Disclaimer: I bet you can guess….
So What Am I so Afraid Of?
Chapter 4: Impossible/Impractical
Lily finished her dinner and turned sideways to continue her conversation with Bree and Quinn.
"I can't believe we already have Potions and Defense Against Dark Arts essays. You know McGonagall will give us more homework tomorrow, too."
Quinn sighed. "I know; it's the first day and I'm already tired of classes."
"You wanna know what I think," Bree began. "I'll tell you want I think. They expect far too much of us. I can't keep up!"
"Maybe if you stopped brushing your hair for a minute you might be able to get more done."
"Hello to you too, Black," Bree said turning to glare at Sirius who had just sat down, James alongside him.
"You ready, Lil? We've gotta go…"
"Yes, yes, I know…go meet Dumbledore. Thank you I can keep up," Lily answered swinging her bag over her shoulder. "I'll see you guys back at the dorm. Come on, James. We haven't got all night."
"She's in a good mood," James whispered to Bree and Quinn before following Lily out of the Hall.
"Come in," Professor Dumbledore said through the door.
Lily pushed open the door, and James followed her into the office.
"Welcome, and congratulations on being chosen Heads this year," Professor Dumbledore beamed at them.
"Thanks, sir," James replied sitting.
"Yes it's quite an honor," Lily responded.
"This year I'm sure you'll make one of the bests, but to ensure that, we need to discuss a few things tonight. First, patrolling. Someone needs to be patrolling the hallways every evening after hours. You'll take shifts. Each set of prefects will have four nights a week on which they have patrolling hours: two hours per night. Saturdays we will rotate; no one should have to work every Saturday." Dumbledore chuckled. "Professor McGonagall and I have already formulated timetable for that. This brings us to our next topic: Prefects Meetings. You'll need to have a meeting to distribute timetables."
"How often do we have to have meetings?" Lily asked.
"As often as you like, though I'd suggest no less than once a month," Professor Dumbledore answered.
"Once a month it is," James smiled.
"I think every two weeks would be best, James," Lily said, turning to stare at him.
"Nonsense, Lily," James said casually, "you're just being over zealous."
"No, James," Lily countered annoyed, "you're just being lazy."
"Lily, I hardly think we need to have a meeting every other week to say: 'Things are going great. Keep up the good work.'" James voice was rising.
"I think perhaps you two will settle this another time. Let's move on," said Professor Dumbledore, putting an end to that argument. "The last thing we need to address this session is the first Hogsmeade date. What would you suggest?"
Lily flipped open the organizer she carried in her bag. "How about September 27th?"
"That won't work. Witch Weekly's Annual Smile Awards are taking place. The place will be unbelievably packed," James informed.
"Oh, how silly of me," Lily said sarcastically, flipping the page in her calendar. "Okay, October 4th?"
"No!" James practically shouted. "It's the first Quidditch match!"
Fine!" Lily sighed. "October 11th. Final offer."
"I think that will do nicely. Wonderful suggestion." Dumbledore agreed. "Thank you for taking time to attend this meeting. I think we made some important decisions. Goodnight!"
By the time they reached the bottom of the stone gargoyle's steps, all Lily's anger was ready to be released. She rounded on James.
"Could you have agreed with one thing I said in there tonight?" She shouted, "or are you just trying to be difficult?"
"Sorry," James said lazily, "just trying to help."
"Trying to help? You were making ever thing impossible!"
"Why because I corrected your Hogsmeade dates and don't want meetings constantly?"
"That's not it, James. Look, I'm going to have to be Head Girl alongside you this year, and it is going to be a successful year. That means that I can't have you acting out and being Marauder-ish!"
James scoffed. "Marauder-ish? How dare you imply that my friends have anything to do with you being an insufferable control-freak!"
"You are impossible!"
"You are impractical!"
"Fine," Lily yelled.
"Fine," James yelled back, and both turned abruptly on their heel and stormed in the other direction.
"I despise James Potter!" Lily yelled stomping into her dorm room.
"Went that well, huh?" Bree smiled.
"He is an ignorant prat! He just sits there disagreeing with everything I have to say, smirking like an idiot, and acting like he's superior. Does he have a better, valid idea to offer? No! He's just being disagreeable. Git!"
"He likes you," Quinn put in.
"Oh please don't start," Lily said falling dramatically to her bed. "I'm going to sleep. G'night." Then she shut her curtains but could still be heard muttering under her breath.
"That girl is a basket-case!" James raged in the boys' dorm. "She just expects me to agree with her on everything."
"Ah, love is hard, isn't it, Prongs?" Sirius laughed.
"Please! She's too dense and self-absorbed to even notice that I like her. She's so self-centered it's sickening."
"And yet, you still wake up every morning for her," Remus said as he carefully folded his things and reorganized them in his trunk.
"I wish she'd get a clue!" James continued.
"She probably wishes you'd get one, too." Remus said reasonably.
(A/N: I think this is my shortest chapter, but it's got a little more going on and I'm about to type and post one more tonight. Review!! Any comments, critics, or questions? Thanks and love, Cali PS: Next chapter I intend to thank all my reviewers individually.)