A/N: Hey! Thanks to my reviewers. Here's chapter two!
Disclaimer: It all belongs to someone else.
In the first few months of school some major changes occurred in my life. All teasing from the Marauders abruptly stopped, and Potter took up the annoying habit of following me around like an overly obedient dog, practically worshiping everything I touched. Three weeks of this passed before he asked me out for the first time.
I was making my way to Charms happily. It was my favorite class and we were to work on summoning charms that day. I was thinking over the technique involved in the spell when I heard Potter's voice coming from behind me.
"Lily!" He cried.
I turned to face him, arms crossed. "Yes?"
"Hello!" He said, out of breath. "I ran all the way from North Tower to meet you. I had Divination."
"I see." I said.
"Yes, well. Ah. Go out with me Lily." He drawled.
"Beg pardon?" I said in disbelief.
"Go out with me. Go on. You know you want to." He said, giving me what he thought was a winning smile.
"No." I said flatly.
His face contorted. "Come again?" He squeaked.
"No." I repeated.
"What? But—but, no one says no to me. Why—" James sputtered.
I stood on my tiptoes and brought my mouth up to his ear. "Because I can." I whispered, then turned on my heel and sauntered off to Charms.
This gave me yet another reason to hate James. He only began to notice me when I was no longer the shy, normal, homely bookworm. He only began to notice me when I became confident, pretty, and popular.
That's right, popular. Standing up to James won the admiration of many, as did my friendship with Marlene. My group of friends: Marlene, Dorcas, Hestia Jones, and myself gained a reputation almost as great as the Marauders. However, I am proud to say we were responsible for much nobler and legal events. Mainly, countering all the house points lost by the Marauders with our ableness in the classroom.
That is, every class but Transfiguration, where Potter was king. How I hated him.
Fourth year passed without much note. James continued to ask me out day after day, still amazed I continued to turn him down. I had begun to anticipate his question now. Before he asked he would share a quick word with Black, run his hand through his hair, stride over to me, clear his throat, and begin in a voice much fuller and deeper than his normal one, "Lily—"
"No." I would always reply sharply. He would stand in front of me in shock for a few moments before his shoulders drooped and he slunk back over to his friends. Meanwhile, Hestia, Marlene, and Dorcas were failing to hold in their giggles.
"You know guys, I think the amusement would have worn off by now." I said bitterly as we made our way back to Gryffindor Tower after the end of term feast and another fruitless attempt by Potter.
"No Lily, you don't get it." Hestia said chuckling.
"Yeah, you always turn away right before you see his face." Dorcas interjected.
At this comment all three of them collapsed into more laughter. I rolled my eyes and told the Fat Lady the password. I climbed the stairs to my room, dropped onto my bed, and fell into a deep, dreamless sleep.
I woke to howls of laughter coming from the direction of the window. I rubbed my eyes blearily, and sat up in bed. Dorcas, Hestia, and Marlene were gathered around the window pointing and laughing at something on the grounds.
"What in Merlin's name is going on?" I mumbled.
At this their laughter stopped, and they turned to face me. They stared at me for a few moments, then they all collapsed on the floor in hysterics.
Gasping for breath Marlene beckoned me forward. "Come see."
I looked out the window and my mouth dropped open. Potter had transfigured millions of lilies to read, in ten-foot high letters:
TEN THINGS I LOVE ABOUT YOU
AN ODE TO LILY FROM JAMES
I LOVE HOW YOU BLOW ME OFF
I LOVE HOW YOU ROLL YOUR EYES
I LOVE HOW YOU STAND ME UP
I LOVE HOW YOU READ MY MIND
I LOVE HOW YOU SAY YOU HATE ME
I LOVE HOW YOUR FISTS CLENCH
I LOVE HOW YOUR EYES FLASH WITH RAGE
I LOVE HOW WHEN I SIT YOU ALWAYS LEAVE THE BENCH
I LOVE HOW I CAN'T HAVE YOU
I LOVE HOW EVENTUALLY, I WILL
GO OUT WITH ME LILY, YOU KNOW YOU WANT TO.
PLEASE DO, HE'S BECOMING UNBEARABLE WONDERING WHAT IT WOULD BE LIKE TO SNOG YOU. APART FROM IT BECOMING QUITE ANNOYING, IT'S HARD FOR A ME TO GET MY BEAUTY SLEEP (NOT THAT I NEED IT) WITH HIM IN THE BED NEXT TO ME. IN FACT, IT TOOK HIM SIX MONTHS TO COME UP WITH THIS CLEVER DITTY. I PITY THE POOR LAD. IT DOESN'T EVEN RHYME JAMES, SO I'M NOT SURE I WOULD CALL IT AN "ODE".
James was standing below his proclamation, holding his and Black's wands and bellowing at his best mate about the addition he had added.
"Oy! Potter!" I screamed from the window.
Even from the distance I could tell James' face lit up at the sound of my voice.
"Yes my darling Lily?" He cried back.
"NO! And never call me Lily again!" I roared, and turned from the window. A moment's silence passed before Black's magically magnified voice floated up to my dorm.
"Evans, James said it was worth it to see you in your night things."
I screamed and buried my face in my hands.
Over the summer James sent me owl after owl asking me out. My parents found this simply darling, and made me send a reply back to every letter.
"Let him down gently princess. I know I've been in his situation a fair few times." My father's voice followed me up the stairs as I trudged to my room to reply to yet another proposal.
"Yes Dad." I said grudgingly and sat down at my desk. Hurriedly I scribbled:
No, thank you.
-Evans
I was halfway through rolling the parchment up when I paused, unrolled it, and added a post-script.
P.S. Why do you continue to do this? Surely by now it has penetrated your head that I will never say yes to you.
Two hours later an owl swooped into my bedroom carrying a letter, with the now familiar Potter seal, in its beak.
Evans,
Because I can.
Yours,
James
P.S. One day you will.
Quickly I pulled out a sheet of parchment and wrote a response.
Fat chance.
Evans
The last week of August my parents and I were calmly eating breakfast when yet another Potter owl flew in and landed in my mother's cereal bowl. Petunia screamed bloody murder and bolted from the room.
I sighed. "I'll take it and respond. It won't take long."
"No need honey." My mother held up a hand to stop me. "This is addressed to your father and I."
I froze. What was James doing writing to my parents? Was he proclaiming his intentions or something?
"Lily may I have a sheet of parchment to respond to this?" My mother asked after she finished reading.
"Are you giving me away to him?" I asked hesitantly, not moving from my seat.
My mother laughed. "No sweetie, this is from Mr. and Mrs. Potter. They're offering to meet us at King's Cross again and see you through the barrier."
"No." I said bluntly.
"Lily what do you mean?" My father asked while he was reading the letter for himself.
"I mean the longer before I see Potter again the better." I responded.
"No Lily, I really must put my foot down on this one." My father said. "I felt much better when he helped you through and when the Potters came back to tell us how it went. Now go get your mother some parchment."
"Dad!" I whined. "I can owl Marlene! Her parents are wizards, we can meet them at King's Cross."
"No, no. The Potters already offered, and besides I want to see them again." My mother insisted.
"But you barely know them!" I said exasperatedly.
"Actually we had been owling back and forth throughout your school year. They are fascinating people." My mother contradicted.
I stormed up to my room and slammed the door. My parents weren't allowed to get all chummy with Potter's parents! I made a vow that if my child ever hated someone I would hate that kid's parents as well.
BANG!
An all too familiar owl had just collided with my newly cleaned window. I let it in and broke the seal on the letter.
Evans,
Coming to King's Cross?
Yours,
James
I didn't even bother to get a new piece of parchment out. Instead I simply scribbled on the back of Potter's letter.
Of course I am you dolt. How else would I get to school?
I stuffed the note into the owl's beak and sent it off, after telling it to take its sweet time.
A few days later I found myself at the barrier with James yet again. He held out his hand and I gave him a withering glare. My father caught my eye and gave me a stern look. Rolling my eyes I took Potter's hand. James looked like he was about to wet himself he was so excited.
"Ok, let's go Lily." He said cheerily.
"Evans." I corrected sharply.
"Whatever you say princess." James said without missing a beat, and dragged me through the barrier.
A/N: Ah, wasn't James' ode lovely? Ok next chapter is fifth year and the O.W.L. incident. Exciting eh? Tell me what you think. Thanks for reading.