The next morning Lily woke up in shock.

Oh no! How could I forget? Tomorrow is the first Hogsmeade visit and I haven't gotten my slip signed yet!

She hurriedly got dressed, and she then remembered the promise she'd made herself last night.

She pulled out her make-up kit, curlers, and hair spray and went to work. Her mom had always said that any girl could look beautiful with curls in her hair. When she'd finished, she even felt gorgeous. Her face was flawless. She put her clothes on more neatly, and went rushing down the hallway. She stopped when she almost ran into Professor McGonagall.

"Miss Evans, why are you up this early?"

"Early? Professor, what time is it?"

"Dear, it is 6:45 a.m."

"Oh wow! Excuse, me, Professor?"

"Yes?"

"Do you think that Professor Dumbledore might be up and if he is can you lead me to him because I really, really need to talk to him."

"Why, yes, Miss Evans, he is awake. If you'd like to talk to him he is in the Great Hall eating."

"Oh, thank you so much, Professor McGonagall! You don't know what this means to me!" and with that said, she ran to the Hall.

She skidded to a halt out side of the door, and decided to catch her breath before she walked in.

When she finally entered, she noticed that Professor Dumbledore was the only one in the Great Hall.

"Er, excuse me, Professor?" Lily asked.

"Come up here, Miss Evans." he said, talking softly, but his calm voice filled the whole hall loudly. "Please, take a seat next to me."

Lily did so, and she hurriedly began to speak.

"Well, you see Professor." she began. "The first Hogsmeade visit is tomorrow and I kind of forgot about it. I've been busy studying for exams and classes."

"But, Miss Lily, I do believe the end-of-year exams are not until the end of the year." He smiled at her, and took a sip out of his goblet.

"Well, yes, I know they are, it's just, I like to know my stuff, you see? But, anyway, I didn't get my slip signed yet and I was wondering if you had, like, a really fast way for me to send it to my parents and back. Back before tomorrow, I mean."

"Of course, of course. You can borrow my Phoenix, Fawkes. He is quite young still, but very useful." He called to Fawkes and a medium-sized bird with a mix of red and gold feathers swooped into the hall.

"Oh, wow Professor, he's so handsome. Thank you!"

"You are quite welcome. Now, I do wish you'd accompany me to breakfast. Are you hungry?"

"I'm absolutely starving. I suppose you'd like me to go to my table now?" Lily asked, having a slight feeling that she might be bothering the professor.

"All alone? How'd you like to sit next to me?" he asked politely. "That way, you can easily make your friends jealous when they enter the Hall, and everyone can see the effort you made to make yourself look good to make James Potter mad." He grinned.

"Woah. What?" Lily asked, bewildered.

"It isn't too hard for an old man like me to see." he replied calmly. "But, please, feel lucky that I do not like to remove house points. I like to leave that to the prefects. It is always extremely unfortunate to have to punish a student during their late night adventures…" He gave her a wink, and then continued: "Here, take Professor Snape's chair."

"Oh! Thank you so much Professor!" Lily squealed. "You are the best!"

Right after she had sat down, James, Sirius, Peter, and Remus entered the Hall. Sirius looked up and saw Lily, and nudged James hard in the ribs to show him where she was. Lily was watching all of this out of the corner of her eyes, and she was having a very merry discussion with Dumbledore.

She saw James's mouth drop open in shock.

James couldn't believe it. "She looks gorgeous…"

"Close your mouth James, before you start drooling all over yourself," Remus joked, elbowing him in the ribs.

When the rest of the Hall filled in, Lily couldn't help but smile at all of the people staring at her. They weren't mean looks, but Lily could tell she'd be getting a lot of attention for the next few days.

After breakfast, Lily thanked the Headmaster so many times that she lost track. She left the Hall, with the agreement that the Headmaster and she had made:

If people ask you why you sat by me today, simply say: The Professor and I had a very important matter to discuss.

Then, when they ask you what it is, tell them it is none of their business.

And he had also told Lily something else:

"Lily, remember to always shine. You will be special! Stand out! No matter how hard it is, even if the whole school turns against you, remember to shine!"

Lily was taken aback when he'd said this, but she still promised she would shine. Whatever he meant by that... He also told her that at dinner he'd like her to sit next to him again because he really did have something to talk about with her, and she hurriedly agreed.

The whole day, Lily was being questioned on the breakfast incident, and constantly complimented on her looks. Even Sirius had mentioned that he was impressed, but he seemed rather shy about it.

The one person Lily really seemed to notice was the Ravenclaw boy, Tyler Adams. He was in his first year too, and he was awfully cute. They had Charms together, and today he was her partner. He had bashfully came up to her and said "Lily, will you be my partner? Please?"

"I'd love to! " Lily answered happily. "Let's go get a table!"
And they hurried over to the table that was closest to them, and Lily saw James glancing at her from the corner of his eye. She decided not to notice.

Near then end of the class, Mary sent her a note.

Could you two be any cuter together? I see a romance in your future.

--Mary

He's really sweet, Mary! I really like this guy. Do you think I have a chance?

--Lily

More than a chance… It's like destined! I should be a fortuneteller.

-- Mary

Lily grinned and rolled her eyes.

The bell dismissing them to their next class (which would be Transfiguration, once again, with the Ravenclaws) was about to ring.

"Er, Lily?" Tyler asked, who sounded highly uncomfortable.

"Yes?" Lily questioned back, cleaning up her belongings.

"Lily… will…well, Lily, will you be my girlfriend? Will you go out with me?" he asked, looking absolutely terrified of rejection.

"I'd, I'd love to be! Oh, thank you so much for asking!"

As the bell rang, Lily stood up from her chair. James left before Lily, therefore, he would enter the next room first. Lily slipped her hand into Tyler's, and entered the Transfiguration classroom, preparing herself for James' reaction.