"What?!"
Lily shrugged on her robes. "You heard me. James is the Head Boy. And I forgot to wear my bloody robes for the meeting! What kind of first impression is that!" Lily was more irked about that than anything.
"James wasn't even a bloody prefect!" Marlene insisted. "Dumbledore can't break his own rules."
"I'm going to ask him about it at school," Lily told Marlene and Hestia, who had remained silent.
"How do you feel about this?" Hestia asked suddenly. Good old Hestia; always looking out for your feelings.
But this question stumped Lily. She didn't know. She realised that being more embarrassed over forgetting to wear her robes than being angry over James was completely out of the ordinary for her. "I feel fine," Lily said honestly. "I mean, it's not like he was a giant ass about it. He was great in the meeting; he led it perfectly even though he's never been witness to one."
"I bet Remus told him what to say," Marlene sniggered. Lily frowned.
"Maybe." But she didn't agree. Lily knew Remus' style. Proper, formal, to the point. James was… cheerful, humorous (but not too much), and polite.
Actually, that didn't sound like James at all, Lily remembered. James was arrogant, and cocky, and rude, and…
"Time to get off, Lily."
The Hogwarts feast was magnificent as always. Everyone at the Gryffindor table dug in with gusto after the Sorting, and the usual loud chatter filled up the Hall. The Marauders were at one end of the table, near the doors. Lily decided to sit at the front, next to the newly-sorted first years. There were very little of them this year.
But Lily was not very talkative to the first years, oh no. She was far too busy eyeing off Dumbledore, determined to understand why he would pick James. Dumbledore was (obviously, Lily thought suspiciously) not looking at her, and was very carefully keeping his eyes on his plate. Except for when he spoke to the other professors.
Eventually, dessert was over and Dumbledore rose to speak. Lily was very interested in what he had to say for himself.
"Hello, welcome, good to see you!" he began cheerfully. "I am very pleased to announce our new Head Boy and Head Girl for this year, James Potter and Lily Evans!" After polite applause, he continued. "To the first years, a wonderful year of learning awaits you. To the fifth and seventh years, I trust you will all be studying very hard for your upcoming OWLs and NEWTs." A stern look was sent to the Marauders, which caused many giggles at Gryffindor table. The marauders were never seen studying. "Now, Mr Filch has asked me to remind you of a few key school rules that many of you apparently seem to have forgotten, which includes no magic in the corridors, no wandering about the castle after curfew…"
Lily tuned Dumbledore out while looking attentive. It was a skill she had mastered long ago that no one had discovered.
Dumbledore not having anything to say about James' exception didn't surprise Lily. He would hardly give the entire school an explanation, especially when his say is final. He was probably planning something… but what?
"… Of which can be found attached to Mr Filch's door. Now, let us join together in song, the most beautiful form of magic! Choose your tune and away you go!"
He waved his wand and the school's awful lyrics floated into the sky as everyone belted out in song. Lily sang heartily – it was going to be the last time she ever sang the song, after all – and could distantly hear the Marauders singing to a marching tune. Almost afraid to turn around, Lily gathered her courage and slowly turned her head. They were marching, two by two with their steps in sync, down the Hall. Their arms were swinging and their noses in the air. Seemingly randomly, they pulled Gryffindor's off their chairs to join in their march. It was quite a spectacle which amused Lily until she realised they were heading for her. With a quick facial recognition, she realised all of the other seventh year Gryffindor's were marching as well. This warmed Lily's heart, and when James pulled Lily off her seat, she picked up their tune and marched with them. She fell into line next to James, who grinned at her and sang louder.
They managed to do a lap around the Gryffindor table, ending at the doors once the song had finished. The marauders bowed and ran from the hall, laughing the whole way. Not knowing what else to do, Lily followed suit, and so did the other girls. Distantly, they heard Dumbledore dismissing the school.
Lily completely forgot her promise to interrogate Dumbledore about his bad choice.