Disclaimer: See Chapter One.

A/N: Hope you enjoy, sweets. It's been a year, it's about time I've been back, don't you think? Sorry I didn't write anything longer. Yes, it took me a year to come up with this, it's incredibly sad and totally unexcusable, but I really need to stop, think, and plan out this story which I am going to do… very soon.

Surreal

Chapter Three - Old Feelings Flame Up

"Wow, Lily," James remarked to me while gathering his books and catching up with me out of the classroom. One by one, the prefects all filed out slowly, looking tired and yawning. Probably because that stupid Martha Krumshaw was too boring. "I never knew you were the one to talk, let alone get points taken away from Gryffindor."

"Shut up," I muttered, cutting him off. I didn't want to "accidentally" flirt with him, nor even talk to him. "Today... it's just kind of a bad day for me, okay? I guess it was just because you were talking to me so Martha and Billy took away points from Gryffindor!"

"Ouch," James commented. "Harsh. That hurt, Lily. Brutal."

I couldn't help but be amused. Yes, he was right - I was being harsh. But I had just lost, what? 30 points for Gryffindor? He was probably used to it since he always lost a couple of hundred of points a day because of those stupid pranks he pulled. That still wasn't going to make me feel better. No way was he getting off the hook. I shrugged at him.

"Well, it was unfair what had happened to you," He replied slowly. "Don't think too much about it, okay?"

"Trust me, I'm trying not to," I replied through gritted teeth.

"Martha's just jealous because you're super fantastic," James commented.

"I'm so sure. Thanks for stroking the ego, there, James," I replied sarcastically.

He had something going for him. I just couldn't hate him, let alone stay mad at him.

"I'm oh so glad Lily," James replied sarcastically, grinning. "Anyways, where ya goin'?"

I shrugged. "Maybe to the Common Room or to the Library, my friend, Tony, oh, I mean, Antoinette needs help with her Charms essay, so naturally, I'm helping her."

"Oh really?" James replied interestedly as one of his eyebrows shot up. "So maybe next time I'm struggling in Charms, you'd be there to save me? Neat."

"Not necessarily," I replied, finding it hard to surpress a grin. Ugh, okay, maybe I was flirting a little bit, as much as I would hate to admit. There's just... something about James. Ew, I still can't believe he's my ex. God, I was so damn stupid. Silently, I thanked God for becoming the smart and witty little vixen I am today. Although I'm not religious.

"Wait, Antoinette? The really hot, foreign, french-exchange student?" He grinned wickedly and licked his bottom lip.

I stopped walking and slapped him. Hard. Maybe he was a disgusting pervert in disguise after all. "You're disgusting, James. Don't hit on my friends."

"You know you love me." He smirked and moved closer to me. We were inches apart. "If you don't want me hitting on your friends, shall I hit on you instead?"

I rolled my eyes and pushed him away. "Nice try, Potter. But just because I'm a girl doesn't mean I necessarily have to like you."

"Ooh, touché, Miss Evans, touché." James chuckled. "I like that."

I laughed dryly. "Please tell me this is just an act that you do to try to get girls to like you."

"It works like a charm," he breathed. "Usually."

"Potter, you are pathetic," I laughed as I pushed him away.

"You know you love me," he repeated, smirking as usual.

"Oh, really?" I grinned and left.

- -

What was I doing? I knew all my feelings for James vanished when I broke it off. Feelings, feelings, feelings... did I even feel anything for him? It was James, after all. Sure, he was a charismatic, good-looking, confident, funny guy. He was, in every way, perfect. All these feelings were rushing back to me. Did I even feel this way when I was with him? I know I did feel something. Maybe it wasn't the butterbeer going to my head. Whenever I thought about him, he made my knees feel week, my stomach flip, my heart beat faster... but, surely, that doesn't mean I like him, right?

I sighed to myself.

I guess this is what you would call "the James Potter effect". It was a disease that I was currently suffering from.

Along with a million other girls.

What a depressing thought

The door slammed shut.

"Hey, Tony," I answered automatically. "Where's Elizabeth?"

"I think in the Library studying or eating with the house elves." Tony chuckled. "She adores the chocolate chip cookies they make."

I laughed. Elizabeth and her cookies...

"What's up? How was the first Prefect meeting of the year?" Tony asked.

I barely looked up and sighed. "It was pretty shitty. I got in trouble by Martha Krumshaw and Billy Joel for talking to James Potter."

Tony rasied an eyebrow. "Ooh, I don't think you want to get on the bad side of Martha Krumshaw or Billy Joel. Ravenclaws... they just never learn. But, James, eh? That's very interesting..." Tony grinned.

I rolled my eyes and threw a pillow at her. I knew she was joking, but suddenly I was scared. I didn't want Tony to know about... my blossoming feelings for a certain James Potter. "It's not like that." Well, yes it was. But Tony definitely did not need to know.

"He's a git." Tony murmured. "Stupid moron."

"Definitely," I agreed. "Total arsehole."

I replayed what had happened outside the Prefects' meeting room today. He was so close. I could still remember the scent of his cologne, the exactly browness of his beautiful eyes, and the exact measurements where his adorable dimples caved in. I couldn't control myself, but I was slowly becoming obsessed. I couldn't stop thinking about it. What was it about him?

"Guess what, Lily?" Tony asked.

"Martha Krumshaw died?" I ventured.

Tony laughed. "She's a bitch, everybody knows that. Anyways, I don't need your help with Charms homework!"

"You finally got it?" I asked. "I'm so proud!"

"No, I just got the answers in the hallway," Tony laughed. "Amos Diggory is sure swell."

"Swell? What a peachy way of describing him," I replied. "You shouldn't cheat, you know. You should learn how to actually do it."

"That's so old," Tony replied. "Cheating is the new form of studying."

"But it's not really studying, it's still cheating," Lily explained.

"But it's the new form of studying," Tony repeated. "And, in life, shouldn't we try out everything at least once?"

"Tony, dear, stop trying to be philisophical and in this case, no, we should not try out everything at least once, so please return the answers."

Tony stared at me. "Oh, shut up, Lily."