Disclaimer: still dont own anything :(

James POV

"Potter?!"

I cringed, the incredulity and hostility in her voice undisguised. "Hey, Evans." The grin that was on her face for a split second had melted into a look of pure and simple disbelief.

"Exactly what are you doing here? This carriage is for prefects and the head boy and girl, and seeing you are neither…"

"Yeah Evans, but I am head boy…" and I trailed off, gesturing to my chest, where the Head Boy badge lay. I saw her eyes widen in shock, but I let it go. The old me would have made some smart ass comment, but I knew better now. I sat down, opposite her, running a hand through my hair, as I always did when I was nervous.

"Where's Remus? I knew this was going to happen as soon as he told me he wasn't head boy. I should've known you were going to pretend that you were. I mean are you really this pathetic Potter? Convincing Remus to give you his badge so you can talk to me?"

The harsh words cut me and I winced back, as if she had whipped me with her words. I stood up, "Do you really think Moony would do something like that, Evans? Because if you do, then you don't know him at all. We all know he's the one with perfect knowledge where the line is, and when to draw it. We all know he wouldn't lie about something like this. I mean is it really that unfathomable that I could've worked to get this badge? That I earned it? That I actually am going to take this thing seriously? Because if you have a problem with this, you can go see Dumbledore when we reach Hogwarts."

She faltered, but she was back, straight away with a retort. This is what I love about her. No, used to love about her. I'm over her now. "And what good if that would do given all the gold you have in your pocket? I'm sure your parents left you their inheritance."

My eyes flashed. She had not just stepped over the line; she'd jumped over it with two feet. She visibly recoiled at my rage. I slammed my hand down on the table, ignoring the pain that shot up my arm, but when I spoke, the calmness in my voice scared even myself, "Is that what you really think of me? That I bribed Dumbledore, the greatest wizard ever?"

"There's a muggle saying: everyone has a price. And you're not exactly limited by galleons are you?"

"Is it beyond your comprehension, Evans, that maybe I worked for this? That maybe, I earned this? That maybe, I plan to take this seriously?" I hadn't really worked for it, but she really didn't need to know that.

She opened her mouth a few times, but closed it again. She looked withdrawn, almost apologetic, "James, I'm…"

The door opened as Remus and Alice walked in – Alice replacing Lily as the Gryffindor female prefect. And good thing too – there was no way I would accept an apology from her. Not after she brought my parents into it. I guess she'd seen the testimonial in the Daily prophet over the summer. The day of the funeral, Dumbledore himself had come, given me my Hogwarts letter, and personally asked me to be Head Boy. I'd accepted, if only to make my parents proud.

I nodded in greeting to Alice, and went over to the other side of the compartment to talk to Moony. Gradually, the other prefects all walked in, and Evans began her speech. Trust Evans to write a speech for a prefect meeting. She told the prefects their duties blah blah blah. I didn't need to do anything apart from wave to the prefects when she introduced me. I was still simmering from the accusations before, and as soon as we were dismissed, I got up, grabbed Remus by the arm, and stormed from the carriage, ignoring the looks the other prefects sent my way.

I dragged him all the way back to our normal compartment, where Padfoot and Wormtail were waiting, chocolate frog and every flavor beans wrappers strewn around the small space. The others all got lost in their conversation, as I sat, looking out on the Scottish countryside, lost in thought. We had nearly reached Hogwarts when I finally spoke, "I'm over her."

The others all looked at each other, then at me, with incredulity. I didn't need to say who 'her' was. They all knew. Me, James Harold Potter, get over Lily Rose Evans? Impossible! Blasphemy! Peter spoke up at this point, "First you're quiet, then you announce that you're over Evans? Who are you and what have you done with Prongs?" I chuckled, "I'm right here, Wormtail, but I swear, I'm over her."

Moony looked seriously worried at this point, "Prongs what happened in those 5 minutes before I got there? You moved away from Evans, like you wouldn't allow yourself to associate with her. She's not a Slytherin u know."

"Yea she doesn't even talk to Snivellus anymore." A worthwhile contribution Padfoot. Not.

"Nothing happened. I just realized she's most certainly not worth it."

They just looked at each other again. Sirius spoke up again, "Mate, don't get me wrong, I'm ecstatic that you're over Evans."

"Yea, cos you're really showing that."

"But you didn't even give up on her when she told the whole school she'd date the Giant squid over you. Nor when she called you arrogant, toe-rag, git, and rest of it."

"Yeah but I deserved all that. Now shut up and get into your robes Padfoot. We're nearly there.

LILY POV

As soon as I said it I wanted to take it back. Curse me and my stupid stubbornness. I didn't mean what I said. I just couldn't believe that Potter was head boy. Potter. Merlin! I'd even brought his parents into it. When my grandmother died of cancer, I started crying at any mention of her for 6 months after that. And here I was, using his parents' murders against him less than a month after the story hit the Daily Prophet. I felt bile rise up my throat at my disgust for myself. Not even Potter deserved that. Harold and Jessica Potter were well known for being top class aurors and speaking out in favour of muggles and muggleborns. Like me. They'd died protecting people like me. And I'd gone and used their deaths because I was too stubborn, too childish to accept their son had grown up over the last year. Of course, it didn't help that this is exactly what Alice reminded me when I told her what happened.

I deserved the silence that he was sending towards me. 6 years he had proclaimed his love for me. 6 years he'd made me feel special, although I'd never admit it, that of all the girls in Hogwarts, school hottie James Potter choose to embarrass himself for me. No doubt hated me now. And I fully deserved it. Guilt wrenched me from the inside as I sat with the girls again, this time, staying silent, thinking. Oh merlin! I had to patrol with him! I had to share dormitories with him! I had to apologize. But I knew if I were him, I wouldn't accept the apology. I'd have to make it up to him, I knew this, but I'd start by apologizing the first chance I could. Affirming this to myself, I turned my head back to the conversation the girls were having, "Marlene you should put your robes on now, we're nearly there."

Author's Note: Well Chapter 2 is up :D although that's quite obvious. I don't have much to do so i'll be on an update roll throughout this week. I changed chapter 1 a little bit, just a few words here and there so nothing major. R/R pleaaaaaaaase!
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