A/N

I'm so sorry, don't hate me.

This is not the L/J chap I said it was going to be. I'm so sorry for the empty promise, but this came to me and well… its much better here than anywhere else in the story

The next one WILL be L/J but I spent the time I had free writing this chap instead of the L/J one, and I feel I have to warn you: I have my compulsory exams in Feb (solicitors exams) and will probably not have time to write much for the next month or so. This does not mean I won't try, I just can't promise

Please I beg of you: don't lynch me or worse stop reviewing: I repeat please continue to review despite my evil deceitful ways (lol)

HAVE MERCY

Lalas x

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Under Emily's instruction James found himself, reluctantly, wandering towards the hospital wing. Emily had informed him that under normal circumstances she would have gone herself, but in this case had decided it was better he go for two reasons. Firstly, because it would give him a chance to be alone with Lily and, secondly, because Emily felt that if she saw Jacob she was likely to smash his face in, which as she explained to an eager Sirius would not be conductive to making Lily feel better even if it made the rest of them feel ecstatic.

And so here he was, but he was not as convinced as Emily that this was the best course of action, nevertheless he was desperate to see for himself that she was okay, and so he went despite his reservations.

It had given him a moment of hope to think that she had cared enough to ask about him, and that hope got a little stronger when he thought about what she had said to him as he had held her in Hogsmeade, even if they were shock induced ramblings she had still said she was sorry, that she hadn't meant the things she had said to him in the prefects' room. He was also finding it hard to ignore the fact she had allowed him to comfort her and to point his wand at her, that took trust. Trust that he never thought he would ever gain.

Thinking of these things his stride became a little more assured and he picked up his pace. But it slowed again as he was walking past a closet that Pringle liked to keep broken furniture in.

He had heard a noise that distinctly sounded like very enthusiastic snogging. He smirked to himself, it was a bit of a risk in this part of the castle, whoever was in there was either very stupid or just couldn't wait any longer.

He dismissed the idea of interrupting at first, but when the noises got a little louder he sighed resignedly, no matter what his own personal problems he was still Head Boy and therefore could not ignore the indiscretion. He was never too hard on 'fraternizing' student anyway, after all who was he to stand in the way of love. In fact, he was probably doing them a favour by interrupting, it was much better he barge in on them rather than a patroling teacher that was passing by and heard them, they would be in a world of trouble then.

He knocked lightly but it went ignored, he knocked louder and gave them a warning that he was about to open the door, when he received no answer he screwed his eyes up as tight as he could so as to be able to close them quickly if whatever the couple was doing was too private, and would scar him for life.

He pulled open the door a crack. Honestly, he thought amusedly, what kind of inept fool didn't seal the door but as he looked into the dusty room his eyes widened and he pulled his head away quickly totally gobsmacked by what he had just seen. But as his senses returned and his brain started to function again his face went from the pale white it had turned to red, but not from embarrassment from an all encompassing anger.

"You stupid fucking bastard I'm going to fucking kill you!" he bellowed, throwing open the door and totally forgetting he was a wizard as he lunged at the darkened figures, he landed a punch so hard into the side of the guys face that his head whipped to the side.

"James," he heard a female voice scream. "Stop it you're going to hurt him!" But when he failed to listen to her he felt her grabbing at his arms desperately trying to pull him off.

"Fuck off you dirty cheating slag," he said whipping his arm out of her grip as if she might contaminate him. "Do you really think I give a flying fuck what you have to say? I thought you might have been unfaithful, but this… I…I just can't believe you."

"James I'm so sorry."

He laughed coldly, "you really think I care about you? You could sleep with all of Hogwarts for all I care."

Her stare turned icy, "then what's the big deal?"

"You," he said, becoming irate again and pointing an accusing finger at the figure cowering in the corner. "You—you how could you cheat on Lily?"

"What?" Jacob asked, confusion momentarily over taking his fear. "Lily? You're not mad about me getting it off with Kim, you're angry about Lily?"

"Yes, Lily—how could you cheat on her? She deserves better."

"What—why would you care?" asked a bemused Jacob. "And quite honestly why would she care anymore, after all the stupid cow already broke-" he started to say before he found himself being punched again.

"Don't ever let me hear you calling Lily names" James shouted breathlessly as he threw yet another punch

"Get off me you fucking idiot!" Jacob shouted, finally throwing a punch of his own and catching James in the eye, but James didn't seem to notice, he just continued to punch every part of Jacob he could reach.

Finally, with the additional effort of Kim, Jacob managed to pull James off.

"What is your bloody problem?" Jacob asked after taking a few gulping breaths and wiping blood off his now split lip.

James watched his actions in satisfaction before saying, incredulously, "my problem? You mean other than the fact that you were groping my girlfriend in a storage closet?" James spat the word "girlfriend" like it was toxic. "Fuck me, isn't that enough?"

"Oh please James, don't pretend to be all defensive and protective of me now, you're just using it as an excuse to be angry at him for cheating on Lily. You have been distant and rude and a right little shit for over month now! I may be an airhead at times, but even I noticed you pulling away. I'm not stupid and I promised myself when I agreed to date you that I wouldn't let myself become just another one of those girls who never saw it coming. Did you honestly think I was just going to wait around for you to dump me?"

"No, I expected you to at least break up with me if you felt this way and certainly before you moved on to someone else!"

"This only just happened," she said quickly and defensively. "He was upset about what happened between him and Lily and I was angry at you for going straight past me and diving in to rescue Lily"

"What?" James said choking on his own spit, his anger deflating.

"Yeah I saw that," she said in a deadpanned voice.

"Oh" he said giving her a remorseful look "I'm sorry"

"Sorry because you didn't see me or sorry because you did see me but choose to defend someone else anyway?"

He flinched, her words cutting into him like a dull knife

"Both- neither- I don't know." he sighed "I'm just sorry."

Taking a deep shaky breath she continued "But you're right, I should have told you long before how I was feeling, and I definitely wish you hadn't seen this." she said gesturing to Jacob "But I refuse to let you make me out to be the only guilty party, you haven't been faithful either."

He opened his mouth but she continued "no, don't try and make excuses, and please don't pretend you don't know what I'm talking about, you'll only make this harder, do us both a favour and be honest. Think about it James, even if nothing has actually happened between you and Lily, you can't really call yourself my boyfriend when your totally in love with some one else." She finished despondently

Then regaining some spirit she pointed a finger at him threateningly "And don't you dare be angry at me for this because it would make you a hypocrite; you've still been seeing me despite your crushing desire to be with the perfect Lily Evans."

"This isn't her fault, don't bring Lily into this," James said quietly.

"Why not," Kim said in a strangled voice "she seems to affect everything else, even when she not bloody around?"

"Don't" James said staring at the floor feeling ashamed

"Why the hell not, its true, and it needs to be said because no one else seems to have enough sense to tell you!" she said hitting him on the arm, a little too hard, indicating that despite how understanding she was being she was still upset

"You love her" said Kim slowly staring at him with sad eyes "and even when you're not together you are still paying her more attention than anyone and anything else in your life. That means something"

He nodded remorsefully before asking: "It wasn't all bad though, was it?"

"No" she said her eyes tearing "not all bad, most of it was good, you were really great in the beginning… but for you" she started before getting choked up "but for you, there has never really been anyone who even came close…It wouldn't have lasted between us anyway. I'm too good for you." she said as an attempt at a joke, but the effect was ruined by the waiver in her voice.

"What the- Lily- you and Lily-" Jacob interrupted finally managing to catch on to their conversation. He trailed off, scrutinizing James for a moment, then he said "but she hates you?" before enlightenment came to his eyes, "So that's why she was eager to defend you and get away from me!"

"What?" James asked his attention momentarily diverted from Kim's resolute yet sad face.

"Her, she got all defensive when I bad mouthed you, it's because…"

"Because what—and what did you mean earlier when you said that she wouldn't care about you cheating? Why wouldn't she care?"

Jacob was about to answer, but James didn't hear him, he had suddenly decided he didn't really care what the bastard had to say, he wasn't good enough for Lily or Kim and unexpectedly he found the whole situation hysterical and he could help himself, he began to laugh.

"What?" asked an offended Jacob.

"I'm sorry," he said, trying to control himself but failing "I just, I can't believe it."

"Can't believe what?" Jacob asked in a voice that indicated he was worried about James' sanity.

"Nothing, nothing it's just ….Well this is so…so ironic," he continued chuckling.

He turned to Kim took her hand and said: "I'm sorry you're right, I wasn't faithful either and I wasn't a very good boyfriend, so I guess I have no right to be angry at you. I'm sorry I called you those names, but despite what I said and what you may think, I wasn't angry just because he was cheating on Lily."

She nodded her head in quiet acceptance, and smiled faintly at him. "I don't believe you, but it means a lot that you would say it"

"What—wait-" Jacob said, but James didn't respond, he felt distinctly relived that he had one less problem to deal with: getting rid of Kim. With this thought in mind he brushed off his clothes, gave Kim a last nod, flicked Jacob off and strolled away with a distinct spring in his step.

There was a slight hitch in his stride thought when he realise he still had to tell Lily about Jacob cheating and he still had to convince her to dump the bastard and then give him a chance.

But as he picked up his pace again he took solace in the fact that one problem was solved and that was better than nothing

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A/N

Thank you to cosmopolitan and to all the lovely, splendid, forgiving people who reviewed:

justplainstupid, kiki08, IWantToMarryJames, potterlady4691, Cymru01, Lady Knight Keladry, Froody, zuska1985, brianna24, mrsbrandonflowers, IzaBella Pheonix, TickleBug, Chelle-Lynn, Brighton Baby, thestralwhisperer, shortyroc, LillyEvans13, KATExYOU, T-H-E OANA