It was seventh year, at last. Lily was just as nervous as she was excited. What would this year hold for her? NEWTs, of course. But there was no need to worry about that yet, not when she had more immediate problems. James Potter was walking down the train towards her. Lily braced herself for something; a proposal, a gift, a sonnet. James liked to start the year off with a bang.

But, James just kept walking past her. No saunter, no strut, not even a wink in her direction. He just politely squished himself to the side of the train and squeezed past her. Lily was so shocked she squeaked out a "Hi James!"

He didn't turn. "Hey, Lily. Nice summer?" He didn't wait for an answer. He turned into a compartment and left Lily alone.

It's not that the encounter was rude, per se. Lily just didn't know how to handle the sudden change in demeanour.

James was just as confused. She had initiated conversation, you idiot! Go back and talk to her! James' mind was screaming at him. Why did he just brush Lily off? Merlin, he must be going crazy. He was ready to sit down, but looked up to greet his friends. Unfortunately, there was only a group of three first years in the compartment, who were staring up at him in fright. James had screwed up in his attempt of a quick getaway.

He thought quickly on his feet and cleared his throat. A kind smile was sent their way. "Hey guys!" James greeted. "And girl," he added, seeing a girl sitting on his right. That made four. "I'm James Potter, the Head Boy for this year!" They looked even more scared than before. James rubbed his neck. "You probably don't know what that means. Anyway, I just came in to wish you a good start at Hogwarts, you're going to love it. And if you have any questions or get lost, or absolutely anything, you can come up and talk to me or the Head Girl." James stopped here, as he didn't know who the Head Girl was yet.

Of course it will be Lily, you fool.

When the first years simply nodded at him, James left the compartment quickly. To his relief, Lily was no longer waiting outside. He scurried along the walkway to find his mates.

Lily, when walking away from James in a shocked stupor, passed the Marauder's compartment. Lily only briefly looked in, looking for her own friends, but did notice James' absence. She wondered whose compartment he went into before.

Nearly stumbling into the food trolley and blushing bright red the whole way, Lily finally found her friends Hestia Jones and Marlene McKinnon, gossiping over some Witch Weekly magazine. Lily thought they were rubbish.

"Found out who Head Boy is yet?" Hestia asked curiously. Lily almost slapped herself; that was the reason she was out and about in the first place! Of course, her conversation with James did shock her to the core…
"No, but I'll be surprised if it's not Remus," Lily admitted, sitting near the door and checking her watch. She had to go to the prefect's carriage soon to greet everyone. And the Head Boy. Something bubbled in the pits of her stomach.
"Well, until then, eat some frogs, Lily. You look awful," Marlene said honestly, handing Lily a chocolate frog. Lily placed it beside her.
"No thanks, I'm on a diet," Lily said quietly.

Shocked stares were sent her way. "What?" Marlene demanded.
"Lily, you are not on a diet," Hestia said immediately. "You're skinny enough as it is."
"Don't make the rest of us feel bad for eating lots of food," Marlene added. "Here, eat these frogs. They'll do you good."

Marlene tried to force it into Lily's laughing mouth. "Stop! I'm not on a diet, alright! I'm just not hungry!" Lily managed to push Marlene off her, who was looking confused.
"Then why did you say you were on a diet, you idiot?"

Lily rolled her eyes. "I need to go now. Do I have chocolate on my face?"
"No," Hestia laughed. "Best of luck!"

With a slam of the carriage door, Lily was on her way to the prefect's compartment at last. She was perhaps a tad late, but as Lily had planned to leave earlier than she needed to, she supposed she was running on time.

Lily slipped inside the compartment, which was warm and spacious. There was already a boy in there – the Head Boy, no doubt. He turned when Lily entered.

"James? What are you doing in here?" Lily asked, surprised by his presence.
"I'm Head Boy," James said with a shrug. He handed out the badge for Lily to inspect. A big 'HB' was engraved onto the shiny metal. The badge did not lie.
"But… how? You weren't even a prefect!" Lily's temper was rising. What was Dumbledore playing at? Remus must be distraught! She handed back the badge.
"Calm down, Lily," James said gently as he pinned it to his robes. Lily suddenly remembered that she was meant to be changed by now, but had stupidly forgotten to. Where was her brain? "I offered it to Remus but he said no. Said that Dumbledore chose me specifically and probably just forgot it had to go to a prefect."

Lily was a bit ruffled at being told to calm down by James Potter of all people, and that she had forgotten to wear her robes but he hadn't, but listened to and accepted his explanation. She was going to have a nice chat with Dumbledore once she was at school!

A light knock on the door and Remus poked his head through. "Is it safe to come in?" he ventured. James chuckled and Lily smiled tightly.
"Of course, Remus. Just sorting out a few technicalities."
"Yes, the issue of the badge," Remus murmured. Lily thought he looked very tired, and remembered it was a full moon just a few nights before. "I wonder what Dumbledore has planned."

"Well, shall we call the meeting to order?" James asked Lily quietly as the prefects trickled in. She nodded.