Disclaimer: I'm so sick of these, read the one from the previous chapter.
My position hasn't changed.
A/N: I'm back with another chapter! When I wrote this chapter it became obvious to me that this story is going to be more than 5 chapters. I don't know how long exactly and I don't want to make another estimate because chances are it will be wrong again. I have a few ideas in store anyway.
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Chapter 4
Up in their room, Faith and Aurora were trying desperately to comfort Lily.
"Come on, Lil, you know what James is like," Faith rubbed her back.
"Yeah, he's a bloody moron," Aurora interjected.
"Maybe so but he's right, I am a prima donna," Lily sobbed.
"No one in here thinks that," Faith assured her. Unfortunately this wasn't entirely true.
"Why'd you have to be so nasty to James?" a voice asked from across the room.
It was Lucy. She was sitting on her bed with Tamara. They had been whispering between themselves for the last few minutes.
"Nasty?"
"Yeah, just because you got caught by Andrew doesn't mean you should take it out on James," Lucy snapped.
"Excuse me?"
"He was defending you and you acted like an ungrateful bitch."
Lucy and Tamara left and Lily began to sob even harder.
"Even Gryffindors hate me!"
"Oh, who cares about Lucy? You know she worships the ground James walks on. In her opinion he can do no wrong," Aurora said. She'd never liked Lucy.
"I know but still…a Gryffindor. I expect Hufflepuffs to hate me because they're fiercely loyal and stuff but I was hoping my own house would stick by me," Lily hugged her pillow tightly.
"No matter what happens we'll stick by you, Lils," Faith smiled.
"You girls are the best," Lily dabbed at her eyes with a tissue.
"So…what did happen with the whole Andrew thing?"
"Snape kissed me and Lucius walked in with Andrew. The whole bloody thing was a set up."
"So Snape kissed you? Not the other way around?"
"Jeez, Rory, give me a little credit! I do have standards!" Lily shuddered.
"Sorry…I just…well it does seem a little odd. Everyone knows Snapes prejudice towards Muggle-borns so why would he kiss one?"
"Aurora!" Lily shrieked.
"Lily, she has a point. Of course we believe you but Snape is obviously smarter than he appears. He's really outsmarted everyone this time."
"Are we talking about the same guy here?" Aurora frowned.
"Think about it, girls. Who's going to believe Snape would intentionally kiss a Muggle-born?"
"No one. But why bother to kiss me then?"
"Simple. It's a smear campaign. He can't stand the idea that the most popular girl in the school isn't a pureblood. Snape is trying to discredit you," Faith explained.
"Well, it's working," Lily sighed.
Meanwhile, in the sixth year boys' room, the Marauders were having a heated argument with their roommates, Adam and Ben.
"How can you even take a Slytherin's word over Lily's?" Sirius demanded.
"Why would Snape want to kiss her? He hates Muggle-borns," Adam shrugged.
"Well, obviously because…well…that's a good question actually," Sirius rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
"Padfoot! Snape set Lily up!" James insisted angrily.
"Look, Prongs, I know you want to believe Lily but you have to admit…"
"NO, Moony! Snape kissed Lily just as Malfoy entered with the Hufflepuff git!"
"How do you know so much about it? Is there something you aren't telling us?"
"I was there ok. With my cloak," James confessed.
"But didn't they see you?" Sirius asked.
"Idiot," Remus nudged him.
"Oh, THAT cloak," Sirius finally caught on.
Adam and Ben exchanged confused looks. They decided they'd rather not know and promptly left the four to their 'business'.
"So tell us exactly what took place," Remus said eagerly.
James told them the whole thing from start to finish.
"I can't decide whether I hate Snape or that pretty boy Thomas more," Sirius said furiously.
"Well as far as I'm concerned Lily deserves better," Remus nodded.
"I don't think we have any choice but to seek revenge on her behalf. I think I might know a way to get Snape back. When is the next full moon?" Sirius asked.
"Next Wednesday," Remus answered.
"Splendid. Yes, I definitely feel a plan coming on," Sirius mused.
"Uh-oh," Peter moaned.
***************
The rest of the day passed uneventfully. Lily refused to come out of her room because she was convinced everyone in Gryffindor hated her. Sirius didn't leave his room either because he was still formulating his plan to 'get' Snape.
By the next day Sirius had perfected his plan but wouldn't tell anyone about it. Lily was also in a better mood and decided she would venture down to breakfast. She knew she'd have to face everyone eventually and she was starving anyway.
"You ready?" Faith asked Lily again.
"Yes! I just want to get this over and done with," she said.
Lily gathered all her remaining courage and entered the Great Hall. She kept her head high and her stride brisk as she walked towards the front of the Gryffindor table where the sixth years traditionally sat.
Aurora and Faith, who were practically running to keep up with her, took their seat between Sirius and Remus.
Lily moved to sit across from them but Lucy and Tamara moved together so there was no room for her. Lily faltered slightly but was determined not to lose it on front of everybody. She searched up and down the table desperately for a spot. People were beginning to snicker and Lily felt tears stinging at her eyes.
"Evans!" James hissed.
"What? You want to make a joke or something?" Lily snapped.
"Uh, no. I was just going to offer you my seat because I'm leaving."
"Oh," Lily blushed.
James stood up and left with a few girls trailing behind him. James didn't feel like being gawked at so he took a few shortcuts to lose his followers.
Once in the safety of the Gryffindor common room James collapsed into an armchair. He was hurt, angry and very, very confused. Did Lily honestly believe he was THAT heartless?
James sat there contemplating this for at least twenty minutes then students returned to get their things for class. Lily came in with Faith and Aurora. The trio bustled upstairs then bustled right back out again.
"You ready to go?" Remus asked James.
"I'll meet you there, I still need a few minutes," James lied.
"If you say so," Sirius eyed his best friend suspiciously then left with Remus and Peter.
In fact, James had no intention of going to class at all. All that thinking had given him a headache. He wasn't in the mood to learn, even if it was Transfiguration, his best subject.
James was busy trying to convince himself that Lily was just high maintenance and not worth the trouble when who should walk in but Ms. Evans herself.
"Shouldn't you be in class?" James looked over at her.
"Shut up," she sobbed.
"Lily! What happened!" James jumped to his feet. So much for the idea of forgetting about her.
Lily just stood there in the middle of the common room sobbing and dripping water everywhere. It looked like she'd jumped into the lake fully clothed.
"I…I was walking to Transfiguration minding my own business when these girls appeared out of nowhere and began to pelt me with water balloons. They were calling me the most horrible names! I never did anything to them!" Lily yelled, spraying water at James in the process.
"It's ok. I know a good drying spell. I can help you."
"I don't want your God damn help!" Lily pushed him away.
"You're completely impossible, Evans!"
"I'm sorry. I just can't deal with all of this," Lily buried her face in her hands.
Her shoulders were shaking as she cried. All the anger in James just melted away. Part of him knew he should just walk away but every sob tore at his heart.
"Please stop crying," he whispered.
Lily looked up at him; emerald green eyes locked with deep brown ones.
"Stop crying? I don't have a boyfriend, everyone hates me and I'm soaking wet!" Lily stomped her foot in frustration. "Give me one good reason why I shouldn't cry!"
"Because you're much prettier when you smile."
Lily was stunned. She hadn't been expecting anything like that. James always had been a smooth talker but he'd never gone out of his way to compliment her. Strangely though, Lily enjoyed it.
"I better get out of these robes before I catch a cold and you better get to class, I'm sure McGonagall will be missing her best student."
James watched Lily turn and leave for her room. He sighed heavily. Getting over Lily Evans was not an easy thing to do.
Five minutes later, Lily returned to the common room to find James still standing in the same place.
"You're still here! Why are you still here? I told you to go to class," Lily tilted her head questioningly.
James just stared at her. She looked so perfect standing there with her still damp hair hanging limply around her shoulders. With dry robes on she looked like her normal confident self again.
"I know you told me to go but I decided I'd do the proper thing and escort you to class."
"James Potter doing the proper thing?" Lily questioned.
"Yeah, but don't tell anyone, I have a reputation to live up to," he offered his arm out to her.
"Your secret is safe with me," Lily looped her arm through his.
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A/N: Sorry it was so short! I'll try to make the next one longer and more interesting. In the meantime please leave me a review!
A/N: I'm back with another chapter! When I wrote this chapter it became obvious to me that this story is going to be more than 5 chapters. I don't know how long exactly and I don't want to make another estimate because chances are it will be wrong again. I have a few ideas in store anyway.
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Chapter 4
Up in their room, Faith and Aurora were trying desperately to comfort Lily.
"Come on, Lil, you know what James is like," Faith rubbed her back.
"Yeah, he's a bloody moron," Aurora interjected.
"Maybe so but he's right, I am a prima donna," Lily sobbed.
"No one in here thinks that," Faith assured her. Unfortunately this wasn't entirely true.
"Why'd you have to be so nasty to James?" a voice asked from across the room.
It was Lucy. She was sitting on her bed with Tamara. They had been whispering between themselves for the last few minutes.
"Nasty?"
"Yeah, just because you got caught by Andrew doesn't mean you should take it out on James," Lucy snapped.
"Excuse me?"
"He was defending you and you acted like an ungrateful bitch."
Lucy and Tamara left and Lily began to sob even harder.
"Even Gryffindors hate me!"
"Oh, who cares about Lucy? You know she worships the ground James walks on. In her opinion he can do no wrong," Aurora said. She'd never liked Lucy.
"I know but still…a Gryffindor. I expect Hufflepuffs to hate me because they're fiercely loyal and stuff but I was hoping my own house would stick by me," Lily hugged her pillow tightly.
"No matter what happens we'll stick by you, Lils," Faith smiled.
"You girls are the best," Lily dabbed at her eyes with a tissue.
"So…what did happen with the whole Andrew thing?"
"Snape kissed me and Lucius walked in with Andrew. The whole bloody thing was a set up."
"So Snape kissed you? Not the other way around?"
"Jeez, Rory, give me a little credit! I do have standards!" Lily shuddered.
"Sorry…I just…well it does seem a little odd. Everyone knows Snapes prejudice towards Muggle-borns so why would he kiss one?"
"Aurora!" Lily shrieked.
"Lily, she has a point. Of course we believe you but Snape is obviously smarter than he appears. He's really outsmarted everyone this time."
"Are we talking about the same guy here?" Aurora frowned.
"Think about it, girls. Who's going to believe Snape would intentionally kiss a Muggle-born?"
"No one. But why bother to kiss me then?"
"Simple. It's a smear campaign. He can't stand the idea that the most popular girl in the school isn't a pureblood. Snape is trying to discredit you," Faith explained.
"Well, it's working," Lily sighed.
Meanwhile, in the sixth year boys' room, the Marauders were having a heated argument with their roommates, Adam and Ben.
"How can you even take a Slytherin's word over Lily's?" Sirius demanded.
"Why would Snape want to kiss her? He hates Muggle-borns," Adam shrugged.
"Well, obviously because…well…that's a good question actually," Sirius rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
"Padfoot! Snape set Lily up!" James insisted angrily.
"Look, Prongs, I know you want to believe Lily but you have to admit…"
"NO, Moony! Snape kissed Lily just as Malfoy entered with the Hufflepuff git!"
"How do you know so much about it? Is there something you aren't telling us?"
"I was there ok. With my cloak," James confessed.
"But didn't they see you?" Sirius asked.
"Idiot," Remus nudged him.
"Oh, THAT cloak," Sirius finally caught on.
Adam and Ben exchanged confused looks. They decided they'd rather not know and promptly left the four to their 'business'.
"So tell us exactly what took place," Remus said eagerly.
James told them the whole thing from start to finish.
"I can't decide whether I hate Snape or that pretty boy Thomas more," Sirius said furiously.
"Well as far as I'm concerned Lily deserves better," Remus nodded.
"I don't think we have any choice but to seek revenge on her behalf. I think I might know a way to get Snape back. When is the next full moon?" Sirius asked.
"Next Wednesday," Remus answered.
"Splendid. Yes, I definitely feel a plan coming on," Sirius mused.
"Uh-oh," Peter moaned.
***************
The rest of the day passed uneventfully. Lily refused to come out of her room because she was convinced everyone in Gryffindor hated her. Sirius didn't leave his room either because he was still formulating his plan to 'get' Snape.
By the next day Sirius had perfected his plan but wouldn't tell anyone about it. Lily was also in a better mood and decided she would venture down to breakfast. She knew she'd have to face everyone eventually and she was starving anyway.
"You ready?" Faith asked Lily again.
"Yes! I just want to get this over and done with," she said.
Lily gathered all her remaining courage and entered the Great Hall. She kept her head high and her stride brisk as she walked towards the front of the Gryffindor table where the sixth years traditionally sat.
Aurora and Faith, who were practically running to keep up with her, took their seat between Sirius and Remus.
Lily moved to sit across from them but Lucy and Tamara moved together so there was no room for her. Lily faltered slightly but was determined not to lose it on front of everybody. She searched up and down the table desperately for a spot. People were beginning to snicker and Lily felt tears stinging at her eyes.
"Evans!" James hissed.
"What? You want to make a joke or something?" Lily snapped.
"Uh, no. I was just going to offer you my seat because I'm leaving."
"Oh," Lily blushed.
James stood up and left with a few girls trailing behind him. James didn't feel like being gawked at so he took a few shortcuts to lose his followers.
Once in the safety of the Gryffindor common room James collapsed into an armchair. He was hurt, angry and very, very confused. Did Lily honestly believe he was THAT heartless?
James sat there contemplating this for at least twenty minutes then students returned to get their things for class. Lily came in with Faith and Aurora. The trio bustled upstairs then bustled right back out again.
"You ready to go?" Remus asked James.
"I'll meet you there, I still need a few minutes," James lied.
"If you say so," Sirius eyed his best friend suspiciously then left with Remus and Peter.
In fact, James had no intention of going to class at all. All that thinking had given him a headache. He wasn't in the mood to learn, even if it was Transfiguration, his best subject.
James was busy trying to convince himself that Lily was just high maintenance and not worth the trouble when who should walk in but Ms. Evans herself.
"Shouldn't you be in class?" James looked over at her.
"Shut up," she sobbed.
"Lily! What happened!" James jumped to his feet. So much for the idea of forgetting about her.
Lily just stood there in the middle of the common room sobbing and dripping water everywhere. It looked like she'd jumped into the lake fully clothed.
"I…I was walking to Transfiguration minding my own business when these girls appeared out of nowhere and began to pelt me with water balloons. They were calling me the most horrible names! I never did anything to them!" Lily yelled, spraying water at James in the process.
"It's ok. I know a good drying spell. I can help you."
"I don't want your God damn help!" Lily pushed him away.
"You're completely impossible, Evans!"
"I'm sorry. I just can't deal with all of this," Lily buried her face in her hands.
Her shoulders were shaking as she cried. All the anger in James just melted away. Part of him knew he should just walk away but every sob tore at his heart.
"Please stop crying," he whispered.
Lily looked up at him; emerald green eyes locked with deep brown ones.
"Stop crying? I don't have a boyfriend, everyone hates me and I'm soaking wet!" Lily stomped her foot in frustration. "Give me one good reason why I shouldn't cry!"
"Because you're much prettier when you smile."
Lily was stunned. She hadn't been expecting anything like that. James always had been a smooth talker but he'd never gone out of his way to compliment her. Strangely though, Lily enjoyed it.
"I better get out of these robes before I catch a cold and you better get to class, I'm sure McGonagall will be missing her best student."
James watched Lily turn and leave for her room. He sighed heavily. Getting over Lily Evans was not an easy thing to do.
Five minutes later, Lily returned to the common room to find James still standing in the same place.
"You're still here! Why are you still here? I told you to go to class," Lily tilted her head questioningly.
James just stared at her. She looked so perfect standing there with her still damp hair hanging limply around her shoulders. With dry robes on she looked like her normal confident self again.
"I know you told me to go but I decided I'd do the proper thing and escort you to class."
"James Potter doing the proper thing?" Lily questioned.
"Yeah, but don't tell anyone, I have a reputation to live up to," he offered his arm out to her.
"Your secret is safe with me," Lily looped her arm through his.
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A/N: Sorry it was so short! I'll try to make the next one longer and more interesting. In the meantime please leave me a review!