A/N: So, I was going to wait a few more days to post this, but I just can't wait! I want to start getting into the heart of this story! I think it's going to switch POVs between Lily and James, so I hope no one gets confused. Thanks so much for the reviews guys, and I hope you keep enjoying the story!

Disclaimer: Although I forgot to put this in my last chapter, I am (obviously) NOT J.K. Rowling. All rights go to the Queen of Magic, herself. All hail Queen Rowling.

Recap: After being taunted by James, Severus hurts Lily in the worst possible way. He calls her a Mudblood. (If you don't remember this scene, you may want to brush up on your Order of the Phoenix.) Lily is devastated and furious. Unfortunately, James Potter winds up right in the path of her anger. James takes every insult she throws at him without so much as a retort, but winds up hurt and crestfallen.

Chapter 2

(Lily)

Lily snapped out of her reverie of Hogwarts, and glanced at the clock again. 7:34. She could hear her mum down in the kitchen, probably cooking breakfast.

She walked down the stairs, every step illustrating each syllable of the thought that went through her mind. He. Called. Me. A. Fil. Thy. Lit. Tle. Mud. Blood. Even now, nearly three months later, the words tormented her just as much as they did the day they were spoken.

"Good morning, Lily."

Her mother's voice snapped her out of her thoughts.

"Morning, Mum. Where's Dad?"

"I'm sorry, dear. He had to go in to the office early this morning, so he won't be able to come with us to see you off."

Lily's stomach sank slightly. Her dad worked as an editor for the local muggle newspaper, and often had to go in early to finish a piece to meet a deadline. Lily was close to her father, and had been looking forward to being able to say goodbye to him this year.

Even so, she forced a smile.

"Alright, then," she said with a false cheery tone. "Guess it's just you and me, then."

Mrs. Evans smiled and turned to continued to cook the pancakes that were on the stove, as Lily sat down at the table.

"What piece is Dad working on this time?" she asked.

"You remember Mr. and Mrs. Parker, don't you? Older couple, lived in Spinner's End? Came to one of the Watsons' Christmas parties a few years back?"

Lily nodded.

"They passed away last night. Strange, really, that they should die at the same time. You might think there was foul play involved or something, but the autopsies showed no signs of it. They seemed to be perfectly healthy, apart from the fact they were dead."

Lily's stomach flipped. She knew immediately exactly what had caused the Parkers' deaths. Only one thing could murder and leave absolutely no trace. The Killing Curse. And because they were mere muggles, Lily thought she knew who was behind it.

"Mum, I'll be right back."

Lily hurried up to her room. Sure enough, a tawny barn owl sat on her desk, the Daily Prophet sitting in front of him. Lily gave the owl a knut and snatched up the paper.

Two Muggles Murdered In Spinners End: Infamous Dark Wizard Involvement Suspected

Lily's breath caught. Yes, she had predicted it, but seeing it on paper made it more real. Over the past few months, a wizard—Voldemort, he called himself—had arisen in the wizarding world. He had this mad idea that all Muggleborns should be eliminated. It started out as nothing, a muggle here, a wizard there. But recently, it had been intensifying. Some wizards from pureblood families thought he had "the right idea, the wrong methods."

She shook her head, staring again at the headline.

Good lord, she thought. Isn't the Ministry going to do something about this?

She took a deep breath and collected herself before going down to meet her mother. She had not yet told her about the killings. She didn't want to worry her, especially with her daughter—being a Muggleborn—was a potential target.

It's just a phase, she supposed. It will pass. I just want to get back to Hogwarts and get to school. It will probably all be over and done with by next summer anyway.

Lily sighed, and walked down the stairs to meet her mother.

(James)

James Potter thought he was going to be sick. He stared at the headline of the Prophet again. This had to stop. What if this didn't stop? What if he got to her?

James felt his heart rise into his throat as he thought about the only girl he ever really loved. Sure, he had been with other girls, but no one made him feel the way that one redhead did.

Stop, he scolded himself. Stop thinking about her. You have to get over her. It's time to move on.

After all, the only get he ever really loved absolutely hated him.

Lily Evans, he thought, hates James Potter. And I hate everything.

He shook the thoughts from his head and cleared his throat.

"Dad," he said. "Have you seen today's paper."

Mr. Potter nodded solemnly.

"Yes," he replied. "Yes, I have."

"And...?" James trailed off, waiting for his father to give his thoughts.

"Well, there isn't much the Ministry can do at this point," he said. "The name he goes by—Voldemort—isn't even his real name. The Ministry suspects certain people, but there is no way of knowing who or where he is. You know how curses work. They don't leave traces. We can suspect all we want, but until we know who is behind all of this..."

James sighed.

"...we just have to wait it out," he finished for his father.

At that moment, Mrs. Potter entered the room.

"Good morning, sweetheart," she said, kissing James on the top of his untidy hair. "Goodness gracious, do you ever brush this mop you call hair?"

James ran his hand through his hair.

"Tried and failed, Mum. Tried and failed."

She laughed.

"Well, running your hands through your hair like that certainly isn't going to help anything."

James felt his chest tighten as he thought of Lily's words on that awful day.

Messing up your hair because you think it looks cool to look like you've just got off your broomstick.

He thought of the exchange in the empty corridor. She was just so angry. But he knew he deserved every lash. He had been conceited and...well, a prick. He did what he could and, at the very least, had stuck to his word. James hadn't uttered a word to Lily after he promised to leave her alone. James planned on giving her a wide berth. After all, it seemed that every time Lily Evans was around, he always managed to screw something up.

James Potter was, by all means, the farthest thing from socially awkward that one could imagine. Everyone—well, nearly everyone—at Hogwarts practically worshipped the Quidditch captain of Gryffindor. But something about Lily bloody Evans always left him looking like a blundering idiot. When he was around her, the quick wit that usually came so easily to him suddenly vanished. Whenever he did finally think of something to say, they nearly always came out the wrong way.

Lily Evans was going to be the death of James Potter.

"James? JAMES!"

James snapped out of his thoughts to see his parents staring at him.

"A little lost in thought there, dear?" his mother smirked.

He started to run his hand through his hair, stopping as he thought of Lily's words again.

"Erm—yeah. Sorry, what was that?"

"I asked if you had eaten yet," his mother replied.

"Oh—er," he stuttered. "No, I'm not particularly hungry. I suppose I'll just—er—grab something on the train."

Mrs. Potter's brows furrowed.

"James, are you alright?" she asked, concerned. "You seem a bit...flustered."

"Hmm?" he mumbled. "Oh—yeah. I'm fine. Just...ready to be back, is all."

"I'm sure," she said, smiling. "Have you finished packing?"

James nodded.

"Good. We'll be leaving in about twenty minutes."

(Lily)

As Lily said goodbye to her mother at King's Cross Station and walked towards the barrier to platform 9 3/4, she couldn't help thinking of the first time she had ever walked through. It was her first year, and Severus was showing her how it worked.

"So I just...walk through?" she asked, bewildered.

"Yeah," he chuckled, "pretty much. Want me to go first?"

Lily thought about it.

"No," she said. "What if you go first, and I can't through. I could get stuck and miss the train."

Severus seemed to ponder this for a moment before consenting.

"Don't be afraid," he said. "Just close your eyes, and go."

She nodded, and rushed towards the brick.

The nauseous feeling returned to her stomach as she thought of the friendship she had shared with the boy from Spinner's End. She sighed, and looked up at the same brick from six years before. She gripped her cart a little more tightly, and glanced around to make sure no muggles were watching. When everything was clear, she closed her eyes and rushed straight into the brick wall.

When she her eyes opened, she saw the familiar sight of the Hogwarts Express. Familiar faces greeted her everywhere.

She smiled, greeting a few students as she walked toward the luggage car. She looked warily at the massive pile of trunks. There was no way she could lift her trunk that high alone, and she didn't think she was allowed to use magic until she boarded the train. She looked around for a couple of larger boys to help her.

What she found was a very quiet, very alone James Potter.

"Er—Hello, Potter."

He started, looking at her with a unsettled expression, as though she had just started screaming bloody murder.

"Oh—er—hi, Evans."

"Have a good summer?"

"Yeah, I suppose. You?"

She nodded. She noticed that he wouldn't quite meet her eyes. His face still showed a bit of the same hurt he had shown in June. He looked rather uncomfortable. A wave of guilt surged over her as she thought of the corridor incident again.

"Listen I…" she trailed off, unable to think of the words to apologize.

James filled the silence quickly.

"Need some help with your luggage?" he asked.

"Oh—er—yeah, that would be great," she stammered, "but I don't think you can get it by yourself. I mean, it's quite…"

But he already had the trunk in his arms and seemed to easily hoist the heavy object to the top of the pile.

"…heavy," she continued, surprised, "Erm—how did you…?"

He shrugged.

"Quidditch keeps you fit, I suppose."

She nodded slowly. There were a few moments of an awkward silence before anyone spoke again.

"Well, I should probably go get on the train," Lily said. "I guess—er—I guess I'll see you around?"

He nodded, and turned away.

Lily sighed.

James Potter, she thought, hates Lily Evans. And I am a terrible person.

A/N: So I really like this chapter. I hate the awkwardness between Lily and James right now, but I promise, it will get better! I really appreciate the reviews and I'm so excited for what's to come! The next few chapters could be a little difficult for me to write, but I'm going to do my best! Be patient with me! Thanks so much for reading and PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE review!