"I don't need help from filthy little Mudbloods like her!" Severus shouted at James furiously.
Lily's eyes grew suddenly hot and tears threatened to form. "Fine!" she said, holding back the shock she felt. "I won't bother in future. And I'd wash your pants if I were you, Snivellus."
She turned on her heel and stalked off, holding her head high defiantly.
"No, Lily, wait," Severus called, starting to run after her. "Lily please I didn-"
James had caught up, yanking on the back of Severus's robes. "What did you call her, Snivellus?" He threw a punch at Severus's face. Two punches. Three punches. Punching until Severus crumpled slightly under his grip. James let go and ran off in the direction Lily had gone.
"EVANS!" he bellowed. He turned to some second years, whipping out his wand and pointing it at them. He had no intention to use it, but he found it useful for getting a fast answer.
"Where did she go?"
The second years shrugged and shook their little heads vigorously, their eyes wide, staring at the end of his wand. James sighed furiously and started walking again, looking over his shoulder to see Severus still kneeling on the ground holding his face, shaking slightly. Good. James pulled out the Maraurders Map from his pocket and tapped it with his wand. The map appeared, and he sought out Lily's name on it. She was in the Gryffindor common room, alone. James took off at a jog towards the common room, round corners, up stairs, more stairs and corners, near-empty corridors, only stopping when he finally got there. He gasped out the password to the Fat Lady and entered as the portrait swung open. He could hear someone crying. A girl. Lily.
"Evans?" he whispered. Her head snapped round and she glared at him. He jumped, startled by the sudden movement. She was sitting against the wall next to a small table. Her eyes were red and puffy. She wiped her face with the bottom of her robe quickly.
"What do you want, Potter?" she sniffed, her tone cold. "If you only just left him alone for one minute, maybe, just maybe, that wouldn't have happened!"
James sighed. "I'm sorry. No doubt he regrets it now anyway."
Lily looked at him curiously, wanting him to explain, but he simply shrugged and shook his head.
He walked over to her and knelt down, tranfiguring a piece of parchment lying on the table into a handkerchief for her. She grabbed it, dabbing at her eyes and blowing her nose. She smiled slightly.
"You do realise that was Remus's homework, right?"
James grinned. "He can do it again or whatever. Smartass like him," he laughed. "You needed something though Evans, and it was the only thing there."
Lily blushed slightly. James sat down next to her and she slumped to the side, letting her head hit his shoulder. Tears were still running down her face. James shrugged her off jokingly.
"Evans! You're getting my shoulder all wet!"
Lily sat up stiffly, wiping her eyes with her sleeve. She sniffed. James looked at her, taking his time to assess the situation.
"C'mere," he muttered, putting his arm around her. She let him pull her closer, sobbing into his chest.
James stroked her hair, making soothing sounds until she stopped crying. She sat up again.
"Potter."
"Evans?"
"...Thank you."
