"To conclude our meeting, I just wanted to let you know about your private Head's office." So far Dumbledore had touched on passwords, Prefect rotas, duties, abilities, House points, and disciplinary actions, but this was what Lily was surprised by. "It's concealed by a secret entranceway right inside your own common room up in Gryffindor Tower. Directly to the right of the fireplace, and three bricks across, tap your wand 3 times and the door will open. In the future you will tap and give the password, but you, of course, shall need decide what that is when you get there. You should find it to your liking. But, I will warn you – don't give too many other people the password, you'll need the quiet space away from the rest of the house." His eyes twinkled as he said this, and Lily was yet again puzzled by what he could mean.
Well, obviously, there was the "we're Head Boy and Girl, we're going to need space to plan meetings, rotas, and points, as well as schoolwork" bit. But behind the half-moon spectacles, his eyes hinted some other meaning, which Lily just couldn't decipher.
James and Lily gave their thanks and parted ways from Dumbledore as he chirped a cheerful "Goodbye!"
What does he mean? By ALL of it?
After a very uneventful first few lessons of the day, Lily's books and assignments were stacked pretty high. She wasn't exactly the most buff girl around, and after that Arithmancy class, her textbook level was obscuring the bottom half of her line of vision.
"Watch out!" The voice of a small girl came from somewhere near her thigh and she spun around, looking to see what she needed to watch out for.
The spinning around ended up being a really bad idea because that aforementioned Arithmancy textbook slipped from her grip. In an attempt to catch it before it fell off, Lily tripped over Merlin knows what and hit the ground hard, books and papers scattered around her on the floor.
"Lily!" Strong arms reached around her from behind and pulled her to a standing position. "Are you alright?"
She began dusting herself off just a little bit, and started to collect her things from their spots on the floor, avoiding the amused glances of the students around her. I'm the Head Girl, and I just stacked it in the hallway on the first day of lessons. Ugh.
"Yeah, fine, thanks." She was avoiding her knight in shining armor"s glances too. He was knelt down next to her now, collecting some more of the spilled goods. She muttered another quick "Thanks" before pulling herself upright again. Looking into her saviour's face, her mind turned into overdrive.
James Potter just helped me out. He didn't make fun of me. He rushed to help me. What the hell is going on with him?
Averting her eyes, she turned on her heel and walked the other direction. It didn't matter that it wasn't at all near where her next class was, as long as it was far away from the boy with the shaggy black hair, standing head and shoulders above the other students, wiping his glasses on his sleeve.
As she was sat alone at dinner that night in the Great Hall, eating the pleasant tasting soup on offer, Lily felt a presence beside her on the bench. Alice was already sat across from her, talking to her thousands of friends and leafing through the Potions book, so she found this more than a little bit strange, and was wondering who it could be until she looked up and, of course. James bloody Potter.
"Can I help you, Potter?" she remarked, with more than a little bit of unintentional venom in her words.
"Ah, Lily, lovely to hear your voice again. I had so missed it after you failed to thank me earlier for all my marvelous help in the hallway." James was smirking at her, only about 8 inches away from her face.
What an arse. Expecting a thank you after the years and years he spent tormenting me? Fat chance! And why on earth does he keep calling me LILY?
"Go away," she shot back.
Oh, expert, Lily. Way to fire at him. That one'll leave him reeling, I'm sure. Bet he doesn't know what to do with himself. Clever.
"Listen, Lily, I've been thinking, and I really believe we need to clear the air from past years. I know I was a total wanker to you, but that was a combination of my immaturity and Sirius' devious planning and Remus' submission." James was continuing to speak to her, and despite the nonchalant look on her face, Lily was listening attentively. "I'd really love it if we could sit and chat in our office, maybe be friends? If that's all we can manage, then at least it's something."
She thought about it for a few moments, leaving him hanging. She snuck a peek at him several times, though, and for some reason, in between his hopeful grins at her, he was turning back around to where his friends were sat. They appeared to be giving him thumbs up and winking and then quickly motioning for him to turn back around.
What's got into everyone?!
Taking a deep breath, she semi-reluctantly replied with "I suppose we can attempt at "something" at 8 in our office. Don't be late or I won't be there. And you'll have to convince me that you really do want to be friends."
And with that, she gulped down one final spoonful of her pleasant tasting soup, got up from the table, and walked towards the staircases. She turned around as she reached the door only to see James staring at her with a disbelieving look on his face as Sirius slapped him on the back and Remus and Peter quietly applauded.
What are they up to?
