James
James watched as she rushed away from the door - from him - and quickly disappeared from his view.
He released the breath he'd been holding.
The image of her face - pale and petrified - sat at the forefront of his mind. She'd been able to hide it shortly after, her expression shifting into a closed one.
But he could still see her wide, scared eyes.
James fell into one of the empty chairs behind him, rubbing at his face.
As if it hadn't been hard enough to announce his assignment as Head Boy to the Prefects - who, at least, had all appeared to have taken it somewhat well - he'd found out Lily Evans had returned to Hogwarts, as Head Girl, no less - and then the two of them had fallen into a proper row upon their first meeting.
And then. As if the day had truly wanted to properly scar her - he'd seen the way she'd reacted as the train shifted onto another track - perhaps assuming the worse as it jostled the wheels.
Not all of us have the luxury, Potter, she had spat at him. When you rile them up, you're not the one to be punished later. Ever think about that?
About anyone but yourself?
Affronted at first towards her accusation, he'd wanted to shake sense into her. He'd already seen the retort forming on the curve of her lips, had sensed the proper vexation rising in her - and for a moment, he didn't care, her reaction sending a thrill through him; Evans was back at Hogwarts.
The willpower not to stare at her - and only her - during his speech in the Prefects' meeting had taken all of his strength. When it had been her turn to speak, he'd made sure to take advantage of the opportunity thoroughly.
He stared. Oh, he stared.
If Sirius had been in the room, James was sure that the wizard would've thrown an object - something sharp and heavy, most undoubtedly - but it wouldn't have mattered. She was speaking - what was he to do, ignore her?
So he stared.
Her red hair now fell in bountiful waves just above her waist; and while the shade was something he'd been so used to, he was positive there was a darker undertone to it, as if she'd had spent less time in the sun.
The white jumper she wore was knitted, snug against her figure in a way her school jumper had decidedly not been in the past. Her denim pants were just as snug, but he'd made sure not to allow his gaze to stray downward too far. He was in front of a room of Prefects, after all.
But Lily stood before them and appeared to be a proper witch, mature, though they were the same age.
For Merlin's sake, he thought he'd grow out of the crush he'd had on her ages ago - he hadn't seen her for a year - but the reckless, unsettling feelings nearly strangled him tenfold as he watched her speak to the room.
James groaned to himself, rubbing at his temples to stave off an impending headache.
"Prongs?" Remus's voice asked tentatively.
He started, catching sight of the other wizard standing in the doorway. He must've knocked, but James completely missed it. "Right, let's get back."
"Chat didn't go so well, then?" Remus stepped back from the door as James approached him, bestowing him a sympathetic grin.
"You could say that," he murmured, brushing his hair back away from his face as the two made their way back towards the boys' compartment.
Inevitably, James's eyes strayed to each open compartment window they passed, looking for that same shade of red.
His eyes caught on a familiar face - McKinnon. Sat with the other 7th Year Gryffindor witches. Except one.
McKinnon's eyes caught his as he passed; he saw the crease in her brow. By the time he and Remus has passed by the door, she jumped up and, somewhat unwillingly, he slowed his pace.
"Oi," she said, sliding the door open and glancing down the corridor. "Is Lily with you?"
James shook his head. "She left pretty quick after the meeting."
McKinnon's eyes narrowed. "What'd you say?"
His mouth dropped open. "I didn't -" he stopped short at McKinnon's chastising look - "Yes, alright? We had a row. She left soon after. I thought I saw her leave towards that way."
McKinnon sighed, leaning against the doorframe as she looked down the corridor with a furrowed brow. "Ta," she murmured, stepping out into the corridor. "Oh, congratulations, Captain. Head Boy?"
James smiled reluctantly. "Thanks, McKinnon. Don't assume this will impact our training schedule though, yeah?"
"Wouldn't have dreamed of it," she said, though something about her tone made it obvious it was something she'd been hoping for. 'Can't let the team lose our winning streak."
As she left them, ambling down the corridor towards the back of the train, a small part of James wanted to follow her - but he willed himself to stay beside Remus, returning to the compartment without any further incident.
"How'd it go?" Sirius asked carelessly, flipping through an old copy of Quidditch Weekly.
"It went," James replied, falling into his seat and unfastening the top button of his shirt to help relieve the slight claustrophobic sensation clawing at his throat.
Sirius sighed. "Brilliant. Sounds like a right success."
"It went well," Remus confirmed, having already grabbed his Defence book and settled in. "No one outright protested James's appointment as Head Boy."
James snorted. "A raving review, Moony."
"You're welcome," the werewolf replied pleasantly, idly flipping a page.
You're welcome.
The words felt like a slap as he was instantly brought back to the row. He had been an idiot.
"Evans is Head Girl," James murmured to the window, realizing he hadn't acknowledged it aloud yet.
Sirius sputtered, sitting up. "What - Lily Evans? The Lily Evans you moped and mooned over the last six years?"
"Padfoot," he snapped.
A student walking past the window caught his eye - robes with bronze and silver threading. It was a 6th Year, but it triggered his memory. The 3rd Year - Spencer. He'd promised.
"Where're you going?" Sirius asked him.
James was already at the door. "Gotta go check on something."
Lily
Lily grabbed a paper towel from the dispenser to pat her face dry.
Her reflection was still pale - though the tops of her cheeks and the tip of her nose was pink as a result from the cold water she'd splashed her face with.
Better than nothing, at least. Or better than her face being red as it was want to do whenever she was embarrassed.
Perhaps it was the combination of it all; her body simply couldn't process the excessive amount of emotions that were suddenly flowing through her chest. The nerves, the anxiety, the shock -
A knock at the door startled her.
"Evans, you in there?" filtered Marlene's voice through the wooden door.
With a sigh, Lily reached over to unlatch the lock, twisting the handle so the door slid open.
"How'd it go?" Marlene asked gently as she slipped through the door, shutting it behind herself and relatching the lock.
Lily released a dry, numb laugh, leaning against the stink. "It went . How did you think it would go with Potter being Head Boy?"
Marlene grinned sheepishly, leaning back against the door. "Sorry."
"Yeah, right ," Lily said, trying to keep the sound of bitterness from her tone but unable to. "Couldn't have warned a witch, could you?"
"Would you have taken it any better coming from me?"
Lily scoffed. "I would've had time to process , you know. I didn't know what to think."
"Honestly, Dor and I suspected Potter's mum bribed Dumbledore into it. They've got a lot in that Gringotts vault of theirs…"
Lily snorted this time. "Dumbledore wouldn't accept bribes. He does these things for the fun of it, I'm positive."
"Too right," Marlene laughed. "Remember when he'd put Sprout and Flitwick together to host the Dueling Club meetings? Those two nearly killed each other."
"They absolutely nearly did... but I learned loads by the end of it from all the times they'd duel each other."
The two shared a wry grin.
Marlene shifted forward, pressing a hand to Lily's arm. "Everything alright, then?"
Lily thought about how well James had spoken to the Prefects, how he'd appeared to take ownership of his past - and then quickly recalled the unthinking retort of assuming You're Welcome he'd thrown at her face.
Had he learned nothing from that day by the lake?
Lily slouched against the sink, rubbing at her temple. "Suppose we'll just have to wait and see."
"You haven't murdered him, at least," Marlene said, using a hand to tug her forward towards the door.
"Yet," Lily huffed, letting herself be dragged through the door.
Marlene hooked their arms together as they headed back towards their compartment. "Suppose there's always a chance. Do you honestly think you're the first Head Boy and Head Girl to not get along?"
Lily's brow creased. "Give me time to wallow before you go rationalizing, please."
"I'm your best mate, I'm supposed to make you annoyed."
"Wait at least twenty-four hours, then."
"Sure," Marlene replied, squeezing the grip on her arm. She pointed ahead of them. "Would a Sugar Quill make things better?"
Lily looked towards the Honeyduke's Express trolley cart, at the small line already formed. "I'll have three, thanks."
"Oh, I've got to buy them?"
"Of course," she retorted. "Compensation for the emotional turmoil you've inflicted."
"Fair enough," Marlene said breezily, settling them at the back of the line. "I assume you've already chosen your N.E.W.T. classes for the year?"
"Potions," Lily listed.
"Of course."
"Defence, Ancient Runes. Transfiguration."
"Oh, really?"
"Hate it, but I'm already signed up."
"Good. I've signed up as well. You'll let me copy off your notes?"
"You're hilarious, Mar, truly."
Marlene groaned as she shuffled forward. "But your notes are much better than mine."
"They always are - doesn't mean we'll pass the class, though."
"You're Head Girl. McGonagall can't fail you."
Lily thought about the meager homework assignments and essays she'd completed while at home, her mid-examinations and the unimpressed look on McGonagall's face. She opened her mouth to dispute the unfounded claim, but was cut off.
"He's really Head Boy?" a young witch asked the boy beside her. The two stood in line just behind Marlene and Lily, already in their robes. Ravenclaw, according to their ties.
"I told you!" he responded. "He heard me fighting with Rowle."
"And he didn't hex either of you?"
"No," the boy laughed. "He told Rowle off, though! It was brilliant . You should've seen Rowle's face."
Marlene and Lily caught each other's eyes as they obviously eavesdropped into the conversation.
"What were you even fighting about? What did Rowle even say?" the girl asked.
The boy coughed uncomfortably. "He was being a right git, honestly. He said you'd failed the 2nd Year Exams and that's why I couldn't find you on the train."
The girl scoffed. "Rowle's been pissed ever since I beat him in Defense class that one time. He's a berk. You shouldn't have listened to him."
"Yeah, he's a wanker," the boy added, mussing up his hair.
The girl giggled. "You can't say that."
"But he is!" The boy insisted, his tone was pleased, as if happy to make his friend laugh.
Marlene and Lily shared an amused smile, shifting forward to the next in line as the queue shuffled.
"Hang on, then why Potter was with you when you came to my compartment?"
"He offered to walk with me," the boy said sheepishly. "I thought you'd be in the same carriage as the other Ravenclaw girls, but you weren't."
"My little sister's starting this year; I wanted her to find the other 1st Years."
"Well, yeah, I found that out later."
"So Potter really is Head Boy?"
"He is," the boy confirmed.
By accident, Lily had turned her head slightly to peer down at them - the movement catching the boy's attention.
His eyes widened, mouth dropping open. "Lily Evans? "
Lily smiled sheepishly, having recognized the boy by properly seeing his face. "Oh, hello. Bryce, right? Bryce Spencer?"
He nodded his head eagerly, swallowing hard. "You remember me?"
"Of course I do. You helped with Nearly Headless Nick's Death Day Celebration. One of the only 1st Years to do so."
"I did," he said pleased, his shy grin shifting into a deeper grin. "Are you back? For the year?"
"She is," Marlene confirmed, cutting into the conversation. "She might even be as excited as you ."
Caught out, Bryce's grin shifted as he tried schooled his expression into something more indifferent. "Well, that's brilliant. Maybe you can help me with my Charms again this year?"
They were interrupted by the line as it moved forward, the Trolley Lady prompted Marlene and Lily for their orders. Marlene provided her requests as Lily turned back towards the 3rd Year Ravenclaws. "Sure," she agreed, holding back her own amused grin at Bryce's pleased smile.
"Bryce," the girl beside him hissed, conspicuously knocking her elbow into his side.
"Ow," he hissed back, rubbing at the sore spot. "Thanks, Lily. I suppose I'll see you around."
Marlene had grabbed the goodies and was handing one of the Sugar Quills to Lily. "See you later," Lily offered. "Melanie, right?"
The girl paused, perhaps surprised that Lily knew her name as well. "Yes, Melanie."
"Have a good time at the Welcome Feast, yeah?"
The two Ravenclaws nodded, each with varying degrees of pleased expressions.
"My, my, was that a little wizard crush I witnessed?" Marlene teased as they walked away.
Lily rolled her eyes with a laugh. "Shut it. It's not like there isn't a McKinnon 'Star Chaser' fan club roaming around with a special banner."
"I must yield to the fans, Lily. What else would you have me do?"
"Obviously you must give them what they want," Lily deadpanned, tearing off the wrapping of a Sugar Quill.
"Obviously. "
The two girls fell quiet as they navigated the rest of the way back to their compartment, Marlene leading the way as Lily silently contemplated, peering into the compartments of students as they walked.
She almost stepped into Marlene as the other witch slowed her steps. "So, Potter then?"
Lily didn't immediately respond, thinking it over as she bit into the top of a Sugar Quill. "What about him?"
"Sounds like he helped that Spencer kid out. Pretty kind of him, wasn't it?"
Lily remained quiet, focusing on chewing up the bits of sugar between her teeth.
"He's turned a leaf, I think," Marlene said quietly, falling into step beside her, despite the corridor's small space. "I think the attack at the end of 5th Year changed a lot of people."
At the mention of it, Lily's stomach knotted. "Maybe," she conceded, sticking the Sugar Quill into her mouth to avoid speaking further.
She supposed she'd just have to wait and see how it went with Potter.
