Summary: James Potter returns to Hogwarts School, this time as a teacher, and meets Lily Evans, brilliant and full of life. He falls for her and romance, comedy, and drama follow.

Disclaimer: I don't own the characters, anything from the brilliant mind of JK Rowling, and whatever else that isn't mine.

Chapter 8

Neither of them expected her next action.

Smack.

She had turned around and slapped him, hitting him squarely on the cheek. As a DADA teacher and auror, you would have thought he'd have had better reflexes.

His hand flew to the area, and he smiled rather bitterly.

"You're free to go Ms. Evans. I think we've learned enough for one night."

She simply stood there, wide eyed and in shock.

"Professor… I…"

"Go."

"No, let me explain," she pleaded.

"You needn't, really. I should have expected this anyway. Please, go. I'll see you on Monday."

She looked down at the ground, then turned slowly and left.

As the door closed behind her, James heaved himself into his seat and rested his elbows on his desk. His head dropped into his hands, and he sighed.

What had he expected? A muggle movie kiss?

Still, his pride hurt.

Suddenly the door began to open. James' head shot up. He began to reach for a pen so that he could pretend he had been busy grading papers. Then he stopped.

It was just Remus.

"I… er… I forgot my hat here, Ja—"

He stopped short.

"What's wrong, James?"

"Nothing's wrong."

"Obviously," he said dubiously, "What happened?"

James took a deep breath and spoke. "I feel sostupid," he explained.

"You tried something with Lily." It wasn't a question.

James nodded.

Remus smiled weakly. "I'll ask you for details later. I think you need a drink right now."

As soon as Lily was safely a few corridors away from Professor Potter's classroom, she ran the rest of the way to the grounds. She didn't want to face anyone just yet, but the squid would make an amicable companion for her dreary spirits.

Why had she slapped him? His touch and the feeling of his arm around her had felt… nice.

It probably had something to do with uncertainty; thoughts about safety and fear and unconventionality and the future and older men and sex and so many things she really didn't want to think about just now.

Once they had arrived at James' quarters, Remus took himself to James' cupboard and pulled out the firewhiskey, pouring both of them a glass.

"I can't," James told him, waving the glass away, "I have work tomorrow."

"Just take it."

James didn't even try to resist at this second offer. He took the glass at stared at the deep amber-coloured liquid.

"Remus, what am I supposed to do now?" he asked miserably.

"Drink," Remus told him, raising his glass.

Lily sat by the lake, watching the undulating movements of the water as a result of the squid's activity. Thoughts came and were sorted in her mind with more ease under the influence of the cold October night.

The world would give her enough problems without her creating her own, whether she did so in the things she did do or the things did not do. This was especially true in these times.

A knock came at the door

"Who the hell could that be at this hour?" James grumbled, standing lethargically and walking towards the door.

Remus laughed at his friend's half-drunken mood.

James opened the door.

"Lily," he said, surprised.

"May I come in, Professor?" Lily asked, "I'd like to talk with you."

AN Oh gosh, I'm sorry that took so long and was so short. It was the hardest chapter ever to write. I wanted to write it the right way. I hope I did. I've also been so very busy lately, but that's toned itself down for now, so hopefully the next update will come much quicker. Thank you to everyone for your patience and for your reviews.

Update: Alright, so I found the translation of my story to Portugese. I am very flattered, and the translator credited me, so I'm happy. In the future though, if any translations are to be made, it would be nice if someone would let me know? Thank you!