Just because things are the way they are; Doesn't mean they have to stay the way they are

STICK TO THE CODE

Lily sat contentedly in her compartment on the Hogwarts Express. She was curled up on the seat reading Pride and Prejudice, a muggle book she found interesting. In her first year she had begun this tradition of getting on the train early, when she accidentally misread the time and came an hour early. It was always a good way to calm her nerves, and this year she had an extra set of anxieties as Head Girl. She checked her watch. It had been 40 minutes and she suspected Summer and Caleb to arrive sometime soon.

She had been smiling peacefully as she read the plot twist at the end of chapter twenty-two, when she looked up in astonishment. Before her stood Caleb, her friend since first year, her source of comfort, and certainly the craziest person she knew. His eyes were the same dark brown color and he wore the same expression on his calm, light, face but his clothes had definitely become more flamboyant. Judging by the studded belt and ripped t-shirt with the British flag he had gotten way more extreme in his involvement with the whole punk-rock movement over the summer. Once Lily got over the initial shock, she didn't care. She squealed very uncharacteristically and jumped on his back. So far Caleb was the only one who could do this to her.

"Aye Tig," he said, using his nickname for her. "I may have gotten a better style but I'm not in better shape," he laughed, helping her off. Caleb was actually in excellent shape; he played Keeper on the Huffelpuff Quidditch team. He picked up her book and read the title with a look of disgust that said, "C'mon Tig you are so…predictable"

"Bugger off Tog, you are too spontaneous." Lily teased using her nickname for him.

"Oh really," he said, "well you'll never guess what I'm gonna do next…"

"Humph right," Lily remarked, as he sat down with a smile.

"So where's Summer?" Lily asked when they had both sat down.

"Who?" Caleb joked.

"Your cousin, and my best friend?" Lily reminded him.

"I thought I was your best friend Tig." Caleb continued to joke, "Besides, just because I live with her and we happened to be related doesn't mean I'm her keeper, Tig."

Lily laughed, "Keeper…hehehe get it? Keeper. You are a keeper…a quidditch keeper."

"Shut up, Lily."

An attractive gal with wispy blue eyes and wavy brown hair waltzed to the compartment where she could hear her two best friends arguing playfully. Summer walked in, a smile on her face, "Are you two done flirting yet?" she said teasingly.

Lily, Caleb and Summer had known each other since first year and Summer knew that they would always be just friends.

Two hours later the train was still rolling safely along the British countryside and Lily was still at ease. She had yet to see any sign of Potter, and she was on her way to meet the new Head Boy.

Probably Remus, she thought with a small sigh. Or Nick from Ravenclaw…

"Ahhh Nick is so charming" she said out loud, quietly.

"Gone mad, have we?" said James from behind her; Lily jumped and shivered before rounding on James. Or James Potter. No…POTTER.

"Just whom exactly do you think you're messing with?" she asked curtly, pointing to the gleaming badge on her chest.

"Grown a bit this summer have we, Lily," said Sirius coming up to Lily and James; Lily removed the finger from her chest and blushed.

Sirius faked a look of slow, dawning comprehension.

"Oh right…that little pendant thing. Well no need to worry, Jamesie hasn't forgotten his either." Sirius grinned widely and left the two standing there.

Curses and many evil thoughts spread through Lily's mind, she started to massage her temples in an attempt to keep her mind from overheating at the thought of having to work with Potter.

"Oh Gawd," she began to chant. "Oh Gawd! Holy crap! Oh my gosh! This is not happening! Why me! Oh Gawwwwd!" Her emotions had certainly gotten the better of her as she began to breath deeply and stare at James in disbelief. She pointed at him, she pointed at herself, and then began to shake her head violently mouthing the word, "NO!" James watched her with an amused smirk on his flawless faces as she continued to have her little fit.

All the problems that would surely come with Potter being Head Boy quickly left her mind however as she remembered they were supposed to be running the prefect meeting at this very moment. Scared that she had already failed her duties before school had even started she grabbed James's hand and started pulling him along the corridor; they were going to be late. Then she realized she had been holding Potter's hand and dropped it suddenly as if he had burned her.

Right… thought James frantically, there's gotta be a way to get her to understand how much I've changed.

He settled for forcing her gently against the wall. Her eyes widened and she placed a hand over her mouth in warning, so he took a step back.

"Right Lily… I mean Evans. Look, I know how hard you worked for this, and I know Nick is charming," he forced the last word out, "but I've been made Head Boy and there's nothing either of us can do to change it. So what do you say we forget past differences and just work together as professionals?" James finished, and started to bring his hand up to rumple his hair but thought the better of it.

"Ok," said Lily shortly. She then realized she was being rude.

Damn, she thought as she said, "Thank you for being professional, Potter."

James sat down miserably in the Great Hall. Even Sirius had thought Lily didn't hate him quite as much this year based on the whole marshmallow fight, but clearly him being made Head Boy had not been at all what she wanted. He sighed as he continued heaping mounds of treacle tart onto his plate without noticing it.

"Wow Prongs, trying to take off a few pounds this year, are we?" said Remus, smiling lightly.

"Yah I guess," James said nonchalantly, but then his voice had a sudden burst of conviction. "But I think some exercise would help. We definitely need to get this year rolling with some good pranks. I was thinking Snivelly as a warm-up routine?"

"James, what's going on with you and Lily?" interrupted Remus. James couldn't help but feel slightly annoyed; he didn't want another "Lily discussion" at the moment.

"What do you mean what's going on with me and Lily? It's the same as always, she hates my guts."

"Well I dunno mate, I just thought you were trying to get on her good side, and while torturing Snape is always a great pastime, Lily hates it when you do that."

"Right…" said James, tousling his hair as he thought.

"And that," said Peter, pointing to what James was doing with his hair.

"Shut up Peter!" they replied dully, it was a pure reflex now.

"Umm…James, shouldn't you be meeting with Dumbledore, now?" asked Remus.

"Damn. Yah, but I see the Head Girl has forgotten as well. I'll see you guys later." James voiced and walked over to escort his lady to where Dumbledore was waiting for them.

"Shall we?" James smiled as he held out his arm for Lily.

Lily looked around for an escape, but received only a look from Summer, she sighed and took James's arm, allowing him to lead her in the direction of Dumbledore.

"Well Mr. Potter and Miss Evans I am very pleased that you have been chosen to represent Hogwarts as Head Boy and Head Girl. I am also glad to see you two getting along."

Lily quickly removed her arm from James's grasp. James let her go somewhat reluctantly.

Dumbledore continued as though they hadn't moved, "Now as you both undoubtedly have many commitments to work on together it is tradition for the Head Boy and Girl to share a separate dormitory. If you will follow me please."

James turned to Lily and held out his arm again saying, "Allow me to show you the way, Lily."

Lily ignored his arm and simply ushered him forward saying, "Lead the way, James."

As James began to follow Dumbledore he didn't notice the puzzled look Lily had. Did he just call me Lily?

Nor did Lily notice the smile James had spread across his face. She called me James.

They stopped abruptly five minutes later. Lily was slightly frustrated but dare not show it; she had lost any inkling of how to get here within the first two minutes.

"I hope you will find your quarters suitable. If you would like to have guests please inform either Professor McGonagall or myself. I also trust that you will not be caught doing anything out of conduct in one another's quarters. Your room is just down this corridor; go to the portrait of that lovely pirate. Goodnight."

They watched Dumbledore walk away and Lily turned to James. She looked positively furious at the thought of them "out of conduct" together. James tried to stop any wishful thinking by talking to her, "Crazy bloke never gave us the password."

Lily didn't reply her mind still repulsed by the idea of her and James fooling around. She turned to him abruptly. "Get this straight Potter, before we even enter our dorm, there will be no kissing, hugging, fondling, rubbing, or general flirting of any kind here!"

The portrait of a very scruffy looking pirate swung open with her last words.

Lily rounded on it with a very evil accusatory look on her face. They heard it say in a gruff voice, "Aye, miss you've just suggested a bloody brilliant code. Stick to the code with that land lubber; but me, I ain't gotta follow no ones laws."

Lily gave the portrait a disgusted yet very bewildered look before rolling her eyes and smiling in spite of herself (and making James's knees feel slightly less stable) she climbed through the portrait hole, closely followed by James.

Upon entrance all previous emotions and thoughts escaped their minds. The room before them took their breath away. Lily's jaw dropped and James simply stood there in awe. Two red love seats that screamed with comfortableness, and a couple of high backed chairs faced a roaring fire held in a gigantic fireplace that reached three fourths of the way up the wall. There were two desks in the corners, each equipped with everything they would need to work and study. (That was if Lily could somehow get James to work) The curtains were a deep red and gold obviously portraying where the Head's loyalties lied, and they were currently rustling with the breeze that was blowing in from the terrace they concealed. There were two spiral staircases on either side of the room leading to the upstairs, which was suspended above them, displaying the high exposed ceiling. When both had regained themselves enough to move James took the stairs on the right and Lily the ones on the left.

James slowly made his way up the staircase. He couldn't believe how amazing this all was, and to think that he would be able to share all this with Lily, his love. He reached a door that said James and opened it to reveal where he would sleep for the next year. He smiled. It was perfect.

Although he'd love to see what Lily's room looked like (or rather what Lily looked like in her room…) he had had to go to the bathroom for ages so he figured he might as well explore that (not to mention he wasn't in the mood for the slap in the face he was likely to get upon entering her room).

He caught sight of a tub that was big enough for six and two beautiful golden sinks each with a separate mirror and medicine cabinet. James noted the one toilet and struck a problem. The seat is down, he thought in disgust.

Women…