Lily walked through the train corridor towards the Heads' compartment, looking for James. She stepped inside the compartment and looked out the window to see him with the other Marauders, laughing. She knocked on the window and motioned for James to come inside when they looked up. James gave her a large smile and nodded. Sirius rolled his eyes and said something to which James hit him. Lily rolled her eyes as well and sat down in one of the comfy chairs next to the table. She looked over a checklist of everything they had to go over with the Prefects while she waited for James. He bounded in a few minutes later with a big smile in his face.
"James!" Lily said as she stood up.
"Lily!" he exclaimed and scooped her up in a bear hug, spinning them around. "I missed you!"
"I missed you too!" she laughed. "Can you put me down?"
"Oh, right," James set her down gently but remained bouncing slightly on the spot, clearly excited. "So, do we have to do anything to get ready for the Prefects?"
"Not really. Dumbledore left us a list of things we have to go over with the prefects," she held up the list, "and since you don't really know the stuff, I can handle that. So all you have to do is give a little speech at the beginning, just welcoming them and everything. Is that good?"
James nodded happily and offered her his arm, "Shall we?"
Lily smiled and took it. "We shall."
They opened the Prefect compartment door and were met with confused faces. Lily just smiled at them and took one of the bigger chairs at the front while James stood in front of the Prefects.
"Um, hey Prefects! Well, if you haven't figured it out by now, Dumbledore finally lost it and made me Head Boy."
There was some scattered laughter and a few quiet groans as most of the prefects handed over galleons, sickles, and knuts to Ravenclaw sixth year Matthew Boot. James looked to Lily in confusion and saw that she too had given Matthew a sickle.
"Every year, prefects take bets on who will be Head Boy and Girl," she explained. Matthew looked up and grinned.
"Except this year, we only bet on Head Boy. It was pretty obvious who would get Head Girl this year and no one was stupid enough to bet against her," He winked at Lily and she smiled in return. "I was the only one to bet on you, James, and now I am a very rich man. Rich enough for a date, eh Lily?"
She sighed and rolled her eyes with a smile. "I've told you before, Matthew, I don't date Gemini's."
James' eyes narrowed at the Ravenclaw and saw that he was still smiling charmingly at Lily. So he'd been asking Lily out, had he? And why was he all happy? Lily had just turned him down! He didn't deserve her! Lily nudged James with her toe and he snapped back to reality to finish the speech.
"Well, anyway, I'm Head Boy, Lily's Head Girl, and if we just get along and have House unity and all that, I'm sure we'll have a great year. Popcorn Lily!" She rolled her eyes and stood up as he sat in the other larger chair next to hers, grinning.
"Alright, I'll try and make this quick," Lily said, looking down at her papers. "First on the list- patrols. Just to make it easier, you'll patrol with the person in your House and year. If you have a problem with that, just see James or me. We also have three balls and the Halloween feast to organize this year, and we would love your input on those. And lastly, please do not abuse your power. Only provide punishments to those breaking the rules, not because they annoy you. So, I think that's everything," she said, looking back at James who nodded. "Remember to patrol the train at least once today. You guys can go."
The prefects dispersed quickly and James and Lily were left alone. She gathered up all the papers and James stood when she was done.
"You want to go find our friends or patrol first?" he asked as they stepped out of the compartment. Lily waved her hand dismissively.
"Oh, we don't have to patrol. The prefects have it covered and nothing huge ever really happens. Let's just go find the guys and I'm sure the others will be there. Do you know where they are?"
"Probably in our usual compartment. Come on, we'll find them," He offered her his arm again and they set out to find them compartment.
As they neared the compartment, Lily and James heard yells and then a bang, followed by a scream. Whipping out their wands, they ran towards the commotion and James flung open the door.
Sirius was standing stock still in the middle of the compartment with an electric blue Mohawk, fuming, while six Gryffindors were falling over each other, laughing. Lily bit her lip hard to try and keep from laughing as James walked up to Sirius, barely hiding his smile.
"Did something happen, Padfoot?" James asked, his voice quavering from the laughter threatening to erupt.
But Sirius didn't move. In fact, the only thing that changed in him was that perhaps his glaring intensified.
"We put- petrificus- totalus- on him," Remus managed to choke out between fits of laugher.
"He screams like a girl!" Marlene cried. At that, Lily and James lost it. They doubled over in laughter and had to cling to each other to stand. James fell against Sirius' legs and pulled Lily down with him, into his lap.
Several minutes later, everyone got their laughter under control and James moved to sit against the wall, Lily still in his lap. Remus looked over to the still frozen Sirius and smirked.
"Do you think we should take the jinx off?" he asked.
"Yeah, probably," James flicked his wand and Sirius spun to face Remus.
"You're going to get it, Lupin," he said in a sinister voice. "Change. It. Back."
"Padfoot, calm down," James said in a soothing voice. "I'm sure he really-"
"And you!" he yelled, advancing on James and Lily. Lily shrank back into James and he wrapped his arms around her protectively. "You two just sit there and laugh! Change it back!"
Lily slowly pulled her wand out and changed Sirius' hair back to normal while trying to suppress giggles. He stuck his tongue out at them and plopped down in his seat, pouting. Lily giggled and rested her head in the crook of James' neck. He smiled softly and started to trace designs on her arms.
"So anyone hear about Puddlemere United's last game?" Frank shuddered.
"No, what happened?" Lily asked.
James groaned. "It was brutal- and not in a good way. The game went on for five hours and we scored twenty points. Didn't even catch the snitch. The Appleby Arrows won with seven hundred and thirty points by the end of the game. Just… terrible."
"Yeah, well, I guess you need to start supporting the better team," Remus said with a grin.
"The Appleby Arrows are NOT the better team!" James exclaimed.
"Exactly!" Marlene said, pointing to James. "It's the Wimbourne Wasps!"
Everyone gaped at her.
"You've GOT to be joking," Sirius said loudly.
"No, I'm not, actually. They're having a great year!" Marlene defended them.
"Yeah, their first good year in a century," James pointed out. "That doesn't make them a good team."
"And you just like them because Ludo Bagman's on the team," Lily teased her. "Do you still have that autographed poster of him?"
Marlene glared at her. "I have that because it's valuable! At least I don't have a picture of-" Lily flicked her wand hurriedly and Marlene fell silent.
Sirius looked at Lily slyly. "Picture of what, Lily?"
James leaned in so his lips were brushing her ear. "Yeah, Lily… what's the picture of?"
Chills went down her spine as she felt his breath on her ear. Marlene had about to say that there was a picture of Lily and James by the lake on her bedside table.
"Alright, Lily how about this? I'll tell you what picture James has-"
"NO, Padfoot!" James yelled.
"You know, guys, it's not good to keep secrets," Alice said, knowing from Frank that James had the same picture on his bedside table.
Lily sighed. "Alice, shut up."
Everyone had fallen asleep except for James, who was staring at the beautiful ginger curled up in his lap. Ever since they had become friends, he had resisted the urge to ask her out. It was extremely hard at times to contain his feelings when she snuggled up next to him like this. They had held hands before, and this wasn't the first time she had sat in his lap, but it had all been in a friendly way. He'd thought about forgetting all pretenses and games and just kissing her, but Remus said the consequences probably wouldn't be good. James felt Lily stir and he rubbed her arms affectionately.
"Hey, sleepyhead."
She looked up and smiled sleepily. "Yeah, well, I didn't get much sleep last night."
"Really? And why is that?"
"Oh, just excited. Eager to see everybody… the usual night before school excitement."
James chuckled and saw someone standing in front of their compartment door, looking at them. He and Lily looked up to see Snape glaring at them through the glass. James made to get up, forgetting that Lily was still in his lap, but she laid her hand on his and got up herself. She opened the door and stood in the doorway, arms crossed.
"Do you need something, Snape?"
"What are you doing with him?" Severus hissed.
"I'm not sure what you mean," Lily said coolly.
"You know exactly what I mean! You were sitting in there with- with-"
"My best friend? Because that's what James is, and nothing less. And that's what I was doing in there, talking with my best friend, James Potter, and I don't see why you have a problem with that," Lily spat.
"You were sitting on his lap!" he yelled. Lily raised an eyebrow.
"It's a comfortable place," she said simply, shutting the door in his face and pulling down the blinds.
"So when do you think the trolley's coming 'round?" she asked James, leaning against the door.
"FOOD!" Sirius yelled, sitting up immediately. Everyone that was asleep jerked awake and glared at Sirius. He sniffed the air.
"The trolley's in the middle of the next car and moving this way," Sirius said sleepily. The girls looked at him in wonder.
"How can you tell?" Mary asked incredulously. Sirius shrugged.
"I know my food."
A few minutes passed in silence and Lily, Alice, Marlene, and Mary left to change. On their way back, a bubbly Hufflepuff came up to them.
"Oh my gosh, Lily, congratulations!" she squealed.
"Aw, thanks, Anna," Lily said kindly.
"That is just so amazing; you're Head Girl and dating James Potter! You're just so lucky!"
Lily looked at her confusedly. "What? I'm not dating James. He's like my best friend."
"Oh, well, you guys were looking pretty cuddly back there…" Anna giggled.
"We're not dating," Lily said firmly. She pushed past her and continued to their compartment.
"Don't you just hate her voice? It's so high pitched and shrilly. It's like a pig is being tortured," Marlene remarked distastefully.
Alice rolled her eyes. "You just don't like her because Sirius took a fancy to her last year. Despite the voice that makes you want to put knives in your ears, she's actually a nice person. Right, Lily?"
But Lily didn't answer. Does it really look like James and I are together? I don't even think I like him that way… Do I?
They arrived at the compartment once more and walked in. James was sitting in a seat and held his arms out to Lily when she entered. However, she passed him and sat in the corner with her eyes downcast instead. James looked at her in confusion, but Alice shook her head for him to leave it alone, realizing what the problem was immediately. He didn't say anything, but looked at her concernedly. She shifted uncomfortably under his gaze.
"I'm fine, okay?" she hissed, looking up at him. James captured Lily's eyes with his own and they both melted.
"LILYFLOWER!" Sirius yelled, sitting down and putting his arm around her, breaking the Head Boy and Girl from their trance.
"Oh, how I've missed you so! It just wasn't the same seeing Jamsie-poo's face every day without your beautiful face there to make him look prettier!" His voice dropped down to a stage whisper. "Did you know that without your angelic glow to fall upon him he actually looks like a troll?"
Lily laughed. "Yes, Sirius, I did have my suspicions. Basically, I pictured him looking like you."
A playful "Ooooh" came from everyone in the compartment.
"Yeah, well, I'm prettier than your mum!"
"Oh, Sirius, I'm glad you've finally come to realize that you are girly. I've always said the time spent on your hair is unhealthy."
"My hair is gorgeous, Evans!"
"I wouldn't say gorgeous, more… greasy. I think that's why it's shiny."
"You look like Christmas on a stick!"
"All those girls were faking it!"
Sirius let out a gasp of horror as Peter yelled, "Burn!"
He threw a glare at the round boy and struggled for a new insult. "You- you're-"
"The person who just won?"
He hung his head in defeat. "Truce?"
"Hmm…. No. I won."
James laughed at the two. It was amazing how they could say the worst things and still be good friends.
Sirius narrowed his eyes. "Fine."
Lily smirked and stared up at him. "Nope. You have to officially declare me winner of this battle. If not, it's back to the Mohawk."
He groaned and stood up as Lily settled herself back against the seat.
"Oh, Lilyflower," he said in monotone. "How smart you are. The sun rises for you and you are the reason we all wake in the morning. You are ultimately more stunning than I am. Your hair is like angels spun it from… something red. It is a pleasure to look at you with your…" He trailed off and eyed her. Lily gripped her wand and James kicked him. Sirius shook his head. "Anyway you're better than me. Hey look, food!"
He ran out of the compartment and began to harass the candy lady for her best items. Remus, Alice, Marlene, Frank, Mary, and Peter followed him out, leaving James and Lily alone. James moved to sit next to her and Lily looked out the window.
"Are you okay?" he asked quietly.
No. People think we're going out and I've only just begun to process that I might like you more than a best friend. It's kind of freaking me out.
"Yeah, I'm fine," she said, standing up. "You hungry?"
"No, not really," James ran his hand through his hair and watched her leave.
"PRONGSIE!" Sirius barreled back in, arms full of sweets. He sat on the floor, spread all the candy out around him and began to eat.
"So what's up with you and Lily?" Sirius asked while unwrapping a Pepper Imp.
James sighed and grabbed a Chocolate Frog. "I don't know. She says we're best friends, but then when she sits on my lap and everything, it seems like she wants something more. And then she got back from changing, she was all distant! I don't see why she just can't tell me what she wants. It's too bloody confusing."
Sirius nodded wisely and popped a Cockroach Cluster in his mouth. "I think she likes you, mate. Have you ever seen her act like that with another guy? No. Maybe she just doesn't realize it yet."
"Maybe," he said quietly, watching Lily accept a handful of Chocolate Frogs and a box of Bertie Bott's from the candy lady.
"Do you still like Marlene?" he asked Sirius abruptly. He swallowed another Pepper Imp hastily and looked at James.
"What?"
"I was just wondering if you liked Marlene. I think she might like you," As if on cue, Marlene looked through the glass door at them and smirked at Sirius. He wiggled his eyebrows in return. She rolled her eyes and looked away and Sirius turned back to James.
"I don't know. Isn't she with that Corner bloke?"
"No, Lily said they broke up at the end of the summer. So you, my friend, have a clear path," James grinned as Sirius thought this over.
All of a sudden, the grey eyed Gryffindor stood up and went out to where the others were crowded around the candy cart. Sirius swept Marlene into a passionate and vivid kiss, much to the disgust of everyone else. Lily and Remus shook their heads and went back into the compartment with Peter.
"At least Frank and Alice found someplace private to snog," Lily grumbled.
James laughed and took another Chocolate Frog from Sirius' stash. "Where'd Mary go?"
Lily rolled her eyes. "She went to go flirt with some Hufflepuff she likes."
Remus looked into the hall and saw that Sirius and Marlene finally broke apart and he was asking her something. She thought for a second and then nodded indifferently. He kissed her again and they walked into the compartment, sitting on opposite sides. Lily and James looked at their respective friends.
"I like her," Sirius shrugged.
"We're going to Hogsmeade together," Marlene said, looking at her nails.
James and Lily smiled at each other: they had suspected of their friends' feelings for each other.
"Hey, I can see Hogwarts!" Peter squeaked. Everyone ran to the window to catch their first last glimpse of Hogwarts.
A/N: Ah, another chapter. I might be able to finish writing chapter four tonight; I'll probably be snowed in all weekend. Remember to review!
