A/N: The time period in this chapter ranges from the first day back to the announcement of the first Hogsmeade trip. Have fun! I hope you all are enjoying it so far!

Disclaimer: I only own the new characters and the plot. Everything else belongs to the great JKR.

Chapter Two: Nothing's Changed

Lily woke up the next morning to the sun peeping through the curtains. She looked out onto the grounds. There were already students walking on the green grass and she could see the giant squid floating lazily on the surface of the lake. She pulled on her robes, and went up to Phoebe's bed. She found Phoebe sleeping soundly. She shook her.

"Pheebs! You're going to be late!" Lily looked around the room. "Looks like the other's left already." She pulled the covers off her best friend. "Get up!"

"Oh, Lils! Just a minute more," she grumbled and pulled the covers back over her head.

"Fine, I'm leaving."

"Ok, ok, I'm up." Lily waited while Phoebe got dressed. Lily had missed waking up in their Gryffindor tower. It was always so much more peaceful. Phoebe ran a brush through her hair quickly and grabbed her bag of books.

"Lets go. I want to get my schedule as soon as possible." They walked down the long spiral staircase to find the others sitting in front of the fire. Brooke looked up.

"Finally! What took you guys so long?" Lily pointed to Phoebe.

"I had to wake up sleeping beauty." They laughed as they rushed out. The halls were bustling with student going down to the Great Hall. When they entered they sat down and began to eat hungrily. There were platters of sausages, pancakes dripping in syrup, and the table seemed to be decked in fruit. She bit down happily into a pear, the sweet juices filling her mouth. Professor McGonagall passed them their schedules and they all groaned and laughed at their classes. 8:00-9:00: Herbology: Green House Six

9:00-10:00: Transfiguration

10:00-12:00: Double Defense Against the Dark Arts

12:15-1:25: Lunch

1:30-2:00: Rest Hour

2:00-3:00: Potions

3:10-4:45: Astronomy

5:00-6:00: Arithmancy

The rest of the week looked similar, the times varying. Lily was especially happy to see they had Wednesday and Friday afternoons off. She noticed something that didn't seem quite right.

"How can we have Astronomy at 3 in the afternoon?" Brooke answered as she took a bite of a bagel.

"Sirius told me last night. They've made a new room for older Astronomy students, so they younger kids can be up so late. The ceiling is bewitched to look exactly like the stars in the sky that night."

"How did Sirius know?"

"I have my ways." Lily turned around to see the Marauders sit down near them. She frowned.

"Oh really?"

"Actually," Peter said, "We got our schedules last night and Sirius asked McGonagall."

"Thanks a lot Peter," Sirius said sarcastically.

"You're welcome." Lily frowned even more. "What is it Lily?" Remus asked.

"Why did you get your schedules early?" They all looked back and forth between each other. Sirius shrugged.

"Just wanted them." Lily sighed. She had gotten her hope up high. They hadn't changed. They were planning something. She turned back to her friends who were still groaning about their long classes.

"I don't want to Herbology first thing in the morning! And in Green House Six! That the one that's farthest away! Can you imagine what it's going to be like to walk there in the winter? Uggh!" Miranda explained vehemently.

"It won't be so bad," Lily said. "Green House Six is the heated greenhouse. We'll warm up really quick." Suddenly they heard gales of laughter from the other tables. Lily turned around to see Lucius Malfoy with a face that flashed red and gold colors. The Gryffindor table erupted in laughter that reached to the ceiling. Lucius walked right up to the Marauders. Lily looked furiously at James.

"James!" He just kept his eyes on Lucius, who had been glaring at him.

"POTTER!" He was about to pull out his wand when Professor McGonagall rushed up to them.

"James Potter what is going on here?" He looked at her a smile on his face.

"I was just revenging Lily. Simple payback Professor." She looked sharply at Lily.

"What does he mean Ms.Evans?" Lily glared at James who still refused to look her in the eyes.

"Nothing Professor."

"Yes, it was something!" James reached out and grabbed Lily's hand.

"Hey!"

"Look." He pulled off the handkerchief to reveal the wound. Lily pulled her hand away. Professor McGonagall looked at them all, her face lined with fury.

"Malfoy, Potter, come with me. We're going to see the Headmaster. Ms. Evans, you really should have come to me sooner. Go up to see Madame Pomfrey. She'll fix you right up." Sirius smiled, but she glared at him. "You three can join Mr. Potter as well." They all walked away and Lily was forced to get up as well. She knew she heard McGonagall grumble, "I knew it wouldn't last." She walked up quickly to the Hospital Wing.

"Will this take long? I really don't want to be late for my first class."

"It will only take a second dear." Madame Pomfrey rubbed a gold liquid on her hand. It smoked and the cut was instantly healed.

"All better! You can go now." Lily grabbed her books and ran down to the entrance hall, where Phoebe was waiting for her.

"I told the other to go ahead. Come on!" They rushed out the door into the cool air. The sun was gently peaking out of the fluffy blue clouds and the grass was covered in dew. They reached the greenhouse just as the bell rang. The class went smoothly, the young Professor Sprout introducing them to Icy Ferns, plants that grew icicles instead of leaves. They had to be pruned with heat, instead of their shears. By the time they left, the sky outside had once again turned a nasty black, raindrops threatening to fall every moment. They all ran back up to the castle, reaching the door just as the rain splashed down. The rest of the day went by without problems; they had to transfigure coal into diamonds, read 3 chapters on Patronuses, and make a complicated truth potion. Lily couldn't help but notice that the Marauders failed to attend all their classes. That was until she saw them walk into the new Astronomy room. Lily liked the room; it was large and circular, with starry blue telescopes lining it. Professor Mirina walked into the room and beckoned them to their seats.

"Today we will be filling out our star charts, I would like to see how much you remember. You have the remainder of the class period. Begin." She waved her wand and the complex charts appeared before them. Only 10 minutes had passed when Lily saw Sirius raise his hand.

"Yes Mr. Black?"

"I'm finished." Professor Mirina looked at him, one eyebrow raised.

"Impossible. It took my best 7th year student 30 minutes to finish."

"Well, I'm done. Come here and see for yourself." She picked it up and saw every line filled.

"Fine," she said coolly. "I'll just go ahead and grade it now. She took out her quill and checked it. Lily went back to writing, but she noticed that Mirina's quill wasn't moving. In fact she was just ticking off the different places on the paper. The minutes passed slowly, and Sirius just sat there his eyes focused on his professor. He had a smirk on his face. Just before the hour ended she took everyone's paper, and she stopped right in front of Sirius's desk and put his paper in front of him. The bell rang and the class filed out slowly. Lily left, with the Marauders right in front of her.

"I guess you showed her," Peter said as he held the paper.

"They should know by now Sirius is probably the smartest guy to ever grace an Astronomy class room," Remus replied looking at the perfect mark.

"No," Sirius said to Remus. Remus looked at him quizzically.

"I'm the smartest guy ever!" They all laughed and Lily shook her head.

"Padfoot, I think I'm the smartest guy ever!" James said punching Sirius in the shoulder. Lily groaned in disgust. He hadn't deflated his head one bit. Suddenly she saw Remus peer back and spot Lily. He leaned towards James and whispered something in his ear.

"But good job mate. I know I couldn't ever pull something like that off," he said hastily. Sirius just snickered.

"Thanks." Lily narrowed her eyes. They went in opposite directions as Lily headed for Arithmacy. Professor Ogden droned on about numbers and their meanings, absolutely nothing new. The rain battered harder against the windows, streaks of lightning crossing the sky every few minutes. By the time the last bell rang, Lily was starving and ready for the day to end. She walked into the Great Hall to find dinner already out and the students eating happily.

"How was Divination?" she asked Phoebe.

"Fine. We just got the usual introduction speech. Same with you?"

"Yeah, just about. But I can't wait to get started in Arithmancy though. It's one of my favorite subjects." Suddenly someone sat next to her.

"Hey Evans." James began to pile food onto his plate. She sighed and nodded her head.

"Potter." Something like guilt filled her as she remembered what had happened that morning. She turned to him. "Thanks for sticking up for me this morning. I appreciate it." James smiled at her and Lily couldn't help but smile back. His eyes twinkled merrily at her and she felt stuck to her seat.

"No problem." He took a big bite of chicken. "Plus it was another chance to hex a Slytherin. It was funny though wasn't it?" Lily chuckled.

"No matter how I hate to admit it, it was." James smiled even wider. Lily looked back towards her food and ate slowly. She kept pulling strands of her hair and twisting them around her finger. She just couldn't like him. But something about him made her feel so wonderful. So warm...

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James sat down carefully next to Lily. He was prepared for a lashing.

"Hey Evans." She looked at him coolly.

"Potter." He watched her facial expression suddenly turn to a state of nervousness.

"Thank you for sticking up for me this morning. I appreciate it." James smiled excitedly. Maybe she was starting to like him. His heart began to beat faster.

"No problem." He took a bite of chicken and looked longingly at her glowing white skin. "Plus it was another chance to hex a Slytherin. It was funny though wasn't it?" He waited quietly for the answer. If it was no, he'd feel so bad, it would haunt him for the rest of the week. He tried so hard to deflate his head. His heart glowed when she laughed.

"No matter how I hate to admit it, it was." She began to eat again and James smiled. Such a perfect girl.

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The next few weeks passed by, and Lily noticed James trying harder than usual to ignore Snape and Malfoy. She saw his fist clench every time the two walked by, snickering under their breaths. After awhile, Lily even began longing for him to curse them. She approached him one night by the fireplace in the common room.

"James?" she asked softly. He looked up surprised.

"Yeah?" he answered. Lily tried to find her voice. She spent most of her time at Hogwarts telling James to stop cursing people, and now she was about to tell him to do it more.

"You shouldn't let them push you around," she started.

"Who?" he asked, but the look on his face told her he already knew.

"Oh James, you know who. I know I always told you to leave them alone, but even I can't stand them anymore! Just hex them a few times to shut them up." She paused then smiled. "I give you permission." James let out a laugh.

"Thanks Evans. That makes me feel so much better." His laid back attitude eased her.

"Good. I'll see you later." She bounced away, to find Phoebe smiling at her.

"I so told you."

"Told me what?"

"James so likes you! And, I know you like him! Just admit it!"

"Phoebe!" Phoebe held up her hands as Lily advanced on her. "Fine, fine. But..." She pointed to a sign on the bulletin board. "You two might have fun at Hogsmeade." Lily looked at the sign.

ATTENTION ALL 3rd YEARS AND ABOVE
THE FIRST HOGSMEADE TRIP WILL BE THIS UPCOMING FRIDAY
BE READY TO LEAVE BY 11:00 AM
PROFESSOR McGONAGALL

Lily looked at the poster and then at Phoebe who was still smiling at her. No words were needed.

"Oh Phoebe! Just shut up!" They both ran laughing up the spiral staircase.

(¯`·._) . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . : . (¯`·._)

James looked at Lily as she ran up the stairs, her beautiful silky hair flying behind her. He stood up slowly. He touched the poster she had been looking at. James read it carefully. His heart began to thump again. This was his chance. He knew he had to do it. He walked up to the boy's rooms and made a decision. Lily was going to go with him to Hogsmeade.

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A/N: Hoped you like this chapter too! Please R&R (of course) and I will get the next chapter up as soon as I can. I am trying not to move Lily and James's relationship along too quickly, and I am going to note that Lily DOES NOT hate James anymore, so she will not show any more animosity until the umm "big scene." Thanks for reading!