Prologue
So maybe I shouldn't have dumped the pudding on his head. But admit it-James Potter is the most annoying person in the world at times. But maybe I did deserve the week's worth of detentions that Flitwick had assigned us together in the hopes that we could "settle our differences". And they weren't even that bad detentions-pre-screening muggle movies that muggle-borns like myself were being sent by their parents. If I managed to ignore him, I should be fine.
Chapter OneSince it was the room that was usually used for pre-screening movies, we were in the teachers' lounge for detention. I flopped down on the couch, waiting for James to come with the movies that we were supposed to watch. Maybe I could even get a couple inches of that Potions essay done…
"I'm sorry I can't make practice, I've got detention." James' unmistakable voice from just outside the door. Only he could make it sound like detention was something he was simply trying to fit into his schedule. I couldn't hear the reply. "I promise, next week. I'll even do extra drills." Hah. As if he actually believes that he needs to get better at Quidditch.
I heard the door swing open, and suddenly I became very interested in my essay. Maybe if he doesn't notice that I'm here, he'll just go away.
"Why, hello there, Evans!" Rats.
I glanced up at him. "Have the movies?"
"What's that mean? I'm not taking muggle studies."
You're not taking anything that's not explicitly required, I thought. "It's like a film, I guess. Except for entertainment, not education. Do you have the ones we have to watch?"
"Yeah, here."
That's a surprise. But I guess he was trying to impress me. Did I mention he's been asking me out every day for the past two years?
The first one went in, and it was a musical. Every two or three minutes someone would sing an annoyingly "spontaneous" choreographed love ballad or pop song, and I would try not to laugh. At one particularly hilarious one, a tallish teenager standing in front of a convenient cloudless blue sky lets his hair blow in the wind as he goes through an epiphany. James began to snigger, a couple feet away from me on the floor. I was smiling pretty hard too.
"What's so funny?" I asked. It would make me sound superior for not laughing at something that was so clearly meant to be heartfelt.
Right?
"I mean, just look at this guy!" He turned around and grinned. "He's obviously the worst dancer on the planet, and yet they cast him as this. And here he is, singing his heart out in the middle of the desert where no one can see him? And it's all dedicated to this girl, who happens to be in the next frame with her chin on her hand, looking wistfully gorgeous out at the very desert where he just was. It's so overdone."
"Yeah, I see what you mean. But what it this guy is just---er---really musical and emotional, and she happens to actually be looking right where he just was? I mean, that could, um, happen." At that we both started to laugh, me because I couldn't even tell whether I was joking or actually trying to defend the character that I hated.
"I see what you mean," he said mock thoughtfully. "And maybe he enjoys wearing those really tight clothes and having his shoes untied? Maybe he really thinks he looks profound and deep, as opposed to looking like the overpaid, fake actor that he is. He probably also likes that actress when it is clear that the forced kiss in the beginning of he runs off right after and vomits up his lunch."
I laughed. People always say they like my laugh---my dad said it's like a reward for putting together a good enough joke. "Movies like this should just be put in the comedy section. It gives the actors more credit."
We both laughed at that one. Suddenly he turned actually serious. "Um, listen Lily, next week's a Hogsmeade weekend, so I was thinking that maybe if you didn't have any plans we could --"
"How's it hanging, slick?" Sirius Black, James' best friend, burst into the room boisterously. "How's detention with the lovely lady?"
I rolled my eyes. Sirius always says stuff like that, even to people like McGonagall and Slughorn. That's just his personality, though. Ever the charmer.
James was red, and Sirius was very happy to mock him. "Oh, sorry, am I interrupting something?"
James smiled slightly. "Only the stupidest film on the planet."
"Ah. Well. I must be going. I'll leave you two to your 'stupid film'."
The door shut behind him. I stared back at the screen and laughed a little more. In the time that had elapsed, the two cheesy lovebirds had apparently made up, as they were now undressing each other and kissing with a burning passion. Soon they had made it into bed, and I shoved my head into my book to avoid awkward eye contact.
James laughed at my embarrassment. "It's over. Don't worry about it."
I lifted my head, silently praying that my cheeks weren't still red. "I wasn't worrying about it." I paused, wondering whether I should embarrass him or give him a chance. "About Hogsmeade—I'll get back to you. And detention's been over for fifteen minutes." I breezed out, maintaining my cool, but not before I heard a loud whoop of joy. I smiled.
A/N: This is only the second Harry Potter fic I've decided to post, so please read and review. I have the next couple of chapters written, so be sure to tell me if you want them posted!
Please review!
