AN: Bloody hell, Pelahnar, you lost me after the first paragraph Dx How about we say James really is smart and turned to other sections of the book (but not the answer section) and found a review chapter about derivatives? Then he learned how to do derivatives and then figured out the integrals? Blimey, this is not making me looking forward to when I learn about this stuff.
"Well, I'm stuffed," Dorea declared for everyone around the table. And very well we should be. A lamb leg, several soups, a large ham and a whole basket of rolls later, we were all holding back burps and praying that the buttons on our pants wouldn't pop off. Mum looked up, surprised.
"We haven't had dessert yet!" she bustled to the kitchen, and a second later came out with her famous homemade ice cream sundaes, a whole plate of them. "If you want seconds, just ask!"
Suddenly, everyone found room in their stomachs for just one more, and the sundaes were gone in a heartbeat. All except one. I looked at Tuney's empty spot sadly; she still hadn't returned from wherever she went, not even for the dinner. Dad didn't look too pleased either, and I took faith that he'll give her a good scolding when she gets back. With that thought settled, I turned back and tackled my ice cream.
"This is really delicious, Mrs. Evans," James said, setting down his spoon.
"The very best!" Dorea agreed cheerfully. "You have to teach me how to make this!"
Mum blushed under their praise. "You are being too kind," she repeated her earlier words. "And the compliments mustn't all go to me, either! Dorea here helped bake the rolls and make the broccoli cheese soup!"
It looked as if the adults were going to be at it for a while. I stood up and cleared my throat, and they all stopped in their admiration of each other. "May we please be excused?" I asked, kicking James under the table. "We've got something—"
"Of course, of course!" Mum looked delighted that I was finally giving James 'a chance'. "Do whatever you need to."
"Behave yourself, James," Charlus looked at his son. "The Evans family has a nice house and I'd be sorry to see it blown up." My parents' eyes widened at this.
"Dad! That was one time!"
"Behave yourself," Dorea warned. James gulped and we hurried out of there.
"Little Jamie-poo is scared of his Mummy, eh?" I smirked at him.
"Shove off, Lily. We really are going to do more of that Muggle work again, aren't we?"
I looked through the stack of textbooks on the living room table. "Hmm. What do you say we do a little history?"
"Oh, please no! Anything but that!" James begged. I knew he was remembering Professor Binns' long boring lectures about never-ending goblin rebellions and the number of times the International Law of Secrecy was breached. To be honest, history was one of my least favorite subjects too. Who needs to learn about long-dead blokes and their ideas and thoughts anyway?
"I know, James," I sighed. "But look on the bright side: you won't have to take notes!"
"I won't?" he looked up hopefully.
"Not at all! Instead, you'll memorize all those dates and names and wars and recite it word-for-word to me afterwards. Isn't that great?"
"You are evil," James moaned.
"But since you claim to love me, you will do what I ask, yes?"
"Yes," he agreed desolately. I smiled.
"Well, that's that. I'll leave you to it then!"
James was in the middle of describing World War I and its effects on the participating countries when Dorea and my mum stuck their heads into the living room. "James? James, honey, it's time to go."
We both froze. The heavy textbook balanced on my lap slid off and fell with a resounding crash onto my toes. I held back a stream of profanity and through watering eyes, peered at our mothers.
"Oh thank Merlin—!" James started to exclaim. I shot him a look and he immediately changed his tack. "—I mean, can we stay a little longer?"
Dorea looked bemused. "Well, all right then." She turned to my mum. "If that's all right with you and John, of course."
"Absolutely!" My mother beamed at me. "How about another fifteen, twenty minutes?"
"Perfect," Dorea smiled and they withdrew. I rubbed my swollen foot, and cast a healing spell. It gradually began to deflate.
"Where were we?" I asked. James held up the accursed history book. I scowled at it. "Well, we're moving on."
"You're not as cruel as I imagined," James remarked. I scowled at him too.
"It isn't out of thoughtfulness for your well-being, Potter. Mark my words, if that book dares to come anywhere near my toes again…." I finished by cracking my knuckles.
"First sign of madness: threatening inanimate objects," James said under his breath.
"What was that?"
"Nothing!"
"Good. All right, Potter. Let's see what we should do next…."
Half an hour later, Mum interrupted my lecture on the composers in the Baroque period with, "Lily, the Potters really do need to get going now. You and James can continue whatever you're doing some other time, all right?"
"All right," I agreed grudgingly. "So, uh, I'll bike to your place, say, next Wednesday?"
"Of course! We'll be expecting you!" Dorea called over her shoulder. "James, come along now."
"Bloody hell," he muttered. "What have I gotten myself into?"
I pecked him on the cheek. "See you next Wednesday, then."
He looked dazed, his hand hesitantly touching the spot where my lips made contact. "Er, right. See you…see you next Wednesday."
A few moments after the telltale loud crack of Apparition sounded, my mum swept me up into her arms.
"Oh Lily! What did I tell you?" she cried. "This is perfect. I expect a wedding invitation within a year."
"MUM!" I shrieked. "It was only a kiss on the cheek!"
"And you're going over next week! Relationships grow fast, darling!"
"Dad!" I cried. "Mum's gone crazy!"
"Now, now, sweetie," Dad dismantled Mum's arms around me. "Surely that's going a bit too far—"
"Remember us, when we were young?" Mum giggled. "It was such a dream."
Dad smiled tenderly at her. "How can I forget?" he kissed her softly on the forehead. I sighed and headed up to my room. The moment I opened my door, a wave of arms and legs surrounded me. I muffled a yelp, clenching my hand around my wand before I realized it was only my friends.
"For the love of Merlin!" I croaked. "Next time you lot come for a surprise visit at bloody nine o'clock at night, at least give me a holler beforehand!"
"Sorry Lils," Emmy's voice whispered. "We'll do that next time."
"Never mind that, how was the dinner?" Marlene asked.
"Wait. Muffliato," I hissed. "All right. Now we can talk without my parents overhearing."
"So how was it?" Alice said. "Ouch, Marlene! That was my foot!"
"Sorry," Marlene mumbled. "Lumos."
I sighed and turned on the lamp on my desk. Alice, Marlene, and Emmy were crowded into my small room. "Where are Mary and Dor?"
"Dorcas has this Little League Quidditch game," Marlene rolled her eyes. "And Mary was visiting her aunt."
"Well, dinner was fine. James wanted to learn about Muggles, of all things, and we discussed a few Muggle school topics. Nothing much." I accidently forgot to tell them about our appointment next Wednesday and my way of persuading James to keep up with the lessons.
"Oh," Emmy said. "So…you two didn't kiss or anything?"
"Bloody hell, Emmy! No!"
"Bloody hell? That's what I was going to say," Marlene gaped at me. I looked down too. Nothing was out of place, nothing was missing. Just shorts and a tank top, as usual. "Did you wear this to dinner?" Belatedly, I realized exactly what I was wearing and gulped.
"LILY MARIE EVANS!"
"Shh!" Alice shushed us. "I don't trust that Muffliato spell."
"You wore this?" Marlene hissed, her eyes murderous. "I am going to murder you, Lily."
"Well, it was nice knowing you all. Give Mary and Dorcas my love, all right?" I sighed theatrically. "A quick, clean death, then, if you don't mind," I said to Marlene.
"What am I going to do with you, Lily?" she slumped back onto my pillows.
At least she doesn't know about Wednesday, I thought to myself, and most importantly, she doesn't know about the kiss.
Next Wednesday arrived sooner than I thought, and just my luck for it to be the hottest day of the entire summer. I looked doubtfully at the scorching sun, then sighed and set my helmet on my head. Wheeling my new bike out of the garage, I called through the door, "See ya, sis!" As usual I got no response. I set down the sizzling sidewalk and let the wind dry the beads of sweat forming on my forehead. I passed the playground, and out of habit, searched for Sev. Then I looked away. I would never see Sev in that playground again. There was too much tension between us, and our Houses now, for us to be together. I pedaled harder, and Godric's Hollow came into view. I had always wondered how, in the first eleven years of my life, that I hadn't managed to discover this Wizarding village. Of course, there were Muggles there too, but it was known by a different name for them, Quagmire Court. Soon enough, I saw McKinnon Manor, which was seen as a modest little cottage for Muggles. I squinted and made out James' house. Even though he came from a long line of purebloods, he told me his father refused to call it a 'manor' or 'estate', though those names certainly did the façade justice. I walked the last few yards and leaned my bike on its kickstand against the gate. I was about to ring the little bell, but saw that the gate was open. Shrugging, I let myself in; they were expecting me anyway. However, I did knock and the door was opened by a bare-chested Sirius Black.
"Oh, hey Evans." He said, apparently at ease with his shirtless-ness, letting me in. "Jamie boy is up in his room. Third on the left, second floor."
"Put on a shirt, Black," I said. He just grinned.
"Oi, Marlene! Look who is it!" he called into the house. My heart rose up to my throat. Marlene?
AN: Ahaha, bad cliffy at the end }:D Next time I talk to you through this story will be next year! Have a happy and safe New Years! Don't get pregnant and don't do drugs! Bye!
~Gella