A/N: Okay I know its taking me forever to post, but the reason for that is because I'm really busy and I'm grounded. I have a whole lot of math homework like every night. And plus I'm taking 50's dance lessons. That's really fun though! Hehehe… it is. We learn things like the waltz, the rumba, the swing, the cha cha, the stroll, the bunny hop, etc. I'm getting off track here, lol. AHHH!!!!!!!! I'm so happy! My favorite song is on hahaha. Sorry about that… hehe I'm just like really HYPER!! HAHA. Okay so this will be in Lily's POV; if it changes back to James' POV I'll tell ya! This is a LONG chapter. This chapter kind of gets serious. But don't worry the whole thing will have comic relief, lol. Enjoy…
Title: It Doesn't Matter
Quote for this chapter:
"Out of adversity comes some of life's finest moments."- Montel Williams
"When life gives you lemons, make lemonade." "But what if you don't like lemonade?" "Then I guess you kill yourself."- These people off some show on T.V. that I forgot the name of
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Chapter Two: Chaos and Confusion
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"Lily Evans and James Potter."
Lily Evans sighed and shook her head as a mortified looking James Potter strode up to the Head Master. She couldn't believe her rotten luck! She'd gotten a Gryffindor, and on top of that an arrogant, spoiled, popular Gryffindor. Looking at him he didn't seem too happy, she knew the look on his face must've mirrored her own. She gracefully walked up to James and they started towards Gryffindor table each avoiding each other's eyes. Once they finally got to the Gryffindor table, Lily noticed all the ugly looks she was getting from everybody sitting there. She returned their haughty glances as she sat down next to James. She turned around so she wouldn't have to face him and he scooted as far from her as he could with out sitting in the next seat. They both sat silently as the rest of the students were paired. When the pairing was over Lily turned around to face him and he lazily scooted back over in his seat.
"So uh… do you have any brothers or sisters?" Lily asked trying to make conversation.
James stared at her stonily. "No."
She narrowed her eyes, God, she thought, I was only trying to make conversation. Make things a little easier, but no he has to go and be a jackass. Well I can be a jackass too. "I have a sister named Petunia." She said icily; saying her sister's name stung painfully as she was reminded how much Petunia hated her now. But she quickly recovered because she wasn't going to let him know something was bothering her.
"That's nice," He said in a bored tone.
"Look Mr. Marauder, I didn't wanna do this either. Well I did want to, until I got a snobby, good-for-nothing, stupid Gryffindor boy." Lily's harsh gaze never wavered. She surprised even herself it wasn't in Lily's nature to act so well rude.
James raised his eyebrows angrily, "How do you know about the map?"
"I dunno…" She replied twirling a strand of curly auburn hair around her finger.
"Let's make things easier for ourselves," James told her in a business like manner, "an talk of nothing else besides potions. Deal?"
"Fine."
"Fine."
~*~ Friday 7:30 p.m.
Lily looked in the mirror, it was around dinnertime but she hadn't felt much like eating. So she'd stayed up in her dorm room alone doing her homework. It wasn't until tomorrow that she had to tutor Potter. And she wasn't looking forward to it, he was just so annoying. He acted like the world revolved around him and he was so special. Well she had news for hi-
"Hey Lily!"
Lily was snapped out of her thoughts as her best friend Lara Zambini bounced into their room cheerfully. You see all Slytherin's were nice to each other, just rude to everybody else. Well except for Lucius Malfoy and Severus Snape who just plain out hated everybody except for each other. And Lily didn't know whether they really liked each other or they just hung out because they were both popular and thought they were superior.
"Hey Lar," she said smiling. "Whats up?"
"Well I just came back from dinner and you'll never guess who James Potter's going out with!" She eagerly sat down on the bed right next to Lily.
"Why would I care?" She asked rolling her eyes.
"Lily come on I know you care-"
"I don't really," Lily said smiling sweetly.
"Well, I'll tell you anyway. He's going out with Patricia Patil!"
"Ew," Lily wrinkled her nose in disgust. "That little slut? Why would anyone like her? I thought even Potter couldn't sink that low."
"Guys like her for just that reason: because she's a whore and they think they can get some." Lara replied matter-of-factly.
"Teenage guys are such… such losers."
"You said it sister, but hey we wouldn't be alive right now if it weren't for guys, so we have to deal with them." Lara said conspiratorially winking at Lily.
Lily laughed; Lara could always crack her up. Even though Lara thought she was better than a whole lot of people just because she was rich and beautiful, Lily loved Lara anyway.
"Well, anyway I can't believe I have to tutor him! Are they trying to kill me or something?" Lily complained.
"Probably, you know they're probably thinking of more ways to torture you right at this very moment! Those homicidal maniacs!" Lara jumped up dramatically. Lily laughed some more.
"Shut up Lara," Lily said grinning and flopping backwards on her bed. But she quickly got back up, remembering that she had left one of her books in the divination room. So she ran out of the room just leaving Lara there confused.
As lily ran out of the common room and into the hall she ran smack into someone.
"HEY! Watch it!" A familiar male voice shouted.
Lily was just about to say sorry when she realized that it was Potter. They both sat there for a moment just staring at each other in a funny way. Finally Lily said, "I guess Lara was right, they really are trying to torture me." She grinned at him stood up, and walked off.
James just sat there confused still. "Whose Lara?" With that he shook his head smiling as he stood up.
~*~ Friday 8:45 p.m.
James flopped backwards on his bed. He had had a rough and trying day. He really didn't want to have to wake up in the morning and have to deal with that confusing Slytherin girl. But he had to, even though he didn't want to he would. He tiredly (I don't know if that's a word, but if it's not I just made it one) put his watch on and headed down to meet Sirius, Remus, and Emerson. He would never admit it to anyone but he was kind of jealous of Remus. Remus was the only one who lucked out with a quiet, beautiful girl named Sarah Bones from Ravenclaw. Even though James was supposedly going out with one of the most popular girls in all of Hogwarts he wouldn't mind being tutored by Sarah. James did think he was very lucky to snag a hot girl like Patty Patil, even 7th year guys liked her.
But sometimes Patty was a little stupid and she was always saying things like, "Like uh what?" or "Ick that is just so disgusting!" or "Like OMG!" And whenever a teacher asked her a question in class she got a confused look on her face and said things like, "Um, well I don't like know maybe the answer is… 4?" He immediately stopped thinking about her as he saw Emerson, Remus, and Sirius looking angry enough to kill. He quickly ran towards them. "Whats wrong?"
Emerson shook her head angrily looking as if she were about to cry. Sirius tenderly put his arm around her and sighed, "Emerson was on her way to one of her honors classes in the dungeons; she was by herself of course. And when she turned the corner just by the potions class a whole group of 'em (they all knew he meant the Slytherins) jumped out from behind a statue and cornered her. They were all yelling at her, calling her a filthy, ugly ass mudblood. Then they got in a circle around her and started kicking at her, telling her what they were going to do to her. You know dirty things, she got out her wand but they took it from her and broke it in half. Malfoy and Snape were the leaders Emerson said."
James mouth fell open, "How did she get out? I mean who saved her? Is she okay?"
Emerson sniffled and whispered "You know who saved me James?"
"Come on Em, who?" James asked anxiously looking her straight in the eye.
"Lily Evans," Emerson blinked away a tear, "she's the one who saved me. I was yelling for help the whole time basically when someone came running around the corner and stupefied all of them. She grabbed my hand and ran with me all the way to Professor Forbes. She waited in his office with me the whole time James. I mean if it weren't for her… I don't know what would've happened to me…" Emerson's lip trembled as she started sobbing and hid her face in Sirius' shoulder. He silently ran his fingers through her messed up hair.
James watched Remus angrily clenching and unclenching his fist. "Oh God Em, I-I don't know what to say." James said in awe. He couldn't believe what they had just told him. He didn't even think the Slytherins could sink that low. And on top of that, Lily Evans had saved her; a Slytherin actually saved a Gryffindor. This was just too much to take in right now. He absently patted Emerson's back still lost in thought. When a sudden thought hit him. "What was their punishment?"
"Huh?" Remus asked.
"How much trouble did those Slytherin prats get into too? Are they expelled? Do they have to go home for the rest of the term? What?
"Oh, well they're still in Forbes office. So we don't know, but it better be something awful is all I'm saying. Because if it isn't, some Slytherins are going to die." Remus had a deadly look on his face.
"Calm down man, Emerson's gonna be alright. And I'm sure they'll get what's coming to them." James tried hard to smile reassuringly. But he couldn't, he felt awful because he couldn't think about Emerson at the moment. His mind just wouldn't let him; all he could process was that Lily had saved Emerson. He couldn't believe that the quiet, Lily Evans had actually done something so incredibly brave and kind. Of course he hadn't thought Lily was a completely bad person before, but he hadn't liked her at all, and he hadn't really thought much of her because she was a Slytherin. Plus she was kind of tiny and petite and didn't look brave at all; he was so confused. He looked at the faces of his best friends. Emerson who looked scared out of her mind, Sirius who looked angry and sad all at the same time, and then Remus who looked lethal. He couldn't comprehend everything that was going on around him.
"Hey baby," A female voice cooed as she wrapped her arms around James shoulder.
He looked behind him and saw Patty.
"Oh hey Patty," James replied absentmindedly.
"Well don't sound happy to see me." Patty pouted provocatively.
"Sorry Patty I'm just a little upset right now. Did you hear what happened to Emerson?"
"Of course! How could I forget about that, stupid me. I'm so sorry Emerson! You know all of that Slytherin lot is nasty and evil; well of course you know what am I saying? I just knew something like this would happen one day, I just never thought it would happen to someone as nice and um well sweet as you."
Remus narrowed his eyes at Patty.
"Thanks Patty." Emerson said quietly. James clenched his teeth as he felt anger bubbling up inside of him. How could Patty be so superficial, and how could she of said things like that about Emerson and not have meant them. And plus Lily had saved Emerson and- James realized something. He had been calling her Lily… not Evans or Slytherin girl. He couldn't believe himself, had he really been calling her Lily? God this was getting more off track every second. He knew he needed to calm himself and collect his thoughts.
"So James do you wanna go for a walk?" Patty asked twirling her hair around her finger.
"Uh not really." With that James walked off. Patty just stood there with a look on her face that plainly said, "Uh! Nobody's ever turned me down before!"
~*~ Sat. (day of tutoring session… oo ahh, lol)
"C'mon mudblood girl don't I turn you on?"
"Stop it! Please don't hurt me!! Somebody help… help me please!"
"You're making this harder on yourself Miss Mudblood, yes you are. Now stop it!"
"Ouch! Stop kicking me, let me go! I didn't do anything t-to you!! PLEASE quit, please!"
"You know what? Being the nice guy I am," He paused there and cackled evilly, "I'll let you in on what we're going to do to you. First we're gonna tie you up then we're gonna pull your hair down, because it looks much better down if I do say so myself. This is where the real fun begins, then we're gon-
Lily bolted up drenched in a cold sweat; her eyes were wide. She had been tossing and turning all night and when she finally fell asleep she was tormented with the same nightmare. She knew why she was having this dream of course; she still felt bad. See what everybody didn't know is that Lily had been there the whole time, just standing there listening to everything that was going on. She couldn't forgive herself for not having the courage sooner and stopping them. But she couldn't change what she did, and that was what was killing her the most. That such a good person like Emerson would have to go through something like that. But most of all she hated Snape and Malfoy, they were the real evil behind it. She looked over at her watch and saw that it was only 5:30 am. She groaned and threw her pillow over her face. "Why, oh why does my life have to suck so much?" She asked aloud.
"Maybe Gods getting you back because you're waking people up!" Lara shouted from the bed right next to Lily's.
"Sorry Lar didn't mean to wake you up." Lily said quietly from under her pillow.
"Oh it's okay," Lara replied sighing and rolling onto her side. "I went to sleep much to early last night anyway. And besides it seems like something's bothering you. Do you wanna talk about it?"
"Well, it's just that I've been having this recurring dream of… of when I saved Emerson from Snape and Malfoy." If you could call it saving, Lily thought sarcastically.
Lara raised her eyebrows. "Hmm… you don't feel bad about what happened now do you? I mean its not like you could've stopped them any sooner. Because you had just got there and Lily even if you didn't stop them as soon as you got there it's not your fault what they did. You couldn't have changed a single thing that happened, because it wasn't you who did it. Now if you still feel bad about, why don't you go and talk to this Emerson girl; see if she might be able to make you feel better."
Sometimes Lara astounded Lily with her wisdom and advice. Every girl in Slytherin knew that the one to go to when you needed advice was Lara Zambini. Lily shook her head and blinked, "I never thought about doing that. Thanks Lara, sometimes you scare me cuz your advice is so good."
Lara grinned sleepily, "Hey what are friends for Lil."
Lily smiled and got up out of bed. She looked at her watch and it was 6:00. She needed to get her shower because soon she would be tutoring that Potter boy and she needed to start off fresh with this one.
~*~
James got out of bed and trudged to his trunk only to be annoyed by a whistling Remus. "Shut it will you Lupin?"
"Sorry no can do James-y-ole-boy! I'm just in such a good mood this morning."
"Why the hell are you taking it out on me then?" He asked drowsily taking his robes and a clean shirt and jeans out of his trunk.
Remus laughed and slipped his robes on over his clothes.
"It's not fair you ended up with a decent tutor and I got a-a Slytherin girl I don't even know." James whined pulling his pajama shirt off throwing his clean T-shirt on.
"Oh come now James Lily can't be that bad. I mean what do you know about the girl?" Remus asked raising an eyebrow.
James was about to reply but quickly shut his mouth when he realized the only thing that he knew about her was that she had a sister named Penny or something. "I-I know a lot of things, like she has red hair- and red heads are always crazy. And uh she has a sister…"
"Basically you're judging her too quickly. James she can't be too awful, I mean the way she saved Em and all. You have to take that into consideration." Remus told him looking in the mirror at his reflection and winking.
"Shut up… why did you just wink at yourself in the mirror?"
"I'm getting physced for my tutoring lesson is all."
"Whatever you're too fruity for me at the moment I think I'll go now." James said starting out the dormitory room door. He stopped as Remus laughed really loudly.
"What is it now?" He asked turning around and staring at Remus.
"Are you actually gonna go down to breakfast in your boxers?"
James face burned slightly as he walked silently over to his bed and pulled his pants on over his boxers. He didn't say a word as he walked back over to the door and out to the common room. Remus followed him laughing like a hyena.
"Whats his problem?" Peter asked eyeing Remus with a scared look on his face as his eyes started twitching.
Remus quickly coughed back his laughter trying to avoid one of Peter's weird fits.
"I dunno, maybe he hasn't took his medicine this morning or something." James said nonchalantly heading toward the Great Hall where he was supposed to meet Lily.
~*~
Lily held her breath then released it as she saw James walking towards her looking less than happy. She laughed at the sight of his unruly jet-black hair and the look he had on his face. He looked like he had just woken up. Once he got to her she sat down and motioned for him to join her. He sat down and stared straight ahead. Earlier that morning Lily had decided to try to make the best of her situation by being at least courteous to the Gryffindor super-jock.
"Do you wanna eat some breakfast and then get tutored or do you just wanna skip this and me tutor you? Either way it's okay with me." Lily said looking at him questioningly.
James looked over at her with a serious look on his face. "I just wanna thank you for saving Emerson the way you did. She's one of my best-friends and I don't know what I would've done if anything had happened to her."
Lily smiled a small troubled smile. "Oh, it was nothing really. I'm sure she would've done the same thing for me. And its not like I could've just left her there."
James smiled back at her. "No really thank you. It was a brave thing that you did and Em is really grateful."
Lily couldn't help but smile really big at what James said. He was sweeter and more thoughtful than she ever thought he could be.
James grinned at her. "How's about we eat breakfast first and get to know a little more about each other?"
Lily was a little shocked at his suggestion but recovered quickly. "Sure that's fine."
"Great, so I remember you telling me you had a sister?" He asked scooping some jam on his toast.
Lily's smile happy smile faltered a bit and she said, "Yeah I have a sister. Her name is Petunia she's a year younger than me."
"Cool, are you guys close?"
This was the hard part to talk about for Lily. Even though she had been going to Hogwarts for five years now, it still hurt her to think of how much her sister hated her. She had never been able to get over it. Because the truth was while her parents were proud of her, Petunia only saw her as a freak that deserved to die. She didn't know what to say to him. "Er, well yeah," she lied.
He looked over at her for a moment with an unreadable look on his face but quickly looked away.
"So James do you have any brothers or sisters?" Lily asked taking the attention away from her.
"I used to have a sister," he said solemnly, "but she died a year ago."
Lily gasped. "Oh I'm so sorry James… it must be awful for you."
He tried to smile again but the smile didn't reach his eyes. "Yeah it was, it still is awful but I try to remember that she's in a better place now and that I know how much she loves me."
Lily studied him closely, there was obviously much more to him than she knew. Suddenly she felt bad for lying to him about Petunia.
"Gosh… what was her name, how old was she?" Lily's face burned when she realized how many personal questions she was asking. "Sorry, you don-"
He cut her off. "No, no it's fine. Her name was Abigail. But we called her Abby, she was only 11." James voice started cracking and a tear slid down his cheek.
Lily immediately reached out and pulled him into a big hug while he cried. "Shhh James, its okay. Shhh…."
He cried there for a while and suddenly went rigid. "What?" Lily asked still caught up in the moment.
He roughly pulled himself away from her and wiped his eyes. She involuntarily grabbed for his arm but he shook her off. "What are you doing? Just leave me alone!" He stood up and she put her head in her hands.
"James come back." She stopped when she realized she had said his name. She usually said Potter-boy or something like that.
He must've realized it too because he said, "You said my name."
"I know," she replied with wide eyes. He just stood there looking at her.
She finally broke the silence. "Come on I still have to tutor you."
"Great." He said sarcastically. "I have to spend more time with you."
Lily looked hurt and taken aback. "Yes you do, look I've already said that I didn't wanna tutor you either. But I didn't get to choose and neither did you so just shut up and stop whining," she snapped coldly.
He moodily sat down. "Fine lets get started then."
"Where are you having the most trouble?" She asked shortly.
"Oh I don't know. The whole subject maybe?" He answered rolling his eyes.
"Fine, that's perfectly fine. We'll start from the beginning then." And with that the two of them endured the worst hour of their lives. But James did understand his homework better even if he didn't like his tutor.
A/N: And that's the end of chapter 3. Gah that was a long one, I hope it wasn't too long. I just got a little carried away, but I warned you. Lmao, the whole thing won't be this serious I promise you. And as always I love you guys! And I want to thank ~*~American Granger~*~ for her support in my stories! You rock girl!
~*~Lady Kristaline~*~
