I'm so sorry for the delay in this chapter. The past week has been a whirlwind of computer problems, family visits and impromptu hospital visits. But, to make up for it, I promise that the next chapter I post will have a lot of L/ J action.

Also, to everyone who reviewed the last chapter I want to give each and everyone of you a big hug. This chapter is dedicated to my lovely guest reviewer who goes by the name of Lotta. I'm pretty sure some of the doctors in the waiting room wanted to give me a mental examination after I read it. I was smiling like a loon.

Chapter 4- Fighting

We all know that James and Lily created some of the worst (or the best) fights that Hogwarts had ever seen. It all started in their third year, which was when their little debates evolved into screaming matches that often got them in detention. Most students would look forward to the daily row between the two, using it as a chance to bet on the outcomes, such as who would initiate the fight, whether Lily would slap James, or if the would get detention for starting a duel. Sometimes it was James who started the fight, usually by making some sort of cocky remark, or Lily would start it when she took one of James's snide comments to heart and resulted with her volatile temper getting the better of her. Most of the time it was Lily who transitioned it from a small debate (or playful banter as seen from James) to a flat out fight. It didn't help that James's mouth didn't seem to censor what came out of it and Lily had fiery temper. It was usually one of his small flippant comments that ignited the infamous rage that was associated with being a redhead and it was his same mouth that made the argument escalate when he was trying to subdue it. Any person who went to school with them knew that you had to witness at least one of the notorious Potter/ Evans brawl. It was basically a part of life.

James was having a bad day.

He got back his charms essay with a bunch of red scribbles all over it and a dreadful mark. Then, during Herbology, the Fanged Geranium thought it would be fun to use his hand as a chew toy, resulting in him getting a nasty cut on said appendage. That ended him up in to the hospital wing where the young nurse, Madam Pomfrey, chided him for being so careless while she bandaged his hand, making him late for DADA. And, as a result, their new Defence teacher had deducted points from him and when he tried to explain that it wasn't his fault but that bloody plant from the greenhouse, he wound up with detention. He didn't think that the day could get any worse. The only little bright spot in this storm cloud was that Snivellus's potion exploded covering him head to toe and resulting with him receiving boils all over his body. Granted that it only exploded because of James's dungbomb, but that wasn't his fault. Hands slip sometimes. Even if said hands slip in to a cauldron that's three desks over, but that's neither here nor there.

But still, James Potter was having a rotten day.

After potions was finished, he and the rest of the Marauders made their way to the Great Hall for lunch. Everyone was happily talking and eating, but for some reason, their laughter was making James feel more annoyed. Just as he was about to sit at the Gryffindor table, the doors to the Great Hall were flung open with a vengeance. The chatter immediately died down as everyone turned to the back of the hall. Standing there, wand drawn and an expression that scare the bravest of men was Lily Evans in all of her 5' 3" glory.

"POTTER!" she yelled, stalking up to him.

James closed his eyes and rubbed the bridge of nose. He really didn't want to put up with her telling him off right now. His hand was throbbing and there was a dull pounding behind his eyes.

Sighing wearily, he decided that it would be better if he just faced her and watch her rant until kingdom come.

"Can I help you, Evans?" he asked resignedly, eyes still closed.

"Open your eyes and look at me, you twat."

And so he did, only to be greeted by the sight of a very angry Lily Evans who happened to have her wand placed right at his jugular. He tried not to panic.

"Evans-"

"It was all your fault!" she yelled, completely disregarding him. "You made Sev's cauldron explode!"

He kept his face impassive as she went on and on, not really listening to a word that she was saying. Instead, he just stared at her, taking in how the sunlight made her hair give off a slightly golden aura. He green eyes flashed and James vaguely realised that they were probably the nicest shade of-

Stop. Stop right there.

He shook his head, as if that would help clear his mind. He needed to stop thinking of Evans like that. It couldn't be healthy.

"Potter!" she yelled, jerking him out of his reverie.

"Huh? What?"

"You didn't listen to one damn word I was saying did you?"

He scratched the back of his neck awkwardly, looking slightly abashed.

Lily made a sound in between a groan and something being strangled.

"Stop picking on Sev," she ordered, punctuating every word by jabbing him in the chest with her wand. She must have been very angry, either at him for blowing up Snape's cauldron or at him for not listening, because red sparks flew out from the tip of her wand.

"Listen, Evans, we just wanted a laugh-"

"Well then go look at yourself in the mirror," she snapped

"- I didn't mean for him to get covered in boils. I thought all that grease on the slimy git would protect him."

Laughter rang out through the Great Hall. Lily turned an interesting shade of red.

"That is not funny!" she hissed. "Because of you and your childish immaturity, Severus has to spend the rest of the day in the Hospital Wing!"

"Good. No one would have to see the greasy git for the rest of the day."

"Ugh!" she groaned. "You are an insufferable toerag!"

"Toerag?" James asked, the end of his mouth quirking upward along with an eyebrow against his will.

"Yes! Toerag! You want another word? Jerk! Prat! Idiot! Arrogant Self centred git!"

"Come off it Evans; I'm not arrogant."

"Uh, yes; you are."

"I'm not arrogant! I'm simply proud of my abilities!"

"There's a difference?" she asked, laughing without humour.

"Yes! Arrogant is showing off! I don't show off. I simply let people know about everything I can do."

"There are so many things wrong with that sentence Potter. Face it; you're arrogant," Lily said flatly.

"Well at least I'm not a prude," he countered, running a hand through his hair.

"I'm not a prude! Just because I don't throw myself at every male available doesn't mean that I'm a prude!" Lily yelled, blushing.

"Jeez Evans; take it down an octave." He was pretty sure that his headache was getting worse.

"You, James Potter, are an insufferable arse. I can't believe you're not taking this seriously!"

"Why would I?" he shrugged. "It's just Snivellus."

Lily's eye's narrowed. "Seriously? 'It's just Snivellus'? Merlin Potter! I knew you looked down on people but I would never expect you to say something like that," she spat, her fingers clenching around her wand tightly. "Why do you hate him so much?"

"He's Snivellus," he said calmly, as if that itself was a good enough explanation.

"Try again," Lily said. James was sure that her wand was going to break if she kept on tightening her grip around it.

"Fine; he's annoying. He's a Slytherin. He's in to the Dark Arts. Everyone in his house hates muggleborns, muggles and pretty much everyone besides purebloods. He's evil. He-" There were a few more things that nearly slipped out of his mouth, but he clamped it shut just in time. James wasn't even ready to admit to himself that those things were real, much less to Lily Evans and the entire Hogwarts population.

"Is that all?" she asked dryly, crossing her arms whilst cocking an eyebrow.

"Oh, no. Not at all. There's a few more," he joked.

Lily didn't find it funny.

"Oh come on Evans! Lighten up!" James groaned, nudging her in the side, trying to get her to crack a smile. She didn't. In fact, it seemed as though her frown deepened.

"That's not funny Potter. He's a human being too. He's my best friend,"

"I don't see why you hang out him," he unthinkingly muttered, as he frowned. "Is it because of pity?"

"That is none of your business."

"Come one Evans, tell me. Put me out of my misery."

Lily ignored him.

"Oh, I see. Is it because no one would be friends with you? Because I've seen Snivellus with other people but I've never seen you what anyone else. It's the other way around, isn't it? Snape befriends you out of pity," he sneered at her. Lily looked as though someone slapped her in the face. But he didn't care. He was having a rotten day and he needed an outlet. Lily just happened to be there for him to take his anger out on.

"You-"

"Who knows; maybe there's something going on there? You and Snivellus could very well be together. Though why he would want to be with someone like you is beyond me. But then again, it all could just be out of p-"

Smack!

All the chatter in the Great Hall came to a screeching halt. Sure, Lily and James had a row just about everyday, but it was usually Lily telling him off for something that he did and James making a snarky comeback or two. They never went as far as to slapping each other.

James was stunned. Evans never slapped him. His rational side said that he supposed he had sort of asked for it when he started saying that she had no real friends and Snape hanged out with her because of pity. But, he was James Potter. He may have a rational side, but it was incredibly minuscule and could hardly be heard over his irrational and rebellious side. So of course instead of backing down, his own temper flared to life and before he knew it, he had is wand in his hand and had sent a hex towards Evans.

She blocked it easily, but not without an indignant, 'Hey!' She sent back a stinging hex towards him.

And that was when all hell broke loose.

Students started cheering them on as they fired hexes and jinxes to each other. Lily was probably a bit more on the offensive side whilst James on the defence. People began taking bets such as who would get hit first and whether or not their friends would join in. Some of the girls who had liked James almost hexed Lily themselves for trying to hurt their beloved idol, while some of the boys catcalled at her stating, very eloquently, that she was going to kick Potter's arse.

However, before the fight could escalate even more, the doors to the Great Hall were thrown open yet again, though this time by a very, very angry Minerva McGonagall.

"What is the meaning of all this?" she yelled. "Potter! Evans!"

"It was her fault, Professor!" James yelped immediately. "She provoked me!"

"Me? You started it!"

"Enough!" said McGonagall. "I am disappointed in you both. Especially you, Ms. Evans; I expect this kind of thing from Potter and Black-"

"Hey!" James said indignantly.

"- not you. Detention. Both of you on Saturday."

"But Professor! I have Quidditch practice on Saturday!"

"Well," McGonagall said, peering at him through the top of her glasses. "I suppose you'll have to explain to Spinnet as to why you can't make it. That will teach you not to duel in the Great Hall. Or anywhere else as a matter of fact."

And with that, McGonagall stalked out of the room

Remember when he said that this day couldn't get any worse? Well life apparently takes that as a personal challenge.

I'm sorry if this chapter was crap. My best friend is in the hospital so I've sort of been on edge lately and haven't had any inspiration go write.

READ PLEASE: Before you all go and say that James and Lily fought all of the time, starting from first year, I want you to take this note in to consideration. In this story they usually ARGUED in their first and second years. They never moved on to insulting each other, hexing each other (unless for a prank) or using any form of physical violence. I'm sorry if I confused any of you.

Hope you all review!

~twilightstargazer