Hey everyone!

It seems these days I can only get enough time to post on a sunday! great!

I hope you enjoy this chapter!

Won't keep you too long mainly due to the fact i'm so tired!

Thanks for all the reviews!

Lots of love

Jessie xxx

Going against the Odds

"No wonder she got let off for all those times she was late."

"Yeah she was bloody fucking the teacher."

"And all that arguing was a cover. They never hated each other to start with."

"To think we actually felt sorry for the bitch when she broke up with Bagnold."

"Well I saw it all along. I guessed that they were together from the way they looked at each other in class."

"Shut up Shakleboat. You were in the dark as much as the rest of us."

Suddenly the class went silent and all copies of the Daily Prophet were hastily shoved beneath desks. Lily entered the room trying to hold her head high and to pretend she wasn't aware of her red eyes.

"Hey Evans, have you done your homework today? Cause I'm sure THIS Professor will not be as lenient with you!" Someone sniggered. Lily pretended she hadn't heard them and sat at her desk in silence. "Obviously thinks she's too good for us to answer." They muttered. Lily was saved from further torture as Remus Lupin strolled in looking slightly worse for wear. It must be nearing the full moon Lily noted.

"Morning class. Today we are moving on to our last topic before the final exams. Tyrophology. Can anyone explain to me what that means?" Immediately Lily's hand shot up. She would avoid the whispers by burying her head in her work.

"Tyrophology is the study of mental illness, it's causes and the effects it leads too. Long term and short term." She smiled. Remus caught her eye and winked.

"Well done Miss Evans. One hundred percent correct."

"Well I'm sure I could get it right too if I were sleeping with the professor."

"Excuse me Miss Faraday; did you have something to add?" Professor Lupin asked his brow furrowing.

"Oh no sir." She replied in a sickly sweet voice. "I was merely remarking that some of us have a head start on these things and don't always like to step back and give those of us who are not sleeping with our ex professor a chance to answer." Remus' eyes widened, how did they know about Lily and James.

"Sir," Lily put her hand up- she was seeing red. "Maybe if some people decided to read their text books instead of trashy news paper articles they would know as much as other students and would be able to answer questions." She said turning and smirking at Christine Faraday.

"Think of that all by yourself did you Evans- didn't need Potter to hold your hand this time? Was the ministers son just not rich and powerful enough for you?"

"I'LL HAVE YOU KNOW I'VE NEVER NEEDED ANYONE IN MY ENTIRE LIFE. WHAT HAPPENS IN MY PERSONAL LIFE IS PERSONAL. WE ARE HERE TO LEARN ABOUT HEALING!"

"YOU'RE THE ONE WHO DISRUPTED THE COURSE BY GETTING OUR BLOODY TEACHER FIRED!"

"DON'T BELIEVE EVERYTHING YOU READ, JAMES WASN'T FIRED HE WAS PROMOTED AND THE HEAD TEACHER KNEW ABOUT US THE WHOLE TIME!"

"LADIES! Please, stop fighting..."

"She was the one who started it!" Lily sulked.

"I don't care! Another word out of either of you and you'll both be outside the heads office. Honestly you would have thought two twenty year olds wouldn't be fighting like 12 year olds!"

Professor Lupin carried on with the classes. They were in a vital point of the year, they would be handed their last assignment today and with just a couple of review classes, they would be facing their end of year exams and then be set free in to the wonderful world of healing!

A very daunting thought.

But Lily's last few classes were continually made hell. It seemed that everyday brought another article, every article lead to more taunting. Everyday Lily would hold her anger and misery in until she got home. And everyday James would need to comfort a disheartened Lily.

"Don't worry you only have a few more classes with them and then you will never have to see them again!" James would say.

Or, "They're just jealous because they know you're the smartest person in the class."

James even went to Remus about this form of bullying his girlfriend was getting. But even though Remus was appalled by it all he had absolutely no authority over what was happening. He felt that him sticking up for Lily would only cause her more taunting.

Fortunately the final exams were near and Lily had only to endure the comments too and from each exam.

Lily's last exam, the most important one, would be actually surgery on a pretend wizard with some sort of ill ness. It would be performed in front of the rest of the class so as to apply pressure. It was also the day where the worst article was printed in the daily Prophet.

It completely slated Lily's entire personality, appearance and shunned everything that Lily had ever achieved or strived for. But the worst part of the article was an exclusive interview with none other then Christine Faraday.

"Lily used to be my best friend. When we met in class at the beginning we hit it off completely. Then very slowly she began to change. She started dating Alex Bagnold, but that didn't stop her from being with other men at the same time. I think what really ruined our relationship was when I walked into my apartment, which at the time I shared with my boyfriend. I caught them in our bed.

I was devastated; I couldn't believe my boyfriend would do that let alone my best friend. Then Lily was struggling slightly in class and I noticed that she began wearing outfits which were a little more provocative then I really thought appropriate. But I thought that even Lily wouldn't stoop as low as sleeping with the professor to achieve a grade. I really thought that when I first met Lily Evans she was different. How wrong was I? I really can't see their relationship, if you can call it that, lasting once we get our final results."

Lily couldn't believe that anyone was that nasty. It angered her beyond belief. James had to physically calm her down, so she didn't apperated to Christine's apartment and rip her ruddy hair out. In fact he had to calm her down a lot more then that, because he knew that she would fail her final exam other wise.

"Lily, just think that after this exam you won't have to see any of them ever again. You can show them by passing. And I know you can get a better grade then any of them, you just need your head in the game." This seemed to do the trick. Lily sat up attentively.

"Yeah I'll show them that no matter what they say about me I can still do better then them."

And she did.

When she arrived in the class room, she was met by Christine Faraday's smirking face.

"Did you enjoy my article this morning?" She smiled.

"Actually yes I did. It's amusing, see I didn't think you knew how to spell. My we can all be proved wrong can't we?" Lily replied evenly.

"I like the part where I say..." Christine started.

"Sorry dear." Lily interrupted. "See I've read that article, and it was very amusing. But I've got a very important exam in a minute, and I'd rather get some final revision in, then listen to you." Christine's mouth dropped and Lily got on.

She passed her exam with flying colours, unlike Christine whom just about scraped a pass.

On the way out Christine caught up to her though.

"You think you're great don't you!" She screamed. "You think you're so smart and so pretty, don't even leave an inch for the rest of us!" Lily turned around.

"What are you on ab..." But Christine swung for her. She missed and instead grabbed a handful of Lily's hair. "OUCH!" Lily screeched, trying to free herself from the mad girl. She managed to push her too the floor. "What's your problem? What have I ever done to you to deserve this?"

Christine got up and kicked lily in the shin, causing her to fall on the floor and for Christine to jump on top of her, claws at the ready."

All the commotion caused the building to empty and students and teachers alike to come out and see them. Sirius Black had been giving a lecture to the aurours in training also came out.

"Oh yes cat fight!" He shouted.

Remus came out and saw it, then turned back to go and get James from the class he was teaching.

"YOU WANT TO KNOW WHAT MY PROBLEM IS? MY PROBLEM IS THAT I'M FED UP OF PRICKY PEOPLE LIKE YOU ALWAYS COMING OUT OF EVERYWHERE SMELLING LIKE ROSES! YOU GET EVERYTHING HANDED TO YOU ON A SILVER PLATTER. YOU GET THE BRILLIANT GRADES WITH NO EFFORT, THE PERFECT MEN BY FLUTTERING YOUR EYELASHES. I BET YOUR PARENTS ARE MILLIONAIRES AND BUY YOU EVERYTHING YOU EVER NEED!" Christine screamed slapping the struggling Lily across the face.

"Actually my parents died when I was 15. I've been learning about medicine since my granddad died when I was 7. My sister disowned me. And the only thing I've ever been good at is studying. My first ever boyfriend took drugs and ended up killing himself, my second one was Alex Bagnold and the love of my life is James Potter. Whatever grades I get I worked my ass off for." Lily talked quietly, tears falling from her eyes as she spoke. The crowds noises went deadly silent and Christine's punches subsided the second Lily stopped struggling. James reached the front of the crowd and pulled Christine off of Lily, whom was cut and bruised and soggy from her tears. "Everybody has flaws." Lily said whilst standing up. James took her into his arms and hugged her as Lily broke down once more into tears. Shaking violently.

"GET BACK TO YOUR CLASSES!" He shouted. Nobody seemed to argue with him, but those whom didn't move Sirius began to fling hexes at.

Christine didn't move. She stood routed to the spot.

"Lily?" She asked. "I still maintain what I said."

"FARADAY DON'T YOU THINK YOU'VE DONE ENOUGH! YOU'RE LUCKY THAT YOU FINISHED TODAY OR I WOULD HAVE HAD YOU EXPELLED!" Christine gave the couple one more glare before apperating away.

"Want me to get her done for assault Prongs?" Sirius came up and asked.

"No we're ok for now Padfoot." James took Lily to his office where he cleaned her up and cheered her up.

The fight of course had been written about in the Prophet, and Lily was completely blamed for the incident.

However, Lily and James decided against buying the Prophet any more. The only news they needed to know about was what involved each other. And their news was great.

James would be starting his position as Head of healing at the college in two weeks time. It would be announced at the graduation of this years healers. Lily had achieved highest marks in the year and therefore got the chance to make a speech in front of every one. She had also received job offers from three different medical institutions. But which one she would take was beyond her. The best one by far was one at the ministerial hospital of Australia. But that would mean that she would have to move away from James and she had to make a decision between him and a great opportunity.

She still had two weeks.

And all in one day she would have graduated, decided and have changed her public image from one of a "scarlet woman" to one of a "hero".