Just the first chapter so far...there will be more if this one has good reviews. I'm not all that confident with my writing so please review to help me, even if it is to give constructive criticism. Thanks! hope you enjoy xx
Lily Evans would describe herself as somewhat average.
She was intelligent, but not a genius. Pretty, but not stunning. Funny, but not hilarious. Charismatic, but not charming. Happy, but not euphoric.
Her family were averagely middle class. She was cared for but not spoiled. Neither a pauper or a princess.
Basically, in the middle.
Her social life abided by this same rule of averages. She did not belong to the geeky crowd, the cool crowd, the girly crowd or the sporty crowd.
Instead, she had friends within each of these groups, and happily chose to hang out with whoever her mood took her to.
However, this unique social understanding also meant that whilst she had a number of friends, she didn't have the stability of one person or group to confide in. As an alternative, she kept her feelings, troubles and worries to herself. It just made life easier, and made her stronger as a person. She had pulled herself though some tough situations over her six years at Hogwarts, and was extremely proud of herself for doing so.
Lily was neither a goody-two-shoes, nor a bad ass. She did things she knew she shouldn't, like drinking at parties, breaking school curfews, and bitching about people in the other school houses. But at the same time she knew where the line was, and did her best not to cross it.
All in all, she just got on with life, having fun every now and again along the way. She could party with the best of them, but also chose to skip nights out now and again for a long soak in the bath and to read a good book.
That was exactly what she had chosen to do today. The rest of the school were in Hogsmeade, but Lily was tucked cosily under a tree by the lake. The latest muggle book her mum had sent her was resting lightly on her lap, the sun pouring across her face, her legs tucked gently underneath her. As she reached the end of her chapter and turned the page, she looked out across the lake, to the trees on the other side.
And there he was. The boy who had bugged her with the words "go out with me, Evans" for six years now. The boy she had refused every time.
James Potter. The epitome of cool. Sitting under a tree with a book on the opposite side of the lake. Just like Lily. How strange that he would not be in Hogsmeade with his posse, the infamous Marauders. It was very unlike the notorious James Potter.
But then the notorious James Potter did a lot of things that should be unlike him. Reading for one. This didn't go unnoticed by Lily.
To everybody else in the school, James Potter was gorgeous, the height of cool, intelligent, funny, charming and just generally brilliant. To Lily, he was a twat.
Whilst everyone else saw him play hilarious pranks and joke with other students, Lily saw him cause trouble and bully. He came across to everyone else as witty and comical. He came across to Lily as arrogant and annoying.
But then, when everyone else wasn't looking, Lily would see him in situations such as this, when he was the complete opposite of the outgoing, childish idiot that liked to show off. He was quiet, calm and mature. She wished she could tell what he was reading.
At times like this, Lily almost wanted to talk to James Potter, to see this other side of his character that she found from afar endearing and mysterious. Without the cocky grin on his face, she found him almost attractive. Almost.
She had seen him there before, reading under the same tree. It was at times when she had sat under her tree on the opposite side of the lake to be quietly by herself.
She had also seen him in the far corner of the library, or late at night in the deserted common room. Always reading, studying, or just looking thoughtful.
She had a secret alternative universe in her head, which she sometimes let her imagination play with when she had seen him this way. In this universe, he was kind, caring, thoughtful and honest. He didn't annoy her by asking her out or acting an idiot like he usually did. Instead they had intelligent conversations. It turned out the book he was reading was a Shakespeare play, and his cocky grin was no cocky, but a genuine smile especially for her. This was definitely a secret universe.
One day, she would find out what book he was reading, she told herself. But for now, while he was still for the most part the arrogant git she had learned to loathe, she would satisfy herself with her secret alternative universe.
She closed her book and turned towards the castle. She couldn't concentrate on her book out here anymore.
She didn't see James Potter look up from his book, to watch her walk away, as he always noticed she did, and sigh as he tried once again to concentrate on the poems he was reading.