Flipped

James Potter has always been an arrogant prat. I never dreamed that he could kiss like that. Or that he would spend his entire summer flipping my world upside-down. (Told by both James & Lily.)

There were very few day when I had total peace in the dorm. Today was one such day, but only because it was the last day of sixth year. Everyone else was hanging out with their friends, as I had been earlier, in the common room. Unfortunately, it was raining, and we were all stuck inside, talking and packing and reading and doing whatever else on the floor of the common room. In twenty-four hours, I knew I would be home, helping to plan what horrendous shade of pink I would be forced to wear at my sister, Petunia's, upcoming wedding. On the bright side, however, I wouldn't have to worry about James H. Potter, infamous prat.

My eyes returned to my novel, where Pierce Conley was seducing Audrey Quinn in the kitchen. They had already done in it in the bedroom, on the living room couch, on three of the walls in the house. I had been reading in the common room earlier, where James Potter had seen fit to embarrass me by confiscating my book and reading it aloud to the entirety of Gryffindor House.

"He was doing sinful things with his tongue," Potter read, much to Black's amusement behind me. He was laughing, as James continued, "and I arched my back into him, his shoulder stifling the moans and gasps of --" At that point, blushing madly, I had taken my book back, and stomped out of the room, but not before dealing 'Mr. Prongs' a nice hard slap. And he deserved it. I was even glad when I saw him rubbing his cheek as I left.

But now, Black knew what kind of trash I read. Joy. I could have killed Potter. But now, it was dinner time. I could sneak down to the common room again, and no one would be there. And maybe later I could make Sirius understand.

I never expected to see him in the common room, snogging Julie Saunders on the couch. I felt a pang of jealousy that I had never expected, and decided to use my privileges as a prefect to break up the couple. I cleared my throat, hoping that they would hear me. They didn't. So I spoke, in my well-practiced clipped voice. "Mr. Black, Miss Saunders?"

The pair pulled apart, evidently recognizing my voice, or fearing that they had been caught in the act by Professor McGonagall. That was sort of the impression I aimed for, at any rate. But Sirius caught me off guard. He thought too quickly.

"What, Evans, do you want to join us? Or shall I just do sinful things with my tongue?" Black inquired, his tone completely innocent. But it was enough to make me blush a horrible shade of pink. How I despised my hair.

"Oh, no, Black," I replied, thinking fast, wondering what the hell I was thinking. "That's what you want to do. However, I'm not certain I can allow that sort of behavior. Oh, and I should be giving you both detention for this sort of thing," I continued, motioning to the interesting position they were in at the moment. "Now, I'm going to leave, and you each have five minutes to get down to the dining hall, or there will be consequences."

I stalked off, glad to find an excuse to leave. Still, I was fascinated by Black – I wondered what it would be like to be Julie Saunders, to drop my façade of perfection for a while and make out with a couple guys once in a while.

I had never had a boyfriend at Hogwarts before, thanks to James Potter and his tendency to be threatening towards anyone who so much as looked at me during class, much less spoke to me. He thought I was his damn property or something. And he had succeeded in eliminating my love life. There were very few who were not afraid of Potter, mostly because he was a bully. A bully with strong, loyal friends, at that. No one but Potter asked me out, and I always said no to the idiot because… Well, he was just Potter. I knew I had to be crazy to think that Black would go out with me when Potter had been hitting on me since about third year. But, if I intrigued him enough, I knew Sirius would do just about anything.

I was silent at dinner, watching the boy from a distance, waiting for him to meet my eyes.

It never happened, and I left the table some time later, disappointed.

---flipped---

I don't know what makes me do all these crazy things to her. You see, I think it must be that it's the only way that she'd ever give me a bit of attention. But I wish I could just be myself. But it hurts less to think that she hates someone who isn't really me. But then, maybe if I changed, she'd give a chance.

I've tried it before – I've tried it a hell of a lot this year. But no. Lily Evans will never give a damn about James Potter. Oh, and she now stares at my best friend at dinner. Someone tell me why girls are so complicated. I haven't even done anything to her. Well… Actually, I've been horrible. But only so that she'd pay attention to me. And now she's hitting on Padfoot so that I'll feel bad. Well, I guess it is my own fault, so I can't complain. Maybe I should just give up and find someone who would actually like me for what I pretend to be or whatever. I don't know why I've spent so long chasing after one girl.

But Lily Evans is incredible. And that is why a guy like me will never get to go out with her. I'm too normal. She needs someone extraordinary who will keep her intrigued for the rest of her life. And let's face it – I'm a creature of habit. I would bore her. Which is why someone like Sirius is perfect for her.

Tomorrow, I leave Hogwarts for the summer, and I am determined not to let myself think about her. I will find some other girl to distract myself with. And I will have fun this summer, no matter what.

A/N Okay, prologue! Yay! I have no idea where this is going yet, but I'm excited, and I think it'll be interesting to mess with their different viewpoints a bit, see how they change, etc. Review for me - I need ideas.