James and Lily Potter : Sixth year

Chapter 6: sixth year

An hour later, everyone completed and experimented with the potion, and were admiring the older versions of each other. Lily had even longer dark red hair and her almond-shaped green eyes were even more dazzling than ever. James was much taller than he was before, his hair stuck in all directions, but his hazel eyes had a look of understanding, expected from someone who has experienced a lot.

Arabella was currently laughing at Sirius. "Oh, Sirius, look at you!" she giggled. "Your hair is long!"

"Hey, I still look sexy, don't I?" he retorted, while Remus and Jennifer chuckled.

"Whoa, Moony, you look like the full moon's close," said Sirius, his eyes widening.

"Padfoot!" cried James, irritated.

"Oops, my mistake. Sorry, Moons."

"Moons?" questioned Remus, raising an eyebrow.

"Hey, it's cool, right?"

"Er—"

"Say yes."

"Er—"

"Never mind." Sirius huffed indignantly.

"You look pretty," said James to Lily.

"Thanks." She flushed. "You look good yourself."

He grinned. "I haven't changed a bit and you know it. Just got taller, that's all."

"Yes, but still..." She shrugged.

"Aww..." said Sirius mockingly.

"Black, I suggest you sit down before someone gets hurt," said Hurst curtly. "I will be giving you the counter—yes, Mr. Potter?"

"Can we stay like this for the rest of the day?" he asked innocently.

Hurst thinned his lips. "I'm afraid not, Potter," he said, looking oddly like a livid McGonagall. "Now, does anyone else have any stupid questions they would like to ask me?"

James turned red, while the Slytherins chuckled.

"Prat," muttered the former.

"Did you say something, Mr. Potter?"

"Oh, no, sir." James smirked.

Hurst narrowed his eyes. "Don't you use that tone with me, Potter. Just like your parents; reckless fools, they are."

"Don't you insult my parents," he said in a deadly calm voice that even startled Hurst.

Lily's green eyes were watching James throughout the whole discourse between him and Hurst. His clear hazel eyes were full of determination and loathing as he gazed into the Potion master's cold grey eyes.

"That's no way to speak to a professor, Potter," spat Hurst.

"So sorry, sir. But 'tis true. My parents aren't fools; you just don't like them because you fancied my mum at Hogwarts!"

There—he had said it. The secret that he had kept from even Sirius throughout his life. Professor Hurst had fallen in love with Sarah Johnson at school, but when the latter rejected him for Daniel Potter, Hurst became bitter with the world. James had been quite disgusted when his mother revealed her past to him, for he hated Hurst almost as much as he hated Voldemort, the Dark Arts, and Snape.

"You—" gasped Hurst. "Your mother told you this!"

"Indeed." He mimicked a "Hurst-smile", as the Marauders called it.

Just then, the bell rang, and Hurst was still eyeing James with hatred. "Class dismissed," he muttered.

Everyone nearly trampled each other, coming out of the dungeons, for they didn't want to be present when Hurst would deal with James. However, the Marauders, with the exception of Peter lingered behind, waiting for James.

"Listen, Potter," said Hurst lividly. "I'll have no more of this insolence from you. You're just as arrogant and strutting as your father is."

"Don't insult my dad!"

"I remember Potter Senior back at Hogwarts," he continued, ignoring James. "He was the mightiest player in the castle. He went for the empty-headed girls, stole all of their hearts, and never returned them." He smiled wryly. "He was also quite egotistical. Any pejorative made at him bounced off like a ball. But then he actually met his match when your mother caught his eye.

"She didn't like your father much, Potter, your mother. Had the same opinion of him as Evans does for you. But then somehow the git managed to capture her heart as well. They got married straight out of Hogwarts, and now, twenty years later, I'm stuck with another Potter, who's just like his father."

James opened his mouth, but said nothing. Instead, he glared at Hurst. "Look, my dad might've been arrogant at Hogwarts, but he's not now. He loves Mum and I, and he'd do anything to protect us."

Hurst sneered. "Is that so, Potter? Well, I'll be darned if Daniel Potter's changed."

The sixteen-year-old ignored his Potions Master, got his books, and left the dungeons with the Marauders trailing behind him.

"Can you believe that Hurst?" he muttered viciously. "Insulting my father right in front of me!"

"Look, mate," said Sirius impatiently, "don't pay any attention to the git. He's not worth your time. But doesn't Snape hate Harry?"

"Yeah." James sighed heavily. "It's all my fault. Think of it: if I didn't start hexing Snape last year, Harry wouldn't have to take too much of Snivelly's wrath."

"Prongs, Padfoot is right," said Remus, shaking his head. "Don't worry about it. That's exactly what Hurst wants you to do, don't you see?"

"I s'pose."

"How are things going with you and Lily?" Sirius tried not to look too curious.

"All right, I guess. She doesn't hate me, so that's a start. But I'll never give up on her. She's too good to lose."

"That's the attitude," said Remus, grinning. "You know, if you start going like that more, Lily will fall for you in no time."

"Yeah, but I don't want to force her. I just want her to really love me out of her own accord, you know?"

Sirius shook his head. "Gee, Prongs, never knew you'd turn your head for a girl."

"Nah." Remus gave Sirius a helpless look. "You're saying it all wrong, Padfoot. What he means is, he never knew that a girl could turn your head like this."

James smiled. "Lily isn't just an ordinary girl, you know."

"Enlighten us, then."

"Moony!" cried Sirius, glaring at the brown-haired boy. "Do you know how mushy this is going to be? We'll be standing here all night!"

James chuckled. "Don't worry, I won't lecture you, Paddy."

"Oh, Paddy, is it? Oh, I got our new nicknames! Moons, Wormy, Paddy, and Prongsies!"

Remus rolled his eyes and laughed along with the other two boys.

"Where were you guys?" said Jennifer, raising an eyebrow, as they entered Gryffindor Tower. "We thought you were hexing Snape again."

"Hurst," was the only reply.

Arabella sighed. "What did he say, James?"

"Git. Insulted my dad, he did! Can you believe the nerve of him? Why, I ought to—"

"Don't do anything rash," warned Lily.

"I won't," reassured James, smiling slightly now. "It's just, can you believe the nerve of Hurst? He's just angry that Mum never liked him, and he was jealous of Dad at school."

"Sounds like the relationship between you and Snape."

Sirius grinned. "Though you have to admit, Prongsies, that if we didn't pick on Snivelly half the time at Hogwarts, we'd have never gone this far."

"Yeah, but now Snivellus hates Harry. Everything has a bad ending to it, I say."

"Never knew you were so thoughtful, Potter," commented Lily.

"I never was," returned James, "until you."