Brave Hearts Never Fear Death
"I am sure you have all been told that your O.W.L.s are less than three weeks away, and I am sure you are all very tired to hear it in every class that is important to your future. And I am also sure that you all know that Potions is a very complex and important exam, written and presentation, so I am sure you all know that I will be explaining to everyone how important it is that you get nothing less than Outstanding on both your written and presentation exam." Professor Slughorn drawled out as half the class rolled their eyes and groaned at the lecture.
However, one fifteen year old boy with unruly black hair, hazel eyes and a tan, Quidditch fit body, named James Potter, wasn't particularly paying attention to his potions master. He was busy gazing longingly at a certain red-headed girl. He watched as she placed her delicate fingers on a strand of hair and put it gently behind her ears all while listening intently to her professor like a responsible student. He liked the way she gathered her things minutes before the bell rang, still fixing her sparkling emerald eyes on the teacher to tell him that she was still paying attention. Her long black eyelashes fluttered up and down as she gazed forward, her rosy cheeks that gave her a glowing look upon her flawlessly creamy complexion rose with the small smile she gave to the professor as he had just complimented her last potions paper. The boy's longing concentration was broken when a long, skinny pale arm emerged into the air beside her.
"And as for those who plan on staying with me during your 6th and 7th year for Advanced and Honors Advanced Potions, I expect nothing less than a 95, mind you that's cutting it and an E on your exams. And in conclusion, err… yes, Severus?" Slughorn stared at Snape curiously.
"Sir, I was just wondering, a few months ago when you stated that in the exam we would have to prove our talents by making a potion of our choice, if one was allowed to concoct a difficult brew of Veritaserum, considering it is a rare choice of those examining for N.E.W.T.s, let alone O.W.L.s?" Severus Snape, a tall and rather stringy boy with black hair and cold, dark eyes asked nervously, occasionally glancing at the red-head beside him who was giving him encouraging smiles.
Slughorn frowned. "Well, the only problem I see is that the presentation exam is only an hour long and Veritaserum has to brew for a month for it to properly to take into consideration, so unless," He chuckled doubtingly, "You have already started on the potion, I highly doubt-"
"Yes, Sir, I have already begun the steps of brewing a proper Veritaserum potion and it has been brewing for a little over a week now. I planned on adding the final ingredients to it in the hour of the presentation exam." Snape looked for an approval from his professor. Slughorn watched his pupil for a few seconds in silence, contemplating an answer.
James Potter rolled his eyes and scoffed to his partner and friend, Peter Pettigrew, a short, mousy boy with light brown hair and watery blue eyes. "Oh Snivillus, you suck up, your greasy antics won't work this time." Peter chuckled. "There's no way-"
"Well, I see no problem in that!" Slughorn beamed. "What a gifted student, always thinking ahead. I believe I am right to say that I see outstanding marks your way, young man!"
Snape sighed in relief.
"Good job Severus, I told you your efforts would work!" The red-head girl praised Snape.
James' mouth dropped. What?! He saw Snape smile slightly at her. "Thanks Lily." James overheard him mutter shyly. WHAT?!
"What's wrong James?" Peter asked, picking up his books and quill. The bell rang for lunch and the students started to gather their things. James gave the unnoticing Snape one last glare before picking up his bag and snarled, "Nothing."
"I expect great things from all of you! Study hard and choose your potion wisely!!" Slughorn called out as the students shuffled out of his classroom.
James stomped off with Peter towards the Great Hall without waiting for the rest of his friends, leaving Remus Lupin and Sirius Black to roll their eyes, shake their heads and sigh, as they knew what was coming.
"I just don't get it," James admitted aghast, taking a seat across the way looking straight at the Slytherin table. Peter sat on the other side of the table with Sirius while Remus sat next to James. "How can Evans even stand to say one nice thing to that greasy freak?"
Remus, a tall boy, who had handsome features of sandy blonde hair that lay straightened against his head that sometimes annoyed his stormy grey eyes, a clean teeth whitened smile and tan, fit physique that looked as though he worked hard outside during the summer, shook his head and grabbed a sandwich.
"I mean, c'mon, he's Snape! Sickly, slimy, Snape!" James huffed, glaring at the Slytherin table. Peter and Sirius laughed, whereas Remus added mustard and more meat to his sandwich, but hardly even looked at the complaining James.
"Well, Prongs," He was now grabbing the pumpkin juice pitcher. "Lily and Snape seem to have something common, whereas, you don't."
Truthful as it was, it was not something James liked to think about. He sniggered. "Right, Evans and Snape? Let's see, Snape is disgusting, he's foul, a maniac about the dark arts, greasy, sneaky, a suck up and did I mention disgustingly greasy?"
Remus rolled his eyes but grinned.
"And Evans," James sighed reflectively. "She is..." He trailed off because the woman he was fantasizing about just walked through the Great Doors. "Good afternoon Lily, how are you today?" His hand flew instantly to his hair, ruffling it a bit, and causing Lily's two friends to giggle.
Lily Evans stopped where the famous Marauders were currently eating lunch and smiled. James grinned flirtatiously. "I'm fine, thanks for asking." She replied. Lily looked them over once and then continued walking, waving goodbye as she passed.
James' eyes followed her as she walked, memorizing her every features. Her long auburn hair that either flowed straight or curly, however she was feeling that day, long and slender torso that connected with her neither large nor small breasts, her creamy, lightly tanned skin, dark eyelashes and of course her mesmerizing emerald eyes. In James' mind, she was every bit perfect.
He watched as she waved hello to some fellow Gryffindors and even, to his horror, Snape before sitting down to eat.
His concentration, once again, was broken from the soft chuckle of his best friend, Sirius.
"What, Padfoot?"
Sirius, who was terribly handsome for his own good, laughed again. He had tidy black hair, so unlike his best friend, crystal blue eyes, dark eyelashes, summery tan skin and had the body of a surfer. "Nothing," He said amused.
Sighing, James banged his head against the table. "What's wrong with me, never mind don't answer that." Sirius shut his mouth and grinned. "Urgh, she hardly even notices me, and here I am-"
"Practically licking her shoes?" Sirius sniggered suggestively. "Come off it mate, Lily Evans doesn't like you like that. She probably never will." His eyes lingered past Peter and another Gryffindor and raised his eyebrows. "Hmm, maybe not. Here she comes over now."
Lily walked straight towards them and James' heart sped up. She stood by the seat in between him and Remus, but instead of talking to James, Lily smiled at Remus. "Hey, we have a prefects meeting tonight at 7:30, we have a dance to plan for the end of the year."
"Oh, yeah?" Remus could feel the glare of James so he decided to wrap up the small talk. "Great, I'll be there. Thanks!"
Lily smiled again. "Okay, well bye then." She turned and walked back to her friends.
James' face dropped and Sirius laughed out loud. "Yep, sorry but she don't like you." He leaned over the table and patted his friend on the back.
James' head swiftly turned to Remus. "No, but she's awfully friendly with Remus." He glared towards his guilty looking friend who put his hands up in defense.
"Hey, just friends."
"Yeahh…" James' eyes strayed past Peter to the Slytherin table towards Snape, who he noticed kept glancing at the Gryffindor table. He followed his gaze and saw Lily, laughing happily with her friends. James eyes narrowed at Snape and a blast of jealousy coursed through him. How is it that Snivillus is so close to Lily? Well I don't like it, not one bit.
The lunch bell rang for class and he saw Snape heading towards the Great Doors.
"Excuse me boys," Remus, Sirius and Peter looked up at their friend in confusion. "I have something to take care of, so I'll meet you in Transfiguration."
Without waiting for a reply, James grabbed his bag and headed out for Snape.
Keeping Snape in sight, James walked a little behind him, waiting for the crowd to cease in the halls before catching up to him right before he walked to his common room. Grabbing him by the neck of his robes, James pulled Snape into an empty classroom.
Instantly Snape pulled out his wand, but Mr. Potter was quicker. "Expelliarmus!" Snape's wand went flying out of his hand and landed beside some back desks. Grinning from ear to ear, James stepped over a chair that fell down from the force of the spell and aimed his wand at an angry but defenseless Snape.
"What do you want, Potter?" He spat.
"Hmm, is that anyway to talk to someone, Snivvy?" James jeered. Snape growled low, glaring daggers. "It's a little funny, don't you think?"
Snape didn't say anything, but James pressed on further, not once releasing his wand's aim at his Slytherin friend.
"The way you stare at her, I get the feeling that you are quite obsessed with Miss Evans, my greasy friend." He grinned, loving the way Snape's nostrils flared out of anger and his pale cheeks flushed with embarrassment. "What, didn't think I'd notice? How could I not? Your constant glances at her can get catch quite an audience, it's rather disturbing to see, really, you being a slimy Slytherin and all."
Still, Snape stood in silence, but didn't take his eyes off James, who was now circling him like a hawk.
"Listen, I really don't want to be cruel or anything," His wand lightly jabbed into Snape's neck. "But I will, you can count on that."
"What do you want, Potter?" Snape snarled, not daring to threaten James in anyway.
"Stay away from Lily, Snape. She'll never go for you; she pities you, that's all. Its best you end whatever feelings you may have for her because they'll never commute into anything other than wasted fantasies. So be a good Snivillus and stray away." James mocked a sympathizing smile. "Now, now Snape, don't get upset about it. It's better this way." He took his wand off the Slytherin and rounded towards the door.
"And what about your feelings for her?"
James halted at the door. "My feelings for her… are none of your business." He opened the door but glanced once more at Snape before leaving. "Don't cause trouble Snape, you staying away from Lily will be better for everyone, just remember that."
Leaving Snape in that empty classroom and having the last word in made James feel at the top of the world. Now he could concentrate on Lily without having that slime ball causing disruption.
"James!" A girlish voice called out.
"Yeah?" Turning around, his heart sped up again at the site before him; Lily, obviously out of breath, running towards him.
"Where have you been? Transfiguration started ten minutes ago." Lily asked.
"Oh, I had to take care of a grease problem." James smiled innocently.
"Um okay, well Professor McGonagall told me to come find you and her exact words were, 'Evans, you find that trouble maker Potter before I do, because if he skives another one of my lessons, he will find the rest of the year's detentions quite tedious." She mimicked McGonagall's voice down to the pitch.
They laughed together.
"Okay, well then let's go," James grinned. As they walked together towards the Transfiguration classroom, James glanced back at the corridor where the empty classroom was where he had his little chat with Snape and chuckled inwardly. Let's hope he knows what's best for him.
VVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVV
-Hokay, so. This is obviously a Lily and James story. No tricks there, eh? Heh, yeah.
-It's a love story that progresses throughout until the very end. It may take a while.
-Brave Hearts Never Fear Death is about Lily and James from the end of their fifth year at Hogwarts till their very last breath. Parts in the story lead up to the end of it, so pay close attention. You'll notice that James is sort of a prick in this story, especially to Snape, but don't fret, he's only like that for a while. He grows up, just keep in mind that they are still immature teenagers.
-Be patient please. I am graduating from high school in less than a week, I have senior trips I have to go on, my family will be in town for quite a while and I also work, so updating will be a priority of mine, just not a top one.
-Reviews are nice, they motivate me. Ideas are helpful; I might just use them (I will credit). Constructive Criticism is only allowed to a certain emotional extent. If my feelings are hurt, I will warn you and if you hurt them again then your reviews will be deleted and I will no longer like you.
-If you have any questions, then just put them in the reviews and I will answer as many as I can.
VVV Times are tragic and pain is real, deceit is too easy to conceal. But keep in mind, a tale is told, of two young lovers with Hearts of Gold. A power, in which no evil can embrace, runs through the veins in those they face. Two young lovers strong and bold, bear no evil with Hearts of Gold. A thought so chilling is hard to find, but it's the next great adventure to the well organized mind. Courage so true till their very last breath, these Brave Hearts will Never Fear Death. VVV