Dearest Readers,

Hello! This is my next chapter (in my opinion much better than my 2nd chapter!)! Hope you like it!

Much love,

Brooklynn

Disclaimer: All goes to the fabulous J. K. Rowling!

The sun drifted towards the sky slowly; the crisp English air cooled Lily's cheeks. She sighed, her head swaying slowly up and down to James' calm breaths, filling his chest. Lily smiled, a cool breeze fluttering with her scarlet curls. James grinned in his sleep, his eyes still unopened. His adorable dimples made Lily laugh. Even in his sleep, James Potter was the paragon of attractiveness. She shook her head, standing up slowly.

" Goodbye, James." She murmured, running a pale hand through her messy hair. A melancholy shadow cast over her emerald eyes. She pursed her pink lips, crossing her arms as she left the glistening lake. It was cold, and classes would start soon. Lily let a deep breath escape her lips. This just wouldn't do. Sluggishly, she let the wind carry her away.

" Lily!" Alice said, running towards her, brown hair flying.

Lily sighed, rubbing her arms. " Morning, Alice."

" Where have you been?" She yelled across the field, her blue eyes accusing.

" No where, Ali." Lily said, running up to Alice. " Let's get inside; it's freezing out."

Alice bit her bottom lip, pausing.

" Just spit it out." Lily said, her hands on her hips.

Guilt flashed on Alice's face. " Well, when you didn't return to our dorm last night, I got worried."

" And?" Lily prodded.

" I told Professor McGonagall that you had disappeared and everyone's searching for you!" Alice blurted out, turning bright red.

" Alice!" Lily shrieked, pressing a palm to her forehead.

" What was I supposed to do, Lily?" Alice demanded. " It's a dangerous world out there. For all I knew, you could have been with You-Know-Who!"

Lily nodded, grabbing Alice's wrist. " Let's go!" She ran.

" There they are!" Professor Periwinkle shouted, her wand rose threateningly.

Lily bowed her head, coming to a stop. " I'm so sorry, Professor. I fell asleep outside. I dunno how."

Lily was the picture of remorse, her hair a curtain over her pretty face. Any other teacher would let this go, but Professor Periwinkle was not like the other teachers. She was a well-known British actress and proud of it. She had only began teaching Defense Against the Dark Arts this year and had found immediate distaste with the students of Hogwarts Witchcraft and Wizardry. I believe she had used the word intolerable to describe their snotty attitudes. While most teachers adored Lily Evans- teachers pet extraordinaire, Periwinkle despised her.

Students went out of their way to hex her. The marauders were not afraid of her generous detentions. After a while, even natural suck-ups like Lily just began to ignore her. She hated all students, no exceptions- except for, of course, Jane Hallowell, Hogwarts' resident snob.

" Detention, two weeks." Periwinkle snapped, her plump figure jiggling.

Lily nodded, her lips clamped shut as she and Alice walked away.

" Why did you let her do that?" Alice hissed while Lily merely shrugged. " Only McGonagall's allowed to punish you. You are a Gryffindor, after all."

" I dunno." Lily said, her brilliant eyes flashing. " I don't want to get in a rough patch with Professor Periwinkle. I have to pass her class to be an auror."

Alice pursed her lips. " I suppose." And, that was the end of the subject for them.

" Lily!" Remus shouted, running towards them, a blur of motion.

Lily gazed away, her body malfunctioning. They say that love turns you into mush: that your heart starts to beat wildly, that your palms start to sweat, and you feel unsteady. Lily could feel Remus' stare. She wiped her palms nervously on her robes. She fidgeted under his warmth. Was this love? It felt uncomfortable and strange and alien. How could something rumored to be so glorious feel this awkward?

Remus stared at her expectantly, and when she didn't say anything he smiled uncomfortably. " I'm really glad you're okay." He said shyly.

Lily looked up at him, almost peeking through her hair. " I am too."

Alice giggled. "Now that we've established that." She said, grabbing Lily's arm. "We have to get to class."

" Have fun." Remus said, a twinkle in his eye as he lowered his lips to Lily's cheek.

Lily stood speechless as Alice pulled her forward. " Bye!" Alice called back as they hurried forward.

" Wow." Alice remarked once they were both getting ready in their room. " You must be seriously in love to be that stupid."

Lily's head snapped up, almost burning herself on her curling iron. " Shut up, Alice."

Alice giggled, an annoying sound in Lily's confused mind. " Oh please. Don't even try to deny it, Lils. You were practically dead quiet."

Is that what love is- silence? Lily shrugged it off, unplugging the curling iron. "Whatever, Alice. Let's just get to class."

" Fine." Alice said, skipping out of the room. " But, you know I'm right."

Lily ignored her, hurrying down the hall.

" Good morning, class." McGonagall said, her sharp voice echoing through the silent classroom. " Today, we will be learning about ways to detect magic involved in influencing the mind and disguises." The class groaned as McGonagall continued. " Can anyone give me an example?"

Lily's hand shot up in the air as her voice rang clear. " The Imperious curse can take control over a person's mind and body." Surprisingly, Remus felt a bit of pride; his girlfriend was smart. Is that what love is- pride?

" Very well, Miss Evans. The Imperious curse is a very well known example. Now, can anyone explain a way to test this curse?" McGonagall asked, her eyes prying into their minds. " Mr. Potter, would you care to share an idea." She caught as James tried to sneak into the class late.

James cleared his throat, sitting down quietly. " I guess you could just ask them a question that only they would know."

" A good thought, Mr. Potter, but that is not accurate for this curse. Can anyone identify the branch of magic that would be most associated with Potter's answer?" McGonagall shot out.

" Potions." Lily answered. " Specifically, the polyjuice potion, I would assume."

McGonagall nodded. " Correct, 10 points for Gryffindor." Lily didn't bother to even listen to the rest. She already knew all of this of course. She found herself day dreaming during the lesson, not even recognizing the distinct ringing that signified the end of class.

" See you at lunch?" Remus asked, suddenly in front of her.

" Yeah. I'll see you then." She said, flashing a charming smile. Remus had NEWT Care of Magical Creatures while she had NEWT Potions next. As she walked down the hall, she felt the familiar warmth of another human being.

" Hey." He said breathlessly, ruffling his hair.

Lily felt her heart pounding under her warm sweater. The distinct beats rushed as he drew nearer, but it wasn't in the same way that she felt around Remus. " Hello." She repeated, pursing her lips.

" Any particular reason you just left this morning?" He demanded, almost angry with her.

She blinked. " I had class." Lily said blankly. James sighed, his shoulders relaxing.

" So you're not mad at me or anything?" He asked tentatively, a loose laugh escaping from his throat.

" No." Lily shook her head, wincing as she openly lied. " No, I'm not." She said coolly.

James flashed a dazzling smile. "Good. Because, I would hate to be Potions partners with a beautiful, powerful girl that hates me."

Lily could feel his charm reaching out to her. She allowed herself to give a small smile as she found it hard to stay mad at him. " Potions partners?" She repeated a peal of laughter playing on her tongue.

" If you don't mind." He said, fingering her cheek ever so lightly, leaving behind trails of light sparks.

This was wrong. Cheating, flirting, laughing together- it was all wrong. And, yet, she couldn't help but lean towards him as he teased her. There was nothing she could do but giggle as he complimented her. Her automatic response was to return his affection. She had Remus, but she wanted James.

Ignoring the panging in her heart, she stepped back. " No, James. Please stop it." She shook her head.

" Stop what?" He said, confusion evident on his smooth face.

" Charming me." She breathed, her head spinning.

A smirk appeared on his handsome face. " I can't help it. I'm a charming guy."

That cocky attitude brought Lily right back to Earth. James was so wrong. " Well try." She said angrily through gritted teeth.

" So, you are mad at me?" He accused, drawing back a bit.

" Yes, James. I am." She replied coldly, crossing her arms. " Remus is one of your best friends, and I am his girlfriend- not yours. Just stay away from me." And, though she could feel the anger boiling beneath the surface, she knew she loved him. Is that what love is- anger?

James shook his head, frowning. " You don't really want that to happen do you? Lily, I've been head over heels for you since second year, and last night you definitely convinced me you have feelings for me. Don't do this, Lily."

" What a load of bullocks." She hissed, her head pounding. " I have no feelings for you, James. I am in love with Remus. You and I would never work, and I would never want to try. James, don't you get it? I'm with Remus, and I would never fall for a guy like you. You're a selfish, ignorant, obnoxious prat, and I despise you."

Hurt shone through on every surface of James' glorious body. Lily could feel a little crack developing in her heart. She had hurt James Potter. " I'm sorry." She whispered, giving his hand a light squeeze. She tried to display her remorse with her bright eyes.

Like lightening, his confident ease flew back onto his face. " I don't mean to be a prat, Lily." He said, his tone light and feathery. " But, it sounds like you're trying to convince yourself more than me."

Her heart fluttered. How was it that he could see right through her? " I don't need any convincing, Potter." She spat. " Just stay the hell away from me."

" You don't mean that." James said victoriously. " As much as I love Remus, you'll get sick of him eventually. We both know you're as in to me as I am in you. One day, you'll stop pretending, and when you do, I'll be right there waiting for you."

" I. Will. Not." She insisted, her eyes blazing as she stormed off.

***

" Lily?" A short, high-pitched 1st year asked anxiously, tapping her on the shoulder.

Lily whipped around. " Yes?" She asked.

" Professor Periwinkle sent me here to collect you." The 1st year said, handing her a pink sticky note.

" Thank you." Lily murmured, taking the note as the child walked away.

Miss Evans --

Report to my office immediately

Following dinner. You're detention

Will be served there. If you come

Later then 6 o'clock, I will be more

Than happy to give you another

Week's worth of detention.

-- Professor Priscilla Periwinkle

" What is it?" Alice asked, leaning over.

Lily groaned, pressing her palm to her forehead.

" You okay?" Remus asked tentatively, sitting down next to her.

Lily shook her head. " I'm fine. I just have detention with Periwinkle tonight."

" Lily Evans has detention!" Sirius, Remus and James' good friend gasped in mock horror. " What a tragedy!"

The time had flown by since that morning, and Lily had completely forgotten her little run in with Periwinkle. By lunch she had even managed to block the James incident from her mind. Now, at dinner, she absolutely dreaded seeing James and Periwinkle all in the same night.

" I better get to Periwinkle, you guys." Lily said, standing up. " I don't want to be late for detention."

" Bye, Lils!" They chorused as she walked away from the table and towards Professor Periwinkle's cozy office.

" Thank you for joining us, Mrs. Evans." Periwinkle said crisply, motioning towards a large stack of paper. " You and Miss Hallowell will fold each of these papers in half and then stack each of them first in size and then alphabetical order."

It was only then that Lily spotted Jane Hallowell inspecting her nails by the door as Periwinkle left the small office. Surprisingly, her sidekicks, Maddie Kim and Gianna Lane, were nowhere to be found. "Hi, Jane." She said, trying to sound pleasant.

" Hey." Jane replied, sounding bored as ever as she sat down in front of the pile of papers.

Lily sighed. " I guess we should just start?"

" Yeah." Jane said, sounding as if that were the dumbest question in the world. "I'll just let you do the work. I'm only here to see him."

Lily stared. " Him?"

Jane rolled her eyes. " Duh. I'm so obviously talking about J-"

Speaking of the devil, a creaking was heard through the small room. The door flew open, bringing with it a chill. Standing there, thoroughly soaked and garbed in the Gryffindor Quidditch uniform was, of course, James Potter. " Sorry I'm late." He said, eyes twinkling.

B