Hate Everything About You
Summary: Lily Evans is convinced that James Potter is bad down to the core. What happens when she realises that this isn't true?
Disclaimer: I don't own any of J. K. Rowling's characters, locations, or other such ideas. Basically, I own Mandy, Amber, and other random characters in the story.
A/N: lol, did you notice that I'm copying and pasting the summary and disclaimer every time? Dunno why people suffer so much from writing disclaimers, since you really only have to write one.
Chapter Four – Another Year Finished
The ride on the Hogwarts Express seemed to take a grand total of five minutes. Lily, Alice, Mandy, and Amber were having a great time just talking, laughing, and occasionally playing Exploding Snap and even wizard's chess. It was a near miracle that the only time Lily had to lay eyes on any of the Marauders was during the Prefect meeting, where she saw Remus.
Lily didn't know why Remus was James and Sirius' friend. He was practically the opposite of a Marauder. He was quiet, kind, friendly, and intelligent, but not arrogantly so. He wasn't like Peter, either. Peter was a bit of a freak who didn't seem to fit in. Lily was sure he was just a pity-friend. And while Remus wasn't "handsome" like the other two were considered to be, he was very cute and charming.
Lily had noticed that over the past few months, and she thought that maybe, just maybe, she might fancy him a little bit. '"Remus and Lily" does have a bit of a ring to it, doesn't it?' Lily had thought to herself. But what would happen even if he liked her back? Surely a relationship with him would infuriate Potter, and since the two were friends (even if Potter did get over it) she'd be seeing a lot more of James than she would like. She'd probably go mad.
The train came to a stop as it reached King's Cross. Lily and her friends followed the crowd, clambering out to meet their parents. Well, not Lily or Mandy's parents; they would be on the other side of the barrier.
Alice waved frantically as she saw her dad. "See you guys in September!" she yelled over her shoulder as she ran to meet him.
Soon after, Amber saw her parents and went to meet them as well, leaving Lily and Mandy ploughing through the crowd together.
"My trunk weighs more than I do!" Mandy groaned as they dragged their trunks across the platform.
"Maybe we should find some trolleys to put our luggage on," Lily suggested.
The girls headed toward the trolleys, and saw that there were only two left.
"Perfect," Mandy said, dropping her luggage onto one of them.
Lily was about to do the same, when her trolley was whisked away. Her trunk landed on the ground with a loud thump, narrowly missing her toes.
"What on-" she began, then saw where her trolley had gone.
"Not funny, Potter." He'd used a stupid summoning spell again. Lily's empty trolley stood right beside James' full one.
He grinned. "I certainly think it is, Evans."
'Where are his parents anyway? They probably disowned him or something, on account of his constant cockiness and disregard for everyone and everything except himself,' Lily thought, glaring at Potter.
"Well, it's not, so give it back," Mandy spoke. Lily turned to her and grinned, so that Potter couldn't see.
"I just wanted to ask you something, you don't have to get so uptight!"
Lily rolled her eyes. "Of course, and every question has to start with the stealing of the last available trolley, doesn't it?"
She knew what was coming, anyway. Lily decided not to wait for the question and turned around. "Here, Mandy... could I put my trunk on your trolley? I can take it off once we cross the barrier, I just don't want to have to lug it all the way."
"Oh, sure." They put Lily's trunk beside Mandy's luggage and headed off, away from Potter, toward the barrier.
They walked briskly and silently for awhile, thinking about the summer, and, on Lily's part, trying to stop herself from exploding with anger at this trivial incident. She wouldn't let Potter get to her. He was just a piece of scum, that was all.
Eventually they slowed down a bit – the crowd was still substantial and they weren't exactly keen on demolishing anyone who stood in their path.
Suddenly, Lily felt a breath against her ear as she walked. She didn't realise who was whispering until she started making out the words. "...ditch me like that. You didn't even let me ask my question."
She stopped abruptly, seeing that Potter had been walking alongside her, whispering into her ear.
James seemed to have noticed her stopping, although Mandy kept walking. He stopped as well and went over to face Lily.
"Fine. What do you want?" she said exasperatedly.
He grinned cockily. "I knew you'd warm up to me."
Lily rolled her eyes.
"So, anyway, I figured maybe, during the summer, we could-"
"No."
Potter's eyes widened in disbelief. "No? No to what? I haven't even asked my question!"
"Well I know what you were going to ask me anyway," Lily said, annoyed.
He grinned again. "Starting to read my mind, are you? We must have some kind of special bond or something. Don't you think that would mean we were meant to go out together?"
Lily started fuming. "Has it occurred to you that maybe, just maybe, I can predict what you're going to say because you're so unbelievably – predictable? Anyone with half a brain would be able to figure it out! Though it seems YOU don't even have a quarter of one! Ugh!" She turned to leave, but James said something just before she got out of earshot.
"Well – well maybe if you could, er... consider it over the summer... that'd be great," he said, almost disappointedly.
Lily was confused. Potter was never disappointed. He thought the world revolved around him and was always being a pompous jerk – even if he seemed disappointed, he was probably acting. So what had he said again? What had he meant?
By the time Lily had said the words over to herself enough to understand them, she'd caught up to Mandy, who was still battling her way through the crowd with the overloaded trolley.
"Where'd you go?" Mandy asked once she saw Lily beside her.
"Oh, uh... Potter. He was asking me out again." She said it with a bit less disgust in her voice than she normally would, and this seemed to unsettle Mandy.
"Is something wrong? Oh, did he try to kiss you again? Did he actually manage to this time?" Lily had told her friends about the Hogsmeade episode, but by now she was wishing she hadn't.
"Of course not! He was just being – well, a little less despicable than he usually is. I don't know... he's confusing."
"Umm... okay." Mandy stopped in front of the barrier that would lead them back into the Muggle part of King's Cross. Lily could tell she was confused, but she could also tell she wasn't willing to push Lily if she was being as vague as this.
"Shall we go through?" Lily suggested.
"Sure."
The two girls went through the barrier at a brisk walk and appeared at the other side. They looked around to make sure nobody had seen them.
"Looks like we got through unnoticed. Do you see your parents?" Lily asked.
"No, but I see yours." Mandy pointed over to Platform 10.
"Alright, well I guess I'd better go over to them. Have a good summer!"
"Yep, I'll see you in September!"
"Don't forget to call me, okay?" Lily gave Mandy a quick hug before grabbing her trunk and setting off toward her parents.
"Mom! Dad!" she called.
"Oh, Lily!" Mrs. Evans said upon seeing her daughter. "Did you have a good year? We've missed you so much!" She enveloped Lily in a hug.
"Mum, it's only been six months," Lily said, gasping for breath.
Mrs. Evans seemed to notice how close she was to choking Lily to death and released her, only to be taken into another embrace.
"We missed you. It's never the same at home without you," her dad said in his strong Irish accent.
Lily laughed, pulling away from her father. "Well, there's always Petunia," she said automatically, but regretted it soon after.
Lily's older sister, Petunia, was 21 now and had found a boyfriend. Not just any old boyfriend – a fiancé. A boring-stale-violent-chunk-of-flab-which-tended-to-turn-purple-when-provoked kind of fiancé named Vernon Dursley. Really, when you thought about it, he was perfect for Petunia. He was boring, she was boring. He always liked order and normality, as did she. They didn't have conflicting personalities, and neither liked conflict. They just wanted everything to be perfect. Not the real kind of perfect. They were just fine with the falsetto stuff. The clichés, the stereotypes, the stick-to-your-schedule, without anything out of place or unusual. That was what they thought perfect, and that was how they liked it. Lily was sure they would live that way someday, probably with an idiot son just as stupid as them. She scolded herself for being so cruel about her sister, even though it'd been her that had just left her parents to go live with a deranged purple boyfriend.
"So...uh, do you need some help with your trunk, Lil?" her father asked awkwardly.
"Oh, yes please. This thing weighs a ton!" Lily exclaimed, handing her luggage over to her dad.
"Alright, let's get to the car then," Mrs. Evans smiled.
"Well – well maybe if you could, er... consider it over the summer... that'd be great," James said, disappointed. He hoped it wouldn't show. Why was he so much more hurt this time compared to any other time Lily refused him?
Lily walked away quickly to catch up to Mandy. Had she even heard him?
"James, where were you?" Mrs. Potter asked, walking up to him. "We were walking toward the barrier and all of a sudden you disappeared!"
"Oh, uh, sorry Mum. I was just saying goodbye to a friend of mine," James said, tearing his eyes away from Lily's retreating form.
"Well, come on, let's get through. Your father went to wait in the car while I looked for you, he'll start to get worried if we delay anymore."
"Fine, Mum," James sighed.
"Now James, don't be difficult. Which reminds me, we're going to have to talk once we get home. How on earth did you and Sirius manage to get an average of two detentions a week without reaching the point of getting expelled? Some miracle, if you ask me," she chucked, as a contrast to her formerly-serious tone.
James, though annoyed at his mother's lecture, couldn't help but smile. "We're just Miracle Men, I guess. We can make whatever we want come true!" '...except getting Lily to like you,' added a voice in his head.
"Alright, well let's go. We'll save the lectures for when we get home," Mrs. Potter said, and started to walk towards the barrier.
James followed with his full trolley in tow, his depression beginning to creep up on him. 'Gosh, Lily, when are you ever going to like me?'
Once they got home, Lily did a lap around the house, got inside, and ran right into her bedroom. With all her pent-up energy, she couldn't help but do some exercise.
Lily plopped onto her bed, panting happily, and looked around her room. Same as usual. It was cosy, with walls painted a light shade of green. Her record player immediately caught her eye.
She put in a record, one of her old favourites, and sighed as the first song started up. This was one of the things she found herself craving during the school year, as well as watching television and playing a good old game a football. The wizarding world was great, and it was home, but there were some Muggle things Lily just couldn't do without.
Lily's favourite song began to play and what began as some light foot-tapping quickly turned into an all-out energetic dance.
A/N: Yay, another chapter done. I don't think it's that great cause I barely edited due to a crunch in time.
Omigosh it took me sooo long to post, I nearly killed myself for it. (Okay, maybe i didnt.) Well anyway that was due to an overload of homework and procrastination!
Ok, now to thank my reviewers!
oAngel85o – Gasp! Absolutely love? yay! Yessssss homework SUCKS! I complain about it so much it's almost funny! grrrr, homework.
Dude Wheres My Cheese – well, yeah. she kinda has to be strong... she sacrifices herself for Harry, right? I think that counts as being strong and all. But yeah, she only goes out with James in seventh year so I have to make her hold out till then!
Fallen-Snow a.k.a. Feifs - Omygosh! Cuteness of the : face! (btw I was right that I'd update this weekend! I didn't think I'd b able to what with speeches.)
FrEgOrGeLuVeR225 – glad you like it:Realmer06 – thank you for your self-esteem-building review:D yeah, you can tell I'm not very ehhh... confident.
Angelgurl161 – Your welcome. :D Of course I review your fics, you're one of my fave authors!
Yay! Ok so I only answered the reviews for chap four so people like Lily who reviewed for earlier chaps (a real lily... my friend from school :P) don't b sad that I didnt thank you. 'cause i'm thanking you now!
And of course my infinite thankyous to Pam and Barf/Barn/Barfabas/whatever u wanna call him for being great editors and great friends! (ok so that means thanks to all my friends in general. Specially Jenn for just... being there! Where would I be without friends?)
Okay and now that you're all fed up with my sappy lovingness of all the people around me... wish me luck with my h/w! Cause last time I didn't get enough wishingness and that's why it took me so long to update ;)
((This chapter has been edited. Please note that some time-period-related errors have been removed, and please don't point these errors out to me anymore because… well, they're gone now! Thanks.))
