Classroom
noun
a room in which a class of pupils or students is taught.
or
a room in which Lily Evans and James Potter meet (sometimes on purpose and sometimes not).

The first time Lily Evans and James Potter saw each other in an abandoned classroom was in their fifth year.

That particular classroom was the Charms one, all large windows and thin wooden desks and huge stone walls. In short, it was a place so far from the Muggle world that Lily Evans had grown up in that she hated it and loved it all at once.

That particular day, Lily loved it because it had been so alien to her at first, so different and unfamiliar and strange. So unlike any places she'd been before.

So unlike the Muggles, and so, so unlike Petunia Evans.

Lily wasn't quite sure when the room had become to feel like an anti-Petunia. She just knew she liked it, liked thinking of how Petunia was not here- apart from those days when Lily felt guilt and shame and love, and sometimes even wrote to her sister.

One of those days had happened around a month ago.

And this morning, Lily had got her reply. The first one ever since The Days had started.

Lily had felt dread, at first. The reply wouldn't be kind, or loving, or filled with apologies and suggestions that they make up, like Lily's always were. It would be sharp and scathing and filled with hate and jealousy.

And it was.

Please don't ever write to me again. I don't understand why you always send me these, Lily, I truly don't. When will you understand that I don't want you to write to me? I don't want you to talk to me, I don't want you in my life, Lily!

Lily had balled her hands into fists, feeling her nails dig into the palms of her hands, and forced herself not to cry.

Not in front of everyone, she'd thought.

And now here she was, alone, sitting on the corner of a little un- Petunia wooden desk, looking out of a large, open, un- Petunia window and watching first year students make their way across the long, sloping lawns, their ties tied too tightly, their shirts too neat and their faces too young.

Lily watched the sunbeams dance in the air and finally let herself cry.

***

She didn't know how much time had passed.

Too much. Not enough.

All she knew was that someone walked in, and that someone was James Potter.

Lily spun around, and James stumbled through the door, all messy hair and shining eyes and easy, carefree smile- until he saw Lily, and her face, and the way her eyes weren't shining, weren't happy, were just empty and tired.

'Evans?' James said cautiously, stepping forwards slowly. His tie was hanging loosely around his neck, and he was clutching a roll of parchment to his chest.

'Potter,' Lily said stiffly, trying to keep her dignity and pride. 'What are you doing here?'

'I'm...' he paused. 'I- I didn't finish my Charms essay. Professor Flitwick said to come here and hand it in?'

The way he said it made it seem like a question.

'Are you alright?' James asked, stepping forwards again and then stepping backwards, hovering by the door. 'I mean... can I come in?'

For some reason, that made Lily furious. Furious, and tired, all at the same time. 'Why would you not? It's a classroom, Potter, of course you can come in. And I'm fine. I was just leaving.'

Something flashed across James' face, something kind of like hurt. 'I... I can go, if you want.'

'I'm going,' Lily snapped, stalking past him, her long red hair seeming even longer and redder as it swung by James. 'And I'm fine, Potter. Why do you care, anyway?'

'Because...' James stammered. He wasn't normally like this. Normally he was confident and arrogant and carefree, but now he seemed softer, faded, like an old toy. Worn down, maybe, but loved.

Loving.

She was already gone by the time he'd managed to say something.

Because I care about you, Lily.

I can't
So bad
Ugh I'm sorry. Part 2 coming soon.