A/N So here's the fourth chapter! Thanks to all the people who reviewed or put my story on alert, it really means alot to me. Please R&R!
Chapter 4 – Rules
The entrance hall was packed full of students pushing to get into the Great Hall. Bright torches were lit all around the hall and I could hear the many echoes of footsteps on the stone floor. We managed to part the crowds fairly easily using a few well-placed winks and smiles from Sirius and I towards our admirers, and we were soon streaming through the doors on the right that led into the Great Hall.
I looked around at the familiar hall as we entered. The four long house tables were present as always, as well as the staff table. The enchanted ceiling was pitch black, dotted with a few bright stars, just like the sky we had seen only minutes earlier outside the front doors.
The four of us walked – well, Sirius and I swaggered – to the Gryffindor table. Near the head of the table, Lily was sat with a few of her friends, laughing and gossiping with them. I nearly stopped in my tracks as I saw her. She seemed more beautiful than ever. She had let her hair grow far down her back, and in the light of the hovering candles, her eyes were sparkling like jewels. As she glanced over her shoulder and saw me standing there, she gave a slight scowl and moved over a little to fill the empty space on the bench next to her.
Lily didn't know, however, that I wasn't going to attempt to sit next to her like I did at the start of fifth year. I kept walking between the tables, only glancing over my shoulder twice to look back at her. I could see the look of shock on her face that she tried hard to disguise at the fact that I hadn't even said hello. I smiled – The Plan was working already and the feast was yet to begin.
Sirius, Remus, Peter and I found seats right at the other end of the long table, closest to the teachers.
"Did you see that look that Evans had when you didn't say anything too her?" Sirius asked, grinning. "She tried to hide it Prongs, but she looked so damn shocked! Maybe even slightly disappointed!"
I also tried to hide my feelings as he said this, but I couldn't help grinning. "She probably wasn't disappointed Sirius. Shocked, yes, but disappointed?" I stammered, pretending it was no big deal, even though I felt ecstatic. If this is how excited I get just when Lily looks disappointed that I hadn't talked to her, I thought that I'd probably faint if she said hello. A 'how was your holiday?' would probably stop my heat from beating entirely.
"Shut up with the modesty James," Sirius replied. "I know you're happy. Which is completely sad, by the way."
"Oy, shut up! Just because I actually like a girl, not her boobs – "
"Hey!" Sirius interrupted, faking hurt at my words. "I'm all about the ass James, you know that! I mean, the boobs are important too of course, but I'm more of an ass man," he said with a wicked grin.
"Oh yes, sorry. How could I forget?" I muttered sarcastically, rolling my eyes.
Before Sirius could say anything else, the sorting had started. I slumped in my chair as McGonagall took out a long scroll and let it unravel. The bottom touched the floor, and she read the first name.
"Aarup, Michael"
The sorting continued for the better part of an hour, and by the time 'Zuckerman, Charlotte" had been sorted into Slytherin, I was too hungry to even cheer for the new Gryffindors.
I could tell that Sirius was as relieved as I was when Dumbledore finished his speech with a warning to stay away from the Forbidden Forest (strangely, he looked at me while he said this) and that Filch was re-enforcing his ban of Zonkos products. The platters in front of us were filled instantly with delicious food, and we began to pile it onto the solid gold plates. I always got some of everything at the start of year feast – I did love my mother's cooking, but it certainly didn't match up to the house elves'.
"Vohh mah fohdnessh, I mished ogwarths oodd vohh vwuddy moch!" Sirius exclaimed. Obviously, he had just shoved a huge forkful of cottage pie into his mouth.
"Come again?" I teased, after pointedly finishing my mouthful.
"I said," he replied, swallowing. "I missed Hogwarts food so bloody much!"
"Ah," Remus said. "Same here."
"And here," I agreed.
We looked at Peter, but he was too busy shovelling potatoes into his mouth to notice the conversation around him.
"So," Remus said, leaning in towards Sirius and me who were on the opposite side of the table to him. "You remember the rules James?"
"I think so," I replied, knowing instantly what he was talking about.
"Well, lets go over them anyway," Sirius announced. "So, number one – don't go out of your way to talk to her. For example, don't swim out to the middle of the lake in your robes because you want to talk to Lily when she's swimming," he said, smirking.
"Hey!" I exclaimed defensively. "That was only one time!"
"Number two," he continued, ignoring me. "Don't call her Lils. This only angers it.
"Don't call Lily an it!"
"Number three!" he said, a little louder. "Don't smirk or make an arrogant comment about yourself. Even if it's true, I'm sure Evans won't appreciate it. Number four –" he continued quickly, so I couldn't say anything. "Don't tell her what to do. That'll certainly anger her to the point of no return."
"And the final, most important rule of all…" Remus said,
"Yep, number five – Don't. Ask. Her. Out!"
"Ok, ok, I know!" I moaned.
"Ironic isn't it? To get her to like you, you need to pretend you don't. Pity you didn't realise this three years ago!" Sirius teased.
"Well, let's not dwell on the past!" I snapped.
Sirius snorted into his plate and continued to eat. Peter was still oblivious to anything except for his food and Remus had started talking to Frank and Alice who were sat close by. Frank had sent me an owl during the summer telling me that he and Alice had started dating. I was happy for my mate of course, but I was a little jealous that he had got his girl. I, meanwhile, leaned over the table and tried to see Lily. Staring at her wasn't breaking the rules! I could only see her arm and the side of her head though as she leaned over her plate.
I sighed to myself and then also continued to eat.
The desserts were soon on the tables. My favourite, treacle tart, was on a plate right in front of me. It had barely appeared before I grabbed a slice and started to eat it.
"You know James," said Remus, who was eating a bowl of ice cream. "If your kids like treacle tart half as much as you do, there'll be a treacle shortage worldwide."
"Oh, shut up," I said, my teeth stuck together. "I hope I pass more onto my kids than a love of pastries. My Quidditch skills, for example," I boasted.
"I'm sure they'll be modest like their father too," Sirius said.
"I'm sure Lily will have enough modesty for the both of us."
"Aw," cooed Remus. "Imagine a mini Prongsie! He'll have your scruffy hair, and Lily's eyes."
"Excuse me, but what makes you both think James is gonna marry Lily? They're not even together yet!" Sirius interrupted.
"Yet," I repeated.
"Anyway, I feel bad for the kid. Lily for a mother and James as a father? He'll have every personality trait there is!" Sirius laughed.
"Maybe that's a good thing." Remus said.
I said nothing, mainly because of the fact that I agreed with Sirius (for once). Lily and me were like chalk and cheese. But that's partly why I love her. People are always attracted to people who are different to them, right?
I sat gazing into space for the next ten minutes, and was suddenly jolted from my daydream as the noise of the benches scraping back as people began to leave the hall deafened me. I spotted Lily walking out of the doors with her friends, so I pulled the other three along with me as I hurried after her, trying to keep up.
Sirius, Peter, Remus and I hurried up to the common room. When we arrived, I saw that Lily had decided to sit down for a bit. She was lounged on a sofa right at the foot of the boy's staircase. Perfect. I walked confidently towards the stairs and I could feel her watching me. When I had almost past her, I looked around and pretended to notice her for the first time. She saw me looking, and sighed as she waited for me to ask her the question she had heard frequently over the past years. But it never came.
"Oh, hey Lily," I said nonchalantly. "Good summer?"
She seemed rather taken aback. "Erm, yeah, it was ok Potter," she muttered, seeming too dazed at my lack of arrogance towards her to say anything else.
"Good," I said with a smile. "I'll see you at breakfast then." I said. I slowly walked up the stairs, and entered the sixth year dormitory, leaving an utterly confused Lily in my wake.
A/N Yeah, I know there still was hardly any James/Lily interactions, but I'm building up to it, I promise! So, did you like it? Please review!