Whispers followed me all week. In the Great Hall, whilst walking between lessons, in the common room each evening and during lessons.
Numerous girls would call out to me, in silly high super girly voices - "Hey James! How you doing?" Even several guys came up to me and said in low voices, "Y'know, I don't know what it is about you Potter, but stay AWAY from my girlfriend..."
Basically mine and Lily's plan was working amazingly well and by Friday lunchtime when I saw Sirius marching into the Great Hall, bright red and seething, I knew that everything had worked out perfectly.
"James Potter! Remind me again why, exactly, I am your friend?" Sirius slumped down into a seat opposite me and started spooning mashed potatoes onto his plate.
"Why, Padfoot, my dear fellow! What's gotten into you today?" I looked concerned but inside I had a grin a mile wide.
"Forty-seven times today!" he exclaimed, wielding a sausage in my direction, "Forty-seven times!"
"What?" I asked, innocently enough, and wiped some gravy off the rim of my plate with my finger.
"The girls! All of them! Asking these questions about you! Questions, questions, questions...all day! 'You know James Potter don't you Sirius? Tell me what he's like! Does he have a girlfriend? Is it true that he's...equipped?!' Even Tasha's gone off me and started asking about you! Why are you suddenly so special?" Sirius fumed, somehow managing to talk round a mouthful of peas but still spraying blobs of gravy out of his mouth.
"It's okay Padfoot. Don't worry! It's just the girls seem to have realised that you don't quite have that certain...je ne sais quoi! I do. Simple." I placed my fork and knife neatly together and my plate disappeared and a new one appeared instead.
"Yeah, well, it won't last..." muttered Sirius darkly, "But, at least Lily Evans didn't look up my shorts!" He smirked, hoping that this might fluster me but I just calmly helped myself to some treacle tart and cream then took a bite.
Casually, I swallowed and serenely said, "Y'know Sirius, that's not such a bad thing to happen to a guy." And proceeded to wolf my dessert down, my best friend gazing at me confused across the table.
Before long I was done and bid a quick goodbye to my friend. I hurried out of the Great Hall and made my way to the library. As I came in I was greeted with a glare from the librarian Madam Pince and I hurriedly delved in between the many shelves of books that gave the room an odd labyrinth-like feel. I spied a flash of auburn behind two large dusty volumes - "The Secret History of Animagi" by Celia Lampoon and "Wandless Magic: An Introduction" by Prof. Mildred Darshive.
"What's up pigtails?" I said, rounding the corner of the library stacks and gently tugging one of Lily's plaits. She grinned up at me as I settled myself in one of the high back chairs at her table. "Sirius is going berserk from the rumours! Equipped, am I? You're so complementary and I just thought I'd pop over here to tell you how much I ardently love and admire you, oh sweet Lily-of-the-Valley!"
"Been reading Jane Austen have we? Muggle literature...very interesting..." Lily grinned knowingly at me. She loved telling people about the Muggle World as she had the distinction of being the only Muggle-born among the Gryffindor seventh years.
"How do you know she was Muggle?" I questioned, trying to outsmart her once and for all.
"Because her name isn't on the WWR, stupid." she answered as if this was a simple explanation that anyone would understand. I raised an eyebrow.
"And the WWR would be...?"
"The Wizarding Writing Register."
"I think it may be possible that you know more about the Wizarding world than I do. How scary is that?" I made a mental note to never try to out wit Lily Evans. It seemed an almost impossible feat.
"I only know the factual things. You probably know loads more that you don't even associate it with the Wizarding world. Afterall, you only know that world. I know this and the Muggle world," She shrugged, "And I think it's hilarious that some of you purebloods don't know what a toaster is."
"A what?"
She laughed, showing her pearly white teeth and her emerald eyes twinkling like gems under heavy lashed eyes. A small strand of her hair fell back from behind her ear where it had been tucked and tickled her chin. I smiled, leaned forward and curled her hair back behind her ears before I could stop to hear my mind scream 'Noooooooooooooooooo! Don't do it!!!!'.
And I was caught.
All I could see were her eyes, sparkling and dazzling, looking straight into my own eyes. Very slowly it seemed my insides melted into my shoes. But then my inner voice reached me.
"So," I snapped backwards into the armchair, "so, um, what you writing?" She looked at me, her face either surprised or confused I wasn't sure which. Then she glanced down at the parchment in front of her.
"Oh, it's Transfiguration. Wish I hadn't taken it now to be honest." She pulled a large open book closer to her, "It says something here about transmigration... I don't get it."
"It's simple. All this is the theory of moving the soul into a different body," I began, but she still looked confused, "It's like me moving my spirit into your body so I could control it. A bit like the Imperious curse, except it's not a curse and your soul would still be conscious of what was happening."
"Where would my soul go? To your body?"
"No, we'd be the same being although it's quite likely that I'd have more power over what your body did. It's difficult to fit two souls into one vessel and you have to be pretty powerful in the first place to get in." Lily nodded at me. Man, I would've made a good Professor. "Does that help?"
"Loads. Thanks James."
"No problem. I'll see ya later Lily," I rose to leave and she began scribbling on the parchment, head bent in earnest study.
It was weird. I'd only spoken to Lily properly for a week ever since she'd woken me, Sirius and Peter up after our moonlit gambol, but it felt as though we'd been friends for much longer. In a way, I suppose, we had.
Lily had always been around in one way or another. We'd shared a lot more than I think both of us realised we had. Our first day, every end of year test, OWL's and now the NEWT's. She had been in nearly all of my classes apart from Care of Magical Creatures - she'd picked Divination instead. The fact that I knew that about her only confirmed my belief.
For the past six or seven years I'd known that she was Muggle-born; her birthday was February 13th; she was the best at Charms and dispised History of Magic; her favourite Hogwarts meal was Chilli con Carne; her favourite colour was red; she liked Led Zeppelin (a Muggle band) but hated Sorceress Sammy (the Wizarding world's main female artist); her favourite book was 'Angel Of Diagon' - a Wizarding novel.
All this I had known, but none of that even began to compare with the way I knew her now, after only a few days.
***
I was half asleep when the owl post had arrived in the Great Hall on Monday morning. The huge birds had swooped in through the main door, knocking over anyone foolish enough not to dive to the floor whilst entering at the same time. A large greying school owl had flopped down in front of me, upsetting my bowl of cornflakes into my lap.
"Scourgify." I had muttered around a large yawn pointing my wand at my trousers and then reached for my letter:
'Mr.Potter,
You are required to attend the second official meeting of the Head Boy and Girl this afternoon at 2 O'clock in the Headmaster's office.
I apologise that there has been no meeting until so late in the Autumn term but there have been a few things that I had to see to.
You are excused from all of the afternoon's lessons (1:30pm - 3:30pm) but uniform must be worn for your meeting.
The password is 'mint humbug'.
I look forward to seeing you then,
Albus Dumbledore.'
"Ah, yes. Head Boy. I remember that," I said blearily. To my right Remus poured a mug of coffee and placed it in my hand, bending my fingers around it into a reasonable grasp. I am not a morning person. "Thanks..."
Somehow, by sipping my steaming mug of coffee and running my hand through my hair, I woke up enough to get to our first lesson of the day: Potions.
When I arrived I saw Professor Scelestra had written up a seating plan on the blackboard. I had been placed in the middle row on the far left. With Lily. I wanted to jump for joy! A whole half term with Lily Evans! Yay! But, I was still a bit sleepy so just managed a subtle grin to myself.
I strolled over to the desk and began removing my books, quill and parchment and setting up a large cauldron. Lily sped through the door just a Scelestra was going to call the register and flung herself onto the stool next to mine with a muffled "Hi."
Scelestra stood up to speak and both Lily and I reached for a quill to take notes. The professor spoke fast and did not wait or repeat for anyone so it was important to get it all done first time.
"For part of your Potion NEWT you have to produce a joint project with another member of your class. You have been placed with a pupil both in your own house and working at a similar level to you. This is supposed to make it as easy as possible for you to get the best grade within both your abilities out of the project whilst being able to work on it in your own common rooms, without taking up valuable library space.
"The project subject is up to the both of you to decide on, however, there are some exceptions to this. No Hogwarts student may create a love potion as any part of your project or attempt to make Veritaserum. These potions have strict Ministry guidelines to be followed in their brewing and use and I do not advise you jeopardise your future careers by disobeying this warning.
"Your project is to be about a transmogrifying potion. You must both record a detailed history of the potion; an analysis of the ingredients and how they affect your chosen potion; brew the potion and obviously write a detailed account on how the potion affects your appearance, behaviour, etc.; include sketches of the morphing process; brew your own transmogrifying potion - it can do anything from give the drinker a beard or change them into an animal.
"The potion can be as complex or as simple as you like as it is not the quantity of work but the quality that matters most in this project. If any of you wish you may also tie this project into your Transfiguration NEWT - if you are taking it - for extra credit in that subject.
"Understand? Good."
"I'm glad we can use it in Transfiguration. I need as much extra credit as I can get for that!" Lily exclaimed as the class around us started talking animatedly to their work partners.
"So, which potion do you wanna do? Any ideas?" I said.
"Well, now you mention it I do. As we're Head's we have access to the Restricted Section of the library without a teachers consent. I found this. Do you know what it's covered in by the way?" Lily reached down into her bag and pulled out a massive green leathery book. It looked slightly mouldy and tattered. I studied the 'leather' a little closer.
"It's covered in dragon's hide - it must be ancient. Dragon skin's been banned as a book covering. Only Dark Arts books were ever covered in it though - we can't use this!" I looked up at Lily, mildly pleased for once that I knew something she didn't, "Who knows what might be in here. There are probably restrictions galore on most of these."
"Ah, okay..." Lily moved to put the book away, looking rather crushed at my dismissal of her idea, a very good idea it had to be said. I took the book from her.
"But," I flipped open to the contents page, "there's no harm in asking."
Lily called Scelestra over and quietly explained our conversation and asked if we could use the book. I handed it to the professor who skimmed through it rapidly before handing it back with a soft smile
"It's a good book that one. Difficult, but if you think you can manage one of these go ahead. Call if you need anymore help with it - it's what I'm paid to do. Good luck." Professor Scelestra gave us a rare smile and suddenly became my brand new favourite teacher before walking off to talk to Nigel Lovegood who was flailing his arms in the air as though drowning.
"Great! What's this book called anyway?" I tipped my head to the side to read the spine. Etched in golden letters was the title 'Moste Potente Potions', "Sounds ominous." I murmured as Lily pulled the cover open carefully and we bent over its wavering crunchy first page.
( Below is taken directly from Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Chapter Ten 'The Rogue Bludger' Extract ends at *)
It was clear from a glance why it belonged in the Restricted Section. Some of the potions had effects almost too gruesome to think about, and there were some very unpleasant illustrations, which included a man who seemed to have been turned inside out and a witch sprouting several extra pairs of arms out of her head. *
"I think the Polyjuice Potion looks most promising," said Lily when we eventually surfaced from the grotesque throng of pictures, "It would tie in nicely with the idea of... that thing you had to help me with... what was it?"
"Transmigration," I filled in, "It would be good to do a study on changing matter and changing state."
"I've got it!" Lily exclaimed, a little louder than perhaps necessary, "We can take a Polyjuice Potion of each other - I become you, you become me, yeah? And then we try and do a transmigration into each others bodies. Not while under Polyjuice obviously, but it'll tie in perfectly and - oh my God! Think of the marks we'd get if we could do it!!!"
"Lily, Lily," she was getting carried away and I had to clap my hands in her face to shut her up, "Lily, as great as that sounds there is the slight problem in that we're not working on a project in Transfiguration...."
***
"...you may tie this project in with your Potion NEWT - if you're taking it - for extra credit in that subject..." McGonagall continued to talk but Lily caught my eye.
"See!" she mouthed with a friendly smirk next to me and then scribbled on a rough sheet of parchment: 'You wanna try my idea then?'
I sucked the end of my quill for a moment before dipping it in the ink well in front of me: 'Sure.'
And that was that.
***
At 2 O'clock prompt I was outside Dumbledore's office. The first Head meeting had been at the start of the year where there had basically been a briefing of the responsibilities involved in the position of Head students. To me, all it sounded like was acting the same way the professors did. Just without lessons. We could deal out punishments, add rules, award house points, yadda yadda.
However, so far I had done very little to exercise my new found power, let alone abuse it or, as Remus had predicted, become corrupted by that power. I'd always thought that the Hufflepuff Prefect, Simon Abbott, would get the position. I hadn't even been a Prefect in the first place!
Anyway, I said the password and the gargoyle on the wall had sprung to life, opening a door in the wall to reveal a moving staircase. It was heavy grey stone that moved with a slight grumbling sound upwards in a spiral. I looked up from the bottom and saw it reached up to a platform, another floor, about 13 feet above. With some intrepidation I put my right foot onto the nearest step which promptly became a step too far away and it nearly flung me off all together.
I glanced around, just in case there was someone in the shadows watching me, ready to burst into fits of giggles at the sight of me attempting to walk up a moving staircase. Dumbledore had some of the strangest ideas...
On my second try, I took the moving contraption at a run and flung myself at it, eventually grabbing at a step and hauling myself up. I'd succeeded, that time, to land spread-eagle over about four or five of the steps. I pulled myself up, legs shaking slightly, and dusted my robes off with a hand before I reached the summit.
In front of me was a large oak door, polished to the extent I could see my face in it, with a brass door knocker. I knocked twice and the door swung open to reveal Dumbledore and Lily already in the office.
It was a huge circular room with numerous bay windows at the far end behind the headmasters shiny dark wood desk. The desk itself was covered in all manner of strange objects, as were most of the low tables that scattered the room. The walls were filled with portrait of bygone headmasters and headmistresses most of whom were snoozing gently against their frames or studying Lily with interest.
"Ah, James!" Dumbledore exclaimed rising from his seat behind the desk, "I see you've tackled the staircase at last!" Lily hid her mouth with one hand, trying to cover the large smile across her face, laughter in her eyes. "I must say I've never seem someone go at it so... Miss Evans, help me out here..."
"Creatively?" Lily suggested, fresh giggles issuing from her mouth as she spoke. Dumbledore merely smiled at me over the top of his half moon spectacles and motioned for me to take the seat next to Lily. I did, grudgingly.
"Right, now we're all settled. The reason for this meeting is to start you two with the organisation of the main event the Head Boy and Girl are responsible for. That is, of course, the Seventh Year's Leavers Dance.
"The event is shared with the two other Western European schools, Beuxbatons and Durmstrang, and their Head Students each arrange a certain part of the Leavers activities. This year Beuxbatons are running a funfair for the morning and afternoon of the dance, whilst Durmstrang will be providing a small Quidditch tournament the day beforehand. This, as I said, leaves the dance up to the both of you.
"The may be themed if you so desire, but you must sort out invitations, dress code, a band, any decorations and a suitable buffet meal or menu between you. In May you will meet with the other four Head Students so as to set the final plans in place. Most importantly you must make this an enjoyable last experience for all the seventh years from each school. I have complete faith in the both of you." He beamed at us both, the familiar twinkle in his periwinkle eyes, "Have you any pressing questions? No? Well, then I will not procrastinate you any longer. Of course I advise you use the Head Students Lounge - I would prefer these plans to remain as secretive as possible, and that includes not telling you friends the second you leave this office." He cast a knowing look in my direction.
"Off you go then." And me and Lily bid our goodbyes and left the office, the door closed itself behind us.
"There's a Head Students Lounge?" I asked Lily. I'd heard nothing about a lounge! Maybe Dumbledore hadn't mentioned it to me.
"Don't you listen to anything?! Dumbledore told us about it in the first meeting. It's on the second floor behind the tapestry of Merlin. Password's 'phoenix'. Come on, we'll go there now, it's great place!" said Lily, grabbing my arm and pulling me along with her.
She was right though - it was great place. When you muttered the password the tapestry swung back to reveal a beautiful scarlet door set into the wall with no keyhole or even a handle. You placed you hand in the centre and pushed and it swung open into the room. The room itself was amazing. It had a high vaulted ceiling from which hung a wrought iron chandelier filled with tall white candles. The floor was varnished black wood scattered with thick red and gold rugs. There was a sofa, a chaise longue and quite a few little armchairs. On the walls hung portraits of past Head Students all smiling and waving and quietly talking among themselves.
"Do we have to get our portrait done?" I asked Lily, the font of all knowledge.
"Yep, at the end of the year I think. Look, it must be at the Leavers Dance - they're all dressed up." she pointed at one Head Girl in lilac dress robes with shoulder length blonde hair.
"Wow, look here're my grandparents!" I said gazing at the portrait. At the bottom on a golden plaque were inscribed two names:
Daniel Potter (Gryffindor) & Harriet Martin (Slytherin)
1931
My grandparents smiled down at me with young faces, arms round each others waists. "They first got together in Seventh year, they'd never even spoken before then. Too much house rivalry. But my grandmother's a good lady, doesn't follow the Dark Arts although she was in Slytherin. I think my grandfather might've changed her mind about following that path."
Lily had stepped over to join me and was studying Daniel Potter.
"You look so much like your grandfather. It's kinda spooky. Look, his hair even sticks up like yours! Are they still... around?" she asked delicately, eyes still fixed on the picture.
"Both of them still live and kicking. And all the Potter men look like that, even Lorenzo and Morgead have the Potter hair." I replied moving down the room to more recent Heads.
"Are they your brothers?"
"Half-brothers. I have a half-sister too, Topaz. They're triplets."
"Half? How come I've never seen them around Hogwarts?"
"We have different mothers. And they never got accepted to Hogwarts. They went to Durmstrang, their mothers school."
"What happened to your mother?" Lily finally asked. The question I had been dreading since getting to know her. It had been hard enough telling Sirius, Remus and Peter, but a girl? No.
I shrugged. "I don't know," I answered truefully. I didn't want to know either. If she'd been working in Knockturn Alley I wanted nothing to do with her, the same way she'd wanted nothing to do with me.
After that Lily stopped asking questions.
A/N – Okay, that wasn't really a great chapter, I know. Thank you to:
Polkat – Hmmm… Hi! I've already said thank you to you so … right…
Craymere – I'm glad you like my James. Isn't he lovely?! Thank you!
kimmie387a() – Aaw! Thank you! I hope you keep reading too!
Hwesta – Yay! Another person I know! I thought I said not to read my story…. Hmm, suspiscious! Thank you!!!!
PaJamas – Okay, the Chaser thing came from an interview on Scholastic.com with JK Rowling. It was around the time of the 4th book (October 2000, I think) so is a bit dated and also a lot of the questions so you have to search a bit! But one question was "Which house was Lily Potter in, and what is her maiden name?" so that's how loads of people knew she was called Evans and was a Gryffindor before the 5th book. The question that answers you… erm… question (!) is "What position did James play on the Gryffindor Quidditch team? Was it seeker like Harry, or something different?" and the answer was he was a Chaser. So, there you have it! Here's the link if you wanna read the whole interview:
Okay, thank you and REVIEW!!!!!