Chapter Sixteen: When Jealous Girlfriends Attack

Upon everyone returning to school, it was evident that something had happened between Lily Evans and James Potter. But no one could figure out what.

It wasn't because of a fight, because the two weren't glaring at each other, or avoiding the other, so what was it?

They were acting like… like people who had a crush on each other.

James would always be sneaking looks in Lily's direction when she wasn't looking, and vice versa for her. And in those rare incidents that they caught the other's eyes, they'd flush and look away, like if they'd look at that person they'd remember repressed memories.

So the friends got together once again to muse upon these strange happenings.

"They've snogged," Alice announced promptly.

"They've what?" Everyone exclaimed in unison.

"They've snogged," Alice said simply. "And I have the feeling that they're not too sure what to do about it. They look perpetually guilty, yet giddy at the same time. This obviously something that's been anticipated for a while now."

"Are you sure?" Sirius asked tentatively. "It sounds like they—"

"They've shagged?" Alice cut in matter-of-factly, causing everyone else to flush. "No. Lily and James wouldn't. Especially since James still is with Cheri."

At the name Cheri, everyone started to grown.

"Damn," swore Estella and Sirius in unison, looking grimly at each other. "Cheri."

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Ah, yes, Cheri. Now when James thought of Cheri, instead of a high-pitched giggle and practiced kisses, he thought of her as an annoying fly that wouldn't fly out of his house, no matter how many doors and windows he left open.

James knew that ultimately, to repair any chance he might have with Lily romantically, he'd have to break up with Cheri… question was, how?

Of course, this was actually not the top priority on his list; getting Lily Evans back as his friend, was.

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She was in the library, studying for a History of Magic test they were to have later in the week.

Not quite sure how to begin, James decided that he was just going to have to wing it. After all, nothing about his relationship with Lily was ever planned.

Standing across from her at her table, James cleared his throat. "Um, Lily?"

At the sound of his voice, Lily froze. She willed herself silently not to start blushing, and for the most part, succeeded.

"James," she said, with genuine surprise in her voice. "Hi. Um… how are you?"

James smiled a bit. "Fine, thanks. And you?"

"I'm fine as well."

"Good."

"Good."

There was an awkward silence (as was to be expected) and James cleared his throat again. "May I… may I sit down?"

"Sure," Lily said, although she was terribly, terribly nervous. But she couldn't say no, could she?

So they sat in yet another awkward silence until James finally groaned. "Listen, Lily," he said, rubbing a hand over his eyes. "We've both done some really bull-headed things in the past and… oh, damn this sounds corny already… but I want to be friends again."

Despite herself, Lily asked quietly, "Are you sure I'm worth the effort?"

It was a test; they both knew it. James took a deep breath. "I wouldn't be here if I didn't think you were."

Satisfied with the answer, Lily nodded. "I suppose we could give it another shot," she said hesitantly. "But we'll have to start slowly, all right? We can't just pretend as if… as if nothing has happened."

James agreed and the tension was slowly lifted as they talked for hours about everything and nothing at all, only leaving when the Madam Pince kicked them out.

As they walked back to the Common Room companionably, they had no idea that someone was watching them, eyes like a hawk's.

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"What!" Hissed a voice into the darkness.

"It's true; I saw them, together," a voice replied back, hesitantly.

"…What were they doing?" The voice was now deadly calm, and it frightened its companion.

"Just laughing, talking. Nothing sinful."

"Hmmm. Well. We'll just have to show that awful Mudblood who he belongs to, won't we?" Lips curled into a frightful smile. "Come, Kelley."

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Two days later was when Lily was walking down to the Great Hall. It was a lovely day outside for only being February, and she had planned to meet her friends outside.

"Oh, Liiiilllllllyyyyy!" Once she heard that shrill voice, Lily stopped and groaned.

Cheri.

Pasting a false smile on her face, Lily turned. "Yes, Cheri?"

Cheri Tingstead, with her strawberry-blonde curls and gray-green eyes, came bounding down towards Lily. "I think we should have a talk, you know? Woman-to-woman?"

"Um," Lily blinked. "Sure…" she then looked at her watch. "Could it be quick, though? I have to go meet my friends…"

"Oh no problem!" Cheri said brightly, and then, like a lightbulb, her face immediately darkened. "This shouldn't take long."

"Now listen here, you tart," Cheri hissed. "James is my boyfriend, is that clear? I don't want him to be friends with you, I don't want him to talk to you, let alone look at you!"

Lily raised an eyebrow. "Are you sure that I'm the one you should be talking to?" She asked dryly. "Maybe you should tell James this."

"Shut up!" Cheri screeched. "I don't want you to give him any reason to be friends with you, talk to you, or look at you!"

Lily snorted. "That's going to be quite difficult, won't it, seeing as how we live together?" She accentuated on the "living together" part to infuriate Cheri.

And it worked. "Silencio!"

Lily fell silent and could only watch as Cheri began to rant again. "You're nothing but pathetic mudblood scum. The only reason why James is interested in you is because it's all about the chase." Remarkably, Cheri was accurate at pointing out Lily's biggest fear with being with James. "If you and he ever got together, in a week, you'd just be another name on his wall of conquests." She moved forward as to hit Lily, but a voice stopped her cold.

"That's enough."

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A/N: Sorry the chapter's so short, but it seemed like such a great cliff-hanger that I just couldn't resist. (Don't worry; a follow-up chapter will be up later in the week; but since I separated them it'll be as short as this one. Two short chapters—that equal one long one—in one week: pretty good deal though, right?)

So I'm takin' bets: who is it? McGonagall? Dumbledore? Estella? Sirius? Remus? Selene? Peter? Alice? Frank? Or James himself?

Whoa! 17 reviews in just one chapter! That's awesome! You guys are the best!

'Til Next Time

Written?

Posted: May 14, 2005