Chapter XIII. Mistake 7—Me: The Other Woman

Everything is a mess now, and it is all Sirius Black's fault. Well, not entirely, but it's nice to put the blame on someone else for once.

How do I explain this? I guess it starts with last Tuesday. I had just gotten out of another tutoring session. Emmeline was being her usual awful self.

"Great job today, Lily," she said, packing up her stuff.

The thing is…I know she doesn't mean it. I know she's secretly hoping I fail.

"I'm rubbish," I spill out, "How am ever going to be getting better at this? You've been tutoring for more than a month!" Truth was…these tutoring sessions were killing me. Slowly but surely. Emmeline just blinked at me.

"Er—you finally transfigured your eyebrow to the correct shape," she said shrugging, "I'm sure you'll be fine for our exam."

Exam? What exam?

I cleared my throat and said tentatively, "Exam?"

"Yes, you know, the one on Thursday?" she flashed me a smile, "I must be off. I'm meeting James," she said, hurrying off and flashing me one of her blinding smiles. I blinked, watching her float off being too happy for her own good. I sunk back into my seat. How had I missed the fact that we had an exam?

I don't know how long I was sitting in the library, but I had fallen asleep somewhere in between as I poured over my Transfiguration textbook. I think I actually drooled on my Transfiguration textbook. Ew.

"Lily?"

I picked my head up and hastily wiped the drool off my chin, "Er—hey Potter." I still don't feel comfortable calling him James (only in Emmeline's presence…just because it rubs her the wrong way).

"What are you still doing here? You know the library is closing…" he trailed off, "Were you sleeping?" he added with a laugh, taking in my appearance. I glared at him, shoving my book in my bag.

"No," I muttered. I had fallen asleep. Great, now I was really going to fail Transfiguration! You know. You think that my bloody effing tutor would have mentioned an exam while I was being tutored! I felt like shouting at Potter just because his girlfriend was a crummy tutor.

"Are you okay?" he asked, looking at me carefully.

I hitched my bag over my shoulder and began walking out, and Potter, of course, followed. "No," I said, answering his question. Then I sighed, "I'm fine."

"What's wrong?" he asked as we headed to the Gryffindor common room.

"Just…that stupid Transfiguration exam on Thursday," I sighed, "Anyway, what were you doing in the library?" I asked, changing the subject, "I thought you were with your girlfriend."

"Oh," James shrugged, "I walked her back to her dorm…curfew and stuff…you know."

"Right."

Since when does he follow curfew?

"But you're having trouble with Transfiguration? Emmeline didn't go over the review with you?"

What review? Then all of a sudden it occurred to me. I was late for Transfiguration the other day when I was helping a first year find the lavatories on the third floor.

Oh bollocks.

See? This is what happens when I'm a good person! Blast.

I cursed and said, "I didn't get the review…I was late…oh no, I'm so going to fail!" I cried, panicking before I could stop myself.

I think Potter was a little taken aback because he coughed and gave me an awkward look, "Er—no you're not—oh you're not going to start crying are you?"

Crying? He thought I was going to cry over my exam? Well…I mean, I guess I can see where that's coming from…but still!

"No!" I snapped, "I'm just not used to being…"

"Bad at something?" Potter suggested. I glared at him and said nothing, "Here, we can go to the Prefect lounge and study, right?"

"Study?" I frowned, "With you?"

He laughed, rolling his eyes at me, "Believe it or not, Evans, I'm pretty good at Transfiguration."

Oh right, he was my almost tutor, "I guess…McGonagall mentioned it," I chuckled, "She actually wanted you to tutor me," I said. What an absurd idea that was!

He glanced at me sharply, "Really?"

"Yeah—but then she realized I probably would've bit your head off. Plus you're Quidditch Captain and Head Boy. She reckoned you had your plate full," I added, trying to make him feel better about another rejection from me.

He was frowning still, "You think I'd be a bad tutor?"

Okay now. He's acting as if I've run over his puppy or something equally horrible.

"Er—"

He took me by the shoulders and steered me towards the Prefect's lounge, "I'm about to prove you wrong, Evans…"

Ah. An evening with James Potter. Splendid.

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Nothing bad happened of course—besides studying which was a surprise. I thought I might have murdered him before the night was over.

Marlene would've given me a hard time about it actually if she'd been paying enough attention to the hour I returned to the dorms. I don't think she realized it was past curfew…and I wasn't about to inform her. Besides, Marlene has always blurred the times of curfew for her own convenience, so I don't think she knows when curfew really is anymore.

On the other hand, James was right. He is good at Transfiguration. In fact, he was a whole hell of a lot more helpful than his girlfriend was (which is saying a lot actually because Emmeline was never a bad tutor…not really).

Anyway, after Charms the next morning, we had Potions which was a class I was beginning to dread—mainly because I had to listen to Sirius Black and his outlandish stories. He is probably the most obnoxious boy on the planet. Honestly.

"Evans," he greeted, wearing a wide smirk as I warily placed my stuff down.

"Er—Black…" I said in greeting. I'm always wary of him. Probably because he's up to no good—seriously, he's never doing anything for a good or noble reason. Aren't Gryffindors supposed to be noble? Maybe he should take some tips from his mates. Not that Potter is noble. He's just as bad. Almost.

"So," he was still smirking as I pulled out my quill and parchment, "Late night last night?" he threw me a wink. I gave him the most disgusted look I could muster before sitting down.

"Shut up. He was helping me with Transfiguration."

"It doesn't matter," Sirius said continuing to grin at me, "Do you know how happy you made that bloke last night? He wouldn't shut up about how bloody wonderful it is that you two are mates…and how you let him help you with your homework without jumping down his throat. He was so bloody pleased."

What?

"Er—why are you telling me this?" I asked feeling myself turn red. I mean, yeah, we had studied and talked a bit, but I didn't realize that my 'being nice' to him made him think we were mates! We are so not mates.

"Because," Sirius grinned, "I realized how we're breaking them up," he said in a low voice, "You."

I gave him a confused look, "What are you talking about?"

"You said you'd help…in breaking up James and Prude Queen," he said, giving me a pointed look, "Anyway, I thought it was obvious. You are going to make James jealous."

"Why would I do that?" I asked confused.

"Because James still likes you!"

"Yeah…but I don't like him," I said, frowning, "Can't you find someone else to help you with your stupid plans?"

"Afraid not."

"You're insane," I said glancing towards the front, hoping that Slughorn would start class already.

"No, I'm right," he smirked, "Anyway, you promised Evans. Don't tell me you're not a woman of your word."

I sighed, "Listen, I don't know why you hate Emmeline so much," Not that I didn't understand, but I don't think Black's reasons were the same as mine.

"Easy," Black shrugged, "She's controlling. She gets mad at Prongs for doing anything. Pulling a prank, ditching their…ahem… 'date night'. Besides, she has no sense of humor. I don't really know what Prongs sees in her," he glanced at me, "I mean, I never really cared for him fancying you—but Emmeline is a million times worse!"

Er—thanks?

"No," I said, "This is out of the question—I really am beginning to question your sanity—"

Luckily, Professor Slughorn decided to start class before our conversation could continue. Of course, this meant the entire lesson I found myself looking at Emmeline who kept writing love notes to her bloody boyfriend.

Okay, so I lied, she was just taking her regular notes like a good student.

I hadn't forgotten about Sirius' stupid plan though, so when Potter came up to me after class I gave him a weird grimace when I tried to smile casually.

"Hey Lily…" he frowned, "Er—are you alright? You look like you're in pain?"

I snorted, "You would be too if you had to sit next to Black for an entire class period." He laughed loudly at this which seemed to catch Emmeline's attention because she stalked on over.

"James!" she said, clinging to his arm, "You promised to sit at my table today for lunch," she said, smiling widely at him. Her eyes fell on me, and she smiled, "Oh, hello Lily."

"Hello Emmeline," I forced myself to greet, "Well, I better be going…if I'm going to get an 'O' on that Transfiguration exam."

"Of course," Emmeline nodded, "Bye then!"

I walked away, but she didn't realize I was still in hearing range. "Not to be mean…but there's no way Lily will be able to pull off an 'O'. Who is she kidding?"

Hm. Why was I expecting Potter to defend me? Either way, I wasn't sticking around to find out his response. Hearing Emmeline talk about me was bad enough.

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I had quite forgotten about what Sirius had said about needing to make James 'jealous'.

What I didn't forget was how much my speaking to James set Emmeline off. Like today. They were sitting in the library, and I spotted them.

"Lily," James waved me over.

"Hey James…Emmeline," I said, smiling at the pair. Emmeline just nodded, looking back to her homework, probably hoping I would just leave, "Actually, I'm glad I ran into you James, we have to go over some Head stuff soon," I said.

"Okay," he nodded, "How about tonight?"

"Yeah, that's—"

"Tonight's Wednesday," Emmeline said, looking up at him.

James frowned, "Ah, right, well I really need to do this. Tomorrow I have Quidditch, and then patrols on Saturday—"

"Just do it Friday," Emmeline said, not bothering to even glance at me.

"Well I can't do it Friday," I said. Well. I probably could, but who really wanted to work on Heads stuff on a Friday night?

"But Wednesday night is our night," Emmeline said, still glaring at James. I realized I was being deliberately mean now, but for some reason, I couldn't take it back. I just watched it all happen…kind of like a train wreck.

"We can do something Saturday, I promise. We have to meet with Professor Dumbledore about the student activities and who's all in what. They just started a gobblestone's club and—"

"Oh fine," she said huffily, "But you ditched me last week too," she complained, "To hang out with Black and Pettigrew."

James gritted his teeth, "I had to. Besides, it's not like I don't see you all the time."

"What? Are you saying you're sick o seeing me?" she asked. James looked exasperated.

"No—"

"You see Lily more than you see me!" She said shrilly, pointing a finger at me. I jumped, startled a bit.

"Er—what?"

"Ignore her, Lily," James said, picking up his stuff, "Let's just go to the Prefect's lounge and get this done now."

He left, leaving me looking awkwardly at Emmeline who was glaring, "Er—well—Head stuff, you know," I began.

Emmeline just scowled further, "Yeah, whatever, Lily," she said, brushing past me.

I stared after her, trying to think of what had just happened. Sighing, I decided I better go find James. He was waiting in the Prefect lounge, not looking too chipper. Lovely.

"Er…so—"

"What is her problem anyway?" James asked.

He's asking the wrong person. "Well…"

"I mean, one moment she's all sweet and nice, but then she has these weird mood swings! Besides, can't a guy just hang with his mates every once in awhile?"

"Yeah…er…well, you have to remember that Emmeline is a girl," I explained. What was I doing? Why was I defending her? "I mean, we tend to do that…and yeah, you can hang with your mates, but you can't ditch your girlfriend all the time either."

James stared at me, so I sighed.

"Maybe you're just not boyfriend material."

Actually, I know he's not boyfriend material. However, James looks offended by my comment.

"Yes I am!"

"Okay, maybe you are," I said, shrugging, backpedaling quickly.

Doubtful.

He just shrugged, falling into one of the chairs, "Let's just get this over with," he muttered.

Don't get too excited, I thought dryly. It's not like I wanted to spend my evening with his moody self anyway.

A/N: Sorry it took so long for an update! School has to be my number one priority (unfortunately) Haha. :) Enjoy!