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

The Pointless Invitation

I'm sorry if I don't update for a few days. I'm going to try to, so stay posted, but I'm going on a trip. I hope you like this chapter!

Disclaimer: JKR owns all

Lily
The date for the first Hogsmeade trip was posted the next day. Lily was surprised at how excited people were to see it was on Halloween, but James' plan seemed to have worked. People were already making plans with friends and being asked on dates. Lily made plans to hang out with Mary and Alice. It seemed that Marlene couldn't go with them because she had a date... with Sirius Black.

"Black?" Mary asked her. Marlene only giggled.

"Good for you!" Alice said encouragingly. "You guys will be cute."

Lily told them she'd be back in a moment. The Marauders had just passed by and she had ran to catch up with them.

"Wait up!" she called. James was the first to turn around. He grinned at her and she gave a smile back. "Hey Black!" she called to Sirius. He turned around to reveal that he was practically beaming.

"Did you hear, Evans?" Sirius asked her, his voice full of triumph.

"Of course! I'm so happy for you!" she cried. She ran forward and hugged him, a sister-like gesture. Sirius seemed to appreciate it and laughed, lifting her and twirling her in circles. He sat her down and they both laughed. His hair was falling in his face and he looked more handsome than she'd ever seen him.

Lily turned to fix her ponytail and caught the look on James' face. He had a weird expression, as if he were feeling slightly nauseous. He was gripping his bag so hard that it turned his knuckles white. Lily looked away from him and back to Sirius who was also looking at James with a worried expression.

"So, Sirius, how long have you and Marlene been a thing?" she asked him, eager to turn away from James.

"We're not a thing," he said, his happy expression wavering a little. "She said that she wasn't ready to make it an official relationship yet."

"That's okay, she just needs time," Lily assured him. "Trust me, I know her."

"We've been talking since the summer, though," Sirius said, answering her previous question.

"Again, I'm so happy for you," she said to him. She turned to Remus.

"Are we still on for tonight?" she asked him. Remus nodded. She noticed that he looked slightly ill. Maybe he had a cold.

"What's happening tonight?" James asked from behind her. She expected him to be asking her, but his question was pointed at Remus.

"We're studying for our charms exam on Monday," Remus explained. "Lily has a little trouble in that class, and by trouble I mean she still gets an Outstanding. I help her prepare for Charms exams sometimes."

"Maybe I should help, too," James said. Lily only laughed.

"That's okay Potter," she said. How does he expect to help me?

"Maybe you would be more open to the idea if you realised that I get better scores in that class than Remus." James said. There was accusation in his tone. Lily turned to Remus in disbelief.

"It's true," Remus said. "He excels in charms."

Lily gaped at him. James Potter was better than Remus in a class? She had to see it for herself.

"Okay, Potter can come, too. I need all the help I can get," Lily said. "Meet me in the common room at 5:00."

She turned to walk back to her friends.

James
James made sure to double check his Charms notes, but he knew that he had it all memorized. Charms came easy to him. He could simply remember which spell to use and how to produce it. He wondered what Lily would think if she knew that he was an animagi. It might impress her.

"... so remember to meet me tomorrow night," Remus was saying. Full moon was coming and they all had to be ready for it. Remus was already looking sicker.

James checked his watch. It was 4:50. He nodded to Remus who stood and grabbed his bag. Their dormitory was a mess with clothes and notes strewn everywhere. Only Remus' area was tidy. He always thought of the other Marauders as savages.

Remus and James bid farewell to the other Marauders and went down to the common room. Lily was sitting in one of the chairs near the fire, reading a letter. She stood up when she saw them. He noticed her eyes were slightly puffy.

"Where do you guys want to study today?" she asked them. Her voice was a little rough.

"How about near the lake?" James suggested. She smiled slightly.

"Sounds like a plan," she said. He noticed her slipping the note into her bag.

"What is that?" Remus asked. He had noticed the letter, too.

"It's from home," she said slowly.

"Another attack?" James asked her. She shook her head slowly.

"Not that I've heard about. It's a family issue, not a public one," Lily said. James had met Lily's family and knew that only one person would be able to make her cry.

"What did Petunia do?" he asked her. Remus' eyes widened. Apparently he knew about Petunia Evans as well. For a moment, James thought that Lily wouldn't say anything, but then she spoke.

"The letter is from my mom. Apparently, Petunia is officially engaged to her boyfriend Vernon. The wedding is soon, but my sister has forbid that I attend. She doesn't want me ruining the occasion."

James and Remus were silent.

"Oh, and her wedding invitation was included in the letter. So, you know, I got a chance to see it. Pictures were included as well. Her ring is beautiful. I'm sure the wedding will be perfect, her dress and the bridesmaid dresses..."

Lily's voice was barely above a whisper. She looked up at them and forced a smile. "That's okay. Let's just go study."

Before he knew what he was doing, James pulled Lily into a hug. Her hair was soft against his hand and he could smell that she had a scent of oranges. At first she seemed startled, but he felt her hands eventually settle on his back.

"Don't worry about your sister," he whispered to her. "Because no matter what she thinks about you, just know that everyone here knows how perfect you are. Don't let her jealousy get to you."

Lily buried her head into his chest and he felt his heart quicken. After a few moments that James thought passed by too fast, they let each other go. She gave him a grateful smile. James noticed Remus was grinning at him.

"Uh... we should go," Lily said. She seemed calmer, but shocked and embarrassed.

"Yeah sure," Remus said. They walked out of the common room and to the Lake.

The study session went well. James had felt pride in the fact that he had managed to impress Lily Evans with his knowledge of Charms. In fact, Remus had let James do most of the tutoring. It had been such a success. James couldn't have been happier.