Title: Love Anyways
Genre: Romance
Rating: K+ (Just in case…I'm a pretty mild writer.)
Summary: Its Lily and James' third year at Hogwarts school of witchcraft and Wizardry. Lily is getting extra testy at James because he sent a love letter the day before they went back to school. James, on the other hand, is awaiting an answer from Lily for a little date to Hogsmeade. He is embarrassed to be liking know-it-all Lily Evans, but is determined not to give up until he has gotten his first kiss from his red hair-ed wonder girl.
The story is told through a assortment of diary entries, owl letters, and regular old third-person format.
With no further ado:
My Dearest Lilykins,
How are you? I cannot wait for the day in which I can see your beautiful face again. You are, and you always will be the person I have the greatest affection for…Oh heck, Lily, this is Sirius. James has given me some very interesting news…look, he…he seems to have affectionate feelings for someone. Someone named Lily Evans. And he seriously debated sending a letter that started out like that! But you can't let him know you know or his heart will be broken with the pain of your rejection. Got it? Good.
My regards (not),
Sirius
'Okay…' Lily thought after she read Sirius' letter, 'James? No way! He would never like me!' The Marauders taunting had become almost unbearable after just two years, and then its suddenly 'Oh hi Lily, guess what? I like you and why don't we put all of the bad times behind us?' No. Way. They had hurt her heart, more pain than they meant to happen, probably happened. Even Remus , the nicest of all the Marauders, was rather mean to Lily. But she was grateful for the friend that Remus could bring out of himself when everything seemed to be falling apart. And this is why Lily was softer toward Lupin. Although, of course, he was by no means, anything more to a friend to Lily, and Lily liked it that way.
At that moment, a tawny owl came flying in through her open window.
Dear Lily,
I am not about to ask you what Sirius was writing for. Its none of MY business. However, I just really needed to ask you something about it. Did Sirius...did he say something about me? Something you know…personal? Not that I have anything to hide from a clever know-it-all like you. You would probably figure it out anyway. Really soon. Which is why I have to say it now, Lily. Lilykins (do you mind me calling you that?) I LIKE YOU. I know. Its crazy. Why would I like…you? So ofcourse, I'm going to ask you out. Will you, Lily Evans, go to Hogsmeade with me on the first trip there?
And I totally understand that after all I have done to hurt you that you will not love me back. I'm sorry for that and if I do it again…it means only affection. Please accept my sincere apology. I am keeping in mind that you still hate me.
Love Anyways,
James'Oh.My.God. This is not possible. No. He called me clever. Clever? That's what James Potter calls himself…every five minutes. God its annoying. And…Lilykins?! He is not serious! Not. Serious. Lilykins…God, I'm going to kill him. And don't forget the all-caps 'I LIKE YOU' what's a girl to do about that?' Lily thought to herself panic arising.
"Lily, dear, are you alright? You look a bit pale." Her mother was surveying her with suspicion in her eyes. Mrs. Evans was a slim woman with red hair with a loose curl, which Lily had inherited. But unlike her mother, she had her father's green eyes. Her and her mother were like best friends, she told her mother everything. So it was only natural for her mother come into her room with a sly smile on her face and snatch the letter from Lily's hands. Lily watched as her mother's expression change from sly to confused.
"Isn't this boy who teases you all the time?" she asked. When Lily gave her answer in a small nod, her mother frowned and replied " I told you about how your father and I met. We started out-"
"Yes, I know, thank you very much…" Lily interrupted her mother, "He started out making fun of you, but then you figured out that the only reason you hadn't moved to Africa by then was because you liked him, and then-oh, what do you know?- he likes you back and you lived happily ever after the end."
Her mom now had a look of hurt surprise on her face. "Oh, I'm sorry. I've just gotten that story too many times for a 12-almost-13 year old should. It's a nice story…but really…James Potter having affectionate feelings toward me is the equivalent of you picking Lord Voldemort to marry instead of Dad. It just doesn't work out." Lily apologized quickly. She meant everything she said, too, for the look on her face was of pure shame and determination.
"You should tell James no, if your sure you don't like him. But people's feelings change, Lily. Maybe you should wait awhile to reject him. You'll be surprised at how sensitive people like that can be."
Lily thought on this. Her mother had a point. She would wait. That would give her a chance to see if this was just one of the Marauder's ideas of a joke, and, though Lily was regretting this, it would give Lily a chance to do as her mother wished and get to know James as more than the pestering git that he was. After promising that she would do this to her mom, she began to pack for Hogwarts. Tomorrow she would be off to school, where she could finally bring out her wand and bury her head in her wonderful new schoolbooks. With a side of minor annoyance from a few big headed boys. But she was determined to not let them get to her, not this year!