Project 731: The Lily and James Swap

Project 731: The Lily and James Swap

Year 7

Disclaimer: I own the plot and other characters you don't recognize in any of the Harry Potter books.  Oh, and this is the disclaimer for all my chapters of this story. 

A/N: BTW, sorry, with all of [ ], for some reason asterisks don't appear on mine's...So, in this chapter, [ ] means the usual asterick in the center and -- means two returns.

Chapter One

Lily Evans's heart beating fast when she saw James Potter's Head Boy badge pinned to his chest, glinting in the light. How she had gotten to be Head Girl was an absolute mystery. One of the school's biggest prankster, was this possible?

“Staring at Potter again Lily?” A voice chuckled behind. She jumped and turned around.

“Kris? Blimey, I haven't heard you for yonks!” Lily exclaimed, embracing her friend.

“Your face is red,” Kris smiled teasingly, hugging her back. Lily put on an indignant face.

“I told you once, I told you twice Kris and I repeat, I do NOT like James Potter! You know how much I hate girlie swots like him!” Lily shouted, stamping her feet though her face was flushing.

“He's not that much of a girlie swot Lillers - he's chaser on out Quidditch Team, quite nice and popular, especially with the younger years. Plus he's captured a few girls' attention like yours. Not what you can call handsome, that's Black, but he's certainly striking to look at, particularly his extremely tousled hair.” Cut in a blonde-haired girl behind her.

“Emily -” Lily said in half-exasperation and half-joyful to see her other best friend. Kris hugged Emily and put on a smirk.

“You in for Black now Em?” Emily slapped Kris's arm lightly.

“No, just because I said he looked liked a handsome aristocrat does not mean that I like him. Anyways, you know I'm with Walter Stebbins,” Emily replied defensively. Kris put on a look that meant that she was only joshing around.

“We all know you fancy someone Kris. Don't hide it,” Lily accused, with her finger pointing at Kris. Before Kris could answer, there was a loud train whistle and the three hurriedly jumped on board.

Once they were inside a compartment, Lily decided to observe her two best friends “in the whole world” as Emily put it.

Emily. She had met her when the two were assigned to be partners for an Astronomy project in their first year. Tall and petite, Emily was probably the most philosophical person she knew and clever too, being prefect with James Potter for the past two years. Emily and James would be off, working on their prefect duties together while Lily would be eating away with jealousy. Emily and Kris would sympathize but that just made Lily determined to be Head Girl with him. Emily's hair reminded Lily often of bright sunshine matching with her beautiful sky blue eyes on a flowery face. The quality Lily admired the most was Emily was her incredible patience, gentleness and forgiveness she seemed to possess. Lily just could not see how anybody could be like Emily.

Kris on the other hand was the night as Emily being the sun-kissed day. She had black hair like a raven's wing up to her shoulder-blades in a rather entwined yet pretty way. Her brilliant ebony eyes with a light-Asian skin made added to being “the night.” Kris was a little taller than average, along with an athletic, womanly figure. She wasn't slim as Emily but was still slender. Kris was humorous, a little weird and stubborn perhaps but friendly and understanding. In the past years and now Kris played Keeper for Gryffindor alongside with James being captain since his fifth year - Lily was also jealous of all the time Kris got to see James. It seemed all her friends got to be with James in their previous years.

“Hey Ms. Head Girl, don't you have to go to the front?” Emily asked, breaking Lily away from her thoughts. Lily eyes widened in surprise and looked down at her watch.

“Oh shoot - I've gotta go!” Lily said hurriedly and shot out of the compartment. Kris and Emily just laughed and continued with their conversation. Lily kept glancing at her watch now and then bursting into where the prefects and a glaring James waiting. “Sorry for being late all.” Lily winced, seeing James's glare piercing her.

“I hope that doesn't happen again Miss Evans,” James said coolly who could not keep the surprise in the voice that the fact Lily was Head Girl. It was impossible! Had Dumbledore finally cracked? The Slytherin prefects sniggered. Lily threw them a dirty look.

“You'll be sure it won't, though I don't know if I can keep the promise,” Lily responded just as coolly. James was not going to back down.

“I would love to give a watch Evans; it would be helpful wouldn't it?” James said, eyeing the watch on Lily's wrist. Lily narrowed her eyes at James; for the moment Lily couldn't see how she had ever liked him.

“Why thank you for being so sweet but you don't need to waste your Galleons for me Potter, if you wanted to impress me, do it in some other way please,” Lily said sweetly and innocently, knowing very well he wasn't trying to impress her. The prefects watched the two interestedly, some giving sniggers at Lily's comment.

“Don't be so conceited Evans,” He snapped testily.

“Don't be such a liar Potter you know you just want to catch my attention,” Before James could respond a Hufflepuff prefect cleared his throat.

“Yes before Potter rudely started this argument,” Lily began as James looked ready to throttle her, “I would like to introduce myself as Lily Evans, your Head Girl and your so-called mature Head Boy, Potter -”

“How lovely for you to say so Evans,” James interrupted Lily, gritting his teeth in some strained way. “Now your duty as a prefect is…” James went on with Lily adding some notes every time he spoke, both of them trying to cut off each other. Rather then listening to both of them speak, the prefects watched the two argue with each other, it was entertaining.

After the meeting was over, Lily went over to her compartment to where Kris and Emily were at. They looked up and seeing Lily's I-failed face they immediately burst into questions.

“Not so good Lily?” Kris asked shrewdly.

“What happened?” Emily asked, concerned for her friend. Then Lily rambled on about how the meeting went.

“I wasn't suppose to act that way….Oh, how in Merlin's beard am I going to catch James's attention?” Lily groaned, burying her face in her hands. Emily patted her shoulders.

“Hey, Let's go eavesdrop on them…See what he thinks,” Kris pointed out. At that Lily lighted up.

“That's a good idea. Come on!” Emily looked at her friends with an apprehensive look on her face on nevertheless followed. The three walked casually along the side as they saw Peter, his mouth stuffed with Peppermint Toads. They followed Peter, creeping silently behind him as he shut the compartment door. The three bended down at the floor to hear what they were saying.

“This is stupid, I can't hear anything…We're witches for goodness sakes!” Kris exclaimed. “Do the listening spell Lily.” Lily nodded and murmuring a word, the voices for them inside were clearer.

“So they can't hear us but only we can hear them,” Lily said lowly and Emily hushed them. James was clearly irritated.

“So you know what that Evans said next?” James demanded. Lily looked guilty but he did deserve it. He didn't need to be so cold!

“No what?” Sirius asked, openly amused. Somehow Lily knew James was glaring at Sirius.

“Not supposed to amused Sirius, you're supposed to be angry,” James said.

“Just go on James,” Remus said, as Lily's instinct told he was waving his hand dismissively.

“She said, `Why thank you for being so sweet but you don't need to waste your Galleons for me Potter, if you wanted to impress me, do it in some other way please,'” James imitated Lily's voice, “Impress her, my arse.”

“But she is pretty good-looking, you've got to admit that James,” Sirius commented and Lily looked flattered but she wished James would have said that instead of black.

“Alright, so she has admirable hair and probably the most amazing eyes but really it's just the ugliness shining out of the true Evans. The hair and the eyes are just disguising a devil.” James said lazily. At first Lily smiled but hearing the ugliness part she frowned. He'd pay later. “I just can't stand her! All she does is play stupid pranks all the time, always trying to get the teachers to think her as a little angel, getting so riled up and harassing anyone who insults her. The thing I hate the most about her is how she flips her hair, flirting with any boy that catches her eye!” James exploded, saying this in all one breath.

“She doesn't go out with boys that much using the two weeks thingy,” Peter added and Lily silently thanked Peter for defending her.

“So?! Flirting to deceive boys is the same thing just - just (“Having trouble to find the right word Potter?” Lily said under her breath, satisfied) just as bad!” James shouted angrily. “Her type is the type I really HATE the most. It makes me SICK!” Lily felt like crying, those words hurt like knives stabbing into her heart but pride didn't let her.

“So what's your type Prongs?” Remus asked.

“Someone NOT like Evans,” James said grumpily. Somehow Lily knew Sirius was rolling his eyes.

“Specify,”

“Well,” James said thoughtfully for the first time and in a much gentler voice. “Someone who doesn't care just for my money and looks. Someone who's nice and smart, not like a mindless doll; not like the girls who practically throw themselves at me. A girl who's witty and funny. Someone caring and willing to listen to my troubles, not just theirs and most importantly, someone who's willing to stand by my side for the rest of my life.” There was a long silence to this. Lily sensed they were trying to guess who matched that description.

“You know Prongs; I think you just don't know Lily that much. She fits your description once you get to know her better.” Remus commented. Lily smiled, she was glad Remus was her friend and on her side. James snorted.

“Maybe I don't but I know it's not gonna be a girl who plays stupid pranks on people, harassing innocents and torturing people just because either they're bored or are so sensitive about insults. I guess a prank once in a while is alright but what Evans does just goes way too far.” James stated with a determined air. Lily could hear feet shuffling and the four standing up. Emily poked Lily with a mouthing of `Time to go' and she nodded. They walked away and heard the compartment door slide open.

“What are you doing here Evans?” James said staring at Lily with terrible loathing. The three whirled around as James's friends surrounded him.

“Walking if that's illegal Potter,” Lily said coolly and was very much pissed at James for his comments.

“We're arriving at Hogwarts soon, I see you still haven't -” James started but Lily ignored him and pointed at herself.

“Induoavi,” Her muggle clothes was replaced with her Hogwarts uniform with the Head Girl badge pinned on her robes.

“Continue with your comment Potter?” Lily asked, cocking an eyebrow at him. He glared and grumbled. Remus looked amused as Sirius pretended to pat James in the back. “It's a very advanced charm that works for people like moi,” Lily emphasized her point loudly and clearly.

“Arrogant, know-it-all brat.” James muttered under his breath as Lily, Emily and Kris went back into their compartment.

“That was not the way to show James you were the one for him,” Emily said exasperatedly.

“I know I know but still…” Lily said desperately.

“Lily, you heard what James said. We'll help you be like the girl of his dreams. It takes time and we're willing to help.” Kris said determinedly as Emily nodded. Lily stopped and smiled at her friends.

“Thanks, there isn't anyone in the world who's like you guys,” Lily said sincerely and hugging them both. She would show James Potter how wrong he was. How very wrong he was.

A/N: Induoavi is in Latin. Induo means dress and avi means change. So what did you think? Press that little blue button that spells `R-E-V-I-E-W!' Thanks to those who do! Luv ya!

Chapter One

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