A/N: I'm kind of overwhelmed by the response the first chapter got. They were all positive reviews, which really spurred me on to write the second chapter as quickly as I could :) So, I hope that this chapter doesn't disappoint anyone…
Enjoy!
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"And so make sure to do your homework-" The teachers commanding voice was silenced by the lunch bell, followed straight after by the shuffling and chatting of students leaving the classroom.
I rolled my eyes as the teacher huffs indignantly over how rude they are – surely he should be used to it by now? Every day, it happens; as soon as the bell goes, he gets completely ignored.
Just like how I'm completely ignored every day.
Now, don't get me wrong – I've said it before, and I'll say it again: I don't mind being ignored, or even being stereotyped as a nerd. It would just be nice to have someone recognise me instead of completely blanking me out, or only noticing me when they need someone to do their homework.
I slowly pack up my things into my blue duffel bag – why hurry when you have no one waiting for you, right? – but am interrupted by the teacher suddenly towering over me. I should be used to this, because all the teachers seem to love me, but I still hate the fact that they rely on me so much. I mean, I know exactly what he's going to ask.
He's going to ask if I can-
"Lily… Would you mind tutoring a student?"
Exactly that! He literally took the words out of my mouth… or brain.
I sigh, my vibrant red bangs falling into my face like a curtain. I look up at the teacher with impatience and say, "Who?"
"O-oh!" The teacher stutters. "I didn't expect you to agree this, uh, suddenly…"
Yes he did! They always know that I'll accept, because I'm too much of a teacher's pet to ever say no.
"Well, I did." I say monotonously. "So who is it you want me to tutor? Is it Marlene McKinnon again?" I groan internally. If it's Marlene… Then my brain will probably explode. She is just such a ditz! She's a cheerleader, and she definitely takes the definition of 'dumb blonde' to a whole new level!
The teacher smiles understandingly. "No, luckily for you." I nod my head in relief, sighing. "But… he is a bit of a… trouble-maker."
He? I wonder who it could be… It won't be Sirius – for some reason, he never needs tutoring. I suppose he must just reach the mark for passing, unfortunately for me.
"He?" I reiterate, waiting for the teacher to continue what he was saying.
"I need you to tutor…"
A million thoughts whizz through my brain as he pauses dramatically. I hold my breath in anticipation…
"He's the best friend of a certain boy, who's been dubbed the 'bad boy' so to speak…"
Oh for goodness sake! Is he going to tell me who I'm going to tutor, or is he going to hang it out to within an inch of his life?!
"Sir, if you don't mind me saying, I do need to hurry up." I try to motivate him to speak faster. I'm not sure if it worked or not, but he ends up opening his mouth to speak…
And then gets interrupted.
A shock of black hair protrudes my vision of the teacher for a short while, as a deep voice asks, "Why did you call me here again?"
I hear the teacher inhale, then exhale; obviously trying to keep his cool and to stop from snapping at the boy who was (in my opinion) standing extremely obnoxiously in front of me and completely blocking my view.
"Because, young man, your grades are failing and so is your attitude to anything except pranks and sport – and can I just add that you are very late, as you were supposed to be here ten minutes ago." The teacher snaps, exasperated.
"Yeah, I know, I'm sorry." The boy mutters. "I just had… other plans."
"Other plans? Like what, exactly?" The teacher asks dubiously in return.
The boy groans, ruffling his midnight locks with one hand while holding the other hand in the air in an attempt to calm down the teacher. "It doesn't matter, does it? Look, just tell me what I can do to make my grades better." His feet anxiously dart almost imperceptibly. "I can't fail now."
The teacher tuts before answering him. "Well, lucky for you, we had a volunteer to tutor you."
What? I didn't volunteer!
"Really? Who?"
The teacher tuts again. "Well, if you hadn't have been so late," He emphasizes the word 'late'. "Then you would have realised that you're rudely standing in front of her."
At once the boy turns around, and then I'm glimpsing into the sparkling hazel eyes of a pretty good-looking boy.
"Who- Oh." He looks confused until he finally spots me. I mean, I know I'm pretty short, but I'm not exactly a dwarf, am I?
I wave, smiling slightly. "Hi."
A sheet of red graces his cheeks before he says, "Oh, hi." A sheepish smile greets me. It's kind of cute, to be honest… But not as cute as Sirius's smile! Well, I think so… His smile has never really been aimed at me, so I can't be too sure.
The teacher coughs, shaking me from my inner thoughts. "So, this is Lily Evans. She'll be your tutor for the next month."
"What?!" I exclaim loudly. They both stare at me after my big outburst. "Sorry…" I mumble quietly. "I just didn't realise that it would be for a whole month." I stress the last three words.
"Neither did I, sir." The boy – I still don't know his name – adds. "But then, I didn't know that I was going to be tutored."
"I didn't know that I was going to be tutoring anyone until about fifteen minutes ago." I reveal to the black-haired boy. "So it's a bit of a surprise to me too."
"I could kind of tell by your outburst." He chuckles, lightly toying with his curly hair again.
"Yes, well, I didn't have enough time to explain before you barged in." The teacher – I should learn his name too, shouldn't I? – shakes his head in annoyance. "But anyhow. Lily, you'll be helping him to learn the topics that we're studying."
"For every subject?" I ask in a quiet, mouse-like voice.
"For every subject." He confirms.
I groan, burying my head in my arms. I can feel them burning holes into my arms as they peer curiously at me. "What?" I moan piteously.
"You… You can both leave now." He stutters, obviously flustered by my reaction.
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"So, you don't want to tutor me that badly?" The boy asks me with mild amusement as we leave the classroom.
I hesitate before saying, "I just don't know who you are. And I'm kind of sick of having to tutor people."
"Yeah, you kind of seem like that teacher's lifeline." He laughs as we turn a corner. "Oh! This is my stop. See you soon, I guess."
"Yeah…" I whisper.
"We should plan when to meet up soon." He offers when I go silent.
"We can discuss that in tomorrow's lesson."
"Okay…" He grins brightly at one of his friends. "Well, bye!" He goes to walk off.
"Oh…" He turns around curiously when I mumble something.
"What was that, Lily?"
"I just… What's your name?" I ask suddenly. I honestly don't know – I've never really seen him before, although something about him is strangely familiar.
"I'm James Potter." He grins at my bemused expression. I still don't recognise the name. "You probably know me better as the best friend of Sirius Black."
He's the best friend of Sirius Black?!
Does fate love me or hate me? I'm not too sure at the moment. This is going to need some serious planning…