Disclaimer: I own nothing.

Author's Note: Okay, I'm am so glad to finish this, I've been working on it for weeks now, not having enough to finish it. Hope ya'll like it.

------------------------------------------------------------

Chapter Ten

------------------------------------------------------------

"Stupid Potter, doesn't even bother to show up for patrol. Thanks. If I die because I'm attacked by deatheaters roaming the castle and then promptly am killed because I was outnumbered because you don't bother to show up for stupid patrol, then you had better watch out, Potter, because I will kill you. Yes, I will."

Lily wondered why she was talking to herself, pretending to be having a conversation (although, conversations were rare between the two, usually it was arguements or death threats, quite like this one, actually). Potter had ditched her and their oh-so-wonderful patrol for what-in-Merlin's-knows-what. Lily wasn't taking it too well.

". . .Well, I couldn't really kill you since I would be dead from the attack of the deatheater's, but, believe me, I would most definitely come back to haunt you. If I could. . .not everyone is able to come back as a ghost or even a portrait, you know. . ."

She stopped, as though, listening to the imaginary Potter reply to her. Lily was a very, let's say, educational person. Just about everything she brought up, ended up turning into a minature class lesson.

"Anyways, whether I die from deatheater's attacking and killing me because you ditched me, Potter, or I survive this patrol, you will still be dead. Stupid Potter."

Lily paused again. She still didn't understand why she was trying to have a conversation with Potter, who, by the way, was not there. Because he ditched her. He ditched her. She was not that bad. . .was she?

"It's not as though I want you here. No thanks- and it's not as though I can't take care of myself. Because I can."

"Talking to yourself, Evans?"

Lily yelped in surprise and spun around, a chill running up her spine. It was the deatheater's, she knew it! Stupid Potter, this was all his fault. If he hadn't of ditched her, then she wouldn't be facing deatheater's and-

"Snape?" Oh. It wasn't deatheater's. Lily had to sigh in relief. It was just Snape and his other Slytherin partner. For some reason, these two did not bring much comfort. Lily had some ideas why they weren't very comforting, but pushed them out of her mind, not wanting to falsely accuse someone just because they were in Slytherin. Although, there were reasons for them being in Slytherin just as much as there was for her or any student at Hogwarts for that matter, for being sorted into their particular house. The Sorting Hat, as she had learned from class lessons and books, was always correct in where it put students.

"Where's Potter, Evans?" Snape asked, quite bluntly, she thought. He peered around the dark, empty corridor with narrowed eyes.

"He's sick and couldn't patrol tonight." She was surprised. Why hadn't she just told the truth and said he'd ditched her. Oh, and the crappy patrol.

Both Snape and his fellow prefect, which was a girl with perfectly straight, neat, brown hair, gazed at Lily intently, as if scanning for any signs of lies.

"He seemed fine in potions this afternoon." The partner replied. Lily tried not to flinch at this small fact. "Yes, as a matter of fact, he was up and about, showing off like an idiot, as usual." Snape added, quite nastily, Lily thought.

Lily tried to narrow her eyes at Snape's statement. "Well, he said it had to do with. . ." She trailed off for a moment. Her eyes had been roaming around, not trusting herself to look fully into Snape and his partner's eyes while she lied.

There they were.

There was Mr. I-Ditched-You and his I-Ditched-You followers: Remus, Sirius, and Peter. Oh! AND their bag of dungbombs, hidden conveniently under Sirius' cloak, just barely noticable by Lily.

Now Lily's eyes were just burning to narrow into thin slits. But she kept perfectly composed. Or as composed as a person who rarely ever lies.

Mr. I-Ditched-You and his I-Ditched-You followers were standing just behind Snape, about ten meters away. They had pleading eyes. Well, Black's eyes were more casual than pleading. Black was always casual. Never panicked it seemed. Mr. I-Ditched-You was also that way. Sometimes. He wasn't as at-ease as Black. And he would never, never plead to Lily. With eye contact or with words. No, of course, he just looked at her cooly, as if say, You snitch on us, and we'll make your life miserable. Of course, Lily wasn't intimidated by this. She wasn't afraid of him.

Yet, should she really snitch on them to Snape? That would be horrible. No, she shouldn't. That would just be mean. Everyone at Hogwarts knew Snape had it out for Mr. I-Ditched-You (and Sirius).

"Potter said he had a, er, how to put it delicately, a stomach ache and therefore could not leave the bathroom, if you know what I mean." Lily bit back a smirk as she snuck a look towards Mr. I-Ditched-You. He was scowling deeply at her. His I-Ditched-You followers were clutching their sides with silent laughter.

"He looked fine at dinner." Snape's partner put in. Lily wished she'd butt out.

"Well, he isn't anymore. I swear he's up in the 7th year boys' dormitory bathroom, his face a shade of green and his-"

"That's enough, Evans." Snape cut in. He scowled at her,"Your not a good liar, Evans. I know Potter's not ill. And when I find him and have evidence of it, it will be you that's in trouble. Or actually, your head girl position."

Lily trembled on the inside from fury. How dare he? "I'm am not a liar, Snape. Potter is constipated. If you don't believe me, go see for yourself." She knew that was a risk, but then decided Snape would never go up to see if James Potter was constipated.

The I-Ditched-You followers laughed silently harder. Mr. I-Ditched-You glared icily.

Snape glared also, then stormed past Lily, not bothering to look back, his partner in tow.

"Good one, Evans!" Black commented cheerfully after Snape and his partner were long gone. Lily glared and walked quickly towards the four boys,"Get back to your dormitory. Now. I've already risked enough because of you."

"I don't think we should head back just yet. James is constipated, wouldn't want to bother him!" The four boys minus James, burst out laughing, carefully keeping their laughter quiet. James glared at Lily,"Real funny, Evans. Real funny."

Lily, who was laughing along with James' followers, stopped laughing and narrowed her eyes at James. The bloody git hadn't even said thanks for just saving his arse from Snape. She supposed he was just too good to do that. She didn't even expect an apology for ditching her during patrol. That would just be too much to expect from him.

"I just saved you, you know. I can still go get Snape if you want."

"No, you couldn't." James said simply.

"Oh, really."

"Yes."

"And why is that?"

"Because if you snitched on me, then you be snitching on yourself, Smartpants." James replied. Lily did not think of this being so blinded by being angry at James for not apologizing. She pretended like she had thought about that though.

"I know that."

"Really." James replied knowingly, sharing a Yeah-Right look with his friends.

"Yes. Really."

There was silence for a few seconds while the group of Gryffindors looked from one to the other. Lily remembered something. "Tell me, Potter, why aren't you on patrol with me? Are you even going to bother to make an excuse?"

James shrugged,"No, not really. Like I've said before, I don't like patroling with you."

Lily narrowed her eyes, hearing the faint "Ohhhh" from Peter in the background. James Potter made her so angry! How dare he? He truly didn't have any feelings what so ever for anyone. How can he just go around being so blunt. Did he not even care that he might have hurt her feelings- which, which he didn't. She didn't want to patrol with him either. No, she didn't. "Well-. . ." She broke off for a moment, either too angry to continue or too flustered from his bluntness. "Well, I don't care whether you want to or not, Potter, your Headboy. You have to."

James stared at her thoughtfully.

Remus, sensing a fight or maybe a need for a private word between just the two heads, decided it was time for the them to leave,"James, er, I think Sirius and Peter and I are going to head back now." He shoved Peter and Sirius, who had their mouths already open to protest, in the direction of the Gryffindor common room.

"Right."

It was silent again. They were having a staring contest now that the other three had left. Both had eyes narrowed. "You know, you didn't even thank me for saving you from Snape a while ago."

"Did you want me to thank you?" James asked in a mocking tone.

Lily bit her lip, flustered. "Well, considering that I just put my own self in the line of trouble for you, yes."

"Well," James started, mocking her own words,"I didn't ask for your help, did I?"

She truly didn't know what to say. He was right. He hadn't! Why had she helped him? Him and his friends, she meant. She should have just let Snape find him. James raised an eyebrow, knowing she didn't have had answer.

Lily opened her mouth,"I-. . .ah-" she stumbled around for words for a few seconds before a reasonable excuse came to mind,"I only covered for you because your Headboy and you can't be getting in trouble all the time."

"How wonderful of you." James answered back, his head slightly tilted. He was being sarcastic, of course.

Lily decided to take control the conversation again, James was getting her flustered and stuttering, which she didn't understand seeing as he had never been able to do that before. "How are you doing with the accio charm lately, Potter?"

It worked.

James' haught expression drained from his face and Lily could see a very faint tinge of red in his face. "What are you on about now, Evans?"

"I was just asking how you were doing with the accio charm. You seemed to do awful well the last time you performed it. In the group session." Lily held back a smirk. He was such a liar. He remembered everything.

The red tinge on James' face was becoming brighter with each of her words. Whether from embarrassment, anger, or both, Lily couldn't tell. James looked like he was about ready to blow up. "Fine." James admitted quietly. "Just. Fine." He said very, very shortly.

"Good." Lily said with a fake smile. She had won.

She had just moved one foot to turn and walk off triumphantly when James spoke up,"Been craving chocolate lately?"

Oh, that stupid, stupid git. He just had to completely ruin her glory. Lily stopped rigidly. "No." Lily answered back very, very shortly also.

James gave a knowing, chilly nod. How a nod could be chilly, Lily didn't know. "Been mistaking anyone for getting pregnant lately?" Lily snapped back. James continued glaring at her for a while before replying, "No." A pause. "Been setting off dungbombs in the Slytherin common room lately?"

Lily was outraged, did he have to bring that up? "That was your fault-. . .I mean, no." She finished cooly. James had that haughty look on his face again. She'd wipe that off if it was that last thing she did. "Been stunning yourself lately?"

"No." Pause. "Been hanging upside down on a broomstick at the quidditch pitch lately?" He flew back.

"No." Pause. "Been levitating me to the ceiling lately?" Lily was starting to get a hang of this.

"No." Pause. "Been making fun of my drawings of snidgets in Magical Creatures lately?"

"No." Pause. "Been kissing me lately?" Lily was really starting to enjoy this method of purposely making James mad.

That seemed to make James blow. He stepped forward, breathing deeply. Not a good sign. Lily stepped back, a bit taken back. She made sure her wand was in her robes. "Your really pushing it now."

"I was just asking a question." Lily replied.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

"I mean, who does he think he is, anyways? Going around skipping heads patrol just because he doesn't like patroling with me. How awful can he be?" Lily asked Emma as they sat in the library, studying for a astronomy exam later that day.

Emma sat leaning her head onto her palm with her elbow on the table, mouth open slightly, a bored look on her face. She nodded blankly before shaking her head and sitting up straighter,"Lily, I feel your pain. Now. Can we get back to astronomy. You know, the stars, constellations-"

"-James Potter is the most insensitive-"

"-well, James Potter really isn't in astronomy, but-"

"-arrogant, cruel, disgusting-"

"-and the planets-"

"-dumb, prat of a baboon- are you even listening to me?" Lily asked a bit peeved.

Emma stared blankly at Lily. She stood up slowly,"Lily, I think your heads duties, school, and most of all, James Potter, is getting to you. Maybe you should go outside and get some fresh air or, er, something." She grabbed her bag and slung it over her shoulder, "See you later, Lily." She waved and walked off without another word.

Lily groaned and dropped her head to the table. "I am just fine. I don't need fresh air. No."

"Excuse me-"

"Listen, whoever you are, just go away, I'm not in the mood-"

"-Ms. Evans."

Lily sat up as fast as lightening,". . .Professor Mcgongall?" Her face turned pale as she stared opened mouthed at the tight lipped Professor.

"Ms. Evans. I need to speak with you. Now. In my office." She turned curtly and began to walk off to her office. Lily suspected the professor did not want to speak about a heads duty to be done or an essay that she (Lily) did especially well on.

----------------------------------------------------------------

"-and further more, if you are found lieing to protect Mr. Potter skipping heads duty or lieing period, Ms. Evans, well, I'm sorry, but you will be stripped of your heads position."

Lily stared at the floor, not daring to look up. Tears were beginning to burn her eyes. Why didn't she turn James Potter in? Why? She wouldn't have had to get into trouble. He would have gotten into trouble. He didn't deserve being saved from getting into trouble. She didn't deserve getting into trouble.

"Ms. Evans, do you understand?" Lily look up slowly, looking over Professor Mcgongall's right shoulder, not meeting her eyes. She nodded slowly, swallowing hard. Professor Mcgonall's face had a strict, angry look to her face now, like it usually did, except for when she was speaking with other adults or well-behaved students- such as Lily Evans. Professor Mcgongall and Lily had always been on fairly good terms. Now- well, now, Lily knew the professor was more disappointed in her than angry with her. "Good, then. You may go."

Lily stood slowly and turned to leave. Then stopped as Mcgongall spoke again, in a curious, yet still strict voice,"Ms. Evans, this may not be any of my business, but I was just wondering, well. . .why in the world would you cover for Mr. Potter?" She asked in bewilderment,"For as long as I can remember, you two have never been on good terms. . ." She trailed off.

Lily didn't say anything, just shrugged, not trusting her voice, and turned again, leaving the office.

That horrible Snape had apparently seen and heard her with James and his friends a few minutes after he apparently left them that night in the empty corridor. He promptly told Mcgongall.

-----------------------------------------------------------

Lily wondered at Mcgongall's question. Why did she cover for him? They had never been on good terms. Except for when James had lost his memory and even then it wasn't exactly good. She began to get angry. At James. At the Marauders. At the stupid bludger that hit James, therefore causing him to lose his memory, therefore causing all of his personality change to her. Stupid bludger. She had always hated those things. . .

But most of all, she began to get angry with herself. This was James Potter, why was she being nicey-nicey to him? Why should she cover for him? He had been nothing but rude, cruel, and arrogant to her before and after he had his memory. She could be just as rude and cruel to him as he was to her. She'd never be as arrogant as he was. No one could be as arrogant as he was. That was a fact, Lily knew that.

----------------------------------------------------------

"Oy, Evans!"

Lily ignored Sirius and continued across the Gryffindor common room.

"Evans!"

Her hands were balled into fists. She was so angry at herself. How could she have covered for that impossible jerk?

"Evans, are you deaf?"

She stopped. She was so mad. "No, Black, if you weren't so daft, you'd realize I was ignoring you." The four were sitting around the fireplace like lazy bums, in Lily's opinion anyways.

They looked a bit taken back from the more than usual coolness in her voice. "What's got your knickers in a twist?" Lily took her time walking closer to the group. She glared at four. "Bad day."

"Oh."

No questions asked. Apparently, they didn't want or care what made her day a bad day. This irritated Lily. "Do you know why this was a bad day?" she made sure to glare at James, until he raised an eyebrow and smirked.

Peter actually brought up the courage to ask,"Er, why was this a bad day?"

Lily's eyes were burning through James' skull now (well, not literally),"Oh, just that I almost got my headship taken away from me because of, hmmm, you."

"Who?"

Lily rolled her eyes, glaring pointedly at James. "You."

James mocked surprise. "Me? Why me, Evans?"

"If you hadn't of skipped patrol, I wouldn't have had to lie and cover for you! Then I wouldn't have gotten into trouble by Professor Mcgongall!"

Remus, Sirius, and Peter looked to James. He laughed,"Oh, yeah, because I forced you to cover for me. It's all my fault."

"It is!" Lily had to agree. Her anger was starting to spiral out. Quickly. She was deflating. "And, I hate your-your stupid hair!"

James stood up and slowly, purposely ran his hand through his hair,"Oh, yeah? Well, I hate your. . .your feet!"

They stared. Sirius moaned,"James, that the lamest comeback of all the lamest comebacks out there!"

Lily then purposely raised each of her feet,"Go ahead then, Potter, hate all you want!" With that Lily stomped on James' foot with the feet he hated so much.

--------------------------------------------------------------

A/N: There it is. I know many of you want them to get together now, since James has his memory back, but just be patient. It'll all workout in the end.