Chapter 10: Arrogant Toerag
"Are you staying here for the Christmas holidays?" Alice asked at breakfast one cold December day.
"Can't, sorry, Al," said Lily. "My parents want me to visit them, and I think I should try to patch things up with my sister…"
Her voice trailed away, but Alice nodded understandingly, though she was a bit disappointed.
James and Sirius just walked in and sat down across from them.
"Hi guys," Alice and Lily chorused.
"Hello," said James, "are you ready for Defense Against the Dark Arts?"
"I think I did a really bad job on the essay!" Alice said.
"Yeah, well…" James said.
The Gryffindors finished their breakfast, and, as usual, they were the first ones to file outside of Professor Falx's classroom. The Slytherins filed behind them soon after that.
"Ooh…Potter, I hope you're not standing too near the Mudblood…you wouldn't want her sliming up your hair, would you?" Bellatrix Black guffawed.
Lily watched him clench his fist.
"Don't bother," she said in an undertone, "she's not worth it."
"Are you sure you don't want me to hex her? I can reach her pretty well from here-"
"Don't give her the satisfaction of annoying you," she said.
The classroom door opened, and they took their seats inside the classroom.
"Class, we will be practicing non verbal Disarming charms, just to see what level you're at with non verbals. Get into pairs, everyone."
James immediately moved toward Lily before one of her friends could.
"D'you want to-"
"Sure," she said, smiling slightly.
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Severus watched Potter enviously from the corner of his eye as he practiced his Disarming charm with Avery.
Out of all the people, why did Potter have to be paired with Lily? Why couldn't Potter just be with one of his mates?
As he watched them, he remembered something she had said to him…
"…I don't like some of the people you're hanging around with! I'm sorry, but I detest Avery and Mulciber! Mulciber! What do you see in him, Sev? He's creepy! D'you know what he tried to do to Mary Macdonald the other day?"
"That was nothing. It was a laugh, that's all -"
"It was Dark Magic, and if you think that's funny -"
"What about the stuff Potter and his mates get up to?"
"What's Potter got to do with anything?"
"They sneak out at night. There's something weird about that Lupin. Where does he keep going?"
"He's ill. They say he's ill -"
"Every month at the full moon?"
"I know your theory. Why are you so obsessed with them, anyway? Why do you care what they're doing at night?"
"I'm just trying to show you they're not as wonderful as everyone seems to think they are."
"They don't use Dark Magic, though. And you're being really ungrateful. I heard what happened the other night. You went sneaking down that tunnel by the Whomping Willow and James Potter saved you from whatever's down there -"
"Saved? Saved? You think he was playing the hero? He was saving his own neck and his friends' too! You're not going to – I won't let you -"
"Let me? Let me?"
"I didn't mean – I just don't want to see you made a fool of – he fancies you, James Potter fancies you! And he's not … Everyone thinks …Big Quidditch hero-"
"I know James Potter's an arrogant toerag."
As Severus watched Lily disarm Potter, he couldn't stop himself thinking that lots of things had changed between then and now.
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It was the last day before the Christmas holidays. James was feeling extremely nervous.
"Hey, mate, why do you look so pale?" Sirius asked at breakfast.
James didn't answer.
"Hello?"
Sirius poured James a glass of Pumpkin Juice.
"This'll help, I think," he said as James took it gratefully.
Remus walked into the Great Hall and sat next to James, looking shabbier than ever.
"What's with you two today?" Sirius asked incredulously.
Remus looked at James' nervous, pale face, and gave Sirius a leave-him-alone-you-know-what-it's-all-about look. Sirius shrugged and helped himself to some toast.
The day went on, and James remained nervous the whole time. After double Potions in the afternoon, the Gryffindors walked behind everyone else.
"Hey – James, why do you look so nervous today?" Lily asked him. "You haven't really talked much."
James quickly surveyed his thoughts and made his final decision – he was going to do it.
"It's just that…Lily…I've been meaning to ask you for about seven years, now…will you- will you go out with me?"
Lily rolled her eyes.
"That's why you're so nervous? You've asked me that at least a thousand times last year – and the year before-"
"Well – you know – I was hoping I would get a different answer this time-"
Lily thought about it for a moment.
"I've been thinking – maybe you will get a different answer this time."
His face lit up.
"Just give me time, okay? I'll think about it, and I'll tell you as soon as Christmas holidays are over, sounds good?"
"Sounds great!" he said, the color returning to his face.
As they went back to the Common Room, James felt happier than he'd ever felt in seven years.
I finally get to upload this chapter!!! Yay!!! Poor Sev, though :( Please review!!!