Lily had spent the night in the Quidditch stands. She couldn't go back to Gryffindor Tower, not with all those people looking at her and whispering about her. She awoke very early with puffy, red eyes, a sore back and some unexpected and unwanted company.
"Morning."
Lily scrambled to get up. "You… You stay well away from me, you rat!"
James Potter sat down beside the spot that Lily had been sleeping.
"Sit down, Evans. I'm not going to… do anything. I wanted to apologise."
Lily scowled at him. "I should bloody well think so! But don't even think for a moment that I'll accept it, you've made my life hell these past few months!"
James chuckled. "Can you blame me though? I can't help it if I'm attracted to you, you're so beautiful, and clever, and-"
Lily folded her arms.
"Okay, sorry. But Really Lily, I'm sorry for upsetting you. I feel so bad for you after Snivellus shouted at you that night.."
Lily knew that this was all an act. She wasn't stupid; but right now she was too tired and upset to care. She still loathed James, but she couldn't help herself. She needed to talk to someone.
"Um, yeah, about that night… How.. How are you? Sev was really brutal.."
"Oh, a few cracked ribs and a dislocated jaw."
Lily winced.
"Nothing the Hospital Wing couldn't fix though. I'm fine now though," he smiled.
Lily yawned as she sat back down. "Why- Why are you out here this early, anyway? What time even is it?"
"It's six thirty. I had an early Quidditch practise, and that's when I spotted you out here. What are you doing out here anyway?"
Lily suddenly realised that she was extremely angry, as well as upset.
"Because of you!" She cried as she remembered. "I'm out here because of those awful things that you and your friends wrote!" She was on her feet again. "How could you do that? I even tried to help you that night, and you throw it back in my face like it's nothing? I knew your friends were low, Potter, but you're something else!" She grabbed her bag and jumped down a few of the benches. James followed after her.
"What are you talking about? Me and my friends weren't in the common room last night, we were… elsewhere in the grounds! What are you talking about?"
So… So it must have been Sev, she thought to herself. Her puffy eyes began to fill with tears again, and she leant against the wall of the stands, sobbing quietly.
James approached her and awkwardly put his arm around her.
"Get off of me!" She sobbed as she pushed him away. "I know what you're doing, I'm not stupid, just stay away from me!"
With that, she ran down the stairs of the stand and out of sight.

James made his way through the dark and muddy tunnel that led to the Shrieking Shack. He sat down besides Sirius.
"It worked, she spoke to me."
"Well done mate, soon you'll have your first ever girlfriend, AND she'll actually like you!"
"Shut up, Sirius, I don't think she even trusts me yet. Well done on the graffiti by the way, bit harsh with the Mudblood bits though.."
Lupin chipped in from the corner. "This is wrong, James, you can't manipulate someone into liking you, you've not been very nice about the whole situation either…"
"Be quiet Remus, you're only jealous, you'll see, she will like me sooner or later."