Unofficial Portkey Archive

A/N: Hey guys, thanks for all the reviews. :-D I finally changed the word eczema to emphysema in chapter two…everyone was telling me it was wrong and I finally got around to changing it. Sorry about that. Anyway, some of you are saying you are confused by the story, although I'm not really sure how you are, so I'd appreciate it if some of you clarified a bit so I could answer your questions. I loved all of the reviews and compliments, thanks guys! And to those who asked, nope, I don't have everything written down already, I write along as I go. This chapter, however, was done although with finals and all I had no time to post it. Anyway, I'll stop rambling.

Enjoy!

-Katie

Chapter Three:

You want to know more, more, more about me
Got to know reverse psychology
I'm the reason why you can't get to sleep
I'm the girl you never get just quite what you see

-Tangled Up in Me, Skye Sweetnam

The weekend passed by slowly for Lily. She spent most of her time reading in the library, sometimes finding an infuriating Potter beside her, sleeping early, and waking up early too. She was glad for Monday when it came, because at least school occupied her time.

She was in one of her N.E.W.T.s classes right now-all of those in her year who decided after taking their O.W.L.s exams that they wanted to continue the subject of Charms were in it. It was Lily's favorite subject, simply because it was the easiest and she was the best at it. Professor Flitwick was always kind to her and would constantly give her points for answering questions correctly or learning the spell ahead of time.

The lesson commenced as Professor Flitwick told them that they had to take a pop quiz. While the rest of the class groaned, Lily inwardly smiled. Strangely enough, Lily liked putting her skills to the test in Charms and loved to prove to everyone that she wasn't just some strict Head Girl, or a mudblood, as the Slytherins liked to call her. She had brains too.

The Professor wrote the questions on the chalkboard as the students scrambled for their quills and parchment. Lily took a roll out and set it neatly onto her desk, poising her quill and writing immediately once the questions were on the board. She finished in record timing and turned it in, with a smile from Professor Flitwick. While she was heading back to her seat she noticed that Potter was staring vividly at her, although he bowed his head quickly once she had spotted him.

Lily sighed and sat in her seat, looking over at him again. He was scribbling so furiously that ink was splattering onto his nose and flying at Sirius, who was sitting next to him and was huffing with annoyance. She watched him with mild interest as he jumped from his seat and handed the Professor his test, glancing at her with a determined air. Lily raised her eyebrow. Is he competing with me?

He was now sitting down again, still staring at her. Lily sighed and turned around completely, so that he wasn't even in her line of vision. She heard him click his tongue to get her attention, but Lily didn't even bother.

The quiz took about half of the class period so the few students who had already finished idly doodled or in Lily's case, read. After that the Professor lectured them about N.E.W.T.s exams this year, like he did all of last week and the week before. Then he sent them out to practice a few charms he thought would appear on the exams.

The class was grumbling by the time they got out, all except for Lily. She hitched her bag over her shoulder, sighing contently and straightened her gray skirt, which was part of her school uniform, along with her white button up and red and gold tie. She saw that Potter was on the other side of the classroom and was moving rather slowly so that he'd have an excuse to talk to her. Lily rolled her eyes and moved quickly past him, but he called out her name anyway.

Her first name.

"Lily," he repeated, as she continued walking. He caught up to her, grinning. "Hi."

She didn't answer, and he mumbled something incoherent under his breath. Then he said, "So. Why aren't you answering?"

"I don't answer to `Lily', Potter." She replied briskly, taking big steps so that he'd leave her alone.

"Lily Potter," he said, a grin coming on again. He was beaming. "I like that."

Lily glared. "It's Evans. Call me Evans, not-"

"That test was pretty easy," Potter interrupted loudly, drowning out her voice. Lily narrowed her eyes at him for being so stuck-up. "I think I got an `O' on it, how about you?"

"I don't brag about my grades," Lily said icily. Not to anyone directly, anyway.

"Charms is my favorite subject." He said, as if he didn't hear her. Lily raised an eyebrow.

"I thought it was Transfiguration." Lily said suspiciously. Potter looked delighted.

"I knew you knew something about me," he said, grinning.

"That's because you tell everyone you're the best at it," she said, scrunching her nose up in disgust.

They had reached the library, and unfortunately, Potter was still following her. She stopped at the door, turning to look at him. "I have to go to the library," she said slowly.

"So do I." Potter said immediately.

"No," Lily said, narrowing her eyes. "You don't."

"I do." He said, nodding. "Are you going to stand there all day? Because break's going to be over soon."

Lily rolled her eyes and sighed, walking into the library and not bothering to hold the door for him. She sat down at the nearest table with James Potter following suit, although she knew already that she could do nothing to prevent it.

She took out her Transfiguration book and essay, then set out to work. Her parchment was already filled out a roll and a half, and only one roll was asked. Then again, the essay was only due in a week, and she had already started on it. From the corner of her eye she could see Potter staring at her again, in either amusement or awe, she couldn't tell. Lily didn't like it when people looked at her for a long period of time, which didn't really happen unless he was around.

She huffed and turned to look at him, scowling. "What?" she spat.

"I was just admiring you," he said matter-of-factly, smiling slightly. Lily gave him a very sadistic look and returned to her essay, forcing herself to keep her mouth shut.

Lily knew it was only a matter of time before he spoke again. And he did. "Is that our Transfiguration essay?"

Lily opened her mouth, ready to retort, but then saw that he wasn't saying anything offensive. She quietly pursed her lips then said patiently (although with extreme difficulty), "Why, yes, it is, Potter."

Potter widened his eyes. "That's really long."

"Yep." Lily said briskly, cutting him off again. She put her quill behind her ear and read through what she had so far, double-checking if it was correct.

"Do you need help?" he asked, leaning over so he could read it. She snatched her parchment away.

"Potter, no."

"Okay, okay." Potter said, putting his hands up in defense. He leaned back in his chair so that the hind legs supported it, ruffling his hair but stopping once he saw the look on her face. "Er-Transfiguration's my best subject, you know."

Lily pursed her lips. "You said it was Charms."

"No, I didn't."

"Yes, you did." Lily said, obviously flustered. "You said it a minute ago."

"Oh, right. That." Potter said, smiling although blushing slightly. "Well-you see, you misheard me. I said Charms is my favorite subject, and Transfiguration is my best subject."

Lily gaped at him, holding her hands down so she wouldn't slap him out of frustration. "Why am I even-" She stopped abruptly once the bell rung overhead. Lily glared at him and stuffed her essay into her bag along with her book, very peeved that she couldn't finish her homework.

It's only due in a week, the rational Lily said to herself. Mcgonagall just told you about it a few days ago.

But Potter is here and he is annoying the hell out of me, the other, easily tempered, and larger side of Lily, said. Why can't he just-

"I'll walk you to class," Potter said suddenly, jumping out of his chair and throwing his bag over his shoulder quickly as if just in case she had any ideas of running away. Lily was fuming. See? I can't even think by myself anymore!

"Potter," Lily said through gritted teeth, clenching her fists at her sides. "We have the same class."

"Well, then it'll be easier, won't it?" he said, chuckling feebly but stopping as he noticed that she was glaring at him. In one quick motion, he grabbed Lily's bag and slung it over his shoulder also, giving her his trademark, disturbing stare. "I'll just carry these for you," he said slowly and defiantly, as if he knew she was going to yell at him and didn't care.

Lily stared at him. Is he losing his mind?

"We're going to be late," he said.

Yes. He definitely is, Lily thought with utter defeat.

"Whatever, Potter." Lily said, heaving a sigh as she turned to leave the library. "Whatever."

***

Wow. Evans looks like she's about to kill you.

• Padfoot

That's pretty probable.

• Prongs

Ha-ha. What did you do this time, mate?

Besides proclaim my undying love for her? Nothing.

Did you really?

Nah. If I did, she'd really kill me.

Too true. Do you think she's glaring daggers at you because you two were late?

I'm pretty sure that's it.

Ha-ha. Look at her. You'd think she was never late in her life.

Well, she hasn't been.

Trust you to know that.

Exactly.

So, how's the plan going?

I think it's going all right. Can't be sure until Flitwick hands them back to us, though, can we?

I guess. Hey Prongs, why are you so happy?

Ha-ha. You can tell, can't you?

Duh. Your grin is sickening me with your romantic arse.

My arse is romantic? That makes no sense, you know.

Whatever. So why are you beaming like Christmas came early?

She didn't yell at me.

Come again?

No, seriously. She didn't yell at me. Well, she glared, and she gritted her teeth a lot while we were walking down the hall, and wow, she looked like she was about to hit me over the head when she saw that I had gotten her bag-but she didn't yell at me. Not once.

Prongs, you are so pathetic.

What? No…

Riiight. Anyway, she probably didn't yell at you because then Mcgonagall would have definitely given her a detention.

So? Well, giving us a detention would definitely be a plus. Do you think she'd put us in the same one?

Depends. If she feels like being kind to you and mean to her, then yes, she probably would.

Ha-ha, Padfoot. Ha-ha.

Well, then. Just try getting her late again and all of your problems will be solved.

For a few hours, anyway.

True.

***

Somehow she had managed to take her bag from him at the end of class and storm outside so she could have some peace. She thought that the air outside would be far too chilly for anybody to want to go outside, and he wouldn't dare follow her. She was wrong.

"Seriously, why won't you just give me a chance?"

"Potter, can you please go away? I'm asking you nicely."

"And I'm asking you nicely. Why won't you go out with me?"

Lily rolled her eyes and sat underneath a beech tree by the lake, which due to the wind, was rocking in ferocious waves that splashed ashore from side to side. She looked around and saw that no one was outside besides them, which made sense. She had goosebumps all over her skin due to the cold.

Potter was still looking at her intently. Lily sighed exasperatedly and took out her essay again, determined to finish it.

"Well?" he prompted.

Lily gritted her teeth and pressed her fingers against her temples while holding down her essay from the wind with her elbow. She opened her eyes and glared at him, but he didn't back off. Finally, after a heated stare contest that was making Lily's temper boil over the edge, she burst out, "Merlin, Potter, does it even matter?"

"Of course it does." He said immediately, brushing his hair out of his eyes since the wind was continuously blowing his locks into his face.

"And why is that?" Lily bellowed, half because of the wind, half because she was losing her patience quickly.

"So-I-can-change!"

Lily stared at him. His hair was even messier than usual and his cheeks were flushed, either from the cold or from embarrassment, she wasn't sure. For some reason her attention was directed at his hazel eyes, which for some reason, were shining more so than usual.

She couldn't think of why, but somehow she thought that he was telling the truth.

"You wouldn't do that." Lily said quietly, shaking her head and still staring at him. He heard her anyway.

"Of course I would." He said.

"For me?" Lily said, raising an eyebrow. "You'd change for me?" The whole idea was laughable. Who the hell would change for her? Her mother certainly hadn't, her father hadn't, and her sister hadn't. She had changed for them, but not them for her.

He looked pretty blank, as if to say, Why not?

"You are unbelievable," Lily said, sighing. "James, don't even say that." She furrowed her eyebrows and took out her quill, reading over her sentences.

"What?"

Lily huffed and looked up at him in annoyance, but was taken aback at how he was looking at her. It was a very strange look, even stranger than the stare he'd use on her because when he looked at her like that, it would always seem like he was hurt by something she said, or he was angry that he couldn't have her. But this look…well it was very…happy.

"What?" Lily asked loudly, due to the sudden wind current that had rushed towards them. She was also getting very nervous about what had she said that was obviously a mistake, since James looked positively gleeful.

"Well," James began, grinning. That's when Lily knew that she had said something she shouldn't have-because James was looking very happy indeed.

Wait. James…

Lily suddenly slapped her hand over her mouth. She had called him James. Not Potter, but James.

"Uh…" Lily said slowly, feeling immediately stupid. She felt something fly past her elbow and gasped, seeing that it was her whole essay that was now blowing in the wind and moving away from her. "Wait, no! Where-where is it-" Lily scrambled through her bag, looking for her wand as James-no, Potter-looked at her in amusement.

"James! Do something!" she shrieked at him. "I mean, Potter! Potter-do something, damn it!"

"Okay, okay." He said, although he was still grinning at her. He took out his wand out of his pocket and waved it. "Accio parchment!"

Lily's essay stopped in midair because of the charm, and slowly made its way back to his hands. He grabbed it and tucked it into his pocket, smiling at her. "I honestly don't see why you wanted to come out here anyway."

Lily hated the way he was looking at her. He was looking at her with immense smugness, as if he knew she'd call him by his first name someday. Lily scowled and reached for her essay, but he held it out of reach.

"Potter, give it back." Lily snapped. She was getting very, very frustrated.

Instead of giving Lily back her homework, Ja-ahem-Potter, said, "Accio wand!"

Lily's wand flew right out of her bag and into his hand, and he held onto that and her essay, grinning. Lily frowned.

"Give it back," she repeated.

"Not yet," he said, tucking them into his book bag and throwing it over his shoulder. He stood up and she abruptly followed suit, taking her own bag.

"Potter, I mean it." She said. Lily stepped up and gave him a very vehement look, despite the fact he was at least a head taller than she was.

James raised an eyebrow. "Do you? What are you going to do? Hex me?" He threw his head back and laughed at his own little joke. Lily hardly found it funny and made a sudden move to kick him, but he quickly moved out of the way. Damn those Quidditch reflexes.

He clucked his tongue and shook his head, still smiling at her. "Tut, tut, Lily. You can be really rude sometimes."

"I don't care," Lily said, trying to be patient but failing miserably. "Just give it to me."

"Okay." James said easily. He said it so easily, in fact, that Lily knew that he wanted something more. She was right. "Call me James then."

It was the order she was dreading. Lily stuck her chin up and frowned. "No."

"Alright," he said. He was grinning; as if that was the answer he was both expecting and wanting from her. He made a move to leave her, but she abruptly moved in front of him.

"Potter, you're not being funny." She said, as he continued to beam at her. "I'm serious."

"So am I." James said pleasantly. He moved her out of the way, although Lily couldn't help but notice that he grabbed her arm gently so, and didn't push her. She gaped at him as he turned to leave and kept going, until he reached the stone steps and waved goodbye to her.

***

"I swear, if you don't stop snogging that thing, I am going to kick your arse out of this room." Sirius said later that day when they were in their dormitory, lazing about. James grinned; still clutching the essay that he had somehow managed to take from his loved one. "It was Evans who called you James, Prongs, not the parchment."

"Yep. Lily called me James. James." He was in a dreamy state of ignorance and bliss. "Can you believe it? She called me-"

"We heard you the first time," Remus said tiredly from his four-poster, where he was folding his clothes neatly and stacking them in his trunk. Even he was getting a little annoyed.

Suddenly Peter appeared at the open doorway, where several students were passing through to get to their own dormitories. He was carrying all of his books, which he dropped grudgingly onto his bed, and then looked at his friends with panic. "Can someone help me with my homework?"

When James continued to rant about Lily and Sirius rolled his eyes and chucked a pillow at him, Remus sighed, "Here, Pete," and then motioned his friend over so that he could help him while putting away his clothes.

"OW!" James suddenly yelped. "Honestly, Sirius, a pillow doesn't hurt but a shoe-?"

"You're so love stricken that you can't even block it," Sirius said, shaking his head and looking disgusted.

"Will both of you shut up?" Peter said irritably. "I had to endure the whole common room making noise until mostly everyone finally left, and you two are hardly being any quieter."

"Say, is Lily down there?" James said, suddenly perking up.

"Uh, I think…"

"See you later chaps," James said briskly and then left immediately, making sure that her essay was tucked safely into his pocket. Sirius tried throwing another shoe at him but this time missed.

She wasn't there anymore. Damn it, James thought, feeling oddly crestfallen when he saw that the common room was completely empty except for Lannie Williamson and a young girl she was tutoring. He sunk into the nearest armchair and took out her essay, looking hard at it. Her handwriting was tiny, neat, and in cursive. James marveled at even something as simple as that.

She doesn't love me, he thought grudgingly. Oh, well. You're pretty bright, aren't you, James?

James sighed and leaned back, sinking his head deeper into the cushion behind him. He closed his eyes and huffed loudly, like a two-year old whose parents refused to give him another sweet.

"You really like her, don't you?"

James jumped in the air and looking frantically around. The girl Lannie had been tutoring was gone now and Lannie had obviously noticed that he was there. She grinned and James gave her a sheepish look. "Yeah, I do." He said honestly.

Lannie smiled a bit and to James's surprise, went around his seat and sat in the one across from him. She laid her books down on her lap and looked skeptic as she rested both her elbows at the sides and brought her fingers beneath her chin. "You know, most girls would kill to have a guy like them that much."

James raised his eyebrow. She was being very bold for someone who he had always assumed to be quite shy. "That's what I thought anyway," he said matter-of-factly, then paused. "How did you know that I was thinking about her?"

"You looked like you were in love." She said simply, and smiled. James smiled back. Lannie swept her golden bangs out of her eyes and looked curious, not incredulous like James assumed her to be. "So, why her?"

James let his mouth drop open and Lannie laughed. "Why her?"

"Yes." Lannie said slowly. She looked amused. "I'm just curious. I mean…she's pretty quiet, don't you think?"

It was James's turn to laugh. "Quiet? No way." James said, grinning at the very thought of her. "Lily…isn't quiet."

"Well, she's in my dormitory." Lannie said, with the air of someone who knew better. "She seems quiet to me."

"She yells at me all the time," James said reasonably. "And besides, you seem like a pretty quiet one too."

This time it was Lannie's turn to blush. She grinned embarrassedly. "Well…I can be." She said, looking down.

"When you're around Remus, you mean?" James said, giving her a devilish grin. Lannie rolled her eyes, sweeping her bangs again and tightening her ponytail just to buy time. "Right?" James prompted.

"Fine, yes." Lannie said forcefully, although she blushed slightly more. "But that's not we're talking about."

"Of course." James grinned.

"So…she's not quiet then?"

"Well, I suppose I can see why you'd think that," James said thoughtfully. "But when she's not quiet, or yelling, which is usually at me, she can be…pleasant."

Lannie raised her eyebrows. "Pleasant?"

"Oh, yes."

"How so?" Lannie said, laughing as if she doubted it. James suddenly felt defensive.

"Well, like when she smiles." James said, wanting more than ever now to prove her wrong. "She always smiles at the first years when they first arrive in the Great Hall."

Lannie chuckled, tilting her head to the side. "Really." She said.

"She gives anyone notes for any class any time." James continued. He paused, smiling sadly for a moment. "Well, except the Slytherins. They're always mean to her."

"Yeah, well, they're mean to everyone." Lannie said reasonably.

"No, they're a lot meaner to her." James said, shaking his head and frowning. He suddenly felt angry. "Just because she's a muggleborn."

Lannie brought her books up to her chest and adjusted in her seat so that her ponytail swung from side to side. She tilted her head again. "Are you pureblood?" she asked curiously.

"Does it matter?" James said, sticking out his chin. Lannie laughed.

"Merlin, Potter, you think I care about that? Besides, I'm a half-blood, so I'm just wondering."

James frowned, still feeling defensive. "Yeah, I am."

"Hm." Lannie said, looking thoughtful. James scowled and she raised an eyebrow. "Potter, I'm not saying it's wrong, I'm just saying it's strange. Purebloods usually don't go for muggleborns." She stood up, smoothing her skirt and straightening her books. "Well, I think I'm going to turn in now. Tutoring is harder than it looks, you know."

"Wait, Lannie." James said, just as she started to move to the staircase. She stopped, raising an eyebrow at his hopeful yet desperate expression. "Lily's a girl, and well, you're a girl too."

"You got that much right." Lannie said, smiling.

James ignored what she was trying to imply and continued. "So, what do you think…about our, you know-situation?"

Lannie sighed, although she was grinning also. "Potter, I think that the situation is entirely yours, and I think that's also entirely your problem. Unless I'm very much mistaken, Lily just isn't interested." She paused; sweeping her bangs out of her face and looking amused at James's crestfallen expression. "That doesn't mean that she won't be, though."

James frowned, exhaling loudly. "What do you mean?"

"You're a piece of work, Potter." Lannie said, grinning and opening the door of the girls' dormitories. "I'm sure you can figure it out."

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