By the Author: GARRRRR. I WANT ONE NAO.
Disclaimer: This story was written by Mari (or SkylarkAincrad). Please do not copyright this story in any way, shape or form – or I will report you to and have my rights reserved. The song off inspiration chosen is "Lover, etc.," by The Nighttime Adventure Society. The characters presented are rightfully handed to Miss J.K. Rowling and Warner Bros® where the Harry Potter franchise are owned by both – mostly to the author of this book and director of this movie series. I just get to change and control who and what they are involved in by the power of FanFiction. Please do not claim any illegal rights. Thank you.
Xx xX
Music and Lyrical Inspired Fanfiction:
"Your hands are busy, teach me everything! Because sometimes it feels like I know what to do, but sometimes I feel like a student of you. Tell me, do you like me like this?"
"Lover, etc." by The Nighttime Adventure Society
Harry Potter: Marauder Universe Inspired
xX Xx
Two weeks had passed by, and people started to whisper how James and Lily's relationship evolved. They were once enemies. Then, one disliked and the other one liked. Last year, they were tolerant acquaintances. Now, it seemed that they were the absolute best friends. At this point, the whole school already placed bets into the amount of time Lily would take to finally agree to go out with James. Most were increasingly interested in their relationship to start with. Plus it was an unspoken tradition that the Head Boy and Head Girl would end up together anyways. So literally, it was only a matter of when it would happen.
It was Potions with Professor Slughorn right now. James could literally feel the hungry stares at the back of his head and some to both sides of him. People were so interested in his relationship with his seatmate. He suppressed the urge to roll his eyes, and continued to listen to Professor Slughorn. The man teaching the class was extremely tolerant – to everyone. He was kind. And James found it very hard to believe the Potions teacher was this bubbly and jolly 24/7. Contrary to popular belief, James and his friends – all whom were horrible in the subject – really liked Professor Slughorn as a teacher at Hogwarts. Granted, Slughorn returned the respect. Although he had favoritism, Slughorn was not one to laugh or mock or yell when he accidently blew up his cauldron contents. Despite the frustration James had every time, Professor Slughorn would be there in teaching easy steps to fix his failed potions.
'Can't they find something else to stare at? Does anyone even pay attention?' He angrily thought. He felt the heated stares of others in the room. Naturally, others would try to avert their eyes for minutes but eventually travel back to him. It was becoming a nuisance.
He looked at his extensive notes. They were learning how to brew Wolfsbane – a new type of potion. It was exceedingly important as it involved Remus. Next week, they were going to attempt to brew it. While it was no cure for lycanthropy, it was a step in the right direction. Today they were going to choose between two random potions.
Granted Lily had experience with all three before. Before class, she claimed that the Wolfsbane potion was very recent and required a strong amount of concentration and technique to perfection. Again, free Gryffindor points and all the House mates looked at her with glee in their eyes. James looked up and watched Professor Slughorn finishing up his lecture on the potion. The jolly man giggled, "However," he paused, "my hint to you all is this: when made properly and strictly by the book the effectiveness of the potion increases. It's going to be a difficult potion, I want only you guys to try out for yourselves. However, if there are the talented groups that are daring to try to get it, it will award you at least 50 House points. Maybe even more if it is at least 95% approvable for market."
Lily's eyes flashed challengingly and expressed so much determination that James almost giggled. She looked adamant, and James grinned at her. Lily looked at him from the corner of her eye and smiled with a tinge of pink in her cheeks. Professor Slughorn laughed. "And again, all of this will be next week. You will have a small essay on this one. Though this won't be on our small quiz, the previously brewed potions in your textbook will be. Any questions?" he looked and everyone looked satisfied. He nodded, "okay, so let's go over the potions I want you guys to brew today. Very similar techniques to making the Wolfsbane potion, but I want everyone who hasn't really done much of the cauldron work to get on it. This way everyone gets a fair chance."
James began to zone out at this point. He knew he was rubbish at this subject. He knew that his efforts were near to hopeless. No matter how he tried not to muck it up, the reaction was still the same. But Lily was quite skilled, meaning that there wasn't much of an excuse to fail completely. Plus, the Head Girl would be pleased if he gave an honest try. He really didn't want to look like a buffoon in front of her. Call it self-preservation and an extremely wussy attempt to impress this gorgeous red-haired current best friend slash future wife, he would've replied if someone other than Lily Evans asked. Course she wasn't his wife and she didn't know it…yet.
James looked to the ceiling, erasing all thoughts like that out of his system. He had learned earlier in his Muggle Studies course that their folklore and fairy tales, witches and wizards were experts at potions and flying and wandlore. While he was still mastering wandlore, and Godric Gryffindor would be rolling in his grave at how athletic he was in Quidditch, he was just a botch at potions. There were times where he even understood what he was doing until it failed.
He could receive some reconciliation at the fact that Lily was sort of the same way.
As Professor Slughorn talked, he looked at his sheet of filled notes. He twirled the quill in his hand expertly. He thought of her a lot lately. Lily was quite an interesting girl. She excelled at potions and wandlore, but she wasn't the best flier. Certainly she was better than a lot of females in the school. But, she was just an "Exceeding Expectations" flier. Though he'd never say it to her – he doubted that she wouldn't agree with him if he did.
But, James gave her a pass now that he thought about it more. She really wasn't horrible at flying, and proficient at it. Lily could have easily been an extremely talented flier. She probably would have been even better than him if she actually practiced. The only problem was that she was much more afraid of heights since they had started their flying lessons in First Year.
He smiled. Suddenly the world became dull and his focus on his memories came into light. Lily was incredible. Although many people didn't know this, Lily was a great flier. She could turn and dive and spin and flip on it at different altitudes. The only thing is she couldn't stay afloat for a long period time and especially around a load of people that were also the air as well. Which was most of the time anyways.
He sighed; she would've been an amazing Quidditch player if everything were different. But, since she was afraid of other people flying around her, Quidditch was marked off her list in aspiring careers for the future. She even liked the game too.
She really had every right to be afraid after what had happened to her. She hadn't ridden a broom before, and the day she first got on a broom was the day she had almost died too. Anyone in her position would be traumatized. He recalled that awesome day when they first had their flying lesson.
First Year
"This is gonna awesome, mate." Sirius said beside James, a smirk across his face. He grinned at his mate in turn. James confidently said, "up!" The broom whizzed into his hand, and he clutched it tightly. He watched the other students, he snickered when Snivellus was getting pissed off. Some of them got theirs up, and others were growing frustrated by the minute.
Severus glared and him from across, and he looked innocently away. Next to the greasy boy, he watched the redheaded girl smile. "Up!" she exclaimed, elatedly in fact. The broom whizzed into her hand and she smiled. "I did it!" she exclaimed. The girls next and across from her congratulated her. She grinned sheepishly in return, and he felt a ball dropped in his stomach at the sweet expression on her. To be fair, she was cute.
He could see that Lily wanted to fly up. After a few moments, everyone was allowed to by Madame Hooch. Lily mounted her broom, and lifted off the ground at an instant she said "up." She skyrocketed and screamed happily. It didn't take minutes to see her up in the air with some other Gryffindors zooming around in good fun. Even his best mates were chasing Lily who was laughing wildly. James was about to join their party in the skies, until he noticed that there weren't a lot of Slytherins flying in the air.
Severus Snape was actually glaring at Lily to James's utter surprise.
Luckily she hadn't noticed and was busy flying away from Sirius screaming "you'll never catch me, Black!" and hearing him reply, "We'll see about that Evans!" James heard Sirius's laughter. Dramatically, Sirius shouted, "Quick! Pete, corner her on the left! Haha, Remus on the right!" Lily laughed wildly, and Snape just scoffed angrily.
The Slytherin had shook his head in annoyance and walked over to speak with his House mates cooped up together. For some reason, this miffed James off. Snape's actions made James want to clout the sleaze-ball with something. There were some of them were hovering in midair, and some that started flying higher to join the others in the skies as well. Severus looked particularly repulsed at the thought of flying and had opted to sit out. James's attention focused back on Lily and she was twirling and giggling loudly. Unfortunately, that momentary glimmer of elation turned into a desperate and deep-rooted fear of being above the ground.
Someone literally knocked Lily off her broom. It happened quite fast that James hadn't really seen what had happened. From what he saw, the redhead girl didn't necessarily scream but exhaled loudly at no sudden support in midair. And she was falling rapidly fast. People screamed on their brooms, rushing to her. James didn't think twice and rushed forward to try and catch her. As soon as she was within 45 feet from the ground, he knew he'd never make it in time.
Lily almost fell to her death.
It was to everyone's relief that Madame Hooch was there to scream "Levicorpus" and prevent a splat of Lily Evans everywhere. She was hovered abruptly, and it seemed to give the girl a moment of dizziness.
He was scared the force would've snapped her neck.
He recalled all the other students freaking out, screaming her name, some rushing to get the school nurse, and mostly rushing towards her. She was crowded with concerned faces; the emerald-eyed cutie waved it off with a grateful smile on her face. Some of the Slytherins were rolling their eyes, and shaking their heads at the "attention" Lily was getting. James was livid when the other Slytherins on the sidelines were making wise-crack remarks and snides at the poor girl.
He had rushed to Lily's side and, at the time, he was confused since it wasn't his place to be by her side. She had been surprised as well, but she seemed grateful to him and gave a small smile. He lifted and held her upright and she beamed at him. It stunned him, and that small smile burned in his memory banks for weeks after. Eventually, Lily seemed to snap out of her trance and her gaze had drifted to Snape. James followed her line of sight soon after. He was shocked to see that Snape was still on the sidelines. He gritted his teeth. Snape looked somewhat pleased. Instead of even wearing his concern or running over to her to check if she was injured, Snape looked wary of either helping her or not.
Avery was busy explaining that it had all been an "accident," leaving some of the Slytherins to snicker. He felt his mates riled up beside him. It was even to the point that Peter looked angry enough. Pretty much every Gryffindor was itching to throw a hex or two for mistreating and disrespecting a House mate. James would allow Sirius (already his wand out) the first two hexes, and then he'd take over if that were the case. If looks could kill, all of those berks would've been dead by how many people were looking at them peed off.
Of that group who laughed at the expense of Lily's near death, Snape was refused to even look at her. James remembered anger coursing through him. He was holding Lily up, and he felt her shudder. He noticed how she too was watching Snape, and could only watch her leak silent tears down her pale cheeks.
Oddly enough, Snape looked smug. He thought it was just a fluke at first – perhaps the light casting a shadow across the Slytherin's face. But as he watched the egotistical smile increase, the angrier James became. The shadow of triumph and smirking on his face was enough to make James extremely furious. The jerk never even came over to assure Lily was okay. He just stood there with that mugging, gleeful expression.
He guessed Snape was bitter towards Lily at the time. It had been only a week since they were separated through the Sorting Ceremony. Additionally, she was into flying with the crowd of her Housemates. James reasoned that the idiot must've been feeling sore because Lily was actually making friends with others and not hanging out with him instead. 'Jealous prick,' James glared. His behavior was unwarranted and definitely unacceptable. James felt a heavy heart for the poor girl.
Lily's silent tears became more evident and James wanted to throw a punch at the bloke who made her cry. But others were alarmed. Sirius asked, "oi Evans," he looked concerned. "Are you alright?" he asked. Blushing prettily, she smiled weakly and replied "ugh, uh… I'm just dizzy and lightheaded…that's all."
James wasn't even fooled by that excuse, and Lily probably could tell he knew as well.
That was time that James had realized that Snape was unworthy of Lily Evans's friendship. What if she actually had died? Maybe then Snape would've cared instead of putting on a mask of ignorance. 'Or maybe not.' He thought. It seemed like Snape was settling in with the worst group known to mankind: Death Eaters, the lot of them. Probably would laugh at her death – "first week in Hogwarts, and the magical world expelled her by the broom." That idea made him sick to his stomach.
By what James was seeing, it didn't seem he'd care about Lily only unless she was all his. It seemed like Lily, to Snape, was never actually a friend but more a person that he could own. It was also the moment James had strongly disliked him. What person treated a friend like that? He vowed that he'd make Severus Snape pay for making Lily Evans cry.
Later did James find out, through eavesdropping her conversation with her friends, that she wanted just wanted to fit in. "Do you want to try again? We'll be there with you—…" She immediately cut them off. "No," she squealed. Blushing prettily, she looked away. "I-I'm sorry. I-I just…don't t-think…" she stuttered. "I don't think it's something for me. I probably suck at that! I just got to accept that. And I don't think I can fly around people. Heh, I'll find something else to do to get others to recognize me. F-For now…" He felt horrible when she saw the broom closet. Lily froze a bit and looked the other way frowning.
"Everyone understand? Off you go then!"
James snapped out of his daydream. He looked around. His eyes wandered to his seatmate. She was lovely as ever, and in his daydream to now the older version of her was still as stunning if not more as he reminisced. But, he felt heat crawling up his neck when Lily wore an amused smile. She knew all this time he wasn't paying attention anymore. She smirked, and held her head in her hand propped on the table. She looked at him coyly and he felt embarrassed.
Once again, he cursed the worlds for getting easily distracted. He felt stupid. Here he was hoping to actually win treacle tart points with Lily Evans. Instead of focusing on the task of impressing her with being the best partner she'd ever had, taking notes and working at her pace, and he just had to screw it up. And internally she'd probably become extremely annoyed with his incompetence and lack of paying attention.
He looked at his notes, now completely shocked at the scratching of pen ink everywhere. He cursed himself silently, palming his face in anguish. He looked down, and wanted the floor to swallow him up. He remained frigid, until he glanced at the redheaded female and nearly lost it. Fixing her posture, she leaned at him. Her face was so close to his, it was surprisingly uncomfortable. Astoundingly, she did not look as disappointed as he thought she would.
"So, James, you do know what we're making today right?" she teased.
His ears went a bright red, and that blush traveled to his cheeks. "Um," he uttered. Sighing, he shook his head in embarrassment, "I-I'm not going to lie to you, lov—…," he paused and she furrowed her eyebrows in question, "A-Ah, L-Lils, so s-sorry. Um, I-I c-caught in a d-daydream," he muttered. 'About you,' he added in his mind. To his relief, Lily just giggled adorably and pushed his shoulder jokily. He smiled uncertainly and ran his fingers in his messy hair, a habit of his nervousness, and she shook her head entertained. "Geez, James. What am I ever to do with you? Now, I know Potions class is boring. But it shouldn't be that boring that you're forced to daydream about me," she said playfully.
He spluttered, and in frenzy panicked if he was actually becoming freaking obvious.
Lily started to laugh, and pat his shoulder. "I'm just teasing you James," she said nonchalantly. She smirked like the little tease she was. "Why, were you?" James shifted uncomfortably with that emerald gaze, and switched topics. "S-So, potions?" He uttered weakly. She laughed, and uttered "you were!" in a delighted tone. She looked dazzlingly pink and continued to prod. He sunk in his seat face completely red. The Head Girl smiled amusedly, and they heard snickers coming from his mates and her friends that were partnered up around them.
"Well, okay. I'll let you off the hook now, James. But I will continue this discussion later." she said airily and cheekily. James face was burning, and he hoped they wouldn't continue the discussion later. He feared he'd go mental.
"We have the choice to make Manegro potion or the Beautification potion. Both are quite simple actually so you choose," she said. He exhaled and sat up now, face still pink.
"Hmm, hair regrowth or hiding an ugly face by getting others to think you're not ugly?"
She laughed a bit, and then grinned. "Yeah, I guess you could think about it that way…" she smiled. "Actually…" she paused and giggled, "that's exactly it."
James shrugged. He smirked, hiding his earlier embarrassment. "I think since we both are good-looking, and we have no problems in either of those areas…you should choose." he said dryly. She smiled cheekily, "Oh, I was under the impression that you weren't paying attention, oh so good-looking one." Lily mocked and James laughed. He ripped a small piece of parchment and threw it into her hair. She pouted and he snickered.
"Mind you! I was only daydreaming for a little bit you know."
"Yeah, about me," she piped, and he shoved her shoulder teasingly. She laughed and he sighed.
"Then let's go with the beautification potion then? It seems easier than the Manegro. And I don't want to wait for it to brew before the potion finishes up at the end. Rather I get it over with." James asked.
Lily smiled teasingly, "trying to impress someone?" He held his hands up, and winked flirtatiously. "Like I said, I don't need it love to look good. Consider this potion a gift and an act of providence to bridge this war between Houses." The Head Girl looked confused at him, as James picked up his textbook to skim over the details about the potion. "What's that mean?" she asked curiously.
James grinned evilly, "It's for Avery, Goyle, and Mulciber who truly need it. People need to really see the true beauty they hold. As for Padfoot's little brother and Snape, they get passes this time. See, both of them aren't too terrible looking. Snape just has that giant nose issue, but that's quite a simple fix. Besides, I'm actually warming up to him, and messing with him is getting old." Lily smiled weakly. James grinned, "I've moved onto those three imbeciles. They need attention but it's hard to look at them without gagging."
She rolled her eyes and shook her head as if she knew he'd say that. James chortled. "I should've seen that one coming. Why did I bother asking?" She said wryly, and James nearly burst laughing at her deadpanned expression. He chuckled cheekily, "You had it coming to you. Besides, you wouldn't disagree with me there." James answered. She snorted, "Yeah, don't I know that."
"Well you look at the book then. I'll grab what we need," she said. As she gracefully got up, he had turned to stop the urge to ogle at her. He instead looked at his empty gold cauldron and her well and neatly annotated textbook in front of him. After minutes of skimming, he looked up to see Lily came back with a tray full of materials. She placed them on the table in front of them. She swayed tiredly.
James smiled. "Tired?" She nodded, "yeah, I want to go to bed! Maybe a little nap before we start?" He shook his head, and daringly brought up a great point.
"Let's just get this over with. It's high time I start using my cauldron right. Besides the faster we finish," he leaned in her ear getting her to blush at the hot air contact. "The faster we go back in our rooms and we can sleep."
At the implication of taking a nap like they had since the full moon, it seemed to fuel Lily. James chuckled when Lily started to grab things hastily. His heart and innards were jumping wildly for joy. It seemed she liked him well enough after all, but quickly dismissed that thought. He hid a huge smile.
She looked at the textbook and compared it to what she had out. "So we'll need three fairy wings, ten milliliters of morning dew, seven rose petals, chopped and dried Lady's mantle, a few strands of unicorn hair, and one whole ginger root." She checked her textbook and looked at the ingredients laid out in front of them. James looked disgusted. "All of which, together, sounds like piss to me," she smiled slyly. "Oh I believe in the textbooks they say it tastes like it." Lily reached over him. He froze up at the contact a bit, and she flipped James's textbook to the last page of the potion's section. "And you're not too far off," she finished with a grin as she pulled herself back upright. James looked at the motion picture in his book, and he looked sickened.
"Okay, I'm convinced. It's definitely piss alright. Look it's even yellow like piss," James smacked his forward and dragged it down his face. Reading more into the contents of the potion, he complained. The motion picture swirled magically and then—…
"Ugh, pleasant. Rainbow bubbly fuming piss. That sounds utterly repulsive. Unicorn piss basically." he muttered. He suddenly smiled, "hey at least I'm not drinking it!" She giggled again.
A few minutes later, after rereading the textbook, James was at his cauldron working the laborious tasks like setting up the cauldron on the preheating burner. He began to make space. Lily was chopping and gathering things in an organized fashion. "So, here are the ground fairy wings," James said as she finished plucking a fresh rose. She looked at his pestle and mortar, and nodded pleased at the homogeneous and non-chunky paste. Taking a knife, Lily ran that through the dried lady's mantle in an even chopping motion.
As soon as everything was organized, he got nervous. "Ready?" she asked with an encouraging smile on her face. He smiled back and took a deep breath. "I'm scared I might muck it up. You make it seem relatively easy." He answered. She shook her head and with those expression eyes gave him the most confident stare. "I believe you won't. You can do this," she said. He swallowed hard. "Okay," he whispered. She nodded. Once he calmed down, he added the fairy wings to his empty cauldron. A light casted out of the cauldron – the sign it was being used. James concentration was on the cauldron, not taking his eyes off it. He began to slowly stir and Lily reached over him, to pour the morning dew. James stirred the mixture vigorously and once it thickened he started to beat the mixture well. Beside him, Lily took a small metal spatula and popped all the bubbles that started to form. After a moment of counting in his head, while Lily was finishing the bubble popping, James reached over and cranked the heat to a high temperature.
The smell began to emit, and both Gryffindors had grimaced. He jolted, "Ugh, it smells funny. Eww…why this potion was invented to fool people into thinking they weren't ugly. I'll honestly never know." he said. She smiled wearily. "You can do this James, I believe you can get through this." James smiled, "Thanks, Lily."
After that, they worked in sync. Lily sprinkled in the rose petals to the cauldron and James took over and popped all the bubbles that formed right after. The lady's mantle became moistened and disintegrated once she added it to the potion, and James continued to stir. She scooped the unicorn hair, and folded it carefully into the potion. As the strands broke down in the solution, once stirred through well, the last ingredient was added. James stirred the extremely viscous potion, and Lily reached to turn the heat to a medium-low. After a few minutes bubbling away and James constantly stirring, she cranked the heat. He took a deep breath, and got nervous. James had finally stopped stirring and the fumes started to form bubbles.
"Do you want to do the honors, or should I?" She asked.
He shook his head, "you can," he said yawning. He was glad this was all done. Inwardly, he was hopeful he actually completed a potion for once in his whole Hogwarts career. Shrugging she waved her wand in the pattern schemed in the textbook. At the last stroke of the wand, the potion instantly started to turn different colors and emitted multi-colored bubbles.
Both reached over and looked into the cauldron contents. James took a whiff. He was happy it was successful, but looked sickened at the idea of potion making. The ingredients were still quite gross. "At least it smells nicer now that the rose comes through." As the leaned back away from it, he shrugged, "still by my word though, it's definitely rainbow piss. I bet it tastes horrible."
Lily sighed, "I'm exhausted," she said as she leaned her frame against James. He smiled and one arm hugged her and shook her. "Hey, don't you dare! Stay awake, missy! I know Potions class is boring, but I can't have you fall asleep to dream about me quite yet. We have to wait until Professor Slughorn lets us leave. Then you can when we sleep in."
She pouted at the cheeky use of her words thrown back at her. She moaned, "why not? I'll have you know those dreams are quite peaceful." His ears and cheeks were reddening, and he coughed a bit.
Looking at the cauldron, he picked up the ladle trying to recover from his embarrassment. "Care to try it?" Lily yawned and shook her head, "no." James shrugged and placed it down, "me neither," he answered. Before she opened her mouth, he was relieved when Professor Slughorn hovered over and patted him on the shoulder.
"Brilliant work Mr. Potter and Miss Evans! Absolutely brilliant teamwork! As expected of both Head students! You've got the correct consistency and viscosity of this mixture. 15 points to Gryffindor!" Professor Slughorn praised. The two Head students smiled bashfully and accepted the praise humbly. "Collect as much as you'd like, and submit one on my desk for grading. After you're done cleaning up, you're excused. Have a good day you two! Enjoy your Hogsmeade weekend coming up!"
James nodded and Lily looked positively tired. He replied for her sake. "Thanks Professor," James replied earnestly. He got another pat on the back by the instructor, and James nodded gleefully. It felt good, that he was able to do something right in a class he was just barely good at. Professor Slughorn gave him a lasting look of pride, and moved about the room. He nearly burst out laughing when he noticed Avery's hair growing uncontrollably and Mucilber panicking. Snape, partnered with Goyle, was palming his face in disgust. Slughorn was horrified and bellowing at them. Some were snickering. Much to say, Sirius was crude enough to bark out in laughter, while Remus rolled his eyes and Peter smiled weakly with Frank.
Lily remained unmoved and she yawned again. James turned to her, and she looked up smiling. "How much should we get?" Lily asked. James grinned, "I need three remember?" Lily chuckled, and moved to the front. Reaching for five vials, she grabbed them. She managed to avoid the bustling students around the center of growing hair. She managed to gracefully step over the greasy growing hair – James had to hold his urge to burst laughing. She skipped back and James grinned. She grabbed a ladle with a pointed side to accurately fill them. After all five were well-filled, he helped her re-cork them.
"You're taking one?" James inquired as he finished capping the last one.
Lily shrugged, "it is pretty rainbow piss. And I always collect a vial of my potions just in case someone needs it." She said cheekily. James sniggered. Once all the vials were filled, the stacked them in a carrier case, and packed up their belongings. James cleaned his cauldron, while Lily put away everything else. She labeled the one for submission and placed it in the potion tray on Professor Slughorn's desk. In a matter of minutes, everything was cleaned up. "Well, let's go?" the Head Girl asked. Immediately, she sighed. The Head Boy nodded, and scooped his books and Lily's as well. Made to complain about it, James already held them and started to walk.
Rolling her eyes, Lily gathered the carrier and waved to all their friends.
As they made their way outside, he just had to ask. "So who might be someone that needs your vial of this stuff?" Lily grinned, "Guess?" James snickered, knowing who she was implicating. He removed the carrier from her hand. Lily huffed, and allowed him since he insisted on her not carrying anything to relax. She looked at him annoyed a bit, since he was carrying his bookbag and her's on his opposite broad shoulders. Now, he was carrying the carrier. She went to grab it back but he managed to pull it away from her. She pouted and huffed.
"Wow, Lily-love. You're so mean to the bloke. Give him a break." He suggestively teased, and slightly nudged her shoulder with his. She grinned, and grabbed his bag that sagged from his shoulder. He scoffed and she giggled, draping it across her form.
She smirked innocently, "Why should I?"
James laughed in response. "You're too cute, Lily." She blushed and he kissed her cheek. Before she could compose herself, he continued. "And he's not that bad looking. Why would he need it?" James tried in an honest and cute tone. Lily stuck her tongue out, "Just because people think he's actually stunning, it doesn't mean that Amos Diggory is. I happen to think he's horrible to look at. If I give him this, I might be able to stand him."
James laughed. "I take it you haven't forgiven him when he dumped Mary for that Ravenclaw?" Lily snorted, "Not a chance. Plus besides, compared to you, he needs work. I'd much have you than him."
He laughed, "I suppose my good looks are something to aspire after." Lily shoved his shoulders playfully. He grinned changing topics smoothly, "By the way, are you going with anyone to Hogsmeade this time?" She looked taken aback, and blushed. He laughed, "Last time I checked the squid is looking for one. He doesn't need any of the potion by the way. I think he's a pretty gorgeous monster with all his giant tentacles if I do say so myself."
Lily grimaced. In a posh accent, she replied "oh please, the giant squid's old news. Sure pretty decent, but I've found out he's such a player! And I think he has something against people with red hair." He snickered. She sighed, "Besides, he cheated on me with that poor girl. She fell into the lake the other day. It's the same girl who called me a b-i-t-c-h and to stop being Sirius's friend. By the looks of it, the giant squid seemed to enjoy her company a lot."
He grinned, she sighed dramatically. "The squid willingly wrapped his arms around her waist. It seems he likes her more than me. Horrible right? I wonder who would've set them up?"
James rolled his eyes. "Trust me hun, you could do better."
Both of them laughed.
"So," she smirked. "What was the memory?" He looked at her questioningly. She pouted, "you and I are picking up on that conversation earlier." His ears went pink. "That, oh," he blushed. He sighed. "Do you remember your first flying lesson?" he asked. She nodded, "it's not one I can forget," she said sheepishly. "Right," he muttered. "H-How would you," he paused. He swallowed hard and she stopped to look at him. He struggled. "Would you like me to reteach you?" he asked. Her eyes went wide, not expecting that. He paused. "Because, I'm sorry, by the way. That time outside the Great Hall…you spoke to your friends about how it wasn't something that you'd be great at. I beg to differ, Lils. You're an amazing flier."
She flushed, "Thanks James," she said quietly. "I-I'm just afraid of people around me. I can't trust a lot of people in a place that now makes me uncomfortable. It's like I can't control what's around me. Even if I trust that person on the ground." He nodded, now slightly angry at himself. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have brought it up." She shook her head, "no it's okay. I-I asked." She smiled weakly, "but you know. You missed the best part of that eavesdropped conversation." He looked at her with red ears. "Again I'm sorry for that," he said shyly. Lily giggled, "The girls told me that it was a shame too. See, after everything settled down I was approached by the Quidditch captain. Told me that my flying skills were pretty decent. Thought I might make a great Seeker."
"What?!" James stopped and pulled her arm gently. "You were the one?!" She blushed. "Huh?" James laughed, "Really Lily you never cease to amuse me again. Wow." He searched her face, reddening with every minute. He smiled at her confusion. "When I joined the Chasers, the team kept telling the captain to recruit someone. Only that one person. But he kept saying that she refused because she couldn't do it. To me sounded like it was a shame really." He grinned, "didn't think it was you. Then again I'm not surprised. You are pretty amazing," he commented.
Lily blossomed. "You are too," she whispered. "Eh?" she blushed taken aback and he did too. They stared at each other, noticing the amount of enclosed space. Slowly backing up a bit, Lily giggled awkwardly.
"You know what?" She said. "I'd love to learn how to fly again. As long as it is you only." Lily said softly. He felt butterflies in his stomach. He nodded dumbly. "Thank you James," she smiled. Lily said the password and entered the Heads room. He trudged after her. He hid a smile at the sight of Heads room, and the fact that Lily was making her way to her favorite seat. James made his way to the shelves and placed his bag, her bag and her vials case away. He turned and chuckled. Lily already slouched on it, as she always did. She unlaced her shoes and threw them at the entrance. And she sighed tiredly.
The portrait closed behind them.
Hogsmeade was already tomorrow. James and his friends were walking to the Great Hall for dinner. It was a lovely silence for once. James had some real time to think. Unfortunately, the silence was broken when Sirius asked "what's going on with you and Lily-love?"
James shrugged. "We're just friends," he replied curtly and with finality.
Remus smirked and Peter shook his head. Peter tried to clarify what Sirius was getting at. "W-Well, it sure doesn't look like it though. You two seem like you're dating already…" James made a face, and was about to retort. Remus swiftly continued, "Peter's right on that. Unless you guys have a strict platonic relationship, you guys might just be hiding your relationship and/or denying you have feelings for her."
"…I do…so much that I always feel like my chest is tightening up."
James stopped walking in the corridors, and he brushed his arms against his robes and the metal badge. Sirius raised an eyebrow, "do…?" The boy with the glasses looked at the ground with a red face. His frames fell from his nose, and he fixed them. Afraid to look at them, he gave a brief nod.
His best mates gaped, and then suddenly it seemed like they won the lottery. Peter began to cheer, and Remus laughed. "Finally!" Sirius exclaimed. "The lad admits it! After all this time. He's truly grown up," he cried out mockingly. James glared unamused at his friends, "hardy-har-har, there," he answered sarcastically. The blush didn't seem to remove from his face.
"We're not trying to make fun of you, mate. It's just lately you and Lily have been so good with each other." Remus said elated. "I-I'm happy for you!" Peter piped in. Remus patted James shoulder, "and if it's any consolation to you…during patrols with Lily she did seem to talk about you quite a lot." This didn't help James's red face, if anything the red started to paint on his ears and neck.
"The lovely flower fancies you. And when you two flirt it make me sick," Sirius drawled.
"You should ask her to Hogsmeade tomorrow!"
James shivered, "It's not that simple." Remus rolled his eyes dramatically, "when has it ever been simple?" Soon enough James blew up, "it's never simple! Besides, don't you think I've already thought of that? Thought of asking her to that ruddy place! I bloody fancy her, so much. I would've asked her already! I know that it's tomorrow!"
Sirius glared, "hey mate don't be a pansy and take out your problems on us! What's your deal anyways!"
"I-I don't know. Just because I actually…uhm," he paused to mess his hair up in that nervous way. "L-Look, I'm sorry. I'm just stressed out right now. After all this time, I thought I just wanted to mess around with her. In the past, I do admit I had a huge crush on her, but for all the wrong reasons."
"Yeah, but you're past all of that."
"That's why it's not simple. J-Just because she likes me enough now….and I mean, yeah I like her. So much it hurts. Sirius, Lily is special. There really is something about her that's magical and spell-binding and magnificent. She's special. To me."
He flushed, "Me? I'm nothing. I-I doubt she'd say yes anyways. And right now, we're good. Like real good."
Peter grimaced, understanding that pain. Sirius shook his head.
Remus sighed, "you're afraid."
He pushed his glasses up and replied, "Well, to be honest it's a both yes and no. Yes I'm afraid I'll lose Lily. But, no I'm not afraid at the same time because if I was sure she wouldn't mind going with me to Hogsmeade…as a date, not just friends, I'd jump the opportunity. It's just because I've asked her out so many times, and she's rejected me all those times."
Sirius scoffed, "yeah, we know. We were there all those times too."
The jibe from his best friend didn't stop him from continuing. "I have to work harder and make sure that before I ask her out she won't be hurt rejecting me." He winced a bit. "Especially since I know this time I need her around me. I don't know if she fancies me. But she doesn't push me away anymore. If I mess it up, she'll leave me. I don't want her to feel burdened and obligated to stop our relationship as friends right now. So, I might end up pushing her away…o-or worse." James swallowed. "And this time…I can't take rejection. Hearing a no from her…I don't think I could handle it well right now."
Peter looked confused, "what's that mean? I mean you guys look like you're…uhm." Sirius completed, "flirting like candy to cavities." James flushed.
"Thing is she lets me…but I know my boundaries. I'm treading on thin ice right now. She likes me enough, but I don't want to hurt her. She'll have a hard time deciding against agreeing to go out with me because she doesn't want to hurt my feelings. And that'll put hurt her in turn too. I'd just put us both in an awkward position."
James leaned against a wall and slumped on. "I've messed up all my opportunities to show Lily my good side before. And along those times, the words 'will you go out with me,' and 'go with me to Hogsmeade' are all just going to leave me with nothing when she says no. And just because last year I've stopped pestering her and actually lived up to a relationship that's just good now…it doesn't make up for what I've done and that will always be there. That riff between us will always be there."
Sirius rolled his eyes, "Of course, you nitwit. But trust me, she'll agree."
Peter smiled again, "I agree. You can do it James!" Remus looked to James who still didn't look up. "Yeah, you pretty much messed up before James. But it doesn't mean that she isn't willing to forgive. She already has, and I'm not sure I'm supposed to tell you this but…" he paused and the Head Boy lifted his head up to look at his three friends.
The sandy-blond haired man continued, "she told me that you're so nice to her. She's taken notice to you quite a lot. And she too is confused on how she feels about you. She's afraid to confront you about it, but she's also afraid she'd lost her chance since she believes she was so rude to you. Now that she sees the good nature you have, she feels quite awful how mean she was to you. If anything she told me she's waiting for you to ask her out again."
He grumbled and felt his stomach lurch, "all the more reasons not to confess."
"Confess to whom and about what?"
He jumped, and the Marauders looked to see Lily with three of her close girl-friends. The girls were giggling, with Lily's face flushed a bit pink. Mary had linked arms with her. Mary smirked, and repeated her question "so confession?" Lily's cheeks were red. James's face was burning, and he quickly glanced at his shoes. Why was she always here at the wrong time? Luckily for him, Sirius caught on this bandwagon and changed topics like a smooth operator.
"Ladies…more importantly, Lily-love, you always seem to be around us now. Not complaining, but just thought you should know stalking is a bad thing," Sirius winked at her friends. Said girl rolled her eyes, "Oh Sirius-darling, you know I can't stay away from you and your so fabulous self."
Sirius laughed and Peter giggled, "I enjoy your company, Lily!" She grinned, "I enjoy yours as well." Remus smiled. "Well, what are you doing here? I thought you girls would've been in the Great Hall already."
She answered, "I just thought you guys might want to head for dinner…we could all go together. The ladies here and I believed you might fancy our company. Thing is, I didn't anticipate you'd all dawdle here especially since you're all so keen about getting the first meals all the time."
Sirius shrugged, "me neither. But Jamesie here is being melodramatic. He just had to stop and worry over silly things." Lily looked at James, currently not looking at her. Suddenly she felt a bit hurt, thinking that he was going to pretend she wasn't there. "I-I hope he sorts that out then," she timidly said. James shook slightly at this reply, and nodded. Still not speaking, he slowly got up, and now was leaning against the wall arms crossed. Lily's friends whispered in her ear, and she flushed a bright red.
"I-I can't, not yet," she replied back.
She cursed Remus's good hearing. "You can't?" Remus snickered. Obviously it seemed like he knew something, and it seemed he already knew the question that was asked privately.
She glared with an anxious look. Her pink cheeks were evident though. She shyly answered, "n-not…not yet, especially with all of you here…"
Remus was a cheeky person. He replied, "should we leave you two alone then?"
Before she could reply, Remus stretched his arms in the air. "Well, I'm hungry. Looks like Jamesie wants to mope here. Si, Petes, let's go." Sirius catching on, while Peter was smiling about finally getting food followed their blonde-haired friend. The girls beside giggled again. Emma piped, "Lily take care of our Head Boy would you? It seems like only you can convince him to come to dinner!" Marlene grinned when Alice excused herself for spotting Frank Longbottom. Marlene hooked her arms with Emma, "Hestia's already saving us a set of seats. Don't be late!" Odette laughed as Mary pulled the other girls ahead. Still, she didn't mistake what she said: "good luck."
"W-What! W-Wait, I-I—…!" Lily stuttered, as their friends dispersed.
She flushed and moaned.
In a matter of minutes, she and James were left in the empty halls. Lily fidgeted, face still flamed. She timidly rocked on her shoes, cursing how much of a little girl in front of her huge crush she was. She stole little glances at him, each time her face getting pinker. She clutched her satchel. "U-Um," she uttered. James looked at her, and she felt small.
His face looked at her with uncertainty, an unreadable expression. His face was relaxed, and tender. He looked at her with so much vulnerability that rivaled her own. A flicker of emotion betrayed his face, almost as if he was enlightened. Did she have something on her face? Was she too obvious? It seemed like he was affirmed of something when he fully stared into her eyes.
Oh Merlin, was that love on his face?
She was both smitten, and scared. What was he going to say? Oh gosh, she wasn't ready to give an answer! Was he going to ask her to Hogsmeade? In her heart, she was still hopeful of this. Even though she didn't have an answer, she wished he was still going to ask it. He smiled, for the first time today at her, and moved off the wall. Holding a hand at her, she had to smile back.
"Care to walk with me?"
Beside each other, Lily looked longingly back at the Great Hall. She wasn't particularly hungry, and obviously James wasn't either. She held her hands together, walking in pace with James to calm her nerves. But being alone with him, right now, for some reason was unnerving and awkward. She definitely felt tense. Especially because his question wasn't the question she wasn't expecting at all.
In fact, remembering it almost made her cry out. She felt frustration bubbling in her.
"Okay, I'm confused," she confessed finally. He looked at her. "Hm?" She stopped walking, and he turned to look at her fully. She took a moment to breathe, and shook her. "You called me all the way out here to ask me something. Well, I'm listening. What is it?"
James sighed. "Nothing beats you?" he drawled. She smirked, "of course not. I'm a brilliant witch, remember?" He snorted in response.
"Fine," he muttered. "It won't hurt to ask you. Then again, I'm pretty sure you sort of know already." Lily nodded. "Well, go on then," she dared. He noticed her becoming impatient. He couldn't help but feel bitter. He knew what she was waiting to ask, but just wanted to test the waters to see if she really would care if he did.
"Good Godric, Lily what do you want from me?" He said in a lashing tone.
She screamed out in anguish. "Don't you dare get cross with me, James," she squealed. "You think you can flip your hair and walk down these halls to ask me that question. You should know what you want to ask me! If I already know, then say it."
"Fine! Can you help me buy a gramophone!"
She paused, her eyes widened. "W-What?" She stuttered. That certainly hadn't be the question she was expecting at all. Internally, he pictured himself smacking the upside of his head. That wasn't quite the question he actually wanted to ask at all! Then again, the face she was wearing was adorably gobsmacked that he just soaked it in. It hadn't been every day that one could catch Lily Evans off guard, enough to render her so speechless like now.
He sighed, "what? Not the right question you were hoping to here, Lily?" he asked blandly. She felt her cheeks heat up and couldn't help it anymore.
She started to cry.
Inwardly, he panicked. Okay now it wasn't fun anymore.
"Whoa!" James reached for her, and she just pushed him away. "You know what you were going to ask me," she murmured. "You're half-lying to me." She said weakly, "I know you've wanted to get one for your parents' anniversary in three days. Hogsmeade is a perfect place to go to, especially that run down alleyway that sells antiques there." Lily wiped her tears away from her eyes. She sniffed, and glared at him. "But you wanted to ask something else?" She bit out.
"Well, what you thinking I was going to ask you?" He retorted.
She muffled her scream, and turned around. "I'm going back! You're playing with me again! When you man up and you finally ask me that question I've been waiting to hear, then you can come find me!"
"Oh no you don't! You don't get to yell at me like this now!"
James reached for her and gripped her wrist. She winced. It wasn't painful, but it was so tender that it literally hurt her emotionally. He sighed and ruffled his hair. "What do you want from me, Lily? To ask you to go out to Hogsmeade with me tomorrow? Is that what you want to hear me ask you? Or is it how I feel about you? Do you want me to say I love you? Because I doubt that you wouldn't know that already."
The redhead before him stumbled with a few words. He smiled weakly and grimly at her. "Like you said, Lily you're a smart witch. Even you knew already."
[So paint me, a picture, paint a picture of this place…where all our lines converge.]
He tried to make sense of her broken speech, but cut her ramblings off. "Evans, be clear. Because you already know how I feel about you. Just what am I to you right now? Don't think about the past. Right now, at this moment."
[You know I'd do…unreasonable things to…just get to kiss you...lover, etc.]
The girl took a moment to realize that he was so close to her. He yanked her, and she crashed into him. Her silent tears started to cease, and she felt shivers down her spine when he breathed against her nape. She responded, "I…I don't know?"
He smiled calmly, that made her wince slightly. He bent down and she lifted her face up. He saw the confusion written all over her face and an emotion he never thought he'd ever get from her. Quickly she continued, "D-Don't get the wrong idea! I-I'm not good with these t-things. E-Especially because I've never had a boyfriend and I'm not sure what to do—…" she squeaked.
He cut her off, "I get it, Evans. Relax."
It took a good few minutes for her to breathe normally from her sudden hyperventilation. He was worried he needed to get the girl a paper bag to blow into. All the while, he held her hands and she clutched them tightly. Their faces were close; she looked dazed at the proximity. It seemed like minutes were going by, none of them were exchanging any words. She mustered up the bit of energy and courage she had left to ask. She asked him quietly and breathlessly, "tell me, do you like me like this?"
He reached for a bundle of strands of her red hair, and kissed the ends as it trickled out of his hands. Her cheeks went a lovely shade of red to rival with her deep bright auburn locks. Wordlessly, he searched her face and contemplated on the best possible way of phrasing his answer. Their eyes were fixated on each other, and he answered very softly: "more than you'll ever know, lover," he paused. And the glint of mischief and desire for the young woman before him flashed across his striking hazel-bluish eyes. She longed to see that in his eyes again, and she was filled with such joy.
He finished, "etc." She smiled weakly. That was true. They were a lot of things. Enemies, acquaintances, friends, best of friends. Now lovers, but not really quite because she didn't know much about being one. Nonetheless, Lily reached up on her toes and enveloped herself on him, hugging him. He returned her hug and held her small frame up. He whispered "I love you," in her ears. She reached and kissed his cheeks shyly. She whispered the same to him, but also including that she was inexperienced in this kind of connection with someone. And James beamed.
He smiled sheepishly. "Go out with me? I know it's not going to be the most romantic first date ever. Especially since it's your first one. But I need to get a gramophone. And…I'd really appreciate it if you help me. I want to buy the grandpa-esk record you can get me. My parents are quite old you know, and they'd love that. They'd love you." Her eyes widened. She flushed a bright red, when he pulled her closer. He smirked mischievously. "The giant squid has nothing on me," he said cheekily, alluding to his conversation with her days ago.
The girl laughed in mirth behind her tears. He smiled fondly. A few minutes passed like that. Enjoying each other in that hug. But Lily looked at his lips, and couldn't help herself. Wanting to be a bit daring and spontaneous, she kissed the corners of his mouth. He was taken aback at her forwardness, but he moved his head as to show her that he didn't reject her advances. He gently crashed his lips on hers. It was quite a passionate one, long that their mouths moved in sync. They were content with how they were locked in each other's arms. When their lungs required oxygen, they slowly pulled apart, but their lips still touched. He observed her bruised lips with pride – knowing that he was her first kiss and she was his first girlfriend.
"Sure. If you remember to carry my things, dear Lover, etc." Her response was so sweet and short. They needn't exchange "I love you's" any more than once. Now it seemed like they were battling on who had the most interesting response to each other's questions and remarks. He guffawed, and she pressed herself against him giggling.
"Only for you dear," he replied. He nodded and removed himself, giddy, and laced his fingers in hers. She looked wary and fidgeted. "We can make this work, right? I'm not experienced." She chanted for probably the third time. Worried that he was getting sick of it, she stiffened. But he looked at her understandingly and sweetly.
"Let me teach you then," he said. [Your hands are busy, teach me everything! 'Cause sometimes it feels like I know what to do, but sometimes I feel like a student of you.] And she did. "Tell me do you like me like this?" he asked teasingly. She grinned.
"What do you think?"
He laughed. "I think…you still owe me those two Pumpkin pasties."
She smiled, and watched the animated pictures in her photo album. She remembered the proposal James made to her.
"It's our last Hogsmeade. I was hoping we could use this time to get out of the school. Venture to London. But, I can't wait anymore to ask this." He kneeled and she gasped almost hyperventilating. He looked up at her. "Marry me, love. I asked your parents about it. They're happy for it. Even though…I don't have a ring yet because I'm having it made so this proposal would've happened anyways. I can't wait anymore to ask you. It just depends when and where I ask you." He exhaled deeply. "I love you, Lily Mae neé Evans, so much it hurts. You've made me happy since I've met you. You are the most talented, gorgeous, magical, spell-binding and loving woman I have even met. And I can't be anything or anywhere without you by my side. When we get out of here, I'll give you the ring during graduation and we can get married right after. And you'll be with me until the end no matter what we choose as burning adult careers. I mean we already have our applications filled out. Plus…I'm not getting old like my parents to start making babies with you, sweetheart. So Lover, etc. what do you say?"
James Potter never ceased to amuse and amaze her. He was blunt, straight to the point, confident, and kneeling on the ground. No ring out. He already asked her mom and dad, 'blimey really?' she had thought. All he was doing was kneeling. And he held her small hand in his. In this secluded awkward place on school grounds. Not romantically in the slightest. But something about how unprepared he was but still absolutely sorted. It knocked the wind out of her lungs, and tried to stop herself from chortling tears of joy.
She thought for a minute and grinned. "Mmm…a lifetime with you sounds interesting. Besides, who could pass all those opportunities up? Graduation? Check. Ring being made beautifully and customized? Check. Marriage ceremony right after? Check. Job security? Check? Pumping out good-looking babies after having probably the best honeymoon experience? Check." His eyes waggled jokingly, and she wrapped her arms around his neck. He stood up and held her by the waist. Staring into her green eyes, he smirked. She smiled and continued, "It seems you have our lives in order. Even though it's only been a few months since we've be together. Sure, why not. I'll marry you, James Charles Potter. You intrigue me, dear lover etc."
She grinned hearing the scuffling of muffled cheers from her friends and the other three Marauders hidden. James lifted and spun her, kissing her. And that was that.
The years to come, he never failed to make her happy. Along those years to come, she never failed to make him happy. And about a year after those years, their baby boy never failed to make them happy. And all the while, their boy who looked strikingly like James and eyes green like his mother's would sleep at the sounds of the gramophone, playing lullabies in the back. His mother would play it, and even her husband would sleep next to her.
As she walked into their room, joining her husband in bed, she waved her wand and the lights dimmed in their house. He pulled her in and they snuggled. Listening to the gramophone playing across the halls, Lily smiled.
"I like this song," he murmured in her ears. Kissing it before he would allow his breathing to even, he looked at her with playfulness. "It still sounds like my parents." She grinned. "Muggle enough for you? Does it appease your curiosity?" He shook his head, "not yet," she looked at him with confusion. "Oh no? What is it that you're so curious in now?" He grinned, and pulled her closer. He leaned over her and she turned to him. Close to his chest, breathing into it. She looked up and his face met hers.
"Is it because this song is so old and boring that even our son sleeps to it? Or perhaps it's because you're so enchanting that you're Muggle ways always calms us down?"
"What do you think, dear lover, etc.?" she replied.
She laughed at his incredulous face. He grinned, knowing he had the answer all along and they kissed.
Certainly, he kept her promise: they were good. They were more than good.
End.
