AN: I own nothing

Chapter Five

Lily waited in dread in the Prefect's Compartment on the train. She had been the first one there, but after a while a few Prefect's trotted in. Lily gave a weak smile to each, acknowledging them. When the train started moving Lily looked up in amazement. Maybe she was mistaken after all, if he wasn't here by now then surely...

The door slid open and interrupted her thoughts. There stood the enemy. "Sorry I am late guys. Let's get started." James said enthusiastically.

"Potter. Don't you think that maybe, as Head Boy, you should be on time for once in your life on the first day?" Lily scolded James, and after receiving a seemingly sincere look of shame from James she turned on the Prefects and explained their job descriptions to them.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

"So…" James looked at Lily anxiously. They were completing their shift of rounds on the train together, before returning to their separate compartments. He received a rather hostile look from Lily that told him he better play down his joking demeanor, so he continued to ask, "How was your summer?" rather than will you go out with me?

"My summer Potter, was fine… Until a rather unpleasant letter came in the mail, telling me I was Head Girl." Lily spoke through clenched teeth. James seemed taken aback.

"Didn't you want Head Girl?" he asked incredulously.

"Of course I did!" she answered with force, turning to face him, making him stop in his tracks, "I just didn't want you to be Head Boy!"

"Oh." Was all James could manage, his eyes wide. He looked down as she began walking again and finished lamely with, "I'm sorry Lily. I didn't realize that you hated me that much."

"Not sure how I could make it any clearer Potter. I only tell you about a dozen times a day. I don't understand how they could have chosen you. And my name is Evans to you." She said 'you' like it was a disgusting cuss word. James cringed, but decided to try and sympathize.

"I was surprised myself Lil- I mean Evans. I thought they must have made a mistake, but my mum, she is on the board see, and I knew right away it wasn't a mistake. I mean I am not exactly the type of person they pick for this, you know?" James joked, but by the look on Lily's face she did indeed know. "I even considered turning it down you know, but my mother said it would have made my father proud." James smiled at the aghast look that Lily displayed by the thought of turning a Head position down.

Lily and James walked in silence for a moment. Each chewing over what they had said. Suddenly Lily stopped. "Your father would have been proud… Potter?" Lily asked quietly. James looked rather embarrassed for a moment, and looked away as he answered.

" Yeah… my father, he passed away in early June." James muttered. Now it was time for Lily to feel humbled. She felt like kicking herself.

"Oh. I… I'm…I am so sorry James." Lily hung her head, but James just stared down at her, smiling. She had called him James!

"No problem Lily." He tested her, but she let it slide. "Shall we go and exchange the shift with the Ravenclaw Prefects?" He asked, to which she nodded eagerly, and they headed off.