I hadn't been able to get to sleep that night. Every time I would squeeze my eyes shut, I'd see different shapes that looked suspiciously like clouds.
And most of those cloud shapes had glasses, crazy disheveled hair, and a dazzling grin.
…Whoa, backtrack there Lily.
When did James Potter's smile become dazzling? When did it stop being the irritating arrogant toeragish smile that made me want to slap his face off?
Well anyway, I hadn't been able to fall asleep forever. Especially when pictures of hot air balloons shaped like Sirius' head started weaving their way through the Potter clouds. And that was just creepy.
So you can imagine, that me not being able to get to sleep until the wee hours of the morning, plus getting shaken awake and shouted at in my ear by Alice the next morning, (or rather…when the sun had come up…) didn't equal the best, peppy, happy Lily.
Not that I was ever that peppy and happy. That was Alice's job.
"Come on Lily, eat your eggs. I can hear the mold growing on them!" Speaking of Alice.
"You can't hear mold Alice." I told her, my voice still slightly groggy, and picked up my fork.
"Whatever. Get your excited face on! We're going to Hogsmeade!"
"I am excited about Hogsmeade. Just not too thrilled that you woke me up at 5 o'clock."
"It's not that bad. Just get to sleep earlier!"
"Believe me, I tried." I glared at her. She moved away a bit, then shrugged.
I winced after I scooped some eggs in my mouth. They were already cold.
Again…should've listened to Alice.
Here I was, the one with the good grades, and didn't have any common sense.
"Hurry up!" Alice jumped up and down in her seat, her plate empty.
I ditched my breakfast, trying to ignore my mother's berating voice pulsing through my head, as I walked away, arm in arm with Alice, leaving my full plate behind.
Alice dragged me all the way into the little town. This little town was probably one of my favorite places in the world, the other being Hogwarts. It was just so cute! Exactly how you imagine the little villages in story books. The decorated, crowded shops, where the owners and people working there know you. The cobble stoned streets. The smells.
I stopped in my tracks, smelling chocolate, and directed our feet to Honeydukes.
"We were here on the last trip to Hogsmeade!" Alice said between laughs.
"I ate all my chocolate already! You should know that Alice. I mean, we have been best friends for six years already."
The aroma just got stronger as we got closer to the tiny, candy filled shop.
"Hey! Alice! Lily! Over here!" I turned to see Frank Longbottom running towards us. I tried to keep on walking, but Alice was rooted to the spot, a blush already starting to dust her cheeks. I sighed, looking up at the heavens, trying to keep my patience.
Then I noticed the sky. Funny, it was all clouded today. No blue at all, even between clouds. It was like a light grey blanket covering the beautiful sky I'd seen just yesterday on the lawn.
I shook my head, bringing my head back to the present before I got too carried away in the memory of yesterday.
"Lily! Lily! Snap out of it! Jeez, I've been doing this all morning so far." Alice waved her hand in front of my face. " Frank saved us a table at the Three Broomsticks."
My eyes widened, and I swung my head to look at Honeydukes. I turned back and gestured towards it.
"Hey Alice, Frank, Ev…er…is Evans having a seizure or something?" Great. Just the voice I wanted to hear. I sent a glare at Potter, who had that stupid, devilish smirk on his face that was NOT handsome what so ever.
"No, I am not having a seizure Potter." I mumbled, and very unwillingly, followed Alice, who was pulling my towards the Three Broomsticks, away from the tempting, delicious chocolate.
The smells inside The Three Broomsticks was good, but not as mouthwatering as Honeydukes. The Marauders had decided to tag along with us, and ordered us all butterbeers.
I sat in the wooden chair, clutching my butterbeer, feeling my lower lip stick out just a tiny bit. But I wasn't pouting. I wasn't upset that we hadn't gone to get my daily need of chocolate. The delicious homemade Honeydukes chocolate that was even better than Cadbury chocolates…
Ok, maybe I was pouting.
Alice, of course, never took her eyes or attention of Frank, so guess who I was stuck with on the other side of the table.
Yup. Three immature sixteen year olds. They were joking about things that made me glare into my drink. Then they'd start talking about Madam Rosmerta's legs. Then Sirius' legs. (I didn't even want to listen to that, but unfortunately, I heard all of it, ). SO basically, all of the immature things you can think of.
Then I saw it. That look. On all three of their faces. That mischievous smirk, the glint in their eyes, and even how they tilted their heads.
No, I do not stalk them. More than anything they stalk me. I know this because I've had to deal with them for six years. Six long years.
"Oh Madam Rosmerta!" Sirius called in a sing songy voice. The bar owner whirled around to our table in the corner, her hand still amazingly balancing the tray in her hands, and smiled when she saw who'd called her over.
"What can I do for you Mr. Black?" she asked loudly across the room as she made her way across the floor.
When she got close enough, Black beckoned her down, and whispered in her ear. For all I knew, he could be whispering sweet nothings. It could be possible from his reputation. Just ask Professor McGonagall.
Rosmerta smiled, and hurried away. She was only gone a second, and came back with three straws. I couldn't help giving them the suspicious eye, that I only had learned to do in first year.
She came back with three straws. Was no one else in this place noticing those grins? Professor Sprout and Hagrid were only three tables away, and seeing nothing. Absolutely nothing.
Sirius slipped his straw in the liquid…and started blowing bubbles in the butterbeer. Lupin immediately burst into a fit of laughter, following in suit, and James grinned, and started blowing the irritating bubbles as well.
How could I have even started to think of the idea the Potter had possibly changed? Even slightly! Yesterday, he was…well, sort of different. Tolerable. That's the word I was looking for. Tolerable. And today, that tolerableness is long gone.
Of course, the only people who minded in the whole bar were the Slytherins scattered throughout the tables, and myself. I hated associating myself with them, but for once, we were both annoyed by the same thing. Cordelia Smith actually got up and left, with that disgusting, pinched, puggy face of hers.
Alice and Frank were laughing on the other side of me. Traitors. "Guys…seriously. It's not that funny." I nudged Potter, pushing his arms so he started laughing even harder, turning to me…
And spurted butterbeer all over me.
The bubbling stopped. And the laughter died down.
"Evans…Evans, I am- I can't even explain how sor-"
"Good. Then don't." I sent him my best glare, got up, and stormed out, shaking off the liquid as best as I could.
"Lils, wait!" Alice yelled after me. I couldn't even stop. I was starting to see red, whether I really was that angry, or my hair was in front of my face.
Once outside, I noticed it was cloudier, but I also noticed the smell wafting from Honeydukes was stronger and even more tempting.
I shook my head, making my hair fall back from my face. Just thinking of Honeydukes made my anger at Potter deflate slightly. But only slightly. And it wasn't just about the butterbeer. I'd actually had a good time with him yesterday, just looking up at the clouds.
And then he had to go and ruin it.
Then finally, I stepped into the glorious smelling shop. Having that aroma slip into my nostrils, just made my whole body relax, my eyes almost rolling back into my head.
There was such a huge selection, for such a tiny shop! Licorice Wands, Chocolate Frogs, Every Flavor Beans, (which I now stayed away from. A long story from second year, involving two sixth year Slytherins, Peeves, a blast ended skrewt, and who else, but the master minds behind this incident. The Marauders. They always ended up in these memories.)
"What's your favorite?" A deep voice came from behind me. I almost jumped in the air. I didn't have to turn to know who it was though.
"Go away." I mumbled, trying to brush past him. But he grabbed my arm, stopping me in my tracks. (That was tending to happen a lot lately when I was trying to get my candy.)
"Lily, please listen to me. I'm sorry. It was a complete accident. I'm so sorry."
Turning to meet those eyes, were the worst thing that happened to me that whole Hogsmeade visit.
His hazel eyes (which were reminding me of chocolate more by the minute,) were wide, like a little puppy dogs. He looked genuinely sorry. And I knew he was.
I lightly pulled my arm away from him, and he stuck his hands in his pockets, licking his lips nervously. It still baffled me that he cared so much whether I forgave him or not.
He still had those pleading puppy dog eyes that just make you want to give him a big bear hug…but that just would've been awkward.
"Milk chocolate." I whispered. James gave me that quizzical look with the one lifted eyebrow. I couldn't stop the small smile from gracing my face. "Milk chocolate is my favorite."
And here come the heart melting James Potter grin. The one he gave me yesterday. Because this was the James Potter that had watched the clouds with me yesterday. The different one. The tolerable one.
Don't ask me how I can tell the difference. Or why this James Potter makes me smile so much.
"What's your favorite then?" James seemed to debate that in his head, his eyes grazing over all of the selections.
"I'd have to say the dark chocolate frogs with the caramel in them." He answered thoughtfully, picking up one. "I really am sorry, Lily." he said again, the worry evident in my eyes.
I rolled my eyes playfully, "Don't worry about it Potter."
I filled one of the Honeydukes bags to the brim with my favorite little milk chocolate squares.
"That'll be three galleons." The cashier said. And before my hand was even at my pocket, six gold coins were thrown on the table. James just grinned at me, grabbing his own bag.
"May I escort you back to the castle?" He held out his arm, waggling his eyebrows Sirius style.
Rolling my eyes again, I nodded and took his arm. "That would be lovely."
The sky was almost dark, except for the pink ribbon streaming at the other end of town.
"I'll trade you one of your milk chocolates for one of my chocolate frogs." He offered. For some reason, the thought that he was still trying to make up for the incident in The Three Broomsticks.
I imitated his debating look from before. "Agreed."
I could really get used to this James Potter. If only he was around as often as the other identity. The one everyone else saw.