Last Chance

Chapter three: Encounters

Lily felt as though someone had just shoved her into her worst nightmare. Today she was supposed to be shopping with her friends, but instead, she was shopping with her friends and the marauders. It had been Daniela's bright idea to invite the boys to join them, because she knew that Lydia liked Remus, and Madeline had a crush on Sirius.

The afore mentioned pairs were walking side by side, talking nervously amongst each other. It was common knowledge at Hogwarts that Lily hated James. It was also common knowledge that James would do anything in the world to go out with Lily. Daniela walked awkwardly alongside Peter; she didn't like him much. Lily and James, being the only two left with no one to walk with, were stuck together, much to James' delight and Lily's misfortune. Daniela threw Lily and apologetic glance. Lily glared at her for a moment, and then softened her gaze. She would get through the day as well as she could for her friends' sakes. She was the only one that had any problems with the boys.

Ever since their first year at school, James had asked Lily to every dance, every trip to Hogsmead and anywhere else he could. And every time Lily said no. Lily had turned James down seven hundred and ninety-eight times (James had been keeping count). But this year, James was determined to win her over. He had sworn to his friends that if he asked her out for the eight hundredth time and she still refused, he would give up. James only had two more chances to ask, and he wanted more than anything for her to say yes.

Over the summer, he had made a list of all the things he had heard Lily say that she hated about him. His inflated ego, his cockiness, his pranks, his immaturity… it had been a rather long list. James had tried his best to change, with Sirius's help of course, and he was sure that if Lily saw just how much he had changed for her in such a short amount of time, that she would give him a chance.

Sirius tapped the bricks in the courtyard and the wall opened to reveal a busy street, bustling with witches and wizards.

"Where to first?" Lydia asked.

Lily pulled her copy of the supplies list from her pocket and glanced at it. "Well, why don't we go where we have to get the least amount of stuff first?" she said.

James nodded, "Yeah, that way we don't have to carry around a load of books all day." Lily mentally shook her fist at him. He was agreeing with her, and she did not want that. Everyone else agreed, though, and they decided to stop at Gringotts to replenish their money supplies.

A few speeding, underground cart rides later, the group stood in the bright sunshine again.

"Where to first?" Sirius asked.

"How about the Apothecary? We don't really need to buy too much there." Madeline suggested.

They went to the Apothecary and restocked their potions supplies. From there they went to Eeylops Owl Emporium to get owl treats and the Magical Menagerie for cat treats.

"Anyone need new robes?" Lydia asked. James, Sirius, Remus and Daniela raised their hands. They had each grown at least four inches over the summer, and their robes barely reached their ankles.

"Off to Madam Malkin's, then." Lily said.

When they had finished buying their new robes, Sirius declared that it was time for lunch. Remus rolled his eyes, "Always stuffing your face, aren't you?"

"Why yes, yes I am." He childishly stuck out his tongue and ran off to Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlour. The others followed him, chatting merrily about the coming school year. All of them, except for Lily and James.

The group of seventh year students pushed two tables together in order to accommodate their number. James sat down in the chair next to Lily and grinned as he handed her a cone of chocolate fudge ice cream. Her favourite.

Lily curtly thanked him and took the ice cream, muttering, "Honestly, how someone could call this lunch…"

It was nearing five o'clock in the afternoon when they finally returned to the Leaky Cauldron. They were exhausted from walking and carrying their bags. The four girls said their goodbyes, as did the marauders. Remus hugged Lydia before taking a handful of Floo powder and vanishing into the green flames. Sirius glanced at the girls awkwardly before following Remus into the fire; James and Lily were glaring in opposite directions, and Lily had her arms crossed.

James had a plan. He needed to distract her. "By the way Evans, did I tell you that I'm Head Boy?"

It worked. Lily stood, shock etched across her face. James took his chance and leaned in to kiss her while she was too dumbstruck to act. He gave her a crooked grin, and disappeared after Sirius.

Lily's friends glanced at her warily, worried that she would explode at any moment. Peter thought it best to leave before Lily came out of her daze, so he moved to the fireplace and grabbed a handful of Floo powder from a porcelain pot beside the fireplace. He muttered a quick goodbye before he was engulfed in the bright green flames.

With the marauders gone, the girls could sit Lily down and talk her out of doing anything rash. Daniela pushed a chair up behind Lily so that Lydia and Madeline could lower her carefully into it.

"Lily?" Madeline asked cautiously.

She snapped out of her trance, "What the bloody hell is Dumbledore thinking?" she whispered, "He can't possibly expect me to work with- with that arrogant jerk for the whole year!"

"Lily, whatever Dumbledore's thinking, he must have some reason. I mean, Dumbledore wouldn't make a mistake in picking the Heads…" Lydia trailed off.

"That's it. It must be a mistake. I'll talk to Dumbledore before the feast on Monday…" Lily muttered hysterically, rocking back and forth in her chair.

"Lily? Lily, calm down. It can't possibly be that bad. He seemed more… mature today that I've ever seen him before. Maybe he changed over the summer. Maybe things will be different this year." Daniela said.

"Yeah," Lydia agreed with Daniela, "yeah, maybe you'll even give the guy a chance this year."

Lily glared at her. "I will never, absolutely never, give James Potter the time of day."

"But Lily, what if he really has changed?"

"Maddie, he hasn't changed and he never will."

"Come on Lily, that's what I said about Remus, remember? I thought he'd never show any kind of maturity or decency whatsoever, but now look at us. I really think he might ask me out this year."

"But Remus is the only responsible one, anyway!" Lily shouted, "Potter is absolutely nowhere near responsible! He'll leave me to do all of the work while he's off playing games with Sirius!"

"Lily, don't make assumptions." Daniela said.
"Why the hell not?"

Madeline caught on and said with a smirk, "Haven't you ever heard? When you assume, you make an ass out of you and me."

Lily threw her hands up in frustration and turned to leave. "Fine. I won't make assumptions, but I won't be naïve either. James Potter is still James Potter. And nothing can change that. I'll see you all on the train." And with that she left, leaving three stunned girls in her wake.

The whole drive home, Lily tried to picture the upcoming year. Would James actually be responsible, or would she have to work alone? What if he really had changed? What if they actually began to get along? What if...?

[A/N]: Review, please. :]