The 1st of September came quickly and it was time to head back to Hogwarts to refill their mind. This was Lily's final year and she was excited but also very sad as Hogwarts felt very much like home. Lily was excited because she had been made head girl and her parents were so proud. All week Lily had been looking at her badge and wondering who would be head boy. She hoped that the head boy wouldn't be a slythrine imagine trying to work with one of them. She hoped Remus Lupin would be made head boy as she had already spent time working with him as a prefect and the occasionally spent time studying together but Lily was sure that was just so he could be close to her best friend Katie. Lily and Katie had hit it off straight away in first year and at times they seemed inseparable working and laughing together. Which was much the same for the maunders except with less work they were well known for their tricks and jokes. Lily rushed through kings cross after kissing her parents good bye she as anxious to be on the train especially since she was head girls she would need to set an example. Lily stood for a moment gazing and the beautiful bright red engine sighing a little at thinking this was her last year she would have to savour every minuet.
"O sorry Lily." Said Remus Lupin after knocking in to Lily as he tried to stop his bag from falling.
Lily smile flashed and her emerald eyes sparkled
"You have no need to be sorry Remus, god it's so nice to see you." As she flung her arms round him. Lupin was a little taken back by lily behaviour
"Are you ok?"
"Yes… well, I'm … sad and excited"
He smiled and chuckled at her "why?"
"Final year "
"Right" he laughed, "well just think you will be able to do what you like after." Under his breath Remus sighed and whispered to him self unlike me.
Remus was a little worried about the end of Hogwarts his condition was not excepted by many in the wizarding world and he knew times would be difficult for him out side of Hogwarts walls. Remus Lupin was a wear wolf and only his fellow maunders knew about his condition and Remus felt lucky because they accepted him fur and all. In fact his friend enjoyed his change as the full moon allowed them to have adventures round Hogwarts and Hogsmede. A wear wolf is deadly to a person but his fellow maunders had found a way to over come this obstacle by becoming animagus so they could also become animals and be safe in Remus company during the full moon. The forms that The Maunders took on during these adventures gave them their nicknames Mooney, Pad foot, Prongs and Wormtail.
"Are you head boy?" Lily questioned
Lupin laughed. "No I'm not"
"O." Lily looked at bit disappointed. "Great I just know it will be a slytherin"
Lupin laughed again
"I hope Katie got my old prefect job I did recommend her and I thought that you wouldn't mind having her to patrol with too?"
Lupin cheeks flushed momentarily. "I don't mind at all"
Lily smiled deeply with happy thoughts of her best friend and Remus doing patrols together.
"Well I will see you on the train"
Lily walked off to the train to put her belongings on bored and go in search of Katie to see if she was the new Gryffindor prefect.
"Katie" lily waved down the corridor. Katie rushed up to lily and threw her arms round her.
"I'm so sad cant believe its our final year"
Lily laughed. "I just had the same conversation with Remus, hey did you get Gryffindor prefect?"
"Yes I did as she puffed out her chest and pointed to her badge. Thank for putting in a good word."
"Well actually I didn't really have to I told McGonagall I though you would be ideal and she already said she had you in mind so there… see no reason to thank me"
They both wandered off to a compartment where another Gryffindor friend sat telling of all that had happened over summer. Katie and Julie found it highly amusing that Lily and her family had managed to go away and bump into the potters.
James watched a Lily walked away from Remus on to the train. She looked just as beautiful as she had the last time he had seen her at the lodge and his memories flashed back to her in the pool and the party.
"Now behaviour self I don't want any letter back saying you have blown something up" said a stern looking Mrs Potter
James chuckled remembering the trick him and Sirius had played in third year
"We are so proud of you she kissed James on the cheek"
"O mum"
"Sorry if I'm embarrassing you." She said as Sirius chuckled beside James
"Don't know what you laughing at." as she planted one on Sirius too and told him to be good.
James father put an arm round James and whispered to him take no notice of your mother just remember to have fun make the most of this year. He winked at James as he straightens up and went to stop her fussing over Sirius and James any more.
James and Sirius nodded over in Remus direction and the boys made their way on to the train.
Lily got the shock of her life whilst she was on the train she had to go meet the new head boy and organise the monitoring of the train with the other prefects. She wandered into the prefect-meeting compartment with Katie. Every one was there except for the new head boy and Remus. Lily was feeling a little anxious wondering who she would have to work with. The compartment door slid open and Remus strolled in a took his place by Katie and there stood in the doorway was a slightly embarrassed James Potter, Sirius and Remus had been teasing Potter on his appointment saying that Dumbledore must have lost his marbles allowing him to be head boy as he started quite allot of the mischief at Hogwarts. This embarrassment quickly changed to a grin when he saw the look on Lily face.
"You? No way"
Lily world just crash landed. Great Potter who has been annoying her for like forever
"Now that Evans has finished exclaimed what your all probably think let get this show on the road." James said coldly
"Errrm … right then" lily replied apologetically
The meeting got under way sorting out the patrols on the train and a future meeting was organised. Lily was surprised at James actions and how he dealt with organising of the prefects. The meeting came to a close and all the prefects had left to start their duties so they could eventually join their friends leaving lily and James alone. Lily was busy collecting up some notes she had made and James had notice so stayed back in order to talk to her.
"Evans?"
"Yes Potter" Lily replied feeling quite defensive
"Look… I just want you to know that I'm going to take this seriously." Lily arched her eyebrows. "I know we haven't got on in the past but I think we should try and put that behind us as we have to work together."
"Right well I can live with that." Lily reached her hand out and they both shuck hands
May be James has grown up Lily thought as she slowly wandered back to the compartment where her friends were. He did seem different at the lodge apart from the stupid stunt he played at the party. But no way this is James potter give it a week and he will be a pain in the ass again hexing every one pulling stupid stunts what the hell was Dumbledore thinking? Least he didn't ask me out though does he think I'm stupid I wish he would stop trying to make me part of his jokes and no way would I be just another stupid girl or notch on his belt.
James left the compartment quickly he just wanted to pull her close to him. At least for once he hadn't made a prat out of him self or shown off as that really annoys her. This was his final year and he didn't want Lily to remember him as a self obsessed prat which she had called him in the past. He was still going to have fun but just cool it a bit. I mean last year he stopped hexing people apart from Snape but he never started it unless he was defending some one.
Lily arrived at the compartment her friends were in. all of them looked at her.
"Is it true? Katie said that James potter is the new head boy." Asked Julie who shared a room with Katie and lily at Hogwarts
"Yes he is head boy"
"Oo poor you Lill's I real hope he doesn't annoy you too much" said Julie
Katie was roaring with laugher as she had seen lily's face in the meeting.
"Well I think you lucky" Maria coolly interrupted
The three girls looked round at her. Maria also shared a room with them but she was not as close as the other girls and she happened to fancy one of the maunders well James to be precise which annoyed the other girls as that's all she talked about.
"Just think you will be sharing a dorm with the most hansom, charming guy in the whole school." Maria stared dreamily towards lily
Lily groaned she forgot about the fact she would no longer be sharing a room with her friends but be in the heads dorm.
"We will keep your bed warm Lils so you can come sleep in it when ever, especially when we are having girly nights." Katie pointed out to her
Lily smiled it felt a bit strange having to sleep somewhere else but I guess with the extra patrolling she would disturb every one when she would come in.
"I'm starving has the woman with the trolley been?" Lily questioned
"Yeah sorry Lils" said Julie
The compartment door slid open
"Hey lily" said Emily the Ravenclaw that lily had got close during the time she spent at the lodge
"Hey Emily, how was the rest of your summer?"
"Really good thanks, this is Sam" Emily said pointing to the blond girl next to her
"Hi, this is Katie, Julie and Maria" lily pointed to each in turn
"Hey well we best be off see you all later at the feast" Emily smiled at them as Sam waved over Emily's shoulder
And off the two Ravenclaw's went
"I'm going searching for the woman with the trolley," Lily said as he stomach growled at her
"I'll go with you, me and Remus have to patrol any way so we can get him on the way." Smiled Katie
The two set off in the direction of the maunders compartment leaving Maria and Julie playing exploding snap.
James slid open the maunders compartment door just before he entered he looked back down the corridor to see Lily leaving the prefects carriage and start to walk toward the one her friends were in.
"So Prongs how did Evans take the news" Sirius roared with laughter
"Shut up Pad foot lets talk about some thing else… it full moon next week"
"Don't remind me, I'm already feeling the effects" moaned Remus
"Never mind Mooney you have us to keep you company in fact you choose where we go this time," Sirius said trying to cheer Remus up
James sat quietly thanking his brain from getting him out of a conversation about Lily
As Mooney sat contemplating where he would like to go. He always chose somewhere less risky than Sirius because he feared that some one would come across them whilst he was a werewolf. His greatest fear was hurting some one especially a friend he always felt guilty that he roamed round on the full moon when Dumbledore was the only headmaster who would have ever let him come to Hogwarts with his condition he felt like he was betraying the man that had risked so much for him but the feeling would pass especially with his friends help and excitement over the adventures they could have. The one advantage Remus could see of his transformation was that with the fellow maunders help they had explored Hogwarts and Hogmede and probably knew the place better than anyone ever had.
Wormtail was the follower of the group he basically did what ever James or Sirius told him too. He was not hansom like the other three he was short and quite round looking with dirty blond hair and a sharp nose. Wormtail did not posses the talents that the others did but still he was a friend and a maunder. Sirius was deemed by most of the female population at Hogwarts to be the most hansom boy at Hogwarts he even had a fan club. Sirius had long well groomed dark hair and ice blue eyes. He was well built thanks to qudditich practice as he played the position of beater of Gryffindor another reason why so many girls liked him. Remus was the quieter one out of the three he tried to go unnoticed to not draw attention to him self, as he fears others finding out about his condition. Remus strongly believed that no one could possibly like him because of his condition an worried about people finding out so he was the more sensible one out of the maunders and he aimed to prove he could be just as great as every one else even with his condition. Remus worked hard on his school work unlike James and Sirius and he was glad that when his friends found out about his condition as Sirius had worked it out in second year that they had not turned their backs on him but had become animagus to keep him company. It was lucky for Remus that James was the best student at transfiguration closely followed by Sirius with out studying or they would never have been able to transform and keep him company. Remus was tall and quite pale thanks to his condition. He had grey eyes and strawberry blond tufty hair.
"So where we going?" Wormtail looked eager
"The forest" Remus said decidedly
Sirius groaned knowing that was the safer place to go hence why Remus had chosen it
"You said it was my choice." Remus pointed out
"Fine." Pouted Sirius
The compartment door slid open
"Hi, Remus were suppose to go patrolling," said a nervous Katie
He nodded got up and walked toward the door. "See you guys in a bit"
James head had also looked toward the door where he could just see Evan standing a little distance away. He couldn't help him self he got up also.
"Looking for me Evans?" With his old wicked grin
"In your dreams Potter." And I thought he might have grown up lily thought to her self
"Prongs" Sirius shouted allowing James to exit back into the compartment.
Remus and Katie went with Lily in search of the woman with the trolley so she could get food as well as doing their patrol at the same time.
"Prong I think we should take Mooney else where on full moon"
"What did you have in mind?" James asked as a mischievous smile crept onto his face
"Well I thought perhaps Hogsmede we could roam about and check out that cave you know the one just out side of Hogsmede" whispered Sirius
"Yeah sound good to me, we will have to be careful though we will have to cross open ground you know past the lake to get there"
"With us there it will be fine we can control Remus and we have had plenty of practice" Sirius said crossing his arms and nodding his head to show it was final
"Still after Lily?" peter asked
"What? Wormtail your so slow cause Prongs is still after Evans. He just has a new plan off attack right?" Sirius eagerly nodded towards James
"I love Lily you know that, I just…. Don't think there is much hope any more… I mean what can I do in a year?" James replied defeated
"Well you will be sharing a dorm and doing duties together so a lot could happen." Sirius said looking shamefully at James "You better not turn into a goody too shoes Prongs" Sirius waving his finger at James
"I have no intention to Pad foot old pal this year we will have some fun"
"Great" said Sirius rubbing his hand together hitching a plan together in his mind.
The train pulled in a Hogsmede station. Hagrids booming voice could be heard calling the first years towards him to take them across the lake on the boats. The evening air was cooling and a clear sky could be seen for miles. Lily took a deep sweet breath of the air and held on to it savouring this time of the evening where the sky was being turned a darker shade of blue to black. She followed her friends up to the carriages with the maunders tailing behind them.
"How was you patrol with Remus" lily teased her friend
She scowled at Lily as they got into the carriage
Lily gazed out of the window waiting to glimpse the towers of Hogwarts as the carriage turned the bend. There it was home sparkling lights in towers the big oak doors the lake that stretched on Hagrids warm looking cabin with smoke slowly whirling out of the chimney the carriage stopped and Lily jumped out and rushed toward the oak door and into the entrance hall where she stopped and just looked
"Hey Lills wait for us" her friends called as they dashed up behind her
"What's got into you?" Katie asked as the caught up with her in the entrance hall slightly out of breath
"Nothing just happy to be back" she grinned and caught Katie up in a hug
Katie laughed "you sure your ok" Lily just nodded took her friends arm and walked her into the great hall to seat them selves on the Gryffindor table to enjoy the feast.
The maunders strolled into the great hall discussing there change of plans with Remus for full moon as well Sirius plan for making them go out with a bang. May heads turned to look at the maunders especially girls and many of the lads got up and shuck hand with either James or Sirius and asked them about quidditch. James is the quidditch captain for the Gryffindor team and many knew that this year there was an opening for a chaser position as john Mac had left last year.
"Think I might try out for chaser" whispered Julie to Lily
"But why now in your last year?"
"Oo well I'm going to give up charms and chess club so I wont be too busy"
"Go for it, you love quidditch" Katie encouraged
The maunders sat down near the girls and Julie called over to James
"Hey when are you holding tryouts?"
"Tomorrow as its Saturday, gives us a full day to test everyone fully. You trying out?"
"Yep"
"We will be looking for people fully committed"
"Shut up Potter she can try out if she wants and just so you know she is quitting charms and chess club for the team." Lily angrily barged in
"I'm glad to hear that she is committed Evans and I wasn't trying to stop her I was just explaining what is expected." James replied trying to keep his cool
"Both of you shut up the sorting hasn't even started and you're arguing," snapped Katie
"He started it." Lily pointed towards James Katie arched her eyebrows at Lily who understood that it was not the time to argue
Lily scowled at James who didn't look to happy. As he was feeling he could not do any thing right in Lily's eyes
The room silenced as Dumbledore stood up
"Let the sorting begin"
Professor McGonagall walked the freighted looking first years between the tables to the front of the hall. She placed a stool and the sorting hat upon it. The hat stood quietly then all of a sudden it broke into song like every year about the different houses the qualities each possessed. Student's names were called out one by one to sit and be sorted. the houses would applaud when they received a new student making the sorting very noisy.
"Just a few notices before we have the feast. No magic is to be used in the corridors. A full list of band products such as dung bombs is outside Mr Flich's room. First years note that the forest is out of bounds and some of the older students would do well to remember that too." Dumbledore looked in the direction of the maunders with a twinkle in his eye.
Sirius nodded to Remus and James sat across from him indicating that it was them that went in the forest but also that Remus who had chosen the next adventure in the forest would have to comply with the new plan as the forest was out of bounds
"Would also like to congratulate the new head boy and girls Mr James potter and Miss Lily Evans. Now tuck in"
The food magically appeared on plats in front of them. There were
Many gasps from the first years all around the room who were not use to food arriving in this way. Every once favourite food were served and the plates only cleared when every one had, had enough. Lily was feeling quite tired now as was every one else after such a feast.
Dumbledore stood up to dismiss every one
"Prefects guide the first years to their dormitories and the head boy and girl will follow me please." Called Dumbledore over the mass of moving people
Katie and Remus jumped up calling after the first years to follow them back to Gryffindor tower. Where as lily and James headed towards Dumbledore.
"As I'm sure your both aware you have new living quarters. As you are both in Gryffindor I thought I would move the heads dorm closer to the towers so you are nearer your friends. You will find your common room on the same corridor as Gryffindor entrance to the tower behind the portrait of Amelia Harrows password until you change it is toffee." Dumbledore's eyes twinkling knowingly at them both
"So toffees the flavour of the month then" James joked
Dumbledore chuckled "yes you always did guess some of my passwords so I assume you will be changing it soon so Sirius doesn't guess it also"
James smiled
"I will be expecting you to both set an example and both of you have fun after all it your final year." He winked at James before strolling of leaving James and Lily alone.
James spoke first "Guess we should find our new rooms"
"It's nice of Dumbledore to move it closer to the tower" Lily said thoughtfully
"Yeah Sirius wont no where to find me now make it more difficult for him to break in" James chuckled
Lily raised her eyebrows
"Lets just say Sirius has ways of getting in rooms. Be funny seeing him going in the old heard dorm on the third floor and we won't be there"
They wondered up toward the tower and made there way along the corridor to the portrait of Amelia Harrows.
"So you're the new head boy and girl well your much pretty than the last lot" the portrait smiled at them
"Hello Amelia" James winked at her
"Hello James." Amelia smiled back. "I'm very sorry but I don't know your name"
"I'm Lily Evans"
"Really?" Amelia's eyebrows rose and looked towards James who shock his head slightly at the portrait
"Yes why?"
"O errrm well your very intelligent I hear"
"Thank you" lily replied
"Do you both want to change the password?"
"Yes" they both replied then looked at each other
Amelia giggled, "Well I will need the current one first"
"Toffee" James said
"And what would you like to change it to?"
"Lily better pick Sirius will just guess mine" James gestured towards lily
"Yes many of the other portraits have told me about the tricks he gets up to" she laughed
"What will it be lily?" asked Amelia
"Opensezme" smiled lily
"What?" James exclaimed
"It a muggle thing. Muggles use it as a magic word in order to open doors I just thought it would be fun and some thing Sirius wouldn't know" explained lily who was quite amused by their password
"Sounds good to me" smiled James watching the amused look in Lily's eyes
The portrait swung open and both climbed through in to a large circular room. There were two large desks, shelves of books a large dark plum couch and chair next to an open fire with a soft furry rug in front of it. the walls were also a plum colour but there were blue looking tapestries braking up the colour.
Wow its beautiful
James smiled at lily "guess this is the compromise they came up with for us"
"What do you mean?" lily asked
"Well do you remember George Harrison and Clara Thomas?"
"Yeah" lily replied wondering where this was going
"They were both fanatics about quidditch and both supported different teams so the room was had to be literally split it half with their team colours to keep them happy"
"Right so it decorates to what we would both like?"
"Sort of, it looks like we can compromise more than they could. You will notice there are more books near you desk than mine."
Lily laughed, "I see what you mean"
"Your bedroom will be just the way you want it" James smiled happy that she had laughed in his presence
Lily ran off toward the door with head girl written in gold on the dark wood. She opened the door to a perfect room for her. Her furniture was a cool pastel green her ceiling as blue as the sky and doted with white stars her walls yellow like sunflowers it reminded lily of being out doors and she loved it. the walls had a few posters on them of her favourite wizard bands and all her belongings had been placed around the room. French windows going on to a balcony, which appeared that, she would have to share with James. Lily wander through the door into her room into a huge bathroom the bath was like a swimming pool just like the one in the prefect bath room there was also a shower two sinks labelled head boy and girl and a toilet. Great she thought I have to share the bathroom with Potter. At that moment James head popped through his door.
"We have to share a bathroom?" James asked
"Yep…. Can I see your room?"
"Sure" James opened his door wider and stepped back into his room
Lily skipped over to James room his walls were sky blue with posters up of his favourite quidditch team and also several bands he likes, his furniture was dark wood and his bed was four poster unlike Lily's, his bed cover where navy blue with light blue pillow cases where as Lily's was plain yellow.
"You like you room?" James asked as he rummaged through his trunk
"Yeah its amazing, you like yours?"
"Yeah it just like being at home"
"Mines nothing like my room at home thanks to my sister" Lily gloomily told James
"Your sister?"
"Yeah she decided it would be fun to take over my room whilst I'm here. I was a bit shocked last year to come home to a salmon pink room" Lily pulled her face into a look of being sick
James laughed and Lily smiled
"Well good night" Lily paused at the door and looked back at James smiling thinking things might not be so bad living with James
"Night" James smiled more than he had in a while feeling very content about how Lily had looked at him
Lily walked back to her room and slipped into bed so glad that it was Saturday tomorrow.