Final Year, Final Chance

It was pouring down with rain as the Hogwarts express left platform nine and three quarters, Lily Evans sat down in the prefect carriage watching the rain hammer against the window, lost in thought. It was her last year at Hogwarts and she knew that her final days there would be exciting, yet saddening. Hogwarts was like her home away from home - she was definitely going to miss it there.

While she was waiting in the Head Girl and Boy's compartment Lily attempted to dry her clothes, but to no avail. She was soaked through and had become very irritable. She looked about her feet and saw the droplets of water forming smaller puddles that laced the lush red carpet. As she was about to change into her uniform, which was much dryer, the compartment door slid open. Lily turned and frowned.

James Potter quickly slid the compartment door shut and absent-mindedly began to squeeze every ounce of water out of his clothes stood before her wringing his sopping wet clothes out. He violently shook his head like a wild animal, his mounds of hair sodden through, showering globules of cold water in every direction - including Lily's.

"Argh! Get out of it, Potter!" Lily cried, attempting to shield herself.

James swung around, his face lighting up at the sight of Lily.

"Evans! I had no idea you would be gracing the head boy and girl with your presence! What are you performing?"

"What are you talking about, Potter?" Lily snapped.

"Well you're here for entertainment aren't you? So what are you performing? Are you tap dancing?"

"What?"

"Ventriloquism?"

"What are-?"

"Mime?"

"What are you on about?"

James sighed mockingly, "Gee. VERY slow on the uptake, Evans. Not your usual standard. Why are you in here?"

Lily stared incredulously at James - she thought it was pretty obvious. "Because I'm Head Girl." It then occurred to her that James had no alibi for staying in the compartment. "More importantly, what are YOU doing here?"

James raised an eyebrow. If only, he thought, he could freeze this moment. Lily apparently had no idea that he himself had been elected her male counterpart. He considered making her squirm, he always found that fun. However, his more mature side he believed he had developed over the break overrode is mischievous self. "Isn't it obvious? I'm Head Boy."

She gaped at James in silent disbelief. A mocking smile played across his face. Though he didn't make her squirm that shocked look, not only awfully pretty but exceptionally hilarious made his day.

"Don't rush over to congratulate me or anything," he said with mock coolness.

Lily still stared. There had to be some sort of error. Surely Remus Lupin, one of James' close friends would be Head Boy at least. He was a prefect, very smart and very kind. However, he was ill every now and then...perhaps that was the reason he was not selected. Who else could there be? And more importantly, "Who in their right mind would select you for Head Boy?!"

"Perhaps ol' Dumbledore fancies himself a matchmaker. Long nights, vulnerable situations...one thing leading to another and before you know it..."

"You know perfectly well that's not what I meant-"

"C'mon Evans, let us continue this vicious banter no longer. We must as one, form an alliance. There's no I in TEAM, you know."

"Thanks for that one, Potter, because I had no idea."

The silence was icy. Lily's voice had dripped with sarcasm and something else - intense dislike. It was well known that Lily did not return James' profound affection, even James knew it. Whilst Lily turned away from him to get her school uniform out, a light lit up in James' head. This year was his last chance. He needed, by the end of the year, to convince Lily that he wasn't as bad as she thought.

"Look, Lily..."

She whipped her head around to look at him so quickly that she cricked her neck. James rarely used her first name, so when he did it was a shock to the system - both hers and his.

"Oh sorry, Evans..."

"Potter, look, this is our last year. Let's just make it as painless as possible."

"Exactly how I feel, Evans. I'm glad we're on the same page."

"Well we're DEFINITELY not reading the same book."

"What book are you reading?" James asked innocently.

"Trouser it, Potter. It's too early for your so-called comedy."

"All the better to charm you with, my dear." James grinned.

Lily smiled in spite of herself. She realised, however, that this display of affection gave James pleasure, so she stopped almost as quickly as it snuck up on her.

"Let's just give the Prefects their instructions and get this bonding session over and done with."

"Stunning."

Lily and James entered the compartment and took their seats, greeting the old prefects and getting to know the newer ones. They then went through the duties of each of them to their houses and to their schools. Lily was surprised with James' enthusiasm towards the group and his patience with ridiculous questions. At times she felt an upsurge of fondness, for which she could not explain.

As James and Lily re-entered their compartment, they chatted about the meeting they had just conducted together without arguments.

As the lamps were lit, James and Lily chatted about their home lives and hobbies. James was very open to Lily discussing his home life in the wizarding world. He wistfully recalled flying around his large garden with Sirius, who stayed often for reasons Lily was unaware of.

James then quizzed Lily on life as a muggle, enquiring about what she did without magic and more importantly, what her family was like. Lily was happy to answer about her muggle way of life, but when it came to her family she became very shy. She wasn't sure as to how to explain to James that her sister was not proud but scornful of her strange existence, and she hesitantly skimmed over the subject. James was not deterred; in fact, he found it endearing.

After they changed into their robes, pinning their badges on their uniforms, Lily watched James have difficulty working his badge. She laughed and shook her head. He looked over with an enquiring grin and she strolled over and pinned his badge on his robes. She looked into his eyes and it was as if a flame had ignited in her head - she was helping James Potter, enjoying his company, actually forging a friendship.

Well this has to stop, she thought to herself. She walked back to her seat, opened a book and began to read. James hung his head slightly in disappointment. He could have sworn that there was a moment between him and Lily. He decided then and there that this was the year he would convince her that he, James Potter, was a changed, mature man. Someone she could date, maybe even like.

James sat down opposite Lily and opened the first book he found in his trunk. He opened it at any page and began to read it, glancing every now and then at Lily. Little did he know that Lily was doing exactly the same thing.

There was silence for the rest of the trip to school, but neither James nor Lily minded. They both thought privately, this has been the best trip yet, but neither let their thoughts show.