Chapter 2
"Realizing Lily"
abc.
Lily Evans was London, England where I was born and raised. Her initals even fit it to perfection.
Classy, and British. Sophisticated, and old-fashioned. Busy, though calm and lovely. Lily was pulchritudinous. England was...statuesque.
I'd imagine if England could talk it would sound much like her. So bloody British. So headstrong, and stubborn, but pure in a way that's absolutely breathtaking.
Lily's parents were happily...divorced. She had a horse-toothed, bitch of a sister, and really...this whole world outside of Hogwarts that nobody quite realized was there for her.
The Potter's family would love her. Just take her in, and never want to let her go. Being so outspoken, and beautiful, well, my Mum always was more in love with Lily than I was.
I am James Potter, and I tried my hardest to ignore the debutante Lily Evans.
-
Normal point of view.
-
"Why are you carrying Evans' bag?" An eyebrow-raised James Potter asked his best friend as he sauntered into Friday breakfast.
"Will give me a reason to talk to her later." Sirius Black grinned, and set down beside Remus, across from James.
Remus Lupin was a sandy-haired boy, with pretty blue eyes. Just, simple, lovely, blue eyes. Nothing more to describe then that. He was handsome.
And Peter wasn't even worth describing.
"She's rather good-looking, isn't she, Padfoot? 'Wonder what could be going on there." Remus offered a slight eye roll, but couldn't help but grin his one-dimpled grin.
"Absolutely nothing, chum. So shut up, yeah. And she's not just rather good-looking. She's rather gorgeous."
James laughed quietly for a moment, his eyes on his plate, so he didn't notice his friends looking at him strangely.
"It's a fact, not an opinion, Prongs." Sirius said flatly, loading up his own breakfast dish.
"James doesn't like Evans much," Remus informed Sirius, who sniggered in response.
"I couldn't tell. Do you often call people you don't even know, judgmental bitches?" Sirius Black always had an airy tone of voice, and it just seemed to work well in situations where akwardness arose.
"Bloody hell, like it matters. I'm just the quiet, Head Boy. S'not like it's going to affect her much." Sirius always seemed to deflate James. James Potter had a way of being quiet, yet the slightest bit arrogant when he was around his friends. But when Sirius spoke to him like he had better smarten up, or stop acting like an ass, or something of the like James's voice went even quieter than normal, going beyond a registered mutter.
James, of course, had his affect on Sirius at times. Both could build the other's confidence up, and knock them down just as quickly. James discovered that you couldn't be friends with Sirius Black, and expect to be a quiet, passive, person. But it's what James was much of the time, so he had to have his own ways of kicking Black where it hurt.
And as mentioned by Sirius before, James throwing a word in before 'asshole' or 'bastard' was meant to be taken quite litterally.
He called him an evil, cunning bastard, once Sirius didn't speak to him for weeks.
So, anyways, Sirius was trying his best to guilt James Potter, just as Lily Evans was making her way to her end of the table...
"Saw Sirius has your bag? Why's that?" Jada asked with a sly grin forming on her lips, as she buttered her toast.
I really wasn't in the mood for her. I saw where Carter's hand was currently sliding up her leg, and as IF she really wanted to talk to me right now Just making conversation. Plus, it was none of her business. Did I ever know when she got a new boyfriend? Or when her PARENTS declared they were getting divorced? Hell, I don't even know when she's mad at me.
So it was none of her business that Sirius had tied my shoes quite well, and had carried my bag in, and hadn't gave it back. None at all. Because there was no business to be hers. There was none to be mine, for christ's sake. It was nothing. Right.
"I don't know." I responded a few minutes too late. She probably didn't even notice me sat there brooding as I shovelled cold, scrambled eggs onto my plate. Whatever.
"What do you mean, you don't know?" She half-giggled, playfully shoving Carter off. Why was I friends with her again?
"He just carried it in for me, I guess. I don't know. Shut up." I twirled my fork around the eggs, and then pushed the plate aside, picking my goblet of orange juice up, and sipping from it.
Jada laughed her cute, little, laugh Which I hated and then whispered to Carter...in a loud voice, so I could hear, but she could pretend like she thought I wouldn't.
"God, PMS much?"
I wanted to cry again, and punch James Potter, and push Jada off some cliff. Not Carter, though. Because he really was sweet. I don't know how she ended up with him.
As she whispered, loudly, to him he made an apolegetic face to me, and shook his head as she giggled more. Good, I hope he dumps her, and just breaks her heart. Of course, then I'll have to hear about it.
I don't know. She's so...attention-seeking. She always has been. When we were 11, and 12ish...everybody thought it was cute. But when you're almost 18, and still whining and throwing yourself at any boy that looks your way...Well. It's not very attractive. People feel sorry for her, I know. Her parents divorced last year. She pretended to take it hard. I don't know if she actually did or not. I don't even know the real her anymore. I used to, and I miss that. She was a sweet person, who used to send you a letter just to see how your day went. God, I don't know what happened, and lately it's becoming apparent to me that I don't bloody well care.
Friends suck. Girls suck. Catty whores. And Sirius's somewhat of an invitation to start hanging out with the Marauders was seeming SO appealing as I stormed to their end of the table, wanting to grab my bag.
I straightened my blouse out, and took a deep breath as I walked quickly down to the Marauders.
"Yes luv?" Sirius asked, while turning around, before he even knew who it was. See? Charm just seeps from him.
"Can I, um, have my school bag?" I asked rather awkwardly. Sirius was...intimidating. Even if it was my school bag.
He laughed for a second, and then picked it up from where it sat behind him. "It is yours. You need not ask, m'dear."
"Thanks." I murmured, feeling James's eyes on me as I took the bag, and I continued my dash-like walk out of the Hall.
"Something the matter, Evans?" On my way to Transfiguration class. High-tailing it, and trying my damndest to avoid anybody's glances, as I wiped furiously at threatening tears.
I'd be about 20 minutes early for class anyways, but I didn't care. God, I didn't care. This is all that seems to matter anymore. Bloody classes. Because everybody else was slowly losing focus, and grasp, and new people were forcing their way through, and I had no idea why it scared me so much. Things changing.
I was never one for change. Unlike Jada, I really did take it hard when my parent's split. It may have been for the better, really, but there went an era. There went everything I knew. Even if all I ever knew was their constant bickering. It's all I remember of my childhood, I swear...
"Evans?" James Potter was half a corridor behind me, but quickly catching up, and conveniently interrupting my thoughts...and pity party.
"What the hell do you want?" I spun around, and rather...spat at him. A couple younger kids walking by started running, and whispering.
His right hand jumped to his right cheek, and he ran his index finger below the frame of his glasses. I had my jaw clenched at the time, and I remember it slowly unclenching and my heart jump for a moment, as I realized that James's nervous habit, or whatever the hell it was...It was the first time he had done it in my presence, because of me.
"I," He faltered as our Charms professor stuck his head out into the Hallway and raised his eyebrows at the two of us. Us being so far apart, James had to rather shout. "Could you come here, maybe?" He lowered his voice, as Flitwick shut his classroom door.
"No." I just didn't want to. I wanted to detach myself from everyone at the moment. The marauders, yeah, were looking appealing more so then Jada but Sirius inparticular was making them looking appealing. Not the one who thought me to be a bitch.
"Listen," He cleared his throat, and took hesitant steps towards me, that echoed loudly in the corridor. "I'm...sorry for calling you what I called you. Sirius told me I made you feel bad. And don't get upset with him for telling me. He just...Well. Apparently you made an impact on him, Evans, and anybody who's good in his books should be good in mine, but I just..." I thought he may elaborate further on his bitch comment, but he didn't. "Maybe we can talk more some time. I don't know. I'm sorry, is all. I couldn't finish eating breakfast, because he said you had been crying, and just...Don't let something I say affect you like that. Heh, really, what am I to anyone? The quiet, guy who hangs out with Sirius. So, just...get over it."
He had went from being rather sweet, to...quiet again, back to sweet, and then rather bitter & asshole-like. I just stood blinking at him, as his nervous-habit-right-hand was now rumpling the hair at the back of his head.
It's something he just did. James had always done it first. Just walking through the halls, trying to distract attention from his face when you were talking to him, or when a girl he liked was near, and he was laughing with his friends. Sirius had picked up on it. James was one of those people who was so intricately detailed that you picked up on his little quirks without realizing it. You started talking like him, thinking like him, and eventually sympathizing with the drama he's had to contend with, and...Then falling in love with him.
But Hell, that's another time. Same story, just...another time.
"Just get over it? Pot,-...James. I don't know what's...with you. I mean that in the gentlest way possible. You f'ing change pages quicker then I can follow. I don't even know if I want to follow. So just, whatever. You apologized, and should've left it at that. See ya later." I adjusted the strap of my bag, and walked away in a huff.
"See you around...Lily." So, so, so, so, quietly...Not in the same sense as a whisper...Just so quietly...Just so...hardly-there...
But he had said it, and as I rounded the corner I stopped walking feeling a rush of emotion, and a stinging at my nose. And James Potter was still standing where he had been when he apologized...
This is my life.
In the common room there were so many sofas, and chesterfields, and chairs. My favourite, though, was by the large fireplace, there was a coffee table, and set on either side of the coffee table were two long couches.
It was gorgeous to just sit there in the evening, curled up with a good book, reading by the firelight. While everyone else conjured up, and lit lamps, lighting the room. But this part of the common room was always...nice and cozy.
I was indulging myself in reading 'Gone with the Wind', and it was the next day. Saturday, at last. It was about 10:30, and everything was so nice, and quiet.
"My Mum always told me I'd go blind if I read by such a dim light." James Potter made his presence abruptly known, as he was stood behind the couch I was curled up on.
"Is that why you have glasses?" I asked, not taking my eyes from the page. Almost lost my place...
"Nope, I'm near-sighted. I don't know when, exactly, she told me that, because I never did read much."
I let the book fall shut, and kept my finger between the pages, marking where I had left off.
"Would you like to sit?" I moved my feet from the couch, and sat up, as James seemed to contemplate just jumping over the back of the couch and plopping down next to me, or walking around the end to come sit next to me.
He chose the more gentleman-like one. Walking around the end, and then to where he could sit next to me, careful to avoid touching the blanket that was draped over my lap.
He was always...doing what he thought other people would approve of. Always being so damn polite, always being on time for class, and always walking around sofas rather then jumping over them. I must say, I almost would've rather if he had jumped over. Something spontaneous. Something a typical 17 year old boy would do.
But hell, James Potter was not a typical 17 year old boy.
I remember...so vividly...the first time he was late for a Transfiguration class. Probably about...December of 7th year. I thought he'd be absolutely mortified, and offer to serve a detention for the old bag, but he just casually strolled in, his hand running through his hair, and he cleared his throat as indication that he had arrived. Professor McGonagall said nothing, just simply waited until he was seated to go on.
Him & I had been up late the night before. But there was still a long way to go before December, and before being late for classes. A couple of months, hardly, but it seemed like forever James-time. Trying to win him over...
-December 18th, 1977.
"Is this the craziest thing you've ever done, James Potter?" The wind was blowing lightly, chilling me to the bone, but I just pulled my cloak tighter around me, and adjusted my scarf.
"I think you'd be surprised at the crazy stuff I've done, Lily Evans." I laughed, as James rubbed his gloved hands together, and blew on them to warm them through the material.
"Well. I'm glad you're doing something crazy with me."
It wasn't crazy. Far from it. We were just out on the grounds at 2 AM in the morning. It was just absolutely gorgeous out. For some reason the fact we had snow just seemed to dawn on me. And the moon was so bright, and almost full...The way it shone off of the snow, and made it sparkle, and twinkle, almost more then the stars in the clear sky...
Breathtaking, I swear.
"I'm glad, too,"
That was the end of that night for me. Him saying he was glad, too. But he went on, you see...
"I mean, I hardly know you," I rolled my eyes at this. He had been saying it often. "We're...hardly friends. But here I am."
If I had known that in 2 months James would be saying he hardly knew me, and that we were hardly friends...Well. I know I would've continued talking to him, beforehand. And I would've continued trying, but had I known that's only as far as we'd get in 2 months, I would've been so disappointed...
But I knew he didn't mean it. Knew that he just didn't want to think that we were friends.
"So, immersing yourself in the life of Scarlett O'Hara, mmm?" James leaned his head back until his neck touched the couch, and then he stretched himself out, folding his arms over his chest.
"Not necessarily. Rhett's not really my type." James laughed. I guess he found it amusing I becamse so attached to...characters of a book, that were supposed to be good-looking, or whatever...
"Why's that?"
"Well. He has facial hair. Not a big fan of it." I grinned as James slowly ran a hand over his chin.
"Facial hair is all that it depends on?" He raised his eyebrows.
I sighed. "No, I just...I dunno. He's just not my type."
"Well, my Dad would be your type. He's bald, and facial hair-less."
"Does that worry you, then? Bald-ness."
"He chooses to be bald. Because his hair was...exactly like mine." James chuckled lightly, and tilted his head to the side, rather...gazing at me.
I realized I liked him like this. Just with me. Not...calling me a bitch, and what not. It was almost nice.
"So, what would your typ,-" His question was cut off, as a commotion arose from the boys dorm. Peter came tearing down the stairs, with Sirius Black aiming things at his head with his wand, and shouting at him.
James closed his eyes, and rubbed his brow.
He jogged over to his friends, completely forgetting to finish his question, or even have me acknowledge the fact he was going.
I wasn't really bothered. I just wanted him to finish asking his question...
Everything was grey. The grass was dead, and frost-covered, and the trees were bare. The sky didn't often change. Except to allow clouds to billow through.
Homework came steadily, and classes weren't much more challenging then expected. Everybody was comfortable, thus meaning everything was dull, and boring.
Lily Evans hadn't really spoke another word to James Potter since that night. Nor Sirius Black. Casual hello's, but nothing in depth, and to further the beginnings of friendship.
She, also, hadn't paid one bit of attention to a Miss Jada Morgan. Which made things quiet, and boring, but she thought if Jada wanted to bother with their friendship...then she would.
Her & Carter were still seeing one another, though he had requested to see other people.
Things were boring, life was dull, and November was the absolute worst month to have to suffer through.
...And Lily Evans' 18th birthday was on the 12th of that month.
abc.Jada forgot. Everybody forgot. My parents forgot...