Wow. I'm really getting into this fanfic now. Hmm. At least five chapters left, then I'll be starting on parts two and three, which will be sort of sequels to this story, but could stand alone, supposedly. Fun.

Madison—Applesauce makes me shivery. I dunno why. / …The way I've always seen it, Sirius was 'bloody' brilliant, but he just didn't care enough to put his efforts into academics. I'd bet that if he wanted to, he could. He isn't a moron; he's just got a different sense of humor and a laid back attitude. Sorry if that didn't come across too well :D

Fork-tofu-pingpong-fish—Just for that comment, I'm going to have to make myself the self proclaimed protector of the penguins. I wouldn't mind buying a blender, though. :o And thank you for the support. loves

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And on it Goes…

(Damn my non-good-title-making-ness)

The prefects' bathroom, it was said, was the one thing worth becoming a prefect for. It was a large, tiled room, with towels placed on racks in intervals and a slightly out of place chandelier hanging from the center of the round room directly above the pool that dominated more than two thirds of it.

This was a more or less normal tub—unless one counted the fact that it was roughly the size of a large swimming pool—except that it had at least a dozen different colored and shaped faucets lining the edge of it. When turned to the 'on' position, these tubs would spew forth a spray of bubbles or some sort of solution in varying colors, thicknesses, and scents. Now, however, they lay dormant, having done their job for the evening.

It was, to be certain, the perfect place to relax and soak away one's worries. The downside, of course, was that since it was, after all, a co-ed bath, and a public one (to the prefects at least), it boded little privacy. And so it was that Lily, who was leaning currently against the rim of the tub on the shallow side of the pool, was not naked but clad in a tightly fitting solid green bathing suit.

She didn't often come in here, so it was obviously a special occasion. The first time she had bathed in the 'pool' without the sense to cover herself up, in her fifth year, she had been walked in on by a Hufflepuff seventh year. Ever since, she had taken care to limit the time, if any, that she spent in the bathroom, and to make sure she was always dressed in more or less modest apparel.

Lily leaned back, eyes still closed, and gave a little sigh, letting the warm waters caress her skin and soak away the stress she carried. A carefully chosen brew of coconut oil, vanilla, and cinnamon scents wafted around the room, the colored vapor clouding the room and making her eyelids tingle. A tendril of steam played over her cheeks and she sank further into the tub, trying to get as much of herself beneath the water as she could without drowning.

It was a soak she desperately needed.

Urgently Lily tried to calm the nerves that had been stirred into turmoil by the events that had taken place in the library earlier, and to cool the temper that still threatened to boil over.

Stupid James. It was one thing that he swaggered around the school as if he owned it, but that he actually…he actually…

Unconsciously Lily's eyebrows knitted together above her closed eyes and a frown crept over her features. There was nothing in the world that gave him the right to do that, to think that he possibly had the right to even think about doing such a thing.

And why the hell would he ever want to do it? They had hated each other since the first year, and now…Lily thought back to the scene at the library and shivered, sinking a bit further into the tub.

She let out a long breath and began to quiver slightly, suddenly coming to a realization. James didn't hate her anymore. Not really. Not in the way that he used to. He had changed somehow, and she had first noticed it on the train on the first day of term. Something had happened.

Why didn't he hate her anymore?

No. He couldn't not hate her anymore. He still disliked her. He had to. It was his friends. Sirius. Remus. Peter…it had to be. Was it a bet? A dare?

Something else altogether…?

He had grabbed her without her consent, forced himself on her without her agreement, and she had been furious…But that wasn't the real reason she had been so angry.

Lily trembled again, and drew her arms around herself as if cold. As much as she tried to hide it, the fact remained that when James had…when he had kissed her…she didn't feel as repulsed as she thought she would. In fact, a part of her had even…seemed like it was okay. And that scared her. Tremendously so.

It scared her so much that she had squashed that rebellious part of her, and she had been angry that there was a part of her that was like that, and that she didn't hate his kiss.

How could that be? How could a boy whom she had hated for years make her feel anything but hatred? It wasn't possible.

He was just a good kisser, that's all, she decided, nothing more.

She realized she had all but sunk beneath the water, and sat up.

"Stupid git," Lily muttered quietly.

"Really now, don't you think that's a bit extreme?"

Lily's eyes shot open at the voice, and she instantly choked on a mouthful of soapy water. She gagged and spluttered, then searched for the source of the noise. Her eyes darted around, but could see nothing out of the usual.

"What?" she questioned curiously, but not fearfully. Five years at Hogwarts had taught her not to fear ghosts, poltergeists, or other magical apparitions. Except, of course, boggarts, but Lily discarded the thought that one would be lurking in the prefects' bath.

"I would hardly call him stupid," the voice said again, soft and melodious and almost enchanting, "He is, after all, a prefect, and top in his classes." When Lily only looked about herself incredulously, the speaker gave a musical sigh. "Here," she called out helpfully, "behind you."

Lily swiveled around and came face to face with a beautiful young woman, fair of complexion and golden of hair, perched on a rock in the ocean in a painting on the wall. She had a fish like tail. Strange. Lily had never noticed the picture before. "Hello," she offered nervously, "My name is Lily."

"I know."

"How do you know my name?" Lily questioned, frowning slightly, but not altogether too surprised.

"I know everybody's name," the mermaid said happily, "All the prefects. They don't notice me, though; you're one of the few I've made myself known to"—she giggled conceitedly—"You should be honored."

Lily, who didn't know quite what to say, merely nodded politely. "Oh."

"Usually I just sit here and watch you prefects bathe," the painting continued, "You'd be surprised how many of them talk to themselves in here. Honestly. They have the most trivial problems; it's funny just to listen. The last person I was on a friendly basis on—she's graduated now—used to say to me 'Aqua,'—that's my name, Aqua—'You shouldn't spy on people like that, it isn't proper.'"

She was obviously very talkative, and Lily, who had been listening quietly, couldn't help but wonder how such a chatty person could stand just sitting and watching. Nevertheless, she smiled a civil smile. "Nice to meet you, Aqua."

The mermaid gave a pretty little smile. "This James, on the other hand, I've never talked to. Normally I just watch him—nice boy--and frankly I don't see what the fuss is. He isn't stupid; he always seems very bright. You shouldn't hate him so."

"I don't hate him," replied Lily, surprised and a bit frightened at her perceptive abilities, "I just dislike him."

"His friend Remus is here often," the mermaid commented, "and Sirius, I think it was. That boy…whew! I wish he'd come more often. Pity they didn't make him a prefect."

Lily put on a fake smile. "Right," she intoned, her mind elsewhere.

"Maybe you don't hate James so much."

Lily frowned, but didn't reply.

"He seems like a very nice boy."

"Maybe."

Aqua flipped her long golden tresses importantly then shifted slightly, better to have the gleam of the painted sun reflect on her perfect scales. "He's quite a catch."

"Excuse me?"

"Perhaps you don't hate him as much as you may think."

"Pardon?"

"Are you sure you dislike him?"

Lily, who had been running out of synonyms for the word 'what', was beginning to dislike the mermaid's sudden vague and mystifying nature. "Yes," she said firmly and a bit coldly.

Aqua smiled mysteriously. "You know, Myrtle used to tell me—"

"Myrtle?"

"Moaning Myrtle. She comes here every so often, likes to sit in the piping, you know. She always says that when you've seen as much as she has, you begin to wonder if things are real."

"What has that got to do with anything?" Lily asked, though she was actually more curious as to how anyone could possibly fit inside the pipes.

Giggling, Aqua tossed her tail a bit. "It hasn't. I just like to quote people."

"Right," replied Lily, who was now beginning to wonder if the mermaid was a bit addled in the head from having to remain silent for so long.

"James, for example, is always murmuring that he is 'god's gift to women'."

Lily scoffed. "He would think so, wouldn't he?"

Aqua laughed again, her voice tinkling merrily. "Are you sure you don't like him, at least a little bit?"

"No." Lily fiddled with the gilded gold faucet next to her, and a stream of pale ginger liquid began to spill out, filling the room with orange colored vapor and the smell of orchids.

There was silence for a moment while they waited for the mist to clear, then Aqua spoke again, apparently losing interest in light of Lily's stubbornness.

"Oh well. If you say so." The painted mermaid pushed herself off her rock and into the surrounding 'sea' with a smooth splash, leaving Lily quite alone with her thoughts.

She reached up and ran a wrinkly fingered hand through her wet tresses, faintly lamenting that her own soggy auburn strands could do nothing to compare to Aqua's gleaming gold ones. She then wondered why it mattered. Sighing, she soaked for a few minutes more, though never quite achieving the relaxation that she required, and, pulling the plug, heaved herself out of the tub.

As she emerged in the common room a few minutes later, damp and wrapped her fluffy pale blue robe, she mused dimly how lucky she was that she hadn't been walked in on while she was bathing. Of course, it was near midnight, but Lily thought that the occasion deserved a toast all the same.

She sat in front of the fire for a while more, watching the flickering embers burn down to sleepy coals then snuff out altogether, and sighed quietly and made for the dormitory.

She'd just have to go to Slughorn the next day to ask for a change in partners.

---

The next day Lily was very much herself again, as she sat alone at the Great Hall for breakfast—Leah and Salina were working together on their own potions project—and munched thoughtfully on cold cereal.

The next minute a great swooping and hooting noise had filled the hall as hundreds of owls soared in, depositing letters and packages on their owner's laps, or, as was the case of a certain unfortunate Gryffindor first year, in his breakfast. Lily looked around hopefully for a package or even a letter but as always there was nothing for her.

She was then sharply cut off from her breakfast by a heavy and ornate silver spoon that sailed through the air and struck her squarely in the chest. Losing her balance momentarily in surprise, she wheeled backwards in her seat, her hands trying desperately to find something to hold on to. They succeeded.

Unfortunately, the object in question happened to be her bowl of breakfast cereal; it landed in her lap, drenching her with lukewarm milk and soggy flakes. Lily had little time to notice this, however, as she was preoccupied with falling backwards at the moment. She let out a little yelp, and tumbled, not onto the cold floor that she had expected, but into the warm arms of someone that was standing behind her.

"POTTER!" she screeched immediately, trying unsuccessfully to sit back up in the bench and unaware that the entire hall was now watching. She had no idea how she knew it would be James, but after years, she knew instinctively that whenever something bad ever happened, he would be there.

James—and it was him indeed—laughed and helped her back into her seat, then took a sweeping bow. "That'll be no charge, Miss Evans," he declared in a ringing voice. The Great Hall laughed and returned to their breakfasts.

"What the hell was that?" Lily demanded as soon as she regained her composure, her voice dangerously low and trembling slightly.

"Good morning to you too."

"What the hell was that?" she repeated.

"A spoon."

She growled savagely. "I know it was a spoon, Potter. I want to know why it was trying to attack me."

He shrugged noncommittally. "It was Peter's." His reply gave her no answers.

Lily stared at him in disbelief for a few moments then sighed in frustration. Getting up from her seat, she brushed down her now ruined robes and made for the exit.

James followed suit and tagged along behind her, whistling cheerfully.

She wheeled around once they were in the safety of the Great Hall and looked—or rather, glared—at him squarely in the eye. "Go away Potter," she hissed, trying to keep her anger at a minimal level.

"Now Lily," James calmly chided, "That's not nice. What would your mother think?"

Lily bit her lip to keep her emotions in check, ignoring him and striding down the hallway.

"You forgot your bag."

She stopped. "What?"

James held up her brown schoolbag. "Your bag."

Seething, she grabbed it from him then turned on her heel again.

"Where are we going?"

"I'm going to the dormitory to change. We aren't going anywhere."

"Fine with me."

Lily veered around again. "Stop following me, James," she snarled.

He held up both hands in innocence. "Sirius threw the spoon. I was just trying to catch it."

"Leave me alone."

"Why?"

Lily threw him one of her signature glares. "Because you are an annoying git, and because I don't want to have to end up jinxing you."

James shrugged. "Fine," he replied. He didn't stop.

Lily stopped again. "James!" she raged.

"Mm hmm?"

She stared at his calm features and mentally threw her hands up in frustration. Suppressing the urge to throw a punch at him (he could dodge her easily, no doubt), she turned and began to walk in the opposite direction.

"Where are we going now?" James questioned lightly, turning as well.

"Slughorn's office. I want to ask him for a change in partners."

James stopped cold, stunned by her reply. "Lily," he called to her in a voice that was no longer cheerful.

She didn't turn.

He ran to catch up to her, grabbing her arm when he did. "Wait, Lily," he said, looking down into her green eyes.

Lily's nostrils flared and her eyes darkened in anger. "Leave me alone, Potter," she managed to grind out, wishing that he had grabbed her other arm, the one that wasn't her wand arm.

"Wait, Lily," he said again. A moment paused, and then he spoke again, his voice quiet.

"I'm sorry."

The anger dissipated at his almost urgent words, and she stared at him with surprised eyes. Apologizing was unheard of for James Potter, and Lily was momentarily stunned. "What…?" she breathed softly.

James took a deep breath. Apparently this wasn't easy for him. "Don't go to Slughorn," he pleaded, "I'm sorry about last night. I dunno what I was thinking. I'm sorry about the spoon. I'll kill Sirius, really I will."

"James—"

"—And we'll eat with forks from now on. Or we can use our hands. Remus will just have to—"

"James—"

"—forget his need for cleanliness and—"

"James," Lily repeated for the third time, firmly and a bit louder this time.

He finally heard the words, stopped, and smiled uncertainly at her. "What?"

She opened her mouth to berate him once again, but the words never made it to her lips. Something in his voice had made her stop. She sighed and tried again.

"I'm going to go change, Potter," she replied patiently, "I'd appreciate it if you'd let go of my arm and stop following me."

James gawked at her, then hurriedly did as she was told, watching as she shot him a wary look then retraced her steps back in the direction of Gryffindor tower.

Dammit.

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A/N: I'd like a little feedback on this one especially. I kept getting the feeling as I was writing it that Lily was having a change of heart, or beginning to feel the starts of one, too soon. And I didn't want to really delve into James' feelings during the last scene, seeing as it was Lily's point of view. Hmm.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go soak my fingers in vinegar now.

Oh, and I'll gladly trade my muffin man for your pasty chef, Sunshine65 :D