Actions
House: Gryffindor
Category: Themed
Theme: Discovery
Prompt: "Actions speak louder than words."
Word count: 646
Disclaimer: Don't own it.
"Look, I'm sorry!" James shouted, running after her.
"Sorry doesn't cut it, James."
The dark-haired youth grabbed the crook of her elbow, pulling her around to face him.
"Evans, I didn't mean it, alright? It was a mistake!"
"It was not! You've been picking on him for years, that wasn't a mistake, that was a choice!"
Lily Evans tried and yank her arm out of his grasp, to no avail.
"Let go, Potter!"
"No!" He yelled.
She stopped, startled, as her wide green eyes met his dark ones. He had never yelled at her before. His cheeks flushed slightly, but he didn't release her.
Clearing his throat, he looked away for a moment.
"I was trying to say- I'll- I'll stop picking on Snivellus, if that's what you want..."
She stared at the flustered boy for a second, before swiftly kicking him in the shin.
Yelping, he let her go, rubbing his leg as he jumped up and down on the other foot.
"His name is Severus, you jerk," she hissed.
"He just called you a, a..."
"A Mudblood, yes, I know," she said, turning away from him.
She hid her tears, allowing her red hair to form a protective barrier between the bully and herself.
"Yeah, he called you- that. You're just gonna forgive him? Just like that?"
She spun back around, hair whipping around her from the force. Her eyes were filled to the brim with pure fury.
"I am not a weak little pushover, Potter!" Lily yelled, pulling out her wand.
"No, I- I didn't..."
"Oh, but you did."
"You're taking this the wrong way! Merlin, you're just looking for reasons to get mad at me!"
She stepped closer, wand hand remaining steady.
"Seven years of friendship doesn't disappear overnight. That is why I will always, always defend him from you. I can't forgive him for what he said about me, but I won't sink to his level."
James stepped back, keeping a wary eye on her wand.
"But, back there it sounded like..."
"Like what? Like I was going to toss him to the wolves? M-maybe I abandoned him back there," she stuttered. "To send him a message. But I won't stop protecting him."
James opened his mouth to say something, but she cut him off harshly.
"Ever."
James shook his head at Lily in amazement.
"He's- but you're-"
She jabbed her wand at him, sticking the point in his chest, while he kept his hands up in surrender.
"Yes?"
He stared at her.
"Haven't you discovered the real him today, Evans?"
Her hand shook, and she stepped back.
"N-no. That's not the real him. I kn-know the real him. H-he's changed is all," she whispered, stumbling back.
"Do you still like the real him?" James asked, stepping closer to the trembling girl.
"I-I..."
Her mask broke, and tears fell fast and hard. She didn't even protest when James wrapped his arms around her.
"Shh... Hey, it's alright. Chin up, there. You deserve better."
He pulled back, wiping her tears away with his thumbs, smiling that sweet smile at her.
"Alright there, Evans?"
She nodded, giving him a watery smile, a mockery of her usual.
James, without hesitation, gave her a quick kiss on the lips.
Lily's eyes widened, and she quickly stepped away from him.
"Potter! What is the matter with you?!" She yelled.
The boy shrugged, a grin twitching his lips.
"My dad always said, 'Actions speak louder than words'. You never listen to my words, so I thought I'd give action a try."
The girl glared at him, cheeks turning pink. Lily punched him in the gut, making him groan and bend over.
"Merlin! What was that for?!"
She couldn't control the slight, humorless smirk that appeared on her face.
"I've discovered something today. Actions do speak louder than words," she muttered. "So you've got one thing right, Potter..."