James's Point of View

I've read the same question about Aguamenti charms five bloody times. I cannot focus. I sigh and lean back in my chair. I hate these stupid O.W.L.'s. You have to sit in the Great Hall all bloody day and answer pointless questions. Thankfully this Charms one is my last, and even though I'm bored - it's not half as bad as Potions. Ugh! Potions! I'd rather be locked up in Azkaban than ever attempt to describe Renan Root again.

My hand is sore from writing so I stretch it out by reaching up to my hair and fixing it. As I lean back, I look at all my classmates. Bertram Aubrey is two seats to the right of me, pompously taking out a fresh quill. Merlin he makes me want to vomit. Frankie Longbottom is beside me, leaning dangerously to the right, trying to peak at Alice's parchment. Moony is a few seats behind me, pulling on his ears. That makes me laugh. Remus always does that when he's nervous and Sirius and I tease him that one day he'll tear them right off.

Sirius is in the other direction, several seats ahead of me because all the teachers know that we'll get into some sort of trouble if we're anywhere near each other. Sirius has his face against his hands, clearly asleep and I can't stop myself from busting out laughing.

Little Professor Flitwick straightens up immediately.

"Silence, Mr. Potter!" He whispers.

I nod although I'm still sniggering. I turn back toward Sirius and he is now wide awake and smirking at me.

I lift my parchment up discreetly and point to it.

"What d'you think?" I mouth to him.

"Fuck if I know." Sirius mouths back with a shrug.

I laugh into my hand and turn back to my exam. The questions aren't challenging, just terribly boring so I fill in the rest of my answers without much thought. There is still loads of time left, so I start doodling. I draw a snitch out of habit and before I even know what I'm doing - I've written Lily Evans's initials inside it. God, Evans. I can't get her out of my head. Sirius thinks I'm mad to go for a "bird like her". I know that she's a prude and cares more about her damn grades than anyone in their right mind should, but ... I don't know. Ever since our first year - I've just known that we're supposed to be together.

She apparently doesn't know this, because she hates me. That isn't my fault though - that's all because of stupid Snivellus Snape.

Even thinking of the slime ball makes me grimace. How is it that someone like him can have such a hold over Evans? I don't get it. Recently though, she's been putting some distance between them. I suppose she's finally figured out how dark he is. The second he graduates he'll join You Know Who. All of his lot will.

That greasy haired git is right behind me, hovering over his parchment, practically drooling. He's so pathetic, I snort and his head snaps up. He and I have a glaring match for a few moments, but he turns away first. Of course.

"Time's up! Please set down your quills!" Flitwick squeaks. "I'll collect your exams now."

He flicks his wand and hundreds of rolls of parchment fly from our desks to him, knocking him off his feet. We all share a collective chuckle at him, and Timmy Channers and Brooke Remlen rush forward to set him upright.

"Oh, thank you. Thank you. You are dismissed."

I practically sprint out of my seat, and I see Sirius do the same. The pair of us make a beeline for the doors with Remus and Peter close behind. We're laughing about the werewolf questions as we gather around the large oak tree by the Black Lake to relax. As soon as he's settled at the base of the tree, Remus immediately begins studying. Sirius lays down as though he's going to take a nap and Peter looks between all of us to see who he should follow. I stand up and fish the snitch I nicked out of my pocket and begin a series of difficult catches. Sirius pops open one eye lazily and looks at me curiously - from the look on his face I can tell he's wondering why I'm trying to show off to them. I incline my head toward the edge of the lake where beautiful Lily sits, lounging. Sirius rolls his eyes at me and sighs with disinterest.

After a few minutes, Sirius tells me to cut it out and I begrudgingly stuff the snitch back in my pocket.

"I'm bored." Sirius whines.

"Here," Remus replies. "Quiz me."

Sirius scoffs at him and I look around, searching for something to entertain my best mate. I find Snivellus reclining against a tree trunk - Found it.

"Hey Padfoot," I call. "This should interest you."

I point to Snape.

"Excellent." He grins. "Snivellus."

Sirius stands and comes to my side as he draws his wand. Peter is sniffling with excitement and his beady eyes are watering as he sprints to my other side. I glance at Remus and see that is purposely ignoring us as he usually does when we're up to no good.

I walk forward and Sirius and Peter match my every step.

"Hey Snivellus!" I shout.

He jumps to his feet - he must be learning to expect this. Oh well.

I curse his wand out of his hand before he can even raise it. I cast a binding curse and he is instantly unable to move.

"You just wait ... you wait!" Snape growls.

"Wait for what?" I ask. "You to learn how to duel? Sorry Snivellus, I'm fairly certain I'll be dead by then."

That crowd that has formed around us roars with laughter. Snape swears at me and struggles against his binds.

"Oi! Watch your mouth!" Sirius shouts and casts a scourgify charm on him.

Pink foam spills from Snape's mouth and his choking is hilarious to us all.

"Levicorpus!" I shout and he is hoisted into the air by his ankle.

Sirius claps me on the back with a laugh as Snape swings his gangly arms back and forth in fury.

"Stop!" Screams a shrill voice from the crowd. "Stop it right now! Let him down!"

I look down from Snape an see Lily Evans standing in front of me.

"Come on Evans, don't make me hex you. We're just having a laugh. Get out of the way." I say.

I'd never hex her. I'm not like that, but she needs to quit defending him.

Before Lily can reply Peter starts laughing like mad and I see him pointing up at Snape. His trousers have come loose to reveal a disgusting pair of dirty grey underpants. This is officially the greatest day of my life. I'm clutching my stomach and howling, Sirius is wiping tears from his eyes and Peter can barely stand upright. The most surprising thing of all is that Lily's mouth is twitching like she's trying not to laugh - who knew she had a sense of humor?

"Tell you what, Evans." I chuckle. "I'll let him down if you agree to go out with me. Give me one date and I promise you'll want more."

I muss my hair.

"James Potter, you arrogant toe-rag." She retorts. "I'd rather go out with the giant squid than you."

Normally that would've stung a bit, but there is still a playfulness in her eyes and that gives me a bit more hope than I normally have.

"I don't need help from you, you filthy mudblood!" Snape shouts from above.

My blood instantly turns to ice and I grip my wand even tighter. How dare he? Lily looks completely shocked for a moment, but then she seems to turn to stone. Her body goes rigid and her face sets in a hard expression.

"Fine then!" She replies coldly. "Got get some new underpants Snivellus."

I'm completely pleased until I remember what he's said to cause such a reaction.

"Apologize to Evans!" I scream at him.

Lily rears on me with fury in her eyes.

"I don't want you to make him apologize! You're just as bad as he is!" She shouts.

"What?" I ask. "I would never call you a ... you know what!"

"It doesn't even matter!" She cries.

I step toward her. I don't want to see her cry. As I get closer to her, Lily takes off toward the castle.

I flick my wand and Snape falls hard to the ground. The crowd laughs and I cast a leg-lock jinx to keep from moving and a binding hex on his arms. I kneel down close to him.

"You are nothing, Snape. You know that don't you? You know that you are just a pathetic loser that no one cares about. You and the rest of your dark followers. I didn't understand what she saw in you in the first place, but you know she'll never forgive you now." I say quietly so no one else can hear. "She's mine."

His eyes bulge and I smile. Satisfied.

I stand up and look at the still revved up crowd.

"Who thinks we should leave Snivelly here all night?" I ask and they cheer. "If we're lucky, he might just get eaten by a werewolf!"

Peter and Sirius almost lose it and we all look back at Remus secretly. He looks up from his book just for a moment and grins.

Sirius bends down and grabs Snape's wand from the grass and I know he's going to do something spectacular.

"I don't think he needs this anymore." Padfoot announces. "It's not like he knows how to use it."

He holds the tip of the wand and throws it as hard as he can. It lands with a soft plop in the Black Lake.

"Property of the giant squid now!" George Jordan shouts from the crowd and we howl with laughter.

Remus appears next to me and pats my shoulder. He's smiling like he's amused and nervous at the same time.

"Let's get out of here and get some lunch. I'm starved." He says and I nod.

The crowd disperses and the groups all head in different directions. Remus, Sirius and Peter walk toward the Great Hall, but I turn the other way.

"Oi! Prongs!" Sirius shouts once he notices. "Where are you going?"

"Not hungry! I'll meet you in the common room later!" I reply over my shoulder.

I have a very beautiful, upset, red head to grovel too.


Hi everyone!

I know I'm terrible, I just love to pick on poor Snape! Ha

I know many of you are probably saying "Why is she starting yet another story when she can't keep up with the ones she has now?!"

If I'm being honest, I really missed writing the romance between Lily/James. This story will follow their relationship throughout their Hogwarts days so it is essentially a prequel to 'Until the End'

BEFORE YOU ASK - I will continue with my stories 'The Past and the New Generation' and 'We Never Left'. I got a new laptop so updates should be more regular!

Please Read and Review! Reviews make me want to keep writing!

xoxo