She managed to side-step James all weekend, fortunately. She spent the majority of it exploring the castle with Frank as per a tradition they started four years before.

She left the Heads Common Room early each day, and as James was a night owl, went to bed early. She knew she'd have to deal with the boy sometime, and woke Monday with avoiding him pushed out of her mind. There had been an unspoken agreement: Lily got the shower first.

She rushed out of her room that morning to meet Frank early to put their plan into action: Making Alice L. Gwynn jealous.

She was there first, and leaned against the large doors, invisible. The Marauders save James passed by ten minutes later. She heard snippets of their conversation:

" … James claims she won't even look twice at him …"

" … Ignored him all weekend …"

" … Says he hasn't been cocky. Who knows …"

She felt like she'd been slapped in the face. The usually cheery group looked and seemed ticked as they entered the Hall.

Sure, she didn't look twice at him. She ignored him all weekend. But, surely, he was still cocky, smug, and arrogant. He had to be.

He always was.

Anyway, why did he care if she ignored him?

Frank walked up to her, then, and she shook her thoughts away. James could get over himself; Lily was just the Head Girl. He could go chase another one, another day.

—

—

James entered the Great Hall late that morning. He was woken by the slamming of Lily's bedroom door.

He showered quickly in cold water, dressed in a daze, and put his tie on crooked. He nearly forgot his trainers.

And trousers.

And school books.

Needless to say, he ran down the corridor, and ran into a couple, before flinging open the now-closed doors.

He ignored peers' gazes as he seated himself with his best friends. He grabbed a piece of toast and focused in on the Marauders' current conversation.

"What d'you think the new Defense teacher is like?" Remus was saying. He nodded at James fleetingly before continuing. "He looks like he woke up on the wrong side of the bed. Already arguing with Flitwick."

James chuckled and looked upon the Head table. The only possible new addition to the staff was a plain man with a red face that looked as if Flitwick was heckling about something and he wasn't about to agree.

"McGonagall's coming with schedules," Peter informed them, then. "I think her face got tighter over the holiday."

The group laughed when a stern voice said,

"Potter."

James turned around, scrambled egg in mouth, chewing. "Ymph?" he managed.

Her eyes narrowed dangerously. "As the Head Boy, I expect you to set a better example. Merlin, you're seventeen. There will be no talking with your mouth full." His friends snickered in the background. "In other news, here is your schedule," she said, handing him his times tables, "and I would appreciate it if you would contact me on when you would like to hold Quidditch tryouts."

She smiled slightly and moved onto the Fourth Years after handing Remus, Peter, and Sirius their own schedules.

"'Merlin, you're seventeen!'" Sirius mimicked, pulling his long hair back in a mock-high bun.

James hit him over the head. "My mouth was full!"

"Well, Agrippa, don't say anything next time. WWLD?"

Remus chuckled and James looked confused. "What?"

"WWLD?"

"Speak English, would you."

"What would Lily do?" Peter clarified. "As in, 'What would Jesus do?'"

"I think I missed that joke," James said. "Any road, speaking of Evans, have you seen her?"

"Yeah, she's with Frank at the Ravenclaw table."

"Oh, mmkay." He bit down on an apple, and spent the rest of the morning watching Lily as she looked uncomfortable at her irregular table.