AN: Hello, thank you so much for your kind reviews! I've tried to update as soon as I could, juggling this and my other assignments, so I'm sorry if I've kept you waiting. This one is a little shorter, but please enjoy!


"I'm really sorry."

It was Monday again, and Lily and James were back in Transfiguration. Lily couldn't bring herself to look at him; she didn't know if it was because of embarrassment or anger. In fact, she wasn't even sure how she felt at all. Any other time she would be livid at James for kissing her, but she was finding it strangely difficult.

"I'm an idiot, Lily… You know I am."

If anything, she'd actually liked it. It was just habit that she'd slapped him. Lily didn't know what it was… Why was she feeling like this now? It was extremely frustrating, seeing as she'd made a point of rejecting him for years. She'd just feel stupid giving in now.

"Just shut up about it," she said finally, pulling out another piece of parchment to continue her transfiguration essay.

"No, because then you'll just go on hating me and I'll - "

"I've already told you. I don't hate you," she sighed. "You're just incredibly annoying and dislikeable."

"I promise I'll never kiss you again without your permission," he smirked.

"Please can you just shut up about it," Lily mumbled, going red. Then she said haughtily, "And anyway, what makes you think I'll ever give you my permission?"

James gave a cheeky grin and went back to his work.


When Lily went down to dinner, she spotted her friend Mary MacDonald sitting alone. She'd barely spoken to her since the start of term but felt she should say hello and try to fix things up.

"Hey, Mary. Do you mind if I sit here?" Lily asked kindly, and her friend turned and nodded.

"What's happened to you Lily?" she asked. "We've barely spoken, you didn't answer any of my owls all summer…"

Noticing the annoyed tone in her friend's voice, Lily sighed. "I'm sorry. I was just… Well, it doesn't matter. I'm sorry if I've been neglecting you, Mary."

"Were you still upset about Snape?"

Lily briefly closed her eyes. "Please, Mary. That's the last thing I want to talk about."

Mary raised her eyebrows.

"Well, I won't say I told you so, but…" She jerked her head slightly to the side.

"Look, enough people have ridiculed me about that – Fine, I get it, I got him wrong. Please Mary, I'd rather just forget about it."

Mary smiled sympathetically. "Okay, Lils."

A while later, they had an unexpected guest. James entered and sat himself down opposite Lily and Mary without so much as a smile, and helped himself to pudding.

"Erm, what are you doing?" Lily asked him cautiously, growing annoyed as she felt herself go red.

James paused, serving spoon still in the air. "Eating dessert," he said in an obvious tone.

She narrowed her eyes. "Yes, I can see that. Why are you sitting here?"

"Why not?"

"Where are your friends?"

James shrugged and helped himself to more trifle.

Lily got up, and pulled Mary by the arm. "Come on Mary, we're done anyway." Her friend looked at her, slightly amused, then got up too. "Goodbye," she shot scathingly to James.

When they'd left the hall, Mary burst into a fit of giggles.

"What?" Lily asked, perplexed.

"What are you playing at?" Mary replied, "That guy, James Potter, he wants you Lily, and you're acting as oblivious as anything!"

Lily flushed.

"See," Mary went on, "You know it or you wouldn't be blushing like this!"

"Be serious, Mary," Lily tried to keep her voice calm, "You think after, what – four years of his pathetic chat up lines and showing off I've not caught on? He's just doing it for attention; it's just a stupid crush or something."

Mary snorted. "Yeah, whatever."

A voice in Lily's mind was saying the same thing. You know he fancies the pants off of you... Why are you being so uptight?

Because he bullied my best friend, Lily thought angrily.

Didn't he deserve it in the end, though? James has only ever been there for you! Boys are stupid; they don't take the time to think about how their actions affect others.

Lily smiled at herself. Well, that was true.

When he treated Severus like that it was to impress you, he didn't realise you'd be upset. Like I said, stupid.

Yes, Lily thought. James was incredibly stupid.

"What are you thinking about?" Mary asked as they climbed the staircase. "Oh my god," she stopped. "You're thinking about him, aren't you?"

"Don't be stupid," Lily scoffed.

"How can you not?" Mary went on, "Every girl in this school is attracted to James Potter. Look at him, Lily. He's perfect. He's smart, incredibly good looking, god – his eyes… he's one of the most talented Quidditch players at Hogwarts…"

"Big deal…" Lily muttered, trying her utmost to drag her mind away from images of James. Mary was right, he was handsome…

Stop it, Lily told herself. Don't be so ridiculous.

"Lily, he's been asked out by loads of girls, even I've asked him twice, and he flat out refuses. He refuses everyone, Lily. You know why that is?"

"Because he's gay?"

"Because he likes you. He doesn't want anyone else. No wonder half the girls here hate you, you're what's stopping them from getting it on with him!"

"P-people hate me?" Lily asked, shocked. "But- but I - "

"Oh shut up, not genuinely," Mary said, exasperated. "Lily… All I'm saying is that you need to suck up your own damn pride and just accept him, Christ."

"I – don't – like – James – Potter!" she hissed, flushing red again.

Just then, a voice calling Lily reached them. She turned around and saw the Ravenclaw captain, Adrian Carter, jogging up the staircase towards them.

"Hey – Lily," he caught up with them and took a moment to catch his breath. Lily smiled warmly, intrigued.

"Oh, um – hi," she said in a small voice.

"How are you?" he said casually, acknowledging Mary as well with a quick smile.

"Oh, um… fine. I, uh – I've not heard from you much in Transfiguration recently…" she said, almost in a babble.

He gave a charming smile. "I didn't want to intimidate your boyfriend."

"My – Potter?" Her eyes widened, and Mary gave her a smug smile. "He's not my boyfriend."

Adrian's eyes lit up. "Does he know that? Well, on that note – Slughorn's just caught me in the corridor – he's having a Halloween 'do, and I'd be delighted if you'd attend with me," he said rather smoothly. "That is – unless you'd rather go with Potter…"

"No," Lily said, a little too quickly. "No – I'd love to go with you."

He gave her a brilliant smile, which Lily couldn't help comparing with James'. She hated herself when she decided she preferred the latter's.

Carter then gave her a brief kiss on the cheek before quickly wishing the two goodnight and heading back down the stairs.

"Well, I guess Potter's got a little competition," Mary chuckled as they headed into their dormitory.

"Please shut up," Lily mumbled, and she climbed into bed, unsure whether to be pleased with herself or not.