Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or any related characters. They are the sole property of J.K. Rowling and by extension Scholastic, Bloomsbury, and Warner Bros.

Chapter 30 Confused Emotions

The rest of vacation went rather quickly between celebrating Christmas and enjoying New Years.

"Ah, it's good to be back," Sirius said dropping his trunk at the foot of his bed.

"Definitely," Peter agreed.

"Shame we have to go to class tomorrow," Remus said stretching out on his bed.

"Ugh, don't remind me," Sirius groaned.

"Don't be so overly dramatic, Padfoot," James said, grinning cheekily.

"You're just happy because Lily's here. Which, might I add, is rather nauseating," Sirius quipped.

"Sod-off, Padfoot," James said still grinning.

The next day classes began again. After Charms Lily and Remus headed of to Arithmancy, while James, Sirius, and Peter headed back to the Gryffindor Common Room, not to enjoy their free period of course, but to start on their rapidly growing mountain of homework.

"I can't believe how much homework we have," Sirius complained. "Flitwick has never given us this much homework."

"At least some of it is revision," Peter pointed out.

"Bah," Sirius replied. "You agree with me don't you Prongs?"

But James wasn't listening. He had just spotted Snape and Avery. Just the sight of them made him want to break something, preferably Snape or Avery. James watched Snape shove his way passed a group of Hufflepuff first years, mumbling something, undoubtedly rude.

Without even thinking about it James grabbed his wand and stealthily hit Snape, who was ascending a staircase, with a trip jinx. As soon as he fired off the jinx he quickly stowed his wand back in his pocket.

The jinx hit Snape dead on, sending him sprawling and tripping Avery in the process. As his bag, packed full with books, hit the stairs it split open. Several bottles of ink smashed, their contents covering his papers and books. Snape cursed loudly.

Before Snape had a chance to turn and look for his attacker, however, James ducked into a secret passage concealed behind a tapestry, with Sirius and Peter close behind him.

As soon as they were out of sight James broke into a slight run. They came out of the passageway right near the Fat Lady and quickly made their way up to their dormitory.

"Prongs, that was brilliant," Sirius said laughing. "Not only did he never see it coming but he never even saw who did it."

James sat down heavily on the edge of his bed and buried his face in his hands.

"What's wrong mate? You can't possibly be upset over cursing Snivellus?" Sirius asked.

"No, not really," James replied with a sigh.

"Don't tell me you're worried about Lily being angry?"

James snorted, "No."

"Then what's the problem?" Peter asked.

"Snape," James replied. "And Avery."

"Well, thanks for clearing that up for us," Sirius replied sarcastically.

"Sorry," James replied with a sigh. "Lily and I had a slight run in with Avery on the train ride home. I'd forgotten all about it until I saw them just now."

"What kind of run in?" Sirius asked.

"Oh, the usual. He called me a blood traitor and Lily well, a you-know-what whore," James replied, his anger evident in both his voice and his face. "He made it sound as if our dating was an abomination!"

"That asshole!" Sirius replied scathingly.

Peter nodded in agreement, a scowl on his face.

"I don't understand what his problem is?" James sighed. "And I hate how it makes Lily feel, even if she doesn't usually say anything, I know it upsets her."

James decided it would be better to leave out the part about how Avery had gotten to her this time.

"Avery is just Death Eater wanna be scum," Sirius answered. "And Snape is a greasy haired Death Eater wanna be."

"Yeah, I suppose," James replied laying down on his bed, with his hands under his head.

"He's just…I don't know how to explain it. I hate how they, and the rest of their stupid friends, treat people and Snape's bloody dark arts obsession," James said running his hand over his face in frustration.

"Lily is such an amazing person, she doesn't deserve to be treated that way. She's never mean to anyone," James sighed again.

He could see Lily on the train, crying over what Avery had said, and it caused him so many different emotions that he couldn't even begin to explain it.

Later James, Sirius, and Peter headed down to the Common Room to meet Lily and Remus for dinner.

They entered the Common Room just moments after Lily, who had been putting her school things away, and her friends came down from the girls' dormitory.

"Hey there, beautiful," James said pulling Lily into a kiss.

"James!" Lily exclaimed, laughing.

"Yes, love?" James asked, his arms still wrapped around Lily.

"What has gotten into you?" Lily asked grinning.

"I missed you."

"It's been like an hour since we've seen each other," Lily said rolling her eyes.

"What, I'm not allowed to miss my girlfriend?" James asked pulling Lily closer, and leaning in to give her another kiss.

"You wouldn't happen to know who was responsible for Snape tripping up the stairs causing his bag to explode in the hallway earlier would you?" Lily asked breaking the kiss and giving James a look that told him she knew he did.

"It's possible," he said vaguely.

"Was it Sirius?" she asked crossing her arms and cocking her head.

"It could be if you wanted," James replied.

"James," Lily said in admonishing tone, lowering her voice. "You are Head Boy. You can't go randomly hexing people in the halls."

James quirked his eyebrows at her. "He didn't see me. No one did. And I know I shouldn't, but I saw him, and I just couldn't help it. Plus, I couldn't get Avery because Snape was in the way."

Lily sighed. "I don't need a knight in shining armor, you know," she said wrapping her arms around James's neck. "I'm perfectly capable of defending myself."

"I know," James replied leaning his head closer to Lily's. "But sometimes I just can't help myself. It's in my nature."

Lily laughed at this. "You're hopeless, Potter, you know that right."

"Only when it comes to you," he replied leaning in to kiss her again.

"You're such a prat," Lily said pushing him away playfully.

"There you go, ruining the moment again," James said grinning playfully.

"Oh, sod-off," Lily laughed. "Let's go to dinner, our friends are waiting."