Just a caution – there is one swear word in this chapter…I couldn't help it! You have been warned!
Chapter Two – Attraction
It was a comforting sound, the scratching of quills on parchment. Lily believed that it kept her in a happy mood, especially now as she sat alone in the library trying to complete her Potions essay on the several uses of invisibility. The topic was interesting and the number of books, which Lily had scoured for under the beady eye of the librarian, were very entertaining reads.
Elated, Lily smiled as she continued on her quest for another perfect grade in her work. Although some of her peers might feel like a loner or a geek staying in the school library on their own, for the Head Girl it was her sanctuary. It gave her exactly what she needed: books, peace and 'her' time. After six years of it being her only refuge, it was a hard habit to break now that she had the Heads' dormitory.
Stretching her back from hunching over the table, her shoulders cried out in pain at the movement. They had become cramped from the hours of dedicated studying. Lily winced as she slowly rotated one arm then the other backwards. Looking around to find something to grab her attention away from the dull ache, Lily's green eyes widened in surprise. It was definitely an interesting sight.
Sitting three tables away from her was a small boy; a first year with brown curly hair who was glancing at his helper with confusion over what appeared to be Transfiguration homework. It wasn't this young boy who caught Evans' attention. No, it was the helper – James Potter.
She watched with slight fixation, as the Head Boy smiled down at the first year in reassurance and ruffled the little boy's hair in a brotherly gesture. The atmosphere was relaxed and comforting as they tried to work out the problem together. Without realising it or even meaning too, Lily's lips twitched into a genuine smile as she continued to gaze upon them undisturbed. The back of her brain echoed that the picture rendered both boys cute while Lily's heart whispered "James would be a great father".
Lily stared intently at the occupied table waiting for Potter to do something, anything wrong to prove to her heart that James Potter was still the git she believed him to be. Then the realisation stuck her between the eyes figuratively. I don't think he is anymore, I haven't seen him behaviour that way since the beginning of sixth year. Damn him! Why did he have to change? Why!
As Lily proceeded to outright ogle the pair, her mind was in a bizarre turmoil. She couldn't fathom why she cared if James had changed for the better, why she was so intent on hating him and why she ever conjured up the idea that James was indeed the most handsome and eligible boy…no, man in Hogwarts. Definitely more good-looking than Sirius Black…man whore!
Totally fed up that her mind had taken over her body with such enticing thoughts, Lily concluded that banging said head off the oak table's surface would help to eradicate feelings forever. However, knowing that she was in a library and that noise was forbidden, Lily cushioned the thud with a old, leather bounded book. Closing her eyes to block out the cosy picture in front of her, Lily mumbled negatives of having Potter as Head Boy as she tried to discard warm, tender images of wonderful James.
In those five minutes of gawking at him helping a younger student, Lily had noted that James had the messiest hair ever, which she admitted grudgingly would look wrong on anyone. Even Sirius Black, womaniser of Hogwart, couldn't pull off having such bizarre hair. In fact, if she was being honest, the hair was an endearing part of his playful character. Every time James found himself in trouble from a Marauders' prank, the innocent look or puppy eyes were given credibility by his black hair flopping into his eyes making him such an angelic boy.
Now, Lily just wanted to make sure that her other assumption was correct- was it soft under her fingers? The Head Girl wondered if she could use some excuse to examine Potters' hair. This idea was followed up with Lily banging her head several times in quick succession.
It was not like Sirius' hair, a dark chocolate shade, James hair was jet-black and in certain lighting, a blue sheen would appear in some lighting. The habit of ruffling his locks had driven Lily crazy when he was asking her out every day in fifth year, but she could freely admit that it was because she wanted to play with it. Lily's flaming red hair had annoyed her as a little child of four and still did…she always imaged having glossy black hair like the exotic princess from the East in fairytales such as Aladdin. Subconsciously Lily pouted as she realised that James had her favourite hair and that she was extremely jealous.
Another irritation of Potter's which she was envious of was his natural ability to make everything look so easy! For instance, on Lily's off days, which she had more often that good days, the simply thing of balance was a tricky to perform. Half of the day would be spent on the floor, picking up her school objects that she had somehow managed to scatter across it as she tried to walk without tripping over her own feet. Inevitably, James would suddenly materialise from around the corner to see such clumsiness from the Head Girl and help her with the 'Potter Charm' smile that left her weak in the knees.
James infuriated Lily even more when she spent three solid days working through a piece of homework while he leaves it to the night before and still receives perfect marks. Plus he never gloats….ever!.
What is inside his brain! Lily pondered this as she hit her head off of the book again. Merlin's beard! I will not think of Potter anymore!
The Head Girl would have broken her vow and listed many other traits of the delightful James Potter however she discovered that her head was being cushioned by something softer than a hard copy of a book…in fact it felt like a body part. A hand to be precise.
Stopping half way down, Lily cautiously opened her eyes to peer at the person who would venture on stopping the Head Girl doing what she had to do. Firstly, she noticed the hand had long fingers that belonged to a male yet looked quite feminine. Following her eyes up she met the arm and chest area. Accidentally, through the school's white shirt, Lily noted a firm, muscled upper body which brought a slight blush to her face.
This guy must play Quidditch! Her brain noted with a certain dreading feeling creeping from her stomach. Her mind continued to comment, quite delicious I must say!
A soft, angry growl was beginning from the bottom of Lily's throat. She just knew who it was. There was no other explanation. When reaching the face, Lily was assaulted by a dazzling smile from her Head Boy.
No! Not mine, Lily reprimanded herself. The flush deepened on her face.
As she waited for an answer, Lily was mesmerized by James' gorgeous features. She was so near to him. His hazel eyes held plenty of mischief as he gazed down directly into her eyes. They were an unusual colour – chocolate brown with flicks of gold hidden behind a pair of glasses.
Captivating, Lily thought, the only word to describe them.
Then she noticed the famous Potter smirk. That smile had charmed its way into many girls' heart and Lily had prided herself on not falling for it. However, without the conceit it had held in the past Lily felt her stomach swoon, her palms sweating slightly, and her whole body rise in temperature.
Must be the heating in the library, Lily concluded.
No words were spoken between the two as they held each other by their eyes. James slowly moved his hand from the book to capture a loose strand of Lily's hair. Twiddling it round his finger, he grinned even further when Lily made no objections to the intimate action. Lily Evans could not believe that one person could have so many different smiles, each one better than the last. She was melting…
No I am not! Get a grip girl!
As Lily's throat was dried, she tried coughing to rework her vocal cords and consequently breaking the stare. "What do you want Potter?" Lily asked politely, finally recovered, slightly.
"Welcome back to planet earth Lily", James said with a hint of humour, "I hope your landing was soft." He grinned at the small witch for he had notice the blush on her cheeks as she recognised his presence.
Lily scowled. "Why have you come all the way over here to place your hand where I was enjoying hitting my head off of the book?"
"Dear Lily," James replied with stricken expression on his face, clutching a hand to his heart, "I wasn't saving you! I was saving the book…"
Lily's green eyes flashed, then narrowed. "What is it Potter?"
In a second, James became serious, dropping her strand of hair and crossing his arms while perching himself on the table. "Have you eaten dinner?"
Lily didn't want to lie to him but never wanted to admit that she had been in here since lunchtime on a Saturday. She went for silence. Non committal to either yes or no.
"Just what I thought", James threw up his hands in the area, "right then! We're going to the kitchen. We can't have the Head Girl wasting away in front of the student body." He twisted around to face where Lily had been staring a few minutes before. "Hey Stuart, going to have to call it a night", James said loudly as the boy nodded with apparent relief, "damsel in distress", he pointed to Lily and rolled his eyes jokingly.
This little episode did not please Lily. She hated having people help her or even being dependent on anyone particularly if it happen to be the very good looking Quidditch Captain of the Gryfindor.
James was faced with a red hot tempered Head Girl who was glaring him to death with her emerald eyes. James tried not to laugh at the situation, knowing that he would be in deeper trouble than he already was. She's so adorable when angry.
"Bye James", called the small boy as he practically ran out of the library.
James did a semi-wave but his concentration was now reserved for the lady in front.After scolding himself for not noticing her earlier, he couldn't believe his luck when he had spotted her banging her head. There she was all alone, looking extremely pretty even with the bedraggled appearance and hurting herself. What more could a teenage boy ask for? James let his mind answer that as he grabbed Lily Evans' hand and pulled her out of the chair.
So small! The corner of his lips twitched. But they fit perfectly in mine!
"Where are you taking me?" demanded the still annoyed Lily. If she could stop James she would have stomped the floor like a spoilt child.
"The kitchens for food", James replied slowly as if he was talking to a small child.
"It's out of bounds for students and I'm not hungry!" Lily was going to protest that she was fine but her traitorous stomach gave a low growl.
This brought a huge grin to James as he dragged her out and down the corridor. "My dear Lily-flower you can't lie to James Potter. He knows everything", he said close to her ear, causing her stomach to lurch again but for an entirely different reason.
"Oh yes, I forgot that I should be basking in the aura of the great James Potter!" Lily muttered sarcastically back. Unnerved by the nice smell of his body.
"You don't have to overdo it Evans", James said humouring her as he swung his arm casually over her shoulders, bringing them closer together, "but I won't say no to some flattery now and then." He winked at her, putting the usually serious Head Girl out of sorts. "Come on Lily don't get mad at me! I was joking. You can be as vile as you want."
Lily glanced up at James and flashed him a tired smile. "Sorry for not being my usual self…I'm slightly out of sorts…don't know why."
"Well, let wise old Prongs have a go", he said nudging her in the shoulder, "but first lets get to the kitchen before Mrs Norris can smell us and be the tattle-tale that she is!"
This brought a small chuckle from Lily, which lit up James' face instantly making Lily blush at how handsome he really was up close, before slapping herself mentally again.
Reaching a picture with a bowl of fruit, James threw a wink over his broad shoulder to a bemused Lily before tickling the pear. As the picture swung inwards to reveal a large kitchen, Lily was astounded. She never believed it was so easy to break the school rules and then she was amazed at the sheer size of the kitchen. Lily kept on glancing this way and that way to really get a scope of how huge the Hogwarts kitchen was. It seemed like endless.
James adored the childish glee on Lily's face as her eyes widened in great surprise. Calling out her name to capture her attention, James led her to a small table where an elf suddenly appeared from nowhere.
James jumped in before Lily could breathe a word. "The usual," he stated calmly as the Head Girl gawked at him.
"How many times have you been down here?"
James grinned and tapped the side of his nose. "Can't tell you that dear, tis a secret of the Marauders." Then he laughed which ended any feeling that Lily had at exploding at him for not telling her.
When the several yummy deserts arrived at the table both Heads delved right in. There were a couple of things that Lily did not recognise which James took delight in teasing her about. With their bellies full, each was very content and a peaceful mood fell over them.
Lily had to stop herself from glancing over at James so many times as he sat back, swinging on his chair with his eyes closed and a satisfied smile spread across his face.
Before she could stop, her heart whispered, He really is attractive outside and in – a good soul.
Lily Evans was definitely going to hell or worst – St.Mungo's deranged ward, permanently.
XXXX
Righto! Sorry for the swear word but it was only one! How did you like this? Think I'm staying true to the characters? Have your say and review please! Thanks!
