God, James Potter was such a prat.

An arrogant prat.

An arrogant, prattish jerk.

An arrogant, prattish, jerk-face toerag.

The NERVE of him. He spends the entire first five years of Hogwarts being an arrogant, prattish jerk-face toerag bully. That would be okay, Lily supposed, had he not been completely, totally, and utterly head-over-heels in love with Lily Evans.

That bloody moron. Who would be so stupid as to ask a girl out, then turn around and hex her best friend?

Oooooh, I know! JAMES BLOODY POTTER!

And then, there was that stupid bloody prattish hair ruffle that he always did. Every time he smiled (smirked, really) or played quidditch or even looked in Lily's general direction...Lily just wanted to take his precious broomstick and beat him over the head. Or maybe sneak into his dorm at night (ew?) and cut it all off. Or just cut off all his fingers instead. Either way, as long as he stopped the ruffle. Lily wondered how much she could pay Remus to convince him to stop.

See, look. There he was, walking past her, about to ask her out. Oh, look away, look away.

"Evans." Potter said, smiling briefly before walking away with his friends. Lily glared at him.

"For the last bloody time, James, I will NOT- wait, what?" Lily stopped, staring at his back as he sauntered down the hallway. Except...he was just walking.

What just happened?

Lily was terribly confused. When did Potter ever pass up a chance to ask her out? And- was that Severus? James Freaking Potter had just walked by Severus Snape, a Slytherin and his most evil archnemisis, without hexing him. Something was up.

Lily stomped after him.

"Potter? POTTER!"

"What, Evans?" He said politely, turning around. James Potter- polite? WHAT SORT OF EVIL MAGIC WAS THIS?

"What are you planning, James? Whatever you're doing- stop." Lily spat, glowering at him. James just scratched his head (without ruffling his hair, no less) and looked confused.

"What are you talking about, Evans? I'm not planning anything."

"Then why are you suddenly being nice to Slytherins, and not asking me out, and not doing the ruffle?" She babbled. She was completely at a loss. Potter blinked his hazel eyes (they were quite nice, now that she thought about it- No, Lily, don't you DARE) and stared at her. Then a look of understanding crossed his features.

"I know that I did that for a long time, but I don't do that anymore. It was mean and spiteful and arrogant and extremely unattractive, and I'm sorry."

Lily blinked. And stood with her mouth hanging open, gaping at this person who looked like James Potter but could not possibly be him because James Potter was arrogant and prattish and hexed innocent people and did not feel one DROPLET of remorse.

"What- I- I mean-I-er-huh?" She spluttered. James (No, Potter. You're slipping, Lily!) looked rather sad, and his eyes dropped.

"I totally understand if you hate me and never want to speak to me again. I'll just get out of your hair." He turned around and walked off, leaving Lily shell-shocked in the middle of the hallway.

Well, this was unexpected. But, about time. Lily wasn't sure how real this...apology could be, but it was about time. She'd give him the week before he went back to his arrogance. Okay, fine, two weeks.

He did really have nice eyes, though...