"Evans."
"Leave me alone."
"Evannnns."
"Potter, I'm studying."
"Lily!"
"I swear to Merlin, if you don't leave me alone this instant-"
Two things were on my mind as I ate my breakfast in the Great Hall.
The first was how I was definitely going to fail all of my exams this year. How I had managed getting all O's (with the exception of one E, but I don't like to talk about it) on my O.W.L's last year was a complete mystery to me, for now I could hardly concentrate on studying for more than an hour at a time without getting distracted.
The second was how I undoubtedly and irrevocably loathed James Potter.
"Please, it will only take a second!"
"Fine!" I snapped impatiently, slamming my N.E.W.T level Potions book on the table, causing my half-eaten French toast to tremble. Trying to avoid his brown-eyed gaze, I reached over the plate for my glass of pumpkin juice.
"Great, so I was trying to organize the Prefect schedule for Remus next week…"
He continued on but I stopped paying attention to what he was saying. James' voice had a resonance that was incredibly intriguing. It wasn't giant-worthy in pitch of course, but it certainly was masculine and velvety in tone. There was a husky texture to it at well, and I wondered if he had ever put someone to sleep just by talking. He probably had a very nice singing voice…
"Evans?"
"Hm?" My cheeks instantly grew hot as the paranoia he could read thoughts crept into my mind. I glanced over at him but instantly regretted it; James was wearing his infamously appealing crooked smile, one he saved for the occasions when he was thoroughly amused. Basically, whenever a successful prank was pulled or I embarrassed myself in front of him…which, adversely, was quite frequent.
"I asked if you could take three rounds next week."
"What? Why?" I barked grouchily. The lack of study time was still an overcast above my mind. Finals were two weeks away and I could not waste any more precious study time! Now how long does it take for the Ministry to verify a claim for a Time Turner again?
James chuckled and I cursed the annoying yet pleasant stirring in the pit of my stomach. "Frank Longbottom has Dragon Pox. It'd be a big help if you joined Benjy Fenwick."
"Well- wait, why are you organizing the schedule?"
"Remus is feeling awfully under the weather as well, and I figured I'd help him out as it's his turn to schedule rounds," he answered swiftly, and I caught a glance of his tongue quickly swiping his bottom lip. That, along with his tendency to run a hand through his already chaotic hair, added up to two wildly distracting habits that made concentrating on even the simplest of tasks (say, studying for final exams) wildly difficult, even when he wasn't around. The sheer memory of the humble smile on his ruby, overly licked lips was enough to send a girl to the hospital wing for self-diagnosed insanity!
"If you're so eager to help, why don't you just take the extra rounds?" I implored stubbornly, determined to get my study time.
James shrugged playfully. "I would if I could, but I don't think that's allowed, seeing as I'm not a Prefect."
"Shocking," I muttered sarcastically, recalling all the pranks he and his friends (excluding Remus) had pulled during their Hogwarts careers as certified imbeciles.
"Isn't it?" James chortled lightheartedly and I couldn't help smiling. "But besides that, I'm tutoring all week, so I wouldn't have time even if I were permitted to."
"Tutoring who?" I questioned again, mentally adding this sudden proclamation to the 'How James Potter Has Changed From An Arrogant Toe Rag To A Decent Human Being' list I had been keeping since the start of the year
"A few second years, a couple of third years, not a big deal," James informed me, casually taking a piece of bacon from my plate. "But it's got me swamped, and they don't deserve to be punished for my ill-mannered planning."
I sighed; damn him for always knowing the right thing to say! "I agree, yet-"
"Please, Lily? Please do this for me?" He begged, and I made the mistake of looking into his eyes once more. They were pleading and downright adorable; for some reason I uttered the response he so desired without really thinking about it.
"Fine."
"Aw thanks, I owe you big time!"
"Yeah? How about you start by not stealing my bacon anymore?" I raised an eyebrow, irked at how I had fallen victim to James Potter's notorious charm. It didn't help that he took a bite out of said bacon whilst smiling charismatically.
"Has anyone ever told you that you ask a lot of questions?" James smirked and gave me a casual salute. "See you 'round, Evans." I watched as he walked away, grudgingly glancing at his arse and angrily acknowledging how nice it was.
Don't get me wrong; I really did hate James Potter. I hated how I had truly hated him for the past five years without fail, but then I return to school this year, and well, do you want to know the first thought that entered my mind as soon as I saw him?
I didn't roll my eyes in disgust or raise my upper lip in revulsion.
I didn't immediately start plotting ways to surreptitiously push him off the Astronomy Tower.
No, I was taken aback with the unavoidable truth of how handsome he had become.
I know, what the bloody Hell, Lily!
He was James Potter, my enemy since the first time I had spoken to him in our First Year! The boy who had bothered me to no end and asked me out every chance he got! I should not have been noticing how cute he had gotten over the summer…how his hair, though still mangled, had reached an appropriate length that made him look more mature, how his newly developed jawbone was framed nicely by a small amount of stubble, or how he had grown another foot (if that were possible) and had actually acquired some muscle to go with it!
But, I did, and I failed to give him the glare I had been practicing all summer long for when I saw him on the Hogwarts Express at the start of the year. Instead, when he passed by me and gave a modest "Hey, Evans", I just stared at him like an idiot, internally fighting my unbalanced hormonal reaction.
That's the day my list ( the 'How James Potter Has Changed From An Arrogant Toe Rag To A Decent Human Being' one) began, and 'Becoming incredibly handsome' became number one. Of course, it didn't really have anything to do with his personality transformation but it was a start.
And the list didn't stop there.
James had thrown himself into his studies and Quidditch throughout the year. It might have been staged, but I witnessed Sirius trying to persuade James to play a prank on some Hufflepuffs, to which he flat out refused. Oh who am I kidding, it most definitely was staged; Sirius was practically screaming his disappointment all the way across the common room to make sure I heard the whole damn thing. Regardless, he was trying, and believe it or not it meant something to me. Ergo, reasons two through four were thus made inside my head.
2. Makes an effort in his education
3. Concentrates on extracurriculars
4. Ceasing the immature pranks
Yes, I still hate Potter, but not because I genuinely hate him anymore. I hate him because I don't hate him. And yes, I know that doesn't make sense, but nothing about James nor my feelings towards him did anymore to be frank.
But I still had to put on the attitude that I loathed him or else Alice would start harassing me about how she knew all along I had a soft spot for him, yadda yadda yadda. Let me clarify that I did not have a 'soft spot' for Potter, or any sexual innuendos that may arise from the statement. I certainly wasn't head over heels for the boy, but did I maybe kind of perhaps sort of have a miniscule fascination with him?
Unfortunately, yes. Ergo my frustration with how he had chosen this year, the year he did a complete 180, to stop asking me out. Irony, thou art a bitch.
"Hey Lil," Alice announced as she sat down next to me at the Gryffindor table. She looked frazzled, having slept past her alarm once again.
"Morning, Al. Congrats on being on time for breakfast!" I cheered, amused with the annoyed look on her face.
"Three more weeks and I can sleep in as long as I please," she replied cheekily, grabbing the remainder of my French toast. When I tried to protest, she shot me a look of intolerance. "It's not like you were going to finish it!"
"That doesn't give people the right to snatch food off my plate without even asking," I lectured and drained the rest of my pumpkin juice.
"Geez, it's one sandwich, Lil," Alice drawled defensively.
"Don't flatter yourself, you're not the only one who's been going all Oliver Twist on me," I laughed and packed my Potions book in my bag.
Alice grinned. "Was it James?"
I frowned at her smug smile and got up from the table. She chased after me, bringing the toast along. "You're blushing, it was him!"
"I am not," I muttered, although I felt the familiar warmth on my face; it was one of the many curses that accompanied the red hair.
"What, did he steal your heart too?" Alice joked and I gently shoved her, trying to bite back the smile that began to form on my lips.
"Speaking of stolen hearts, how is Frank?" I asked, happy to change the subject. Besides, Alice was always one in favor of talking about her 7th Year boyfriend, no matter how excessive it got.
Alice sighed dreamily. "He's all right. I'm not allowed to visit him, but he wrote me saying all the bed rest he's getting has allowed him loads of time to study for N.E.W.T's."
Lucky bastard. Why couldn't I be bedridden?
"Madam Pomfrey said he shouldn't be contagious by Sunday night, so I'm going over then," she smiled, and I could tell she was already looking forward to it. "What about you, what will you be doing Sunday without me to entertain you?"
"Finishing the Transfiguration essay I know McGonagall is going to assign," I sighed ominously.
"Well perk up, it's a full moon Sunday!" Alice exclaimed as if I should somehow be excited about it.
"What does that matter?"
"You told me the Marauders go werewolf hunting on full moons, so at least you won't be distracted by James," Alice smirked.
So I didn't exactly know what they did, but there was a significant correlation between the Marauders disappearing once a month since last year when the moon just so happened to be full. Obviously they were dumb enough to believe the rumor Jacob MacMillion spread of werewolves living in the Forbidden Forest. The next morning they would be in class with a few cuts and bruises, but their injuries had decreased over time. I tried confronting Potter about it once, but I got more confusion than I did answers.
"Evans, you'd be doing yourself a favor to stop being so exceptionally observant," James had told me a few months back as he had hurriedly tried to force his hair over a nasty scratch on his forehead.
I rolled my eyes. "Don't encourage that self-proclaimed title. It's almost as bad as the nicknames."
"Hey, you have to admit they are kind of funny," Alice giggled. "My favorite is Wormtool."
"First of all, it's Wormtail. Second, they don't make any sense!"
"Bet you five sickles it's Wormtool." Alice stuck out her hand and I shook it confidently. "And they don't have to make sense, it's the Marauders."
"I suppose you're right," I admitted with as we sat down in Charms. The 'Marauders' never did make much sense and were always full of surprises.
I never knew how big their surprises could be however, until I had to learn the hard way.
Welcome to my story! I will be updating once if not twice a week from here on out. Prepare for adventure, arguments, cheap thrills, and good old fashion fluff :D
Up next: Lily learns more about James' knack for Transformation, and later she follows the Marauders on the Full Moon, unbeknownst of what will inevitably follow.
I hope you like it so far; I have big plans for it. Please review! (And let me know if you've read any of my other stories) :D