This is the Second collaboration by the Hogwarts Online Forum. Each chapter is by a different author and is based on different prompts from a list of prompts on our forum.

Please read, enjoy and review!

Anything you recognise is not ours, but merely borrowed from JK Rowling.

James-Induced Fury

Arrogance- James Potter I

By:

Blond Pickle Mule (Bridget- Hufflepuff)

Even he didn't deny it, Lily thought furiously, storming up to her dormitory. Slamming the door behind her gave a wonderful release for her anger. James Potter is so arrogant!

It was true. Even the girls swooning over his wind-swept hair knew he was egotistical, but for some reason they thought it added to his charm. Lily huffed. If anything, female attention just made him worse.

That big-headed idiot was under the impression that every girl was at his feet, and this just encouraged his advances on her. He didn't get why she wasn't swooning along with everyone else, and that made Lily mad. While James was arrogant, he was also stubborn and it was obvious he still wasn't giving up. Chasing her round since 3rd year, asking her out right and left.

Lily huffed again and collapsed on her bed. Why would she go near someone who made her best-friend's life misery? Ex-bestfriend she reminded herself. She couldn't forgive Severus for what he'd said to her. And even if she wouldn't admit it, Severus' betrayal had hurt. After all, he was her first magical friend before Hogwarts, before everything. And she would hate to admit this even more- she liked it when Potter defended her. Even when she was screaming at him she was thinking about how sweet it was he was so defensive of her. Later she slapped herself for these thoughts.

It was bad enough liking it so much she had to admit it to herself, but if James ever found out...she'd never get him to go away. And his ego. Gosh, it would swell so big they'd be making doors wider so his massive head could fit through it. And he'd ruffle up his messy hair and smile at her, turning her to a pile of mush. The fact his smile could do this was a fact that infuriated Lily. At the beginning it hadn't had any effect at all- why should now be any different? His cocky grin used ot just make Lily's blood boil, more than ever when Severus went. In the beginning she'd thought it was all his fault Sev had said those things, but she saw now it wasn't.

Now at the beginning of 7th year...his grin was having an effect. Lily had a sneaking suspicion that her friends had joined forces with the Marauders to set them up, but was very surprised to realise she didn't mind as much as she used to. Potter had been trying to deflate his head lately, but today had been a bad one.

It was halfway understandable because he'd won a Quidditch match against Slytherin today (biggest celebration of the year most likely), but really he'd gone a bit far. But part of the reason Lily had stormed up here was because she hadn't given him a straight answer when he asked her ot Hogsmeade in front of the whole fo Gryffindor house. She'd frozen, staring up at him from where he stood on top of a table.

Then, about to say no, she'd looked into his eyes. His bright, deep hazel eyes. They were wide and hopeful behind his square glasses...but also scared. Lily Evans never thought she'd see the day James Potter was scared, and it was then that she knew she couldn't let him down in front of everyone. She didn't think she could stand to see hurt in those eyes. So instead of yelling at him she'd whispered in an uncirtain voice-

"I'll think about it." Everyone had stared at the two in disbelief, all having heard at some point or another about the arguements they'd shared. James had gawked after her as she ran towards her staircase. He obviously couldn't believe it either.

Lily herself wasn't sure it was real. And then she got angry. Why should it bother her that she let down James Potter in front of everyone? Logically it shouldn't but for some reason it did. And when did she turn into such a sap? This was James Potter. The guys she hated. Or...maybe didn't anymore. But when did that happen?When did Lily Evans begin to like James Potter? It was unheard of.

Oh this was so confusing. And she still had to give him an answer she wasn't even sure of anymore. She'd only ever given one answer before. And that answer had been no.

But did she like him enough to say yes? There was something there, but how deep did that go? Lily wasn't good at this; she didnt' go on dates, didn't obsess over boys like everyone else. This was the first time she'd ever liked someone- this much anyway. Maybe she would say yes. They hadn't argued lately, so it wasn't like she was admitting defeat. But Black would die if he said anything.

Alright. She'd say yes. To James Potter. Oh God...

At dinner walking into the Great Hall Lily could see James with a worried expression on his face. Lily suddenly felt guilty. She'd kept him waiting so long. It took a lot of Gryffindor courage to apprach him first, but she managed it.

"Hey...J-James. M-My answer's yes?" It was a kind of question. If he looked surprised she used his first name it was nothing compared to how James looked when she said yes. With a grin that seemed to split his face he leapt up and crushed her into a hug. Lily hesitantly hugged him back, but once she did her stomach felt on fire and she smiled.

"Lily, will you eat with us?" Remus Lupin asked, smiling as the two broke apart. James threw him a grateful look behind Lily's back as she settled onto the bench. Sirius opened his mouth with a teasing grin.

"If you say anything Sirius I swear I'll hex you." He shut up but grinned seeing Lily's smile. Peter joined them minutes later, pleasantly surprised to see the red-head. James sat close to Lily, smiling broadly.

Finally an arrogant move had payed off.