Staggering.

CHAPTER TWO- reflections.

He had asked her out again. And again, she had turned him down. He really had improved quite a bit since last year, though. He had, for the most part, changed back into the sweet and charming boy she had known him to be before fourth year, when he had started asking her out.

It had been quite a shock to find that he had been made Head Boy, but once she got used to the idea of working with him, she could understand. He was rather brilliant, and he did have crucial leadership skills…

He had only asked her out once in the whole two months (before today). They had been sitting in the same carriage on the way back up to school, and he only really even did it because her friends had bothered him about it on the train ride up to Hogsmeade Station ("Don't you have something to ask Lily?").

But what was even stranger (to her anyway), was that she somehow missed it. The very thought of her missing the part of her day that she used to dread the most was simply ludicrous, but it was true.

On the other hand, it was nice. She felt as though she could finally be his friend without worrying that he would want something more from her. She could laugh at his jokes now, race with him to classes, eat with him at lunch, and go on Hogsmeade trips with him and all the rest of her friends. And she found that she truly enjoyed being around him.

There was something so… genuine about him. And yet, there was so much she didn't know. He was a bit of an enigma to her, really. She didn't know anyone in his family, although she knew that they were politically and socially powerful, not to mention extremely wealthy- but that was all common knowledge. He never talked about any siblings, never even mentioned home, except when he or Sirius told a story of some adventure they had had over the summer.

There was so little that she did know about him, and so much that she didn't, and possibly even more that she never would.

Today, after the famous question was asked, she actually took a moment to consider it, mentally sorting the pros and cons into neat and organized lists, with side notes of comparison. In the end, she had decided that the cons still heavily outweighed the pros- he was still something of a prat, and he hadn't yet proved to her that he wasn't only in for a good time. It had always struck her a bit funny, the way he had suddenly decided to fall in love with her. She had the sneaking suspicion that the only reason he hadn't given up on her yet was because he liked the idea of a chase- a challenge.

She knew there was not much that did challenge him, mentally, physically, or socially; and so it was understandable that he would appreciate the newness of such an idea.

Yet… the newness would have surely worn off by now. Why did he continue to humiliate himself?

"It has nothing to do with me. It's about you. And it's always about you: what you need and what you want. You know, it seems you only want me when you can't have me. You like the chase, and that's all. And you know what? You can have it."

She remembered saying that to him last year, the last time he had asked her. She had just begun dating Michael Torcher, a nice seventh year Ravenclaw who had been quite interested in her. He was charming and kind and Lily had been absolutely smitten with him. The relationship had ended on cordial terms a little over two months ago, at the beginning of the summer. He had decided that since he would going into the Ministry and would be kept quite busy, that it was best they end it, rather than drag out the inevitable. Lily had agreed- after all, she would still be at school, where he could very hardly visit her, except maybe at Hogsmeade.

At any rate, what she had said then had been absolutely true. Back then, he only ever asked her when he knew someone else fancied her or she fancied someone, or she was dating someone.

She had only said no today on the basis that they had only just gotten to be friends… and, unlike it used to be, she hated the fact that she had to say no. He had become so dear to her. She knew that she was hurting him whenever she turned him down, but…

She wasn't ready to give up the chase quite yet. Giving it up would mean, essentially, to admit defeat, and she couldn't allow Potter to win.

Lily Evans was not a loser.

She, too, was many things- intelligent, pretty, fun, sociable, and amicable. She was virtuous, good-mannered, and accomplished, but she was definitely not a loser.

No. She wouldn't give in to James quite yet.

The chase was still far too much fun to give up.

"All right, Prongs. This," Sirius gestured to the items laid out on the bed, "Is a comb. Use it well."

"Sirius. My hygiene is fine, thank you," James rolled his eyes towards his enthusiastic friend. "My hair will never lie flat. Trust me, me mum tried."

"Padfoot, wasn't the whole point of this to deflate his ego a bit? And help him stop being an immature prat?"

"What's wrong with my ego!"

"It's a bit big, mate. According to Evans, anyway."

"It's not that out of control! It's… healthy! I've a healthy amount of confidence! And anyway I've gotten much better! We're even friends now!"

The other three boys looked at one another, bemused.

"Sure, Prongs. Whatever you say, mate."

James continued to pout all throughout classes. Girls stopped him in the hall, practically tripping over themselves to cheer him up. "James! James! What's the matter! Oh, James, I do hope you feel better! Did that witch turn you down again! Oh, poor, poor James!"

"Well, look at it this way, Prongs. Even if this doesn't work out, look at all the substitute birds out there for you! Really, a bird is just a bird," Sirius smiled charmingly and waved at the group. "But you have to treat them like their something special, or they get a bit put out."

James sighed, rubbing the back of his head. "Yeah, but… this isn't just any old bird… I mean, this is Evans!"

"Y'know, Prongs," Peter cut in, catching up to them at the door of the Transfiguration classroom. "Maybe you ought to start calling her Lily. I think she would prefer that… and, it would prove that you actually do know her name. After all, like you said, the two of you are friends now. So call her by her name."

"And another thing. Stop pouting, your face will stick that way," Remus sat down in his desk, pulling out his textbook and parchment.

James stuck his tongue out. Sirius laughed mockingly.

"Prongsie, my friend... we have quite a lot of work to do before the end of the year."

Thanks to… Erica, Emmily, and krazisoapluvnreject for reviewing! And yes, you three are all the Coolest People I Know.

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