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

Hogwarts Express

Hey everyone. I've been busy with volleyball and writing other short stories, but I'm trying to make sure I post a lot for this story. Tell me what you think!

Lily
Lily was up bright and early. Today, she would be returning to Hogwarts school as the Head Girl. She showered and braided her wet hair down her back. She dressed quickly and ran downstairs for breakfast.

Her mom and dad had made her eggs and bacon. Petunia was absent, probably still asleep, but her mom and dad ate with her. They told her they were going to drive her to King's Cross Station so that they could spend a little more time with her. Their time together had been cut short after the incident at the Potter's.

They discussed what Lily was excited for this year, her duties as head girl, and how often they would write to each other. Lily knew she would miss her parents very much, even though their home life was a little strained at the moment.

Lily ran upstairs to grabbed her trunks. She looked around her room one last time, aware that she wouldn't see it again until Christmas. A small, sad feeling crept its way into her stomach when she remembered her old life before she knew she was a witch. Lily paused for a moment and thought about that happy life, but then realized she wouldn't trade her real life for it any day. She was proud of what she was. With that thought in her mind, she turned and closed the door behind her.

The drive to King's Cross Station was filled with chatter. The family tried to fit everything in before they had to split up at the barrier between platforms 9 and 10. Lily was so excited she couldn't sit still. After a few minutes of driving, the Station came into view and she smiled.

Getting the trunks out of the car and finding the correct platform was easy. Lily had become used to this throughout the years.

Her parents walked her to platforms 9 and 10. Lily prepared to say her goodbyes as her dad embraced her.

"Goodbye Lils," he said as he hugged her tight.

"Bye Dad," she said into his shirt.

Her mom grabbed her and hugged her as well, and Lily remembered to add something to her goodbye.

"Stay safe, mom."

Lily's voice was barely above a whisper. She didn't want to leave her family in a world full of Death Eaters. She wanted to protect them at all costs. Leaving her family with no protection was becoming harder for her everyday.

Her mom let her go, and Lily gave her parents one final smile. She knew she could only think of the best in these dark times. With a deep breath, she turned away from her parents, who were now smiling sad smiles back in her direction. Lily grabbed her trunks and turned to face the brick wall between platforms 9 and 10. With a quick little hop, she pushed her trunks with effort and jogged straight through the wall and onto another platform, Platform 9 3/4. She had entered a world filled with magic, a place her family couldn't belong.

The platform was crowded with wizards and witches. Parents were saying their goodbyes and kids were checking to make sure they were ready to go. The clock on the station wall read 10:45. Lily proceeded towards the Hogwarts Express and dropped off her trunks.

She kept an eye out for Potter, who would be joining her in the Head Boy and Girl compartment of the train. They also had to discuss what they were going to talk about in their meeting with all of the prefects. Lily looked through the crowds, but Potter was no where in sight.

At 10:53, Lily decided James must already be in their cabin, so she boarded the train and walked to her new compartment. Its sliding door had a gold plaque on the outside that read "Head Boy and Head Girl". Lily slid the door open to see a wide car with enough chairs to sit all of the prefects. Two plush chairs at the far end of the room were clearly for the Head Boy and Girl.

James wasn't in the cabin, much to Lily's frustration. Where is he? Doesn't he understand how important this is?

When Lily checked her wristwatch, the time was 10:59. Lily took a deep breath again, trying to contain her irritation. Is this a joke to him?

At that moment, the train whistle blew. The car started to crawl forward. Lily had begun to fidget with the end of her braid when the car door flew open.

"Sorry I'm late! I slept in again." James' voice sounded. His hair looked more messy than usual and he looked at if he had ran because he seemed a little out of breath. When he saw Lily's glare, he went silent.

Lily was practically fuming. This is exactly why Remus would have been a better choice!

"Look, Evans..."

"Save it Potter," she snapped. "I just take this stuff a little more serious than you do."

"What's that supposed to mean?" he asked with an angry look.

Before Lily could retort back, though, a knock was heard on the door.

"The prefects are here," Lily said as she walked to the sliding door. After a few minutes, the room was filled with all of the prefects, including Remus and Snape. While Remus smiled at James, Severus had a look of disbelief on his face. Many others shared the same expression.

"Shall we get started?" James asked.

Lily nodded, refusing to look at James. She began to explain prefect duties and assignments. James added comments in every once in a while, but that only annoyed Lily even more.

When she was finished with her speech, she had the prefects break into pairs to monitor the train isle in shifts. She let the students go, but Snape stayed behind. Lily turned her back on him and pretended to do something else. James glared at him.

"Lily what happened this summer?" Snape asked her. "I was so worried. I was so scared! I thought..."

"Leave Severus! I'm perfectly fine," Lily interrupted. She couldn't bear talking to him anymore. His expression looked hurt as he left the compartment. After he was gone, Lily took in a shaky breath.

"Evans are you..."

"Just stop, please!" Lily practically yelled. She was so rattled she couldn't think. Everything was happening to quick for her mind to process. There was a moment of silence.

"Why, Evans, do you continue to treat me different every time we see each other? One day, you will act as though we could actually be friends and then the next you won't even look at me!"

"James, I'm sorry," Lily said. She didn't know why she was telling him this. "I don't know why I am the way that I am with you. You get on my nerves so easily, yet I get upset with myself when I'm mad at you. I honestly don't know if I can try to even start a friendship with you, sometimes, because I don't want any of us to get hurt. I'll make this relationship work, but I need my space."

James processed all of this for a moment.

"Evans, I need you to know that I've moved on. I know that's one of the reasons you look at me this way. I don't think like that anymore. I just..."

Lily wasn't even paying attention to James anymore. He really doesn't like me? Had he actually moved on? Why do I feel a sudden pain in my chest?

Lily didn't know why she cared, but a tiny part of her knew that she did. She looked at James for a moment and was instantly overrun with confusion.

What was happening? I HATE James Potter. He's the same guy that I couldn't stand since I was 13 years old. I had dreamed that he would move on ever since I can remember.

She took a deep breath when she realized that he was done talking.

"I don't know, Potter. I really don't." Lily's voice cracked as she turned away from him and walked out of the compartment.

She left him standing there alone.