New Responsibilities

Lily Evans was a very attractive red-headed girl but she was never one to draw attention to the fact that most of the male population at Hogwarts was obsessed with her. She preferred to believe that she was popular purely because of the good example she set as one of its top students. With large, round and bright emerald eyes that were often described by many as star catchers, and the fairest skin, Lily was the essence of a natural beauty.

"Bye Mum. Bye Dad. I'll miss you so much," Lily shouted from the edge of Platform 9 ¾ as she boarded the Hogwarts Express, "I'll see you at Christmas."

"Bye honey," her mother struggled to reply through her muffled sobs. At which stage Mr Evans took charge and shouted back to Lily, "We love you. Take care of yourself."

"I will," Lily responded through an open window as the train began to move.

She headed to a small compartment towards the end of the train to greet her best friends. Jessica was two inches taller then Lily, standing at 5'8". She had mid-length blond waves piled onto her head and the biggest blue eyes imaginable. Unlike Lily, she preferred to play Quidditch (the famous wizard sport) and studied only when necessary. Lily, in contrast, was often found in the school library completing extra credit work that never needed to be done. Rachel, the third member of the trio, was two inches shorter than Lily at 5'4". She had long, straight brown hair and green eyes, though not as bright as Lily's. Like Lily she liked to study and do well in class, but like Jess she liked to have an equal amount of fun.

Tapping on the door to announce her arrival, Lily waited for the two girls to respond. Almost immediately the girls had turned, ran towards the door of the compartment, slid it open and grabbed Lily in the biggest hug. Lily felt more like she was in a Rugby scrum.

"Her Lils," Jess shouted. "We have missed you so much."

"Yeah, I've missed you too."

Rachel piped up at this point, "Lily. You have got to see this."

"Oh, no!" Lily's mouth dropped so far open that she was afraid it might hit the floor. Quickly, she shut it, and continued to read the article in front of her. "Poor Clara."

"I know," Rachel said, "that's the third attack on muggles this summer. I don't even want to imagine what it must feel like to lose your parents. Maybe we should do something for her."

"It must be awful for her," mumbled Jess.

The girls remained in silence for a few minutes thinking about Cara and what they could do to help her. She was a fifth year Hufflepuff at Hogwarts who wasn't very popular and was continually bullied by the Slytherins who hated her for three main reasons.

Cara was muggle born or as the Slytherins called her, a mud-blood.

She was in Hufflepuff, the most laughed at of the school houses as it was said to be the place for those who weren't good enough for Gryffindor, Ravenclaw or Slytherin.

She was just so naive

Basically, she was an EASY TARGET.

"Oh, but the way," Jess brought the girls back to consciousness, congratulations on getting head girl this year, it's really great."

"Yeah. Think of all the positive changes you'll make to the school," Rachel started.

"I'm not so sure Rach, but I'll do my best. Anyway, that reminds me. I've got to go to the heads compartment to meet the new head boy."

"Good luck," Jess said with a hint of amusement in her tone but still being sincere.

Lily began to feel a little suspicious. Was she missing something?

"Seya later Lil," Rach finished.

"Bye." And Lily left.

'I can't believe he isn't here yet. Who could it be?' Lily thought after sitting alone for ten minutes. She had already found time to eat two chocolate frogs (she had to watch her figure), change into her school robes and plan a full itinerary of the duties for the new school prefects, whom she and the head boy were now responsible for.

Just as she was about to doze off there was a loud crash outside the compartment door and Lily rushed into the corridor immediately. What she found really didn't surprise her.

"Sirius Black! What did you do to that poor girl?" Lily demanded.

"Don't get your knickers in a twist, Evans. I was just introducing myself," was his cocky reply.

"You call that introducing yourself? You nearly gave her a concussion. What did you give to her? Your special 'headache inducers'?"

"No. She asked for a sweet so I gave her one. She didn't say which one."

"And which one did you give her?" Lily tried to remain calm as she assessed the situation. The girl had luckily got up and embarrassed, returned to her compartment further up the train.

"One from Zonko's new range," Sirius answered," It's so cool. It makes the consumer violently shake before they are literally thrown back about five feet and then the effects are usually over. I was only testing it."

"On a twelve year old girl in the corridor of a train!"

"So. What are you going to do about it?" Sirius believed he was invincible.

Lily was really angry at this point. "As head girl it is my responsibility to look out for the welfare of ALL the other students. I've no choice but to take ten points from Gryffindor."

"Er, Evans?" Sirius challenged her, "Don't be so stupid! Firstly, why do you want to take points from your own house? And secondly, we're not even at school yet. There are no points to take."

2Well thanks to you, we'll just have to go into minus points!" Lily fired back. It was true that red-heads were renowned for their fiery tempers and Lily was no exception.

"Just, chill out Evans."

"What did you just..." but she was interrupted.

"I should have known it was you making that awful racket. You're so highly strung all of the time. Relax."

Lily's resolve had taken almost all that it could stand. She realised immediately who the voice belonged to. No one, and I mean no one, could get her as 'hot and bothered' as James Potter. Sure, they had a lot in common. I mean, they were both intelligent and had excellent grades but they went about things in different ways. They were just... OPPOSITES.

"Who asked you Potter?" She spat out his name as though it sickened her to even think it.

"No one. But no one needs to. It's part of my new responsibility to get involved and intervene."

Lily began to feel awkward and uncomfortable which led to a feeling of unease. After a long pause she asked almost at a whisper, "What kind of responsibility could you ever have?"

"Are you sure you want to know Evans?" James inquired with a flicker of a grin appearing on his, rather handsome, face.

"Yes." Lily struggled to remain patient.

James continued, "I tell you what. How about we make a deal? I tell you what my new responsibility is and you agree to go out with me."

"URGH!" Lily was infuriated and for good reason. For the past six years James Potter had asked her out, taunted her, nearly every time they bumped into one another. "How many times do I have to tell you? Is your skull too think to penetrate or your ego to large?"

James was really enjoying this. He loved her even more when she was angry and frustrated and he knew exactly how to make her that way, "I guess that's a no, huh?" He smiled. She hated it.

"Of course it's a no Potter! Now tell me what new responsibility you have."

"Evans, meet our new head boy," Sirius explained and then he burst out laughing.

James stood there looking extremely smug and pleased with himself whilst Lily just froze to the spot in a state of shock, her mouth hanging open for the second time that day. For James this year was going to be Heaven. For Lily it would be Hell.