I never thought I'd be writing a Lily/James story, but here it is...this does provide an entertaining distraction while I'm procrastinating on my other stories.
Okay so I have a feeling the plot's going to be extremely formulaic. Sue me.
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Chapter 1
"Have a good term, darling!" Mrs. Evans yelled to the diminishing back of her 17 year-old daughter. The red-headed girl turned back around at the sound of her mother's voice and flashed a brilliant smile, waving happily.
Lily turned again to face the scarlet Hogwarts Express, steam billowing busily about her. She grinned into the warm moisture, breathing in the scent of a train platform filled with activity. All around her there were families saying goodbye, some laughing, some crying, but all filled with anticipation at the thought of another term at Howarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
Hitching up her trunk and puffing slightly, Lily stepped onto the train and navigated her way through the crowded corridor, greeting friends as she met them. Every year since she began she magical education, she had always sat with her two best friends, but this year was going to be different. She had been named Head Girl of Hogwarts during the summer. The mere thought made her shiver with excitement. The honor of being appointed Head Girl did not come as a shock to Lily. She was, after all, the best in her year, but still she squealed happily when she opened the letter. Petunia, of course, only sniffed disapprovingly, turning up her nose at the lovely tawny owl that had bore the news. The thought of her sister's hostility deflated Lily's happiness somewhat, but a pair of smiling faces poking out of a train compartment suddenly lifted her spirits considerably.
"Lily! Over here! Congratulations again on Head Girl, you really deserve it."
"Thanks, Emma. Hi you two, how's your summer been?"
"Nothing extremely exciting, this year should be something though, eh?" said Katie, grinning at her friend.
"Yeah, should be," Lily laughed, "But look, you guys, I've got to go meet the Head Boy and talk with the Prefects. I don't know if I'll be able to slip out for the rest of the trip, you know," she shifted awkwardly, "Patrolling and all that."
"Sure sure, Lil, you go run the school," Emma nodded at her, "Any idea who the Head Boy is?"
"No clue, maybe Prewett Dilliard from Ravenclaw. He's always been very good at everything. As long as it's not - "
"Morning girls!"
Lily's eyes shot heavenward and she spun around, donning her iciest stare, "Potter."
James Potter, Quidditch star, egomaniac, and generally the dishiest boy in school, had just popped his head into their compartment. "Well, Evans, I assume you got the Headgirlship. Congratulations."
"Yes, thank you Potter. Now if you'll excuse me, I must go about my duties." She proceeded to brush coldly past him, but he stuck his arm out to block her exit.
"Now Evans, that's not very courteous of you, is it? Didn't even ask me how my summer was?" He grinned cheekily at her. "No matter, I'll make up for your rudeness: 'You're looking lovely today, Evans. How was your summer?' Now isn't that much more civil?"
Lily fumed inwardly. How dare he strut in here and say things like that? It was too bad he was so good at everything, otherwise he'd be nothing and probably infinitely more humble. Lily snorted, "Look Potter, you're going to have to leave our compartment, I'm afraid we haven't got room for your head in here." And with that, she spun around sharply and stalked past him. James winced inwardly and shot a faux-pained look at the two remaining girls. He took a deep breath and hurried after Lily.
"Evans! Hey, wait up!"
Lily, who was already half way down the corridor, stopped suddenly and yelled, "Potter! Please stop following me around! I don't have time to jest with you today, I'm on my way to meet the Head Boy and I'm already late. Good day."
She proceeded to continue on her way when James suddenly popped in front of her and forced her to stop lest she run into him.
"You don't have to do that, Evans. You've already met him."
Lily cocked an eyebrow at him, "Oh?"
The corner of James' mouth curled up, "Shall we go meet the Prefects?"
Lily clapped her hand to her mouth in horror, "You! Y- You're Head Boy!"
James spread his arms wide, "The one and only!"
"Oh god, oh no...oh my god, my nightmares have come true," Lily groaned.
"Oh yes," James grabbed her elbow and steered her toward the front of the train, "Come on, Evans, we wouldn't want to be late for our first responsibility, would we?"
All of a sudden, Lily wished she hadn't been appointed Head Girl. This meant spending an entire year in close proximity with the one boy she couldn't stand. Lily cringed with each additional thought. The Head Girl and Boy had special dormitories, they would be planning events together, they would patrol together, assist the Headmaster and professors together... The coming academic year now looked extremely bleak. How would she be able to survive it? She could barely stand staying in the same room as James Potter. Lily frowned deeper as they approached the Prefects compartment. If he wasn't showing off with a silly Snitch, he was womanizing some helpless girl blinded by his good looks. She shuddered, the rumors she'd heard about him...although they were only rumors, still they must've had some basis in the truth.
"Here we are!" His voice jerked her thoughts back to reality. Lily shook her head slightly to clear her thoughts. She was being silly; this wasn't so bad, she'd just have to be professional and never let their conversations stray from the task at hand. Their first meeting with the Prefects, for example.
Lily shook her hair back and breathed deeply, "Okay, let's go."
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"And so, let's not keep our stomachs rumbling! Dig in, dig in!"
The Great Hall filled with laughter at the Headmaster's words as everyone gratefully sank their teeth into the delicious food that appeared on the plates. Everywhere students were catching up with friends and meeting new ones. Lily looked over at the first years; she had already been up to the Fat Lady and given her a password that she hoped would be easy to remember. She didn't want to make their first term too difficult.
"So Lily, how's the prospect of working with Egomaniac Potter this year?" her friend Katie leaned over and asked.
Lily rolled her eyes, "Oh god, shoot me now. I'm sure if Dumbledore spent some extra time with the boy, he'd reconsider his choice."
Everyone at the table laughed.
"Oh come on, Lil," Emma nudged her, "At least he's pleasant to look at."
"Very pleasant," another girl chimed, giggling.
Lily sighed, exasperated, "Honestly! Is that all anyone sees in him? Looks? Don't judge a book by its cover, I always say. And this book, might I add, is the most abominable form of literary trash." Her friends laughed appreciatively and shook their heads, and the rest of the meal was spent in good humor.
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Lily yawned and waved goodnight to her friends, making her way sleepily to the Heads Dormitory. She wanted nothing more than to plop down on a comfortable bed and drift off to sleep. She stopped before the statue of Gorbick the Good and gave the appropriate password. Stony-faced Gorbick shifted aside obligingly and Lily stepped inside. Thoughts of sleep temporarily set aside, Lily's eyes widened at the elegance of the common room. It was slightly smaller than the Gryffindor one and also much cozier. A crackling fire danced in the fireplace in front of which two squashy armchairs sat. Beautiful paintings hung on the high walls; there was scarcely a square foot of wall not covered with some masterpiece. Two sweeping staircases wound upwards on opposite ends of the common room.
Smiling contently, Lily trudged towards the left staircase, unpinning her hair as she went. Then, the shifting of marble against stone made her turn around to see the last person she wanted to see. Oh right, she thought, I have to share a dormitory with him. She paused, half wanting to throw out some disparaging remark but too tired to do so.
James Potter stopped and stared at her, then stretched luxuriously and yawned, "Hello Evans. Excellent dinner don't you think? I'm stuffed and much too tired to be on guard around you, so whatever fighting we do shall have to wait till morning." He yawned again and, titling his head slightly, gave her a quizzical look, "Why don't you leave your hair down like that all the time, Evans? It suits you. You look really nice." He blinked, bleary-eyed and disappeared up his staircase without another word.
Lily, against her will, blushed a deep pink, only too thankful that he wasn't around to witness it. She stood there, blinking in surprise. That was uncharacteristic of him, she thought. Normally he'd make some stupid comment about her hair looking like a dead kneazle when it was down. Lily was quite taken aback by his sudden civil remark. Shaking her head, she made her way up to her room, thinking that this would definitely be an interesting seventh year.
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Nothing really exciting this chapter...but oh the possibilities are endless. Reviews would be gladly welcomed!