James and Lily Potter : Sixth year

Chapter 2 :sixth year

"Why are you doing this?" she asked softly.

"Doing what?" said James, looking thoroughly confused. "I didn't hex Snape or anyone coming here, if that's what you mean."

"No, no." She shook her head firmly. "Why aren't you acting all snooty and patronizing?"

James blinked. He knew that he had this question coming. But what really puzzled him was the realization that he had acted all bratty throughout his last five years at Hogwarts. And that people expected it of him as well. A guilty feeling spread through him as he saw Lily, the love of his life, thinking how he had suddenly turned nice. But hadn't he always been nice? The Marauders liked him—and many of the girls at Hogwarts had crushes on him. But he realized that the latter only liked him because of his looks. He sighed dismally.

"What's wrong?" Lily pushed.

"I just...never knew that I've acted like such a prat for the last five years. I mean, you've told me that I've been a prat for hundreds of times, but those comments just bounced off me. And now I guess I'm more sensitive."

She snorted. "You, sensitive? I highly doubt it." But Lily regretted saying it when she saw the apparent hurt in James' eyes.

"Well," said Sirius, breaking up the "moment", "can we share this compartment with you or what?"

"Yes," said Lily, her eyes still glued to James' sad eyes.

"Thank you. My legs were about to fall off."

Arabella punched his arm. "Don't be so tactless," she hissed. "Can't you see that Lily and James are having a moment? It hasn't happened since first year!"

Sirius rolled his eyes. "They were snapping at each other again. Some moment."

Remus gave Arabella a "don't even bother" look, inclining his head toward Sirius.

"I don't like you," said Lily flatly.

"I know you don't," replied James airily. "Why should you? I've been an arrogant and bullying prat for the last five years. I'm surprised that Remus and Peter can still handle Sirius and I." He winked at his best friend.

She narrowed her eyes. For a minute there, she had thought that James had changed. But he had that same egotistical aura.

"You haven't changed a bit," she spat.

He merely shrugged and smiled again. "You can't expect me to be studious and staid all the time, do you? We Marauders need to have fun in life...and I intend to have it while my life lasts. After all, I only have five years left of my life."

"As do I," said Lily in a hard voice. "But I prefer spending my life on grades."

He stared at her in disbelief. "That's boring!"

"Oh? And I suppose you find it great entertainment to be torturing Snivel—Snape."

James grinned roguishly. "Nah, torturing Snape doesn't mean much to me now. Why bother the git? He'd be wasting my time anyway."

"Since when have you been so philosophical?"

"Will you guys shut up?" growled Sirius, rubbing his forehead. "I never knew you were so boring, Prongs. We should be talking about those hot girls from Hufflepuff."

James rolled his eyes. "First of all, Padfoot, you have a girlfriend. Second of all, there are girls here, and I'm sure they wouldn't take too kindly, hearing us talk about girls. Third of all, I've no interest in those girls that you call 'hot'. You know my heart belongs to one beautiful Gryffindor, and her only."