"LILY! PAIGE!" Whitney Carson, Lily's other best friend, ran over to them, and hugged them immediately. They were on platform nine and three quarters, weaving their way through the crowd, trying to get to the Hogwarts Express.

"Whitney! How was your summer?" asked Lily, smiling. She had missed her wild, outgoing friend.

"Well, it was alright, I suppose. Nothing special. And yours?"

"I had loads of fun with Paige. It was very kind of her family to have me," Lily said politely.

"I'll bet you're happy to be back at school. I am sure Potter is around here somewhere, looking for you. We'd better hurry inside and get a compartment before he finds you," grinned Whitney. She had brown, wavy hair, and brown eyes. She was extremely impatient, and she had a huge temper, which often collided with Lily's. Paige was often the one to keep the peace between them.

"Well, hold on just a moment, Whit. My parents came to the platform to see me off, they must be around here somewhere," said Lily, craning her neck to look around the crowd. At last she found them, and quickly walked over to them.

"Mum! Dad! Petunia! Thanks for seeing me off! I'd be horribly homesick if I never got to see you before I left!"

"It's no problem, Lilypops, but we'd best hurry. Petunia isn't doing that well here," said Lily's mum, gesturing towards Petunia. Petunia was hiding behind her father, wide-eyed and pale. Lily suppressed a laugh.

"Well, be careful! You-know-who is out and about, you know, and he is going after muggle-born families. Just be aware of everything! Keep up with wizarding news, and don't go out after dark! He's terribly dangerous! Honestly, this is no joke! You must be careful!" said Lily with concern.

Her father waved his hand, as if to wipe away Lily's remark. "Lilysicles, we'll be careful! Honest! I'll protect mum and Petunia! Nothing can stop me, not even this you-know-who gentleman."

Lily sighed. Apparently her parents underestimated Voldemort's power. "Alright. Just…do try to stay off his list!" She quickly hugged her parents and made her way to the train with Whitney and Paige. They quickly found a compartment and settled inside.

"Lily! Head Girl! That's wonderful! I wonder who Head Boy is…I hope it is someone good looking, so you can date them, Lily," giggled Whitney. She absolutely loved boys.

Lily laughed. "I hope so too. I doubt they would date me, though, seeing as Potter would probably hex them." She suddenly sat up. "THAT'S RIGHT! I'M HEAD GIRL! I'VE COMPLETELY FORGOTTEN! I have to go to the Head's compartment immediately!" She ran out of the compartment and made her way down the train to the Head's compartment. She stopped in front of the door, wondering who the Head Boy would be, hoping it was someone she would like. She opened the door, and gasped. Inside was none other than James Potter.

"POTTER? What are you doing here? This is the heads compartment. I'm afraid you will have to find another compartment."

James grinned. "Oh, but Evans. I'm Head Boy. And, as you said, this is the head's compartment." He was highly amused by the look of shock on her face.

"You? H-Head Boy? How? Why? Is this possible?" she stuttered.

James laughed. "Yes, it is quite possible, my little Lilybear."

Lily scowled at James. "Potter! Do not call me that ever again!"

"Fine. Is Mrs. Potter alright then?"

"POTTER!"

James laughed. It was always fun to annoy Lily.

Lily sighed. "Well, I'll just go tell the prefects what their duties are. If you want, you can stay in here. It would be much better for me that way, anyhow."

"That is quite alright, Evans. I'll accompany you. Please, there is no need to beg."

Lily scowled and marched out of the room, making her way to the prefect's compartment. James followed closely behind her.

"Hello, students!" said Lily, with a warm smile. "Welcome back to Hogwarts. I am Lily Evans, Head Girl, and this is James Potter, unfortunately Head Boy. Now, as prefects, you will take on a lot of responsibility. You will have to do rounds with a fellow prefect a few nights a week, and there will be prefect meetings once every other week. You must take your duties as prefect seriously! Remember-"

"Alright, enough of that crap, Evans," said James, ruffling his hair. "As prefects, you have power. You dominate most of Hogwarts. You have power over them, see? So really, if you want to hex someone, go ahead! It's not like they have anyone to tell. I mean, they'd have to tell you that you'd hexed them…well, I suppose they could tell me as well, but I really couldn't give a damn if you hexed someone-"

"POTTER! ENOUGH! I do not want you rubbing off on these poor students! Alright, everyone, listen to me, not him. You cannot go running off and hex whoever you please! You will surely get your badge taken away from you if you do that! And you do not have power over them! You are supposed to protect the rest of the student body, not rule them! Remember, change two letters around in the word prefect, and you've got the word perfect, which is what I expect you to be. Make Dumbledore proud he chose you!"

James rolled his eyes. "Did you rehearse that, Evans?"

Lily scowled at him, and turned to face the prefects once more. "Well, I suppose we are done for today. Please patrol the train for a bit, and then you can run along to see your friends in your own compartments."

The prefects quickly ran out of the room, nearly knocking each other over to get out of the compartment.

James smirked. "I suppose your little speech was not too popular," he said.

Lily glared at him, and marched out of the compartment, making her way back to her old compartment. She opened the door and scowled. Sirius Black, Remus Lupin, and Peter Pettigrew were sitting with her friends. She marched over to the window, and sat beside Paige. James also entered the compartment, grinning at her, and sat beside Sirius.

"Hey, Prongs! How are Head Boy duties?" asked Lupin.

James laughed. "I could hardly get a word in. Evans here was talking up a storm. 'Remember, change two letters around in the word prefect, and you've got the word perfect!'" he said, mocking Lily's voice. Lily glared at him. "Oi, Evans! Now is as good a time as ever! Will you go out with me?"

"NEVER! NOT IF YOU WERE THE LAST MAN ON EARTH!"

James let out a low whistle. "Ok then. How about those Chudley Cannons?" he said, changing the subject.

Sirius grinned. "I doubt the ladies know much about quidditch, Prongs," he said, winking at them flirtatiously.

Paige giggled. "You're right, Sirius. We don't know that much about quidditch."

"Is everyone's family safe? What with you-know-who running about…" Lily asked with true concern. Everyone nodded.

"It sounds to me like Voldemort's getting stronger," said James. "It won't be long until he kills people in the daylight."

Lily gasped. "You-you said his name!"

James looked at her in surprise. "You don't? Honestly, this whole 'you-know-who' thing is so stupid. Fear in the name only creates fear in the thing itself. And why would you want to be afraid of Voldemort? The reason he's killing people is because he's afraid."

Lily rolled her eyes. "And I suppose you think you could take on you-know-who all on your own."

"His name is Voldemort, and no, I'm not that conceited! I'd need help taking him on! But soon as I graduate, I'm going to join the rest of the wizards that are fighting him. I know it's my fate. I can feel it."

Lily sighed. She had no idea how anybody could be so stupid, to believe that they could take on you-know-who, the most evil wizard the world had ever known. She remained silent for the rest of the trip to Hogwarts, looking out the window and thinking about the year ahead of her.