Chapter 1 - Train ride
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"I'll catch you guys later, I gotta go up the top compartment." Said James "Ok, see you in a few, Prongs" called Sirius.
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"I'll see you later, ok? I've got to go up to the head boy/girl compartment" called Lily "Sure, later Lily" said Rachel, her best friend.
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Lily walked into the head boy/girl compartment. It was very luxury, and she was just about to sit herself in the armchair opposite, when she saw someone already sitting there.
"Potter" she groaned, "Get out now, this is only for the Head boy and girl"
"Right as usual, Evans" replied James, with a charming smile.
"Well, get lost, the head boy will be here soon."
"Wrong that time Evans. He's already here."
"What do mea----NO," she gasped as she realised what James had said.
"Yes" said James simply
"Please tell me you don't mean what I think you mean!" begged Lily
"To your delight, Lily. I am Head Boy,"
"What on earth is Dumbledore thinking putting YOU as head boy???"
"Frankly Evans, God knows." Lily stood there, stunned. Him, James Potter, the least responsible person in the entire school, head boy? She sat down in silence.
"It might be far easier for us to work as a team if we talk?" James suggested.
"Go on, talk then" she sneered.
"Well, I'm glad you said that because I do have something which I need to say to you"
"Potter, if you're about to proclaim you're love for me again, I don't have the time."
"Close, Evans, but it wasn't that. It was actually an apology." Lily gaped. An apology? From James Potter? It was unheard of. No one had ever heard James Potter apologise to anyone ever. She recovered though. "This should be good," she said sarcastically
"It better be. I've been practising it since I got my letter." He stayed silent for a moment before saying. "Look, Evans, I know that pretty much right the way through the school, especially around you, I've been a twat. I know that I've acting like an idiot and I'm really sorry. I'm actually serious about being head boy and I think it would be beneficial for both of us if we at least tolerated each other." Lily stared. She couldn't believe it. He had actually admitted everything that she knew was wrong with him. She didn't know what to say. She was almost certain that she was the first person to ever receive an apology off James Potter. "Was that ok?" he asked
"Yeah, you sounded genuine"
"I was. But it was ok? I thought I rushed it."
"No, no it was good." (A.N. Sorry, I like that line from Oceans Eleven)
Then they both started smiling. "So how was your summer?" he asked
"Not too great, to be honest. My sister is going on about me being a freak and my parents are arguing really badly. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to make you miserable."
"No don't worry about it. Are you ok?" He had real concern in his eyes.
"Yeah I'm fine. Just sad I guess. What about your summer?" she said trying to change the subject.
"Yeah it was pretty good. Went to the Quidditch and all that. And me and Sirius found a whole host of new pra---er, I mean, text books to help with our homework" he finished lamely. Lily started laughing. She had a wonderful laugh, thought James and he chuckled as well. Just then, the compartment door slid open, and Snape and Malfoy entered, with Crabbe and Goyle not far behind.
"Well, well, well, who would have thought it? Potty and Mudblood as Head Boy and Girl" sneered Snape. Lily glared at him, but James spoke calmly;
"Snivly, do you remember what happened at the feast at the end of last year?" Snape and Malfoy flushed at the memory, while Lily laughed. The marauders had slipped something into their food and some very odd things had happened. Their hair had grown longer, and changed colour, they had grown breasts and god knows what else and their voices had changed pitch, so they were so high it sounded as though they had just been castrated. They had raised such a commotion that everyone in the school had seen them and for 10 minutes they all laughed uncontrollably. The effects wore off after 25 minutes but the memories were lasting.
"Apparently so", James continued, "well, over the summer Sirius and I have been developing the deluxe version, which lasts for a week. So unless you want a little surprise at the feats tonight, I suggest you get out. Now."
"You're Head Boy, Potter, you wouldn't dare," challenged Malfoy.
"You're forgetting, Malfoy, that when you're in a position to enforce rules, it's the easiest time to break them. And I don't suggest you use the word 'dare' in front of me. It might come back and bite you in the ass." They glared at each other and Snape, Malfoy and the others left the compartment quickly.
"Sorry about that" James said still glaring at the door they had just gone out of.
"No, thanks a lot, James." James looked at her and smiled
"Any time, Lily." Then for another ¾ of an hour, they talked about various things, especially Quidditch, which James was delighted to find Lily was passionate about. Then Lily's best friend, Rachel entered the compartment.
"Are you coming Lily? You said you'd be back soon and you've been here for more than an hour."
"Really. Oh alright. I'm coming."
"Are you off Lily?" James asked
"Erm, yeah" she said hesitantly, not wanting to leave him alone in this compartment.
"Ok, I'll call Sirius." He rummaged around in his trunk and pulled out a small mirror. "Honestly, Potter, checking your hair already?" sneered Rachel. James looked at her coldly and said into the mirror "Sirius Black". The two girls watched, amazed as they heard Sirius' voice come out of the mirror.
"There you are, Prongs. I was thinking Evans had killed you. You've been ages."
"Nice to see you too, Padfoot. Listen do you want to get Mooney and Wormtail and bring them up here."
"Sure, what about Evans?"
"Lily's going off with her friends."
"So we're on first name terms are we? It's a huge improvement from her trying to rip your head off." James and Lily both smiled.
"You coming then? Hurry up." James demanded, "Marauders out"
"Marauders out" said Sirius and the mirror went blank. Lily gaped at the mirror, which James nonchalantly tossed into his trunk. Then, still trying to impress her, he spat out the gum he had been chewing. It soared in a perfect arc, landing in the bin on the other side of the compartment. He looked back at Lily, who still gaped at the place the mirror had been.
"Where did you get that?" she blurted out.
"Invented them ourselves, ages ago. Me and Sirius needed something to talk to each other when we were in separate detentions." He replied casually.
"Do the others have them?"
"No. Peter and Remus aren't in detention often enough."
"Just one more thing, why do you call yourselves Mooney, Womtail, Padfoot and Prongs?" Lily asked. James smiled broadly.
"If I told you that, Lily, it would cost me a lot more than my badge."
"So its illegal" she said quickly
"Of course not. You know me, Lily. I always go by the rules." They both laughed and Lily and Rachel both said good-bye to James and left the compartment, just as Sirius, Remus and Peter entered. Rachel smiled and blushed at Remus, who smiled back.
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"Well, Lily you and Potter were certainly getting along well." Lily blushed a little and said;
"Well, we apologised to me and then we started talking and he's actually a really nice guy, when he's not pranking people."
"But his pranks are so funny" said Elizabeth, another friend.
"Maybe, but he's funny without pranking people."
"So let me get this straight." Said Emma, the last of the group of friends to speak,
"You were in the most luxury compartment on the train."
"Yeah"
"Alone, with the hottest guy in the school."
"Yeah"
"Who you've now found out is really nice and funny."
"Yeah"
"Who has only had eyes for you for the last three years."
"Yeah" said Lilly, starting to get a little annoyed.
"And you weren't snogging his brains out???" she finished, disbelievingly.
"Honestly, is that the only thing you think about?" said Lily, looking for support from the other two. However;
"She's got a point"
"True"
Lily didn't say anything. Whether she liked it or not, she was going to work the whole with James, and at the moment she did like it. If he was actually genuine then, maybe.? No, she told herself, just because you had a good conversation with him, it didn't mean you want to go out with him. She was already letting herself be charmed by him. Still, he was very kind, and funny, and sensitive, and brave when he defended her from the Slytherins, and very, very handsome.
"What's the matter Lily? Regretting not snogging Potter?" Lily blushed again, and hastily changed the subject.
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"Well Jamesie-boy, you were certainly very friendly with Evans." Said Sirius, grinning from ear-to-ear.
"For a first real conversation in 6 years, I'd say that went exceptionally well." Said James, smiling slightly, "and never call me that" he added
"Looks like our head boy and girl are going to be an effective working partnership this year" said Remus, innocently
"Working very close together in many projects" Peter chipped in.
"A well-oiled machine, if you know what I mean." Sirius added, smiling
"Oh for fuck's sake, Padfoot." Exclaimed James, "that was just wrong"
"Alright, alright, calm down. But you must admit, you two looked pretty close."
"Guys, you're all getting way too ahead of yourselves. Lily's not like all the other girls. For another other girl, a smile from me can make their week. If this works out between me and Lily, first of all, it'll take time, and secondly, it'll last."
"So, you haven't given up yet, Prongs?" asked Remus
"Not by a long shot Mooney" said James, "not by a long shot."
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"I'll catch you guys later, I gotta go up the top compartment." Said James "Ok, see you in a few, Prongs" called Sirius.
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"I'll see you later, ok? I've got to go up to the head boy/girl compartment" called Lily "Sure, later Lily" said Rachel, her best friend.
XXXXXXXXX
Lily walked into the head boy/girl compartment. It was very luxury, and she was just about to sit herself in the armchair opposite, when she saw someone already sitting there.
"Potter" she groaned, "Get out now, this is only for the Head boy and girl"
"Right as usual, Evans" replied James, with a charming smile.
"Well, get lost, the head boy will be here soon."
"Wrong that time Evans. He's already here."
"What do mea----NO," she gasped as she realised what James had said.
"Yes" said James simply
"Please tell me you don't mean what I think you mean!" begged Lily
"To your delight, Lily. I am Head Boy,"
"What on earth is Dumbledore thinking putting YOU as head boy???"
"Frankly Evans, God knows." Lily stood there, stunned. Him, James Potter, the least responsible person in the entire school, head boy? She sat down in silence.
"It might be far easier for us to work as a team if we talk?" James suggested.
"Go on, talk then" she sneered.
"Well, I'm glad you said that because I do have something which I need to say to you"
"Potter, if you're about to proclaim you're love for me again, I don't have the time."
"Close, Evans, but it wasn't that. It was actually an apology." Lily gaped. An apology? From James Potter? It was unheard of. No one had ever heard James Potter apologise to anyone ever. She recovered though. "This should be good," she said sarcastically
"It better be. I've been practising it since I got my letter." He stayed silent for a moment before saying. "Look, Evans, I know that pretty much right the way through the school, especially around you, I've been a twat. I know that I've acting like an idiot and I'm really sorry. I'm actually serious about being head boy and I think it would be beneficial for both of us if we at least tolerated each other." Lily stared. She couldn't believe it. He had actually admitted everything that she knew was wrong with him. She didn't know what to say. She was almost certain that she was the first person to ever receive an apology off James Potter. "Was that ok?" he asked
"Yeah, you sounded genuine"
"I was. But it was ok? I thought I rushed it."
"No, no it was good." (A.N. Sorry, I like that line from Oceans Eleven)
Then they both started smiling. "So how was your summer?" he asked
"Not too great, to be honest. My sister is going on about me being a freak and my parents are arguing really badly. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to make you miserable."
"No don't worry about it. Are you ok?" He had real concern in his eyes.
"Yeah I'm fine. Just sad I guess. What about your summer?" she said trying to change the subject.
"Yeah it was pretty good. Went to the Quidditch and all that. And me and Sirius found a whole host of new pra---er, I mean, text books to help with our homework" he finished lamely. Lily started laughing. She had a wonderful laugh, thought James and he chuckled as well. Just then, the compartment door slid open, and Snape and Malfoy entered, with Crabbe and Goyle not far behind.
"Well, well, well, who would have thought it? Potty and Mudblood as Head Boy and Girl" sneered Snape. Lily glared at him, but James spoke calmly;
"Snivly, do you remember what happened at the feast at the end of last year?" Snape and Malfoy flushed at the memory, while Lily laughed. The marauders had slipped something into their food and some very odd things had happened. Their hair had grown longer, and changed colour, they had grown breasts and god knows what else and their voices had changed pitch, so they were so high it sounded as though they had just been castrated. They had raised such a commotion that everyone in the school had seen them and for 10 minutes they all laughed uncontrollably. The effects wore off after 25 minutes but the memories were lasting.
"Apparently so", James continued, "well, over the summer Sirius and I have been developing the deluxe version, which lasts for a week. So unless you want a little surprise at the feats tonight, I suggest you get out. Now."
"You're Head Boy, Potter, you wouldn't dare," challenged Malfoy.
"You're forgetting, Malfoy, that when you're in a position to enforce rules, it's the easiest time to break them. And I don't suggest you use the word 'dare' in front of me. It might come back and bite you in the ass." They glared at each other and Snape, Malfoy and the others left the compartment quickly.
"Sorry about that" James said still glaring at the door they had just gone out of.
"No, thanks a lot, James." James looked at her and smiled
"Any time, Lily." Then for another ¾ of an hour, they talked about various things, especially Quidditch, which James was delighted to find Lily was passionate about. Then Lily's best friend, Rachel entered the compartment.
"Are you coming Lily? You said you'd be back soon and you've been here for more than an hour."
"Really. Oh alright. I'm coming."
"Are you off Lily?" James asked
"Erm, yeah" she said hesitantly, not wanting to leave him alone in this compartment.
"Ok, I'll call Sirius." He rummaged around in his trunk and pulled out a small mirror. "Honestly, Potter, checking your hair already?" sneered Rachel. James looked at her coldly and said into the mirror "Sirius Black". The two girls watched, amazed as they heard Sirius' voice come out of the mirror.
"There you are, Prongs. I was thinking Evans had killed you. You've been ages."
"Nice to see you too, Padfoot. Listen do you want to get Mooney and Wormtail and bring them up here."
"Sure, what about Evans?"
"Lily's going off with her friends."
"So we're on first name terms are we? It's a huge improvement from her trying to rip your head off." James and Lily both smiled.
"You coming then? Hurry up." James demanded, "Marauders out"
"Marauders out" said Sirius and the mirror went blank. Lily gaped at the mirror, which James nonchalantly tossed into his trunk. Then, still trying to impress her, he spat out the gum he had been chewing. It soared in a perfect arc, landing in the bin on the other side of the compartment. He looked back at Lily, who still gaped at the place the mirror had been.
"Where did you get that?" she blurted out.
"Invented them ourselves, ages ago. Me and Sirius needed something to talk to each other when we were in separate detentions." He replied casually.
"Do the others have them?"
"No. Peter and Remus aren't in detention often enough."
"Just one more thing, why do you call yourselves Mooney, Womtail, Padfoot and Prongs?" Lily asked. James smiled broadly.
"If I told you that, Lily, it would cost me a lot more than my badge."
"So its illegal" she said quickly
"Of course not. You know me, Lily. I always go by the rules." They both laughed and Lily and Rachel both said good-bye to James and left the compartment, just as Sirius, Remus and Peter entered. Rachel smiled and blushed at Remus, who smiled back.
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"Well, Lily you and Potter were certainly getting along well." Lily blushed a little and said;
"Well, we apologised to me and then we started talking and he's actually a really nice guy, when he's not pranking people."
"But his pranks are so funny" said Elizabeth, another friend.
"Maybe, but he's funny without pranking people."
"So let me get this straight." Said Emma, the last of the group of friends to speak,
"You were in the most luxury compartment on the train."
"Yeah"
"Alone, with the hottest guy in the school."
"Yeah"
"Who you've now found out is really nice and funny."
"Yeah"
"Who has only had eyes for you for the last three years."
"Yeah" said Lilly, starting to get a little annoyed.
"And you weren't snogging his brains out???" she finished, disbelievingly.
"Honestly, is that the only thing you think about?" said Lily, looking for support from the other two. However;
"She's got a point"
"True"
Lily didn't say anything. Whether she liked it or not, she was going to work the whole with James, and at the moment she did like it. If he was actually genuine then, maybe.? No, she told herself, just because you had a good conversation with him, it didn't mean you want to go out with him. She was already letting herself be charmed by him. Still, he was very kind, and funny, and sensitive, and brave when he defended her from the Slytherins, and very, very handsome.
"What's the matter Lily? Regretting not snogging Potter?" Lily blushed again, and hastily changed the subject.
XXXXXXXXXX
"Well Jamesie-boy, you were certainly very friendly with Evans." Said Sirius, grinning from ear-to-ear.
"For a first real conversation in 6 years, I'd say that went exceptionally well." Said James, smiling slightly, "and never call me that" he added
"Looks like our head boy and girl are going to be an effective working partnership this year" said Remus, innocently
"Working very close together in many projects" Peter chipped in.
"A well-oiled machine, if you know what I mean." Sirius added, smiling
"Oh for fuck's sake, Padfoot." Exclaimed James, "that was just wrong"
"Alright, alright, calm down. But you must admit, you two looked pretty close."
"Guys, you're all getting way too ahead of yourselves. Lily's not like all the other girls. For another other girl, a smile from me can make their week. If this works out between me and Lily, first of all, it'll take time, and secondly, it'll last."
"So, you haven't given up yet, Prongs?" asked Remus
"Not by a long shot Mooney" said James, "not by a long shot."