The Trouble With Lily

A/N: Finished at long last...*phew*

The Trouble with Lily

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Chapter One

A farmer was outside that day, harvesting his corns. It was mid-afternoon when he did this. The weather had been perfect for his little beauties, and there they stood, full of his pride. As he turned his back to pick a particular high-perched one, a gust of wind rushed past him. Surprised, he dropped his basket. On instinct, he turned around to see what had disturbed him. His eyes spotted a rolling train with rusted gold letters spelling out "Hogwarts Express". He rubbed his eyes to see if his vision had played with him. The train had disappeared. Feeling very astonished, the farmer raised his eyebrows and turned back to his work, deciding it was a trick of the light.

There was a train, however, and it was called the Hogwarts Express. In its compartments every fall were hundreds of students. Witches and wizards, to be exact. One of these witches and wizards was a boy named James Potter.

James Potter was a very handsome boy. He had messy dark brown hair and glowing hazel eyes that seemed to intrigue all the girls. On that particular first day of school, James was sitting in one of the train's many compartments. The last one to the left, actually. Three other people were in there with him - Sirius Black, Remus Lupin, and Peter Pettigrew.

Sirius and Remus were playing wizard's chess while Peter 'refereed' the game. Sirius was loosing terribly and he wasn't very happy with it. His eyebrows were scrunched into a sour look and curses were flowing out of his mouth every other second. Remus, however, was calm and paid no attention to Sirius's behavior. Peter was looking at the board rather intensely while munching on a Chocolate Frog's leg.

One would think they weren't worried about James's strange act, but they were.

"Stop moping around, Prongs," said Sirius hotly.

James looked at him out of the corner of his eyes and returned to watching the windows. He started muttering inaudibly to himself and waving his hands about in the air.

"Are you going to eat that?" asked Peter, pointing at the pile of treats next to James.

"No, Peter, go ahead," said James, speaking for the first time since his arrival on the train.

"Still thinking about our little Miss Evans?" asked Sirius, leaning against the compartment's wall. "Don't bust your brain, Jamesie. We need it for pranks."

James huffed and crossed his legs. "What did she meant by her comment?"

"Which comment?" asked Remus, looking up.

James coughed and started mimicking Lily's voice. "Deflate your head and then we'll talk."

Remus raised an eyebrow. "She didn't say that."

Sirius waved his hands impatiently. "Who cares? The important thing is that you shouldn't pay attention to what that Lily Evans says. You're starting to think too much, James. It's unorthodox."

"I beg to differ," said Remus. "What about that one time when she told him he'd better watch out during the game?"

"So he got hit in the head with a Bludger. It happens everyday!"

James's mouth opened to argue, but Remus beat him to it. "And what about that other time when she told you Gina Yates was-"

Sirius yelled loudly to quiet him. "Let's not bring up bad memories, okay Moony? And for your information, she was a very good snogging partner."

"I didn't need to know that," chirped James and Remus.

Just then, the compartment door slid open. Someone's head peeked through. "James Potter?" said the person. "You're wanted in the Prefect's compartment."

James waved the person away. When the person left, he stood up. "Thanks again for letting me have your place, Remus."

"You're welcome, James," replied Remus. "You actually did me a favor."

"Yeah, I know. I'm too nice for my own good," said James as he walked out.

"Why'd you give up your spot?" asked Peter.

"It's too much for him, that's why. All those meetings," answered Sirius.

Remus smiled. "It's because Lily's a Prefect too."

Sirius smirked. "I didn't know you had it in you, Moony."

"Don't judge a book by its cover, Sirius," said Remus simply as he cleared the chessboard.

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An hour after he left, James returned, muttering darkly to himself. His face was twisted into an expression similar to Sirius's during the chess game. He kept looking over his shoulders, and glaring at the front part of the train.

"What happened now?" asked Sirius when James slammed the door close.

"That bastard Snape," was his answer.

"Let me guess: he started talking about how you earned your place?" asked Remus.

James nodded as he started munching on a slice of pumpkin pie.

Remus sighed and folded his arms. "James, you know better than to take what Severus says seriously - quiet, Sirius."

"Lily was there!" whined James crossly.

Remus rolled his eyes at the ceiling. "So Lily was there. Was she even paying attention to you? Ah, see? I knew it. The reason you're always so awkward when she's around is because you're always considering what she would think of your actions. And yes, Peter, he does. Remember how James liked to dangle everyone last year? Whenever Lily passed by when he was doing it, he'd throw the wrong curse at his opponent and they'd end up with an extra mouth or something. We need to change that this year, Prongs. There's only one year left before we say good-bye to Little Miss Evans. If you screw up this year, I doubt you'll have a chance of getting her next term."

Sirius huffed. "Who says he have to get Evans? There are plenty of other squids in the lake, Prongs." James scrunched his face at the term. "Just a couple of winks or maybe a smile and you'll reel them in. The time you wasted on Evans could've been used to chase ten girls."

James gave him a blank look. "Padfoot, don't treat her like an item to be possessed."

The rest of the ride was spent in silent although Peter snored quite loudly. Ten minutes before the train stopped, the same person who had came for James before stopped by.

"James Potter is wanted in the front," he said. "Head Boy says all the Prefects have to be off the train first. You'd better change into your robes."

Once again, James waved the boy away. "Coming, Sirius?" he asked.

"How could I miss seeing you screw up in front of Evans?" grinned Sirius. "Wake up, Peter, and change into your robes. There's a fire in the front. They want us to go out."

Peter immediately sat up in alarm. "Alert the captain!" he cried.

James and Sirius roared with laughter. "Peter, you are so gullible sometimes," said James, wiping an imaginary tear from his eye.

"SOMETIMES?" asked Sirius as he pulled on his robe.

Remus shook his head disapprovingly at them and returned to his book. "They're leaving first, Peter, so it's you and me again."

After a quick wave, Sirius and James departed to the front. The other Prefects were there with the Head Boy and Girl. All of them were standing in a crooked line in front of the train door. The Heads were whispering rapidly to each other, while the Prefects did the same.

"What's with all the commotion?" asked James as he neared them.

All looked at him.

"What?" he asked.

"Hey, Sammy," said Sirius cheerfully to the Head Girl. She blushed, gave a little wave, and hid her hands into the outskirts of her pockets.

"What are you doing here, Black? It's for Prefects only," sneered Snape as Bellatrix Black, Sirius's cousin, turned around.

Sirius gave him a glare. "Well, it seems Dumbledore has gone mad, letting you serve for another year. Be careful, Snivellus. Wouldn't want to lose your 'hard-earned position' now, would we?" With that said, he walked over to the Head Girl and draped an arm over her shoulder. They began talking immediately.

With his best friend "working his magic" in some corner, James was left with no choice but to find some company to talk to. Obviously, the person he headed to was Lily.

"All right, Evans?" he said, positioning himself right next to her.

She gave him a glare and returned to chatting with a Ravenclaw Prefect. The Prefect wasn't paying attention to her anymore, though, now that James had come over.

"Hi, James," she said, making a move to be between him and Lily.

"Oh hi, Esther," he said, moving to be next to Lily again.

"How was your summer?" asked Esther.

"It was all right. We went on a trip to France to visit a few cousins, but it wasn't that great because they were a boring lot."

She gave him a sympathetic look. Lily gave him a pathetic glare.

"Have you no manners, Potter?" she asked. "We were having a conversation."

"Oh don't be such a prick, Evans," said James joyfully; happy she had spoken to him. "I know you're honored to have me grace your present."

Lily gave him a disgusted look and sauntered off to talk to the Head Boy. He could hear her whispering loudly about how 'undeserving students' shouldn't be picked for such 'an important role'.

James had time to blow a raspberry at her before the Heads calmed them both down. A few minutes later, the train came to an abrupt stop. The Heads went down first, followed by the Prefects. Sirius had gone over to James again, and they were standing chatting to Hagrid.

"Had yerself a good summer?" asked Hagrid merrily.

"Jamesie didn't," said Sirius. "He got stuck with his boring French cousins."

"The ones in Paris?"

"You actually remembered them?" asked James, amazed. "Yea, those bratty little seven years olds who demands ice cream like there's no tomorrow."

Hagrid gave a loud laugh. "Yer better be on yer way. The First Years are gettin' down."

With a wave, Sirius and James left on their way to the carriages. They spotted Remus and Peter getting into one with who seemed like Frank Longbottom, a fellow Gryffindor, and his girlfriend Alice.

"Let's just find another one then," said Sirius. He started looking around. In just a few moments, he grinned a Cheshire-cat smile. "C'mon, Prongs." Without hesitation, he grabbed James's arm and dragged him to a carriage - Lily Evans's, to be exact.

James's eyes widened when he saw who was inside. "Hell no!" he cried, fighting to back away. Sirius was stronger, however, and in no time had gotten his friend into a seat. James huffed, crossed his arms, and looked sideways.

"All right, Evans?" asked Sirius, imitating a James sweeping his hair back. James jammed his elbow into Sirius's ribs.

Lily gave him a glare. "Black, don't you have anything better to do than to annoy me?"

"Of course he doesn't," said a voice.

Sirius turned to the voice that spoke. It belonged to a girl with dark brown hair and dark brown eyes. She was reading the morning edition of the Daily Prophet which was held very close to her face, only leaving her eyes to show over the top.

"Hello to you too, Deidre," he said casually. "Stalking Kneuf again?"

Deidre didn't look and him but said, "What was that supposed to mean?"

"Oh nothing," said Sirius innocently. "I just thought you had a...how should I put it? A 'knack' for him."

Deidre scoffed. "Like the one you had for Moaning Myrtle in our First Year?"

Sirius's mouth opened and turned to James. "How did she know that?" he whispered angrily.

James shrugged. "How should I know?" he said innocently.

Before Sirius could say anything, Lily stated loudly, "Can this be a quiet ride, please? I have enough a headache without all you people arguing."

Sirius shook his head sadly. "Our poor Little Miss Evans," he said sympathetically. "What you need is dear James to cheer you up." He bended over and pushed Lily into James's lap. She shrieked and slapped James's face. James closed his eyes and pursed his lips together.

Lily smiled meekly. "Umm...sorry?" she said.

James pushed her off his lap and she landed on the floor. "I said sorry!" she exclaimed, dusting herself and getting back on the seat. By this time, the carriage had already reached the castle. Sirius, being the "gentleman" that he was, opened the door and made James wait until everybody got out.

"It's part of gentlemanly etiquette," he said. "You should really learn it, James. It should get you a few girls."

James gave a fake laugh. "Says the person who eats spaghetti with a spoon," he said.

"Hey, that was an experiment."

James rolled his eyes as they headed up the castle's stone steps. When he and Sirius got into the Great Hall, they found that everyone had gotten there already. Heading to their usual place beside Remus and Peter, they sat down. Just a few moments later, the First Year entered. After the Sorting, Dumbledore gave his speech and food started to fill the tables.

"Let the feast begin!" said Dumbledore.

When he started his third plate, Sirius started feeling paranoid. He felt someone was staring at him. He turned his head to see who it was, but everyone was too engaged in their food and nobody was looking anywhere else except at their friends. He shrugged and resumed to gulfing down his pumpkin juice.

"What's in this stuff?" he asked suddenly. "Do they just squeeze the pumpkin until all the juice is out?"

Remus shrugged. "I think it's manufactured."

"So this is fresh?"

"Possibly," answered Remus.

"How long does it take for pumpkins to grow?" asked Sirius.

"Sirius, why are you asking questions about pumpkins? As long as they're in your goblet and doesn't give you a stomachache, who the hell cares?" said James.

"Don't be so moody," was Sirius's reply.

James did not say anything back.

A few minutes later, Sirius said his stomach was feeling queasy and 'excused' himself. He went up to Dumbledore and asked for permission. Dumbledore nodded a yes to him (his eyes were twinkling merrily when he said this) and Sirius went on his way. Quite some time after that, he returned. By then, everyone had left for his or her dormitories, so he made his way there also.

"Why'd you take so long?" asked Peter when he entered their dorm.

"Probably shagging someone again," snickered Frank Longbottom.

"Yea," said Sirius, "Alice is a great kisser."

"WHAT?" shouted Frank and everyone laughed.

"I was somewhere," said Sirius, rolling his eyes. "No one trusts me anymore."

"Because you can't be trusted," said Peter very quietly.

"What was that?" said Sirius sharply.

Peter shook his head and climbed into his bed. Sirius gave him a suspicious look before jumping on James's bed and poking him. "How are you doing, Jamesie?" he asked. The lights turned off.

"Good before you woke me up," said James groggily.

"You know you love me," said Sirius, smiling.

"I don't swing that way, Black," he said, turning on his sides. He suddenly sat up. "Did you hear that?"

"Hear what?" asked Sirius, looking around.

"Someone screamed, 'POTTER!'"

Sirius shrugged. "I don't know. You're hearing things again, Prongs. Get some sleep." With that, he jumped off James's bed and onto his. Then he covered himself entirely with his blanket.

His covers could be seen moving up and down as his body shook with laughter.