PART III

September first came quickly and Lily got to the station extremely early. She had nothing better to do and she wanted to get to the prefect compartment early. She was Head Girl after all. Lily settled down in her seat and looked out the window. She watched people file on the train and walk by. Hopefully they'd get going soon. Lily's mind wandered off as she thought of who the Head Boy could possibly be. She didn't even notice that someone else had entered the compartment until he sat down next to her.

"Evans!" James said gleefully.

"Potter?" Lily exclaimed startled. "What are you doing in here?"

James grinned. "I'm Head Boy!" he stated proudly pointing to his badge.

"No!" Lily gasped. "You can't be! You weren't even a prefect! Whom did you steal that from?"

"No it's mine!" James insisted. "I promise!"

Lily looked at him inquisitively. He seemed genuine. "Ok," she sighed. "I suppose Professor Dumbledore knows what he's doing. But I'm warning you! I am not doing all of the work this year!"

"I know!" James rolled his eyes. "I think that's why Dumbledore gave it to me, something about being more responsible."

"Whatever Potter," Lily replied. "The prefects are coming in. Do you want to start or should I?"

"I will," Potter said earnestly. He wanted to prove that he could handle this.

Once everyone was inside they called the meeting to order. A few of the girls were giggling at James and the Slytherins were looking at Lily in disgust. James stepped in front of her protectively, which only served to annoy her.

"Ok!" James called out. "Let's get started. We're using the same schedule for patrols as last year for the first month at least." Lily handed out the sheets with the schedule on it. "If you can't do a night see us for changes."

Lily cleared her throat. "I trust that you all know the rules, as your letter came with them. See us if you have any questions. Does anybody have anything they'd like to say or ask now?"

A Slytherin said loudly, "Well I'm curious to know how a mudblood thinks she can control us."

James started forward at him, but Lily stopped him with a look. "Anyone?" she asked ignoring the snickers.

Rodolphus Lestrange spoke out. "Don't ignore him," he said referring to the 6th year Slytherin prefect. "Don't disrespect your betters."

"I don't see any of my betters." The words left her mouth before she could even think. Then she froze. That deatheater had said the same thing to her and she had the same reply. It was the exact same voice. He had tortured her. He had killed her parents. It chilled her to the bone to think that her peers were already murderers and had ruined her family.

He smirked as he saw her reaction. Bellatrix started laughing. It seemed she was in on the joke too. James was looking back and forth between them confused. The others were all silent.

"You are weak and vile!" Lily said with her voice shaking. "I don't regret anything I said. It's still true. You ruined my life!" she shouted the last part and her voice cracked.

Rodolphus laughed. "I have no idea what you're talking about," he said in an unbelievable innocent voice. "If that's all, we'll be going now." All of the Slytherins rose from their seats and left the compartment. There was a moment of awkward silence and then all of the others followed, leaving Lily and James alone.

"Evans?" James asked. "What was that about?"

She shook her head and wrapped her arms around her stomach. "Nothing," she whispered. She would not cry. She was determined. Her eyes were burning from the effort. Then James lifted her chin and a single silent tear made its way out of her eye. She wiped at it furiously.

"Hey," he said quietly. "What's wrong?"

Lily gained control of herself and pushed him away. "Go away Potter," She said bitterly. He didn't move. "Fine! I'll go," she said. Lily took her stuff and stalked out of the compartment. She walked around for a while until she found a compartment with only two 4th year Ravenclaws. She sat down silently and pulled out a book. Lily spent the rest of the trip reading.

578 pages later the train rolled to a stop. Lily silently exited the train and went to go sit alone in a horseless carriage. She let out a shriek. They weren't horseless! There was something there. She asked a nearby Hufflepuff if they saw anything pulling the carriages. They gave her a weird look and shook their heads. Lily panicked. Was she going insane? No. It came to her. They were thestrals. You could only see them if you had witnessed death. Tears sprang to her eyes once again as she was reminded of the lifeless faces of her parents.

"Hey Evans!" James called out waving wildly. "Over here!" Lily reluctantly walked over towards him. "Want to sit with us?" he asked gesturing towards his friends.

"Sure," she sighed tiredly. Remus helped her into the carriage and she sat next to him. James, Peter, and Sirius squashed together across from her.

"Are you ok?" Remus asked curiously once he clearly saw her red-rimmed eyes.

"Yes," she replied stiffly. She looked down at her hands and missed the looks of concern that the marauders all exchanged.

Finally they were there and Lily smiled contently. This was her home now. Everyone sat down and she found herself squeezing onto the very end of the Gryffindor table closest to the door. A line of small and scared looking first years came filing in and Lily smiled as she remembered her sorting. Potter had told her that they had to wrestle a troll. She unconsciously scowled slightly.

Professor McGonagall walked out primly and set out the stool, perching the old hat on top of it. It opened up and began to sing.

Nearly a thousand years ago

This school was newly found

The diverse four worked together

Starting up from the ground

Hogwarts was completed

It was just newly created

It wasn't long at all though

Before their values separated

Rowena Ravenclaw was a thinker

She knew knowledge was power

Wit and brains were everything

She came up with her own tower

Next was Salazar Slytherin

Who caused a mighty feud

His beliefs on blood were strong

He was cunning and sly

But some would call him rude

Godric Gryffindor was his foil

Bravery and chivalry was key

Being a hero and doing what's right

That's how his students should be

Helga Hufflepuff was less picky

As long as her pupils were loyal

She was open minded to all

People of any family or soil

The four houses were finalized

The founders would each pick their own

They'd teach their students all they knew

Until they were fully grown

A problem arose bright one day

Who would decide when they were gone?

Godric plucked me from his head

And on the table did I lay

The other quickly caught on

They all cast a difficult spell

So now here I am singing this song!

So just put me on

You've got nothing to hide

I'll look in your noggin

And then I'll decide

I've never been wrong

And never will be

Come up and I'll place you

Just wait and see!

There was a flurry of applause and then the sorting started. Lily tuned it out and looked around aimlessly. Finally it was time to eat and Lily gobbled down her food. Dumbledore rose for his speech.

"Hello everyone!" he said with twinkling eyes. "Welcome back to Hogwarts. I must remind you to check the list that Mr. Filch has posted on all illegal items. Also, the Forbidden Forest is indeed forbidden. Some of our older students would do well to remember that." Lily could have sworn that he had looked at Remus and his friends. "Our Head Girl and Boy for this year are Lily Evans and James Potter." James stood up and bowed exaggeratedly. Lily ducked embarrassed. "Please follow them and the prefects in your house to your rooms. Goodnight!"

Everyone stood up and chaos ensued. After a lot of confusion, everyone was safely up in his or her rooms. Lily tiredly went up to her new private room that she got for being Head Girl. It hadn't quite sunk in yet that she was sharing a living space with Potter.

Lily was woken the next morning by loud off-key singing. It was emanating from the bathroom. Confused and only half awake Lily stumbled to the door and through it open.

"Merlin she was fine! I want to make her mine. My heart was beating like a snitch. When I saw the crazy hot little witch!" James sang out as he stepped out of the shower.

"Ahem," Lily said clearing her throat. James spun around and reddened slightly. Lily's eyes were drawn downwards involuntarily and she blushed brightly.

James pulled a towel around himself. "What? Never seen one before, Evans?" he taunted. "I think you're in need of a good shag. Maybe then that stick would come out of your ass."

Lily glared at him. "Can you please not sing in the shower? You just woke me up."

"Yes, I can see that," James commented amused. He looked her over. Lily was wearing baggy blue pajama pants and a form fitting black tank top, not that she had much of a form for her shirt to fit to.

"I think we need to work out a schedule," she continued on bravely looking him in the eye.

"How about you let me get dressed first?" James suggested. Lily blushed again and nodded her consent. "I'll see you in a couple of minutes in the common room."

Lily took the few extra moments she had to really get a good look at the place. She had been far too tired last night to explore. Her room had a queen-sized bed with red and gold bedding. The walls matched. It was definitely a room for a Gryffindor. A desk was in the corner of her room and she had several windows. Leaving her bedroom behind, Lily walked out to the common room. It looked a lot like Gryffindor tower. 'It made sense,' Lily supposed, 'as both heads were Gryffindors.' She briefly wondered what it would have looked like had one head been in a different house. Lily's biggest worry though was sharing a bathroom with Potter. The prefects' bathroom was gorgeous and luxurious though not that private. From the quick glimpse of the head bathroom, Lily could tell that it was even nicer. It was a bit smaller than the other, mostly because only two people would be using it, but it was very rich and white looking. Lily colored slightly as she thought more about it. She'd be using the same toilet and shower as Potter. He could see all of her er…girly products. Oh well. She'd just keep them in her room.

James came down and he sat next to Lily on the couch. "All right Evans," he began. "What ideas do you have for a bathroom schedule?"

"How about I get mornings and you get nights?" she suggested.

"Fine, I usually shower at nights anyway," James replied. Then he smiled mischievously. "You know, Evans, we're all alone and on a couch," he said with a wink. He scooted closer and grabbed her hands.

Lily tried suppressing her shaking. She had never been a people person and hated being touched. She could stand it if she was expecting it, but when she wasn't she was a mess. Now after the attack, her condition had only worsened. She quickly pulled her hands away. "No Potter," she replied standing up. "You're all alone on a couch." She walked back to her bedroom and shut the door.

'Why does he think that's so funny? I'm not a joke! He shouldn't make fun of me just because I'm shy and have no experience! I wish he'd just go away!' Lily thought angrily as she screamed into her pillow. 'I hope he didn't notice my hands shaking. I'd be mortified. Wait… do I care what he thinks?' Lily sighed. For some unknown reason the answer was a resounding yes.

Lily got ready and had time for a quick breakfast before schedules were handed out. She had NEWT potions first. Most of the class was Slytherins. Lily was the only girl Gryffindor who had made it all the way through. Professor Slughorn had a soft spot for her. He always raved about how she was a natural and the smartest witch of her year. She set off to go down to the dungeons for class.

"Today class," Professor Slughorn began as he paced around the room. "We will be making Amortentia. Does anyone know what that is?"

Lily looked around and saw that no one knew the answer so she hesitantly raised her hand. "Amortentia is the most powerful love potion in the world."

"Correct Ms. Evans. That is what we will be attempting to make today. It's NEWT level. Be warned though that if I see anyone stealing this potion for their own purposes they will receive a great deal of detention and will lose 50 points for their house. Get started!"

Lily immediately opened her book and got the necessary ingredients. It was times like this where she was really glad that you had to work alone on all of your potions now. Everyone else just slowed her down. She was a natural rivaled only by Severus Snape who spent his free time brewing things and practicing for class.

She was slightly pleased when the professor beamed down at her when he peered into her cauldron. "Good job Evans!" he barked out jovially.

By the end of class Lily's potion had a distinctive mother-of-pearl sheen and steam rose gently from her work in characteristic spirals. She was one of the few who had gotten it though. A few Slytherins had done a moderate job and Snape's was just slightly off in color. Sirius and James' were both foul smelling messes, though somehow Remus had gotten it mostly right.

"The clear winner is Ms. Evans!" Professor Slughorn said after examining each. "Go up and smell it if you'd like. It gives you quite a content feeling," he addressed the class.

Lily took in a deep breath. She breathed in the scent for the first time. She had been too busy earlier to notice it. She smelled fresh chocolate chip cookies, something that made her think distinctly of Hogwarts- especially the common room- and the smell of her old favorite chair that she had been sitting in that fateful night a couple of months ago.

James came up to her cauldron and took a big whiff. "Hmm…it smells just like Evans!" he said loudly with an exaggerated wink in her direction.

She huffed and began cleaning up her things. Of course Potter had to spoil her good mood by trying to humiliate her.

At lunch a small 3rd year came up to her holding a piece of parchment. "The headmaster told me to give you this!" he told her importantly, puffing up his chest.

She smiled slightly at his demeanor. "Thank you," she took the paper with a smile. "You'd make a terrific prefect someday," she added right before he walked away. She wasn't quite sure if she had meant that as a compliment or not.

Turning back to the parchment at hand, Lily unrolled it and read.

Dear Ms. Evans,

As a tradition, every year I invite the heads to my office for a chat. This way I can answer any questions either of you may have about your positions and I can get to know you better. Please come to my office at 8 p.m. tonight.

Sincerely,

Albus Dumbledore

P.S. I'm rather fond of lemon drops.

She tucked the letter into her bag after she realized the postscript was his way of telling her the password to his office.