Note: This is the day of the infamous "Lake Incident" of 5th year, right after Lily refuses to forgive Snape. I guess this is a bit of a character study, showing how deeply Lily felt the loss the that friendship, and how she could have blamed James. As far as James goes, I think he needed to see a fallible Lily, as a person instead of a trophy. Perhaps this is a bit of a catalyst to him getting his act together.
Disclaimer: Not mine.
It was nearly midnight in Gryffindor Common Room, and a pajamad Lily Evans had climbed out through the portrait hole not five minutes before. Her exit was noted by only a few raised eyebrows, but word of the prefect's rendezvous with the Slytherin just outside the door had reduced the lively end-of-year party to a rapt audience gathered around the entrance. The thick castle walls prevented any eaves-dropping, but that did not stem the steady stream of speculation.
"Maybe they're dueling!" suggested an out-spoken first year balancing precariously on the arm of the couch. Several students nodded in agreement; the infamy of Lily's temper was not limited to her fellow fifth years.
"She's probably helping him study," proposed a practical prefect.
"Maybe they're snogging," suggested a wild seventh year, simply for the shock factor. This, of course, received the biggest reaction of all. Cat-calls were drowned by shrieks of disgust, uncontrolled giggles, and general argument defending Lily from the outrageous claim
The charismatic voice of James Potter spoke above the rest, "Nah, Snivellus is probably asking Evans for tips on hair care." It was as though he had opened the flood gates, a pleasing torrent of the usual less-than-clever Snape insults were shouted for all to hear.
It was at this moment of utter chaos when Lily reentered the room. The common's din was immediately replaced with an even louder silence.
For a moment she seemed to think she was still alone. The tear falling down her face did not give the appearance of weakness. No one in the room, except perhaps Alice Longbottom and Mary McDonald, had ever seen the unfaltering Lily Evans like this. And no one except James Potter had the audacity to intrude on this moment.
"You finally get rid of Snivellus then?"
That jarring voice brought Lily back to the present. Her wand was out and pointed at James throat. James furrowed his brows and snapped his wand out a moment later.
"--don't you dare defend yourself," she warned abruptly.
"How is this my fault?" He looked around the room for back-up, his wandless hand running through his messy hair.
"The Sorting Hat made a mistake putting you in Gryffindor," she continued, tears still in her eyes. "You are nothing but a coward… a low, crass, blind, self absorbed coward." With this last word James and the rest of the room seemed to tense in unison, anticipating the hex which was sure to come. Lily, however, had had enough. Lowering her wand she shouldered him roughly on her way to the stairs.
Just before the door slammed they heard a faint, "grow up and stay out of my life." Both Mary and Alice ran after her.
The room collectively let out its breath. Today had certainly offered enough gossip-worthy events to last the Gryffindors a full week. There was no time to waste. Some defended Lily, most of the boys defended James, and absolutely no one defended Snape.
And, for the first time in his life, James had enough tact to keep his mouth shut.
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