Completely Out of Control
By h-kitty
Chapter 2
As is always the case when a new school year begins, Hogwarts was noisy and chaotic. The Great Hall was full of chatter, except for near the entrance, where the nervous first years stood. Emily and I found seats near the front table, to watch the sorting. I was back into my good mood, because Professor Dumbledore had found me when I exited my carriage, and told me to meet him for Head Girl instructions after the banquet.
My mood lasted for about ten more seconds, because I turned around to face a mischievous James Potter. He grinned at me. "Hey Evans, long time no see. How was your summer? I hope it wasn't too boring without me around."
I smiled at him sweetly. "On the contrary! It was blissfully Potter-free." At this, Emily collapsed into giggles, and Sirius whispered loudly, "Prongs, be careful. Lily's not someone to mess with." Remus smiled, but Peter didn't look too happy. Still, I liked him. If there was one thing I admired James for, it was how he and his friends had accepted a shy, unpopular guy like Peter into their clique. James wasn't offended, of course. He loved it when I talked back to him, which was why I did it sparingly.
The Sorting went on as usual, and I tried to ignore James as much as possible. Which was hard, considering that he was sitting right next to him. Besides, I was tired of playing the ice-queen. How much longer could this last?
The feast was wonderful, especially after a whole summer of boring Muggle food. I was more than ready for a change. Especially since I hadn't had any cold pumpkin juice for two whole months. Much too long.
If I was trying to ignore James, Emily was trying just as hard to attract Sirius' attention. She always was a flirt.
"So, Sirius, how was your summer?"
He smiled. "My vacations have been great, ever since I moved into James' house. James has the greatest family ever. What about you?"
Well, that's an interesting question. I spent the entire time de-gnoming and sneaking out to play quidditch every chance I got."
This caught James' attention. "Oh, are you a quidditch player?"
"Only an aspiring one. You should see Lily play, though, she's really good." Great, I thought. Just what I needed. An excuse to talk to James.
"Evans? You play quidditch? How come you never told me? We could practice together, and I could give you a few of my tips."
I sighed. "Well, last time I checked, you weren't on my list of people I confide in."
James pounced on this as well. "Which is an extreme pity, because I would LOVE to confide in you. Can't you add me to your list?"
"In your dreams."
"I already to dream about it, Evans. I don't need dreams. So I'll ask you for last time--"
Sirius interrupted, "It's the seventeenth, and probably not the last."
"Will you go out with me?"
I couldn't take any more of this. I picked up my goblet of pumpkin juice and dumped everything on his head, after which I got up and attempted to leave the Great Hall. Emily got up to follow me reluctantly.
"Come on, Lily, he was serious that time. And he is so sweet!"
"Give me a break. I don't need to hear any more of this." I was almost at the door.
"Don't you regret it at all? That you let your anger get control of you?" If only she knew about the other feeling that was gaining control of me.
"The only thing I regret is wasting the pumpkin juice on him. It was delicious." I was so angry that I talked to Emily as I walked, not looking where I was going, until I bumped into someone.
"Miss Evans, why are you in such a hurry?" I looked up and saw an amused Professor Dumbledore looking down at me. "If you haven't forgotten, I believe you have some instructions to receive."
I blushed in embarrassment. "I'm sorry, I did forget."
"Well, I got to you in time, so all is well. But isn't there someone else who needs to learn their job?" He beckoned to James Potter, who came over with an irritated expression. Sirius and Remus were laughing too hard to notice.
But James wasn't one to hold a grudge. He smiled sheepishly when he reached us, and said, "Sorry, Professor, about the juice. I should be more careful, but you know me. Always a klutz."
Dumbledore never missed a beat. "I agree, but you are not generous enough to Miss Evans. Perhaps she should be a little more careful as well." When I blushed again, he quickly continued. "Anyway, I am here to tell you about your duties as Head Boy and Girl. As you know, it is a great honor, and perhaps Hogwarts has never seen two such deserving young students to hold the titles. Miss Evans, you have always been the ideal student. As for you, Mr. Potter, despite your complete disregard for rules, you are a brilliant scholar as well." He paused while we looked at our shoes, then continued. "So to the point. You two will be responsible for taking your first years to your common room tonight. The password for this week is Incamtum Totalus. Also, you will have hall patrol every evening. Your quarters will remain the same, and you are still free to use the prefects' bathroom. I suppose these duties are enough for one day. I look forward to talking to you soon." Without another word, he left us alone.
"So Evans, I guess we need to set an example for the little kiddies, huh?"
"Yeah, like you'd make a good role model."
He laughed. "Maybe not, but you would." It was a sweet compliment, and an honest one. I've always been a sucker for compliments, so I smiled back.
"I think we have a group of Gryffindors to lead," I said, trying to change the subject.
Ever the leader, James did his duties beautifully, shouting, "Okay, end of feast! Gryffindors, follow me!" And they did.
*******
As happy as the Gryffindors were to have such wonderful Heads, two faces at the Slytherin Table were looking extremely disgruntled. Surprisingly enough, they belonged to the two House Prefects, both of whom had wanted the title of Head Boy or Girl.
For one, Severus Snape was glaring at Lily and James as they exited the Great Hall. How did Potter always get what he wanted? The world simply was not fair. Not that he wanted to walk side by side with Evans. He had never hated her more. In the past, Severus had always held a grudging respect for Lily, because of her brains, and also for the way she repeatedly snubbed James, because there was nobody Snape hated more than James. But now, even Lily seemed to be getting along with Potter. Snape sighed. For him, there had never been any justice in the world.
Bellatrix was just as unhappy, and for good reason. James Potter was walking with Lily Evans. Oh, she hated that girl. Actually, she had never cared about Lily at all. She had never paid any attention to her at all, until her cousin's best friend started liking her. James. Why did he pay so much attention to that stuck-up mudblood know-it-all? If he was looking for looks, Bellatrix had it all. So that wasn't it. But whatever it was that James saw in Lily, Bellatrix vowed to find out what it was. Because she adored James with a passion that surprised even herself. Yes, she thought, I will find out.
*******
I sat contentedly in the warm, cozy Common Room with Emily. It had been a long day, but I didn't want to go to sleep. Besides, I had hall patrol duty.
"Peace at last," I murmured.
"It was a good day. It's great to be back. And I'm sleepy." Emily yawned.
"You sleepyhead. Fine, go to sleep if I'm so boring. I'll be up later."
"Yeah, after hall duty with James. I still don't see why--"
"Forget it, Emily. I know that I can't explain that I don't like him because he's an annoying, egotistical, self-centered--"
"I know, I know. But you'll be with him so much this year anyway, why not give him a chance?"
"Okay, a chance. Whatever. Go to bed."
Emily laughed. "Okay, I'll try to convince you when you're in a better mood." She got up and went up to our dormitory, leaving me all alone with my thoughts for the half hour until I saw James. How could Emily be begging me to give James a chance, when I had already given into a guy who had run out of chances on day one? It was just as well that Emily didn't know. I loved her, but how could a girl like that keep a secret? Besides, I needed to think about the matter some more. I needed to forget about James.
*******
End of chapter! How did you like it? I appreciate all of your feedback more than you could ever imagine, please review and give me whatever comments you have about my story.
To my reviewers:
Angie: Thanks so much for my first review! I think I fixed the problem . . .
Hplover: yay! Thanks so much!
Louise: a 10! I love you! Here's the chapter you've been waiting for!
Jadespinnet: wow . . . don't flatter me too much . . . my head is starting to swell!
Evan: thanks for the review!
Love you all! ~h-kitty