Chimeric Infatuation

Pairings: [In order of Emphasis], James/Narcissa, Severus/Lily, James/Lily, Lucius/Narcissa, only the first pairing will be placed in the spotlight. The other three are really more fillers than anything else. But not useless fillers, mind you.

Rating: T for language and adult themes. May change. Lemons, if any, will not be explicit but if you are easily offended, then please keep away. I am just saying that this is not a smutty story, I actually do believe that James and Narcissa can be in a relationship where much more than lemony goodness is involved.

Disclaimer: The Harry Potter series, that wonderful work of genius, does not belong to me.

Author's Note: The first few chapters will be dedicated to keeping you up to date on the now and how and why of the characters of the story. I would appreciate you disregarding much of what was written about this generation on the original series, because I am only including some select events into this story and have twisted them as I need. I hope you have the patience to bear with me.

Thank you very much for considering reading my story. I sincerely hope I don't disappoint.

Enjoy!

Chapter One

The First of September

The station was as packed as ever as muggles and wizards alike pushed and shoved to get to their platforms on time. There were mothers shouting for their children to behave, friends calling to each other from two platforms away, little boys running around as if they were on acres of open space. The noise and waves of people moving was almost unbearable. It was like this every year.

"James!"

A black-haired boy, leaning inconspicuously against his trolley, turned around to see two of his friends running towards him. Or, at least, they were trying their best to run. It was not an easy feat to accomplish while pushing a heavy trolley through a thick crowd.

James waved towards them casually, before leaning harder onto his trolley, pushing it right through brick and mortar to a hidden platform. He moved aside hurriedly, knowing his friends would soon follow. During the brief moment in which he waited, his eyes swept quickly over his surroundings. To his great disappointment, his gaze seemed to have been inexplicably drawn towards the location of the person he least wanted to see.

He frowned at the sight of that pale, gaunt face, hidden partially behind curtains of greasy black hair that stuck to his cheeks. And his frustration mounted when he caught sight of who that disgusting nerd was with. How someone so revolting could be best friends with the most beautiful girl in the Gryffindor House was beyond his understanding.

A hand clapped his shoulder and he turned his attention from Severus Snape to Sirius and Remus, who had just caught up with him.

"Snape…with Lily. Again," Sirius noted. He did not need to look in order to confirm the reason for the scowl on James' face. With a slow shake of his head, he added, "Come on, how could they help themselves, seeing as how they live in the same town…?"

That was not a comfort to James.

"Exactly the point. She should be sick of that greasy geek by now," James retorted, but he grabbed his things and headed off to load them onto the train.

"See you around, Lily," Severus said in a soft, sad tone of voice. He had seen James step onto the platform and glower at him. What Lily could see in James and his rambunctious, childish gang, Severus could not comprehend.

Summers were the greatest time of his life, when he and Lily would return to their hometown and they could act on their friendship without the judgmental and disapproving looks of their schoolmates. The Evans family, with the exception of Lily's elder sister Petunia, had always welcomed Severus into their home. Mr. and Mrs. Evans, always interested in wizardry and the magical life their daughter was leading, were very glad that Lily had a wizard friend who lived close by.

And now that summer had come to a close, Severus was thrust painfully back to reality, back to a school where Slytherins did not mingle with Gryffindors and where Purebloods were not to be associated in any way with a Mudblood.

"Come on, Sev," Lily said eagerly, giggling as she did so. "Let's see if we can save goodbyes for just a little bit later..." She, too, was well aware of the prejudices in the Hogwarts student social order.

Severus took hold of the trolley they shared and walked to the train. His Horned Owl, Baron, clicked its beak irritably in its cage and flexed its wings as its cage rattled with the movement.

"He creeps me out," Lily said, shuddering as Baron gazed at her.

"Owls are naturally creepy," Severus said, matter-of-factly, provoking a laugh from Lily.

After their belongings were loaded onto the train, they stood around to chat. And after a couple of minutes talking about the summer they were leaving behind and the school year coming ahead, they boarded and paused for a brief moment.

"So… See you around, Lily," Severus said, in the exact same way as he did a few minutes earlier.

"See you around, Sev," she answered, giving him a quick hug, and a warm, friendly smile. Her bright disposition and optimistic outlook on things did not help him at all as he watched her walk away.

As James boarded the train and sought out an empty compartment with his friends, he ran into yet another person he felt a great aversion to; Narcissa Black. And that dislike of his was quite a shock to many. It was not easy to dislike her because, for one, she was enchantingly gorgeous. Her cream skin was glowing, soft and smooth, and her hair cascaded down to her shoulders like waves of liquid sunlight. Her full lips seemed as soft as pink rose blossoms. Her eyes, framed by thick, long lashes, were always alight with life.

And as if that was not enough, she was unbelievably wealthy, belonging to a well-known pureblood family. She was intelligent, a talented Chaser, and the only Slytherin with a rather decent personality. Narcissa was as close to perfection as any mortal could achieve, and she wore it with grace.

"James, Remus," she greeted politely, with a kind nod.

"Narcissa," the two answered in unison.

"Cissa!" Sirius greeted with enthusiasm. "How have you been…?"

She replied with the warmest of smiles as she embraced her cousin. "How I have missed you, Sirius," she said with a tone of regret. Though they were cousins, they were unable to see each other over the summer. Narcissa had been preoccupied, and Sirius was not on the best of terms with his parents, therefore not on the best of terms with the rest of the extended family either.

"How is Regulus…?" she queried, her voice softening and her smile weakening. The subject of their younger cousin was not a joyous one. Narcissa was well aware of how Sirius felt about Regulus.

Sirius shrugged, which was the most truthful reply he could give, and looked over his cousin. "Your hair has grown longer. It suits you."

"Hey," James interrupted. "If you're going to be at this for a while, Remus and I will go ahead, Sirius. Catch up?"

"No, I'll go with you," he said with a grin, knowing James' dislike of his cousin, and turned back to Narcissa. "I'll talk to you when we get to school, okay?"

She nodded and they hurried off. The train would be leaving soon, they could hear people scurrying outside and scrambling to get onto the train. Narcissa, too, walked away to find her friends. As they parted, James could not help but glance back, as the golden-haired vixen stalked off. A lump formed in his throat, and it remained lodged there throughout the journey…