Chapter 1:

Chapter 1: Odd Beginnings

Please tell me this isn't happening. Please tell me this isn't happening. That seemed to have been my mantra for the last 6 years, and it appeared that this one was no different.

"Potter," I snarled at the tall figure in front of me. Honestly, I couldn't really see what made all the girls at Hogwarts chase hopelessly after him. Sure, he was very handsome—not that I would ever admit that to him, or anyone for that matter—and was captain of the Gryffindor Quidditch team, but his messy, black hair, and over-inflated head infuriates me rather than makes me want to snog him senseless. Not to mention the irritating habit he had of asked me out every five minutes.

I spun around to walk the other way—I wouldn't want to create a scene, you know—but his hand caught me before I could take even a step. "Remove your hand, before I remove it for you," I spat through clenched teeth, attributing the shivers that shot down my spine to revulsion.

His hand slowly retracted, and he met my glare evenly. I had to mentally slap myself when my breathing hitched in my throat from staring into his deep hazel eyes for too long a time.

"I just wanted to congratulate you on making Head Girl, but I can see when I'm not wanted," James said. Hurt touched his eyes, and with a tiny, apologetic smile on his lips, he walked away from me.

That was odd.

I stood there, in the middle of Platform 9 ¾ with a stunned expression on my face, and my arm half-extended. I earned several peculiar looks from the families bustling around me, but I didn't even see them. What in Merlin's name just happened?

I didn't have any more time to ponder that question, as the whistle blew, announcing the last call for boarding of the Hogwarts Express.

Levitating my trunks in front of me—ah, the privileges of being of age—I shuffled through the narrow corridor of the train, looking for my two best friends, Alice Prewett and Emmeline Vance. I froze when I found them sitting with James Potter and his fellow Marauders.

Everyone looked up at the sound of the compartment door sliding open. I was immediately met with squeals of delight and hugs from my two friends, but I hardly noticed. I was too busy staring at James, waiting for that arrogant smirk to flash across his face, or make some suggestive comment. But none came. He didn't even run his hands through that blasted hair—he just stared right back with a blank face. Finally, he stood up and took my trunks to stow them overhead.

"Thanks," I muttered. Six pairs of eyes stared at me. "What?" I asked defensively.

Alice shook her head at me and smiled knowingly. What she knew, I had no idea. She took my hand shoved me down onto the seat between her and James. "How was your holiday, Lils?" Alice asked eagerly.

Alice was fairly short—5'4"—and wore her light brown hair medium-length. People were naturally drawn to her because of her dazzling smile and bubbly personality. The room always seemed to brighten when her full lips pulled back over her sparkly white teeth. It was a very good thing she was involved in a happy, long time relationship.

"It was three months with Petunia—what do you think?" I replied, a bit bitter. Alice and Emmeline were both part of wealthy, pureblood families, and they spent their holidays at their vacation homes, or mansions, in Greece or Italy.

Em scowled and nodded her agreement. "I wish you could have come with us. I feel for anyone who has to spend their break with that cow and her dreadful fiancé."

Anyone with half a brain could see why Emmeline was my best friend. Her outspoken nature, mixed with my brains, and Alice's outgoing personality equals dangerous. Our group was similar to the Marauders in that way, except we tend to obey the rules much, much more.

Sirius Black, James's best friend and fellow leader of the infamous Marauders, snorted and nodded understandingly. "Believe me, Evans, you're not the only one with a screwed up family," Sirius said.

"Oh, really?" I challenged, raising my eyebrows. "Does your sister call you a freak for being able to do magic, and refuse to include you as a member of the family?"

Sirius laughed humorlessly. "Does your younger brother coerce with Voldemort himself? Or, better yet, did your family disown you when you were fifteen because you were put in Gryffindor?" he shot back. His eyes flashed and his hands clenched into fists on the seat. James shot me a look that clearly said, "Oh, Lily. Open mouth; insert foot."

So, I did they only thing I could think of. "Well, I bet you and James had a fun time over the holidays, then." Everyone turned to look at me, their jaws slack for the second time in 10 minutes. "What? Are you trying to catch flies?" I snapped at them.

Sensing the tension, James stood and strode purposefully to the door. There was something different about his stride, I noticed. He didn't swagger so much anymore. Now he just walked with a focus, with a goal.

"Where are you going?" Em asked. We had just left the station—there was no way he could need to stretch already.

James exchanged a glace with Remus, and then looked back at Em and shrugged. He left the compartment without another day.

I slumped in my seat and crossed my arms over my chest, pondering. Potter was acting very…unPotterish. Actually, we both were. Accidentally calling him 'James' was not normal for me, and not exploiting every possible moment available to ask me out was not characteristic of him. Something was definitely different, but it was too soon to tell whether it was a good thing or not.

"Lily, don't you have somewhere to be?" Alice's voice broke through my thoughts. Noticing the blank look on my face, she prompted, "The Prefects meeting…?"

I shot out of my seat and bolted to the sliding door. "Oh crap! Remus, I'll see you there in a few minutes. Bye!" I called over my shoulder as I nearly ran to the Prefects compartment. In my haste, I completely forgot to fret about who the Head Boy could possibly be.

"Sorry I'm late!" I panted as I entered the room. The chair at the head of the oval table spun around to reveal—Potter?

"Don't worry about it, Lily, I was just early," James excused with a wave of his hand. "I had a few issues I wanted to discuss with you."

I was startled, to say the least, but I pushed all previous misconceptions—where the hell did that come from? —away and focused on being the best Head Girl I could be.

When the Prefects entered the compartment 10 minutes later, James and I were talking quietly and professionally about the duties we would have to perform over the year. We hadn't even noticed them all come in until we heard their collective sighs and groans. The Slytherins were more open in voicing their opinions.

"Potter and the Mudblood as Heads? Lovely year this should be," Lucius Malfoy sneered, laying on the sarcasm extra thick. Others nodded their agreement as they took their seats.

"Oi! Shut it!" James bellowed. The room quieted down automatically, but the Slytherins glared balefully at him. "Now," he went on in a softer tone, "if anyone has a problem with either Lily or I as Heads—wait!—then I suggest you get out because Lily and I will be here all year. We have a job to uphold and I'll be damned if I let on of you get in our way. Is that clear?" He locked eyes with every Prefect around the table before nodded approvingly and sitting down.

If I was startled before, now I was shell-shocked and on the verge of falling out of my chair, but I ignored that and stood up.

I handled the directions and scheduling while James observed and occasionally added a much-appreciated joke into the mix. At the end of the meeting, nearly everyone left feeling like this year would be the best yet. I saw Remus flash James a thumbs up before leaving.

As soon as everyone was gone, I turned to James; it was time to get my answers. "Who are you and what have you done with Potter?" I demanded, placing a hand on my hip.

James momentarily paused before placing the last piece of parchment in his folder. "Listen, Lily, I'm 17 now. In just one year, I won't have Dumbledore or my mum and dad to protect me anyone. It's about time I start acting like the adult I'm expected to be," he explained, running a hand through his messy, black hair.

I don't think it's possible to force my mouth open even further. In fact, I think someone could fit a large rock in it without any troubles. "So…should I check every closet on the train, or is he bound and gagged in this very room?" I asked, only half joking.

James laughed and tucked his folder under his arm. "Why, Miss Evans, if I didn't know any better, I'd say you're worried about me. Ladies first," he said, holding the door open for me.

"Thanks," I replied, giving him a genuine smile. I couldn't help but notice the way his eyes danced at this simple gesture. "And it's a very good thing you know better." And if I didn't know better, I'd say I was flirting with the git! But, I have to admit, it's kind of fun, I daresay.

"Well, I think we are going to do a great job as Heads this year," James said.

And when I looked at the expression on his face, I knew he was right. "Yeah. Yeah we will."