Chapter 2

What Am I Doing

I studied my new face in the mirror. I had the same shaped eyes, but they were now robin egg blue. My nose was slightly smaller, and my complexion was slightly rosier. But the main difference was my hair, because instead of blazing red flames, my hair fell to my waist in small ripples. The ripples were blonde. As in, light yellow, almost white. I hated to brag, but I looked very pretty. Maybe I could finally get a date!

It was Saturday, so I was free to wander the halls in my new, err, look. It was a beautiful day and I walked around the grounds. I was free at last!

"Hey Camille!" an excited James Potter came running. Maybe not totally free. Realizing I wasn't his girlfriend he stuttered, "Oops. You have no idea how sorry… I mean… I thought… have I met you before?" he eventually asked.

"Doubt it. You haven't noticed me since I got sorted. Seventh year, Li," I cut myself off, "Leslie Vincent."

"Really? I'm seventh year too. James Potter," James introduced himself.

I snorted. "Ah, the famous James Potter. I've heard so much about you from my friend," I smirked.

"Who may this friend be?" James wondered.

I was stumped. Thinking quickly I blurted out, "Lily. Lily Evans." Stupid me! Now he'd pester Leslie about me.

"Evans? She's never mentioned you before," James realized.

I had to think of something. Aha! Leslie, the poor, shy, innocent girl who never got noticed. Sat in the back, never got called on, had no friends. That would be my cover story. "I'm never really mentioned or noticed by anyone," I said shyly, tilting my head down. "You know, I sit in the back, never get called on in class. No one ever sees me. Lily was the first person to talk to me during all my Hogwarts years. I asked her to leave me be. I like being alone and un noticed. This year though, I'll ask someone to Hogsmeade. Maybe even talk to Lily and her friends more. I'd rather others didn't see me though. It's my goal for the year," I pointed out.

"Oh I see. So you like never being seen or recognized?" James said. He wanted to seem understanding, but it was obvious the ego inflated head of his didn't get why someone would never want to be noticed.

"Unlike some people, I like being unknown," I snapped.

"If you're friends with Evans, then I know where you got the feistiness from," James laughed. This was when I realized I was having a normal conversation with James Potter. That was so strange! Yet, it wasn't all that bad.

"Well, I must be going. Sorry you thought I was Camille," I was going to make a quick escape before I got into something.

"Wait! You can't just leave and never be seen again!" James said fiercely and grabbed my wrist tightly. "Let's go see my pals," James suggested. It sounded more like an order. What was I to do? I agreed.

In a few minutes I was staring at my feet while James introduced me to Remus, Sirius, and Peter, his friends. Ha! If only he knew! The past few years I'd been screaming at Black, smirking and Pettigrew, and sympathizing for Lupin.

After intros Sirius stepped up. "It's a pleasure to meet you Ms. Vincent," he said in a Shakespeare tone.

"Oh please Black, spare me. It's not like I haven't been to this school. There are benefits to not talking. I know every ones personalities, and yours is not Shakespeare like and romantic," I laughed. Sirius grimaced.

"She hurt me Prongsie! I don't like her," Sirius hissed to James. I giggled.

"You do realize your whisper is louder than my loudest voice, right Black?" I forced a giggle.

"Sorry Les, he doesn't like insults," James chuckled. Woah! Did he just give me a nickname? We were not friends! He had no right to give me a nickname! Of course I couldn't tell him this, as it would ruin my whole plan of being shy and innocent.

"Say, want to go with me to Hogsmeade next weekend?" James asked after we left. I was speechless. How did this boy think? He had known Leslie for a few hours and he had already asked her out! Uh, what a prat!

"As friends of course!" James added in. Thank goodness!

"I suppose, sure," I agreed. Wait, did I just agree to go on a friendly date with James Potter? I had no idea what came over me, but I knew Mel and Alice would be very interested to hear that James Potter finally had a date with Lily Evans, and he didn't even know it. Oh well. All would hopefully go well.

"Mel, I need that blue sweater I gave you for Christmas last year!" I was yelling to my friend the next weekend. Why I was in such a fuss about going on a date with Ja- Potter, I had no idea. All I knew was that I was. I slipped on a pair of jeans and the sweater Mel tossed me. "Thanks Mel!" I shouted.

"No problem, but can I ask you a question? Do I look okay?" Mel asked. Of course she did. Mel always looked great. Her blonde hair was naturally straight, long, and silky, but it never frizzed. She had chocolate eyes, even though she was blonde, and a fair complexion. Her face was actually rather small, but still sweet. Today Mel had put on light pink eye shadow which magically looked brilliant with her eyes. Her eyelashes were curled without mascara. Mel's eyelashes were half an inch long. She had applied a layer of mango flavored gloss and her face looked flawless. Mel had slipped on a cream colored shirt with flared sleeves at her elbows. She wore her pink mini skirt along with brown leggings. Her furry boots somehow matched her outfit.

"Mel!" I gasped, "You look perfect!" I nodded approvingly as I scanned her over and over again.

"You two look brilliant!" Alice exclaimed.

"Not so bad yourself," Mel complimented Alice. In her black tank top, maroon jacket, red mini skirt and black high heeled boots, Alice looked stunning. Funky and outgoing was the perfect look for Alice, not me, but my blue sweater and jeans looked sad compared to my friends. Ah well, they weren't playing innocent. Besides, Mel and Alice had dates. Alice was going with her boyfriend, Frank, and Mel was going with Vince Curt. He asked her two weeks ago. It's not like I had to gloss my lips so I could kiss James. Oh God! Must not think that! No way would I kiss James Potter! Ever! It would be interesting though, to find out if he was as good a kisser, as everyone said. Oh dear God! Since when do I consider kissing James Potter? What was wrong with me?

"Maybe I'm sick," I announced, as no reasonable Lily Evans considered kissing James Potter interesting, "Can one of you check my temperature? Maybe I'm going loony. Am I mad?" I said in a blur.

Mel laughed. "Oh Lils, you are most certainly not sick. Just a bit nervous. You are also not loony. Although you are slightly mad, after all, you're faking your identity," Mel grinned. I still had one question.

"I am a crazy person, aren't I? Maybe I shouldn't be doing this," I started sobbing.

"Calm down Lils. You're not crazy at all. But as for going on this date, you most certainly should not be doing this. Wasn't it you who always said you would never go out with James?" Mel pointed out.

I nodded and wiped a tear off my face. Then I perked up and added, "Leslie never said that. Besides, we're just going as friends. James has a girlfriend, remember?"

"Actually, he broke up wit her. She got all upset at him, Sirius called her friend daft, so she threw a fit and cursed him. When James found out she hexed his best mate, well, he refused to be her boyfriend," Mel noted. It amazed me how much my friend knew about the everyday life of practically everyone at Hogwarts. Or at least anyone in our year. "I would be careful Lils. James used to be a player. He might take advantage of you," Mel warned.

"He'd never do that to me!" I exclaimed. James apparently fancied me, but though I refused to believe this, he did treat me better than other girls.

"No, he'd never do that to Lily. But you are Leslie now. You have to remember that. Not only that, you are shy, innocent, and naïve. Or at least, Leslie is. This could really make James think. I mean, Leslie is gorgeous, in a sweet, innocent kind of way. Mark my words, James could easily hurt you. Be careful," Mel was obviously serious. Maybe James was taking advantage of me.

"I'll be careful," I reassured Mel. I meant it, if what Mel said was true.

I stood up and cast the spell on myself. Immediately Leslie appeared in the mirror in front of me. Lily looked awful in the outfit I picked out, but Leslie looked perfect, quaint, fluffy, and slim, Leslie looked perfect. I clipped a diamond butterfly that Mel gave me for good luck into my hair. Ah,yes. Lslie Vincent was ready for her first date with James Potter. Who was I kidding? Inside, I knew I was thinking, What am I doing?