A/N: I was watching POA last night, and this idea just seemed to hit me. I couldn't wait to start writing it, even though I have 2 other stories I'm working on. To those of you reading those two stories –Just Like Heaven and Life With the Dead- I will finish those. I have had very bad writers block for both stories, so bear with me.
Disclaimer: I do not, and will never own James, Lily, or Harry Potter, or any other characters from the wizarding world we all love so much. They all belong to Queen Rowling.
Chapter 1:
"Well, Miss Evans! To what do I owe the pleasure of your company?"
Lily Evans rolled her eyes. Term had just started, and already she was being pestered by him. She really shouldn't have been surprised. Ever since 1st year, he's been pestering her to go out with him. Not that she'd ever oblige. "Don't flatter yourself Potter. I'm simply reporting to Professor McGonagall," she said simply before walking past him.
"What's Minnie want with you? School has barely even begun," he said, running after her.
Lily rolled her eyes again and stopped walking, turning to James. "I don't know she just sent me an owl saying she requested my presence. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'd rather not be late, especially from being bothered by you." She turned away from him and continued her way to her favorite Professor's office.
"That hurt Evans, but because it's you, I'll let it slide this time," she heard James say before she knocked on the office door.
"Come in," came McGonagall's voice through the door.
Lily opened the door and was greeted by the smell of fresh parchment, books lining the walls, and a smiling McGonagall behind the desk. "Hello Miss Evans. Thank you for coming."
"Of course professor!" McGonagall gestured to the chair in front of her desk. Lily suspected it was about her prefect duties. She was curious as to why the Head Boy, Remus Lupin, wasn't present.
"Now, Miss Evans," McGonagall began after Lily was seated. "As you know your OWLS your fifth year were outstanding, and you are one of the top students here at Hogwarts." At Lily's nod, she continued. "This year you are taking all classes, aside from Divination, Arithmancy, Muggle Studies, Care of Magical Creatures, and Alchemy. I want to ask you if you would want to take any of these classes, on top of your current classes."
Lily was quiet for a moment, taking in what McGonagall had asked. "But, I'm confused professor. My schedule is already full with my current classes. If I add more classes, how would I possibly get to them all?" She was intrigued. She longed to be the top student at Hogwarts, and with the extra classes, she was sure she would be.
"I will answer that question if you tell me if you would be interested, and what classes you would like."
Lily thought for a moment before answering. "I would professor. I would greatly appreciate the extra classes, and as for the classes, I'd like to take Arithmancy and Alchemy."
McGonagall smiled and walked to the back of her room to the bookshelf. She came back to the desk with a black box in her hands and set it on the desk. "In answer to your question, you will use this to get to all of your classes." She opened the box and pulled out what looked like an hourglass to Lily, but it was much smaller, and was on a chain. "Do you know what this is, Miss Evans?"
She handed it to Lily carefully, and Lily held it in her palm. She was speechless. Could this really be a time turner? "But, professors…aren't these monitored by the ministry? How-"
"Professor Dumbledore and I have discussed it with the ministry and they have accepted that you be able to use this time turner to get to all of your classes."
Lily let that information set in. She was actually holding a time turner, and she was actually going to use one!
"Miss Evans, I cannot distress how important it is that you understand what exactly you have been given," McGonagall said firmly. "Getting to your classes you will need only one turn. By using this time turner, you will be in two places at once, and you must make sure that you are not to be seen. Bad things have happened to wizards and witches who meddle with time. But I believe, as does Dumbledore, that you are responsible enough to handle this big of responsibility."
"I understand professor. I won't take this responsibility lightly. I can only imagine how much you and Professor Dumbledore had to risk to persuade the ministry to allow me to use this," Lily said.
"Indeed. But we trust you, and believe you will succeed and attending and finishing top of all of your classes," McGonagall said, sitting back down at her desk.
"Thank you professor. I won't let you down," Lily said, standing.
"I know you won't," McGonagall smiled at her once more before dismissing her.
Lily grabbed her bag and wrapped the time turner chain around her neck before walking out of the office. She was so absorbed in looking at the time turner, she failed to notice James Potter waiting for her.
"What did Minnie want? What's that?" he asked, reaching for the time turner.
Lily pulled it back. "It's nothing of importance to you Potter," she said before walking away from him.
"That's not what I think it is, is it?" he asked running up to her.
"I highly doubt it is because your simple mind wouldn't even begin to comprehend what it really is," she said, still trying to get away from him.
"Oi! Evans, you need to stop insulting my intelligence. Especially when I know for a fact that that is a time turner." Lily had stopped abruptly and glared at him. "So," he continued casually, "are you going to tell me why you have a time turner?"
Lily looked around them to make sure no one was around to overhear. She saw a broom cupboard and grabbed James' robe and pulled him into the cupboard. They were close together when she closed the door.
"I didn't think you were the type to snog in the broom closets Evans," James smirked.
"Shut it!" she hissed. "How do you know this is a time turner?"
"Evans, I know I may seem dense at times, but I do know a few things, and that is one of them. Give me some credit," he said, crossing his arms. "Now, I answered your question, are you going to answer mine?"
Lily sighed. She really couldn't avoid this since James obviously saw her with a time turner and knew what it was. "McGonagall gave it to me so that I can take and attend my extra classes."
"Extra classes? Bloody hell Evans, what other classes do you need to take? You're already one of the top students here."
"Yes, one of them," she said. "But I'm not the best, which is why I'm taking the extra classes."
"You're mad!" James saw the sad look on her face and he sighed deeply. He ran his hand through his messy hair and said, "Look, Evans, my dad has told me about these time turners. If you mess with time, well, bad things happen."
"I know that! McGonagall explained it all to me. But she and Dumbledore trust me to take care of it and not to misuse it," she said angrily.
"Is it really worth that much to you to risk fiddling with time to take these extra classes?" he asked sincerely.
Lily looked at him and saw the sincerity in his eyes and heard it in his voice. She nodded.
"Why? Why does it matter that much to you?"
"Because I want to prove that I'm more than just a mudblood. I want to prove that I can succeed at everything and more than a pureblood can-"
"Don't call yourself that!" James said angrily.
"It's true! That's what I am! I am a mudblood, and I'm not ashamed to admit it!" she shouted back.
"Stop it Lily!" he said, trying to make her stop using that derogatory term.
"Why? Don't touch me!" she shouted when he reach out to her to calm her down.
"Lily, calm down. I'm sorry-"
"Shut it Potter! Just leave me-"
Neither was aware that when Lily pulled away from James, the time turner got caught on James' robe, and the chain broke, causing the time turner to fall to the ground. All they saw was a rush of colors and images swirling together for a few minutes until stopping all at once, and Lily and James both collapsed.