Sirius's Top Ten

Once more, it all belongs to J.K. Rowling, with the exception of Cassidy and Oliver.

Chapter 2: Just Friends Then

Lily Evans woke with a start about an hour before breakfast that morning, and decided almost immediately that she wanted to have a shower. She didn't know why, but every morning she just felt... gross. Lily was a perfectionist. She was a responsible homework-doer, who always came top of the class, with the exception of transfiguration. She was any teacher's dream. She was confident, and friendly, but didn't take too well to new situations, which was why she loved books so much. They were her haven.

Fifteen minutes later, a fresher, more awake Lily returned to the dormitory, back from the Prefect Bathroom. She was handy at Charms, and had already used a simple drying spell on her rich, flame red hair and curled it into soft ringlets with another softly whispered spell. The curls cascaded down to about mid-back, framing her oval face and making her dazzling green eyes stand out even more from her pale complexion. She dressed quickly, making sure to pin on her Prefect badge neatly.

She was about to go downstairs when she hear a loud, obtrusive snore. She turned suddenly to see one of her best friends, Cassidy, was still sleeping. A small, mischievous grin flitted across the girl's face, and she pounced on her friend, who woke up puffy-eyed and oblivious.

"Wha?" Cassidy Flemmings grunted sleepily.

Many people we amazed that Cassidy and Lily were friends. They were very different girls. Cassidy was always trying to live on the edge, try new things, and pull the occasional prank on the Marauders. She, too, always finished her homework on time, but not as keenly as Lily.

"Cass, come on. Breakfast is in five minutes. If you don't eat anything now, you'll be grouchy all morning."

"You smell nice today." Cassidy commented randomly as Lily backed off and Cass slowly climbed out of bed. "Why?"

"No reason. Although I think Oliver..." Lily began with a dreamy tone, before being interrupted by Cass, who was pulling a crumpled pair of jeans from the floor up over her hips.

"Not him again, Tig." Cass complained as she did up the top button of her jeans. "It's pointless to even bother with him, since you'll never get married anyways."

"How do you know?" Lily retorted, a hint of anger in her voice.

"His last name is Field. Lily Field? Oh god, I'd hope not."

With that, the two girls burst into laughter, which lasted until they reached the Great Hall, and started up again when Oliver Field joined them and had to sit hopelessly until they were able to control themselves.

"Is sumthin' wrong with you ladies?" Oliver asked, blushing in confusion.

"Oh, nothing." Lily said with a wink to Cassidy as she buttered her toast.

"Yup," Cassidy agreed. "Just having a laugh."

"I'm up for laughs." James Potter said with a grin as he slid up to the table, across from Lily, Cassidy, and Oliver, all of whom looked somewhat gob smacked.

"Do you feel sick, Potter?" Lily asked as she waved her hand in front of his face, the first to recover from shock.

"No, actually, I feel quite fine. How are you, Lily?" James answered absent- mindedly, as he helped himself to scrambled eggs and bacon.

"What are you doing here?" Cassidy asked rudely as Lily was left silent.

"Eating breakfast?" James responded, looking at Cassidy like she was crazy. "How're you, Oliver?"

"I'm fine." Oliver answered, before adding nervously: "Actually, Lily, I was 'oping I could 'ave a private word."

Before Lily could respond however, James put on a look of enlightenment.

"What a coincidence!" James said loudly, "I was hoping to have a word with Lily too! I'll go first!"

Before Lily could object, Potter stood, jogged around to her side of the table, grabbed her hand, and led her out of the Great Hall. Lily looked completely bewildered, but James could see that Sirius had been right. She's quite pretty.

"I think we should date." James offered bluntly, Lily almost laughing before realizing he was serious and coughing to hide her original intentions.

Gaining control of herself, mostly, she couldn't help but giggle.

"Date?" she asked in disbelief. "We hardly know each other."

"So?"

"So? I can't just 'date' you. I don't even know you!" "Know what?" James countered, grinning.

"Well, I don't know your birthday, or –"

"March 11th." James answered automatically.

"Your favourite colour." Lily persisted.

"That's a good one." James said, pausing slightly. "Never really given much thought – "

"Your interests, hobbies. Your family. Your best friends." Lily continued, seeing she was catching him. James opened his mouth to argue, but Lily kept the questions coming.

"Favourite subjects. Favourite sport. Favourite food. Favourite flavour of Bertie Botts!"

Lily faltered, trying to come up with more questions, but she had got him anyways. Her green eyes stared up at James defiantly, for he was at least five inches taller than she.

"Fine." James said, staring back into hers. "We'll be friends first then."

He offered a hand, which she took, and James was amazed at the softness of her hands.

"Alright, well I'll see you later then, P-James." Lily said with a smile, before returning to the Great Hall.

Not that bad. Lily thought to herself, as she turned her back on the infamous James Potter. We'll probably just chat later on. I doubt this will get serious.

But poor Lily had no idea how wrong she was.