Of Liliaceae and Quidditch

Summary: Back in 1977, Lily Evans and James Potter became Head Boy and Head Girl, respectively. Lily hates James... but that's subject to change very soon, in James' opinion. However, with Amos between James and Lily, a love triangle emerges. Jily. R&R.

Chapter II

7:53 AM. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 2ND, 1977.

BREAKFAST, GREAT HALL.

James Potter was an early riser, and a morning person.

Yes, he was. Most people expected him to wake up at noon, miss all his morning classes, and nap during the afternoon classes– something he and the Marauders found hilarious. It was very useful when putting to action an early morning prank, since nobody expected them awake.

Very funny, really. People's negative views of other people result in themselves found stuck in very unusual places, jinxed, cursed, and hexed.

Nobody expected James Fleamont Potter to be in the Great Hall, just before 8 in the morning, finished with his breakfast (the usual, some sandwiches) and waiting for the morning edition of the Hogwarts Journal, the official Hogwarts Newspaper (run by the Newspaper Club, supervised by Professor McGonagall.)

Ah! thought James. There it is.

'It' was the newspaper that we had discussed just moments ago. It was delivered as a roll of paper, carried by one of the school owls, or a student's own owl.

When his owl landed in front of him with the newspaper, James Potter greeted the messenger warmly, and took the paper from her.

In large, bold letters, the headline read, '1977~78 SCHOOL YEAR HAS BEGUN!" and below, there was a list of professors, students (organized alphabetically,) and other things, such as the Quidditch Section and clubs.

James stood up and stretched his arms. He had finished his breakfast not 5 minutes ago. He decided that the schedules were most likely to have been distributed over the night (highly certain, actually, since it had been done that way every year,) and it would be wise to return to the dorms to pick up his schedule.

9:00 AM. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 2ND, 1977.

TRANSFIGURATION

"I would like all of you to put your wands and books away for a moment," said Professor McGonagall.

James put his book and wand away.

"This year, as you all know, you will be taking Nastily Exhausting Wizarding Tests in June." said McGonagall.

Some snickers came from the class at the name 'Nastily Exhausting Wizarding Tests.'

"Mr. Walsh and Mr. Murphy!" McGonagall snapped at the two people that laughed the first and loudest laughs. "Detention, 8'o clock. N.E.W.T.s are not a laughing matter. The results are what determine the careers you take. One mistake during the exam could result in failure. As Transfiguration is necessary in nearly all careers, you will study hard. I never had a student who failed, and I will not have a student who fails. Understand?"

James noticed that when McGonagall said the last part, she looked at a few students, including Lily. She wasn't going to fail, was she? She had good grades, according to the student body…. But then she wouldn't be trembling in fear or anxiety like she was doing.

"Today, I will be very lenient. You had a long summer holiday, and you are not prepared for the class," McGonagall continued. "And I am not able to see how a class with students that nearly failed last year's exams? I expected Outstandings on your O.W.L.s. And I am disappointed that only one person who took the exams that year had an Outstanding. Everyone in this class will be receiving Es in their N.E.W.T."

That meant… I was the only person to get an Outstanding Transfiguration O.W.L. that year! James thought to himself. Awesome.

"Kindly transfigure your desk to an animal of your choice. Then please, put it back. Last year we had desks permanently transformed into magical animals, and that is not acceptable."

James looked around and saw everyone doing exactly what he was doing: looking around to see what everyone else is doing. And somehow, simultaneously, the students all picked up their textbooks (Transformation for Trolls) and turned to page 193 (Desks for Dummies.)

Soon, everyone was shouting the incantation at their desks, trying to turn it into some animal. It took even James (considered a prodigy at Transfiguration) 5 minutes to successfully transform his desk into a stag, and another 5 minutes to turn it back into a desk.

"20 points to Gryffindor." Professor McGonagall said.

"Hey Padfoot!" James hollered over the commotion everyone was making as some people exploded their desks in last-minute efforts to succeed. "See this–" he pointed at his desk– "Is how you do it!" He smiled as Sirius gave him a glare.

10:46 AM. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 2ND, 1977

TRANSFIGURATION

The Transfiguration class was over.

James was divided between feeling happy that a class had ended, and feeling discomforted that he no longer had a chance to impress Lily Evans with his amazing Transfiguration skill for the remainder of the day.

"That is it for today's lesson," said Professor McGonagall. "Those of you students who were unfortunately unable to complete today's task will be given extra homework; read pages 227 through 258 of Transfiguration for Trolls, and write an essay on how you should improve. You may choose the length."

The most terrifying thing about the Transfiguration professor, in James' opinion, was that she often gave out essays as long as the student wanted. If it was short, they would be scolded, and if they wrote too much, the students had done extra work.

"Mr. Potter and Ms. Evans will remain. The rest of you will leave this classroom."

The students packed their bags and left the classroom. Most eyed Lily and James with evident confusion, though Sirius graced James with a broad smirk. James responded to this with a grin of his own.

When the students had all left (McGonagall checked by blowing up her own desk to reveal Janet Cantr, the girl who was most desperate for gossip,) she finally turned to address the two students she had requested they remain.

AN: I am terribly sorry. This chapter was short and very late. I will not give an excuse, since I have only the most pathetic one. However, if you do want the excuse it is this: I had schoolwork to complete. I know. It sucks.

Random Quiz: What wood is Lily Evans' wand made of?