Public Mortification

I muttered to myself, trying to recite the information I had just learnt in Transfiguration. Sighing in frustration I took a huge bite of my pasta. It was no use, the class had just gotten way too difficult. As I chewed, my eyes flicked around the tables at my fellow Fifth Years. They all seemed to be in deep thought, obviously thinking like I was, how they'd ever be ready for OWLS. Suddenly there was a sound of catcalling and boisterous laughter. My eyes rested on the Marauders who were spluttering in over the top laughter. Black was laughing quietly, with a self satisfied, attractive smirk as his eyes stared with intensity over at the Ravenclaw table. Pettigrew was also looking over at the table with a kind of delighted glee as his eyes flicked between Black and whoever they were looking at. Remus had his textbook in front of him, but he too was smiling with amusement. Potter was laughing the hardest, covering his face and running his hands through his windswept hair. Why weren't they freaking out like the rest of us normal people? They all seemed completely relaxed and not at all worried that they might ruin their futures by not studying every chance they got. My eyes followed their looks and I saw that they were looking in the direction of a group of giggling Ravenclaw girls. Emmeline Vance, who I truly like because she's the only one who can sustain an intelligent conversation about Muggle literature with me was glowing red and glancing at Black with a kind of pride.

"Ugh" I sighed out loud.

"What?" Dorcas said looking up from her textbook. Marlene did the same, her mouth full of soup.

"I suppose Black has finally found himself a girl willing to go out with him," I said scornfully. I knew immediately my words would be challenged.

"Now, don't get me wrong Lily, I dislike Black just as much as you do…but you know as well as I do that he doesn't date much out of his own accord. There are plenty of girls throwing themselves at him all the time."

I grunted in admittance. It's true. Girls flock to him like he's some famous singer or something, but he never seems to notice, or really care.

"Who's he going out with?" Marlene asked with forced nonchalance. I can't believe she likes him. He's such a git.

"From the looks of it, Emmeline Vance," I commented, nodding my head in her direction.

"We would've heard about it, if it were true…maybe she just likes him," Dorcas said reasonably, trying to make Marlene feel better.

"Ugh, he's so bloody fit," Marlene said in annoyance, spooning more soup in her mouth.

I rolled my eyes. "He's also an insufferable git".

The girls nodded, even if just to humour me and I started to eat my pudding. I missed my mouth completely and hit my cheek when I heard my name being called loud and obnoxiously. Wiping the chocolate pudding off my cheek in disgust, I glared at the offender.

"Evans!" Potter said again. He was standing up, his hair impossibly tousled and his shirt untucked. His eyes were shining and I groaned in response, silently banging my head on the table. The people around us laughed, but he didn't seem to notice. Of course, he was too busy talking.

"So Evans…Valentine's Day next week," he said with his horrible grin.

I silently acknowledged it and tried to speak to him using my eyes. They said, "Leave me Alone, you prick".

Apparently he's not a mind-reader because he continued anyway. Much to my annoyance, he also had the attention of everyone in the vicinity. I noticed that the Professors were the only ones politely continuing their conversation, pretending not to notice.

"So, I was thinking…."

"Oh no, did you hurt yourself?" I asked sarcastically. People laughed and my lips curled into a small smile.

"Now, now Evans…play nice," he said, still grinning stupidly. "So I was thinking…since Sirius is taking Emmeline Vance on the Valentine's Hogsmeade trip…" he paused as if for dramatic effect and the hall flooded with whispers, casting a pleasurably flushed, Emmeline, jealous or curious looks. My eyes fell on Black who didn't seem to mind in the least that Potter had just announced his private affairs to the whole school. Potter cleared his throat and immediately had everyone's undivided attention again,

"I thought I'd do you the honour of accompanying you as your date," he said, puffing his chest out slightly and looking very proud of himself. Marlene and Dorcas made small noises of disbelief. Honestly, could anyone be so ignorantly, obnoxiously, arrogantly horrible? My eyes went to Sev and I could see he was furious. His pale face was flushed and his lip was curled in a scowl. I felt like scowling myself. I felt so completely and entirely mortified.

"Potter, let me give you some advice," I said, in my most patient voice. I would not explode. I refuse to give him that satisfaction.

"When some pathetic, desperate little girl agrees to accompany you on said date, make sure that you tell her just how lucky you are that she agreed to go out with a completely arrogant, insufferable prat like yourself. Then, if you get lucky enough to get along with her after that…don't for a second think that just because you managed to get someone to like you, that I will ever, in my whole life, ever, agree to go out with you," I said and then I went back to my food. There were a few chuckles but mostly the whispering increased. I raised my head ever so slightly and saw Sev smiling at me and I smiled back. I glanced to the side at Potter who was now sinking to his seat, scratching his head in confusion. Black said something to him and he shrugged before laughing and pulling Pettigrew into a playful headlock.

That boy is utterly hopeless.


A/N: Thanks for reviewing, please do so again. Also please do, if you haven't haha :)