Chapter 6

"And I heard Jake's got a new girlfriend, again. I swear he could give Black a run for his money!" Isabella babbled on, but none of it settled into Lily Evans' brain. Being Head Girl was tiring, Lily couldn't deny it. Already she'd given out 3 detentions and taken away 20 points; that was just from Slytherin in the space of three days.

Just stay calm, Lils. The meeting was today, meaning the red head could complain to the teacher board, hopefully making them reconsider the loose rules. No doubt Potter will be sulking about missing Quidditch. But Lily had to admit, if she was appointed Captain of something she loved, just to be told she had to miss her first time at leader, it would annoy her too. Maybe I should be not as harsh on him, she thought, sighing as Izzy tugged at her sleeve.

"Lily? You're not even listening!" The Hufflepuff shook her head disappointedly.

Lily glanced over her shoulder to the Hufflepuff table, as the two girls were back to back so that they could talk. "Sorry, Iz, I have the meeting in a few minutes, I think I better set off."

Salm pouted. "Now? Oh, okay. Want me to come with you?"

"No thanks, Izzy." She smiled softly to her friend on the other table, and picked up her bag. "I'll see you later?" When Iz nodded, Lily stood up, and looked over to the corner where James normally sat.

There James sat, staring right at her. No, not at me, past me… Evans turned her head, following James' eye line to spot Severus Snape sitting at the Slytherin table glaring back. Oh, this is ridiculous! It made her furious, and Lily made her way over to Sev.

"Lily…" The boy nodded as she approached, finally breaking his spiteful glare from James. His acknowledgement of Lily sounded too formal; had he finally got the idea that Lily couldn't forgive him?

"I didn't know that you like having staring competitions, Severus." Lily hissed at him, making Snape look up to her. "Sorry."

"You have nothing to be sorry for." He replied coldly, and said no more as Lily expected him to.

She ignored the snort of disgust another Slytherin gave her as she sat down. Probably Bellatrix Black, Sirius' cousin. Even Sev turned his head, a little surprised at her. "Sev," Lily found it strange calling him this, but carried on after a pause. "I don't like this. I can't forgive you though, for what you said. We were friends, and you kind of threw it away."

Severus' eyes watered a little, and he nodded. "Lily, you know I didn't mean it. You mean so much to… you're just… I shouldn't have said it." He whispered. Then more loudly, Sev cleared his throat. "We were friends, but things change, Evans. I think Potter is trying to get your attention." Sure enough, James was standing by the Great Hall doors, looking over to the odd pair.

Understanding his hushed apology in front of the other Slytherins, Lily walked away pretending to act hurt and mumbled "Marvelous…" under her breath. She'd hopefully talk to him later, but nowadays he was never alone, unlike before when he was best friends with a Muggleborn.

"Evans? You looked stressed." James frowned, cocking his head to the side once Lily was next to him.

She sighed. "We're going to be late to the meeting, James. Come on." As soon as we're at the meeting, the better, Lily thought, now having to keep up with James as he walked faster with his longer legs. "Wait up!"

James looked back, and started to grin. "Aw, Sorry Lily-Flower. But I thought you said we're going to be late? I'm just following instructions." He let Lily catch up only just to speed up again.

"Oh, har har…"

They turned a corner through the maze of corridors towards the staff room, climbed stairs, and waved hello to other students, many asked why James wasn't at Quidditch practice, which he replied "Staff meeting" with a shrug. The one thing Lily wouldn't miss once her final year was up was finding her way around the school. Even in her seventh year, she still got lost now and again. With the Staff room up ahead, James grabbed Lily's sleeve, dragging her along as he ran towards the door.

Potter and Evans burst in, with Lily half panting, to a chorus of gasps. "Sorry we're late, Professor Dumbledore!" James smirked. Lily simply nodded tiredly.

"Not to worry, James." Dumbledore sat at the front in the highest chair, and motioned the two to sit down. McGonagall was stood by the front, and looked very irritated by their late arrival.

She huffed, tapping her foot impatiently as James ruffled in his bag nosily to fetch his quill and parchment. "May I continue?"

"Sure thing, Professor!" James called, even though he knew it was a rhetorical question. Some teachers, including Dumbledore, chuckled, yet Lily nor McGonagall looked impressed.

McGonagall began once more, and Lily took a few notes. The Professor seemed to be talking about improving the efficiency of Hogsmeade visits, now that there was a war looming on the horizon. 'More security threats' she called them, rather than actually mentioning any war. Mr Filch's name was included in helping out, earning a nose scrunch from the man himself. He obviously did not approve.

Once the teachers took a vote on the idea, Minerva McGonall started with her next suggestion on improving the school.

Beside Lily, James cleared his throat and then coughed loudly, and again, and again. Lily looked over to him, her eyes questioning him to find his motive. At the front, the speech had abruptly stopped to let James' coughing fit die down.

"Would you like some water, Mr. Potter?" She asked, her voice full of concern, but her eyes said otherwise.

James waved his arms about. "No, I'm fine, thanks. You carry on."

So, opening her mouth, she carried on talking about the Hospital wing. "And I'm sure Madame Pomfrey would agree that…" James coughed. "That the amount of students admitted…" Another cough from James. "Has increased since last year by over…" Not even trying to stop himself, James coughed as loud as he could.

"MR. POTTER, PLEASE!" McGonagall's eyes squinted at the Head Boy. "Lily, go with Potter to get a glass of water." She shooed them away, shaking her head at James as they both left the room.

Once out of ear shot of the door, Lily thumped James hard on the arm. "OW! Evans!" He yelped.

"What. Are. You. DOING?" With every word, he earned another whack from Lily's rucksack. "Are you trying to make McGonagall choose someone else for this job?"

"Oh, so I'm not even allowed to cough anymore? Should I be sent to Azkaban for having a cold?" His eyes shined, and he laughed at Lily's feeble attempt of trying to hit him harder.

Evans pointed a finger at him. "I can see right through your games, Potter. You don't have a cold! You're just sulking that you're not at Quidditch practice. Unlike you, I want to help out at this school!"

James' hands flew up in defense. "Whoa, Lils, calm down. I was just having a bit of fun."

"Oh, sorry! Really? Oh, I'm so sorry!" Lily mocked him, putting her hand over her mouth. "I don't think you should go back if you're going to cause trouble. I'll tell the professors that your 'coughing fit' killed you. Maybe they'll start cheering."

The irresponsible Head Boy laughed at Lily's joke. "Ouch. I'm actually really offended. Thank you for the offer, but I don't need you to say anything. In fact, I think you should come with me." James smirked.

"And why would I listen and go with you?" She huffed at him.

"Because," He hooked an arm around her shoulders, but Lily easily shook it off. "McGonagall looked just as annoyed with you as she did with me. So you'll be doing her a favor, I guess."

Did she? Was she annoyed at me too? Lily asked herself before retaliating. "I don't think she was, but fine. I won't go back."

Lily's reply lit up James' eyes. "Excellent, c'mon, let's go." He tugged at her arm and power walked down the stairs.

Sirius jumped off his broom, looking over the sorry lot who had turned up for Quidditch practice. Many more were expected to come, but because of the new of James' absence had spread quickly, many did not turn up. So, Black wanted to show them that he was just as good as Potter.

"And that is called a pass." He said in a dull tone, trying desperately to show some first years the basics. They weren't allowed to join until second year, but seeing as the majority that had turned up were midgets, he wouldn't let the opportunity pass to show off a little. He mounted his broom again, and pushing off the ground, he started to perform more difficult maneuvers, and dangled from the broom by his feet. "Maybe one day you'll be as good as me!" Sirius called out over the small ripple of claps.

On the sidelines, Remus sat with his scarf around his neck, fiddling with the ends. Sirius beamed over to him and winked at him, grabbing the boy's attention. Sighing, the former prefect stood up and called back. "Sirius, stop showing off and get on with the trials."

"Yeah, yeah…. Trials." Once his feet were back firmly on the ground, Black continued. "Okay, so if you're a first year, I'm sorry to say that you can't make the team. School rules, sorry." At this, over half of the crowd left, leaving two giggling girls left. "Oh great." Sirius sighed. "Names?"

The girl on the right blushed, and opened her mouth to speak but was interrupted.

"James Potter and Lily Evans!" Potter came running onto the pitch from behind Sirius, grinning like a fool whilst Lily was still clinging onto James' hand trying to keep up.

She panted, holding her side from stitch. "I told you… to slow down!"

James looked over the two girls, and shook his head. "Is this everybody?" He asked Sirius.

"Yeah, more just left. They were all First years, mate." Remus had now joined their little gathering.

Running a hand through his hair, Potter smiled apologetically at the two girls. "Sorry girls, tryouts will be moved to next Saturday. Could you spread the word?" He patted one on the shoulder, and Sirius was surprised that she didn't melt from the expression her eyes were giving off.

Sirius chuckled, and leaned on Remus lazily. "Thank Merlin for that, eh?" As the two girls scuttled away, Padfoot grinned at the others. "We get to have first weekend to ourselves."

"Hey Evans, wanna go for a ride?" James beamed at Lily, picking up an abandoned broom one of the first years had thrown to the ground.

Evans scrunched her face in disgust, which made Sirius laugh even more at the two. "Go on, Lily-Flower." He mocked James' voice. "You'll love it."

"No, I'm scared of heights." Lily shook her head worriedly, as James mounted his broom, and Sirius loomed dangerously close.

"Padfoot..." Remus warned Sirius, but he ignored it. In a swift movement, Sirius picked Lily up by the waist. Her thrashing about was difficult to keep a hold of her, but he managed to place her on with James.

Before she could get off, Potter pushed off the ground, making Lily scream loudly in his ear. "No! Go back down! James! Remus! Help me!" The amusing fact was that they were hardly a few inches off the ground, but Lily refused to let go of James or open her eyes to check.

"Lils, open your eyes!" James sniggered, but hoped that her stubbornness ignore him.

"See? They don't need you." Avery hung over Peter dangerously, watching the laughter on the Quidditch pitch. "They're having enough fun without you."

Peter shook his head, but he knew what Avery was saying was true. You'd be blind to miss it. Lily had just jumped off the broom, hitting James, grinning. Sirius was leaning onto Remus, with Remus fiddling with his tie, probably complaining that it was loose, no doubt. Sirius had Remus, James had Lily. And Peter? Did he actually belong anywhere?

"No, you're wrong. You don't know them. We're like brothers."

Avery laughed harshly at the pathetic excuse for a boy. "They are like brothers. Can't you see it, Peter? They are Gryffindors at heart! You even said it yourself back in the first year to the hat itself. 'Gryffindor? Me? Check again! Please!'" He whined like Peter, making his grin widen.

Don't listen, don't listen! Something in the pit of Peter's stomach turned. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"Peter. Now you're lying to yourself. " The Slytherin boy sighed, but he knew it wasn't long until Peter gave in.

"No, Avery. You're wrong. I am a Gryffindor. Leave me alone. I would never do anything to hurt my friends." Peter shoved Avery out of the way, leaving the Slytherin boy chuckling.

"Just wait, Pettigrew! Just wait."