Chapter Five: A New Year

Lily had awoken the next morning with a pleasant feeling in her stomach. She knew that she was going to enjoy this year immensely. Now she sat next to Alice at breakfast animatedly talking about classes.

"I hope we don't have too many classes with the Slytherins this year." Alice sighed.

"Oh. Me either." Lily agreed, a little bit unsure as to why.

"Lily!" Alice exclaimed. "They're horrible, malicious people. You know that."

"I do? I suppose. You really shouldn't judge people like that." Lily blinked.

Alice looked a little troubled but she quickly recovered. "Here comes McGonagall with our schedules."

Lily looked up and saw their Head of House heading towards them. "Ah, Miss Evans. The headmaster would like to see both you and Mr. Potter this evening to discuss your duties as Head Boy and Girl." James. She had mentioned James. Lily felt butterflies floating in her stomach.

"Lily, darling." Sirius sat down next to her, draping an arm over her shoulder. "What are you so intently thinking about?"

"James." Lily responded before she knew who she was talking to. Lily looked up at Sirius, who was looking rather amused, and quickly clapped a hand over her mouth. "I didn't mean that!"

"You didn't?" James put on a frown as he sat down next to her, shoving Sirius out of the way.

Lily blushed. "Oh well, I mean, I, uh… we have a meeting with the headmaster this evening." Lily closed her mouth and looked down at her plate.

"Good to know." James began dishing himself some food.

Remus was trying to communicate nonverbally with Sirius. "Umm, what are you two doing?" Lily asked, recovering from her embarrassment.

"Sirius here was just trying to ask me out." Remus winked at Lily, who giggled.

James stared wistfully at Lily.

Sirius groaned. "I was not! You were so trying to pick me up!"

"Maybe you two should just go find a room." Alice suggested.

Lily started cracking up and fell into James. "Whoops. Sorry, James."

"It's okay." James glanced down at Lily who was basically laying on his lap laughing. If she didn't move soon it was about to get very uncomfortable for him.

James lifted Lily up and stood. "I have to go. I have stuff to do before classes start."

Sirius grinned knowingly. "Oh, yeah, Prongs. You just go take care of that thing you got to do."

James glared at him.

"Bye, James." Lily intoned softly. "I'll see you later, yeah?"

"Uhh, yeah." James scurried off.

James sighed staring at the back of Lily's head in Transfiguration. Why was she always on his mind? He had liked girls before, yes, but they had never consumed him so much. Lily Evans permeated his every thought, even his whole being. He wanted to be near her all the time.

Sirius poked him in the back of the head, "What's up Prongs?" He whispered.

"Padfoot, this girl is intoxicating. I want to be around her at all times."

"Who, Lily? She's just a girl, mate." Sirius shrugged.

"No, she has to be special. I want to know her."

"You do know her."

"I want more." James' passion filled eyes continued staring at Lily.

While James was avidly watching Lily scribble down notes, someone else was taking notice of her movements as well.

Lucius Malfoy leaned over to Severus Snape, "Do you notice something different about Evans this year?"

Snape leered, "Besides the fact that she's all grown up now? Yeah, she seems a bit off."

Lucius glanced at the whispering James and Sirius. "I think that I will be paying Miss Evans a visit."

Severus grinned.

James was sprawled on a couch in the Gryffindor Common Room watching the people around him. Lily was out somewhere, so he had nothing to do. Where had she gone?

"Where's Lily?" James asked lazily.

Remus shook his head. "Don't you think you should lay off Lily? You've been coming on rather strong."

"Yeah, Prongs. Let some other hunks have a shot at her." Sirius smirked.

"Oh like you?" Remus joked.

"Yeah! I think I'll give it a shot." Sirius laughed for awhile before Remus nudged him. James looked furious. "Or not…"

"I think I'll hex anyone into oblivion who touches Lily besides me." James announced very seriously.

Remus and Sirius exchanged a glance. "James, you can't claim her, you know? She has a mind of her own." Remus started gently.

"But I love her!" James shouted.

"You hardly know her, mate!" Sirius gritted out.

James threw them both an angry glance before looking at the clock. "I have to go to a meeting with Dumbledore and Lily. I think I'll ask her out afterwards."

James swept out of the room, his cloak billowing behind him dramatically.

Lily sat in the Library doing homework while she waited for her meeting with Dumbledore and James to arrive.

James. There was something about him she couldn't place. Like she knew him from before. But that couldn't be because she just met him this year. How is it that we became Head Boy and Girl and have never met each other until now?

Lily furrowed her brows frustrated at this thought. She didn't get to think on it long, because someone had sat down next to her. She turned to see a handsome blonde haired boy. "Hello." She said simply. She didn't know who he was.

"Ah, Lily, my darling, how are you doing this fine evening?" The boy took her hand up in his and he kissed it.

Lily giggled, her cheeks flushing. She felt like a little girl. "I'm fabulous. Do I know you?"

The boy raised his eyebrows. "Darling, I've been watching you from afar for quite some time now. I can correctly say that you are the most beautiful woman I have ever seen." The boy leaned in and placed a kiss along her jaw. "Forgive me, but I wanted to have kissed perfection."

Lily felt her whole body tingling. She did not mind that this boy had kissed her, but she wanted to know who he was. "What's your name?"

"Lucius Malfoy." She heard James growl from behind her.

"Ah, Potter. I wondered when you were going to come along. Come to rescue your girlfriend?" Lucius drawled.

"Ye…"

"He's not my boyfriend." Lily blurted out, glancing at Lucius shyly. She liked him. He gave her different sensations than James did. Lucius seemed exciting to her, while James seemed safe and comfortable.

"Lily…" James started.

Lily leaned forward and threw her arms around Lucius pulling him into a hug. Lucius seemed startled but wrapped his arms around her suggestively. "It was nice to meet you, Lucius. James and I have a meeting with Dumbledore now, though. Head Boy and Girl business. I'll see you later?"

"Of course, my flower."

Lily smiled and grabbed James' hand to drag him behind her. James was still glaring at Lucius.

Lily missed the triumphant smile Lucius was directing at James.

James had sat through the meeting with Dumbledore barely paying attention to what the Headmaster was saying. What did Lucius think he was playing at? Lily was far too pure for him. He was a wicked vile man who only sought to corrupt her in an attempt to get back at him for all their feuding.

James grabbed Lily's hand and pulled her into an empty classroom as they were walking back towards their rooms. "What happened in the library?"

"Nothing, James." Lily seemed taken aback by James abruptly fierce manner.

"Lucius Malfoy means you no good, Lily. I want you to stay away from him."

Lily's eyes blazed. "Who do you think you are, Potter? I can hang out with whom I please! You do not own me!" Lily stormed out of the classroom.

"I'd like to," James whispered as he watched her retreating figure. "Ahh, heck." James started running after her. "Lily, wait up! Let me talk to you."

Lily spun on her heels. "What is it, Potter?"

Why was she calling him Potter? "Honestly, Lils, I had your best interests in mind when I spoke. He's not a very nice guy."

Lily sighed. "Don't you think I'm a big enough girl to find that out on my own, James? I know you care, because you're a great friend, but he hasn't yet shown himself to be anything but a gentleman to me. I promise if he is anything but courteous to me, I will let you know." Lily smiled at him. "Okay?"

"Alright, Lily. But be careful!" James said as they continued back towards the Head Boy and Girls' dorm.

"I will, James. I will." Lily stared straightforward. Friends, she had said.

Lily yawned as she curled up in her bed, contemplating the day's events. It hadn't been so bad for her first day back at Hogwarts. She could tell it would be a challenging year academically, what with NEWTs and all. However, out of the classroom, she was a little bit troubled. She had known James Potter for a matter of days, and she couldn't get him out of her mind. He was fascinating; she wanted to know all the details of his life.

But then there was Lucius. Lucius seemed the sort of man who would treat you exactly as you deserved and no more. He gave her a cold sort of vibe, but he seemed to like her well enough. She didn't know what James had against him; he didn't seem all that bad. Perhaps they had had a dispute.

Lily yawned again and snuggled into her comforter. She really should go to sleep, tomorrow was going to be another long day of classes.

James sighed as he watched Lily in Potions. He couldn't concentrate on the potion he was supposed to be making; he was too absorbed in watching Lucius bloody Malfoy flirt with Lily. Bastard.

"Prongs, come off it. She can talk to him if she pleases." Sirius nudged him.

"You don't get it, Padfoot. She's too good for him. He'll spoil her!"

"Yeah, but that's her decision to make."

"Hey, you two, stop yakking and start helping me with this potion." Remus muttered at them.

"Ach, alright, Moony." Sirius rolled his eyes and turned to work on the potion.

James however kept staring at Lily. Maybe if I just asked her out…

A/N: Sorry for the delay.. I kind of got discouraged with updating when it seemed people didn't like my story idea... X.x; But, I shall persevere! I'm really sorry you guys think the story could have gone without the memory wipe, but that was the whole basis of the story in the first place... Anyways, let me know what you guys think of this chapter, sorry that it's kind of shorter. I don't know how long before the next update because I haven't written anything yet. But please, do review!