Hi everyone!!! Thanks for the reviews. Please keep them coming, and enjoy.
Disclaimer: We all know that this is to cover my butt. So, if any of you know J.K. Rowling the true master mind behind all these characters, please ask her not to sue me because all the credit is hers.
After the train pulled into the Station in Hogsmead, James and Remus quickly got off. James as head boy and Remus as Prefect had to make sure all the first years got into the tiny boats that took them across the lake with the game keeper and that everyone else got into the horseless carriages that took them back up to the castle. James looked over his shoulder as he was allowing groups of eight at a time into the carriage. He saw Lily knelling in front of a sweet blond headed first year girl. He saw Lily nod and standing up, she took the little girls hand. They walked hurriedly together over toward the lake.
James and Remus were helping the last two groups in when he heard a dark voice behind him mutter, "That's all he needs, now his head will be bigger than ever. "
James spun around quickly and wasn't surprised to see Servus Snape, a skinny greasy haired boy, talking to a mildly pretty Fifth year girl.
James half smiled at Snape and said, "Snivellus, why isn't nice to see you alive?"
Snape's eyes narrowed. He was giving James a look of the purest form of hatred. A carriage pulled up to take the last group away.
"In you get, Snively, "Said James tilting his head toward the carriage door.
James and Snape exchanged disgusting murderous looks at each other. And it was not until Snape had sat down did he turn back to the rest of the group and help them in, patting the guys on the back and taking the ladies' hands.
When the pretty fifth year girl was getting in, James nodded his head, helped her into the carriage. Then right before he let go of her hand, he gently kissed the back of it, and bowed slightly away, shutting the door on a very disgusted and fuming Snape.
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After they all got to the castle, the first years were sorted, and all had eaten there fill. Professor McGonagall came over and taped James on the shoulder. She was a strict and stern woman who very rarely smiled, but there was a kindness in her look as she beckoned James to follow her through a door beside the staff table. They had just closed the door behind them when the scrapping of seats and noise of a chattering crowd told James that all were going back to his dormitories. Professor McGonagall pointed her wand at the grate and flames burst to life.
"Sit down Mr. Potter." She said pointing to the arm chair. "I expect Professor Dumbledore will be in here shortly to speak with you."
"Professor, do you know why Professor Dumbledore made me head boy?" James asked in a nervous sort of tone.
"Well, Mr. Potter I thought you would have already figured it out." She said in a surprised voice. "Seeing as how you were made a member of The Order of the Phoenix this past July, Dumbledore has decided it would be best to put you in a useful spot here at Hogwarts. "
James took a deep breath he felt one of the heavy burdens lift off of him. Dumbledore did not make him head boy out of pity. He had made him head boy because he was the only student in the Order. And, if McGonagall was right then he has some sort of mission in mind for James. Dumbledore came in a few minutes later. His blue eyes twinkled like stars over his half moon glasses. A warm smiled appeared on his face when he looked at James but it was to Professor McGonagall he spoke to first.
"Minerva, Hagrid is having some difficulty with one of the carriages; apparently he needs a watermelon transformed into a wheel axel. Could you assist him?"
"Certainly," she said getting to her feet, "And I'll say goodnight to you both as well." She nodded at both of them as she headed out the door.
Professor Dumbledore said, "Good Night Minerva," and James simply said, " 'night, Professor."
The door shut tightly behind them. Dumbledore sat down beside James in an arm chair. He sighed deeply and looked at James in an odd sort of way.
"I am getting old James." He said chuckling to himself. James loved the open relationship he had with his Head Master. He respected Dumbledore both in and out of school. He was beyond a doubt the greatest wizard of their time.
"Sir, you do know age is relative." James said warmly.
"To what, Mr. Potter," Dumbledore asked, "Surely you don't think I am young."
"Well, Sir, what do you fell in your heat" asked James.
"I feel that I am honored to know young men like you, James Potter, and young women like Lily Evans."
James smirked at the thought of Lily.
"Speaking of which, I am assuming she gave you my letter?"
"Yes, Sir, I received it."
"May I ask you something, Mr. Potter?"
"Yes, Sir."
"Have you succeeded with her yet?"
"No, Sir." James chuckled. "I believe Lily has found me more repulsive than ever."
"Oh?" asked Dumbeldore politely puzzled, "Why is that?"
"Well, Sir, I made the mistake of telling her I loved her."
"Ahhh, I see," Said Dumbeldore warmly.
"So," continued James, "I guess if I tell her I hate her, then maybe I'll win it over."
"Or, you could prove you mean what you say." Dumbeldore chuckled.
"Or I could do that, "James said.
After a long moment the laughter died away. They gazed together into the fire for a while then Dumbeldore began to speak darkly.
"These are indeed dark times we live in, James. Voldmorte is gaining strength at a rate that not even I could have imagined."
"Yes, Sir."
"James when you became a member of the Order, I was worried. I some how had forgotten that you are a young man, a fine, brave, young man at that."
"Thank you, Sir."
"I reconsidered you because there are Death Eaters at Hogwarts." Dumbeldore looked up at James there was something strange behind his eyes. "There are Death Eaters in my school, James." James nodded to show that he understood. "James, I decided to make you head boy, because you are a member of the Order. I need you to keep your ear to the ground and find out which students are loyal to Voldemort."
"Well, sir," said James trying to lighten the mood. "Just expel all the Slytherin students and your problems are solved." Dumbeldore didn't think it funny. His voice was casual, but his look was dangerous.
"Do not be deceived, James, you will find that some Slytherins will be your allies just as some Gryffindors will be your enemies."
"Sir?" James asked intently.
"That is why you must watch all of your fellow students. There are as we speak Death Eaters in Gryffindor tower, as there are those loyal to me in Slytherin dungeon. "
"Yes, Sir," said James in barley more than a horse whisper. They sat together for another long moment. For such a simple idea, it was so hard to comprehend. After the fire began to die away, Dumbeldore finely spoke again. "You remind me of myself when I was young." Dumbeldore said getting up to his feet and beckoning James to follow him through a side door that led to the Entrance Hall. "You are energetic, brave, resourceful, and a bit hard headed."
"Thank you, Sir." James said proudly. Oh, if only Lily could hear what he had just said.
They continued walking across the Entrance Hall until they reached the marble stair case. James wished Dumbeldore good night, but no sooner had he gone up two steps when Dumbeldore stopped him. James looked down at him curiously. Dumbeldore was holding a piece of parchment.
"James, take this my boy. It may help."
"Sir?"
"This is incase you would like to give your Lily, a few ever blossoming lilies."
James grinned as he looked at the parchment. A smirk flickered across his face.
"No, sir, she hates lilies."
"Oh?"
"Yes, but she may go for a few ever blooming roses."
"Indeed she may, Mr. Potter," Dumbeldore smirked back. "Good night, my boy, and remember, keep your eyes open.
" "Yes, Sir" James said holding up the parchment. "Good night, sir." And with that James turned and ran up the stairs to Gryffindor tower.
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The first week back at school went by too fast for James. Just as he was getting use to the tireless hours of homework, another bundle was thirsted at him. This was not too obvious to him until they spent a whole Potions lesson talking about the concept, uses and dangers of Poly Juice potion. When his teacher Professor Fistic said they had to turn in an Essay over the theory, before actually attempting to make the potion the next class period. This is why on Saturday morning, James was found at the Gryffindor table at breakfast with his potion book propped open against a pitcher of milk, slowly eating a bowl of oat meal.
James was just reading about how to stew lice wings when he felt two large hands clasp his shoulder.
"Morning, Prongsie," said Sirius voice from behind him.
"Morning," James said not looking up from his book.
"I'm telling you, James," said Sirius setting down and throwing waffles on his plate. "We have ourselves in a right state with this chaser business."
"Hmm" James mumbled to show he was listening, but still not looking up from his book.
"I mean, Worm-tail is talking like trying out. Don't get me wrong he's a good kid and all, but he has the talent percentage of a flobber worm."
James shook his head as he turned the page. "That is a problem. I won't have the heart to cut him off the team."
"Ocha owna boo?" Said Sirius a mouth full of sausage.
"Don't know. Maybe take him out and do extra training before try outs." Said James he studied the page a little longer then burst out, "Where IS Remus?"
Sirius looked taken aback, "You do realize I was talking about Peter."
"I know," James said slamming the book shut and looking at Sirius for the first time all morning. "It's just that I'm trying to understand this ridiculously hard potion and I haven't seen Remus all morning. I need his help, Sirius. I'm not good at potions and I have to do well on this N.E.W.T. pretest tomorrow or I will be kicked out of potions and (because I have to have the class) I will never become an Auror.
"Well, mate, sucks to be you." Sirius said smirking buttering a piece of toast. "But I wouldn't worry. Mooney just ran up to see Madam Pomfrey so he could take a protein potion."
James looked shocked, "What? Why dose he need a protein potion? He only needs one…"
"He only needs one on the morning on a full moon." Sirius whispered silently trying to calm James down. "So he's not week when he takes his other potion." Sirius was looking at him pointedly. A few eaves droppers were trying to listen in, but James didn't need Sirius to be more specific. He knew exactly what his friend was talking about.
"Tonight's a full moon?" James asked eagerly. Sirius nodded. "Any plans then?" James asked still whispering. Sirius shook his head.
James grinned and said, "All right, here is what were going to do. We're….."
"Potter!"
"Here we go again." James said as he turned around facing the table once more. He slammed his head on top of his potions book and threw his arms over him, making himself look like a blue lump with a shaggy black patch of hair. He felt two sharp jabs between his shoulders, and heard Sirius laughing.
James jumped up and turned to face Lily. She was wearing a pair of kaki muggle pants. Her hair was twisted up and elegantly setting on her head so that James could see her long swan like neck, and her silver Head Girl badge was glistening beautifully against her black sweater. But despite the angelic and sweet appearance Lily was presenting, James could tell he was in for more mistreatment, unless…
"Lily my, love, it's so nice to see that the excitement of last night hasn't changed our relationship a bit." He said in a mock tone.
"What? I have no idea of what you are talking about Potter." She said looking disgusted.
James took her hand and kissed it. "Lily, my beautiful flower, I know you have not so quickly forgotten what we did last night behind the tapestry on the fourth floor last night, now have you?"
Lily pulled her hand quickly away from James. She stared at James coolly, unmoved and unshaken by the comment.
"James this is just a reminder that we are scheduled to patrol the grounds tonight between nine and twelve o'clock tonight."
"What?" James looked dazzled. "Sirius did you hear that?"
Sirius was laughing heartily now, and the Gryffindors were all beginning to peek down the table at who was making all the noise.
"I did, mate, congratulations." Sirius choked out before bursting into deeper laughter.
James Jumped up on the bench beside the table. "Attention every one!" James shouted as the non silent but quiet Great Hall turned to look at him. "I would like you all to know that after six long years of perusing her, the fair Lily Evans has agreed to giving me three whole hours of her time. Now, my love…" said James jumping off the table so that he was standing directly in front of her. "How about we seal the deal with a little kiss."
Lily did not look upset. On the contrary she looked a little amused. She was wearing a look James never seen before. It was sexy.
Lily walked slowly closer to James. She began to ever so slowly run her hand up the side of his arm. James was felling a bit nervous, surely she was not going to kiss him, not after that! But James was not going to object if she did. After all he had been waiting six years, why not now? Lily was so close now that his nose was brushing the pink scar on the corner of her eye. He felt Lily's hand move across his shoulder close to his neck. Then suddenly a sharp jabbing pain was coming from the hallow spot between his collarbone and jugular vain.
Lily pushed back down on the bench. She was squeezing his shoulder very tight now. It hurt so bad, James was doing everything in his power not to flinch.
"Now let's get one thing straight." Lily said slowly as she bent over to hiss in his ear. "I am not spending this time with you out of pleasure or wanting. I am doing it because I am Head Girl and I must patrol the grounds with the head boy. Now, you will meet me in the Common Room tonight at a quarter till eight. And if you so much as look at me in a disapproving, I will hex that pretty little nose of yours clean off." And with that she let him go, turned on her heal and marched out to a round of applause.
James turned to Sirius who was clapping particularly hard wearing a look of disbelief.
"Well, mate." Sirius said grinning, "at least she said your nose was pretty."