A/N – I started this story a long time ago on a different account, and I forgot the email address and password for it, so I can no longer access it. I took a long break from writing fanfiction, so that's why I've had to make this account. I am only reposting this because I want to continue it, and I plan on updating it regularly because I have new ideas for it. I really wanted this story to work out when I initially posted it, but I lost inspiration and never picked it up until now.
All that could be seen of Lily Evans was a blur, her bright red hair flying behind her, the movement making it seem like flames. Every breath she attempted to draw came out in a labored pant as a result of her sprint. She didn't know much about McGonagall, but she was guessing from what she saw at the Sorting ceremony that she wouldn't be as forgiving as most teachers when it came to tardiness. She internally kicked herself for taking extra time at breakfast.
She skidded to a halt as she found the correct classroom, plowing through two students in the process.
"S-Sorry" She managed, blowing some strands of hair from her face.
"Watch where you're going?"
She looked up to see her fellow Gryffindor and thorn in her side, Sirius Black, smirking at her. She rolled her eyes and rushed into the classroom, taking one of the many empty seats near the front. The din of the school bell resonated throughout the castle, alarming all students in the hallways that they were late. Sirius, accompanied by James Potter, strolled lazily into the room, acting as if they owned it. Though Sirius seemed to be more of a front man, it was James who let them to their seats. Much to Lily's displeasure, they were directly behind her.
"Oi, Black, isn't that the posh twit we saw on the train?" James said in a stage whisper to Sirius.
Lily felt her cheeks heat up and flood with color, but she tried her best to ignore them.
"Oh, and what's this? She's sitting alone. I reckon her only friend is that -= what was his name again? Oh, right – Snivellus."
Lily was determined to not crack under their taunts, so she set to organizing her quills and parchment on her desk. She found herself wishing that McGonagall would show up and silence the two idiots behind her. She rolled her eyes as they took turns impersonating her and Severus, mostly remarking on Severus's inability to find proper shampoo.
She nimbly picked up one of the larger quills and poised it carefully to the parchment. She took extra care in writing the date and subject atop the paper, preparing it for when she'd take notes. She would take as many as she could, and wouldn't stop even if her hand protested in pain. She was going to be the top of her class; a polar opposite to the idiots teasing her. She savored the thought of looking at their disappointed faces when they saw their horrid marks and cheered up slightly.
To her surprise, she heard things quiet down. Maybe they'd seen the teacher come in! She turned her head, but instead of being met with a strict gaze, she merely saw Potter looking at her innocently, twirling a quill between his fingers. She huffed indignantly, whipping her head around to the front of the room. She dropped her hand on her desk a bit too roughly and upset her quill arrangement.
While she busied herself to realign them, she felt a tugging sensation on the back of her head. She turned around to see James Potter fiddling with a small chunk of her hair. When her narrow eyes met his, he didn't look around or act ashamed.
"Just wanted to see if it would burn me." He said, grinning broadly.
Sirius roared with laughter next to him. Lily angrily swatted James's hand away, turning her face before they could see the red registering on her puffed out cheeks. Before she even knew what was happening, Sirius had reached over and knocked the quills off of her desk.
"You – You BULLY!" She shouted, allowing her anger to get the best of her.
Just as Sirius was about to come back with a snarky retort, a sharp voice sounded from the doorway.
"That is QUITE enough!"
There stood Minerva McGonagall, hair pulled back in a tight bun, mouth barely visible in a thin line, and a no nonsense look gleaming in her eyes.
"Sit down, Miss Evans. Five points will be taken from Gryffindor. I do NOT tolerate shouting in my classroom."
Lily didn't dare argue, so she grabbed for her quills, sat down, and dumped the clumsily on her desk. Tears stung her eyes and threatened to spill over, but before anyone could notice, she wiped them on the sleeves of her robe. It was only the first day of lessons and things were already going badly. Her ears burned as she listened to Sirius and James's gleeful snickers.
"Silence! Potter, Black, that means you." McGonagall barked.
That wiped the smiles from their stupid faces. The corners of Lily's lips twitched. She turned around for a brief moment as McGonagall tapped the board, causing letters to materialize from nowhere. James stuck his tongue out at Lily, clearly not fazed by being told off. It was then she decided that she hated this boy's guts.
The class drew on, the time filled with note-taking. Lily's hand flew quickly over the parchment, determined to soak in every single word. Eventually, her mind was sapped of the two arrogant boys and filled instead with new worries of being unable to transfigure the match placed in front of her into a needle.
She practiced her wand motions carefully, allowing no margin for error. In little to no time at all, a sharp, silver needle lay gleaming on her desk while other students were staring, dumbfounded into their textbooks or jabbing their wands through the air in frustration. When McGonagall stopped by her desk to examine her work, Lily could swear she saw a hint of a smile on her thin lips.
Lily enjoyed her victory so much, she asked for a second match and proceeded to transfigure it while the majority of the other students hadn't even managed their first. Her mood didn't alter but for one second, when she looked behind her and saw James smirking with three equally perfect needles on his desk. She shook him from her mind, and turned her attention back to her own brilliant work. She was so satisfied with herself, that when the lesson ended, she felt a bit sad. She gathered her things quickly, determined to tell off Black and Potter for getting her into trouble.
Even with her speed, they were still waiting directly outside the door. Black had his hand across the entrance so she couldn't pass through.
"Move." She demanded, flashing them a dangerous look.
"Oh, James, we'd better watch out. Evans told us to move, so that must mean we HAVE to move. Turns out her hair isn't the only fiery thing about her." Sirius said, a mocking edge to his tone.
"Don't get too close, Sirius! She might burn you!" James jeered, grabbing Sirius's arm and pulling him away from Lily.
She refused to let them get to her again.
"YOU got me into trouble!" She accused, her fists clenching together.
James's eyes glinted, and an amused look slid onto his face. He reached his hand up to ruffle his already messy jet-black hair. For some reason, this infuriated Lily further. James took a step closer to her and folded his arms across his chest.
"And that's my problem because?"
It took Lily's best efforts to not stomp her foot to the ground. She tossed her hair over her shoulder and glared at him.
"If you say one more word to me – I'll – "
"You'll do WHAT exactly?" James dared.
"I'll hex your legs together," came a shaking voice from a few feet away.
Severus Snape stood there, his fists balled up and his eyes narrowed. James laughed so hard, he had to hold onto Sirius for support. Severus's pale face flushed bright pink and he turned to Lily.
"C'mon Lily. I'll walk you to class." He muttered, avoiding James and Sirius's scrutiny.
"Yeah, Evans. Go with Snivellus. He'll be able to protect you from – wait, what did she call us, James? Oh, yeah, bullies." Sirius teased, wearing a broad grin.
James was still shaking with laughter as Lily pulled Severus along the corridor, only turning back to spare them a last look of deep disgust.
"Are you okay?" Severus inquired, his voice still uneven and his fists still clenched.
Lily rolled her eyes.
"I'm perfectly fine, Severus. I'm not going to let two half-wits get the best of me."
Severus's lips curled into a little smile, taking the pinched, unattractive look from his face. When he smiled, he actually looked friendly and approachable. Lily always saw him that way, but she saw more than everyone else saw. Especially morons like James and Sirius.
"You should smile more, Sev. I like it when you smile." Lily said as she dragged him along the corridor.
He flushed, though obviously pleased with her comment.
"Anyways, just ignore them. They aren't worth your time. You're much too smart to lower yourself to Black and Potter." Severus said, changing the subject, his voice taking on a nasty edge when he said James and Sirius's last names.
"Trust me, Sev. I would never even think about talking to that scum unless I absolutely had to." She said heatedly, still angry at losing points. "We're going to be late for Herbology, come on."
Snape allowed her to lead him to the greenhouses, pacified by her confirmation.
"The next time I say anything to James Potter or Sirius Black will be when I put a hex on them." Severus promised.
Lily stopped suddenly, causing him to run into her on accident. She turned to him, her large, emerald eyes filled with concern.
"Sev – you have to promise me you won't do anything to hurt anybody. Tuney's still mad at you for the tree branch you dropped on her… she's angry with me, too. That isn't what magic is for. You should be helping people, not hurting them." She said seriously.
He looked hesitant to answer.
"Promise me, Sev!" She said with firm conviction.
He was slightly startled by the force of her usualy calm voice. He gathered himself and looked her straight in the eyes.
"I – I promise, Lily."