Author's Note: I do not own Harry Potter. If I did, I would be on vacation somewhere tropical with air conditioning instead of roasting in a tiny dorm room without even a fan!
So, as I promised, here is the second chapter! Thanks to all of you who have followed and especially to OliveTreeHugger for the review! Enjoy!
The train was gleaming before Lily as she made her way through the barrier between platforms nine and ten at Kings Cross Station. She had just said good-bye to her parents outside the barrier, and although she was exited to get back to Hogwarts, she felt a little sad about not seeing her parents for the next few months. The sun shone down on her classmates who were clustered in groups clutching trunks and owl cages. It was a hot August day and as she searched through the crowd for her friends, she couldn't help but smile to herself. There was always something just so incredible about the train ride to Hogwarts, she thought to herself. After months away from the wizarding world, it felt like she was finally going home.
She had just spotted her best friends Carrie and Hannah standing near the entrance to the train and was about to make her way to them when she felt a hard shove from behind. Lily knocked into the handle of the trolley she had been using to push her trunk and toppled over it. She lay on the ground with the wind knocked out of her, and all she could think was that she was going to murder James Potter. He was standing over her looking arrogant as ever with his smirking smile. Or maybe that was her second thought. Her first thought was of Potter without his shirt on. She'd been having the same stupid dream of Potter carrying her out of a burning building without his shirt on for the past week. She stopped herself before she got too carried away. She knew too much to give in to those kinds of thoughts.
"I always knew you would fall for me one day," James said arrogantly, running his fingers through his hair, messing it even more than it already was. Lily was about to call it cute before she remembered. A deep frown fell over her features.
"The day I fall for you, Potter, is the day that I need to be checked into St. Mungos!" Lily shot from the ground. It wasn't quite as scathing as she had hoped it to be, but she was still recovering her breath. And her sanity.
"Maybe you should be sent there until you come to your senses and say yes to me," James said, that smirking grin that irritated her so much plastered over his face. He did, however, lean down and offer Lily his hand, which she pointedly ignored and stood up on her own.
"Potter," Lily fumed, unable to think coherently with anger building up in her body.
"Relax, Evans. It was a joke," James said, still smirking.
"Well, I don't have the time for this. I have people that I actually want to talk to," she said, walking towards Hannah and Carrie.
"Did you see that?" she fumed as she reached her friends. They masked their laughter as much as they could, but Lily still noticed.
"Lily, you and Potter are going to kill each other one day," Hannah said.
"Yeah, well let's just hope I kill him before he kills me," she said, turning to look at him. He and his Marauder friends were laughing and shoving each other. They were so immature! James caught Lily's eye and smirked at her. She didn't have to guess what he was thinking. He was no doubt thinking that she was obsessed with him. She shot him a frown and turned back to her friends.
"Can we talk about something else besides bloody Potter? He's all you ever talk about!" Carrie whined.
"That is not even true! I wouldn't waste my time even thinking about him! That troll thinks that every girl in our bloody school is in love with him! Well, I'll show him that he is the most foul, loathsome, boring," Lily protested loudly.
"And you're still doing it!" Carrie insisted.
"Fine, so what'd you guys do yesterday?" Lily asked, guiding her friends onto the train to find an empty compartment. She hovered their trunks behind them so she didn't have to lug them through the train. She saw several first years trying to do just that and smiled to herself, remembering when she was that age.
"My mum got really sentimental all of a sudden yesterday. She told me all about her seventh year and how she got together with my dad. It was kind of like you and Potter. They despised each other before!" Hannah said.
"I guess that means there's hope for you and Potter, huh Lily?" Carrie asked pointedly.
"Not in this lifetime! And I thought we weren't going to talk about him anymore," Lily said, finally finding an empty compartment and opening the door.
"Sorry, that was necessary," Carrie said, laughing.
"Then maybe it's necessary to say that things will finally work out between you and Sirius, Carrie," Lily said, laughing.
"Eww, I hate that pea-brained, immature, arrogant," Carrie began, getting more heated as she went on.
"And now you understand how I feel when you say I like Potter," Lily said.
"But you do," Hannah said quickly.
"I do not! Now please, let's talk about something else. I only have a few minutes before I have to go to the Prefect's compartment to meet the Head Boy," Lily said, a big grin plastered across her face.
"Who do you think it will be?" Hannah asked.
"The better question is, who do you hope it will be?" Carrie asked.
"I don't know. Maybe Jared Orson," Lily said, smiling as she thought about the gorgeous Ravenclaw Captain.
"Lily, that guy is as dumb as rocks. There's no way he made Head Boy," Hannah laughed.
"The question was who I hoped the Head Boy would be, and I definitely wouldn't mind sharing a bathroom and common room with Jared," Lily said, plopping down on the seat in the compartment.
"Doesn't he have a girlfriend?" Carrie asked. She had an amused expression on her face.
"Yeah," Lily muttered, remembering Amber, his highly annoying girlfriend.
"But maybe after a few nights of living with Lily, he would dump her," Hannah said.
"But he won't make Head Boy," Lily said, flopping back in her seat with a mock sigh.
"You better get going, Lily. You don't want to be late to meet the man of your dreams," Carrie said.
"Here's hoping that he won't be a troll!" Lily said, throwing the door to the compartment open and smiling at her friends once more before strolling down the hall to the Prefect's compartment.
"Good luck," both girls called after her.
Lily got to the Prefect's compartment and saw that it was empty. She walked in and took a seat, pulling out the book she had brought with her. She hoped the new Head Boy wouldn't be late all the time. Lateness was something that really annoyed Lily. Before long, Lily was sucked into her book and didn't hear the compartment door open. She didn't realize that anyone else was in the room until someone cleared their throat directly above her. She jumped instantly and without thinking smacked the boy in front of her in the head with her book. In her defense, she had been reading a murder mystery novel where the young Auror was being chased by the murderer. It was a very tense time to realize someone was looming over her.
"Oi! What'd you do that for?" Potter called from where he was standing, rubbing the side of his head. Lily had been ready to apologize repeatedly until she saw it was Potter. She just glared at him instead.
"If you don't want to get hit then you shouldn't try to scare people like that," Lily said, picking up her book and resuming her reading.
"I wasn't trying to scare you at all! I had been standing in front of you for five minutes," James said. The side of his head was really throbbing. If Lily had any interest in Quidditch he would bet that she would make a great beater.
"Well, if you're expecting an apology you can just forget it, because it was your fault," Lily said, still pretending to read.
"Like I'd ever expect you to apologize for anything," James said, snorting in disbelief.
"And what is that supposed to mean?" Lily asked indignantly, throwing her book down and charging towards James.
"Nothing, just that if you ever admitted you were wrong about anything, I'd throw myself off the Astronomy tower in shock," James said, his eyes wide.
"Oh, please, let me help you," Lily said, pushing James on the arm. It was quite a shock when tingles ran up and down her arms at the contact with James. She stood next to him with her hands still touching his arm and she stared up into his gorgeous eyes and felt herself start to blush.
"How about you just admit that you've been wrong about me all along," James said in a joking tone to mask just how serious he was. He was under the same spell as Lily and he seemed unable to extricate his gaze from her emerald eyes.
"I," she began, her brain going fuzzy from the tingling that was now running up her entire body.
"You?" James asked, his smile widening. His Lily was finally on the verge of admitting that she had always liked him.
All of a sudden, the door to their compartment bust open and the Marauders and Lily's two best friends entered. Lily jumped back, grateful for the interruption. If her friends and those awful Marauders hadn't interrupted them, Lily was fairly sure that she would have done something she would undoubtedly regret for the rest of her life. James, on the other hand, was more upset than he'd ever been. Things were finally about to work out between the two of them and his friends had to just go and ruin it!
"Hey Lily, so who's Head Boy?" her friends asked simultaneously as they entered the room.
"You?" James repeated, entirely focused on Lily, hoping that she would ignore their friends and that they could continue where they had left off.
"I've never been wrong in my life, Potter, and I've certainly never been wrong about you! You are the most arrogant, inconsiderate git that I've ever met! Now get away from me!" Lily yelled at him.
"So I take it she isn't exactly thrilled. I told you, Prongs," Sirius said, chuckling to himself. He walked over to the bench and sank down on it. He lounged on it the way guys that think they're way too cool lounge on anything they're sitting on.
"I actually hadn't gotten around to telling her yet, Pads," James said, shooting a look that clearly said 'get out.'
"Oh, this is going to be good. I'm glad I didn't miss the big reveal," Sirius said, ignoring the daggers that James was staring at him.
"Too bad the trolley hasn't come by yet. Some chocolate frogs would make this moment even more perfect," Peter said, following Sirius into the compartment and attempting to lounge on the bench like Sirius but failing.
"Um, Pads, I think James wants us to leave," Remus, always the most considerate Marauder, said from where he was still hovering in the doorway.
"I've got a great idea, why don't you all leave? I'm waiting for the new Head Boy," Lily said, attempting to shoo the Marauders out the door. She didn't make the mistake of touching James again. Whatever had passed between them before must be avoided at all costs.
"He's already here," Sirius said, smiling at the fact that he was able to make the big reveal.
"Where? Oh, of course, Remus. I'm so glad you were made Head Boy," Lily began, walking towards him. Ok, so Remus wasn't Jared, and he was a Marauder, but he was at least the most responsible Marauder. And he was sort of cute in a scruffy kind of way.
"Sorry, Lily, but I didn't make Head Boy," Remus said with a hesitant look on his face.
"Is he in the hallway then?" Lily asked.
"I'm afraid not, Evans," Sirius said, chuckling.
"Surely Dumbledore didn't make you Head Boy!" Lily said in a panicked voice, staring at Sirius in disbelief. Everyone in the room besides Sirius snorted.
"Is that really so hard to believe?" Sirius asked, pretending to be offended.
"Yes!" everyone shouted at once.
"Some friends you are," Sirius muttered to the crowd.
"Hey, don't you dare ever call me your friend, Black!" Carrie shot.
"I wouldn't dream of it!" Sirius said.
"So, then, who is this mysterious Head Boy?" Hannah asked.
"I'll give you a hint, it's someone in this room," Sirius said, smirking again.
"Peter?" Lily asked. Sure, the boy was kind of pathetic and spineless, but Peter would be a lot more tolerable than Potter, the only other boy in the room.
"No," Peter said, laughing a shaky laugh.
"So that leaves," Carrie began, trailing off once she saw the murderous look on Lily's face.
"Potter!" Lily screamed, whipping around to face him. In all the frenzy of activity, James had hung back, still absorbed in thoughts about what had almost happened between him and Lily.
"Hi there, Evans," James said, smiling down at her.
"Don't give me that! Please tell me your friends are joking," Lily pleaded.
"Sorry, Evans. I'm Head Boy. I even have the badge to prove it," he said, taking it out of his pocket. Sure enough, Lily saw that he held the Head Boy badge in his hand.
"How could this happen to me?" Lily asked, sinking onto the floor and covering her head with her hands. Hannah and Carrie sank down beside her and put their arms around her shoulders.
"It could be worse Lily," Hannah said cheerfully. She was the quietest of the group but she was also the most optimistic.
"How?" Lily asked.
"It could be Snape," Carrie suggested. Lily shuddered, remembering the last interaction she had had with her old best friend.
"I guess Potter is slightly better than Snape," Lily agreed, although this thought didn't cheer her up a whole lot.
"You guys do realize that I'm right here and I can hear what you're saying," James said.
"You're right, Lily, he is rude and arrogant!" Carrie said loudly.
"You should talk," Sirius began.
"Excuse me, Black. Don't make me even start on you. I don't want to have to spend the rest of my life saying all the insults that apply to you," Carrie yelled.
"Wow, sounds like someone's a little obsessed with me," Sirius said, smirking down at Carrie.
"Black, get out of my sight before I push you off the train!" Carrie threatened, jumping up from the floor.
"You know what your problem is? You always have to be in everyone else's business! Just let Prongs and Evans work it out themselves," Sirius bellowed.
"Oh, because you never get involved in other people's business!" Carrie yelled, practically in Sirius's face.
"Oi! That's enough you two!" James cut in, trying to pull Sirius away from Carrie.
"Shut it, Potter!" Carrie screamed at him.
"Don't yell at Prongs! It's you that has the problem!" Sirius yelled at her.
"Carrie, Black, stop it!" Lily said quietly, putting a hand on Carrie's arm, trying to get her to calm down.
"It's not me that has the problem! It's you!" Carrie screamed, ignoring Lily.
"Alright, everyone but Evans, get out! Right now!" James said, grabbing Sirius's arm and dragging him towards the door.
"Lily? You're not going to let him kick me out, are you?" Carrie asked.
Lily sighed, feeling frustrated. There were too many things going on right now for her to worry about Carrie and her issues with Black. It probably would be easier to deal with this Potter situation if Carrie wasn't there to remind her how much she hated him.
"Carrie, maybe Potter is right?" Lily began seriously, but the end of the sentence came out as more of a question. Carrie stared incredulously at Lily, daring her to think about what she had just said.
"You did not just take Potter's side over mine! You hate him!" Carrie turned on Lily.
"Carrie, come on," Hannah said, grabbing her arm.
"I'll see you guys later," Lily said, feeling miserable now that Carrie was mad at her. Carrie and Lily both had such stubborn temperaments that whenever they got into a fight, it was always a while before they made up and went back to being friends.
"Don't expect me to save you a place at the Gryffindor table," Carrie said, slamming the door as she stomped down the hallway.
Lily curled her arms around her legs and hid her face, wondering what else could go wrong. She had almost kissed her sworn enemy, who then turned out to be the new Head Boy, and her best friend was mad at her. It wasn't even the first day of the term and already she wished it was all over. If things were starting out this way she could only imagine how awful everything would be in a few months when she was being hammered with the stress of studying for the N.E.W.T.s and trying to figure out what she wanted to do for the rest of her life. Lily felt her life crashing down around her as she thought about leaving Hogwarts for the last time at the end of the year.
"Evans?" James asked quietly from above her. Lily was shocked at the gentle tone to his voice. She was sure she hadn't ever heard it that way before.
"What?" Lily asked in an irritated tone, speaking into her knees.
"Are you ok?" he asked just as gently.
"What do you think?" she asked, raising her head to look at him. He was sitting next to her on the floor with a purposeful space in between them. James knew that if he sat too close she would just get angry at him again.
"You don't look so happy," he observed, his hazel eyes filled with concern.
"How did you expect me to be? Did you expect me to jump up and down with excitement?" she asked.
"No," he admitted. He was making circles with his finger in the carpet, not looking at Lily.
"Then how did you think this would go?" she asked.
"Honestly, the same, except without the Sirius/Carrie battle. Their fighting is so annoying!" he said, shaking his head.
"Do you think they think that about us?" Lily asked, a rueful smile on her face.
"Merlin I hope not! For one thing, you come up with much better comebacks than Carrie, and I'm much more attractive than Padfoot, so you forgive me much easier," James said.
"Potter, can you seriously go more than five minutes without reminding me what an arrogant git you are?" Lily asked, but she was laughing now instead of yelling, a change that James really appreciated.
"Maybe, but don't tell anyone. I wouldn't want to ruin my reputation," he said, his dimples appearing as he smiled at Lily. She sighed involuntarily.
"What will being Head Boy do to that reputation?" Lily asked in mock concern.
"Well, don't worry! I'll have to throw twice as many parties to make sure people don't think I'm taking the job too seriously," he said. As soon as the words were out of his mouth he realized that they were a mistake. One glance at Lily and he realized that their few seconds of amiable conversation had been completely ruined.
"Potter!" Lily screamed. For a minute there she had forgotten that she was talking to arrogant, immature Potter. For a minute she had been thinking that maybe Potter had actually matured over the summer. She scolded herself for letting her guard down. Potter would always be the person who knew how to irritate her like no other, and if she was smart she would stay as far away from him as possible.
"What? It was a joke. You need to relax, Evans. All that stress isn't healthy," he said, leaning over and ruffling her hair.
"If you want me to relax then you should not mess with my hair!" Lily said, her anger rising. She didn't like when people told her to relax and she REALLY didn't like it when people messed with her hair!
"Oh, come on, you like when I do this," he said, reaching over to ruffle her hair again.
"Potter! Get your hand away from my hair if you know what's good for you!" Lily said, jumping up from the floor and dodging James's hand.
"Evans, you need to have some fun!" James said, chasing her around the compartment.
"And you need to get out of my sight!" Lily screamed.
"Evans, you're not really mad at me again," James said, getting irritated.
"Potter, you have three seconds!" Lily shook with anger.
"We're going to have to live and work together this year. Don't you think we should try to get along?" James asked.
"No, I don't. I think you should just stay away from me!" Lily said.
"Fine I'm going," James grumbled, getting up and slamming the door on his way out. That girl made him so mad sometimes that he couldn't even think! His anger consumed him and after a while of blindly pacing down the hallway he stopped and he turned back to the compartment to blast her one more time. What right did she have to kick him out of the compartment that was half his? But before he opened the door he caught the sight of her. She was sitting on the floor again, head in her hands, shaking with sobs.
Quietly he opened the door and stuck his head in. He wasn't really sure what to do. He wasn't really used to dealing with crying girls. Should he go sit next to her again? Should he put his hand on her shoulder? What would happen if he tried to hug her?
"What do you want now?" she said shakily, although he could tell that she was trying her best to mask the fact that she was crying.
"I just wanted you to know that I'll save you a seat at the Gryffindor table," he said, before closing the door quietly and going to find his friends. Maybe there was some pre-term prank they could plan.
AN: So, I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Let me know what you liked/didn't like. I promise that I will have the next chapter up very soon! I am one of those impatient persons that hate waiting for a new chapter/the next book in a series to come out, so I will try my best to get at least a chapter up a week, maybe more if it isn't too busy at work. Well, don't forget to review on your way out and happy fanficing!
Love,
LittleMissKrissy