~ To the well organized mind, death is but the next great adventure ~
~ It is important to fight, and fight again, and keep fighting, for only then can evil be kept at bay, though never quite eradicated~
Lily POV:
'...I don't need help from a filthy little mudblood like her.'
'Then I won't bother in the future.' Lily told him coldly.
Lily backed away; this had been the final straw. Over the years she had stuck by and defended Severus Snape, but this was too far.
Sure, some of the girls in her dorm had warned her, 'He's a Slytherin.' 'He'll just work for Voldemort.' But Lily had faith in her best friend...
Or should she say ex-best friend...
Oh God...
No, you're Lily Evans, she told herself, you do not cry...
She had finally realized how long she had been standing in front of Potter and Snape. The crowd of girls she was sitting with, along with the remaining three marauders, were staring at her in wordless judgment.
'Lily! Lily, I'm so sorry!' Snape burst out.
'No Sev, I'm done. I've defended you... a-and lied for you... for all these years...' Lily's voice was beginning to break.
She looked away from the Slytherin in front of her, and realized how Potter was looking at her... This wasn't normal...
James had seemed to notice her eyes browsing his face, trying to find a flaw... But she couldn't.
No. No. You're Lily Evans! She told herself again, you do not think like that about Potter!'
The atmosphere became exceedingly awkward, it seemed as if the twenty onlookers were continuously looking backwards and forwards between the two fifth years. Realizing this, they both tore their gazes away from each other, James running a hand through his uncontrollable black hair.
It was just too much for Lily to handle at that point, she tried to think of a way to excuse herself from the situation, but no idea came into her mind.
Lily couldn't take it anymore, without thinking of anything else but her desire to escape, she ran from the edge of the lake.
James POV:
Lily had run away from the scene, yet James still thought she was incredibly brave for finally sticking up for herself when it came to Snivellius.
Without thinking or wondering what rumors would spread of doing so; James sped off at full speed after Lily. He finally found her in the somewhat deserted common room, crying silently in an arm chair.
Lily POV:
Lily was aware that someone had just entered the common room, but she really was too preoccupied with her own problems to care who it was.
'...Evans?' came a soft voice from behind Lily, 'You okay?'
'I... just...,' Lily sighed, 'I don't even know anymore...'
Potter shot her one of his classic smiles, usually it would be enough to make any girl's heart melt, yet it just didn't work on Lily.
James walked around Lily and brought over a nearby chair and sat with her.
'Want to talk about it?'
Lily shook her head.
'Want to eat icecream and chocolate with Alice and Marlene all night?'
Lily laughed slightly and nodded. James laughed as well.
'I'll go get them,' he turned to leave, but someone had grabbed his hand. What surprised him was that it was Lily.
Trying to ignore the burning sensation that ran through her hand, Lily smiled at him and said, 'Thanks.'
James POV
Felling incredibly smug, James made his way out of the portrait hole. He began to walk down to the kitchens to get the promised food, when he was cornered by Alice.
'What did you say to her!' she demanded.
'Lovely to see you too, as always, Prewett...' James began, although he decided it would be best just to answer when he received a harsh glare from Alice, 'I was actually coming down to the kitchens, then I was about to get you. Lily's in the common room, I decided to be the brilliant future boyfriend I am and cheer her up.'
'You're not as bad as I thought, Potter.' Alice told him, 'You go, James. I think she needs you.'
Alice still eyed him suspiciously, as if trying to work out his motives. After what felt like hours, she seemed to be satisfied and left. James could have sworn she smiled at him as she left.
Lily POV
'Oh Lillikins!' came a sing-song voice from the portrait hole, 'I'm baaaaaack!'
She turned and saw Potter re-entering the common room, without Marlene or Alice, yet he still had the promised icecream. Lily was seeing Potter in a new light, although he had five years of hatred to make up for.
'Where's Alice and Mar?' Lily asked him, yet still smiling.
'They couldn't make it; I was forced to take charge, as always.' He teased.
'Oh, my hero!' Lily proclaimed. She couldn't help but notice how much he'd changed lately, but in a rather good way…
NO, LILY, NO, she thought, JAMES POTTER? NO NO NO!
James seemed to have noticed her staring at him, so he asked her, 'Like what you see, Evans?' with a raise of an eyebrow. But instead of beginning a long argument as she usually would, Lily settled for playfully hitting him on the arm and scowling.
Wait a minute, she said to herself again, am I… flirting with James Potter?
But for the rest of the night, James was the perfect gentlemen, he sat there listening to every single thing she had to say, and just talked for hours about everything from O.W.L'S to home lives. He didn't once even try once to ask her out…
Bloody hell, she kept saying to herself, I can't possibly be fancying James Potter right now… NO, this can't happen!