Disclaimer: I'm not JKR or John Denver

'Feasts and First Days'

Or

'Back Home Again'

Dear Miss Evans,

We are pleased to inform you that you are this year's Head Girl. We know that you will take this responsibility seriously. You and your fellow head will be responsible for organizing prefect patrols and you will also be responsible for tutoring or organizing tutoring for students. Each head student will also have a separate room in the dormitories. Our selection for Head Boy is Mr. James Potter.

Sincerely,

Minerva McGonagall, Deputy Headmistress of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

Lily scanned the parchment again. Potter was Head Boy? Literally the most irresponsible boy in their year was Head Boy? Dumbledore was off his rocker. But she was HEAD GIRL! Lily dropped her parchment on her bed.

"Mum! Dad! Petunia!" Lily yelled. She dashed down the steps, waving her badge like a shiny banner. "I'm Head Girl!"

"Bye Tuney!" I said, giving my grudging sister a hug. She tried to smile at me, though it was half grimace.

"See you next year" she grumbled. I grinned and hugged my parents' goodbye.

"Be sure to write!" My mum urged.

"And don't go around with boys" Dad warned, his eyes twinkling. I rolled my eyes and grabbed my trunk and cat, sending a mental goodbye to my house. I smiled remembering all the lazy days eating and sleeping and attacking Tuney with the hose when her back was turned and watching the telly with Mum and Dad. I turned on the spot and reappeared on platform 9 ¾. It was 10: 50. I needed to get on the train.

As I hoisted my trunk onto the train, I felt some of the weight being lifted off the other side and glanced up. Potter, his Head Boy badge gleaming in the sun. "Um, thanks" I said awkwardly as I grabbed my cat carrier. "How was your summer?"

"Meh, nothing much happened, really. I played Quidditch with my mates and ate a lot" he answered. I grinned a little awkwardly. "What did you do?" he asked.

"Slept. Ate. Sprayed Tuney with the hose. Watched the telly."

"The what?"

"The telly- you know, movies, TV shows?"

"It's like, some sort of moving picture? Kind of like wizard photos?"

"Yeah. I'll have to show you some movies sometime!" I said, then realized what I'd said and waited, dreaded the suggestive comment that was likely to come after my idea. Surprisingly, Potter just nodded and smiled.

"I'd like that" He turned and disappeared, leaving me a bit flustered.

"What was that?" I muttered to myself as I dragged my trunk down the corridor, looking for my friends.

"Lils!" I heard a squeal from behind me. I turned.

"Mary!" I hugged her. "How was France? Here, let me put my trunk up then you can tell me all about it." I settled in my seat and let my tabby cat, Minnie, out of her basket. She was named by the Marauders. I was cuddling her while she was a kitten in the common room and Potter and Black were talking about McGonagall and calling her Minnie of all things. They mentioned that she can turn into a tabby cat and started calling my cat Minnie. Eventually, the name stuck. Honestly, I think I've seen Dumbledore asking my cat about lesson plans.

"France was amazing! That water!" Mary swooned. "It was so blueeee."

"You talking about France?" a voice came from the doorway. I glanced up.

"Marlene!" Mary and I tackled her in a hug. Minnie yowled at the disturbance.

"Glad to see you too!" Marlene joked, her pink glossed lips curving into a smile.

"How was your summer?" Mary asked.

"Okay. I'll tell you more about it later, but mostly I went over to the Potter's for dinner a few times and ate and annoyed my brothers and swam. What about you two?"

"Pretty good. I annoyed Petunia and ate and slept pretty much. Watched the telly a lot."

"France was brilliant-!" Mary went into a long-winded explanation about her trip. I glanced at my watch.

"I got to go! Prefect's meeting"

"Oh yeah, you're Head Girl! Cool, good luck with the meeting"

As I passed the compartments, I thought about the meeting. I was kind of nervous. What if I messed up? I wasn't paying attention and ran into someone.

"Lily flower! Spiffing to see you here, how was your summer?" Black greeted me. His stormy gray eyes crinkled down at me in a smile and his black hair glistened. He really was quite good looking.

"Ah, decent" I said. "I have to go to the prefects meeting now. Did your friends go yet?"

"They just left. I won't detain you any longer" He grinned, winked and tipped an imaginary hat at me before disappearing into another compartment. I heard sighs and turned to see starry eyed girls swooning after Sirius. I rolled my eyes and continued my journey to the prefect's compartment.

"Stop it" I heard. I realized that Potter was ahead of me in the corridor holding back a girl with glossy brown hair in a ponytail. Across from her was a tall Ravenclaw boy whose wand was in Remus's hand.

"No! He was trying to feel up my little sister when she told him to stop!" she struggled against James.

"She was kissing me!" the boy protested. Remus growled a little.

"Just because she was kissing you doesn't mean you are entitled to her body" he snapped, eyes flaring with anger. People were gathering to watch the scene unfolding. A shorter girl with the same brown eyes as the girl James was holding back spoke up.

"Why don't we just forget this?" she said nervously, chewing her hair. James turned on her.

"We cannot just 'forget about this'" he said. "What he did was wrong." I stepped forward.

"What's going on here?" Potter looked up, relief clear in his hazel eyes.

"Malcolm here was trying to feel up Emily and she told him no but he continued and Sarah her older sister tried to punch him" he said in a rush.

"I see. Malcolm, 15 points from Ravenclaw and detention. Haven't you had the universal keep your hands to yourself drummed into your head?"

"It seems he hasn't" Remus mused. "Keep your hands to yourself."

"As much as I admire your wish to mash this wanker to a pulp, the establishment makes me obligated to give you detention instead, so detention, Sarah" James sighed, releasing her. She glowered ferociously at Malcolm and dragged her sister away. I walked up to James.

"You handled that well" I complimented him. He wiped a hand over his face.

"Thanks" he muttered.

"I mean it" I said sincerely. He smiled at me and I noticed for the first time how nice his eyes were. Then he ran his hand through his hair and ruined it. I pushed the door to the prefect's compartment open and stepped up to the desk, Potter following me and Remus seating himself in a chair at the middle. Once all the prefects assembled, I turned to face them.

"Hi, I'm your Head Boy, James Potter" Potter said before I could say anything. I heard a 'Well, duh' from the back of the room.

"And I am your Head Girl, Lily Evans" I introduced myself. "Now, there isn't much to discuss, but we will have a prefect meeting every month and we will assign patrol duties then."

"I have the schedule right here, so look at it before you leave." Potter spoke up, waving a stack of parchment around his head. I stifled a giggle. He looked ridiculous waving the papers around. One fluttered to the floor and he scrambled after it, cheeks red.

"Gryffindor's password is Silver Arrow and Slytherin's is Eel Eyes. If you have any questions regarding the schedule or anything else, come to me or Po- James" I amended. If we were to be working together, we might as well be on first name basis, right?

"See you next month!" James said. The prefects filed out, glancing at the schedule before they left until it was just James and me. I glanced awkwardly at James.

"Well, erm, nice seeing you I suppose."

"Likewise," he muttered back, swinging his bag over his shoulder and throwing a quick smile over his shoulder as he left.

I gathered my things and left in search my friends. I plopped down on the seat and stroked my cat.

"How was the meeting?" Marlene asked.

"Meh, fine. Potter is Head Boy, so he'd better be responsible" I reached over and swiped a pumpkin pasty from my friend. Marlene raised an eyebrow.

"I thought you would throw a tantrum"

I snorted. "Please, I'm not immature."

"Oh yeah, you're so mature. Yelling at Potter day and night and nitpicking everything he does." I blushed.

"Well sorry" I muttered. Marlene merely smiled. We continued chatting and reading until the train slid to a stop at Hogsmeade station. We rode up to the castle in the musty smelling carriages and climbed out at the enormous doors to the Great Hall, finding seats at the Gryffindor table and taking them. The Marauders seated themselves a little down the table. I glanced over at the Slytherin table and caught Severus's eye. He was flanked by the usual Avery and Mulciber. I looked away.

Professor McGonagall strode to the center of the hall carrying a tattered hat on a stool and trailed by a gaggle of nervous looking first years. She set the stool down and stepped back. The rip-mouth opened and sang:

"In times of old when I was new,

And barely just been bought,

Old Godric swept me off his head and said,

We as pillars four,

Will imbue your every pore,

With magic old and new,

To make you think so you can link,

Those of nerve and daring,

To Godric Gryffindor,

And those of loyal caring,

To Helga Hufflepuff,

One who values wisdom,

Will stay with Ravenclaw,

And those of great cunning,

Will go to Slytherin,

So, plop me on and I will see,

Which of the pillars four,

You will spend your stay therein,

And learn the most from."

Everybody clapped and McGonagall called the first name. After the sorting where Gryffindor gained 13 new students (yes!), Dumbledore stood and told us all to eat (and a few other words no one understood). The delicious food appeared and we all dug in, the older students laughing at the awe on the first years' faces.

"Want some peas?" I asked Mary, dishing some for myself. Mary wrinkled her nose and glanced at her plate.

"Nah, not right now"

"I wonder where Emmeline and Hestia are?" Marlene mused, buttering a piece of bread

"We'll see them in the dorm" I said. I lost myself in my thoughts as I ate. Eventually, dessert (treacle tart!) was served and the Marauders slid down the bench to my side.

"Oh, come on Evans!" Sirius enthused.

"Smile!" Remus coaxed.

"Be happy!" Peter suggested.

"We're back at Hogwarts!" James said. I stared at them, puzzled.

"What?" I asked.

"You were scowling?" James faltered slightly.

"Oh!" I laughed. "I was just thinking."

"Okay, just wanted to make sure you aren't mad at me, I'm trying to be cordial this year."

Oh, let's see, you are a git, you constantly prank everyone, you constantly hex others, you don't take your education seriously, you are always goofing off rather than focusing on school, you and your mates have life SOOO easy and you've got no problems, the list goes on and on and on and on. I forced those thoughts down. I knew that he had problems and that he and his friends cared about their education, they just liked laughs, but I couldn't help it after years of despising the boy.

"Brilliant." I muttered.

They started joking and I ignored them, Sirius consuming his food with indecent gusto.

Marlene stared at him. "You do know that if you continue to eat that fast, you're probably going to barf." I looked up at the sound of Marlene's voice and grinned. My friend was hilarious sometimes.

"Wonderful" James said sarcastically. Sirius managed to snicker around his bulging cheeks. I shot him a look. I turned to Remus, to ask him how his summer was.

"Okay. I traveled to Belgium for a week. We ate a ton of chocolate and waffles."

"You ate quaffles?" James inquired, jokingly. Remus rolled his eyes good naturedly at James.

"Yes. They were delicious little bits of leather drenched in chocolate and whipped cream." He quipped, just as Dumbledore stood to make his beginning of the year speech.

"Welcome, welcome, I hope you have all had delightful summers and are looking forward to the year ahead. A few rather important announcements, firstly, I wish for you all to know that the forest is no longer highly discouraged, it is the Forbidden Forest." His eyes twinkled toward the Marauders before continuing. "Secondly, your heads of houses will distribute your course schedules during breakfast tomorrow. Lastly, I want you all to know that Mr. Filch has told me to tell you that he has a new- larger than last year's - list of banned items and actions. I hope that you all sleep well and that pleasant dreams shall fill your minds. You may all go to your common rooms now."

After Professor Dumbledore dismissed the hall, everyone slowly rose from their tables, the prefects calling to the first years. I pushed through them with my friends. At least the Heads didn't have to herd the first years.

"First years, this way! The password is 'Silver Arrow'" I heard Remus shouting. I pushed through the crowd looking for James. I saw the back of his head and ran up to his side, tapping him on the shoulder. He turned toward me, surprise clear in his eyes. I could see Sirius over his shoulder looking rather down.

"Erm, you know we have separate rooms, right?" I asked. He looked surprised.

"We do?"

"Yeah, didn't you read the whole letter?"

"To be honest? No."

"Prongs here was in mourning about his appointment so he never finished the letter." Sirius volunteered with a grin that didn't quite reach his eyes, I noticed.

"How did you know I was Head Girl then?"

"It was pretty obvious, you know" James snorted. I raised an eyebrow.

"Well, just thought I'd let you know" I turned and slipped away through the crowd.

I climbed the stairs to girl's dormitory and pushed the door open.

"Hi Emme" I greeted my friend who was bent over her trunk and flopped on the bed.

"Hi guys!" she chirped, pulling out her toothbrush and sticking it in her mouth.

"How was your summer? I didn't see you at the feast." I replied.

"My family just stuck around the house all summer. It was so nice to be around the farm for a change and to take my horse riding around the lakes and in the hills. I spent my whole summer outdoors pretty much. It was great. Oh, and, I was visiting all my friends in other houses." Emmeline was a huge supporter of inter-house unity. I nodded, acknowledging her words, then turned to Marlene who hadn't been her usual chirpy self today.

"Okay, Marlene. Spill."

Marlene took a deep breath and closed her eyes. "Gran died this summer. "My eyes widened.

"Oh Marlene, I'm so sorry." I breathed. Marlene shook her head, her eyes glistening.

"It's fine. She was old. She died July 14th, her 100th birthday." Marlene sighed. "But her last words were 'Kill that psychopathic bastard Voldy if you do nothing else.' She was the best." She laughed a little.

"That's an inspiring description of You-Know-Who." Emmeline tossed over her shoulder.

Mary giggled, a small smile forming on her lips. "That's not a half of what she used to say. I loved being around her. I have so many good memories with her. We'd laugh and play games and so many more things." Marlene then proceeded to retell stories about her grandmother.

"Ok, so she- "Marlene laughed "- She would always find new ways to describe people. For example, she once called You-Know–Who a spineless, evil, rotting, snakelike, psychotic. She's said funnier things, but that's the perfect description, I think."

"Spineless, rotting!" I giggled. "That really is perfect." Hestia emerged from the bathroom and yawned.

"What are you giggling about?" She inquired, tossing her hairbrush into her trunk and slipping between her sheets.

"Nothing." I replied. I sat up and stretched to get stuff from my trunk.

"You know, if you just got up and walked around to face it, it would be easier to find your stuff." Emmy supplied tonelessly, pulling a quilt over her head and sighing with contentment.

"Where is my trunk?" I wondered. Marlene chuckled and pulled on her pajamas. I groaned and dragged myself lazily off the bed, then facepalmed. "Duh! It's in my room."

Hestia's eyes widened. "You have a ROOM?!"

"Yeah. It's at the top of the girl's staircase" I said casually, turning to leave the room. "G'night."

"Good night" Marlene whispered back. I left, climbing the stairs to my room. It was brilliant. The four poster was in the middle of the right wall and there was a window seat for reading on the opposite wall. There was a bookcase and desk and a soft, worn rug. My trunk was at the end of the bed and there was a door leading to a small private bathroom. There was a corkboard over the desk. I quickly changed and brushed my teeth, then fell into bed and closed my eyes, reveling in the softness of the sheets. I flicked my wand to turn of the light and closed my eyes, falling into a deep, dreamless, slumber. I was back home again.

When I woke in the morning, I was NOT in the mood for class. I slugged down to breakfast and only woke up when I started crying laughing because Mary fell asleep on Peter and overbalanced so she fell face first into his porridge. It was slightly hilarious, I was just too out of it to realize it wasn't as funny as I thought. I got some weird looks.

Then Sprout had her 'I'm disappointed in you but I'm too much of a kind Hufflepuff to tell you so' look when I didn't know the answer to some question on the flutterby bush. Seriously, what is the use of a flutterby bush anyway? It's probably got like, ten million super important uses. Nothing necessary to know.

Of course, in Potions, I was paired with Snape who wouldn't look me in the eye and spoke one-word answers to my own short sentences and got grease all over my homework.

Needless to say, after my long day of classes (DON'T say the first day is always the hardest), I really did not feel like patrolling the corridors, but I had to. Near the end of my two hours, as I was climbing the stairs to the Astronomy tower I heard some sniffling.

"Who's there?" I called, climbing the steps to the Astronomy tower, fully intending to give whoever it was detention and hightail it out of there- the last thing I needed was to sit and hear the woes of an adolescent girl after I'd just finished patrolling the corridors. I climbed the last stair. But it wasn't a heartbroken pubescent girl (there was always a lot of drama during the first few weeks of school when all the boys and girls told their boyfriends or girlfriends about their summer flings).

It was-

A/N: HAHAHEHEHOHO! A cliffhanger! Hope you liked it. It was hard to write this chapter. I originally had a different plan for it, but it was too much for this chapter so I decided to split them.

A big THANK YOU to choc0 chipz who has been reviewing! Readers, use that as an example to REVIEW! Sorry,I'm very happy to have finally finished this chapter. Enjoy!

W-W-A-J-A-L