Lily relaxed as James smiled, even though she knew he was thinking of something else. Her heart caught in her throat as he petted her hair and then whipped around and headed for the door. Lily followed.

"James!" she called. He slowed down and she saw him refocus his attention on her.

"Yeah, Lily?" He seemed quieter than before, almost…collected. This interested Lily, to find the root of James' mood-swings.

"Why are you so much calmer all of a sudden?" asked Lily curiously, falling into step beside him. He practically barked his dry laugh before giving her a shrewd look.

"What, upset that I'm not prostrate on the floor in front of you, Evans?"

"Just curious," she fired back. James seemed to take a moment and think before replying.

"Well…it's hard to joke with you and Dumbledore running round like you are, gabbing about Voldemort lurking behind every corner."

"We're not," she said heatedly, before catching his tiny smile. "Wait, you're just goading me on, aren't you?" James nodded, pleased, as if she had just performed a superb little trick. "You've got it in one, Lily. I am proud."

"Sod off Potter. I'm not your dancing bear."

"A what?" asked James curiously. Lily scowled as they headed for the staircase.

"Nothing. And why do you enjoy making me angry?" James gave a shrug.

"You're cute when you're naffed off—Merlin Lily!" he cried. Lily had grabbed a handful of his messy hair and pulled, smirking satisfactorily. James rubbed his head, wincing.

"Ouch. Blimey, you're violent."

"Thank you," Lily replied primly. They walked along a few moments without speaking. Then Lily said,

"That was an interesting rendition of the school song James."

"Thanks."

"I'm surprised you got Sirius to do it too, not really his style is it?" Lily mused. James answered logically, "Well, he was ratted. He'll do almost anything then, if you ask him real nice—what?" Lily stopped, dead in her tracks, putting her hands on her hips and staring at him.

"So that's why you didn't want me to go into your train car, he was drinking, you terrible—"

"Well, so was I," added James nonchalantly. "But not so much. I could get some mead for you Lily, if you want." He tossed in a smile, fairly certain she was going to explode at him.

Lily was furious at such a blatant violation of the rules. To think Potter was sensible, what an idea! "You are HEAD BOY! You can't gad about, drinking and womanizing and sneaking out and fouling things up. You have an example to set! You have to uphold the—"

"Womanizing?" queried James with a knowing smile. "Now what would make you think I was womanizing, Lily, as if you were jealous—"

"That slipped out! Don't take it to heart, you thick-headed prat!" Lily stormed down the corridor. James caught up with her in several easy strides. "Remembrall," he uttered softly, as the sleepy Fat Lady swung forward, not even giving them so much as a welcome. He waited for a white-faced Lily to enter first (her angry stomp creating a breeze, so much was she fuming) before climbing in after her.

Sirius, Remus, and Peter were waiting in the common room. Sirius was lounging lazily on the couch, Remus was sitting on the floor, and Peter was snoring away in an armchair. Sirius gave Lily an appraising look as she clomped up the girls' stairs, not acknowledging anyone. James called up softly after her,

"Good night, Lily!" His only answer was the click of the closed door. James turned back to his friends; Remus was sitting with his eyebrows up, looking highly amused and Sirius was snickering openly. James was not deterred however; he had a feeling this year would be different.

"Ready to go?" he asked quietly. Remus nodded and stood, while Sirius kicked Wormtail awake. James took his Invisibility Cloak out from under his robes.

"Come on. We've got Slytherins to paste."

"We're not really going to wake them up, are we James?" asked Peter anxiously. Sirius snorted. "Why do that in the dead of night? Let the wasps wake the blighters tomorrow."

Remus grinned and said, "A prefect and the Head Boy, out with their mates to deal retribution to the dung-bag Slytherins after hours. Think McGonagall is expecting this the first night?"

"Moony, doesn't matter what she expects, because she's never gonna get us this year."

"I hope you're right Prongs, I hope you're right."