Disclaimer: J.K Rowling is the multi-million dollar mansion, and I'm a pebble on the garden path… trying lamely to belong.
CHAPTER TWO
Once the train had arrived at Hogsmeade and the students had disembarked and made their way up to the magnificent castle that was Hogwarts, the beginning of term feast was due to be had. This feast was known for its excellent food, fantastic service (due to the wonderful house elves of Hogwarts) and (if you were of age) the mulled goblin wine that was simply to die for. It was because of these commonly known facts about the feast, that the many students of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry sat rather impatiently in the great hall, staring hungrily at their empty plates.
After a few moments of idyll chatter, Professor McGonagall walked briskly into the hall carrying a stool and a rather rugged old hat. She was followed quite nervously by a group of small children crowded closely together and looking around themselves with wide eyes. These were the first years. Lily smiled encouragingly at them as they walked past her and a few of them tried to smile weakly back.
Up the other end of the table, James and Sirius were 'high-five-ing' any of the first years that were bold enough to accept their outstretched hands as they walked past. Whenever one of the two marauders got a particularly loud slap, the other cheered and whooped loudly, clapping the small child on the back. Some of the children seemed far too terrified of the boys, but others grinned at them. Many seventh year gryffindors were laughing at the new head-boy and his best mate, yet when Lily looked up to see what the commotion was, her eyes turned immediately to ice, and she seemed to be positively fuming. Remus, sitting beside his two friends noticed this, and poked Sirius hard in the ribs, indicating with a nod of his head, the furious girl at the other end of the table. Interrupting the complicated hand shake James was trying to show a terrified, small boy, Sirius pointed to Lily with a rather large smirk plastered on his face. James looked up into Lily's icy stare the same time that Sirius whispered "Mrs. Potter looks pissed Prongs, better watch out!" Remus hissed furiously that the reason he poked Sirius was not so that he could make fun of Lily, but James didn't hear him. He was too busy watching Lily's lips purse and her eyes bore into him. He wasn't sure what he felt at this point in time… whether it was excitement that she was looking at him, or guilt that she was looking at him in that way. He turned and grinned at the first year whose hand he was still grasping. "Good luck mate." He said with a wink and then sat around properly at the table, only giving small high fives to some of the first years now, and much more subdued than his previous ones. He turned his head to catch Lily's eye across the table, giving her a look that said, "Is that better?" Lily glanced with only the slightest disapproval at the high fives he was still giving the first years and looked away, rolling her eyes although the corners of her mouth tilted just slightly upwards in the smallest trace of a smile.
Sirius turned back sulkily to Lupin, muttering briefly about ruining his fun. James paid no attention though, he was staring at his plate, his eyes out of focus. He couldn't get the image of Lily's half-smile out of his head. And he grinned to himself as he thought how much more positive the beginning of this year was so far.
As the sorting took place, Lily fidgeted with the edge of her robes. Although she didn't want to admit it to anyone, she was ridiculously nervous about this year. She had tried so hard, through all her schooling life to set a good example and be the model student, and now all her hard work had finally paid off. It was her year to really shine, and be a leader, and she couldn't wait. She looked up at Dumbledore as he spoke to the student body. She admired him so much, and wanted to earn his respect, even though she knew he already held her in high esteem. The sorting ended and food appeared on the plates at that moment however, and Lily was distracted from these thoughts as she helped herself generously to mountains of wonderful house elf cooking, along with her fellow students.
Dumbledore sat calmly in his place at the teacher's table and looked out at all his students. Hogwarts never felt right unless chatter bounced off the walls and feet pounded along the stairs. His eyes rested for a moment on each house table, lingering briefly on Gryffindor. A sudden spark appeared in his eyes as and the corners of his mouth twitched as he watched Sirius Black and Peter Pettigrew, who were in the middle of a serious competition. Who could fit more potatoes in their mouth, and who could do it the fastest? Dumbledore chuckled quietly to himself as Lily Evans stormed over and began to scold Black quite vehemently whilst Pettigrew frantically swallowed as much as he could before she could turn to him, his eyes watering. Black merely sat there meekly staring up at Lily, his cheeks bulging, and the unmistakable traits of a grin creeping onto his face. Dumbledore shook his head in amusement as he then watched James Potter trying extremely hard not to laugh hysterically as he had been doing only minutes earlier. As the headmaster watched, James discreetly shoved the parchment upon which he had previously been keeping score, away from the eyes of the Head Girl now berating Pettigrew, and adopted a serious and disapproving appearance, although his eyes gave him away, as they shined with mirth, and danced over Lily's impassioned form. Returning to his meal once more, Dumbledore smiled to himself, satisfied. Yes, it was going to be a good year. Interesting, but good.
After the feast had concluded (during which there had been far too many potatoes, Lily thought) the prefects took the students away and the two Heads were called up to the teacher's table, where their Headmaster stood waiting. Dumbledore smiled warmly down at them both before speaking. "The other Professors and I believe that this year, Hogwarts will be strong. We have something this year that makes us this way, and it is something that many schools and organizations seldom get." At this he paused and regarded them fondly with pride, "Two fantastic leaders that individually are incredible, and put together make an even more amazing team. And I know that we are all very excited for what this year and your leadership will bring. Yet now I believe that there is nothing that anyone can do without a good night's sleep." With that, Dumbledore turned and clicked his fingers three times. Two house elves appeared at his side immediately, wearing the tell-tale Hogwarts uniform of a tea towel imprinted with the school crest upon it. The only thing different about these two elves, the Heads each noticed, was that they had two letters printed next to the crest: "H.E". Lily and James smiled at the elves as Dumbledore explained, "These are the Head Elves. They will cater for your needs when you are in the Head's dormitories, which is where they will lead you now. Miss Evans, this is Fifi." He indicated with a wave of his hand and a warm smile, the little elf on his left (who had turned red with all the attention). "She will look after you personally, and Mr. Potter, this is Nicnac. He will take care of you." Dumbledore smiled at the other elf who was grinning happily up at them all. James beamed and leant forward, warmly shaking him by the hand, who meekly reached forward and returned the gesture, blushing as well. "Very nice to meet you, sir!" he squeaked. Fifi curtsied and smiled up at Lily who grinned back at her amiably.
"Good luck to the both of you, and good night."
Five or so minutes later, the two Heads who had proven themselves to be very mature in front of their Headmaster, and upon whom, (according to said Headmaster) the hopes of the school staff rested on, were having yet another decidedly immature disagreement. Lily was becoming more and more frustrated with the situation as it progressed. She had been so adamant about being mature this year, especially after the discussion with Dumbledore, and yet here she was getting red in the face, shouting nonsensical words at the one and only James Potter.
"'Gobbledygook' makes much more sense Potter!"
"Nope. I refuse to give in. 'James-is-a-sexy-beast' is the only way to go."
Lily exhaled vehemently and exclaimed in raised tones, "I absolutely will not say that every time I enter my own dorm!"
At this point the two house elves and the four Hogwarts founders in the painting on the door they were standing in front of all sniggered loudly. James grinned, crossed his arms after tousling his hair and leaned casually on the stone wall, observing the infuriated red head in front of him.
They were of course, arguing about the password for their shared dormitory. Lily was opting for something obscure that no one would guess, and therefore they would be safer from intrusions, whereas James was simply opting for something he wanted to hear Lily say.
James looked down at Lily and took a step towards her, feeling his stomach do flip-flops as her vivid green eyes glanced briefly at his lips as he opened them to speak.
"Fine, what about something without my name in it?" he asked, a mischievous twinkle appearing in his eyes as he stood there knowing (and loving) already what her reaction would be to his next suggestion. Lily looked up at him suspiciously whilst crossing her arms and stepping away from him, now that he was quite close. James continued, "What about, 'I'm-a-real-prude-with-the-hots-for-the-head-boy'?" Lily's eyes widened and her mouth opened in shock before they quickly narrowed again in a killer glare. "Apart from anything Potter, that is far too long for a password anyway." She hissed softly between clenched teeth, amidst the snorts coming from the painting behind them. James chuckled and shrugged, "Fair enough. A compromise then? A combination?" Lily looked at him and then at her watch tiredly, before sighing and cautiously saying, "Well I suppose that might be ok, but only if…"
Without waiting for her to state the conditions James interrupted her and turned to the painting. "Noble founders of Hogwarts, we as the Head Boy and Girl have agreed that our new password will be 'Gobbledy-sexy-beasts.'"
Having spoken the magic words (excuse the irony) the door swung open whilst the founders howled with laughter and the house elves giggled with glee as they skipped off to the kitchen. James smirked as he stepped inside, after winking at Lily and messing up his hair, his insides filled with butterflies at the way he had successfully made her eyes flare up again, just like on the train. Lily stood in shock and fury in the doorway, realizing that now whenever she had to enter her dorm she would be forced to say, "Gobbledy-sexy-beasts."
Oh the things I'd like to do to James Potter, she thought viciously, as she begrudgingly stepped into her new home.
Author's Notes: Sorry about the slight wait, and the fact that this Chapter is not quite as long as the last. I've been madly busy, but once again the creative juices are flowing and hopefully you guys will get a quicker update for Chapter Three.
I've been working on a couple of one-shots as well, so keep your eyes peeled for them if you're into that sort of thing.
Once again, let me know what you think, and thanks so much for reading!