Disclaimer: I own nothing people!     

When I was a little girl, every night I would stay up late reading stories under the covers with a flashlight. I was always the kind of girl who could get sucked into those wonderful fairytales with wicked dragons and magic carpets. I loved any romantic story involving a prince and princess who magically fall in love and live happily ever after. Yep, I was a romantic at about the age of six.

I always wanted that life of beautiful crowns and sparkling gowns; I wanted to live in a palace by the sea. And most of all, I wanted a handsome prince to ride up to me on his big white horse, tell me he loves me, and take me away to his castle.

I had even planned how we would meet…

I would be walking through a beautiful meadow when the prince would spot me. He'd race through the fields to come meet me. He'd get down on his knees and tell me he'd never love anyone else but me. Then, he would kiss my hand and he would say, "Lily Evans, will you be my princess?" Then he'd look up at me with his beautiful blue eyes. And I would smile at him and say yes. And he would smile back at me as he slipped a beautiful diamond ring onto my finger…

But as the years went by and I grew older and older, I stopped believing in fairy tales; I stopped reading the stories; and I stopped drawling pictures of what I thought Prince Charming would look like, because I thought he was never going to come for me.

It turns out he was just a little late, but he did come….in my seventh year of Hogwarts…

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"Becca!" I screamed when my best friend emerged from the compartment door of the Hogwarts Express with a smirk on her face. "Well, if it isn't the famous Head Girl!" Becca said pretending to be surprised. I grinned sheepishly.

"So how'd your vacation go?" Becca asked me after we broke out of our hug.  "Want to know what the best part was?" I asked her. "What?" Becca said curiously.

"Getting on the train."

Becca laughed. "You were always the humorous one Lils," she informed me. Soon after we had sat down and began talking animatedly abut what happened over the holidays, the compartment doors slid open again.

I came face to face with James Potter.

"Lily Evans," he said smirking at me. I bit my tongue and held back the thing that I really wanted to say to that arrogant prat. I couldn't say anything rude; I was Head Girl after all. "James Potter," I said nodding politely.

Those were the first two words I had ever spoken to him since fifth year, when I had sworn to myself that I would completely ignore James Potter and never speak to him again.

Who would want to speak to him? Him being such an arrogant pinhead who always tortured people like Snape for no reason. Not that Snape's a lovely little bundle of roses but…

"Looks like we're going to be working together a lot this year," he stated.

"What are you talking about?"

James grinned and puffed out his chest. I glanced down. He was wearing the Head Boy badge.

"WHAT?!?" I screamed.

"Easy, Evans" James said smiling at me.

"You – but – how could you – and – Head Boy?!" 

"Nice way of putting it," James said. Sirius laughed his laugh like a bark. "You're Head Boy?" I finally said. James nodded his head casually. I couldn't believe it. James Potter had been chosen as Head Boy. The world was coming to an end…

"Well, I best be going. I'll see you around Lily," James said after awkward silence. He smiled at me.

I smiled back.

I smiled back?!? Why did smile back?!?

After a polite nod at Becca, James left the compartment.  Sirius, Remus, and Peter followed suit. For a while, Becca and I didn't speak. I sat back down on my seat and stared out the window.

James Potter, Head Boy.

Head Boy, James Potter.

James Potter, Hogwarts' Head Boy.  It actually didn't sound so bad…

"So – er – James is head boy," Becca finally said. I nodded. "Becca why? How in the world did James Potter get to be Head Boy?" I blurted out. Becca smiled at me. "Dumbledore has his reasons Lily. We may never understand them, but he has his reasons," she said.

"That's for sure," I added grimly. How in the world was I supposed to work with a guy who was more immature than the first years? Okay, so just a few minutes ago maybe he wasn't so bad. But this was James Potter – the ultimate troublemaker – we were talking about!

I spent the rest of my trip to my final year at Hogwarts wallowing in self pity…

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As soon as the feast was over, I pinned my badge proudly on my chest and gave directions to all the Prefects. Then I pushed through the crowd to the Staff Table to speak to Dumbledore. James was already standing there waiting for Dumbledore and Professor McGonnall to stop talking…

WHAT?!? He was there before I got there? This is getting weird…

"What are you doing here?" I said immediately. James smiled. "I'm more responsible than you think Evans." I huffed disbelievingly. "I'd love to believe that Potter…"

"But?"

"But I don't believe you'll ever be very responsible," I said casually. Surprisingly, James continued to smile at me. "What's with the sour attitude Evans? You can't keep treating me like this; we will never be able to work together if you keep acting that way. Just be happy that we get the chance to work together," James said.

I rolled my eyes.

Be happy that I get to work with James?

That'll be the day…

"Ah, Mr. Potter, Ms. Evans," Dumbledore said finally acknowledging our presence. James and I looked up at him expectantly. "First, my congratulations. It's quite an honor to be chosen as Head Boy and Head Girl," Dumbledore said.

I beamed.

James looked pleased with himself as well.

The arrogant prat…

"Well, let's see," Dumbledore continued. "Oh yes. You two are going to have to decide when you would like to have the first Prefect Meeting. It's up to you to choose the date. You will also be planning a ball this year, so start thinking about some possible ideas for the theme."

"Wonderful!" I exclaimed.

Dumbledore smiled. "About your room arrangements; the Head Boy and Girl get a private dorm to themselves. There is a small common room for you both, as well as a bedroom for each of you. Your dorm is located on the seventh floor. Go to the portrait of the wizards playing cards; the password is Pumpkin Pasties. Here are you keys," Dumbledore finished handing each of us a key.

He nodded in order to let James and I know we were free to go. I decided to walk to the Heads' Dorm to see what it looked like. Unfortunately, James had the same plan as I did. "So, Lily, how was your summer?" James asked as he caught up with me. I tried not to act surprised that he had called me Lily instead of Evans. "Fine, why?" I asked.

 "No reason. I was just trying to make polite conversation," James said.  "Whatever Potter," I said shortly.  I was rather astonished with myself. Why was I being so rude? James hadn't really done anything. We talked the whole way up to the seventh floor. I was actually enjoying talking with James…

"Hey! There's the portrait of the wizards playing cards!" James said pointing at a large painting of several wizards sitting around a table.

"What's wrong?" James asked me when he saw my face.

"Nothing," I said. The truth was I was surprised at how quickly James and I had reached the portrait. I thought it would have taken longer. Maybe it was because you were distracted by James. He's quite handsome you know, a voice said in my head.

 I chose to ignore it. But I had to admit to myself, he was pretty easy to talk to. He was actually pretty – er – fun to talk to. (I can't believe I actually just said that). And he wasn't even acting arrogant, or asking me out again. That was very strange…

When I looked up James was staring at me. "What?" I said curtly. "Nothing, I just never noticed how green your eyes were."

I blinked.

I didn't expect that. Was it good or bad?

It's not a bad thing!" James said spotting the look on my face. "They're nice eyes." James blushed. I don't think he had meant to say that. I blushed too. "Er – thank you." We walked into the common room together. I gasped. It was a lot nicer than I thought it would have been.

James looked around. "Cool," he stated.

I nodded in agreement.

"So, you think you're going to sleep here? Or are you sleeping back in the girls' dorm?" James asked. "Dunno," I said thinking about his question. I walked over to my door, which read Lily Evans. I took a second to admire the fancy writing, then I opened the door with my key and walked inside.

"James I'm definitely staying here!" I shouted from my bedroom. It was much nicer than the Gryffindor girls' dorm. James entered behind me and laughed. "Well I hope my room is as nice as this," James commented. "I bet it will be," I told him.

James opened the door to his room and sure enough, it was about the same as mine except with different colors. "Told ya," I said. James sighed in relief and then grinned at me. "So, Lils, what do ya want to do?" James asked.

Lils? "Lils?"

James smirked. "Yeah, Lils."

I rolled my eyes. "Don't call me Lils."

"Why?" James asked attempting to look innocent.

I searched for the right words. "Because – er – it sounds weird."

"Really? I like it."

Me, too. "I hate it."

"Fine."

I started walking towards the door. "Hey, where are you going…Lils?" James said. I pretended as though I hadn't heard the Lils part. "Library" I said indifferently.

"The library?!?!" James exclaimed. "Why on earth would you want to go to the library? We haven't even had any homework assigned yet! What could you possibly to at the library now?"

"Er – get a head start?" I suggested. James laughed.

"What's so funny?" I asked. "Lily, you have to learn to relax! You know? Live a little," James said. I scoffed at him. "Well what do you propose we do then, Mr. Potter? How do you suggest I live a little?" I said coolly.

"Let's take a walk," James said sitting up from the couch he was sprawled across.

Hey that would be fun! "That's the stupidest thing I ever heard."

"Oh come on Lily! It would be fun! Anything is better than going to the library for no reason! Come on! You know it would be fun! I bet you want to go, don't you?" James said smirking and raising his eyebrows at me.

Yes! "No."

I started walking towards the door to go to the library. James jumped over the couch and ran up to me. He grabbed my arm so that I couldn't move. "Oh come on James, just leave me alone," I groaned.

"No."

"Pleeeasssee?"

"Nope. Come take a walk with me."

Sure, I'd love to! "No."

"Please….Lils?"

"Okay fine! I'll go if you promise to stop calling me Lils," I said.

James jumped up. "Deal!"

"Promise?"

"Promise."

"Wait a second! James how are we supposed to take a walk on the grounds? We're not allowed out of the castle this late!" I said. "Yes! I guess this means we don't have to go!" Shoot, I wanted to go really badly!

"Don't get all happy yet, Lily. I have an invisibility cloak!" I forgot about hiding my fake disappointment. "You have an invisibility cloak?!?" I said, amazed. "Yeah." James said nonchalantly. "Wow." James grinned. "It does come in handy when I have to sneak somewhere."

I tried to look disapproving.

It didn't work.

Instead, I laughed.

Then we walked out the door underneath the invisibility cloak. I had predicted that I would have a completely miserable time with the infamous James Potter.

I was wrong…