James and Lily Potter : Sixth year

Chapter 11: sixth year

"Lily!" He cried in delight when he saw her. "How's my sugar?" Lily cringed inwardly again, but forced a smile, amid the sniggers of his friends.

"Don't embarrass the girl, Mark," chided Ulysses.

Mark grinned, but his smile faded all of a sudden. "That Potter wasn't bothering you, was he, Lilikins? 'Cause it's a well-known fact that James Potter has a strong fancy for you."

Lily smiled. "He's been very supportive of me, thank you, Mark."

Sam shifted slightly in his seat and smiled shyly. "James wouldn't do such a thing, Mark. He's got dignity, that boy."

Mark narrowed his eyes. "Since when have you been on the side of the Gryffindors? You are not included, of course, Lily."

"James is my friend," said Sam defensively. "He's a good guy, and he knows when to back off."

"So how are you, Lily?" He plainly ignored his friend's comments.

"I'm fine, Mark."

"Look, Lily, I want to give you the password to our common room, but Frieda would never let me. You know how that girl is."

"Quite true." The conversation was beginning to become extremely tedious. Even though Mark was decent looking and was pretty nice, he was very dull. But then, nearly all Ravenclaws were.

"Why are you all at the library anyway?" she asked, trying to start another topic of conversation again.

"Studying, of course," said Mark, looking as though it were obvious.

"For what, exactly?"

"Well, for our N.E.W.T.s, of course!"

Lily raised an eyebrow. Merlin, this boy is crazed! I'm not even studying for the N.E.W.T.s yet, and I always study earlier for everything! We still have more than a year, for Merlin's sake!

"That's—er—nice."

"Isn't it?" He bounced happily.

Sam rolled his eyes. "Never mind him, Lily; he's just hyper because Marie—ouch!" He rubbed his arm on where Mark had just punched him. "Oh! Er—I mean Manie, Mark's sister, just owled him, saying that she's coming home. She's an Auror in Egypt."

Lily looked suspiciously at Mark, who nodded emphatically. She had a strange feeling that the three boys were lying, but pushed it no further.

"I still think Potter's pining for you, Lily," said Mark impatiently. "You don't like him, do you?"

"Oh, of course not!" she exclaimed a bit too quickly. Well, she wasn't entirely lying; she didn't like James too much.

Ulysses raised an eyebrow. "You sure, Lily? 'Cause James likes you a lot. He took you to Hogsmeade and everything."

"He did what?" said Mark angrily. "You didn't...kiss him, did you?" He looked anxious.

"No!" Lily shook her head. "Never."

"Good." Mark visibly relaxed, but Sam gave her a knowing smile.

"Hey, Lily, could I talk to you for a minute?" asked the latter.

Mark narrowed his eyes. "Hey, Boot, if I catch you snogging my girlfriend—"

Sam rolled his eyes. "Oh, shut up, Mark. I won't do anything to Lily; I have a girlfriend myself, after all."

Lily followed Sam to the back of the library, and asked curiously, "Yes?"

"Look, Lily, it's a mistake to be dating Mark."

She blinked. "What?"

"I mean, I know I'm Mark's best friend, but I know that you don't like him. Do you deny it?"

Lily looked away. "No," she replied quietly. "I don't know why I'm going out with Mark. I just wasn't thinking properly when he asked."

"You like James Potter."

Her eyes widened. "What—?"

Sam snorted. "Oh, come off it, Evans! I've seen the way James looks at you, and I've seen the way you look at him. Don't deny it."

"I suppose," she sighed. "But I don't want to like Potter! He's an arrogant git, a bullying prat, and..."

"All right, I get your point. But he's changed, see? Don't you see it? He loves you well enough to change himself. That's something guys like us don't do very often."

"So what's your point?" said Lily, narrowing her eyes.

"I don't think you should go out with Mark anymore." He took a deep breath.

"But he just asked me out today."

"So? You two aren't meant for each other. Just listen to me, Evans: James Potter is head-over-heels for you, and you two are really meant to be. Do me a favour and go out with him the next time he asks you."

"What?"

"I'm not joking," he said desperately.

"Why do you care, Samuel? Ravenclaws aren't too fond of Gryffindors, since they think that they're too bold and such."

He grimaced. "Just do it and stop asking so many questions. Look, you want to know? I'm in debt to James Potter. Once, in our second year, I wandered off to the Forbidden Forest, on account of a dare from my friends. Centaurs attacked me, and James saved me. I had no idea what he was doing there himself, but he saved my life, Lily! When we were only twelve, too. He's a good guy, and I want to do a favour for him. So please go out with him and make him happy."

Lily stood in stunned silence. Here she was, standing at the far corner of the library, and a Ravenclaw, who happened to be one of her boyfriend's best friends, telling her to ditch Mark and go with James. Her mind was jumbled with all sorts of different emotions, as she stared at Sam, gaping.

"I don't like him," she finally said.

Sam sighed. "Hogwash! Of course you do! You're just in denial, that's all. You'll come around sooner or later, I suppose. See you around, Lily." He waved and walked out of the library, leaving Lily by herself, pondering his words.

"He's a good guy, so please make him happy."

Lily blinked and shook her head wearily. She had gotten herself in a huge mess, and she had no idea how to get herself out of it.