Here is the last chapter to Judge of Character. You can see where the next one is going to leave off. It may take me a while, so please check regularly or put me on Authour Altert so you don't miss anything.

Thanks to -EHWIES, Rider Arya Svit-kona, Danfan789, -Ashes123-, lurv2boogie, Literati and naley forever, LILYandJAMESareCUTE, PinkandGreenWhiteRedBlack07, Love-Pink26, and doing 10 to life in azkaban for reviewing this fic. Hope you enjoy!!

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

Though it was pointless Lily tried not to tell her friends too many details about the whole deal with James. She knew Jenna would be positively bubbling with excitement and Alicia would be positively smug. But it was futile; mostly because James had bragged to his friends and Remus had told Alicia.

So now Lily was plagued by the knowing looks, the "I-told-you-so" expressions, and all around smug attitudes. For the life of her Lily still didn't know why she had said yes to him–what had he ever done to deserve her willingness?

And then she remembered what Dumbledore had said about them, and what they had done, and what the Death Eater had put them through. That in itself left her in their debt for a lot more than just escorting him at this party–it owed them her life.

On top of that, she was beginning to think–beginning being the main thought–that perhaps James Potter and Sirius Black were not totally and completely self-consumed. Perhaps.

Two days after Valentine's Day Lily found herself in the library again, though alone. She hadn't talked to Jacob at all, partly due to the awkwardness she was sure would be present, and partly due to the fact she was constantly surrounded by friends or people in general.

She was working silently through an essay McGonagall had assigned and was thinking about how she could finish it when the library door opened. Lily looked up hopefully, and then felt her light heartedness dissolve into resentment: Snape.

Lily looked back down at her books, keeping her eyes down. Why pick a fight?

But it appeared he was looking for one.

"What are you doing in her by yourself?" he asked in his slithery voice, which she used to think as calm and soothing. Now it was repulsive.

"Working." Better not to add comments that would egg him on. She was not in the mood for a fight with him tonight.

"Alone? Potter isn't hanging off you like a dog anymore?"

"You probably notice more than I do–find out for yourself."

His face shifted from a distasteful expression to one of mild anger. "Watch your mouth, Evans."

"Not dirty anymore?" she commented dryly, feeling her own fury rising higher.

"You are; it's just I thought we might have a normal conversation."

"Well, I'm sorry, but I have no interest." She snapped her book shut with a sound that made Madam Pince look up in disgust and stuffed it into her bag, got to her feet, and started to walk past.

He put out an arm to stop her. Though he wasn't as tall as James, or as muscular as some of the boys, he was still a boy and stronger than her. "Don't you want to know what really happened that night you almost died?" he asked softly.

Lily's skin crawled in an unfamiliar feeling of fear and horror combined. She'd never been this anxious to know and anxious to get away without hearing another word.

"How would you know?" she hissed, trying to push by. He still didn't move.

"Didn't Potter tell you? He thinks I'm involved in the whole thing. Told the Headmaster and McGonagall that I was there, and that I was involved with Voldemort."

Lily's eyes widened as she looked at him in that feeling of shock and terror. He made his characteristic sneer. "You see why so many people dislike him? He lies about even the simplest things."

Lily stared at him, trying to figure out whether or not he was lying. She wouldn't put it past him to try and say James had done something like that–but did James have the heart to lie about something so serious?

He laughed evilly. "See? You think I might be telling the truth. And I am. He framed me–I actually obey the rules and don't sneak around after dark."

She clamped her mouth shut before she replied that at least James had enough loyalty and compassion to go against rules. Instead she shoved him back against a bookcase and slipped past, ignoring the murderous look Madam Pince gave her. Lily swept out of the library and almost ran down the hallway, heart hammering. Snape had to be lying. He had to be. Wouldn't James tell her something that crucial?

Part of her knew it was perfectly reasonable that James could have accused Snape. But a bigger part, the part of her that was beginning to think he was alright–that part of her knew Snape had to be lying.

Which one? Severus Snape, her former friend and fellow of the cruellest boys she'd ever known, or James Potter, the boy who got on her nerves more than anyone but who had to have the heart of a saint?

She leaned against the wall, unsure of what to do. Should she ask James what had happened? Or should she just keep quiet and not ever find out?

The decision was made for her, though.

"Lily?" That voice was all-too familiar. She looked down the hall and saw none other than James Potter walking down the hall, a book bag in hand. "You OK?"

"I'm fine," she said lowly, not meeting his eyes. If she did he would know she didn't know who to trust. She didn't want that.

He didn't say anything, but looked up and down the hallway, seeming to search for the source of her distress. Lily prayed he wouldn't suspect Snape or Jacob–neither needed him as a vengeful enemy. Even Snape.

But, of course, fate never turned a bright eye to her.

Snape rounded the corner, looking incredibly smug. He stopped dead in his tracks when he saw the pair, and his face turned into a dangerous expression. "Complaining to Potter, then?" he hissed, hand drawing his wand. "I should have known you would run to him."

"What?" James exclaimed, whirling around to face him. "Are you serious? Lily doesn't need anyone to save her. She does that herself."

"Apparently you think differently, though, seeing as you were caught outside the hospital wing the night the Death Eater showed up," Snape sneered. His wand was still raised, pointed dangerously at the pair of Gryffindors. "Decided you would sneak in and see her, when you could have easily killed her."

"I would never hurt her, you bastard," James muttered darkly, also drawing his own wand. Suddenly Lily felt panicked. They wouldn't fight, would they?

"Besides, I'm not the one associated with You-Know-Who, Snivellus," James spat.

"You framed me for that!" Snape cried, and a jet of light sprang from his wand. James dodged it, about to utter his own jinx, before Lily jumped in front of him. "No, NO! Don't fight, you'll be in so much trouble–"

"Move, Lily," James said quietly, eyes still glued to Snape. "I'm going to give this ungrateful toad a reason not to talk anymore."

"NO!" she growled, hitting him square in the chest. "If you get another detention because of me I–"

"See what I mean?" Snape said lazily. "Hanging off of you, you running to him. Like two parasites."

Lily whirled around, glaring at him. "Shut up! Just be quiet, Severus!" she nearly screamed. "Go back to your dorm and stay there."

"And miss the drama? I think I'll stay around."

Suddenly Lily found herself in the middle of a bright cloud of light–she didn't know how she was moved aside so fast, or how James had managed such a lightning jinx, or how Snape had even had time to think about countering, but several flashes of light exploded loudly, making the walls tremble. When she could see the scene before her could have been worse–James was pressed against the wall, his legs locked together, and Snape was mute.

She scrambled to her feet and launched herself at James, cursing as she wrestled his wand from his grip. Breathless and still swearing, she turned to Snape.

"Go back to your dorms and stay there," she snapped. "Now!"

He didn't answer for a moment as he thought the counter-curse to the mute spell. Then he replied "Or what? Give me detention?"

"Do you need a detention, Mr Snape?" a new voice asked dryly. Lily couldn't see her, but she knew McGonagall was around the corner behind her, drawing nearer. She looked curiously at James, who was muttering under his breath angrily. Then the teacher surveyed Snape and Lily. "What is going on?"

"Clearing a few things up, Professor," James said clearly, still glaring so fiercely at Snape he should have been dead.

"I though we'd sorted this whole incident out, Mr Potter," she said dryly. He shrugged, still fixed on Snape.

Professor McGonagall sighed. "Detention, all three of you."

"What?!" they all exclaimed. "What did I do?" Snape demanded, his pallid face furious.

"I don't think Miss Evans used the Body-Binding Curse on Mr Potter, Mr Snape," she said icily. "As for you two, you know why you're in detention. I'll see all of you Friday evening at eight o'clock. Mr Snape, return straight to your dorms or I will have a word with Professor Dumbledore about this."

Snape paled considerably, even with his chalky face. He turned on his heel, cursing profusely and marched down the hall toward his dungeons.

McGonagall looked at the two Gryffindors, the expression of annoyance plain on her face. "Decided detention the rest of the year wasn't enough?" she demanded coldly, looking only at James. "I specifically told you I didn't want you confronting Mr Snape about the whole incident."

"I didn't go looking for him!" James cried. "He told Lily!"

McGonagall looked at the two of them critically for a moment, eyes going back and forth between them. Then she sighed again. "I think it is a great waste of time telling you this, Mr Potter, but the Headmaster had wished that part of the ordeal would be kept to yourself," she said lowly. "Still, you both have detention n Friday at eight. I trust you will make your way to the tower without anymore duels." She pointed her wand at James and his legs popped apart, causing him to flop onto the floor with a muffled curse. "Good night," she said firmly, and strode down the hall and disappeared around the corner.

Lily looked at James in concern once McGonagall was gone. "You OK?" she asked. He nodded, rubbing the back of his head. "Yeah, I'm fine."

She offered his wand back to him, and he took it warily. "Not going to jab me with it?"

"No," she said softly, offering her hand to him now. He took it, but despite her advantage of standing she was still far too small to really help him up. It was a nice gesture, though, she reasoned as her palm warmed beneath his.

They stared at each other for a long moment before Lily turned and grabbed her bag again. "Let's go," she mumbled. He nodded and picked up his own sack before they started down the hall and toward the tower.

"What is your problem?" he asked finally. "I mean, really–first someone curses you, and then Snape tries to jinx you. Are you a trouble attracter or something?"

"I didn't think I was until this year, actually," she admitted. She thought back to what the change was. What had remained the same? What was different this year from last?

She pushed away the answer–Jacob.

James knew, though, that she had come up with the answer. "What is so special about Jacob Carson anyway?" he asked her softly, knowing he was asking a delicate question. "I mean, it's not like he's anything like you–you speak your mind, and he doesn't even speak at all. You're a Gryffindor, he's a Slytherin. You're Muggle-born, he's of a wizarding family. The contrasts go on."

"Oh, and you and I are so alike," she scoffed, angry now. "Jacob is a sweet person, who has compassion and a listening ear. He also doesn't ask me out every other day," she added wryly, elbowing James in the ribs.

James snorted in exasperation. "Well, at least you know how I feel. How do you even know he's not being your friend for a laugh with his fellow Slytherins?"

"Jacob wouldn't do that," she snapped, though deep down Lily knew he could be right. Slytherins were sly and deceptive, after all. But those didn't seem like they suited Jacob anymore than Lily thinking she was pureblood. How had he ended up in Slytherin anyway?

"Lily?" James asked softly. She shook her head. "He wouldn't," she repeated. "He's not like that."

"Then why is he in Slytheirn?" James demanded. "The Sorting Hat doesn't lie–it can see our heads, Lily. It put you in Gryffindor because you're brave, not just smart."

"And what about you?" she demanded, whirling to face him. He stopped, a little taken aback. "What?"

"Everyone knows Slytheirn values purebloods more than anything, so how come it didn't put you in Slytherin?" she hissed, tears in her eyes. "Why are you in Gryffindor?"

"Because I'm not a conniving snake!" he yelled. He looked uneasy, and bewildered. "How could you even ask that?"

She shook her head again, not able to speak. She stared down at the floor as she began walking again, furiously and with determination.

But it was not fate's nature to be good to her. He caught up to her and clamped onto her elbow. "Lily, I'm sorry I did that, really," he breathed, still uncomfortable. "Please, stop."

"What for?" she asked bitterly, feeling a tear stream down her cheek. She wiped it away angrily, seeing her destination in sight.

"Look, I know I am a complete idiot, but will you just listen?" he demanded, finally stopping her. She pulled futilely on her arm, desperate to get to the common room. To her friends, top her room.

"I'm sorry," he said honestly; she could hear the sincerity in his voice. "I should have told you what had happened all that night."

"So you did frame him?" she snapped, feeling another tear slide down her face.

"No! Even I wouldn't do that. No one should lie about being involved with You-Know-Who," he said hurriedly. "He was there, and so was the Death Eater. They were talking about you, and how the Death Eater hadn't expected you to fall so hard to the curse. Snape said she should have known, since she was your friend."

Lily froze. James worried that she wouldn't even breathe anymore, but then she let out a long gust, and breathed deep. He continued before she could break down completely.

"Before we could see who it was they disappeared–Snape too. She appeared behind us–or at least I think it was the same person. He cursed us and taunted you before Dumbledore and McGonagall showed up, with Madam Pomfrey."

Lily soaked it in slowly. A friend? One of her friends had been involved with this? One of her own friends had cursed her, almost killed her? How could they still face her? Still talk straight to her face?

She finally allowed the tension to leave her. "Thanks," she whispered. "For everything tonight. And that night."

"It's OK. Just try and stay out of trouble. What is it Muggles call it?...A maggot?"

"Magnet," she corrected with a thin smile. The horror of his story still lingered too much to be truly amused by his lack of Muggle knowledge.

"Oh." He released her, and together they finished the trip to the Fat Lady's portrait. After giving the password Patronusthey climbed up, meeting the faces of several students crammed inside the common room.

"Prongs!" Sirius called, waving his friend over to the table where he and Remus and Peter sat. James nodded silently to Lily before going to join his friends. Lily found Jenna and Alicia seated in front of the fireplace, books propped on their knees. "Hey," she said tiredly, flopping down on a chair. It felt good to be enveloped by warmth after the cold realization.

"You OK?" Alicia asked, looking at Lily's tear stains. Lily nodded, scrubbing her face with her hands. "What happened?"

"Snape caught me in the library," Lily said in disgust. "It was aggravating, and then James showed up."

"So it's James now?" Jenna asked with a raised brow. "I guess that means I gave up at a good time, eh?"

"Please," Lily said, rolling her eyes. "It's not like that."

"I think it's because of this pretending-to-be-his-boyfriend party and secret," Jenna whispered loudly to Alicia. Lily glared at her. "Not funny, Jenna. I owe him way more than just that."

"So you're going out with him now?" Jenna asked in disbelief. "I never thought I'd see the day."

"No, I'm not dating him," Lily replied. "Just being a bit less harsh. I think starting with his actual name is a start."

"Ah," Jenna said knowingly. Lily stuck out her tongue and pulled out her half-finished homework.

By the time it was dark Lily had finished most of her work, and if she got up early enough she could add the conclusion to her Charms essay. So she packed up, trying to be quiet; Grace was still there, as well as Joanne and a few seventh-years.

How many times could fate intervene today?

James came running down the stairs, dressed hastily in jeans and a T-shirt without shoes just to fling himself out of the portrait hole and wake up the Fat Lady. Grace leapt to her feet, yelling at him to get back here, but he was long gone.

Soon after Remus came down, also dressed haphazardly. "Did he leave?" he asked sheepishly. Lily nodded. "What's got his heart thumping?" she asked.

"He has insufferable cravings for biscuits at one in the morning," he said with a smile, but she knew he was lying. Something was wrong.

Grace took off, muttering about stupid teenagers and stupid cravings. Lily looked at Remus pointedly, and he shrugged, taking a seat at a table to wait for his friend.

James tore through the corridors, but he found his target fairly quickly. Jacob Carson was out of breath as he rounded the corner, dishevelled and sporting a swelling eye.

"What are you doing?" the both demanded at the same time. They looked at each other in surprise before Jacob answered first.

"I was going to see Lily," he said clearly, still panting. "You were going to stop me?"

"I thought you might have come to finish what Snape started," James muttered, not really meaning the words.

"I'm not like that," Jacob snapped, his eyes glittering in anger. "I wanted to apologize to her."

"You didn't do anything," James pointed out. "It's me who's in detention because of duelling in the corridors, not you."

"Then what, you're the gallant one?" Jacob demanded. "Getting yourself and Lily into unnecessary trouble?"

"Only because a snake picked the fight," James hissed.

Both of them glared at each other, but neither drew their wands. They didn't want to alert any teachers or patrolling prefects.

"So you're going to keep her locked up in Gryffindor Tower just so she can't talk to me?" Jacob asked now, having regained his breath.

"Maybe."

"I don't think you have the right," he said darkly. "That's up to her."

"What do you want with her anyway?" James volleyed. "What does a Slytherin want with a Gryffindor?"

"I never thought about our houses, Potter," Jacob muttered. "I am not prejudice like you. It's called an open mind."

"You know, I had this whole speech given to me already because of you," James remembered, furious. "And I'm really sick of it. Houses were made for a reason: to separate the worthy and unworthy of each."

"Then let's find the worthy," Jacob challenged. "You and I will not say one word to her, but we'll see who she admits to caring for by the end of the year."

James could hardly believe what he was hearing. Jacob Carson, betting on Lily's feelings? And he'd thought the snake had no guts.

"Alright. Last day of term, we'll see who wins her affection," he agreed. "No inside help."

"That would be pointless of course," Jacob said warily. "There's a catch, isn't there?"

"Nope. Winner gets Lily, loser gets to watch him gloat." James waited for the other to think it through, and then they both nodded.

"Deal." They extended their hands and clasped their challenger's lightly before breaking apart.

"I expect a challenge, Potter," Jacob said as he turned around.

"I expect some real Slytherin cunning, Carson," James called back. The Slytherin raised his hand in acknowledgment as he rounded the corner and disappeared.

James paused for a moment before starting back to the common room. This was certainly a different bet than he'd ever been in before. He didn't get to relish it long, though, because he suddenly heard a female voice yell his name. Unfortunately it wasn't Lily–it was Grace.

"Midnight excursion really necessary?" she demanded, walking furiously up to him. James looked at her in puzzlement before remembering he was out after hours.

"Yep," he replied. "Don't bother giving me detention–I have one with Professor McGonagall on Friday."

"Then I'll just ask her to extend it for you," she said in vengeance. "Common room, now."

He turned and marched back to the tower, where he found only Lily and Remus waiting there. He grinned at both of them and winked before charging the stairs.

"Prongs!" Remus yelled, sprinting after him. Lily and Grace merely shook their heads before also heading to their dorms.

As Lily changed Alicia woke up for a moment, eyes blurry. "James?"

"No, I'm Lily. I thought you liked Remus," Lily teased. Alicia grumbled and threw her pillow at her friend. "I meant is it James again?"

"Yeah."

Alicia nodded and grabbed her pillow back before rolling back over. Lily collapsed in bed, too tired to even run through the day's events in her head. Some things were better left simple, after all.

OK, so that is where I leave this story. Next one picks up from the party and what efforts Jacob and James are going to go to get Lily. Also a bit of Remus and Alicia, and a deeper look into their lives. Should be fun!!! I'll also be under a new pen name.

Kel