The End of the Beginning

Chapter Four:

Lily met the other girls downstairs at breakfast the next morning.

"Why didn't you wake us?" asked Olivia indignantly.

"You all looked so peaceful. I didn't want to disturb you."

"You know we wouldn't have minded for that!" exclaimed Alice Pennywether, their other roommate, joining in.

"Yeah, we want to know all the details and, of course, how many rows you had," agreed Annie excitedly.

""Well, lets work this out logically. They were together for what, four hours? So I am estimating it was somewhere in the mid-sixties," joked Olivia.

"Actually," began Lily, "It was kind of," she hesitated, "Nice," she finished lamely.

"Am I hearing okay?" asked Olivia disbelievingly. "Did Lily Evans just say spending time with James Potter was nice.

"So there were no fight at all? No arguments? Quarrels? Anything?" asked Annie who was in a similar state of shock.

"Not with James, no," Lily shook her head.

"Good god, the world's gone mad!" yelled Annie who promptly took the brace position and sat under the table. She heard the harsh click of high-heels on a stone floor as Professor McGonagall approached.

"Andromeda Black, what on Earth do you think you're doing under there."

Annie flinched at the use of her full name. She could barely explain to herself why she was under the table so she simply said. "I was trying to find my glasses. I dropped them I just know they're here somewhere…" she trailed off and began squinting at the floor.

"Black, you don't wear glasses," said Professor McGonagall.

"Ah," replied Annie. She never was much of a liar.

"Just get up," said McGonagall sternly, but she was clearly amused.

"So, that's the 13th"

"14th," interrupted Lily.

"Sorry, 14th time you've embarrassed yourself this term," finished Olivia.

"Yes, four days down only 361 to go," said Annie forcing a smile while Olivia and Lily giggled under their breath.

0000

James was roused by a tickling feeling in his feet. He sat up and looked round to see the entire dormitory staring at him with Sirius standing at the foot of his bed.

"Ahem," he coughed as he approached James' head.

"Why are they all staring at me?" James asked.

"I think your exact words were: "Lily, Lily, Oh stop. No, take me, Lily, take me,"" Sirius replied in a very monotone voice.

James shrugged. His particular nonchalance in this area was so because, frankly, James liking Lily was old news. The only thing that caused a new uproar of whispers was when something particularly big or exciting happened. And fantasy dreams were a weekly occurrence in the Boys' Dormitory. Well, they seemed to find it funny anyway.

"So," Sirius asked suggestively.

"So what?" asked James.

"So, how did it go with Lily last night? I mean, I only saw part of it but-" asked Sirius.

"Oh yeah, was that intentional?" James asked.

"Sure," Sirius replied shiftily. "Anyway, back on to your favourite topic of discussion-"

"Pie?" James asked.

"No, you twat, Lily,"

"He does like to talk about pie. Especially Banoffee," Remus joined them.

"I just don't see how it can be so sticky and so creamy at the same time!" James exclaimed.

"Lily!" barked Sirius.

"Alright, calm down," James said soothingly.

"Me? Calm down?" was hysteric. "I'm not the one talking fanatically about pie."

"Okay, well, I think our plan may be beginning to work. I mean, at no point did she yell at me or even give an air of superiority."

"Score Prongs!" shouted Sirius.

"Wait. Am I to understand that we are celebrating the fact that during a two hour period you were not insulted by a girl? Because to me that doesn't sound that impressive," Remus decided to put a downer on the fun.

"It is if the girl in question is Lily Evans, one of the most stubborn, patronising, beautiful girls in the world," James rebutted.

"Plus she hates James' guts," Sirius added.

"Oh yeah, forgot about that," Remus apologised. "It's just you normally get to third base on a first date."

00000

"So, have you started discussing the Halloween ball with James yet?" asked Annie on the way down to potions.

"I will when I run into him," Lily said. "Are you going to ask Remus?"

"I don't know, no, definitely not," she replied.

"Why not?" asked Olivia.

"What if he says no?" she said, worry in her eyes.

"That's about as likely as James refusing Lily. Remus just doesn't go around parading his feelings like that. He's a little more reserved." Olivia said comfortingly.

"I'll think about it," Annie agreed.

"Houston," Olivia spoke into a mock-microphone, "We have landed."

00000

It did not take long for Lily to run into James. She was in the Library, searching for a charms book when she spotted him. She started toward him, before doubling back. She never went up to him out of choice. He always found her first. However, she knew, if they were ever going to make this work she would have to be able to put up with him. She made her way towards him.

"Wouldn't have expected to see you here," she said

"Wouldn't have expected to see you here," he replied.

For a minute she didn't understand him. She practically lived in the library. Then she realised he meant, there, talking to him.

"Anyway, how did you think I got such good grades?"

"Sheer luck," was one of a dozen nasty responses that automatically flew through her mind. However she made do with a shrug followed by. "I wanted to talk to you about the Halloween dance,"

"Yeah, shall we go for the regular 4th years and above; scary decorations; costumes mandatory; plenty of food," he suggested.

She nodded in response. "Sounds good."

He started to pack up his books into his bag and swept out of the room. Lily couldn't help but notice they way his eyes were glinting in the shafts sunlight.