'Somewhere there's someone who dreams of your smile,
and finds in your presence that life is worth while.
So when you are lonely, remember its true
somebody somewhere is thinking of you.'
I sat in the stuffy compartment waiting for Professor Dumbledore to arrive. James had already proved how much of an idiot he was by leaving to go get something from the food cart. He'd only of had to wait for five more minutes till the Professor came and briefed us on our Head Boy and Girl duties. And he hadn't waited. I could already tell that this year was going to be very hard. Between The Marauders and Malfoy I couldn't figure out how I was going to survive it.
But I'd done it before. Survived it I mean. Stuff was hard when you were born into a muggle family. I never had anyone to talk to about anything save Meredith. I didn't trust many other people. I guess my sister taught me that. When she tried to hand me into the police when I told her I could do magic. Luckily mum and dad were slightly more understanding. Enough to send me away to Hogwarts anyway. I guess I can't really blame Petunia; she was only doing what she'd seen our parents do a thousand times before. Look out for themselves and no-one else.
Okay, so now I'm just depressing myself. I'm a sixteen year old girl that has to be perfect in order to be allowed to stay in Hogwarts. Because my mum and dad would take any chance they got to drag me out of this world. I stared out of the window thoughtfully for a moment.
Maybe James isn't as bad as I'm making him out to be, I thought randomly. I mean, like I said before – I barely know the guy. Only that he enjoys making Snapes life hell. And would count food above his Head Boy duties. And –
"Hello? Earth to Evans."
I jumped as I realised that James was back. And he wasn't alone either. He'd brought Sirius with him. Just what I needed right now. Not.
"He isn't allowed in here James." I told him tiredly. I knew I wouldn't win this fight, but I felt like being awkward. James and Sirius exchanged an amused glance.
"Well hello to you to sunshine." Sirius replied with a sarcastic grin. I ignored him and turned my attention back to James.
"Look, Professor Dumbledore will be here any minute. Can't you just pretend that you care about the rules till then?" I asked in exasperation. He looked at me strangely for a minute. Was it my imagination or did he look uncomfortable? He casually ruffled his hair, and sat up slightly straighter than before.
"How 'bout you come back later Padfoot. I don't want to get Evans in trouble." He said calmly. I saw Sirius stare at him in annoyance.
"You are so transparent it's a crime. Did you know that Prongs?" he replied with roguish grin. A strand of dark hair fell over one eye shielding it from my view. I couldn't quite figure out what was going on with them. James looked distinctly uncomfortable.
"I am not! I am the master of subtleness." He laughed. Obviously it was some joke between the two of them that I wasn't privy to.
I coughed sarcastically, before quickly looking away. Sirius grinned at her triumphantly.
"See! Even Evans agrees that you're a twat."
James threw him a look of feinted scorn, before turning to look out of the window. Sirius just tossed a smile at us before getting up slowly and stretching.
"I know when I'm not wanted," he said mournfully, "see ya later Prongs." He winked at me knowingly before leaving. I was now more intrigued than ever. I wonder if that was Sirius' plan.
"What was he talking about?" I asked coolly. James looked at me as if he'd just seen more for the first time. He blinked.
"Didn't your mother ever teach you that it's rude to listen into other people's conversations?" he threw back at me with a rakish grin. I gave him a stern look.
"Actually no she didn't. She told me to listen in but never get caught. And if you do blackmail them." I replied sweetly.
"Touché" he looked slightly taken aback by my mums' advice, but tried not to show it.
I smiled at him for a second. For once I actually felt like his equal. Not above him and not being looked down on. It was nice. Even if we were talking about a load of rubbish that I'd probably never remember. At least we weren't at war.
"Hey Evans –"
"Lily." I cut in calmly. I hated the way he only ever used my surname. It got kind of monotonous.
"Lily what?" he asked sounding confused.
"Evans makes me sound like a clothes chain. Call me Lily."
"Only if you call me Prongs." He said with an evil grin.
"No way am I calling you Prongs."
"Why Evans?" he asked innocently.
"It'll sound like –"
"You like me?" he finished. I stared at him in frustration. I hated it when guys cut me off like that. And yeah, so maybe he was right. Maybe that was what I was afraid people would think. But what if I wasn't going to say that? Huh? What then? Nothing I guess. It must be a guy thing.
"No. It'll make it sound like you've managed to brain-wash me with one train ride." I said through gritted teeth.
To my surprise he actually seemed to find that funny. If the fact he burst out laughing was any indication.
"Don't you just hate it when that happens?" he grinned. He ruffled up his hair some more and slumped down in his seat. I rolled my eyes.
"What?" he asked indignantly.
"Nothing. I just don't get why slouching and messing up your hair is considered cool."
He gave me a: you-are-so-weird stare, before looking at his reflection in the window. I bit back a laugh as he tried to understand what I meant.
"I don't get it." he told me. I looked at his hair critically.
"You mess up your hair because you think it's cool. But actually you just look like a self-obsessed pillock."
"I am not!" he yelled sounding annoyed.
"Fine. I'm just telling you what you act like."
He took a breath for the next turn of our argument, but it never came. Mostly because Professor Dumbledore appeared. I swear I'd never even noticed him come in. Looking at James I could tell that he hadn't either.
"Hello Miss Evans." He said with a small smile. "Mr Potter."
"Good morning Sir." I replied with a smile of my own. The Professors' eyes twinkled as he looked outside.
"Indeed it is Miss Evans." He said with another smile.
"Not for Quidditch though." James said mournfully. I tried to restrain the urge to laugh. Trust James to think of something like that.
"Then it is very fortunate that you have your new Head Boy duties to keep you occupied, at least for a short while." Professor Dumbledore replied in amusement.
I couldn't really tell if James thought that was a good thing or not. The look on his face remained neutral. I never quite understood why he was so respectful of Professor Dumbledore. He didn't pay any attention to the other teachers we had in Hogwarts. But he seemed to make a special allowance for the Professor. It was the same with the rest of The Marauders.
"What exactly will we be doing this year?" I asked curiously. Dumbledore smiled at me thoughtfully.
"You and Mr Potter will be in charge of all events taking place at Hogwarts this year. You will also have the task of creating new rules –"
"We can get rid of rules?" James asked excitedly. I looked at Professor Dumbledore in horror. If he allowed us to do that James would make sure that there were no rules left.
"I am afraid that you are limited to creating rules, Mr Potter. Not ridding us of the old ones. That will be my task."
James grinned all the same. I didn't take that as being a good sign.
"You will be shown to your new dormitories once you arrive. Please excuse me. I have a very important lunch with one Percy Sproggs. Apparently he has received a very rare bird that he would like me to take a look at."
And with that he left. James was grinning from ear-to-ear. I on the other hand was mortified. I hadn't thought about the sleeping arrangements. Of course the Head Boy and Girl had their own dormitory. I should have remembered.
"What do you look so happy about?" I wondered out loud. James just grinned even more.
"My first rule as a head boy is going to be: All Slytherines' Exceeding the Necessary Hair Grease Rate should be made to wear a Pink Tutu for a Week. It's full-proof!"
I couldn't help but smile at that. Even though I wanted to be annoyed at him for being prejudiced against them. I guess that he's just one of those people. You know the kind. The ones that can make you laugh even when you don't want to or know you shouldn't.
Is that a bad thing?
A/N: Thank you SO SO much to all the people that reviewed my last chapter!
PrincessMia: hehe. I actually prefer writing L/J fics. I guess it's because the Mediator is over. It isn't so much a mystery anymore. Thanks for reviewing!
Mitsuki Ashya: Yep. Poor old Lily. Hehe. Thanks for reviewing!
Maritinkerbell: I took your advice. Meredith's her main friend. The others are extras that may reappear later. Lol. Thanks for the tip!
BlackFairy76: Thanks! I updated as soon as I could!
Lily-cPotter: Aw! Thank you! That was really sweet! You totally made my day!
teenwriter22: THANKYOU! That meant a lot to me! And –as you can see- I've updated!
Thanks a bunch to everyone that reviewed!
Now all you've got to do is push that pretty blue button……..lol