A/N:-

Written as part of the drabble or longer for Hogwarts School of Witchcraft & Wizardry (Challenges & Assignments)

Prompt used: Interaction with a teacher

If I could do it again, I would

"I don't need help from filthy little Mudblood like her!" James heard Snivellus say to the girl of his dreams Lily, who had an impassive look on her face, although James was quite sure that deep down she was furious.

"Fine. I won't bother in the future. And I'd wash your pants if I were you, Snivellus." Lily responded to Severus' insult, crying a little on the inside as she finally decided to cut all ties with the boy she had called her best friend for the better part of five years.

James turned to Snape and demanded that he apologise to Lily. On one hand he was quite insulted on Lily's behalf, but on the other hand he was quite shocked and quite pleased that Snape had sabotaged his friendship with Lily.

"I don't want you to make him apologise!" she shouted at James, who felt quite hurt that she couldn't see he was doing this for her. "You're as bad as he is!"

"What? I'd NEVER call you a — you-know-what!" James couldn't bring himself to say that disgusting and offensive word.

"Messing up your hair because you think it looks cool to look like you've just got off your broomstick, showing off with that stupid Snitch, walking down corridors and hexing anyone who annoys you just because you can — I'm surprised your broomstick can get off the ground with that fat head on it. You make me SICK."

James was aghast at what Lily had just said to him; sure he knew that Lily didn't approve of his hexing of other people, and pretended to dislike him to cover her attraction to him, but now he was questioning whether or not that was just in his head.

"What is it with her?" James asked turning to his best friends

"Reading between the lines, I'd say she thinks you're a bit conceited, mate," Sirius suggested to him

"Right. Right." he whispered to himself, as he decided to make Snape pay for what he just said to Evans.

With a flick of his wand Snivellus was hanging upside down, a whole crowd of people had gathered to watch him torment Snape for what he had just said to Lily. "Who wants to see me take off Snivelly's pants?" James laughed.

Several members of the crowd cheered in encouragement, but the noise quickly dissipated.

"That is quite enough," a stern voice called, and in a flash Snape fell to the ground with a quiet thud. "Potter, follow me. Snape, go clean yourself up."

James followed Professor McGonagall in silence as she led him down the corridor towards her office. Once they reached their destination, she beckoned him in front of her to sit down.

"First of all, your actions have just cost Gryffindor 50 points. Secondly, you will be serving one week's worth of detention starting tomorrow," Professor McGonagall said as she settled herself behind her desk. "Now would you kindly explain why you were humiliating Severus Snape?"

"Professor, he called Evans a-a-a, I can't even say the vile word, and all she was doing was standing up for him," James explained to his head of house. "I was only being a friend telling Snape to apologise and he wouldn't. If I could do it again Professor, I would."

James crossed his arms as he sat in front of Professor McGonagall and waited for her reaction.

"Whilst it is very admirable that you stood up for young Miss Evans, at Hogwarts we do not condone the use of magic on one another." Professor McGonagall told James. "It's because of this kind of impulsive behaviour that you were passed over for prefect."

James looked at Professor McGonagall in shock. The fact that he was even considered for prefect was a surprise and a half to him.

"May I go now Professor?" James asked, looking at the clock and noticing that there was only a half hour left of lunch.

"You may Potter. I'll send word later of where you will serve your detention," Professor McGonagall responded swiftly, wondering if there would ever be a time that James and Severus would see eye to eye, or at the very least be able to get along. She doubted it, but she could hope.

A/N:-

Thoughts, feelings, opinions?

Please let me know in a review

Any and all feedback is much appreciated.