In Your Eyes
Hello everyone! I cannot believe this but I'm back and after much consideration I've decided to do something which I should have done a long time ago: a sequel to my story Through a Cat's Eyes. The story picks up right after the previous one so sit back, relax and hopefully enjoy the ride...
Chapter 1
The morning of the 26th of December dawned bright and uncommonly sunny which made the snow on the Hogwarts grounds shimmer blindingly. Lily Evans stood next to the front doors of the school waiting patiently for her date squinting at her surroundings and thinking that even the weather was mocking her and her decision to go out with him.
She checked her watch and sighed loudly. It was too late to back out now but even so, she had given her word and she would never break it. She quietly reminded herself that this was just one date and there was nothing permanent. She was just keeping up her part of the bargain she had struck with James Potter. Unwillingly, her mind took her back to the events that transpired a few days earlier...
Whilst doing her duty as a Head Girl and defending a helpless first year Gryffindor she had been turned into a cat by a one-time-friend-but-presently-quite-despised Slytherin by the name of Severus Snape. After being adopted by none other than school hunk turned Head boy James Potter, she had spent a couple of days trying to get people to notice her and turn her back to her human form. This finally came to pass on Christmas Day when the boys discovered 'Lilykins' true nature by means of a mysterious map. James agreed to turn her back but on one condition: Lily, who had spent the better part of her school years at Hogwarts refusing his advances, had to go out with him on a date. Initially out of pride she refused the offer but then, maybe influenced by his behaviour towards her while in feline form in the last two days, she reconsidered her response.
And so that is why she was stuck in this awkward situation standing atop the frosted, glittering steps of Hogwarts waiting for her once proclaimed arch-enemy to escort her on a date. Just the mere thought of his boyish grin and messy hair made her cringe and shiver inwardly. However, she steeled herself and breathed inwardly while she straightened her red coat and white gloves.
She wondered what was taking him so long. She was meant to meet him at 10 o'clock and then head over to the neighbouring village of Hogsmeade. Most of the student body and staff that had stayed at school during the Christmas Holidays were already out and so the school was almost empty. She was starting to suspect that James was hiding somewhere observing her as she fumed and waited for him, when she heard the sound of footsteps behind her. She turned and saw James approaching her across the entrance hall.
In the short time it took him to reach her, she noticed several things that took her by surprise. He was alone, thankfully choosing to leave his side-kicks behind. Apparently, he decided to take his date seriously. Secondly, as he got closer she saw that he had, albeit unsuccessfully, attempted to smoothen down a tuft of unruly black hair near the front of his head. This resulted in his hair sticking out horizontally like a baseball cap. At this she couldn't help but giggle. He was also carrying something in his hands but before she could take a good look at it he was upon her and when he saw that she was smiling his mouth cracked open in his trademark grin.
She rolled her eyes at him but, being quite close, could not help but notice that his whole face lights up when he does so. She felt a tiny flutter within her but forcefully steadied herself and turned back around to start walking down the stairs.
"Wait!" said James, holding her by the elbow.
She looked back at him, curiosity clearly etched in her green eyes.
"I've got something for you," he said, blushing slightly and scratching the back of his head. With his other hand he offered a small red box wrapped in golden ribbon.
How can this be?!, thought Lily bewildered. Could it be that the famous James Potter was feeling shy? She was also surprisingly touched that he had thought of giving her a gift.
She held the gift in her hands momentarily out of words. Then as she started unwrapping it, she said, "Thank you but don't you think this will make me fall head over heels for you or-"
She stopped in her tracks, staring at the object within the box which she had just finished to unwrap. In the box, lying snugly on a bed of plush red velvet sat a white lily in full bloom. It was one of the most beautiful things she had ever seen and although she saw that it was an accessory it looked like it has just been plucked from the garden that very morning. She held it in her hands and it shimmered slightly in the sunlight as she moved it. She couldn't stop looking at it.
"You were saying?" said James, grinning again clearly relishing the expression on her face. When she didn't say anything, his smile faltered a little and he continued speaking. "Umm ... I hope you like it... I made it yesterday; it took me a while to choose the colour but then decided to go with white. White lilies look the best... I think. You can wear it on your wrist or in your hair...I..." He stopped as Lily lifted her eyes and mumbled something under her breath.
He frowned, not accustomed to Lily reacting like this. "Sorry, what?"
Lily slid the flower through her hand and on her wrist and looked at him. "I said thank you, it's beautiful. I... don't know what to say." she replied, feeling uncomfortable.
James smiled relieved and led her down the steps towards the school gates. "You don't have to say anything. I'm glad you like it because this is just the beginning."
He grinned as they made their way towards Hogsmeade, leaving Lily to wonder what he meant by that and soothe down the conflicting feelings suddenly aroused inside of her.
I hope you loved this first chapter just as much as I loved writing it. Please, leave a review and tell me what you think. I'll hopefully update soon with the next chapter. So long xx
