Disclaimer: everything belongs to JK Rowling, except for characters and events unrecognizable as being part of the Harry Potter series.

A/N: hey everyone! Thanx for the awesome reviews, I loved them, as usual D. a special thanx to Fluttering Flutterby, because your review was very sweet, and made me smile. Everyone else was awesome too, you all rock.

Alright, here's the next chapter, and I hope you like it. I love writing these two when the hate each other D

Chapter Two

Excuse me, but are you stalking me?

Lily Evans was on a mission- and James Potter was following her.

It had all started that morning, when news had gotten out that Lily had made the Quidditch team. No one could believe it, and rightly so. Lily had never shown even the mildest interest in the sport before, and everyone knew that whenever she and James were together, sparks were sure to fly. The amount of nudges, whistles and comments she had received were beginning to wear at Lily's patience. And not all of them were good comments either- a lot of students had told her that if she wasn't a good player, and cost Griffindor the cup, she would have them to answer to. Gosh, her classmates sure were supportive.

So, seeing as she knew very little about the history and logistics of the game (and Lily always liked to have background information on everything she was part of), she had set out that morning to the Library, bent on getting as much research done as possible.

It was only when she was halfway there that she noticed she was being followed. She could hear padding footsteps behind her, that seems to slow down and quicken as her own pace it.

Her first thought was that it was Kin or Matthew, playing a prank on her. The two boys treated her like a little sister, and whilst that was good most of the time, they also liked to annoy her like they would a sibling.

She spun around to give them a piece of her mind…and saw James Potter, who had quickly spun around to inspect a painting on the wall. His eyes were darting about, and he was almost jogging on the spot from agitation, so it was obvious he wasn't actually browsing the schools art collection.

Lily rolled her eyes and kept walking. Let him follow her. She didn't care if he didn't have anything better to do.

And follow her he did- all the way to the library, and even then through all the shelves she browsed. Doubtless, James probably thought he was being extremely stealthy, following five steps behind Lily and pretending to be reading a book whenever she turned his way. Lily rolled her eyes. Amateur.

She ignored him and continued searching for books on Quidditch. So far the only one she had found that was even remotely helpful, was Quidditch through the Ages, so it was armed with this book that she left the library.

The common room was fairly empty when she entered it, her head beginning to ache. That's how she felt whenever James was in her general vicinity. Like she was about to keel over from a migraine.

Kin and Matthew were seated near the open window (it was still quite warm), playing muggle naughts and crosses.

"Ha!" Matthew, the more boisterous of the pair slammed a hand down on the piece of parchment in front of them. "I win again! Dude, you really suck at this."

Kin rolled his eyes. "Whatever, man." He slumped back in his chair, a half smile tilting he corner of his mouth. Soft blonde hair fell over his ears and almost obscured his grey eyes. Kin was lean and quiet. He remained indifferent with everyone but Lily and Matthew.

The latter, however, was quite the opposite. Matthew, cute and bubbly, with brown curly hair and green eyes, was friends with practically everyone, form three of the four houses. No one could really be a friend with a Slytherin. Lily often noted drily on the fact that he was exceptionally friendly with members of the opposite sex, but Matthew denied this with wide-eyed innocence.

Lily loved her two friends. They were like the brothers she had never had (clichéd though that may sound). Although she still had girlfriends, mainly consisting of her dorm mates, Matthew and Kin were really all that she needed in the way of companionship.

"Uh, Lily," Matthew said, breaking through her reverie. "Were you aware that you have acquired a tail?"

"Huh?" Lily said, raising an eyebrow in alarm. Matthew indicated behind her with a tilt of his head. She turned around and saw James regarding her form a chair not far from them. "Oh, him. Yeah, he keeps following me. I don't really care, I mean, if he wants to waste his time, so be it."

"What's he following you for?" Kin murmured, his eyes shut, and looking as though he was about to fall asleep.

"No idea," Lily said honestly.

Just then, James got up, and began walking towards them. Lily spun around to face away form him.

"Tell me he's not walking over here," she whispered, screwing her eyes shut. She was in no mood for a confrontation, and she still hadn't spoken to him since making the team. Really, she didn't mind him following her so long as he made no attempt to speak to her.

"He's not walking over here," Matthew obliged.

Lily sighed in relief and turned around…to almost slam into James Potter. She shot Matthew and accusing glare.

"What? You asked me to tell you…" he said, trailing off when James stared at him coolly. James was kind of scary sometimes. And now was one of those times.

"What do you want, Potter?" Lily asked resignedly.

"I could ask you the same thing," James said, quietly. This was odd. Usually James was loud, and passionate, and fiery tempered…quite like Lily, actually. "Why did you join the Quidditch team?"

"Do I have to have an ulterior motive?" Lily shot back. "Why can't I just join the team because I like Quidditch?"

"Because you didn't," James said, rolling his eyes a little. "What do you want? Because I will not let you stuff up the team, got it?"

"Oh, right. So when it comes to Quidditch, I can't do anything wrong. But when it comes to your duties as Head Boy, you don't mind shirking at all, do you?" Lily said angrily. "Well, not anymore. What I want Potter, is for you to buck up and do our work. And here's the thing- you don't start pulling your weight? I will make your life hell. On the Quidditch pitch."

James raised an eyebrow, almost looking amused.

"What's the worst you can do, Evans?"

"Oh, don't try me, Potter. You don't want to see my worst."

James looked slightly wary. Lily smirked. She had him.

A/N: ok, sorry for the tiny chapter, but I wanted to post, so I rushed a little. Hope you were happy with the descriptions of Lily's friends, and I promise we'll have more of the Marauders in the next chapter. Ten more reviews, and I'll update, ok?

Review!

JB