Provoked

It was the night of the Christmas Ball, and Miss Lily Evans would be found no where near the Great Hall. She had already left in disgust. James Potter was in there with his little cronies, Sirius Black, Remus Lupin, and Peter Pettigrew, and of course his date, Felicia Moore, a seventh year Ravenclaw that was rumored to have done more than just the usual snog.. a lot more. Lily had attended the ball with Frank Longbottom -- sadly, he had decided that he would much rather talk Quidditch with Thomas Bell than dance with Lily. So Lily's night had just been completely ruined, especially after she had seen James kiss Felicia. That simple thing was enough to make her either burst into tears or vomit -- the first of which she had done once she had left the Great Hall. Her fifteen Galleons spent on her wonderful lavender dress robes were wasted as she walked endlessly around the gardens, sniffling and knowing that she looked horrid from her crying.

The taunting voice in the back of her head didn't do her much good, either, as it kept insulting her and laughing at her, saying things like 'why'd you get your hopes up, Lily, you know he'll never like you, you're not popular enough for him' and 'you're not nearly as pretty as Felicia, nor as easy to get a nice shag from either'. The voice decided to pop back into her head while she was walking past a bench and a deer statue, saying something that went along the lines of 'you're just a pathetic little Mudblood who knows too much for her own good', which sounded like something Lucius Malfoy had said to her a few weeks ago. This brought forth a new batch of tears and she slumped down on the bench, covering her face with her hands and crying silently. Gasp! A voice brought her from the crying reverie about five minutes later.

"Lily.. why are you out here when you could be inside enjoying the dance?"

Oh, God. Not him. Why, oh why did it have to be James? She looked up, hatred and anger and even a touch of jealousy tainting her vivid green eyes as she glared up at the boy who was causing her so much pain, so much self-hatred.. and yet, she loved this boy with every fiber of her being. However, right now all her anger was focused on him. "I should be asking you the same damned thing, Potter," she snapped. It didn't come off as angry as she hoped it would, though, because her voice cracked as she said 'damned'. She looked away and screwed up her face, trying to fight away the tears that longed to come out of her eyes.

"... Lily, what's wrong?" He took a cautious step towards her, and by the look on his face, she reckoned he was afraid she would put an almighty hex on him if he got too close. "Never you mind why I'm out here. What's bothering you?" He looked at her with.. what was that, worry in his eyes?

She successfully warded the tears off and stood up, looking back at him with mingled fury and longing, as well as hatred. What a mix of emotions, eh? She took a deep breath and started talking. "You want to know what's bothering me? Let's see. The simple fact that.. well, for one thing, I go to the ball with Frank, thinking I'm going to have a good time, and then you show up with that.. that whore and start acting all... lovey-dovey. It's really quite sickening to see someone that you've known for six years start hanging all over a Ravenclaw and look happy because you might get something more out of her than a nice snog.. And it really puts a deep wound in someone's heart when that someone who's looking on to that kind of mess just might be i---" she cut off and blushed scarlet, looking away.

"Just might be what?" He looked and sounded clueless. Closing the distance between them, James stepped up beside her and tilted her chin up to look at him. "You know, it's not very becoming when you cry. You're lovelier when you're happy..." His voice lowered so no one who might be listening in on their conversation could hear.

"Go away, James! I was getting along with everything fine and then you decided to come out here and ruin my already ruined evening! Just go away.." she choked out, looking away from him.

"And if I don't want to go away..?" he said, lips right next to her ear. "You know.. I didn't want to come with Felicia... Sirius thought it would be funny to make everyone think I was going with the school.. courtesan, if you please. She asked me, and Sirius replied for me.. but if you do want to know.. I wanted to ask you."

Why did that sound completely unbelievable to her? He had a way of making everything sound fake. She supposed it was his... suavity. He was a smooth talker, a player, and most of the girls knew that. "Sounds like bull," she hissed, pulling away from him.

"What part of it?"

"All of it." She was as stubborn as a mule.

"It's not!" replied James incredulously, raising his eyebrows at her, a faint hurt expression present upon his handsome features.

"Prove it." She started off, going back towards the castle.

"Lily! Lily, come on." He chased after her, catching up and grabbing her by the wrist, turning her to face him. "Don't be like this."

"Why?" she hissed, glaring at him, cheeks flushed with colour from a mix of running and embarrassment.

"Because. You're just doing like this so you can't hide behind your books.. or.. or.. or your bloody Prefect badge. And you know what else?" He looked into her eyes, all joking around forgotten, seriousness flooding his eyes. "You're afraid because you wanna be with me, too."

She stared at him before looking away. "You don't want to be with me. You're just saying that." Her voice was less angry now, but still full of resentment. She wasn't hard to break, though; that was one of her worse qualities. She looked back up at him, frowning. "Where's Felicia now?" This was said bitterly.

"Who cares..." he murmured as he wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her to him. "Hmm. I feel like I've been.. provoked... into wanting you.." he whispered, looking down at her with a sleepy sensation coming over his face, smiling at her.

She looked up at him, breath caught in her throat, heart beating furiously inside her chest -- it was a wonder he couldn't feel her heart pounding. Adrenaline flooded her veins, making her knees weak.. she clung onto him, for fear that her knees would buckle and she would fall. ".. Don't let me fall.." she whispered, eyes wide with seemingly soft innocence.

"I won't," he said, and took her lips with his, exchanging soft, passionate kisses with her. He paused, raising a hand to stroke her jawline. "What were you saying, earlier? Someone that just might be what..?"

"Someone that just might be in love with you," she replied softly, and fell vulnerable to his mind-blowing kisses once more.