Really, it could be worse, Lily contemplated, carefully studying her fingernails as if they held all of life's secrets. I could be lying in the hospital wing all bloodied up or witnessing Petunia's wedding again. She picked at a hangnail and then decided to fix her gaze upon a horribly plain but nonetheless interesting spot on the wall.

Could it be any worse? considered James, twisting his wand through his fingers and twirling it around. It's not like we haven't known each other for six years now, and she still can't bring herself to give me the time of day. He sighed rather heavily, sending the hair above his eyes flying upwards.

As James dropped his wand, emitting a shower of red and gold sparks, and fumbled to catch it, Dumbledore entered the room.

"Sorry to keep you waiting, Lily…" He acknowledged her and then nodded, "James."

"Good evening, sir," they spoke in unison. They could easily forget their differences for a few minutes; Albus Dumbledore demanded a respect unmatched by any other wizard.

"I hope Hogwarts finds you well after a refreshing summer?" He cocked an eyebrow in inquiry.

"I played Quidditch with my father the whole time…practically," gushed James, obviously keen to tell anyone who would listen how good he was.

"You mean when you were not off being a rambunctious rabble-rouser with your three friends," Dumbledore smiled. "I am, as always, most eagerly awaiting your first prank this year, Mr. Potter."

"I won't let you down, sir," grinned James. Merlin, how Lily wanted to slap that stupid smile off his face. Did it really make him that much better than the next person that he had helped Gryffindor to six consecutive Quidditch Cups with his prowess as Seeker on the team? What was it about him that made everyone laugh at whatever he said, anyway?

"Lily? How did you entertain yourself?"

"I visited Spain with my family," she offered, hoping that if she remained reticent, this meeting would go a lot more quickly and she could escape James' presence.

"Ah, Spain…" Dumbledore pushed his spectacles up his long, crooked nose and closed his eyes in reminiscence. "You know, once on a sunny beach vacation there, I had the grand fortune of encountering the most peculiar creature which inhabits the Mediterranean and- ah, let's not get off topic, shall we? I tend to carry that most nasty habit…" Chuckling to himself as if he knew so much more than Lily or James (which he undoubtedly did), he hinted, "Just Spain then?"

"Oh, all right, I read a lot," acquiesced Lily.

"And I would expect so!" exclaimed Dumbledore heartily. "Miss Evans, your undying curiosity and thirst for the answers to life never ceases to impress me!"

James groaned and sank lower in his chair, hating to be outdone by a girl…Lily, no less.

"No matter, let's not drag this on…I'm sure the house elves have your beds all warmed up, and you must rest up for the first day of classes!" Dumbledore looked as giddy as a first-year being allowed to use his wand for the very first time. "Now, the Head duties…Lily, I expect you know much of what to do, being a Prefect for the last two years. And James, this is really an odd case, considering no Head Boy or Girl in Hogwarts history has ever been chosen without being a Prefect first. I'm sure that fabulous goal you scored in the championship game at the end of last year had a lot to do with it, though…"

James' trademark smug look had once again reapplied itself to his face.

"Staying on topic…The Head Boy and Girl will aid the Prefects of all houses in their duties and enforce rule-abiding in every situation, be it in the corridors in school or at Honeydukes in Hogsmeade. There is no place where you should allow a student to escape Hogwarts justice, you do understand this?"

Hardly allowing James and Lily time to nod, he continued. "In addition to fulfilling this disciplinary role, Head Boy and Girl will be granted more privileges than any other students. With this privilege comes great responsibility. You may continue gaining access to the Prefect bathroom, extended curfew, and the freedom to visit Hogsmeade as you see fit. In addition, you take on the duty of planning the Halloween Ball and the reception for graduates and their families in June."

Well I'll be damned if I don't end up doing all of this work, Lily frowned. How did she end up with James Potter, of all people?

"Sir, you mentioned extended curfew?" James' eyes lit up at the prospect.

"Eleven on school nights and two on the weekends, James." Dumbledore could not help but allow a smile to rearrange his features. "Any questions?"

"And are we allowed to use these disciplinary measures on the Head Boy, sir?" Lily asked devilishly.

"Miss Evans, I trust you will keep Mr. Potter here in line."

Thanking Dumbledore and hurrying out of the room to take the secret way up to the Gryffindor common room, Lily decided to take all precautions necessary to avoid James.

Oh boy, it was going to be a long year.

-----

"James Potter!" screeched Audrey Breton, jumping up and down on her four-poster bed, blonde hair flying wildly around her. "Lily, this is amazing! You get to spend the year with James!"

"If you mean 'endure the year with James,' then by all means, yes!" countered Lily, attempting to pull her nightgown over her head and whimpering as she flailed around, quite stuck. "I don't think you can imagine just how this is going to be!"

"Are you joking?" Audrey collapsed onto her bed, taking ragged breaths to calm herself. "Just think about it…two A.M. curfew…patrolling the halls late at night…Lily, this is going to be great for you!"

"Audrey, the only thing I will be doing out at two in the morning with James is making sure he hasn't escaped from the dungeons where I will tie him up, I assure you, if he tries anything," said Lily, tied up in her nightgown still.

"You may very well be the only girl in this entire school who isn't madly in love with that boy." Audrey shook her head.

"That, or I may be the only sensible girl in this school," quipped Lily. "Could you help me with this damned thing?"

"Could you set me up with Sirius when you're all cozy with James?"

"Audrey, for the last time, I will not be going anywhere near James, do you hear me?" shouted a frustrated Lily, finally pulling the nightgown all the way over her head and stumbling into her bed.

"Fine, then can I have him?"

-----

"Look at the bright side," reasoned Sirius. "Like it or not, she still has to spend five-hundred percent more time with you this year than she ever has before…Right, Jamesie-Poo?"

"Sirius, if you call me that one more time, I will hex you into oblivion with no guilty repercussions."

"Anything but my hair," begged the boy considered by all to be James' brother. "My beautiful, wavy, black locks," he whimpered.

"Christ, why do I talk to you?" thought James aloud.

"Because you love me, Jamesie," laughed Sirius. "Plus, you are nothing without me."

"No," argued James. "The one thing I am nothing without is…Lily."'

"Oh please," snorted Sirius. "You can't be so sure about that…You've hardly ever talked to her. Also, being so dependent on her is a weakness, James, and you're not supposed to have those. Now let's get to bed."

But James could not help thinking, If loving Lily is weak, I'm just as good as the next eighty-year old woman.