Potter vs. Evans

by S. L



The first class of the day just happened to be Potions with the Slythrins. So of course Lily took a seat next to Snape. She was sorry to see he was a little miffed about this.

"You know Lily Gryffindor and SLythrins never get along, we're supposed to hate each other!" He said whispering out of the corner of his mouth.

"So," said Lily. "I'm also muggle born. Besides your stuck with me. Said we were friends, now you're never getting rid of me."

He smiled at her slightly. "Great work with Potter by the way. I saw him and Black this morning. The rainbow effect was you wasn't it?"

She couldn't help laughing. "Actually that's what they were planning to do to us, we just scared them at the right time and they ended up splashing themselves!"

The Marauders in question sulked into the room and took their seats as far away from Lily and Severus as possibly. James was looking grumpy, but Sirius smiled and waved every time someone laughed. Remus winked at her as he walked by.

Severus snorted. "I have a feeling this is going to be a good year..."

Just then the teacher walked into the room. She was a middle aged woman with short dirty blond hair and a permanent grimace on her thin lips. "So we begin a new year," she said and the room silenced at once. "This time however, I expect to see some real effort, this year you have O.W.L.'s and will work double hard."

She pierced Lily with her cold blue eyes. "I see we have a new student. Miss Lily Evans? Well we'll see how well you hold up here. Though I doubt your American school could hold a candle to Hogwarts standards. You'll soon find that things will be quite different for you here."

Lily raised an eyebrow, but didn't say a thing.

"Today," the teacher continued. "We will be working on the Shrinking Solution."

The class waited while the professor went on about the ingredients and instructions and finally let them begin their lesson.

"I hope you're better at potions that I," Lily said while Severus readied their cauldron. "It was my worst subject at my old school. Never could get much right."

Luckily for her, Severus really was good at potions. They made a good team, Lily always knew what ingredients to use and how to use them and Severus was excellent at preparing the potions. In fact the lesson was a breeze, they were the first ones done and finished with enough time to chat for a bit. James was shooting dirty looks at them all along.

Their next class wasn't so good however. Transfigurations with Professor McGonagal. Immediatly upon her entrace, the strict woman began to lecture about O.W.L.'s, homework, pranks (she directed this at the Marauders), only after a twenty minute speech did she take roll.

"Now this year as every year I shall assign you a partner. Remember, that this person will be with you for the entire year, and you will be assigned projects to work on together. If for any reason you do not like your partner. Too bad."

With that she pulled out her scroll and began reading names. "Anne, Remus. Sirius, Emily. James... with our new student Lily."

James protested immediately and Lily cried out. McGonagal fixed them both with a stare and said simply; "too bad."

Lily didn't hear the rest of the names, she was too busy sulking about working with Potter for an entire year. It wasn't fair, it wasn't fair, it wasn't fair! She barely even noticed when everyone began to move to sit with their partners and James slammed his books down next to her.

Groaning, Lily edged away slightly.

"I don't like it any better than you," he snapped. "I'll probably end up doing all the work anyhow."

Raising an eyebrow Lily looked up. "You work? Doubtfully, you'll probably be begging for my homework."

He snorted. "You're a bitch you know that?"

"And you're a arrogant, pompous, self centered, brainless, idiot."

"You got all this after only knowing me for a day?"

Lily flashed him a winning smile. "Oh not at all, I got this after only our first encounter. I'm sure I'll come up with more quite soon."

They accepted the shoe they were supposed to transform into a rabbit and placed it on their desk. Both of them whisked out their wands and glared at each other.

"Ladies first," Lily smiled and motioned for James to have his turn.

He smirked back, said the incantation and in a moment a black rabbit was sniffing about their desk. A second later and the shoe was back.

Lily was unimpressed. She took her turn and her rabbit appeared then disappeared as she reversed it.

"Wonderful both of you!" McGonagal said striding over towards their table. "The first ones to accomplish the transformation perfectly!"

Lily looked around the room. Many of her friends hadn't been able to change the shoe very much, Sirius' had both ears and feet and was dancing away from him. Emily laughed happily as he chased it under their desk.

"Lucky shot," James muttered.

"Jealous now are you Potter?" Lily said as McGonagal moved to help Sirius.

He just snorted and laid his head down on his hands and to all appearances fell asleep.

They stopped for lunch after that and Lily was able to catch up with Anne and Emily. They had a pleasant talk, but Lily was upset to find that they had Divination next, and she had Ancient Runes.

So when lunch was over and it was time to head for class she looked about for anyone who might know how to get there.

"Remus!" She shouted as she saw him break away from the Marauders.

He waited for her smiling. "Ancient Runes? I've got that too. Glad there'll be someone to talk to this year."

Lily smiled. "I know, everyone else has Divination- awful class that."

He laughed and they went on their way. "I know, the batty old teacher is forever predicting James' death."

Snorting Lily quickened her pace. "That idiot again, really I don't know how you can be friends with him."

Remus shrugged. "He's a good friend, just a little prideful sometimes. You guys just got off on the wrong foot I'd say."

Lily smirked sarcastically. "You think?"



James sulked as he walked to Quidditch practice. He looked like a walking crayon box thanks to that Evans. No body had the right to embarrassed the Marauders, especially not a girl like Evans. Friends with Snape, just as good as him in school, now she had Remus on her side, and worst of all she didn't even swoon under his charm!

She had put him in a right bad mood today. She was rather cute though. If it wasn't for her attitude he could probably ignore everything that would happen. He'd always wanted to date a red head. Sirius said they were feisty, and if Evans was any example, they sure were.

Well at least she can't bother me with Quidditch, James thought. How wrong he was.

As he walked onto the field he saw the usual onlookers. There was Anne and Peter, a couple of second years then a couple of sixth years. Then just walking onto the field was Emily, pulling a pouting Evans behind her. James groaned and took of to join the team.

"Someone's following us," Sirius said with a smile. He probably thought Evans was playing hard to get or something. "Definitely spirited, but I'll get her."

"Her?" James laughed. "Trust me, no one wants her." He did a quick loop-the-loop to vent some of his energy.

He looked back at the stands, Emily had got Evans up there and was watching with apt attention. Evans however was looking extremely bored, and was lying on her side on a bench near the back, looking as if she was trying to get some sleep.

A whistle cut through the warm summer air as practice began. James was the team seeker, so he really didn't have much to do at practices. Someone would throw a couple of golf balls for him to catch and he would take a practice round with the snitch. Other than that he was just happy to be flying.

Tonight though, knowing that Evans was in the stands, bothered him. He knew it shouldn't, and it had never upset him to know that someone was watching him play, but tonight it did. He kept looking over his shoulders to see her lying there with a blank, emotionless stare. She did not look happy at all.

After not too long practice ended and the team was allowed to head back to the common room for showers. Being a prefect, James could use the special bathrooms to clean up, so feeling very important he sauntered past the rest of his team, stuck his tongue out at Sirius and headed upstairs.

He'd never really been to the bathrooms, but had a pretty good idea where they lay. It wouldn't take him long to get there at all. He tried his best not to muddy the floors, and ducked past Peeves twice. He did not expect to run into Evans.

But he did.

"Ick Potter get away from me!" She said throwing up her arms as they ran into each other.

"Get away from you?" He retaliated. "You ran into me!"

Disgust crossed her face. "Urgh, like I'd do that!"

"Well you're the one following me."

"Following you!"

"Yes, you were at Quidditch practice."

"Like I wanted to go. Emily dragged me down there.

"A likely story," James said knowing it was the truth.

"You know what Potter, I don't like you."

"Oh man- should I be scared by this?"

She smiled. "Not scared Potter, but it's going to get to you. I bet you can't stand it that there's even one girl in this school who doesn't think your all that."

He didn't really have anything to say to this so he just glared at her.

Evans smiled as she walked past him. "Just wait and see."



The weeks soon flew by and before anyone knew it was Halloween once more. Over the weeks the Marauders had been up to their tricks Hufflepuff was creamed by Ravenclaw in the first Quidditch game of the season and the battle between Potter and Evans wore on.

As James soon found out Evans truly was smart and for the first time in his life he actually had to study to keep top grades. School was a constant battle between the two to see who was smarter. At the moment James was best at History of Magic, Transfiguration, Care of Magical Creatures and Divination. Evans had Potions, Charms, Defense Against the Dark Arts and Ancient Runes.

Worst of all was that no matter how hard they tried Sirius, and James could never pull any type of prank on Lily. Never, she always knew what they were up to. At first they thought it was Remus, but he didn't know about half they things they were doing so it couldn't be him. Then it most certainly couldn't be Peter, for he hated Lily with a passion.

It was driving James mad, not being able to do anything to Lily. No one had ever bested the Marauders, especially not him, and he had no way of getting back at her! Then there was the fact that Evans never intentionally tried to prank James or the Marauders, she only ended up throwing their tricks back in their faces.

Sirius snorted beside him. "Lookie it's Snapie and Lily Billy."

There walking a few paces ahead of the Marauders were Lily Evans and Severus Snape, both chatting away. It made James feel sick. She'd rather talk to that slimy Slythrin than him? It was disgusting.

"Oh shut up Sirius," Remus' voice piped through. "She can be friends with whomever she wants. Besides your just angry because she doesn't like you."

Sirius gagged. "Nope I'm so over that notion. Who could like Snape's old garbage anyways."

Remus stopped. "Padfoot, I'm warning you... I'm her friend too, so just don't saw things like that in front of me."

"Yeah, fine whatever..." Sirius murmured as Remus walked away.

For one horrifying moment James thought he was going to go join Snape and Evans, but before he reached them Snape broke away and went into the Transfigurations room leaving Remus and Evans alone.

James made a face nevertheless. "He'd rather talk with her than us?"

"Well, James," Sirius said wisely. "I can't say you look half as good as Evans in those robes. I mean just look at her-"

"Ahh-okay, okay," James said throwing up his hands before Sirius could say anything more. "I really don't want to hear about any of that. Not about Evans."

Sirius nudged him. "Oh admit it James, Lily's hot, in more ways than one."

"Fiery personality about sums it up."

A grin. "You know you like her James... she is quite pretty..."

James groaned, not wanting to have this conversation. "Please Sirius, your going to make me sick. Talking about Evans like that."

Apparently their group had been catching up with Remus and Evans, either that or they had been getting louder. For Evans turned around with an emotionless expression.

"Talking about me how Potter?" Remus tried to hide a grin.

James smiled and punched his friend inconspicuously for getting him into this. "Nothing carrot-top, Sirius was just saying how absolutely horrible you are, and I thought it would be nice to defend you. Obviously I was wrong, and next time I won't make that mistake."

Surprisingly Lily smiled slightly, her eyes twinkling, she looked at Sirius. "Oh I'm sure that was what it was Potter."

James nodded, trying to ignore Sirius' sniggers. "Better hurry up then Evans, don't want to ruin your perfect reputation by being late to class."

With a wave to Remus and a glare at the other Marauders, Lily moved across the hall and joined the girls. Remus began laughing. "You know we could hear you the whole time."

Sirius laughed and yelled across the hall. "Oy Tiger Lily!" Lily turned looking amused. "You know you like it baby!"

"I'm sure Black," she said coldly before turning away. Sirius erupted into laughter. James felt himself blushing slightly.

"What's this Prongs? Embarrassed she heard you talking like that?" His best friend said through giggles.

"No," he said half heartedly as he stormed into the Defense classroom, taking his usual seat in the back of the classroom. The Marauders soon joined him and they waited for the lesson to begin.

Defense was easily the worst class they had. Their teacher Professor Mandrake was cruel, annoying, mean, and it was a well known fact that he hated teaching and he hated students. He took every chance he could to take points off, give out detentions, and was constantly trying to get the Marauders expelled.

"Today class," he said in his usual low hiss. "We will be experimenting with a rather difficult spell. Some may see it as a curse, and others a charm. It is a spell to bind two people together. Not in any literal term, but make it so that these two people cannot move away from one another. They are stuck fast together, able only to move apart by one foot. The spell lasts until the counter spell is preformed or until the two recipients find a way to break it."

He smiled wickedly. "For the first time since I have begun teaching this to my fifth years, the Headmaster is letting me demonstrate. I shall chose two participants and they will gladly take part in the spell casting. They will be bound to one another until they find a way to eliminate the spell. They will sit together in classes, meals, and help one another with their homework. A special room has also been provided in the common room so that these people have a place to sleep."

Once again his eyes flicked around the room, as he looked over his candidates. "Who to chose though, who to chose?" His eyes lingered on James, who winced. He most defiantly didn't want to be bound to anyone. "Yes, James Potter," his eyes moved around the room and James sulked. This was going to be bad, especially if he chose...

"Lily Evans."



Yeah, I hope you like this chapter. I dunno how this story is coming out. I've got a good idea what to do, but... it doesn't seem to fit all the way. If you have any suggestions or anything then PLEASE feel free to tell them to me. I'd really appreciate the help. Umm.. thanks a lot for reading, and I think that's about it then. Oh yeah and THANK YOU SOOOOO MUCH for reviewing!!!

~Beauty Full- thanks for putting this up on your favorites, that's soo nice of you, I'm so glad you like it!

~Elena

~suze

~Jackie

~AngelStarr88

~Sarah- don't worry there is nothing romantic between Snape and Lily... ewwies

~alex

~PrincessLesse

~fawnwy- glad I could help

~Satans Little Princess

~shu

~Lily Malfoy