His Final Year

Chapter Two: Yeah We Can Be Friends

"Oh my freaking god no! What are you doing here? Potter, I swear if you are here to ask me out I'll tear your-"

He held up his hands and laughed. "Woah Lily, just wait a minute. I'm supposed to be here I promise. Unfortunately Dumbledore has somehow gone totally insane and made me Head Boy. Now before you say anything because I know you have something to say about that, let me just say that I'm actually surprisingly really happy I got this. And I don't plan to just throw it away. I'm going to try to work really hard to set a good example for the younger students and everyone else. I can do this Lily."

She was taken back. She had no idea James Potter was capable of saying anything like that. "Where did that come from?"

He shrugged. "I did some…actually a lot…of thinking over the summer and realize that I might be an even better guy if I changed just a few things." He flashed her that goofy grin. She looked at his goofy face and smiled back.

"Alright Potter I'm going to trust that you really are going to take this seriously. I just hope you don't screw it up. Maybe Dumbledore isn't completely insane." She gave him a big smile that made him want to jump for joy. She smiled at me! Hang on, stay calm, DO NOT SCREW THIS UP! She sat down in one of the chairs, and he sat in one next to her. "So, Mr. James Potter is going to make some changes about himself? Like what if you don't mind me asking?"

He smiled. "Well, I'm going to try not to pull anymore 'mean' pranks. But I think some just for fun is still ok. But nothing to be rude. Um, I'm going to stop hexing people just for the hell of it. Except for Snivellus, but I really can't help that. He and I never like each other every so he'll try to hex me as much as he can, especially this year. But I won't do it unless it's in self-defense. Let's see what else…I don't know just stuff I think needs to be changed."

Lily noticed that the whole time he was talking, he barely even glanced at her. It almost seemed like he was scared to look at her. "Why the change?"

He shrugged but still wouldn't look at her. "It is my last year until I'm in the real world so I better be the best I can be, especially this year."

She really didn't think that was the whole reason. "James-"

He smiled. "You called me James. No Potter anymore?"

"Don't change the subject unless you want to go back to Potter. I don't believe you. Why are you really making changes?"

He stood up and turned his back to her. "I really don't want to tell you. I'm sorry, it's just…it would change how I want this to go. I mean, we're getting along pretty well, at least right now." He laughed. "I think going to first names is a big step. And I really like this. Being nice to each other I mean. I don't want to change that."

She smiled. He was actually a very sweet guy. "Ok, I don't want to push this out of you. If you really don't want to tell me, then that's cool. But will you promise me something?" She stood up and walked over to him. She stood in front of him, but he still didn't look at her. "If you ever feel like you can tell me, find me and do tell me. Ok?"

He finally looked at her and smiled. "Ok."

She raised an eyebrow at him. "Promise?"

"Yes I promise."

"Good. Alright let's do what we need to do and get back to our buddies." She smiled at him again, and he smiled back. They did everything they did and walked toward the door. Lily turned back to James. "Coming buddy?"

He nearly lost his voice. "Buddy? Does that mean we're friends?"

She smiled at him. She seemed to be doing that a lot lately. "I guess we can try it out. Now, come on! I want to find my other friends too! Let's go!"

James stood up straight and saluted her. "Oh of course Ma'am."

Lily laughed, and they walked out of the compartment as friends.