The Truth Of The Heart

Summary: Lily Evans has always, ALWAYS hated James Potter. So when they become Head Boy and Girl, nothing could be worse. But could working with him change Lily's opinion? Has she been ignoring the truth in her heart all along?

Disclaimer: I don't own any of this….except a few minor characters, so please don't sue me, JKR, 'cause I have nothing you want….unless you're into human flesh (you're not, are you?)

A/N: Thank you guys all SO MUCH for your reviews – it's nice to know I haven't been forgotten! I would do review thank-yous, but if this fic gets taken down again for anything, it won't b going up again, so I won't risk it. Enjoy the reposted chapter 2!

-&-&-&-&-&-&-&-&-&-

Chapter 2: Back on the Hogwarts Express

Six weeks later, Lily found herself back on Platform Nine and Three-Quarters, dragging her trunk into an empty compartment. Thank God I got here early, she thought, pushing her long red hair back and then immediately feeling infuriated with herself for not tying it back as she usually did. Who did she think she wanted to impress?

Having manoeuvred herself out of the compartment again, Lily hopped off the train. She saw several people who she knew and waved absently at them as she scanned the crowds, looking for Emma. Students were climbing on and off the train, and saying goodbye to families everywhere she looked. Someone trod on her shoe, yanking the lace out, and she bent down, cursing inwardly, to tie it up. A shadow fell across her.

"Hi Lily."

She straightened up to find herself staring straight up into a male face.

James Potter.

"Lily?"

It was then that something else clicked into place. Lily? Didn't he usually call her Evans? Something was very wrong here. Perhaps he was trying to butter her up so that he could play a prank on her. Acting on impulse, Lily looked around. Were any other Marauders near?

"Hello? Lily? Wake up!"

This time, it was delivered with a slight push to the shoulder, and Lily mentally shook herself out of her thoughts and looked up at him. He had obviously grown another few inches over the summer; she felt slightly dwarfed by him, even though she was nowhere near short herself.

"Sorry. Hi."

"How've you been?" James shoved his hands in his pocket as he spoke, and Lily smothered a grin. He was clearly trying to restrain himself from running his hands through his hair.

"What's it to you, Potter?" Lily had intended it to sound like an insult, to send him packing, but to her horror, it came out sounding almost…flirty. James had obviously noticed it as well; he raised an eyebrow as he opened his mouth to reply…but he never got the chance. Another boy had leapt onto him, apparently hugging him – if only in a very masculine way.

"Prongsie!"

"Aargh, Sirius, gerroff me!" James gasped, his glasses slightly askew, trying to wrench Sirius's arm off him.

Finally, Sirius released James and noticed Lily standing there, arms crossed. A gleam appeared in his eye. "Lily!" he cried.

"Don't even think about it," Lily said firmly, taking a step back cautiously. "I, uhm, have to go…" She gestured uselessly at the crowds thronging the platform.

"Wait a second! Aren't you going to ask us how our holidays were? Especially James'?" Sirius added slyly, slapping James on the chest.

"Padfoot, shut up," James said uncomfortably, but Lily's attention was occupied by other matters. As Sirius had slapped James, something silver had winked at her, and as he removed his hand, she read what was written on the silver badge pinned neatly onto his jumper. Her mouth fell open.

"You're…" she gasped.

"Yup." Sirius smirked at her. "Our little Jamesie is Head Boy." He pretended to wipe an imaginary tear from his eye. "They grow up so fast."

"Shut it," James mumbled, but this time he was smiling slightly. His gaze focused on Lily again, who had gone paper-white.

"You're Head Boy?" she asked, praying that she was hearing things. "You? Not Remus, or any other seventh-year? And this isn't a joke?"

"Nope. I'm pretty sure I'm Head Boy. Why? What's it to you?"

Lily removed a small envelope from her pocket, and opened it. Her fingers trembled slightly as she removed a silver badge from it. "Surprise," she said weakly. "I was saving this to put on later."

James and Sirius leaned in to read it.

"Congratulations!" James said, hoisting a smile onto his face.

"Thanks," Lily muttered, unconsciously pushing her hair back. "You too." For one moment, she wanted to fall through the floor. Then, suddenly, her normal feelings kicked in. So she was going to be partners with Potter for the next year. Why was she blushing and acting like another one of his…groupies? This was James Potter for heavens sake, the boy who'd made her life hell for six years.

"So," Sirius began. "Jamesie and Lily. Working together for an entire year. You'll be locked up together in rooms a lot, won't you, doing…things." Lily's eyes widened in shock at what he was insinuating.

"You sick-minded pervert!" she shrieked. Raising her hand, she brought it down with all the force she could muster on Sirius' cheek. He gasped and winced as she turned on her heel and strode away angrily, head held high.

"Got a temper on her, that one," Sirius said, rubbing his cheek painfully.

"Yeah," muttered James, gazing after her.

-&-&-&-

Two hours later, Lily and Emma were sitting in a compartment, talking. Or rather, Lily was talking furiously, and Emma was staring into space.

"…and then his idiot friend has the nerve to go and…and imply things, which I would not be caught DEAD doing!" Lily said angrily. "Besides, which idiot decided to make Potter Head Boy? Someone like Amos Diggory, I can understand, but Potter? He spends all his time in detention, on the Quidditch pitch, or snogging girls in broom closets. He has no respect for rules, or anything other than himself, so who thought that he would make a good Head? WHO?" Lily finally noticed the glazed look in her friend's eyes. "Emma Vance, are you listening to me at ALL?"

Emma looked up at her exasperatedly. "I listened to you the first time, Lils. And the second time. I even listened to you for most of the third time. But we have been on this train for…" she checked her watch. "…two hours, and for one hour and fifty minutes of that, I have been listening to the same thing over and over again. If you want my opinion, just ask for it."

Lily sighed and slumped down. "Alright Em. What's your opinion?"

"For starters, the 'idiot' who made James prefect would be Dumbledore, and I'm quite sure he had his reasons for choosing him. Besides, in all your ranting and raving, you haven't answered a few basic questions that you should be asking."

"Like what?" Lily shot at her friend.

"Number One: You still haven't given either me or yourself a decent explanation for why James has started calling you Lily, when you've been using surnames for the past six years. Number Two: Why did you get so upset about what Sirius said? And why are you so upset about the idea of James being Head Boy?"

"BECAUSE, he's stupid and Sirius was being gross," Lily moaned, and she slid even further down her seat. "I can't take this any more!" She scrunched her eyes shut and put her hands over her ears, just as the door opened.

"Lily!"

Emma kicked Lily, who opened her eyes to see James Potter's head, wearing an urgent expression, at the door. "Lily, you – I mean, we were meant to be at the meeting in the Prefect's compartment twenty minutes ago!"

"WHAT?" Lily sprang up. "No!"

"Yes! Come on!"

"Sorry Em," she panted, and flinging the door shut behind her, she and James hurtled down the corridor.

"I – only – just – found – out!" James gasped out as they reached the door. Opening it, they tumbled in together. Eight pairs of eyes met Lily's accusingly, and she did her best to gaze round amicably at them.

"Sorry," she said apologetically. Great, she thought. What a great way to start off my year.

-&-&-&-

Left behind, Emma smiled to herself. And another thing, Lils, she added silently. You haven't noticed how much he's changed.

-&-&-&-&-&-&-&-&-&-

A/N: So, there you go. Basically the same – just a few minor alterations where I've noticed a grammatical mistake. Feel free to leave a review – anything will do. The next chapter will be coming very soon!