~A Practice and Anticipation~*

Lily had not seen Lucius at breakfast. He had told her that they would not have tutoring because he needed to practice with his team. Lily sighed. "Had he scheduled two practices in one day?" She thought. Lily shrugged and sighed. She at least hoped he would be in D.A.D.A to see her perform. She hoped she would do well.

Snape was waiting for her by the Potions classroom when she got down to the dungeons.

"Hey lily."

"Hi Severus." Lily sighed and leaned against the wall beside him.

"What's the matter?" He asked.

"Nothing just not really looking forward to this day."

"Why?" Snape asked with a puzzled expression.

"Miranda has detention with Professor Vector and I really don't want to be near James."

"What did that git do this time?" Snape asked with a glare.

"Bragging to some girl that I was his girlfriend." She scoffed. Snape shook his head.

"He's not that lucky."

"No one is." As Lily said these words one person came to her mind. Lucius Malfoy.

"But he could be." She thought. Her heart ached, could she actually be falling in love with Lucius Malfoy?

"Lily?" Snape was looking at her curiously.

"You are right about one thing Severus, no one is lucky enough. At least not yet." Snape smirked.

"Come on, let's get into Potions." They walked in and sat down. Snape moved away to where he sat and began to talk with some of his friends. Lily sighed and took her seat. She pondered over their conversation in her mind. She could never possibly love James. He was such an ignorant jerk and Severus, well they where just friends. She liked Lucius but he was strictly her tutor. And besides he was a Slytherin, Slytherins and Gryffindors just didn't end up liking each other. Lily sighed and took out her advanced potions book.

"It would never work out." She said quietly to herself.

Lily hoped that Lucius would be in D.A.D.A. She was impatient throughout potions and Snape noticed. At the end of class Professor Slughorn walked up to Lily.

"Ms. Evans, I was wondering if you will be coming to my party that I am throwing on Friday and if anyone will be accompanying you? It is required that you have a date."

"Oh god!" Lily thought. "I totally forgot about the party!" Slughorn raised his eyebrows waiting patiently.

"Um, yes I will be going. I…"

"You are attending with someone right?"

"Yes."

"Well wonderful! I'll be looking forward to seeing you and your date Friday." Slughorn walked off. Lily put her head in her hands and moaned.

"How in the world am I going to get a date by Friday? And then there's the complication of who to ask? Oh, I need to talk to Miranda." Lily grabbed her bags and rushed out of the door amongst the mass of students. Snape did not have a chance to catch up with her and ask her what she was so eager for.

Lily moved with the mass of students and walked up the stairs towards the third floor.

She walked into the classroom, which was practically empty except for a few students and Professor Adders. Lily did not see Lucius or James. But of course that could be because she was early. Lily sighed and sat down. She glanced at the board and saw that no assignments had been written on it.

"We must be performing a spell today." She thought. "Oh I hope it's not painful." Students began to come into the classroom and take there seats. She watched the door and grimaced as James walked in. She sighed and laid her head in her hands.

"Lily."

"James, I do not want to talk to you right now." The male voice chuckled. Lily looked up.

"Oh, Lucius, sorry."

"It's fine, just to remind you we don't have tutoring tonight. I have quidditch practice."

"Yeah, I know. Did you have it this morning too?" He smirked and nodded.

"I want my team good. The more practices the better."

"Can I come and watch later tonight?" Lucius eyed her warily.

"You keep forgetting that you are a Gryffindor. Like I said the last time you came, they would assume you where a sneak. That you would tell the Gryffindor team our tactics and stuff like that." Lily sighed.

"So that's a no then?"

"Yes that is a no." He chuckled and shook his head. "Why do you even want to come? I thought you hated the sport." She shrugged.

"I like watching it, it's interesting, although I would never try it myself." Lucius shook his head again and looked up. He nodded with a quick smile to her and went back to his own seat to talk with his other friends.

"Lily." Lily turned around and sighed.

"Hello James."

"Lily please hear me out, I am so sorry. What I said was wrong. I had Pavlova, the girl asked me if it was my girlfriends because I asked her to take the cat up to the girls dormitories. I said yes. Oh, Lils I'm so sorry." Lily shook her head.

"You are such an idiotic git James Potter."

"Class. Please take your seats." Professor Adders said. James glared and moved away to his seat. Lily sighed.

"Thank goodness!" She thought.

"Today we will get to perform a fun hex. I got permission from Professor Dumbledore so don't worry. This spell is called Anteoculatia. This fun little hex causes antlers to grow from the top of the victim's head. Depending on the color of the victim's hair that is the color the antlers will appear as. There is no spell to reverse the effect. I will give you all the last fifteen minuets of class to go down to the hospital wing and get an antidote from Madame Pomfrey." Worried and excited murmurs spread throughout the room. Professor Adders clapped his hands together. "Alright. Repeat after me, Anteoculatia." The class repeated it in unison. "Ok, now the wand movement is pretty simple." He demonstrated with his own wand. "Move around once in a clockwise motion and with a small flick of the wrist point your wand at the opposing person. Wands out and give it a try. Do not think the incantation!" The class pulled out there wands and practiced the movement. Some did very well and others struggled considerably.

"Clockwise Ms. Bow." A Slytherin girl glared at the professor but corrected the direction.

The professor paced around the room watching the students. He glanced up at the clock.

"Alright, now pair up!" Chairs scraped and books fell as kids scrambled to get a partner.

"Care to partner with me Lily?" Lily turned around.

"Um, sure." Lucius and Lily faced each other.

"Wands at the ready! One, two, three cast!" Shouts echoed through the room and people screamed as they sprouted antlers from the top of there heads. Lily breathed in and cast the spell. Lucius was not expecting it and yelled in surprise. Lily burst out laughing as white antlers sprouted from the top of his head. He glared at her with a smirk and pointed his wand at her. She ducked and the spell hit a girl in the back of the head. She yelled in surprise. Lily smirked at Lucius who merely glared at her. He cast again and missed.

"She's quick." He thought as he watched her spin out of reach of the spell again. Lucius sighed and bent down as if to catch his breath. Lily let down her guard and watched as James winced and brown antlers appeared on his head. Lucius made a quick move.

"Anteoculatia!" He was precise. The spell hit Lily in the chest as she whirled around. A tingling sensation filled her head. She felt a sharp but quick pain at the top of her head as the antlers grew.

"Be attentive at all times when dueling, never let your guard down." Lucius said. "There pretty by the way." She gave him a puzzled look. "The antlers." He said pointing to the top of her head. She smirked and rolled her eyes.

"Yours are quite handsome as well." She said with a laugh.

"All right class wands away! For the last fifteen minuets grab your things and head down to the hospital wing!" The class put away their wands and started gathering their things. Lily looked up and laughed as James cast the spell at Professor Adders.

"I said wands away Mr. Potter!" He glared at James and touched the antlers that had sprouted on his head.

Students moved out of the classroom and headed towards the hospital wing. Madame Pomfrey let them in and glared at Professor Adders.

"Bimerian, you didn't tell me I would need to cure all of this class."

"I'm sorry Poppy, we had to practice somehow." She glared at him and bustled off to get the antidote. Lily sighed and sat down. James walked up to her.

"Hey." She glared at him. He sat down beside her. "Nice antlers." He commented. "There pretty." Lily looked at him incredulously. She stood and walked over to a mirror. The antlers were the same rich red color as her hair. The tips were sharp and they curved beautifully. She had to admit they were very pretty. James' antlers were quite handsome as well. A line had begun to form to get the tonic. Lily walked away from James and got in the line. It steadily grew shorter and soon she was up at the front.

"Drink this." Madame Pomfrey handed her a small vile. Lily drank the silvery liquid and felt a cold sensation run down her scalp and hair. She touched the top of her head to find the antlers gone. She sighed gratefully, thanked Madame Pomfrey and left the hospital wing.

Lily thought over Slughorn's party. She had no clue of someone to ask. Even though James was somewhat on her good side again she would never ask him. And if she asked Severus he might start getting ideas. Lily sighed. She would talk with Miranda in Divination.

The classroom was quite. She had not talked to the Professor since the blow up.

"Hello Ms. Evans." Professor Traught said quietly. Lily did not reply and sat down.

"Professor Traught." The Professor looked up in surprise that Lily was actually speaking to her.

"Yes?" She said quietly.

"I'm sorry I blew up at you the other day."

"Some things that reveal themselves in the smoke seem frightening." Lily opened her mouth to retort that she had not been frightened.

"I saw the mark as well Ms. Evans. It is scary to think of You-know-who coming to power. He is getting stronger, and gathering more followers. I would be careful Lily." The Professor looked her strait in the eye. Professors did not usually call their students by there first names.

"Why professor?" Lily asked with a confused expression.

"You-know-who is after one thing and one thing only. Do you know what that is Ms. Evans?"

"Muggleborns." Lily whispered.

"Precisely, so I would advise great caution." The old Professor smiled kindly. "See though, there is a light to all of this. Dumbledore. As long as he is at this school, You-know-who dares not come near here. So we are safe." Lily smiled at the professor. "Now get out your book and turn to page four-hundred and thirty two. Read that chapter. You'll be ahead of those who aren't here." Lily pulled out her book and read.

Students began to come in and sit down on the cushiony chairs and pouffes. Lily looked for Miranda but did not see her. She sighed and resumed reading. She wondered where Miranda could be? Nosk could have planned a Quidditch practice since the Slytherins were not on the pitch. Lily stopped reading and stared at the ceiling. It was a steep ceiling that showed the tower top. Pretty lanterns hung from the lower levels, they gave off a soft but radiant glow making the ceiling look somewhat like a church. A heavy brass kettle hung over a fire and heavy scented perfume spewed from it wafting throughout the room. At times the smell and heat of the perfume could be sickening and others soothing and calm.

Professor Traught made them read for a good portion of the class. She then gave them a few charts of the stars and how they deal with the sight and what there names represent. They had read an entire chapter on this and now had to complete the complicated charts for that chapter. Lily sighed and she glanced at the clock. It was an interesting clock, shaped exactly like a sundial but did not require sun.

"Only fifteen more minuets." Lily thought as she traced a flower that was engraved on the table.

"All right class! Star charts away, pack up your things." Lily sighed in relief and placed her finished chart in her bag. Professor Traught let them leave. She grabbed her bag and walked out of the classroom. "Only four more classes." Lily thought with a sigh. She absentmindedly wondered what class Lucius was going to. Lily shrugged and kept on walking towards Transfiguration.

Lucius walked the halls. He was headed towards Charms. He hated the class really. He knew mostly everything. He entered the classroom and sat down. Avery walked up and sat beside him.

"Lucius."

"Avery. Charms is such a pitiful class isn't it?"

"Yes, I would much rather be hexing first years in the corridors than sitting through this class.

"First years? Please Avery, what good does that do other than getting you I trouble if they squeal or you're caught."

"At least it's not a teacher." Lucius glared at him.

"Hey, that hag deserved it. If she was a mudblood I would have killed her on the spot." Avery smirked.

"Has the Dark Lord given you a challenge yet?"

"Not here Avery you idiot." Lucius hissed. Avery shrugged and changed the subject.

"You have quidditch tonight?"

"Yeah. You coming?"

"Yeah. How long are we practicing?" Avery asked.

"A few hours." Lucius said and Avery nodded.

"We're going to knock the Gryffindors out cold." Avery said with a smirk.

"As long as you keep coming to practices." Lucius said with a cold hint to his voice. Avery frowned.

"I skipped one!" Lucius shrugged at him.

"You keep skipping and I'll kick you off the team." Avery grunted. Lucius smirked. He wondered if Lily would end up showing up at the practice. She was stubborn and he bet she would just because he told her she couldn't. Lucius smirked and began to write the essay that had been assigned.

Lily sighed in relief as Professor Flitwick announced that class was over. She grabbed her things and walked out into the corridor. She smirked.

"I wonder if I could go down to the Quidditch pitch and watch the Slytherins practice. If I didn't bring my scarf they might not notice that I'm a Gryffindor." She thought. Lily smiled to herself and walked down the stairs and out onto the grounds. She headed towards the Quidditch pitch and sat down in the lower stands. The team was already in the air. The girl Lily had seen last time that had tried out for keeper guarded the three rings. Lucius was flying around on his broom watching his team practice. Lily smiled as she watched him. They were good she had to admit, he had trained them well.

Lucius looked over towards the three goal hoops and a person in the stands caught his eye. The red hair was unforgettable. Lily Evans was sitting in the stands watching him. She didn't have her Gryffindor scarf on so a person who looked at her and did not know who she was would automatically assume she was a Slytherin. He sighed and descended towards the ground.

"Lucius, where you going?" One of the players called.

"Keep practicing!" Lucius shouted over his shoulder. He got to the ground and climbed off his broom. Lily saw that he was walking towards her and crossed her arms. He raised his eyebrows at her as he approached.

"Didn't I tell you not to come?" He said with a smirk as he stood in front of her.

"Yes but I was going to anyway." She said with a smile. He shook his head.

"You are so stubborn."

"I know. So can I stay for the rest of the practice?" Lucius sighed.

"Yes, just don't go telling people you're a Gryffindor. You'll get killed." He chuckled and she smiled.

"Maybe." Lucius rolled his eyes and remounted his broom. He smiled at her and then flew back up to his team.

"Who was that?" Avery asked.

"Just a friend."

"She's hot!"

"She's a fourth year."

"So."

"And a Gryffindor." Avery nearly fell off his broom.

"What the hell!"

"Back into the game Avery! All right! Chasers right and left fields! Beaters flank positions!" Lilly watched in amazement as she watched the game unfold. Lucius was an amazing Quidditch captain and his team would be hard to beat.

The practice finally ended. Lucius flew down and demounted his boom.

"Lily! Did you seriously watch this entire time?" Lily smiled and nodded walking over to him. Lucius shook his head. "You need to get back up to the castle and eat dinner." Lily smiled.

"I will. Your practice was good. I enjoyed it even though I didn't understand a bit of it." Lucius smirked and looked back at the pitch and saw Avery walking towards them.

"You better go." He said and walked towards Avery. Lily turned around and walked back up towards the castle.

"What the hell are you doing letting a Gryffindor watch our practices?" Avery asked angrily.

"Avery calm down! She just came it's fine!"

"No it's not! She's a Gryffindor!"

"Avery! Go and get changed and drop the subject or your off the team!" Avery glared at Lucius and stalked off, cursing as he went.

"I don't think I should come and watch anymore of his practices." Lily thought worriedly and walked back up to the castle for dinner.

Miranda was asleep by the time Lily reached the common room the previous night so she could not ask her advise about the party. Lily woke in the morning and Miranda got up shortly after. They dressed and walked down to the common room.

"So what did you do all night while I was in detention?" Miranda asked as they sat down in the comfy armchairs in front of the fire place. Lily shrugged.

"Oh, finished homework, avoided James, and watched Lucius play Quidditch."

"You went out there again!"

"Yes."

"Did he yell at you?" Miranda asked excitedly.

"No, he let me stay and watch. I was surprised."

"Yeah, no kidding. Did anyone else yell at you because you're a Gryffindor?"

"No. Well this one kid got really angry with Lucius. I think his name was Avery."

"Oh, I've heard of him. He's mean." Miranda said.

"Well he certainly had a sharp tongue." Lily remarked. Miranda smirked.

"Did I miss anything in Divination?"

"Yeah, I grabbed you the charts."

"Ugh! How many?"

"Just one. It's really easy."

"Good." Miranda said.

"You have tutoring tonight right?" Lily nodded.

"Yeah, we should be practicing Geminio again. I hope he lets me try it not saying anything."

"Lily doing a spell without saying it isn't even taught until sixth year." Lily shrugged.

"Morning girls." They both jumped and turned around. James was leaning casually against the doorway.

"Morning James." Miranda said cheerily. Lily smiled briefly at him and then turned back to Miranda.

"Should we head to breakfast?" She asked. Miranda shrugged.

"Sure." Both girls got up and walked over to the portrait hole.

"See you in D.A.D.A Lily." James called after her.

They climbed out of the portrait hole and left the seventh floor.

"So how was detention?" Lily asked.

"Awful! She made me do the work I had missed plus loads extra! And I had to stay there until it was finished. Ugh! I hate Professor Vector!" Lily smirked.

"Then don't skip her class smart one." Miranda rolled her eyes.

"But one can't help to skip when it's soooo boring!" She laughed.

"Skip Professor Bins class. He won't even realize you're gone!" Lily said with a smirk.

"Yeah." Miranda agreed. "His class is even more boring than Professor Vector's." Lily smiled.

"Oh crap. Lily can I borrow your potions book real quick at breakfast?"

"Yeah, why?"

"I have an assignment I need to finish and I don't have my book."

"Oh, well here." Lily rummaged through her bag and pulled out her copy of Advanced Potions.

They walked into the Great Hall and sat down. Miranda took the book and began to fill her plate with food. Lily buttered a piece of toast and took a bite. Miranda was writing on a piece of parchment and looking in Lily's potions book.

"What page is the history of the Imp on?"

"Fifty seven." Lily said with a smirk. "What are you writing about anyway?"

"We have to write an essay on fifteen magical creatures and what they have to do with potions." Lily looked at her friend in confusion.

"What does an Imp have to do with potions?"

"You use their wings in potions like polyjuice." Lily chuckled.

"Mare I think you mean a Billywig instead of an Imp. Dried Billywig wings are used in potions and Imp's don't even have wings." Miranda looked up and looked in the potions book.

"Crap!" Lily rolled her eyes.

"Mare, I think if you just talk to Professor Slughorn he will be kind enough to let you turn the essay in later." Miranda sighed.

"I bet your right." She closed the book and noticed a piece of paper sticking out. Lily had grabbed her bag and stood.

"Hey Lily."

"Yeah?"

"Are you still going to Slughorns party? It's this Friday isn't it?"

"Oh yeah! I forgot to ask you about that. I need advise on whom to ask. I have no clue." Lily smiled embarrassed. Miranda stood and they walked out of the Great Hall.

"Well, did you consider James?"

"Mare, please."

"Ok, Severus?

"We're just friends."

"So you could still ask him." Miranda said pointedly.

"I really don't want to." Lily admitted guiltily. Miranda was silent.

"Lucius?" She said quietly. Lily gawked at her.

"Well I mean I don't know. He's my tutor and well…"

"Well what? If he says no he says no. If he says yes." She smiled. Lily bit her lip uncertainly.

"He didn't even cross my mind to ask to Slughorns party and I don't know why he wouldn't have." Miranda laughed.

"Give a go. You'll never know the outcome until you try."

"Alright. I'll ask him."

"In D.A.D.A?"

"No way! Not with James there and within ear shot!"

"Ok, ok! Tutoring?"

"Yeah, I'll do it then." Lily smiled.

"Awesome. I'll stay up until you get back in. I'll be excited to see what he says."

"Yeah. Alright, see you in Divination." Lily hugged her friend and rejoined the huge mass of students making there way to class.

Lily was agitated throughout the day. Each class seemed longer than the next and she wanted them just to be over with. Potions had passed slowly. She had finished her Draught of Living Death in record time and was praised profusely for it. She walked out of the classroom and up to the third floor and D.A.D.A classroom.

"Hey Lily. How's your cat?" Heather the girl that had returned Pavlova asked.

"She is doing fine Heather, thanks." Lily smiled at her and sat down in her seat. She pulled out a book from her bag and began to read. James was making a fool of himself again. He was acting so cool and bragging about something. Lily smiled to her self and shook her head.

"James is such a showoff." She thought with a smirk. More students began to come into the classroom and sit down. Lily drummed her fingers on the desk lightly. She was impatient to get to Divination and talk to Miranda. Professor Adders began discussing dark creatures of the wizarding world and how to defend against them. He talked for most of the class and then assigned them a three-page essay on their favorite dangerous creature as homework. Lily sighed and gathered up her things and left the classroom.