James' Mission

Chapter 2

James hadn't eaten much at breakfast, mainly because the Sytherins were making as much trouble as they could for him on his first day as head boy. He left the Great hall alone and headed to his very first class of the year and the one he was most looking forward to, Defence Against the Dark Arts. James was eager to learn all there was to know about the dark arts and how to defeat them, plus he knew Lily had chosen this subject for her final year as well. He stood outside, took a deep breath and vigorously opened the door, to find only Lily in the classroom. He tried to avoid eye contact and quickly sat down at the back. The tension was killing him; he didn't know whether to talk or leave and come back when someone else had arrived, he couldn't bear it any longer, "Come on James you just have to bite the bullet!" he told himself.

Without even realising he was doing it, James rose out of his seat and marched up the classroom. His legs were like jelly and he was shaking but there was no stopping now.

"Hello Lily!" said James without even realising he was shouting.

"Hi," replied Lily in the most, "go away and leave me alone!" tone he had ever heard.

"Just wondering whether you know who our teacher is this year?"

"There only is one Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher, Professor Dumbledore."

"O, yeah that's right. Sorry I'm just a bit tired today."

"Well maybe you should go and sit down, you know save your energy," snapped Lily

"Ah, right yeah," James just trailed off and turned to go back to his seat, but he couldn't leave it unresolved like he had done all these years.

"Look Lily what I really wanted to say is, that I'm so sorry for embarrassing you all those years ago. It was terrible what happened but I feel that we have matured enough to put it all behind us. Plus now that we are both head boy and girl we should at least be on speaking terms. What do you think?" James gave a big sigh of relief that he had finally got that off his chest.

"What? You expect me to just forgive you for seven years of name calling by the Slytherins! Even the new first years have started it!" now Lily was the one who was shouting.

"I'm really sor-,"

"Can I just ask you one thing, why?" interrupted Lily.

"Why?"

"Why did you try to hex me? I was perfectly nice to you; I had no problem but you! You seem to just hate me from the start, you didn't say hello or shake my hand or even give a smile to actually acknowledge I was standing in front of you!" This had obviously been years of built up anger in Lily all flowing out now.

She was about to continue when an owl began to madly tap at the window. James went to retrieve the letter and began reading it aloud.

Dear Lily and James,

I have been called away urgently on some very important school business but don't worry I have left you work:

You must read chapters 6 and 7 of Defensive Magic and you will be receiving a test on this next class so I would read it thoroughly.

Just in case your wondering where the rest of the class is; you are the class, which makes it easier a lot easier for me to teach. The seventh years last year took advantage of the fact their free classes were not supervised and so a new door-locking programme has been introduced. The door will lock when you have finished this letter and will open when the bell rings. If anyone needs to use the bathroom just walk in to the store and it will transform automatically.

Good luck with the reading and I again apologise for my absence.

Yours sincerely,

Albus Dumbledore

As soon as James had finished the letter there was a locking sound from the door, as it had stated. He looked up in despair and thought to himself, "I have two stay in a room for another two hours with a very angry girl who hates me and I fancy like mad! This is torture!" He threw the letter in the bin and gave a weak smile to Lily, which was returned with a look that would shoot daggers.

"Are you going to answer the question then? Or leave for another seven years to tell me?"

James was stunned he hadn't expected her to carry on the conversation or actually look for an answer to that question.

"I didn't try to hex you, it was an accident."

"Do you really expect me to believe that?"

James could tell she was about to go off on one so he stopped her before she got the chance.

"Yeah actually I do expect you to believe that!" shouted James mockingly, "I had my wand up my sleeve because it was too big to fit in my pocket and I was embarrassed of it. When I leaned forward to shake your hand it fell out and green sparks went fling in to the air. I didn't hex you, why would I hex someone I?" James stopped dead in mid-sentence; he had got carried away and was about to tell her!

"Someone you what?"

"No nothing it doesn't matter, just forget I said anything and go back to reading or something," James had now slide down in the chair trying to hide has red face.

"James come on." In a playful voice.

"No Lily, just leave it will you. I mean it!"

Lily realised how thick James was getting, Lily turned round in her seat. The bell rang for lunch, the door unlocked and James got out of the room as fast as possible. Lily watched him leave but didn't feel the same hatred as she had for seven years. This was the first time Lily actually looked at James and she found herself thinking, "What a mighty fine ass that boy has!" realising what she said Lily quickly gathered her things and left for lunch.

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