James and Lily Potter : Sixth year

Chapter 3:sixth year

Potter likes me, she thought bluntly. Out of all the girls he could've fallen in love with, he chose me. Bookworm Lily Evans, who studies too much for her own good. He just had to choose the girl who hated him.

"Lily?" Violet peered at her. "Hello?"

"Wha—What?" Lily jerked out of her daze, startled. "Where's the Snitch?"

"Excuse me?" She laughed. "Were you thinking of Jamie dearest again?"

"I'd never!"

The compartment slid open, revealing a handsome boy, whom they vaguely recognized as the Ravenclaw Quidditch Captain, and in the same year as themselves. He smiled at the girls, but his warm gray eyes were fixed steadily on Violet with a look of admiration.

"Hello, Violet," he said, his eyes still fixed onto hers. "Would you like to—maybe—go out with me sometime?"

Violet's eyes widened. "You mean...like a date?"

He smiled sheepishly. "Er—yeah. Will you?"

"Sure." She shrugged. "You're Jackson Bradley, right? Sorry, but I'm not too good with names."

Jackson grinned widely. "Yeah. You will? Really?"

Violet shrugged again. "Sure."

"Oh, that's wonderful!" He looked as if he were going to burst out singing, but decided against it after seeing the Marauders in the same compartment. He didn't want to tempt blackmail from the pranksters.

"James," he said, with a slight incline of his head.

"Jack," greeted James cordially. It was obvious that they were good friends.

Lily smiled at her friend as Jackson left with a huge grin plastered on his face. "See, Vi? What did I tell you? Lots of boys like you! Jackson's had a crush on you since fifth year."

"Well," she said dreamily, "I guess you're not the only ignorant one."

"What's that supposed to be?" asked Lily with a frown.

"Nothing." Violet gave James an encouraging nod of her head as the train continued to move steadily.

Lily, to her horror, found herself staring at James Potter for the past ten minutes in the library. She scolded herself mentally for not paying any attention to her Transfiguration essay, and continued to read the extremely tedious passage about human transfiguration and how to transfigure your head into that of an animal.

"I'm glad you find me extremely charming, Evans," said James with amusement, as green eyes met his hazel ones.

She flushed. "Well, I am extremely sorry, Potter, to say that I don't find you attractive at the least."

James turned crimson. "Are you having trouble?" He changed the subject abruptly.

"I am, as a matter of fact. Are you here to taunt me of my poor Transfiguration skills?"

"Nah. I was just wondering if you need help. I mean, I'm fair at Transfiguration, since I have a fortunate wand."

"Fair? You get top grades in it in our year, and you've never hesitated to tell everyone that."

"Well, it's not too nice, is it? Bragging about one's accomplishments and making people feel bad."

Lily frowned. "But that's what you're all about, Potter! You've been showing off all your life."

He was starting to lose his temper. "Oh, so that's what you think of me, eh? Someone who lives in this world just to show off his achievements and accomplishments? Well, let me tell you something, Evans. I happen to care about my family, friends, and grades as well. Sure, I don't look as if I care about my grades, but I do. I guess I just don't study too much because all this stuff comes naturally to me, as my parents and teachers say. I care about my mum and dad, and I care about Sirius, Remus, and Peter. They're like my brothers, especially Sirius, who's living with us from now on. And I care about y—" He stopped, his eyes widening and his cheeks flushed.