Chapter Two

James flopped down next to Sirius with a sigh. ”For Merlin's sake, how does she do it?”
After six years, the Marauders knew not to interrupt when James started going on and on (and on) about Lily. “I mean, I didn't think it was possible for her to be more attractive than she was last year – remember last year?” The Marauders nodded. “Yeah, well, Merlin knows it's about twice that now. I mean, she's just kind of grown into herself a little, yeah? And – and – I could go on all day –“
“Please don't, mate,” Sirius said, effectively stopping James' rant. The not interrupting thing was good for a while or so, but not forever – the Marauders' ears couldn't take it.
“But – oh, fine. Anything interesting happen while I was up front?”
“Nothing interesting. So Evans is Head Girl, then?”
“Yeah... wait, I didn't tell you, did I?”
“Nah, Wormtail here did a little scouting around.”
“A little scouting – Padfoot! Tell me you didn't actually have Wormtail change here? You could have been seen, for Merlin's sake!”
“Relax, Prongs. The door has blinds.”
“I know, I know. But don't you think it's a little early for someone to have lost their rat?”
“Nope,” Sirius replied cheerily. “Come on, Prongs, the window has a blind. I swear, no one saw anything.
“Except for Wormtail – I reckon he had a fair view up some skirts,” Remus chipped in.
“Yeah, well...” predictably, Peter blushed to the roots of his hair.


“First-years, follow Hagrid! Is that all the first-years? Excellent.” James pointed Hagrid out to the last of the young students and headed towards the carriages. “Evans, you coming? It's the last carriage.”
“Hmm? Yeah, just a second.”
James watched Lily take a last look at the platform, checking, it seemed, for stragglers. Evidently there were none, though, since she nodded to herself and hurried over to the carriages. She looked distastefully at the single remaining seat, between James and Sirius, but sat down as a slight drizzle began to fall from the skies.
Suddenly, James let out a whoop. “Come on, guys, it's our last first glimpse of the castle!” At this remark, even Peter abandoned his omnipresent food and craned his neck to see.
“I see it!” Sirius was the first to yell after a short time, and the rest of the Marauders started jostling each other around the small space in order to see it for themselves. James heard Lily stifle a laugh at their immature behaviour, but ignored it. This was, after all, their last first glimpse. Merlin knew he was going to miss Hogwarts after graduation, so he and the Marauders had planned on making the most out of their final year – but this was before he found out he was Head Boy. Before he'd seen Lily again.


The Sorting over, Dumbledore stood up as if to say something, but sits back down as he sees the hungry faces looking up at him. "Oh, go on then. Tuck in!"
The announcement is greeted with cheers as food starts appearing on the tables. The Marauders all reached out to fill their plates, terrified that there wouldn't be enough, and James heard Lily laugh. Wait for it, wait for it...
"Guys, the kitchens aren't gonna run out of food, you know. It's okay to breathe."
"Breathe? Evans, are you mad? We haven't had Hogwarts food in ages!" James stifled a laugh at Sirius' response. Trust Padfoot to be offended at the mere prospect of breathing. James glanced once more at Lily's incredulous expression and returned his attention to the food in front of him.

Dumbledore stood up again as the noise level rose in a manner that indicated that the eating part of the feast was over. The older students quieted immediately, a reaction that had been ingrained in their spines – when Dumbledore stands up, everything else, including noise, goes down. (Enjoy those mental images, why don't you). He reminded everyone of the usual things – the Forbidden Forest is, indeed, forbidden, as is magic in the corridors (James got the feeling the Headmaster was looking directly at him and the other Marauders as he said this).
“Finally, Prefects, please escort your students to the dormitories – I trust you have already received the passwords from your Heads of House. Oh, and if the Head Students would please remain here, I would like to speak to you for a moment. Come on, off you trot!”
James shot a glance at Lily – when had the Head Students last been held back? He couldn't remember it happening last year, or the year before that. Maybe... maybe Dumbledore had realised his mistake and was going to take his badge away. No, that couldn't happen. Could it? Together, they walked up the faculty table at the top of the Great Hall.
“Ah, Miss Evans, Mr Potter. How has the year begun for you? No problems on the train, I hope?” Lily mumbled something in response. “Excellent. Now, I'm sure you're wondering why I wanted to speak to you, am I right? Well. My fellow teachers and I have decided to try something new this year: Heads' Dorms. In order to ensure a close bond between the two of you, you shall be sharing a Common Room, with your private rooms attached. The entrance is located behind the portrait of Uric the Oddball, on the fourth floor – Mr Potter, I trust you know where it is. You may set the password yourselves. That is all, you may go now.” James turned to look at Lily, preparing himself for the look on her face, but no amount of preparing could have, well, prepared him for the absolute horror on her face as she met his gaze.

–––––––

“Padfoot, she hates me! I'm sure of it. You should have seen the look on her face when Dumbledore said we'd be living together.” It was the evening of the next day, after their first classes – cue the “This year is NEWT year, yadda yadda yadda” -speech” – and James was pacing about his old dorm, with the Marauders looking on in pity and, in Sirius' case, slight disgust.
“Look, Prongs, we've been through this. If Evans hates you, it is absolutely and completely your fault. She thinks you're a big-headed prat, and frankly, what have you ever done to convince her differently?” While Remus and Peter gaped at Sirius' apparent wisdom, James appeared to be thinking hard – and coming up with nothing.
“My point exactly,” Sirius smirked, and flopped back down on his pillow.
“So what am I going to do? It's my last year, my last chance to win her over!”
“Jeez, Prongs, you're beginning to sound more and more like a girl. Get over it already!”
James stopped his pacing long enough to throw a pillow at Remus and stare at him in horror. “Get... over Lily? What are you, mad?”
“And, speaking of Evans, shouldn't you be meeting her to go see McGonagall right about now?” James looked at his watch in horror.
“Right, thanks Wormtail, gotta go!” with that, he ran down the steps and out of the portrait hole.


Lily stood in front of the door leading to Professor McGonagall's office, looking at her watch and sighing impatiently. She'd told Potter to meet her here at five to eight, but obviously he hadn't heard her... no, wait, there he was. Lily was not at all surprised at the fact that it was now almost five past eight, but with Potter, you take what you can get. She had learned that a long time ago.
“Sorry I'm late,” he said, appearing to breathe normally, though he had to have run the entire way from the Gryffindor common room (since that's where he'd undoubtedly been, gossiping with the Marauders. Honestly, they're worse than girls!) to McGonagall's office, three floors below. Although, Lily thought, he is Quidditch captain. Bet he has a nice six-pack under those robes, too... Stop! Lily, stop it – you're beginning to sound like a founding member of the James Potter Appreciation Society. Pull yourself together.
“So, Potter, I see you finally decided to arrive” is what she said instead, keeping her eyes firmly on his face in case the speculated six-pack showed through his white shirt.
“Sorry, Evans... I was talking to the guys.”
“Do I want to know what about?”
“No, I don't think you do, actually.”
“Which is exactly why I'm not going to ask. Come on, Potter, we're late.”
“Look, Evans. We're seventh-years now, can't you just call me James?”
“And why would I want to do that?”
“Um, well, it's my name?”
Lily thought for a second, though she had actually made her decision as soon as Pott– James had asked. It was truly immature to go around calling people by their last names, but she hadn't wanted to randomly start calling James by his actual name, in case people thought there was... something going on between them. Because there wasn't. Right?
“Fine, as long as you call me Lily,” she finally replied, and saw Pott– James' face break into a grin.
“You know, I never thought I'd see the day when I'm on actual first-name terms with Lily Evans,” he said.
“Watch it, I might take it back, James,” was all Lily said before she turned and knocked on McGonagall's door.
“Come in,” came the professor's voice, and Lily pushed the door open. “Sorry we're late, Professor, but James here doesn't seem to own a watch.”
“Oh, it's quite all right, Miss Evans – I imagine Mr Potter was catching up with his friends.”
“Because Merlin knows he doesn't do that enough already,” Lily muttered under her breath.
“What was that?” McGonagall asked, and Lily turned scarlet.
“Nothing, Professor.” She saw Pott– James smirk out of the corner of her eye but ignored it, turning her attention solely to Professor McGonagall.
“Very well. Now, I'm sure you both know what your Head Duties, having watched the previous Heads go about theirs–“
“Uh, sorry to interrupt, Professor, but I really don't. I wasn't a Prefect, you see...”
“Oh, that is true. Well, it is simple, really – you must patrol the corridors every night for an hour after curfew, which means nine to ten on weekdays and eleven on midnights, as I'm sure you know, Mr Potter. You will also be in charge of the Prefects, make sure to meet with them regularly. In addition, you two are responsible for planning Hogsmeade visits, and you may organize an event of your choice if you so wish – I believe last year it was a Yule Ball. That should be all, as long as you remember to be good examples to all students and generally help people when needed.
“Lastly, if you cannot keep up with your academic career and extra-curricular activities along with your Head Duties, I'm afraid we'll have to, ahem, relieve you of your duties.”
“Is that all?” Lily asked with a smile. “Last year, it seemed like the Heads were everywhere at once!”
“Yes, I believe that is it – no, wait, one more thing. Considering the dark times we are living in, the Headmaster has asked me to inform you that should the school fall under attack, you two will be in charge of getting all students to their common rooms – then you will leave the Prefects in charge, and join the teachers in defending the school. Two extra wands are never enough, and we believe the both of you are more than capable.”
“I... um...” Lily couldn't find the words to speak; she'd known that the situation was getting worse, but so bad that the Head Students had to be prepared to fight off Death Eaters at a moments notice?
“Certainly, Professor. You can count on us.” Luckily for Lily, James seemed to be unfazed by the news.
“Very well. Run along now – you have nearly an hour before your first patrol, so I suggest you get started on your homework.” With that, Professor McGonagall turned back to her papers in a manner that clearly insinuated their dismissal.

James followed a subdued Lily back to the Head's Common Room, concentrating on not stepping on her heels, until she finally broke their silence at the portrait of Uric the Oddball.
“Carpe diem.” It was their chosen password – now, in their last year at Hogwarts, they needed to seize the day more than ever.
He watched as she flopped on to the black leather couch (yes, Hogwarts evidently cared for it's Head Students' well-being) with a sigh. “Potter...”
“James,” he corrected her. “You promised you'd call me James.”
“Ah, right. Well, James...” Merlin, the sound of his name from her lips... “Do you think there's going to be a war?” This scared girl was not the same Lily he knew and... loved.
“You're scared,” he said; it was more of a statement than a question.
“You sound surprised.” She lifted her face to meet his gaze. Her fear, uncharacteristic as it was, was clear on her face.
“I am,” he admitted. “Lily Evans, afraid? Never thought I'd see the day.”
“I know, right?” she said, with a smile trying and failing to find purchase on her lips. “It's just, the concept of war never really hit me before, but now with my parents... dead, and McGonagall telling us to be ready to defend the school... it's just all come crashing down on me.” She held his gaze for a minute or so, but all too soon she got off the sofa and walked over to her bag, getting ready to start homework for the night. James felt a strong protective urge rise inside him, and regardless of the fact she couldn't hear him, said “I won't let anything happen to you.”