Author's Note: Well, second chapter is up! And this was rather speedily updated, even if I say so myself! Two chapters in one day-a bloody miracle! I wrote the Sorting Hat song all by myself! I'm quite proud of it actually. As for the whole 'Cherie can see threstrals' thing, that is mentioned, but not answered-mwah ha ha!

Disclaimer: What, you've never seen a disclaimer before? I don't own any Harry Potter related things, I just own Lily's friends: Ella Campbell, Cherie Belmont and Daphne Austin. They are mine/rejoices that she actually owns something apart from several badly recorded Doctor Who episodes/ And I also don't own a fwooper, JK Rowling made that one up too.

Chapter 2: Orange Fwoopers

James

His thoughts were abruptly stopped when he saw McGonagall come in with the new students for the sorting. He watched as the stern witch walked into the great hall with several small witches and wizards. All of them were looking very nervous under their pointed black hats as they steadily made their way through the middle of the tables. He spotted Daphne's little sister among them, who looked very much like her sister. Professor McGonagall placed the frayed Sorting Hat on the three legged stool near the Head table. It sat there for little more than a few seconds until it opened a rip up wide and sang its song.

Oh, you may not think I'm dazzling,

I may not look so new,

But place me on your little head

And soon I'll see to you!

I'll place you in a mighty House,

Of which there's only four;

Four pillars which do hold up

Every staircase, wall and door!

Of Houses, first there's Slytherin,

As cunning as they some;

They feel the need to prove themselves

For them 'love' is but an idiom.

Do you belong in Hufflepuff?

Mayhap you feel you don't.

Loyal at heart are they,

And will do what others won't.

Willing to face great perils,

Are the chivalrous Gryffindor:

Brave and daring extraordinaires!

But wait, hold on, there's more!

'Cause fourth we have smart Ravenclaw-

Cleverer then the rest!

If you go by exams, why

Ravenclaw is the best!

So put me on, don't be afraid,

I'll see what you've all got;

I'll place you where you aught to be;

Step up, come on youi lot!

"Alexander, Richard," Professor McGonagall called, holding the patched Sorting Hat in one hand and list of names in another. A timid boy with wiry black hair stumbled up to the front table and sat on the three-legged stool. After only a few seconds it shouted "Ravenclaw!" and James clapped along with everyone else.

Predictably, not too long into the Sorting, Peter's stomach started to growl, he clutched his podgy belly and moaned in a hushed voice, "I'm sooo hungry." James rolled his eyes, and Ella tutted. Sirius, however agreed.

"I'm bloody starving! Can't they hurry up?" he also said quietly. Lily folded her arms.

"Honestly, can't you boys go without food for more then half an hour? How many Pumpkin Pasties must you have eaten on the train journey Peter?" Lily said disapprovingly.

"Boys," muttered Cherie knowingly.

The sorting was soon over, with a last "Yeoman, Elliott", then "Hufflepuff!" and the golden platters were piled high with all their favourite meals. After much mouth-watering food, and James' favourite treacle tart the food disappeared, and Dumbledore stood to give out the notices.

James didn't listen much, he was too full and starting to feel sleepy, thinking longingly of the four poster bed that awaited him in his dormitory. James dimly registered Dumbledore announcing his and Lily's names as Head Boy and Girl.

James looked across at Lily who was facing the head table, listening to Dumbledore. He saw her beautiful red hair glint under the shine of the many levitated candles above their heads. Still staring at Lily, he watched her flick her hair and gazed at the glittery strands of hair dance before his eyes. The sudden scraping of benches and the loud conversations alerted James and he stood up suddenly and started to head towards the entrance hall with the rest of the Marauders when he felt a sharp tug on the back of his robes.

Lily

Lily watched as Potter started to the entrance hall and shook her head. She tugged on the back of his robes.

"Hey, were meant to see Dumbledore now, remember?" Lily said. She was hoping that his responsible streak hadn't gone too soon.

"Wha-? Oh yeah! Sorry, Evans." He turned round and headed towards the Headmaster who was now stood in front of his table.

Professor Dumbledore smiled, his eyes twinkling as they walked towards him. "Well now, I shall start by congratulating you two on securing these positions. I am sure you are very well aware that you have earned them, (Lily quickly disguised her laugh. James, earn something? Pur-lease) and that they hold great responsibility. I trust you will not abuse your positions." He peered over his spectacles at them both. "Now, onto that responsibility." Dumbledore went on to talk about patrols and keeping prefects and other students up to date, amongst other things.

"Now, about your new offices…" Dumbledore started. Lily saw that James was shoked too.

"We get offices? Aw, cool!" he shouted gleefully.

Dumbledore smiled. "Well, as you are in the same House we thought it would be easier if you, ahem, shared one," he said, the corners of his mouth upturned. Lily's mouth opened wide, she wouldn't be surprised if it had hit the floor.

"But, sir-"

"It will be considerably larger than the one you would have had you had an individual one. Don't worry," Dumbledore added, "you will get your own desks."

James didn't look as if he minded sharing an office with Lily. Lily minded a lot.

"Surely it would be better if-"

"You will be working together on any tasks handed to you, so it makes sense you share and office," Dumbledore countered. Lily could not think of anything else to say. "Oh, and yes. You shall have to set a password for your new office. Obviously you can still spend time in the Gryffindor common room, and you still sleep in your original dormitories. It is located not to far from the Gryffindor common room either-it's behind the portrait of the Hungarian Horntail. Goodnight."

He then dismissed them and they walked upstairs to bed.

They walked slowly towards their new office, yawning occasionally. James kept casting furtive looks at Lily, she, however did not notice as she was too intent on getting the password task done, and getting to sleep for her firast day back. As they reached the portrait they saw the Horntail thrashing its tail about and snarling at them. Lily recoiled slightly.

"So, er. What shall we for a password? How about…snitch?" asked James.

"No, that's way to obvious. Plus I'm not having it anything remotely related to Quidditch. How about a mythical creature?"

"Such as…?"

"Orange Fwooper?" suggested Lily. James scoffed.

"Some neon orange bird? No way." Lily raised her eyebrows.

"You know, they say that the fwoopers song drives people insane. Sort of like you," Lily replied. James narrowed his eyebrows.

"Hmph. Fine then. Fwooper it is," James said moodily. Clearing her throat, Lily set the password and they headed towards the Gryfindor tower, which was only just around the corner.

Once they reached the portrait of the fat lady she beamed at them. "Well, I never, James Potter-Head Boy! And you Miss Evans, congratulations," she giggled. Lily said the password ("Abene placito.") and the fat lady swung forward to let them in. Climbing through the portrait hole they saw that the common room was empty-everyone must have gone to bed already.

"Well, 'night Lily," James yawned.

"You too," Lily smiled. And they both went up their respective staircases into their dormitories. Lily noticed she was smiling and quickly stopped. As she pushed open her dormitory door she heard a squeal as Ella bombarded her. Lily patted her back, and then hugged her harder.

"Hey. It's only been fifteen minutes this time Ella," Lily chortled as they broke apart.

"Yeah, I know, but I'm just so excited!"

"Me too!" shrieked Daphne, jumping up and down on her bed. Lily looked enquiringly over to Cherie, waiting for her reply.

"Yeah, yeah. I'm excited too," she replied as she scrabbled under her covers to retrieve her escaping cat. "Mia!" she tutted as her cat broke free of her clutches again. Mia jumped onto the top of a dresser and Ella attempted to reach it but it crawled under Lily's bed as Daphne dived under to get her.

Everyone was crowded around Lily's bed, ready to catch Mia as soon as she ran out. But Mia wouldn't budge.

"Ack, just leave her! Silly moggy." Cherie said pulling her quilt over her. Lily got undressed and got into her bed, wiggling her toes under the covers. With a sweep of Lily's wand the candles were extinguished and darkness fell upon them.

"So," said Ella. "What was up with you and Sirius, Cherie, hmm?" Everyone but Cherie started to giggle.

"Nothing!"

Ella gave a snort into the black that enveloped them that insinuated she thought differently. They're giggles slowly subsided and they tried to get to sleep. A sudden thought occurring to Lily she sat up quickly.

"Cherie?"

"There is nothing going on with me and-!" Cherie started.

"No, not that. What was it you were staring at earlier when we were getting into the horsless carriages?" Lily interrupted.

"I don't think their horseless," Cherie muttered.

"Huh?" asked Lily.

"Nothing."

Lily shrugged it off and fell into a peaceful sleep, ready for whatever tomorrow brought.

James

James bade Lily goodnight and was heartened to see her smile. It made him smile harder. He slowly ambled up the steps with that image in his mind. He was still grinning broadly when he went inside his dormitory. Peter was already in bed, the quilt pulled up over his nose and Remus was standing by the window, staring into the grounds, and up at the moon. Sirius was helping himself to a glass of water from the jug on the side. James sat on his bed and began to undress. Sirius looked round as James walked in and was watching him as he sat down.

"What's up Prongs? You look awfully happy," he asked, eyebrows raised.

"What's wrong with being happy?"

Sirius smiled and shrugged. "I was just wondering if Lily said goodnight…"

"Yeah. She did." James smiled. Sirius started to laugh, but James cut him off. "Shut up, Padfoot, not like that! I said 'Night' and then she said 'you too'. But she was smiling!" he added happily. Remus shut the heavy curtains and got into his bed, pushing off his cat. James flicked his wand and the candles went out.

"Oh, yeah, Sirius?" asked James.

"Mmm?"

"What was up with you and Cherie today, huh?" James replied smiling cheekily. There was a soft whumph as he got hit in the face by a pillow.

Author's Note: I am meant to be doing my homework, but I did this instead. I hope you're happy! I am having a great summer holiday so far, I have been doing sweet F.A. this week, which suits me fine! Just watching lots of my favoutrite tv, like Life on a Stick, Everybody Loves Raymond, Veronica's Closet, That's so Raven and the Suite Life of Zack and Cody. Yay!

I'd just like to point out that I have mentioned Treacle Tart as dessert. I have a hunch that that is Harry's favourite pudding, what with it being part of his Amortentia scent and it's mentioned at nearly every feast and all. Therefore I have decided it is also James' favourite too.

A fwooper is a creature that JK Rowling created by the way. It is in the UK Comic Relief book of 'Fantastic beasts and where to find them'. It is a bird which can come in orange, red and pink (other colours too, I can't recall them at the moment, plus I seemed to have misplaced it) and if you listen to its song for too long you go insane. Uric the Oddball tried do disprove this hypothesis, but they discounted it for he came afterwards wearing nothing but (something weird I can't remember) on his head after listening to it straight for 3 months.

I'd love to have a fwooper. Especially a neon orange one.

Oh, and Review!