A/N: Sorry it took me so long to update! Summer just got to me…but I'm back now hopefully! And I had a tad bit of writer's block to go along with it! Then Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows came out! Awesome book, I couldn't have wished for anything more! And the OOTP movie was pretty awesome as well! Anyway, read and review please
"Well, I'm a little concerned about the new prefects," Lily told James as they left the Prefect's compartment after their speech. "They don't seem mature enough to handle the responsibility that this job requires."
"I don't know about that. I mean, look at me. I've never been a prefect before, and here I am Head Boy," James said. "Oh my God, I'm totally wrong for this job. Why did Dumbledore choose me for this Lily? I'm going to screw up, I know it!"
"Wow James, I didn't know your self-esteem was so low. Not so cocky now are we?" Lily asked, taken aback by James' lack of confidence. James just glared at her. "I was only joking!" Lily said quickly, "You'll do fine James. Dumbledore wouldn't have given you this job if he didn't think you could handle it. Personally, I think you'll do great. You've grown up James."
"Thanks Lily. It means a lot." For a moment they walked in silence, both feeling awkward.
"Well this is where I stop," James said pointing to the compartment they had stopped next to. Lily glanced inside. She could see James' best friends Sirius Black, Peter Pettigrew, and Remus already sitting inside, as well as, Lily was shocked to see, Maggie.
"I believe this is where I stop as well," Lily said gesturing inside at Maggie. James slid open the door allowing Lily to enter before he did.
"I'm just saying Magnolia," Sirius was saying animatedly in the corner of the compartment with Maggie, "that looking at the Chudley Cannon's roster this year, there's no way they CAN'T win the Quidditch Cup."
Maggie rolled her eyes. "First of all Black, I think you're delusional. The Cannons have the worst roster in the league; they won't even make it past the first round. And don't even try to argue the subject!" Maggie said, seeing Sirius opening his mouth, ready for a rebuttal. "We are done with this conversation! And second, my name is NOT Magnolia! It's Maggie!"
"But Magnolia, you and Lillian are the Flower Twins!" Sirius exclaimed.
"Black, I think you just like messing up people's names. It's 'Lily' by the way." Lily said as she sat down next to Maggie.
"And you Lillian, just like calling people by their last names!" Sirius said, lounging back in his seat. "What's with all this 'Black' nonsense. It's Sirius! You know Lily, I'm beginning to think you don't like me much."
"That's not true!" Lily shot back. "You just get on my nerves sometimes and—"
"No, no, I know you hate me," he said sitting forward in his seat again, "which is very upsetting because I love you—"
James realizing what his friend was about to do said "Naw, Padfoot, man, don't do it, you're gonna embarrass yourself—"
But James was too late.
"I think I love you!" Sirius said, breaking out in song as James slapped his hand against his forehead.
"So what am I so afraid of?
I'm afraid that I'm not sure of
A love there is no cure for"
Lily stared disbelieving at the rest of the occupants of the cabin. James was hiding his face behind his hands, Remus and Peter were trying and failing miserably to conceal their hysterical laughing, and Maggie had the same incredulous look on her face that Lily had.
"I think I love you
Isn't that what life is made of?
Though it worries me to say
I've never felt this way…"
What else Sirius sang, nobody knew, for at that moment James had had enough. He had picked up his wand and cast a silencing spell on a now inaudible Sirius.
"James, what the hell is he smoking?" Lily asked after the shock of Sirius' outburst had worn off.
"Something pretty strong I imagine. We got a tad bored this summer and decided to listen to that muggle radio. Well, Padfoot heard this song and for some reason became quite taken with it, the stupid twit."
Lily laughed out loud at a now struggling Sirius, trying desperately to open his mouth and be heard.
"Alright," James said, "I'll release the charm if, and only if, you promise to STOP SINGING!"
Sirius nodded his head furiously in agreement while the rest of the occupants of the compartment yelped with laughter. No sooner had James lifted the spell than the six of them felt the train screech to a halt outside of Hogsmeade station. The new year's adventure had officially begun.
The start of term feast was all a big blur to Lily. They had arrived at Hogwarts in the carriages drawn by seemingly invisible beings (invisible to most everyone except Lily anyway), and taken their seats at the respective House tables. Like normal, they sat in silence while the first years were sorted and Dumbledore made his start of term speech and, to Lily's great embarrassment, had Lily and James stand up so the school could see their new "role models". The delicious feast had come and gone and after speaking briefly with Professors McGonagall and Dumbledore about their living arrangements, the two Heads had made their way to their private Common Room and dorms.
The Heads Common Room shared much resemblance to the Gryffindor Common Room, except it was a tad smaller, for only two people would be occupying it. A fire crackling in the grate welcomed them on their arrival and, as Sirius had said after viewing the room ("This is bloody AWESOME!"), it was pure bliss to have a private Common Room. There were no annoying lower classmen taking all the good armchairs and no stupid boy obsessed girls giggling everytime the Marauders walked in the door.
"Lily, aside from having all the responsibility's of this job, you are so lucky!" Maggie exclaimed as they sat in Lily's dorm while James and the rest of the boys checked out the other room.
"Yes, yes I know…don't you wish you would've been more studious in your younger years? This could all be yours you know…"
Maggie snorted. "Of course not! I definently wouldn't want the responsibility of planning prefects meetings, nightly corridor rounds, Hogsmeade trips and all that jazz. I'm quite content with only having to worry about Quidditch practice thanks."
"MAGNOLIA!" Sirius called from the bottom of the stairs that led up to Lily's room. "Get down here. It's time for yours truly to escort you back to Gryffindor tower"
Maggie rolled her eyes. "Coming Black! I'll see you at breakfast in the morning Lily!" she said strolling down the stairs.
Lily sat alone for a few minutes in the silence of her room before a loud rumbling from her stomach was heard. She hadn't eaten much at the feast since she had eaten too many cookies in the Prefects Compartment earlier in the day. Having all the intentions of heading the kitchens by herself, she tugged on her robe and made her way down the stairs into the common room.
"Where are you going at this time of night?" a voice asked from the couch she had just passed.
Lily jumped and sweared. "James! You almost gave me a heart attack! Don't do that again!"
"Sorry," James laughed. "So, where are you going Miss Head Girl? Not breaking any rules I hope."
"Shut it Potter, I'm sure you'll have broken most of the rules in the handbook by the end of this week. And for your information, I'm headed to the kitchens. I have a nasty craving for some treacle tart that only the Hogwarts elves can cook up."
"Well if you don't mind, I'd like to join you. I could always go for treacle tart, no matter what time of day."
Lily considered for a moment. "Alright. But if you get us caught, I'll never forgive you!"
"Lily, Lily," James said shaking his head. "You're talking to James Potter, the infamous Marauder. With me, you will never get caught. I guarantee it."
"Is that so? What are you playing at?" she asked.
With a flick of James' wand, a cloak of some sorts was floating down from his room and into his hands.
"Is that what I think it is? Is that an invisibility cloak?" Lily asked stunned.
"Yeah, it is. My dad gave it to me when I started Hogwarts."
Realization hit Lily like a brick. "I get it now! This is how you and your friends never get caught going on midnight runs of the castle!"
"This is how. Now hurry up, I don't think I can wait any longer for that tart," James said, throwing the cloak over the two of them.
They pushed the portrait open and were standing in a deserted corridor. On their way to the kitchens, Lily held her breath a few times after passing Filch and Mrs. Norris, but James seemed totally unconcerned. They safely made it to the kitchens without being seen or heard.
"That's amazing! You're so lucky to have one!" Lily exclaimed closing the door behind them.
James just smiled as a small house elf ran up
"Mr. Potter, Mr. Potter!" the small elf squealed, dancing around their knees. "What can we get you? You haven't been here in so long, we still have all those bottles of Firewhisky waiting in the back—"
"Um, yeah, yeah, that's great Melly thanks!" James interjected quickly as Lily fixed him with an inquisitive look. "I think all we need right now is some treacle tart."
"We'll have it ready in just a moment!" the elf yelled running towards the back of the kitchen. And sure enough, in less than five minutes, Lily and James were sitting on top of one of the counters eating not only treacle tart, but also every cake, pie, and cookie you could imagine.
"You know, while we're sitting here, we could start getting reacquainted like we talked about earlier." James said licking his spoon.
"Ok, ask me anything you want to know…well, almost anything. I'll tell you if you're getting too personal."
"Alright, I think we'll just go for the basics this round…uh, favorite color?"
Lily thought for a minute. "Oh! Definently turquoise. You?"
"Emerald green, like your eyes."
Lily blushed. "James…"
"I'm not coming on to you, I'm being honest! I really like that color."
"Well ok…but no more of that! I guess I'll go next. Favorite school subject?"
James smirked. "You would ask that, wouldn't you Evans? Well, I guess I'd have to say Transfiguration. I seem to grasp if pretty easily."
"Yeah, and because McGonagall favors you!"
"What?! That is not true!" Lily glared at him. "Ok, maybe just a little bit…but Flitwick dotes on you! But then again, you are the best at Charms in our year" James said setting his dessert bowl down. As soon as it touched the countertop, five house elves appeared taking it away.
"Thanks for the compliment!
"Your very welcome!" James said, leaning his back against the wall of the kitchen. "Next question! Favorite vacation?"
Lily thought for a moment. "The coast, most definently. We went there on holiday when I was younger and I fell in love. I love the way the ocean air makes my hair feel and I love the sensation of sand between my toes. Everything about it there is amazing." Lily finally came out of her trance. "What about you? Where's your favorite vacation?"
"Well," James started, "I definently like that island across the pond we like to call the United States." Lily rolled her eyes. "My family and Padfoot went over there this summer and went to this place muggle's over there really like. Las Vegas, but they also call it Sin City. They had these contraptions that when you put in money and pulled a lever, you could win more money! Of course it was muggle money, but still! Pretty awesome, huh? Hey, why are you laughing?" James asked seeing Lily break down in giggles.
"James those 'contraptions' are called slot machines!"
James was amazed. "How did you know that?!"
"If you don't remember, my parents are muggle's and I did grow up around them for 11 years…"
"Yeah, yeah, make me feel stupid." James complained as Lily's giggle finally subsided.
"Ok, so it's my turn to ask a question—"
"Wait, Lily. Can I ask another one?"
Lily was taken aback. "Um, sure I guess. Go ahead." She said, taking a freshly baked cookie from a tray that a group of house elves had just sat in front of her.
"What happened that summer? You know…the one between fourth and fifth year? The one where you changed."
Lily choked on her cookie. She had not been expecting this question so soon. Slowly leaning her head upward, her eyes finally meeting James', she pursed her lips and shook her head.
"It's too early James. I'm not ready. Not yet. I can't."
That was all she needed to say. James had expected this answer, and he didn't want to push her. He nodded in understanding. "Well…I'm pretty tired. You ready to head back to the dorm?"
Lily nodded and slid off the counter as James picked up the Invisibility Cloak. He threw it over them and they headed back to the common room, neither of them speaking for the rest of the night.
