Disclaimer: Don't own anything. Don't sue. Anyone you don't recognize is mine.
"Evans, hey, Evans!" A loud, unmistakably male voice called and pounding ensued. She sat up, startled, before she realized it wasn't Zachariah. It was Potter. He was outside her door, pounding on the wall, calling for her. What did he want now? He was a big arrogant prat and she wanted to have nothing to do with him. In fact, at that point, she wanted nothing to do with the entire male gender. She was pulling the covers over her body, too tired to get up when a flash of light shone through the portrait and he burst in. She screamed and yanked the bed covers over her head, trembling. He walked to her side. "Evans? Lily, are you okay?"
"Go away." She mumbled, still hidden. She was shaking rather hard though and she could hear the bed rattling. There was a silence but a groan in the bedsprings and the feeling that something was now on her bed told her that he had taken the liberty of sitting down. "I said, Go AWAY!" She burst into angry, violated, frustrated tears.
"Whoa. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to upset you. I just heard you crying and figured something was wrong. I mean, you always hide your feelings and I've never seen you cry before so I thought that something was-" his voice trailed off and he shrugged as her head popped tentatively out from its hiding place. "What happened?" He was peering concernedly at the black and blue bruises covering her cheeks. Her hands conscientiously flew to her face.
"Nothing. I- Uh, that is- I-" she stammered, trying to think of some excuse.
"Are you sure? You don't look okay. The Evans I know would be hexing me to death for daring to sneak up on her in her own bedroom. Instead, you're hiding in bed AND you can't think of anything to say." His face peered anxiously into hers and his voice sounded so concerned and he'd hit the mark so precisely that the tears started up again and his eyes widened. "No, no, oh, don't cry. I-" he stopped. And she didn't blame him for she had thrown herself at him, covered discreetly with the bedsheets, of course. "Oh, uh, I- uh, that is…" He gulped audibly. "It's going to be okay." His voice cracked and amidst her tears, she giggled feebly. He'd never sounded so nervous in all the years she'd known him. The logical, practical side of her brain screamed to get away from him, that he would use this weakness she was showing him to his advantage. Her softer, emotional side argued that he may have been a great bullying idiot but he was human. Knowing full well who was currently sitting on her bed and keeping in mind that this was the boy whom she'd absolutely despised every since she'd met him, she buried her head against his chest, holding the sheets up and he wrapped his strong, muscled arms around her. She could feel him rest his chin on the top of her head. "Hey, shhh. I'm here. It's going to be okay." His voice was so soft and so reassuring that she couldn't help but feel safe. He started stroking her soft, fiery red hair and it was her turn to be surprised. It felt so good to be safe in his arms, and he was whispering calming things to her and running his fingers through her hair. She didn't say anything, just sobbed into his chest, pouring out the fear, anger, helplessness that had plagued her since the moment Zachariah approached her in the library. After a while, she pulled away, wiping her tear-streaked cheeks.
"Oh. I got you all wet." She hiccupped, pointing at his robes. He looked down and sure enough, there was a wet spot where her head had been.
"That's ok." He mumbled an incantation and the wet spot disappeared. "There. All set." He flashed his famous 100-watt smile at her and her heart skipped a beat. "Now, will you tell me what's making Lily Evans, the strongest girl I know, to act like a human hosepipe?" His arms tightened slightly, pulling her a bit closer to him, and his voice adopted a deeper, lightly serious tone, making him sound rather like an uncle or grandfather. She leaned her head against his shoulder, too tired, it seemed, to even keep it up.
"He-he-he," her voice shook and she found it hard to go on. "he raped me." James inhaled sharply and the silence that ensued was so long that she began to get worried that he didn't believe her. She had just opened her mouth to tell him to never mind but at the same time,
"Who?" he asked, his hazel eyes were looking straight into hers and they were so alive with fury, burning so bright with anger that she was frightened. "Who would do that to you?"
"I can't tell you. James, he would kill you." Lily tore her green eyes away from his. "I can't."
"You have to, Lily. He deserves to pay. He HAS to pay. I'll make him suffer, I will." He'd turned and was staring at the wall opposite from her bed.
"Zachariah," She relented. "Zachariah Euan."
"Why?" For a moment, Lily stared at James' profile in disbelief. The question was so absurd. Why did Zachariah Euan rape her?
"I went to Hogsmeade with him." James turned his head sharply to look at her but as she was staring at her hands rather than his face, she could only feel his muscles jump as he moved. "Afterwards, he brought me to his dormitory and- he wanted to do- well, things with me. But I stopped him before it went too far. He stopped but he wasn't happy. And every time I went somewhere with him, he tried to go too far. But I wouldn't let him. Finally, he got sick of me and ditched me for that Chantale Something or other. You know, the blonde? But today, today, I dunno." Lily's voice trailed away and she shrugged. James was the one shaking now. But one look at his handsome face and she knew that it was his overwhelming anger at the boy who had caused her so much pain. Her heart welled up. Gone was the arrogant prat that she had come to despise over the course of the years. In its place was a strong, caring young man who was sincerely concerned for her and her well-being.
"He's going to pay." James stated to no one in particular.
"NO. Please. You can't." Lily gripped his shirt, sheer terror in her eyes.
"Lily-"
"No! He took away my virginity but he didn't take away my dignity. Please don't let him have that satisfaction too." Lily begged.
"I played Quidditch with him. I covered for him when he was caught wandering the corridors with his girlfriend. I was his FRIEND." James spat, looking utterly disgusted. "I can't believe it. What a bloody bastard."
"James, you can't do anything to him. He would kill you." Her face was taut with urgency. She knew James was proud. Hell, that was why she hated him so much before but this was important. She only hoped she could convey the fact that Zachariah was dangerous.
"Me? How could he kill me? I am faster, stronger, and more skilled with a wand than he is. Not to mention, I can hex the brains out of that bogey-headed prat." James sniffed, a touch of his old arrogance tingeing his voice. She stifled a groan.
"Don't underestimate him. He is stronger than he looks. You can't do or say anything. I know he won't." Lily's hands were clutching one of his arms so tight that it hurt. Her sharp eyes bore into James'. "I don't need everyone knowing that I was violated. I don't need the stares, the whispers behind the hands, or the soft giggles. I don't need the disapprovement or the she-deserves-it. Please."
"Ok." James sighed heavily, shaking his head.
"Promise me."
"I promise on my honor. I will not do or say anything to him." James smiled but it looked forced. "Scout's honor." Lily relaxed again, her hold on his arm loosened and she once again snuggled closer to him. He wrapped his arms around her once more and humming softly, he rocked her gently until she drifted off to sleep.
Once she was asleep, he lay her gently back down but in doing so, the sheet separating her body from his fell down slightly and uncovered the bare flesh of her breast. It was only then that he fully realized that she had been naked except for that very thin bedsheet. All at once, the blood rushed to his groin and there was a very uncomfortable throbbing in his trousers.
"Not now,dammit. Horny bastard." He groaned inwardly. Quickly, he pulled the sheet over her and gathered up the thicker, warmer ones that were bunched up at the foot of the bed. Think of something. Malfoy coming on to Snivellus. Oh God, now I want to vomit. He laid them neatly on top of her and in her sleep she sighed and curled into a fetal position, breathing deeply. He watched her for a minute or so, drinking in the sight of her. She was so beautiful. Her long thick eyelashes rested gently on milky white skin and her fiery hair contrasted with the paleness of her cheeks. Her lush, full lips were curled into a small smile and she looked so angelic, James couldn't help but smile to himself. His eyes wandered lazily over her face and once more, he caught sight of the bruises lining her cheeks and lips. He looked down her arm and was shocked that there were bruises up and down her arms and a thick, deep blue-green bruise encircling her wrist. That showed him exactly how Zachariah had raped her, avoiding the fury of her wand. He was disgusted that anyone would do such a thing on someone so innocent. He loved that she was so independent, that she could think for herself, and that she had an attitude. He also loved that she was the only girl in the castle who never so much as looked at him, except when she was angry at him, of course. When she was angry, her red hair seemed to crackle with electricity, giving her the look that her head was on fire. He sat down at her bedside. Slowly, gently, he ran his fingers over the side of her face and down her neck, moving his hand into her hair which he stroked lovingly. He couldn't get enough of the softness of her skin, the silkiness of her hair. Eventually, he fell asleep, one of his hands entangled in her hair and the other cushioning his head, a smile on his face.
A/N: I live for reviews. Suggestions of any kind, critique are welcomed.
