Dear Lily,

How has your summer been? Mine's been great. Venice must be one of the most beautiful places on Earth. We visited this place like Diagon Alley while we were there; it sells some truly rare potion ingredients, pets, and so much more. How have you and Audrey been? I've missed you both so much…having my brother around is absolute torture.

Anyway, the main reason I wrote was to congratulate you on Head Girl! Yes, I know you got the badge; I didn't need to ask anyone.

So I guess I'll see you on the Hogwarts Express tomorrow. Hope you're doing well.

Love, Jessica.

Lily smiled as she read the letter. She'd been stuck at home for so long, so hearing from one of her friends was a relief. Jessica Burke and Audrey Bellamont were her two closest and best friends. They'd first met on the train to school, and had been inseparable ever since. Sure, they had their arguments from time to time, but they worked through them and their friendship became even stronger after.

Lily could hardly contain her excitement. She had been counting down the days until school began and completing every last bit of her homework. Lily Evans was an extremely clever girl, and a much loved student at Hogwarts. She was quick with a wand, and especially skilled at Charms, which was her favourite subject.

Lily glanced over at her belongings, all folded and neatly piled at the end of her bed. Sitting on top of her freshly laundered school robes sat her Head Girl badge. She wondered to herself who had been made Head Boy. She secretly hoped it was someone she would be able to get along with, as they would be working and doing night patrol together.

Maybe Remus is Head Boy, she thought to herself. He's the kind of student Dumbledore would choose…smart and responsible…or maybe it's a Ravenclaw. Dean Macmillan…or Alex Brown.

Slightly tired, but with these thoughts still in her head, Lily changed out of her clothes and into her pyjamas, falling into a deep sleep as her head hit the pillow.

Miles away, two dark haired boys sat awake in bed, chatting, far past their bedtime.

"Who do you think it is, then?" James Potter asked the boy next to him. "Head Girl, I mean."

"Well I wouldn't get your hopes up Prongs, but my bet's on Evans." The boy named Sirius Black replied.

"Really? Night patrols with Evans…" James muttered.

Sirius rolled his eyes. "The closest your going to get to Evans in the middle of an empty corridor, is being hexed." He said matter of factly.

"Padfoot, this is my year." James said, staring off into the distance. "This year Lily Evans is going to realise her true feelings for me. Then we'll date, get married and have lots of little Lilys and Jamesies."

Sirius coughed loudly.

James recovered from his reverie. "Ok, maybe your theory is a little closer." He admitted.

"Prongs…no offence, but you've liked Evans since…first year? I mean I know you've dated other girls…but why is it always about her? Is it that hard to get over her?" Sirius said slowly.

James thought carefully before speaking. "I guess it's always been about her," he whispered. "She's smart, beautiful and caring."

"And?" Sirius said, pushing James to speak.

"She hates me." He replied, sighing.

The Hogwarts Express stood in front of Lily, gleaming in the sunlight. She scanned her eyes through the mass of students, looking for Jessica and Audrey.

"LILY!" screamed a voice behind her, before she nearly fell to the ground, as a certain brunette jumped on her.

"Jessica!" she cried, her voice muffled. Jessica finally let go of her, and Lily was able to see how much her friend had changed over the summer.

Jessica Burke was a tall seventh year. She had long, dark brown hair, and her eyes were always gleaming. She had managed to gain quite a tan, during the summer. "How have you been? Did you get my letter?" she said.

"Of course. I've been great! I still don't get how you knew I was made Head Girl." Lily replied.

Jessica waved her hand aside, as if the answer was obvious. "Lily, no-one else even had a chance of getting that badge while you've been-"

She was interrupted by the yelling of another girl. "Audrey!" Lily and Jessica both screamed together, turning around to see the last of the trio.

Audrey had short blonde hair and blue eyes. Her mother was a beautiful French woman, and many of her looks had been passed on to her daughter. Audrey was rather tall and slender, and girls were often jealous of her looks. A rumour had been spread around the previous year, that Audrey's aunt was a Veela, causing girls to glare at her in the corridors. The boys however, didn't seem to care. Audrey was often asked to go to Hogsmeade, but none of her boyfriends seemed to last very long.

The three girls got on the train, still gossiping about their holidays, boys and anything of else that was of interest. As they searched for a compartment, Lily suddenly remembered.

"Sorry guys," she said. "I nearly forgot! I've got to get to the head's compartment quickly. I'll try and get back as soon as possible."

Lily departed from her friends and weaved her way through the crowd, to the front of the train. When she reached her destination, she slid open the door of the compartment to see none other than –

"Potter?" she said, stopping in her tracks.

"Evans," he said, grinning at her. "Knew it'd be you."

"You…you're…Head Boy?" she stuttered, staring at him.

"The one and only." He said, ruffling his hair. "So…are we going to give the prefects their instructions?"

"Um…yes, whatever." She said, still recovering from the shock.

Something is different about him, she thought. Maybe it's the way he's holding himself? Or maybe he's actually changing, Lily…maybe he's suddenly stopped being the self-centred prat he used to be.

Lily shook her head. How could she possible think James Potter had changed? He was still the same person who asked her out every day, ruffled his hair, and showed off in front of everyone. Someone like that couldn't change so soon…

She's got that look, James thought to himself. That one where she's thinking to herself, she looks so focused. He grinned. She looks beautiful as always…if only I had a chance to show her how much she means to me…

The Head Boy and Girl did not have much time for contemplating; they had to give out the instructions. Lily decided to let James speak first.

"Hi," he said, to the fifth years who sat before them. "I'm James Potter, and this is Lily Evans." He gestured next to him. "We're your Head Boy and Girl, and if you have any problems, be sure to let us know."

Lily now took over. "So all we need for you to do right now is get in to pairs and start patrolling the train. Once you're done, you may go back to your usual compartments. Congratulations on becoming prefects." She said, smiling at them. The red headed boy listening to her smiled back, blushing slightly. James and Lily both noticed this. James looked at her, but she just ignored him.

Leaving the compartment, Lily turned to join her friends, but felt a hand stop her.

"Yes, Potter?" she said, a little more harsh then she meant.

"You haven't changed your mind about going out with me, then? He grinned, hopefully.

Lily suddenly realised he hadn't changed. "Of course not." She snapped, and left him standing there, looking slightly lonely.

Disclaimer: Yeah, it's all J.K.'s.

Please R&R!