Chapter 2: Misconstrued Indignation
James hadn't had the best summer, despite the fact that his best friend, Sirius Black was permanently staying at his house. He was simply glad to be back where things made sense. Except, upon his return, he realized that things at Hogwarts were just as confusing as things at home and he really did not want to deal with it. He joked around with his friends and flirted with his long-time crush, but it didn't feel the same.
He let her first name slip from his lips before he thought about it. James always referred to her as 'Lily' when he thought about her, not 'Evans' as she prefers to be called by him, because who calls their long-time crush by their last name? Who? He was well aware of the fact that she detests him, but he convinced himself that there has to be something he could do that would change her opinion of him. There has to be! If he was really as bad as she thought he was, then why did his friends always tell him it wasn't so? Surely, if he were that terrible person she made him out to be, he wouldn't have such magnificent friends. James was even friends with some of her friends!
"Alright, Prongs?" Sirius asks upon James's entry into their regular compartment. "Prefect meeting went well?"
"He led them quite well, much to Lily's astonishment." Remus grins.
"I'm guessing she lashed out?" Peter muses. James nods miserably.
"Mate, Lily hasn't changed over the holiday, what did you expect?" James simply shrugs, knowing what Sirius said is true. But what remains unspoken and hangs in the air of the compartment is that James has changed and he expected that miraculously Lily would notice that. Just by being in the same room with him, that she would be able to tell what had happened over the summer between their sixth and seventh years at Hogwarts; that the great James Potter had been humbled. Sirius sighs and decides to change the subject.
"There's a new girl this year, a transfer from Salem Witches' Institute; her name's Katrina."
"Don't immediately go and shag her, Padfoot. Give the girl time to settle in." Sirius grins, baring his teeth and doesn't even pretend to be offended.
"She's quite fit, that one. A bit short, but still not bad looking."
"Sirius." James implores his friend to have some restraint.
"I'm just joking, Prongs. She seemed much too smart for my taste." Sirius tended to go for the girls often referred to as 'bimbos'. They're easier to snog and/or shag and then leave.
"Hello boys." The compartment opens to reveal a round-faced girl with long, dark hair.
"Hey Ali!" James greets his longest childhood friend.
"Good day, Allison, my sweet." Sirius smirks as she scowls at him
"Be quiet, Sirius, you know that's not my full name," Alice snaps and sits across from the offender, between James and Remus.
"Hi Alice," Remus greets her. Peter is snoring beside Sirius, having to wake up very early to drive here. His mother was a muggleborn and since both of his parents died when he was young, he's been raised by his muggle grandparents. They are very strict. They are one of the reasons he's so timid, so unable to defend himself.
"What's wrong, James?" James groans. Is he really that transparent, that obvious?
"You're only obvious to your friends, Prongs," Sirius reads James's expression and reassures him. "Our dear Miss Evans snapped at him today at the Prefect meeting." Alice's expression softens at the mention of Lily.
"I'm sorry, James. But did you really expect anything else?" Her voice is quiet and hesitant. James covers his face with his hands and tips his head against the wall behind him, groaning once more.
"You have too much hope, Prongsie." Sirius claps his friend on the back. Sirius then takes pity on James and changes the subject. Alice stays in their compartment until it's time to change into their Hogwarts robes, then she leaves them to go see her girlfriends.
"What's got your knickers in a twist?" Evelyn scowls at her grim, red-headed friend.
"Potter was just being a prick at the Prefect meeting, per usual," she huffs.
"Hm, I don't know, you look more perturbed than irritated, per usual," Elaine points out, inspecting Lily's whole demeanor. "What did he do?" It takes a while to get any of information out of Lily. She clearly did not want to talk about it.
"Ugh, fine, he – he used my first name-"
"What's wrong with that?" Katrina interrupts, very confused as to what is the problem.
"James and Lily always refer to each other by their surnames; I find it stupid, but that's how it is," Evelyn explains this with a roll of her eyes.
"Anyway, he used my first name and – I dunno – he just acted really strange around me. All irritable and… tired. Not physically, like – like he was tired of me or something." Lily shrugs, looking at her lap.
"Do you mean he wasn't acting like a lovesick puppy?"
"Not really," Lily mutters and shrugs again, trying not to act bothered by it.
"Lil, do you think this just means he's getting over you and acting like he normally would around other people?" Elaine has a smirk written all over her face, clearly enjoying that fact that this bothers her friend. "Isn't that what you've wanted since fifth year?"
"Yes," Lily insists, but her friends aren't convinced. Lily honestly didn't know how she feels about James not liking her. It was definitely a first. But why did it bother her so much? Isn't Elaine right? Isn't that what she had been whining for since his first annoying proposal? Just then the door of their compartment opens to reveal Alice Fortescue.
"Hey guys!" She smiles brightly at her friends. "Hi, are you Katrina?" The newcomer nods, slightly suspicious as to how Alice already knows her name.
"Yes and you are?"
"Alice Fortescue, Sirius told me about you." They shake hands and Alice takes the seat in between Evelyn and Elaine.
"You don't seem very happy." They continue their previous conversation. Katrina seems to have adopted Elaine's approach.
"I am happy, why wouldn't be? James doesn't like me anymore. That's good." Lily defends herself, but even she hears how pathetic she sounds. Alice smiles to herself, if only Lily knew. "What are you smiling at, Alice?"
"Oh nothing," she responds hurriedly, though her smile says a different story. "What's this about James not liking Lily?" she addresses Elaine, the most likely to spill.
"Apparently, James acted irritable around Lily," Elaine says this with mock-melodrama. Alice winces, having just gotten James's version of the story.
"He's had a hard summer," she says quietly. "Don't take it personally, Lily."
"I'm not!" Lily protests. Elaine snorts and Evelyn gives Lily her best Oh-really? look.
"I'm not!"
"You're biting your lip," Alice points out.
"So?" Lily challenges her to finish her statement.
"It means you're nervous or upset," Elaine says smugly, finishing it for Alice.
"Ugh, just drop it, will you?" Lily begs.
"Fine, for now." Elaine sighs.
"Alice! ALLISON FORTESCUE!" Alice hears Sirius yell her names and turns to his voice.
"WHAT?" She yells back. Lily rolls her eyes at the Marauder.
"DO YOU KNOW WHERE PRONGS IS?" All second-seventh years are walking across the grounds, having just gotten off the Carriages.
"NO, WHERE DID YOU LAST SEE HIM?" If Lily didn't know better, she'd think Sirius was actually concerned.
"HE CAME OFF THE TRAIN WITH US AND THEN DISSAPPEARED." Sirius is walking closer to the group of girls, so they don't need to shout. When he's finally in speaking distance, Alice responds.
"That's odd. I'm sure he'll turn up." Alice lowers her voice so only Sirius can hear the next comment. "I think he needs some time alone." Sirius nods, if reluctantly, calls over Remus and Peter and heads up to the Entrance Hall without his best mate.
