James and Lily Potter : Sixth year

Chapter 5: sixth year

"Potter, for the eight-thousandth time, I will not go out with you!" screamed Lily furiously.

The Marauders and girls were heading down to the Great Hall together, and James decided that it was a good time to ask Lily out once more, since he had been "deflating" for the past few months. However, he was highly mistaken, and very surprised, when Lily's answer was a "no".

James sighed miserably. "Oh, fine. Don't go out with me then. Don't marry me. Don't fulfil the prophecy." With that, he walked into the Great Hall, ignoring the many girls who were currently drooling all over him, as usual.

"I think you were a little harsh, Lily," said Arabella, watching James with pity. "You could have at least had a more pleasant tone."

"Why don't you want to go out with James?" asked Jennifer curiously, as she snuggled closer to Remus. "He's changed, hasn't he?"

"Not enough. He still shows off, especially in Quidditch..."

Sirius snorted. "How many times do we have to tell you? He's not showing off in Quidditch, he's just trying to make new moves so that we can fool the other teams!"

"James loves you, Lily," said Remus gently, glaring disapprovingly at Sirius' tone of voice. "Give him a chance. Please?"

"Why? Why are you all so tenacious about me accepting James as a boyfriend?"

"We want both of our friends to be happy," said Violet, who was silent the whole time. "You love James, too, Lily; you just have to look deep inside you and see for yourself."

She narrowed her eyes. "Right."

The seven of them entered the Great Hall, and found James eating his breakfast with an unusual enthusiasm. He ate nearly four pieces of toast at once, gobbled a whole plateful of sausages, and drained down his pumpkin juice.

"Bye!" he said in an out-of-key voice. "Must get ready for Potions; you know how Hurst gets if we're late. See you!"

"Poor Prongsies," said Sirius in a serious* tone.

"He'll be alright," said Remus confidently, as he piled his plate with scrambled eggs and bacon.

"How do you know?" was the skeptical reply.

"Because Lily will have to say 'yes' sooner or later, and then everyone will live happily ever after."

"You make everything sound so simple, Moony."

Remus smiled. "I'm not serious, Sirius."

"I know you're not. I am."

He rolled his eyes. "Not this again."

"Oh, yes. This again." Remus groaned loudly.

Meanwhile, the girls were chattering cheerfully at the other end of the Gryffindor table. Arabella was discussing her plans for working at the Ministry later on to Jennifer and Violet, but Lily was lost in her own thoughts.

Maybe I shouldn't have yelled at Potter...after all, he looked a bit upset, she thought, remembering James' defeated look.

"Hey, Lily?"

"What?" She snapped out of her reverie, looking alarmed. "Who died?"

"No one." Arabella looked at her best friend strangely. "I was asking you where you were going to stay after graduation."

"Probably with my parents, until I find a flat of my own." She shrugged. "What about you?"

"I was thinking that maybe we can share a flat together...that is, until James proposes." She grinned wickedly.

Lily spat out the pumpkin juice that she was currently draining down. "What?"

"You're going to marry him sometime," said Jennifer matter-of-factly, as she reached out for a muffin.

"I don't have to marry him. I live my life as I please."

"Sure. But why wouldn't you marry him? You love him, remember?"

Violet suppressed a laugh when she saw Lily's expression. "Don't tease Lils, girls. It isn't nice. Lily will make the right decision when the time comes."

"Exactly!" exclaimed Lily triumphantly. "Listen to Violet. She's the voice of reason and peace."

"How are things going between you and Jack, Vi?" asked Arabella curiously.

"Wonderful." Violet flushed. "Jack's really nice, and he's so sweet! He's planning to take me to a Christmas luncheon at Hogsmeade this weekend, since it's close to the holidays."

"What a romantic," sighed Arabella, smiling. "Wish Sirius was like that."

"Oh, but you still love him," teased Lily lightly.

"Yes, I do. Do you love Jackson, Violet?"

"Well...it's a bit soon to tell, isn't it?" She looked uncertain. "I mean, we've only been seeing each other for four months."

"He's cute," commented Jennifer, giggling.

Lily rolled her eyes. "I thought you loved Remus."

"Oh, that I do. But still, you can't deny the fact that Jackson Bradley is a very good-looking boy."

Arabella and Violet laughed.

"My dear Bella," said Sirius, coming up to them, "may I escort you to the dungeons for our pitiful Potions class?"

"You may." She giggled again and took the arm that Sirius offered.

"What about you, Ms. Jennifer Dean?" said Remus, grinning. Jennifer bounced out of her seat and held his hand, following after Arabella and Sirius.

"Guess it's only you and me, Vi," said Lily, shaking her head after the two couples.

"Oh! Er—I have to meet Jackson for a moment." Violet looked embarrassed.

"Oh, go ahead."

Lily watched as Violet went over to the Ravenclaw table, where Jackson was looking at her with admiration and love. He kissed her lightly, and they walked out of the Hall as well.

She sighed. Everyone was paired off in her year, except for Lily. It wasn't as though she couldn't get a boyfriend; nearly half the males were in love with her. No, it was because she couldn't find the right boy that would love her and never leave her. Lily sighed once more, and slowly followed Jackson and Violet.

When she entered the dungeons, she found that all her friends were seated already. But what was worse, they were all coupled together: Sirius and Arabella, Jennifer and Remus, and Peter and Violet (the latter didn't like the former, but she felt bad for him). Lily gave a look of revulsion and thrust her bag onto the table where James was sitting alone. She didn't want to take a chance with any of the Slytherins.

"'Lo, Evans," greeted James slowly, as his hazel eyes widened in surprise. "Er—I thought you hated me. You could find another seat if you want."

Lily forced a smile. "I don't want to sit next to a Slytherin, and you're loads better than them."

"Oh, thanks, I feel so loved," he said sarcastically. She laughed.

"Well, well, if it isn't Evans and Potter," sneered Professor Hurst, sweeping into the classroom.

James narrowed his eyes. Since when did the git care about us?

"Sir," said Lily, glaring.

"I thought you two hated each other," he continued with malice. "I guess not, then. Like Dumbledore says, opposites attract..."

Lily and James' mouths widened in shock and disbelief, while the Slytherins snickered loudly. The Gryffindors, especially their friends, shot them with looks of sympathy.

"Sir," repeated Lily, her voice shaking.

Hurst ignored her and continued talking. "Today we will make an Ageing Potion, and you will be working with the person sitting next to you." He grinned evilly at Lily and James.

Both sixteen-year-olds would not look at each other.