"Hey Evans! Wait up!"
"What, Potter?"
"Well, you see, Evans, I was hoping you and me, me and you, both of us together-"
"What, Potter?"
"-could possibly spend the day in Hogsmeade."
"You want me, to go with you to Hogsmeade?"
"Exactly!" James looks rather relieved that she has gotten the point.
"Oh, well then, no."
And as a crestfallen, messy-haired, bespectacled boy stands, the 'Rejection of James Potter' begins.
Sixth Year -"Hey Evans! Wait up!"
"What, Potter?"
"Well, Evans, since the Hogsmeade trip is coming up, and I love to go, and I know you love to go too, so –"
"What, Potter?"
"I thought we could go to Hogsmeade together. You and me, me and you, both of us together."
"You want me, to go with you, to Hogsmeade? Again?"
"Exactly!" James thinks for a minute. "But, since you never came with me before, it doesn't really count as 'again', it?"
"Regardless, I'm not going with you, Potter."
"Aww, Lilykins, why not?"
"Because you have to ruffle your hair every five minutes –"
"Aww, Evans, I honestly thought you were a bit deeper than that – I mean honestly, rejecting me because of my hairstyle."
Lily ignored him. "Because you never pay attention in class and disrespect all authoritative figures."
Now James was getting a little mad. "Such as yourself, little miss prefect?"
"And because you're a common, low-class, playground bully."
"Huh? What's a playground? Oh! Is it that barmy thing muggles have where children go to jump up and down?" James asks with genuine curiosity. Well…sort of….it could be mock curiosity, but really, no need to split hairs.
Lily's face looked akin to a flying pink hippopotamus attempting to hold its breath. "Muggles are not barmy!"
"Course not, Lily m'dear, I was speaking of the barmy playground. Not the muggles. The Muggles are just loony."
Lily's face turns red "They're not loony!"
"Alright, Evans. Go out with me, and I promise never to call muggles loony again."
"Really?" Lily questions skeptically.
"Really." James smirks. "I'll just say crazy from now on."
"Eurgh!" Lily takes a step closer to James, failing to notice that they are now only a couple of feet apart. "You will not call muggles loony, barmy, loopy, or crazy."
"Of course not Evans," James agrees amiably, "If you go out with me." He takes a step closer, leaning down gently, when suddenly –
SMACK
A resounding 'smack' is heard throughout the halls, as James stands stock-still and Lily flounces away.
And as a crestfallen, broken – hearted, red-cheeked boy stands, the 'Rejection of James Potter' continues.
Seventh Year –"Hey, Evans! Wait up!"
"What, Potter?"
"Well, I was wondering, whether you and I, I and you – "
"No, Potter, I will not go out with you."
"But…I was gonna ask if we could walk to the head compartments together."
"Why do you want to go there? They are the head compartments for a reason." Lily says this somewhat snidely.
"I know. I'm head boy."
"No, you're not."
"Yes, I most definitely am."
"Nope, you're not."
"Yup, I am."
"Nope."
"Look," James is finally frustrated, "If you truly want proof, here you go." He tosses something small and shiny into her lap. "I have to go find Sirius. I'll need that back when I get to the head compartments."
James sweeps out, and Lily's left to look at her reflection in a shiny, genuine Head Boy badge. And for once, she's ashamed of how she's acted, and she's struck by how mature he sounded, there, at that last moment in the end. And maybe, maybe, maybe, maybe, maybe…
…the 'Gradual Acceptance of James Potter' has finally begun.