Chapter 4:
I got a reputation girl, that don't precede me
I'm one call away, whenever you need me
The Potter's got their boys up at the crack of dawn on September 1st. James and Sirius were notorious for falling back asleep, so the parents tag-teamed by pulling each boy from their soft bed sheets and into scratchy robes. Euphemia spent a half hour trying to get James and Sirius to eat something other than jellied toast and Fleamont was tasked with the usual pre-term lecture that was really not needed as both boys tended to ignore him and simply nod their heads in time to Fleamont's voice.
The boys stayed in zombie mode until the platform, when Euphemia proudly pinned James' Head Boy badge onto his robes. Sirius, who looked for any excuse to make fun of James, was snickering loudly as James begrudgingly accepted Euphemia's praises over the shiny new badge. The Potter's kissed both their boy's goodbye, ignoring the snake-like stares coming from Sirius' birthmother across the platform. In the time it spent Euphemia to try and brush down James' hair and straighten Sirius' tie, Remus and Peter found them.
"We're going to get a compartment in the back." Peter announced, his face gleaming with a leftover tan from his vacation to France, "let's go or they'll all be taken!"
Euphemia looked over James' shoulder to glare at Peter, "Peter, dear, let an old woman say goodbye to her sons."
"Hi Mrs. Potter," Peter gleamed red now, from Euphemia's chastising.
"I can't stay with you blokes anyways," James said, shoving his mum's hand from trying to flatten his hair.
"Why not?" Peter protested, "The prefect meeting isn't for another half an hour."
"James has to meet his Head Girl." Remus waggled his eyebrows at everyone as James rolled his eyes.
The train whistle rang through the station and they were all reminded to get aboard. The Potter's kissed James and Sirius, hugged Remus and Peter, then disappeared with winks. The boys had already loaded their luggage to avoid hassle and so, they started searching for a compartment in the back of the train. James grabbed Sirius' arm as they walked, flicking his wrist to look at the shiny silver watch Sirius had gotten as an early birthday gift from Fleamont and Euphemia.
"Alright there, Head Boy?" Sirius grinned when he saw the sick look on James' face.
"What the Head Girl is someone I don't like?" James voiced his fears, "What if it's some boring rule-abiding Hufflepuff…or Catchlove? I heard she wanted it."
"Whoever it is, she probably won't fancy being stuck with you much either," Sirius said wittily, "I still maintain my theory that Dumbledore was smoking dragon dung when he sent you the badge."
"Yeah, yeah." James mocked as Sirius started following Remus into an empty compartment with a wide grin, "It's so hilarious that I got Head Boy."
"Riveting!" Remus called from inside the compartment.
"Unbelievable!" Peter's voice rang in.
"Absolutely hysterical." Sirius ended with a wink at James, "Don't forget us troublemakers on the other side."
Sirius slammed the compartment shut on James with a lighthearted wave that made James roll his eyes. James shoved his hands in his pockets and continued on his path towards the front of the train where the prefect's carriage was awaiting his presence. Sirius had been teasing James for the whole week. Ever since the letter came from school, rewarding James with Head Boy, Sirius had been taking the mickey out on James whenever he could.
When James got the Head Boy badge in the mail, he'd been so shocked that he dropped it in his bowl of porridge. His parents practically threw a party when they realized what James was trying to clean off with a napkin. They'd gone out to dinner to celebrate and gotten James new robes just for the occasion. James had been in shock since getting the award. James thought for sure Remus would be the one to earn the badge, seeing as he was a prefect, but it seemed Dumbledore wanted James for the job.
Remus had been so understanding and James felt bad that his friend didn't get the spot. Remus was adamant that he didn't want it because he couldn't do the rounds with the full moon schedules. Remus only made fun of James when Sirius did, playing off Sirius' prankster attitudes. James knew Remus was rather excited to have a friend at the meetings as most of the other prefects didn't care for Remus much because Remus didn't follow the rules rigorously like a soldier.
Meanwhile, Sirius was being a real prick about it and making fun of James at any opportunity. He'd roped Peter into it and the pair had already nicked the badge twice to try and charm it to start yelling derogatory words every time someone said Head Boy. Luckily, James had apprehended Sirius and Peter each time before the real damage was done. Peter was thinking he'd be free from detention with James as the law. James didn't have the heart to remind Peter that there would be a Head Girl too.
The unknown Head Girl was the reason, ultimately, James stood outside the prefect compartment on the Hogwarts Express, trying to straighten his tie in the shadow of the metal sheet. He tried not to look through the glass to see the color of hair behind it. He had no idea who he'd be working with all year long. He'd knew of a few girls who would've been good candidates but James was still unsure who Dumbledore would pick.
James was sure he'd die if the Head Girl turned out to be Greta Catchlove. She was the most exasperating Gryffindor on the planet with a loud nasal voice and annoying fascination for James' father. Catchlove absolutely fancied James because of who his father was and made it very clear in her lack of boundaries around him. She wanted to be a potioneer and clearly thought snogging James was a good way to jet-start her career since James' father Fleamont was a potions celebrity.
Taking a deep breath, after straightening his tie for the tenth time, James put a hand on the compartment door and pulled it open. The girl in the compartment was facing the window and her hands fisted in her robes. When she heard the door open, she turned on her heel quickly. Her red hair hit her cheek like a whip and her green eyes widened at the sight of him. James watched a faint red flush rise on her skin and he was pulled back to the concert where he'd seen her last. The silver Head Girl pin shone brightly on Lily Evans' chest, naming the Slytherin James' partner for the remainder of the school year.
James swallowed thickly, recalling the way she'd acted inside the concert, so free and full of life. Then, he'd seen her with her Slytherin mates. He'd seen the way Severus Snape seemed to claim her as his own as the streetlamps lit her hair on fire. He felt the same mixture of emotions as when he walked away and later, when Sirius had offhandedly mentioned that Snape and Evans had gone to Dittany together.
James wondered what she was doing at Dittany. The bar was known for being where a lot of known dark wizards hung out. Sirius and James had been there once but after Sirius spotted his cousins there, they never returned. According to Sirius, Evans had told her mates that she didn't want to go but Greengrass and Snape begged her. James wondered if she didn't want to go because of the people who'd appeared, namely Mulciber.
Instead of looking angry at his appearance, Evans actually looked a little relieved. James wondered who she'd been expecting, Knott perhaps? James' eyes traced her crossed arms and closed off behavior, signaling she was tense. He didn't know what to say to her. He wondered if he ought to bring up the Swift Broomsticks concert where she'd made fun of his accent, or if he ought to ask what she thought of Dittany afterwards.
Not that he should care about any of it.
She was a Slytherin too. She hung out with deceitful and evil wizards, clearly liked by all of them. After all, they'd all been looking at her after the concert like she was a shiny new toy they couldn't wait to get their hands on. Snape kept an annoying close hand on her, in fact, James was surprised he wasn't here now.
Evans uncrossed her arms quickly and she stuck out her hand. He took her hand awkwardly, hoping the clammy feeling wasn't noticeable. He didn't know why he felt like a thousand little needles were pricking into his heart but damn, when she looked into his eyes, he suddenly felt punch drunk.
"This is a surprise." Her voice, light and teasing, threw him for another loop.
Someone who hung out with wizards like Snape shouldn't talk to James like they were old friends.
"Did you have a nice summer?" he asked politely.
"Sure," Evans said as if she were sharing a private joke with him, "You?"
"Brilliant." James felt his voice crack and he cleared his throat, "Congratulations on Head Girl."
She didn't lower her gaze, "I didn't think you'd be the one to walk through that door."
"Dumbledore asked if I'd be interested." James shrugged, "I thought it'd be fun to give detentions for once, instead of receiving them."
That made her lips flutter up, "You know that you can still get detention as a Head Boy, right?"
"Wasn't brought up in the fine print." James pretended to consider her words, "Think I can back out now?"
"That would make our lives much easier." she commented slightly, "I don't fancy doing rounds with my Quidditch competition."
James' heart was skipping, "You'll find I'm a much better friend than rival, Evans."
She queried, "You can't possibly believe a Gryffindor and a Slytherin can work together harmoniously?"
"Well," James looked down at their hands, still clasped together, "We're doing okay so far."
Evans looked down at their handshake and she quickly pulled her fingers from his. She shoved her fingers into her wand pocket, eyes glancing pointedly at a spot on the carpet. James' hand jumped into his already messy black hair, thousands of questions fluttering through his head. They sat in silence, both lost in their own astonishment and disbelief. It was the train whistle, announcing they were finally to the countryside, that woke both of them up from the trance. James' hand lowered from his hair and he adjusted his glasses, pretending to clean them.
"Uh," Evans sucked in a breath, "did you happen to look over the packet that Dumbledore owled us?"
"Yeah," James shifted on his left foot, "Looks like we can divide the work up pretty evenly."
"That would be nice," she said truthfully, "I'll need a bit of spare time seeing as I made Quidditch Captain this year."
Provoked, James stood up straighter as his eyes widened at the news. Evans had been Slytherins pick for the Quidditch team at the end of last year, and James wasn't surprised. She was a good flier, even if she sometimes got called out for being too aggressive. She had a very prominent competitive streak on the field, which is why she and James constantly bickered after games.
"Quidditch captain huh?" he tried to look unmoved by the news, "Flint finally graduated?"
"Finally?" Evans snorted.
"I heard he was held back a lot." James leaned in to whisper like Flint was in the room with them, "He was a bit slow on and off the broom, if you catch my drift."
Evans put her hands on her hips and glared up at him, but she was unable to hide the amusement in her upturned lips, "Your jokes get worse and worse every year." Evans was relaxing, he could tell by her posture. She'd just needed to warm up her wits.
"Excuse you," James feigned offense, pulling away from her a bit, "I am the funniest person you've ever met, Evans."
"Wrong."
James was prepared to tease her with the one thing that he'd kept thinking about since the Swift Broomsticks concert.
"You thought I was hilarious at that concert over the summer." he pointed out.
Promptly, Evans' face turned tomato red and she opened her mouth, then closed it. She seemed to be lost for words as some other emotion, probably humiliation, took over. James guessed that Evans had hoped that James forgot about their little encounter over the summer. James would never forget Evans' face as she danced to some of his favorite lyrics. It was the only thing blocking out the way that Mulciber had looked at Evans under the nighttime sky after the concert. Sirius' warnings about Evans echoed through James' head a thousand times but he didn't listen to them.
"Well," Evans finally managed to say, "I wasn't laughing with you. I was clearly laughing at you."
"That's right!" James slapped his knee, "you made fun of the way I talk."
"Sorry, I was a little..." Evans looked like she wished the floor would swallow her hole.
"Drunk?" James shook his head, "Now is that proper Head Girl behavior?"
A challenge arose in Evans' eyes, "Sorry, I didn't realize this was the pot calling the kettle, black."
"What?"
"You snuck into Hogwarts last year with firewhiskey after hours." Evans crossed her arms again and dared him to argue, "That's not exactly proper Head Boy behavior, now is it?"
"You drank one!" James accused, "You took one from me and walked away!"
"I did nothing of the sort."
But she couldn't meet his stare and a light flush rose on her cheeks again.
"Don't lie," James shook his finger at her, "or I'll-"
"Or you'll what?" Evans snorted, trying and failing to look unaffected by his mocking, "Tell another one of your awful jokes?"
James crossed his own arms to match her stance, "Did you hear the one about the witch who gave up divination?"
Evans put up a hand to stop him, "Don't"
James ignored her, "She saw no future in it."
He was rewarded with the faintest whisper of a smile on her lips, but it was gone as soon as it appeared. He knew had they been back at that concert, she would've laughed out loud. It was interesting just how much control she had once she donned her school robes. She was absolutely hiding something, James didn't know what, but he had a feeling it had something to do with the people she hung out with. He wondered if she could possibly be just as dark as the rest of them but better at hiding her diplomacies.
"Do they not tell jokes in Slytherin?" her asked slyly, "it seems you've forgotten how to laugh."
Evans looked up at him carefully, "You just can't help yourself, can you?"
James shrugged, "Just saying."
The door behind James slammed open. Prefects were now filing into the compartment, talking in brassy voices that obscured her tort response. Some of the prefects were older and exsperinced, offering the Head Boy and Girl welcoming smiles. James recognized some of them and they certainly recognized James, looking at him in shock when they saw the Head Boy pin on his lapel.
James' reputation for scoffing at rules was certainly well known. Once James and Sirius had protested the dress code in second year and spent a week wearing girls' skirts when they'd gotten in trouble for wearing dressing gowns to potions. James spent most of his time getting into fights with Severus Snape, who, had always hated the Gryffindor boys. James was most famous for the whomping willow incident. No one really knew what happened, there were so many stories about that night. Still, the fact remained that James, Sirius and Snape had all spent two months in detention. That earned all of them bad reputations among younger students and staff who didn't know the whole story.
Trouble had been synonymous to James' name since first year, and it only grew worse because he'd saved Severus Snape's life.
Still, James had been at the scene of the crime and Snape had spun a mad story about Sirius and James. Not to mention that Dumbledore found out that James, Sirius and Peter had all been sneaking down to the willow to begin with. Despite them claiming it was all in Remus' name, Dumbledore had forbidden the boys from going near Remus during transformations. As far as Dumbledore as concerned, the boys had listened. No one knew that once a month, James and his mates ran around as transfigured animals with a werewolf.
As if knowing James had been thinking about him, Remus walked in, sharing a smile with James as he entered. James clapped Remus on the shoulder, noting the bags under Remus' eyes. He hadn't noticed them earlier and now James grew worried Remus wasn't feeling well.
"You ok?" James mouthed at Remus.
"Fine." Remus said before he nodded politely at Evans, "Nice to see you Evans."
Evans smiled back just as civilly, "Thanks Lupin."
No one else at Hogwarts knew about Remus' infliction. Severus Snape knew but he had sworn to Dumbledore he wouldn't tell anyone Remus' secret. James always wondered if the slimy git had told his best mate but she never acted any different around Remus. James glanced sideways at Evans and wondered, again, how much Severus Snape could ruin if he even let slip one word around her.
Evans ordered everyone to take a seat so they could go over the rounds schedule that Dumbledore had sent ahead. James was pulling the calendars from his book bag when Kip Gansley, a seventh year Ravenclaw, swaggered into the compartment. James didn't miss the suggestive smirk in Evans' direction when she looked up from her own task paper. James was certain he saw Gansley's eyes trace Evans from top to bottom as she turned her full attention to him.
"You're late Gansley." Evans snapped from behind her paper.
Gansley brushed off the warning in Evans' voice, "Sorry, love."
James glanced over at Evans. Evans looked like she wanted to murder Gansley, telling James that Gansley was being a prick. Gansley fluffed his fringe as he fell into a seat beside one of the new fifth year prefects. The new prefect, a smaller fifth year Hufflepuff, moved over self-consciously to make room for the seventh year Ravenclaw. Evans was looking at Gansley with every bit of dislike written on her face.
Gansley waved at Evans, "You can continue."
Evans looked as if she were about to blow a fuse. James was on her side for the first time in their entire lives. Gansley was a fucking arse.
"Next time don't be late." James said tersely in Gansley's direction.
Gansley turned his cool blue eyes on James for the first time, registering who he was. Gansley's eyebrows shot up into his hairline when his eyes found the Head Boy pin on James' tie. A range of emotions crossed Gansley's face. James didn't know Gansley too well, but James could tell that Gansley was not ecstatic with the revelation that James was Head Boy.
Gansley sneered at James, "Why should I take orders from someone like you?"
Remus let out a groan and covered his eyes, as if knowing James' reaction would be poor. Some of the Prefects stared at Gansley, awestruck by his gall. James had never felt any emotion towards Gansley before, they didn't really cross paths too many times, but at the rate Gansley was going, James was destined to hate him by the time the train made it halfway to Hogsmede station.
"First of all, you have to listen because I'm Head Boy." James glared Gansley down, "Second of all, unless Evans has given you the consent to do so, don't ever address her as anything other than her name."
Gansley shot Evans a bitter look, "I wasn't aware you had joined the Lily Evans protection detail, Potter."
"You'll need your own protection detail if you keep back-talking me, Gansley." James' eyes had narrowed into slits, "Now shut up and let us finish this meeting."
Gansley jumped up, fists drawn. Evans protested immediately, jumping between both boys with every bit of disbelief as everyone else in the car.
"Let's all be mature here."
"That'll be hard for him." Gansley nodded at James, "He's always starting fights. It's a wonder Dumbledore made him Head Boy. We're sure he didn't nick the badge?"
"Is there a problem, Gansley?" Evans broke, crossly rounding on the seventh year Ravenclaw.
"As a matter of fact, there is." Gansley sniffed, he was shorter than James, but he held himself tall, "Why the Hell is Potter even here?"
Gansley spat James' name out like it was a rotten vegetable. James' hand was halfway to his pocket, getting ready to grab his wand incase a fight broke out.
"I'm Head Boy." James said, pointing to the pin on his lapel and Evans nodded in conformation.
"So," Gansley's jaw twitched, "You're telling me," he said in a low voice, "that Dumbledore picked Gryffindor's resident insubordinate troublemaker to lead the student body this year? Over me? I haven't gotten a detention once in my life and you're just going to walk in here and expect me to listen to you? Hell no."
"That's the idea, yeah." James said, flexing his arms as he crossed them, "Too bad, so sad."
Gansley shook his head doubtfully "I can't believe this, it's so unfair!"
"Listen," Evans said levelheadedly to Gansley, "I'm just as thrilled about Potter being Head Boy as you, Gansley, but try to be cordial."
"Wow Evans," James shot at Evans a disapproving glare, "sorry to ruin your seventh year."
"It was a joke, Potter." Evans warned James with a glare.
Gansley scowled at Evans in return, "Picking you makes more sense than him. Everyone saw that coming, what with your connections in Slytherin."
Evans blanched, "What's that supposed to mean?"
"Slughorn probably made a strong case for his favorite student." Gansley spat, and James watched Evans turn even paler at the implications that she hadn't worked her arse off for Head Girl.
"We all know Sluggy plays favorites," James interrupted, "but Evans earned her spot."
Remus, who up until this point had remained silent among his fellow prefects, spoke, "I for one, think Evans and Potter will make an excellent team."
And Gansley, who clearly had taken one too many hits to the head at some point in his life, snarled at Remus, "you're mental if you think a Gryffindor and Slytherin team can lead this student body together."
"They're both our best athletes and work well on the quidditch teams." Remus argued in favor of Evans and James, "and they've both got top marks in school. Just because they bicker like an old married couple doesn't mean they can lead us."
Evans scoffed, "I'd never marry a Gryffindor with an ego the size of the fucking moon."
"Say the witch who thinks she's the best flier in our year." Remus said pointedly, making Evans' jaw drop open in disbelief.
"Lupin had a point," Gansley shot a glare in Evans' direction, "Evans prides herself for her broomstick skills." Gansley looked James up and down, "Maybe she'll ride your broomstick tonight when you're on rounds together."
James didn't give Evans a chance to defend herself because he was so sick of Gansley's stupidity that he pulled his wand from out of his pocket and waved it at Gansley. Gansley's hands flew to his throat and his eyes widened in panic as he realized what James had done. Gansley opened his mouth and no sound came out. Gansley was stunned for a second before he bolted forward again, fists raised and ready to pummel James. Gansley launched, but James was quicker, flicking his wand up and speaking an incantation out loud to make Gansley stay put.
"Petrificus Totalus."
Gansley fell into a rigid state on the floor of the train. James twirled his wand in his fingers as Evans stared down at Gansley, magically frozen on the floor. Evans gawked at Gansley for a moment before dragging her eyes back up to James. The other prefects were frozen in their seats, unsure of what to do.
Remus looked physically sick, "That was my fault."
"Don't be stupid." James snapped at Remus, "That was all Gansley."
Evans' voice cracked in disbelief, "Holy shit."
"Right." James said, interrupting Evans' quiet voice and reaching up to tousle his hair furiously, "Anyone else got a problem with Evans and I as your Head Girl and Boy?"
No one moved.
Remus had his face in his heads, as if he were crying into them.
"Great." James snarled as he stuffed his wand back into his pocket, "Let's finish this."
Evans tucked her hair behind her ear, dumbstruck. James stepped over Gansley, passing out the copied schedules to the petrified prefects. Evans was probably trying to think of how to administer damage control, but she clearly didn't even know where to begin with James.
Instead, she turned to Remus who just looked tired.
James didn't mind, he had a feeling she was gathering up all the words she could throw at him before meeting him head to head for a fight. James pointed out highlighted portions on the calendars. He explained how to read them and ignored Evans deliberately, knowing he'd just face her afterwards.
"As prefects you're only required to do one nightly rotation a week." James explained as everyone still stared at Gansley, stationary on the floor, "if there are any problems with your schedule, please let me or Evans know. We're here to make your lives easier."
"Potter is right." Evans cleared her throat, "That is, if your grades are slipping because you can't keep up with both, please let us know. We won't judge you. We'll help you."
James didn't miss one of the Ravenclaws hiss to her friend, "Help us, or hex us?"
Her friend snickered.
James bent down and eloquently placed the last piece of parchment on Gansley's face. If Evans heard the Ravenclaw girl and her friend, she chose to ignore them. Gansley was breathing, the parchment rose and fell back onto his stony face as he breathed. All James could keep thinking about was Headmaster Dumbledore's face when he heard about what happened in the prefect compartment on the train. James hoped the old man at least gave James a minute to explain why Gansley needed to be muzzled.
Everyone in the room looked at each other curiously, still rendered speechless by the meetings events. It wasn't too often one saw a Gryffindor stick up for a Slytherin, especially when it happened to be two very well-known rival quidditch players. James was sure he'd set an impression amongst the newest prefects. Remus had suggested James be memorable, it just probably wasn't memorable in the way Remus meant. Based on Evans' disgruntled stares through the rest of the meeting, James had a feeling she didn't appreciate his tactics to shut up Gansley.
"Let us know if you have any questioned about the schedule," Evans said when she finished explaining the rules, "You're all dismissed. Our next meeting will be October first and we'll be planning the Hogsmede trip."
James looked down at Gansley, who hadn't moved the entire half hour long meeting. Gansley had clearly been hurt by James and Evans getting the top positions. James inclined over Gansley, staring at the Ravenclaw with a hard-pressed jaw. James wondered how many days detention he'd get for this one. Maybe he could convince Sirius to pull a prank to go with him.
Remus passed James and they swapped annoyed looks.
"See you in a few." Remus muttered, "I'll save you a liquorish wand."
"Tell Sirius to avenge me." James muttered back, "incase Evans poisons me."
Remus clapped James on the back before leaving James alone with Evans and Gansley's frozen body. Outside the train windows, clouds were forming in the west, promising a storm. The compartment was too quiet, Evans was practically bouncing back and forth on the balls of her feet, anxious. James shoved his hands into his pockets.
"You can't blame me." He muttered, "Gansley was being a prick."
Evans refused to look at James, "you can't go around hexing people for fun, Potter."
James almost got whiplash from turning his head so fast.
"I didn't do it for fun." James stared at Evans incredulously, "I did it because Gansley was-"
"Doing what he always does," Evans interrupted James.
"Doesn't make it right."
Evans faltered back a step, her face glowing red, "It doesn't matter." she said hotly, "You still can't go around hexing students you don't agree with, Potter."
"Yeah well," James stood upright, "he was annoying me."
"So, you hexed him?" Lily sounded exasperated.
"Reflex." James observed shrewdly, looking down and nudging Gansley's foot with his own, "He'll be fine, look, his eyes are moving."
Evans pressed her hand to her forehead, "You're supposed to be setting an example."
"I did set an example."
"A good example."
James sent her a sickly-sweet smile meant to antagonize her, "Isn't teaching respect for your superiors, good?"
"I can take care of myself if that's what you're insinuating," Evans said, "Besides, Gansley will just go right to Professor Dumbledore at the feast to have us removed from our positions because you couldn't keep your wand down!"
"So sorry for sticking up for you." James replied snottily, "Next time I'll just let someone keep talking about how you fucked your way to the top of the leaderboard."
"Why do you even care what people say about me?" Evans asked, "you're just as bad as any of them."
"I am not."
"You can't pretend like I don't know the number of times you've gotten detention for hexing other students." Evans deadpanned, sending him a critical frown, "My best mate happens to be one of the blokes you like to use as target practice."
"Yeah." James said, disgruntled, "Like he doesn't use me for target practice just as often?"
"What?" Evans' eyes flashed dangerously, warning him that she was prepared to jinx him herself.
"Look," he said bitterly, "I'll undo the tongue-tied jinx on Gansley…just don't look at me like that, please. You're acting like my mother."
"Your mother?" Evans gaped at James, clearly offended.
James snickered as he leaned down towards Gansley, "Don't fret, Evans. She's a lovely woman."
James waved his wand in a circle and heard a groan erupt from Gansley's open mouth. James stood up straight and Evans raised her eyebrows at him expectantly.
"What?" James asked, sensing she'd let him know what she thought without his prompting.
"Aren't you going to take the body bind off him too?"
"And let Gansley have the chance to attack me again when I turn to leave?" James shook his head, "No way, it was a simple body binding. It should wear off by the time we make it to Hogsmede."
James walked past her, tucking his wand back into his pocket. Evans huffed, and she chased after him.
"So, you're just going to leave him?!"
James turned so quickly that Evans almost ran into him. She came to a skidding halt in the train corridor. Other students tried moving around them. Evans' shoulders kept getting hit by students who were watching the fight between the two seventh years students carefully.
"If I go wake him up, I have to apologize." James said under his breath so people couldn't eavesdrop, "And I don't regret what I did."
Evans pouted her lower lip, "The mature thing would be to apologize."
"It didn't bother you?" James asked pointedly with narrowed eyes, "What Gansley said about you?"
Evans tucked her hair behind her ear as she looked up at him, "Gansley is just mad because you got Head Boy and he's jealous."
"He seems pretty bitter about you getting Head Girl too," James noted warily.
"I clearly don't agree with him, but you'll note how I didn't hex him." Evans said through clenched teeth.
"You're welcome for having the bravery to do what you lacked the courage for." James fake bowed, "I take payment in Swift Broomsticks tickets."
"I'll give you a swift broomstick up your arse," Evans threatened, "if you don't go apologize to Gansley, with me."
"Gansley was a prick to you and you really want to apologize?" James narrowed his eyes at her.
Evans stood up taller, "I am Head Girl and I can't just leave a student on the floor in the prefect cabin."
"Most Slytherins would walk away and leave their enemies on the ground." James crossed his arms, "Your bloke Severus does it quite often, in fact. You ought to take a leaf from his book, eh?"
"Oh, don't act like you're better than Sev in any way." Evans shot at James, "You've always hated Sev, ever since he beat your scores in Potions."
"I could care less about what grades that git gets." James shot back nastily, "I can still out duel him."
"Merlin," Evans pressed a hand to her forehead, "You're just as pigheaded as the rest of the boys in this school."
"What?" James implored, "Evans, I am nothing like your Slytherin boys."
"You aren't acting like it right now." she retorted.
James, taken aback, just stared at her. She was unlike anything he imagined because she had that side to her, the soft side that wanted to apologize to blokes who'd wronged her. She was calling him out on all his bluffs. It was infuriating but also, refreshing. When James didn't answer her right away, Evans threw her hands up in defeat and turned back to the compartment where Gansley lay on the cold hard ground, "And here I thought Gryffindors were supposed to be chivalrous, but it turns out I was wrong, you're all just cowards."
"We are chivalrous!" James shouted after her as she started going back to Gansley, "Evans! Oi!"
Evans ignored him and reentered the prefect compartment. James kicked out angrily, grabbing a fistful of his hair atop his head. He hated that he knew Evans was right because Merlin, did he hate to be wrong.
Especially around a Slytherin.
James cursed and stalked back to the prefect compartment resentfully. Stupid Evans and her stupid chivalry comment. She knew just how to make James feel like the biggest asshole to walk the school hallways. James paused in the doorway when he saw Gansley had been woken up and was talking to Evans.
Gansley rubbed his calves like they were still locked together, "Thank you."
Evans wrinkled her nose, "I didn't know you would be that peeved to find out Potter got Head Boy."
"Yeah." Gansley mumbled rather bitterly, "well, surely puts things into perspective. It's all a popularity contest."
"If that were the case." Evans said softly, "I wouldn't have been Dumbledore's first pick."
James took that moment to step into the compartment. His eyes met Evans' and he saw she was serious about feeling as if she weren't popular. Everyone knew who she was, everyone in Slytherin seemed to think she was okay. James wondered what made her so self-conscience.
Gansley spotted James and snarled, ripping his wand from his own pocket.
"Relax Gansley." James rolled his eyes, "I'm not going to kick your arse again."
"You tongue tied me," Gansley spluttered, jumping up in defense only to waver on his unstable legs, "And then you jinxed me!"
"Yeah, well, you were being a git." James shrugged.
"Don't listen to Potter, Gansley," Evans warned the Ravenclaw Prefect, "He was prepared to leave you here until Hogsmede."
"I was," James admitted, "But then Evans reminded me that as a Gryffindor I'm supposed to be a chivalrous git."
"You're too late to be chivalrous," Evans retorted, "so you're still just a massive git."
"I ought to report the both of you to Headmaster Dumbledore." Gansley adjusted his scarf, "This isn't proper Head behavior."
James' eyebrows flew up, "I wouldn't do that Gansley because then I'd report you for being a misogynistic arse to your Head Girl."
Gansley glared at James with every bit of hatred written on his face, "You don't deserve Head Boy, Potter."
"That might be right." James reasoned, "But for whatever reason, Dumbledore picked me so you'll just have to deal with it."
"You've got more detentions than anybody! You spent half of fourth year in detention for that willow incident with Severus Snape." Gansley snarled as James sent a quick look to gauge Evans' reaction. She didn't let her facial features move, but her eyes met his just as quickly.
"The willow incident was wiped from my record." James adjusted his robes, "And you don't have any idea what you're talking about anyways, Gansley, so I'd keep your opinions to yourself."
"I've got a perfect record!" Gansley protested, "Why would Dumbledore not pick me?"
James sighed, "I've got leadership from quidditch, experience doing rounds with Remus Lupin, and I know that castle like it's the back of my hand. I'm just as qualified as you, Gansley. Sorry my headship repute doesn't precede my detention sum."
Gansley sniffed before sending James a disgruntled look, "we don't have to do rounds together right?"
James leered at Gansley's keen dislike, "Gansley, I will personally see to it that we don't ever have to do rounds together."
Gansley sniffed and straightened his robes, "That's all I ask."
James stepped out of the way to let Gansley leave the compartment. Evans sucked in a deep breath before pushing her hair away from her face. James wandered her way, dropping to her level, on his knees. She was picking fingernail polish from her nails, shunning his stare.
"I think that was handled well." He smiled at her roguishly, waiting for her to face him.
"Why are you even here?" Evans glared at him, "you wanted to leave Gansley here."
"And I could have," James replied, "Had you not made me feel guilty as shit."
"I made you feel guilty?" Evans asked doubtfully.
James said, rather hurt by her words, "I have been known to show a bit of modesty once or twice in my life, Evans."
Evans' eyes flickered up at him, "I know. You saved Sev from the willow in fourth year."
James swallowed and stood up, backing away from her, "Yeah well, that wasn't an example I was thinking of."
"Still," Evans said, "you did it."
"Just do me a favor." James asked, "Don't ever compare me to a Slytherin like Snape, ever again."
Evans pushed back her fringe, "You say that like it's a bad thing."
"It is a bad thing."
Evans snorted and stuffed her wand in her pocket, "You are so biased."
"Are you blind?" James shot at her, "what kind of people do you think you're hanging out with."
"The world isn't split into good people and death eaters." Evans said, "you're always so ready to assume anyone in Slytherin is bad you don't take the chance to get to know them."
"Well," James said coldly, "I don't need to get to know people like Snape and Knott to know what they're all about."
"Do you have a problem with my friends?"
"I saw them with you after the concert." James shot back, "Snape and Knott are both wanna be Death Eaters. Look at who they position themselves around. Mulciber? I mean, Evans, he's the worst out of all of them."
"Mulciber and I aren't friends." Evans said frostily, "And Severus is nothing like Mulciber."
"Oh," James pretended to look mesmerized, "You're right, he just bullies muggleborns for the Hell of it than."
"Severus would never!" she seemed so sure, as if she didn't see Snape bully the younger muggleborns at Hogwarts, "he's not like that."
"You're either a really good liar Evans." James said, "or Snape has been hiding a lot from you."
"You think you know everything, Potter." she snarled feverishly, "But you're just prejudiced because you can't accept that maybe there's some Slytherins in the world who don't fit the mold you try and shove them into."
"I don't shove all of them into a mold."
"You assume Sev is a bad person because of who he hangs around with," Evans said, "you assume I'm like the rest of them just because of who I hang out with. You absolutely shove every Slytherin into your Death Eater mold. Why?"
James licked his lips before saying darkly, "you should ask Sirius Black why Slytherin is full of psychotic pureblood lunatics."
Evans shook her head, "So you think I'm a psychotic pureblood raging lunatic?"
James brushed her away, "I think you're raging mad, Evans, but psychotic seems a little much."
Evans half-laughed. James shoved his hand into his pocket uncomfortably. Lily let out a long sigh as she smoothed the hair on the back of her head. James realized he might've overstepped, especially when she saw the wide frown on her face as she continued picking at her nail polish.
"I'm sorry." He said softly and her head shot up, "You're right, I shouldn't shove everyone into a mold. I don't like when people do that to me so I shouldn't do it to others."
Evans stopped picking at her polish to nod curtly at James, "thanks for apologizing."
"It's going to be a little odd," James said, "playing on the same team for the first time in our entire lives."
Evans finally looked up at him and he saw she looked a little more lenient, "it will certainly take some getting used to."
"We might surprise each other." James teased, 'Maybe even become friends."
Evans crossed her arms again, "Don't push your luck, Potter."
"Hey," James said, "we can listen to Swift Broomsticks and I'll teach you a west country accent. We can bond."
Evans rolled her eyes, "I knew from the moment you walked into this compartment that you'd be nothing but trouble for me."
"You'll never be bored, Evans."
"Don't think I'll let you slip by on your duties for even a second." Evans warned.
"You already let me sneak past with alcohol," James commented smartly, "Don't try to be a hard arse starting now."
"You have an annoyingly impeccable memory." Evans scrunched up her nose.
"I know," he agreed, "See you after the feast, for rounds."
"Bye."
James saluted Evans before walking out.
James had no sooner walked into the cabin where Sirius, Peter and Remus were eating candy when Sirius burst into a slow clap. James bowed, knowing Remus had likely already told them the whole story. Peter threw a bit of candy at James' head.
"Our man of the evening." Sirius cheered, "Mr. Head Boy Potter! Knocking out prefects and fighting with Slytherins the first hour in!"
"Ha ha." James shot Remus a stare, "Couldn't keep your mouth shut, could you, Remus?"
Remus grimaced, "Sirius asked how it went, and who was I to keep such a great story from him?"
"Thanks Remus." James said, ruffling Remus' mousy hair, "Really helpful."
"I can't believe you knocked out Kip Gansley on your first day on the job." Sirius barked with laughter, "Brilliant. I've always hated him."
"Gansley is a git." James agreed, grabbing a chocolate bar, "And Evans still apologized to him."
"She what?" Remus raised a brow at James, "She apologized to him? But he was the one being an arse!"
"That's what I said." James bit into his chocolate unrestrainedly.
Remus shook his head, "she's too nice."
"Too nice?" James said with a mouthful of chocolate, "are we talking about the same girl?"
"I'm with Prongs on this one," Sirius said, "She tried to castrate me in fourth year when I made fun of Snivellus"
"You know," James said delightfully, "I do believe she would've done the world if she had managed to castrate you."
"Oi!" Sirius jumped up and put James' head in a headlock, "You're on my side!"
"Imagine little Padfoot's running around." James continued, "Absolutely terrifying. I'll have to see if she wouldn't mind still preforming the castration."
Remus crossed his legs as he ripped open candy fruit flies, "Even more terrifying than little Prongsies running around?"
"They'd have better hair." James said from Sirius' arms.
"Your hair is shite, Potter." Sirius said, knuckling James' hair in response.
James managed to grab ahold of one of Sirius' shoelaces and yanked hard, throwing Sirius off balance enough that the both of them came crashing down on Peter. The boys wrestled until the train started slowing down and Hogsmede appeared in the windows. It was dark by the time the seventh years made it to the Hogwarts halls.
The castle was warm, and teachers were calling for the students to get to their respective house tables. James passed Evans on the way to the Gryffindor table but she didn't look his way and she was seemingly arguing with Severus Snape under her breath.
Sirius noted their arguing too and muttered, "Trouble in paradise."
James shot Sirius a look as they sat down at the end of the Gryffindor table. The first years came into the hall last to be sorted. The sorting ceremony was an hour long and James' stomach was growling loudly by the end of it. When the food finally appeared magically, James stuffed his face with mashed potatoes and leek soup.
Some members of the Gryffindor Quidditch team found James and they started talking about the first practice. Dessert was just as good as dinner and James had to lean back as he walked, feeling as if he'd eaten a hippogriff. James directed prefects from Gryffindor and Hufflepuff to take first years to the common rooms and was about to head to find Evans for rounds when he ran right into her in the entrance hall.
She almost stumbled backwards from colliding into his chest, so he grabbed her arm and yanked her forward again. She laughed nervously, tucking her hair behind her ear.
"Hi," she said, "Sorry, I was just looking for you. Thanks for taking care of Hufflepuff."
"No problem." James said, "Thanks for getting Ravenclaw."
"My friend is a prefect in Ravenclaw." Evans explained, "She pretty much took over."
"Ready to do rounds?" James asked, "We've got three hours of boredom ahead of us."
"Yeah, let's go." Evans said.
Snape appeared suddenly from the Great Hall. James took a step back as Snape pushed his way to face Evans. Snape placed one hand on her shoulder as he passed a quick glare at James over his shoulder. James made a face at Snape, hating the way he always had to check on Evans. She was a grown adult, she didn't need a baby sitter.
"See you in the common room." Snape smiled at Evans, "I'll save you a spot by the fireplace."
"Thanks Sev," Evans smiled kindly at her friend, "But I'll probably be tired, I'll just head to bed."
"Okay," Snape looked back at James with distrust, "Be careful."
"Sev." Evans hissed, suddenly seeming annoyed, "It's fine, go!"
"Lily! James!"
Professor Dumbledore swept towards them as soon as Severus had left. The Headmaster wore a set of blue robes that seemed to only make his wide blue eyes pop eccentrically. James and Evans both laughed uncomfortably as Dumbledore swept each of them up into warm handshakes and smiles.
"Glad to see you both received your badges." He said, "Are you okay with the schedule?"
"Yes." Evans spoke before James could, politely, "Thank you for this opportunity. We won't disappoint you, sir."
"It's an easy job." Dumbledore promised them both, "I will be checking up on the both of you throughout the year but if there are any pressing questions, please consort with Professor McGonagall."
"Thank you, Professor." James hoped that Gansley wouldn't talk to anyone about what happened on the train.
Dumbledore smiled at them both, "I'm off for a nightcap. You two have fun, get to know each other. Tonight should be quiet as it's the first night back. Professor Slughorn is the teacher on duty tonight but you can reach any of us through the portraits."
Dumbledore shook their hands once more before setting off. Professor McGonagall waved at them both as she left for her own office. They were left alone in the Entrance Hall with a few stragglers heading to the dormitories for bed. One of those taking their time leaving the entrance hall was a new Professor. Dumbledore had introduced her as Professor Rogers, the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. The orange-haired witch smiled at James and Evans kindly as she passed.
"I was Head Girl in my day." Rogers winked at Evans, "Hope your first night is more exciting than mine was."
Rogers spoke with a thick Irish accent and waved cheerily as she passed them, heading for the staircase. Evans stared after the new teacher for a moment before she sighed deeply and shot James a polite smile.
"Ready?"
James gestured for her to lead the way, "as ready as ever."
Evans led the way through the halls. James followed on her heels, watching the way the dark shadows fell across her blood red hair from behind. She was wearing her Slytherin robes and they looked black in the night filled hallways. Whenever they stepped under torches though, she glowed green. Evans didn't talk much, only enough to ask James if he minded checking the seventh floor.
"Whatever you think is best." James replied, "You know more than I do."
Evans fell back to fall into step with him, "You mentioned to Gansley that you used to do rounds with Lupin."
James' hands automatically shot to his hair nervously, "Oh, uh, yeah. I'd get bored and Remus always invited me on rounds."
Evans raised one of her eyebrows perceptively, "you got bored and went on rounds?" she seemed amused, "There wasn't anything else you could do with your time?"
James, uncomfortable under her discerning stare, shrugged. He didn't know how to tell her that sometimes, Remus felt so sick that he just couldn't do rounds alone. On those nights, James went with him to scout ahead and deal with any real trouble. Sometimes Remus was just too weak around the full moon to do his job and James hated seeing Remus try to be so good when he felt so bad.
"I like to go looking for trouble."
His Evans-friendly answer was accepted immediately by the red-haired witch. She snorted and shook her head, seemingly unsurprised by his snark.
"Yes, you certainly do."
Next Time:
"So my dad invented sleakeazy's because the Potter's have this notoriously thick hair?" Potter pointed at his scalp, "and uh, well, he sold the company right after I was born, so I don't know much else about it."
"His father was a few years ahead of me at Hogwarts," Slughorn said proudly, "He was the best brewer in his year." Slughorn squeezed Potter's shoulders and Lily wondered if Potter was sweating, "If only you had his talent for potion brewing instead of his talent for trouble…Mr. Potter."
"Yeah, that's James." Black barked with laughed from his seat, "Family disappointment."
Thanks everyone for your reviews and notes! I love how invested you all are already in this story. A lot of you have asked about chapter numbers for this and I currently have it plotted anywhere between 12-17 chapters. Until next week!
xxx
Petals