really sweet gesture only my dad would think of.
My mom hugged me. She smelled of petunias and the smell was so penetrating that I felt nauseous. She had always preferred me over my sister Petunia, both my parents had actually. However for my mom's birthday Petunia bought mom a perfume, sentenced with the flower her name was inspired from. So my mom, feeling bad, had naturally begun wearing it every day just to ensure that Petunia didn't feel left out. She did anyway.
"EVERYONE ON BOARD!" The train conductor screamed and a whistle blew somewhere on the platform.
"Mom, let go. I need to board the train or I'll miss it! I'll come home for Christmas and I will write! Don't worry!" I said all out of breath as I tried to wriggle free from my mother's grasp. I bolted towards the train the second I was free and threw my trunk inside the nearest cart, then jumped on to the train my self. I almost didn't get on the train on time. Just like every other year previous.
"Lily you always know how to make people notice you." Marlene said as she peeked out of her compartment. I smiled and made a little sigh, walked in to the compartment and heaved my trunk on to the shelf above the seats.
"I know, it's the same as it's been the last 6 years. I gotta go now tho. I need to check on this years Prefects … and the new Head Boy." The last part I said through gritted teeth.
James Potter was not the one I'd imagined would get appointed Head Boy. I had always had my bets on Remus Lupin. Or even Severus Snape! But no. Dumbledore just had to go and appoint the person whom I couldn't stand and who hadn't even been a Prefect before.

Thoughts were tumbling around in my mind as I made my way towards the front of the train. Where Professor McGonnagal was already taking attendance inside the prefect compartment. Great.
"Right on time I see Ms. Evans." She greeted. I just nodded in her direction and sat down. I honestly didn't want to be Head Girl. Frankly, to follow the rules was just something I had applied onto my life when I was appointed a Prefect.

James Potter, who was already in the compartment when I came in, moved over to where I sat and stayed by my side all meeting. I appointed passwords to the houses, James Potter went over the rules – which he ought to know seeing as he probably broken them all – and the consequences of breaking them. I wanted to laugh really hard. Some Slytherins actually did and earned a stern look from Professor McGonnagal. The meeting proceeded with the more experienced students leaving with a list of duties and rounds and the new fifth years stayed so that James and I, mostly me, could brief them of the duties of a Prefect. I did all the talking and James the listening on this one. He was a rookie just like the others in the room.

The minute the meeting was over I wanted to run out the door. However James called my name, causing me to stop.
"James?" I asked impatiently.
"Ok so, we both know that this year will begin awkwardly seeing as I know nothing about the whole Prefect profession. I don't want us to fight all the time either, mostly because we have to spend a whole lot of time around each other, so I will try not to drive you into madness. But if I do, just know that I'm trying to get better." He looked at me. His hazel eyes so sincere behind his round spectacles. He ran a hand through his already messy hair then looked at me and gave me a lopsided grin and said: "with all that said, Lily Evans will you go out with me?" His former image ruined. I turned around and stormed out of the room, shouting a "never" over my shoulder as I hurried back to Marlene.

Marlene was snoring audibly when I opened the door to the compartment and sat down. To look busy I picked out a book, not looking which one it was, from my trunk and dove into the story.

I couldn't remember when I'd fallen asleep, but when I woke up we were already stopping. The doors to the train opened and I could hear and smell the familiarity of Hogsmead.
I shook Marlene violently until she woke up and we made our way onto the platform, quickly claiming one of the carriages that moved by themselves. Alice Prewett, Frank Longbottom, Katie Hudson and Jessica Gold also entered our little cart. Together with the luggage we carried it was really crowded.
Once we got up to the castle we all got seated at the Gryffindor table to await the feast. As if the boy had a radar, James Potter showed up and squeezed down next to me. He smiled at me mischievously.
"What did you do?" I greeted with a tired voice.
"You'll see." He said and smiled at me.

The loud voices in the hall died out as Professor McGonnagal walked into the Great Hall with the first years in tow. They were looking all around in awe of the spectacle that the Great Hall produced. A little girl was running along at the end, wrapped into what looked like Hagrid the groundkeeper's humungous coat.
"I bet you a galleon she fell in." James whispered in my ear. I shook my head.
"I know she did so the bet's off." I whispered back with a smile playing in the corners of my mouth

The sorting felt like it took forever, just like every year. The primary reason being that not one student inside the hall wasn't hungry. Then at last the feast began, after some wise words of wisdom from Headmaster Dumbledore.

At the end of the feast I had forgotten everything about James' mischievous smile. That bliss didn't last for long, because the second I stood up to leave the roof of the Hall exploded in colors leaving the message: "Dearest Lily, would you please go out with me? Love always, your James".
Aw, that's so sweet. Maybe … NO! But then again what if he's changed during the summer? Well I won't agree to it today anyway. He already asked me and I said no.
I took out my wand, directed it towards the roof and wrote back: "Not today Potter" he got nothing more but I could see the hope shining in his eyes.
I walked out shaking my head and smiling. Only a few people saw that, including Marlene, who wouldn't let it go.

"YOU LIKE HIM NOW?!" Was the first thing she said after she'd dragged me into our dorm room and firmly shut it.
"I don't know. I wouldn't say I fancy him or anything. He's just nice. He actually apologized to me on the train and told me to go easy on him this year because he'd actually try to change. So I mean, why not give him some hope? It might work out his favor or we'll just stay friends." I said, knowing I sounded delirious. Marlene stared at me and shook her head.
"You'll be dating before Halloween." And with that she picked up her toiletries and went out the door to go to bathroom and get ready for bed.

Please beautiful people out there reading my story, review and comment and follow and all that stuff. I'd love to hear your opinion. It's my first fanfic so don't judge me too hard ;)