It's their seventh year at Hogwarts and James refuses to give up. Will his efforts finally get him a chance with Lily Evans?
Faster update! I just got this brilliant flow of ideas...
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Maybe, just maybe because you like him.
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Walking down to the Marble Staircase making comfortable conversation with Lily Evans was definitely a new experience for James. He kept looking nervously to her pocket, where he knew her wand was concealed, half expecting her to whip it out and thrust her infamous Bat-Bogey hex upon him. But no, walking down to lunch was surprisingly pleasant. As the started to descend the stairs, their light conversation died down and a sudden heat of prickly nerves enveloped him, causing him to become extremely paranoid. Could Lily Evans be planning a prank on him? Or was she just being nice, and treating James like every other student? He stole a quick glance at Lily, taking her in properly for the first time that morning. As usual, she looked stunningly pretty. Her smooth red hair lay lazily on her shoulders, her eyes were bright, but she was not smiling. It looked as if she was thinking very hard. With a pang, James wondered if she felt the same way. If she too had enjoyed their walk down to lunch.
'Maybe because I like him!?' What? Am I nuts!? I'm just being friendly, after all he did stay up with me last night. And it is my fault he missed breakfast. Which is shocking, since I've never seen James miss a meal. Of course I don't watch his every move, but he always seems to look well fed. Although there have been several occasions on which I spotted him lurking in the library when during lunch time. Maybe there was something he wanted to avoid in the Great Hall...Speaking of the Great Hall, I can hear the occupants now. They sound almost excited. Nothing to be excited about to be honest. I wonder if James will be glad to discover his favorite chicken and veggie stew is one among the choices for lunch. Speaking of James... His poster was slightly embarrassing. But why? The figurines from Matt Davis had barely bothered me... Maybe because I hexed him. Crap, why did my stomach just flip over? Did James only agree to come with me because he's planning something?! Maybe a quick glance in his direction will tell me... Hm, not bad. If I hadn't ran into him right after he woke up, I could barely tell. He looked...dare I think it? Ha-Nice.
"I'll send my dad the owl after lunch." James said, breaking the momentarily silence.
"What?"
"The owl, to my dad? So he can protect your mum and sister..."
"Oh, yeah. Thanks James." Lily said quietly. Her eyes weren't shining anymore. In fact, they were glistening with tears.
"Aw, Lils I didn't mean to upset you-"
"No, no. I'm fine. Really." The words rushed out and she forced a smile. "Let's go inside. I think they have your favorite stew today-" She said, walking in before James had a chance to reply. He followed her to the Gryffindor table on the other side of the Hall, noticing the glares a group of Slytherin Death Eaters to be were giving her.
"Lousy gits." He said under his breath, earning himself confused looks from a group of Ravenclaws.
Lily had chosen a seat by a group of fifth years. If James could have picked where they sat, it would most definitely not have been here. For in this group. there was the infamous Melissa Hart, who had been chasing after James ever since she had first seen him play Quidditch. True, at the time she had been eleven years old and had simply sent him innocent notes and sweets, but as the years had worn by, she had taken a different route. Now every time she spotted James, she flirted viciously, repeatedly asked him to go with her to Hogsmead, and countless Sirius-like suggestions. It wasn't as if she was bad looking, she could even be considered hot. Her light brown hair, tanned skin and blue eyes attracted many guys, but she just wasn't James' type. He had seen her with other guys, and how she clung to them as if they were her handbag, After years of non-stop chasing, James was finally driven to a point where he sympathized with Lily. But surely he himself hadn't been so persistent?
"James? You coming?" Lily called and he jumped.
"James!?" Melissa shrieked and James felt the color drain out of his face.
"Jamsie! There's a seat here if you like!" Melissa giggled and indicated to the empty stool beside her.
Abraham Hook, who sat on the other side of the empty stool glared jealously at James then scooted over, now occupying the stool.
"ABRAHAM! MOVE!" Melissa urged, but Abe just grinned and engaged Jamil Patil, who sat opposite him in conversation.
Melissa crossed her arms and attempted to scowl and pout at the same time, hoping James would offer to move somewhere else.
"James?" Lily asked again innocently, ignoring the fifth years. She gestured at the stool beside her.
James nodded and took the seat. He looked around the Great Hall, he grinned. Even though it was only the second Saturday of the school year, the air was thick with Fanged Frisbees, Ever Bashing Boomerangs and Dr. Filibusters Fabulous No-Heat Wet-Start Fireworks. He laughed inwardly at the sight of Filch - the new caretaker - running back and forth from table to table, yelling at the students to either stop, or be hung by their thumbs.
He eyes continued to survey the Hall, and he scanned the Gryffindor table, looking for three familiar faces when Lily nudged him lightly.
"Sorry, what?" He asked looking back at her.
"I asked if you wanted some stew." She repeated patiently, holding a ladle full of his favorite kind.
"Oh-yeah. Thanks." He smiled gratefully as she dolled some onto his plate. Melissa's scowl deepened.
"Lily!" Alice came running towards them, a huge grin on her face. "Lily!"
"Alice! What's the matter?"
"Frank just asked me out!" She shrieked and grinned. "First Hogsmead trip. I'm so excited!"
Lily smiled. "That's great Alice, but what about Eric?"
"What about him?" She asked stubbornly.
"Well-"
"It'd be pretty cold of you to just ditch him and go out with some other bloke while he's still in the Hospital Wing." James said.
"Who asked you Potter?" Alice snapped.
"Actually, he has a point." Lily said, not looking into her friends face.
"What?! Lily since when do you take his side?"
Lily shrugged. "I feel the same way, so I suppose when he's right?"
James grinned.
Alice eyed them carefully. "What's going on between you two? Ellie tells me you were studying together last night."
"We were. He helped me with my homework-"
"James!? Since when can he help you?"
"Actually Al... He really knows his Transfiguration..."
"Okay, well whatever. Anyways, I thought you'd be happy that Frank asked me out, but I guess not. I'll just go tell Eleanor." Alice said huffily and turned on her heel and stormed away.
Lily watched her go, then turned back to her plate.
"Sorry if I broke up your friendship..." James said.
Lily shook her head. "I was going to say the same thing, and she'll get over it... No biggie." She smiled lightly.
James grinned back.
"You and Lily were studying?" Melissa asked, glaring at James.
He shrugged. "Yeah, what's it to you?"
She didn't respond, and instead turned back to her plate, angrily jabbing at the vegetables.
They started to eat in silence, James grateful for the empty feeling in his stomach to disappear, and Lily pondering how to bring up what she had been thinking about since the minute she woke up. She was barely eating, and chose to instead push the chicken stew around on her plate, unaware of her actions. It was James' voice that broke through her trance.
"So what's with the sudden lunch invite? Not that I don't like it, but what's up?" He asked grinning.
"Um... Well, James... We need to talk." Lily said uncertainly and started drawing circles in her stew with the back of her spoon, her face slowly turning the same color as her hair.
James, suspecting these to be good signs, scooted his stool closer to her and leaned in.
"About what?"
Lily looked up, startled at how close he was and pushed her stool back and collided with Jamil.
"Oh, sorry Jamil.' She said distractedly.
"'S'okay." He said calmly.
"Bout what?" James repeated.
"Well...us." Lily continued.
Melissa choked on her food and watched the two intently, listening hard.
"Do you want to go somewhere else?" James offered and Melissa dropped her fork with a loud clatter.
"N-No, I'm fine here." Lily said, ignoring Melisa who had now gripped the table so hard her fingers were turning white.
"Melissa...?" Abraham asked uncertainly. She shushed him with a reproachful look and turned back to James and Lily.
"Okay...so what about us?" James asked, genuinely curious. Could this be the beginning of their relationship?
"Well, I-I wanna." She cleared her throat and started playing with her fingers. "I want to be friends." She said, the words rushing out.
James watched her, as if expecting her to burst out laughing and walk away. But she didn't. She simply looked at him, green eyes looking into hazel, waiting for his answer. Which, ofcourse would be a definite -
"ARE YOU CRAZY!?" Melissa's shouts echoed throughout the hall, causing a heavy silence to fall upon them.
"Who!?'
"Who's crazy?"
"Melissa! Will you shag me?"
"Is she talking to Lily Evans?"
"Is Lily Evans with James Potter!?"
Questions rang throughout the hall, and James half expected Lily to lose her temper and start hexing anyone who dared interrupt again. Instead, she turned mildly to Melissa and asked "What do you mean?"
The hall was still silent as the students waited for the drama to unfold.
"James Isaac Potter, the hottest guy in this school, wants to go out with you. And all you want to be is friends!?" Melissa hissed and several gasps flew through the Hall, followed by fast whispering.
Lily looked back at James and nodded slowly. "That is, if he wants to?"
James looked at her, stuck in semi-disbelief. He was still expecting himself to wake up, or for her to start laughing. Neither happened.
This was reality, and Lily Evans was being serious.
"Well do you!?" Someone shouted.
"I-uh- Yea-sure. I mean, yes! Yes. I do want to be friends. I'm good with that. Actually, I'm great!" He spluttered and Lily's face broke out in a huge smile, and her green eyes shone bright. Without thinking, he reached out and hugged her.
Surprisingly, she didn't pull away, but hugged him back.
Some people cheered, some girls had angry outbursts, and others still whispered to their friends.
"Alright! That's enough!" Dumbledore said from the staff table, from where he had been watching the whole scene with twinkling eyes.
The hall slowly returned to it's previous state, to the great dislike of Filch.
Lily pulled out of the hug and started to eat again, laughing and talking to James.
Melissa watched them for a few more minutes then with a loud "Ugh!" stomped away.
Perhaps, this really is a beginning James though to himself as he waved goodbye to Lily after lunch and headed up the Marble Staircase to find the Marauders.
So last night I had a sudden inspiration flow, and 1040 (YES I counted!) Words just spilled out and since the computer was shut down, I was writing so fast in my notebook. I filled nine pages! I like this chapter, a lot. You should have seen my pencil... It was firing away like Rita Skeeters Quick Quotes Quill! Anyway... Please review! I have got an idea for the next chapter, but I wanted to read GOF. But a sneak peek...
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Due to the recent cases of Death Eaters in the village, the Hogsmead trip has been postponed.
The first Hogsmead trip is now scheduled for the 7th of October.
Minsitry officials are in the village now, working on catching the Death Eaters.
If the problem has not been resolved by the 7th, the visits may be canceled until the problem has been resolved.
Reminders that no student below third year is permitted to visit.
Third years, please submit your permission form to you Head of House.
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His stomach lurched as he read the notice, the dream starting to come back to him.
Okay, from one review I got I had to add this note. YES they are friends. But you got to WAIT! He did ask her if she wanted to be friends! And the sneak peek isn't just there for no reason! Just seriously? Cannons coming up. THEY WILL BE A COUPLE BY THE TIME THIS STORY ENDS. I PROMISE. Don't kill me! Oh, and I was re-reading it, and realized that Sammy Bagman shouldn't be Ludo's father, so I'm making him... his nephew! Yeah... Ludo how has a brother and his son is Sam. I'll connect it better in upcoming chapters. :)
