Chapter 1: Anchovies and Hamburgers

31st October, 1976

"Um… those really are lovely anchovies, but I don't think I want any… thanks anyway!" Lily mumbled as she woke up to a weird flapping sound that she thought resembled a helicopter's.

Why are there helicopters around? That's a muggle thing, isn't it? Oh well…. Those anchovies really were something…. Dream me should have bought some.

The sound continued as she felt some liquid flowing down her chin and all over her shirt. There she was – Lily Evans, 6th year Gryffindor Prefect, soon to be Head Girl for Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry – hair unruly, drool flowing down her school uniform.

Where is everyone else? And WHAT is that sound?! Ugh.

She walked over to her window and was astonished to find a huge horse-led carriage landing from its sky terrain in front of the Main Gate of the school.

What the…. OH SHIT I'M LATE!

She sprinted over to the bathroom to brush her teeth and get the drool off her chin because, come on, she can't have the cute boys from Durmstrang having a drool-filled first impression of her now, can she? Her classes that day had been so taxing that she had fallen asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow after lunch. As quickly as she could manage, she put on her school robes and ran down the stairs, not stopping till she was a sight to be seen in the already full Great Hall.

"I have great pleasure in welcoming you all to Hogwarts. I hope and-" Dumbledore stopped mid speech as Lily entered the Great Hall with her red hair sticking out in places. A mess that could only be rivalled by her nemesis, James Potter. "Well, it seems that we are welcoming some of our own too," he continued with his mouth twitching as he tried not to smile. Lily tried as hard as she could to walk to the table unnoticed. But perhaps the Fates hated her too much. She tripped face-first over her own shoelaces.

Yay! Can this day get any worse?

Oh, of course, it can.

James Potter had walked over. He offered her his hand and she blatantly ignored it. She got up on her own and started walking towards her table again. If you looked closely enough, you could see smoke coming out of her ears. She took a seat between her best friends and roommates Marlene McKinnon and Alice Prewitt and sent Potter a glare for good measure. He winked and took his own seat with his friends.

"As I was saying, I trust and hope that your stay here will be both comfortable and enjoyable," Professor Dumbledore went on, "the tournament will officially begin right after this feast where I invite to dig in!" He sat down to the sound of a marvellous applause.

The food, as it usually was, was fantastic. The usual roast beef and treacle tart for Halloween were accompanied by dishes from America, France and Bulgaria, probably to make the exchange students more comfortable. Lily looked around the Hall to find the kids from Beauxbatons being very picky as they filled their plates on the Ravenclaw table. What brats! The girls and boys from Durmstrang were fraternizing with the Slytherins, heavens knew why, and those from Ilvermorny sat at the Hufflepuff table, leaving only the Gryffindor table bare.

"I'm so excited for the tournament!" said Mary Macdonald, Lily's 3rd roommate. "I wonder who Hogwarts champion will be…"

It wasn't just Mary who seemed to be wondering that. The entire length of the table had a buzz of tremendous energy and anticipation. Everyone was waiting for the real tournament to start. Well, everyone except for Lily. She thought the Wizarding Tournament was a suicide mission. She had decided against it as soon as she read about it in her 3rd year. It really was time that the Ministry banned it. Teenagers taking part in those absurd tasks! It's a wonder only one of the past participants died!

"It's obviously not going to be the fail-safe Lily Evans this time," smirked James as she watched Lily lost in her thoughts.

"Even if it's not me, it's definitely not going to be you," replied Lily with a swing of her fork.

"We don't know that now, do we? Based on what I know you to be and how your expressions changed when Mary said what she did, you think that the tournament is a suicide mission."

"So what if I do? It is a completely ridiculous thing! People have died doing this."

"Oh, I know. That's what makes it worth it. It's do or die, isn't it?"

"Yeah, yeah. Keep your YOLO philosophies to yourself. I think it's stupid for anyone to even think of putting their name in the Goblet of Fire, much less take part in those god forsaken tasks… Ooh, are those anchovies? Yum. Pass them around, would you?"

She was right. James knew she was right. His YOLO philosophies often did land him in some unfortunate circumstances. Like being at the end of Lily's very wand a billion times last year. Ending up being chased by unicorns just last year. Probably dying while participating in the Wizarding Tournament. Oh, the list was endless! But it gave him joy. It gave him gratification. He lived the way he wanted, not listening to his parents, his friends - not even Sirius - and especially not Lily Evans.

Aah, Lily Evans. The amazing Lily Evans. The Lily Evans he thought about every time he did those crazy things. He probably did those things because she said not to. She asked him not to ask her out, he did and he ended up being cursed a billion times the previous year. She commanded him not to go near those unicorns last year at Care of the Magical Creatures, but of course he did. Now she was telling him not to take part in the tournament, but he would, because he could, and because he loved that rush.

He sat there in his seat between his best friends Sirius Black and Remus Lupin. Peter Pettigrew, his other best friend, was knocked out in the Hospital Wing after some unfortunate encounter with some nifflers (don't ask). His half eaten hamburger sat on his plate as he looked around.

Man, there Americans should come here more often. Bring with them some more fries and burgers!

"Prongs, are you eating that burger?" asked Sirius as he stared lustfully at James' hamburger.

"Yes I am. If you want another one, take one from the Ravenclaw table since you've already finished the ones on this table."

"Sirius, I don't think you should eat anything else," said Remus, "look at your trouser buttons, they're already threatening to come off."

Sirius looked down at his trousers, shrugged and picked up some anchovies. Remus just sighed and dug into his own treacle tart.

James quickly tuned out the sound of Sirius eating like a hooligan and turned his attention to the redhead sitting across from him. She still looked astonishing with her hair in a frizzing about. He had always thought that there was no reason for her hatred towards him. In his opinion, he was always rather well-behaved and charming around her. He specially tried to tame his hair when he knew he had 1st period with her – a wasted gesture because his hair always turned back into the usual nightmare.

Things used to be so good. The entire 6th year of Gryffindor used to be inseparable. They used to be best friends. Lily and Sirius and James and Marlene. They had normal conversations up until a day in 5th year, the day she had to choose.

But James does sometimes stare at Lily during Potions class– when the steam turns her already curly hair into a bush – and he hopes she doesn't notice his disappointed expression every time she says 'no.'