A/N: Hello again! I'm back with chapter two. Thanks for the reviews. They're few and far between these days, since hardly anyone reads new stories anymore (since there's so many! Harry Potter has the largest portion of stories on the site!) so I appreciate it. Well, keep with me here, the tale should get more interesting soon…
Chapter Two: Prefect Duties
The sun had risen, casting a brilliant warm glow over the city and the birds were chirping happily in the trees. Lily thrust the windows open and took a deep exaggerated breath. It was an unusually bright day for English autumn. But Lily didn't complain. She absorbed. Chapter Seven, Detoxify, De-stress, and Don't Explode- Literally- for the Modern Witch: "The three 'A's': Absorb, Appreciate, and Accept. Remember, life is a beautiful thing. Your life is a beautiful thing. Take a moment to absorb and appreciate. This will help you accept and conquer any obstacles that await."
She took another breath for good measure. Today was the first day of Hogwarts and she needed all the help she could get, because with the Marauders out and about, a hoard of first years to usher in, and a restless poltergeist awaiting her at the castle, 'obstacles' was not a word to be taken lightly.
Smoothing back her hair into a neat ponytail, Lily checked her appearance briefly in the mirror, then flitted off to collect her things. Unfortunately, not coming from a wizarding family meant having to carry everything herself. Once she had coerced Rue into his cage, she balanced as much as she could in her arms and made her way downstairs.
"You want some help with that?" Petunia offered, poking her head out of her room.
"Sure," Lily said. "That'd be great."
The two gathered everything up and trudged downstairs.
"Lily," Petunia spoke from behind a large stack of books.
"Hmm."
"I know I shouldn't ask you this, but…I can't ask my friends…"
"What is it? School? You need tutoring?"
"No!" Petunia said reproachfully. "My grades are fine."
This of course was a lie. Lily knew Petunia had never been particularly book smart. But she kept her mouth shut and listened. It wasn't very often that she chatted with her sister; she didn't really have time, what with being away at Hogwarts the majority of the year. "Then what's the problem? You know you can tell me anything."
Petunia hesitated. "Well…there's this boy, Rupert…"
Red flags immediately went up in the back of Lily's mind. "Pet, come on, you're too young for boys. You're only twelve."
"I'll be thirteen in 24 days!" she said angrily.
"Right. Sorry."
"Anyway, I figured I could ask you, I mean, you being older and all. I want to kiss him, but-"
"Kiss him?" Lily cried. "Petunia! For heaven's sake! You're in middle school!"
"So? Tons of people kiss in middle school."
"But none of your friends."
"Yes! Most of them have!"
"Then what's the problem? Ask them! I refuse to be the vessel for which my sister gets her first taste of a man's lechery!"
"Stop talking like that! And…I can't. They think I've already kissed someone."
"Ah." Lily sighed. "You know, you shouldn't lie. Who are you trying to impress anyway?"
"It's more complicated than that," She spat, setting down the books by the trunk of the car. They began loading things. "I was hoping you could give me advice."
Lily nearly choked on her own saliva. "H-help you? Um…"
"Well, you have kissed haven't you?" Petunia put her hands on her hips.
Lily swallowed. It wasn't that she'd never kissed…just that it had been a long time. A really long time. And they were never very good. And by 'they' she meant two. Pathetic right? "Of course I have! I just don't know how much help I'd be. I mean, I can't kiss you." She laughed nervously.
"But you could tell me-"
"Look, Pet, this isn't the best time. I have to get going and you need to get to school, so why don't you just-"
"FINE!" Petunia bellowed, dropping the books she'd been loading with a thud. "Forget I even asked." With that she stomped off into the house.
Lily sighed heavily. The feeling of guilt began to creep up on her, inching its way into her stomach. But what was she supposed to do? Tell her sister she had tons of experience? That drooling Daniel Jenkins was fantastic in her first year, or that kissing Thomas Bellows in second year was great despite his glasses jabbing her in the eye sending her to Madame Pomfrey for three hours. Or when…no. She didn't even count that time. In fact, she didn't even want to think about the third time. Okay, lalala, think about the sky, Lily! Beautiful day! Beautiful day-
"Ready, hon?" Lily's mother's hair bounced freely as she hurried out to the car, keys jangling in her left hand. "Did you say goodbye to your sister?"
"Um…yeah. Let's go." Lily fumbled with the last of her books and shut the boot. It wasn't her fault Petunia was naturally a brat. If she didn't get what she wanted, it always amounted in a tantrum. But, she was her sister, and they did have their good moments. Though sometimes she was just so unbearable!
The car ride there was mundane at most, sending Lily into a silent stupor while her mother hummed along to the radio. Her eyelids were just starting to grow heavy when the car jerked to a stop.
"We're here!" her mother sang. "Let's get going. You're father wishes you good luck."
"As usual," Lily droned, a smile plastered to her face. She was feeling suddenly less perky about her day.
"You know he had work, dear."
"Yes. Like every year." She grabbed Rue's cage and set it atop the trolley her mother wheeled over.
"All right then. To the platform-"
"Um…" Lily interrupted. "That's alright Mum. I'll go myself."
"Oh," her face fell. "Well, all right then. Yes. I suppose that's good. You are sixteen after all!" The grin once again crossed her elegant features, and she released the handle of the trolley, ushering Lily over to it. "You have a fantastic year, hmm?" she kissed Lily's cheek and smoothed her hair.
"Thanks Mum. I will," Lily smiled in spite of herself.
Lily watched her mother stride back to the car before turning to the station. However, it was only a matter of minutes before she'd lost control of the trolley, and nearly ran into an elderly couple walking arm in arm.
"Oh! Sorry! Sorry!" Lily exclaimed. Rue squawked loudly in reproach and the couple glared, the old woman fixing her large, decorated maroon hat. Her features were refined, but the man beside her had a large mole on his chin and a beastly nose over which he glared down at Lily.
After getting a closer look at him, it was clear he wasn't the woman's husband, but perhaps her son? Her…very…ugly son? "I highly advise, madam," he snarled, "that you watch where you are going and respect your elders. Any witch below you would take more care not to draw so much attention to herself."
How did he know she was a witch? Lily glanced over at Rue's overturned cage. Oh. She supposed the owl gave it away. He must be of the wizarding world. "I-" Lily gaped. "I'm sorry, but-"
"Good day," he grimaced and turned on his heel to meet the haughty woman by offering his arm. "Madame," he bowed to her and the two strode off down the station.
"How rude!" Lily puffed, adjusting her clothes and hair.
"Need some help?" a deep voice seeped into her ear.
Lily jumped and spun around. "Oh-for-" she cried, meeting Sirius' twisted smirk. "Don't do that! And no, I'm fine thank you. Go…find James or something."
Sirius put on a sad face. "But I don't want to. I want to stay here with you."
"Shove off, Black. I don't have time for your games. I have a train to catch. Presumably so do you if you haven't been expelled yet." Lily droned, finally putting Rue's cage upright and loading the trolley back up.
"No," he said breezily, "I love the school too much. Merlin forbid I get stuck at home the rest of my life." He shoved his hands in his pockets and leaned against a pillar while she fumbled with a stack of oversized textbooks.
"What a sob story. Too bad I don't have time to hear it. So, is there something you wanted, or are you just here to annoy me?" A few books slipped, and Lily cursed loudly.
"My, words so unbecoming for a beautiful young lady. Allow me to help-"
"Keep your jinx-producing hands off my things, Black!" Lily bellowed. "Out of my way." With that, Lily shoved the trolley along as fast as she could, keeping an especially wary eye out for obstacles this time. However, Sirius continued jogging backwards to keep up with her, hands still shoved in his pockets and exuding that damnable air of laxity that made all the girls swoon.
"So, you got a date for the Yule Ball yet?"
Lily almost tripped. "Excuse me?"
"The Yule Ball-"
"I heard you!" Lily could feel her cheeks flushing rapidly. "What did you mean by it? The ball's over three months away."
Sirius shrugged. "I figured you were a project, so I thought I'd give myself some extra time."
"You've got to be kidding me." Her jaw tightened and she made a running jump through the brick of Platform 9 ¾.
Sirius followed immediately, catching up to her once again. "Well?"
"Assuming this isn't a joke, which it most likely is," Lily glared, "when hell freezes over."
He grinned. " I thought so. Don't worry, I'll break you, I know you want it. I can see it in your eyes," he squinted mischievously. "You will be my date, Lily Evans."
Before she could object to his rudeness, Sirius had leapt aboard the train. Lily glared furiously at nothing in particular and then boarded as well, making her way to the back for the prefect meeting.
She slipped into the large compartment and sat down between a tall, sandy-brown haired boy and a very pretty girl with a sheet of blonde hair cascading down her back. The girl looked rather stolid, but when Lily made eye contact, she grinned brightly, her blue eyes sparkling. Lily smiled back and turned her attention to the Head Boy and Girl who had just entered. This year the Head Boy was the very robust Eric MacLean. He was a very friendly Gryffindor with rosy cheeks and a short patch of read hair. He smiled and greeted them all with a hearty hello. Incidentally, he was the star Keeper for the Quidditch team. On his left was a tall girl with a waterfall of wavy black locks that fell to her waist. Her eyes gleamed, and she was wearing a slightly fierce expression. But she was absolutely beautiful, like a model Lily might see in Witch Weekly- not that she read that garbage, but she might have caught a glimpse of another girl's copy awhile back…The girl caught sight of Lily's staring eye and turned up the corner of her mouth in a small smile. On her chest glittered a silver and green badge labeled HG.
"I'm Eric MacLean, Gryffindor. Many of you already know me…well, I do see a couple of new faces, but we'll get to introductions in a minute." He gestured for the girl to speak.
"Edith Baldric. Slytherin. Now, this year entails many new duties for sixth year prefects," she said silkily. Lily noticed all the boys' eyes were on here faithfully, "Organizing the Yule Ball, the Halloween feast, and Christmas décor for the halls. This evening, you will escort your house students to the common rooms after giving the first years a brief tour. Tomorrow, you will each be assigned your individual duties by your head of house the results of which will be discussed at the next meeting three weeks from today."
"The sixth years are dismissed," Eric added. "We'll get acquainted with the rest of you and let you fifth years know what being a prefect means. Have a good trip you lot." He bid them goodbye.
Lily picked up her bag, the girl on her right rising as well. On her left the brown haired boy stood slowly, and followed her out.
"Good to see you again, Lily," he smiled. "I was looking forward to it. If you haven't already got an Arithmancy partner, I was going to ask."
"Of course, Remus," Lily grinned back. Remus Lupin was one person she always looked forward to seeing. Even though he was technically a Marauder, he sympathized with her plight with James and Sirius and was always a good friend. "I suppose I'll see you tonight then?"
"Right. Now the trick is finding James, Peter, and Sirius. I assume they're wreaking havoc as we speak." He smiled and strode off down the aisle.
Lily sighed and looked around. This was always the most difficult time: finding an open compartment after everyone had boarded. She shuffled down the aisle, peeking into compartments, but most of them were full, or rather, full of people who didn't seem particularly keen on allowing her in. Finally she found an empty one where she slipped in and plopped down on the seat exhaustedly.
"Wotcher, Evans."
"AAAAUUGGH!" Lily jumped, two big brown eyes mere centimeters from her face. "Bloody hell, Kenneth!" She cried to her fellow Gryffindor, clutching the stitch of her chest. "Don't do that!"
"Sorry," Kenneth shoved the whole body of a chocolate frog into his mouth, leaving brown smeared around his lips. He was a large fellow, and his robes were very disheveled. Not in the lightly ruffled sexy Sirius sense, but rather the big fat slob sense.
"It's alright. Really." She moved to the other side and slumped in her seat. "I'm so tired."
"Why?" He began unwrapping another frog. "Oh, it's Helga. I already have her. Here," he offered it to her.
"Uh…no thanks. I've got, um…plenty." She eyed it with distaste.
"Suit yourself." He continued munching. "So prefect again this year, eh?"
"Yup," Lily smiled. "Lots more work."
"That stinks. I wouldn't be a prefect if Dumbledore paid me," he grimaced, flicking his messy brown hair to the side getting chocolate on his forehead in the process. "I wouldn't want to be a bloody nark."
"Thanks, Kenneth."
"No problem. Say, you going to eat that?" he said, eyeing the pumpkin pasty sitting next to her.
"They aren't mine-"
"Brilliant," he finished for her. "Toss it here. So, how was holiday?"
"Mundane," Lily sighed. "You?"
"All right. Went to th-"
The door sliding open with a bang cut Kenneth's words short. Overly loud laughing filled the compartment, but stopped dead quite suddenly. James, Peter Pettigrew, and Sirius were standing in the doorway, staring at the two of them. A sly grin formed on James' features when he spotted Lily, and soon after the look on Sirius' face followed.
"Morning, Evans. Kaufman. Lovely day for a train ride, eh?" James drawled, plopping down beside her. Sirius and Peter sat down on either side of Kenneth and grinned at him tauntingly. Kenneth narrowed his eyes warily and wrapped up his chocolate frog.
"What, not going to share, then?" Sirius said sadly.
"Get your own," Kenneth barked.
"Now, that's not very nice," James interrupted. "You should have more respect for your school mates."
"He would, Potter," Lily interjected, "But it's difficult when none of you are his 'mates.' Ignore them, Kenneth. They're just bullying you."
"Bullying?" James' eyebrows tilted sadly. "What a harsh word."
"Don't make me dock points," Lily growled.
"Now, now. There's no need to be hasty," Sirius said, snatching the chocolate frog out of Kenneth's hand and tossing it to Peter who caught it gratefully.
"Give that back!" Kenneth said.
Lily was getting furious. They had no right to be in here bullying them. She was a prefect for Merlin's sake! They should at least give her due respect! "Give that back to him and get out, Sirius, or I'll give you a detention!"
Sirius looked like he might explode with laughter.
James grinned and pinched Lily's cheek. "Oh, you are so cute when you're mad, Evans!"
Lily shook him off, blushing furiously with a mix of anger and embarrassment.
"Now the least you can do is let us stay. After all, this is our compartment."
What? "Excuse me?" Lily growled. "This is not your compartment."
"Actually," Peter said through a mouthful, "it's quite rightly ours. See?"
Lily followed Peter's pointing finger to the wall by the window. Sure enough, four names were burned in by wand: Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot, and Prongs.
"You can't just go around claiming everything you burn your names into! That's defacement of school property! I could have you suspended for that!"
"Not if you just let it slide," Sirius sidled over to her and looped his arm over her shoulder.
"Get," Lily lifted his arm as if she were carrying a dirty sock, "your arm off of me."
"Lily," Sirius looked her in the eye, "your words are so callous."
"Don't talk to me about callous, Sirius Black. I'll-"
The door slid open again, this time Remus was standing in the doorway, looking rather tired and clutching an armful of books.
"Oy, Remy!" Sirius said delightedly. "Come to join the party! Have a seat."
"What are you doing now? Harassing these two?"
"Yeah, wanna join?" James tossed him another one of Kenneth's sweets warranting another foul glare from Kenneth.
Remus caught it deftly, then handed it back to Kenneth with a sigh. "Why don't we leave them alone?"
"Because," Sirius said, "that's not the way of the Marauders."
"Besides," James added, "This is our compartment. They're our guests. It wouldn't be right to kick them out on such short notice. After all, they'd never do that to us." He tacked on a sickeningly sweet smile to the end which he flashed brilliantly at Lily. She rolled her eyes and scooted to the far end of the seat.
Remus turned to Lily, "Is that all right with y-"
"AAAUUGGHH!" Kenneth cried suddenly, clutching his face.
Lily gaped at what she saw. Blood was pouring out of his nose, and then, suddenly from his ears as well. He began shrieking and trying to stop it with his robes, but blood was spilling everywhere.
"Wh-what-" he sputtered, "what- did you- you- do?" He coughed at James who was lounging casually on the seat, trying to suppress a smile.
"Don't know what you're talking about mate. You'd better go fix that leak. Doesn't look too good from here."
Sirius was howling with laughter, and Peter had subsequently joined in. Remus looked a little peeved and grabbed Kenneth's arm. "I'll take him to the front." He ushered Kenneth out with a weary glare at James.
As soon as the door shut, James burst with laughter as well. "Did you see that big lug!"
"Good one!" Sirius laughed. "How'd you know Remus'd toss the chocolate back to him?"
"It's Remus," James said dismissively. "Not my best use of that hex thou-"
"You-selfish-horrible-egotistical-jerk!" Lily seethed through gritted teeth. "How can you just go around doing horrible things to people who've never done anything to you?"
"He had it coming," James drawled.
"Had-had it-" Lily stuttered with fury, "Do you have any idea how much people hate you for being so cruel?"
"Hate us?" Sirius laughed. "Please, people love us. We bring the fun back into school function."
James stared blankly at Sirius. "That was really bad, Padfoot."
"I know. Sorry."
"FIFTY POINTS!" Lily cried at the top of her lungs. "I'm taking fifty bloody points from Gryffindor house. On YOU! We'll see how much people love you after that!"
"What?" James shouted back. "You can't take away fifty points! School hasn't even started yet!"
"I'm a prefect, I'll do what I have to for the sake of discipline!"
James leapt out of his seat and rounded on her. "You don't have any jurisdiction on the train!"
"Watch me!" Lily spat in his face. With that, she whirled around and flew out of the compartment.
James stood there, fuming. Calming himself in the presence of Sirius and Peter, he tried to act flippant by flopping down on the seat, but slipped and hit his hip. "Bugger!"
"She really gets to you, mate," Sirius raised an eyebrow.
"She's just a girl," Peter scoffed.
"Ugh," James groaned. "She's just so…infuriating."
"Infuriating?" Sirius smirked. "You talking like her now?"
"No," he spat defensively. "She just makes me angry. She's so full of herself."
Sirius didn't say anything. The answer to that was a given, but he thought better of it and changed the subject with Peter. "Got anymore of those frogs?"