Chapter 2: Its Going to Take Some Time
"Plan?" asked James interestedly, "You mean that you two actually want me and Lily together?"
"Of course we do, silly," giggled Alice, "You two are like Heathcliff and Cathy, Romeo and Juliette, you're meant to be!"
"Really? Because I was under the impression that Lily really didn't like me?"
"Well, she thinks she hates you, but really, she loves you! You're all she talks about," said Marlene.
James' heart leapt. He was all Lily talked about. If she really hated him, she would try to ignore him, but she enjoys complaining about him, which means she enjoys thinking about him. James internally high-fived himself.
"Whats your plan then?" asked James excitedly.
"I'll hand over to Remus for this one, after all he is the brains of the operation," said Alice, "Remus."
"Thank you, Alice," replied Remus graciously, sweeping his mousy brown hair from his eyes, he cleared his throat, "We have come up with a completely fool proof plan to get you and Lily spending more time together. You need to fail potions."
"What?" asked James, "Fail potions? Me? Remus, you know I've been trying that for a few years, I hate the subject!"
"I see what Lily means about arrogance!" said Alice loudly, and James shot daggers at her.
"That's it, Prongs!" said Sirius, "that's why Lily hates your guts, because you think its impossible for you to fail at anything. You need to show that you aren't so conceited."
"Wow!" said Alice in amusement, "Something useful actually came out of Sirius' mouth, he must really care about this." This time it was Sirius who shot daggers at her, while James, Remus and Peter howled with laughter.
"So all I have to do is stop being good at potions, and ask Lily to tutor me?"
"Yup," said Sirius, "Plus, you guys have dorms next to each other now you're Heads."
"About that," said James, "I don't think I'm going to take that dorm, it'll just make Remus' 'furry little problem' harder."
Sirius looked at him and said slyly, "I'm sure we can take care of his furry friend on our own, if you're busy."
"Stop with the 'furry problem' stuff!" said Alice suddenly, "We've known since 5th Year!"
"Whatever are you talking about Alice?" asked Peter cluelessly, "What is there to know?"
"About Remus' condition you dolt!" said Alice, hitting Peter on the head with her Witch Weekly magazine.
Remus jumped suddenly, he hadn't known anybody else was aware he was a werewolf, "Y-You mean… you know?" he whispered to the girls, who nodded slowly.
"Duh!" said Marlene, "Lily worked it out, you were ill every month at the full moon, it doesn't take a genius to work it out!"
"Yeah," agreed Alice, "Which made us seriously wonder about the intelligence of our year at school. No one else knows."
"But you guys don't care, do you?" asked James.
"Nope," said Alice, "To us he's still brainy ol' Remus!"
Remus smiled a really genuine smile, which was a rare thing, and Alice gave him a big hug. James left the group, and continued his patrol of the corridors, he was too, smiling a genuine smile of delight.
By the time James got back to his compartment, it was dark outside. Lily was still sitting in the same seat, reading the same book.
"Hey, Lily," said James, Lily jumped at the sound of James calling her by her first name, it sounded nice, "The guys at the front said that we'll be there in about 10 minutes, and that the Heads should 'spread the word'"
"Humph!" she said indignantly, "You could have told me earlier, Potter! Where were you for 3 hours?"
"I went to see the guys, they were with Alice and Marlene… Then I patrolled the corridors for a while… then I got something from the trolley…" recited James.
"Aha!" Lily shouted, "Food! Of course, when have you and Sirius ever not been hungry?"
"We're teenage boys! Its in our nature to eat all day every day! Plus with all the Quidditch-"
"Oh would you just shut up for one second about Quidditch!" said Lily angrily, "The world doesn't revolve around that stupid sport!"
"Maybe if you'd join the team you'd think differently?" said James kindly.
"Well…" for a moment it seemed as though she was considering it before she said, "Go to hell, Potter!" and she stormed out of the compartment, leaving James to pack up his bag, and follow her.
"We'll be there in 10 minutes," he said monotonously, knocking on the compartment door of some giggly 4th years, who blushed at him, and giggled even more.
James was sick of this happening to him. Sirius was the good-looking one, he always had been. James had always been the goofy one with messy hair and a crooked grin. That was until he was about 14, and suddenly grew about a foot, taking him from dorky side-kick, to full blown hottie. This did come with perks, like free drinks at the Three Broomsticks when Rosmerta, the barmaid was serving, and a date with any girl he wanted, apart from Lily, the only girl he truly wanted. That was going to change this year, James thought confidently, The guys came up with a fool proof plan.
James continued knocking on compartment doors, and shouting out his message boredly. Why was he Head Boy? He hadn't wanted it, that had always Remus' dream, James almost felt guilty for taking it away from him. He had owled Dumbledore, to check it wasn't a mistake, but he had stayed firm. James Potter needed to be Head Boy. That was fine by him, it meant he got lots of Lily-Time.
The train had come to a halt, and there was now steam billowing out around Hogsmeade station. He looked through the crowd of bustling students trying to get off the train for Lily, but she wasn't there.
"Prongsie!" a familiar voice broke him from his dazed trance, James looked down to see Sirius, who was a good three inches shorter than him, standing in the corridor with a crying child, who looked too young for a first year, "I found this" he pointed at the crying girl "on the floor." He pushed the girl over to James, who grinned widely at her.
"Whats your name?" asked James kindly, crouching down to the girl, who was probably about four.
"Lily," the girl snuffled at him. Sirius whistled and gave James a cheeky look. James shot one back as if to say 'Ha-Ha, very funny, now eff off.' Sirius scarpered.
"That's a pretty name," replied James, smiling at her in a fatherly way, "Whats wrong, sweetie?"
"I was hiding in my sister's trunk for school… and I falled asleep… and I waked up here! I want my mummy!" and she began to cry again. James whipped out his wand, and conjured a small teddy bear up, then handed it to her.
James hushed her, "Shh, its ok, don't cry… I'll find your sister, she'll get your mummy… do you want me to carry you?"
The little girl nodded, and said, "My sister is Alice Prince," before sticking her thumb in her mouth.
James chuckled, trust Alice to have such a crazy little sister. He picked up the little girl, and put her on is shoulders in a fireman's lift. The train was empty now, and Sirius had deserted him. James walked along the carriage, and opened the door. He stepped carefully down the train steps, and onto the platform, where only a handful of students remained. All the while a certain red-head had been watching James Potter from one of the compartments, sighing.
"Oi!" James shouted above the sound of the train, "Alice! I think I have something of your's on my shoulder!"
Alice, Marlene, Sirius, Remus and Peter were standing in a small huddle not too far away, waiting for James and Lily. Alice saw what was on James' shoulder, and ran over.
"What? Oh my god! Lily! What are you doing here sweetie?" she took Lily off James' shoulder and placed her on the ground.
"It seems like she stowed away in your trunk, Alice," said James calmly, "She was pretty shaken up earlier, but she calmed down when I gave her that Teddy."
Alice smiled kindly at him, "Thank you James, I really can't understand why Lily can't see the good side of you. You're funny, charming, and kind, I hear Sirius scarpered at the sight of this little munchkin!"
James laughed, "Yeah, he did. Don't worry about Lily though, I'm sure she'll come around, but its going to take some time."
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