Hypocrites Always Fall in Love
Disclaimer: I don't own any of this (except most of the plot, and the characters you don't recognize). It all belongs to the amazing J.K. Rowling.
This should be the more interesting chapter and if it's not then I definitely need to stop writing all together. I hope you like this better than you liked the last one.
Grimm Sister: Here's the plot you've been looking for. I know the last chapter was pretty dry but all that stuff about Voldemort, that's going to be going somewhere in later chapters. For now, you'll just have to be content with a little Lily and James action (not the romantic kind, though… eleven is too young for these kids to "go out" and I don't like it when fanfic authors do that).
If you're looking for Lily and James romance, check out my other fanfics here. That fluffy stuff will satisfy you. But as for this…maybe there'll be HINTS of crushes and stuff…but for the most part, I'll save that stuff for 3rd and 4th year. Right now the last thing I want to write is more Lily and James romance. There's only so many times I can re-write it until I just go crazy.
Evilryokojesseandfiend: Lily won't find out about Remus' werewolf problem just yet. But don't worry…I have plans for that, too.
And people mentioning the Lily and Remus stuff: I'm not pairing them up, don't worry. I'm just trying to set up a friendship between them. Like I've said, no lovey-dovey stuff until way later in this story.
Summerkins (Dani): I never said James burned Lily's bag, did I? I only said he passed her in the halls when it happened.
Sorry for writing so much stuff up here. I tend to ramble. Thanks for the reviews…I can't wait to here what else you guys have to say.
Chapter 11- Reaching the Boiling Point
When she had reached the library, Lily was at a loss in her thoughts. How could there be a man going around England murdering people? Didn't they have some kind of force, like muggle bobbies, that could keep him from doing things like that? Or was it in the wizarding world that you had to fend for yourself? Was it like the saying she had once heard? "Every man for himself…"
She most certainly hoped not. If things were like that for all witches and wizards it was a cruel place out there in the world.
Lily tried to let her feelings cool down as she handed her book to Madame Pince and went in search of a volume for her Transfiguration essay on How Switching Spells are an Important Advancement in Magic. As her fingertip traced the dusty, book-covered shelves, she searched for the manuscript Catalina had said she'd used. The Index of Necessary Spells: Level One, it had been called…or something of that nature.
With the help of Pince (after she almost broke her back trying to reach the book on the top shelf), she managed to get what she needed quickly. When all had been settled she scurried out of the library as soon as possible.
Then, as she had nothing as to do, Lily decided it would be best to just go on to her next class. There was no point in going back to lunch, it would be over by now.
She navigated her way to the Potions chambers, for the first time in this whole week without getting lost. Or breaking a sweat from running so fast to reach her classes on time when she did happen to go astray in the many hallways that confused most first-years.
Lily just sat quietly, smiling at herself, since she had been one of the first to arrive.
Once all the students had appeared for class, it seemed evident that the Gryffindors had this class with the Hufflepuff first-years. They smiled politely at one another, and some made small-talk with others. Lily avoided all conversation as Lexy fell into the seat next to hers, huffing about the heavy load in her bag as she threw it down on the ground.
"You'd think that the teachers might actually have a lesson for once that didn't include half-a-zillion books."
Catalina giggled from behind them, sitting with Maia, at her own table.
"I don't think they make that possible...besides lessons so far aren't too horrible or loaded with homework..." she trailed off as the Potions master came into view.
He looked jolly; that was the first thing Lily noted about him right away. His thick, straw-colored hair was matted to his forehead as his grinned at the sight in front of him. The next noticeable trait was his face. It was round and had a jovial look about it. It was as though nothing in the world could wipe such a look off of his features.
"I dare say that that might change..." his lips broadening into a cheerful smile as he came down the steps of his office and stood in front of the class. His eyes fell on Lily, no doubt, she thought because of her bright red hair. It was like a neon sign flashing above her forehead. But when his eyes did not cease to move from her, she felt the need to glance at the floor instead of up front.
Lily looked around to see if anyone else was feeling as extremely uncomfortable as she was at the moment. But as she looked around, everyone appeared to me mesmerized by the professor; as if they were hanging onto his every last word. It was true, he seemed amiable, but a tad too inquisitive at the same time.
"My name is Professor Slughorn and I'd like to think that my class, Potions, is a subject everyone can understand. So today, we start right out, with some fun potions. Now look at the person next to you, and wave your goodbyes (of course, only for a brief double class) because you'll be assigned to new seats in three...two...one!"
The students rounded up their books rapidly, saying a quick "See ya" to their friends, and stood in the aisles. The fearful expressions on the kids' faces must have tickled the professor, because he suppressed a grin, and went to the front of the room to find his seating chart. Once he had pulled it out of his desk drawer he walked leisurely back to the students tables and stopped at the first one, in the very front of the room.
"Verde," he called loudly, looking around for Catalina, "You'll be here for the rest of the year." He said, pointing at the seat in front of him and then moving on to the one next to him. Catalina shot forward and took her place.
Slughorn's eyes shot back up from the parchment he was holding as he said cheerfully, "Mr. Black, you shall be accompanying her in the front of the room."
Not a sound the class was louder than the groan emitted through Sirius' lips. Slughorn, upon hearing this, smiled.
"Come on my boy, it's not like I'm condemning you. It's just the front of the room. You get a better view of the explosions."
As Sirius plopped down in the chair next to Catalina, she glared at him for his groan. Sirius caught on to this quickly and held up his hands in protest.
"Hey, it's nothing against you, Verde...But I've never liked the front. James and I always sit in the back..." he whispered, explaining himself apologetically.
"So you can act like prats, I'm sure and make some concoction to take someone's eye out," Catalina muttered, trying not to be heard by the professor. But he didn't seem to notice anyway. Slughorn was much too caught up in assigning seats at the moment.
"Christopher Baker and Tom Ackley, if you would be so kind as to come up here," the professor called, once more gesturing to the two seats behind Catalina and Sirius.
Lily's attention was lost after that. She kind of just spaced out until...
"Lily Evans!" Professor Slughorn said, pointing to a table in the back, "Miss Evans!" He called again and appeared slightly confused with no response.
"Lily, go," Lexy murmured, pushing Lily towards the professor, which finally grabbed her attention.
She felt her feet moving quickly and her cheeks turn crimson as she sat at the table Slughorn was pointing at.
"Sorry, Professor."
The teacher just smiled at her and then went back to his list.
"It's perfectly alright," he murmured, searching for the next name, "James Potter," he called.
Oh dear God, no! Her face must have shone her anguish, because Professor Sluhorn looked puzzled by James and Lily as James sat down.
"Something amidst, Miss Evans?"
"No, not at all," Lily lied.
And with that Professor Slughorn continued on with the interesting seating arrangement, stopping every now and then to question students about their relations and admit his connections to them. He was a strange man, Lily thought, Strange but nice enough.
"Today, since this is one of your first adventures into the art of Potions, discuss the nature of potion-making and the ingredients for a simple potion that cures boils. That potion is the one you and your partner shall attempt to concoct in the second-half of the lesson," he explained, looking over each and every person. It reassured Lily out a little bit that he did not expect them to know everything about the potion the first day. He was unlike the other professors. Not to say that they were not understanding and kind, but he seemed very amiable; it was almost as if he was looking to admire them all. She watched as he stopped to speak with Sirius and laugh jovially they exchanged a joke.
Lily glanced around as Professor Slughorn moved back to the front and spoke a bit more about the potion they would be making. Her eyes stopped upon James Potter, the one and only sitting next to her, who was etching a message onto his parchment. "Double Potions" with a huge X through it.
Despite the fact that she liked the professor, Lily could not agree more. Having to sit next to James was not what she wanted for the year, no matter how interesting she found the class to be.
Then she sighed and tried to get her attention back on the professor who was explaining a subject that she might actually be horrible at, so she figured she needed to pay close attention. Halfway through the lesson Lily decided this was interesting.
And it might give her a chance to address James, she reasoned. And she really did want to ask him why he felt the need to commit arson on her school bag. Would her books be next? These were all questions that needed answers.
Then teacher said loudly, "Now you can go to work." As everyone dispersed to their cauldrons with their partners, Lily tried to work up the incentive to ask James what she wanted to ask him.
"Well...we might as well get to work," James mumbled bitterly.
Yeah, well I feel the same way; Lily thought angrily, You aren't my first choice partner, yourself.
"Yeah," she said dully, "What do we need first?"
James shot a look at her and then picked up the paper next to the cauldron. He read it carefully and finally spoke, "The ingredients are dried nettles, crushed snake fangs..." This drew a scowl from both of them; though nether saw the other's. "...Stewed horned slugs...well, yuck...and..."
"Oh, just give me the list," Lily said, feeling fed up at his laziness and looked over his shoulder, "And porcupine quills."
James just glared at her. She was infuriating and she felt it was her duty to make him feel like he couldn't do anything right. He wasn't blind. She had been giving him angry looks ever since they had gotten to Hogwarts, and now he was sick of it. What had he done that had been so horrible that she hated him so? It didn't make any sense whatsoever.
So he decided to do something about it. This had been confusing him for far too long...
"Pass the dried needles," she said simply, interrupting his thoughts and pointing the nettles next to his hand on his side of the table.
"Sure," he replied, as he handed them over.
Lily decided that this would be the time she would say something. Now was when she would finally get this whole ordeal over with. She wanted answers, so she was going to get answers.
Take deep breaths, she told herself, trying to prepare herself for a confrontation with James Potter.
"So, Evans...," James began, as he poured the crushed snake fangs into the bubbling cauldron carefully. "Why do you hate me so much? I never did anything to you!"
Damn, he beat me to it.
Anger seeped through her body as she pondered his question. James seemed to notice a bit, too, as her face was turning almost as crimson as her curly hair.
Why do you hate me so much? Are you kidding me?
Then, before Lily even knew what she was saying, those exact words found their way out of her mouth, as she yelled.
The room had gone completely silent. Every head had turned to face Lily. Curious eyes were fixated upon her face as they waited interestedly to see what would happen next. A fight? An injury? A mildly entertaining sequence were Lily threw dried needles at James head? The action didn't get much better than this at Hogwarts, in the first-years perspective.
Everyone's thoughts and glances were broken by Professor Slughorn's attempt to reconcile the two fighting partners.
"Miss. Evans, Mr. Potter, please work together without yelling. There is whole semester of potions work you two will be completely together; is this really how you want to start things?"
Lily just nodded mutely.
So with her response in tact, Slughorn (feeling as though he had just resolved the dispute) headed back to Sirius and Catalina's cauldron where he examined their work.
Despite the warning, there was no stopping the glare on Lily's face now as her swerved back to face James, ready to tell him what she really felt.
"Are you kidding me?" she repeated again in a whisper, her eyes flashing dangerously. "You must be, seeing as I didn't burn your school bag!"
James threw up his arms at this. What for the love of Quiddditch was this girl talking about?
"What?" he sputtered, clearly confused, "I don't even know what you're talking about!"
As he said this, Lily grabbed the stewed horned slugs and shoved them viciously into the potion and stirred it like it was the potion that was making her angry.
"Sure," she replied sarcastically, tossing the spoon down in fury, "You have no idea, huh?"
"Well, I don't."
She stared at the boiling liquid in the cauldron. Suddenly she didn't feel like fighting much anymore. "So then who did it?"
She eyed him crossly, waiting for his response. It had better be good, that's all I have to say, she thought.
James had no thought on who could have done it. The only thing he knew was that he had been wrongly persecuted and couldn't even prove his innocence. Just one question bear in his mind.
"I don't know. When did I supposedly do this?" asked James, trying to find a way to show her that he hadn't done anything to make her upset.
Lily scratched her head, thinking a bit. "When you knocked me down in the hallway on the first day. You ran away from me after."
James only tried to remember.
"Yeah, I knocked you down, but I didn't touch your book bag. Swear."
"Well, this leads me back to my question again," she pointed out in a fuming tone, "Who burned it, if you didn't?"
James thought some more. Wow…he had never realized how much effort it took to think back to a week ago. He rubbed his forehead incessantly to keep from getting a headache.
"I know that I passed a couple of ghosts in the corridor, before I came across you. It was the Bloody Baron and that Ravenclaw ghost, I think….Oh! And Peeves was following them, too."
Both of them stopped everything in acknowledgement. Lily paused mid-way into adding porcupine quills to the potion and almost poked herself with them.
"Peeves…" she murmured, accompanying it with a groan.
"No kidding."
As soon as they finished their potion, Lily and James sat down to talk about getting the little poltergeist back for his actions. Even though James wasn't exactly involved, he was excited to try and prank the resident prankster.
"So I guess I shouldn't glare at you anymore?" Lily said, attempting to apologize.
James grinned at her, "Sure...that'd be nice...Though a broomstick might be nicer..."
"Don't push it, Potter," she replied, giving him a friendly shove.