Disclaimer: Think we've established that Harry Potter does not belong to me, but anyways :)
Author's note: Firstly, I would just like to apologise for the miss-spelling of Severus in the previous chapters. I believe that it is fixed now, but if not- just let me know. Sorry, if it offended anyone, I truly did not know. Alrighty, for those of you still reading- this is the third chapter. Reviews please, and I hope you enjoy :)
Lily entered the portrait hole into the Gryffindor common room. She spotted Rose sitting casually in front of the flickering fire. Her friend looked up and smiled.
"Hey, what did ol' Lupin want?" Lily sat down beside her, staring into the bright flames.
"He told me to give Potter a chance." Rose snorted loudly.
"That's a surprise."
"Actually," Lily said, turning to face her friend with a thoughtful expression on her face, "he hasn't asked me to do that in… a while." She was referring to the other occasion, in their fifth year when Lupin had said something similar to her. That was before the whole dangling-Severus-upside-down-by-his-ankles incident. After that Lily had never expected him to ask her to give his friend a chance again. This was why it annoyed her so much. Why did he have a change of heart? Didn't he remember what an arrogant bastard Potter was?
"Wait, Lily," Rose's voice had become stern, and careful, "you aren't actually considering going out with him, are you?" Lily pulled herself back into the conversation instantly.
"Are you serious? Go on a date with Potter? Never!" She spat disgustedly.
"Ok, ok. Just checking." Rose laughed at the look of contempt on her friend's face. Lily hit the girl playfully.
"You know," she continued in a suddenly serious voice, lying forward on the hearthrug, "Potter could have changed. I mean, at the end of last year he was definitely different. You have to admit, he's grown more mature." Lily looked at her friend with wide, dis-believing eyes.
"But it's Potter," When Rose showed no signs that this settled the matter Lily continued, leaning across and looking intently into her friend's eyes, "Remember last year, when Black asked you out and we swore to each other that we would never, ever go out with either?" Rose looked down and nodded her head.
Lily sat back, happy that the issue was resolved.
"Lily, just wait and see. You never know, he might surprise you." Rose said wisely, and exclaimed when Lily hit her again.
Remus was, as usual, arguing with Professor Klimpt- the Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher. Sirius only put up with this every lesson as it gave the retched professor an excuse not to give them homework. Otherwise he would have told them both to shut up, sit down and get on with the blasted class. James was snoozing happily in the chair next to him, this being his least favorite subject. Peter was up the front, trying to make sense of the argument. Snape was, as usual, also at the front of the classroom with his long nose buried deep in the book they were meant to be reading. Sirius knew all too well how much the slimy git loved this class. Oh how he wished that he could just hex him like he used to. However, Sirius knew that it would only get him into detention and he did not want to spend half his life there again. Though, this was not the only reason he didn't flick his wand and blow up the book that Snape was still reading. He looked to the pair of desks in the next row forward, on the left. 'If it wasn't for her.' He thought, irritated at his own, ridiculous emotions. If it wasn't for Rose Gates, he might still be where he was last year; and if he wasn't honest with himself, he didn't want to be there at all.
When she'd asked him at first, to lay off Snape he'd laughed crudely in her face. He remembered how her face had fallen slightly at this point, causing him to feel terrible for causing it. He had tried to explain to her that, even if he wanted to lay off Snape- there was no stopping the prat cursing him. He had asked her if she had expected him to just sit there and take it without defending himself. She then proceeded to say that, only if Snape attacked him first, could he retaliate. Sirius had shook his head and turned to go, before she had called him back with words that had affected him much deeper than they should have.
"If you don't leave him alone, I'll never speak to you again Sirius. I'll never forgive you."He had turned around and stared at her, horror-struck, before nodding his head in defeat.
It had taken the entire end of last year, as well as the holidays to bring James around to his way of thinking. He managed to win him over by telling him that, if Lily could see him changing then she might agree to go out with him. Sirius didn't know if this was actually the case, but it had gotten James to promise not to touch ol' Snivellus unless he acted first. Sirius was thinking about the time Snape had actually shot a spell his way, un-provoked before the yells of his friend and his professor brought him sharply out of his daze.
"Remus Lupin!" Professor Klimpt bellowed causing the entire class to jump slightly and James to wake and sit bolt upright. The professor pointed to one of the desks, indicating that Remus be seated. Lupin scoffed and took a seat beside Peter, who had a permanent look of confusion on his face.
Professor Klimpt opened his mouth to resume the lesson before he was interrupted by the bell sounding the end of class. The ragged man shook his head and gestured largely that they depart. There was a scraping of chairs against stone floor as the class packed their things and left, relieved that their professor had failed to give them homework.
"I swear," Remus huffed angrily as the four friends; Sirius, James, Peter and Lupin, left the classroom and made their way to the Great Hall for lunch, "that man has no idea what he is talking about! None at all!" It was at that moment that James decided to yawn very loudly and obviously. Lupin shot him a glare, which James returned with sleepy sarcasm.
"Enjoy your nap, Potter." A snide voice called from behind them. All four boys turned around to see Severus Snape with his wand raised, ready for a fight.
James yawned again, "No actually. The sound of your nose hitting the desk was keeping me awake." Sirius and Peter laughed and out of the corner of his eye, Sirius just caught Remus slipping into the crowd and out of sight.
Snape flicked his long, black hair out of his eyes and fixed James with a cold stare.
"Nose humor. That's original." He said sarcastically.
"Look, Snivvy," James yawned again, "I'm not really in the mood for a duel today so if you could just-" A jet of red light burst from Snape's wand and hit James squarely in the chest, knocking him over. Students screamed and turned to watch as Sirius shot a spell back at Snape, barely missing him. Peter had scrambled to the side where girls and boys were now congregating, watching with either fear or interest. James jumped up and rolled his eyes, shooting jets of blue light at Snape. The black haired boy raised his wand, intending to shoot another spell at the pair before a voice caused everything to go quiet.
"Stop it!" Lily Evans and Rose Gates had made their way to where the short duel had taken place and were now glaring at the three boys. Sirius looked at the latter, attempting to catch her eye so he could explain who had shot the first spell. James appeared to be doing the same with the other girl, when Sirius looked over at him.
"Ok," Rose said to the intently watching crowd, "shows over. Shove off." The audience left, muttering irritably. She then turned to look at Sirius, disappointment written on her face.
"Before you ask," he began, more to her than anyone else, "Snape attacked first."
"Also, before you ask," James put in with teasing sarcasm, "I did tell him I wasn't looking for a fight."
"What about the last six years, Potter! Was I ever looking for a fight then?" Snape spat with disgust. And with that, he turned on his heel and stalked down the corridor, leaving the others staring after him, stunned.
It was a few minutes of silent awkwardness before anyone spoke.
"Well," Lily was speaking to Rose now, uncertainty growing in her voice, "we had better be getting to lunch." Rose nodded and they left without a second glance.
Sirius and James looked at each other, confused expressions mirrored on their faces. A small smile began to break out on James' face.
"Sirius," James' voice had the old hint of laughter and mischief that Sirius remembered, rising in it, "I think we might be getting a little trouble from Snivellus this year."
Sirius shook his head in mock concern, "That boy, always looking for fights he is."
"Alright!" James yelled, mounting his broom, "Lesley! Let out the snitch!" He called to Daniel Lesley, the keeper. Daniel did so and the rest of the team took their positions in the air.
James had only recently found out that he was Gryffindor quidditch captain. He was ecstatic to be able to direct the team the way he had wanted to for years. It was the fourth practise session of the week and James could already see that the team would be ready for the first match of the season, against Ravenclaw.
He watched the chasers- Tim Dane, Michael Anderson and Samuel Wilson- pass the ball to one another, shoot and then laugh as Lesley saved each goal. The beaters, Emily Cormac and Jane Zells hit the bludgers towards the chasers, which were then expertly dodged.
The training session went on like that for an hour and, only when James had caught the snitch six times over, did he gesture for the team to dis-mount their brooms.
"Excellent! We're going to thrash Ravenclaw!" The team cheered as they made their way back up to the school.
James entered the common room, tired after the practise session. He spotted Sirius over at one of the tables and began to make his way over there before someone called him back.
"Potter." His heart fluttered a little as he turned to face Lily, standing at the bottom of the stairs leading up to the girl's dormitory. She looked stern and slightly reluctant, but grounded all the same. James glanced at Sirius who had looked up at the sound of his name. He met James' gaze and winked very largely and obviously. He shook his head and walked casually over to Lily, who was waiting patiently.
"Hello Evans, " he smiled, "how are you this fine evening?" Lily shifted uncomfortably. James looked at her with concern, "Lily, what is it? What's happened?"
Lily looked up at him, "It's nothing, I just," she began, awkwardly, "I wanted to thank you."
James opened his mouth in shock, stepping back slightly.
"For what?" He said in surprise.
"For, well, last week." When James still looked confused, she continued, "Thankyou, for not being a complete git."
James laughed, "That really doesn't narrow it down as much as you might think it would, Evans." She laughed as well.
"It's just, I know that Severus sent the first spell and I wanted to thank you for not being the one to do that." He gazed at her, his expression turning serious.
"I really have grown up, Lily." He whispered.
She sighed and met his gaze, "It'll take me a while to see that Potter. But you've made a start." And with that, she made her way back up the stairs and into the girl's dormitory.
Yes, yes it was a short one. I suppose you deserve a preview, if you read it :)
"Lily, what's wrong? Why are you upset? "
"I don't know!" But she did. She knew exactly why this irritated her so much. However, Lily Evans was stubborn and would never admit that to herself, or anyone else for that matter. Which was why she found what Rose said next, so surprising.
"You know why, Lily. So do I."
*gasp*What's going to happen? hehe C:
