*Sorry this chapter is a bit short and boring! :) *

The Welcome feast

"Come on, Lily! Cheer up!" Mary groaned.

"Calm down?! You want me to calm down? I have to spend my last year at Hogwarts with Potter and you want me to calm down?" Lily was so angry she couldn't even take in the delight of being back at her beloved school.

"It's not like you have to marry him! Chill out, it's hardly a trail to have to spend some extra time with one of the hottest boys in our year!" Marlene giggled despite Lily's glare.

"I do not want to spend a second longer than I have to with that idiot" said Lily folding her arms like a petulant child.

Marlene opened her mouth to continue the argument that had been raging for the past 2 hours, but then thought it would just be easier to distract the stubborn Head-Girl, "Anyway! Have you seen Francesca Stone's new hair? Oh my lord, it looks like a dying badger!"

Further down the Gryffindor table were a group of four boys that were enjoying the welcoming feast much more than Lily was. The Marauders were the most popular people at Hogwarts, well Sirius and James were, everyone really like Remus but he was a bit shy and most found Peter a bit of a loser. In the past, barely a week went by without the Marauders hexing someone in the middle of the corridor or pulling a hilarious prank. However, now the boys had matured, they still pulled pranks, but they were more sophisticated and spectacular rather than just childish fun, and they very rarely hexed people, except if the boys had a justified reason. Also the Marauders had lost their sickening arrogance and cocky swagger, which them even more popular. Besides the Slytherins, everyone liked them, except one redhead who James had loved for so long.

"For Merlin's sake, Prongs, forget about her!" Sirius groaned.

"I haven't even mentioned her!" James replied wondering if it was that obvious he was thinking about how furious Lily was when she'd found out he was Head Boy.

"Yeah but it's written all over your face! You're just pissed she didn't throw herself at you the minute she saw you!" Sirius retorted.

"Sod off." James prodded angrily at his half eaten Yorkshire pudding.

"Well if you're gonna be like this then-"

Remus put a hand up to silence Sirius, "Leave it, Padfoot. And Prongs, aren't you suppose to be going to see Professor Dumbledore tonight?"

"Yeah, he said in the letter he wanted to welcome the new Head Boy and Girl…" James suddenly grinned, this meant extra time with Lily, even if she hated him, he loved to just be near her. Maybe she'd eventually realise he wasn't such a prick after all!

Sirius groaned again, "Well done, Moony! I don't know which is worse Prongs being a miserable git or being a gormless loved up git!"

Professor Dumbledore's Office

"Welcome back, Miss Evans and Mr Potter. I do hope you enjoyed the welcome feast!" Dumbledore smiled at the two students in front of him. His chosen Head-Boy and Girl were as different as possible, Lily was a quiet, studious, gifted girl who was fairly shy but had an extremely fiery temper. James, however, was very loud, very bright and a natural troublemaker. Both of these students were well-liked and natural leaders, perfect qualities for the Head pupils. Dumbledore hoped that Lily will help James to become more responsible, and James will make Lily come out of her shell more and worry less.

The Headmaster continued, "I do wish you both to know I have complete faith in your ability to do an excellent job as Head Girl and Boy." Lily smiled gratefully but James still looked anxious, "I can see you are worried, Mr Potter, however you do not need to be. You were my first and only choice to be Head Boy, I trust you whole heartedly with this responsibility."

James looked astounded at this, he managed to say "Thank you, Professor…for this…thank you"

Professor Dumbledore smiled even more at this, "It is my pleasure, Mr Potter. Now, onto to your sleeping arrangements"

"Sleeping arrangements?" Lily choked.

"Yes, Miss Evans. You and Mr Potter will sleep in the Head's Dormitory, you will have separate bedrooms, obviously, and a sitting room. I wish you a good evening exploring your new quarters, and a lovely first day of school tomorrow."

James and Lily bid good night to the Headmaster and set off for the Head's dormitory.

Lily stopped when they came to their portrait hole, and turned to James saying "Look, I'm not exactly happy about this but I guess we have to live and work together so can we try and get on?"

James grinned "Of course, after you Head Girl.", holding the portrait hole open for Lily, he couldn't help thinking this was a huge advance from Lily being unable to bare being in the same room as him.

Lily smiled and walked into their new sitting room and was amazed by how lovely it was. It was done in gold and red, just like the Gryfinnor common room but it was quitter and it had a record player in the corner. There was two armchair, a sofa and two desks facing each other. At the back of the room was a majestic stone stair case leading to an upstairs landing with a bathroom in the middle of two virtually identical, spacious rooms.

After exploring Lily made to go into her room but before she left, she turned and said "Goodnight, Potter. Sleep well"

To James, those two short sentences meant more to him than anything in the world.