Here's the next chapter anyway, for those of you who haven't read this fic, or just want to read it again anyway. (Just because its so good) )
Chapter 3: Namie's Grudge
Lily woke up the next morning to the noisy bustle of girls getting ready for the day. She got up, disorientated, when the events of the night before rushed into her head. She groaned.
"Morning!" Rashel sang out. Lily couldn't help smiling. Rashel always had that effect on people; she was always smiling, and very charismatic. She was quite pretty, a heart shaped face with a button nose and very fascinating amethyst eyes. Her light brown hair, sun-streaked with gold, was often in an attractive messy bun.
"Lessee, what do we have today?" Stephanie asked, scanning the schedule. "Transfiguration with the Hufflepuffs, then Muggle Studies with the Ravenclaws…"
"Transfiguration?" Lily moaned. "Oh why??"
Stefanie's dark blue eyes twinkled in amusement, and she tossed off the schedule. "Relax, Lily, you have James to help you. He's top in the subject, remember?"
Lily hated Transfiguration as long as she could remember. She was much better in Charms. James, however, was top in the subject, but failed Charms half the time. Lily shrugged and got ready for school.
…
"Ms Evans! Have you finally succeeded in transfiguring your quill into a pillow?" Professor McGonagall barked, as Lily bit her lip nervously.
"I'm getting there, professor."
Namie nudged her. "Don't be too nervous, just keep your mind clear."
Lily waved her wand again, but the quill just wouldn't transfigure itself. Lily gritted her teeth in frustration.
"Need help, Lils?"
Namie rolled her eyes inwardly as Amos Diggory smiled at them. Namie never admitted it, but she had an immense dislike for the Hufflepuff. And as far as she knew, Amos sucked in Transfiguration.
"Sure… but can you do it?" Lily asked with a puzzled smile.
"Of course! I'm good at it, you know."
Behind Lily, James snorted. Amos glared at James, but the moment he did James looked away quickly and whistled, as if oblivious to the whole thing. Sirius' head was in his hand and he was pointing his wand in a bored fashion, easily transfiguring his quill to pillow, pillow to quill, quill to pillow… you get the idea.
Amos pointed his wand at the quill and recited the incantation. The quill transfigured, but into a burst of feathers which practically landed over the whole classroom.
Professor McGonagall was furious. "5 points from Hufflepuff! Re-transfigure your… your feathers back into a quill, Diggory!"
Amos looked clueless.
James smirked and straddled his chair backwards, his long legs banging slightly under the table. He flicked his wand at the falling feathers and a quill fell to the floor.
"10 points to Gryffindor. Evans, let James help you transfigure your quill. Diggory! To your seat!"
Amos shot a poisonous glance at James, who smiled back with a raised eyebrow.
"You're doing it wrong, my girl," James said with a teasing smile, taking the empty seat beside her. "Come on, I'll show you." He picked up his own wand and flicked it, murmuring the incantation. The quill became a perfect fluffy pillow. He transfigured it back easily. "Now you try."
Lily tried to do what James' did, but failed. The quill remained as it was.
"Your wand work's all wrong," James said, frowning slightly. Lily couldn't help but stare at his chocolate brown eyes as he concentrated on correcting her wrist. He noticed her looking at him and smiled, puzzled. "Lils? You alright?"
"Huh? Oh, right." Lily returned to the transfiguration, and under James' supervision, got it right. She smiled at James. "Thank you!"
"You only owe me a kiss," James said, grinning.
Lily rolled her eyes and slapped him.
…
"What's going on between you and Potter?" Amos asked the moment Transfiguration ended and everyone filed out from class.
"Nothing," Lily said, slightly pissed. "Look, Amos, don't give me the third degree right after my least favourite class. I'm not in the mood."
"Potter likes you, is that true?" Amos asked again, his eyes flashing.
Lily frowned. She saw no point in denying what was obvious, so she sighed and nodded. "Yes, but you knew that long ago. I have no interest in him whatsoever, and I love you, alright?"
Amos looked unconvinced. "If you say so."
Namie was at the end of the corridor, looking on impatiently. "Lily, let's go!" she called, not looking too happy.
"Alright!" Lily kissed Amos and waved, and then she was gone.
…
James Potter was not on Amos Diggory's list of Favorite People. The Hufflepuff Quidditch Beater never did like James. Amos was always angry that James was so popular among the Hufflepuff—not to mention the entire—female population. Needless to say, the only thing he felt he had above James was Lily Evans, the girl James was hopelessly smitten with.
Amos smiled at the thought of Lily. She had been his girlfriend for two years, and though he never saw James jealous seeing them holding hands or kissing, he knew James wasn't very happy with it. Truth be told, Amos… liked Lily. But he didn't actually love her.
In fact, he was more attracted to a certain Gryffindor Quidditch player. Sod it, Amos thought fiercely. James Potter. Remember that. You have to stick to Lily.
…
"I can't wait for the first match of the season!" Remus yelled that afternoon in the common room.
"You're overexcited, Remmy," Namie said affectionately, grinning as she adjusted her scarlet and gold Gryffindor tie.
"This Saturday," Remus continued, as if he haven't heard. "This bloody Saturday!"
"Gryffindor versus Hufflepuff." Sirius looked at Namie. "Say, you're playing for Gryffindor or Hufflepuff?"
Namie smacked him. "Don't you even dare question my loyalty to Gryffindor, you smut! Xander won't stop me from wanting that Cup!"
Lily smiled. "Don't hit Amos up too much, Sirius," she said good-naturedly.
"Oh, I'll try, alright," Sirius said sarcastically. He was the Beater for the Gryffindor team. "Lily, why do you stick to that show-off? He sucks in Transfiguration but claimed he could do it—pah! And his Beater skills? Sorry Lily, I won't even go there."
Lily shot Sirius an evil glance. "Quit insulting my boyfriend, already, or you've got one coming."
"I'm not insulting him, I'm stating facts – "
"SIRIUS!" Namie and Lily scolded.
Sirius rolled his eyes. "But seriously, James has so much more than Amos. He's a great Quidditch Chaser - "
"Captain, no less - " Remus put in.
"Good looking - " admitted Namie.
"Romantic - " Peter added squeakily.
"Top student - " Sirius continued.
"Alright, alright. Enough. I get the idea that you bunch don't like Amos. But I do, so give it up." Lily
Namie frowned, but shrugged. "Whatever floats your boat. But don't come crying when James decides to give up."
"Will he?" Sirius asked. "He's been on this Lily case for five and a half years." He turned to Lily. "Will you be sad if James gives up on you?"
"No," Lily said primly. "Why would I? He has the freedom to go after any girl he likes. Besides, I love Amos. That says it all, doesn't it?"
Namie looked even more uncomfortable, but said nothing.
…
Namie was in her Quidditch robes of gold and scarlet, frowning to herself as she practiced her beating skills. Namie wasn't much of a Beater, though an excellent Seeker. She deftly hit the Bludger which came close to hitting her, wishing it was the face of someone else.
It was after their usual Quidditch practice, but a few of the players were still practicing or having friendly games. James zoomed right up to her, on his latest-model Shooting Star. "Hey Namie!" he called, "Wanna play Chaser?"
Namie nodded. James smiled, and beckoned to Sirius and Rashel, who were on the ground mounting their brooms. James threw up the Quaffle, and Rashel, a Chaser, immediately swept it off and zoomed off to the goal. Sirius bumped into her and winked as she dropped the Quaffle. Namie caught it and threw it into the highest loop.
"Score!" James yelled. "Good job, Namie."
Namie muttered her thanks, still frowning. Usually a goal would invigorate her, but today, she felt listless and upset. Sirius noticed, and quickly flew to her side. Namie still wasn't on speaking terms with the Beater, but today she was to wrapped up in her thoughts to remember.
"Hey Nam," Sirius said, looking at her curiously, "you alright? You seem angry about something."
"Darn right," Namie said quietly, easily smacking the beckoning Quaffle with the back of her broom to James, who scored.
"Xander?" Sirius asked tentatively.
Namie smiled bitterly. "He wants to break up with me."
Sirius looked up quickly, dodging the Quaffle as Rashel caught it from James. "What happened?"
Namie rolled her eyes. "It's… it's kinda complicated. I'm not sure how to explain this…" she laughed uncertainly, "For god's sake, his reason is valid, but it's just so ridiculous…"
Sirius took her arm as they lowered their brooms to the pitch. "Hey! Not playing anymore?" James called from the air.
"You go ahead! We're resting!" Sirius shouted back. James shrugged and he and Rashel practiced passing the Quaffle.
"So, spill," Sirius said, looking back to the Japanese girl.
Namie bit her lip and shook her head. "I can't tell you…"
"Namie…" Sirius said reproachfully.
"Only if you promise not to tell anyone, not even Lily," Namie said, her eyes flashing. "Especially not Lily!"
"Swear by Merlin and hope to die," Sirius said, crossing his heart. "So? What could be so secretive that you need to hide it from everyone?"
Namie hesitated for a moment, and finally sighed in resolute. "Amos Diggory," she spat, as if it hurt her throat to say his name. "Is the bloodiest prat in this universe."
"I know that," Sirius said, an eyebrow raised, "and what's he got to do with Xander and you? Come on, Namie, tell me…"
"Alright!" Namie clutched her broom, obviously in a temper. "Xander is breaking up with me because a friend of his likes me and he doesn't want to get in the way. The idiot! And you know what Xander said? He said he had no feelings for me anyway!" Namie kicked the grass, her eyes filling up with tears. "Bloody hell, I can't stand this!"
"Wait, you don't mean - "
"Diggory doesn't love Lily!" Namie yelled, clenching her fists. "He likes me!"
…
Yes, that's all for now. I've already typed up half of the next chapter – so yes, it should be up pretty soon.