Disclaimer: I have no rights to the Harry Potter franchise. I'm merely
borrowing her characters and their personalities for my (and your) personal
enjoyment.
A/N: This is my first Lily/James fic, so bear with me. Actually, bear with the characters because sometimes they don't like to cooperate with me. Have fun!
Chapter 1: A More Perfect Union
Herbology was by far the dullest class James Potter had ever taken. One, it was utterly boring to transplant herbs and other strange plants. Two, they had class with the Hufflepuffs. Sure, they weren't a nuisance like the Slytherins but they weren't fiercely competitive as Ravenclaws. And finally, he couldn't bear watching Lily Evans being stared at lasciviously by Amos Diggory.
His friends didn't seem to notice. Peter was listening attentively to Professor Fern, hoping to understand something for once. Sirius and Remus were talking in whispers, even if he wanted to, he couldn't hear a thing they were saying.
"Prongs, I don't think Lily'll appreciate having holes burned into her. You know, if you stare long enough it happens, mate." Sirius muttered, keeping his head low.
"I know that, Padfoot. It's just that stupid git Amos. I know what he's up to. He's gone around with every girl in his house. What to do now? Slytherin girls are beneath him, the Ravenclaw girls bore him and everybody knows its hard but worth it to have a Gryffindor girl. And who's the best damn good looking girl in Gryffindor?"
Remus and Sirius looked at each other, smiling, "Lily Evans"
"My Lily Evans!" James whispered fiercely, throwing a sick look at Amos.
Remus sighed sorrowfully, "Yeah, she is. It's just that she doesn't know it. Face it, mate. She hates everything within a foot radius of you. How in the world are you going to make her fall for you?"
James looked beaten, head hung low. "That's exactly what I was wondering."
Sirius' eyes widened in realization. "Hey, wait a minute. I think I know what to do! I'll have to ask her, maybe she wouldn't want to. But she has to! And I know it'll be good for her too, but about how she feels for him, she'll have to understand! She's a Black, not some blockhead Hufflepuff so she has common sense. I think so, I'll ask her." He looked around thoughtfully.
Just then, Professor Fern dismissed his class, waving them away with grubby hands. Sirius packed his books and ran towards the door, pausing to gesture to them and promptly left. The remaining Marauders looked at each other, and decided to let James open his journal. With each Marauder having his own book, it was very useful for writing to each other in class.
The black leather journal bore a decorated "M" above his name. He flipped it open and gazed down at the page, the rest following suit. Words began to appear on the page. In Sirius's hasty hand, he scrawled "Gryffindor common room, midnight. Prepare to be dazzled, Prongs. You'll have her, just wait."
***
When the remaining boys finally fell asleep, James and Remus tiptoed from the dorms to the common room. The fire had faded in the night and diluted the dark, casting ominous shadows. It was almost midnight and there was no sign of Sirius anywhere. He told them he had to tie up loose ends and was being accompanied by Peter, so they waited by the fire.
After a couple of minutes, they heard the portrait open. Expecting to see Sirius, their jaws dropped at who walked in.
Her long glossy black hair swayed as she lithely plopped herself down onto a chair facing them. She smiled. Her eyes were cobalt blue; electricity and sensuality swirled together. "Hi guys! I'm waiting for Sirius; he wanted to ask me something. Do you know what he wants?" Her voice was smooth, throaty, and delicate. She was exquisite.
James thought she was gorgeous. If Lily had no place in his heart, he would have definitely had been attracted to her. But she just wasn't Lily and that made him somewhat immune to her. However, Remus Lupin only barely remembered he had a girlfriend. He cleared his throat, looking somewhat flustered.
"Yeah, er, he wanted to talk to us too. Don't know what though. You know what his plans are like."
After ten minutes of small talk, Sirius finally made his appearance. Hair disheveled and slightly damp, he swaggered into the common room. His face was flushed and with a satisfied and somewhat goofy expression, he knelt down in front of the trio.
"Duty called. Peter found his girlfriend and went to have a good snog in a broom closet. So I left them alone. I found a book and shag waiting for me in back of the library. Sorry I'm late." He grinned at the guys. "I see you met Andromeda."
She was the first to answer, snapping at him. "Merlin, Sirius, I swear you'll never change. Ravenclaws are your favorite dish aren't they? But as your cousin, I do have the right to kick you into next week if you lay a finger on my friends."
He chuckled, "You're right. They'll want me to lay more than a finger on them."
"You're sick."
"Grow up"
He stood. "Mates, Andromeda, you want to know why you're here? Let's assume you do and I'll get started. We all know that James here is pathetically in love with Lily Evans. Yet, being an insensitive prat, he doesn't stand a chance. Unless he proves himself. Now, Andromeda Black's heart also belongs to someone. May I ask who?"
"Ted Tonks, from Surrey. He's a Muggle."
"So, Andromeda is very much in love with a Muggle. Now that's fine by me, but certainly not with the family. The 'Noble House of Black' would never allow a Muggle into the purest blood in England. To summarize: James and Andromeda. Two different loves. One unrequited, the other forbidden. What to do?"
He paused to look at them, waiting for an answer. When he received none, he moved towards the fireplace, gazing into the ashes. Suddenly, he whirled to face them, grinning.
"Now this is where the fun starts. Let two loves become one. Let the world think, know, believe that James and Andromeda are an item. Both of you have no attraction towards each other, your love for another keeps that in check. By letting people think Andromeda is going around with James, the Black family will have their suspicions thrown into the wind. And James, by escorting Andromeda, will gain a sense of propriety. He'll know how to treat a lady, charm her, and let Lily know that he can be a gentleman."
He settled into his chair and sighed, "Killing two birds with one stone is bloody brilliant, don't you think?"
James and Andromeda looked at each other, uneasy. He does have a point, they thought. Andromeda was very uncomfortable, James could tell. If he was in the same position, he would be wary too. His own situation wasn't too bad. She could help him win Lily's heart by showing her another side of himself. Amos Diggory would pale in comparison to him.
Andromeda was unsure. She loved Ted. He was the only reason she could stand being in Black Hall. Her parents were pretentious and every bad thing she wasn't. They always made inquiries to Lucius Malfoy, her cousin, about her and if she had a relationship with anyone. They favored Vincent Crabbe. The Blacks figured a marriage with Crabbe could erase the memory of her being sorted into Ravenclaw, an embarrassing fact tainting the Black name.
It wasn't as bad as Sirius being in Gryffindor, but being in Ravenclaw and trying to hide the fact that she was dating a Muggle was unbearable. Merlin, what they would do if they ever found out about Ted. Pretending with James wasn't as bad, but it erased the suspicions and James had "pure" enough blood for them.
Her parents knew she was rebellious and they would try later to match her with Crabbe. That could buy enough time for her to talk to Ted and figure things out. It was a sacrifice for him and that was all she needed.
"I'll do it." James turned, surprised. "You will? Thanks so much! What about Ted?"
She remembered her lover and smiled, "This is a sacrifice for him. I want to be happy and that can only be with him. Damn the Blacks anyway."
*Just a note: Send your reviews ( I've been writing for some time now but I need your praise (and criticism) to refine my writing. You, as the reader, are my inspiration so don't hesitate!
A/N: This is my first Lily/James fic, so bear with me. Actually, bear with the characters because sometimes they don't like to cooperate with me. Have fun!
Chapter 1: A More Perfect Union
Herbology was by far the dullest class James Potter had ever taken. One, it was utterly boring to transplant herbs and other strange plants. Two, they had class with the Hufflepuffs. Sure, they weren't a nuisance like the Slytherins but they weren't fiercely competitive as Ravenclaws. And finally, he couldn't bear watching Lily Evans being stared at lasciviously by Amos Diggory.
His friends didn't seem to notice. Peter was listening attentively to Professor Fern, hoping to understand something for once. Sirius and Remus were talking in whispers, even if he wanted to, he couldn't hear a thing they were saying.
"Prongs, I don't think Lily'll appreciate having holes burned into her. You know, if you stare long enough it happens, mate." Sirius muttered, keeping his head low.
"I know that, Padfoot. It's just that stupid git Amos. I know what he's up to. He's gone around with every girl in his house. What to do now? Slytherin girls are beneath him, the Ravenclaw girls bore him and everybody knows its hard but worth it to have a Gryffindor girl. And who's the best damn good looking girl in Gryffindor?"
Remus and Sirius looked at each other, smiling, "Lily Evans"
"My Lily Evans!" James whispered fiercely, throwing a sick look at Amos.
Remus sighed sorrowfully, "Yeah, she is. It's just that she doesn't know it. Face it, mate. She hates everything within a foot radius of you. How in the world are you going to make her fall for you?"
James looked beaten, head hung low. "That's exactly what I was wondering."
Sirius' eyes widened in realization. "Hey, wait a minute. I think I know what to do! I'll have to ask her, maybe she wouldn't want to. But she has to! And I know it'll be good for her too, but about how she feels for him, she'll have to understand! She's a Black, not some blockhead Hufflepuff so she has common sense. I think so, I'll ask her." He looked around thoughtfully.
Just then, Professor Fern dismissed his class, waving them away with grubby hands. Sirius packed his books and ran towards the door, pausing to gesture to them and promptly left. The remaining Marauders looked at each other, and decided to let James open his journal. With each Marauder having his own book, it was very useful for writing to each other in class.
The black leather journal bore a decorated "M" above his name. He flipped it open and gazed down at the page, the rest following suit. Words began to appear on the page. In Sirius's hasty hand, he scrawled "Gryffindor common room, midnight. Prepare to be dazzled, Prongs. You'll have her, just wait."
***
When the remaining boys finally fell asleep, James and Remus tiptoed from the dorms to the common room. The fire had faded in the night and diluted the dark, casting ominous shadows. It was almost midnight and there was no sign of Sirius anywhere. He told them he had to tie up loose ends and was being accompanied by Peter, so they waited by the fire.
After a couple of minutes, they heard the portrait open. Expecting to see Sirius, their jaws dropped at who walked in.
Her long glossy black hair swayed as she lithely plopped herself down onto a chair facing them. She smiled. Her eyes were cobalt blue; electricity and sensuality swirled together. "Hi guys! I'm waiting for Sirius; he wanted to ask me something. Do you know what he wants?" Her voice was smooth, throaty, and delicate. She was exquisite.
James thought she was gorgeous. If Lily had no place in his heart, he would have definitely had been attracted to her. But she just wasn't Lily and that made him somewhat immune to her. However, Remus Lupin only barely remembered he had a girlfriend. He cleared his throat, looking somewhat flustered.
"Yeah, er, he wanted to talk to us too. Don't know what though. You know what his plans are like."
After ten minutes of small talk, Sirius finally made his appearance. Hair disheveled and slightly damp, he swaggered into the common room. His face was flushed and with a satisfied and somewhat goofy expression, he knelt down in front of the trio.
"Duty called. Peter found his girlfriend and went to have a good snog in a broom closet. So I left them alone. I found a book and shag waiting for me in back of the library. Sorry I'm late." He grinned at the guys. "I see you met Andromeda."
She was the first to answer, snapping at him. "Merlin, Sirius, I swear you'll never change. Ravenclaws are your favorite dish aren't they? But as your cousin, I do have the right to kick you into next week if you lay a finger on my friends."
He chuckled, "You're right. They'll want me to lay more than a finger on them."
"You're sick."
"Grow up"
He stood. "Mates, Andromeda, you want to know why you're here? Let's assume you do and I'll get started. We all know that James here is pathetically in love with Lily Evans. Yet, being an insensitive prat, he doesn't stand a chance. Unless he proves himself. Now, Andromeda Black's heart also belongs to someone. May I ask who?"
"Ted Tonks, from Surrey. He's a Muggle."
"So, Andromeda is very much in love with a Muggle. Now that's fine by me, but certainly not with the family. The 'Noble House of Black' would never allow a Muggle into the purest blood in England. To summarize: James and Andromeda. Two different loves. One unrequited, the other forbidden. What to do?"
He paused to look at them, waiting for an answer. When he received none, he moved towards the fireplace, gazing into the ashes. Suddenly, he whirled to face them, grinning.
"Now this is where the fun starts. Let two loves become one. Let the world think, know, believe that James and Andromeda are an item. Both of you have no attraction towards each other, your love for another keeps that in check. By letting people think Andromeda is going around with James, the Black family will have their suspicions thrown into the wind. And James, by escorting Andromeda, will gain a sense of propriety. He'll know how to treat a lady, charm her, and let Lily know that he can be a gentleman."
He settled into his chair and sighed, "Killing two birds with one stone is bloody brilliant, don't you think?"
James and Andromeda looked at each other, uneasy. He does have a point, they thought. Andromeda was very uncomfortable, James could tell. If he was in the same position, he would be wary too. His own situation wasn't too bad. She could help him win Lily's heart by showing her another side of himself. Amos Diggory would pale in comparison to him.
Andromeda was unsure. She loved Ted. He was the only reason she could stand being in Black Hall. Her parents were pretentious and every bad thing she wasn't. They always made inquiries to Lucius Malfoy, her cousin, about her and if she had a relationship with anyone. They favored Vincent Crabbe. The Blacks figured a marriage with Crabbe could erase the memory of her being sorted into Ravenclaw, an embarrassing fact tainting the Black name.
It wasn't as bad as Sirius being in Gryffindor, but being in Ravenclaw and trying to hide the fact that she was dating a Muggle was unbearable. Merlin, what they would do if they ever found out about Ted. Pretending with James wasn't as bad, but it erased the suspicions and James had "pure" enough blood for them.
Her parents knew she was rebellious and they would try later to match her with Crabbe. That could buy enough time for her to talk to Ted and figure things out. It was a sacrifice for him and that was all she needed.
"I'll do it." James turned, surprised. "You will? Thanks so much! What about Ted?"
She remembered her lover and smiled, "This is a sacrifice for him. I want to be happy and that can only be with him. Damn the Blacks anyway."
*Just a note: Send your reviews ( I've been writing for some time now but I need your praise (and criticism) to refine my writing. You, as the reader, are my inspiration so don't hesitate!