A/N: So, this was a...ridiculously difficult chapter to write, but I really like the finished product. I'm just so ready to get into the actual plot! For those of you who are concerned, I am a HUGE Jily shipper, so I promise this story will (eventually) get to some serious adorableness. Promise. If I break this vow, please feel free to send all the hating reviews you want. This WILL be following the books, including Deathly Hallows, as closely as possible. So if I mess up a few details, please tell me! Also, just for a heads up, the more reviews you post, the more inspired I am to write... you know what that means! FASTER UPDATES! It's in your hands, my readers.

Disclaimer: JK Rowling owns your soul. She also owns Harry Potter, not me.

Chapter 5

(James)

James Potter knew a lot about grand buildings. He lived in one every day, for Merlin's sake. And yet still, every time he saw the splendor of the Hogwarts castle, he couldn't help feel a little awestruck. Tonight was no different. As the castle came into view from his carriage, he couldn't help but give a small grin at the sight of his home for the next ten months. Sure, he enjoyed his holidays, but come September 1st, James was nearly sprinting to board the train.

"So, Padfoot," he began, withdrawing from his reverie. "You suppose Gryffindor's still the favorite for the Quidditch Cup this year?"

Sirius smirked.

"Well they have you as a captain, don't they?" he said confidently. "How could they not be?"

James smiled as he thought of the badge that had been included in his Hogwarts letter. He had wanted the position since he could before he could even walk.

"Got to find a decent Seeker, though," James replied thoughtfully. "Which means I have to hold tryouts soon...which means I get to watch a lot of hopeless second years fly around like dim wits." He groaned at the thought.

"Surely they can't be that bad," Remus said coolly, looking up from his Transfiguration book.

"You have no idea."

"Oi!" Sirius shouted. "Classes haven't even started yet, and he's already reading his textbook. What a good little swot, he is!"

James laughed.

"Well who else are we going to copy notes from?" he said wryly. "Without dear old Moony here, there's about a snowball's chance in hell of Wormtail passing."

The four Marauders guffawed at the remark, the latter of which could hardly deny the accuracy of the statement.

It wasn't long before the carriages arrived at the front doors of the castle. The boys set off for the Great Hall, discussing what food would be served.

At last, the students heard someone clear their throat, and the four tables fell silent almost instantly.

"Welcome, welcome all to another splendid year at Hogwarts," Dumbledore's voice boomed throughout the room, echoing loudly off the stone walls. His white beard was as long as ever, and the twinkle in his eye was clearly visible through his half-moon spectacles, even from the back of the hall where the Marauders sat. "I trust that you all had an enjoyable holiday and are as pleased as I am to be back. There will be a time for speeches tonight. Now, however, is not the time. So with that, dig in!"

The four boys grinned broadly as the feast appeared in front of them. They piled their plates high, wolfing down the food in a matter of minutes.

"Merlin, Padfoot, slow down," Remus scolded. "You're going to—"

He was cut off by the loud clatter of the doors to the Great Hall opening. The room suddenly became very quiet.

James' stomach sank at the sight before him. There, walking rather quickly to her seat, was a very red-eyed, blushing Lily Evans.

(Lily)

Lily followed her Marlene and Mary to the clearing where the carriages were waiting.

"Damn!" Marlene suddenly blurted out. "I left my cloak on the train! Will someone come with me to get it?"

Mary volunteered, leaving Lily alone. Within minutes, the coach was occupied once again, but not by Marlene or Mary. Lily mentally groaned as she registered the greasy-haired boy in front of her.

"Lily," Severus Snape began, "we need to talk."

She didn't reply. She merely looked out the windows as the carriage gave a slight jolt and began to move. A few minutes of silence passed before he spoke again.

"So you're just planning on avoiding me forever?"

"That's the plan, yes," she snapped. "Seems to be working rather well, if you ask me."

"Oh, will you look at that? She speaks."

Lily clenched her jaw, refusing to say another word. Though Snape tried to convince her to talk to him, she was a stubborn girl, and stuck to her willpower.

After what seemed like hours of silence, the carriage came to a stop at the front of the school. Lily was quick to exit the carriage, taking brisk steps to reach the doors of the castle. Before she could enter, however, a hand caught her arm from behind.

"Lily, you can't ignore me forever," Snape said.

Lily looked as students filed into the stone building, anxious to join them.

"Let. Go. Of. Me," she said, clearly enunciating each word.

"No," he hissed. "Not until you talk to me."

The last of the students were clearing out fast, and Lily realized they were one of the few left outside.

"I have nothing to say to you, Severus."

"Lily, what do you want me to do?" he asked, exasperated.

"I'd like you to leave me alone," she spat. "I thought I'd made that very clear."

"I'm sorry," he said.

"I'm not interested."

"I'm sorry!"

"Save your breath."

She turned to leave, but he caught her arm yet again.

"I never meant to call you Mudblood, it just—"

"Slipped out?" she cried incredulously. She was nearing hysterics now. Do not break down, she thought. Not in front of him. "It's too late. I've made excuses for you for years. None of my friends can understand why I even talk to you. You and your precious little Death Eater friends—you see, you don't even deny it! You don't even deny that's what you're all aiming to be! You can't wait to join You-Know-Who, can you?"

He opened his mouth, but closed it quickly, as though he wanted to say something, but thought better of it.

"I can't pretend anymore. You've chosen your way, I've chosen mine," she stated simply.

His eyes widened, and he shook his head defiantly.

"No—listen, I didn't mean—"

"—to call me Mudblood? But you call everyone of my birth Mudblood, Severus!" she yelled. Her tone became much softer, and her voice shook with emotion when she spoke again. "Why should I be any different?"

She turned and left him there. He did not call out to her. He did not follow. He merely watched as the girl that meant so much to him simply walked away. She felt the warm tears that spilled down her cheeks as she left her old friend behind. Lily paused as she reached the doors of the entrance hall to collect herself.

Pull it together, Lily, she told herself.

She wiped her tears away and took a deep breath and opened the doors, attempting to make as little noise as possible. Her attempts were unsuccessful. The voices that had filled the Great Hall seconds before stopped, and Lily felt the color rise to her face at the hundreds of eyes upon her as she made her way to her seat.

(James)

James' eyes did not leave Lily's face as she walked to sit next to her friends.

"Are you alright?" he heard Mary MacDonald ask.

"Fine," she replied curtly.

James felt a pull in his stomach as he watched the girl, obviously in pain. He didn't know what made him look towards the Slytherin table. Maybe it was logic. Maybe it was intuition. Maybe it was pure coincidence. But the second he saw that Severus Snape was missing from the feast, James knew exactly what had upset the girl.

He hastily got to his feet, tossing his napkin onto the table and swiftly walking towards the doors.

"Oi, Prongs! Where are you going?" Sirius called after him.

He didn't answer as he swept out of the hall. He did not find Snape in the Entrance Hall, but knew he must have been close by. He exited the front doors in fast strides, and found the Slytherin sitting on the stone steps.

Snape whipped around at the sound of James' footsteps. He quickly stood, his hand moving with the intention of drawing his wand. The Gryffindor was there before he even had a grip around the handle. James drew back his arm and summoned all of his strength, his fist colliding squarely with the cheek of Severus Snape.

James Potter was not the type of person to think about his actions. For example, had he clearly been thinking the situation through clearly, he would have remembered that the first years were set to arrive any moment. He also would have remembered that Professor McGonagall would be right at the front, leading the way.

"Potter!" her sharp voice sounded behind him. "My office! NOW!"

A/N: Yay! Another chapter finished! This chapter gave me conflicting emotions. I really struggled with writing it, but I really loved writing about James' reaction to Lily crying. I can't explain how much review inspire me to write! So please, REVIEW, REVIEW, REVIEW!