Tuesday 11th October 1977

Library, 19:00

"Is this seat taken?"

Alice looked up to see Lily pointing to the seat over from her. She shook her head and went to move her bag from it.

"No."

"Is it okay if I sit there?"

"Of course."

"Thanks," Lily said gratefully. "I didn't want to sit all by myself."

"No Snape or Lupin today?"

Lily shook her head. "Sev is in the Potions Lab and I know better than to tear him away from that and Lupin is serving a detention with the rest of the Marauders."

"For the bubbles incident?"

"For the bubbles incident," Lily confirmed.

Alice giggled at the memory. For reasons unknown to everyone except themselves, the Marauders had decided to fill the castle with bubbles. And not just normal bubbles - oh no, that would be far too easy. No, these were bubbles that didn't pop. Bubbles that didn't pop but still acted like normal bubbles so there were impenetrable walls of these things as they stuck together.

"I think I saw a first-year float away on one," Alice said, still giggling.

Lily grinned but then schooled her face quickly. As Head Girl surely it was inappropriate to even look like she was endorsing these sorts of shenanigans? Then again, Potter was Head Boy and that didn't stop him from pulling off said shenanigans. Still, Lily was a better person than that, Alice knew.

"How have you been?" Lily asked.

"Good. Seventh year is a lot of work."

"NEWTs are in less than eight months."

Alice put her hands over her ears. "Nope, can't hear you."

Lily rolled her eyes but really, what else was she expecting? That seemed to be the response of everyone when NEWTS were brought up.

"They're just exams, they aren't that terrifying," Lily was trying to persuade her. "They just decided what you could do when you left school... okay, maybe they were terrifying. Just a bit."

"See?"

"Okay, they're horrible," Lily admitted.

That was a relief, if the smartest witch in their year thought they were going to be horribly difficult then it didn't mean that she was stupid.

"Let's change the subject, "Alice encouraged.

"Yes. Let's." Lily settled down properly in her chair. "What's it like not seeing Frank around?"

Alice scrunched up her nose at the reminder. "Weird. Really weird. But it's probably a good thing. I'll be doing so much studying this year - just like he was last year."

She was starting to understand why she barely saw him last year. Not for the original reason she thought - NEWT level work was just horrible. Alice blushed at the memory. She really had been rather silly last year. But she would make up for it this year. There was going to be no silliness at all. Even Mary was being a bit more serious - even though she still didn't see the benefits of NEWTs. But the one she was betrothed to was doing them and so was Alice so she hadn't wanted to be by herself doing nothing in her home for two years. Well, at least that what Mary said. It certainly wasn't because she wanted to do particularly well at school - though she certainly didn't want to fail. McDonalds didn't fail. Alice had heard that enough over the years. So, Mary would have to do the bare minimum to pass, which was still a lot of work to her disgust.

"True," Lily agreed. "It's going to be a busy year."

Much busier for her than it was for Alice, what with her being Head Girl and all.

"What's it like? Being Head Girl?" Alice clarified at Lily's confusion.

"Oh, it's nice. A lot more work. A lot more organisation to do. Potter and I are responsible for thirty-two Prefects and their schedules and duties. It's odd to be giving out orders."

That sounded more than extra work, it sounded downright stressful. Alice didn't know how Lily managed those responsibilities as well as staying top in the year. It was madness.

"What's the Head Boy and Girl Suite like?" Alice asked with more interest.

She knew it wasn't exactly polite pry like that but she couldn't help it, she was curious. No one ever saw in there unless you were Head Boy or Girl. Or one of their close enough friends to actually get invited in.

"Oh, it's really nice. It's a bit weird having a bedroom all to myself during school but in a good way."

"You don't have to hear anyone snoring," Alice giggled, slightly envious.

That was the hardest thing to get used to at the start of every term - having to share a room with three other girls though it was two this year. Still, you never realised how loud people breathed until you had to share a room. Don't even get her started on the snoring - she had only just about managed to restrain herself from putting a sock in Marlene's mouth. That girl could snore.

"No, I don't," Lily giggled.

The two girls fell into companiable silence. Alice had forgotten just how nice it was to sit with Lily. She didn't feel the incessant need to talk or be doing something. She had no expectations of Alice.

"Well, all the work this year will be worth it for next year and beyond," Lily said with some satisfaction.

"Have you decided what you want to do when you leave Hogwarts?" Alice asked, always interested.

It was fascinating what people who weren't getting married did. She didn't think she could leave school just to do more work. She had never been expected to.

"Oh, not completely," Lily said in a guarded tone.

"Not Healing?"

"Why does everyone think that I'm going to do that?"

"Because you'd be well suited for it."

Lily was calm and sensible and really, really smart. And she got on well with people, put them at ease but also knew how to get things done. What more would you want in a Healer?

"So, you don't want to be one?"

Lily shook her head. "No, that's more Chryssie's thing."

"That's your sister, right?"

"Yes. She always wanted to be a nurse when we were little. Muggle Healer of a kind," Lily added at Alice's confused look. "And I don't think that's changed. She was asking about nursing last year, I know."

"That's nice."

"Yeah, she's got far more patience than I have. I couldn't bear being nice to nasty patients."

Alice couldn't help but laugh at the thought. No, Lily would probably just lose her temper at them. She did have rather a short fuse.

"So, what do you want to do?"

"Something to do with Charms. Or Spellcrafting. Or brewing. Oh, I don't know. I want to research and create things."

Lily looked so eager and inspired about it too.

"You'll need an apprenticeship for that sort of work."

And those were difficult without the right connections, she knew.

"I have a few offers," Lily admitted.

Alice couldn't believe it. "What, really?"

She got a nod in reply.

"Enough about me, though," Lily dismissed. "What about you?"

"Me?"

Lily already knew what she was doing as soon as she left Hogwarts.

"Yes, you. What are you doing once you get your NEWTs?"

Alice waved her hand, making her ring sparkle. "I'm getting married to the love of my life."

And she couldn't wait. Her and Frank. Forever. What more could she ask for?

"Oh, I know that. But are you going to do anything else?"

Alice stared at her blankly - not understanding what she was saying.

"What do you mean?"

Don't you want to do something?"

"I'm getting married in the summer."

And she really couldn't wait. Had she already said that? Oh, it didn't matter because she was excited.

"Plenty of married women work."

Alice shook her head. "Not in the types of circles I'm in."

"Not even for a hobby?"

Now what was Lily talking about? A hobby was something like horse-riding, sewing, gardening and the like. Not a job.

"I mean, you could do part time work or volunteer or something, couldn't you?"

Alice frowned at her, still not fully understanding what she meant.

"Look, you like Healing, don't you?"

She gave her a short nod. Yes, Healing was interesting and I was fairly easy to her.

"Then, why don't you get a certification in basic Healing?" Lily suggested as they washed their hands. "That would give you something to do. And it wouldn't take too much time."

Alice gave her a doubtful look. That did sound like a useful thing to have and it wasn't like she was going to get a job with it...

"I don't know..."

"There's no harm in giving it a try."

Well, no. Not exactly. Unless you counted her parents' disapproval - which she most certainly did. Hadn't she done enough to go against the grain?

Saturday 15th October 1977

Gryffindor Common Room, 17:30

Sirius was currently lazing about in a chair by the fire, waiting for Remus to put away the stack of books he got from the library.

Apparently, he and Tonks had been exchanging books on defence, like the little swots they were. Not that he was going to tease them too much - those two-spending time together was his aim, after all. Of course, he was still going to tease them - he was Sirius Black, after all - just not all the time. Some encouragement was necessary.

Lily Evans was soon leaning over him, her long hair free from its usual functional ponytail like it usually was at the end of a school day. It nearly reached him the way it was dangling over him.

"Haven't seen you in here for a while." He greeted. "Head Girl life suiting you fine?"

She blushed lightly at that which he took as a yes but didn't want to admit it. It probably would look bad saying that in the Gryffindor Common Room. Almost like she was glad to escape it. Sirius looked across to see three second years pounce on each other and shriek loudly. You know what? He didn't blame her, if that's what she thought.

"How have you been?" she asked, sitting next to him.

He couldn't help but raise an eyebrow at her. Surely, she didn't want to talk to him? She barely talked to him. Sure, there had been one or two other nights last year where they sat together. In silence - not speaking at all and certainly no games. They just hadn't been the nights for them. But that didn't mean that they talked during waking hours. Which they probably should.

"Good. Too much work and all that but good."

Work that he actually had to do, too. He wanted to get into the Auror Academy, after all and you could not do that with poor marks or bad references on anything. Which was easier for him than James. James always got into trouble for not doing or completing his homework - it was either too easy and he knew it or he always put the last bit off, leaving it incomplete. Now he had to learn how to finish all of his homework which was a hard thing to learn at seventeen.

"Good," said Evans.

"And you?" Sirius felt like he should ask.

"Oh, I'm good too."

Then they just kind of sat there in silence. Awkward silence. Which was weird because last year they had been getting along and Sirius had enjoyed talking to her every now and then.

He couldn't stand silence like this but what to say? What was Evans interested in?

"Any more late-night Common Room vigils?"

Why in Merlin's name did he ask that? That had to be the worst thing to bring up. Who brought up had things to break a silence? Apparently, he did. Stupid, so stupid!

Evans shook her head. "No. You?"

"No."

That would imply that his parents actually corresponded with him anymore. Which, they did not. Not that he cared. No. He definitely didn't. He had better things to do and far better people to be around.

"Oh, I brought the games with me again this year," she said suddenly. "Because we didn't get a chance to do so last year."

"Oh? Do you need me to beat you on those as well?"

"I told you that I was the best at Cluedo," she bragged.

"We'll see."

"Yes, you'll see me win."

Oh, it was going to be like that then?

"A competition, then?" He suggested, as if it wasn't going to be already.

"Of course. We can have it in the Head Boy and Girl Suite. Much better for concentration."

"You just don't want anybody to see you lose."

"I was more thinking of you, Black. Wouldn't want you to lose face in front of your fangirls."

Sirius grinned. It was great to have someone he could actually go toe to toe with.

"Oh, actually, let's make it a Games Night. I know James wanted to play them as well," she commented as she leaned over to tie her shoe.

"You called him James," Sirius said wonderingly.

He noticed that Lily coloured up at that.

"Yes, well, we are Head Boy and Girl together. It would be weird to always refer to each other by our surnames."

Sirius was pretty sure James still did that. He hadn't heard him refer to Lily as anything other than Evans anyway. Hmm. Interesting.

Monday 17th October 1977

Gryffindor Common Room, 20:00

"Guys, guys, guys," Peter greeted them with, running up to them as soon as they set foot in the Common Room.

Remus followed at a much more normal pace.

"What's up Wormtail?" James asked.

"And can it wait until we've sat down for a second?" Sirius added, giving James a dark look. "Some people think that doing laps is a good way to train."

This didn't faze James.

"It is and you won't be complaining when we win."

"Yes, I will because running laps will have nothing to do with us winning!"

It did so and he had examined this to Sirius before so he wasn't going to explain it again. Laps improved your stamina and your strength in your legs. Of course, it made them better fliers. And if they didn't understand that then they should just follow orders anyway because he was Captain and he said so.

"Can Wormtail please tell you the news we have before he explodes?" Remus asked.

"Oh, yes."

James had almost forgotten about Peter's excitement. It better be of something good this time - Peter tended to get excited over the silliest of things.

"Apparition lessons start at the end of November!" Peter said excitedly.

"Yes!"

"Really?"

Okay, that was something to get excited over. Really excited over.

"The sign-up sheet is on the noticeboard," Remus confirmed.

"Really?" James checked again, not wanting to get his hopes up.

"Really." Remus repeated.

"Yes!"

It was about time. James had been looking forward to this for ages. As much as he loved flying Apparition literally gave you the ability to go anywhere you liked just like that. His dad had said he would teach him last year, when he turned seventeen but mum had put a stop to that saying that dad had splinched himself twelve times during their lessons. James would have to wait until Hogwarts held them or they would get him a tutor. Fleamont Potter would be allowed nowhere near those lessons.

Granted, way back in his Parents' Day you could get your Apparition license at fifteen - when your magic definitely wasn't fully mature yet. So, maybe doing it in seventh year wasn't too bad. James shuddered at the thought of splinching. The stories he had heard about Parents' Day made it sound horrible. He hoped that it never, ever happened to him.

But his thoughts turned to the much more pleasant side of Apparition- the freedom to go wherever you wanted. Well, within the British Isles, anyway. People could rarely go further, which is why portkeys existed. But still! He would be able to go anywhere in England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and Ireland!

"Don't forget the Isle of Mann, that isn't far away," Remus reminded him.

Oops, had he been speaking out loud?

"It's going to be great! We'll be literally able to go anywhere we want " he said, rubbing his hands together in glee.

"Well, once we've passed and got our licenses," Peter corrected him and then looked worried. "Do you think it's going to be hard?"

"Nah," James said, shaking his head. "Every single adult has managed to do it."

That perked Peter up.

"I doubt every adult has done it," Remis just had to say.

"Shh!"

"Enough worries," Sirius said with a snort - nothing ever really worried him. "I'm going to get my name down before you!"

And with that, he bolted across the Common Room.

"Oh no you're not!" James called after him, hot on his heels.

"Potter!" Evans scolded as he ran past.

Thursday 20th October 1977

Head Boy and Girl Suite, 21:00

Lily had opened the door to the Suite from an evening of studying to an... odd sight.

"Potter, what in Merlin's name are you doing?"

He jumped up and spun around to face her, hands behind his back and a guilty look on his face.

"Umm..."

Not that she even needed to ask that question when there was a massive (and she meant massive) pumpkin right in the middle of the floor and there were pumpkin guts trailing from his fingers.

"Are you carving a pumpkin?"

"No! I mean... yes. Well, if you think it's okay?"

Lily didn't answer that question, instead tried to peer behind him.

"You're making a mess."

"It's all contained! I put it on a sheet!"

And indeed, he had. A large, white one. Wait...

"Is that a bed sheet?"

He gave her another guilty look. "Maybe? It was the only thing big enough that I could think of..."

"Where did you even get a bed sheet?" Lily asked, confused about where it came from.

Students didn't have access to wherever the laundry was done - though she wouldn't put it past the Marauders to figure it out.

"My bed."

Okay, that was a bit of a stupid question.

"Does that mean you don't have one for tonight?"

Potter gave her a look that suggested he definitely hadn't thought that far ahead.

"Um."

Lily rolled her eyes. Of course, James would just use his own bed sheet with no thought about what he was going to sleep on tonight. She decided to get back to the actual matter at hand here.

"Why are you carving a pumpkin?"

"Because it's Hallowe'en!"

"Do you normally carve a pumpkin at Hallowe'en?" she asked.

She had never seen him do so but who knows what James got up to in his spare time.

"Uh..."

She would take that as a no then. She pinched the bridge of her nose."

"Why did you decided to do this now?

"Because it's fun? And we need some holiday cheer in here. Or holiday scare, is that?"

Shaking her head at his ridiculousness, Lily suddenly noticed something.

"It really stinks of pumpkin in here." She stated, waving a hand in front of her nose.

It wasn't a bad smell but it wasn't exactly pleasant either. Lily hadn't realised that a pumpkin would produce that much of a smell. The Great Hall didn't usually stink of them and it got covered in pumpkins for Hallowe'en.

"Does it?" Potter asked absentmindedly, doing something to his pumpkin.

Was he carving more out of it? No, he was smoothing the edges of his design. He really did have quite the delicate touch with that cutting spell, even if it did make the pumpkin smell scorched.

"Ah ha! Done!"

With a flourish, James presented her with his finished pumpkin and Lily had to admit. It was quite good. It was a castle. An evidently haunted one of the Bats and lightening striking down were anything to go by. There were even what she assumed were meant to be tombstones on the sides.

"Nice," she said approvingly. "You do realise that pumpkins don't even last a week once they've been cut?"

It just seemed such a shame to put so much work into it only for it to be gone in a few days. A bit pointless, really.

"That's what stasis charms are for, Evans. Or don't you know how to cast one?" He challenged.

"Of course, I do!" She said indignantly.

Charms was one of her best subjects and stasis Charms were nowhere near as hard as people made them out to be.

"Sure, you do."

Lily couldn't take the taunting challenge anymore and she whipped out her wand a quickly cast the charm on his weird pumpkin. It glowed green for a brief moment and the charm was done.

"See? That will last at least two weeks."

"Nice," Potter said appreciatively, picking it up and checking it from all angles. He grinned at her and tucked it under his arms. "I didn't know how to do it."

And with that, he turned and went into his bedroom, completely missing Lily's outraged look.

Saturday 22nd October 1977

Hogwarts Grounds, 13:45

Lily followed the happy crowd of Gryffindors as they returned to the castle. It was too cold to hang about outside - even if they had won this match. It had been a good match. A really good match. Not just because they had won - though that was definitely a part of it - but also because everyone had played well. The Gryffindor Chasers in particular. They were just so graceful and almost fluid in the sky. They seemed to be in the right place every time. It was amazing to watch. Potter in particular but that's because had such a commanding presence. He was Captain, after all, so he sort of had to.

Speak as the devil, James and the rest of the team walked past, grins from ear to ear they eagerly recounted all their daring moves.

"Good game, Potter!" she congratulated before she was swept away by the crowd.

He gave her a thumbs up over his head to show that he heard her - the two of them already too far away to do any talking. Not that they needed to do any talking, of course. Why would they?

Anyway, the party tonight was going to be great. Oh, sure, she should probably be planning ways to ensure it didn't get too loud or something, being Head Girl and all but McGonagall usually turned a blind eye to post-Quidditch parties. She was always one to celebrate a Gryffindor win. Lily had to admit, it was a great start to the year. Hopefully there would be many more matches like it.

Maybe she should check to see if the Marauders needed any help sorting out the food? They looked like they were going to be two people down if the ever-increasing crowd of people around Potter and Black were anything to go by. Marlene, too, actually though she was notably good at squirming out of the way - she didn't revel in the attention like Potter and Black did.

Suddenly, Lily came to a standstill, much to the annoyance of the people behind her (Hufflepuffs so of course they were grumpy- they lost). She didn't pay them any mind, she had something else to think about.

She looked up to see Potter's rapidly retreating back and frowned. Something was wrong here and she didn't quite know what.

"Lily?" Alice called.

Shaking her head out of her thoughts, Lily called back, "Coming!"

It wasn't until she was in the warmth of the Entrance Hall and all the students were now going their separate ways that Lily realised what had been so odd.

Potter hadn't asked her out. For the past few years, after every Quidditch match he played he had never failed to ask her out. Whether it was because he won or as an attempt at a pity date if they lost - Potter always asked her out. He hadn't this time. Hadn't even tried.

This was a good thing, wasn't it? Lily didn't like him asking her out constantly. It was awkward. It was silly. It was annoying. Especially when he was bounding off the Quidditch Pitch, always followed by a few fans or teammates. Having an audience for that was always weird.

Lily was glad. Wasn't she?

Tuesday 25th October 1977

Head Boy and Girl Suite, 20:00

"Come on, Evans, get your hands right in there!"

She gave him a dirty look as she continued to pluck the innards of the pumpkin out and into the bin next to her. Pluck. Who even did that? The only, proper way to prepare a pumpkin was to scoop put the insides with both your hands. It was the quickest way too.

"You do it your way and I'll do it mine," she said primly.

"But yours takes so long!"

"Just do your own pumpkin."

"Mine's finished and ready for carving!"

"Then carve it!"

"I want to do it together!"

There was no point in him rushing ahead, that wouldn't be any fun.

"Then calm down and wait."

"But I'm excited!"

James didn't know why he had got it into his head that he wanted to decorate their Suite for Hallowe'en. It wasn't like their Common Room or even anything outside the Great Hall was ever decorated for it. It just seemed to be a good idea. And, as was usual for James, he didn't put much further thought into it except for the fact that he really felt like he needed a pumpkin. Things kind of snowballed from there. You couldn't just have one pumpkin as a decoration now, could you? It was a good thing that Lily was up for this- it would be pretty boring just doing it by himself.

Well, it was also pretty boring waiting for her to get past the most boring bit of this whole thing. Getting the guys out of the pumpkin should not take this long.

"Look, why don't I do it for you?" James offered, realising why she was doing it the way she was.

She obviously didn't like the feel of it which was weird considering he'd seen her handle all sorts of really gross Potions ingredient but each to their own.

"I can do it."

"I can do it faster."

"Just let me do it my way, Potter."

"Look," James said, reaching forward so he could get into her pumpkin. "I can take bigger handfuls."

He took one, just to demonstrate. There was an awful lot more pumpkin insides in his grasp than what had ever been in hers. Evans did not appreciate this and actually pulled her pumpkin away from him.

"I won't take long."

Except she would. James huffed but she just ignored him and continued her pain staking task. Now what was he supposed to do while he waited?

Then he noticed something. Something far too tempting. He couldn't resist it, he just couldn't. Evans had leaned forwards and there was the perfect gap between her neck and her collar...

The shriek that came from her was both shrill and ear splitting. But you would be the same if you had a slimy bit of pumpkin slipped down your back.

The pumpkin guts to his face was so worth it.

Wednesday 26th October 1977

Gryffindor Table, Great Hall, 08:00

"Do you smell like pumpkins?" Marlene asked incredulously, after giving her a sniff.

Lily scowled at her. "I don't want to talk about it."

"Okay, then."

It was best not to bother Lily when she was like this. It would all come spilling out eventually.

"Potter has taken into his head that our rooms need to be decorated for Hallowe'en."

Case in point. And Marlene noted that it was 'Potter's again. Lily had been calling him James recently. Wait, what had Lily just said?

"What?"

Lily nodded. "You heard me. He wanted to decorate our rooms for Hallowe'en."

"By...?"

"Carving pumpkins."

Well, in his sight that was pretty obvious. What with the pumpkin smell and all.

"What, did he dump the guts on you or something?"

Lily's cheeks tinged a faint shade of pink. Marlene's eyebrows rose. Oh, interesting.

"Something like that."

Saturday 29th October 1977

Head Boy and Girl Suite, 20:30

The two of them made their way back to their Suite after the meeting they had just hosted with the Prefects. They had said goodbye to Remus as they tidied things away. He had apologised but he had some work that needed finishing.

It was nice to get things done and just walk together. James knew he enjoyed this time with Lily. He always did. She just seemed to be more relaxed and easier going. And it wasn't as awkward to start talking when walking as it was when you were sitting close to each other in the Suite but maybe that was just him.

"I wonder if I have time to brew start that potion I've been wanting to do, this evening?" Lily wondered as they pushed their door open.

"Curfew isn't until then, I don't see why no-"

He was interrupted by a very loud "SURPRISE!"

Lily actually jumped backwards and he had to catch her before she fell.

"What the hell?" James demanded.

What was all this about? Why were they all in here without him or Lily.

"We wanted to carve pumpkins too," Sirius told them.

"I was dragged into this," Snape objected.

"We couldn't very well leave you out, could we?" Sirius retorted.

"Your pumpkin turned out very nice," Peter said in an effort to be consoling.

It didn't work. All it got him was a glare that he shrunk back from.

James took this opportunity it to actually look at the pumpkins that caused this and was easily surprised. They were very nicely carved pumpkins. There were three traditionally scary faces, a bat silhouette and a tree silhouette. Oh, and Lily's little sister's pumpkin that she had carved with Lily a day or two ago. It was a cat. All pretty cool.

"They're very nice," Evans told them and they all puffed up with pride - even Snape, James noticed. "There's just one problem."

The dramatic cooling of her tone made them all inch, James included and it wasn't even directed at him!

"And what's that, Lily?" Remus asked bravely.

She turned her glare on him, making him step back.

"Glad you asked, Remus. And I'll tell you. Or rather, ask you."

"Ask us?" Peter squeaked.

"Yes, Pettigrew. Ask you. As in, question how the five of you got in here without us being here?"

Silence. Complete silence as they all shuffled nervously and refused to either Lily or him. Until the accusations came.

"It was Black!"

"Snape got us in!"

"Remus got us bigger pumpkins!"

"McKinnon wanted it to be a surprise!"

"Did not! That was all you lot!"

"No one complained!"

"I did!"

"There's no mess!"

"It's not my fault!"