Disclaimer: I don't own anything you recognize and I own everything you don't recognize.
A/N: Hope you enjoy this first chapter, many more to come! PLEASE REVIEW, it makes me happy!
I am
What I want you to want
What I want you to feel
But it's like
No matter what I do
I can't convince you
To just believe this is real
So I let go
Watching you
Turn your back like you always do
Face away and pretend that I'm not
But I'll be here
'Cause you're all I got
-Faint: Linkin Park
Chapter 1: It Starts with a Simple Bet
'Today', Lily thought, 'is the last day I am going to be known as a sixth year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. To think, I only have one more year to go.'
Lily was down in the common room, pretending to read a book, while she waited for her friends Kyra and Cora. She had told them to pack the night before but as always, they waited until the very last possible moment to pack. Lily shook her head, when would they ever learn. Those two were the biggest procrastinators she had ever met. She thought six years of being friends would change them into some of her habits, but it seems old habits die-hard.
"When will they ever learn," Lily said to herself.
"You know, talking to yourself is the first sign of insanity," a voice said from behind her.
"Potter, my day was going great and you just have to go and ruin it don't you?" Lily said turning the page of her book, not looking up to him.
"That's what I'm here for," James said with a smile. He sat down next to her on the couch and ran his hand through his hair.
"Hey Evans you want…"
"Don't even bother asking Potter, the answer is and always will be no!" Lily said turning another page in her book. At the moment the only thing keeping her from snapping was turning the pages of her book, which she wasn't even reading. She told herself this morning that she wasn't going to let him ruin her day; she just hoped her sanity would withstand his idiotic manners.
"Come on Evans, you know you want to," James said moving so close to her that their arms were grazing each other's.
"Potter, I believe the only thing I want right now is for you to leave me alone. Don't you have some other girl you can go and get an easy snog session with?" Lily said, not taking her eyes off her book.
"Nope, just you." James said smiling again.
"You know that smile doesn't work on me Potter, you have tried it too many times."
"You know me so well, you can tell without even looking that I'm smiling. It's like we're already married," James said, poking her in the arm.
Lily took her hand and started playing with her hair; she was trying to ignore him, but it didn't seem he was going to stop anytime soon.
"Evans, what's the real reason you won't go out with me," James asked, "Are you scared?"
"You wish Potter."
"Then tell me why you won't?" James asked, bringing his face close to Lily's.
"Because you little arrogant piece of shit, I won't be seen attached to the arm of a jackass who only cares about himself!"
"Ouch," James said dramatically, "That hurts Evans."
"Well the truth hurts Potter," she said, shrugging her shoulders.
"The truth, right. You make it seem that the only reason you hate me is because of how you see me. How many different girls love me because of who I am, not who I seem to be? Look deeper Evans, you may find something you like, or are you that shallow?"
"I don't understand how those girls see you like that. Are you too damn stupid to see that they don't like you for you? They only thing those girls want to get is the title of being your girlfriend for a week or so. Don't you see that or are you being blinded by your ego to see what is right in front of you."
"Evans, I am touched. Do you actually care about me?" James said, holding his hand to his heart.
"I hate you Potter and nothing is going to stop me from hating you. But I was raised not to let others around me be used like you are and, although it is against this animosity between us, I feel it is wrong for me not to tell you how I see the girls you go out with. In a sense, I feel sorry for you."
"Sorry enough to go out with me?"
"No way in hell." Lily said matter-of-factly turning a page in her book.
An awkward silence fell over the two and Lily could feel his gaze upon her. That gaze, it was the most empowering thing he had against her, though she dare not tell him that. The feeling of someone watching your every move frightened her beyond her wits. But when James was the culprit, the fear was much worse. If James was quiet his mind would wander into unwelcome ideas about the oddest things, around Lily he was usually thinking about a way for them to get together. She was sick and tired of his attempts to get her to go out with him. Maybe if he changed his mannerisms and she found out he wasn't asking her out for attention but because he really liked her, then she would. But is he continued to act in the same way, the concept was out of the question, not that she was planning to go out with him in the first place.
"Shouldn't you be out with your friends right now?" Lily said, trying to make conversation with him.
"Nope, I told them I was going to be with you all morning and that I would meet them on the train."
"Potter, my friends are going to be down in a minute and if they see me talking to you without yelling they are going to get ideas, so could you please leave."
"Evans, are you trying to be nice to me so that I will leave or are you just in a good mood?"
"Both, of course my good mood is being spoiled by you," Lily said, making her expressions toward the book as if it were James.
"Just say you'll go out with me and I will leave this second." James said, with a mischievous smile that told Lily he was up to something.
"What idea are you getting, whatever it is, it better not involve me," Lily said, closing her book and looking into James' eyes.
"How about we have a little bet Evans."
"What kind of bet?" Lily asked, starting to get interested in what he was talking about.
"If I change over the summer and come back to school next year being your dream man, not that I'm already not." Lily rolled her eyes. "A person who isn't arrogant and thinks of others before himself, you have to go out with me on one date."
Lily opened her mouth to answer, but then thought against it. Her immediate reaction was to say 'no,' but thinking again, this bet could go in her favor. If she could cause him to fail in this bet, she might be able to get him to leave her alone for a whole year. She smiled, imagining everyday of her last year of Hogwarts with James Potter breathing down her neck. But was the risk good enough to endanger her going on a date with him. She shook her head, what was the chance of him changing his entire personality and way of life in one summer. It was improbable, but not impossible. Lily thought for another minute, even if she did lose this bet, it's only one date. One date can't change six years of resentment between two people. Deciding a year of relaxation was well worth the risk of one date with Potter, Lily thought is best to agree with him…how could she lose.
"Fine but you have to be incident free for one week," Lily said, smiling at him.
"I excepted you to be harsher Evans, but only one week. That will be as easy as pie."
"For you, it will be hell."
"Fine, deal?" James asked.
"No, we haven't discussed my part of the bet. If you can't stay decent for a week than you and your friends have to leave me and my friends alone for the rest of the year, no ifs, ands, or buts."
James thought for a moment. He could either get Lily or loose her completely. Well, in his mind there wasn't any other way to get her to go out with him, so it was either this or nothing at all. It was worth the shot.
"Great, deal?" James said, putting his hand out.
"Deal," Lily said, taking his hand.
"I'll be on my way then." James said and left the common room just as Cora and Kyra were coming down the stairs.
"Were you just talking to James?" Kyra asked.
"He was just annoying me, that's all." Lily said.
"Are you sure, then what's that?" Kyra said pointing to Lily's wrist.
On Lily's wrist were two black rings with small writing written in between them.
"You made a bet with him didn't you?" Cora asked, looking at the band.
"Yes, but what is this thing on my wrist?" Lily said, starting to panic.
"It's an agreement band. Wizards and witches use it when making business deals or bets to make sure the two parties play out the outcome of the deal or bet," Cora said, not taking her eyes off her wrist.
"You mean Potter did this to make sure…"
"He probably only did it to make sure you would do whatever the outcome was. He must have really wanted you or him to do something if he used an agreement band." Cora said.
"What did you guys bet on anyway?" Kyra asked, her curiosity getting the better of her.
"I'll tell you guys on the way to the carriages." Lily said, leading the way out of Hogwarts.
"You did what?" Sirius asked in shock.
"I can't believe you did that, Lily will be furious when she finds the mark on her wrist." Remus said with amusement.
"Hey, it could be the only way I could get Evans." James said.
"Or the only way to lose her." Remus said, coming back to earth and thinking about the situation.
"That's why I need all your help. If I am ever going to get Evans to like me back I need to change. No more hexing people, no more pranks unless they are needed, no more playing with the snitch and no more selfishness." James said, taking the snitch out of his pocket and putting it in Sirius' hand.
"No more pranks, come on Prongs. Without pranks how will we keep our reputation?" Sirius asked, shocked that James would give up pranks for a girl.
"Padfoot is right. You can't change everything about you in one summer. If you make any progress at all Lily will notice." Remus said.
"But if I do anything wrong I can't speak to her for the whole year." James said, looking at his marked wrist.
"Well, then all we can do is help you mate. If you really care about Lily then you can count on us." Sirius said.
"Definitely," Remus said.
"Yeah," Peter said.
"This is going to take a lot of time so, let's start right now." Remus said.
"Now?" James said as if he were a spoiled child.
"Yes, now first things first. Don't call her Evans anymore, her name is Lily and that's what you should call her." Remus said.
"And don't ask her every moment if she will go out with you, she probably finds it really annoying." Sirius said.
'Geez,' James thought, 'this is going to be a tough summer.'
"I can't loose this bet. Imagine a whole year without Potter breathing down our necks." Lily said, leaning back in her seat.
"I don't know about that Lily," Cora said, "He might surprise all of us by pulling this whole thing off."
"She's right you know. If James really does care about you than he might just succeed." Kyra said.
"Oh come on guys, you don't think that James could change that much." Lily said, mostly trying to convince herself.
"Who knows, he might turn into price charming." Cora said in a dreamy voice.
"You only want me to get close to him so that you could get closer to Sirius." Lily said laughing.
At that comment Cora blushed, Kyra joined in laughing with Lily.
"Shut up guys, you know I don't like talking about it." Cora said, biting her fingernails on her left hand.
That was the only thing bad about Cora. She seemed like a quiet girl to people outside her circle of friends but once you got to know her she could be wild sometimes. When Kyra and Lily first met her, she barely talked or made any comments to anyone. After a while she opened up and began being herself in front of them. It took a surprisingly long time for her to warm up to anyone, which made her seem shy to anyone other then those she was close to. She was especially shy around guys she liked, which for the past two years had been Sirius Black, James Potter's partner in crime.
"Cora you're right, back to the real reason I brought up this topic," Lily said.
"Keep talking," Kyra said, urging her friend on.
"Hypothetically speaking, if for some reason, as you guys say, he does succeed in changing during the summer I need a way to sabotage it so that he doesn't go through with the week I gave him."
"If that is what you really want Lily then I guess we have no choice right Kyra," Cora said, knowing that her and Kyra half-wanted James to succeed in this. She wasn't going to bring that up again however, she didn't want the topic going back to her and Sirius; she hated being the center of attention.
"I don't know Lily, maybe you should give James a chance…he might not be as bad as you think. Hell you might end up getting married and living happily ever after." Kyra said, laughing at her last thought. She wished James and Lily would get along, but them standing each other long enough to get married, it was impossible.
"In his dreams," Lily said laughing.
The train stopped, bringing a sudden end to the girls' conversation.
"We're here already, and the conversation was just getting good," Cora said, disappointment clearly in her voice.
"Well I will owl you guys about getting together over the summer, you all have to come over my house some time," Kyra said, getting her stuff from the compartment.
As the three left the station and went into the muggle world together, a group of four boys followed a few steps behind them. Kyra luckily was the only one to notice this.
"I don't think my parents are here yet, you guys go on home ok," Kyra said.
"Are you sure, my parents won't mind if I wait with you," Lily said, with concern for her friend, she didn't want her to be left alone. Two years ago Kyra's parents were an hour late because of a meeting, Lily wasn't about to leave her friend to possibly the same fate.
"I'll be fine, plus you sister is with you and if you make her wait she will be more of a bitch than she usually is." Kyra said, glad to give Lily an excuse to leave.
"No Kyra, not after what happened two…"
"They told me they would be a little late, like ten minutes," Kyra said, getting a bit hostile, "So you can go, there are plenty of other people here I can wait with."
" No need to get all jumpy about it, I was only offering a favor." Her face was ridged when she said this, but it changed to her normal tone, showing her anger was only a joke. " But if you are sure, I will go, bye then," she said, giving her two friends a hug and then meeting with her parents and leaving the station, but not before looking back at her friend.
"See you Kyra," Cora said, hugging her and leaving with her older brother. Voldemort had killed Cora's parents during the school year and the only family she had left was her brother, who was ten years older. This horrible tragedy caused Cora great pain, but she hid it from most of the world. She knew her parents would want her to move on and go on living happily. So she tried with all her might to do that. Although sometimes it was hard, she always strived for it. But this happiness was not always achievable, and sometimes she felt things or wished to do things that her friends would never know about.
This left Kyra alone, but she knew she would not be alone for long. She knew someone was waiting for her; all she had to do was wait for him.
"Hey Kyra," Sirius said, "Glad you got the hint that I needed to talk to you."
"I wanted to talk anyway about this whole thing with James and Lily." Kyra said, being completely serious.
"I know, this is great isn't it. All I have to do, with the help of Remus and Peter of course, is shape James up, and Lily and him will finally learn they are right for each other."
"It isn't going to be that easy."
"How so?"
"Even if James does succeed Lily will do anything in her power to make him screw up. She was already talking about sabotaging his plan on the train." Kyra said in a worried tone.
"Don't worry, I think this all will turn out fine," Sirius said, patting Kyra on the back.
"How can you be so sure Sirius?"
"Neither of us can control what Lily does but we can manipulate what you do."
"What do you mean?" Kyra asked, a smile spreading on her face from the look on Sirius' face; he had an idea, she could tell.
"Since you are best friends with Lily, you will be one of the first ones she will ask to sabotage James right? So all you have to do is not do what your supposed to do."
"Not that easy Sirius. We are talking about the next potential head girl, she will probably figure out that I am not helping her."
"True."
Kyra thought for a moment, "I'll try not to make it obvious then. Screw up on little things."
"Good, then as long as you do your part and I do mine, Lily and James will be together in no time." Sirius said.
"You really think once they get together they will last?" Kyra asked, knowing in her mind it was probably not possible.
"Between James being a naturally protective person and Lily being as loyal as she is, the two of them will make a perfect match."
"As long as they don't kill each other first." Kyra said laughing, which in turn caused Sirius to laugh.
"All right my rides here, I will owl you over the summer to tell you how much progress James is making."
"I'll see you later Sirius,"
And then the two of them went opposite ways.
A/N: I hope you like it; this is my first Lily and James fan fiction. I know by reading it is sounds predictable but I swear it has its share of twists. I don't really know how this plot is going to go fully because it will probably just be about how all the characters end up leading their lives up until Lily and James die. PLEASE REVIEW! The next chapter should be up soon because I am now on summer vacation and I have all the time in the world. That is until my parents make me get a job. Hope you enjoyed it!
