A.N: Here's the next chapter. Hope you enjoy!

Disclaimer: I own nothing.

24th March 1976

The Common Room

I can't believe I thought that stupid, big-headed git was actually worth being nice to. Do you know what I found out today? He pranked Snape. Again.

I mean, the boy's a little on the strange side...a bit of a social recluse...mad on the Dark Arts...ok, perhaps he's a complete weirdo, but that's no excuse!

As soon as I found out, (from a passing group of 4th year girls who were giggling madly), I marched straight over there, or rather tried to, as Professor Flitwick caught me in the Charms corridor, jabbering about tutoring younger students. I was determined not to let that pillock get away with it though, so as soon as I was let go from the Professor's grasp, I made my way over to the commotion.

Of course, there was no commotion when I finally got there, which is just my luck.

I sincerely hope McGonagall gave him a proper telling off.

And I was thinking of fancying the bloke!

-----

A While Later

The Common Room, ignoring my friends.

Yes, that's right, ignoring them. Because they are all back-stabbing traitors.

They amble into the Common Room, as easy as you like, disturbing us diligent people who are trying to work on Potions essays, all cackling like loons over the latest stint pulled by the Great-Prats of the school, a.k.a the (cough) High-and-Mighty Marauders themselves. Strike one on the back-stabbing scale.

So they all plonk themselves down next to me, expecting me to join in with them, for Merlin's sake!

"Lils, don't tell me you didn't see Snape earlier?" Marlene asks, looking over to me as if she expects me to join in their pathetic laughing escapade.

"Of course not," I snorted distastefully, "I don't want to watch anything Potter gets up to, he's just a bully."

The three girls rolled their eyes simultaneously, as if my words were too predictable. Strike two on the back-stabbing scale.

"It was pretty funny to see that greasy-haired Slytherin turn pink though, it clashed with his hair horribly," Emmeline laughed, causing Marlene to chuckle in agreement, "And when they made him tap dance! – "

"That was pretty horrid," Alice countered softly, and I let out a mental cheer; one of my friends is still on my side!

"...Although...he deserved it, you know, 'cause it is him and all."

Strike three on the back-stabbing scale.

"Look," I put my essay down with a flourish, "I'm not interested in the latest gossip about them – "

"You liked them enough a week ago," Marlene had that, that, look in her eye that I hated, the look that said 'remember-I-have-black-mailing-evidence-against-you-concerning-a-certain-bespectecled-idiot', "Especially when you were dancing with – "

"That's enough!" I exclaimed, making a few studious people in the Common Room look at me in disgust, "I don't know what you're talking about and refuse to participate further in this conversation. The end."

There were tuts of disapproval all round, and my friends decided to leave me and depart for lunch, but I could have sworn I heard Alice murmuring, "She really does fancy him, doesn't she?"

Strike four on the back-stabbing scale.

-----

24th March

Bathroom in Girl's Dorm – the only place that can be locked from the inside.

I really, really, really hate Potter.

Forget about any of that waffle I said last week; I was clearly under the influence.

I'd decided, after about an hour's hard work on that Potions essay, that I'd join my friends for what remained of lunch, hoping that it would be as Potter-free as possible.

Like that would ever happen.

Anyway, I get down there and slip into my usual place next to Marlene and opposite Alice on the far end of the Gryffindor table, and they give a little cheer at my arrival.

"You've just missed the sausage rolls!" Emmeline exclaimed, which was true, as the lunch-time edibles were just disappearing, to be replaced with even more delicious puddings.

I quickly grabbed a toasted sandwich or two.

"Anything else happened?" I asked, taking a bite and glancing down the length of the table where, sure enough, the Marauders were situated, chuckling merrily away about Godric-knows what.

"Well, Kathleen Douglas and Chris Bennett broke up about ten minutes ago, caused quite a scene as well," Marlene stated, piling ice-cream into her bowl, "Honestly, I don't ever think I've seen someone cry so much."

I always knew those two were doomed from the beginning.

And so we spent a merry ten minutes or so chatting rather amicably amongst ourselves about the hilarity of public break-ups, (provided it's not you, of course), when who should snake an arm around my shoulder?

That's right.

Potter.

I very noticeably stiffened as he slid in between Marlene and myself, with his little cohort Black standing just to the side of us, looking like he'd just pulled out the short straw.

"'Afternoon girls," Potter began, flashing every one of those stupid teeth of his, "I trust you're all well?"

We all muttered our not-so-impressed answers, and I tried in vain to break free from the boy's grip.

"Come on mate," Sirius said, seeming moody, "Just get on with it already."

My eyes immediately narrowed at his exclamation; get on with what exactly?

...Oh no...

"So...Evans," Potter turned towards me, still grinning. I think he expected me to melt into a pile of goo just because of that look.

Let's just say that I wasn't suitably impressed.

"No, Potter," I answered before he could continue, becoming increasingly frustrated with the bloke, and the fact that I could escape from his vice-like grip. "I'm not interested, so kindly let go of me and –"

"Ah, but that's where you're wrong, you see."

I stopped my incessant struggling for a moment, "Pardon?"

He tapped the side of his nose secretly, "There's no need to act stupid, my dear Evans, I know you're completely head-over-heels for me."

This elicited four different reactions from different people:

1. Sirius put a hand to his forehead and let out a groan.

2. Marlene, Alice and Emmeline all looked at each other warily, and then uncertainly at me, very aware that I had a wand in my pocket.

3. The surrounding student population looked on with bated breath, (obviously this was much more interesting than Douglas and Bennett breaking up.)

4. And then there was me.

I mean, how could a girl be so deceived? Firstly, he (or Marlene, or both of them) tricks me into thinking that I could possibly fancy him, then he acts all nice and grown-up at the party, which makes me think he's not so bad after all, and then he turns around and acts exactly how he usually did before said party!

"Potter," I gritted my teeth to keep my voice level, "Let me try and get this into your head. I am not 'head-over-heels' for you. I am not going to go out with you, and I am not remotely interested! Especially after that escapade with Snape this morning."

I must say, my self-control impressed me greatly at that point.

"But you see, Evans," he countered, beginning to look smug, "I did that in your honour."

He what? Can someone explain to me how that's supposed to impress a girl?

"That makes it even worse!" I was beginning to lose control of my temper now, "You were bullying an innocent student in my name!"

"He wasn't that innocent," Potter answered darkly, "He was mouthing off about you so I decided to shut him up."

A very small part of me was touched, but the rest of me was ready to tackle him to the ground and strangle him until his abnormally large head exploded.

"I don't need you to fight my battles, Potter. It doesn't bother me what people say. Stop trying to act like a bloody hero and bugger off!"

He did, thank Merlin, although I heard Black mutter as they passed me, "She's not worth it mate; just a stuck-up prude."

Marlene had to hold me back at that point.

I swear those boys will land me in Azkaban one day.