Chapter 2: The Annoying Prat

Lily woke up bright and early. She slipped on jeans, a colored tee, and a zip up sweatshirt; it looked a little cold outside.

Glancing at her desk, a pin shimmered in the light. Head Girl, it spoke back to her. She could not believe that Dumbledore had chosen her as head girl when the letter arrived by owl only a few months earlier. Well, she thought she was a good student, a prefect, always obeyed the rules, but actually getting the letter was a realization to the point. Head Girl, Lily Evans. It was just so surreal to her.

I wonder who head boy is. She thought. Maybe William Bolynn, he's pretty smart…or maybe Scott Jovelin…oh god…I hope it's not potter. I don't know if I could handle a whole year in the same room with him! She grimaced at her own thoughts.

Lily Evans and James Potter were not friends, at least to her. In their fifth year, she caught and horribly witnessed the notorious "Marauders" humiliating poor Severus Snape in front of the whole school on school grounds. She never forgave James for that and all the other pranks and mean things he did to other students. And not to forget, the numerous times he asked her out every year. Now mentioning it, he asked her 5 times one day that year. She considered him filth and a horribly annoying prat of a boy. Lily would rather drink pig swallow than be caught with James Potter, let alone date him.

"Lily time to go or you'll be late!" he mom yelled up the stairs.

She jumped out of her trance and looked in the mirror.

What looked back was a young 17 year old girl with long, wavy red hair, entrancing emerald green eyes, a slightly round face, and a charming smile. She never found herself beautiful, but wasn't ever upset with her appearance. Flipping her hair back, adding some chap stick (she wasn't much of a make-up wearer), and pinning on her head girl badge, she grabbed her suitcase (which concealed her shrunken broom) and headed out of the house.

"There it is," Remus remarked as the four Marauders approached the waiting Hogwarts Express, "The last time we get to ride it to a new year."

"Oh Moony don't be so sentimental," Sirius squashed, "You'll make Peter cry." James laughed patting his friend on the back, Peter looked struck.

"Well, I would rather be on the warm train then out here freezing," he remarked. The four of them grabbed their suitcases and headed for the door.

"Oops!" James exclaimed as he bumped into a fourth year dropping his broom.

"Watch it!" she retorted. Whatever, he thought, bending down to pick up his broom. Standing up, a flash of red appeared before his eyes. Lily Evans and her friends, Alice Longbottom and Natalie Williams, were headed his way.

James suddenly couldn't move. Lily was so beautiful to him, no matter what she was wearing or what mood she was in. She always disagreed with him, turning him down every time he asked her out and usually finished that sentence with "Annoying Prat" or "Stupid Git" or something along those lines.

He just didn't understand why she didn't like him. James Potter was the most handsome, charming, fit, hot, amazing Quidditch athlete that roamed Hogwarts these days (besides Sirius of course). Girls would pay him to date, or even kiss him. But Lily Evans was different. She thought he was cocky, rude, annoying, and never liked being around him. He found her amazingly attractive and the whole school knew, whether she liked it or not. Was it because she was playing hard to get? Kept denying him? Or did she secretly like him and wouldn't admit it? James was stumped. He just wanted to her to be his so bad…

"Hey Evans," he said as the girls approached.

"Potter," she spat, "and where are the other Marauders? Making trouble?" Her eyebrow questioned him.

"I'm always trouble, Evans, you should know that by now," he gave her one of those smiles that made other girls melt.

"Ok firstly, I have a name, it's Lily, second, your charms don't work on me so don't even try," she pushed him out the way, attempting to get on the train, but tripped over his forgotten broom.

James lunged, catching her swiftly with his Quidditch reflexes, and lifting her back to her feet like a baby.

"Are you alright?" he asked looking into her eyes.

"I'm fine, Potter, if your broom wouldn't have been in the way…" she stopped tongue tied. Was this the same James that she knew? Seeing the Lily Evans fall on her face would have been a great story for about a week with this kid. But, no, he caught her, and not to mention, asked if she was ok.

"I'm fine," she blushed, darn red heads, she thought, and hurried on the train.

Natalie and Alice had been watching the whole time. The chemistry between the two of them was so obvious; if you couldn't see it you were so blind. They stood there watching the two with smirks on their faces. If their Quidditch plan didn't work, they didn't know what would.

"You caught her?" Sirius questioned stunned.

"Well…yes," James stammered back.

"That's exactly what I mean, Prongs," Remus added, looking up from his book, "What if you would have let her fall? She would have hated you forever."

"My best friend is turning into a romantic git!" Sirius moaned; fake swooning.

"Pipe down, Padfoot!" Remus scolded, "If you really want to be with her, I think that was a good way to start."

"But I didn't do anything special, I just caught her," he said confused.

"That's what Lily likes. She likes when people are themselves around her, not cocky, or stuck up, just themselves," he stared James down.

"You better not give up pranking, mate!" Sirius exclaimed, "The reason the Marauders exist is because of us four pranking our fellow students!"

"I wont be giving that up, Padfoot," James sighed, "I just want to change a little…ya know, for Lily."

Sirius stared at him in disbelief, while secretly Remus smiled.

"So Lily," Alice said, smiling, "You and James?"

"What? No! I just tripped and he caught me, probably out of selfless pity…"

"Is that denial? And rambling?" Natalie smirked, "I think you like him."

"I do not," Lily retorted.

"I mean he is the handsomest Quidditch player and male specimen at Hogwarts. Girls would kill to be in your shoes."

"Then they would be killing innocent people because I do not think the spot I am in is a very good one," she looked up, "Did you just call him a specimen?"

"Back on subject, Lils," Alice scolded causing Lily to be silent, "Do you or don't you?"

Lily looked out the window of their compartment and blushed slightly. She had always had a deep hatred for James Potter. But what he just did for her…had he changed? Was he going to be civil and treat people like they should be treated? She was so confused. She did not repeat did not like him, but what if he has changed?

Natalie and Alice looked at each other. Their friend was taking a long time to answer their oh-so important question. What was really going on inside this girls head? Hopefully thoughts about James Potter, since that was their goal.

"Lily?" Alice asked poking her. Lily jumped.

"Oh…um," she stammered blushing, "Well I do not like his cockiness, but maybe he's changed…ya know?"

The two girls smiled at each other, when she wasn't looking.

"I'll be right back," Natalie said, "I'm going to go find the trolley." She winked at Alice and left.

A soft knock interrupted their conversation.

"Who is it?" Sirius joked; his best girly voice.

The door opened and Natalie, Lily's friend, stepped in.

"Well hello gorgeous," Sirius grinned at her, "What service may we, I mean I, do for you?"

"Can it, Black," she retorted, "Remus, may I speak to you?"

Sirius' jaw dropped and he eyed Remus, suspiciously.

"Sure," Remus said exiting their compartment and going down the hall.

"So what did you want to talk about?" he said shutting the door to their private compartment.

"Lily and James of course," she smirked, "Me and Alice have a plan for her. For her birthday we bought her a real Malcentus Fire because we know how much she loves Quidditch. We want her to actually try out for the team this year,"

"You bought her a Malcentus Fire?!" Remus questioned, "But that's not really why you bought it is it?"

"No," she smiled, "We want her to be on the team, because James is on the team and we think them playing civilly with each other will finally have her admit her feelings to him, which we all know she has.

"If you agree, you cannot tell James that Lily is trying out. She's good and as far as everyone knows, she fears flying. She wants a fair chance to make the team, but also wants to use surprise in her efforts."

Remus thought over her plan thoroughly. It had its perks. James loved to show off for Lily, which would be perfect if she was on the Quidditch field with him. But will he be cocky about it and make her hate him more? Will they work together and maybe build a relationship?

"Yes," he shook her hand, "I'll agree to that deal. But Lily has to make the team."

"And James can't be cocky," Natalie added.

"Agreed,"

"What was that all about?" Sirius questioned as Remus entered, smiling.

"Oh Natalie wanted to discuss present and future matters," his sly remark was.

"Meaning what?" James asked confused.

"Well, that's for me to know isn't it?" Remus got defensive.

"Fine," Sirius sat back and crossed his arms.

"Let's just put it this way, James drop the cocky-pratness and you will have a very interesting year."