A/N Urgh these authors' notes get really boring when you have nothing to say.

Chapter 6

Lily gulped, oh dear Merlin, what was she going to do, she had been caught out of bed with James. If this got out no one would ever take her seriously, especially seeing as they weren't dating. She could just imagine what people would call her behind her back.

Lily was starting panic when she remembered something from her drama lessons at the Muggle School she had gone to.

Confidence is key, just roll with it and act like you're doing exactly what you're supposed to be doing.

"Ooh what are two students doing out of bed?" Filch asked Mrs Norris with a wicked smile. Lily hoped she could pull this off. Before James could open his mouth and say something stupid, she acted.

"What wouldn't we be doing out of bed?" She asked as confidently as possible, shoving her trembling hands in her pocket. "We're on our prefect patrol," She said more to James then she did to Filch. James eyes widened but his they also took on a menacing shine, he was enjoying this.

"What?" Filch asked he had been so looking forward to punishing them.

"We on patrol, as part of our prefect duty." James said this slowly, as if explaining it to a small child. "Need proof? I've got my badge right here," He pulled out a shiny red badge, Lily eyes narrowed, now how had he got that? He certainly wasn't a prefect. "And hers is right on her chest." He pointed to the badge glistening on her jumper; she smiled an arrogant smile, one she had learned from James himself.

Filch looked disappointed, like a child tricked out of a large lolly-pop.

"Go on then, go back to your patrol." He grumbled, glaring at them as they walked past him.

As soon as they were far away, Lily smiled, she would never admit this but she had kind of enjoyed pulling the wool over Filch's eyes, especially with all the shit he put every student through, she felt as though she had taken one for the team, and claimed a small, school victory.

"Where did that come from?" James asked again that strange reverence filled his voice, much the same as when he had talked to her about her flying. "Since when could you lie like that, Sirius would have been proud of a performance like that!" He stated, incredulously. Lily smiled slightly to herself.

"Well were did you get that badge?" She asked curiously.

"Transfigured a paperclip I had in my pocket." He said, still looking at Lily shocked, James had always been very good at Transfiguration.

James was still looking at her with astonishment when the finally reached Gryffindor tower and he could not wait to tell his friends of the very different side of Lily he had discovered tonight. The girl who loved flying, but practised in secret to hide her skill. The girl who could lie through her teeth to protect her friends if it came to it. The girl, he realised, who he had fallen even more in love with her in the past few hours.

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Lily left no details out about her night, they of course already knew about her flying, but they of course reacted the way she thought they would. Marlene was obsessed with James and the way he had looked after her after she had fallen. Alice was more worried about why she had fallen, she agreed with James, it looked like someone had tried to kill, or seriously hurt her.

"You don't think it was one of those Slytherins who are really against muggle-born's?" Alice asked in a scared voice.

"No," Said Marlene confidently, "That's a really serious offence, they could get in serious trouble for it, and anyway, none of them have the balls." She said with a scornful laugh.

"Yes but remember what they tried to do to Mary Macdonald." Alice said in a quiet, scared voice. Both Marlene and Lily were of Muggle parentage and Alice was worried for them, she could not bear it if anything happened to them.

Marlene stayed quiet at this, what they'd done had been atrocious and full of dark magic, her argument crumbled around her and she too started to fear for her friend.

Marlene quickly changed the subject.

"Alice is trying to convince me that Sirius isn't a man-whore." She told Lily, with an air of strong disapproval.

"I'm not saying he's not a man-whore, I'm just saying he might have just got carried away, you know, gone onto auto-pilot, I mean its what he does with most girls!" Alice said indignantly. Lily sensed she was walking in on an argument from earlier.

"So now I'm just another girl, am I?" Marlene asked, her temper flaring.

"No, I think he's in love with you, but from your attitude, it sounds like you don't want him too be!" She disgruntled.

"Maybe I don't want him too be, it would make trying-to-not-be-in-love-with-him a whole lot easier!" Marlene was practically fuming now.

Lily backed out of the room and walked down the stairs to the common room, she felt Alice had brought this on herself, so she could deal with it by herself. Lily knew she'd be picking up the pieces later on.

Lily sank into an armchair, and started summoning random objects from around the room. She noticed that James was in a corner talking to Sirius very solemnly, they looked very worried about something. Lily wanted to know what it was so she summoned James's glasses. The soared over the room straight in her hand, and she went back to reading her book. Sirius grabbed James arm and lead him over to where Lily was holding them.

"Why?" He asked her in a defeated and exhausted voice. She looked up from her book surprised by the lack of James-bounce there was in his voice.

"I wanted to know what's wrong." She told him, frowning slightly.

"And you couldn't just ask me because…?"

"That would require getting up and out of this very comfy armchair." She told him simply. He rolled his eyes.

"You know the big Quidditch match tomorrow?" Lily nodded; the team had been training for weeks. "Well Jane Howard, our seeker, had some potion splashed into her eyes today in a lesson by accident, but she's going to be blind for 24 hours and we don't have a replacement, we can't win without a seeker, so we've already lost the match." James seemed crushed.

Lily was thinking, trying to find a solution.

"Can't you postpone the match for a week?" She asked

"We tried that," Said Sirius "It would mess up the entire schedule for this year."

"And you have no one who could stand in?" She asked she wanted Gryffindor to beat the Ravenclaws just as much as they did; she liked Quidditch even if she did not like playing it.

"There's no one light enough that has the skill, except perhaps you." He muttered, it was supposed to be a joke, but then his eyes lit up.

Lily knew where this was going.

"No! Absolutely not, nope don't look at me like that, I can't and I won't" Sirius looked very confused.

"Wait, since when could Evans fly?" He asked dazedly.

"Oh you haven't seen her!" Said James elatedly. Lily was starting to panic; she couldn't play in a match could she? Then again she might be Gryffindor's only hope. James could see the panic in her eyes.

"Its okay Lily, you don't have to." He deflated again. Lily felt terrible but she couldn't play in a match, she just couldn't.

But as Lily fell asleep she couldn't bare the thought of James upset over something she could fix. With that thought in mind she drifted into an uneasy sleep.

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Lily woke the next morning with a sense of dread in her stomach, and she stumbled down to breakfast with Alice and Marlene. The entire house was in a very sombre mood, everyone aware that they were about to be thrashed. Lily sensed from the downcast faces of the team that they had not found a replacement. The Ravenclaw team were very cheerful this morning; they could pretty much get the drinks ready for the after party.

Not if Lily had anything to do with it. At least they'd go down trying instead of waiting too be demolished. She breathed in deeply and walked over to where the team was sitting.

"James?" She asked timidly, he turned round and forced a smile. "I'll do it." She said resolutely, the affect was instantaneous, his face and Sirius's (Lily assumed James had told him all about her last night) lit up like a Christmas tree.

"Really?!" he asked face suddenly excited.

"Yes, but I can't promise you I'll be any good, I've never played before." She said her nervousness and worry creeping to the surface of her voice.

"Lily, you are an incredible flyer, and even if you don't see the snitch first you can always chase after the other seeker until he sees it and take it right off him." His voice was filled with passion.

"I've never even practised though," James and Sirius stood up, each grabbing an arm and racing her out of the hallway down to the pitch.

"We have an hour till the match," James said breathlessly, they were still running. "With your previous skill and our help we'll have you Quidditch ready in no time." They had reached the pitch and James accioed all they're brooms. They were all expensive makes, Lily had asked for one for her birthday a couple of years ago.

"Bu…" Lily began but was silenced by Sirius shoving a piece of toast in her mouth, she glared at him but at quickly realising just how hungry she was. He winked back.

They warmed up and they released the snitch, she discovered she had a good eye for finding it quickly and half an hour later they were all out of breath and Lily was even looking forwards to the match, it was just flying, and she loved flying. The boys gave her a couple of techniques that The Ravenclaw seeker, Austin MacDougal used and reminded her too watch out for the bludgers, then as they saw students coming down the pitch they raced into the changing rooms.

She had not realised that the team had been watching her from the changing rooms. They looked at her in awe and astonishment and she ducked her head and scuttled past them, eager to change and get back on the pitch. James transfigured one of the spare Quidditch jerseys to have her name on the back and promised she could keep it after the match, she beamed at him and he grinned back.

Far more quickly than she had anticipated, however, they were back out onto her pitch and her nerves suddenly rocketed at the sight of the entire school turn-out, even the Slytherins were there, however that was probably only because they had been promised a Gryffindor loss.

"And the captains lead the teams out onto the pitch, the Gryffindors have enlisted the help of the fabulous Lily Evans who is standing in as seeker for Jane Howard who unfortunately cannot play to day," Marlene commentated all the Gryffindor matches, Lily grinned to herself.

"The captains shake hands, how many fingers do you think they just broke between them?" Marlene giggled to the crowds as the two captains stared each other down.

"And there off and the quaffle is straight into the possession of Potter, straight to Black, back and forth, tearing down that pitch, and they're so close to the goal post…" Lily tuned out Marlene as she soared through the air searching for the invisible golden ball, it had disappeared from sight although she thought she had caught a glimpse by the Ravenclaw goal posts, and she was scanning it reverently, she heard something whistling towards her and she rolled the broom straight over to avoid the bludger.

"A truly beautiful roll, from Evans there, it's going to take more than that Boyd," She said gleefully to one of the Ravenclaw beaters.

Lily saw a flash near the bottom of the pitch, and she dived almost vertically to the ground pulling up hand outstretched for the ball when, WHAM, a bludger smashed into her arm, she screamed as pain shot up her arm like burning needles. She heard James call to the captain, Robins, for time-out as he raced towards her, they both landed on the ground and he ran towards her inspecting her arm as angry tears rolled down her face, Madame Pomfrey ran onto the pitch as and somewhere above them she could hear Madame Hooch screaming at the Ravenclaws for all she was worth about the morals of the school.

Marlene was screeching like a banshee down the microphone and cursing and swearing at everyone thing and everyone while Proffessor Mcgonagall attempts to wrestle the microphone out of her hands to no avail.

Madame Hooch ordered five penalties to Gryffindor only one of which was saved, the score was 50-70 in favour of the Gryffindors now, but without Lily it didn't mean much. She was sat on the pitch, her broom by her side as Madame Pomfrey wrapped her arm up in bandage after bandage and gave her a sling and a potion to deal with the pain.

Everyone stood up; the Gryffindors look down-trodden again knowing they'd lost the match. Madame Pomfrey tried to Shepard Lily towards the castle but Lily stood straight where she was.

"Miss Evans, come on we need to get you too the hospital wing." She said impatiently.

"What? No, I'm finishing the game!" Lily said indignantly, Madame Pomfrey looked like she was about to faint.

"Lily, no you can't you'll destroy your arm." James said, concern painted across his gorgeous face. Lily aimed to walk past him to her broom. But James stood in the way. "I won't let you." Lily eyes narrowed.

"You won't let me?" She asked quietly, her eyes glittering dangerously. James looked worried, glancing to Sirius who had slunk over by her side. When they still didn't move, Lily pulled out her wand. The entire school was watching this ordeal although they could not hear what was going on. The boys parted and she walked past them, jumped onto her broom and joined the other players in the air.

"I don't believe this," Said Marlene, "Lily Evans is back on her broom and in the sky despite the broken arm!" The Gryffindors cheered and she grinned to herself. "Madame Pomfrey is unfortunately unable for comment on Lily's medical status in the light of this event, as she has in fact fainted."

As soon as James and Sirius were out of their daze they too were in the sky and the game continued. Lily was taking no shit this time; even if one of her legs were cursed off she was going to get the snitch. Ten minutes on into the second half, she spotted it, it was hovering next to the stand were all the teachers and Marlene were sitting. It was now or never.

She rocketed towards them, Marlene was screaming down the microphone in earnest and all the teachers were ducking down into their seat, only Dumbledore remained perfectly still. The snitch flitted away over the heads of the students in the stands and she tore after it, conscience only of that one tiny ball. She could hear MacDougal behind her, but she was did not care she was so close, her hand closed around the ball just as there was a flash of light and everything went black.

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Lily was aware only of a very bright light, her eyes opened uncertainly and they burned with the brightness of the room. She could feel sheets around her and she smelled mud and dirt, she was also very aware of a dull throbbing pain in her arm.

"Lily?! Lily! Oh you're awake! Quick someone go tell Madame Pomfrey!" She heard Alice say and as soon as her eyes adjusted she saw her too. She was pale and it looked like she had been crying, also present round her bedside she saw the whole Gryffindor team, James and Marlene. It looked like Sirius had run to go get Madame Pomfrey.

"What happened?" She said in a croaky voice.

"I think I am best suited to answer that question." Lily's eyes widened as she saw Dumbledore and Madame Pomfrey stride towards her; he gave her a kind smile.

"Unfortunately, we're a bit worried about your safety," James scoffed and Dumbledore looked at him over his half moon spectacles before continuing. "We fear you may have made a bit of an enemy, the bludger that hit your arm was not hit by any of the Ravenclaw team, and just as you caught the snitch, and what an excellent catch it was," He congratulated her, "You were hexed by someone we think, in the hope you would fall off your broom once you reached the end of the stand. It was the Slytherins you were flying over at the time, but it could quite have easily have been anyone in the stands." He said.

"The same thing happened the other nights, I was practising on the pitch and I was hexed again, James happened too be watching and stopped my falling." Everyone turned to James as she said this.

"Yeah but at the time I didn't think anyone had hexed her, I thought she'd fainted so I didn't check and to see if anyone else was around."

Alice and Marlene were both very pale and distressed at this point.

"Please just be cautious Miss Evans, don't go anywhere without anyone else, and I'm sure you'll be fine." Dumbledore reassured. As soon as Dumbledore left Alice and Marlene started fussing over her, and the team started telling her about how amazing the victory had been, apparently Gryffindor tower was having a party as soon as she got back and to hurry up mending so they could start, before trooping away. Jane Howard came over, Lily and Jane got on very well and she congratulated Lily on her win and thanked her for stepping in for her. Then she too left and it was just Alice, Marlene, Sirius and James. James had taken up permanent residence of the chair next to her bed and would not budge, determined to help her get better and to cheer her up.

By dinnertime she was feeling much better; the bones in her arm had re-grown and she wanted to get down the Great Hall for dinner. It was just her and James now, Alice, Marlene and Sirius had all drifted off to the Library to work, well Alice and Marlene would be working and Sirius would be pestering them. None stop.

Once Madame Pomfrey, grudgingly, allowed her to leave they walked down to the Entrance hall, discussing the match all the way.

Lily accepted Quidditch was fun and although she would not try out for the team, as she would not upstage her friend like that, she agreed it was a fun sport and she could still appreciate the sensation of flying with the rush of the adrenaline the sport provided.

When she said this James grinned so wide she thought his face might split, and kissed her. He went pale and realised what he'd done. Lily was shocked and could not utter a word. Neither of them could blame that on alcohol. James backed away and dazedly stumbled into the Great Hall leaving Lily confused outside…

A/N Ooooooooh. Well what do you think of that. That's not a rhetorical question by the way, you can tell me, just leave a review. And WOW that was long, I do hope I didn't rant. I wrote all of this with a kitten purring on my chest. Have you ever written a story with a kitten on your chest? I would highly recommend it, though they do get bored and try to eat your laptop which is not so great I guess.

The Bookworm xx