Boys Will Be Boys

CHAPTER TWO.

Imperius-ed

"Ms. Evans! And Ms. Rodgers, too! Where have you two been? I was wondering where my best potion makers were off too, besides Severus of course!" exclaimed a joyous Slughorn as Hailey and I entered the class.

I tried thinking of some sort of excuse, but before I could say anything, Hailey handed him a piece of paper.

"What's this? Oh, trouble with Professor McGonagall, I see! We can't have that now, can we?" He smiled his horrible grin that always made me wince, but he never seemed to notice.

"Since you ladies arrived late, I'll have Ms. Rodgers sitting with," Sluggy looked around the class. "Severus. Yes, yes. That'll do. And Ms. Evans. Hmm."

I held my breath in anticipation. Please not Potter. Please not Potter. Please not—hey. It's like a tongue twister. Ehe. Please not Potter.

"Since Mr. Lupin isn't here, sit with Mr. Pettigrew, please," he said, motioning for me to move along.

Hailey grimaced at me and went to sit with Snape. I returned the gesture and moved to the empty spot beside Pettigrew. I wasn't entirely sure if sitting with Pettigrew was better than sitting with Potter. Potter was unceasingly annoying; Pettigrew was just a thick little boy with no backbone. Geez, he was Potter and Black's helpless Cinderella. Pathetic.

He squeaked nervously as I sat down. I gave him what I hoped was a kind smile to raise his low self-esteem a bit, you know, being the kind Head Girl that I was, but he just squeaked again. I looked away from him because I was probably just scaring the poor boy anyways.

Slughorn was lecturing today, which he didn't do very often, so I just let my mind wander for the second time in ten minutes.

It's amazing what your mind can think of while daydreaming. It just seems to hop along to different subjects every thirty seconds. I was thinking about how I could kill Potter and Black at one moment, then the next, about what would happen if a flying car smashed into the Whomping Willow. Crazy, eh? Yeah, I have no idea where the flying car came from, it just sort of popped into my mind.

As I started thinking of butterflies and unicorns, a paper hit my head from behind. I was jerked out of my daydream and rubbed my head. It didn't particularly hurt, it was just a reflex. I looked at Peter who squeaked again and pointed to a paper ball on the floor. I looked behind me and saw Black sleeping and Potter smiling at me.

I scowled and turned around. I couldn't be bothered with his immature games. I decided to ignore it and continue daydreaming.

Whoosh. There was a paper ball on my desk. I didn't turn around this time and just flicked it off the desk. What a pestering little fly.

Pettigrew tapped my shoulder nervously and pointed at Potter. I glared at him for which he responded with yet another squeak and but I didn't turn around. I would not look at him.

Finally, the notes and pathetic attempts for me to talk to him stopped. I was happily daydreaming whilst staring at Slughorn (to make it appear like I was listening) when I had a peculiar feeling. I felt all nervous inside and aware of my surroundings.

Someone was staring at me.

I looked around and saw that all eyes were focused on Slughorn or closed. Since I was near the back of the class, the only other direction could be from behind me, and I knew exactly who it was.

I tried ignoring it, but it wouldn't go away. He was getting to me. He knew that he was getting to me and wouldn't stop. I started to fidget in my seat, desperately trying to shake the feeling. It was so unbearable, but I would not give it.

Two seconds later, I ripped a piece of my parchment where I should have been taking notes and scribbled a messy note. Stop staring at me, Potter, was what it said. I crumpled it into a ball and threw it behind my shoulder. It couldn't be helped. I couldn't concentrate on my daydreaming knowing that his eyes were on the back of my head.

I heard him open the note and write a scribbled message onto the small paper. Two seconds later, it was sitting back on my desk.

I had a very difficult time deciding what to do with it. Open it? Ignore it? I was having muscle twitches in my arm from my horrible decision making mind. Eventually, I gave in. Just reading it couldn't hurt, could it?

Just hear me out, Lily, it read. I scoffed out loud, but quietly of course. Hear him out? Wasn't that supposed to mean that he was going to give me all sorts of excuses of why I shouldn't be mad at him? Yeah, right. I wasn't wasting my time with that. I crumpled the paper again and left it on my desk.

A minute later, another, slightly larger paper ball was sitting on my desk. I just left it there, knowing what it would contain. For some odd reason, I didn't just flick it off the desk like all the others. Maybe it was curiosity. I think part of me wanted to keep it just to see what kind of excuses he had planned out. I think I wanted to read it just to see if he could actually convince me he had changed. Part of me wanted to be convinced. I was sick of his pranks. They were getting extremely old. Finally, I slowly reached for the note on the desk and opened it.

Lily, I know you're mad. And, quite honestly, you have every reason to be. I tried to show you that I changed, and I have. Today wasn't my fault. I know what you're thinking, but just keep reading, please.

I'm not going to give you a million excuses to why you shouldn't be mad at me, but I'm telling the truth. IT WASN'T MY FAULT. You can choose to believe me or not, it's really up to you. I'm not going to point any fingers, let's just say that I am pretty mad at these people as well.

I know that you probably think I am lying to you, just so you won't be mad, but I always own up to my pranks. You would know if I was lying, so please, please, please forgive me, because I really am sorry.

I finished reading the note and really didn't know what to think. He sounded so sincere and true that I couldn't really find a reason not to believe him. I knew that he was talking about the Marauders, Black specifically, and didn't want to rat them out. I respected that. But it didn't stop me from staying mad at Black. After all, he didn't write me an apology letter saying that he was really sorry. Potter…he's off the hook for now. But, I still hate him.

Another letter landed on my desk and I rolled my eyes. I was getting extremely annoyed with these notes.

P.S. Did you get a punishment from McGonagall?

I scribbled back a negative response and threw it behind my shoulder. I heard him scribbling back and the parchment was back on my desk.

So…am I forgiven?

I thought about it for a moment. I guess he was forgiven, to some extent. He was not forgiven for the last six years, but for today, yes. I wrote that down on the parchment and once again, threw it to him.

Thinking that the ridiculous note passing was over, I put my chin on my hand and stared off into space (ie. Slughorn). But, of course, Potter was NOT satisfied. There was the same crumpled piece of parchment on my desk waiting to be opened.

Friends?

I scoffed out loud. Friends? Friends? That boy was pushing his luck. I had just forgiven him after he humiliated me ('he' meaning 'his friends') and he wants me to be his friend?!

"Ms. Evans, do you disagree?" asked Slughorn with an overly jolly voice.

I looked up with my mouth slightly hanging open, confused. Did I disagree? With what?

"Er, no…" I answered lamely. I shifted my eyes to Hailey who had a questioning look on her face.

"Then, what was that noise that you made? It seemed like something did not settle with you," he said.

OH.

"Oh, er. Ahem. I was coughing," I made up on the spot. I coughed once more to make it believable.

"I see. Then may I carry on?" he asked, grinning his terrifying grin.

"Please," I said, wincing.

Slughorn must have taken the wince as a smile because he smiled back and continued to drone on and on. I looked back at the note in my hands and almost started laughing. Friends? That laughing fit from before was coming back. Lily Evans and James Potter friends? That was almost as funny as Lily Evans and James Potter dating. HAHAHAHA.

I bit my lip hard to contain my laughter. I quickly wrote, Don't push your luck, Potter, on the parchment and threw it back behind me. I didn't directly write NO; I might have hurt the poor boy's feelings. Not that I cared, of course.

Now that that was over, I returned to my daydream.

There was a field of daisies and I was sitting in them. All of a sudden, a handsome prince came riding up on his—

Another one?! What is with this boy! Doesn't he ever give up?!

Aw, why not, Lily?

I angrily scribbled back a response.

Because you are an insensitive prick. Now LEAVE ME ALONE.

There, that ought to keep him away. Where was I—oh, yeah.

He approached riding on a beautiful white steed, its hair flowing in the wind. He stopped beside me and put out his hand for me to grab. I took it and—

I AM GOING TO SLAP HIM! If another one of these notes appears on my desk, I will turn around in my seat and slap him so hard, his grandfather will feel the force of it. BLIMEY! Can't he take a hint?

I thought I was forgiven…what's with the insensitive prick?

The bell rang. Thank Merlin for that. I don't know how much more of this note passing I could take; especially if they were being passed between Potter and I.

I packed my bag quickly and ran out of the class before Potter decided he'd have a conversation. I didn't wait for Hailey because if I did, Potter would be there. I walked quickly up to the Gryffindor Tower to drop off my bags before dinner. Thank Merlin Potions was the last class of the day. Who knows what other crazy thoughts I would have thought up in any other class? Maybe the next one would be an escaped convict riding around the world on a hippogriff. Who knows?

I started to slow down once I was sure that Potter wasn't following me. I started to relax a bit and let my mind wander.

The prince lifted me from the grass and put him in front of him. We rode around when he said my name—

"Lily!"

Wait, that voice sounds familiar. Too familiar.

Damn it all to hell.

"Lily! Lily, wait up!" he called again.

Is there a bathroom anywhere? Somewhere I can run to? Anywhere but HERE?!

"Lily! Blimey, are you deaf?" he said. He put a hand on my shoulder and I moved away from him on instinct. Never let James Potter too close.

"Er, sorry. Distracted," I replied, still walking extremely fast.

"Will you slow down? Classes are done, you don't have to rush," he said.

I reluctantly slowed down, but not because he asked me to. My legs were getting tired.

"Thank you. Merlin, you can walk fast," he said, shaking his head, still beside me.

"Did you want something, Potter?" I asked him, trying to think of a way I could get rid of him without being humiliated…again.

"Yeah, I did. What was with that last note? I thought you forgave me," he said, confused.

I sighed. "I forgave you for that one bathroom incident. Not for the last six years of torment," I repeated.

"Come on, Lily. I'm sorry. I was an immature prick last year, but I changed. Please just give me a chance. Please?" He grabbed my arm gently and turned me to face him.

He seemed so…innocent? He didn't have a ridiculous grin on his face, like he usually did, but his face actually looked stressed; like if I didn't accept his apology, he would take a walk off the Astronomy Tower.

I hesitated. I didn't know what to do. I didn't want to hurt the boy's feelings, but I didn't necessarily want to become his friend, for Merlin's sake.

I took his hand off my arm and looked away from his face.

"Lily, please. I'm begging you. It's the end of September and we're going to have to work together for the rest of the year. Please just co-operate with me. I've changed. Please," he said, again.

I looked at his face again. His eyes were almost pleading with mine.

"O-okay. One more chance," I said, very quietly. I didn't know if I was doing the right thing, but his eyes were getting to me.

His whole face seemed to light up at my statement. A huge grin appeared on his face and his eyes seemed to brighten.

"Thank you, Lily. Thank you so much," he said, almost hugging me.

I pushed him back.

"If you mess this up, Potter, Merlin help me, I will—"

"Don't worry, Lily. I won't mess this up. I promise," he said, his grin still intact.

I gave him a stern look, not as stern as McGonagall's, mind you, but stern enough and started to walk away. I felt a hand on my shoulder and I was facing him again.

"Sorry, Lily. One more thing. Does that mean we're friends now?" he asked. He sounded way too hopeful. Boys shouldn't show their feelings so openly, but we all know that he's had a problem with that in the past.

What to do, what to do? Be his friend, or just be civil?

Ah, screw it.

"Er, okay…"

"Really? Just like that?" he asked; his eyebrows disappeared under his fringe.

"Well, if you wanted it to be difficult—"

"No, no, no, no! What I meant was…er, nevermind, that is what I meant. But, okay! Friends!" he said. He looked a bit confused, yet happy and disbelieving all at once. It was quite funny actually.

"Alright…" I said, starting to walk away.

Surprisingly, he didn't run after to me, which I was sort of expecting. It left me feeling a bit sad for a strange reason that I will not try to understand.

Scratch that, I wasn't sad. I was happy that he didn't follow me. I was happy. Happy, not sad.

Five minutes later, I wondered what the hell just happened to me. I just agreed to become JAMES POTTER'S friend. Holy Merlin, I am a madwoman. What would make me do some sort of crazed act?

Oh, no.

Someone must have Imperius-ed me! I'M UNDER SOMEONE'S CONTROL!

I need to find Hailey and quickly. It's only a matter of time before I hurt someone! AHH.

Adnsdfndjvmaskda.

Okay, so it turns out that I was not Imperius-ed by anyone. I REALLY agreed to be James Potter's friend. ON MY OWN.

"Lily, Lily, Lily," said Hailey, shaking her head at the ground.

"What?" I asked.

I was slightly disappointed that someone hadn't put the Imperius Curse on me. Now, it was sort of unbelievable that I had agreed to something like that. Why had I done it?

Better question: who in their right mind would want me to be friends with James Potter enough to Imperius me anyways?

Besides the Marauders and Hailey, of course. The Marauders would obviously want me to become friends with him, because well, that's what they've been trying to do since third year. And Hailey, well, she's just mad.

"You've finally done something right concerning James Potter, and you're regretting it?" she asked.

See? Told you. Mad woman, she is.

"I am not going to dignify that with an answer," I said, not able to find a response to that.

She started laughing (like she always was) and shook her head again.

"Did it ever occur to you that if someone is under the Imperius Curse, they are not aware of it?" she asked me.

I stared at her. She was right. Oops.

"Er, no. I was in shock at what I had done," I said. It was true. I wasn't thinking straight. Potter messed with my brain.

She shook her head for about the millionth time that night and laughed for about the twenty-billionth time that night.

"Let's go to the Tower. I still have to finish my Charms essay," she said. We finished our dinner (Lambchops, yuck) and got up from out seats.

"So, how exactly do you define your relationship with James?" she asked.

"We're friends," said a voice that was not my own.

This seriously had to stop. How many times must he come up from behind me and insist on starting a conversation? Usually, they didn't end so well.

Humiliation

Friendship

What next?

Potter put his arm around my shoulder. "Aren't we, Lils?"

I winced and closed my eyes.

What have I done?!

"Lily, not 'Lils'," I absolutely hated that name.

"Okay. Only if you call me James," he said.

"What?" I asked.

Call him James? That would change everything! He had started calling me Lily at the beginning of the year and it was still a bit strange. But, for me to call him James and not Potter? It just didn't make any sense!

"Well, friends usually call each other by their first names, right?" he said, furrowing his eyebrows. His arm was still on my shoulder.

"Yes…What's your point?" I asked him.

"You're friends, so call him James, you twat," said Hailey from beside me. She was chuckling at my stupidity.

"And friends don't call each other 'twat', Rodgers," I said.

She rolled her eyes and walked ahead of us. "Whatever. I'll let you two friends talk." And with that, she walked away.

Damn her. I didn't want to hurt his feelings so I didn't call out to her. And his arm was still on my shoulder.

"So. Lily," he said.

"Potter, could you—"

"James."

"What?"

"Call me James."

"Right. James. Could you please remove your arm from my shoulder, please?" I asked.

"Oh, right, sorry." He coughed and took his shoulder off my arm. I think I just succeeded in making the awkward moment even more, er, awkward, than before. I deserve an award.

"So, heading up to the Gryffindor Tower?" he asked.

"Mhm," I mumbled.

"Great."

I looked at him strangely and he responded with a shy smile.

Adnsdfndjvmaskda.

Wow, can James talk. I never knew that he was so knowledgeable. I mean, I knew he was smart, but he had some very strong opinions on many things. Of course, me being me, I disagreed with most of them, but it was still somewhat…enjoyable, debating with him.

Adnsdfndjvmaskda.

"Lily, you're off your rocker. Sugar quills are so much more efficient than acid pops."

"That's where you're wrong, Potter—"

"James."

"Right, James. Sugar quills are exactly what they are, pure sugar in the shape of quills. How is that efficient?"

"Because you can eat them in class without the professor finding out!"

"Then how will you write notes?! You can't have both a sugar quill and a writing quill on your desk or they would suspect something."

"That's the point! Not writing notes in class!"

"But candy is not supposed to be eaten in class!"

"You have to live a little, Lily. What's so great about your acid pops then?"

"You lift a foot off the ground, how cool is that?"

"You could do that anytime on a broomstick, except a thousand times better."

"Well, I don't like flying."

"What?! How could you not? The wind in your hair, the cold air on your face, the scenery. It's wonderful."

Et cetera, et cetera.

Adnsdfndjvmaskda.

Okay, fine. So maybe it wasn't the most important debate, but it was certainly serious.

Don't misunderstand, I still dislike him.

He's just fun to talk with…

That's all it is.

A/N: There's chapter two :)

Is it going to fast? If so, tell me and I will slow it down a bit.

REVIEW!

Please, write more than 'UPDATE SOON!' because I obviously will try to. I need some advice, suggetions, something I can work with.

And Adnsdfndjvmaskda. just separates the scenes if anyone was confused.

--qwertybob XD