As she entered the prefect's compartment she stopped in horror. Lily had been made Head Girl for her final year of education, her hard work had finally paid off. She stood before the Head Boy and rubbed her eyes, wishing that it was a dream. But when he walked towards her and tucked a strand of loose hair behind her ear proved that she was in fact, in reality.
"How the hell did you get made Head Boy?" Lily demanded.
James smiled and handed her a piece of parchment, Lily took in and her eyebrows skidded up when she saw the grades that James had achieved overall for the past year. He handed her a second piece of parchment which recorded the amount of detentions that he had had during fifth year and sixth year and she was surprised to see that the amount in sixth year was significantly less than his fifth year.
"So, have you spoken to Remus yet?" asked James.
Lily nodded, "Out of all your three best friends, his is the only word that I would trust." she replied.
"And?"
"James has told me that he's changed, he said you'd vouch for him."
Remus smiled a little as they both sat crossed legged on the grass, watching the water flow down the river that ran along the back of Remus's garden. She had been wirting letters to Remus Lupin since her encounter with James in Diagon Alley and he had invited her over to discuss it in person.
"I'm not just telling you because he's my best friend. His grades are up, he's had less detentions and we've actually run into Snape more times than I could count while you were away with the girls and not once did he hex Snape." said Remus.
Lily nodded, if it had been Sirius or Peter telling her this she wouldn't have believed them. She had always known Remus to be a rather honest person, so she trusted his judgement since James had said that Remus would vouch for him.
"And James knows that I'm here?" she questioned.
Remus nodded, "He said that you wouldn't believe him if he ever told you he's trying to change, so I offered to vouch for him." he replied.
After a few more minutes of silence, Remus cleared his throat.
"Can I offer some advice?" asked Remus.
"I'd be glad to have someone else's advice for a change." she smiled.
"Get to know James, there's more to him than messy hair, Quidditch and pulling pranks that earn him detention." said Remus.
She nodded once more, deep in thought as she continued to watch the water flow downstream. The James Potter that she knew was a show off, Remus knew James better than she did; knew a different side to him. It was time that she got to know the other side to him too.
"Lily?"
She blinked as she came back into focus, looking into his hazel eyes and beginning to feel her loathing for him fade away slowly.
"Sorry, what did you say?" she asked.
"I asked if you had spoken to Remus?" James repeated.
"I did." Lily confirmed.
"And?" James asked.
Lily took a deep breath and exhaled slowly, she was beginning to hope that she wasn't making a mistake.
"I want to get to know the you that he knows, there's more to you than detention and hexing." Lily replied.
James grinned from ear to ear.
"What would you like to know?"
"How about you write me an essay about your family, your likes and dislikes? That could be a start." Lily suggested.
James groaned, "You sound like McGonagall when you mention essays." he complained.
Lily smiled, "I thought you were the type who liked a challenge."
"Okay I'll write you one, but only if I get one in return." said James.
Lily held out her hand and he instantly took it, they both shook hands to seal the deal.
"Gives you something to do on the journey to Hogwarts." she grinned and then left the compartment to do the patrol of the train.
As she walked through the narrow corridor and past many students, she bumped into the one person that she was hoping to avoid until tomorrow. Jeremy was walking towards her. Due to the many students that were going up and down the corridor, there was no way for her to avoid him.
"Hi Lily, well done on Head Girl." Jeremy congratulated.
"Thanks." she mumbled.
She was a little startled when he hugged her, she wrapped her arms around his neck; it felt quite nice to hug him again. It brought back memories of their time together and she knew that it was only a matter of time before Jeremy brought up the subject of why she had broken up with him. She pulled away and looked into his blue eyes, seeing that he was still hurting.
"Apparently seventh years have the freedom to go out to the village every weekend now." Jeremy mused.
"Really? I had no idea."
"Yeah, I was wondering if you'd like to go for a coffee on Saturday?" asked Jeremy.
She hadn't been expecting him to ask her out for a coffee but she thought it'd be nice to go with him, she had realised that running away to Paris hadn't been the answer and she couldn't avoid James or Jeremy whilst they were at school.
"Sure, pick me up in the entrance hall at eleven." Lily replied with a small smile.
Jeremy returned her smile before heading back to his compartment. She carried on walking and then saw her three best friends sat in one of the compartments, she opened the door and slid inside; taking a seat next to Marlene.
"So who's the head boy this year?" asked Mary.
Lily smiled and blushed a little without realisng.
"James Potter." she answered.
The three girls stared at her as if she were mental.
"Honestly?"
Lily nodded and helped herself to one of Marlene's chocolate frogs. She told the girls about Jeremy asking her out for a coffee to which she had accepted, all three had mixed opinions. Marlene thought she shouldn't go as it was too soon, that Lily needed to be single for a little while longer before making her choice. But Alice said that avoiding the two boys wouldn't solve anything, that if she spent time with the two boys individually; she could work out which one she had the stronger feelings for and go from there. Lily said that she was going as friends with Jeremy, that she had no interest in starting a romantic relationship with either James or Jeremy just yet, she was going to tell Jeremy the truth if the subject of their breakup came up during the get together. The four girls went silent when James entered the compartment and handed over a sealed letter to Lily before leaving. She opened the letter to read it, smiling the whole way through.
Dear Lily,
Well here goes: My full name is James Charlus Potter. I am an only child born to Charlus and Dorea Potter, my dad worked at the Ministry before retiring before I started Hogwarts. My mother was a homemaker who raised me. I was born in March and couldn't wish for better parents. I first met Remus, Peter and Sirius on the Hogwart's Express on our first day of school, we've been inseparable ever since. All three are like the brothers I never had, Sirius moved in with me during the summer due to a fallout with his family.
I love Quidditch which you already know, my favourite team is Appleby Arrows who wear blue robes with a silver arrow. Despite what you may believe, when I'm not with the boys I love to read. Not just magical writings, I have come to favour the works of Shakespeare and Jane Austen(yes you can laugh if you like) and I also read some muggle magazines which Sirius leaves laying around my place.
My favourite meal is sausage and mash. My favourite colour is green. My lucky number is seven. I love the Autumn and I love Christmas. My favourite subjects at school are Transfiguration and Degence Against the Dark Arts.
I don't like intense summer heat although I can take the heat if it's under twenty degrees. I don't like brussel sprouts or cabbage, I don't like the Wimbourne Wasps and I consider the number thirteen to be evil. I also hate the smell of Sirius's smelly socks and have to cast a charm to stop the smell from spreading if he leaves them laying around. My worst subject is Potions.
My NEWT classes are Charms, Potions, DADA, Transfiguration, Care of Magical Creatures and Divination. When I leave school, I'd like to consider a career as an Auror.
My mother also taught me to play the piano when I was growing up, although don't tell Sirius because he'll take the mick.
The best kiss of my life was with you. The only girl that I've ever cared about is you. You are all I think about.
If you'd like to know anything else, then leave a PS on your reply.
Love
James.
Lily folded the letter back up and placed it in the inside pocket of her school robes, she was looking foward to getting to know James a bit better. Hoping that she could soon refer to him as a friend, the best part of the letter in her opinion was his confession about her. She still felt conflicted but just reading James's letter made the butterflies in her stomach flutter madly away.