After the welcoming feast, there was a meeting with all the prefects, Head Boy and Girl, McGonagall and Dumbledore. Lily was just getting up from the Gryffindor table to head to over when she saw the back of James' shaggy head walking towards the doors of the Great Hall, accompanied by the rest of the marauders.

"James!" she called after him.

James turned, surprised to find that it was Lily who had spoken. She normally called him 'Potter'. Sirius, who had also noticed the change, grinned, and poked James.

"Shove off, Padfoot." James said, though he couldn't help smiling as he started towards Lily.

"What's up, Evans?" he said lightly, hoping to stay on her good side. Apparently, Lily still wasn't convinced at his attitude change, because when she spoke, her brisk voice wasn't quite as commanding as usual, and her face showed a hint of uncertainty.

"Where are you going? We've got the head meeting with Dumbledore now."

"Oh, right, I forgot."

"So I noticed."

She rolled her eyes, and James grinned at her sarcasm.

"Let me just tell the others-"

"Remus knew about it, he already left with the rest of your little gang. Why you were made Head Boy and not him, I still cannot fathom." Lily cut across him, giving him a reproving look. As if it's my fault James thought to himself.

"You know, when I told him, he didn't seem all that upset. Or even surprised really. It's almost like he knew it was coming." James confessed.

Lily stared at him, confused. Why would Remus not be disappointed at James's appointment as Head Boy? He'd expected to get it, Lily knew. Of all the marauders, he was the only one Lily was friends with, and they talked about it the end of the previous school year. Sure, Remus was humble enough, but to act like he knew it was coming? Lily mulled over all this as she and James headed towards the side door that led to the room where the meeting was being held. James held open the door, for her, and she walked through it without noticing, still deep in thought.

"Ah, Lily and James. I was wondering when our Head Boy and Girl were going to turn up." Dumbledore said genially from the corner where he was standing with Professor McGonagall, his eyes twinkling. Lily blushed bright red as she realized that they were the last two to arrive. What an impression to make on the first night. Even the Slytherin prefects had gotten there ahead of her, and they were always late. She hurried to the last seats in the back, James following her, her face still very pink.

"First off, I would like to congratulate you all for taking on this important role of leadership. Whether you are a prefect for the first year, or our new Heads, you will be key in the running of this school. Oh yes," he said gravely to a 6th year Hufflepuff, who had been smirking at his friend skeptically. "When Professor McGonagall and I select the prefects, we look at many factors, such as your leadership skills, the amount of influence you have over your peers, and of course, your ability to cope with stress and academics. You will see in your orientation packets, which Professor McGonagall is so kindly handing out, a short introduction and a list of responsibilities and duties for your assigned post. There is also a page of questions that seem to pop up every year, so hopefully you can answer them before you have to ask. Please take a moment now to look through your packets."

Instantly, Lily was scanning through in beginning paragraph, barely even blinking. James, who had not even opened his sheaf of papers, watched Lily instead. He'd seen that look before, when she was studying for exams, an expression which had been magnified by ten leading up to OWLs. It was a rather adorable face, actually, the way she played with a lock of her hair and her eyes expanded and. Her green eyes flashed as she looked up at him suddenly, exasperation on her face when she took in how unfocused he was.

"James. Read."

Her vexation turned into shock when he immediately looked away from her and started reading, apparently very absorbed. So great was her surprise that she was still staring when McGonagall walked over to see how they were doing, and said, in a tart, amused voice,

"Ms. Evans, may I ask what is so fascinating about the back of Mr. Potters head?"

A few of the older prefects around her tittered, and Lily's face was scarlet once again.

"Nothing, Professor, I was just helping James with the… he didn't quite understand…. He needed…"

Lily trailed off, mortified, heat still very apparent in her cheeks.

"Well," McGonagall said, "As long as it's to do with his head duties, and not with his hair care products."

And with that, the Deputy headmistress glided back to the front with Professor Dumbledore, who was smiling widely, other students laughing openly.

"Now, are there any further questions about anything you may have read in the orientation packets, or any other matter that you are not sure about?" Dumbledore invited.

After a few inquiries from the newest prefects, and McGonagall had sorted out the first schedule for patrolling the corridors, they were dismissed.

"Mr. Potter and Ms. Evans, would you please stay for a moment?" McGonagall called as the rest of the prefects filed out. They made their way to the front of the room, not talking, Lily still embarrassed.

"As our Head Boy and Girl this year, you two have been given a great responsibility."

Lily perked up at Dumbledore's words, listening intently.

"A great deal will be expected of you. From tonight onwards, you two will be in charge of organizing all of the night and weekend patrols with the prefects of each house. Also, any student that you think needs disciplined you will need to report to myself of Professor McGonagall. The prefects are supposed to report to you any detentions they give out, and you, in turn, will record and file them, and give a weekly report. If there is a child that is in need of firmer action, you must schedule a meeting with their head of house and myself so we can take it further if needed. This, obviously, includes anyone within your own house, as well."

At this last statement, Dumbledore's ice blue eyes pierced James, and he knew why.

"You may be wondering why I have appointed the two of you to be heads together and rightly so. I will confess that there are some that question my decision. However, I must ask you to trust me. If I were to tell you everything, it would ruin my wonderful plan!"

This made Lily laugh. Dumbledore truly was an amazing old wizard but she did wonder at him sometimes. His plans hardly ever fell through, though, so Lily's worry was eased.

"Finally, I want to quickly show you the head's office that will be yours to use this year. This is where you will file the disciplinary reports, post schedules, and generally spend time when you want to relax, or have a quiet place to work on homework."

They all said goodnight to Professor McGonagall, and Dumbledore escorted them to their new Head Office which was on the first floor, near the heart of the castle. After taking a quick peek in and assuring him that everything from the parchment a quills provided to the covers on the couches were more than satisfactory, they also bade him farewell, and headed up the marble staircase to the common room, still clutching their packets. Lily was pondering everything she had taken in about being Head Girl, but her mind kept wandering back to James. He was acting oddly, she thought, and she was determined to find out why. Tonight alone, he had caused her to blush more than he had managed in the last 3 years. Lily heard a snuffle, and looked up to realize that they were in front of the Fat Lady already, who apparently had a cold. She stood there for a moment, not sure what to do, when James broke the silence,

"Aren't you going to give her the password?"

Lily stood sill with her mouth open. For the first time during her Hogwarts years, she didn't know the new password. She looked to James helplessly. Smirking, he turned to the sniveling portrait.

"Filigrano."

"Correct." The Fat Lady replied, staring wonderingly as Lily's red face.

Damn it! Lily thought. He'd made her blush again! What was wrong with her?

"It was in the packet. Lady's first?" James offered, stepping back to let her pass through.

Lily, now to the point of tears, was furious. She had never been humiliated so much in her life, and now it was at the hands of James Potter. His gentlemanly gesture, for some reason, made her even madder, and she stalked through the empty common room off towards the girls' staircase, trying not to let James see her eyes, which were close to spilling over.

"You looked lovely tonight, Lily. As red as a rose, from head to toe." James called to her as she put her foot on the bottom step. That was the last straw. That one arrogant remark put her over the edge. Turning to face him, tears now pouring down her cheeks, she yelled,

"You, James Potter, are a bull headed, ignorant ass! How you live with yourself I don't know! Now, if you want to keep you tongue inside your head, I suggest you shut up right now!"

And spinning on her heal, she fled up the staircase. James' feeble attempt at a goodnight was lost in his throat. All evening, he had tried to be polite, and nice, and a gentleman to her. He had tried, harder than ever before, to show her that was wasn't the arrogant toe rag that she had once before accused him of being. But when they had entered the deserted common room, she had looked so cute, trying so hard not to let him get to her. But what he didn't understand was why his on stupid comment had put her over. Normally he could throw insults at her all day and she wouldn't so much as bat an eyelid. Girls are very confusing, James decided wearily as he headed off for his own dormitory. As he passed the window, he heard a night owl hoot in the distance.