Ch. 17 "Head Boy and What?"
Professor Dumbledore stood up and beamed at the students sitting before him. "Another year," he said, "more names to remember." There was scattered laughed amongst the Great Hall; Lily smiled and waited for him to continue his speech. "Now that we are all fed and watered – some more than others . . . " He looked over at the Marauders and Sirius hooted. Sara rolled her eyes and grinned.
"First years," Dumbledore continued, "you will follow your house prefects up to your house common room and dormitories. As for everybody else, I would greatly appreciate it if you all would head straight to your common rooms and retire for the night; you have a full day ahead of you." His blue eyes twinkled as he spoke. "And," he said abruptly, "I would like to speak with Lily Evans and James Potter in my office. I will meet you there in ten minutes." With one last smile, he disappeared into the bustling crowd of exhausted students eager to get into their warm beds.
Lily looked over at James and he shrugged, leaving her with no extra information. She followed Sara out of the Great Hall and towards Gryffindor tower. The two reached the Fat Lady and stepped inside the common room. Lily, who had nothing to do but wait until she had to go met Dumbledore, took a seat on the couch in front of the fire. She stared directly into the flames as she usually did and let her thoughts wander. She could sit like this for hours, unmoving, barely even blinking, totally unaware of her surroundings. Sara had taken out a sketchpad and began doodling.
The two girls sat in a comftorable silence, their own thoughts slowly drifting away from reality. A sudden hand to the shoulder scared Lily. She turned around to face the owner of the hand, also known as James Potter. He had shoved his hands in his pockets and jerked his head towards the door. "Dumbledore," he said simply.
Lily quickly recollected her memory and looked at Sara. "I'm leaving, Sara," she said. "Be back later."
Sara nodded and showed Lily a picture of someone with their hair on fire. "Who is that?" Lily asked amusedly.
Sara grinned. "Wouldn't you like to know," and she went back to her drawing, adding clothes and making the hair longer. Before Lily could take another guess as so who it was, James tapped Lily again. "Coming," she told him. "See you, Sara."
"Bye," Sara called over her shoulder and went back to her drawing. Lily smiled and anticipated when Sara would tell her who the doodle was. This was like a ritual for them; Sara would have a row with someone, then use her deadly imagination as revenge. James coughed and Lily was once again snapped out of her thoughts. "Sorry," she apologized and followed him into the corridor.
The walk to Dumbledore's office was a quiet one, and Lily used it to her advantage. She stole a quick peek at James. His face was relaxed, his nose scrunched up and his eyes unfocused. He was clearly in deep thought. Of what, Lily spent the remainder of the walk trying to figure out.
They reached the large gargoyle statue and James opened his mouth. "I don't know the password, he admitted.
"Neither do I," Lily said. She looked down the hallway for any sign of a teacher, namely her headmaster.
James leaned up against the wall casually and crossed his arms. "I guess we wait, then," he said matter-of-factly.
Lily knew he was right and leaned against the wall opposite of him. She slid down the wall and she, too, crossed her arms. The two remained like this for a few moments; that was, however, until Sirius came strolling down the corridor, complete with top hat, cane, and red corsage pinned to a tuxedo. He whistled a jaunty tune, and hit James in the shins with his cane as he passed.
"Ow!" James exclaimed and rubbed his leg. "What the bloody hell was that for?"
Sirius backed up and looked at James. "Your girlfriend," he said seriously and leaned forward, "is a fag."
Lily choked on her laughter and quickly turned it into a cough. "What?" Sirius asked in response to James's cross expression. "She thinks it funny," he added and gestured to Lily.
"May I ask why Tanya, my girlfriend, is a fag?" James asked sternly.
"Hey, hey, hey. She is the one who called me a fag. And all I did was lift her skirt up! See, there's this rumor that's going around that her butt is fake, and I was curious, so I –"
"And I wonder why she called you a fag," James interrupted. "And her butt is not fake. I think I would know."
"That you would, lad."
James smirked and registered Sirius's attire. "Um, Padfoot, why are you wearing that?"
Sirius looked down at his clothes and shrugged. "Why not?"
James rolled his eyes at his best friend and looked at Lily. "He was suppose to meet us here, right?"
Lily nodded. "I don't know what's taking him."
"Who, Dumbledore?" Sirius asked. He shrugged. "He'll be here. Well, I'm off. Cheerio." Sirius tipped his hat to Lily and smacked James in the shins again, then strolled importantly down the corridor.
"Weirdo," James mumbled and looked at Lily again. She smiled softly and shrugged. James slid down the wall, so they were now at eye level. He cleared his throat and looked down the hall.
"You do that a lot," Lily commented. James looked at her with an amused expression. "What?" he asked.
"Clear your throat. You do it when you're impatient, nervous, tired, bored, irritated –"
"Okay, okay. I get it." James grinned. "My, are you observant."
"Call it a curse," Lily joked.
James cocked his head to one side and studied Lily. "You're not that shy," he observed. "Everyone says you are, but you're not."
Lily shrugged. "I have my moments."
"I can tell. Sara agrees with me."
"Sara doesn't count," Lily argued.
"I can honestly say that's something a best friend would say about another," James said sarcastically. "I hear it all the time."
"I mean," Lily continued, "that she agrees with everyone. If you tell her that vampire bats will take over Spain and use their bubble-gum blowing powers to blow up the Earth, she will tell the whole school and form a SWAT team."
James threw his head back and laughed. "That's not a bad idea. Do you mind writing that down for me?"
Lily snickered. "Sure, why not."
Their conversation was interrupted by a loud series of giggles coming from down the hall. Lily looked, half-expecting to see Dunbledore, then raised her eyebrows in amusement at the actual sight. It was, much to Lily's surprise, another one of James's group of love-struck admirers. There were about five of them, all younger then the two seventh years.
"Ladies," James called in an almost pleased tone.
The group squealed in unison and Lily was amazed as to how people have sunk so low. She looked at James and tried to figure out why they were all so obsessed with him. Yes, he was very, very, very, very, VERY handsome, but he was very stubborn, and his ego could use deflating. And he was obsessed with Quidditch, and he constantly played immature pranks on innocent people, and he constantly got good grads without doing any work, and –
Another giggle pulled Lily out of her thoughts. For the third time that day, she calculated. James was grinning as one of the groupies stumbled over her sentence. "I – I mean – oh, J – James, you are so sexy." That statement caused another fit of giggles to arrive, and James was soaking up the attention. Lily, however, had quickly gotten sick of it and prayed with all her might that an interruption – any interruption, would occur.
Much to her delight, one did. Sirius came walking back down the hallway, now wearing a fishnet tank top and leather pants. He strutted casually down the hallway and past the group, causing their attention to switch to him. They scurried after him, clinging onto his arms and once again, squealing.
Is he physic?? Is he the new God? "Unbelievable," Lily said.
James looked at her. "What is?"
"Them. I mean, I've seen it on TV and stuff, but I never actually thought it would happen. It's pathetic. It's unbelievable."
James put his hands behind his head and leaned back. "You get used to it."
"You've gotten quite used to it," Lily commented. "You were basking in it."
James snickered. "Like I said, you get used to it."
Lily, with nothing more to say, made herself more comfortable. Then a thought struck her. "James," she asked, "was Tanya every an admirer?"
The question took James by surprise. He sat up and stared at Lily. "Not really," he admitted. "She was just . . . someone I ran into in Diagon Ally and I asked her out."
"So it just . . . happened?" Lily inquired. "Just like that?"
He shrugged. "That's one way to put it."
Lily nodded and looked down the corridor again. "Hello, Professor Dumbledore," she said suddenly and sprang to her feet.
"Miss Evans," the old man greeted. Lily marveled at how he never managed to look any older. De-aging cream? Maybe, she thought.
"And Mr. Potter," he nodded in James's direction. "I am sorry for the delay."
"Oh, it's okay, Professor. James and I were able to get better aquatinted," Lily told him.
Dumbledore's eyes gleamed and Lily could tell he was smiling. "Really. Well, I don't want to waste anymore of your time, so let's go." He turned to the gargoyle statue. "Lemon drops," he said. The statue sprang to the side and showed a winding staircase. "A password I enjoy to use," he told the two students. "After you." Lily went up the stairs first, closely followed by James and Dumbledore.
Once they were all comfortably settled in Dumbledore's cozy office, he said, "Well, I can imagine you both know why you're here."
Lily and James exchanged confused glances. "No," Lily told the headmaster, "I'm afraid we don't."
"Well, that comes as a surprise, seeing as I am in the presence of the two brightest students in the school."
Lily blushed. "I'm not one of the brightest," she muttered.
"And I certainly know I'm not," James agreed.
"My, aren't we modest," Dumbledore said cheerfully. "No matter, I am happy to present to you the head boy and girl badges. You, Lily Evans, are head girl, and you, James Potter, are head boy."
The two sat in silence; the shock of what Dumbledore said had just begun to sink in. After a few minutes of this, Lily meekly said, "What?"
"You heard me. You are the new head girl, Lily."
Lily shook her head. "Why me? I mean, James is an obvious choice, but me? I'm not the sort of person who is head girl. Are you crazy?"
"Lily!" James said, his voice full of shock.
Dumbledore just chuckled. "I have a feeling you two will make a marvelous team."
Lily leaned back in her chair and covered her face as Dumbledore continued to talk. " . . . And I would like to apologize for yet another delay. It is custom for you to get your badge over summer vacation, but, with the upcoming threat of Lord Voldemort . . ."
He didn't have to say any more. "We understand, Professor," James said.
"Good," Dumbledore said jauntily. "Well, here you go." He handed the two their gleaming silver badges. James happily took his; Lily took hers with much less enthusiasm. James eyed her cautiously.
"That is all I have to say," Dumbledore told them. "I hope your last year here will be spend memorably." His bright blue eyes twinkled again as the new head students stood up and left his office.
James hooted once he reached the corridor and looked at his new badge with glee. "Isn't this great?" he asked Lily happily.
She, however, didn't answer. She simply kept staring at the piece of silver she held in her hands. "Lily?" James asked and put a hand on her arm. "Lily?"
"He's crazy," Lily repeated softly.
"What?"
"He's crazy!" she said loudly. "Head girl? Do you know what kind of responsibility that is? I'm not the kind of person who's head girl! I mean, you're an obvious choice, but me?! I don't even want to be head girl! I don't!"
James removed his hand from her arm. "Why not?"
Lily stopped yelling. "I hate responsibility," she whined softly.
He laughed. "Don't worry, Lily, it'll be easy." James gave Lily a hug and she breathed in his cologne.
"You smell good," she commented.
James laughed again and released her. "We make a pretty good team," he said. "People shall fear us; they will clear the hall for us; they will bow down to us and kiss our feet."
Lily smiled at James. Once they reached Gryffindor Tower, Lily rushed into the common room and immediately told Sara the news.
"WHAT?!" she screamed. Sara pulled Lily into a bone-crushing hug and yelled, "WAY TO GO, LILS!"
"Hey, will you keep it down?" Sirius called from the opposite side of the common room.
"LILY'S HEAD GIRL!" Sara screamed.
"YEAH, SO IS JAMES!" Sirius loudly retorted.
Sara stopped shouting and stood motionless. "Lily? And James? Together?" she asked after a moment's pause.
"Yeah, Sara, James is head boy," Lily told her.
Sara's small smile grew rapidly. "Is it a small world, or what?" she asked Lily happily.
Lily rolled her eyes and after saying her good nights, went upstairs for some desperately needed sleep.
Sorry that this update took so long! I HATE SCHOOL!!! I had a HUGE book report to do and an even HUGER physics test to study for. Sorry!!!!! AND to add even more to the suspense, Lily's response to James's response AND Sara's response and Sirius's response to Lily's response to James's response is next! Say THAT five times in a row. Wow, I really am evil.
PS There are alot of responses here! My fingers hurt just thinking of all the typing I have to do! Lol, luv you guys!!!
The ORIGINAL Meathead: I FORGIVE YOU!!!!! Lol, I don't mind when you update, just as long as you do. And I admire the fact that you have so many questions. Thank you for the review!
Red-Emerald: Thank you for the review! And, yes, Tanya issomeonewho says bad stuff when other people are worse but not saying anything when they're the same, as you so beautifully put it. Lol. To be honest, that is the best description of her that I've gotten so far. And thank you for the compliment on that last title. At first I was like, "Will they like it?" But I guess you all do! I'm glad you like the story and can't wait for your next review.
hollily: SO glad you think the story is amazing!! Thank you!
firewalker32: Don't worry, James WILL dump her soon.
Annmarie Aspasia: Yes, I am doing this on purpose! Lol. Don't get mad!
freakin-person: Sorry about the fight, I hope they make up soon! And I don't mind the sighs.
marauderyears: Nice nickname! And thank you for the compliment, the idea for chaper 16 came to me in a daydream. I seem to get alot of my ideas that way. Lol. And thank you for your compliment of the first chapter!
wackyone: Yes, Lily's confidence will go up, and yes, Sara is awesome.
ditzychick1228: I'm glad you think this story is good, and thanks for the review!
kaleidoscope0-0eyes: I'm glad you like the story so much! I hope you don't fail your exams, though! Lol. And don't worry; I tend to be hypocritical, too. Did I spell that right? Lol, I have no idea. Thanks for your review. And I love your pen name!!!! It takes my forever to type it, though. ;)
DOJ: Thank you! I would type more but my brain is dying. Sorry.
FallenFlower: I'm glad you know what I mean about the accent. Thanks for the review, I greatly appreciate it!
Queen Of Day Dreams: You wish Tanya was meaner? I never got that before. Still, thanks for the review!
Mischif-Managed: You really think Sara and Remus look good together? Me too, but I can't decide on whether to pair her up with him or Sirius. God, I hate decisions. And sorry for the middle name mixup! I tried looking for it to see if it was Elizabeth or Marie, but I couldn't find it.
ourlittlesecret7: I'm glad you like the story so much! Particulary ch. 16. Thanks!
InLuvWitRupert: I would really like to thank you properly for your review and stuff, but I have major schoolwork to do. Sorry! Thanks for all your reviews, you still rock.
Lady Cantara: Thanks for the review! And that whole blue hell thing is really cool. I like it ;)
Lily20: Nice name! And I'm glad you like the story so much!!
Prince and Purple Rain: So sorry for the length, I'm really working on it!