Disclaimer: Anything you might recognize from the Harry Potter books belongs to J.K. Rowling. I am simply a Fan fiction writer.

Chapter Six: Of Brilliance, Arrogance, and Faith

"No, Crombie, I still do not have any idea who the Head Boy will be," said Lily, with a slight tone of impatience behind her calm exterior. "When I do know, you will be told along with the other Prefects, until then get out of my way I would like to get some lunch before classes."

Lily had been giving all the Professors the last of her finished homework from the days she missed being in the Hospital Wing, and had been heading walking down the second floor corridor when Andrew Crombie (a sixth year Prefect for Gryffindor) had came from out of nowhere and blocked her path. Andrew now grudgingly moved aside and allowed Lily to pass through the second floor corridor so she could continue her way to the Great Hall.

Lily sighed. Ever since the surprise of Ian leaving had died down, Prefects where eager to know who the new Head Boy was going to be. Of course since Lily was the Head Girl, they all assumed she would be the first to be informed, therefore they badgered her every chance they got to see if she had information. She must've repeated the line: "I don't know," followed by: "When I do know, you will be told along with the other Prefects," ten or more times a day.

But the most annoying person to ask was the Ravenclaw seventh year Prefect, Daniels. Because he did not ask who the new Head Boy was going to be, he asked whether Dumbledore told her he had been appointed for the position yet. And when Lily gave him the same reply as all the others received, he merely said, "Only a matter of time." and walked away. Only the Slytherin Prefects didn't bother Lily, but they did have great fun making sure to say, "As long they don't pick another mudblood, it's hard enough dealing with one. I think I would resign on the spot if it where two.", or other equally insulting things.

Lily however gave no indication, other then that of a slighting pursed lip, to confirm she had heard them. Getting upset would only play right into their hands, ignoring them was best.

Lily readjusted the strap on her back pack that had been cutting into her shoulder and opened the doors into the buzzing Great Hall. She found James who was currently talking or rather flirting with a girl who sat beside him. As the girl was talking James looked over and saw Lily, he smiled and Lily took that as a sign that she could come sit. She walked over just as the girl finished saying, "So, I'll see you at noon?" James nodded and the girl grinned before scurrying off to her friends, completely ignoring Lily's presence as always.

Lily took the girls seat next to James and said, "Why is that every girl in this bloody school needs to snog you?"

"Melissa didn't ask me for a snog, she asked me to Hogsmeade on Sunday," said James.

"Where, I'm sure within after an half an hour of shopping and four sips of butterbeer you'll get bored and kiss her," said Lily, rolling her eyes.

"You doubt my charm to make the date more than kissing?" asked James. "Well, why don't you come to Hogsmeade with me once and I'll show you I can?"

James said the last part half teasing, half serious. After all he did need to get a move on with the bet.

Lily seemed not to have noticed the serious undertone just the teasing tone and snorted, grabbing a bacon, lettuce, and tomato sandwich from one of the large gold platters. As she began eating, she let her eyes wonder around the hall, until they fell upon the high table. McGonagall and Dumbledore sat conversing amongst themselves, and it seemed as though whatever Dumbledore was saying McGonagall didn't agree with. But that wasn't the odd part, it was that Dumbledore and McGonagall kept glancing over at James unaware Lily was looking at them as they did so.

Lily swallowed the bite she'd taken from her sandwich and turned to James. "Why are McGonagall and Dumbledore looking at you and whispering?" she asked curiously.

James looked up from his lunch and over to the high table, after a few seconds he turned back to her.

"Dunno," he said, shrugging.

"You didn't blow up another cauldron did you?" asked Lily exasperatedly.

"Why must you assume they're talking about a prank when looking at me?" asked James. "Maybe they're talking about my brilliance."

"Well, if they are, the next conversation will be about that arrogance," said Lily, rolling her eyes.

"Not arrogance, honesty," corrected James, grinning.

"Right, my mistake," said Lily sarcastically.

James opened his mouth but seemed to think better of what he was going to say and instead closed it. After a moments pause he opened it again and said, "What kept you from lunch?"

"Damned prefects," sighed Lily.

"Ah," said James in recognition, but before he could say something else Sirius came over from the Hufflepuff table and began to talk with James.

Lily, knowing she wasn't going to be included in the conversation, turned to look over at McGonagall and Dumbledore again, wondering what they where talking about, for she highly doubted it had anything do with James Potter's brilliance.

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"Do you think it's wise, Albus, to trust Potter with such a responsibility?" asked McGonagall from her place at the High Table. She and Dumbledore where talking quietly between themselves during lunch in the Great Hall.

"It all comes down to whether or not you have faith in Mister Potter. I do, therefore I must trust him to handle the position wisely," said Dumbledore calmly.

"I'm not saying that I don't have faith in the boy, but he does have a tendency to get carried away with things," said McGonagall. "How do you know he'll even accept."

Dumbledore turned his gaze to the Gryffindor table where James sat, watching as he smirked about something he said to Lily Evans. "I don't, and I doubt he will. But I'm afraid I won't be giving Mister Potter a choice as to whether or not he does, Minerva," replied Dumbledore.

McGonagall sighed and followed Dumbledore's gaze to James and Lily, she frowned.

"Two weeks ago I couldn't get Potter to even speak to girl. Now they're friends," McGonagall said. "If I didn't know any better I'd think it some kind of trick. Evans isn't nearly the kind of- she's not the kind someonelike Potter regularly chooses to ... to socialize himself with."

"Perhaps he is trying to broaden his horizons. To which I applaud him on," said Dumbledore.

McGonagall opened her mouth but Dumbledore began to speak before she could, "Minerva, I heard a wonderful joke this morning from Professor Flitwick, and have been dying to share it. It's about a House-elf, a leprechaun, and faerie who all go to a Quidditch Match..."

I hope you all liked this short chapter, I just wanted to thank Michelle my new beta for beta-ing this chapter and chapter seven (which will be arriving sometime in the two weeks, maybe sooner), and ask everyone to please review, thank you.

ooo GoddessoftheMaaN ooo

¡TheSortingHat? - Unfortunately, Ian Crowley was only a one time character needed for the necessary set up for future chapters. I'm not sure how many but I think I can safely assume over twenty chapters will be written for this story. I glad you love this story, I hope everyone likes it. Thanks for your review, I hope you like this chapter.