Chapter 6

James reached the compartment, hair disheveled from a hasty run that betrayed his nervousness. He opened the door and found he was the first to arrive. He exhaled a breath he didn't know he had been holding. He placed his bag on the top shelf and slumped on the seats, then quickly corrected his posture as if remembering his newfound status. Form his cloak pocket he produced the shiny new badge. Head Boy. James carefully pinned it on his lapel and waited. After several minutes he grew restless, decided he was being utterly silly, and rose to grasp the door handle.

As James pulled the door open, with lighter resistance than he'd thought necessary, he almost collided with a body trying to enter the compartment. Green eyes met hazel, and a small gasp escaped from the lips of the lovely witch as their foreheads touched.

"James…"a breathless whisper.

His eyes darkened, and he was suddenly hoarse. "Lily…"

For a brief and eternal second they gazed at each other. Lily finally spotted James's badge, the twin to her own. "I…didn't expect to find anyone here. You surprised me." Lily said in hushed voiced.

"I wanted to start on the right foot. Couldn't have you mad at me on our first day." His famous Potter grin made an entrance and broke Lily of her daze. She blushed as she realized James's arm gently supported her back. With some reluctance he released her.

"How did you know I'd be Head Girl?" Lily's eyes narrowed in suspicious.

"Remus." He helped Lily bring her luggage into the compartment. "Are you shocked?"

Lily considered the question. Two years ago perhaps she would have thought differently. Two years ago she might have only thought of James Potter as a bully, a selfish toerag only interested in what prank he could pull next, a reckless and beautiful boy too clever for his own good.

"No. You've done more than enough to prove what matters to you and where your loyalties lie. I am surprised you didn't mention it before in one of your one hundred and thirty six letters…"

"I'm touched you counted." He smirked

She rolled her eyes and sat down.

"Your arm healed nicely. Have you tried it out?"

Lily knew he meant her magic. "No, well I couldn't at home and I've just now arrived."

"Well go on then, let's see what you've got."

She raised an eyebrow, pulled out her want, and, with a slight upturned corner of her mouth, spoke, "Rictusempra."

At first James didn't react, then his face reddened and his eyes teared as he began squirming. Finally, when he couldn't control it any longer and let out his repressed laughter. He felt as if a thousand hands were tickling him.

"Lily-please-I beg you-make it stop," he managed in between bursts.

She folded her arms and flashed a wicked smile "I was only rising to the occasion. Admit I've still got it James Potter."

"Lily Evans-you are magnificent-I will never-doubt you-again!" The convulsions finally stopped as he drew this last breath. From his point of view, Lily looked pretty smug, and attractive, oh so very attractive. "I think you enjoy setting my heart racing."

But he didn't get a chance to hear her response, to see the color that crept into her cheeks, as the door opened to let in several of the prefects who, at seeing James, apologized profusely for being in the wrong compartment. Lily recovered enough to stand and take charge. After introductions and a few more late-comers, the first meeting of the year was underway as the Hogwarts Expressed pulled out of platform 9 and 3/4.

Lily and James managed to avoid each other throughout the sorting ceremony and the feast. They had stood on opposite sides of the room when Dumbledore gathered the prefects and welcomed them to the new year. They even took separate routes to the Gryffindor common room. But either by chance or fate they found themselves staring at the fat lady together. James murmured the password and let Lily enter first.

The common room was lively and warm. Students exchanging hugs and gossip all around the room quieted when Lily and James entered. It was a strange sight indeed to see them walk in together, stranger still that they were quiet.

"Lily!" Marlene charged through a group of second years painting their nails with ever-changing polish. "What was Dumbledore talking about for so long, a follicle-by-follicle account of his beard? Merlin! And Potter," she turned to give him a punch on the arm, "nice going with the Head Boy thing. Snivellus never saw it coming."

James grinned at her before resuming his staring contest with the floor, afraid of upsetting Lily. But Lily only encouraged her, "I'd wager the whole of Slytherin House will need a cold shower today." She kicked off her shoes and sunk down onto the nearest unoccupied couch. "Where's Alice?"

"She's writing to Frank, letter thirty-two of the day you know." Before she could say more two sturdy hands gripped her hips from behind. Sirius Black kissed her neck and her eyes closed while a smile played on her lips.

James raised an eyebrow to Lily, her gaping mouth letting him know this was news to her as it was to him.

"Mate, you live with me. My parents consider you to be their second son. How did this happen without me finding out?" James laughed. Lily was slightly less amused.

"Marlene, did he slip something in your food during the feast? "

Without removing Sirius's hands, Marlene answered. "Oh Lily, please don't be mad. I didn't tell you sooner because I didn't want you to try to talk me out of this."

Sirius also responded. "Mate, I didn't tell you because it didn't come up." Then he winked at Lily before situating himself next to her on the couch, taking Marlene with him.

Peter and Remus emerged though the door, noticing the situation and wisely saying nothing.

"Remus, thank you for staying on as prefect even though James is Head Boy." Lily said. "I imagine it was quite a shock."

"Not at all, had a nice long chat with Dumbledore at the end of last year about it in fact." Remus's tone revealed his esteem for James.

"You did? Why didn't you say something? It certainly caught me off guard?" James continued to look uncomfortable.

Sirius answered. "Because he knew it would be more fun to watch you open the package and bounce around screaming, "She won't believe it! She'll have to spend more time with me now! She'll-'"Sirius was promptly silenced with a flick of James's wand. James avoided Lily's eyes but heard her praise nonetheless."You've been practicing non-verbal spells! Impressive. You'll have to give me a few pointers. Now excuse me everyone while I unceremoniously crash." She rose quickly, nodded to everyone, and walked towards the girls' dormitory.

"Since when does Lily miss an opportunity to tease you?" Ramus inquired.

"Since when does Lily call you James?" Marlene added.

James laughed it off. "We're both Heads now, we need to at least to be civil." But while James watched Lily walk away, others watched James.