Chapter 2 - So Maybe They Aren't So Bad
The first week of classes was relatively painless, with limited amounts of homework. Much to her surprise, James had yet to ask Lily out. It almost made her angry... almost. After all this attention he paid her, he just… stopped? She couldn't believe it. He was just a skirt chaser after all.
"You ok, Lils? You seem down in the dumps," Alice noted that Saturday at breakfast, while piling eggs and bacon on her plate. How somebody that small could eat so much was something Lily couldn't fathom.
"Yes, I'm fine. Why do you ask?" Looking up from her plate, Lily's eyes caught James's from down the table. So he was still staring at her? Satisfaction filled her stomach, and in a panic, she fought back the feeling. Why would she feel satisfied that Potter was staring at her?
"I dunno, you seem off. Frank and the boys are sneaking into Hogsmeade today, you wanna come?"
Again, the satisfaction at the possibility of spending the day with James warmed Lily's stomach and she scowled. "Yes, I suppose. It gives me something to do."
"Good. It'll be healthy for you to stop studying for a few hours," Alice smiled, satisfied, and called the Marauders over. The four boys scooted down.
"Yes, dearest Alice?" Sirius asked sweetly, very nearly batting his eyelashes.
"Lily will, in fact, be joining us," She informed them, shoveling her food in her mouth. Sirius whooped and tried to high five James, who looked almost green. Lily frowned. If he liked her so much, why did he find the prospect of an outing with her so sickening?
"We'll make sure Sirius doesn't try and get you too drunk," Remus whispered to Lily, winking. She just shrugged, taking a sip of her pumpkin juice. For an odd reason, she felt hurt that James was sickened by her presence.
"I'm not worried," Lily answered him, finishing off her goblet.
"Good. Well, ladies. Meet us in twenty minutes by the statue of the one-eyed hag," and with a wink from Sirius, the four Marauders stood and exited the hall with an arrogant swagger.
"Bloody pricks," she muttered under my breath.
"You're just saying that because James isn't paying attention to you," Alice looked more than smug at Lily's shocked face when she said this.
"N-no! I'm saying that because they are genuinely bloody pricks!" Lily gasped out, flusing. Alice smirked at her.
"Puh-lease. I saw the way you were looking at James. You've grown used to all the attention from him, and now you're angry that he's moved on and won't give you the time of day."
"That's not bloody it and you know it! Stop making up lies!" Lily yelled at her, seething. Alice just raised her eyebrows, and Lily knew somewhere, though she wouldn't admit it, that her words were true.
"Lily, this only proves it more," she laughed and sighed, dragging the redhead up from the table. They walked out of the hall.
"It doesn't prove anything, except the fact that you're acting like a toe-rag! I don't care if he pays attention to me or not! He's an idiot; he could go shag Marcela Watson for all I care!" Lily spat, her temper flaming. Alice snorted.
"You are so jealous right now."
"Ugh! This is hopeless!" Lily moaned as they came across the statue. "It isn't even worth explaining to you."
"You're right, because I know you too well."
"You don't know me at all!" She hissed harshly. Alice glared and pursed her lips.
"I know you more than anyone else, because you won't let anyone in," she hissed back.
"Well maybe that's a good thing, with You-Know-Who on the rise. You never know who could be lurking around," Lily glared, crossing her arms.
"Are you saying you can't trust me?"
"Maybe."
"You've known me for six years! How can you not trust me! God, you can be such a bitch, Evans! Maybe those girls are right about you! You're just a snobby know-it-all!" Alice spat at Lily's feet and the hurt balled up in Lily's chest.
"Maybe I am," she whispered, turning away from her, tears forming in her eyes.
"So, ladies! Who's up for some frolicking in the sun?" Sirius called, clapping his hands together. Neither of the girls spoke.
"Did we interrupt something, I mean, we can always-" Remus shifted uncomfortably, sensing the tension in the air.
"No. You didn't interrupt anything. There's actually been a slight change of plans. I was just leaving," Lily announced coldly, not looking at Alice or James. She headed off, brushing past James on her way to leave. Her shoulder felt slightly warm where it had come into contact with his, but that didn't mean anything.
"Aww, Lily! Why not?" Sirius whined. She didn't answer, after all, she was a snobby know-it-all bitch, and snobby know-it-all bitches didn't answer when they were asked questions.
"Jeez, what's got her knickers in a twist?" Lily heard Sirius mutter as she climbed the stairs. She shook her head and continued on, needing to vent her anger somehow.
Saturday – September 5th – 1976
I can't believe Alice! The nerve of her! First she suggests I'm bloody jealous of Potter, and then she goes and calls me a snobby know-it-all bitch! And to think actually included her as one of my friends! Hah! Dumbledore was right when he said you can never know who to trust these days. Severus is still ignoring me, only breaking that policy to glare in my general direction when I walk by. Apparently Potter's decided to become a saint or something, because he's basically appeared off the charts. I've only seen him once or twice, besides classes, and he hasn't laid a finger on anyone. He acts like I'm not there now. It's so infuriating, and it just proves my point he was playing with me, the prat. I'm so always right, no matter what Alice says.
Ignoring Alice was harder than Lily thought, and it often led to her being late to crucial classes. Now her grades were lacking and she was threatened with a detention from McGonagall.
With a glare towards Alice, Lily sat, tardy, yet again, to transfiguration.
"How nice of you to join us, Ms. Evans.=," McGonagall drawled.
"Sorry, professor," Lily muttered quietly, her cheeks burning.
"One more tardy and I'll have to give you a detention."
"Yes, professor," she whispered, taking out parchment and getting ready to take notes. McGonagall turned and continued on with the lesson.
Suddenly, by magic, writing appeared on her parchment.
Mssr. Padfoot would like to state that he is increasingly proud of Ms. Evans.
Sod off, Black, I need to take notes. Lily sighed. If McGonagall caught them, she'd surely be dead.
Mssr. Padfoot thinks that Ms. Evans is being unnecessarily cruel and his feelings are greatly hurt.
Your ego needs to be knocked down a few pegs.
Mssr. Prongs would like to remind Mssr. Padfoot that transfiguration is Mssr. Padfoot's worst subject, so he should pay attention.
Not you, too, Potter.
Mssr. Moony apologizes to Ms. Evans for his idiot companions.
It's alright, Remus. I suppose.
Mssr. Padfoot bids his friends farewell, as he now attempts to catch the eye of the lovely Ms. Callowell.
Really, Black. Regina is practically in love with you. All you have to do is ask her out.
Mssr. Prongs would like to, again, remind them that he's the holder of the highest grade in this class, and that if they want to pass, they should pay attention.
God, conceited much, Potter? You have the highest grade, says who?
Mssr. Prongs says that McGonagall says so, which means it's true. He would also like to say that he's trying to get his friends to stop passing notes, and that Ms. Evans really should stop jumping to conclusions.
I don't jump to conclusions!
Mssr. Padfoot laughs.
Mssr. Remus agrees with Mssr. Prongs. Ms. Evans does tend to jump to conclusions.
I can't believe I'm talking with you people…
Mssr. Prongs suggests that if Mssrs. Moony and Padfoot want to pass notes, they can do so on their own paper and leave Ms. Evans and him alone.
Thanks, Potter… I guess…
Lily let out a soft sigh, glancing down at the paper. James's words seemed so cold to her, and she wondered how much she had actually hurt him. Guilt filled her chest and she made a decision. She performed the charm silently, and wrote on a clean sheet of parchment.
I'm sorry, by the way. For being so… cruel to you over the years.
She waited with baited breath, hoping that her writing would appear on James's paper.
It's alright, I suppose.
No, it's not. I mean, you didn't deserve all that. I was rude and taking out my anger on you when I shouldn't have.
I accept your apology then.
Thank you.
It felt like a huge wait was lifted off her chest and she smiled softly to herself.
"Ms. Evans!" McGonagall snapped. Lily looked up, puzzled. She quickly pulled her transfiguration notes over the ones that she had been passing with the Marauders.
"Yes, professor?" She asked calmly.
"How does one go about transfiguring an animal into furniture?"
"You must know the proper incantation and wand movements." She answered calmly. McGonagall moved on to the next student, asking what the incantation was and Lily let out a sigh of relief.