Disclaimer- I do not own Harry Potter.
Author's Note- Sorry for not updating, I had bad writers block. And when I finally finished the chapter, something happened to my computer and the file got corrupted. Argh, but I did write their first almost kiss for later in the story and I got happy again.
Chapter Four
Lily twiddled the quill between her hands glancing down at the piece of parchment every so often. Her brilliant red hair flowed easily over her tense shoulders. She would transfer the quill between her hands in some unexplainable hope that it would help her with the essay. Harry sat opposite from her in a sofa chair in utter awe. It wasn't so much the fact that he was face to face with his mother, but more of how she was having trouble with an essay. What happened to being the most brilliant witch who never ever had trouble with schoolwork?
Finally reaching the peak of her frustration Lily shoved her belongings in her knapsack. She didn't mind to the fact that she had left a little mess of parchment scattered across the floor. She propped her knapsack higher on her shoulder and headed for the stone steps that led to the dormitories. The reasoning for her vacant mind was unfathomable. Harry promptly followed her without hesitation.
She slowly trudged up the stairs occasionally adjusting the leather straps onto her shoulder. She didn't dare to look behind her, perhaps to avoid someone. She finally reached the brass doorknob that was shining in the sunlight that peered through the small window at the end of the corridor. She placed her pale hand on it and turned it quickly. Without looking around her she fell onto her bed, allowing her knapsack to fall to the ground vibrating a loud thud throughout the room. Two fellow Gryffindors snapped their heads in her direction.
One had a long and straight blonde hair that fell at her shoulders. She was wearing her Hogwarts robes along with a vibrant smile. Beside her was another girl who looked the same age as Lily and the blonde. She had long brown curly hair that was pulled back into a loose ponytail. She didn't look all too happy, as she wore a grim look on her face. She was wearing her skirt and blouse, but her robe was across the bedpost of Lily's bed. Lily probably wouldn't have noticed if it wasn't for the girl snatching it back hastily. The blonde one approached Lily as she smiled. Lily now had her eyes close as she massaged her forehead. "Hullo Lily," the girl greeted still pleasantly smiling. Harry didn't think she was all that bad looking.
Still keeping her vivid green eyes shut Lily responded, "Hey Alice." Alice must be her name, Harry concluded. Well else would Lily call her that?
"What's wrong?" asked Alice with a tone of concern in her voice.
Lily opened her eyes and propped herself onto her elbows and answered, "Nothing." Of course something was bothering her, that essay. "So what are you up to?" She needed something to distract her from the heavy burden that was weighing her down.
As the word 'to' rolled off her tongue the curly brunette strode towards them. She still had an unpleasant look upon her face. "Oh yes!" Alice instantly exclaimed. Obviously the light bulb had finally gone on. "Lily this is Jaine," Alice motioned her hands to the girl, "and Jaine this Lily."
Lily tried to smile and greeted her, "Hi."
Jaine still had her eyes fixed upon Lily as though she had done something wrong. "Hm," she cleared her throat nastily.
Lily didn't know how to respond to that, this girl she didn't even know seemed to already hate her. This was why she wasn't social. She simply smiled and lied back down.
"Hm," she said again.
"Is there something in your throat?" asked Lily. Maybe there was something lodged in her throat that made her sound so nasty.
"No," she grunted.
"Oh yes, I almost forgot about that," Alice quite suddenly said losing the enthusiasm in her voice. "Er Lily?"
"Yeah?" answered Lily not paying much attention.
"Well considering you're Head Girl," Alice began as Lily nodded her head. Yes she was Head Girl and she had been more excited than life should have allowed. But when she had found out Potter was the Head Boy she almost wanted to give back her title. "How do I put this? It's not like I want it to come off as I'm kicking you out."
"What?" Lily gulped. Already she knew this must not be good.
"Jaine here was stuck boarding with fifth years and well since you're Head Girl, I said she could have your bed. I mean you get to sleep in the Head Boy and Girl Dormitory, instead of here!" Alice explained trying to sugarcoat the fact she had kicked her friend out.
"Oh," was all Lily could comprehend.
"I'm really sorry, I really am. Look on the bright side; you get a Common Room all to yourself. I'm sure Potter won't bother you when you study," Alice tried to reassure her knowing full well that Potter would indeed bother her despite the fact she was studying.
"Oh yes it will be fine," Lily lied through her teeth. This would not be fine; she would be sharing a room with Potter! Only Merlin knew what he'd try having his bed across the other side of the room. Why did Dumbledore have to put so much trust in a boy like Potter, a boy with raging hormones?
Lily pulled her knapsack from the floor; it seemed a billion times heavier. Besides the fact that she had a stupid essay to write and her mind wasn't in the place, she'd have to spend her first night in a room with Potter. She had to lay down a few ground rules. Nothing pleasurable would come out of being Head Girl, like Lily had expected. Anytime, even a second, with Potter was not pleasurable at all. She almost rushed out of the room, before one last time looking behind her. Alice's back was to her picking up clothes off the floor. Jaine was now lying in her former bed as she batted her eyelashes.
She rushed down the stairs as Harry struggled to keep up. He may have been the seeker for the Gryffindor Quidditch team, but his mother ran faster than he had seen any other woman run. She kept her eyes focused straight head, not daring to let herself see any of the fellow Gryffindors. The least contact she had, the better. Anger and confusion raged through, which was quite noticeable by Harry. Her hands were clenched into two fists as they shook a giveaway.
As she was out of the portrait hole she let herself look among the walls. The many pictures that hung were okay to look at, in her opinion. Harry had no idea where she was heading, since he had no idea where the Head Boy and Girl dormitory was. Who knew if the Head Boy and Girl dormitory was all that great? Only two people knew the password, but with James probably all of Gryffindor knew. Her hands had loosened a bit, but still formed fists. She wasn't shaking as badly and Harry hadn't heard any obscenities trail from her mouth for the past few minutes.
She approached a portrait of elderly man. He was wearing pinstriped pajamas and a cap on his balding head. "Great, now I'll never get it in," she muttered finding he was indeed asleep. She walked closer, and said loud enough for Harry to hear, "Chocolate Frogs."
The man in the portrait didn't budge a bit. Harry could tell she was becoming angrier and angrier. "Chocolate Frogs," she said again raising her voice a bit. The man still didn't move. "Damn it Chocolate Frogs!" There were no surrounding students so Lily didn't feel so bad for screaming at this old man.
He looked up at her and he could tell from her expression to just her through. Lily rapidly stepped through as Harry followed. Harry realized that it was the Common Room. It wasn't nearly was big as the Gryffindor one, probably because only two people who share it. Instead of the colors of red and gold, were the tapestries of all four teams. The Slytherin and Hufflepuff ones were on the left side as the Ravenclaw and Gryffindor stood opposite them, on the right wall.
She threw her knapsack to the floor and paced around for a bit. There was a small couch and a two sofa chairs beside it, all facing the fireplace. It was a warm brick pattern and there wasn't much soot in it. There were two tables on the other side of the room with, what looked to be two comfy chairs accompanying them. There were probably desks. There was no bulletin board filled with announcements and flyers. Why should there be? There were only two people and they could just tell each other verbally. With Lily and James a bulletin board wouldn't be a bad idea. Feeling as though she had inhaled the whole entire layout of the Common Room, Lily scooped her bag back up and headed for the stairs. Harry followed after her.
She slowly walked up the stairs, not knowing what to expect. For all she knew she could intrude on James and a little guest. She quickly shuddered at the thought and finished the stairs. Taking precautions, she audibly announced, "I am here, so if anyone is shagging go find another room!"
James suddenly flew from the door grinning. "Evans, do you really think I'd be shagging anyone? I mean if you want to shag me just to make it official, well I'm not one to object."
"What did I ever do?" pleaded Lily staring up at the ceiling. She pushed her way past him and into the room that she'd been doomed to share with him. There were two four-poster beds. They each had gold and red covers, maybe this was Dumbledore's way of making things seem more like Gryffindor Tower. One bed was outside another oak door. Lily peered inside and found the bathroom. There was a marble sink, along with the shower/bathtub. The toilet sat against the wall across from the sink. Good, at least it wouldn't be a long sprint to puke her guts out when she felt nauseated by Potter.
Across the room was the other bed that James had already clearly taken possession of. There were multiple Quidditch posters along the wall along with a few of the Marauders. Clothes were already scattered about. "How long have you been in here?" she asked.
"A few hours, why?"
"You've already managed to make it a pig sty," she grumbled. She set down her knapsack on her bed. This was the bed she had been subjected to sleep on for the next nine months. The bed that Potter could easily find access to. She would at least keep her side clean.
James brushed past her, sending shivers up her spine. He jumped on top of his bed. He placed his arms under his bed as if and grinned profusely at Lily. "You know Evans; if you ever get scared you can come in my bed."
"I'd sooner get in bed with the giant squid than you!" she wailed.
"No you wouldn't," he replied arrogantly. "You know that you want to."
"If this is what it's going to be like the next nine months, then I'm turning over my title!" she bellowed.
"Okay, okay. Don't get your knickers in a knot, Evans. I bet by the end of the year you'll be sleeping in my bed," James wagered.
"Potter, you're just asking to lose," she answered matter-of-factly.
"Oh am I?" he smiled.
"Yes," she answered robotically.
"Fine, how much you willing to bet? One galleon, three, fifty?"
"One hundred!" she announced.
"You'd be one poor witch, my dear Evans. But then again I'd take of care of you," he told her.
"One hundred Potter." She stuck out her hand towards Potter.
James avidly took her hands into his as he watched her wince. "Fine we're betting one hundred galleons that by the end of the year you'll be mine," he repeated the bet shaking her hand.
"Hey I didn't say that we'd be together!"
"Too late you shook on it, Evans."
"I hate you," she said angered.
"I love you," he expressed.
"Argh!" she screamed as she snatched her hand away from his. Harry couldn't help but to laugh. He knew that his father was going to win, but would he actually make her pay. Of course not, not in the money sense. Harry shuddered at the thought and sat on the end of his father's bed.
James was humming a melodic tune of happiness. "This is going to be fun," he declared to himself. "Oh so fun."
Well yes, there it is. Don't you just love James? Anyway please review and tell me what think! The next chapter should be posted much sooner than later!
