A Dangerous Confrontation

James sat by himself in the Library, waiting anxiously for Lily or Snape to arrive. He must've sat for an hour before they finally came.

He didn't see her, he heard her voice. They were at a table behind him. He pulled the hood of his cloak up a little higher and tried to listen to what they were saying. It was hard, but he managed to figure out that she was honestly trying to help him with Charms.

How naïve, he thought as he moved to another table. He couldn't see Lily or Snape, and he wanted to make sure that the grease ball kept his hands and eyes off of her.

He got up and moved to a table off to the side, far enough away so that they couldn't see him, but close enough that he could see them.

Lily was desperately trying to help him understand the importance of the wrist gestures, and he was "trying" to learn them. Really, he was just trying to get a glimpse of her shirt that was open perhaps a little too low.

After about an hour, Snape finally got it. She seemed so proud of herself. Snape was complimenting her about how good of a tutor she was.

They got up to leave. James followed them out of the library.

"Thank you so much for tonight, Lily. It really meant a lot to me that you helped me," Snape said.

"Oh, it was no problem, Severus. I'm just glad you finally understand it!" Lily said happily. James noted how her cheeks flushed when she was happy or excited.

"Well, I want to thank you," Snape said.

"How?" Lily asked.

James had a bad feeling he knew.

Snape suddenly pushed Lily against the wall of the castle and kissed her violently.

James decided it was him moment to shine.

He made it look as though he was just walking down the hall. It was, after all, on the way to the Gryffindor tower.

Lily was struggling against Snape, but he wasn't letting up.

"Let go of her!" James ordered.

Snape pulled away from Lily suddenly.

"Excuse me?" he asked angrily.

"She obviously doesn't want you touching her, so why don't you just leave her alone?"

"Who are you to tell me what I can and cannot do? And how do you know she doesn't want me to touch her?"

"Why else would she be struggling?"

"Severus, leave. Now," Lily ordered, speaking for the first time.

"I'll see you tomorrow in Charms, Lily," Snape said sweetly before walking down the corridor. He gave James the finger right before he turned the corner.

"I doubt it," she said to herself. She stared at the floor for a few moments.

"Are you okay?" James asked concernedly.

"Why were you following me?" Lily accused suddenly.

"What?" James asked a bit nervously. He didn't want her to know he had been watching her.

"You followed me to the library and watched me the whole time I was with Severus. Then you followed us out here. So why were you following me?"

"I heard you say you were going to the library tonight and that Snape kid is a perv. I didn't want you to get hurt," James said in all sincerity.

"Who gave you permission to follow me, James Potter? And since when are you so concerned about me?"

"I didn't want you to get hurt!" James insisted.

"I was doing just fine on my own! Next time I'll thank you to stay out of my business!" she yelled.

"But… but…" James sputtered.

"And stay away from me. I swear if I even feel you around me I'll send the worst hex I can think of in your direction!" she screamed, storming off down the corridor.

James stood there for a few minutes, completely baffled. His thoughts ran wildly in every direction.

"I was just trying to help her! Why did she get so upset? And why does she hate me so much? It's not like I ever did anything to her before! I swear! Try to help a person and look what happens! Well, the next time Severus Snape is on top of her, I won't even bat an eye! Nope! Even if she calls me and begs for help and forgiveness, I won't even look at her! She'll regret hurting me!"

Lily lay on her bed that night, very confused about what had happened. She didn't understand James's actions. And Severus! She had thought he was such a nice boy! Well, she would speak to Professor Flitwick the next day and get everything straightened out. He would understand.

"Lily, honey, what's the matter?" Ellie asked.

"Oh, nothing. Just a rough night," Lily said, reluctant to talk to a stranger about her problems.

"Do you want to talk about it?" Ellie pushed, eager to know what happened.

"Really, it was nothing," Lily replied.

"So that's why you came in here all upset and crying, right? Look, Lily, when a person tells me something, my lips are glued shut. You can tell me anything."

"Okay. Tonight I was at the library helping my partner in Charms, Severus, out with some stuff. James Potter followed me there and was watching us the whole time. Then, after Severus finally got it, he tried to kiss me. When I tried to get him off of me, he wouldn't stop. Then James came out of nowhere and made him leave, claiming to be trying to help me. But he followed me!"

Lily was crying now.

"Look, Lily, it sounds to me like James has a crush on you, that's all. He heard you say where you were going or something and knew this Severus kid was bad news. He was trying to look out for you. Is that such a bad thing? I mean, he is really hot. How bad could it be?"

Lily smiled.

"You know something, I think you're right. It's not that bad. I'll just have Flitwick change my partner and apologize to James."

"Good girl, Lily. See, that wasn't so hard! Now get some rest! We have classes tomorrow."

Lily lay her head on the warm pillow.

James walked dejectedly back toward the tower after an eternity of standing and pondering. He decided that he hated Lily Evans.

He entered the dorm. He was greeted by a distressed Peter, an angry Remus, and a furious but miserable Sirius.

"WHAT THE HELL DID YOU DO TO ME POTTER!" Sirius screamed.

"What are you talking about, Black?" James replied calmly. His powder had done the trick. It was a type of itching powder, except it caused the victim to break out into unsightly red boils at the same time. James was quite proud of his work.

"YOU KNOW PERFECTLY WELL WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT! WHAT ARE THESE BOILS ALL OVER ME?" Sirius continued to scream.

"Now how would I know that, Sirius? Maybe you should go to Madame Pomfrey. She'll have just the thing that'll cure you right up. Goodbye, then."

Peter dragged Sirius out of the room and slammed the door behind him.

The instant the door shut, James burst into hysterical laughter.

"That was bloody brilliant!" he said between breaths, obviously proud of himself.

"Well I don't think so," Remus said disapprovingly.

"What do you mean?" James asked suddenly. "He was covered in them!" James grinned at the thought.

"That was mean and you know it, James Potter. I'll admit, Sirius isn't the nicest person to ever walk the earth, but he didn't deserve that!" Remus argued.

"He bloody well did deserve it! He's an arrogant, stuck-up git!" James replied angrily.

"He isn't the only git in this room," Remus said.

"Whose side are you on, anyway?" James asked angrily.

"I am not on anybody's side. I just don't think you should've done that. Why can't you two just make up and be friends?"

"Because we can't. That's why. Now either you be on my side or piss off," James said cockily.

"You're utterly impossible," Remus sighed, going to bed.

"So I've heard!" James yelled.

He lay in bed for an hour or two, waiting anxiously for Sirius and Peter to come back.

After what seemed like an eternity, Peter entered the room alone.

"Where's Sirius?" James demanded of the poor boy.

"He has to spend the night in the Hospital Wing. Now I'm going to bed," Peter replied quite schizophrenically.

James's grin broadened at the thought of Sirius spending the night in the Hospital Wing. He was quite pleased with himself.

As he drifted off into a peaceful sleep, his dreams were filled with images of Sirius covered in bright red spots.