A/N: Written for the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry Challenges and Assignments forum's Femslash February challenge for Hufflepuff House.

Prompt: 12. Alice/Lily

Word count: 607

"Oi, Evans!"

Lily froze and glared at the parchment she was writing on, as if it were its fault Potter was being the arrogant toerag he was.

"Go out with me?"

Th whole common room waited in amused anticipation of the brewing storm, and smirks could be seen on the faces of Black, Lupin, Pettigrew, and a host of others. In the corner of the room, Lily saw Alice with her usual book, the only one in the room besides Lily with a downturned mouth. They locked eyes and Lily made up her mind. Enough was enough; James Potter would not get to throw around her pride like this and provide the school with entertainment any longer.

"Potter!" Lily called,

"Yes, dear?" A few giggles went through the room.

"Shut up and follow me."

Lily strode out of the room, ignoring the mutters and stared as Potter exchanged excited and surprised looks with his mates. A wolf whistle sounded and Lily flipped the guy off, her face growing red in anger and embarrassment.

Once the portrait hole slammed shut, Lily grabbed Potter by the collar and slammed him again the wall. Hard. His head went back, jostling his glasses, and a loud thump rang in the air.

"Woah, there, Evans, I'd hoped you'd changed your mind, but I didn't know you were this eager–"

Smack! "Ow!" He held his face as it turned red. "What the bloody–"

"Potter, understand that this is a demand, not a mere request. You need to stop."

"I don't know what you're–"

She stomped on his foot. "Any more lies and you'll be feeling much more pain than I've already given you."

"Evans! I'm surprised at you!"

"Shut up. Now, stop asking me out, stop 'complimenting' me, stop pretending you're interested just to get laughs from your mates, and just… don't ever talk to me again."

"No," he retorted, carefully straightening.

"Excuse me?"

"No. You'll come around eventually." Then he shook his head and laughed. "Lilykins, you keep trying to play hard to get, but I know you. It's alright to give in to your feelings."

Smack! "I cannot believe that a person could be so narcissistic and delusional! Get over yourself. I do not want to date you! Get that through your thick skull!"

"Oh, come on, Lils. What's the matter? If you really won't date me, you've gotta have a pretty good reason."

Eyes burning in hatred, Lily grabbed his shoulder, making sure to dig her nails in, and dragged him back into the common room.

"Everyone, I have an announcement!" The entire room looked at her. Black looked like he was about to make a joke, but Lily stared him down and he cowered. "I am dating Alice ELEPHANT." A whisper went through the common room and Poole stared at Alice in the back. "James Potter and I will never date, and he has agreed to stop the whole charade. Right?" She turned to him, raising an eyebrow. Finally mortified in front of the entire House, Potter nodded silently. "That will be all." She released Potter and said quietly, "How's that for your reason?"

Lily went to sit next to Alice, wrapping an arm around her protectively. Everyone slowly went back to their activities, and no one dared approach the dangerous dragon that was Lily Evans.

"Is it okay that I did that?" Lily asked Alice.

"It had to happen at some time. I was getting sick of Frank Longbottom as well. But next time you reveal one of our big secrets, do consult me."

"I'm sorry."

"All is forgiven." Lily laid her head on Alice's shoulder, humming contentedly.