Like Magic
A/n: WAHOO! Yep, I'm back. Thanks to everyone who wished me fun on my vacation, it was freakin' awesome. And to everyone who reviewed and awaited patiently, thanks guys! I hope this chapter is good- I have an idea of where I want this to go, let's just hope I get it there! Lol. Read on now!
This chapter is dedicated to Amybee who said my story is the only thing that kept her going during the work day. That's like the biggest compliment I've ever gotten. Thank you so much and I hope you enjoy this chapter!
-Chapter Seven: The Pain of Regret –
I'm not sure who I passed, or ran into, or who swore at me as I ran back to my room in the Heads' tower. I felt hot tears streaming down my face, and a fury I only got once in a great while, usually due in great part to James Potter. I couldn't understand why Mandi hadn't believed me ... or why I was so worried about James' feelings.
I put my head into my pillow and screamed. I was so furious with everything. Katie Wood, I could have her expelled if I wanted. I knew all I had to do was go to Professor Dumbledore, but I wanted to tell James too. Just at these thoughts crossed my head I heard a knock at the door.
"Lily?" I recognized the voice to belong to James, and cursed myself for inwardly counting, number ten.
"What?" I attempted to say, but it came out strained and hoarse. James opened the door slowly and came to my bedside. He was grabbing his right arm.
"You nearly tore my arm off getting in here, what's the matter?" I saw his eyes observe my tear stricken face. I let out a harsh laugh.
"Why do you even care Potter?" I spat his name out, not purposely. I regretted it when I saw his eyes grow a shade darker.
"When have I not cared?" He asked me, slowly sitting down on the side of my bed. If would have had any strength at all, I would have shoved his arse right over the edge. But for some reason I wanted him to be sitting there, and I regretted that too.
"Friend problems, nothing life threatening." I wasn't exactly lying, Mandi had caused a few of these tears by not believing me, but James seemed to notice I wasn't telling the whole truth.
"Bull, now really ... why so many tears?" I almost grinned as his head went to one side and his brows knit together in confusion. His shaggy hair had fallen to one side of his head and he looked like a lost puppy.
"No worries Potter, I'll be all right." I attempted sitting up, but I got dizzy and fell back down on my back. Damn headache and those stupid, worthless tears.
"I'm not leaving until you tell me what happened, and that's just going to make Katie mad because I have to meet her in about half an hour." He told me running a hand through his hair. I sighed, I hated when he did that.
"Now I don't want to make poor Katie wait," the whole sentence came out fast and the words tore into my soul, I wanted him to know he didn't 'really' like her, it was that blasted potion.
"She can wait when it comes to you." He told me, his eyes never left mine. I felt my stomach flip, regretting it and inwardly cursing James' eyes.
"James-"I gasped and his eyes got wide. It was the first time in seven years, I had called him by his first name. He mouth turned into the crooked smile he was known for.
"Now, that wasn't so hard was it?" He asked, his eyes dancing happily. I frowned.
"Damn, yes it was." I covered my face for a minute. I opened my fingers to see him grinning at me. "Stop grinning you great baboon, it was an accident!" I tried to hide my smile.
"An accident! Oh dear Merlin! Someone go get a nurse! Lily Evans has made an... oh I can't bear to say it, an ACCIDENT!" James said sarcastically. And before I could catch myself, I was laughing out loud. He looked at me.
"I do believe Miss Evans, that is the first time I have ever made you laugh. And I have to admit, I like it." He told me this as his hand moved some of my hair out of my face. I don't know if I glared or not, but he snatched his hand back quickly. He stood to leave.
"Don't leave." I said, almost too quickly. He threw me a confused look and sighed. "Katie is waiting on me." He said not meeting my eyes.
"James," I didn't look at him when I felt his eyes on me suddenly. "Please, can she wait a bit longer? I don't want to be alone, even if it is with you." I tried to make that sound playful, but I also knew he would think something serious had happened.
"And why don't you want to be alone?" He sat back down.
"Because I have to tell someone something, and it's killing me just thinking about it. I don't want to cry, and I'm not crying now, because you're here." I looked at him and something flashed in his eyes. Pain? Fear? Happiness? Regret?
"I'll stay, but only until you fall asleep, Katie's going to grill my ass for this tomorrow." He said conjuring up a chair and sitting in it instead of on my bed.
"You'll survive." I said laying my head down and closing my eyes. "Thank you James."
I only pretended like I didn't hear him say "Three" rather softly.
When I woke up the next morning, I felt something to my left and turned to see James' head lying at my left arm, his glasses on the edge of his nose. He had stayed the whole night. I felt my mouth turn into a smile and regretted it. I didn't need to start having 'feelings' for James, I just wanted to stop him from having his hurt.
"Pst." I pushed him lightly and he didn't budge. "Bloody hell," I whispered. I had forgotten all the stories from Sirius on how James was such a hard sleeper.
"James!" I said in a normal tone and he didn't move. I just got up and went into the bathroom. The clock said it was only six in the morning, so I decided to let him sleep. I looked into the mirror and groaned.
My eyes were puffy, and my cheeks were still red. I put a cooling charm on them momentarily to reduce it. I took my shower and rather stood there, going through different ways I could phrase, "James you're under a spell" to him. I got out and put on my nightgown again. I walked in to see James had gotten into my bed and was fast asleep again. I laughed slightly. I saw his mouth go into a smile.
"Are you always so loud in the shower?" He asked not opening his eyes.
"What are you talking about?" I asked sitting in the chair where he had been all night.
"Slamming doors, talking to yourself." He opened his eyes and yawned. I just shrugged.
"Not my fault, I was only doing my normal routine." I told him, yawning also. He smiled again.
"Does that usually include trying to wake me up?" he asked sitting up slightly. I shook up head.
"No, but there's a first for everything." The words came out before I could stop myself. I knew he would turn that into something perverted most likely. But instead, he looked thoughtful and stood up.
"Well Lily," I knew it was the eleventh time he had said it, and I was beginning to come a custom to hearing it. "I do believe I need to get ready, I hope you were able to sleep." He walked past me and I did the stupidest thing I could have done. Never in a million years would I have done that normally, and he wouldn't have expected it.
I walked over to him, and I hugged him. My head came up to his chin, and he smelt of cinnamon and candy. I couldn't help but breathe him in. I felt his arms snake around my back awkwardly. He then pulled me close and held me there for a moment. He pulled back and looked at me with confused eyes.
"I've been waiting on that for seven years." And with that he walked out, leaving me confused and quite aware there was no way I couldn't tell him now.
Breakfast was almost strange for James and me. I would glance at him to see him looking at me, then we'd both look in the opposite direction. I was sitting by Marla and Sirius. Mandi wasn't there, and I was rather pleased because I was still angry with her. Remus and Peter and James were across from us, and nobody was saying a word. Jessie came and sat by Sirius.
"Somebody die?" She asked cautiously as a few of us laughed. Sirius grinned.
"No, not at all. We just seem to be off at a slow start this morning." He told her kissing the top of her head. I grinned; they seemed to fit, aside from their differences. "Ever figure anything out?" Marla whispered into my ear. I nodded yes.
"I'll tell you later. Mandi doesn't believe me, but I know you will." I told her out of the corner of my mouth. I looked at James again and he was staring at me. I gave him a small smile, and he returned it. Just then Katie Wood came stalking in. She sat by James.
"Good morning sweetheart." She told him kissing his cheek. He didn't look at her. I let out a sigh of relief. His eyes were still on me.
"You didn't come see me last night, something happen?" She cooed again. I almost smiled; his eyes didn't leave my face. Katie glanced at me, and then looked him up and down.
"James!" She said with force and grabbed his chin to face her. 'Where were you?" She asked looking at his eyes. I almost gasped as I watched what happened.
James dropped his fork and his whole body turned to face her. He put his hand under the side of his head and he sighed almost dreamily. "What did you say angel?" he cooed back to her. I gagged.
"Ok Marla, let's take a walk." And with that I grabbed her hand and pulled her out of the Great Hall. We started walking to the Divination tower, because it was the first class of the day. I told Marla all about what I had read, and what I had seen the night before. Her mouth was wide open.
"And Mandi didn't believe you?" She asked, for the sixth time.
"No." I sighed.
"She's been acting so distant," Marla started and looked thoughtful and hurt. 'I don't know what to do with her." I just grabbed her shoulder.
"We'll figure it out hun, but first ... we need to figure out what we're going to do about little Katie Wood." And with that we entered the classroom.
Marla and I sat at a table together, awaiting Mandi ... who never showed up. The Marauders entered noisily as usual, laughing and talking. James and Sirius sat at their usual table and James' eyes met mine. His eyes were fixed over with something until I smiled; he shook his head and smiled back. I knew the potion was wearing off.
"Where's Katie?" Marla called to James and he laughed. "She's a sixth year, remember?" And with that Marla blushed and turned around. Professor Hicks walked into the class smiling.
"Today, we will be pairing up and practicing a new form of divination." She said taking a seat at the front of the class.
"This form is yet to be named, but I feel with what's taken place in our world, we need to practice it. What you do is, you pair up and look that person straight in the eyes. You ask them a simple question, and watch their reactions. You attempt to see if the person is lying or not. Not everyone will be able to accomplish this though.
"Only those with keen 'eyesight' will be able to master this. But everyone will participate. And," Her eyes floated to Sirius and James, "I will be pairing you." All across the room groans could be heard. But I sat, crossing my fingers not to get some pervert who would try to find out my sexual past, or lack there of.
Never the less, I was paired with the all mighty, James Matthew Potter. James grinned at me as I sat across from him. He told me he'd go first and I nodded and looked at his eyes. His eyes were gorgeous, all different sorts of browns, swirling together; they could almost make you dizzy.
"What's your favorite color?" He asked. I grinned.
"Pink." I told him, he nodded telling me he knew it was the truth.
"What's your biggest fear?" He asked. I shrugged.
"Fear in itself." I told him. He looked thoughtful, but nodded still.
"Do you love me?" He asked and laughed. I smiled and shook my head.
"Nope, sorry, doesn't look that way." I told him as I laughed and he nodded.
"Do you regret saying that?" He asked looking right into my eyes. I knew the answer honestly was yes, but I shook my head.
"No, I don't regret it." James smiled at me and shook his head. He looked at me with thoughtful eyes.
"Liar." He said softly, and I couldn't make myself meet his eyes.
A/n: OOOOk- I hope I didn't disappoint you guys!! But you guys are the coolest!!!! Thanks to:
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