Chapter Two: Flirting With Demotion

Professor McGonagall's respect for me has been a very dynamic thing over the years. I think she hated me my first year. And my second year she didn't trust me. Third year she tolerated me. Fourth year she praised me. Fifth year she grew to respect me. Of course, on the first day of my sixth year, what has to happen? Naturally, I pulled a 'Lily' and screwed it all up.

"I don't know what to think, Miss Evans!" Professor McGonagall snapped as I shrank into my chair in terror while in her office the morning of September 2. "You're a Prefect! And you threw potatoes at a fellow student because he said you're skinny? What if a food fight erupted? It would've been entirely your fault!"

Geez. I didn't think it was that big of a deal.

"He was sexually harassing me!" I whined. McGonagall narrowed her dark eyes at me.

"You didn't mention that before. What did he say?"

I wished that James had said something blatantly vulgar, strangely enough. Sighing, and wishing I could lie, but knowing I couldn't, I slowly began to speak.

"Nothing, really…but he looked at me, and"

"So you threw potatoes at him?" McGonagall cried exasperatedly.

My stomach suddenly grumbled disturbingly.

McGonagall gave me an odd look and sighed dramatically.

"Miss Evans, I suspect that what happened last night will not occur again."

I shook my head quickly.

"No, ma'am, it won't," I said fervently.

"Good. Because any more misbehavior on your part will result in immediate demotion from your position as Prefect."

My jaw dropped, (Don't you think demotion is a little extreme? It was just potatoes, for Merlin's sake!) but I quickly regained my composure and tried to look indifferent.

"That's alright, Professor, because yesterday was a most unfortunate day, and I see no reason for today to be similar."

"I certainly hope you're right," she said curtly. I forced a smile at my Head of House and stood.

"I'll see you this afternoon in class, Professor," I said diplomatically, sucking up, as I was on the brink of demotion. She nodded absentmindedly.

"Yes dear. And good luck getting along with Mr. Potter."

I felt myself pale at the thought of being pleasant to that scumbag.

"Oh, don't worry. I won't even talk to him," I promised.

"I would think that unwise, Miss Evans," McGonagall said as I turned to leave. Glancing over my shoulder curiously, I cocked an eyebrow.

"Oh? And why? I won't be unkind, and I swear to avoid mashed potatoes when he's near." McGonagall chuckled. (I think I'm the only student whose ever been able to make her laugh out loud. I'm actually quite proud of the fact.) Clearly the potato scene amused her. However, she quickly returned to being stern, and explained.

"Because, Miss Evans. This year is your sixth year. And sixth years traditionally receive study groups, based on who they share the most similar schedules with. And your group happens to consist of" (Oh Merlin, I'd forgotten. I knew damn well what was coming…) "Miss Thomas, Mr. Gladstone, Mr. Black and Mr. Potter."

"Not Remus?" I asked, alarmed. McGonagall almost smiled. She's hinted toward Remus and me having a relationship ever since fourth year. She was ecstatic when we actually began going out, (although she masked it well. She has to keep up that stern-teacher façade she's become so well known for) and was disappointed when Remus chose the Marauders over me.

"No, dear. Mr. Lupin is continuing in History of Magic, and doesn't take Astronomy, so his group consists of Alec McGovern and a few Ravenclaws."

I've always heard that the traditional "sixth year study groups" totally suck. There's been talk of erasing the program for a few years now. Rumor has it that this is Hogwart's last year with the program, which sucks for me, but I suppose it will be good for future generations.

The study groups are basically made up of people who share similar career interests. Students are required to meet with their groups for at least five hours a week to discuss homework, career planning and prospective jobs. And it's graded, like a normal class. There's even an end-of-the-year exam.

Fortunately, Natalie and I both wanted to pursue something involving law (what specifically, we weren't sure), but we were wary to admit it when we heard that the Marauders had similar aspirations. I always assumed that Remus and Peter Pettigrew would follow James and Sirius Black's footsteps. Weird. I made a mental note to ask Remus sometime why the Marauders weren't all in the Law study group.

"So you and Mr. Potter will need to become much more considerate of each other. What a pity it would be to get a failing grade in Career Study Group. I expect that by the end of the year, the two of you will be friends." I laughed out loud.

"Good one, Professor," I said, ignoring her 'I'm-not-kidding' look as I headed out of her office.


"How was your meeting with the Grinch?" Janna asked as I joined her and Natalie in the Great Hall for breakfast. I don't know why Janna hates McGonagall so much. She's just a stern-looking teddy bear with a high IQ and a dry sense of humor. Although I suppose mostly everyone dislikes her except for me.

I ignored the rude name she used for McGonagall and told her and Natalie about my threat of demotion. Janna seemed to find it very funny, (probably because she's James's cousin and absolutely adores him, and thrives on getting in trouble and bending rules as far as they go. It's apparently a "Potter thing") but Natalie sympathized, and helped me call James names for the rest of breakfast.

I managed to get through the day alright, probably because James was avoiding me. This was of no concern to me, of course. But the next day, when our study groups were announced, we were both forced out of our oaths of silence.


"Isn't it odd that four Gryffindors should land a study group together?" Sirius Black mused as he, James, Natalie and I gathered around our group table in the library.

"Incredibly ironic," I said sarcastically.

"No, it really is!" Sirius said cheerfully.

"Kelso Gladstone's in our group to, Bighead," Natalie reminded him, rolling her eyes. "And he's no Gryffindor."

Sirius tried to look hurt, his dark eyes sparkling nonetheless and betraying him.

I had a huge crush on Sirius for my first two or three years of school. What can I say? He is really hot. Natalie's had a crush on him ever since she first saw him. So I eventually decided he wasn't worth liking if it would cause competition between my best friend and me. Especially since Sirius Black's the ultimate player.

You'd never guess Natalie likes him. She calls him 'Bighead,' and she even turned him down when he asked her out once, sometime in fourth year, I think. Go figure.

I mentioned before that Natalie and I despise the Marauders as a group. However, when its just Remus, I'm content. Natalie likes Remus enough, too. And Natalie quite enjoys being around Sirius when his stupid friends aren't around. But that's the problem. The stupid clan of boys is inseparable.

"Well Kelso Gladstone isn't here, is he?" Sirius said, looking pleased. "So I'm right. Four Gryffindors." James, Natalie and I all stared blankly at him.

Sirius was especially talkative today. His dark hair, worn in that sexy, shaggy style that was getting to be so popular, bounced all over as he moved his head from James to Natalie to me, trying to engage at least one of us in a conversation.

"So how about that dung bomb the first years set off in the third floor bathrooms?"

Natalie and I pulled faces, and James remained silent, studying his hands.

"Er, alright. I thought it was pretty impressive that the first years had the guts to do it…" Sirius trailed off, clearly not enjoying his conversation with himself. "It looks like we've got an exciting year ahead of us, being a study group and all," he said, sarcastic now.

Natalie sighed dejectedly. "Maybe I'll change to the Magical Medicine group."

"Hey Ropehead, you can't do that!" Sirius cried. "We'll have loads of fun, as soon as James and Lily here finally admit their undying love for each other and snog it out."

My stomach lurched.

"Ugh, Sirius, you're the most revolting child ever," I moaned, sinking back into my chair miserably.

"Did you just call me 'Ropehead?'" Natalie asked Sirius, her dark eyes narrowed and her voice dangerous.

"New nickname. I'm Bighead, you're Ropehead." Sirius grinned merrily at his own genius, and I cocked an eyebrow at Natalie, who just shook her head and sighed dramatically.

I could tell she was thinking, 'If I wasn't so crazy about him, he'd be so dead for that.' I winked at Natalie and she gave me a miserable grin that clearly said, 'Why do I like this moron!'

"So, Lily. I think Prongs would really appreciate it if you apologized for smashing potatoes into his face the other night, and then I think we could function like a normal group," Sirius said.

Oh Merlin. Not the nicknames again. The Marauders have a bunch of pathetic nicknames for each other.

They're so stupid, you think you're hearing things wrong when you hear them. I've always wondered where in the heck they came from.

Honestly…Moony, Padfoot, Prongs and Wormtail? What the hell brought those names on?

Moony is Remus. Maybe he mooned his stupid friends once?

Padfoot is Sirius. Wears shoe cushions?

Prongs…oh Merlin, I can't even imagine where James got that one.

And Wormtail is Peter Pettigrew. He has a rather rat-like nose, so I guess that one fits.

"No we couldn't. This has got to be the most screwed up study group ever," Natalie said. "You're in it."

Sirius looked offended, and turned his dark grayish eyes into dramatic pools of hurt and curled out his lower lip into a pout.

"I'm just trying to make peace, Ropehead," he moaned. "Why must you lash out at me so?"

"Why must you annoy me so?"

"Why must you provoke me so?"

"Why must I be stuck here with you morons?" I interrupted in my best whine, knowing this could go on forever and hoping to make Natalie and Sirius stop.

"It's because of you, Lily-kins," Sirius said affectionately. "It's because of you and your stubborn-ness that this group is doomed to failure and lack or productivity."

"Excuse me?" I narrowed my eyes at him, but Sirius hardly flinched.

"You heard me. It's because you're too damn stubborn to admit that you love James here, or even apologize for throwing potatoes at him, that we will never succeed."

"I do NOT love your moronic friend, Black," I said indignantly. "He's the most disturbing boy I know. And as for the potatoes…"

But before I could finish, I was rudely interrupted.

"And as for the potatoes, I don't mind so much anymore," James announced.

Sirius, Natalie and I all froze at this and stared at James like he was mad.

For one, he spoke. We all assumed he'd taken an oath of silence for the day.

And for two, he'd announced that he wasn't holding a grudge. Extremely out of character for him. I was immediately suspicious.

"Yes you do, mate," Sirius said, his dark, almost black eyes astonished.

"No I don't. I talked to Annie this morning, and she said that Lily here is having some girl problems, and I've decided to forgive and forget, because I'm a caring, sensitive man."

Oh, I wanted to punch that face of his so bad right then. Wipe that new grin from his mouth.

"Wait, mate," Sirius was saying. "I saw you talking to Annie Ling this morning! And I forgot to ask why you didn't even bother to tell me"

"Oh yeah, sorry Padfoot!" James said. He suddenly was grinning like a fool. Men say women have mood swings. I've never seen a woman morph moods like James Potter, though. "Annie and I are back together."

This was surprising news. Annie and James have probably gone out at least once every year since first year. And they always break up dramatically and loudly in the Great Hall during a meal. Last year's breakup was so bad, though, we all thought the two were officially over forever.

What was even more surprising was the strange feeling I got in my stomach when James announced that he and Annie were together again. It wasn't normal. And I was really worried as soon as I got it.

Suddenly, a gigantic boy joined us. Kelso Gladstone is extremely charismatic, and is friends with everyone at Hogwarts, or is at least nice to them. He's almost as tall as Jay Thomas, and weighs about 350 pounds, I would guess. He's enormous. His hair is naturally a mousy brown color, but he magically dyes it to match his socks. Today it was green, with yellow streaks. And, consequently, he was wearing green and yellow striped socks, that showed a bit underneath his too-short slacks. Kelso's a strange kid, but you've gotta love him. He has a hilarious accent. His mother is from France, and his father grew up in American Texas. So Kelso has a slight drawl with his strong French accent.

"Sorry I'm late, y'all," he said.

"S'all good, Gladstone," Sirius said easily.

"Hey, I didn't know you were into law enforcement," James said curiously. Kelso beamed and nodded.

"I don't know if I'll get into ze Auror program, though," he said glumly.

"What?"

"You're smart, Kelso," Natalie said. "Why wouldn't you get it?"

"I 'eard zey 'ave a rule that if yer weight is over some ratio to your 'eight ya can't join up."

"That's discrimination!" I cried. "If that's true, it's totally wrong, Kelso."

He shrugged glumly.

"If I can't be an Auror, I'll work fer ze Ministry, I suppose." Sirius and James exchanged looks, and for a moment I thought something serious and intelligent may've passed between them. But I was wrong.

The rest of the study group hour was a blur to me. After James came out of his quiet shell, he and Sirius had a grand time and annoyed Natalie and me a whole bunch. He and Sirius seemed determined to cheer up Kelso, as well, which worked pretty well, although Kelso asked them to be nicer to us girls more than once. By the end of the session, me and Lee-lee were utterly disgusted with the two young men (not Kelso, obviously).

That night, Natalie was grumpy, which happens rarely. Of course, the two idiots in our study group were to blame. And the worst part was that I couldn't even slam James Potter's wand up his nose, because I was inches away from demotion.


Annie annoyed the hell out me that night while I was trying to do my Potions essay and forget the awfulness of the day. She began telling animatedly about James asking her out again. And then Janna pitched in with news that Gideon Prewett, a fifth year Gryffindor boy, asked her out during lunch. I really don't care about those two and who they date, but tonight it really irked me. I guess I may've been jealous. Not of who they were dating, but more of the fact that they were dating and I wasn't. And in my defense, I was having a rough time of the month. So I lashed out and acted kind of like a witch (the mean kind).

"You're dating Gideon this week?" I snorted. "A fifth year? Geez, Janna, run out of choices your own age?"

Janna rolled her eyes at me.

"Go take a Midol," she snarled.

"Whatever," I said, returning to my essay. Bullstow weed and crushed beetle are simmered together in a cauldron at 400 degrees Celsius, and then the cauldron is rotated 240 degrees west…

But Janna wasn't in the mood to let me be rude without receiving rudeness in return.

"Gideon's a very mature fifth year, Lily. You're just jealous because James Potter's over you since last year, and nobody else wants to date you, with that red-hot temper of yours and that goody-two-shoes attitude. Not to mention you're not nearly as pretty as you could be. Your looks have depreciated a lot since last year. Which is probably the reason you try to act like you don't care that you haven't had a nice snog in months."

Inches away from demotion. Cannot punch her. Inches away from demotion. Must resist urge to brutally injure James Potter's slut of a cousin. Inches away…inches away…

I was inches away from slugging Janna Carter, cousin of my arch enemy, for saying such awful things to me, for making my eyes sting with tears that I had to fight to hold back, because even Janna wasn't usually so harsh…inches away, and I was seriously about to dislocate that girl's jaw, but then I was saved.

Natalie had been lying on her bed, trying to read, but probably really just thinking about what a prat Sirius is. But when I started harassing Janna, she closed her book wearily, very aware of my sharp-tongued ways. And when Janna said all that, she sat up quickly and glanced at me to see my reaction. And when she saw me struggle to restrain myself, she jumped up and whirled on Janna.

"What the hell's your problem?" Natalie snapped. "Maybe that wasn't very nice of Lily to make fun of you for dating a younger guy, but good Merlin, Janna, grow up!"

Natalie's face was red, and her shoulders heaved like they do after she goes on a hard run. She looked very tired and very tense. It had been a rough day for both of us. I glanced at Janna, who avoided my eyes, and she muttered something about "Whatever…jealous…stupid…giraffe." Annie's dark eyes were big, and she looked shocked by what she's just seen. Alice was looking from Natalie to Janna to me nervously.

Janna and I used to be arch enemies. But even back then, I don't think she ever said anything that mean to me. We usually just talked about each other behind each other's backs. After all, that's the easiest thing you can do. But this marked our first fight where we said rude things to each other.

And Natalie never yells at anyone except for Sirius. And she rarely swears. So that was a first, too.

Janna stood up and muttered something to Annie and left the dormitory. I sank onto my bed, feeling awful. She was right. I looked awful since last year. Looking in the mirror was always a painful reminder. My enormous cat eyes, my hideous hair that was always in need of a good shampooing, and my dark freckles…and that long nose and those teeth that weren't straight on the bottom, and the fat ankles…

Your ankles aren't fat, you moron, the voice inside my head snapped.

Whatever, I snapped back to myself.


A few days later I was sitting with Natalie and a couple of friends in Ravenclaw by the lake. We were enjoying what was rumored to be the last warm day of the year, gossiping and telling stories about boys, teachers and annoying girls. And then the conversation took a most unpleasant turn.

"So I heard Janna say that you're trying to steal Annie's boyfriend," Rhanda Filch said. I rolled my eyes as Carolyn King raised her eyebrows.

"Gideon Prewett?" she said. "That annoying fifth year?"

Rhanda sighed, irritated. "No. James Potter."

"He and Annie are back together?" Carolyn said. "I can't believe it! I thought they were finally done!"

Rhanda shook her head.

"How do you feel about that, Lil?" Carolyn asked, her dark eyes probing. I huffed irritably.

"I think they're perfect together," I said sarcastically. "Actually, I do. They both annoy the heck out of me."

Carolyn and Rhanda exchanged looks, and then giggled. I frowned deeply at them and turned to Natalie.

"Was that funny?" I demanded. She grinned at my expression but quickly became serious.

"Not really," she said sincerely. "But you know how it is. You hate James Potter so much, everyone assumes you really secretly love him, because imagining you really truly hating someone that much is difficult for most people. After all, they usually see you as a loving, kind, compassioning sweetheart."

Rhanda and Carolyn are both about average height, but aside from that, they remind me a lot of myself and Natalie. Rhanda has brown hair with a tinge of red, hazel eyes and freckled, creamy skin. Carolyn has dark brown hair that she wears long, dark brown eyes and a more olive-tinged skin tone.

They're both extremely intelligent, and Carolyn's a Prefect. Although both of them have Prefect characteristics. So not only do they look similar to Natalie and me, but they're also overall "good girls" who get good marks. Just like me and Natalie, apparently.

Therefore, whenever they say something extremely contrary to what Natalie or I would say, or that confuses me, it throws me a little, because we usually understand each other pretty well.

"Lil, if you liked James, would you admit it?" Carolyn suddenly asked.

I was stunned for a moment. Was this a trick question? I thought carefully before answering.

"If I did, I'd admit it to you girls, at least."

"Would you really?" Carolyn inquired. "Think about it, Lil. Pretend that tomorrow morning you woke up and your first thought was, 'Oh Merlin, I really do love James Potter!' would you admit it?"

I frowned.

"That's a dumb question, Carolyn," I said. "I don't know, because that's never happened. Nor will it ever."

She smiled, looking pleased.

"Then maybe you're denying it right now. But deep down, you love him."

Rhanda and Natalie exchanged looks. They knew this could be dangerous.

"Carolyn, we all know Lily hates James," Natalie said softly.

"And even if she and him would be absolutely adorable together, he's kinda been an arse to her," Rhanda added.

"That's just because he's a dung-brained boy," Carolyn said. "Just like Gideon and Fabian Prewett. You know what happened the other day?" And she preceded to tell us all about how Gideon and his older brother Fabian, whose a seventh year Gryffindor, set off sprinklers in the Potions dungeon. The spraying water had broken many flasks of potions and caused toxic fumes to circulate all over. The two boys apparently escaped punishment, though.

"They told Dumbledore some BS story about needing to prevent someone from sneaking into the dungeons from some underground passageway that night," Rhanda said. "It was totally mad, but he bought it."

"You can't complain about students getting off easy, Rhanda," Natalie smirked. "With your uncle working here, you get it so lax. You've got your Uncle Filch wrapped around your little finger."

Rhanda grinned sheepishly.

"Yeah, I guess I kinda do. But Dumbledore's the headmaster, not the caretaker. And he's not related to the Prewetts."

I stretched out on my back and let the warm sunrays penetrate into my skin, hoping for a tan.

"Dumbledore probably believed them," I said. "He's very trusting, unless given reason not to trust someone."

Rhanda lied down next to me, and Natalie and Carolyn took off their shoes to dangle their toes in the lake.

"Anyone hear about the new Giant Squid breeding arena in Rome?" Carolyn asked.

"Er, no. I think you're probably the only one," Natalie said, looking at Carolyn strangely. Carolyn's favorite course is Care of Magical Creatures. We all think she's a bit crazy, but she wants to be a Veterinarian someday, and take care of magical pets, so she likes to read up on weird stuff like that.

"How old do you think the Giant Squid here is?" Natalie asked her. Carolyn considered this.

"Four hundred and twenty seven," she finally announced.

"Have you been reading the Daily Prophet?" Rhanda asked seriously, turning her hazel eyes to meet mine.

I shook my head. "I hate that paper. It's extremely bias. So many pureblood maniacs support it, I can't stand to read it."

"There's some weird stuff going on. Some weird dark wizard named Voltymord or something is apparently causing some trouble. Not much, mind you, but I heard that Dumbledore's working with the Ministry to stop him before he gets powerful, and that he actually tortured a half blood family last week."

"That's terrible!" Natalie exclaimed.

"Yeah, people are so twisted these days. What's wrong with the world?" I said glumly.

"Well, good always conquers evil," Carolyn said. "Sometimes it takes a while, but the good always comes out on top."

I considered this for a moment. I thought of James and Annie passionately kissing in the hallway. Definitely evil. Especially those two. Ugh.

And me. Definitely good. If Carolyn was right, it was quite comforting to know that I'd eventually come out above those two arrogant beasts.


A/N: Thanks ever so much to you awesome reviewers!

fire-icecat: Ah, I'll try and pick it up. Thank you!

TinaGina: Nice guess. You were close.

dancegirl1152: Whoa, a review from you! I am shock-ed! Thank you! Check out the new character name, just for you…

fly-away-free: Thank you! I think I like that idea…but first the animosity between them should simmer down. Or maybe not. But saying no to Malfoy would definitely take a lot ;)

Auramistealia: Aw, you liked the mashed potatoes! Thanks! I just had to do it.

The all mighty and powerfulM: Thanks for the review!

KMK: Thanks for checking out this story! Let me know how I'm doing?

MsMissProngs: Thanks!

Reviews rock my world! So if you have time, maybe review this chapter?…And if not, I still love ya for reading! Thank you, and sorry this took a while to post. I'll be finishing ELY in the next week or two, by the way.


Next Chapter: Get pumped up for the first Quidditch game of the year! And watch out for strange new romantic developments...

Thanks again for reading. :)