A/N: SO it appears that the third movie is by far the favorite, although there were some votes for the other two. And I have to agree with most of you, the fourth will probably be the best. At a request of a reviewer, this chapter is being dedicated to an asshole of a teacher…a first grade teacher that held back a talkative fast reader...shame on you! Anyways, here's the next chapter…please read, please review. Thank you.
Chapter Thirty-Five: New Projects and Old Feelings
"Please take a seat." came the voice of Professor Latham, the old but very much capable Defense Against the Arts teacher. He was fairly tall with orange-brown hair with many gray streaks zipping through. As a professor, he wasn't particularly disliked or liked, the students knew that he was competent, so they respected him. One thing they hated was the huge amount of assignments that typically were given to them, especially projects.
"For two weeks we are going to work on a partner project." he started as every student found their seat and situated themselves ready for class.
Some students rolled their eyes, like Sirius. Some, like Lily looked up eagerly in the excitement of a new hands on activity.
"You and your partner will be asked to research and write a detailed report on a dangerous magical beast. Describing what exactly it is, where it lives, who it mainly attacks, when it attacks, how to treat injuries given by the beast, and how to terminate the beast. Then you will create a demonstration of magical items and curses that could be useful in a attack on the beast."
The class was now looking around at each other. This wasn't sounding like the most exciting project in the world.
"I have already paired off partners." Professor Latham went on, ignoring the sighs and groans rippling through the classroom. He continued to pull out a piece of parchment, slide his glasses down the bridge of his nose, and began to read the list of partners. "Oakes and Jefferson, Black and Lupin. Pettigrew and Prewitt."
Sirius grinned at Remus, this wasn't going to be so bad. Peter however, was looking at the ground, and Allison was looking very worried. The professor continued to read out names and finally got to the bottom of the list.
"Potter and Nott, Burton and David, Evans and Snape."
Lily, who had been sitting by James turned to look at him, mouth open. This was going to be hard.
James looked livid, and Lily knew it had nothing to do with the fact that he was paired with a Slytherin.
"Get into your pairs, if you will." ordered Professor Latham.
Happy pairs, like Sirius and Remus eagerly switched seats to get into their groups. Groups like Lily's and Snape's however, took their depressed time.
Snape took a seat next to Lily slowly, he looked about excited about this as she did.
"So we're partners." Lily stated lamely and Snape looked away from her and pulled out some parchment, ink, and quills.
"It appears so." Snape replied finally as Professor Latham came closer to them as he passed out the assignment.
Lily groaned as she read the subject of their report.
Werewolves.
Snape's slimy lips curled into an unpleasant sneer as he gazed at Lily.
"Well this certainly will be…interesting."
Lily glared at him, deciding what choice words to say. After a few moments, she spoke.
"Look, Snape. We need to get a good mark on this report. So we are going to put aside our petty differences and get this done."
Snape looked at her for a moment and his eyes flashed.
"Alright, I need a good mark. But only if you tell Potter to keep his nose out of this."
"Of course, James knows that this is just a project we are being forced to do and we are going to do the best we can to be…civil." Lily replied easily as she pulled out her schedule book.
"Then tell him to stop glaring at me." Snape replied evilly.
Lily turned to where James was sitting, he in fact was staring at Snape with intense dislike, his knuckles were clenched and Nott was trying to get his attention, but James just continued to glare.
Lily waved her dainty hand in front of Snape and James was knocked out of his staring contest.
James's expression warmed as he noticed her and he nodded when he saw her mouth "stop" and then turned to work with a very annoyed Nott.
"Alright, we're going to need to plan out a schedule to work together." Lily started, and Snape nodded.
After a miserable hour, the class came to a much-anticipated end. Lily and Snape had done reasonably well giving the circumstances, and had organized a schedule to work in the library, as well as start on their report. James had stopped by "casually" four times, and Lily was beginning to get annoyed. So after the class had ended and they found themselves back in the Head's common room before dinner, Lily decided to discuss the issue at hand with James.
"James, we need to talk about this dilemma." she started as she returned from her room where she had dropped off her books.
James looked up from the couch where he was sitting. "What dilemma?"
Lily rolled her eyes. "Don't be like that. The project, me and Snape as partners."
James nodded as if the idea was completely new to him and Lily walked over to him.
"You are going to have to ease up and let us get through this project, get a good mark…and then we can continue with our normal lives."
James sighed. "I don't like it. I can't believe Latham did this. He knows how we all feel about Snape, and he certainly knows the feelings are mutual. I'm going to get Snape for this!"
Lily shook her head. "It's not his fault, James. He hates it as much as I do!"
James shook his head gruesomely. "No, he loves it. He's going to be able to degrade you and everything, and he'll do it to bloody get to me!"
"James, I highly doubt that." Lily replied, breaking a smile.
James shook his head, not finding anything amusing. "No, you don't know that horrible bugger like I do."
"Well you haven't exactly been the nicest to him in the last seven years!" Lily retorted, getting tired of James's attitude.
James pouted. "It's not like he didn't deserve what he got! The slimy toad reeks with dark magic."
Lily sighed, there was no getting through James.
"I'm going to dinner." she replied almost coldly, throwing up her arms. "If you decide to get over your childish grudge anytime, feel free to come and sit with me."
She left James sitting on the couch. He groaned and threw the quill he was holding across the room.
"Bloody hell!"
James didn't come down to dinner, and Lily sat the whole meal silent, pale, and looking out the Great Hall every few minutes for a sign of James.
Allison wasn't looking particularly happy either, so Ellie was left with no one to really talk to.
Lily ended up making a plate of food and taking it up to James, hoping he would still be there, so she could make up with him.
"James?" she called as she entered the Head's Quarters, looking around for James.
He was no where to be found. Lily sighed and put the plate down on the coffee table and headed off to her room.
To her surprise, James was sitting on her bed with a bouquet of sunflowers, how he got them, Lily didn't know, it's not like sunflowers were growing on the outskirts of the cold castle walls.
"Lily." he started, getting up and walking towards her, where she stood, somewhat speechless.
"Hey." she greeted as she took of her shoes.
James held out the flowers to her with the most apologetic look on his face.
"I'm sorry that I overreacted, Snape and I, we just go back. I promise I'll leave him alone for this project." he stated.
Lily smiled softly as she took the flowers and brought them to her face to smell them. "I'm sorry to, James. I shouldn't have been so…I don't know. I'm sorry that I got on you about him. I know you are just looking out for me."
James nodded and smelled the air. "Is that pork chops I smell?"
Lily giggled. "Yes, seeing as you didn't come down to dinner…I brought some up for you."
"I love you." James replied as he bent down and kissed her softly before following the scent of warm food.
"I have got great news!" Ellie exclaimed as she plopped down on the sofa in the Gryffindor common room between Allison and Lily. The boys had decided to go out for a night of "marauding" as Sirius called it. Lily called it trouble, but kept her nose out of it, as Allison frequently advised her too.
"Spill." Allison replied, although she was still looking quite glum. Lily made a mental note to ask about it after Ellie had gotten what ever was so important out in the open.
"You know how we made a list of respectable, eligible bachelors for me?" Ellie asked.
Allison faintly nodded. Lily grinned broadly.
"How can we forget! I've never heard so many objections in my entire life." Lily replied sarcastically.
Ellie ignored her continued with her story.
"Well anyways, Derek Robbins, Ravenclaw sixth year, asked me to the next Hogsmeade date!"
"That's great, Ellie!" Lily exclaimed. "The next Hogsmeade date is scheduled for the beginning of April!"
"Superb." Allison replied, still in somewhat of a comatose state.
"What's wrong with you?" Ellie asked, peeved that not everyone was simply ecstatic with her great news.
Allison let out a huge sigh. "I hate Defense Against the Dark Arts."
"Me too." Lily replied with empathy. "But you only have Peter as a partner, now I admit, he's not the first choice…but he at least listens and is quiet when you tell him to be."
Allison shook her blonde head. "No…it's not my pairing I'm worried about, it's Jacob's."
Lily raised her eyebrows. "Who is he paired with?"
"Kirsten Jefferson." Allison spat with such unexpected hatred that Lily and Ellie were a little taken aback.
But Lily understood where she was coming from. And so did Ellie.
"I'm sure Jacob won't do anything." Lily reassured her friend. "He's nothing like Emerson."
Allison nodded, still not quite reassured. "It's not him I'm worried about. I can trust him. I can't trust her…you've seen how she is with guys, it's like she seduces them or something."
Lily and Ellie nodded.
"Yeah, I saw how she was with James at Halloween, and Emerson. Darn, she gets around fast." Lily commented, cracking a smile. To her relief, Allison grinned slightly.
Ellie put an arm around Allison. "It will be okay, Allison, I think my brother knows what kind of girl Kirsten is."
"But just in case you might want to go talk to him." Lily added, giggling. Allison smiled and sat up.
"I think I will."
"Come on, Evans." Snape snapped as they sat in the library, looking for information on werewolves. It was that Saturday, and they had been in the library for two hours already.
"I'm trying to find this one part about silver." Lily retorted, just as impatient and eager to get out of Snape's presence. "We almost have all of our research done."
"Bravo." Snape replied as he turned the page of a book. "Why don't we just go and have an interview with Remus? I'm sure he'd be glad to."
Lily closed her book shut. How did Snape know about Remus? Her lips were pursed, and her eyes were narrowed at Snape.
"You will not talk about Remus." she spat coldly. "This is a simple project; we can research in books just fine."
"I was only joking, but thanks for taking me so seriously." Snape replied before turning back to his book.
"Why do you have to be so unpleasant?" Lily finally asked, getting tired of these little conversations she and Snape had every few minutes between awkward silence.
"Why are you such a know-it-all bitch?" Snape returned.
Lily's mouth dropped slightly, but she closed it quickly. "Back to the original question."
Snape sighed and pushed the book away from him. "I'm not unpleasant."
Lily laughed. "Yes, you are. You have a snide remark to say about everything. You never look happy, you never smile…you don't even look overjoyed when your hanging out with those pompous fifth year pricks you call friends."
Snape's eyes flashed dangerously. "You wouldn't be keeled over with laughter if you were me, either, Evans."
And with that, he gathered his things and left the library, leaving Lily to regret she had ever asked him anything.
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