Today was a fairytale, I wore a dress
You wore a dark grey t-shirt
You told me I was pretty when I looked like a mess
Today was a fairytale

But can you feel this magic in the air?
It must have been the way you kissed me
Fell in love when I saw you standing there
It must have been the way, today was a fairytale
It must have been the way, today was a fairytale
Today Was A Fairytale – Taylor Swift

Chapter One
Head Boy and Girl

"I love your shoes, Lily!"

Lily Evans looked up in surprise at the Ravenclaw girl admiring her diamanté-encrusted Choi sandals – a 'welcome home' present from her doting parents. She smiled warmly at her in gratitude, and continued walking down the corridor of the Hogwarts Express.

Outside, the September sun was shining down onto platform nine and three-quarters. The covert platform always made Lily feel slightly uneasy. Though she'd known about and studied magic for six years, something about it felt so unreal and separate from the rest of the world.

She caught a glimpse of her parents' backs, as they reluctantly left the station. Though they were used to her being hundreds of miles away for most of the year, they made a habit of accompanying her to King's Cross Station to see her off.

The Evans' were a middle-class family – Paul and Flora Evans both worked in an office, which was enough to pay for their modest family car, suburban house and comfortable lifestyle. They weren't quite rich, but they weren't poor either. And despite coming from an average muggle family, Lily was very much accepted by the students at Hogwarts – in fact, she was incredibly popular.

Her older sister Petunia had avoided accompanying her to the station; a result of the loud and violent argument they had had earlier that morning. After several bitter comments between the girls and a well-aimed hairbrush thrown across the landing, Petunia had made her excuses and slipped out to meet her boyfriend or fiancée or whatever he was these days. It was just as well. Her presence at the station would only bring Lily's mood down, which was the last thing she needed on the first day of term.

"Oi, Evans!" a loud male voice brought her out of her reverie. She brushed her long red hair out of her eyes and turned around irritably.

"Hey Remus," she sighed in relief, and hugged the tall sandy-haired boy. He was wearing a beige cashmere sweater, despite the heat, and his quite handsome face was etched with tired lines and bags under his eyes.

"You thought I was James, didn't you?" he smirked, good-naturedly.

"I feared so, yes."

"He's looking for you, anyway." Remus shrugged, his sea-green eyes twinkling mischievously.

Lily raised an eyebrow. "Do you know something I don't?" she demanded.

"I'm saying nothing," he replied, barely concealing his grin. "Catch you later!"

She shook her head and continued walking along the platform. Catching a glimpse of her reflection in the window of a compartment, she noticed the gleaming red badge pinned to her cardigan. Suddenly remembering, she spun around to confirm her prediction about the position of Head Boy, but Remus had disappeared.

Lily sighed. She was so sure that Remus would get the role, but being the control freak she was, she wanted to make sure.

She could remember getting the extra-thick Hogwarts envelope with the shiny Head Girl badge inside and a congratulatory letter from Professor McGonagall as though it was yesterday. Though it was quite obvious Lily was going to get the position, with her excellent grades, numerous extra-curricular activities and general pleasant manner, she was still modestly surprised.

As she neared the back of the train, she spotted a familiar face through the compartment window, waving maniacally at her. Victoria Kensington, restless as usual, leapt to her feet and pulled the glass door open. They had been best friends since fifth year or so, when Lily had stopped being the somewhat creepy kid who hung around with the Slytherins, and seemed to be the kind, amiable person she was today.

The Kensingtons were an incredibly established wizarding family. Her great-great-great-grandfather or something of the sort had established the Daily Prophet in 1833, and the wizarding newspaper company had been passed down to her father. Her mother was an eccentric infamous socialite who was always hosting parties and cotillions with her many friends. Victoria was the youngest of four children, the other three of which were all boys.

"Lily, I've missed you!" she pulled Lily into the seat next to her. The whole carriage was empty, aside from the two of them.

"You made it back!" Lily smiled affectionately. Last she heard Victoria had been in France, with no apparent intentions of making it back in time for school. It was just like her to get carried away with the joys and bliss of summertime. "Your hair looks lovely," she added.

Victoria smiled and tucked her newly dyed ashy blonde hair behind her ears. She was constantly dying her hair. At the end of sixth year it had been chocolate brown, and before that, jet black. Now, when she moved her head, Lily could swear she could see faded pink highlights within the blonde.

"How was your summer? Spent it with Amos, I bet," Victoria raised her eyebrows suggestively.

Amos Diggory was her long-term boyfriend, a Ravenclaw in their year. They had been together for over six months, and everyone knew and referred to them as the 'perfect couple'. Amos played for the Ravenclaw Quidditch team, was the house prefect and had the affections of every Ravenclaw girl, and even a few Hufflepuffs. Lily had already asked – he wasn't this year's Head Boy.

Lily blushed. "Yeah, yeah." The two of them had spent most of the summer lounging around Amos' country house or having fancy dinners in expensive restaurants. It wasn't Lily's style, but it was fun.

"You're copulating like bunnies," Victoria chuckled.

Lily rolled her eyes. "Big words, Vic."

"Aren't you so proud?"

She glanced at her goblin-made bracelet watch and got to her feet. "I'd better be heading to the prefect carriage!" She couldn't conceal the excitement in her voice.

Victoria shook her head exasperatedly. "The train hasn't even left yet!"

"I'm Head Girl, Tory! Who else is going to keep the prefects in form?" she said sternly, as she left the carriage.

Victoria opened her mouth to call after her, and tell her the rumours about the new Head Boy, but she sighed and closed it again. She'd find out soon enough, anyway.

Lily strolled down the corridor, mentally listing the things she'd say to the new prefects. She turned into the luxurious prefect carriage, and as she had expected, it was empty. Away from the prying about her sex life, she settled into a seat and pulled out a DADA textbook.

Just as she turned the page of her advanced textbook, the carriage door slid open.

Lily rolled her eyes, as she saw who was standing in the doorway, grinning nervously.

"Out Potter, this is for prefects," she said uninterestedly, going back to her book.

"And the Head Boy and Girl," James cocked an eyebrow, and leant against the doorframe, clearly enjoying himself. Out of habit, he ran a hand through his ridiculously messy black hair.

James Potter, the infamous 'leader' of the Marauders, and easily the richest student in all of Hogwarts. Though he'd never admit it, his expensive designer polo shirt and jeans were ironed earlier that morning by his doting mother, who would do anything for her only son. Charlus Potter was the deputy to the Minister of Magic, and his mother Dorea worked in the auror office. They were possibly one of the most influential wizarding families in existence.

Lily didn't even look up. "Give Remus his badge back. You didn't think that would work, did you?"

An expression of hurt flickered across James' spectacled face. "You have such little faith in me, Evans!" he frowned.

She looked up, her pretty face clouded with confusion. "What exactly are you talking about, Potter?"

He smiled self-assuredly, and flashed his red and gold badge at her. In an instant, it sunk in. Lily's jaw dropped, and she stared at him, gobsmacked, as the compartment began to fill with prefects.

A pair of Hufflepuff girls squealed and nudged each other, as they noticed James leaning against the far wall, confirming that the wildly spreading rumours were true. When everybody had filed in, he cleared his throat nervously – Lily seemed somewhat incapable of speech.

"Err, I'm James and that's Lily, and we're your Head Boy & Girl for this year," he looked around at them all, grinning tensely. They gazed back up at him expectantly. He glanced at Lily, urging her to say something. She was still looking around, as though she expected it to be a joke.

"Ahem, well, we can have a prefects' meeting once a week – is Tuesday good for everyone?"

"No, I've got Quidditch practice," Amos Diggory spoke up, tossing his blonde hair self-importantly.

"We've all got to make sacrifices, Diggory." James said loudly, "Any other questions?"

A few people chuckled, as Amos narrowed his eyes angrily.

"We'll make it Wednesdays," Lily finally spoke up. "You can't use this position for your little prejudices Potter," she hissed under her breath.

James pouted indignantly, as she finished up the meeting.

"Stop sulking," she snapped, glaring at him while the prefects dispersed to patrol the train corridors.

"Look, I didn't ask for – " he began, but broke off, as Amos wrapped his muscular arms around Lily's waist and began kissing her. James rolled his eyes and headed for the compartment door.

Hey guys.
Hope you like this chapter, and this story.
I dedicate it to Paddywhack aka Liv - my best friend, the Sirius to my James.
Lots of love to you all.
Review?
Ash, x