A/N: Thanks to all who read/reviewed/favorite my story! I do truly appreciate it, and please keep it up! I love reviews like mad! Now, forget my lunatic ravings and enjoy!

Disclaimer: I own nothing you recognize.

Chapter Three: Back To Hogwarts

Lily Evans stepped off the Hogwarts Express with her friends. The castle loomed in the darkness, and the sight almost took her breath away.

"I can't believe it's our final year." she said. Dorea stepped up next to her.

"I know. It's crazy. Remember all those times we complained about being here?" Dorea said as she pushed her brown hair behind her ears. "This year will be all over before we know it."

"Oh, don't say that!" Lily said, "I want this year to last. I have a feeling a lot is going to change this year…"

Dorea nodded as Alice and Frank joined them. The found a carriage together, and in a few moments were on their bumpy way to their final year at school.

"I never would have believed that James Potter would be picked to be Head Boy." Alice laughed. "Perhaps it's a conspiracy against you, Lily."

Lily rolled her eyes. "I doubt that, Alice. Dumbledore must have a reason, despite the fact that it makes no… sense what so ever."

"Well everyone knows that ol' Albus is slightly mad." Frank said, "My mum says that even when she was a kid they said that."

"The best of us have a touch of madness." Lily grinned. She took out her wand and lazily made bubbles come out of it.

"Including yourself, Evans." Dorea grinned. Lily rolled her eyes and put her wand away. The carriage came to a halt. "We're here."

Lily climbed out of the carriage and looked up to her home, because, really, this is what she considered home. Granted, she loved the little cottage she and her family lived in, but ever since Petunia had decided to hate her, it wasn't as much as a home as Hogwarts had become. In Hogwarts, she was normal, accepted (for the most part, if you didn't include the blood-obsessed Slytherins), and loved. She had friends, she had the Head Girl position, she had happiness.

The Sorting went quickly, Lily noted: there seemed to be less new students this year than ever before. When she pointed this out to Alice, the girl solemnly said that it was probably due to all the hate crimes towards Muggles, blood traitors, and Muggleborns. This thought made her sad. So many potential students were being denied a true and excellent education because some nut job decided everyone who wasn't a pure blood wasn't worth it. Lily was pulled out of her thoughts by the Hogwarts Headmaster, Albus Dumbledore, stood up to give his annual beginning of the year speech.

"Welcome back, Hogwarts students. To those who are just joining us, welcome to your education here at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. I simply have a few rules and announcements to make before the excellent feast prepared for us." Dumbledore said. Everyone's eyes and ears were turned to him. "The Forbidden Forest, is, of course, forbidden. The only time you may enter the forest is if you're accompanied by a teacher. We also have a new caretaker this year: please graciously welcome Argus Filch." Lily turned to look at the new caretaker. He was a mean looking little man, with dark eyes and angry blotches in his cheeks. He looked very bitter, and a dust colored cat was weaving itself around his ankles. Lily, along with most of the students, politely clapped.

"Now, for my final parting words." Dumbledore continued. "In perilous times, a house cannot stand divided. Neither, for that matter, can a school. In a time of such hatred and fear, I must beg you-all of you- to join together in an alliance against the evils of our world. We must be bound to all things good and pure. We must allow ourselves to love." Their Headmaster said with urgency. "I will not keep you any longer, although I ask for you to think seriously about what I have said. On with the feast!"

Dumbledore clapped his hands, and a wondrous feast appeared on the long tables before them all. It never ceased to entertain Lily, and the oohs and aahs of the first years made it that much more, well, magical.

Meanwhile…

"Score! We got three more new students than Slytherin. That shows you which house is better." Sirius grinned.

James laughed at his best mate. "What do you think Dumbledore will talk about?" he asked.

Remus shrugged. "Probably something along the lines of uniting the school against Voldemort, you know. What else can he really say?"

"I don't care what he says, as long as it's short and we get to eat soon." Peter said, rubbing his always growling stomach. His friend's laughed and waited for their Headmaster to give his speech.

James still couldn't believe that Dumbledore had given him the Head Boy position. He almost felt bad about it, actually, because he knew Remus had always dreamt of getting it himself. When James expressed his remorse to his friend, Remus simply told him that he understood why he wasn't given the position, and that he was in full support of James acquiring the position. "It'll do you good to have some responsibility." Remus had said, "And it's better that it went to you and not some Slytherin git." The only truly good thing about gaining the position was its payoffs: he got to be out after hours, he had full use of the prefect's bathrooms, and of course there was the cherry on top of it all, Lily Evans was Head Girl.

Dumbledore stood up to make his announcements, and James's eyes were drawn to not the caretaker, but to the red-headed beauty who had captivated his attention years ago. He watched as her nose scrunched at the sight of the new caretaker, but she clapped anyway for him. He noticed how her hair had gotten longer, and how her eyes were especially bright that day. As happy as he was admiring Lily, he pulled his thoughts away from her as the noble Headmaster went on to the more serious aspects of his speech. When he was finished, Sirius snorted loudly.

"He's always going on about love." He said, pulling mounds of food towards him and loading his golden plate up. "Fat chance getting the Slytherin's to love anything other than Voldemort and blood statuses."

"Yes, well, I thought it was a very good speech." Remus said, also putting food on his plate. "Hopefully people will take his words to heart. This war is getting nastier and nastier by the day. Did you notice Mary Drowd isn't here? Apparently, her father angered some Death Eaters, and the word is that she's gone into hiding."

"Bloody bastards." James said before biting into his chicken. Both Remus and Sirius nodded. Peter was shoving his mouth full with mashed potatoes. By the time that dinner was finished and James had stuffed himself with everything from chicken to ham to pudding, he was quite tired and couldn't wait to climb into bed. However, a small second year boy came over to him, a rolled piece of parchment in his hand.

"Professor Dumbledore told me to give this to you." The boy gulped. He looked as though he thought James would hit him.

"Thanks." James said before breaking open the letter. The boy squeaked and dashed off.

"I swear they're getting smaller." Sirius muttered. "What's the note say, Prongs?"

James read aloud;

"Mr. Potter,

In light of your new position as Head Boy, I would like for you to meet with me after the feast. Please inform Miss Evans of this. I need to discuss with you in person some of the responsibilities of your new position and authority.

With all warmth and sincerity,

Professor Dumbledore

P.S. I enjoy red licorice."

"He is mad." Sirius said, shaking his head. "Why in the world would he include the fact that he likes red licorice?"

"It's the password to his office, you dolt." James said, rolling his eyes and pocketing the roll of parchment. "I'll go tell Lily." He got up and made his way over to where Lily and her friends were sitting. "Lily, we have to meet Professor Dumbledore in his office." James told her. She turned around.

"Oh, alright." She said. "I'll see you guys later." She said to her friends. She turned to James. "Did he give you the password to his office?"

"Yeah, it's red licorice." He said. Lily stood up beside him, and he was struck with how much taller he had become over the summer.

"Alright, well, let's go then." She said. They started their walk to the office, moving against the tide of students that were heading up to their warm beds.

"Can you believe this is our final year?" He asked her when they finally broke through the mass of students. Lily shrugged.

"In a way." She said. "It had to of come sooner or later."

"Mhm…" James drifted off. He couldn't believe Lily had given him a cordial, almost friendly answer. "Do you know what you want to do once you get out of here?"

Lily shrugged again. "I'm not sure yet. I had always fancied myself a Healer, you know, but with all the horrible things going on, I reckon I should work for the ministry in the charms department or something. That way I could try to help win this war against Voldemort and his dumb followers."

James was impressed. Not only had she said Voldemort's name when most grown wizards feared it, she was willing to change her career choice to help defeat Voldemort.

"What about you?" she asked, looking at him sideways.

"I've always wanted to be an Auror." He said, "Just like my dad, you know?"

Lily nodded. "I think you'll make a very good Auror." She said awkwardly. James could have done an Irish jig right then and there from happiness.

"Thank you, Lily." He smiled.

"You're welcome." She mumbled. "Um, we're here."

James turned to the gargoyle that marked the entrance to Dumbledore's office. "Red licorice." He said. The gargoyle leapt aside to reveal spiraling staircases. "Hm… it's funny. The only times you and I have ever been here, we were yelling at each other." James grinned. Lily smiled as well.

"Don't get too used to it, Potter." She said.

When they entered the office, Dumbledore was already seated behind his large desk. The room was filled with the excited chatter from the portraits and soft noises emitting from the instruments scattered around the beautiful office. Fawks, the professor's phoenix, gazed at them with his large eyes.

"James, Lily, please be seated." Dumbledore said, a wide smile on his face. "Lemon drop?" he offered.

"No thank you, sir." Lily said as she sat down. James took a few of the candies and sat down as well.

"Thank you for joining me tonight and congratulations on your new positions." Said Dumbledore, his fingers tips together. He peered at them through his half-moon glasses, a kind smile on his face. "As you read in your letters, you are expected to have a weekly meeting with the Prefects and each other once a week. You may discipline students that are out of line, within reason of course. You both can give and take away points, unlike the Prefects, and you may hand out Detentions without a teacher's supervision or permission beforehand. You are allowed to use the Prefects bathroom now, James, and you must patrol the hallways every night after curfew." Dumbledore said.

Both Lily and James nodded; they already knew this from the letter that was sent to them.

"Now, on to more serious matters…" Dumbledore leaned back into his high-backed chair. "We are surrounded by a war. People all around us are dying every day. Voldemort is targeting Muggles, Muggleborns, Blood Traitors, and everyone who disagrees with him. You both know this already." Lily and James both nodded again. Dumbledore sighed. "With times like these, it's easy for morale to get down. I fully expect the two of you to help keep our student's morale up, and to report to me if you hear any whispers of Death Eater activities within the school. I will not tolerate it."

"Nor should you have to, sir." James said. Lily turned to look at him. "These people are disgusting; thinking your 'blood status' makes you better than everyone else." James scowled.

"Exactly, Mr. Potter." Dumbledore sighed once more, but smiled at James. "I'm thankful to have students as noble as you, James, who think correctly and see the evil that is being conducted all around us."

James's cheeks were tinged pink by his headmaster's complimenting words. Lily smiled despite herself and her dislike of James. Perhaps he wasn't as immature as she thought…

"Please talk all of this to heart and lead by example. I have high expectations of you both, and fully expect you to be mature in your positions."

"Yes sir." Both students said.

"Excellent!" Dumbledore said. "Miss Evans, you are dismissed for the evening. Mr. Potter, please stay behind, I would like a word with you."

James gulped and Lily blinked. They hadn't been back to school for three hours and James was already in trouble.

"Good evening, sir and, um, James." said Lily before she left the office. James nervously fiddled with his wand. What could the Headmaster want with him?

"James, I bet you are wondering why I have put you, rather than Remus, in the Head Boy position." Dumbledore said.

"Well, yes, sir. To say I was a tad confused would be the biggest understatement of the century." James grinned. Dumbledore smiled back and James felt more at ease.

"I'm certain you were surprised. You see, James, I chose you for a very special reason. The majority of the student population has a great amount of respect and good feelings for you. You have brightened their days with your practical jokes and your sense of humor." James grinned sheepishly. "I did not choose Remus because of his condition. I'm sure Remus has already guessed this. Remus continues his Prefects duties, of course. I chose you, James because I expect your new responsibilities to mature you and to help your chances of becoming an Auror. You're a wonderful leader, and the students look up to you. You'll do well as Head Boy."

James's cheeks tinged pink again. "You overestimate me, sir." He mumbled.

"No, James, I do not think I do. You're going to be a great wizard someday, I am sure of this." said the Headmaster. He smiled again at James, and James couldn't help but smile back.

"Thank you, sir." James said. "That means a lot to me, coming from you."

"Good. Well, I won't hold you any longer, Mr. Potter. Goodnight."

James stood up, said goodnight to his Headmaster, and made his way to his dormitory.

It was certainly going to be an interesting year, he thought. Never in his wildest dreams did he think he would become Head Boy and have a civil friendship with Lily. He thought he had completely ruined his chances of both, but there was a light at the end of the tunnel. Not all was lost. He smiled to himself, thinking that maybe, just maybe, there was still a slight chance with Lily.

A new spring was put into James's step as he made his way to the Common Room.

A/N: Hey everyone! Thank you so much for reading, and please, please, please, please, PLEASE review! I love reviews, and they give me the inspiration to keep on writing.

I want to clear up a few things, however. I realized I messed up some stuff. I said that Remus was the only one of age, but I had already said that Sirius was 17. I also said in the letter to Lily declaring her Head Girl, that the Heads meeting would be after the Prefects meeting, but I messed that up too and made the Heads meeting before the Prefects meeting. Whoops! Just wanted to clear that up.

Love always,

Dorian K.