She Said What?

Chapter 3: I Meet the Prefects

A/N: Thanks for the positive input, guys. Why is it that when I'm performing mediocre, I still get people telling me I'm charming? One of the great mysteries of my life, I think. Hopefully, I'll be more deserving of that positivism in this chapter.

This is going to be one of those more "traditional" chapters – one long entry to serve as a chapter. But the prefect meeting is important, because it'll happen every month and once things settle in, the prefects will be quite a lot of fun.

So enjoy...I think.

Xx

September 6

9:00 PM
Status: Slightly drained

Well, today is Friday. The end of the week. Somehow, I've made it! This is definitely something to be excited about. But I'm perhaps a little more apprehensive than I should be, because this weekend, I have got way too much to do. I need to get control of this situation.

The week did get a little better from Monday though. I kept sleeping late, but it went down by around two minutes each time – quite a fantastic feat, if I do say so myself. For this accomplishment, though, I have to thank Alice. She was very good about giving me a poke or two and getting me up, no matter how much I grumbled. She's an expert at this job; and thanks to her, my inner alarm clock is being a slightly nicer to me. It's a pretty good feeling, being able to eat a spot of breakfast before running off to Charms.

The homework front still needs work, but true to my goal, I'm handling it. Sort of. There's still a shit-load to do, but I mean, that's to be expected. At some point this weekend, I'll take care of it.

However, the event of the day that's really worth writing about is the prefect's meeting. To be frank, I very nearly forgot about it, but fortunately was reminded when Potter caught my eye around eight in the Great Hall. I'm generally not accustomed to such a thing happening on a day-to-day basis, but it came to me with a jolt, and I murmured my excuses to whoever I was with that I had to go. I ran like my arse was on fire – I could not be late to the first meeting.

McGonagall told me yesterday after class that the password is peppermint tea. I all but screamed this at her gargoyle, which took its sweet time revealing the door for me. When I finally got inside, I discovered that Potter was already there, along with all the prefects, who were lounging idly at the big table temporarily put in the middle.

Nine faces politely stared at me plopping my bum down on the chair and all I could think was, wow. How embarrassing.

"Erm...hi," I said, trying my best not to be awkward and smile like I wasn't the last one in the room. "Glad to see everyone's here. Ahem. Having a pleasant evening, then?"

"Hello, Evans," said Potter, pleasant as ever. "We're fine, thank you. Shall we get started?"

Since when was he the responsible one? I very nearly asked him that, his demeanor surprised me so much. But mercifully, I kept my mouth shut and gave him a tight little smile, which he took as an invitation to sit beside me and face the prefects. I copy him and face the waiting prefects as well.

"So, erm, we're all—"

"So! Welcome to the—"

Both of us began at the same time and immediately stopped, glancing uncertainly at each other. I chewed on my lip, embarrassed.

"You wanna—?"

"No, you can—"

He chuckled. "Okay. Let's start over. You go."

"You sure? Because you can go if you want..."

"I'm sure," he said steadily. "Go."

"Okay." I took a breath, smiling shyly at the grinning fifteen-year-olds before me. "Well...I'm Lily, the Head Girl, as you know."