-- Fighting Fate --

There is a school... Beyond London, past Edinburgh, deep into the heart of Scotland. Through beautiful lush forests, across a wide sea-green lake, there is a school. More of a castle really, probably once a throne for kings and queens of old. Ancient the halls, delicate the depths, treasured and cherished the place. This school . . for it was no ordinary school. True, to the non-magical muggle eye it would only appear to be a worn-down palace with restricting signs. But to witches and wizards of countless generations, this school was part of their history, part of their up bringing, part of their very families. No, this was no ordinary school.

This was Hogwart's School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

§

There he sat in all his glory - James Potter. Gryffindor Seeker, 7th year Head Boy - his name was known throughout the school. Girls wanted him, guys wanted to be him, and the teachers . . . well, they didn't like him very much. Now he was a good student, he was just known for pulling pranks in class. But his good looks probably made up for it to some degree. His unruly dark brown hair that he constantly ran his hands through to keep it unruly, deep sparkling hazel eyes that made all the girls knees turn to water. A laugh that would fill the Great Hall (enough friends to fill it too) and a smile that would melt any ice cold heart.

Except for one.

Yes, there he sat in all his glory. Surrounded by his three best friends at the Gryffindor table; Sirius Black, Remus Lupin and Peter Pettigrew. Suddenly, through the large double doors, in walked the only ice cold heart he couldn't touch. Lily Evans.

Not that he cared, of course. It just struck him as odd that one of the most beautiful girls in the school refused to fall for his good looks and charm. She had beautiful thick red hair, sparkling enchanting almond-shaped green eyes, a curvaceous body that any woman would envy. This was a girl that the girls despised, the teachers loved and the boys didn't know.

But James knew her. He'd known her for seven years, ever since that fateful day in Olivander's. He had merely been trying to show her a simple playful jinx and she had turned around and called him a conceited show off. Well, it had been true then and it was true now. He already knew it and he didn't need Miss Evans to tell him that. Yes, he knew Lily Evans - and he hated her.

Well, hate is too strong of a word. We'll say he strongly dis-liked her with a passion! Perfect grades in every class, always correcting him if he played a prank (or did anything contrary to the rules at Hogwarts) and she had no social life whatsoever, besides that of walking all over school with her best friend Nancy Johnson. She was the total opposite of him in every respect. And he adored her. For the same reason that ever girl in the school hated her - because she was beautiful.

"Hey Prongs," Sirius said loudly, "you better put your eyes back in your head or someone might think you have a thing for Lily Evans!" James smiled as Lily and Nancy looked up at him. Nancy rolled her eyes and said something to Lily, though distance made it hard to hear. Lily just narrowed her eyes and turned back to her friend.

"Pad, you know better than that." he said smiling smugly and smacking his arm. "I would never have a thing for Miss 'I'm-smarter-than-you' Evans or Miss 'I'm-prettier-than-you' Johnson. Though our friend Padfoot here might... "Peter suddenly started picking on Sirius, but Remus took his seat as the Head Master stood. He was watching James carefully, seeing that his eyes were indeed glued to Lily. It was then that Remus decided that maybe Sirius was right. Remus smiled. Maybe Sirius was being a little more perceptive than normal.

"Welcome, one and all, to Hogwart's School of Witchcraft and Wizardry." Said the Head Master, Albus Dumbledore.

§

Later that night after dinner, Lily emerged from the girls dormitory and into the common room to warm herself by the fire. Friends were reuniting, flirting and talking, and laughter was filling the Gryffindor common room. She saw many of her friends, but she didn't feel like talking. She was so cold; she wished she could just jump inside the large fireplace. Though she was curious as to who would help her in her duties as Head Boy, for she was a proud Head Girl. She looked around the room and smiled.

A young Professor McGonagall was lecturing two young first year boys for hexing another young girl, her best friend Nancy was talking to Jenny, and there in the corner was the fearful foursome - known as the Marauders. James Potter, Sirius Black, Remus Lupin and Peter Pettigrew. Lily turned to face the fire and put her hands up to warm them. Yes, the ever-popular James Potter. She had put up with him for the past seven years. He was always there to pick on her. Always there to crack a joke, get a girl, flash a smile, fail a class. All the girls thought he was wonderful, even Nancy and Jenny. But Lily was the only one to see him for what he really was: a conceited show off. Always running his fingers through his hair to make it look like he just got off a broomstick, always playing with that stupid snitch so everyone would know how good he was, always giving girls rides on his broom so they would be wrapped around his little finger. Well, not this girl. Lily could see right through him and she would never give him the satisfaction of acknowledging him like that.

She turned to look at him only to find that he was looking at her, but he quickly turned away, listening to whatever Sirius was talking about.

Those eyes . . . those intensely warm sparkling hazel eyes . . . she shook herself from her thoughts and turned back to the fire. No, don't even go there, she thought.

Now, Lily Evans was not blind. She knew an good-looking man when she saw one. And she knew that James Potter was one of the most deliciously gorgeous boys at Hogwarts - without question. And yes, with a very small percentage of her soul she knew she wanted to be by his side, in his arms, the object of his affections . . .the most popular girl in school because she was the girlfriend of James Potter. Who wouldn't dream of that social status?

But she knew where her priorities were. She knew that dating James Potter, or anyone else for that matter, wouldn't get her the job she always wanted in the Ministry of Magic. Boys, relationships, emotions - love was not something she needed to worry about.

"Oi, Lily!"

Her head shot up to see who had called her, but her heart sank. "Have a nice summer, Lily?" James shouted across the room with a sly grin.

"Leave me alone, Potter." she said rolling her eyes and turning back to the fire.

"Well, I'd say you did, because I could've sworn I saw you snogging some guy in Diagon Alley."

Suddenly, the entire common room went silent as everyone turned to look at Lily, whose face was getting redder by the second.

"Potter, what are you talking about? I didn't make out with anyone over summer!" She knew that in saying it she would only embarrass herself, but she had to straighten him out. She couldn't let him win - not this year!

"Well then, there's no time like the present!" he said, opening his arms and raising his eyebrows twice in succession. Everyone laughed and Lily turned three shades of red.

"Were you born to vex me?" she said venomously when the laughter had died down.

"Maybe so," James smiled.

"Oh, go eat a cockroach, you vile . . . little . . . evil . . ."

Before she could finish her sentence, he was up and standing before her. The flush was gone from her face, but the rest of her body seemed warm. His body, his face, his eyes were inches from her and yet, her heart was still. His beautiful hazel eyes were looking deeply into her own and there was a warmth in them that touched her to her soul. She didn't need the fire anymore...

Suddenly, there was a crunch. James had taken a large gooey bite of a Cockroach Cluster right in her face. Everyone was laughing again, James gave her a slanted smile and Lily was suddenly furious.

"You . . . you . . . you . . ." was all she could say.

"Now, now," said Professor McGonagall from the other side of the room. "Let's stop this bantering." McGonagall was also smiling, though she was trying to hide it for Lily's sake. "Mr. Potter, you shouldn't badger Miss Evans so."

"Yes, Ma'am," he said with a mouthful of chewy candy.

"Now," she said clearing her throat, "if the Head Boy and Head Girl will follow me, we have a meeting to attend to, so you can learn of your new duties." Lily turned sharply on her heel and followed the Professor out of the common room.

"Yes, Lily-dear. We have a meeting." James said, sliding his arm over her shoulder and falling into step beside her.

"And where do you think you're going?" Lily demanded, shoving his arm off her shoulder.

"Why, I'm going to the meeting, Lily flower!"

"Stop calling me that! And besides, you're not a . . ." She suddenly tore away from him. "Oh, no! Not you!" She was looking at him like he was wearing worms.

"Check out the badge." he said grinning. There it was, pinned to his robes, shining in the low light of the halls, was the Head Boy Badge.

"Noooooo!" she said, then ran down the hall to catch up with the Professor.

"It's not true! Please tell me it's not true! This immature . . . self-centered . . . he can't be the Head Boy! Oh, I know! This is one of his cruel pranks, isn't it?" she begged, tugging on McGonagall's sleeve.

There was a chuckle from around the corner and Albus Dumbledore appeared.

"Please, Headmaster. Tell me it's not true." Lily said quietly.

"Miss Evans," he said kindly, "You and Mr. Potter have some differences that need to be settled. If you and he spend enough time together keeping this school in order, perhaps you can find a way to keep your relationship in order." he said. With defeat written on her face, Lily surrendered. Dumbledore looked at both of them over his half-moon glasses and, in his wisdom, smiled at Professor McGonagall. "Now, come along you two. We all have a meeting to attend to."

§

A/N: Hola to all! My name is Courtney aka Miss Court-A-Doo. I had posted this story on the Harry Potter Message Boards, but they have recently been screwed over by WB, so I decided to start posting my little fic here. Please read and review! -grin-