Greetings readers! Now I know what you're thinking, "But ninjanervana, don't you have other stories to update?" The answer to that question is yes, yes I do. As a matter of fact, I have three stories to update. But I got a migraine at work yesterday and in the midst of my agony I thought this would be a good story to write. And so here I am with yet another James/Lily story. This story takes place during seventh year before our lovely pairing starts dating. I promise I'll get back to work on my other stories, scout's honor. (Even if I'm not a scout, it still counts I think.) For those of you haven't read my other stories, please feel free to check out my other stories: Saturday Morning, Wedding Crashers and Christmas Surprise. Happy reading and remember I don't own anything!
-ninjanervana
Seventh year...
'Shit,' James thought as he rubbed his eyes tiredly before sliding his glasses back into place. It was a cool mid-October Saturday afternoon and the Head Boy was up to his neck in work. He had woken early that morning for Quidditch practice; as Captain of the team, he wanted to get in as much training as practice as possible. He was determined to win the Cup for Gryffindor, as was the rest of his team, although they didn't appreciate practicing before the sun rose. After that, he had spent two hours tutoring some third year students in Transfiguration; he was the best student in seventh year, but teaching those kids was an uphill battle. He practically inhaled his lunch before heading off to the Head's office to work on the patrol schedules he promised Lily he would do. He had a ton of other Head duties to take care of, but the schedules were at the top of the list.
He blinked rapidly, hoping to rid his eyesight of the growing blurriness. The prefect patrol schedule lay half completed on the table before him, the pounding behind his eyes making it difficult to focus on the names and dates. 'Oh Merlin, I don't have time for a migraine,' he thought miserably. He moved his chair further down the table to avoid the ray of sunlight that came through the window, the brightness worsening his migraine. Rubbing the back of his neck, he picked up his quill, attempting to finish the schedule. He filled in two more boxes before he was forced to stop again, the throbbing in his head growing worse with each passing moment. Taking a deep breath, he tried to ignore his aching head and the rapidly increasing nausea he felt. 'Maybe I'll close my eyes for a minute,' James thought tiredly, folding his arms beneath his head.
He wasn't sure how long he had closed his eyes for, but he was startled by the sound of the office door opening. It was a Hogsmeade weekend; most of the students and all of the prefects had gone down to the little village for an afternoon of entertainment, leaving a very short list of possible people in the room with him. His head shot up from where it had been cradled in his arms as he blinked to clear his vision. "Fuck," he groaned, clutching his head. He had briefly caught sight of a flash of red hair before he squeezed his eyes shut. Of course it would be her.
"James?" Lily called as she shut the door behind her. She quickly crossed the room, bending down slightly to look at him. "Are you okay?"
"Peachy," he grumbled, taking off his glasses to press the heels of his palms against his eyes. His head felt like the Beaters had used it for Quidditch practice; the sound of the chair screeching against the floor as she pulled out her chair only made it worse.
"How you haven't been expelled yet, I'll never know; you're an awful liar," Lily replied as she sat beside. "You're pale as a ghost and you look like you're in pain. You're also trying to shove your hands into your eyes. What's wrong, James? Do you need to go to the hospital wing?"
James opened his hazel eyes slowly, squinting against the light as he put on his glasses. Lily still looked a little blurry to him, but he knew his vision wouldn't be getting better any time soon. "Migraine," he said simply.
Her expression softened at his words, "I don't envy you. Why are you still here then? You should be resting."
"I said I'd finish the schedules," he replied as he glanced at the stack of papers on the table.
"It can wait," Lily answered easily as she stood. "No sense killing yourself to do it now. We can finish it together after dinner."
James looked up at her, rubbing his forehead. "But I promised-"
"And you'll keep your promise. But later," she said firmly, using the prefect voice she had perfected over the past two years. She began gathering up his papers, neatly packing them into his leather backpack before slinging it over her shoulder. "Come on, let's get you in bed," Lily murmured, offering her hand.
He smiled weakly at the red-haired girl−really she was an angel since she was saving him from his work and from his migraine− and took her hand. "Why Evans, if you wanted me in bed, you only had to ask," he joked.
"Shut up, Potter," Lily retorted without heat, still holding his hand as she led him from the office. If he wasn't so distracted by the pain in his head, he might have been tempted to say Lily Evans cared about him. A lot, more than friends would normally care about each other. As it was, he could barely focus on walking and talking about the same time.
"Bloody hell," James moaned, shielding his eyes as they stepped into the brightly lit corridor. "Why's it so bright?"
"Well it is two in the afternoon," she commented lightly. Lily waited for a moment, giving his eyes a chance to adjust before leading him along the halls. He was glad she knew the Hogwarts's shortcuts almost as well as he and the Marauders; he relied on her completely to guide him, only paying attention when she warned him of the trick step or the moving staircases. It was taking far too much energy for him to remain upright. Within minutes, they arrived at the Heads' dormitory, giving the password to enter.
James immediately threw himself onto the long couch in the common room, covering his eyes with his arm. The room was too bright, but he couldn't do anything about it.
"You really should go up to bed," Lily said gently, closing the window drapes with a flick of her wand. "You'll be more comfortable there."
"I won't make it that far," he mumbled in reply. "This is the best I've got." His stomach rolled with nausea at the thought of more movement; he didn't plan on going anywhere anytime soon. The couch was going to become his new best friend.
He was vaguely aware of Lily's retreating footsteps against the thick-carpeted floors and the sound of the wood crackling in the fireplace. He was on the verge of sleep when he heard Lily's voice again. "James," she called softly. "James, sit up."
"Do I have to?" he murmured, opening his eyes slowly. His normally clear eyes were dulled over by pain, the bright colors muted. "I'm tired."
Lily's fingers raked through his hair gently, the soothing sensation causing a soft sigh to leave his lips and his eyes to flutter shut. "I know you are," she crooned. "Just take some medicine and then you can sleep, okay?"
James pushed himself up onto his elbows, pausing as a wave of dizziness washed over him, before sitting up fully. He opened his hand, frowning as Lily placed a small pill into his palm. "Muggle medicine?" he questioned.
"Trust me; it works," she assured him as she handed him a glass of water.
Looking into her green eyes, he tossed the pill into his mouth before gulping down the water. "What are you doing?" he asked as he watched Lily tugging off his trainers.
"If you're going to sleep on the couch, you might as well be comfortable," Lily replied, a light blush on her cheeks as she set his shoes beside the couch. "At least you're not stuck in your robes."
James grinned at her, "I could get use to having a nurse."
"Don't make me leave you to suffer," Lily warned as she sat on the couch beside him. "Now lay back."
He frowned in confusion, "You're in my spot."
She rolled her eyes, her blush deepening. "Put your head on my lap, Potter," she explained. "Merlin, you can be dense."
James knew he should reply to her insult with a comment of his own, but he was still in shock of Lily's words. She wanted him, James Potter, former arrogant toe-rag, to lay his head on her lap. Silently, he stretched out on the couch, his head resting comfortably on her thighs. He stared up at her for a moment, his eyes taking in her delicate features, her red hair falling over her shoulder, before closing his eyes. "If this migraine kills me, tell Sirius he can have my broom, alright?" he joked.
"You're not going to die," she scoffed, gently taking his glasses off and setting them on the table next to the couch. "You will be in a considerable amount of pain for a while, but it'll go away."
He hummed in reply as he felt her soft hands brushing his hair off his forehead, her touch feather-light. Part of him was certain that he was hallucinating from his migraine pain, that there was no way Lily Evans was nursing him back to health, even if they were friends. As he felt something very cold cover his eyes, however, he was positive he was still awake. "Lily, what-"
"Leave it there," Lily said gently, grabbing his wrist as he reached to pull away the damp cloth. "The cold will help with your head."
James slowly moved his hand away, twisting his wrist so he could hold Lily's hand as it rested on his chest. "Lily, You don't need to do this you know," he said sleepily. "If you have other things to do, I'll be alright here; I just need to sleep it off."
"Hush," she replied softly, her free hand raking through his black hair. "I don't need to be anywhere else. Besides, I owe you one, remember?"
A small smile graced James's lips as he squeezed Lily's hand gently. "I remember."
Lily returned his smile, although he couldn't see it. "We look out for each other. Let me look out for you now, alright?"
"Alright," James yawned, his exhaustion and continuing migraine pain threatening to pull him into unconsciousness.
"Sleep, James," Lily crooned, her hand continuing to stroke his hair. "I'm here; it's alright." The last thing James was aware of before he felt asleep was the soothing feeling of Lily's hand in his hair, the warmth of her other hand resting against his chest, and the quiet sound of her humming.
When Sirius walked into the Heads' common room hours later, because of course James would give him the password, why wouldn't he, he was surprised yet unsurprised at the sight that greeted him. The common room was dark as the Forbidden Forest, although it was only after five in the evening. When the Map said James was with Lily in their shared common room, he wasn't shocked, but he was stunned into silence when he saw the pair. James lay asleep across the couch, covered with a Gryffindor blanket. His head was resting on Lily's legs, while he held one of her hands against his chest. He was sure he had never seen James look so peaceful in the seven years he had known him. Lily was also asleep on the couch, her head resting against the back of the chair. A small smile hung on her lips as her free hand rested in James's hair.
The two of them had been dancing around their feelings for quite a while; the sight of them sound asleep together gave Sirius a little hope that they wouldn't be so thick about their feelings for too much longer. Turning on his heel, he quickly left the common room, shutting the door quietly behind him. The plans with the Marauders could wait; James was right where he needed to be.
You know I had such fun writing this one-shot, I think I'll make it a two shot! Reviews please!