The Key to Apparition is CONCENTRATION
Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter.
The man standing up at the front is an absolute idiot.
I've already read all of this information in books from the library. He's a ministry apparition instructor for Merlin's sake! He's meant to know more than the books in Hogwarts library. He's not meant to just collate six books worth of information into a five minute speech! How am I going to be able to apparate before Potter can if I don't get any more information about apparition?
Woah Lily! Woah! You actually have a goal to beat James Potter?
Stop eyes, stop! Stop staring at him!
Come on, he's not that great looking. Actually, I think I'm kidding myself. He is so cute. Sigh.
Ok. Note to self: do not let him catch you staring at him.
I know what I'll do. I'll look at him for ten seconds and then look away. Then he might not notice.
Starting from now.
1
He's talking to his three best friends: Sirius Black, Remus Lupin and Peter Pettigrew.
2.
Why can't they be quiet? I have to listen to Mister-what's-his-name to make sure I can apparate in my first go. I've read so many books on it; apparition can't be that hard.
3
They say apparition is easy as long as you concentrate on the place you want to go really hard.
4
Don't ask me why I'm looking at Potter then. Hang on. I know why. It's that awesome hair. How I wish I could run my hands through it –
5.
Go Professor McGonagall! I think she deserves a highly commendable certificate for those vocal cords! She's going to have no voice for a week. And all just to tell Potter and his gang off…
6
I feel so sorry for her. They only listened for a tenth of a second and then went back to whispering hurriedly again. Potter's hazel eyes are sparkling slightly. Is that physically possible? Or is it just in my head?
7
Maybe I should ask Alice. No, I cannot ask Alice whether James Potter's eyes are sparkling! She'd think I like Potter! Not that she doesn't think I don't have a crush on Potter at the moment anyway. Why didn't I pick a best friend who was oblivious to the thoughts of others?
'Lily.'
8
No! I will not answer! I have 1.75 more seconds of looking at Potter and his bright, twinkling eyes. I could stare at those eyes forever…
'Lily!'
9
Oh! Those gorgeous eyes just blinked.
AT ME!
Turn away, Lily! Before it's too late. Come on. Keep blinking! Blame it on the eye lash in your eye. Don't smirk at me Potter! I have not been looking at you for the past 9.57 seconds.
'LILY!'
10
Oh, a distraction! An excuse to look away from Potter's hazel eyes. Except, the voice belongs to Alice.
Oh no. Lily Evans, you are so dead.
'Yes, Al?'
Keep it cool, Lily. Act innocent. Remember: smile and nod. After all: innocent until proven guilty.
'What have you been doing for the past few seconds?'
McGonagall is going to look at us and tell us off for talking! I could receive my first ever detention!
'Oh…um…nothing much…'
Hmmm. Pathetic answer. What happened to keeping calm?
'Oh, really, Lil? Nothing at all?'
Alice! Stop raising your eyebrows at me! I'm being honest! Nothing was happening. Don't see straight through me!
'Just had an eye lash in my eye.'
Good comeback, Lil. You actually managed a sentence this time.
'And of course you had to blink in the particular direction to your right where a particular person is standing?'
ALICE! Just pretend you didn't catch me, ok? Get a grip. That is not going to happen so make something up. Ummm…
'Well…um…I didn't want to face you or the professors when I was blinking my eye to get the lash out. You…uh…might have thought it was…uh…rude?'
Mental slap. Why did I make that last statement a question?
'It's rude to blink? I haven't heard that one before.'
Why do I feel like a little kid being told off by their parent?
'It's a habit my mum does; you know, it goes through the family.'
'Hmmm…'
She's still raising her eyebrows at me. She so does not believe my lame excuse. Ok. Need an idea for a change of subject. Immediately.
Um…Um…
'Hey Lil, why is Potter staring at you? I thought he stopped doing that months ago.'
Damn. Too late to change the subject. I have to answer intelligently so that she won't think that I like Potter. I wouldn't want my best friend to draw the wrong conclusions.
'I don't know.'
Very intellectual. Tell me again, how I managed to get straight 'O's on my OWLs?
'Maybe he likes you.'
'Don't be silly, Alice.'
Wow. I got that sentence out quick. Perhaps my mouth is finally catching up to my brain.
'Well of course he likes you. Hasn't he been asking you out since 3rd year?'
'…'
Maybe not. Is it possible to get brain transplants? I need a brain that actually thinks properly.
'Yeah, well…uh…he was only joking.'
'From the look in his eyes at the moment, I wouldn't say that.'
Maybe I was right about the twinkling eyes!
'Now everyone! Remember the three Ds!'
Mister-what's-his-name is just finishing up his speech.
'The key to apparition is concentration. Step one: fix your mind firmly on you desired destination – in this case the hoop in front of you.'
Ok, I can do this. I can beat Potter.
'Step two: focus your determination to occupy the visualized space. Let your yearning to enter it flood from your mind to your body.'
Oh. I can just imagine his face when I manage to apparate before he does. I can see his glittering hazel eyes –
'Step three: Only when I give the command, turn on the spot, feeling your way to nothingness, moving with deliberation.'
I am going to do this. All it is is concentration.
'On my command…one – two – THREE!'
I half turn on the spot. There is a little 'pop' and everything goes black and I am being pressed hard from all direction. A moment later, I open my eyes.
Two strong arms are wrapped around my back, making sure that I stay up-right, and I am facing someone. It isn't Alice.
'Lily, are you alright?'
I know that voice. I look up into the speaker's face. There are two wonderful sparkling eyes looking over me. I sigh and smile.
Hang on.
Get that smile off your face, Lily!
You just apparated into the arms of James Potter! Not good! Not good at all!
James is smiling slightly. Not a smirk, just a smile. You know, he's exactly the right height for me. I could fit my head perfectly under his chin.
'As they say,' Sirius says coming up behind James, 'the key to apparition is concentrating on Destination, Determination and Deliberation.'
He is smirking at me.
Argh! What am I doing? Potter will think that I like him now!
'Uh, James?'
He doesn't answer and instead gives me a questioning look. I don't think I've ever called him 'James' before.
'I just have … a … um … a headache.'
Without further explanation, I disconnect James's hands from around my back and run to the door of the Great Hall.
'Lily!'
As I'm going through the door, I see that James has a complete love struck look on his face; his hazel eyes twinkling madly.
A/N: Hmmm… I wrote this fic in a very different style from my other fics. Please tell me if you thought it was any good.
BTW: I am still updating my other fics so if you're interested have a look at them.
Should I leave this as a one-shot?
Or should I have a second chapter or a sequel?
Maybe if I get enough review I'll think about it…
Hint, hint:)
Redglasses :)
