The Epic Journey: Lily and James
Chapter 4: A Little Chat…
Lily stared at the empty page before her, quill poised to write but not knowing what to do. What letters to form, what sentences to write? Yet her mind was not truly on the task at hand. Rather it was focused on reviewing the ever so arrogant, conceited toerag that went by the name of James whatever-his-middle-name-is Potter. And that included just about everything that had happened in recent days. She was so preoccupied in strengthening her uncalled for anger towards him that she failed to notice the tiny first year standing timidly on front of her, attempting vainly to capture her attention.
"Excuse me? Excuse me!?!"
Eventually, it took the sharp tapping of an owl at one of the Common Room window to awaken her from her reverie.
"D-did you want something?" She looked at the tiny figure before her with the concern so characteristic of her.
"Yeah - I mean yes… This was sent to you." Timidly, he handed over a hastily folded note.
"Thanks," she said absentmindedly, already folding it open. The first year scuttled away, undeniably terrified of her reaction. She looked back at him as he dashed back up to the stairs to his dormitory. Her eyes scanned the room, coming to rest on a young man reading a letter by the fire. His expression was hidden by the dying shadows, but she thought she saw the glimmer of tears.
Shaking her head, she pushed it to the back of her mind, and looked back at the note spread out on the table before her. Is barely legible handwriting was the words:
Lily,
Remus insists that he should write this as my handwriting is, to quote McGonagall, 'worse than that of a rabid bear.' But I wish to talk to you about Prongs. Don't let him see you meeting me or he will – quite literally – throw a fit reminiscent of the same ones you perform every time he asks you out.
Anyway, the edge of the Forbidden Forest, near the Whomping Willow at ten o'clock. See if you make it after curfew.
A Black
She scoffed at his apparent authority. Who did he think he was, accusing her of being terrified of going against the rules? She was Head Girl! She could go wherever she wanted whenever she wanted. And – if things weren't right – she could always give them detention. No, that was cruel, maybe just points for all the mortifying pranks they had pulled over the years. But wait… There was a postscript:
Flower,
God, she hated that nickname,
Send this back with your answer.
Well, she huffed; we'll just have to see about that. She turned over the piece of parchment and wrote, in flowing blue ink:
Very well Black, ten o'clock it is.
Satisfied with her penmanship, she tucked it in her bag to inconspicuously slip into that of Sirius Black's as she set off for Charms.
"Lily flower -"
"Don't call me that!"
They were standing by the edge of the Forbidden Forest, just like Sirius had asked. Now – after several minutes of arguing – Lily was beginning to wonder what made her agree to this stupid idea in the first place.
"Fine, Evans,"
"Insensitive jerk!"
"Stop it…."
"Taken offence have you?" Lily spat.
"Yes," Sirius snarled, entirely too reminiscent of the dog he could become (although Lily was unaware of it). "Now, about Prongs -"
"Another arrogant jerk! Wow, they're really multiplying -"
"Lily." A soft voice said behind her, stopping her mid rant.
She spun around to se Remus – so young and yet so worn – standing behind her, beseeching her to see reason.
"James is very… affected, by you. By your rejections."
She snorted.
"That arrogant -"
"- conceited toerag? Now that's really getting old, Lily flower -"
"No, it's that nickname!" The aforementioned flower hotly replied.
"Whatever," Sirius shrugged as Remus - with an exasperated shake of his head – took over the conversation.
"It's true, he really does feel -"
"That it's a great joke to annoy me all these years?"
"He's Sirius about you… No, Sirius, do not do that joke."
"Potter? Serious?" Lily snorted in a most unladylike manner. "That's about the stupidest thing I've heard – and knowing you lot for seven years, that's a lot."
"Lily, listen to me!" Remus suddenly roared, so uncharacteristic of him that Lily and Sirius jumped and gawked at him. But Remus continued regardless of their astonishment.
"James is practically in love with you! He would do anything you asked him too and has faced more rejection - particularly from you - that I believe you ever will! Give him a chance! He's changed everything for you, going against his very nature to become a better person for you!" He stopped and looked straight into Lily's bright green eyes earnestly,
"Just one chance and I promise you won't regret it."
She hesitated while the two young men stood, as if waiting a judge's verdict. Stock still, she whispered, in a voice barely audible so that Sirius and Remus had to lean forward to hear her,
"Maybe."
Remus nodded curtly. Sirius strode off in a hurry and they soon the sounds of him walking back to the castle. Remus turned as well, but looked back over his shoulder just as he was about the turn a corner and go out of the red haired girl's line of vision.
"You won't be sorry."
She gave a weak smile and he disappeared with only the disrupted dust at the feet to show they were ever there.
A/N: Sorry this is so late everybody but the aftermath of last year caught up with me and helping with planning our holiday down the coast – well I forgot I even wrote this chapter until CousinBeth reminded me and I found it sitting sneakily at the back of my notebook. But don't fret my lovelies – I'll be writing on holiday but won't have access to a computer until I get back so don't expect another chapter for at least a week and half. And, on a better note, please review and let me find a lovely surprise when I get back!
Elizabeth