"Where is she?" James asked to no one in particular. It was 10:45 a.m., and the Head Girl had yet to show up to catch the Hogwarts Express. James must have searched the entire train three times, and he had yet to find a trace of her.
"Relax, mate," Sirius said casually. "I'm sure she's just late. She'll be here."
"Lily Evans, late?" James asked incredulously. "Lily Evans has never been late a day in her life."
"She's not late yet, Prongs," Remus pointed out. Remus Lupin, always the voice of reason. And the only Marauder that could ever keep a calm head under pressure. He was arguably their most important member with that skill.
"Yes, but she's cutting it awfully close," James said while pacing their compartment.
"Maybe it's to avoid looking at your ugly face," Peter joked. Everyone but James laughed.
James gave Sirius a look that read I can't deal with this right now.
"Yeah, not a good time, Wormtail," Sirius said to Peter. Sirius grabbed James firmly by the shoulders. "Look, Prongs, I love you, but you have got to calm the fuck down. Lily Evans will walk through that door any minute, is this really how you want her to see you when she does?"
"You're right," James took a deep breath. "She'll be here. Thanks, Padfoot."
Sirius smiled at James and brought him in for a hug. "Anytime, Prongs."
"Well, well, well, doesn't this look cozy," a voice came drawling from the compartment door.
James and Sirius broke apart and whipped around to find the source of the voice. Standing in the doorway, leaning against the doorframe, arms crossed, and hip cocked, was none other than Lily Evans.
James's heart skipped a beat when he saw her standing there. He didn't have much time to admire her, because a second later, Marlene McKinnon was bounding into the room.
"Hello, boys! Miss us?!" Marlene yelled while jumping at Sirius. He caught her at the last second; she was being unusually clumsy. Sirius turned to look at James with a face that clearly read, What the fuck? James just shrugged. Marlene was weird sometimes.
"For fuck's sake, Marlene," Lily snapped. "Not so bloody loud."
James took a moment to admire Lily. She was wearing jeans and a t-shirt that was snug across her chest, her hair was knotted in a bun on the top of her head, and she had a pair of large sunglasses on. James thought she looked rather tired. Something is wrong, James thought. Lily Evans was always the picture of put together. Maybe she's sick?
"Sirius, darling, it's been too long," Marlene cried. She gave him a loud, wet kiss on the cheek.
"Good to see you too, McKinnon," Sirius said, confused. He looked around helplessly at the rest of the group.
"Remus!" Marlene yelled shrilly. James noticed Lily wince, and her fingers immediately started massaging her temple.
Marlene planted another wet kiss to Remus's cheek before moving on and greeting Peter in the same fashion. She stopped when she got to James.
"James Potter! I won't kiss you because I don't want someone to get jealous," she whispered loudly while pointing at Lily.
Lily rolled her eyes. "Ignore her. She's still drunk from last night."
"Wait, last night?" James looked at Marlene. Her hair looked like she had just rolled out of bed, she had dark streaks under her eyes and running down her face, and now that she was close enough, James noticed she reeked of alcohol. "You're drunk?"
Marlene started giggling. "Shhh, don't tell Lily."
"I think it's a little late for that," Remus said. "Marlene, why don't you come sit next to me?"
He gently tugged her down onto the bench, and she flopped down next to him. "Lily and I went out in Muggle London last night."
"Muggle London?" Remus asked. "How did you even get served? Aren't you underaged for a Muggle? I thought the drinking age was eighteen?"
"Oh, Remus, you're cute," Lily smiled at him. "You'd be surprised what a pretty smile and low-cut top can get you."
"That's my girl," Sirius said with a wink. "Pray tell, Lilykins, what else did you get, you little vixen?"
"I got three boys' felfyphone numbers," Marlene said proudly.
"Telephone numbers," Lily corrected. She started to drag two large trunks in. "No, Mar, don't help. I'll get your bloody bags."
"Let me get them," James said, stepping forward and grabbing one of the bags from Lily.
"Thanks," she smiled at him gratefully. Together they started bringing in the girls' trunks.
"Three phone numbers, eh, McKinnon?" Sirius said with a wink. "Not bad. How about you, Evans. How many numbers did you get?"
"None," Lily answered while she helped James left their trunks up to the luggage rack. "Who would look me while the beautiful and radiant Marlene McKinnon in the room? Isn't that right, Mar?"
"I would," James murmured. He didn't know if anyone had heard him. But Lily looked at him and shot him a grateful smile. Her smile quickly disappeared, though, and she once again looked almost ill. "You okay, Lily?"
James could see a blush starting to appear on her cheeks, even with her large sunglasses covering most of her face.
"I'm fine," Lily snapped. "You would be in a foul mood, too, if you had to deal with a drunk Marlene trying to get onto the platform."
James chuckled. "I don't envy you, that's for sure. You guys must have gone pretty hard last night if she's still drunk."
"Don't even get me started. We switched to scotch pretty early on and were out until three this morning." Lily and James had finished with the trunks and sat down next to each other on the bench. "I'm exhausted."
"Lily!" Sirius yelled, scandalized. "Do my ears deceive me? You were drinking scotch?"
Lily winced when Sirius yelled her name. "Bloody hell, Sirius. Can everyone please stop fucking yelling!"
Everyone looked at her for a moment. "Are you hungover?" Sirius asked.
Lily just groaned and put her head in her hands. "Please, just whisper, alright?"
"You are, aren't you, Evans?" Sirius looked like Christmas had come early, and he certainly did not whisper.
"Yes, alright. I'm completely hungover," Lily admitted. "Happy?"
"Yes, actually I am," Sirius smiled. "Poor Lily can't handle her scotch. Let me guess, you drink it on the rocks, too. Nice and watered down for you, eh?"
Lily glanced up, pushed her sunglasses to the top of her head, and sent her classic Evans glare at Sirius. "Do we look like little boys to you? We are women, Black. We drink our scotch neat."
James, Peter, and Remus howled with laughter. Sirius glared right back at Lily. "I would drink you under the table, Evans."
Lily stood up with her hands clenched tightly to her side. "I would like to see you try, Black."
"Name the time and place, dear," Sirius said lazily.
"Friday night. Gryffindor Common Room." Lily said through clenched teeth.
Sirius stood up as well, holding his hand out to Lily. "Deal."
They shook hands while they continued to glare at each other. James knew it was unfortunate timing, but he was extremely turned on by this side of Lily.
"Well, that should be interesting," Remus said.
"I want in!" Marlene yelled suddenly.
Lily winced again. "Dammit, Marlene, keep it down!"
"I'll take that action, McKinnon," Peter said. They shook on it as well.
Bloody hell, James thought, this is going to be a disaster.
Lily closed her eyes and massaged her temples again. "Remus, we should get going. The prefect meeting is about to start."
Remus, Lily, and James made their way to the door. "Where do you think you're going, Potter?" Lily asked.
"To the prefect meeting," James answered simply.
"Which is for prefects only," Lily said.
"Right, and the Head Boy," James had been waiting all summer to surprise Lily with this.
"You? You're Head Boy?" Lily asked, shocked.
"Afraid so," James answered while running his hand through his hair nervously.
"Don't worry, Evans," Sirius said. "We were all surprised as well. I mean, who in their right ruddy mind would make James Potter Head Boy?"
James shot him a look. Sirius knew James was nervous about being Head Boy. James had thought about writing several letters to Dumbledore and McGonagall to ask them why the hell they had made him Head Boy. Remus had to talk him down from doing it.
"Actually, I think it makes perfect sense," Lily smiled sweetly at James.
"You do?" Sirius asked.
"You do?" James repeated.
"Sure," Lily shrugged. "I mean you're a great leader, students really look up to, and you finally stopped being such a prat last year. I think you'll be brilliant."
James beamed at her. He had been so worried all summer over what her reaction might be. He knew they had been getting on much better lately, but he still worried that she considered him too much of a git to be any good at the job. Hell, even James thought that. But hearing her say he'd be brilliant erased all doubt from his mind. Lily believes in me, James thought. I can do this! Hearing her say that was all the validation James needed. Who gives a fuck what everyone else thinks?
"Shall we go, Head Boy?" Lily asked with a sly smile.
"Let's, Head Girl," James smiled back. Lily dropped her sunglasses back onto her face, and they set off towards the Prefect Compartment.
They were the last to arrive at the meeting. Remus took his place with the other prefects, while James and Lily stood in front of the crowd. Lily delicately pushed her sunglasses back to the top of her head. She started shuffling around a stack of papers, while steadfastly avoiding making eye contact with anyone.
She looks nervous, James thought. James had never seen Lily like this. She was always so confident and sure of herself. It made James nervous to see Lily nervous. James couldn't imagine what Lily had to be nervous about, she was the perfect choice for Head Girl. He noticed her eyes kept glancing to the corner of the room where the Slytherin prefects were sitting. Ahh that explains it, James thought bitterly. Those fucking gits.
He gave her a shoulder a light squeeze of encouragement. Lily smiled at him, kindly. James's gesture seemed to shake Lily out of her funk. She set her shoulders straight and held her head high. That's my girl, James thought as Lily's confidence seeped back into her. James tried to ignore the murderous look he could feel coming from Severus Snape, seated in the back next to Sirius's little brother Regulus Black.
She cleared her throat. "Right, let's get started. Thank you all for coming. For those of you who don't know me, I'm Lily Evans, Head Girl. This is the Head Boy –"
"James Potter," James interrupted. "And before you ask, no, I don't know what Dumbledore was smoking when he made me Head Boy. Since I have basically no idea what I'm doing, I'm just going to let Lily take over, since she's the smartest girl in our year. Take it away, Evans."
James smiled at her. "Er, right. Thanks, James. Anyway—"
The meeting didn't take very long. Lily explained the rules and procedures for the sake of the new fifth year prefects. Then she handed out the common room passwords. The last item on the agenda was patrol duty schedules.
"Okay, everyone, almost done. The last thing we need to discuss is patrol schedules," Lily started.
"How about everyone pick a patrol partner, and Lily and I will draw up a schedule," James suggested. "We can have it to you by the end of the Feast."
Lily looked at him, approvingly. "That's a brilliant idea, Head Boy. Alright, any questions?"
"I've got a question," a sixth year Hufflepuff asked suggestively while eyeing James. "Who's your partner?"
"That would be the Head Girl," Lily snapped. "Terribly sorry. If there are no more stupid questions, you are all dismissed."
Was she jealous? James thought. Not that he was complaining, he would much rather be Lily's patrol partner than be stuck with some annoying sixth year. But he definitely took note of how quickly she snapped at the Hufflepuff girl. James couldn't help but feel a little hopeful at her reaction.
As the prefects started to leave, James noticed Bertram Aubrey, a seventh year Hufflepuff, approach Lily.
"Congrats on Head Girl, Lily," Aubrey said. "I knew you would get it."
James tried to pretend he wasn't listening, but he was literally hanging on to every word. I knew that git had a thing for her, James thought. James noticed Snape milling around, also trying to eavesdrop on Lily and Aubrey's conversation. Dammit, I knew Snape still had a thing for her, too. Can she stop being so bloody attractive and fanciable?
"Thanks, Bertram," Lily said. James couldn't help but smile at how less than enthusiastic Lily sounded to be talking to him.
Clearly, Aubrey couldn't take a hint because he continued talking. "I missed you this summer."
Lily flinched at this. "Oh, um, thank you."
"So, I was thinking –" Aubrey started. But James had heard enough. He walked over to them and put his hand on Lily's shoulder again.
"Sorry to interrupt," James said smoothly. "Lily, we should really get to work on those patrol schedules if we want to hand them out at the feast."
Lily flashed him a grateful smile. "Yes, you're right, James. Sorry, Bertram, you'll have to excuse us. Lots of work to do."
"Oh, of course," Aubrey said, disappointed. "I'll just go, I guess."
"That's probably best, mate," James smiled broadly at him.
Once Aubrey left and the door closed behind him, Lily let out an audible sigh. "Thank you. Ugh, I never thought he'd leave."
"I could see how uncomfortable you were across the room, Evans," James joked.
Lily stuck her tongue out at him. She glanced around the room to make sure they were alone. Then she whipped out a pack of cigarettes and a lighter. "Finally, I've been craving a ciggie all day."
James gaped at her as she propped the window open and lit up. "Since when do you smoke?"
"On and off since I was about fifteen," James continued to gape as she blew out a puff of smoke. "Don't give me that look, Potter. I only smoke when I'm drunk, hungover, or stressed."
"Lily Evans, you surprise me every day," James shook his head at her.
She just smiled at him. "Want one?"
"Yeah, all right," James agreed.
They sat in silence for a while as they smoked.
"I need you to do me a favor," Lily finally said, breaking the silence.
"Anything," James replied immediately.
Lily gave him a small smile. "You don't even know what it is yet."
"Doesn't matter," James assured her.
Lily laughed. "It's quite silly, actually. I feel embarrassed for even asking. This year, I would really appreciate it if you could handle the Slytherin prefects. With everything that has happened, I just don't think I could do it."
"Of course, Lily," James said. "You have nothing to be embarrassed about, though. All of those fuckers have treated you like shit for years. No one should have to put themselves through that."
"I just feel like it shouldn't bother me as much as it does," Lily admitted. "Like you said, they've been doing it for years, so I should be used to it by now. I hate that I let them get to me. I wish I was tougher."
"Hey," James started soothingly. "Don't be like that. You are literally the toughest girl I know, Lily. And just because they have been harassing you for years, doesn't mean you should just accept their bigotry. It's fucking disgusting. I can't stand it, and I'm not even the one who has to deal with it."
"You think I'm the toughest girl you know?" Lily asked.
"Without a question," James said fervently.
"Thanks, James," she smiled at him sweetly.
"Anytime," James smiled back. "So, Aubrey? He seems pretty smitten with you."
Lily scoffed and rolled her eyes. "He's a shit."
James laughed loudly. "So, if he asked you out like he so clearly wanted to, what would you say?"
"I would say no," Lily said without hesitation. "He's such a fucking prat. Besides, he's not the one I want to go out with."
"Oh, so there's a 'one'?" James smirked at her. He played it cool on the outside, but James was going crazy on the inside. Could she be talking about me?
Lily rolled her eyes. "Come on. Everyone is probably wondering where we are."
They both flicked their cigarettes out the window and started making their way towards the door and back towards their friends.
So, there is someone she wants to go out with, James thought. Who could it be?