So, as I mentioned before, my name's Issac. And, in case you didn't
already figure this out, I hate James Potter. Yes, it's true, I hate the
famed Quidditch player, Head Boy, and resident man-whore. He's always got
all those girls just hanging off him, but he just brushes them off like
it's no big deal.
Well guess what, James Potter. It is a big deal.
Not very many guys around here know the feeling of being the most wanted seventh year ever to attend Hogwarts. Well, maybe his buddy Sirius does. I don't know why Pettigrew and wolf-boy hang around those two, but it sure can't be for their 'personalities.' In all honesty, every single desirable girl is attracted to either Potter or Black, and it's starting to become obnoxious.
I suppose you're going to ask me what I have against the two most handsome lads at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, besides being jealous of their love lives. Surprisingly enough, I do have a bigger problem than jealousy.
It's called Lily Evans.
You've all heard the story, right? James loves Lily, Lily hates James, and James wins her over in the end.
While this IS the basic plotline, I assure you, it is much more upsetting for people. Namely, for me.
Why should I be bothered by James Potter's affairs? I hate him, and I shouldn't care. And I don't. At least not when they don't concern Lily.
'Why?' I hear you ask. My only answer is that it's complicated. But luckily for you, I'm here to explain it.
I am currently thirty years old. Lily and James have both been dead for years. But that doesn't matter. What does is the story behind their relationship. My story.
I'm not really sure where to begin. Sure, I could start with the day I was born, but that may be a little extreme. I guess we can start with October 31st, 1977.
I remember the date quite well, actually. It was Halloween night, in our sixth year.
I was sitting in a faded red chair, reading a very interesting book. What the title or content was I do not recall, but that isn't important. What is important was that I was spending the evening of the Halloween Feast in the school library.
The entire room was deserted. The only other soul within relative distance was Madame Pince, who I doubt ever left her precious library. She sat at her tall, regal wooden desk, repairing damage done to a stack of Quidditch books. I knew James had checked them out to study Seeking maneuvers, and I also knew how he had carelessly thrown them around for three weeks. But, seeing as he was (gasp) JAMES POTTER, he didn't have to pay for the damages. When he returned them, Madame Pince merely smiled at him and said it was no problem at all.
Now, call me crazy, but I just don't think that's very fair. I once dog- eared the corner of a Transfiguration text, and I had to pay eleven galleons to have the entire chapter redone. James, on the other hand, had stopped just short of utter destruction of school property.
Anyway, back to my story. I was in the middle of a page, when I heard loud, pounding footsteps come dashing towards me. I turned around to see Lily Evans, the smartest, prettiest, and most freethinking girl in school come sprinting into the library, slamming the door behind her.
I rose immediately, but she took off once again before she spotted me.
Lily Evans was a girl in my year, in my house. But, somehow, we never seemed to talk. Sure, I've seen her around, but I mostly spend time by myself. That's how it works when you room with an inseparable clique of four.
Following her to the far side of the room, I wondered what could be wrong. I hadn't much experience talking to girls, but how hard could it be? Oh, I've seen many a lad freeze under the pressure, but it didn't really worry me.
I stopped between two rows of dragon care books when I heard a small, distressed cry. I faced the left shelf, and slowly pulled a text from it.
There was a bundle of red hair, shaking violently. I proceeded to remove another four books, until there was a sizeable window between the manuals.
"Hey," I said softly, not wanting to startle her.
Unfortunately, I did. She whipped around to face me and I could see the surprise on her face.
"Oh," she replied, horrorstruck, "I didn't know anyone else was in here."
I only shrugged and said, "I don't like social events much."
She gave me a sardonic smile and shot back, "Well, I'm not sure I do either, anymore."
"Why's that?"
Her eyes searched me, as if to verify I was worthy of the information. I must have passed the test.
Lily's concentration broke as she spat out, "I simply HATE James Potter!"
I laughed gently and said in a consoling tone, "That makes two of us."
I didn't know if I was more surprised by the abrupt ceasing of tears or the fact that she thought it was impossible for more than one person to dislike the great and noble James Potter.
"Really?"
"You bet," I replied. Yes, this conversation was going well. At least I hadn't totally embarrassed myself yet. And it seemed we had a few things in common, as well.
She let out a small huff, and slunk down to the floor. I was confused for a moment, but I followed suit and took a seat facing the bookshelf that separated us. I could hear a muffled noise that was her talking, but I couldn't quite understand it.
"Hold on," I called out, before removing a single book on the bottom shelf.
I looked through and was met with a disconcerting sight. Lily's eyes were staring straight at me, and the eerie shade of green ironically became quite comforting.
"What's he ever done to you?" she asked in a conversational tone.
We swapped stories for the next half an hour, each one worse than the next.
"...It was so embarrassing," she finished, "In front of the ENTIRE Great Hall."
"Yeah, well at least you room with people you can talk to. Imagine being stuck with the four Marauders."
"I don't think I want to. I fear for my purity."
I let out a small laugh and continued.
"It's not so much that as it is a feeling of complete emptiness. I don't have anyone to talk to, and I know they spread rumors about me."
"Are you serious?"
"Yeah, especially that Peter one. God, I don't know, there's something off about him..."
"I agree," she said, nodding her head, "But it's Potter that annoys me the most."
"Yes," I sighed wistfully, "I only wish there was some way for revenge, make HIM be the one on the bad end of a joke for once."
I continued to stare off into space, but when I realized that the girl beside me had stopped talking, I turned to look at her.
"That would be fun..." she trailed off, no doubt thinking of how she would embarrass Gryffindor's star seeker.
Suddenly, I was hit with an idea.
"Let's do it," I said decidedly.
"What?" she asked, evidently lost.
"Get revenge!"
"Issac, I don't think revenge is the best way to go about this..."
"C'mon, Lily. You're always talking about how horrid he makes your life, constantly cracking crude and inappropriate jokes at you. I know you want to do this, Lily, just as much as I do."
I could see the determination start to melt off of her face. She turned to me slowly and said while beginning to grin maniacally, "Okay."
I stuck out my hand through the bookcase, and we shook on it, just to make it official.
We stayed in the library for the remainder of the evening, leaving only when Madame Pince tracked us down and forced us out. Personally, I never wanted to leave, but I suppose she had a point. The sooner we left the library, the sooner we could make that bastard pay.
I know I haven't exactly elaborated on what he's done to me. And I don't think I'm ready to tell you yet, at least not in full detail. Let me just say it had something to do with peanut butter, a long piece of rope, and a well placed spell on James' part. But that's another story.
I walked Lily to the common room, and luckily, we didn't run in to any of the Marauders. She spun around at the foot of her staircase and said to me in a businesslike tone, "So, I guess I'll see you tomorrow."
I held out my hand once more and as she shook it tentively, I added, "Partner."
Lily smiled and gave a curt nod before heading up to her dorm. I watched her disappear around the bed, staring up at her. I'll admit, most of my attention was focused on her rear end, but that's not the point. The point was, at the moment, that Lily and I had agreed to bring James down. And I was gonna have one hell of a time doing it.
Well guess what, James Potter. It is a big deal.
Not very many guys around here know the feeling of being the most wanted seventh year ever to attend Hogwarts. Well, maybe his buddy Sirius does. I don't know why Pettigrew and wolf-boy hang around those two, but it sure can't be for their 'personalities.' In all honesty, every single desirable girl is attracted to either Potter or Black, and it's starting to become obnoxious.
I suppose you're going to ask me what I have against the two most handsome lads at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, besides being jealous of their love lives. Surprisingly enough, I do have a bigger problem than jealousy.
It's called Lily Evans.
You've all heard the story, right? James loves Lily, Lily hates James, and James wins her over in the end.
While this IS the basic plotline, I assure you, it is much more upsetting for people. Namely, for me.
Why should I be bothered by James Potter's affairs? I hate him, and I shouldn't care. And I don't. At least not when they don't concern Lily.
'Why?' I hear you ask. My only answer is that it's complicated. But luckily for you, I'm here to explain it.
I am currently thirty years old. Lily and James have both been dead for years. But that doesn't matter. What does is the story behind their relationship. My story.
I'm not really sure where to begin. Sure, I could start with the day I was born, but that may be a little extreme. I guess we can start with October 31st, 1977.
I remember the date quite well, actually. It was Halloween night, in our sixth year.
I was sitting in a faded red chair, reading a very interesting book. What the title or content was I do not recall, but that isn't important. What is important was that I was spending the evening of the Halloween Feast in the school library.
The entire room was deserted. The only other soul within relative distance was Madame Pince, who I doubt ever left her precious library. She sat at her tall, regal wooden desk, repairing damage done to a stack of Quidditch books. I knew James had checked them out to study Seeking maneuvers, and I also knew how he had carelessly thrown them around for three weeks. But, seeing as he was (gasp) JAMES POTTER, he didn't have to pay for the damages. When he returned them, Madame Pince merely smiled at him and said it was no problem at all.
Now, call me crazy, but I just don't think that's very fair. I once dog- eared the corner of a Transfiguration text, and I had to pay eleven galleons to have the entire chapter redone. James, on the other hand, had stopped just short of utter destruction of school property.
Anyway, back to my story. I was in the middle of a page, when I heard loud, pounding footsteps come dashing towards me. I turned around to see Lily Evans, the smartest, prettiest, and most freethinking girl in school come sprinting into the library, slamming the door behind her.
I rose immediately, but she took off once again before she spotted me.
Lily Evans was a girl in my year, in my house. But, somehow, we never seemed to talk. Sure, I've seen her around, but I mostly spend time by myself. That's how it works when you room with an inseparable clique of four.
Following her to the far side of the room, I wondered what could be wrong. I hadn't much experience talking to girls, but how hard could it be? Oh, I've seen many a lad freeze under the pressure, but it didn't really worry me.
I stopped between two rows of dragon care books when I heard a small, distressed cry. I faced the left shelf, and slowly pulled a text from it.
There was a bundle of red hair, shaking violently. I proceeded to remove another four books, until there was a sizeable window between the manuals.
"Hey," I said softly, not wanting to startle her.
Unfortunately, I did. She whipped around to face me and I could see the surprise on her face.
"Oh," she replied, horrorstruck, "I didn't know anyone else was in here."
I only shrugged and said, "I don't like social events much."
She gave me a sardonic smile and shot back, "Well, I'm not sure I do either, anymore."
"Why's that?"
Her eyes searched me, as if to verify I was worthy of the information. I must have passed the test.
Lily's concentration broke as she spat out, "I simply HATE James Potter!"
I laughed gently and said in a consoling tone, "That makes two of us."
I didn't know if I was more surprised by the abrupt ceasing of tears or the fact that she thought it was impossible for more than one person to dislike the great and noble James Potter.
"Really?"
"You bet," I replied. Yes, this conversation was going well. At least I hadn't totally embarrassed myself yet. And it seemed we had a few things in common, as well.
She let out a small huff, and slunk down to the floor. I was confused for a moment, but I followed suit and took a seat facing the bookshelf that separated us. I could hear a muffled noise that was her talking, but I couldn't quite understand it.
"Hold on," I called out, before removing a single book on the bottom shelf.
I looked through and was met with a disconcerting sight. Lily's eyes were staring straight at me, and the eerie shade of green ironically became quite comforting.
"What's he ever done to you?" she asked in a conversational tone.
We swapped stories for the next half an hour, each one worse than the next.
"...It was so embarrassing," she finished, "In front of the ENTIRE Great Hall."
"Yeah, well at least you room with people you can talk to. Imagine being stuck with the four Marauders."
"I don't think I want to. I fear for my purity."
I let out a small laugh and continued.
"It's not so much that as it is a feeling of complete emptiness. I don't have anyone to talk to, and I know they spread rumors about me."
"Are you serious?"
"Yeah, especially that Peter one. God, I don't know, there's something off about him..."
"I agree," she said, nodding her head, "But it's Potter that annoys me the most."
"Yes," I sighed wistfully, "I only wish there was some way for revenge, make HIM be the one on the bad end of a joke for once."
I continued to stare off into space, but when I realized that the girl beside me had stopped talking, I turned to look at her.
"That would be fun..." she trailed off, no doubt thinking of how she would embarrass Gryffindor's star seeker.
Suddenly, I was hit with an idea.
"Let's do it," I said decidedly.
"What?" she asked, evidently lost.
"Get revenge!"
"Issac, I don't think revenge is the best way to go about this..."
"C'mon, Lily. You're always talking about how horrid he makes your life, constantly cracking crude and inappropriate jokes at you. I know you want to do this, Lily, just as much as I do."
I could see the determination start to melt off of her face. She turned to me slowly and said while beginning to grin maniacally, "Okay."
I stuck out my hand through the bookcase, and we shook on it, just to make it official.
We stayed in the library for the remainder of the evening, leaving only when Madame Pince tracked us down and forced us out. Personally, I never wanted to leave, but I suppose she had a point. The sooner we left the library, the sooner we could make that bastard pay.
I know I haven't exactly elaborated on what he's done to me. And I don't think I'm ready to tell you yet, at least not in full detail. Let me just say it had something to do with peanut butter, a long piece of rope, and a well placed spell on James' part. But that's another story.
I walked Lily to the common room, and luckily, we didn't run in to any of the Marauders. She spun around at the foot of her staircase and said to me in a businesslike tone, "So, I guess I'll see you tomorrow."
I held out my hand once more and as she shook it tentively, I added, "Partner."
Lily smiled and gave a curt nod before heading up to her dorm. I watched her disappear around the bed, staring up at her. I'll admit, most of my attention was focused on her rear end, but that's not the point. The point was, at the moment, that Lily and I had agreed to bring James down. And I was gonna have one hell of a time doing it.