Seven o'clock was approaching, so Lily decided to leave early for the Prefect meeting. She arrived at the Room of Requirements at exactly 6:55. People were still shuffling in and before she knew it, it was time for the meeting to start.

Sean Davies, the Headboy, and Sue Marshall, the Headgirl, began giving out instructions.

"It's the Prefects duty to patrol the corridors," said Sean, "We will divide you into pairs and assign you to a certain corridor."

"Ugh, why'd I have to get here early," thought Lily. She would most likely be the last paired because she was in the back of the room.

Just as Sean was about to assign Lily a partner, Remus entered the Room of Requirements ten minutes late.

"Ahh, Lupin, nice of you to join us," said Sean, "You can work with Lily Evans tonight. And Lupin, try not to be late for the next prefect meeting."

"Sorry about that Davies," Remus replied sheepishly, as he made his way towards Lily, "I had a run-in with Peeves."

"So what'd Peeves do this time?" asked Lily.

"Well, he was threatening to throw dungbombs at James, Sirius, and me. It took us 15 minutes to rid him of them."

"That sounds awful!" sympathized Lily.

"Actually, it wasn't that bad," Remus chuckled, "The Bloody Baron showed up shortly after and scared him out of his wits."

Lily laughed, "Well, I'm glad someone can push Peeves around."

Surprisingly, she was finding it easy to talk to Remus. He wasn't acting like the arrogant git she always pictured him as. Lily couldn't wait to start patroling with him.

Lily and Remus were lively chatting on their way back to the Fat Lady.

"Fairy lights!"

They entered the Gryffindor common room to find it half full. Claire and Natalie were talking by the fire, while James and Sirius were sprawled on the armchairs.

"Lily, why don't you officially meet my friends," Remus said with strange smile. She got the feeling Remus knew something she didn't.

"Er...sure," Lily said reluctantly. She didn't want to let Remus down. They were becoming great friends.

"Hey James, Sirius! I'm sure you know Lily Evans?"

"Oh yeah, who doesn't?" said James, with a smile.

"And what's that supposed to mean?" Lily scowled.

"Calm down!" said Sirius, "James's only being friendly."

"Friendly? I suppose the pranks you pull on my friends and I are friendly too?"

"Oh, come on Lily! Those are harmless bits of fun!" said James.

"LILY! What are you doing over here?" asked Natalie.

"Well, Remus thought it would be a nice idea to, how'd you phrase it? Oh yes, 'offically meet' James and Sirius."

"What?" snorted Claire.

"Everyone knows Lily dislikes them," Natalie said, as though they didn't have a clue.

"Yeahh, I don't think that was a good idea," said Claire, laughing.

"Natalie! Claire! Lets go to bed!" Lily said, with a hint of anger.

The three girls marched to their dormitories without another sound.

"Why does she hate me?" sighed James.

"Because you can truly be a git when you want to be," grinned Sirius.

The three girls walked up the spiral staircase to their dormitories. Once they were inside, Lily slammed the door. Claire and Natalie were still laughing about the incident that had just happened.

"Come on you guys, it's not funny!"

"You should've seen your face! Why do you let them bother you so much?" Natalie was trying hard not to laugh.

"I think you should give them a chance, Lily," Claire said truthfully, "Next time Remus wants you to be around his friends, just try to see past how immature they are."

Though she hated to admit it, Lily knew that Claire had a point.

"I guess I could try a bit harder...I just don't understand why James can't be normal!"


----------- back in the common room ------------


"James! Why'd you scare her off like that?" Remus said angrily, "How do you expect any of us to get to know her when you're always being a selfish git!"

"I wasn't being selfish, I was being myself."

"Can't you just try to act normal for once?" Remus said, getting up from his chair.

"Why do you care how I act towards her? Do you like her, or something?"

Remus was shocked. He'd never thought of it before, but maybe he did feel something toward Lily. He looked at James with such anger he could've pierced a hole right through him. He went up the spiral staircase to his dormitory, without saying a word to anyone.