Notes: To MadeNew, FallingRainForever and shetlandlace, thanks for your support. To flowerypetal, your advice is duly noted. The plot definitely hasn't come into play yet. But it's coming. And also, I didn't really know that I wasn't letting anonymous people review or how to fix it- I'm new to this whole fanfic thing.
And about this update, yeah I know, it's really late. And I'm even writing a song about empty promises. I feel like such a hypocrite.
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Lily walked down to the Gryffindor common room with Venois and Ginger to find Professor McGonagall calling out names and giving each student a folder with their schedule and list of responsibilities in it.
The morning light was spilling in through the diamond-cut window panes, and Lily yawned faintly, closely examining the crowd of first years that had a slightly frightened look to them.
"Ginger Laxdale." McGonagall called out, handing Ginger a red folder with the Gryffindor crest emblazoned on it.
She handed one to Venois as well, and they both opened the folder, studying the schedule carefully.
"Lily." Professor McGonagall said, and handed Lily a black leather planner with Lily's name etched in gold script on the top right corner along with the word 'prefect'.
"That book contains a calendar with your prefect duties already written down there." She said. "And don't lose it, because-" She stopped short and smiled down at Lily, her normally stern features softening. "What am I saying; you are not going to lose it."
Lily smiled, and then opened the book carefully as McGonagall turned back to the other students. The first page was a note in handwritten loopy cursive, and Lily sat down on a squashy red and gold armchair, examining the note closely.
Dear Ms. Evans,
To start, congratulations and good luck on your new assignment!
As you learn of your responsibilities, they may not prove to be easy, but rest assured you will be able to conquer all difficulties with the assistance of your partner.
On a more personal note, I have a piece of counsel for you:
Lily, human beings are deep, complex creatures. Many times their hearts are confused, but in most people you will find that they truly are more than meets the eye. Remember, everyone deserves a second chance.
I have great hopes in you.
Albus Dumbledore
Lily sat at breakfast in the Great Hall, but her toast lay forgotten as she pored over her responsibilities that were written out in the prefect handbook.
Venois sat next to her with Ginger, looking over their schedules for classes. "It looks like we have Muggle Studies first." Ginger said, and then looked at her wristwatch. "And it starts in ten minutes, so-"she stared pointedly at Lily and Venois. "-we'd better get going."
The classroom for Muggle Studies was in the far East wing of Hogwarts, and as Lily walked through the window-covered halls, she felt refreshed from the rays of light pouring in from the still-rising sun. Shaking her long red hair out of her face, she straightened up and walked taller. "This is going to be a good year." Lily said her voice filled with determination.
Ginger laughed at the look on her face, and Venois looked at Lily quizzically. "Someone's in a good mood." She said.
Lily smiled slightly in reply.
When they reached the class and settled in, Lily pulled out her prefect handbook again, unable to restrain herself from worrying over her new duties.
Venois watched her and laughed, shaking her head at Lily's behavior. "Do you know who the boy prefect is?" She asked Lily as she pulled out a fresh piece of parchment and a new quill.
Lily shrugged. "Probably Remus, he's the most responsib-"
"It is Remus." Ginger interrupted with a knowing smile, her dimples appearing as she began to blush.
Venois raised her eyebrows questioningly. "How do you know?" She asked before the understanding immediately dawned on her and she shook her head, looking at Lily with a what-are-we-going-to-do-with-this-girl look on her face.
Professor Avanti, the new Muggle Studies teacher, walked into the classroom, holding a bright orange clipboard in her hands, and looking completely like a muggle, except for the tall neon blue hat that she wore. But apparently this wasn't even to last very long as she stood in front of the class and then, as though she was performing a ceremony, took off her tall pointy witch's hat.
"In this class," She said smoothly, running her hand through her bright pink hair, "we are only, I repeat, only, muggles." She pulled her wand out of the back pocket of her jeans and set it on the desk. "No spells, no incantations, and lastly, no magic allowed." She declared.
The classroom was full of students shuffling around to put their wands back in their book bags. Venois looked at Lily with a questioning look as the professor began handing out bright red notebooks and muggle ink pens.
"As you all must realize," Professor Avanti began as she made her way throughout the classroom, "muggles can be very intelligent people, for instance," She pointed her wand at the blackboard, which instantly depicted a chalk illustration of Albert Einstein, George Washington.
She looked around the classroom. "Does anyone know who this is?" She asked.
Lily raised her hand. "Albert Einstein." She said confidently.
Professor Avanti smiled and nodded, her pink hair bobbing slightly. "Correct. As I was saying, they can be intelligent; many scientists have improved living standards, creating electricity, artificial light, and many other innovations, such as civilized government. Most importantly," She looked at the class, her black eyebrows raised, "They do it all without magic." She pointed her wand
"Pair up." She instructed.
Lily hesitantly looked between Venois and Ginger before Ginger wiggled her eyebrows.
"I'm going to find Remus." She said, her light honey-brown eyes sparkling, and stood up, walking to the desk next to Remus and sitting down lightly.
Lily paired up with Venois as Professor Avanti called out the instructions.
"You will find on the first page of this notebook a list of occupations that muggles usually choose. With this list, you will each choose an occupation and create a muggle identity." She looked up. "This can come in handy if you ever need to go undercover as a muggle." She stood up and handed out a paper with all the instructions on it.
Lily read through the paper with Venois, and was already planning her identity when she heard a loud bang was heard from the back of the classroom.
Apparently she wasn't the only one who heard, as the whole class turned to look. Sirius and James both looked up guiltily, the only ones in the class holding their wands. "Accident." Sirius said with wide eyes, looking at Professor Avanti.
She stood up and looked at Lily and Venois. "You," She said, pointing at Lily, "switch with him." She pointed at Sirius.
Lily closed her eyes exasperatedly and stood up with her pen and notebook in hand, trudging to the back of the classroom as Sirius sauntered to the front. The class went back to their assignment and filled with conversation again.
"Hey, Evans." She heard James say casually as she sat down in the desk next to his. She glanced at him. "Hello, Potter." She said curtly.
James scooted his desk so the edge was aligned with hers. "So, what exactly are we supposed to be doing?" He asked with a sheepish grin.
Lily stared at him. "You weren't paying attention at all, were you?"
James shook his head. "Who cares about muggles anyway?" He laughed.
Lily's jaw dropped. "My whole family is made up of muggles." She said coldly, looking him directly in the eyes.
James looked taken aback. "Oh, sorry. I forgot-"
Lily's tense mouth broke into a smile and she laughed, looking at his hesitant expression. "I'm just joking; it doesn't bother me that much." She said, shrugging her shoulders.
James rumpled his hair in relief, a crooked grin spreading across his face as he watched Lily. She straightened the sheet of paper with the instructions on it, and then looked up at him. "So, the assignment…"
James leaned in and studied the list over Lily's shoulder, his grin still in place.
"So," he said, straightening to write down some notes in his red notebook, "I'm going to be an actor, and my name will be…" He looked at her as she waited for his decision, "Renovio Kensington."
Lily gaped at him, the corner of her mouth curving upward into a teasing smile. "An actor?" She asked incredulously.
James looked right back at her. "Of course." He said simply. "With my good looks and natural charm, I should be a hit."
Lily rolled her eyes, stifling a laugh. "Somehow I'm not surprised."
James shifted in his seat mock-indignantly. "Fine then, what are you going to be?"
Lily looked down at her notebook. "My name is Adelaide Hampton and I will be a singer." She answered, her cheeks tinged with a slight blush.
It was James' turn to stare this time. "You can sing professionally?" He grinned, turning to face her completely.
Lily nodded. "I sang on "Britain's Got Talent", but in the middle of the competition I found out I was a witch, and that changed things… well, quite a bit."
James shook his head in amazement, looking at her appraisingly. "Wow." He breathed.
James walked down the halls to his next class along with the other Marauders, still thinking about his conversation with Lily.
Sirius was babbling about Venois and the assignment in Muggle Studies, before he finally stopped and turned to James. "So Prongs, how'd it go with Evans?"
James grinned. "Not bad."
Peter stumbled next to him. "That's it? Not bad?"He persisted.
James' grin spread wider. "Not bad at all."