Chapter Two: Ask Me Why
The Great Hall was abuzz with excitement. Something about being back at Hogwarts did that. Everyone was hugging friends and chatting gaily about their summers; where they had gone abroad, concerts and carnivals they had gone to. A group of Ravenclaw boys passed James, discussing the Qudditch World Cup.
James made his way to the Gryffindor table where his best friends Sirius Black, Remus Lupin and Peter Pettigrew sat. He slid into the empty spot by Remus.
"Oi, if it isn't the Head Boy." Sirius said with a grin. James rolled his eyes and smiled back.
"How was the train ride?" Remus asked, eying Lily as she took her own seat. James glanced her way and then back at his friends, shrugging his shoulders.
"Nothing big. She just yelled at me the whole time."
The boy sniggered.
Sirius smirked. It was the trademark Black smirk. Bottled up it would be worth millions. If James Potter could make girls weak in the knees, Sirius Black made them melt into puddles of goo. He was by far the most handsome boy in Hogwarts. His shaggy dark brown hair fell in his smoldering rich brown eyes that sat back against strong cheek bones and smooth, unblemished tanned skin. His teeth, straight pearly whites, with a straight nose. His frame exceeded that of James as well, although he lacked the muscles years of Quidditch had granted his best friend. Still, every bit that made up Sirius Black was perfect by nature. His mere careless, mischievous persona made he the most sought after boy in the school.
Somewhere in the distance, a girl sighed dreamily.
"I can't wait to see her face when she realizes that Dumbledore really wants you for Head Boy." The heartthrob said excitedly.
Remus laughed. "She's going to go ballistic."
James grinned at his friends. He opened his mouth to speak when the familiar sound of stainless steal against glass somehow became loudly projected. The Head Master was about to give his ceremonial Welcome Back speech before the grand dinner. James, as well as the Hogwarts student body, turned their attention to an ancient but majestic looking man who stood at an owl podium.
"Welcome, welcome." Came the old mans raspy voice. The hall grew silent. The man seemed to wield a strong sense of power over the whole castle, as if he were a glorious king or kind master. Everyone stared up at him with the utmost respect, Gryffindors and Slytherins alike.
"Welcome to a new year at Hogwarts! Before we begin our banquet, I would like to welcome our students, new and old alike, and must remind you that the Forbidden Forrest is strictly off limits to any student wishing to attain all their limbs throughout the year." A First year two people down from James gulped loudly.
James grinned up at the Head Master as he continued. "As I am sure you will all do the best and be the best, may your years at Hogwarts bring you a thirst for knowledge and adventure. Some might say it will be your best years. I can only hope you enjoy every single one, as you embark on your journey into adulthood. Now, may I introduce your Head Boy and Head Girl, Miss Lily Evans and Mr. James Potter." James and Lily rose to their feet and the Great Hall was filled with loud cheering, hooting and hollering. With the Sorting out of the way, the Head Master finished, "Diddle! Wissip! Thank you."
On cue, the empty golden plates filled with vast amounts of food. There were steaks, mashed potatoes, grilled and fried chicken, roast beef, biscuits and sausages. The boys began piling their plates with food.
"Now that's more like it," Sirius was saying. Not being much of a cook himself, he had resorted to Muggle take out since he moved into his flat. While the House Elves, Bertie, Sampson and Hilly were more than happy to fix up anything and everything James could ask for, eating at home was nothing like the food served at Hogwarts. He demolished every scrap of food, and eagerly went for seconds.
"Oi, Potter." A boy with sandy brown hair walked up to the Marauders. He had his arm around a small Second year, who nervously looked up at the four older boys.
"Hey, Frank." James said, nodding at the boy. Frank Longbottom was tall, towering over the boy under his arm.
"This is my little brother, Everett. Everett, you know James Potter, right? He's the Captain of our Quidditch team." The boy looked at James in awe. Frank turned his attention to Potter. "He's a big fan, always begging dad to take him to games during the summer. He's wanting to try out for the team and asked me to introduce him."
James stuck his hand out, shaking Everett's. He smiled at the boy kindly. "You'd make a good Seeker," he said noting the boy's thin frame, "or maybe a chaser. Tryouts are next week on the tenth. I hope to see you out there."
Everett positively beamed. Frank shot James a thankful look before toting his brother off. James turned back to his meal.
"Think Gryffindor's gonna win the championship this year?" Peter asked, speaking into his mashed potatoes. James snorted.
"That's like asking if Sirius is going to date half the population of girls." Sirius shot him a playful glare before flipping his shaggy hair out of his eyes.
"Don't be jealous, Potter." He turned to Peter. "Its more like asking if Evans is gonna turn him down." He dodged a country fried potato that James launched at his head.
"Shut it, Padfoot." James warned. Sirius waggled his eyebrows wildly and Remus rolled his eyes.
"The two of you will never change. I don't see why you care so much about her, Prongs. She's kind of a bitch." Remus said, cutting a piece of sirloin.
James glanced in Lily's direction, where she was chatting with Alice Prewett and Marlene McKinnon. She was far away enough to not hear Remus, but must have noticed a gaze on her, because she looked down the table and locked eyes with James. She quickly looked back at her friends, pretending she hadn't noticed. He sighed, tiredly.
"She is a bitch. And now she's Head Girl? If my best mate here wasn't Head Boy I'd say this would be a nightmare!" Sirius was saying. James snorted.
"Aye, but this'll be your chance, eh, mate?" Peter said with a grin, elbowing James in the side. "You'll practically be sharing a room with Evans. This'll be your chance to make her fall for you."
James looked back at Lily. "Eh, we'll see."
After dinner came desert, and then, the tables were cleaned and back to their original shinning golden state, and the Head Master gave his closing speech. The Prefects were given instructions to lead their tables to the dormitories. Sirius looked sourly down at Barty Crouch Junior who was waving his arms at the First Years.
"Stupid git. I never really liked Prefects."
"Hey!" Remus, who had been Prefect last year, glowered. Sirius added, "Except Moony, of course. He wasn't parading around like a big head."
James laughed. "Just follow him to the dormitories, Padfoot. You're older than him anyway, just let him do his job."
This was where they parted. He waved goodbye, promising to meet them in their usual spot the next morning, and walked in the opposite direction toward the Head dorms. The crowd thinned out as students made their ways into their respective dorms, and soon Lily's lone figure could be found, floating up the staircase in the same direction as James. He took a deep breath and followed her.
As she reached a portrait of a dark haired witch with a silky green dress, Lily stopped and turned to look at James, who was a few feet behind her.
"Ah, James Potter and Lily Evans, Head Boy and Head Girl. No surprise there." The portrait said, smiling flirtatiously at James. James smiled back.
He watched as Lily rolled her eyes. "Dragon Wing." Lily said curtly and the portrait swung open. James muttered at "thank you" to the portrait before following Lily down the few steps and into their common room. It was a rather large space, being that it was made for their privacy, but James supposed that being Head Boy and Girl gave them special priority after all. There was a fireplace under a marble overhang and a marble table in front of a long tan colored couch. A round wooden table sat in the corner, two chairs on opposite sides. A bookcase was against one wall, full of books James knew he'd never read. The curtains, much to his delight, were Gryffindor scarlet and gold. The Gryffindor symbol hung on a tapestry above the fireplace.
"Alright, Evans?" James asked, running his hand through his hair. Lily watched the move, making a disgusted noise.
"Not so much now, knowing that it wasn't a joke after all. Guess I have to get used to it." She glanced sideways at a wooden door. There was a metal plate nailed into it with the words James Potter neatly carved. Opposite his door was another, her own name carved into the metal.
"If we're going to live together," she said the words carefully, "we should set some ground rules."
James smirked. "And what would those be, Evans? Lock myself in my room and never come out?"
"If only." Lily said lightly, and there was a trace of a smile in her eyes. "One, you're not allowed anywhere near my room. If I catch you trying to sneak in there, I won't hesitate to hex the hell out of you." James grinned. "Second, it looks like we're sharing a bathroom. Whosoever brilliant idea it was for a boy and girl to share a bathroom obviously is barking mad."
James glanced at the third door that was up a flight of stairs. "Men and women share bedrooms and bathrooms all the time. Don't your parents?"
Lily blushed, but regained her cool composure. "Of course, but they're married, Potter. Anyway, always knock. I'll promise to do the same. And don't you dare try coming in if I'm showering or something." She warned, her blush returning to her face. It spread across her nose and cheeks, flushing up into her red hair. James thought she looked beautiful.
"And three?"James asked, swallowing hard.
"Third," Lily looked sideways again. "Well, I haven't thought of a number three yet. You got any rules?" She asked, though James highly doubted she cared what he wanted.
"Keep outta my room, thanks." James said coolly, heading toward his door. Lily's glare returned.
"Like I'd have any interest in your bedroom." James turned around and smirked at her. He pulled at the hem of his shirt, as if he were taking it off.
"You sure? I mean, I'll be changing in there, getting naked. Not to mention be all soaking wet and naked in there," he pointed at the bathroom door. Her blush deepened as did her glare.
"That's disgusting, Potter. Now, I'm going to bed." She made her way toward her bedroom and James watched her with excitement in his hazel eyes. She stopped just before her door, as he had, and turned around.
"Number three," she began and James leaned forward.
"Yeah?"
"If you...you know, bring anyone here," she was still blushing, harder this time, and she refused to look him in the eye.
"Bring anyone in here?" He pressed, knowing where this was going, and enjoying the sight of Lily Evans squirming.
"If you...you know! If you bring a girl back in here," she couldn't get the words out. "Just keep it down, alright? I don't want to hear girls moaning your name and stuff."
James laughed loudly. Despite her incredibly red features, her green eyes sharpened. James laughed so hardly that he had to wipe tears from his eyes.
"That's number three, Evans? I don't think you'll have to worry about that." He grinned cheekily at her. "Because you're the only one that's gonna be screaming my name."
Her mouth fell open a bit. With an exasperated cry she threw her hands in the air and marched into her bedroom, slamming the door shut. James' smile slowly began to fade as he stared at her door, and then turned to enter his own room.
He looked around, happily noting the Gryffindor theme to it. The curtains too were scarlet with gold trimming, and the large four poster bed had deep scarlet comforters and pillows. There was a desk in one corner next to a small bookshelf and a cupboard and drawer beside it. The window jutted out, with a window seat complete with scarlet cushions. A bedside table sat beside his bed and his owl sat there, hooting loudly in its cage. Against a wall were his things.
"Hey, Shutter." James said, opening his owl's cage. He hooted at James loudly before flying toward the window and landing on the seat. Shutter looked out the glass and back at James pointedly. James opened the window, allowing Shutter to fly out. The owl had been locked in his cage for quite some time and James figured he was wanting to stretch his wings and join the other owls in the Owlry.
"See you in the morning." James called, shutting his window. He turned back to his room and pulled off his shoes, preparing for bed. His robes lay haphazardly atop his desk and he stripped off his muggle t-shirt and jeans. He sat on his bed and looked around his room one last time before pulling down the sheets and snuggling under the covers.
As he lay in bed he tried to shut out the noises that always seemed to come at this time. Tonight was just as bad as any.
Way to fuck up, James. Evans doesn't give a shit about you, and you, you bloody oaf, are still crash raving mad about the girl. Don't you ever learn? James growled at the inner voice, the one that always seemed to sneer at him. It wasn't his conscience-no. His conscience was the voice that always told him that Lily wouldn't appreciate it when he fucked with Snape, or the one that told him that he and Sirius shouldn't hang the cat from the third story window because his mother would be furious. This voice had somehow appeared sometime last year and only grew louder and crueler as the years went on. He glanced sideways at his trunk knowing tucked into his bag of toiletries was a plastic bottle filled with little white pills he had bought in a muggle super market in London. Beside it, wrapped in a clean cloth would be a shiny small blade. His arms itched toward it, but he lay still in bed. He wouldn't tonight, despite the uncontrollable urge that rose in his belly.
He shut his eyes forcefully. Sleep didn't come easy, but then again, it never did. It was after three in the morning when he finally fell asleep, and then sun was tricking into his room, past the thin curtains. James rolled over, moaning in protest to their bright rays. Classes began immediately, much to his displeasure. The clock hanging on his wall said that it was seven o'clock. He had almost an hour to shower, change and get breakfast before his first class started. He groaned again, before pulling himself from the warm covers. The room was cold and his body immediately regretted leaving the warmth of his bed.
He moved to the other side of the room and knelled in front of his trunk, unlocked it and pulled the things he needed out. His brown leather toiletry bag, a white button down shirt, a gold and scarlet stripped tie, black slacks, a white wife beater, black socks and his black dress shoes.
He crossed his room and opened the door, poking his head out. Lily's door was fastened close and dorm was silent. James figured she was either asleep or, knowing Lily, already showered, dressed and downstairs eating breakfast. He then deemed it safe to cross the room, barely clothed save his blue boxers, and headed up the staircase to the shower.
The bathroom was large, too. There was a large bathtub that rivaled even the one in the Prefect's bathroom, a marble sink and marble floored shower. James stripped off his boxers and turned the faucet of the shower on hot. He waited patiently while until steam began to rise from behind the shower curtain, and pulled out his shampoo and conditioner, muggle shaving cream and a muggle razor, and placed his shaving kit on the sink counter, taking the shampoo with him.
Hot water shot from the shower head, gently massaging his sore muscles. He relaxed into it, allowing it to thunder down his back and shoulders. There were several clean, brand new sponges sitting on a toiletry hanger next to bottles of wizard soaps and shampoos. James grabbed one and dispensed a dollop of body wash onto it before slowly coating his body in a layer of rich scented soap.
As he ran the sponge over his left arm he winced, forgetting the fresh cuts that adorned his forearm. He cursed loudly.
There was a cough, and James realized for the first time that he was no longer alone in the bathroom. He poked his head out from behind the curtain and found Lily standing in the doorway to the bathroom. Her face was red again.
"Sorry. I forgot my..." James followed her eyes to a set of hair clips sitting on top of the sink. He wondered how he hadn't noticed them before.
" S'okay." James muttered, wondering how long she had been in the bathroom. Long enough to hear him...?
Lily looked down and fidgeted with her hands. "Do what you need to do." James added, pulling the shower curtain closed.
He bit his tongue to refrain from any other hisses of pain, only allowing once more for one to slip past his lips.
"You okay, Potter?" came her soft voice. He barely heard it over the loud thundering sheet of water. Barely.
"I'm fine." Came his delayed response. He had to regain his composure. Lily didn't need to know what he did behind closed doors. "I'd be better if you joined me."
She scoffed and with a slam, shut the door and left James to his privacy again. He sighed with relief and finished his shower.
Lily had already left by the time he was dried and dressed. He walked lazily into his room and collected his school bag, and made his way out of the dorm toward the Great Hall.
Sirius, Remus and Peter were already down there, sitting in their usual seats, stuffing their faces with toasts, pancakes, cereal and oatmeal. James plopped down next to Remus.
"Oi. Save some for me, fatass." James countered, glaring at Sirius. Sirius stuck his tongue out at him.
"So, how was it?" Remus asked from behind the Daily Prophet.
"She wants me." James said with a grin. Sirius looked sideways at his friend suspiciously. While James acted happily and carelessly, he was his best friend, and Sirius knew when he was putting on a facade. James had changed. He had witnessed it this summer. He watched first hand as his best friend went from careless and giddy to a state of depression and self-destruction. He'd seen the empty bottles. He'd even shared a night of herbal inspired happiness with him several times. And he had called James out on the pills. James just told him to mind his own business. Sirius shut up. He loved his best friend more than anything, after all James was his only true family, but he kept his mouth shut. This would go away, he knew it. He turned his anger from James to Voldemort and Lily Evans. They were the ones behind his best friend's misery. Sirius couldn't understand for the life of him why James was so hung up on her. Although, he had figured he'd given up, what with not talking a word about her over the summer.
"Of course she does." Remus said, putting down the paper and attacking his own plate of French toast.
"What's your first class?" James asked, pulling out his schedule. Sirius glanced down at his.
"We've all got McGonnagal. You?"
"McGonnagal. Then Binns and then Flitwick."
"I've got Binns but then Peter and I have Slughorn." Remus said, looking at his own schedule.
"Right."
The Great Hall was beginning to thin out as students made their way to their first classes. First years hurried, not wanting to be late, just in case the rumors that they would be expelled were true. James laughed and shook his head. He'd been young once, and that naive. But ever since second year, James and his friends strolled into class a minute before they'd begin, or later. No one cared, not even cranky Professor McGonnagal said anything anymore.
They walked to the Transfiguration room, and the strict witch was already standing in front, ready to begin lessons. "Thank you for joining us, boys." She said, but a small smile glinted on her face, and the Marauders all grinned up at her. They took their seats, in the back of course, and she continued.
"Welcome to Seventh Year Transfiguration. This year, we will prepare for your NEWTS as well as discuss future careers, more in depth than we did fifth year."She walked behind her desk and lifted a piece of parchment that she pinned against the wall behind her. "Behind me is the list of your lab partner. You will work with this partner throughout the year, helping each other with the labs and lessons we will study, as they are more complex and quite longer than those of our previous lessons. When you find your partner, I would like you to pair up and take your seats again, and we shall begin."
Chatter rose up among the students as they all flew from there seats, making a huge crowd around McGonnagal's list.
"Who'd you get paired up with?" James asked as Sirius made his way back to the table. Sirius made a face.
"Some girl named Drusella Cammolie. Never heard of her."
"Sirius not knowing a girl? That's never a good sign." Peter joked, as the dark haired boy sighed dramatically and fell into his chair.
"Sounds like some boring old cow. I was hoping to get paired up with..." He trailed off, nudging his head toward Alyssa Clearwater. The blond wiggled here fingers at him with a small grin. Sirius raised his eyebrows back at her suggestively.
James grinned. "Dru's not so bad. She's a beater for Ravenclaw." Sirius shrugged his shoulders and looked around the room for his partner.
"How am I supposed to find her?" Sirius asked, scratching his head. James glanced around the room. He pointed at a dark haired girl, who had thick white streaks in her normally black hair, that curtained her tan face.
"That's her, over there."
Sirius stared in her direction. She was nothing special, not a bit as sexy as the buxom blond he had been flirting with that morning, but she certainly wasn't a cow. She was tiny, barely five feet, and not very filled out. It was no wonder he had never noticed her before, though he made it his job to know every girl in Hogwarts. He felt a tug at his heart when she smiled small at Alice Prewett who was sitting beside her.
"The one by Prewett?" He asked.
"Yeah, they're best friends or something like that." Remus said, coming back to their table. "Guess who they partnered you up with, Prongs."
James didn't have to guess, because Lily was arguing with Professor McGonnagal, a scene she would never cause unless he was at the root of it.
"Dammit." James cursed under his breath. She must have thought that as Heads, it was only sensible for them to work together. Sneaky old witch, she knew Lily despised him. He shook his head and made his way toward Evans and McGonnagal.
Lily was saying, "But Professor, you know how Potter is! He'll just sit back and make me do all the work and I'm really trying hard to get perfect marks this year-"she fell silent when he approached. James threw an arm around Lily's shoulders and squeezed her tight against him.
"Don't worry, Professor. I'll take good care of Miss Evans, here." McGonnagal looked at him reproachfully, the same look she often gave him, Sirius, Remus and Peter when something blew up or something went missing.
"I'm warning you, Mr. Potter, if Miss Evans has any problems with you..."
"With me?" James asked incredulously, as if the idea was absurd. "I'll be an angel. Scouts honor." He threw the Muggle line down, hoping he hadn't mangled it.
He figured he was safe when McGonnagal smiled slightly. "You'll best do so. Now, you and Miss Evans take your seats. I need to begin this lesson."
With another desperate look in her direction, Lily sighed in defeat and made her way to her seat in the front of the class. James rolled his eyes. Of course she would want to sit there, little miss goody goody.
James plopped into the seat beside her and Lily concentrated hard on the Professor, ignoring him. James pulled out his text book, parchment and quill. He noticed Lily watching him out of the corner of her eye.
"Yes, Evans. I'm gonna take notes." He said flatly. Surprise rose in her eyes at his tone, which she quickly covered with familiar distaste.
"Do whatever you want, Potter. I couldn't care less." It was a lie, he knew, but he chose to ignore her. He had tried being civil toward her, something he practically struggled with, and still she chose to be her usual self. Bitch.
He drowned out McGonnagal as she began her lesson, looking over his shoulder to find Sirius, who had taken a seat next to Drusella Cammolie.
"So, you're Drusella Cammolie, huh?" Sirius asked grinning, sliding into the empty seat Alice Prewett recently abandoned. Stormy gray eyes looked up into his own brown, and a strange feeling rose in his stomach which he promptly ignored.
She nodded. Sirius stuck his hand out, "I'm Sirius Black."
"I know." She said, eying his hand, but not taking it. Nervously, Sirius dropped his hand and wiped it on his robe.
"So..." He trailed off. This is weird, he thought. He'd never not known what to say around a girl. Then again, most girls weren't this silent around him, albeit a few shy girls. Most girls didn't look at him with deadpan expressions and cool demeanors.
She raised her brows expectantly, but Sirius was saved when McGonnagal cleared her throat, noting that her lesson would begin.
When she finished, Sirius couldn't get out of the classroom quick enough. The girl beside him was beginning to give him the heeby jeebies. He waited for James, Remus and Peter outside the door.
"What's with you?" Remus asked, as they met up with him. Sirius looked nervously as kids began to poor out of the classroom. Somewhere in the throng was Cammolie, he wasn't sure, so he lowered his voice.
"That girl freaks me out."
James laughed. "She's not that creepy. Okay," he complied after Sirius shot an incredulous look at him, "she is kinda freaky, but only because she's so quiet and gloomy. She's a badass out on the Quidditch pitch, and she's not so bad once you get to know her. We've had a few classes with her, you know?"
Sirius frowned, still not remembering her. It was weird for a girl not to be fawning all over him. Not that every single girl did fawn over him. Plenty of girls didn't. Just, most girls did. At least the ones that mattered.
"You got paired up with Evans. She must be having a field day. First being made Head Boy, now having to work with you in McGonnagal's class. Not exactly something she'd look forward to." Remus said with a laugh.
James rolled his eyes. "She'll warm up to me."
"You've been saying that for years."
"Then its bound to happen eventually."
Remus rolled his eyes. "Come on, let's get going to Binns'." Remus said, nudging his head toward the History of Magic classroom.
At lunchtime, Ravenclaw Prefect Allison Brocklehurst informed him that Professor Dumbledore wanted to see him and Lily Evans at the High Table. Lily was-of course-already there when he arrived. She had always been such a goody-goody, he thought sourly.
"Ah, Mr. Potter." Dumbledore said, smiling grandly as James strolled up to the High Table. Lily shot an annoyed look at him, James stuck out his tongue.
"I was hoping that you and Miss Evans would join me for lunch?" It was more a question than a demand, but James eagerly complied.
There were two empty seats next to him, the other Professors had moved down and were talking among themselves.
"Go on, eat." He said, conducting the two to get comfortable. James and Lily filled their plates.
"First day going splendid, I trust?"
"Great, Professor." James and Lily said simultaneously. She looked at him again. Well, its better than her outright ignoring you, James thought with a brief smile. Wasn't making things any easier though. But, he figured, that made Lily the Lily he had grown to love. Always opposing his wishes.
"Wonderful. Now, not to interrupt this lovely feast, but I have a few things to discuss with you. As Head Boy and Girl, the two of you will be in charge of events for the students. I would like the two of you to discuss some ideas and present them to the Prefects and myself tonight at our meeting after dinner."
James and Lily nodded.
"Of course, Professor." Although Lily's tone was more like, "I'd rather stick forks in my eyes than discuss anything with Potter, thank you, Professor." James refrained from rolling his eyes.
"Good. I know it was a good decision, having the two of you as Head Boy and Girl. You're the top two students, after all."
Lily frowned. How James Potter could be considered one of the top two students was beyond her, but she supposed that Dumbledore was just as wrapped around James' finger as anyone else was.
It was weird, really. There was something about him that was different this year. As much as she hated to admit it, she couldn't keep her eyes, or her mind, off of him. Maybe it was how his normally bright and shinning hazel eyes were duller, his smiles and flirtatious words never quite reaching them. Or how his lopsided grins weren't so wide anymore, not so careless.
And on the train he seemed almost angry with her, like any minute he was going to whip out his wand and Avada Kedavra him for going off on him like that. There was something up with him, something she couldn't stop thinking about. Like this morning, when she walked in on him showering. He'd hissed in pain, several times. And she'd stolen a peek into his toiletry bag. A bottle of pills, the kind they only sold in Muggle pharmacies. What was that doing in his bag? James Potter was a pure blood wizard. If he was sick there were spells and potions for him. What would he need with Muggle painkillers?
After much consideration, she realized something. The only other use for painkillers. But no, couldn't possibly. She shook her head and asked herself for the millionth time why she cared. This was Potter for heaven's sake. Arrogant, bullying toe rag Potter.
She ate her lunch in silence, while James and Dumbledore discussed the upcoming Quidditch tryouts. Again, she let her mind wander. Potter being Head Boy was a nasty shock, one she wasn't quite sure she could deal with. True, she didn't like Potter, but she didn't quite loath him, no matter how much she pretended. Because it was pretend, and she couldn't pretend to loath him if he lived across the room from her. She knew she was blushing and concentrated hard on the dumplings in front of her and drowned out the deep sound of James Potter that always threatened to pull her in.