The Love That Transcended Time

Chapter 3: Letters & Longing

It had been only a few days after Lily's birthday when the typical summer letter came from Hogwarts with the term's book list and various announcements. She had been asleep, dreaming of that kiss that had almost been on her birthday when an owl flew in, dropping a few rather thick letters on her face. She sat up abruptly, rubbing her face where the rather sharp edge of one of the letters had nicked her.

Rubbing at her eyes groggily, she managed to ignore the urge to go back to sleep long enough to rip open an envelope. She pulled out the letter and a shiny pin fell out of the letter, and into her lap. She stopped for a moment, staring incredulously at the pin, her heart beating fast. She quickly unfolded the thick parchment and scanned and scanned the lines quickly until she saw it...

"Congratulations, Ms. Evans. You've been chosen by the Hogwarts Staff this year to become Head Girl. When the Hogwarts Express leaves from King's Cross Station on September 1^st, you will convene and moderate the meeting in the Prefects carriage. We ask you come approximately an hour early to meet the Head Boy, and prepare. Please review the rules and regulations included in this package, and I will see you and the head boy during our scheduled monthly meetings. Sincerely, Albus Dumbledore--Headmaster."

Lily was still in awe. She hadn't even thought about being chosen for this job, it had been the last thing on her mind, especially after her birthday dinner. She knew the Head Boy and Head Girl were second in command under Dumbledore, and that the staff was often used in emergencies around the school. She also knew they kept watch over the prefects, and kept them informed at weekly meetings among many other duties. It was going to prove to be an interesting year.

After reading through the letter at least 5 more times, she threw the covers off her bed in a mad rush. The other letter she had neglected to open was tossed clear over to the windowsill, and nearly flew out of the window, but instead hit the vase of lilacs sitting in the sunlight. Not noticing, she went running down the stairs to tell her parents, not even once stopping to think who her fellow Head Boy would be. Perhaps it would occur to her later that this knowledge would be important. After all, the Head Boy and Head Girl had a lot time they would be spending together in each other's company.

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Miles away, James sat in his bedroom looking out the window hopefully. He had just spent the entirety of his afternoon the previous day composing a letter to Lily. He wanted to tell her so much... He wanted to tell her how beautiful she had looked the other night, even though he thought she always looked beautiful. He wanted to tell her how charming and alluring she was. He wanted to tell her how badly he had longed to kiss her and put his hands on her. After pondering for hours upon hours, he scribbled down in about 2 seconds:

"Hey Evans, It's Potter! I hope your summer is going well. I really enjoyed our dinner the other night. Let's have a butterbeer at school! Cheers, James."

James shook his head despairingly. It was an awful letter. It was friendly, but just that. He wanted to take her out to dinner, or show her an amazing time, not ask her out for butterbeer like one of the guys.

"Damn!" screamed James, thinking out loud. Padfoot, who had been curled up on the rug in front of James' bed like an innocent house pet, perked up his ears and looked at James. If dogs could smile, that would have been exactly what he was doing, because the scraggily dog transformed back into Sirius rolling in laughter.

"What's the matter with you mate? I haven't seen you so tormented since the time Lily insulted you in front of Snape...and boy oh boy, she got you good..." And then the light bulb seemed to turn on in Sirius' head. "Ohhhh! What happened with Lily? Honeymoon over already?"

"Shut up, Padfoot. Go chew on something."

"Touchy, touchy."

"Yes, believe me. I'd like to play the 'touchy touchy' game." He closed his eyes, clearly imagining something involving his hands and them being all over Lily.

Sirius stood up and moved to face James. "Look, mate, I don't know much about girls, and I wouldn't even want advice from myself. I mean look at my crazy cousin Bellatrix, she's not exactly the poster-child of femininity. Anyways, I think Lily is a good person, and judging by how she was definitely, definitely into you from the minute she walked into that Madam Puddifoot's...I don't think you have anything to worry about. Besides...you're Head Boy now...Chicks dig that shit!" Sirius smiled at him, that sly and boyish grin. James returned the smile, running his hands through that messy hair in a smug fashion. That windblown-messy-hair-look was his trademark, after all.

"Now, Prongs, quit horsing around and let's celebrate!" Sirius took a minute to slap his knee comically at his own little joke, like a big dork, and then turned to James trying to keep a straight face. They stared each other in the eyes and then burst out laughing again. James pulled his wand out, pointed it as his mini-fridge in the room, a few butterbeers flying out and landing on the table. "That's the spirit, James. Cheers!" James smiled and took a long and deep drink from his bottle, still looking out the corner of his eye for any signs of an owl.

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James kept his eyes on the skies for the next few weeks without any success, and had to work very hard to keep from sulking around Godric's Hollow. Sirius had finally accepted James' offer to stay with him, and was a constant presence. If it weren't for Sirius, James would probably have sat in the window scanning the skies in all his free time. With Sirius around however, the days flew by relatively fast. Before they both could believe it, it was six in the morning, and James and Sirius were preparing for the journey to King's Cross Station.

James of course had to be there early to meet with the Head Girl to prepare for the prefects arrival and discuss logistics. He was nervous, not because of the meeting, but at the prospect of seeing Lily again. He hadn't received a single letter from her, and was of course imagining the worse case scenario. His hair was as messy and unkempt as ever, and there was a general "I just woke up and threw my clothes on" look about him. This had never mattered to him before, but today everything mattered. He stared at himself grumpily in the mirror and kept running his hand over his hair in a highly annoyed fashion, not being able to decide what to do with it.

"Okay, Narcissus. I've had about enough of you. If you stand in front of this mirror primping any more, you're going to turn into a girl, and I don't think Lily digs girls, if you know what I mean." James turned away quickly from the mirror and distracted himself with his trunk. "James, you're worse than my mother--and that is saying something. One spell and this stuff could be packed up and ready to go. Let's go." Sirius flicked his wand and the trunks were ready, levitating, and ready for them to go.

James made it about halfway down the hall before taking a detour in the bathroom to puke. He assured Sirius minutes later that he felt much better, and they were off.

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James had never seen Platform 9 ¾ so empty before. Sirius had no problem taking care of the trunks as James had his "strictly non-mischievous" duties to attend to, and they said their goodbyes for the present time. James climbed onto the train, and headed down the familiar path towards the Prefects' carriage. He often wondered how he had been considered for the position of Prefect, considering the ridiculous amount of shenanigans he got away with on an hourly basis with his posse. He wondered if Dumbledore had anything to do with it, and he considered it a strong possibility.

He shook his head and paused outside the door to the Prefects' carriage. Lights were on inside the train, and somebody was moving around inside. It had never occurred to him who the Head Girl might be...the worst possible thoughts entered his head. They all consisted of Sirius' cousins--Bellatrix or Narcissa Black would be downright impossible to work with...

The compartment door flew open "Ahh! The other Head Boy is finally...here..." Lily trailed off. "P-Potter?" She stared at him dumbfounded.

James smiled a wry, smug grin. "Oh, you're most definitely going to be impossible to work with, Evans." All he could think to himself right now were two simple words--Mischief managed!