Disclaimer: These characters are still not mine. They are still J.K.'s
A/N: This chapter is rated like T++; there's no actual smut but there very well could have been... You've been warned ;)
The Evans' funeral was two days later. It was in a graveyard in Lily's hometown and it wasn't overly crowded but there was still a large amount of people. The first thing that James had decided on that morning was that he was going to be extremely attentive. If Lily even so much as drooped her shoulders, he would be ready and willing to give her a hug or reassuring pat on the back. Lily had also decided something that morning: James would be by her all day. Not that that was a necessity, but in order for him to be a distraction, she had to make him think that he had to be there too.
That morning, she came down the stairs wearing a black dress. It was relatively warm so she wore one with short sleeves that went to her knees. It had a v-neckline that she accented with a small silver pendant. Sirius and the Potters were all waiting downstairs for her and James offered her his arm on the way out the door. At the funeral, Lily sat on the front row along with Petunia, her grandparents, and several cousins. James and Sirius sat on the third row with Mrs. Potter, but James' father had been very alert all day and was standing at the back of the chairs.
The service was lovely, Lily and Petunia both spoke about their parents. They both seemed very upset, as expected, but nether one cried, the most that happened to Lily was her eyes became watery and she spoke in a shaking voice. After the Evans were buried everyone gave their condolences to Lily and Petunia.
James was watching closely until he saw the back of a boys head walking towards Lily. He had greasy shoulder length black hair that James instantly recognized. He walked quickly around the crowd and made his way to a statue by Lily, so he was unobtrusive but could still here what was being said.
"I saw the dark mark that day," Snape told her, "I'm very sorry."
Lily nodded her head but still looked pained and confused to why he was there.
"I hope you got the message," he continued, "The Dark Lord isn't very fond of mudbloods." He gave her a sneer when he finished and was about to walk away when a fist came out of nowhere and punched his jaw.
"I thought I told you not to say that word," James gritted out before grabbing his shirt collar and practically throwing him out. When he turned back he saw Lily staring blankly at Petunia who was talking to her intently. He made his way back over and caught the end of their conversation.
"-you are not welcome with Vernon and I. We don't want you! I can't believe I didn't see this sooner, it's your fault they're dead," she spat out and stalked away.
If James didn't know Lily so well he would think she hadn't heard any of the horrible things Petunia had said to her. But James did know her, and her saw her eyes flash with hurt before resuming their blank stare. He glared at Petunia as she passed him and jogged over to Lily, pulling her into a tight hug without thinking about it. She was unresponsive at first but her shoulders fell and she laid her head on James' chest before wrapping her arms around him as well.
They stayed like that for ten minutes; James was gently swaying back and forth and side to side with Lily held tightly to him. Finally, the last guests left and he looked down at her, "Are you almost ready to leave?" he murmured. When she nodded her head, he unwillingly loosened his hold on her. "I'll go speak with dad, why don't you speak to your parents until I'm back?" she nodded again, more hesitantly this time. As she walked away from him he felt her warmth leave him and wished she was back in his arms. "Dad, I think Lily is almost ready to go. She seems exhausted, I think it's important to not stay much longer," he explained to his father.
His father smiled at him, "Of course, James, just make sure she's alright," He told James with a knowing smile.
James waited at a respectful distance for Lily, who was in front of her parents' graves. He could not her what she was saying but her hands were gesturing and she appeared to be shaking her head a lot. Her eyes were watery once again when she turned around but she took a deep breath and willed herself not to cry. She walked towards James and seemed to reconnect with him like a magnet as he turned and walked with her, not saying a word.
At the Potter manor that night Lily was in her room with the door shut. She knew Snape would show up, but she did not expect him to say those things to her. Had he told Voldemort how vulnerable her parents were? Was it his fault they were dead? But another part of Lily argued that it was her fault. Petunia had been right, if she had not been born a witch, her parents would still be alive. She would never have met Snape so he would never have tipped off the Death Eaters. It was her fault. Overall, Lily just decided she was tired. She needed a break from worrying about all of this, and she knew just how to get it
James was in bed stewing over the events of the day. How dare Snivellus act like that towards Lily. The marauders would definitely have to spend some special time on him this school year. And Petunia? How could she have said it was Lily's fault? He felt so bad for her. She seemed so tired of being strong. Merlin, he wished she would just break down and open up.
Right as he thought that, a small knock came at him door. "Can I come in?" Lily said from the other side of the door.
James did a quick glance around his room to make sure it wasn't too messy before he opened his door and revealed Lily. His jaw almost dropped open, but he was able to stop it in time. She was wearing a mint green cotton camisole that hugged her curves very tightly. For bottoms- if they could be called that- she wore matching 'shorts' that looked more like underwear to James. So she wouldn't feel uncomfortable in the hall Lily had also pulled a bathrobe around her arms. James stood aside and let her walk in, momentarily forgetting that he was trying to be a nice guy and looking at her from head to toe.
"Can I sit with you a while?" She asked walking past him and moving her hips slightly more than normal.
"Uh- well- erm… sure," James stammered as he shut the door and followed her to his bed, which she was now sitting on, sans robe. He cleared his throat after several minutes of very uncomfortable silence, "So… anything specific you wanted to talk to me about?"
She looked at him and ignored his question. "You don't have to sit so far away, Potter," she said before shuffling herself up next to him and leaning her head on his chest. When she sighed lazily she heard his heart rate pick up even more than it had already.
"I wanted to apologize for what I did to Sniv- Snape at the funeral. I shouldn't have lost my temper like that. It's just, I heard what he said to you, and- and that word just-" James began stuttering when Lily's fingertips started drawing slow circles on his chest.
She tilted her head upwards to respond. "It's alright, I didn't really pay much attention to him," she lied. The way her head was positioned on his chest made her lips move against him when she spoke, and the breath that accompanied her words travelled upwards and ghosted over his neck.
James clamped his eyes shut and picture everything he could think of that was not Lily related. Sirius, his grandmother, Filch snogging McGonagall, he let out a long breath, and thought to himself 'there. Much better.' that was until Lily's head drooped a little and her hand dropped.
Dropped right on his lap. His pajama clad, very sensitive lap, on account of all his thoughts needing to be sorted out. James sucked in a sharp breath, "dear merlin," he said under his breath. Again James thought of everything he could think of: Peter naked, his parents shagging, Shagging? He and Lily could shag… No! He jumped up before Lily could feel his quickly growing hard-on. "Er… Gods Lily, maybe you should head back to your room, it seems like you're really tired and you've had a long day. I not sure you would be very happy with this situation tomorrow." James looked at her and was running his hand through his hair excessively.
"On the contrary, James, I would be very happy," Lily replied and looked at him while she was still on his bed. Then she got up and walked slowly towards him. By the time James had enough common sense to form a sentence her face was inches from his and has her whole body pulled against him. She glanced down and blushed, "And it seems… like you would be to." she said finally feeling him against her lower torso. And as she slowly leaned in, James could think of nothing else to do but duck.
He dipped his head and she fell on top of him. He made a strange strangled noise when she landed on top of him, still pressed against his erection. Rolling her off of him and scrambling up from the ground he finally had enough sense to talk, "Shit, Lily, I really- erm- I just- please. Please just get some rest." He said frantically as he tried to readjust his trousers.
She looked furious. He saw her eyes flash defiantly before turning on her heel and storming out the door without another word. James was still trying to relieve the pressure in his pajamas. Unfortunately for James, Sirius had been passing in the hallway when he heard both James and Lily hit the ground. He stopped outside of the door and was about to knock when he heard the end of their conversation and saw Lily exit. As Sirius watched Lily leave, he turned his head to an extremely disheveled James, who appeared to have his 'wand' drawn. "oh yes," Sirius thought, "this will definitely affect the plan.."
Alright guys! That's it for this chapter, let me know what you think and I might not get to update as frequently as I have been, I'm out of town so I won't have much access to my computer. Thanks!-Just playing along
