Disclaimer: I'm not J. K. Rowling and none of her fabulous characters are mine. After the misery of the last chapter, I've tried to write a lighter, fluffier one. I hope you enjoy it, please read and review!

Despite her midnight conversation with Potter, the shock of David's death hung over Lily for the next few days. For that matter, it hung over them all. Marlene left for home the next day, unable to face anyone. Lily and Mary offered to come with her, but Marlene refused their offer.

"I need to prove that I can do this," she said finally, wan but resolute. "I need to show all… all those that support V-V-Voldemort that he cannot win. No matter what he takes from us." She stammered over his name, unused to saying it out loud, but her eyes were steely. With a pang, Lily realised Marlene's determined expression was identical to that of her brother. She was struck, more than anything, by her friend's bravery. People had a habit of underestimating the quiet brunette, but she was braver than anyone.

Looking at Marlene's resolute features, Lily felt proud to be her friend. Saying good bye, she held her close and tried to convey this. She thought Marlene understood; certainly, her eyes glimmered strangely in the light of the fire as she let go. After embracing Mary, Marlene turned towards the portrait hole.

"I'll see you… see you at the funeral," she said quietly. With that, Marlene left. But not before Lily heard a sob escape her.

It was perfectly true; she would see them at the funeral. It had been scheduled for the days following Halloween. According to wizarding folklore, it was bad luck to hold a funeral in the week preceding All Hallow's Eve. Upon learning this, Lily couldn't suppress the thought that surely a funeral was bad luck enough. If she was honest, this was another reason for her apprehension. Her knowledge of magical customs was woefully lacking and she had never attended a wizarding service before. Were they like muggle ones? In the current environment, she was aware more than ever of her muggle heritage. The only consolation was that Mary, also a muggleborn, would be equally confused. Unsurprisingly, this wasn't much comfort.

Staring blankly into the distance, Lily was brought back to reality by a tentative voice.

"Lily?" It was Potter.

"Yes," she replied, looking at him with barely focused eyes. Mary, staring between them with interest, took her leave, glancing back over her shoulder. Mary had always been intuitive about changing relationships, eager, Lily suspected, to predict the latest gossip. In this case, however, there was nothing for her to discover. Although, if she was truthful, the news that Lily Evans and James Potter were friends was bound to raise a few eyebrows. Shaking her head slightly, she realised he was still talking to her.

"So, shall we walk down to the meeting together, then?"

"What?" she said, totally befuddled. He looked at her understandingly, clearly aware her attention had wandered. "Earth to Evans," he teased, tousling her hair. "Prefect meeting. Before breakfast. Assigning this week's rota. Ring any bells?"

"Oh," she sighed, suddenly remembering. Potter appeared concerned.

"Look, if you don't feel up to it¸ after yesterday…" he trailed off, worry clear in his tone.

"No, I'm alright," she said, heading towards the portrait hole Marlene had gone through several minutes earlier. "It's like you said last night," Lily reminded him, aware of his unconvinced expression, "life has to go on." Potter smiled and she could tell her acknowledgement of his words had meant a lot. Looping his arm through hers, and smirking at her look of discomfort, he dragged her out of the common room.

Some time later, as the meeting finished and the prefects filed out, Lily wondered whether they had noticed the changed relationship between the Head Boy and Head Girl. During previous meetings, Lily had struggled to control her acid tongue, resisting temptation to criticise Potter. Now? The urge was still there, one midnight conversation wasn't enough to change that, but she allowed herself to appreciate his strengths too. She still found his laidback attitude irritating, but she couldn't deny it was effective.

However, as Regina Vane gave a high-pitched squeal, Lily began to wish Potter was a little less charming. Her hand twitched, she was dying to banish the giggling girls that followed him. They were a group of dolled-up leaches, she thought grimly, sucking up to anything with a pulse. Merlin, did they ever shut up? She suspected his fan club were angling for an invite to Hogsmede on Halloween. Indeed, at the end of the meeting, Regina Vane, the dark-haired Ravenclaw, handed Potter a box of cauldron cakes. Slyly, she suggested that she would be happy to share them with him. Satisfied she had got his attention, Regina batted her eyelashes and walked away, hips swaying. Blinking rather rapidly, Potter stared after her.

"She's probably spiked them with love potion," Lily said snidely, waiting until the room was clear to deliver this pronouncement. She was irritated by the way Potter's mouth was hanging open. Honestly…

"Do you reckon?" asked Potter in alarm.

"Probably." She couldn't keep a hint of smugness out of her tone.

"I'll test them on Wormy, then" said Potter, his expression clearing, "he'll eat anything." Lily was about to remonstrate, before remembering Peter's longing looks at the sweets on the train. Potter was right, she thought grimly, he would eat anything. With a resigned shrug, Lily finished her notes. Flourishing his quill, quite unnecessarily in Lily's opinion, Potter followed suite. "So, Evans," he said conversationally, "fancy going to Hogsmede with me?"

Lily's heart skipped a beat.

He couldn't be serious, not after their talk of the previous night. He wasn't stupid enough to jeopardise their fragile friendship, was he? Sputtering, she sought a reply which conveyed this, but Potter interrupted.

"Sorry, I couldn't resist."

"Pardon?" squeaked Lily, her voice several octaves higher than normal. She couldn't believe her ears.

"I was joking, Evans, I just had to say it. For old time's sake," he continued, smirking slightly. "Merlin, you didn't think I was serious did you?"

"No, I know you're not Sirius. You're James," she deadpanned, desperately trying to divert him. Potter stared blankly at her, confused by her entirely blank face. Then, his smirk widened. With satisfaction, Lily saw he had forgotten her earlier overreaction.

"Good Evans!" he cried, mildly pleased at his own joke, "you can be funny." Lily laughed at his shocked expression, affecting affront.

"Of course I'm funny," she said loftily, "someone has to compensate for your woeful lack of comedic talent."

Potter gasped. "You wound me," he said, clutching his heart theatrically. Lily giggled. It was amazing, she thought suddenly, how much their relationship had changed. Last year, this conversation would have had no teasing undertone. They would have been completely serious, each barbed comment intended to cause real pain. She was glad they had moved on.

"Come on," Potter said finally, sobering. "I don't know about you, but I'm starving. It seems I gave someone," he looked pointedly at Lily, "my last chocolate frog." Lily began to object, already formulating a retort of her own, before Potter interrupted her. "But, like I said, I can't have any friend of mine going hungry, speaking of which," he looked sideways at Lily, "friends don't call each other by their last names."

Lily gaped, grasping his meaning. She couldn't call Potter by his first name. She couldn't. It was just wrong!

"Come on, Lily," said Potter, watching her, "live a little!" A teasing note had entered his words.

She thought about it. For a long time.

"Very well… James." The moment his name left her lips, he looked as though Christmas had come early. In turn, Lily felt the corners of her mouth lift at his enthusiasm. Grinning broadly at this change in circumstance, he insisted on walking her to breakfast.

Some people, Lily surmised, were easily satisfied.