Okay, okay.. Long break. Sorry. School sucks. I'm sorry. But thanks for all the reviews and sticking by. I hope you'll like this chapter… VERY LONG JUST FOR YOU! Phew!

..Book 6 was AWESOME! EEEEEEEEEEEEEE!

The Not-So-Secret Life of Lily Evans

Chapter 13- Mishmash and romance

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Only a few more days until the holiday vacation begins, Lily thought wistfully on the following Monday as she made her way down to Great Hall for breakfast. But someone had beaten her to vacation already!

"Students," Dumbledore began before the food appeared. "I would like to inform you all that your Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, Professor Deckard, has taken a leave of absence for personal reasons."

"Good riddance," James grumbled sleepily, his hair more disheveled than ever. Lily inertly agreed; no one really liked Deckard either.

"In his place will be a substitute, Professor James Izumi," Dumbledore continued. "Please treat him with the same respect as you would your regular teacher.. if not more," he added with a twinkle in his eye.

Professor Izumi was a tall young man. Very young. The same age as Professor Caliban, a recent graduate, though of some foreign school. And he was very handsome, according to the whole female populous of Hogwarts.. He looked Japanese, just as his name sounded, with fair-golden skin and sleek black hair that fringed his slanted, almond-shaped eyes. However, he was uncommonly tall for his ethnicity; he stood just a bit taller than James, who was easily the tallest student in the school. His eyes shone like a clear amethyst.

Lily hoped he would be somewhat more agreeable than Deckard. She was too tired to deal with otherwise, as a couple essays kept her up till late the night before. Besides, if this new professor was that good-looking, he was bound to be nicer in comparison to a hideous Professor Deckard.

"Well, judging by his name, Prongs, I'd say he has good taste," Sirius prodded James.

"The only thing I want to taste is a hot scone."

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After a particularly long hour of Arithmancy, Lily went down a floor towards the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom, her stomach nervously hoping that the new Professor wasn't a horrible toad of a person; unlike Deckard, who was a toad in both appearance AND manner.

She found James in the hallway, conversing with a Ravenclaw girl who Lily knew as Elaine Barker, but nothing more. As soon as Lily had neared, the conversation ended abruptly, Elaine looking furious and James irritated. Lily stood aghast as Elaine shot her a glare for coming across her in a bad temperament.

"What was that about, James?" Lily asked, watching Elaine stomp off towards the staircase.

"Nothing important," James scoffed. "Let's just go to class.."

He pushed her into the D.A.D.A. classroom, which was already half-full. They took their usual seats, Lily somewhere around the middle of the room; close enough to read the board and far enough away from Deckard. James sat directly behind her, as always. Lily noticed all the girls had arrived early, and were sitting attentively in the very front of the room. Every seat in the first two rows was occupied. Class began shortly after everyone else (namely the boys in the class) arrived.

"Good afternoon, class," Professor Izumi greeted, bowing as people in his country did. "If you had forgotten, I am Professor Izumi."

"Professor!" a Ravenclaw girl's hand shot up. "Where are you from?"

"Kyoto, Japan."

"What are the magic schools in Japan like?" a boy whom Lily didn't know asked.

"Well, I'd say they're very hard, and very competitive… School here is easier in comparison.."

"Does that mean you'll give us even more homework than Deckard did?" Sirius asked unhopefully.

Izumi smiled. "Of course not; this isn't Japan, is it?"

The class cheered. Finally! Now they didn't have to worry about that upcoming essay on the characteristics of banshees..

"First, I would like to get to know my students a little better before we start today's lesson. We'll go around the room, row by row. You, miss," he gestured to a girl in the front row corner, "just say your name and something about yourself, and then we'll move on to the next person."

So it went, and Izumi carefully took into account the names of the students, whom the author is too lazy to describe. Except one swooning girl who said she liked romantic candlelit dinners and long walks on the beach…

"…Long… walks.. on… beach…" Sirius jotted down. Celina turned around from her seat next to Lily and chucked her Defense textbook at him.

Soon, they were upon Lily.

Lily stood up neither slowly nor hastily. "I'm Lily Evans, and I like… erm…" What DID Lily like? Well, she couldn't say majestic stags. That'd be ironic, not to mention cliché.. ".. I like to read trashy romance novels!" she said boldly, the class laughing with her. Lily triumphantly sat down with a grin on her face.

Next, Celina stated that although her cat would be angry with her, she secretly adored puppies, and added that Sirius was a big git.

In the next row, Sirius claimed he also liked puppies and believed Celina to be "the goddess Aphrodite in disguise, gentler than a soft summer's breeze and a whole lot nicer-smelling."

James stood up. "I'm James Potter, and desperately hoping that Sirius would try to smell better than a dungbomb once in a while."

Izumi smirked. "Nice name, Mr. Potter. And thanks for the warning.. I'll try to keep away from Mr. Black, then."

James flashed a grin at a pouting Sirius as he sat down.

Then, Peter stood up and said his name, adding that he loved Treacle Tarts. Remus said he'd like to not be associated with the prats around him.

The rest of the period went by wonderfully; Izumi actually taught the class instead of informing them that they couldn't protect themselves from a potato, and the class learned two new defense spells in one period. It was the best lesson all year.

Lily was sad it was over so soon, and she gathered her things slowly after the lesson.

"So, Evans, you actually like trashy romance novels?" James asked her after class, leaning over at her desk.

"As a matter of fact, yes. I read anything I can get my hands on," Lily replied, stuffing her quills into her bag, "and Petunia happens to leave a lot of those lying around the house…"

"I never thought anyone actually READ them," James mused, tugging on a lock of Lily's hair, "but if you find any with moving pictures…"

"Ew! Sod off, Potter!" Lily made a face at him as she snatched back her fiery hair.

"I thought you'd say that.. In that case, I'll see you at lunch," James smiled as he straightened and slung his bag over his shoulder before heading out the door.

"Pfft.." Lily huffed as he left. She began shoving her quill into her bag.

"Splendid job today on those armor spells today, Miss Evans," Professor Izumi commented from his desk, arranging some papers.

Lily nearly sent her bag flying from the sudden comment. "AHH! Oh-- Professor, you scared me…" Breathing deeply, she retrieved a few papers. "Er.. I mean, thanks. I'm just glad I understood everything. It was a great lesson." Lily was surprised to notice her face felt awfully warm. Ah! She was blushing.

"Thank you very much," Izumi inclined his head. "I've heard some pretty nasty stories about your last teacher, but if I'm even receiving compliments from such a brilliant student, it must mean something about myself.." Izumi said smugly, smiling at Lily out of the corner of his eye.

Lily blushed more furiously as she closed her bag and turned to leave. She liked this teacher; he was very kind. AND his nose wasn't the size of Arkansas. In fact, he WAS really good-looking.. just like the other James..

"Ouch! Watch it, Evans," said a person that had just ran into Lily. It was Caliban, and she looked a little cranky. Or maybe it was because Lily herself was so elated?

"Sorry, Professor.." Lily mumbled apologetically.

Caliban merely patted Lily on the head as she strode by, sitting herself down right on Izumi's desk.

"Ah, Ohayo, Creidwy-san… Having a good day?" Professor Izumi asked, putting his papers aside.

"No! Jemusu-kun, I just discovered the most.. unpleasant surprise!" Caliban began, as if she and Izumi had been friends for the longest time. "Guess what night the Yule Ball happens to fall upon?"

"..I'm pretty sure I know. How unfortunate."

"Unfortunate is an understatement! I'll have to be on.. duty… again…" Caliban then turned to Lily. "Ah… Lily, be a good girl and go off to lunch!" she said cheerily.

"Oops.. sorry. Bye, Professors!" Lily blushed as she left. She had stood there gawking for how long?

She could still hear Caliban's voice.. "And I bought that dress robe for nothing! Hmph!"

And then Izumi. "Gomen.. Maybe you can still return it?"

And then nothing. She was out of earshot now. Lily's feet took Lily down the halls towards the Great Hall all by themselves while her mind wandered. "Yule ball? Duty? What duty? Why wouldn't Caliban be going to Yule Ball? Guard duty? Maybe not all teachers were required to go..?"

The thought of Yule Ball made Lily's stomach jump. That's right. She was going with James Potter, the most sought-after boy in the whole fifth year! Lily blushed a crimson to challenge her hair color. Thankfully, she felt her face cool off as she sat down at the Gyffindor table for some odd purpose that she couldn't remember…

"Lily? Aren't you going to eat lunch?" Celina asked worriedly. Right. Lunch.

"Er.. well, I'm not really all that hungry."

"Dibs!" James said quickly, reaching over and spearing Lily's sandwich with a fork.

"Pig," Sirius muttered jealously. "I was going to eat that!"

Lily merely sipped a goblet of pumpkin juice as she watched the spectacle resolve as James and Sirius split the sandwich. James naturally took the bigger half, winking at Lily as he took a large bite, causing her to blush and avert her eyes tensely. She HAD wanted that sandwich. It would have kept her stomach from growling later in History of Magic. But it was too late for that now. Besides, at least she could watch the way those adorable dimples of his formed in his cheeks.. which was way better than any measly sandwich!

………………………….

"Stupid Potter…" Lily grumbled, nursing an equally grumbling belly later that afternoon. She was walking alone to her Potions lesson, after a particularly ruthless arithmancy class. She shut her eyes to placate the hunger, but all she saw were little sandwich faeries. As soon as she opened her eyes, she walked straight into an irritated-looking girl.

Now seeing stars, Lily winced from where she had landed on the cold stone floor.

"Watch where you're going, btch!"

Oh no… Elaine Barker! Lily began to gather her things, trying to look busy and not meeting her eyes. Maybe if she acted spaced out enough..

"Sorry, Elaine.. I guess I'm not feeling well today.."

Elaine narrowed her eyes. "Don't speak as if we're friends, Evans.. You ugly little hag.. The only thing we have in common is James Potter!"

Lily hesitated visibly. Big mistake. Elaine noticed Lily's silence. Silence, and therefore her sensitivity on that topic.

Elaine smiled crookedly and folded her hands behind her back. "I haven't forgotten that you've stolen James from me."

Stolen! Lily stole James? When did Elaine—

"But don't worry. I'm sure he'll get bored of you real quick," Elaine said acidly. "James will turn around, and when he does, you'll be a lonely little nobody again.." she laughed, and skipped off. But not before kicking a few of Lily's books down the corridor.

Lily clenched her fists in rage. Why hadn't she done something! That beast of a girl was two feet away and all Lily had done was kneel on the floor in silence and submission! Lily hated herself for that.. Walked all over like a crummy doormat..

Lily's head swam. Nausea from an empty stomach combined with the strain of late-night essay completions and study sessions hit her like a truck, sending her mentally reeling. Lily felt warm tears slide down her cheeks.

"So weak… Why does she hate me? Do other girls hate me, too? And James.. Would he…really..?" Lily crumpled into her hands, the absence of food in her stomach making it easier to wallow in self-despair. She was so dizzy, so sick.. Crying seemed the only solution..

"Evans!"

Lily sat bolt upright in shock.

"P-Potter?"

James bent over her, looming like a tower. "Are you.. crying?"

Horrified, Lily smeared the tears off her cheeks with her robe sleeves.

"What happened? Did someone.."

"No," Lily interrupted quickly. "I just.. I'm tired. That's all." Thankfully, her stomach made no loud protests then.. At least James wouldn't have to feel guilty about her missing lunch.

"Wanna go take a nap, then?" James grinned, scooping up her scattered things in a flash.

"N-nap? But it's.."

"OWL year.. so? You can sleep right in Potions class, with the right bit of distractions or excuses. Or sweet talking the Professor," James suggested, his eyes twinkling with mischief. Why did he look so handsome when he was up to something?

"Uhh.. I don't think that's such a good idea, James," Lily stammered, flushing. The dizziness was getting worse, but she stood up just the same after collecting her things. Another mistake. The blood had rushed down to her feet, and her head spun again, causing her to fall over onto James.

"You're not feeling alright, are you?" James asked, straightening her up.

Lily shook her head as if to clear it, pushing herself away from the close proximity between them. "I'll be fine.. Let's just go to class."

The bell rang loudly in her ears as the two went inside the classroom and found their seats.

"Good afternoon, kiddies," Caliban greeted the class unenthusiastically. "Today, we will be preparing a recent discovery in potions, the invisi-draught. Name says what it does, as usual…"

"Professor looks especially bored today," Peter commented.

All the better for Lily. The rest of Caliban's words were drowned out in buzzing sounds and blurring vision as Lily's eyelids sagged.

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Green fields in all directions. No, a meadow of wildflowers, different colors spilling around her. Petals flecked the air and blue sky above, swirling around her. Something moved to Lily's left.

"James?" she asked aloud.

But it wasn't. It was something scary. Lily couldn't pinpoint what exactly it was.. it held the form of a big dog, then grew nastier into a hairier, massive monster with fangs. The meadow withered; the sky darkened; the petals turned to decaying black leaves falling all around her.

Lily ran as hard as she could, her feet gliding over the ground. It was chasing her now! What could she do?

"Help! Someone help me!" she screamed from a nonexistent mouth.

"I'll protect you, Lily!" said a familiar voice.

"James? James! Help, it's after me—" Lily stopped short when she ran into the arms of the tall figure before her. It wasn't James.. or was it? Who—

"Professor Izumi!"

"Who else were you looking for?" Izumi asked, a smile across his face. "My name is James, remember?"

"I.. Potter. Where is Potter?" Lily turned around, not to find the monster, but James Potter, crouched down over something, poking at it with a stick. Closer inspection revealed it to be the limp form of a.. stag?

Potter stabbed and prodded it with the point of his stick, a grin plastered wrongly on his face, mismatched and horrid.

"James! No, don't—"

But it wasn't a stag anymore; it was that kid James and his friends liked to pick on.. Snivellus? No, Severus. Severus Snape, beaten and tormented, crying out in pain and anguish in a mangled heap on the blackened ground.

James no longer had a stick; it was his wand, raised up in the air. His lips moved to form a horrible curse—

"No!"

Lily jolted awake in class, surprised to find no pain coursing through her body. She shivered.

"Back so soon, Lily?" Caliban chided lightly. "Here, drink this, and we'll have no more napping in class. Unless we're all napping like kindergarteners.. In which case we'd all need pillows…" she trailed off as Lily surveyed the cup handed to her.

"Is this some potion..?" Lily swirled it around.

"It's coffee!" Caliban said, exasperated.

"Oh.. right. Thanks, Professor…"

"Professor! I want a cappuccino!" called Sirius, waving his hand in the air.

"Sure, let's all have a tea party!" Caliban replied.

The class cheered.

"Ha! You wish! If McGonagall found out, she'd have my head…"

"I feel so discriminated against.." Sirius cried. "It's because I'm Black, isn't it!"

"What? …No, it's because you're a prat," Remus muttered. "What does racism have to do with—"

"Oh, Remus! Get back to work before I have to flunk you, darling."

"You mean I'm not flunking already?" Remus looked profoundly happy.

"No. Not yet, anyway.."

"Thank you! Thank you, Professor!" Remus cried, grabbing his beloved professor in a death grip around her tiny waist.

"Eee! You're crushing meeeee…" Caliban wailed.

Realizing he was receiving odd looks from the class, he hastily let go, blushing furiously.

"Keep going! If you broke her in half we'd have no more class!" Peter laughed as Caliban trudged away to stop a kid's cauldron from sprouting feelers.

Sirius looked scandalized. "Remus! How could you?"

"Yeah, Moony! I thought we all went over the importance of Slytherin abstinence a long time ago," James waved an angry hand in the air.

Lily pretended she didn't hear that. So what? It wasn't Remus's fault he actually tried to be a GOOD student..

Remus poked his cauldron distractedly, lips puffed out to almost a stubborn pout. "Th-that's none of your business…" he muttered sourly. And thus he remained sour for the rest of the day.

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Meh.

Ideas, anyone?

Here is one for you: Review!