"Leave me alone!" Lily Evans was seen storming out of Transfiguration class. If looks could kill, every one of the bystanders would have died instantly, including Gryffindor's heart-throb, who was currently tailing her, looking a little discouraged by the latest of her severe declarations.
"Wait, Evans, I need to ask you somethi-"
Lily whipped around to face him, her face livid with rage. By now, whispers were heard from every side of the hallway, as students gathered in small groups around the pair, and waited in anticipation for her answer.
"Save it, Potter! I don't want anything to do with you! How many times must I tell you?" Fear was building up in James' eyes as she spoke, though she took no notice of it. "You clearly don't understand, so I'll repeat myself. For the last time."
Somewhere from the crowd, Marlene and Remus pushed through, hissing at the eager audience to move out of the way. While their arguments were a spectacle students witnessed almost every day, it was important to break it up, or things could possibly get nasty, for it seemed like Lily was at her wit's end, and James desperate.
"Lily, stop," Marlene said firmly. Advancing forwards, she took hold of her friend's hand in a vain attempt to pull her away, but Lily wouldn't budge.
Remus lightly touched her arm, adding in a quieter tone, "Lily, that's enough.."
But it wasn't. Or at least, not yet. Lily jerked her arm back and turned to James once again. The boy himself looked and felt quite small underneath her piercing gaze, his usual arrogance having dissipated long before. Everyone felt it.
"Every single day, you torment the life out of me, you make everything hell for your own amusement. But I suppose that's what all hardhearted rich boys do, right?"
James flinched, and Lily, so lost in her fury, didn't pause even for a moment to consider how her words were spat out like poison, how his face slowly fell more and more.
"I'm done with it and I'm done with you. So, for both our sakes stay away from me. I despise you."
Things were said every day, things that affected no one, hurt no one and changed nothing. It wasn't different from now, yet the air around them all felt different. And it was. Remus shot a worried glance at James, who stood frozen, for once at a loss for words.
The silence in the usually bustling hallway was almost deafening, and only a small gasp from Marlene, though muffled by her hands, cut through it.
It was that gasp that awoke Lily to what she had said, but it was too late. James only looked at her, his face etched with pain. His eyes alone betrayed his emotions, hurt, sadness.
Lily's own face immediately softened. "I didn't mean-"
James held up his hand, silencing her. "Don't," he said, looking so fierce that Lily took a step back.
This was the first time she had seen him angry, for in front of her, he hardly ever let is his emotions betray him. Now they did.
"You meant every bit of it, don't try to deny it. And if it's what you desire, then your wish is my command." His voice dripped with scorn. "Goodbye."
Before she could say another word, he spun around and walked the other way, ignoring all the whispers that suddenly arose from the others. Remus shot her a disappointed look, before rushing after his friend, muttering bitterly under his breath.
The anger, she was sure, she could bear. But it was the broken eyes that gazed so wistfully at her that ripped Lily's heart in two.
Finally finding her voice, all she could whisper was, "Wait.."
It was too late, however, and regret weighed heavily down on her as he disappeared around the corner.
Marlene glanced at her, quite taken aback by both their outbursts. "Lily, what have you done?"