When class ended, James helped Lily gather her things. He must have been as conscious of his friends' stares as she was, but he gave no sign of it as he walked her out.
"Just ignore him. I don't know why he's being such a twat."
"They think I'm keeping you away from them," Lily offered.
James shot her a look, glanced away. "Yeah," he said. "I've been avoiding them."
"I've noticed."
"I'm sorry. If I'd known-"
"It's not your fault," Lily said. She desperately wanted to flee to her room. The humiliation still burned. "Anyway," she said, giving him a tight smile. "You stopped him, so that's something."
"Yeah," he said. "Apparently I should have come to class earlier."
She shrugged and started to walk away.
"Lily," he said, freezing her. "I really am sorry."
"You don't have anything to be sorry for, James," she said. She pushed the hair out of her face, and started toward the stairs.
"Hey, wait," he called, running after her. "Don't skip," he said. "If you can manage. I'm gonna have a word with him, so he won't be in lessons. Skiving off just makes it look like it got to you."
"It did."
"Shouldn't have," he whispered. "I'm the only one in a position to say, and I can promise you his imitation was anything but accurate."
"That doesn't actually make me feel better," she said, blushing and looking away.
"It should." He grinned at her. "I think you're sexy as hell. Just keep that in your head today, if anyone mentions anything."
She wouldn't have guessed she could turned any redder, but she managed it. "Alright," she said. "I'll do my best."
He winked at her, and let her go her separate way. She wondered how their conversation would go.
James Potter was not known for his patience. His parents' friends still spoke fondly – fondly! – about the screaming fits he had as a child. He could guarantee every student in Hogwarts knew the consequences of crossing him, and feared them.
He used to feel pride at the idea. He no longer did.
He tracked Sirius down easily enough, with the help of the map. His friend was up in the seventh year dormitory with Remus and Peter, whispering heatedly.
"Well, here is the man himself," Sirius began.
"Shut it," James said. He looked at Remus and Peter. "We need a minute." Remus inclined his head. Peter, who had been looking from James to Sirius with an avid expression, followed dejectedly in his wake.
"I don't know how she managed to shove a stick so far up your arse-"
"She didn't, and if you can't leave her out of this, we're going to have a serious problem."
Sirius bared his teeth. "What's she done to you then? It's like you're a different person this year."
"Merlin, I hope so," James breathed.
"What the hell is that supposed to mean?"
"It means I've had time to think about it, and I'd really rather not be a wanker that goes around bullying people."
"We don't bully people."
"What would you call that?" James shouted, gesturing toward the door, which stood in nicely for the Defense classroom.
"It was a laugh. She's been a right bitch, claiming all your-"
"How many times do I have to tell you to leave her out of it!"
"Merlin, mate. If we don't remove that stick soon . . ."
"I haven't got a stick up my arse, you wanker. She didn't do anything to you. She was probably just sitting there."
"And?"
"And there was no reason to attack her like that!"
"Don't be so melodramatic. Nobody attacked her. We were just having a chat."
"Sirius."
"James." Sirius stuck his tongue out at James and gave him a cheeky grin. James used his wand to levitate a chair and smash it into a wall, wiping all humor from his friend's face.
"I'm not joking, Sirius. She hasn't been eating up all my time. I've been avoiding you because you keep acting the bully, and I'm done with it."
"Done with what, exactly?" Sirius asked in a very quiet voice.
"Acting the bully," James snapped. "But I'm too bloody pathetic to tell you to lay off, so I've just been steering clear."
"That's ridiculous."
"Which part?" James said, rubbing his hands over his eyes.
"All of it, really, if you're asking. But the part about avoiding me, especially. You want me to lay off Evans? I'll lay off. I guess I could see how that would make it easier to work with her."
James paused. He considered taking it. It was more than he expected. It wasn't all he wanted, though. "I want you to lay off everyone," he said.
"Well, that's a bit harder."
"Sirius."
Sirius shrugged. "I'll do what I can. I'm not making promises. If someone's just asking for it . . ."
James sighed.
"But I'll give it a shot. Bloody hell, mate. It's not worth avoiding us for. Spending all your time with Evans . . ." He shivered.
"Oh, shut it."
Sirius just laughed and suggested a game of exploding snap, with shots.