Chapter 2

Worst First Day

The next morning, Lily woke up feeling refreshed. She had such a tiring and frustrating night because of, who else, but James. She groaned as she remembered what had happened last night.

FLASHBACK

After the start of term feast, Lily headed up to the Head's common room. "Blue Willow," she whispered and the portrait gave way. She gasped in delight at what she saw.

"This is so awesome!" she thought to herself as she looked around.

But then she remembered who she was supposed to be sharing the common room with, and suddenly, the room didn't look so nice anymore.

After a quick tour of the common room, she headed up to her bedroom. She unpacked her clothes, placed some other stuff around the room and added a few photo's on the cork board near her desk. She then took out the book Jane Eyre (let's presume that she likes classics) and went out.

She sat down on one of the plush cushions and began to read. A few minutes later, she was so engrossed in reading that she didn't notice James come in.

"Okay," he thought, "act normal. Not stupid, but normal". He took a deep breath and called out, "Hi Lily, I was wondering-----".

Lily turned and interrupted him, saying, "What do you want, Potter? If you're going to ask me out, the answer is NO".

"Actually Evans, I was just wondering how your summer vacation went" James continued, sitting next to her, much to her distaste.

"What do you care? Honestly Potter, is this your idea of trying to get me to change my opinion about you?" Lily snapped, putting her book down and facing him.

"Not really. I just wanted to talk. But, since we are on the topic of opinions, what exactly do you think about me?" James asked.

"You really want to know? Well, I think that you're an annoying, conceited prat"

"Damn. And here I was thinking that you thought of me as a handsome, charming, smart and talented person" James countered, fixing Lily with an amused gaze.

"Me? Think of you as handsome and all else that you said? In your dreams, Potter," Lily said, looking close to getting angry.

"Whatever. Anyway, you're straying from my first question".

"Which was?"

"How was your vacation?" James asked again.

"Well…. As much as I don't want to answer, I know you'll keep bugging me about it until I give in, so…." And Lily started telling him about it.

James relayed his, and as the minutes passed, they began to have a civil, normal conversation. Lily was shocked that she was actually having a civil conversation with James.

"So, you can talk and act like a normal person, "Lily remarked.

James took another deep breath. She had, unknowingly, given him a good opening for him to ask her out again. "So Lily," James asked, "Now that you think that I'm a normal person, will you go out with me?".

"POTTER! I knew you were up to something. I never think you had to resort to an annoying- not to mention lame- attempt to get me to say yes. Havent I made my meaning clear these past three years, or does your overlarge ead have trouble registering it? I'll say it one last time: I will NEVER go out with an arrogant, bullying jerk like you!" Lily yelled and stormed off to her bedroom.

"Great," James thought sarcastically, "I'm really making a lot of progress". And with that, he too, headed up to his own bedroom.

END OF FLASHBACK

After emitting one last yawn, Lily hopped off her bed and proceeded to do her morning rituals. After she dressed, she went down. When she was in the Great Hall, sat in the middle of her friends and told them of last nights event, to which they laughed in response.

Suddenly, the Marauders arrived. "Hello Evans. Your looking particularly beautiful this morning. So, since I paid you such a nice compliment to brighten up your day, will you go out with me?"

"Hmmm, let me think….NO. And just to tell you, that compliment that you paid me was nice, but since it came from you, instead of brightening my day, it just cast a cloud over it. Now, if you'll excuse me, my appetite has been ruined. Stace, Liz, I'll see you later" Lily said then left.

Stacie and Alyssa apologized for Lily and headed after her. As James and the rest of their friends sat down to eat, Sirius remarked, "Tough luck, Prongs. So, how'd it o last night? Though, judging by Lily's reaction a while ago, I'd have to say it didn't go very well".

James then began recounting what had happened last night. Needless to say, his friends began laughing uncontrollably, but none more so than Sirius, who was clutching his sides and gasping from laughing so much. Some of the students were already looking at him as if he had gone crazy.

" 'Now that you think I'm a normal person….." Honestly Prongs, that has got to be the stupidest approach I have ever heard of, and trust me, I've heard a lot of them" said Sirius after he had stopped laughing uncontrollably, although he was still chuckling.

"You're not helping, Padfoot" James muttered. Then turning to Remus, who was still chuckling as well, he asked, "So Remus, what should I do? Your 'act normal' plan didn't work".

Remus was ready to point out that James had not exactly followed his plan. "I told you not to act stupid, James", he was about to say when the bell rang, So, the four friends headed (grudgingly, I might add, on the count of them not being able to finish their breakfast) to Arthimancy, their first class.

..------..

It was the afternoon, Transfiguration class, and Lily was in a VERY bad mood. Not only was Transfiguration her worst class, but to her annoyance, she was seated beside James, since they were partners.

"I hate this," Lily thought to herself bitterly, tuning out Professor McGonagall's voice, "First, Professor Dumbledore, who I think had gone completely crazy, makes that git Potter Head Boy, then he says that the both of us have to be partners during school functions, and now McGonagall partners me with him! Honestly, don't they realize how much I hate him?"

"Miss Evans, would you like to stop day dreaming and get back t paying attention or would you rather step out?" McGonagall's shap voice said. Her voice was like a whip that snapped Lily out of her reverie.

"You were daydreaming about me, weren't you, Evans? Perfectly understandable, since I am one of the hottest guys here in Hogwarts" James whispered to her once the Professor's back was turned.

"Dream on, Potter. The only time I think about you is when I think about what a lousy, arrogant prat you are".

"Well, not exactly the answer I was expecting but……" James flashed her a smirk which made Lily's eyes narrow, "you did just admit that you do think of me, so that means that you like me too".

"Shut up, will you? One, I am trying to listen to what McGonagall is saying since this is my worst class, and two, I have no desire to talk to you right now" Lily hissed at him.

Deciding not to point out that she didn't deny not liking him, James replied, "You know Evans, Transfiguration is my best subject, and I could tutor you if you want".

Lily blinked and looked at him. It was true that James was the best at Transfigration, and she really could use some help, but then, something occurred to her. "Wait…hang on, what's the catch?"

"Catch? What catch?" James said innocently, athough his hazel eyes said otherwise.

"You know, you tutor me one the condition I go out with you or something" Lily said, getting annoyed.

"Well. Now that you mention it," James looked thoughtful for a minute. "A few minutes ago, there was no catch and I'd tutor you for nothing, but I like you idea so much better".

Lily rolled her eyes, said, "In that case, no thanks", and turned back to the professor.

James shook his head and took out his wand. When he saw that McGonagall wasn't looking, he transfigured the vese he was supposed to turn into a mouse into a bouquet of beautiful flowers and handed it to Lily.

Lily took out her wand and, using one transfiguration spell she had perfected and one she had only used for James, she transfigured the flowers into a piece of parchment that said I HATE YOU.

James looked as though he didn't care so much that Lily's temper was almost rising to it's peak because he changed Lily's not into a box of chocolates.

Lily looked at the box of chocolates as if the contents had poison in them before changing the box into a not that said, I REALLY HATE YOU!

The rest of the class, noticing what Lily and James were doing, turned it's attention away from McGonagall, instead opting to watch James and Lily having a transfiguration match. They noticed that James's objects turned more romantic and more expensive by the turn, ranging from flowers to diamond necklaces, just as Lily's hate notes to James were getting far worse, from I HATE YOU to I WISH YOU"D DIE.

Finally, when McGonagall did notice them, she exclaimed, Looking angry and annoyed, "Miss Evans, Mr. Potter, as Heads you should be setting an example for all the other students, not besting each other with transfiguration spell, which have absolutely nothing to do with our lesson for today. Ten points from Gryffindor. Now, I would like athe both of you to stop your antics and pay attention or it will mean a 3 day detention!"

Seeing her very angry and irritated countenance, James quickly turned the hate note Lily ahd been able to send before McGonagall noticed back into the vase once more. He stole a glance at Lily, who had almost the same irritated and angry expression as that of McGonagall. He knew how Lily was like when she was very angry, so he shut up. Even so, by the end of the class, Lily's mood had gotten ten times worse.

..------..

After dinner, Lily stormed up to the Head's common room hopin very much not to see a certain black- haired, hazel-eyed and annoying Gryffindor. But, to her disappointment, James arrived a few minutes after she did. Lily was about to turn away from him but he trailed behind her.

Finally, getting annoyed, Lily turned. James opened his mouth to say something, but Lily beat him to it. "Look, Potter, you've already caused too much trouble today. I am on the edge of losing it. So, just, for one night, or better yet, the entire year, can you please pretend that you don't exist and leave me alone!" she said with clear loathing. She then turned to her bedroom and slammed the door without another word to James.

As he went inside his own room, James thought, "How on earth am I supposed to make her like me If she doesn't want me to exist?" James thought out loud before going to slepp.