Firstly, thanks so much for the reviews! Secondly I am so sorry that it's taken me so long to update, I was away in Thailand for a month and have had computer problems since I got back! All questions and doubts will be answered in the story… I'll try not to make too many loops, first fic, bear with me!
Unspoken Rivalry
James couldn't tear his eyes away from Lily all through the feast in the great hall. She was acting quite strange from what she was usually and he was burning to know what it was that troubled her.
The Trio were deep in conversation and Lily seemed to be infuriated. James chuckled, of course she was, he was head boy. James noticed Lily stiffen and she turned slowly towards the Ravenclaw table, James followed her gaze which landed on, Vincenzo Matteo.
James frowned, what was that bloody idiot doing staring at Lily? Vincenzo was half Italian half French and had transferred to Hogwarts in his fifth year. His mother, a retired French national quidditch player had gotten a job as the flying instructor and quidditch coach. His father was the wizard ambassador of Italy in England or something of the sort.
Vincenzo himself was on the Ravenclaw quidditch team as a chaser. James had always gotten along with him as their matches which, unlike when it was against Slytherin, was played fairly with good sportsmanship and most of all good manners.
James looked back at Lily and felt a pang of something when she smiled and waved at the Ravenclaw chaser. Frowning he turned to Remus, Sirius and Peter who were talking about something while feasting on their dinner.
"What's her relationship like with Matteo?" James asked to no one in particular, knowing that one of his friends would answer anyhow and if not they would find out if he didn't himself.
Remus raised an eyebrow, "Lily and Vincenzo Matteo?"
Sirius rolled his eyes, "Prongs' infatuation with the ice witch is so bloody obvious, 'she' could be the cats mother for all we knew." he said sarcastically.
Peter frowned, a look of confusion crossed over his face, "What cat?"
Sirius groaned in exasperation, "Stick to the plot Wormtail!"
Peter frowned, "What's the plot?" Sirius shook his head despairingly in reply; Peter shrugged and carried on eating.
Remus chuckled, "Ah nothing really Prongs, they're friends, always have been since he transferred, since he was only able to speak French and Italian. And you know how Lily is with helping people. She seems to be quite fond of him though I dare say."
"Define 'fond'" James said darkly, mildly irritated for a reason he wasn't so sure of.
Remus sighed, "They get along well together."
James nodded and frowned to himself, 'get along well'' then was it? He'd bloody show getting along well!
"Oi, Evans" James boomed down the table to where Lily sat causing Lily to turn and raise an annoyed eyebrow at him. "You still got the white with pink hearts?"
Lily face went scarlet and she turned back to Michelle and Siobhan, to James' complete horror and IGNORED him!
"Evans! I asked you a-" he persisted.
Lily whipped her head around to face him her eyes blazing and cut him off, "Yes Potter, I am well aware of that, though considering the stupidity and lack of maturity of your question I refrain from answering. It really is none of your fucking business!" she spat.
James smirked and was about to say something when Professor McGonogall's voice came from behind him, "Mr. Potter." she said sternly and then turned to Lily, "and Miss Evans, to my office the instant you finish dinner if you please." and then left the great hall.
Lily glared at James and stormed out of the great hall after saying a few words to Michelle and Siobhan who nodded in reply. James smirked at his fellow Marauders and stalked after Lily quickly to catch up with her.
"Evans, slow down!" He hissed as he strode along beside her.
"DON'T talk to me!" she spat without looking at him.
"But, Evans, you are doomed to work side by side with me for the rest of the school year… how could I possibly not talk to you?" James said triumphantly with a smirk gracing his dangerously good looking face.
Lily stopped dead in her tracks and closed her eyes, Merlin, give me strength she prayed. Slowly she turned her face sideways to look angrily at James, "Then it seems I will have to resign my position, because I don't think I could stand the torture of working with you!" she sneered and continued walking up the staircase to McGonagall's office in the North Tower.
James frowned, he had dared tease her because he knew that she would never resign herself from Head Girl. But now he doubted what he had thought he knew as Lily's face was set with determination, as was her confident stride along with her clenched fists that hung by her side. Maybe Moony was right, she had had enough this year.
Glumly he followed her up the stairs to McGonagall's office. Once they were seated in front of her desk Professor McGonagall handed them each a piece of rolled parchment sealed with the Gryffindor crest.
"As head girl and boy of the school Miss Evans and Mr. Potter, you will be required to set a fine example to the prefects as well as the rest of the school body." She looked at them sternly over the top of her glasses before continuing, "Even though I am pleased that the honours of these positions goes to Gryffindor, which is rare for head girl and head boy to be from the same house, I will not, however tolerate any problems or complaints from any of the other professors." She paused for a breath and stared meaningfully at James.
"Your positions are not to be taken lightly, NEWT's alone will have high demands on your efforts academically and you both also must fulfil expectations of head boy and girl. You shall both be residing in the Gryffindor tower, though not in your usual dormitories. As head boy and head girl you will need to be on call at all times if anything happens to go amiss. On the pieces of parchment I just gave you outline the codes of conduct and school rules as well as your duties for the rest of the school year." Standing Professor McGonagall headed towards the door, "Come along now, I will show you to your chambers, unless either of you have any questions?"
Lily stood before glaring hatefully towards James and said quietly, "Professor, I wish to resign my position." and handed her roll of parchment back to McGonagall.
Professor McGonagall's eyebrow seemed to arch right up to the ceiling in surprise as she stared intently at Lily's bowed head with her hawk eyes, "Miss Evans, would there be a reason for this resignation?"
Lily glanced up at her head of house and sighed, "I don't think I quite reach the standards of Head Girl."
The side of McGonagall's lip twitched and her intrigued eyes moved to James' pleading face, "Well Miss Evans, you were chosen for a reason, and that reason is that you, in fact, do meet all required standards of head girl. Your resignation is not acceptable, I will not have my own Gryffindor head girl and top student resign from a position that was rightfully placed upon her. Come along now."
Lily felt like crying, more in frustration and anger than anything else. She was stuck with Potter for the rest of the academic year and there was no way out of it, she felt like a trapped mouse! Still, she held back her tears and followed Professor McGonagall down the halls and up and down stairs in the Gryffindor tower with her head high. James strode along beside her and stole frequent glances at her; although she was ignorant of it and James saw her inner turmoil.
Soon they arrived in front of a portrait of a wizard knight on horseback, sword and wand brandished in his hands, "Godrellic" McGonagall said loud enough for Lily and James to hear as the portrait swung inwards. "Very well, Miss Evans, Mr. Potter, this is the Gryffindors heads' Quarters. Meetings will be held in the library every Monday afternoon before dinner with all the prefects. Miss Evans, your room is up the stairs to the left and down to the right, and Mr. Potter, up the stairs to the right and down to the left. You will find all your instructions in the parchment I gave you. Are you both clear?"
Both Lily and James nodded in unison and McGonagall bid them good night and left. Lily glanced around the room, it was perfect, well, minus the fact that she had to share it with Potter. Their common room wasn't as big as that of Gryffindors but it was cosy decorated respectively in the Gryffindor colours. There was a fire place, couches a study area, some bookshelves and portraits hanging on the wall. Opposite the entrance portrait there was a grand staircase that split out into a landing going two separate directions, presumably to her room and James' room.
"You know, this was Giles Gryffindor's chambers… he was Godric's great grandson." James said quietly.
"Oh." Lily said back and headed towards the staircase towards her room.
James watched her back disappear and sighed, sinking himself into the closest couch by the fireplace. This was going to be a trying year. Closing his eyes for a few brief minutes and forcing memories from his head James heaved himself out of the couch and headed for his own room, pulling a mirror out of his robes as he went up the stiars.
Her room wasn't big but it was her own, and for that Lily was happy. Her double four poster bed with red and gold hangings stood in the centre of the wall opposite the door. To the right of the door was another door which Lily presumed was her bathroom. A small antique vanity table and wardrobes grandly graced her room and full length windows allowed the view of the clear starless night outside. Lily also noticed a small fireplace and a set of couches around it and a small alcove study area. Lily smiled to herself as she noticed her things had been brought up and packed away for her already. At least she had her room to escape to she thought gratefully.