Nothing much changed here. Just some spelling and grammar and one or two lines have been edited coz I thought they weren't in character.
Disclaimer: I don't own the world, books, characters or any HP related items.
The Unknown Weasley- Thanks for the advice. I've managed to limit my swearing in this chapter. As for the spelling and grammer, thank microsoft spell check, not me. My spelling is terrible!
Tai Greywing- Cheers Tai. I know you like commars. Argh! Hate Dr Who cliffie!
A/N: Cheers to anyone who reviewed. For those of you who did check my bio page, Tash is indeed myself, and Lady Mearle is Jenny. I had my photography exam on Monday so my writing at home was put on hold temporarily. To any Dr Who fans out there...Nooooo! I hate cliffhangers! I can't wait till Saturday! Any who, story time!
Chapter 2
Sirius was lying in the middle of the corridor, with a large bleeding gash on the side of his face. Tash and Jenny were standing behind him pointing their wands at six people at the end of the corridor. The robes indicated that they were Slytherins.
"Idiot!" Tash cursed Sirius before sending a stunning spell at the group. Lily, James, Peter and Remus charged out drawing their wands as they went, just as Jenny was knocked out by a jet of blue light from the Slytherins. Tash cursed and fired another stunning spell at them.
"Get back into your compartment!" Lily yelled at them. All six Slytherins lowered their wands but did not relax their grips.
"Oh look!" said a mock baby voice that everyone recognised as Bellatrix Black. "It's the mudbloods and the rest of the blood traitors. What a shame. We were hoping the Dark Lord would have got to you over the summer."
James raised his wand to stun them but Lily shot him a warning glare.
"Get back into your compartment," Lily repeated. "All of you."
"We don't take orders from filthy mudbloods like you," Snape hissed. James immediately stunned him. Tash and Remus took this moment to drag Jenny and Sirius back into the compartment. Lily and James piled in after them, locking the door shut.
"Bastards," Tash hissed menacingly.
"What were you thinking!" Lily screamed at James. "You didn't need to start attacking them!"
"He called you a mudblood!" James spat the word out as though it were poison. "They deserved it."
"I don't care what he called me!" Lily retorted. "I am not going to lose my badge just because of a word. I can stand up for myself Potter!"
She turned to Tash who was reviving Jenny on one of the seats. Remus was bringing Sirius around.
"I'm gonna kill those evil…" Sirius began reaching for his wand. Tash marched over and smacked him.
"What were you thinking you prat!" she cursed him. "I told you to get out of the way and what do you do? Jump out in front of us! You're lucky I wasn't trying to kill them!"
She continued to rant at him, punctuating each of her sentences with a smack around the face. Remus sighed and went to check how Jenny was doing. After about five minutes of listening to Tash yell, James, Lily and Peter decided to tear the two of them apart. Tash was still livid. Sirius on the other hand was smiling.
"Y'know," he remarked as Lily shoved Tash onto the opposite seat and Remus conjured him an ice pack for his head. "You really do look hot when you're mad…"
"Shut up!" Tash snarled. "Before I knock you out again!"
Remus handed the ice pack to Sirius who slapped it over his head where Tash had smacked him.
OOO
An hour later the train was pulling into Hogsmeade station. The remainder of the journey had not been cheerful. Lily was still furious with James and refused to speak with him. On the odd occasion James looked as though he were about to apologise, but Jen and Tash had sent him looks which said quite clearly, 'wait until she's cooled off.'
The only people who were having civil conversation were Remus and Jenny, as Tash and Sirius were contributing to the huffy silence and Peter had fallen asleep.
By the time the train had pulled to a stop, it was pouring with rain, drenching everybody the second they stepped out of the carriages. The three girls ran down the path to one of the horseless carriages and scrambled in. They were followed, much to Lily and Tash's disgust by all four of the Marauders. Needless to say there was a very uncomfortable silence in the air as the carriages rumbled up to the castle.
Lily smiled as they entered the great hall, which looked as welcoming as ever. Lily would never forget the first time she had been in here on her way to sorting. She had actually gasped aloud, although to her relief she hadn't been the only one.
Once inside the hall, Lily, Jenny and Tash immediately chose seats as far away from the four boys as possible. Jenny had looked after Remus longingly, whilst Lily looked as though she were holding in a very long rant.
"Okay Lil," Jenny sat down next to her. "They're out of earshot. Let it out."
"I cannot believe he made head boy!" Lily hissed angrily. "That arrogant prat should have been kicked out of school ages ago. How he's managed to last this long I really don't know. Dumbledore's completely mad! Potter's never done anything to help another human, god only knows how he's going to abuse position."
She drew a deep breath.
"That everything?" Jenny asked.
"You forgot to mention that he's friends with Black," Tash reminded. "The second biggest arrogant prat on the planet."
"Okay you've made your points both of you," Jen assured her friends. "Now Lily why don't you focus on some of the positive aspects of James."
"There are no positive aspects!" Lily spat.
"Oh really!" asked Jen raising her eyebrows. "Let me see…he's quite cute."
Lily gave a snort of laughter but Jen and Tash both knew that there was not a girl on earth who wouldn't think so.
"Come on Lily," Tash said. "You know you'd have to be demented not to see it."
"You go out with him then!" Lily said waving an arm down one end of the table towards the boys.
"I gave up on men a long time ago," Tash said. Lily sighed. Tash had given up dating in the fifth year and she had never been sure exactly why. All she knew was that one week she had shut herself in the dormitory and stuffed her face with ice cream, which left Lily to conclude that she had been dating someone and they had broken up. Tash had been quite secretive about who she dated, just in case it didn't last.
"He's great at Quidditch," Tash pointed out. Lily snapped back to the conversation.
"Now that's bias!" she said. "He's your captain."
"He's a really loyal friend," Jenny continued, as though there were no interruptions.
"Only to those arrogant prats!" Lily pointed to the four Marauders, who all had their heads together, obviously plotting some kind of prank.
"Remus isn't a prat!" Jenny defended.
"Okay, Remus isn't a prat," Lily amended. "But Potter is!"
"He likes you," Tash added.
"Well I don't like him!" Lily stated.
"And perhaps most important, especially in your opinion," Jenny finished. "He's a good student." Lily paused. Damn Jenny! She had hit a very appealing target.
"Okay," Lily conceded. "He's good at some…"
"…Most!" Tash corrected.
"MOST subjects!" Lily sighed, but she had to admit that Jen and Tash were right. Potter was a good student. From what's she'd heard, his OWL's had been very high. Maybe there were brains under that arrogant cute prat…
'What?' Lily did a mental double take. 'Did I just think Potter was cute? NO! I did not! It was a momentary lapse!'
She was saved from arguing with her thoughts, by the arrival of Professor McGonagall and the first years. They all looked terrified out of their minds.
"They're so cute!" Tash cooed under her breath.
"We were that small once," Lily reminded her.
"This is the last sorting we're going to watch," Jenny pointed out. "Let's make the most of it."
"Anderson, Bethany!" Professor McGonagall began to call the first year's forwards. A tall dark haired girl walked nervously to the stool and the hat slipped over her eyes. The brim of the hat opened wide and shouted, 'RAVENCLAW!'
After another fifteen minutes, Mandy Wilson was sorted into Gryffindor and Dumbledore stood up. The typical hush fell over the hall.
"Hope he hurries up," the girls heard Sirius complain. "I'm starving!"
"Padfoot, you're always hungry!" James hissed. Lily looked down the table at James, surprised at his rebuke. Tash was grinning at the sound of Sirius huffing into silence.
"Welcome to another year at Hogwarts," Dumbledore began. The three girls rolled their eyes at each other. Dumbledore always opened with the same lines.
"Before we divulge ourselves in our excellent feast," Dumbledore continued. "I have a few start of term announcements. Firstly, all students should note that the forbidden forest, is of course forbidden, as it the village of Hogsmeade to all students below the third year." His eyes flicked briefly over James, Sirius, Remus and Peter, all of whom were smirking. They had been visiting Hogsmeade when they were second years.
"Mr Filch would like to remind all of you that magic is prohibited in the corridors, as is anything from Zonko's joke shop. Quiddich tryouts will be held next weekend. Anyone above the second year who is interested should contact Madame Hooch. Finally, I would like to see the head boy and girl in my office after the feast. Tuck in!"
The plates magically filled with food. Everyone heard the Marauders give very audible cheers before the chatter of the hall picked up to cover the noise. Lily glanced up the table and noticed that some of the teachers were looking slightly less cheerful than normal.
"Do they seem a little unhappy?" she asked her friends.
"Mmm," Tash agreed through a bite of potato. She swallowed and said, "I expected Dumbledore to mention something about Voldemort. Maybe that's what he wants to speak to you about afterwards."
"What do you think Jen?" Lily turned to look at the girl on her left.
"Huh?" Jen said absently. She was staring down the table at Remus, who was whispering to James and Sirius. Tash rolled her eyes upon noticing this.
"She'll be stalking him next!"
Finally, the last crumbs faded from their plates and dessert appeared. Down the table James was gazing at Lily, who was laughing with her friends.
"Give up Prongs," Sirius said through a mouthful of apple pie. "She's not suddenly going to turn around and say yes."
"Yeah," Peter agreed. "Maybe you should look at some of the other girls…"
"But none of them are her!" James sighed. "You don't understand Wormtail. She is the one. No other girl even compares to Lily!"
"Well show her that," said Remus glancing down the table hoping to catch Jenny's eye.
"I'm trying," James muttered resting his head on his hand and gazing wistfully at Lily. She was laughing at something Tash had said. James caught himself sighing. What he wouldn't give to make her laugh like that.
"Damn she's hot," Sirius said, jerking James out of his thoughts.
"What?" he asked. Sirius rolled his eyes.
"Tash is hot," he repeated. Peter sighed at his friends.
"Sirius please," he said. "Some of us are trying to eat!"
James and Sirius glared at him. Remus was smiling down the table at Jenny, who grinned and waved back.
"Peter," James said. "When you're hopelessly in love with someone you'll understand how we feel."
At this point Dumbledore stood up to dismiss them.
"Good luck mate," Sirius said, as James stood up and hurried over to the three girls.
"Ready Lily?"
'As I'll ever be to go anywhere with you,' Lily thought, wondered suddenly why she was being so cruel. He hadn't asked her out…yet.
"See you later Lils," said Tash dragging Jenny away from the table. She was gazing at Remus with a lovesick expression. Tash rolled her eyes at her.
"Sometimes I think I'm the only sane person in this year!"
OOO
"Do you know the password?" Lily asked frowning at the stone gargoyle.
"Umm. Dumbledore likes sweets," James suggested. "Think of some sweets."
"Chocolate frog," said the voice of Professor Dumbledore. Unbeknown to Lily and James, he had followed them from the hall, and was now observing their faces in mild amusement.
"After you," he gestured, as the stone gargoyle sprang aside. Both head boy and girl walked slowly up the staircase. James was glancing at Lily out of the corner of his eye. Upon entering the office she looked in complete awe. James sensed that this was her first visit to the headmasters office.
Lily had barely enough time to take in the millions of bookshelves around the room, before Dumbledore indicated that they should both sit down. She noted that James did not look impressed at the office, and it was likely that he had been here before.
"First of all," Dumbledore began. "I would like to congratulate you both on becoming head boy and girl. There were many candidates nominated for the positions. I imagine your families were very pleased."
He gave them a smile.
"On a more serious note, I'm sure you are both aware of the increasing attacks from Voldemort and his followers?" Both Lily and James nodded. Dumbledore continued. "As heads the younger years will look up to you. It is highly probable that several people in this school will have family who are victims in these attacks. I expect you to watch over them."
"You can rely on us Professor," Lily assured him. Dumbledore smiled again.
"I knew you would say that Miss Evans. Now on a different matter, as Heads you have the responsibility of setting dates for the Hogsmeade trips and in organising the Valentines ball."
James's grin got bigger at the idea of the Valentines Ball. The twinkle in Dumbledore's eye increased as if he had spotted this.
"I am sure you will do an admirable job. Any questions?" Both Lily and James shook their heads, equally tired and wanting to disappear up to bed. Dumbledore bade them good night and both students left by the revolving staircase.
"Some office," Lily muttered aloud.
"I know," James replied, trying to keep the civil conversation going. "Do you think he has enough books?"
"Plenty," Lily began to daydream. James shot her a look out of the corner of his eye, noting in passing that she was looking as gorgeous as ever. 'Say something nice!' said a little voice in his head.
"Anyway," James began. "I didn't really say before. Congratulations on becoming head girl Lily. You really deserve it."
Lily snapped out of her fantasy to hear the remark.
"Thanks," she thought hard before her next sentence. "You too." James grinned. Compliments from Lily could only be good.
'Why did I just say that?' Lily mentally asked herself.
'Because you are being polite!' said another part of her brain. 'And because you like him.'
'Where did that come from?'
'Admit it. You've been thinking he's cute all night. Now he's being nice to you. And you think he's grown up!'
"Lily. I'm talking to you," said James. He had been trying to get her attention but she had continued to stare into space.
"Hmm?" Lily came back to reality. "Sorry?"
"You looked like you were miles away," James said. "What was the password?"
They had arrived outside the portrait of the fat lady (who was snoring in her portrait). Normally, Lily would have told James that he should have listened during the prefect meeting, and then he'd know the password himself. However she was too tired tonight and she wanted to go to bed.
"Stardust mirage," she said dully to the fat lady. There was a loud snore from the painting and the door to the common room swung open.
It looked exactly as Lily remembered it. She realised again that she only had one year left at Hogwarts. She would be sorry to leave. Some of her best times had been at school.
"Glad to be back?" James asked, trying to be friendly.
"I'm going to miss this place," Lily said looking around the room fondly.
"And the people?" James asked, with a cheeky grin on his face.
'Damn it James!' he thought to himself. 'You were being nice and then you had to say something stupid!' Lily was scowling.
"Some of them," she said heading up the stairs, without a good night. James sighed. He was going to have to do better than that!
Lily hurried up to the dormitory, wanting to be alone with her thoughts. Upon entering she found Jenny sitting on her bed clad in her favourite green pyjamas and reading a book. Tash rummaging around in her trunk for her pyjamas. Robes, her broomstick, and books came flying over her head.
Their other roommate, Crystel Thompson, was brushing her hair in a corner of the room. Crystel was an outspoken girl, with jet black hair and a cheerful gossipy personality. Most of her friends were in Hufflepuff but she got on well with Lily, Jen and Tash.
Lily walked over to her bed and flopped down on the blanket.
"I can't find my pyjamas!" Tash complained her head still in her trunk.
"That's nice Tash," said Crystel absently. "Hey Lily."
"Hi Lils!" said Jenny, putting her book down. "How was the meeting?" Tash pulled her head out of her possessions to listen.
"Okay," Lily said.
"And…?" Jenny asked, throwing her book aside.
"We have to plan for Hogsmeade trips, the Valentine's ball and we have to look after any students that lose family to the Death Eaters," Lily explained in short.
"And?" Jenny asked again. "How are you getting on with the delightful Mr Potter?"
"Brilliant," said Lily sarcastically, which when she thought about it, was actually true. He had been fine up until they'd got back to the common room.
"That's not an answer," said Tash. "Go on, we want every juicy detail."
"Including how much you hexed him," Jenny added.
"I didn't hex him," Lily said. "We talked for a while and that was it."
"That's it?" Tash asked standing up straight. "That's it! Oh my god! Jenny, pinch me, I think I've died and come back in an alternative universe."
Jenny and Crystel both leaned over and pinched Tash hard. She gave a startled yelp and blinked.
"Blimey I'm not dreaming! That must be the longest you've ever spoken to him without shouting at him."
"Or hitting him," Jenny added.
"Or hexing him," Crystel said.
"I was being civil," Lily protested. "I have to work with him all year, I am not going to spend it arguing with him constantly."
"Maybe he's matured over the summer," Tash suggested, diving back into her trunk in case Lily decided to start on a rant. To her surprise, Lily said nothing. Tash looked at Jen, who shrugged and went back to her book. Tash immediately began searching for her pyjamas again.
Pulling the curtains around her bed, Lily sat in silence. She couldn't deny to herself that James was behaving a little more responsibly than last year. They had passed the Slytherins in the corridor on their way to Dumbledore's office, and he hadn't said a word. This was remarkable restraint for him. Maybe Potter had matured over the summer.
A/N: Okay. This chapter got tricky to write, especially trying to fill up conversation in Dumbledore's office. I'm sorry about the last chapter. My scene breaks wern't marked. Hopefully these ones will work. Please review!
Next Chapter: First day of school, confrontations with the Slytherins, DADA and Potions class.
Love Mei
May Stardust fall in your dreams!