Authors Note: This is only my second story so please review. If you have any tips or suggestions on changing it just let me know. I'm always up for constructive criticism. I do not take kindly to mean reviews, so if you would refrain from sending any. I hope you enjoy!
Disclaimer: I only own unrecognizable characters.
Chapter 1- Of Fights and Kittens
James Potter, quiditch-star and all around hottie, walked into the Great Hall with his two best friends Sirius Black and Remus Lupin. (Peter will not be in this story, because he was to busy rotting in hell.) James looked over at Sirius smiling evilly. ( I don't know if 'evilly' is a word.) Sirius complied with his own mischievous grin. Remus merely nodded, his nose burying deeper into his book.
"Do you think they'll suspect us?" Sirius asked sarcastically. James shook his head and smiled at him.
"Whether they do or not is up to them. Frankly I don't mind. I just can't wait to see the look on the Slytherin's faces," James replied. Sirius smiled dreamily as he thought about it. James, Sirius and Remus took a seat at the far end of the table so they could have a clear view of the Slytherins.
"Potter?" James heard his last name from behind him. He turned, looking at none other than Lily Evans, the women of his dreams. Beside her was her best friend Alastair, who was sneaking glances at Sirius through the corner of her eye.
"Well hello Lily Flower, how nice to see you." James said smiling at her.
"Don't call me that Potter," she hissed glaring at him. "I have come to see if the rumors were true. Are you really Head Boy this year?" She stared at him waiting for an answer.
"Yes, I am." Her angry facade was replaced with shock. Remus and Sirius stared at James.
"James why didn't you tell us you were Head Boy?" Remus asked?
"I didn't feel it was important," James said waving his hand as if expecting them to drop the topic. Suddenly a loud explosion was heard from the Slytherin table, and then the hall was filled with laughter. The group turned and watched as the Slytherins got up on their table and began to dance in little pink and purple tutus. James, Sirius, and Remus began howling with laughter. Remus fell to the floor his hands clutching his sides.
While the teachers tried to change the Slytherins back Lily turned to James. Her eyes full of pure hatred and loathing.
"Potter what in the fuck did you think you were doing. You are Head Boy. You're supposed to be setting an example. You big-headed prat, I can't believe you did that. You're such an asshole and I hope you know how much I fucking despise you." And with that she stormed out of the hall, Alastair at her heals. The sorting ceremony hadn't even started and already Lily and him had gotten in a fight. Well more of a one-sided argument.
James put his head in his hands. Why did she always have to get angry at him? It was just a little bit of fun. Remus looked at his friend with pity, pulling himself off the floor and back into his seat.
"Well that's the way to start off a good year," Sirius laughed. Remus smacked him on the head.
"Ouch, why did you do that?" Sirius asked rubbing his head.
"Because you're being an ass," Sirius just glared at his friend.
The sorting ceremony passed and Lily re-entered the hall, sitting as far away from him as possible. Every once in a while she would give him an icy glare. He finally couldn't take it anymore. He got up and started to leave.
"Yo, James, where are you going?" Sirius asked looking up at his friend.
"I'm going to my dorm. I can't stand Lily glaring at me every five minutes." He ran a hand through his already messy jet-black hair.
"Do you want us to come with you?" he asked.
"No, I'll be fine. Just tell Lily I won't be on patrol tonight." Sirius nodded and turned back to his food. James quickly exited the hall and raced out the front doors.
Back in the Great Hall
As soon as Lily saw James leave she got up and stormed over to Sirius, poking him on the shoulder.
"What?" he asked turning t o her.
"Where in the hell did Potter go?" she asked aggravated, "he has to patrol tonight."
"He told me to tell you that he couldn't make it tonight."
"WHAT, why not?" she screamed.
"Why don't you ask him he's up in the Head dorm right now." She glared at him and marched off.
"Sirius you dolt, you know James doesn't want to see her right now," Remus said staring indignantly at his friend.
"Woops."
With James
James ran down to the lake and threw himself into the water. He walked out until only his head and shoulders were above water. He really had no idea what he was doing standing in the lake, but he didn't care. He just wanted to get Lily out of his head. Her angry glares and cruel words still haunted him.
Suddenly he felt the urge to run. Just out of the blue. He walked back to the edge of the lake and transformed. Then after stretching for a few seconds he bolted off into the Forbidden Forest.
With Lily
Lily stepped through the Portrait hole and yelled for James.
"Potter, Potter, where are you." She walked over to the staircase leading to his room and yelled up it.
"Potter I know you're up there. Get your ass down here or I'm coming up." She waited for him to come down, but he didn't. Blowing out an irritated breath she climbed the stairs and pushed the door open. She looked around the room, her eyes finally adjusting to the dark. He wasn't there. She walked in further and peered into the bathroom. Nope, not there either.
"Dammit, Potter where are you," she whispered. Giving up she went back down to the Great Hall. She again went to Sirius, poking him.
"What now?" he asked irritated.
"You lied to me James was not in his dorm."
"What do you mean not in his dorm?" he asked turning fully to face her.
"Exactly what I just said, he just wasn't there. He wasn't there, or in the common room. None of the pictures had seen him even go that way." Remus looked up worriedly.
"Maybe he's in the Gryfindor tower," Sirius suggested. Remus and Sirius both got up walking towards the exit, Lily following them.
They searched the common room and the boy's dorm with no luck. Sirius sat down on the couch and put his hands over his face.
"Where could he be?" he asked more to himself than anyone else. Remus sat down beside him and Lily sat across from them in one of the large red armchairs. After a half an hour Lily stood and started to leave.
"Hey Lily wait up," Sirius said catching up with her. "Can Remus and I wait in the Head Tower for James while you're on patrol?" She was about to say no, but then she looked at their pleading faces and agreed. Nodding her head she left the common room, walking down to Dumbledore's office to get her orders.
Remus and Sirius ran straight to the Head dorm. Whispering the password Lily had told them, they entered. Sirius pulled some pillows and blankets from one of the nearby closets and made a bed for himself on the floor, and one for Remus on the couch. The boys talked for a couple hours waiting for James, but they soon fell asleep.
Lily entered the common room at have past midnight and shook Remus slowly awake. He stared up at her groggily.
"Has he come back yet?" she asked him. He shrugged his shoulders.
"I fell asleep, but maybe he's up n his dorm." Remus started to get up to look, when Lily pushed back down.
"Go back to sleep, I'll go up and check." Remus smiled gratefully and plopped back down on the pillow. Lily left him and went up into James' room. He still wasn't there. She hated to admit to herself that she was starting to get a little worried.
She walked through the bathroom and entered her room. (The rooms are connected by the bathroom) She pulled off hr uniform and slipped into her pajamas which consisted of a loose t-shirt and baggy flannel p.j. pants. Exhausted from patrol she fell onto her bed. Instantly asleep.
With James
James noticed he was getting tired so he stopped. He wasn't really sure were he was, but he new his animal senses would get him back. 'Maybe I'll lay down for a quick nap before I go back,' he thought to himself. He turned back into his normal body and curled up underneath a large tree. He was not afraid of the forest so he had no problem sleeping their. Sighing he let his eyelids drift closed. Falling into a deep slumber.
When James woke up he realized it was morning.
"Oh shit," he said to know one in particular. He felt his aching neck were he had cut it on a purplish plant as he was running. It wasn't too deep, but it still stung. Wiping up some of the blood he turned back into a stag. Quickly he bound off to the edge of the forest and up to the front doors of the school.
In the Head dorm
Lily woke to the bright sun in her face. She sat up and walked into the bathroom, grabbing her uniform on the way.
She took a quick shower and dressed. Walking down the stairs she spotted Remus and Sirus sitting on the couch. The blankets and pillows folded neatly on one of the chairs. Then she remembered.
"Is he back yet?" she asked slightly worried. Sirius shook his head.
"Lets go down to the Great Hall, maybe he's down their," she suggested. They both shrugged and followed her. When they entered the Great Hall they scanned it for any sign of James. He wasn't there. The three walked over and sat next to Alastair.
"If he doesn't show up by the end of breakfast then we'll tell Professor McGonigal," Lily supplied trying to lighten the mood. They nodded solemnly and began eating.
Suddenly the doors to the Great Hall opened and James stepped in. His eyes had bags under them, his robes were torn and covered with twigs and dirt, and he had bruises and small cuts on his face and arms. His glasses were also missing. Know one really noticed him accept for Lily, Sirius, and Remus. They all rushed over to him.
"James, were the hell have you been?" Sirius roared enraged. James looked at him and blinked a few times.
"I just went for a walk when I lost track of the time and fell asleep." He said as of it were nothing.
"You had us all scared to death. We thought something had happened to you," Sirius said more calmly, glad his friend was back safe.
"I'm sorry guys; you didn't have to worry about me." Lily stepped up.
"Potter I want to know what exactly was so important that you had to skip patrol?" she asked. He looked at her nervously as if she were going to bite his head off at any moment. He really didn't want to answer her question. Luckily Dumbledore walked up.
"James you best run along and get changed before class," the headmaster smiled eyeing his robes. James smiled gratefully and ran to the Head tower. Lily merely glared at the spot he was just standing in. Whispering things like big- headed, prat, egotistical jerk, etc. Sirius merely laughed at her and they all went to sit down.
Ten minutes later James opened the door to the Head's bathroom. He hadn't been given directions to the common room so he had had to ask a few paintings. Throwing his torn and dirty clothing on the floor he hopped into the shower. He rubbed fiercely at his skin, trying to rub away all the dirt. Finally succeeding he stepped out of the shower and wrapped a towel around his waist. He walked over to the mirror which had an anti-fogging spell on it and looked at his neck. The wound was red with infection, but other than that it looked as it had earlier this morning. Slapping a Band-Aid on it he ran into his room and changed into his uniform.
'What a night,' he thought to himself. He was still upset about Lily's poison words, but he had gotten over most of it. A voice he couldn't place rang through his head.
'She hates you, just leave her alone.' 'No she doesn't,' he whined back. 'Why do you think she's always mean to you? Take a hint and leave her the hell alone.' James shook his head and grabbed his books. He quickly dashed out of the dorm and down to the Great Hall to catch the few remaining minutes of breakfast.
Slipping into the seat next to Remus, James grabbed a piece of toast and was about to stick it in his mouth when he saw Lily, Sirius, and Remus staring angrily at him.
"What?" he asked putting the toast down.
"Where were you last night?" Sirius asked him. James sighed, defeated he looked down at his plate.
"I was in the Forbidden Forest. I was just taking a quick run when I got tired and lay down. The next thing I knew it was morning." James shrugged his shoulders. The egg that was on Lily's fork fell to the table and her eyes widened.
"You were in the Forbidden Forest!" she shrieked. James tried to quiet her, but was unsuccessful. "I told you last night that you were supposed to be setting an example for the other students, and you fall asleep in the Forbidden Forest. How am I going to get through your thick over-inflated skull? You are nothing but trouble. Why can't you just act your age and get over your self."
She spat these words with a familiar venom. James only stared at her, his face showing no emotion. Lily glared at him, panting slightly. James sat there for a few moments letting her words seep in, then without warning he stood up, knocking his chair over in the process. His face turned a dark red and Lily shrunk back in her seat. Wordlessly he left the Great Hall, once again leaving his friends clueless.
Sirius blew out a breath, combing a hand through his dark hair. Remus looked at the doors worried.
"Should we go after him?" Sirius asked. Remus shook his head.
"He needs to be on his own for a while. He's had a tough night." Lily looked at the boys.
"Oh, what he gets to miss class now," she spat. The boys both looked tiredly over at her and she quieted. The hall started to empty so the group followed suit.
When they arrived in their first class, Transfiguration, they saw James sitting in his normal seat as if nothing had happened. He waved them over. Pulling up chairs on either side of him, they sat down.
"What happened back there?" Remus asked eyeing Lily who was now sitting next to Alexiel laughing. James looked at him.
"I let my anger get away from me for a moment so I just left to calm down. Then I came here." All traces of anger had vanished leaving James smiling. Little did they know James' love for Lily was at battle with him. 'She doesn't love you,' said that sickeningly familiar voice. James refrained from answering and looked up at the now present Professor McGonigal. Smiling she addressed the class. "Welcome seventh years to your last year of school, now if you would please open your books to page 14," silently they obeyed.
Unfortunately James realized with a sick lurch they shared this class with the Slytherins. He looked over at Snape and Malfoy. They were staring at him. Evil smiles appeared on their faces. James quickly turned around and faced the front.
"Today," Professor McGonigal said," we will be transforming live animals into different species. And you will be working in partners." The class cheered. A small smile played at the Professors lips as she spoke. "With the other house, I will assign your partners." The class groaned a she began calling out names.
"Jacobs-Smith, Evans-Royal, Snape-Reid, Black-Riordan, Lupin-Avery, Potter-Malfoy, Schnieder-Trayborn, and Marks-Blaire." James groaned as he walked over to Luscious, who was smiling pleasantly at him. James sat down at Snape's former seat and stared at the table.
"Why Potter it looks as if you're unhappy to see me," Luscious whined sarcastically. James glared at him then sighed.
"Shall we get started?" James flipped through his book looking for the spell. When he found it he said it to himself a few times before pointing his wand at the small white kitten that sat before him.
"Potter," Luscious barked, "let me go first." Luscious pulled out his wand, and evil smile on his face. Waving his wand he said something that James guessed was the spell. He soon found he was wrong. The cat hissed and whined helplessly as its tail was lit on fire.
"You bastard," cried James reaching over the table to put the cats tail out. The whole class was looking at them. James grabbed the kitten and snuffed the fire with his fingers. The kitten whined loudly in his arms. James glared angrily at Luscious.
"What happened here?" Professor McGonigal ordered.
"This idiot purposely lit the kitten's tail on fire," James cried angrily, cradling the whining kitten.
"I didn't mean to Professor, honest," Luscious whimpered in a sticky sweet voice.
"Well Potter we have no proof, so it will be named an accident." James glared but said nothing.
"Can I take it to the infirmary Professor?" James pleaded. She nodded and walked away. James hopped from his seat and ran to the infirmary. Madame Pomfrey put a burn salve on the kitten's tail and wrapped it in a small bandage. Picking up the now sleeping kitten, James carried it back to the class. When he walked in the whole class looked up at him, including the smiling Luscious. He walked over to the Professors desk. She looked up at him.
"Professor, with your permission I would like to keep the cat?" She smiled at him and nodded. James walked back to his seat next to Malfoy. He turned and looked him fully in the face.
"I'll get you for this," James spat. Luscious smiled.
"I can't wait." The two sat quietly for the rest of the lesson. When they were dismissed, James ran from his seat and out the door.
As James waited for his friends outside the door the kitten woke up. It opened a large green eye. Oh how it reminded him of Lily. It opened its mouth wide and let out a meow. James instantly melted. He stroked it lovingly under the chin. It purred loudly. Suddenly he saw Sirius and Remus exit the classroom, he beckoned them over. They both stared questioningly at the cat.
As if to prove how adorable she was the kitten gave a squeaky mew. The boys both melted as James had. They both reached their hands out and petted it.
"So the teacher let you keep it." Remus said succumbing to the kitten's adorable face. James nodded.
"I have to drop him off in my dorm, so will you guys tell the Professor I'll be a little late." They both nodded and waved goodbye to James and his new kitten. As James turned to leave he noticed Lily staring at him. She walked closer to him and smiled at the kitten. Lily had a terrible weakness for kittens. James held it out to her and she accepted it cuddling it to her chest. He smiled. The kitten purred loudly and rubbed its face against hers. Kissing it on the head she handed it back to James, blushing slightly.
"Thanks," she said before walking away to stand next to Alexiel. Holding the kitten closer to him James ran up to the Head dorm. He sat on his bed. Thinking he conjured a litter box, cat food, and a small squeaky mouse. The kitten looked at him incredulously as he conjured the mouse.
"Okay, okay, sorry. I thought you liked those kinds of things." He laughed and let the kitten roam around his room. Seeming pleased it plopped down on his pillow and fell asleep. James smiled and left. He ran quickly to the D.A.D.A room. He entered quickly and took his seat next to Sirius and Remus.
"So watcha gonna name it?" Sirius asked. James thought a moment.
"What about Coat rack the 2nd," Sirius suggested, "after you." Earning him a slap in the head.
"I was actually thinking of naming it Lily. If you hadn't noticed its eyed looked exactly like hers." Remus smiled knowingly at his friend.
"Fine whatever, my name was still better." Sirius smiled and the group turned to the front.