197 Reasons Why
Chapter 4
Laughter and Potions
James was rarely ever found in the library. In fact, it may be the one place that he had visited the least. Especially when it was probably the last nice day of November, and the weather was going to turn dreary soon. To him, beautiful days should not be wasted inside studying, but outside, on his broom and letting the wind mess it up even more. He hated to only hear the quiet murmurs, or scratching of quills against parchment, or the turning of pages in a book. That was boring. He especially was not fond of Madame Pince, the librarian, who always acted like she had something shoved far up her arse.
Lily, however was almost always in the library, whether it be for tutoring younger students, or studying by herself. She loved the sunlight streaming in through the tall glass windows and feeling the sun radiate on her back. She absolutely loved the scratching of quills and the turning of pages. The musty smell of old books was her favorite and this library certainly did not disappoint her in any aspect. This time, however, she was in there with Marlene and Alice, doing more whispering than studying.
Marlene had made some wise crack about Quidditch and the four Marauders, especially James, which caused the redhead to quite literally laugh out loud, disrupting the quiet she usually enjoyed.
James' head snapped up at the sound of it. It was a hearty, full, and obviously amused laugh. Not wanting to be caught staring for once, he returned to writing a list, scratching a couple things out as he went. Then, he heard it again. It started soft, this time, and then grew louder and louder. He glanced back over to the table that Lily and her friends were sitting to see her wiping her eyes from the tears of laughter.
However, Lily grew quiet and her cheeks grew flush as she eyed Madame Pince making her way over to the table with a scowl.
After being reminded to be quiet by the librarian, Marlene waited for her to leave before leaning across the table and whispering, "She really does have something stuck up her arse, doesn't she?"
Lily snorted. "Marlene!" she whispered. "You can't just say something like that! It's not polite"
"I heard Potter say it one day," Marlene explained. "I think it's funny how he complains about her when he makes an appearance in here about once a year."
"Oi, speak of the devil," Alice whispered. "When was the last time you saw James Potter working on something in the library?"
"I'm pretty sure it was last year, and he asked to see my term paper for Ancient Runes," Marlene muttered.
Lily looked across the library and stopped short at the sight Alice was talking about. Sitting at one of the giant wooden tables by himself, he was seemingly working on something important. His brow was furrowed and he looked frustrated.
"I'll be right back, I have got to know what he's working on," Lily curiously half-whispered, standing up and walking over to wear the boy was.
She walked up and half expected him to notice her standing there. At least a minute passed by before she sat down in the chair across from him. "Potter, what are you working on that requires all your focus and in the library?" she asked quietly with genuine interest.
James looked up, startled and jumped the smallest bit. "Oh," he stammered, a bit unsettled, shuffling one of his papers underneath the others, almost as if he was hiding something. "Just that stupid essay on Amortentia that Slughorn assigned."
"And that requires your full attention?" she asked while fighting back a smirk.
"Yeah, because not everyone has Slughorn wrapped around their finger like you do," James grumbled mostly to himself, his mouth forming into the slightest smirk.
Despite herself, Lily let out a snort. She reached to grab the paper James was working on to just look over it, but he quickly stopped her.
"You don't want to read it. It's quite terrible. I promise, you'd think I was quite dumb."
She just looked at him. "Why not? I don't think an essay could possibly convince me that you're dumb – at least not in Potions."
He shook his head to confirm his decision not to let her see the paper. She let out a small laugh of disbelief and he grinned back at her.
"You have a lovely laugh," James blurted out before he could stop himself. "Not that your laugh has anything to do with this paper. I heard it a bit ago." He bit his lip and tried not to let his face flush so much. "Sorry."
Lily looked at him, stunned. "Thanks, Potter. I'll be leaving you to work now," she said and turned to walk back to her friends.
James sighed with relief after she left and scribbled something on the piece of parchment that he wouldn't let her see. This girl was going to drive him crazy.
(Later, Gryffindor Boys Dormitory)
"Hey Wormtail, can I see your essay on Amortentia?" James practically begged.
Peter nodded his head and just as he was about to hand it over to the other boy, Remus piped up. "Wait, wasn't that why you went to the library earlier?" Remus inquired.
James groaned with frustration. "There were other things of importance that I had to work on. Those things just happened to…" he trailed off, not quite sure how he could explain it.
His other three mates all turned to look at him, curious.
"Was Lily there?" Remus asked knowingly.
James' face turned red for the second time that day. "Maybe," he tried to play it off as nothing.
"Prongs, aren't you going to tell us whatever you were doing in the library?" Sirius asked impatiently, after several moments of silence.
James pursed his lips before giving his answer. "The time isn't right." He turned to Peter, "Mate, please just let me see your essay," he begged impatiently.
"Fine," the blonde sighed, and handed him the paper.
James laid it next to his own and started scribbling in a fast manner.
Remus stood over his shoulder and chuckled at a thought. "You know, if this has anything to do with a certain redhead named Lily Evans, I might just add that you're probably failing potions because of her. Granted, it isn't her fault."
"Why would you say that?" Peter asked.
"He spends the entire time staring at her, not taking note of anything," Sirius interjected, before Remus could. "Trust me," the long haired boy smirked, "I sit next to him."
"But he spends every class staring at her," Peter pointed out.
"Remus is right," James piped up, finishing the last sentence of the essay. "I am probably failing potions because of her. But hey, that's dedication."
Anger
"The very least you can do when I reprimand you while doing my job is to look at and listen to me!" an angry voice echoed through the corridor and into the Gryffindor Common Room, disturbing a discussion between four boys. "Your mum must've not taught you any manners! Don't forget you have detention, starting tomorrow," the voice reminded curtly.
The portrait door swung open and a fuming Lily Evans walked in, her face blood red from her choleric state, and James turned around to see what the commotion was.
Remus scrambled up from one of the chairs and rushed to meet her halfway. He started talking to her, most likely to calm her down.
"Alright, Evans?" James yelled across the room, though there was no need to.
She turned to face him, still peeved and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "Potter," she spat through gritted teeth. "It is not of your worry nor does it concern you, so kindly shove off." At that, she turned back to Remus to try to talk to him more, but James just stared at her.
She noticed him staring at her and as she whipped her head around to look at him, the strand of hair fell back in front of her face.
James reached out and placed it back behind her ear, turned around and went up the stairs into his dormitory.
"What the hell was that about?" Lily asked Remus, still tense.
"I haven't the slightest," Remus admitted, shaking his head.
Whatever James had in mind, it was already confusing both Remus and Lily.
Charming
Lily was sitting in the Charms classroom, as it was slowly filling up, waiting for Marlene, or Remus, or someone to sit next to her before Potter got there.
A body slid into the seat next to her. Her body tensed up immediately once she realized who it was.
"Lovely morning, Evans, don't you think?" James asked, grinning at her.
"Potter, why are you sitting next to me?" Lily retorted.
"Well you see, it's quite hard to see over you when you and Marlene are always talking and writing and then you always answer his questions, so I thought it easier if I came and sat next to you," he explained.
"Bugger off, Potter."
The girl's absolute unwanting of James only made him lean closer to her. As he did, he noticed the grip of her quill tighten significantly and her cheeks start to tint a rosy pink.
"Potter, could you not be so close to me? You're making it very difficult to take notes."
The boy shrugged but did not make any attempt to move. He didn't understand why Lily was so adamant about paying attention in charms because she was absolutely brilliant at it. She made the hardest charm look simple.
"Lily," James whispered.
No answer.
"Oi, Evans," he hissed.
Still, there was no answer.
"Lily?" he impatiently whispered.
She showed no acknowledgment, and continued to write whatever Flick was saying verbatim.
"Lily, this is important," he half whined.
"What?" the girl hissed back, peeved.
"Well, the Hogsmeade trip is coming up and I think you'd have a good time if you went with me."
"No," she hastily replied.
""Will you just humour me for once and –"
"No" she repeated.
"– just ask why," he pleaded.
"Why," the redhead asked unenthusiastically.
James could barely contain his grin. "Because you love charms a great deal, and I am a charming guy."
She looked at him dumbfounded for a moment while James looked pleased with himself.
Finally, she spoke, clicking her tongue first. "Real proud of yourself for that one, aren't ya?"
"Is that a yes?" James asked with another grin.
Lily just shook her head and rolled her eyes and went back to taking notes.
Worth (Part 1)
"Marlene, I'll meet back up with you in a second," Lily promised her friend. "I need to talk to Remus for a few seconds."
"Remus, wait up!" she called after their Potions class let out.
When she reached him, he greeted her with a smile and turned slightly away from his friends, to talk to her.
"Mind if I ask you something?" she asked quietly.
"Hey guys, I'll be there in a bit. Lily and I need to discuss a few things," Remus called over his shoulder. Lily noticed his face seemed much paler than usual and that there were some scratches on his face, but thought nothing of it at the moment. He turned back to her. "Sure, go ahead," he offered.
"Alright, this may sound a bit silly," she began cautiously. "Well, no never mind, scratch that, it is rather silly. You see, normally, I'd ignore my thoughts about Potter as much as possible, but I want to know why he keeps asking me out, despite being rejected multiple times."
Remus chuckled softly. "Funny that you should ask, honestly. I was meeting up with them in the common room. He had said something about you."
She stopped in her tracks and looked up at him. "Why on Earth would he say something about me to you all? I mean I get that you're mates and all…" she trailed off, waiting for him to offer an explanation.
He chuckled once more. "You don't get it, Lily. He's mad for you."
She shook her head and continued on their ten minute trek to their common room.
(Gryffindor Common Room)
For some reason, the Gryffindor Common Room was empty on such a dreary and grey November afternoon. Peter, James, and Sirius were all sprawled out on the chairs in front of the fireplace, waiting for Remus to arrive.
"What are we waiting for?" Peter complained impatiently.
"Oi, calm down Wormtail, we're waiting on Moony," Sirius half-yawned to the other and rubbed his eyes. "Prongs, you're cutting into my nap time."
The portrait creaked open and from the portrait hole, the three boys saw Remus and Lily walk in, deep in conversation. James strained his head to catch a better glimpse at the two.
"Prongs don't piss yourself, mate," Peter jokingly told his friend.
"Oh shut up," he hissed.
"I'll see you around," James heard Lily tell his friend.
She accidentally made eye contact with James as she passed him and headed for the stairs up to her dorm.
"Boys," she said, nodding, breaking contact with James and disappeared up the stairs.
As soon as the girl was out of sight and earshot, James looked at Remus expectantly.
"'S just weird, Prongs," Remus stated.
"What's weird? What'd she say?"
"Don't get your knickers in a bunch, all she was wondering is why you keep asking her out, despite her rejecting you."
"Valid question," Peter mused.
He and the other two looked at the bespectacled boy, awaiting an answer.
James laughed a bit and smiled. "It's quite simple, really. It's because she's worth it."
Bum Touching and Worth (Part 2)
After their first Quidditch victory of the season, Lily found herself somehow talking to James in the midst of the celebration in the common room. The room was loud, as it always was after a match, but the buzz of a post victory high was all around and the stench of sweat only made it better, in James' opinion.
"Congratulations on the win today, Potter. You played very well. I can see why you're the captain."
"Thanks, Evans, that means a lot" he replied a bit too happily and hastily, leaving both standing in awkward silence.
"Right, well I really should go find Marlene, I pro–" Lily began to explain as she started to leave.
"Oh, Evans," James interrupted, grabbing her wrist and pulling her back. He had to help steady her as she stumbled back. "Speaking of McKinnon, she said that my bum was nice to touch."
Lily rolled her eyes. "Alright Potter, I'm leaving now."
"Just know that you can touch it at any time!" he called after her as she weaved her way through the crowd to find her blonde friend.
"That true 'bout McKinnon?" Sirius questioned, obviously intrigued.
"Nope," the other replied. "Jus' pretended she did to try to use the jealousy card."
"Do you think it worked?" Sirius asked, already knowing the answer.
James shook his head and let out a long exhale. "You know mate, I have no bloody idea."
"Just give her time, she'll come around," Sirius offered.
James shrugged his shoulders and Lily, for some reason, had made her way back to him.
"Potter, I've got a question," she stated and his friend took that as a cue to turn around and pretend not to listen in.
"Alright, ask away, Evans," he casually replied.
"In a moment of pure curiosity I just want to know why you think that I would want to go to Hogsmeade with you," she challenged him.
He smirks at her and dramatically sighed. "Evans, did you not hear? It's because I'm worth it."
She failed to properly choke back laughter. "Oi, Potter, you sound like that one shampoo commercial on the telly!"
He looked alarmingly confused as she took a few more breaths and calmed down. "Oi, Potter that's too funny," she said before walking off a second time.
A/N: Oh my gosh I'm sorry that I haven't updated in ages. Senior year was rough and I barely had time to write and that isn't much of an excuse but I did brainstorm a lot and got bits and pieces of the next chapters down!
Anyway, please rate/review! They're like warm summer days.
Love,
Olivia