AN: I've decided to try a James/Lily pairing, as I've had a few different ideas for this fic. It starts on the first day of term of their sixth year. Please enjoy and review!

"Please."

"No."

"Please."

"I said no, Potter."

Their sixth year had only just begun and already James Potter was busy trying and failing to ask Lily Evans out. At the small, round table at the back of the library, Lily was attempting to make the most of her free first period re-read and correct one of her many summer essays, but this proved to be quite difficult with James slumped over three quarters of the desk.

"You're being unreasonable," James whined. "Why not?"

Lily tucked a loose strand of her auburn hair behind her ear and sighed. "You know why."
She'd still not forgiven him for what he'd done mere months ago. As if bullying her best friend - ex-best friend, Lily often had to remind herself - wasn't bad enough, James had then proceeded to push him so far past the point of humiliation that he'd said that word, and by doing so pushed Lily out of his life for good, whether he meant to or not. She knew she couldn't be mad at James for what Severus had said and done, but she'd be lying if she thought it hadn't have happened if it wasn't for James.

"You aren't still hung up on that, are you?" James sighed, much to Lily's annoyance. She didn't answer. Knowing he wasn't going to get anywhere today, James stood up and slung his bag over his shoulder.
"Fine. I'll see you in Charms."

Lily scowled as she looked around and watched him leave, wondering how he dared have the audacity to talk to her. Lily could still hear him when he reached Sirius Black at the library door, who was sniggering.
"Yeah, you were right, James – this year is definitely your year…"

"Oh shut up, Padfoot," James hissed, then cleared his voice and ruffled up his jet black hair, "besides, she's totally got a thing for me, I can tell."

"Yeah, right," Sirius chuckled as they left, James looking slightly crestfallen.

Fifteen minutes later, Lily arrived at her charms class, and little Professor Flitwick was waiting at the door with a piece of parchment in his hand.

"Good morning, Miss Evans," he squeaked with a watery smile. He glanced quickly at his parchment and then added, "You'll be sitting on the back row on the right, right next to the window, if you please." He extended his short arm, inviting Lily into the classroom.

"We have assigned seats, Professor?" Lily asked slowly, a little taken aback.

"I'm afraid so – it's new for the year. Well now, hurry up, won't you?"

Lily opened her mouth and then closed it again, unsure what to say. She hurried into the room and took her seat, noticing that the few students that were already in the room looked just as confused as she did about the new seating arrangements.

After ten minutes or so, the majority of the sixth years were seated. Just as Flitwick was about to speak, the door burst open and James, Sirius and Remus Lupin all hurried inside.

"S-sorry, Professor," Remus panted, looking sincere, whilst the other two grinned.

Flitwick shook his head. "Late on the first day, boys? Not a good start. Right -" he consulted his parchment, "Mr Lupin, third row, second on the left, Mr Black, this empty seat at the front here… and Mr Potter… Ah yes, beside Miss Evans, if you will."

The three boys glanced at each other, James grinning wildly, and took their seats.

Lily tried her utmost to focus her attention on the view outside the window, pretending she hadn't even noticed James enter and sit down beside her. It was only the first day back and already things had taken a turn for the worst.

Flitwick took in the charms essays that he'd set over the summer, and instructed them to brush up on their skills, practising anything they'd become rusty on. Lily knew that James would see this as the perfect opportunity to pester her again, and braced herself.

"We meet again," James grinned at her, running his hand through his hair.

Lily glanced sideways in response.

"You could at least say hello," James frowned slightly. "Or am I not worth even that?"

Lily scoffed. "Are you being serious?"

"W-what do you – I'm being serious about you saying hello. It's polite." He paused a moment and then added. "It's also polite to accept when you're asked out."

Lily turned to face him, and smiled as sweetly as she could. At this, James grinned.

"James Potter," she said calmly, "You are the most arrogant, rude, conceited person I know, and I do not now, or ever, want to go out with you. Leave me alone, you self-obsessed prick." She smiled again, forcing herself not to laugh out loud at the expression on James' face.

She watched as James' smile dropped and his face gradually became pinker, and then tore her gaze away from his comical expression. Obviously he isn't used to rejection, Lily thought smugly.

To her pleasure, James remained quiet for the majority of the lesson, until he turned towards her and said bitterly, "You aren't so perfect yourself, you know."

"And is that not reason enough for you to leave me alone?" Lily asked sarcastically without looking away from the window.

James apparently didn't acknowledge this and went on: "I mean, the company you keep is far from perfect. Oh – no, I'm sorry – the company you used to keep."

Lily tore her gaze from the window and glared at him. "What's that supposed to mean?"

Clearly pleased he'd drawn this reaction, James smirked. "You know what I mean. That slimy git – I bet you're glad to be rid of him, bloody parasite-"

"Don't you dare," Lily hissed, her eyes narrowing. "Don't."

"He's been skulking around with those other Slytherin thugs, now that he's not around you… but now we all know how he really felt about you, don't we-"

He was cut short as Lily slammed her foot into his shin underneath the table.

"What the f-! Are you actually – gah!" James disappeared under the desk, rubbing his leg. "Are you serious, Evans?" he spat as he got back into his seat. "After what he said, you're defending him?!"

"Well," Lily whispered, close to tears, "I'm sure we both know that he wouldn't have said what he did if you hadn't done what you did."

James' mouth dropped in disbelief. "You're blaming me?" he asked quietly.

"Maybe if you hadn't been so nasty-"

"M-me, nasty?! I bet you haven't heard what things he plans and discusses with his little death eater friends, have you?! Believe me, Evans, if it really is my fault, you'd thank me if you know what he really gets up to."

Lily glared out of the window again, blinking back tears.

"I'm sorry," he said quietly after a moment. "Someone like you isn't safe around people like him." He placed his hand on her shoulder, but she shot an angry look at him and shrugged him off.

"Just leave me alone."

Deep down Lily knew that James wasn't to blame for Severus' actions, even if he had just said what he did in the heat of the moment. She knew that he was getting more and more involved in the dark arts and she didn't like it. It frightened her. Not to mention his Slytherin friends, she knew exactly how they felt about 'someone like her'. Nevertheless, James was an arrogant bully and hurt Severus, and even if they weren't friends anymore, it wasn't something she felt she could easily forgive.

Five minutes before the end of the lesson, Flitwick was handing out marked copies of their essays.

"Dear me, Potter," he shook his head. "Rather poor, really. That's not at all like you. Where you not paying attention when we covered binding and strengthening charms at the end of last year?"

James' ears pinked. "Sorry, Professor. I didn't have much time – Quidditch, you know – I uh…"

Flitwick placed Lily's essay on the desk, a large black 'O' at the top. "You ought to take a leaf out of Miss Evans' book, Potter. Maybe you should consider extra tutoring until you catch up."

"No, uh, Professor, that isn't-"

"In fact, Miss Evans, why don't you help Potter yourself? I'm sure you can arrange to meet weekly to help Potter catch up on what he missed last year. Yes, now, I think that's settled, isn't it?"

Lost for words, Lily stared blankly at her teacher. She couldn't say no, she was a prefect. How bad would it make her look if she refused to assist a fellow student with his studies?

"Yes, I think so," Flitwick continued. "I look forward to seeing your grades improve, Potter," and with that he shuffled away as the bell rang.

Lily furiously packed away her things and didn't bother to pick up her over turned chair as she stormed out of the classroom, livid.