I've been wanting to write something new and fresh for a long time, but writers block seemed to have its own plan. So, when this idea came to me at four in the morning, even after a long day at work, I knew I had to write it. And it just flows. I hope you enjoy the idea as much as I do. I do not own anything of course.

This story is dedicated to all the boys and girls who can't seem to get it right.

Getting It All Wrong

Summery: At the end of their sixth year, James and Lily came to an agreement. He'd stop chasing her and she'd stop hating him. Now, as Heads of Hogwarts, seventh year brings the two closer then she'd ever imagine, and Lily is beginning to wonder if she's too late.

Chapter One: Cool

This was it. I, Lily Evans, had made Head Girl. It wasn't all for nothing. I'd slaved away for years to achieve this honored position, and now, here it was; the shiny silver badge proof that I had made it. I had been a Prefect sixth year, another goal yet attained, but honestly looked forward to the day seventh year rolled around. And not just because I had been pretty much rest assured that I'd receive the position. No, seventh year meant more than just being Head Girl. It was an end of an era. My last and final year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. When June rolled around, I would toss my hat into the air along with the boys and girls I'd spent seven years living with and getting to know, and be scuttled off into the Wizarding adult world.

I had it all planned out. Naturally. In fifth year, McGonnagal held a session where we discussed what our ideal career was. I wanted to be a Healer. When I was little I always wanted to become a doctor. Healers were just magical doctors. It was perfect. I would graduate and start Healers school a few months later. My best friend, Hestia Jones would join me, while Alice Prewett-a girl I had grown close to near the end of sixth year-was joining her boyfriend and his friends as an Auror.

Although we had been attending Hogwarts practically all our lives together, in the same house none the less, it was James Potter who brought Alice and I together. Shocking, right? But sixth year brought a lot of changes. The war was beginning to turn for the worse and James Potter and I ended our six-year-long futile dispute. I didn't know if he just grew tired of rejection or what, but a few months before the end of sixth year, James came up to me, insisting that we talk. I had been fussy at first, of course. This was Potter we were talking about, the same boy who had asked me out almost every day for four years. But then I had heard him out. He apologized for all the annoyances and sheepishly admitted that it was silly and that it was about time both of us grew up, got over ourselves, and make our last year really count.

And I had agreed.

Being friends with Potter was unlike anything I had ever imagined. Our differences set aside, James introduced me to a world I had only assumed existed in the scripted reality of a television show or one of the teen novels that graced my impressive book collection. The Marauders truly lived like kings. And those select lucky few of whom they chose to associate with got to bathe in the glorious light of their popularity. Alice Prewett was among them. She was a dark haired girl, thin, but not striking looking like one would assume all popular girls were. Alice was rather plain looking with a rather flat nose, eyes spaced too far apart and front teeth jutted out like a mouse. But good looks weren't what made Alice popular. It was the way she commanded attention. The way her one hundred watt smile lit up the room, even on the darkest of days.

I supposed that's what made her a valuable asset to the Marauders and co. Not to mention that Alice's long time boyfriend, Frank Longbottom, was wonderfully buddy-buddy with James Potter. They had been playing Quidditch together for years, and, just like with most pure blood families, had known each other since they were in diapers.

There had been a time when I was dumbfounded by the infatuation people had with the Marauders. They were arrogant, obnoxious and cruel. Eventually, even before we'd mended our relationship, it had dawned on me. People liked James Potter, Sirius Black, Remus Lupin and Peter Pettigrew because they were just it. Just so perfectly wonderful and brilliant and-things that I had never thought could exist in reality.

James mostly. I wasn't in love with him, mind you. I was still the only girl not to fall under that Potter charm and damn proud. But that didn't mean I didn't revere him the same way every single bloody person in Hogwarts did, student and teachers alike. He was just too striking himself for me not to be mesmerized by his radiance.

And this year, he would be my partner. It was funny to think that a year ago I would have felt the urge to launch myself off the Astronomy tower at the thought of working side by side with James Potter as my Head Boy. When I had heard the news-from Alice of course-excitement shot through me like lightening. James was an easy person to work with. With his natural leadership skills it was a perfect match. James knew how to lead a group of people. I'd seen it in the way he commanded the Gryffindor Quidditch team. He was never cruel, bossy or big headed to them. He spoke to them like he was just another lowly second year, even with the Captain badge sewn into his gold and maroon jersey. Everyone just listened and eagerly wanted to please him. He was always pleased, win or lose. Of course, there had been times when he was particularly hard on them. I recalled an instance right before their last game last year. The excitement of summer approaching had gotten the better of the Gryffindor team and James had to use a few choice words and a thundering tone of voice to refocus their distraction.

But that leadership skill would make being Head Boy a piece of cake for him, not that any of it mattered when he was James freaking Potter. So yes, I was worried. While I certainly wasn't some invisible prude, I surely didn't match James, friends or not. I had never been one to cast fear or admiration in the hearts of many, so I wasn't sure if I could ever achieve the respect that was given to James. I knew he'd convince me otherwise.

Which was exactly what he was doing, as we sat on the Hogwarts Express in the Heads compartment.

"You're gonna be the best Head Girl ever." I rolled my eyes but couldn't help but smile.

"You're just saying that, 'cause you're my friend."

"No, I'm not!" He cried indigently. "C'mon, Lils. You're the best witch in our class. In all of Hogwarts. Maybe in all of the magical realm."

I laughed. "Okay, now I know you're just saying that."

He grinned back, a toothy, lopsided grin that always brought a familiar flutter to my heart. I'd missed it over the summer. We hadn't seen each other, not once. Though we'd exchanged letters, it wasn't the same. Nothing, not even his own handwriting, could replace James Potter in the flesh.

"Either way, you're gonna do great. I'm the one who should be worried. Head Boy? Imagine what this is going to do to my reputation."

I punched his arm playfully. Leave it to James to worry about his bad boy reputation. Something as snooty and as chalk full of responsibility like being Head Boy would cause some serious damage. Being an overly serious hall monitor-the longtime joke the Marauders had about Heads-wasn't going to make girls fall into your bed. Somehow, I doubted that. Being Big-Man-On-Campus would only fuel the fire.

That much was certain, judging by the gaggle of girls that stood outside of our compartment door; underclassmen eagerly hoping to get a glimpse of the gorgeous and smashing James Potter.

"Yeah. Sirius must be livid. He's lost his partner in crime."

Confusion crossed over his handsome features. "Whatever do you mean, Lily-kins? Oh, you can't actually think that just because I have a shiny new badge that I'm going to abandon my infamous ways? That's just insane. Practically sacrilege." He'd thrown a hand up against his chest dramatically.

I stared at him. "You're Head Boy." I said, warning entering my voice.

"So the shiny badge says." There was that grin again. I sighed and gave into the smile that was playing at my lips. It was virtually impossible to stay mad, or even pretend to be mad, at James for anything longer than a second. I briefly wondered how I could say such awful things to him in the previous years.

Oh yeah. 'Cause he's a prat. I thought lovingly.

"Leave it to you to love shiny things. James Potter, ADHD."

"Add-hddd?" He asked, blinking in confusion. I laughed as the foreign muggle word fell on his pure blood lips.

"Its a mental disorder that causes hyperactivity, inability to focus..." His eyes hardened and he pouted. It looked more like something off the cover of Witch Weekly than a child and I silently cursed him for his ability to look perfect no matter what. It just wasn't fair.

"I'm not mental. That's more like Sirius or maybe Peter. No, Peter's just boring." James said, running a hand through his already messy hair. There had been a time I'd hated that habit of his, but it had grown dear to me, just like every other little thing about him. I sighed.

"Some friend you are. Peter's sweet."

He nodded in agreement. "Peter's a good guy, just a little soft around the edges, if you know what I mean. We've been trying to teach him the proper skills for being a ladies man but he just does his own thing." He sighed exasperatedly.

I laughed. "Well, it seems to be working out for him." I said, remembering his cute and funny girlfriend, Emmeline Vance.

"True..." His voice was far off, like he was lost in thought. I followed his gaze out the window and watched as the city turned into country, and the gray concrete buildings became lively trees and bushes and lakes. I felt my heart rise in my throat. Going back to Hogwarts was always the best feeling in the world. It was strange to think that this would be the last time I'd take this journey.

"Say, what do you expect the dorm is gonna look like?" I asked, breaking the silence. James looked at me, mischief evident in his hazel eyes.

"Hopefully one bed for the two of us to share."

I giggled. He hardly ever flirted with me and the rare occasions that he did, I played along. "You'd like that, wouldn't you, Potter?"

He nodded gravely and I threw my head back in laughter. I gave him a hard shove. He barely flinched. Bloody solid rock, I thought. There was a lot to be envious of James Potter. His god-like body one of the top fifty.

James threw his arm across the seat above me and we sat like that for the remainder of the excursion to Hogwarts, chatting gaily amongst ourselves until it grew darker outside and we decided to change before the train reached it destination.

Hogwarts is truly beautiful. It sits atop rolling hills and cliffs and somehow glows in the nighttime like a sole candle in a black abyss. It always took my breath away. I stared up at it in the same wonder as my eleven year old self.

"Merlin, I love this place." James whispered breathlessly beside me. I turned to look at him slowly before the smile returned to my face.

"C'mon, James. We've got a feast to get to."

End of chapter one! Woohoo! I rather enjoy the concept of this story and feel like its written in a new way, unlike most of my darker, angst-filled stories. Its not going to be really angry, but don't expect it to be all smiles and giggles for long. After all, as the summery says, things are changing for Miss Evans. Plus, who can resist James Potter anyway? No one. At least, not for long. ::laughs maniacally:: Alright, well, I hope you enjoy this!