Chapter Nine: The DADA OWL Exam

"James Potter, get off of me now," said Lily, and he moved.

"I knew you were here. Keep your mouth shut," he said, and, much to his and Lily's surprise, Lily obeyed.

"Much easier that way, Now, Evans, you better keep your mouth shut about what you saw," said James, but he looked into her eyes. 'Big mistake! Don't look into her eyes, ever! Big big big mistake, her eyes are so lovely! But why are they wet?'

"Li-Evans, why do you look like you were crying?"

"No reason," said Lily, wiping away her tears and starting to walk up the stairs to her dorm.

"Lily, come back!" James called, and she turned around.

"Potter, just leave me the—argh, I can't even talk to you right now!" said Lily, then kept going up the stairs.

James quickly Summoned Lily's diary (he had seen her writing in it) and used his self-invented Duplication spell to make a copy that would edit itself when she wrote new entries in it and Banished hers back to her dorm. He hid his new copy in his pocket, grinned, and walked up to his own dorm.

((A/N: Read the post-DADA OWL exam passage from OotP—that's what goes here))

Chapter Ten: The Ride Home

Lily was so upset at herself for blowing up that she had figured she'd apologize to James for her comments.

Snape knew that what he said was wrong, and he had probably lost all of Lily's trust. He knew who was to blame though—Potter.

James was upset with himself, as he had yet again made a fool of himself in front of Lily Evans. He liked her quite the lot inside, but he couldn't show a bit of it—who knew what would happen if he did?

The last day of school and the day of the train ride home came pretty quickly. When Lily arrived back at the station, she found Mrs. Prewitt, wo was taking her home. Lily had the key to her house now, and she was going to take advantage of it—she had already told Vanessa's parents that she was going to live in there, and if there were any problems she'd contact them.

James, on the other hand, was a bit shocked when he saw where his car was going.

"Mum, why are we driving this way? This isn't the road home," he said, looking around at the unfamiliar street names.

"We got a new and bigger place somewhere else, darling. You'll like it a lot," said Mrs. Potter, smiling.

When they pulled up to their new house, Lily looked out the window. The people across the street had moved—at least one thing was going the right way! When the people jumped out of the car, Lily jumped back in shock. It was the Potters.

Chapter Eleven: New Neighbors

Lily immediately took out the rubber band holding back her hair. She had to make it look like she was someone else, or she knew what tormenting from James would be on the way. She dressed herself fairly well as her doorbell rang.

She hoped she'd disguised herself enough as she opened the door.

"Hello dear! Is your mother home?"

"No, she's not," said Lily, bursting into tears.

"What's wrong?" asked the woman.

"My mum and dad both died this past year, and my mum left this place to me," explained Lily. Two other people from across the street began jogging over.

'Wow, that girl could give even Lily a run for her money,' thought James, looking at Lily.

"Take a picture, it lasts longer," said Lily, looking at James. James seemed taken aback.

"I don't think we've met. I'm sorry, but you're just so beautiful," he said, and it was true—Lily's new look made her even prettier than her normal self.

"I'm Lexy Marteny," said Lily, using her Ravenclaw friend's name. She wanted to see what information she could get out of Potter with him believing she was someone else.

"Nice to meet you Lexy, I'm James Potter. I think I may have seen you around Hogwarts—do you go there?"

"Yes, I do," said Lily, "I'm in Ravenclaw though. You're a Gryffindor, correct?"

"Yes, I am," said James, smiling. "Why had you been crying?"

'Strange, for a minute there with the crying I had thought this girl was Lily Evans. Lily can't even match up to this chic!' thought James, and then snickered.

"What is so funny James?" asked Lily in a sweet voice when she really wanted to punch in his face.

"I was remembering how much you look like a girl I know from school," he said. "A girl that hates me with a passion I knew never existed."

"Oh," said Lily/Lexy, understandingly. He smiled as his mother asked Lily something that was sure to make for an interesting summer.

"Do you want to live with us for the time being? You and James seem to be getting along, and I would like to do all I can to help you with your—er—loss," said Mrs. Potter, smiling at Lily.

Now Lily, as herself, would have normally said flat-out no. But, figuring that she'd act like every other James-Quidditch-crazy-fangirl, decided to accept.

"Yes, I'd love to," said Lily/Lexy, smiling. James smiled back.

'She smiles like Lily and talks like Lily but she isn't Lily. Maybe at least this girl will like me,' thought James. 'Lily doesn't take a second look at me—and I have the looks from every other girl in the whole school!'