Chapter 6

It's Official: Lily Evans HATES James Potter

Two days later, the students were eating their breakfast in the Great Hall, some talking with their friends as they did so. Lily and her friends were also there, talking about random things. Lily however was not paying any attention because she was being distracted by someone. That someone being James Potter. She just couldn't shake off the fact that something was going to happen, judging by the mischievous glint in his hazel eyes that she saw every time she looked at him, which was quite often.

Stacie and Alyssa finally noticed this, and Stacie said, "Lily, we understand that ever since we pointed out that you do like James, you are starting to accept it, but must you constantly stare at him all the time?"

Lily turned to her friends and said, "Stacie, Alyssa, please. Haven't you noticed that glint in his eyes? I mean, look. He's got that look again. That look that says that something's going to happen. I don't like it. I don't like it at all".

Stacie and Alyssa rolled their eyes and exchanged a look with one another. "She likes him all right. I mean, come on. She notices even a very little detail of him. Who else notices something as little as that? Honestly, she is so in denial" Alyssa said to Stacie.

Lily, overhearing, said, "Guys, how many times do I have to repeat myself? I don't like him, and I never will. But, that's beside the point. What I'm saying is-----"

She didn't get to finish her sentence because at that instant, uproar of laughter and shock was heard from everyone. Lily and her friends turned to look at the direction almost everyone was looking at, which was, to be specific, the Slytherin table. When they saw it, their mouths dropped open in surprise and shock.

Lucius Malfoy and Severus Snape, as well as five or six more Slytherins had gotten up on the table, their clothes drastically changed from their black school robes into frilly red off-shoulder dresses, looking like the ones can-can dancers would wear, their expressions clearly stating that they had absolutely no idea what they were doing. Suddenly, they began performing this dance involving back flips, splits, and other gymnastic movements. It was a rather horrendous sight.

When the Slytherins finally realized what was going on, they jumped off the table and ran from the Great Hall, still wearing their dresses. Needles to say, the students erupted in laughter. It was quite obvious that the Marauders had done it; the Slytherins that had been pranked were the ones that the Marauders especially hated. Everyone, including some of the teachers, was amused. Everyone, that is, except Lily Evans and Professor McGonagall.

In truth, Lily was very amused. But still, she could not tolerate the fact that James had helped in the prank. And he was supposed to be the Head Boy! Lily took this opportunity to be mad at him and tell him off, to show her friends and the other students that she hated James Potter with every fiber of her being.

"Mate, did you see their faces? Oh God, it was completely hilarious…" Sirius was saying as Professor McGonagall walked up to them, fury written in her expression although there was something close to amusement in her eyes.(Lily opted to wait until there were no teachers around before lashin out to them, James in particular)

"Potter, Black, Lupin, and Pettigrew! What were you thinking, pulling a prank as embarrassing for those students as that!" she yelled.

"Now, Professor McGoangall," James said innocently, although a smirk was set on his face, "Why is it that every time a prank is pulled, you automatically assume that we did it? We're not the only pranksters in the school you know".

The professor looked quite taken a back as she asked, "Uh, right. Sorry. So, did you do it then?"

"Of course we did!" James replied, his smirk getting wider, "We wanted to break the monotony nicely, so we figured a prank on the Slytherins would be the best way".

The professor's shocked expression instantly turned back into an angered one. "Honestly, when will the four of you learn! Remus, James, the both of you are holding authoritative positions, you should be setting examples! Twenty points from Gryffindor, and a week's detention!". And wit that, she stormed off.

As Lily, Stacie, and Alyssa headed to Herbology, their first class, they talked of the Marauders' prank. "It was awesome, wasn't it?" Stacie said excitedly.

Alyssa nodded, but, for the sake of her sanity, Lily opted to remain quiet. She just kept on shaking her head. Stacie and Alyssa noticed this and exchanged a look.

"Lily," Alyssa said, a little bit of worry in her voice, "You're not going to lash out and yell at James, or this, right?"

Much to their surprise, Lily smiled and shook her head. "No, I'm not going to yell at him". At least not yet, she added to herself as she and her friends entered the greenhouse.

..------..

That night…….

James was with Sirius in the Gryffindor common room, talking about the prank they had just pulled when suddenly, Lily came in. She saw the two Marauders and on cue, her face set into a glare.

"JAMES POTTER!" she began to yell, "DO YOU HAVE NO SENSE? YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO BE HEAD BOY, AND YET YOU PULL SOMETHING LIKE THIS? I CANT BELIEVE YOU!"

"Lily, please. You know as well as I do that even if I am supposed to be an example to the students, I can't help myself whenever it comes to pranks, I simply cannot help myself. I am, after all, a Marauder" James countered calmly. People in the common room had stopped what they were doing and were presently staring at what could be described as another fight between Lily and James in the making.

"WHAT! HONESTLY POTTER, WHEN THE HELL WILL YOU FINALLY GROW UP?" Lily yelled.

"Hmm…maybe when you finally go out with me, or when you finally agree to admit that you like me. Whichever comes first" James replied, smirking as he crossed his arms.

"POTTER YOU-------" Lily was about to say but she was interrupted by Sirius, who was looking very annoyed.

"Lily, James, please, for the love of God, enough! I can't stand it anymore! Please do us all a damn favor and shut up!" Sirius said in exasperation and annoyance.

Lily, whose anger was reaching its boiling point, turned to Sirius and said, her eyes narrowing menacingly, "Sirius Black, if you say another word, I swear to God, I am going to tell everyone that you still sleep with a teddy bear named Mr. Snuggles every night".

Surprisingly, Sirius paled and, without another word, left and headed up to the boy's dormitories. Lily, forgetting that she was arguing with James, looked at him in confusion. "What did I say?" she asked.

James replied, "You hit home. Sirius STILL does sleep with a teddy bear named Mr. Snuggles every night. But, don't tell anyone else, okay?" Which was a completely stupid thing to say as he had already said it out loud, therefore letting the other Gryffindor hear.

Lily's look was one of surprise. "Oh, that's…shocking to know". Then her look changed into a furious one once more. "So, where were we? Oh yeah. POTTER YOU ARE AN INSUFFERABLE GIT!". She yelled as she raised her hand to slap James. But before she could do it, James grasped her hand just as she prepared to do it. The onlookers, especially Stacie, Alyssa, Remus, and Peter, watched the scene with baited breath.

You see, James had an idea. It would be very beneficial to his plan, not to mention to himself. He had finally decided to push Lily to her limit, even if it meant that her hatred for him would deepen. As of now, though, he didn't care one bit.

"Lily Elizabeth Evans, I must warn you. If you slap me, I will kiss you, on the lips, in front of all these people" James said, his eyes shining. A gasp was heard from the audience, and Lily fought hard not to hex him into oblivion.

"You wouldn't dare" Lily said in a deadly voice, hatred clear in every word she spoke.

"Oh, I dare good" James replied.

Lily let out a scream of frustration as she yanked her arm out of his grip and started to walk away. Never mind her pride now; being kissed by James was far worse. But, if you thought that that was bad enough, then what James said next was about to make it worse.

"Well, well, well," James called out. Lily froze in her tracks. "I never thought I'd see the day when Lily- I never-back-out-of-anything- Evans is walking away! And I actually thought that she would never walk away from anything"

Lily couldn't take it anymore. Forgetting the consequence, she headed up to him and slapped him with all the strength she could muster. As soon as she did that, James leaned in and kissed her quickly. The onlookers gasped.

"James Potter, I hate you and I'd wish you'd die!" she yelled, her face as red as her hair as she left. Stacie and Alyssa followed her. James also left, smirking.

"I can't believe him!" Lily said angrily to her friends once they were alone. "He is such a jerk! Of all the people from whom I could've gotten a kiss from, it had to be that insufferable, arrogant git Potter! I swear guys. Never again will I think about liking that asshole again. As of now, it's official: I hate James Potter!"