Landslide
Lily Evans was running full speed down the hallway. Her black shoes thudded against the stone floor, the sound reverberating against the empty hall. She skidded to a halt in front of an oak door. Taking a breath to reassure herself, she quietly slipped inside the Great Hall.
Lily emerged a moment later behind the head table, thankful for the noise and bustle of the feast to mask her late arrival. Dumbledore saw her out of the corner of his eye. She expected him to be annoyed by her lateness, but he broke into a smile and gestured her to have a seat.
Calmly and quietly she made her way to the empty seat at the head table. She pulled out her chair, and sat down slowly, admiring the view from here.
"May I again have everyone's attention please?" Dumbledore hollered above the chatter.
"Our newest Head Girl has just joined us. Lily Evans, everyone,"
A loud applause rang out through the hall. She smiled back at them all, nodding her head slightly. A sudden exasperated noise came from her left. She whirled around, only to see the one person she had completely hated - sitting right next to her. And not only that, she could see a Head Boy badge pinned to his robes.
"Potter," she spat out.
"Evans," he answered back, just as curtly.
The applause was beginning to die down, when he continued.
"My applause was louder." he said with a smirk, looking around at the student body.
Lily ignored him, and focused again on the Headmaster.
"Now that everyone is present, I will make my long awaited announcement."
The noise level dropped so suddenly, it was as if someone had pressed a mute button on them all.
Dumbledore coughed, and continued.
"I have, over the summer, been in close contact with the ministry, as well as a few other Headmasters and Mistresses. We have together consulted and inquired upon a very old, very prestigious game played very rarely between schools. After much insight, and after making sure that every precautionary method would be put in place - we have come to the conclusion of holding a Triwizard Tournament at Hogwarts this year."
Lily stared unblinkingly at Dumbledore. The entire hall had kept silent, even a few teachers looked anxious. A fork clattered over a plate, and Lily jumped a few inches out of her seat.
"Sorry," said James loudly to everyone. The clatter seemed to signify the allowance to speak, and the Hall was again filled with chatter and the intake of food.
"Pardon!" yelled Professor Dumbledore. "As I had said just a moment ago, the Tournament will be held this year - and since we are the hosting school, all eligible representatives from both Durmstrang and Beauxbatons will be joining us at the end of October. I must impress upon you to represent our school most admirably. This will be no effort to most, however I do believe that some would benefit from this reminder. "
He stopped momentarily, and Lily used the pause to glare at James.
"Now then, As the Tournament calls for precautionary rules, the application for school Champion is only opened to those 16 or older. The Goblet will decide which one is to compete, and we will have the results at the end of the Halloween Feast."
Lily stared at her plate. She could hear Dumbledore explaining the finer details of the Tournament to the school.
'Champion,' she thought. Now there was something to put on a resume. She got a twist in her stomach just thinking about it.
James Potter flicked her sharply on the side of the head. She stared at him angrily.
"You putting your name in?"
"I'll think about it."
"Scared that you'll embarass the school?"
"No." she said through her teeth. What was it with him and getting on her nerves?
"Well I'm going for it. At least I'll have a fighting chance."
Lily felt for her wand in her pocket.
"So will I."
He shook his head slightly, as if in disagreement, before turning away. Lily sat back in her chair, arms crossed.
'That prat,' she thought to herself, over and over again.
After a while, the amount of students remaining in the Hall had dwindled to maybe a dozen, the rest having gone up to bed. All of the teachers had gone, and Dumbledore had given James and Lily the responsibility of closing up the Great Hall after everyone had gone. Afterwards they were to meet him and discuss the upcoming school year.
Lily drummed her fingers on the table. Her plate had been cleared and magicked away, and all that remained on the table was a few jugs of pumkin juice and half empty plates of cookies. Her eyes rolled over to where James sat.
He was making a glass of water levitate before him.
"What are you doing?" she asked.
"How high do you think I can make it go before I lose control of it?"
"I'm not saying anything." she said, and tried to grab the glass to pull it back on the table.
James made it fly just out of her reach. She tried again, but it shifted just before her fingers closed around it. She almost toppled out of her chair, but caught herself.
Well, she had caught herself by grasping the back of James' chair and the table in front of him. Her face was right in his, and they were only an inch apart.
He broke into a grin that had made every other girl swoon. Lily scowled. She pushed herself back ino the seat, at a farther distance from him.
"Bet you liked that."
"Never."
"Yup. Even Evans could fall for the Potter charm."
Lily could have choked on her spit.
"Charm?" she said in disbelief. "What charm?"
He smiled again. She snorted at the thought of it. Lily traced her finger along the edge of an empty goblet.
She heard his chair move closer to her. A hand came softly over hers, pulling it away from the goblet. He held it gently.
Lily tried pulling away, but soon she could feel his warm breath on her neck. She turned her head sharply, ready to tell him off, or slap him - whichever seemed fit at the time. But when she turned to look at him, once again they were only inches apart.
He looked so serious, looking deep into her eyes, and surveying her face. His free hand ran through her hair, pushing some of hit behind her ear.
Lily had gotten her hand free from his. And for one moment James thought 'Triumph!'. She looked so taken with him. He ignored the softness of her wavy hair and the emerald green of her eyes. He was going to finish this with the ultimate offensive movement towards her.
He leaned in, closer and closer, there wasn't much room between them now. James felt something awkward course through him. He began to pull away, when he suddenly found himself drenched in pumpkin juice.
Lily slammed down the now empty jug on the table. She stood up so quickly that her chair clattered down behind her.
"Don't you ever - " she said, her cheeks flushed. " - ever do that again. You thought you had me going, didn't you? Well listen and listen well Potter. Not only did it not work, but it just furthered every thought of disgust I hold upon you!"
James was still trying to blink the juice out of his eyes. He stood up, but Lily pushed him back into his seat.
"If I'm to work with you, I don't want to spend my time working against you. Understand?"
"Perfectly." he said. Angry at being embarassed like that, he turned to the few remaining students.
"Clear off!" he yelled at their amused faces. They all got up and talked amongst each other as they left. Once the doors had been closed behind them, Lily extracted her wand, using it to clear the last remaining food items off of the tables. James did the same.
What the hell got into him, damn it? Why didn't he do it? Oh yeah. The juice. He must have seen the juice out of the corner of his eye. That was it. He looked over at Lily, who was pushing the chairs neatly into place.
Well, at least he had gotten her angry. 'Hmm,' he thought. 'I can still get back at her for the juice.'
It took him seconds to devise a plan. Lily shoved past him on her way out.
"Come on, Dumbledore will be waiting."
He nodded happily. Lily looked suspiciously at him, but walked ahead anyways. James used his wand to clean himself up before going to the Headmaster. He caught up with Lily just before they went into his office.
They found a letter tucked into the fold of the statue's arm.
It was adressed to both of them. James snatched it from Lily's grasp and opened it.
"Well?" she asked.
"It says you have to be my slave for the rest of the year and - hey!"
Lily grabbed the letter and read,
'The password is Phoenix flames.'
"Phoenix flames." she said aloud to the statue. It hopped aside, and Lily and James both jumped onto the spiraling staircase.
Lily could see the oncoming sliver of light from the doorway to the office.
"Hey Evans,"
She ignored him.
"Fine," he said. "Be that way."
Once they had reahced the top, Dumbledore opened the door and welcomed them inside.
"Sit, sit." he said.
Lily and James fought over the same chair as Dumbledore had his back turned. Once he faced them again, all he saw was Lily smiling polielty at him, just setting herself down in a chair while James looked smug about something. His eyes twinkled.
"Well, I should start off with a congratulations." he said warmly. They thanked him. "And should either of you be interested in competing in the Tournament?"
"I am," said James, giving Lily a look.
"Yes," said Lily through her teeth, The Head Boy and Girl had not looked away from each other.
Dumbledore looked back and forth at them.
"Excellent. That is most admirable. But to business. The first task - and it shall be a daunting one, thus I present it in such advance - will be as follows."
The students turned to look at him.
"As the Tournament will have started by that time, with one task having been completed, it will be most fitting to hold a celebration. This will not only serve as a formal introduction to our guests, but as a festive part of the Tournament. I am leaving the both of you with the responsibility of organizing the Ball - as w-"
"Ball?" came Lily.
"Yes." replied Dumbledore. "And in this Ball, there will be many events taking place that need preparation. Meals, music, dancing lessons -"
"Dancing lessons?" asked James.
"Yes. It is customary for the school champions to open the Yule Ball with a dance. There will then be a dance between all Hogwarts Prefects, as well as - " he paused, unaware of how to continue. "The Head Boy and Girl."
"What?!" came Lily and James at the same time.
"Professor we can't - "
"I won't - "
"You both will follow the custom. And to do that, I suggest that you put aside any arguments and learn to accept this. Now then."
Dumbledore straightened the hat on his head. "I'll excuse you to go have some rest. We'll see each other again at a later date. I'll notify you of it soon. Good night."
He ushered the dumbfounded students out of his office. Once he had shut the door, he slumped against it, exhausted.
"Young love." he said breathlessly.
Meanwhile, James and Lily had just left the stone statue and were walking briskly down the hall. Lily spoke first.
"There's no way I'm dancing with you."
"Right back at you."
Lily stopped. James didn't notice until he was a bit ahead of her. He stopped and went back.
"What's with the sudden cease of walking?"
"When are we going to start planning this?"
"Planning wh - oh. I don't know. Have your people talk to my people. I'll try to squeeze you in my schedule."
"You can be such an ass sometimes. This needs to get done Potter."
"Oh lighten up, Evans. It was a joke."
"It doesn't matter. Dumbledore said this was a giant task, that's why he's telling us now. I say we start with decorations, then move on to music, and then improvise."
"What about the lessons?"
"What ABOUT the lessons?"
James stared at her, then his face cracked into a grin.
"You know you want to dance with me."
"I most certainly do not. If you think I'm going to take lessons with you, you've got another thing coming."
"Don't sound too excited about it, you'll wreck the fun of it."
"I'm not doing it."
James was quiet for a while.
"Can Evans dance?" he asked.
Lily was thankful that he didn't see her bite her lip.
"Of course, " she responded.
"Positive?"
Lily whirled around.
"Yes Potter. I'm positive!"
James reached out, suddenly grasping her arm. He tried twirling her around with it, but she just got all tangled up with him. He laughed out loud as she pulled away.
"Aww, it's okay." he soothed, as if talking to a baby. Her temper flared. James noticed it too. Time for revenge.
Before Lily knew it, James Potter kissed her quickly on the cheek and ran away.
Lily Evans was running full speed down the hallway. Her black shoes thudded against the stone floor, the sound reverberating against the empty hall. She skidded to a halt in front of an oak door. Taking a breath to reassure herself, she quietly slipped inside the Great Hall.
Lily emerged a moment later behind the head table, thankful for the noise and bustle of the feast to mask her late arrival. Dumbledore saw her out of the corner of his eye. She expected him to be annoyed by her lateness, but he broke into a smile and gestured her to have a seat.
Calmly and quietly she made her way to the empty seat at the head table. She pulled out her chair, and sat down slowly, admiring the view from here.
"May I again have everyone's attention please?" Dumbledore hollered above the chatter.
"Our newest Head Girl has just joined us. Lily Evans, everyone,"
A loud applause rang out through the hall. She smiled back at them all, nodding her head slightly. A sudden exasperated noise came from her left. She whirled around, only to see the one person she had completely hated - sitting right next to her. And not only that, she could see a Head Boy badge pinned to his robes.
"Potter," she spat out.
"Evans," he answered back, just as curtly.
The applause was beginning to die down, when he continued.
"My applause was louder." he said with a smirk, looking around at the student body.
Lily ignored him, and focused again on the Headmaster.
"Now that everyone is present, I will make my long awaited announcement."
The noise level dropped so suddenly, it was as if someone had pressed a mute button on them all.
Dumbledore coughed, and continued.
"I have, over the summer, been in close contact with the ministry, as well as a few other Headmasters and Mistresses. We have together consulted and inquired upon a very old, very prestigious game played very rarely between schools. After much insight, and after making sure that every precautionary method would be put in place - we have come to the conclusion of holding a Triwizard Tournament at Hogwarts this year."
Lily stared unblinkingly at Dumbledore. The entire hall had kept silent, even a few teachers looked anxious. A fork clattered over a plate, and Lily jumped a few inches out of her seat.
"Sorry," said James loudly to everyone. The clatter seemed to signify the allowance to speak, and the Hall was again filled with chatter and the intake of food.
"Pardon!" yelled Professor Dumbledore. "As I had said just a moment ago, the Tournament will be held this year - and since we are the hosting school, all eligible representatives from both Durmstrang and Beauxbatons will be joining us at the end of October. I must impress upon you to represent our school most admirably. This will be no effort to most, however I do believe that some would benefit from this reminder. "
He stopped momentarily, and Lily used the pause to glare at James.
"Now then, As the Tournament calls for precautionary rules, the application for school Champion is only opened to those 16 or older. The Goblet will decide which one is to compete, and we will have the results at the end of the Halloween Feast."
Lily stared at her plate. She could hear Dumbledore explaining the finer details of the Tournament to the school.
'Champion,' she thought. Now there was something to put on a resume. She got a twist in her stomach just thinking about it.
James Potter flicked her sharply on the side of the head. She stared at him angrily.
"You putting your name in?"
"I'll think about it."
"Scared that you'll embarass the school?"
"No." she said through her teeth. What was it with him and getting on her nerves?
"Well I'm going for it. At least I'll have a fighting chance."
Lily felt for her wand in her pocket.
"So will I."
He shook his head slightly, as if in disagreement, before turning away. Lily sat back in her chair, arms crossed.
'That prat,' she thought to herself, over and over again.
After a while, the amount of students remaining in the Hall had dwindled to maybe a dozen, the rest having gone up to bed. All of the teachers had gone, and Dumbledore had given James and Lily the responsibility of closing up the Great Hall after everyone had gone. Afterwards they were to meet him and discuss the upcoming school year.
Lily drummed her fingers on the table. Her plate had been cleared and magicked away, and all that remained on the table was a few jugs of pumkin juice and half empty plates of cookies. Her eyes rolled over to where James sat.
He was making a glass of water levitate before him.
"What are you doing?" she asked.
"How high do you think I can make it go before I lose control of it?"
"I'm not saying anything." she said, and tried to grab the glass to pull it back on the table.
James made it fly just out of her reach. She tried again, but it shifted just before her fingers closed around it. She almost toppled out of her chair, but caught herself.
Well, she had caught herself by grasping the back of James' chair and the table in front of him. Her face was right in his, and they were only an inch apart.
He broke into a grin that had made every other girl swoon. Lily scowled. She pushed herself back ino the seat, at a farther distance from him.
"Bet you liked that."
"Never."
"Yup. Even Evans could fall for the Potter charm."
Lily could have choked on her spit.
"Charm?" she said in disbelief. "What charm?"
He smiled again. She snorted at the thought of it. Lily traced her finger along the edge of an empty goblet.
She heard his chair move closer to her. A hand came softly over hers, pulling it away from the goblet. He held it gently.
Lily tried pulling away, but soon she could feel his warm breath on her neck. She turned her head sharply, ready to tell him off, or slap him - whichever seemed fit at the time. But when she turned to look at him, once again they were only inches apart.
He looked so serious, looking deep into her eyes, and surveying her face. His free hand ran through her hair, pushing some of hit behind her ear.
Lily had gotten her hand free from his. And for one moment James thought 'Triumph!'. She looked so taken with him. He ignored the softness of her wavy hair and the emerald green of her eyes. He was going to finish this with the ultimate offensive movement towards her.
He leaned in, closer and closer, there wasn't much room between them now. James felt something awkward course through him. He began to pull away, when he suddenly found himself drenched in pumpkin juice.
Lily slammed down the now empty jug on the table. She stood up so quickly that her chair clattered down behind her.
"Don't you ever - " she said, her cheeks flushed. " - ever do that again. You thought you had me going, didn't you? Well listen and listen well Potter. Not only did it not work, but it just furthered every thought of disgust I hold upon you!"
James was still trying to blink the juice out of his eyes. He stood up, but Lily pushed him back into his seat.
"If I'm to work with you, I don't want to spend my time working against you. Understand?"
"Perfectly." he said. Angry at being embarassed like that, he turned to the few remaining students.
"Clear off!" he yelled at their amused faces. They all got up and talked amongst each other as they left. Once the doors had been closed behind them, Lily extracted her wand, using it to clear the last remaining food items off of the tables. James did the same.
What the hell got into him, damn it? Why didn't he do it? Oh yeah. The juice. He must have seen the juice out of the corner of his eye. That was it. He looked over at Lily, who was pushing the chairs neatly into place.
Well, at least he had gotten her angry. 'Hmm,' he thought. 'I can still get back at her for the juice.'
It took him seconds to devise a plan. Lily shoved past him on her way out.
"Come on, Dumbledore will be waiting."
He nodded happily. Lily looked suspiciously at him, but walked ahead anyways. James used his wand to clean himself up before going to the Headmaster. He caught up with Lily just before they went into his office.
They found a letter tucked into the fold of the statue's arm.
It was adressed to both of them. James snatched it from Lily's grasp and opened it.
"Well?" she asked.
"It says you have to be my slave for the rest of the year and - hey!"
Lily grabbed the letter and read,
'The password is Phoenix flames.'
"Phoenix flames." she said aloud to the statue. It hopped aside, and Lily and James both jumped onto the spiraling staircase.
Lily could see the oncoming sliver of light from the doorway to the office.
"Hey Evans,"
She ignored him.
"Fine," he said. "Be that way."
Once they had reahced the top, Dumbledore opened the door and welcomed them inside.
"Sit, sit." he said.
Lily and James fought over the same chair as Dumbledore had his back turned. Once he faced them again, all he saw was Lily smiling polielty at him, just setting herself down in a chair while James looked smug about something. His eyes twinkled.
"Well, I should start off with a congratulations." he said warmly. They thanked him. "And should either of you be interested in competing in the Tournament?"
"I am," said James, giving Lily a look.
"Yes," said Lily through her teeth, The Head Boy and Girl had not looked away from each other.
Dumbledore looked back and forth at them.
"Excellent. That is most admirable. But to business. The first task - and it shall be a daunting one, thus I present it in such advance - will be as follows."
The students turned to look at him.
"As the Tournament will have started by that time, with one task having been completed, it will be most fitting to hold a celebration. This will not only serve as a formal introduction to our guests, but as a festive part of the Tournament. I am leaving the both of you with the responsibility of organizing the Ball - as w-"
"Ball?" came Lily.
"Yes." replied Dumbledore. "And in this Ball, there will be many events taking place that need preparation. Meals, music, dancing lessons -"
"Dancing lessons?" asked James.
"Yes. It is customary for the school champions to open the Yule Ball with a dance. There will then be a dance between all Hogwarts Prefects, as well as - " he paused, unaware of how to continue. "The Head Boy and Girl."
"What?!" came Lily and James at the same time.
"Professor we can't - "
"I won't - "
"You both will follow the custom. And to do that, I suggest that you put aside any arguments and learn to accept this. Now then."
Dumbledore straightened the hat on his head. "I'll excuse you to go have some rest. We'll see each other again at a later date. I'll notify you of it soon. Good night."
He ushered the dumbfounded students out of his office. Once he had shut the door, he slumped against it, exhausted.
"Young love." he said breathlessly.
Meanwhile, James and Lily had just left the stone statue and were walking briskly down the hall. Lily spoke first.
"There's no way I'm dancing with you."
"Right back at you."
Lily stopped. James didn't notice until he was a bit ahead of her. He stopped and went back.
"What's with the sudden cease of walking?"
"When are we going to start planning this?"
"Planning wh - oh. I don't know. Have your people talk to my people. I'll try to squeeze you in my schedule."
"You can be such an ass sometimes. This needs to get done Potter."
"Oh lighten up, Evans. It was a joke."
"It doesn't matter. Dumbledore said this was a giant task, that's why he's telling us now. I say we start with decorations, then move on to music, and then improvise."
"What about the lessons?"
"What ABOUT the lessons?"
James stared at her, then his face cracked into a grin.
"You know you want to dance with me."
"I most certainly do not. If you think I'm going to take lessons with you, you've got another thing coming."
"Don't sound too excited about it, you'll wreck the fun of it."
"I'm not doing it."
James was quiet for a while.
"Can Evans dance?" he asked.
Lily was thankful that he didn't see her bite her lip.
"Of course, " she responded.
"Positive?"
Lily whirled around.
"Yes Potter. I'm positive!"
James reached out, suddenly grasping her arm. He tried twirling her around with it, but she just got all tangled up with him. He laughed out loud as she pulled away.
"Aww, it's okay." he soothed, as if talking to a baby. Her temper flared. James noticed it too. Time for revenge.
Before Lily knew it, James Potter kissed her quickly on the cheek and ran away.
