Mischief Managed!

3.

"Look," murmured Isadora, nudging Lily, who sat beside her. She was smiling fondly. "There's my brother, Liam, isn't he the sweetest?"

Lily smiled indulgently at the line of first years straggling apprehensively down the length of the Great Hall. Some were staring at the mass of older students; others at the enchanted ceiling, sparkling with stars.

The Sorting was a relatively speedy affair that evening: indeed, Lily did not know whether it was the fact that she had witnessed so many, or that she was simply exhausted. She lost track of the numerous first years, from Abbot, Susannah ("Hufflepuff!") to Wood, Liam ('Gryffindor!'). This was partially due to the staring competition that she partook in with her dashing boyfriend Art, who was all the way along at Ravenclaw's table, surrounded by a heckle of admirers. He looked different –mysteriously transformed over the summer. His hair was longer (had it been curled?) and kept falling into his eyes, which would prompt Art to artfully flick it away with a quick turn of his head: a move, in fact, that, while she thought about it, reminded Lily tremendously of Sirius Black, although Lily had to acknowledge that while Sirius did it unconsciously, Art did not. She smiled and rolled her eyes at him.

"To the new students, welcome! And to the old hands, welcome back!" Professor Dumbledore announced, standing before the teacher's table and smiling indulgently. "I won't waste your time with words tonight: I see that you are all tired and eager to be fed! I must, however, request the Heads' presence in my office for a short while after dinner. That is all!"

In the usual grand fashion, the plates blossomed with food, much as a flower would unfurl, and Lily was immediately caught by the rich scents that rose from the table. Sighing happily, she exchanged a look with Emmeline and they both dove into the feast.

"Ah, Lily, James. Come in, come in."

Dumbledore ushered them into his office with a smile.

Lily stared around his office, impressed. She had only been in here several times, and it never failed to amaze her. In particular, Lily was enchanted by the series of portraits that lined Dumbledore's walls.

James, however, appeared indifferent. Indeed, the Head Boy had been present in this office so many times over the past six years that the general effect seemed to be lost to him.

Dumbledore gestured for them to sit. "First, I would like to congratulate each of you," he told them quietly. "I thought long and hard before deciding upon your appointment, and I want to reassure you both that you were my first and only choices on this matter. I'm sure that I have chosen rightly."

James watched Dumbledore, confused. How was it possible that he had been the Headmaster's first and only choice? Surely there had been dozens of other candidates more appropriate than he? What of Remus, for one? Dumbledore's eyes twinkled as he surveyed his students, and James could have sworn he gave him an encouraging smile.

"I see you are both tired, so I won't keep you long. Your things are in the heads dorm on the fourth floor, eastern corridor, behind a door that is pretending to be a carving. Just tap her with your wand, and tell her your names. I will see you soon, I'm sure. Goodnight!"

James followed Lily down the corridor, half a step behind her, so that he could watch her. Her luscious red locks gleamed in the candlelight, illuminating golden highlights as their owner negotiated the corridors and moving stairways of the castle with ease. Finally, they arrived at the eastern corridor on the fourth floor.

Lily paused, puzzled. "I don't think I've been here before."

James stepped forward, smiling. "Never fear. It's there, just down from the statue."