Disclaimer: I do not own anything in this story that you recognize; they all belong to JK Rowling. However, what you don't recognize is all mine. The plot might be unoriginal, but hey, I'm writing it in my own words and with my own twists and turns.
Summary: He is outgoing and pretty nice, but can be an arrogant bastard within a blink of an eye. She is shy with a protective cocoon surrounding her and mixes with only certain people, but can be downright bitchy when her buttons are pushed the right way. When paired to work together, he tries everything in his power to coax her out of her shell and mix in, but what he didn't expect was to find, fall and lose love, all in the same year.
A/N: Wow, you guys made my day! I came back from holiday to see plenty new reviews! Also, I decided to change the plot a little. Instead of Lily being a loner, she has friends. I changed the summary, so read on to find out more. I also decided that form now on, updates are more or less once a week, as I plan to make the chapters longer. And to do so, I have to write it the old fashioned way, with a pencil and paper. Then I have to type everything back, so the job is pretty arduous. Read on, people!
************
Hogwarts School Train"Lily?" Mikayla 'Mike' Enriquez said uncertainly. Lily was spacing out, which was not part of her normal routine. When she did not respond, Mike waved her hand in front of Lily's gaze, but no avail. Biting her lip and hoping that Lily wont attack her for breaking her concentration, Mike snapped her fingers thrice near Lily's right ear. Lily finally came out of her reverie with a jump.
"Hmm?" she said distractedly. She saw her friends staring at her like she was some alien from outer space. She looked at them questioningly, but when they didn't say anything, she merely shrugged her shoulders and retreated back to her train of thoughts.
"Are you sick, Lily? Is it the flu?" Dakota 'Cody' Graham asked concernedly, her maternal instincts kicking in. Despite her tomboy nature, she is still very much protective and worries about her friends constantly. When Lily gave no answer, Cody instinctively put the back of her hand against Lily's forehead.
"She's not burning up," Cody reported back to Mike and Elizabeth 'Liz' Kimura. Liz muttered something under her breath.
"Maybe she's finally losing it," Liz suggested. "I mean, who wouldn't after all that studying and extra researching our little redhead did all those years."
"I'm not losing it," Lily said, finally saying something to indicate that she was not lost after all.
"She lives," Mike commented with a quick smile. Lily just glared at her.
"Cut the crap, Mikayla. Are you sure you were fine, Lily? I mean, glazed looks are not very good. Something finally taken over books as the first thing in you mind?" Liz said, grinning. Lily grinned back, albeit weakly.
"I'm fine. Honestly. You guys don't have to fuss, y'know," she said, though with a slight tinge if impatience and irritation. Cody took this as the time to change the course of the conversation.
"So, did you find your Prince Charming for the rest of the year on Platform 9 ¾?" she asked slyly, her eyebrows raised. Lily looked at her with an expression that clearly said 'Prince Charming? I have a Prince Charming? Since when?'
"In simple English: who's Head Boy?" Liz said, jabbing her elbow into Cody's ribs and received a satisfying 'oomph' in the process.
"Oh, that Prince Charming. Well, I don't think much of that Prince Charming. I mean, I could be wrong. I'm not quite sure. I saw him wearing the badge, but it could be one of his friends badge. I really don't know if he is Head Boy though," Lily said, trailing off when she realized that she was babbling like an idiot. When she saw the blank look on her friends' face, she sighed and tiredly rubbed her face. She looked out the train and noticed that the lush countryside had changed scenery.
"Alright, I'll give you a clue," she said. Mike, Cody and Liz instantly perked up. They leaned in closer to hear Lily better. "He's a Marauder-" she began but got cut off by Mike.
"A Marauder? Well, then it must be Remus Lupin. He's the most sensible of the Marauders. He's almost antonymous to the word Marauder. He's everything a Marauder isn't-"
"Ah, yes. But then again, you have to remember that he is the brainchild behind every single prank that they played," Liz interjected Mike.
"So, if Lupin is not Head Boy, is it Black? He's the next sensible choice after Lupin, if you can get past his Ladies man image he managed to put up and sustain all this while," Cody said. They looked at Lily who was staring at the train floor that was all of a sudden interesting. She regretted telling them the clue; she didn't want them to know that she would have to work with that arrogant excuse for a prefect. How did he become a prefect in the first damn place anyway?
"Well?" Mike said, with an edge laced in her voice. Lily looked up slowly. She peered into every pair of eyes before settling back into the seat. With another weary sigh, she shook her head slowly. A stunned silence followed her revelation.
"You mean you're about to work with the most arrogant bastard I've ever seen before?" Liz practically shrieked. No, this was not happening. Lily, work with Potter? No way!
"You're kidding me, right?" Mike asked quietly, not wanting to think about what was gonna happen to Lily if she worked with James Potter for a whole year. She'd probably end up in St. Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies in the psychiatric ward. Lily didn't look it, but she was still somewhat emotionally fragile. Mike thought back to their first year together as school and dorm mates.
Ever since day one, Lily had spun a protective cocoon around her and concealed herself inside it due to the constant teasing she endured for 11 years from her sister, friends and even neighbours before finally getting accepted by Hogwarts. Being the friendly people they are, Cody, Liz and Mike decided to penetrate the shield that Lily had so carefully set up so that she would eventually emerge from it a different person.
They eventually did cajole Lily out after 5 years of sweet-talking. But then again, Lily only talked to them and not other people. The trio agreed simultaneously that being appointed prefect was the best thing that happened to Lily during their 6th year, as she would have to interact with students more than her average [They were all appointed prefects, but it's a well known fact that Cody point blank refused to be one. She claimed that rules were made for breaking, and that by accepting the post, she could not break any more rules]. In their own minds, Mike, Liz and Cody secretly agreed that her appointment as Head Girl was the best thing to happen to Lily to get her to really socialize with students.
Before the three of them tore the screen that separated her from the rest of the world, she was a miserable loner. She was either sitting up front alone, basking in the glory of teachers' praises or sitting at the very back, happy in her own world and thoughts away from other students. When her dorm mates finally broke down her defences, she started to interact more, but she was selective of her friends, preferring Muggle-borns and, of course, the people she considers her best friends, as they broke down her barrier; Mikayla Enriquez, Dakota Graham and Elizabeth Kimura. With them by her side, she learned how to fight back and most of all, stand up to her obnoxious sister, Petunia.
Given her history, add a famous guy like Potter, Lily was on the fast train to an emotional breakdown. True, she did talk and interact with a few low-key students, which means that she's not totally deprived of public reality, but getting paired to work with a Marauder meant getting paired with the whole group of Marauders and their fan club, i.e. the whole population of female students in Hogwarts. Not exactly a nice scene for Lily, so Mike had every reason to be worried for Lily.
[A/N: Mikayla lost her only sister, Mariana, while she (Mike) was still young due to Voldemort's activities. Since Lily had opened up to her first and the fact that she was the eldest among the four, Mike felt a need to protect Lily even more. I know that this reason sounds crappy, but it's the only reason I can think of at the moment. If I ever come up with a better reason, I'll let y'all know and change this chapter.]
"Well, I hope I'm kidding," Lily said. She knew that working with Potter meant dealing with his over zealous female fans of the Marauders. She knew this not form experience but after witnessing some of their ex-girlfriends getting cursed and ending up in the Hospital Wing with hexes and charms. They talked for some more when they heard the magical voice say that they were 10 minutes form Hogwarts. They quickly changed into their robes and got ready to step off the train at Hogsmeade Station. As the doors opened, they were greeted with the sight of a hundred horseless carriages waiting to bring them to Hogwarts Castle. They climbed into one and with a snap; it closed itself and started the journey towards the castle.
Once there, they stepped off and entered the spacious Entrance Hall, complete with is torch-lit corridors and great marble staircases. They trudged over to the Great Hall and took their seats at the Gryffindor Table and waited patiently for the other students to file in. When Professor McGonagall finally took away the Sorting Hat after sorting students, Professor Dumbledore stood up and cleared his throat. The Hall became silent as they waited for the announcement.
"Welcome back to Hogwarts. I do hope that you've wrung out some of those that you have absorbed last year to make way for those that you are about to learn this year. I know that all of you are exceptionally hungry, as I am, so I will not dilly-dally anymore. I wish to announce who the Head Boy and Girl so that all of you can take heed and pay your respects to them. And they are, James Potter and Lily Evans of Gryffindor," he said. The Hall erupted into clapping as Lily and James stood up. For the first time in James life in Hogwarts, he heard the name Lily Evans. As he turned from his front seat to see who his counterpart was for the year, he gave a gasp and realized that the red haired and green-eyed beauty he saw was none other than his partner, Lily Evans.
Lily however was unconcerned about the look he was giving her, but instead chose to look around the hall and smile at her juniors. She turned to the main table to see Prof. Dumbledore smiling and the other professors clapping politely. She looked at James, nodded her head as a sign of acknowledgement and sat down again. When he felt the whole room staring at him, he quickly tore of his gaze of Lily and looked round at the Hall and the main table, as what Lily did. He nodded to his fellow students and sat down again, oblivious to the stares Sirius, Peter and Remus was giving him. He was thankful for the distraction in the form of food appearing on the gold plates and began eating to avoid answering any questions. When the plates had been cleared of the last dessert, Dumbledore stood up again.
"Well, I have only one thing to say to you: bedtime. Go on, up you go to your dorms! Chop, chop!" he said, waving his hands towards the doors. The students got up and started filing out of the Hallm talking and joking loudly. Lily, Mike, Cody and Liz waited for the Hall to be empty before going out to avoid getting stuck in the droves of students. On the Hall cleared, they walked out and were greeted by the sight of the Marauders walking in front of them. James turned around and noticed Lily. He whispered something to Sirius who nodded. James lagged behind, wanting a word with Lily. With a questioning look at Lily, she shrugged. She told her friends to go on without her.
"Are you sure?" Liz asked doubtfully, looking at James who was busy entertaining a 6th year Hufflepuff.
"Yeah, go on. I know a few hexes now, so I don't think I'll be in any harm. I'm sure! Go on! I'll be fine!" she said exasperatedly at her friends who just rolled their eyes.
"Scream for Filch if he tries to get fresh with you. I'm sure he'll be more than happy to skin Potter alive," Cody said.
"I heard that, Graham," James said warningly. Cody stuck she tongue out at James and made he way to the tower. When all she could see was their retreating backs, she turned to face James.
"Can I help you, Potter?" she said coolly. She was lucky to have friends who taught her how to handle fire with fire.
"So, you're my partner for the year. Can it get any exciting than this?" he wondered out loud with a voice full of fake awe.
"No, I don't think so. Is that why you called me over?" Lily said, trying to maintain her cool.
"Not really. I don't think we've been properly introduced. I'm James Potter," he said with a flourish.
"Nice to meet you. I'm Lily Evans, grouch extraordinaire when sleepy. So if you will excuse me, I need to get on with my life," she said, walking away when she heard him speak.
"Finally, a face to put the name and a name to put the face," he drawled. Lily stopped in her tracks; she knew what he meant but she let it go. She walked faster but James caught up with her with his big strides.
"Well, since were in the same house, why don't we walk together?" he asked as he fell into place next to her. Lily stiffened but didn't say anything. They walked together in silence, with James trying to strike up conversation with her. Every time he asked her something, he got a one word answer or an 'Okay' or 'Hmm'. Finally, they reached Gryffindor Tower and were greeted by the standard greeting.
"Password?" the Fat Lady asked them, looking form James to Lily and back to James.
"Birchwood," Lily said absentmindedly. The portrait swung open and they climbed in to find the common room deserted. The prefects must have shooed everyone to bed. James looked at Lily who was staring into the semi-darkness.
"Well, till tomorrow then," he said uncomfortably.
"Yeah, alright," she said as she started up the stairs. She stopped midway and cast another look at the room before proceeding again. James looked at her retreating form, gave a frustrated sigh and headed towards his dorm to get some shuteye.
What a year it would be.
************
A/N: All right, I'm done! Wow, that must be the longest chapter I've written in a looong time. I don't have the time to say personal thank you's now, but you guys know who you are and you are really special to me. All your questions will be answered in the next chapter, which I hopefully can post up in a week's time. If you have any queries about the story, e-mail me or leave a review. I know that this story is not the most perfect story on Earth, so yeah, leave me a constructive criticism review. Flame, if you must, but make it straight to the point so I don't have to yawn over it. Okay? Thanks, people. Review! Thanks in advance! Muchos Gracias!
-VeNtiNo-