A/N: A new chapter! A round of applause for me I think! Pats self on back This chapter has taken me so long to write what with writers block and moving away to Uni… Anyway my profuse apologies for the wait and I will try my best to write more frequently now I'm settled in the flat! Reviews would be lovely even though I don't deserve them for making you wait so long…

4: A Word with Lily

The rest of the day passed by relatively uneventfully as the boys continued to meander around Diagon Alley, picking up supplies for school as they went. It was mid-afternoon before they headed towards Flourish and Blotts to buy their books for their last year.

"So how has independent living been this summer, Padfoot?" Asked Remus as the three of them pushed through a group of giggling girls.

"Great," Sirius replied with a dreamy sigh, "I can get up when I want and don't have to listen to screams of 'blood traitor' whenever I move out of my room."

James and Remus exchanged a look but Sirius didn't seem uncomfortable in the slightest when they chose not to say anything and instead led the way into Flourish and Blotts, holding the door open for them as he went.

"Oh man," James groaned as the wound their way through the shop purposely, "How am I supposed to get Evans to like me?"

"That was quite out of the blue, Prongs." Said Sirius with a twinkle in his eyes.

"I was thinking about it." Muttered James, going slightly red.

"Oh – it… or her?" Teased Sirius.

"Shut it, Sirius." Said James firmly.

"You know what James, I've got a good place you could start." Perked up Remus as he turned to look at his friend.

"Yeah?"

"Try calling her by her first name."

"What?"

"Lily. Call her Lily."

"I know what her name is you idiot."

"Show her that."

"What good's that going to do though? She's going to call me Potter for the rest of her life."

"Have you ever thought that she may call you Potter because you call her Evans?"

"I didn't start it."

Remus threw his hands up in exasperation, "For goodness sake, James! It doesn't matter who started what, just call her by her first name and speak to her like a human being. That's the best start you can hope for."

"The best start I'm hoping for is one where she doesn't hex me all the way back to London."

"Hey, Prongs." Sirius suddenly piped up.

"What?" Said James again.

"I've just had a thought."

"Dear Lord." Said Remus, pretending to fall over and grabbing onto a book shelf for support.

James laughed but Sirius threw Remus a hateful glare.

"I was only messing, Padfoot." Teased Remus.

"Whoa, hold that thought my four legged friend," Said James with a glance over his shoulder, "the red headed one approaches."

Sirius and Remus both turned around and sure enough, Lily Evans had just entered the shop with her friend, Sophie Lake, who, although shorter than Lily by at least a head, was more than a match for her best friend's fiery temper, quite often fired up by the mere presence of one James Potter.

The boys heard Sophie laugh at something Lily had just said and watched the pair walk into one of the isles of books at the opposite end of the shop to them.

"She hasn't seen us, what do you want to do, Prongs?" Whispered Sirius.

"Err… run before she sees me and starts yelling?"

"Wrong answer." Said Remus. "We go and say hello to them." He added firmly, leading the way towards the isle the girls had disappeared down before James had time to protest.

They came across the girls immersed in a book and giggling quietly at whatever was written in it. James watched Lily intently but she seemed oblivious to his eyes and continued to turn the pages of the book until Remus cleared his throat to announce their presence. Both Lily and Sophie jumped and Lily shut the book she had been holding with a snap. Sophie sent the three boys a huge smile while Lily, whom James chanced to look at, was looking like she wanted to start yelling at him. He frantically searched his brain for any recent crimes he may have committed that would have set Lily off but came up zilch.

"Hello Remus. Sirius, James." Sophie said, inclining her head slightly to each of them.

"Hi Sophie, Lily." Replied Remus, "Having a good summer?"

"Yes thanks," Sophie grinned, "I've just got back from the south of France." She showed off her tanned arms, "but Lily's been stuck here haven't you Lil?" She turned towards her friend who made a noise in the affirmative. "How's your summer been?"

"Fine, thank you." Remus responded before giving his friends a 'look' causing them both to mumble about how great their summers were.

Lily rolled her eyes but fortunately, or unfortunately, only James saw, perhaps because he was still watching her every move. He stiffened slightly.

"Oooh," Exclaimed Sophie, "You'll never guess what!" She squealed excitedly.

"What?" Supplied Sirius.

"Lily got Head Girl!"

At her words, James's eyes widened slightly behind his glasses and Remus went into somewhat of a coughing fit. Lily looked at them strangely.

"That's great!" Said Sirius to Lily, feeling it his duty to reply as Remus was too busy disguising his laughter as coughing and James seemed to have temporarily lost the ability to speak.

"Oh you'll never guess what," Said Remus, recovering fast.

"What?" Asked Sophie.

"James got Head Boy."

"What!" Said Lily, speaking up for the first time and looking directly at James, "Are you kidding?"

"When Remus asked me that it was in a much more pleasant tone." James remarked dryly.

"You're not kidding." Said Lily in disbelief

"No."

Lily looked like she was struggling with several emotions before she burst out, "But why are you Head Boy? I mean – I mean it's a responsible position!"

"You don't think I could be responsible?" James questioned with the slight look of a challenge in his eyes.

"Frankly, no. Can you blame me?"

James ran a hand through his hair in an almost nervous manner before replying, "I know I haven't got a very good track record…"

"Are you kidding me?" Lily interrupted incredulously, "your track record's appalling!"

"…but I really am going to take this seriously." James finished as if he hadn't been interrupted.

"You're going to take this seriously." Lily repeated in dull tones.

"Yes."

Sophie, who up until this point had her mouth slightly open, grabbed her best friend's arm,

"Come on, Lily, let's go."

"I'm not going anywhere until I find out exactly how he," she pointed at James, "got to be Head Boy when he was never a prefect and caused more trouble in the school than anyone else!"

Lily's voice by now had raised several decibels and her cheeks were beginning to flush to a colour complementary to her hair.

"Look," Said James in what was to Lily an infuriatingly calm tone, "I can't tell you why I got chosen as Head Boy because I don't know myself. Let me tell you this; it was as big of a shock to me as it was to you but I'll be damned if I'm going to shy away from my responsibility now so you'd better get used to the idea because you're going to be spending a lot more time with me and I'd rather not have you yelling at me for petty little things."

The group fell silent and James took in a breath having said all of the above slightly rapidly and with increasing temper. If Lily was shocked at his outburst she didn't show it but instead studied him with scrutinizing eyes before replying.

"Can I have a word in private." She said, phrasing it as a question but saying it in a way that clearly stated she wasn't giving him any choice in the matter.

James inclined his head slightly and followed her out of the shop and away from their friends' wide eyes. Once out in the bright sunshine he stared at her, waiting for her to make the next move. Surprisingly she seemed lost for words and merely stared at him for several seconds.

James cleared his throat, "Erm, did you have something to say?" He scratched his head subconsciously, suddenly inexplicably nervous.

"Look, Potter, I'm not comfortable with this, I'm certainly not happy and I didn't appreciate you yelling at me back there."

"I wasn't yelling." He protested, Lily let out a strangled squeal and he added quickly, "I'm sorry if I upset you but I meant every word I said." He paused, "we really need to get along if we're going to do this properly."

Lily took in a deep breath and considered the tall boy in front of her, hands stuffed in his pockets, hair going out in all directions and glasses strangely lopsided on his face but nevertheless he was standing straight and proud with there was a determined look in his eyes.

"As much as it pains me to say; you're right." It was Lily's turn to pause nervously now as she struggled to find the words, "I'll try to get along with you this year as long as you don't act like a complete prat."

James grinned slightly and gave her a mock salute, "I can do that."

"A truce then?" Said Lily offering her hand.

"Most definitely." James replied as he took her hand and they shook in a very businesslike way. "One more thing," He began just as she was showing signs of leaving.

"Yes?"

"Don't you think it would be better if we called each other by our first names from now on? I mean in light of the truce and everything…"

Lily considered him, "Alright."

James's face broke into a smile, "Enjoy the rest of your holiday, Lily."

"Thank you. I'll see you on the train… James."