The Way Life Works-Chapter 3

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Chapter 3- Mass Confusion

James woke the morning after his mission with Dumbledore wishing he could stay in bed for a few more hours but knowing he couldn't. He happily got out of bed when he remembered how proud Dumbledore had been of him for helping to get Professor Trelawney to come to Hogwarts. He was also happy because he remember he had potions and patrols with Lily that night. Despite their messy history, he felt they were finally making progress and he hoped that they would be in an even better place for him to ask her to the Hogsmeade visit next month, he knew they weren't in that place yet, but he hoped they would be soon. James took a shower and dressed, trying to tame his messy hair. As he was walking toward the Great Hall he saw Sarah Valentine from the Ravenclaw Quidditch team waving him over.

"Good morning Sarah, how are you this lovely morning?" James said with a charming grin. He and Sarah had known each other since they were kids and might as well have been brother and sister. When James greeted her that morning she had to laugh.

"I'm fine James. So, any tips you're willing to share so Ravenclaw can beat Hufflepuff this weekend? We need to make up from our loss to you Gryffindors last month."

"First of all, last months match was one hell of a good show on both parts, you Claws were tough to beat, you're a fantastic coach. Secondly, tell your chasers to focus on the right Hufflepuff hoop, Sanders is left handed and tends to focus on the left side. So, where is that charming boyfriend of yours I was hoping to interrogate… I mean get to know him better." Sarah sighed.

"James, Sam is a nice guy, you know that, he almost beat you out for Head Boy. I know you just want to protect me James, but really please be nice to him. We can all meet at the Three Broomsticks next weekend so you can get to know him, but only if you promise to lay off."

"Relax Sarah, I do know Sam is a great guy, and I know he makes you happy. You're like my sister Sarah I just want you to be happy. I promise I'll be good." Sarah smiled and came back with a cheeky response.

"So, will Miss Lily Evans be joining our little group next weekend. You two aren't always about to kill each other anymore. Don't even try to say you don't like her that way anymore, 'cause I know you better than that." This time it was James' turn to sigh.

"Ah..well, no she won't. I do still like her, but we're just now coming to a delicate understanding with each other, if I ask her now it will just dig up all those old memories when I would bug her for a date, or try to make her jealous. It's going to take some time but I know it'll be worth the wait." James said with a small sappy smile of his face, that Sarah could help but exploit.

"You've got it bad my friend. If only you could see the goofy look on your face right now." She laughed and so did James. "But I'm glad you've seen the light James, you might actually get somewhere with Lily when you don't act like an arse around her. Be that charming guy you can be…when you try…really, really hard." Sarah and James both laughed again.

"I will. Listen I'm starving, so I'll talk to you later. And remember, go for the right side and you've got it in the bag." James left her with a kiss on the cheek.

Sarah noticed Lily standing not far away with a heartbroken look on her face and felt terrible, knowing the conclusion Lily must have come to about her and James. Very few people knew of her and James' friendship as they were sorted into different houses when they arrived at Hogwarts and didn't have many classes together. They did see each other every summer and she had actually dated Remus for a short time but aside from his friends no one really knew. She knew she was going to have to do something to set things right with Lily and when she noticed who else had seen Lily's reaction as well as her awkward conversation with James she knew exactly who to ask for help. With a smile she turned and joined her fellow Ravenclaws for breakfast.


Lily's day went by fast and she was proud of how she acted around James in their potions class. James however, was extremely confused. While Lily was cordial and even offered a few small smiles she wasn't at all the cheerful girl she had been just a few days before. She was acting aloof around him for some reason. He wondered if he had done something to upset her without knowing it. He was determined to find out later that night when they were going to do rounds.

This time, two people noticed Lily's strange attitude with James, but only one knew why.

"Remus, did James do something to make Lily angry again, she's acting weird around him, don't you think?" Sirius asked. Sirius was extremely happy for James, it finally looked like things would eventually work out with James and Lily so the sudden change bothered him. He had been against Lily in the beginning, thinking she was too uptight, but the few times since she and James had formed a truce he had seen how funny and lighthearted she could be. He thought, though he would never tell anyone and risk looking sappy, that she would be a great match for his best mate.

"It's funny you should mention that Sirius. James didn't intentionally do anything to anger Lily, but I'm afraid Lily may have misinterpreted what James was doing the other night." Remus said.

"What do you mean?" "This morning when I was walking to breakfast James was talking with Sarah and kissed her cheek when he walked a way. Lily looked crushed when she saw it, and then her conversation with James was really awkward afterward. I think she is finally coming around."

"So she was jealous?"

"It seems likely. I think Sarah noticed, so we should talk to her about what we can do to help James out. We don't want Lily to get the wrong impression."

"Count me in." The two would have continued their conversation but had to cut it short as the professor was approaching their table.


Later that night, James was straightening himself up for patrols, as much as he wanted to show Dumbledore that he hadn't made a mistake, he wanted to show Lily that he could be a good Head Boy proficient at his job. So he tucked his shirt in, tightened and straightened his tie and pulled his robes on making sure his Head Boy badge was straight. He took a deep breath and walked out into the common room to meet Lily.

While James was cleaning himself up, Lily was telling herself she didn't need to. Her uniform was perfect as it always was so she didn't need to straighten up her uniform, it was her hair and make up that she was questioning. She would pick up her brush just to put it back down again, and again. She would do the same with her make up, in the end she ran a brush through her hair but left her make up alone, consoling herself with at least not doing as much as she could have. She too took a deep breath and walked to meet James in the common room. Both sets of friends had been watching as the two cleaned themselves up. James's friends had to fight laughter away, while Lily's friends were confused and had not idea what had her in such a state, after all it was only James…right?

If one thing was for sure, it was going to be a very interesting night.