Disclaimer: J. owns everything you recognise. Unfortunately, I'm not her. I wouldn't be working ten hours a day otherwise!

A/N: I want to thank Eleanor Potter for her support during the past month and a half. It's thanks so her I finally wrote the first chapter of a story that's been in my mind for over a year.

Chapter One – Abusing the Power

September, 1977

The world in which they were growing up had changed drastically. The void that had been left by the collapse of the Ministry caused uneasiness among their kind. No one knew whom he or she could trust because what was once normal was now corrupted. Doors that used to be inviting everyone in were now sealed against trespassers and if one wasn't able to provide the correct password, they were denied access no matter if they were friend or foe. It became too dangerous to trust your neighbour, your friends and even your family. Paranoia and fear dominated and ruined everything that used to be pure. Even the tightest of bonds broke or showed cracks. Their world was quickly falling apart and they were all aware of this. However, there were two choices. Either you ran away or faced it, fighting for a better future.

The Hogwarts' Express waited impatiently behind her, its steam already leaving the chimney, indicating that the train would be leaving soon. Lily scanned the platform thoroughly, watching as little children hugged their family goodbye for the first time. A few sobs could be heard while their parents whispered words of comfort and love with a drop of worry in their voices. The atmosphere was different than previous years as parents rushed their children onto the train and left the platform in a hurry, a hunted look in their eyes. No one dared to laugh or smile when they saw their friends again but simply nodded from afar. She could feel the fear as it came rushing towards her in waves; hammering on her nerves and making her heart beat faster. She was nervous. This goodbye was out of place. It wasn't the excitement she had experienced like the past six years.

All of a sudden, her eyes connected with a familiar pair of black ones and within a second, she could feel him tugging at the edges of her mind. For one moment, he received admission to one of her biggest worries but she quickly gathered her senses together, forcing him out. He was still trying as they stared at the other and Lily knew that an outsider would simply assume they were looking at each other but inside, she was fighting a vicious mind battle with her former best friend. A friend she could no longer trust because of the war. She was angry with him for trying to break into her most private thoughts but at the same time, she was sad because there used to be a time that he wouldn't have had to do that. Of course, everything had changed.

The connection was broken when someone tall stepped in front of her and blurred her vision. Lily looked up and sighed when she noticed the mischievous grin of the one and only James Potter.

"Hey, Evans!"

To say she and James had been arguing the past five years was putting it mildly and it hadn't pleased Lily the slightest when she had received professor Dumbledore's owl wishing her luck with her new assignment as Head Girl together with the infamous James Potter. At first Lily had been convinced that Dumbledore must have been knocked on his head by a wand when he had decided James Potter to be responsible for the well being of Hogwarts' students; especially since it was said person who was responsible for most of the bullying that had happened the past two years. After she had figured out that Dumbledore would have been too great and powerful as a wizard to get caught being hit by a wand, she simply decided that he must have been very, intoxicatingly drunk and Lily tried not to imagine her headmaster in mentioned state.

Apparently, she thought as she caught James' glance towards something in the corners of his eyes and, as she followed the look, noticed how Black (another infamous idiot) gave a right hook into the face of Severus Snape. She concluded that indeed, it was extremely dangerous.

Lily put her hands on her hips as she raised her eyebrows in annoyance. She was met with a sheepish smirk and then, a large hand moved towards the unruly mass of black hair and brushed through it. Lily closed her eyes for one moment, searching for patience before opening them again and glaring at him.

"Could you explain why your best friend hit Severus?"

"It's still Severus, then?" asked James, his voice pronouncing the name as if it were venom on his tongue.

Lily rolled her eyes. She hadn't expected anything less from him and was getting bored with his little rivalry between him and Severus. It had been going on for years and she was positive that none of them knew why they started in the first place, besides the stereotypical House feud.

"I don't think that's any of your business," Lily answered coldly, stepping sideways to keep a close eye on Sirius Black, who seemed quite pleased with his success. When she was about to check on Severus, James stepped in front of her again, blocking her view.

"That's between me and Severus. Now answer my question."

Crossing her arms, she waited for James to answer her. Lily didn't tolerate any violence and since she'd become a Prefect during her fifth year, she had been trying to do anything to keep the fighting as low as possible. Now, with the responsibility of being a Head Girl, she couldn't let this slip at all. Especially not since a lot of parents had witnessed this act of senseless cruelty. She knew professor Dumbledore would receive a few owls as soon as they were able to write him and it was her responsibility that peace was kept between the students. And she would be damned that James Potter wouldn't take his responsibility either!

James shrugged nonchalantly.

"He was staring at you," he simply said, running his hand through his hair again, before leaving it alone. Her fingers twitched to grab her wand and fix his dishevelled state; another thing she tried to achieve: urging everyone to keep a tidy appearance during school hours. She had been taught that keeping a clean appearance was showing respect towards your tutors and unless your physical standard demanded otherwise, it had to be followed. Lily was strict like that and since she considered being a Head Boy or Girl, a role model to most, to be the highest on the social ladder of the student body, they always had to wear unwrinkled clothes and keep a nice, clean and non-provocative appearance. Something James obviously lacked when she scrutinised him more closely and spotted the crooked collar underneath his ear.

"By that, you mean?" She asked, unimpressed.

"Obviously, it's impolite to stare at a lady."

Lily had to keep herself from snorting. James always knew what others weren't supposed to do but when it came down to his own behaviour and that of his friends, he always ignored the fact he was even worse than those he reprimanded. And this got underneath Lily's skin in the most negative possible way. He was such a hypocrite!

"But it is proper to hit someone in the face?" Lily replied sarcastically and tried to step around him. She could hear angry voices coming from where Severus had been standing and she almost felt the atmosphere shift into a very dangerous one. Living in this war meant that even the slightest provocation could turn into a blood bath and Lily was determined to avoid this happening underneath her watch.

James followed her, fruitless with keeping her away as he answered her slowly.

"It depends on the situation."

Lily stopped brusquely and turned to look at him in disbelief. "Are you saying that it's okay to use violence as long as the situation calls for it? So, if I follow your reasoning, I'm allowed to kick Black in the balls simply because he hit Severus?"

James gaped at her, moving his lips once, and then twice to form a sentence while he tried to get over his shock.

"You said balls."

Rolling with her eyes, Lily turned away and walked towards a satisfied Sirius Black and a murderous looking Severus Snape who had his wand pointed towards his attacker. Blood was coming from his nose, which looked more crooked than it normally did, but he didn't seem to notice this as his black, hostile eyes were sending messages of pure hatred towards the relaxed wizard opposite him.

Sirius grinned when he saw James and almost as if he was set on fire, he jumped towards his best friend and hug him tightly.

"Jamie boy, I missed you, my friend!" he screamed in excitement, completely ignoring the fact that more Slytherins had gathered behind Severus, all of them looking ready to send them a few hexes. Parents looked up at the noise and those who sentenced the danger, quickly moved away and disappeared from sight. Others however, were ready to put a stop on the fight as soon as it promised to get out of hand.

Lily stood in between the group of Slytherins and the two best friends, who were completely oblivious ("We just spent two months together on holiday, you moron!") of the situation. She was annoyed that James chatted happily with Sirius as if a murderous group of Slytherins weren't gathering together. While they recounted some adventure they had, Lily summoned all her courage to face the Slytherins. She felt her heart beat quicker again as she realised she was in this alone. It wasn't because they frightened her but because she knew how low she stood in their eyes. Resolved to calm down the Slytherins and punish Sirius, she looked pleadingly at Severus, pointing towards his wand. She hoped he understood her. It was the only way to avoid a fight.

"Turn down your wand, Severus." She said underneath her breath but she knew he could hear her, because it made Sirius and James go silent as they watched her fixing their mess. "They're not worth it."

"Oi! You're supposed to take our side! We're so much better than them."

Lily turned around sharply, glaring at the pair of them as she took out her own wand and put it underneath Sirius' chin, a threatening glare turning him silent.

"I'm not taking anyone's side!" she hissed. "I'm getting so sick of your behaviour and that counts for you too, James Potter!"

James, who had sniggered at his best friends public humiliation, looked suddenly serious. A rare look of confused uncertainty crossed his face.

"You both think you own the school and I'm sure all your pretty admirers would agree," she spat, her face turning redder with each sentence. "But when will you grow up?! If you think for one moment that simply because you're a Black or a Potter you will get everywhere with that behaviour, then you're seriously wrong! For Merlin's sake, Potter, Dumbledore gave you that badge in trust and it's only day one. Even that seems too hard for you to honour his decision. You both lack respect and I won't take it any longer. Detention, Black, for a week."

"Oh come on, Lily." James tried, a tiny, wavering smile on his face as he made an attempt to convince her to listen to him. "We're only messing around."

"No, you're not." Lily looked at him and saw him bite his lip nervously. She had never seen him nervous before but then again, she had never been this angry with him before either. A lot of people were following the scene and as a Head Girl, she had to do what was right if she wanted everyone to know they couldn't mess with Lily Evans. "You're a bully, James Potter, you and your friends. It's not just messing around. It's hurting people! Making people bleed is no fun. It's cruel and cold-hearted. If you think that's okay, then you're no better than them. You're pathetic!"

With that she turned to look at Severus. Her anger was still bubbling at the surface as she flicked her want aggressively at his face. A loud crack announced the settlement of his broken nose and with another whoosh, the blood disappeared from his face and clothes.

"On the train," she demanded coldly as she looked at the Slytherins. "All of you. We're leaving in a few minutes."

As she was walking towards the train, she heard Sirius mutter underneath his breath "Being saved by a girl, again, Snivellus." and at the same time, a bitter male voice whispered loud enough for her to hear, "As if we're taking orders from a filthy Mudblood."

A lot happened at the same time before Lily even had turned back around to make it stop. She heard a vicious "Flipendo!" and saw how Sirius was knocked backwards and ended a few metres further against the wall, a loud knock being heard as his head hit the brick wall of the platform. Severus Snape looked pleased, his wand still held high from his hex. Avery, the one who had called her Mudblood, was now choking. His face looked green and as he spat, a few bubbles escaped his mouth.

"To clean that dirty mouth of yours," James said angrily, his brown eyes looking cold at the group of Slytherins. "Next time I hear such foul language, I'll clean a lot more than your mouth, Avery. That applies to all of you!"

It unnerved Lily that James had used a Scouring Charm, fighting a battle that was hers. She was old enough to deal with it herself and didn't need him to play hero. She walked towards Severus in a temper, glared at James as he gave her a victorious grin and pushed him away as she shoved past him. This act caused Severus to smile evilly at James, thinking he had won this battle but he didn't count Lily's enraged green eyes. James was about to send a hex when Lily grabbed her wand from her pocket.

"Expelliarmus!" She yelled and both James' and Severus' wands flew out of their hands into hers. "You better wipe that smile of your face, Severus Tobias Snape! Don't you think you'll get away with it. Professor Slughorn will hear about this and he'll decide what a proper punishment will be."

Severus scowled. "He started this, Evans. I shouldn't be the only one being punished!"

"Then be the better man and ignore that idiot," she snapped, giving his wand back. "I thought you were smarter than this."

"What's the matter, Snivellus," James taunted, a smirk wide on his face. "Surprised that your precious Lily turned her back on you? Oh no, what are you going to do now without her protecting you? Cry for your mommy?"

"Stop it!"

She had enough of this. She was so sick of them fighting about her over the years, so sick of being used. Lily was no one's possession. She had tried for years to make James stop bullying Severus, not because she wanted to protect him (she knew he could handle himself) but because he had been her best friend. The whole situation between her and Severus was still painful and though she had grown used to being called Evans by him, as she had called him Snape for the past year, it still reminded her of the loss. She still tried to fight for him, though differently.

"Give me your badge."

Lily held her hand open towards James, waiting expectedly for him to hand over his Head Boy's badge. He looked at her bewildered for a moment, then shocked before he shook his head. It was his turn to scowl.

"And why would I do that, Evans?"

Raising her eyebrows sceptically, she replied. "That badge should be worn with respect and responsibility. I have yet to see any of those two."

"Excuse me?" He took a step towards her, his tall figure dominating above her. He looked angry and it scared Lily inwardly. She had never received James Potter's anger towards her before and she admitted silently, it wasn't something she wished to encounter with again any time soon. "I defended you! I punished someone who called you a-a-you-know-what! I think that's being responsible and teaching someone to respect others."

A large crowd of the younger students was now standing around the group of seventh years, watching eagerly how this game of power would end. Lily saw how Remus Lupin was helping Sirius to stand straight on his feet while Peter Pettigrew kept Sirius' wand close to his chest. All the others were looking at her, waiting for her reply.

Deciding she didn't want to appear scared, she took a step closer towards James. They were almost touching, so close they were standing. Lily had to bend her head backwards to be able to see his face and noticed for the first time that James was tall, really tall. Or perhaps, she was very little.

"If that is your view on respect and responsibility, then you have a lot more to worry about than simply keeping your badge, Potter." She hissed, ignoring the loud thumping of her heart in her chest. "Letting your best friend hit someone in your place, not acting on it, cursing someone instead of giving detention and bullying someone are not considered acceptable. As Head Boy, you are supposed to show the right way of dealing with this."

"In my opinion, I'm dealing with this just fine!" He took another step closer, making her swallow nervously. He was towering above her and she was forced to take a step back if she didn't want to fall over.

"You failed on all the requirements of being a Head Boy, Potter," she said calmly, trying to control the slamming of her heart. She didn't understand why she felt scared of him. She was in her right and she was determined to let him know. "You still have to attend all meetings concerning Prefects and the school but the power to give detentions and to take points are now stripped from you along with your badge. Unless professor Dumbledore and professor McGonagall decide otherwise once we're back at school, you will not get your badge until you prove worthy of it. You get one month. If you fail, someone else will be appointed Head Boy."

Being proud of herself, she crossed her arms in front of her, giving him a victorious smirk. It didn't last long, however, because suddenly James leaned towards her, his face being level with hers, and then, he moved towards her ear as he whispered only for her to hear. "And what makes you think you've got the power to decide that, witch?"

How he did it, Lily didn't know but the feeling of his warm breath touching her face gently along with the lowered, rough voice, made her forget he had called her a witch in the most pejorative connotation possible. Her breath got caught inside her throat as the sound made her body tingle in anticipation. Closing her eyes, she tried to regain herself but it only enhanced what her senses were absorbing. She felt the light brush of his skin as he pulled slightly back, leaving a prickling mark on her heated cheeks. When she finally decided to look at him again, her fiery green eyes connected with the softness of his chocolate ones and they held it for a long time. The world around them vanished into thin air while Lily struggled to breathe, struggled to focus on her anger as her stomach squeezed together nervously.

Licking her lips, she gazed at him and he watched her, an unfamiliar spark in the depths of his pupils. She opened her mouth to reply but closed it again, the unspoken words leaving as he leaned closer, too close, and his lips were only inches away from hers. Panic took control as the realisation downed upon her what he was about to do. Acting quickly, she pressed James' wand towards his lower body.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you," she whispered, a small crack in her voice. James bewildered at first, widened his eyes in understanding when she added a bit more pressure. He swallowed hard, making his Adam's apple move. "I haven't changed my mind."

She was referring to the countless' times of her refusing him to date and she was sure he knew what she meant. Of course he hadn't asked her out now, but he had been close to kissing her and she had made it clear last year that if he ever pulled out a trick like that again (he had tried it before, although a bit more desperately and less breathtakingly than now) she would make it her personal goal to turn him into an eunuch.

Before James could react, an elder wizard interrupted them. He pushed James away by his shoulders, the lingering of a smile evident in the wizard's twinkling eyes.

"Alright, children," he said cheerfully, a definite contrast in the tensed atmosphere. "Let's get you two away from each other before you both make sure Hogwarts doesn't have any Head students left anymore. Professor Dumbledore would be greatly disappointed if that were to happen, I'm sure."

The man wore a dark brown cloak, the golden Ministry of Magic emblem sparkling bright in the low September morning sun. Even though Lily estimated his age to be older than sixty, he appeared to be young and quick as he handed James' wand. Confused how that happened, Lily looked down at her hand, noticing the absence of the wand.

"Off you go," he smiled and pointed towards the Hogwarts' express. Most students were already on the train, hanging out of the opened windows to witness the scene between Hogwarts' most famous Head students. And Lily wondered when that had happened. The last time she remembered those faces standing in circle around them.

Still being mystified about the whole situation, Lily walked towards the train. She caught a wavering smile from Remus, which she replied to with a matching weak smile. She was exhausted and it wasn't even eleven o'clock yet.

Entering a compartment, Lily settled down behind the window. A lot had happened and she knew that she would have to speak to the headmaster as soon as the beginning of the year feast was finished. She couldn't stand James Potter and the way he dealt with his newfound power. She had made up her mind he was immature, determined to convince the headmaster of this as well!

Then, her thoughts travelled back to when his voice had spoken low against her ear and the emotions it had evoked. Her cheeks flushed red when she remembered the warmth in his eyes, making her groan in frustration. This was James Potter for Merlin's sake! An arrogant, bullying toerag. Nothing more.

She rested her hot cheek against the cold window as the train left the station, trying to focus on the day ahead but as an echo of his lowered voice entrapped her into another thought (when had his voice been so low before?), she knew it was hopeless.

Another frustrated groan escaped her throat as she closed her eyes.

What had he done to her?

A/N: That's it for now! Let me know what you think of this so far. I don't know when the next chapter will be up but I'll try to post it as soon as possible. Until the next!