A/N: I'm not sure, but I think I might put a dream/memory in each chapter. What do you think? I hope you guys are enjoying the story so far.
Lily was particularly distracted during Charms class. Between her dream, Alice's news and her conversation with James, she really couldn't concentrate on silencing the frog before her. "Lily, are you alright?" Professor Flitwick asked from the front of the class. Lily felt the eyes of most her classmates focus on her. 'Great' she thought to herself. "I'm fine, Professor," she replied, wishing she could hide. Emmeline tapped her on the shoulder.
"What's the matter?" she whispered. Lily really did not feel like announcing what was on her mind, especially not to Emmeline. Had Emmeline somehow known that James would try again to ask Lily out today? Impossible.
"Did you put him up to it?" Lily asked forcefully, when the class was dismissed. Emmeline eyed her suspiciously. "Put who up to what?" Lily could tell her friend wasn't lying, "Oh my God, did he ask you out?"
"Only for the millionth time," Lily kicked an unsuspecting suit of armor, "Sorry."
"Well," Emmeline sighed, "You know what I think you should do. But follow your heart, Lils."
"Merlin!" Lily cried, "It sounds like you think I'm interested in him." Emmeline shrugged.
"Well aren't you?" Lily stopped walking and stalked off in the other direction.
Lily could hear her friends calling after her but she didn't go back. Lily had no idea where she was going; she just walked. "Follow my heart?" Lily paced back and forth in front of the beech tree; "She's making it out like a soap opera." Someone came up behind her.
"Hey Mudblood," Snape shouted. He was surrounded by a large group of Slytherins. Lily could clearly see Malfoy and Mulciber leering at the front. She felt a shiver run down her spine.
"What do you want Snivellus," she tried to sound confident but there was a catch in her throat.
"You see," Malfoy stepped forward, "We thought we'd make an example of what happens to filthy little Mudbloods like you." He pulled out his wand and Lily screamed.
"Expelliarmus," someone yelled from behind. Lily felt faint. The last thing she saw before passing out was the Slytherins backing away, looking angry. Very angry indeed.
"Lily," someone was shouting nearby, "Lily, wake up!" she felt herself being shaken into consciousness. Lily tried to hit the person; make them go away. She just wanted to sleep but it was too late now. Her eyes fluttered open to reveal a pair of hazel eyes very close to her face. "James, what are you doing?" her words came out slurred.
"I thought you died," real panic was in his voice. There was a soft girlish giggle from behind him. "What? So I'm not aloud to care?" he half-shouted at the person.
"Don't stop on my behalf," Emmeline's voice sounded. There was a moment when the two stared at each other.
"Let's go gents," James turned to leave and Lily noticed for the first time that the Marauders were present. "Thank you," Lily said, her voice barely audible. James turned and gave her a small nod then left. The three other boys left behind him. Lily thought Sirius looked angrier than usual, and Remus looked absolutely horrified. That other little boy seemed to be in tears. Lily couldn't quite put the pieces together to create such different moods from the usually mischievous Marauders.
Dorcas rushed to Lily's side. "Are you okay?" she was in tears, "I've never been so worried in my life." She pulled Lily into a hug that nearly crushed her ribs.
"Ah Dorcas," Amelia stepped forward awkwardly, "I think you're killing her." Dorcas instantly released Lily and sat on the end of the hospital bed.
"What happened?" Lily coughed. Her friends looked between themselves.
"No one really knows Lil," Alice said softly. Lily couldn't believe this.
"Did anybody see?" Her friends shook their heads.
"Wait," Mary blurted, "James might have." Emmeline stared at her and gave her head a slight shake. Very small, but Lily noticed. "Or not," Mary added.
"I think I'm going to go back to sleep guys," Lily said weakly. Before they even left, she felt her eyes droop and sleep approach her.
Lily sat in an empty compartment at the back carriage of the Hogwarts Express. It was her first year and she was extremely nervous – shaking in fact. A boy with greasy dark hair ran in. "Hey Severus," she piped up, seeing her neighbor and friend.
"Lily, some boys," he panted, "they're chasing after me." Lily barely had time to process this when two tall, handsome boys stepped into the compartment. They were both looking at Lily's friend.
One of them seemed to notice Lily. "Hey," he said boldly, "I'm James Potter," he sat down beside her. "Hi," Lily said, feeling slightly giddy, "I'm Lily, Lily Evans." The James boy smiled and his hazel eyes sparkled. "Pleasure to meet you," he said in the same smart voice. "Enough talk James," the other boy interrupted, "What are we going to do to this one?" he jerked his thumb at Severus. Lily looked around the compartment, extremely confused.
"Right," James said, his voice hard and cold, "Well Snivelly," his friend laughed, "What to do with you?"
"Leave me alone," Severus spoke weakly. The two taller boys laughed maliciously.
"Leave him alone!" Lily yelled, pushing James out of the way. He looked at her, stunned.
"You know what Sirius," he turned to his friend, "I don't even know if he's worth our time." The two boys turned on their heels and left.
"What horrid people," Lily thought aloud. Severus sat down beside her.
"Don't let them get to you," his voice shook slightly.
"It's not me I'm worried about," she glared at the spot where James had stood moments before. "I'm fine Lily," his voice was returning to normal, "No really, I'm fine."
Lily woke up again covered in sweat, but this time she wasn't in her dorm. She started to panic until she realized she was still in the hospital wing. It was late now. Lily could only just make out the lights in the window across from her bed. 'Why does Em think I should go out with James?' Lily thought, 'He was dreadful from the first moment we met,' she sighed to herself, 'well, not the very first moment and he is kind of 'different' now.' Lily gave up thinking about James and fell into a dreamless slumber.