Author's Note: Okay, okay, I admit it

Author's Note: Okay, okay, I admit it. I'm totally stuck on Lily and James. I can't help it! It's just my way. Eventually (I'm hoping, pray for me all of you will ya?) I will come up with a new way to write about Lily and James but don't count on it for a long long time P. S. Lily is a big wuss at the beginning and I admit that if she had gone to my school and acted like that she would have annoyed me big time. But what the hey? I am the author aren't I?^-^!

Disclaimer: Same old Same old. All the stuff you recognize belongs to the one and only J.K. Rowling. Anything else belongs to me but I doubt anyone will feel the need to use it considering the fact that I am not exactly the best writer out there.

Lily

Chapter I: Lily at Heart

A fifth year with long red locks, emerald eyes, and a slender, lithe body, Lily Evans was a studious person. She could have been popular with her looks and build but she totally ignored these assets. The top of every class, school was her life. She hated troublemakers who disturbed routine. She didn't participate in most school activities and never went to dances. She had only one friend who she ever whispered to at night and that was usually about getting good grades or Petunia.

When Lily was informed that she would need to visit Dumbledore the following morning she got so worried she was almost sick. She couldn't manage to get to sleep so finally her friend spelled her so that she (the friend) at least could get some sleep. The spell was taken off at six in the morning and even after having a full ten hours of sleep, Lily Evans had purple smudges under her eyes and her skin, normally pale, was deathly white. Professor McGonagall told her the password to get into Professor Dumbledore's office and sent Lily on her way, not noting the subtle changes in her looks. Lily was like that. Most of the time people forgot she was even there. She didn't mind. That way no one disturbed her either.

Nervously Lily tottered to the gargoyle and whispered Dumbledore's password. "Lemon drops." They were Dumbledore's absolute favorite muggle candy and though Lily was a little afraid of the kindly gentleman (she was a little afraid of everyone) she always got him lemon drops for Christmas.

The gargoyle moved in a grating way revealing a staircase. She tiptoed up the stairs, never making the creak that usually alerted Dumbledore, he didn't always rely on magic priding himself on his natural muggle instincts. Generally, everyone else made at least a small creak. Timidly Lily knocked on the door, barely making a sound. She desperately hoped that she wouldn't have to do it again. Luckily, for Lily, Dumbledore's comforting voice called "Come in," and Lily slipped quietly through the door.

Professor Dumbledore was head master at Hogwarts Academy for Wizards. He had about four feet long silver hair that almost glowed. His true blue eyes twinkled at his students behind gold rimmed half moon glasses. Usually, he was found wearing blue robes and was the only wizard Voldemort*, or You-Know-Who for more delicate readers, had been known to fear. He was seated at his desk behind a disorderly stack of papers. Lily ached to put it into order. How could he stand it like that? One of the two other chairs in the room was filled by a tall, muscled boy. He was handsome, wore glasses and had perpetually messy black hair. Lily knew him and wished she didn't. He was James Potter, captain of the Gryffandor quidditch team and beloved by all females in school who followed him in crowds even if he was a fifth year. All females except for Lily. A troublemaker. He disrupted routines.

"Ah, Lily m'dear. You are right on time. You should get some more sleep. You're not looking so good and you are going to need to be in top notch shape." Dumbledore smiled warmly at her. Lily's faced warmed a little and a small rosy color crept across her white cheeks. Her stomach was in butterflies wondering why she should need to be in top notch condition.

"Young Potter here is in need of a mother," began Dumbledor as he motioned Lily to sit down in the extra seat. Lily practically fell at the sentence and she gripped the arms of the chair as her mouth dropped open a little bit. Potter frowned at his feet but it was obvious that he had known ahead of time about what Professor Dumbledore was going to talk about.

"P-p-professor Dumbledore, excuse me, b-but doesn't he already h-have a mother?" Lily's eyes were wide open in fear and disbelief as she rotated between staring at Potter and Professor Dumbledore.

"But of course Lily. Everyone has a mother. But I think that James would prefer to have his mother not come and I think Mrs. Potter would prefer to stay with Mr. Potter, rather than look after her unruly son at school. What I meant was that James needs someone to make sure he has everything because he, ahem," Dumbledore coughed a little, "tends to forget about things like homework, supplies, and things when his brain is fogged up by constant proximity to a different gender." A smile tugged at Potter's well-formed lips but he continued to stare at his feet. "Professor McGonagall and myself discussed who could look after him because Hogwarts has a reputation to maintain and we have never had to lose a student yet. Unfortunately circumstances are working against James. We thought that if we could find someone who does well in school and has spare time to help a fellow student and be his 'adopted' parent it would work out just fine. You, Lily, are exactly who we were looking for, so we know that if it doesn't work out it wouldn't work out with anyone else. Is this plan acceptable to you?"

Lily looked at Potter who had been studying his shoes throughout the whole conversation. She really didn't want to do it but it wasn't as if she could refuse Dumbledore. She chewed her lip wondering if there was any way she could possibly get out of it without making it look like she was getting out of it. Both Potter and Dumbledore were looking at her in surprise now, at her delay in answering. Every other girl would have leapt at the chance. Lily felt herself flush under the curious glances. Dumbledore made an effort to hide a smile underneath his hand. "There isn't another person better suited?" she finally asked hopefully. Dumbledore didn't bother to hide his smile this time, "I'm afraid not Lily." He knew how hard it would be for her to say no to the headmaster. A tiny, wistful sigh escaped from her and Lily quickly clamped her mouth shut, She darted a look at Potter and Dumbledore. Dumbledore looked as if he hadn't heard but Potter was beginning to turn red. " I suppose…- I mean I'd love too." Lily ventured a tiny smile.

"Wonderful. I'm very proud of you Lily for stepping up to the task. I'm sure James will be able to answer any of your questions if you have any. Let me see, you'll need a note for class," Dumbledore scribbled something on a piece of paper," Here you go. Now, if you'll excuse me I have some dusty papers that need sorting." Dumbledore dismissed them and quickly shut the door behind them before guffawing in amusement. He buzzed Professor McGonagall, startling her class of third years. "You should have seen her face Minnie. It looked like she was being lead to her doom!" The class looked at each other in puzzlement. That couldn't have been professor Dumbledore!

"What are you staring at?" Professor McGonagall reprimanded her students sternly. "There will be a test on this at Mid-Terms so you had better concentrate!"

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