Hate Is A Strong Word (A Jily Fanfic)//FINISHED!

Diagon Alley Visits

Hello Jily people. Here is the next part. Thanks so much for sticking with the story. I'm trying to post more often.

James
How had he been picked for Head Boy? Lily being picked was expected because she was perfect for this sort of thing, but James? The school prankster who had more detentions in one semester than he could count.

At least it wasn't Snape.

James had been fearful that Snape would be picked for Head Boy at Lily's side. At least now he could spend some time with her.

James went to his mother and father that night and told them the news. At first, they seemed just as shocked as he had been, but then they celebrated with him. They were proud of their son and excited to have a Head Boy in the family.

James returned to his room to go to sleep. Tomorrow, everyone would return home and he would go to Diagon Alley to get his school supplies. Although the few weeks with his friends had started stressful and eventful, the last few days had been fun for him.

After settling into bed, James stared at the ceiling and thought about life at his seventh year at Hogwarts as Head Boy. The idea of Lily and him leading the school brought him joy beyond compare.

She has to tolerate you first, he reminded himself. With that, he drifted into sleep.

The next morning, James slept in until 11:00. He didn't know why he was so tired. He got up, felt for his glasses, put some sweatpants on, and went downstairs. When he entered of living room, he caught sight of Mary and Marlene blushing in the corner and staring at him. It took him a moment to realize he had forgotten a shirt. He was slow in the morning sometimes.

"Oi Prongsie. If you wanted to give these ladies a show, you should've just asked me," Sirius teased.

Marlene giggled and Sirius winked at her. That was new.

James didn't have time to wonder what was going on between Mar and Sirius, though, because Lily had just entered the room and was staring at him with a look of total awe. James was usually confident with his body, not to brag, but now he felt like he wanted to hide.

"Um..." he said.

This snapped Lily out of her daze.

"Find a shirt, Potter." she said, slightly embarrassed, yet keeping her cool. "I'm leaving in 5 minutes."

James turned to run upstairs. He practically leaped up the stairs two at a time. Lily Evans was staring at me.

James slipped on the first shirt in his drawer, a red t-shirt, and ran back downstairs. Lily had already wished everyone else goodbye. She stood there, looking at him awkwardly, like she was still deciding on something.

Then she looked at him and said one of the last things he'd expected.

"Thank you for everything, James."

The room had gone silent. Everyone was listening, but James didn't care. He grinned a lopsided smile and ran a hand through his hair.

"No problem, Evans."

"In that case," she said, clearly wishing to change the subject. "I must go."

They had decided Lily would travel by floo powder home after the whole apparation incident. James was happy to see Lily walking without her cane, though. He told her to follow him over to the fire place.

When they reached the fire, Lily turned to him. She was forced to look up at him because he was so tall.

"Um James, I...um...I," Lily started to stutter. James grinned at her. "Maybe I'll see you at Diagon Ally tomorrow."