Chapter Seven – Happiness.
Her eyelids were heavy. If she could just close them for a second and rest for a few moments then it would be bliss.
NO! Must focus! scolded Lily as she sat up from where she had been laying comfortable on the bed in a tidy room. She looked around to find something to take her wandering mind away from the bed and the joys of sleeping.
She spotted magical photos tacked to the far wall, near the wardrobe and as the curiosity itched at her, the legs began to move in that direction. It was cool in the room and from her marathon run from here to Hogwarts, her body resembled something of a human icicle. Lily blew hot air into her hands to warm them and rubbed her fingers to release some life back into them.
It was oddly quite in the Heads dorm. Peaceful but watchful. She felt as if she was under some scrutiny but she was the only one in the whole of the dormitory. No James. Not even a clue that he had been here. Not a clue. Frustration was boiling inside of her at such an inconvenience that the Head Boy did not think it useful to sulk in his own room.
The run has exhausted her to the extent that she was near collapse. It reminded Lily that she needed to take up some form of exercise because although many people had envy her slim figure she was so unfit to run, jump or even skip for a lengthy period as would a granny on a zimmer frame.
She made a mental note to make it her new year's resolution. Maybe James could help me out? Quidditch seems to keep him fit enough to be the eye candy for the whole school. You never image that his messy dark hair, skinny appearance held such a muscular frame underneath! Lily's amused herself with picturing James' toned body until she felt the very familiar heat of blushing red too much. Bad Lily!
There much of been seven years of photos that adorned James' wall – all of them taken at Hogwarts though she couldn't remember him ever having a camera or taking photos. She frowned. Was she that unobservant? She had prided herself on her attention to detail and knowing a great deal. However, it looked like Lily had missed out on perceiving the happenings of her friends, of social activities, of reality.
The wall was plastered with memorable incidents that had taken place throughout Hogwarts; many of them products of the Marauders' pranking schemes. She smiled as she noticed the first year pictures of James, Sirius, Remus and Peter hanging out together at nearly every place they could in school. One was in Filch's office which made her laugh slightly and wondered how they ever got that.
Second year consisted of Sirius and James in their Quidditch robes' posing at every opportunity as well as the other two showing their frequent support in the Gryffindor stands. It was clear to Lily that the Marauders' had a special bond that survived through many trials in each of the boys' lives.
A large skriek from the right side of the room made Lily visible jump away from the photos and turn around sharply with wand aiming at the sound. She was relieved to find that it was the most beautiful owl she had ever seen. A mixture of black and white feathers, the bird looked regal and stared at Lily unperturbed. This must be Morgan, Lily thought, James'. And for some strange reason, the Head Girl was comforted that there was another living thing that had a close connection to James' in his room with her.
She was feeling a certain withdrawal symptoms without having the handsome man by her side teasing and joking with her. This was the third day that she had not really spoken to him like they had since Frank Longbottom had told her a secret.
At that moment, she felt a great dislike towards Frank at causing such havoc with her and James. They were getting on well, could she say very well, and being forced to keep the secret had certainly driven them apart. Particularly to the point that James was in a jealous rage at conjuring the idea that she and Frank were…well, together. A small giggle escaped her as she thought it very cute that James was somewhere spouting off in Hogwarts at the thought.
"James is silly", Lily confided to the owl as the young woman ventured out to stroke the glorious bird. "I could never like anyone as much as I do for James. He is one of a kind."
The owl hooted in response, as if understanding perfectly that she knew that her owner was a complete idiot and of his unique character.
"I wish he was here then I could explain everything", Lily sighed, dejected, before yawning loudly and scrunching her eyes to keep herself awake. She had promised herself that she would not leave this room, Potter's, until she had spoken to him and revealed her feelings.
It's about time that I stopped thinking and act! Lily convinced herself and grimaced at the thought that she was following the biggest womaniser in the world's advice. Time to pounce!
With a last caress of Morgan and magical transfiguring the owl's water bowl into a juicy, dead mouse, Lily returned to the photos to capture her interest again.
Remus Lupin looked adorable in the third year pictures as it was clear he was uncomfortable being in the middle of the group gathering especially having growing four inches taller than all his mates. Every one had Sirius and James pulling a face or saying something that would make the poor boy blush bright red.
Then she bit her lip as she saw what she had always called the Marauders' 'arrogance stage'. Fourth year shown that over the summer three out of the four had grown into handsome teenagers which made the majority of the girls' hearts flutter. There was also a picture of the first meeting of the Official James Potter's Fan Club which had Sirius chairing it!
A very useful piece of information to have for blackmail, smirked Lily as her eyes wandering to fifth year. Her face turned stony as she noted that there were several picture of girls, in fact she noted that there were many pictures of girls…all ex-girlfriends of James Potter! All of them smiling, flipping their hair, pouting and blowing kisses. She was disgusted. Fifth year was not a good year for Lily when it came to liking Potter. She felt that he was the biggest hypocrite that could have been born in the whole world. However, even now (though with a small bit of jealous rising from the pit of her stomach) she could see that dating all these girls was a plan to make the Evan prefect jealous and fall madly in love with the boy.
He was persistent in trying got to give him that!
There were a few sixth year photos – Remus was always looking ill in them, Sirius had such anger burning from his eyes, Peter's completely bewilderment and James' broken spirit. Reality had stuck hard for Black and Potter as the growing strength of He Who Must Not Be Named had effected their family lives – Sirius being disowned by him and James losing uncles and aunts against the fight.
Sixth year had need been great for her either as Petunia had her wedding when Lily's was at school so that her freak of a sister could not make it. Lily turned away from the photos, trying to think of happy thoughts and a picture of James' smiling at her, and only her, filtered into her mindscape.
She unconsciously smiled and sighed with happiness until the impatience of waiting for the man to make an appearance broke through.
Where could he be! Lily felt stomping out her frustrations but thought better of it. It might disturb Morgan.
Tiredness was seeping into her, limbs heavy and eyes focusing solely on the well-made bed brought Lily to a decision. She would just rest her eyes for a few moments, half-an-hour at the most and then if James had not returned by then, then she would go looking for him or someone who would know where to look for him.
Lily nodded at her brilliant plan and quickly scurries across the room, nearly leaping onto the bed before remembering that it might be good to take off her shoes. After kicking off the footwear, Lily laid on top of the duvet, snuggling into the fabric breathing deeply but the cold at her back kept the Head Girl resting serenely. A moment thought of logic had Lily sliding between the covers, with clothes on, and wrapping the covers around her like a sausage roll.
Earthy smells filled her nose in delight. She recognised it immediately as James' scent and nestles further with a smile tugging at her mouth as she drifted off to yummy dreams containing her Head Boy.
James was out of breath, hands on knees bent forward trying to get in as much oxygen as he possible could. The sprint run from the Quidditch pitch to his room might have been the cause of his breathing difficulties or it might be the fact that the love of his life was sleeping in his bed!
It really was a toss up between the two.
James never felt so embarrassed in his whole life! Trudging away from Hogsmeade must have been the most stupidest thing that he could have done! If he had waited for five minutes more before storming into the snowy landscape he would have been kicking himself at the thought the Lily could ever like Frank in a more-than-friends way.
I mean it's Frank Longbottom!
Wanting to dispel the image of Lily becoming Mrs Longbottom, James had rushed over to the Quidditch pitch and started to fly in the horrible conditions without a care for his health. Time flew past as James tried to concentrate harder and harder on flying his broom than picturing a disastrous marriage of the century occurring.
"JAMES POTTER!" Sirius voice boomed across the pitch reaching high into the sky.
The head Boy had glided down to see that Sirius and Remus were beaming with smiles and jumping up and down as if they had too much sugar in the system.
"Prongs, my man, surprise to see you here!"
"Why?" asked James bewildered at the two's behaviour.
"Thought you would have your tongue down Lily's throat!", Remus said giggling in a high pitch voice. Very unlike the kind and considerate Moony.
James eyed the two boys up closely. Their behaviour was nothing more than weird and it was slightly freaking him out. Where were the stable mates that he knew and love?
"No," James replied slowly, "she's probably being harassed by Frank." He had meant to kept the bitterness out his voice but it was clear from the bizarre looks of concern from his sugar happy friends that he had failed.
"You're an idiot Jamiepoo!" sang Black.
"Yip!" agreed Remus, throwing his arm around James and drawing him in to the crowd. "You see," the werewolf whispered, "your just jealous!"
"Jealous!" shouted Sirius.
James crossed his arms patiently, trying very hard to hold in the urge to slap his mates with a wet fish. Did they have to rub it in that he had lost the woman who he loved for seven years!
"But we know something you don't know!" sang Black again dancing away from the couple. "We know something you don't know!"
"Hey! I'm telling him!"
Remus and Sirius went on bickering between themselves for a few moments arguing exactly who had the privilege of revealing the secret knowledge. James stood there confused and scared until the name Lily popped into their conservation.
"STOP!" James roared. He had two sets of innocent eyes staring at him in wonder.
"I think he's angry."
"Mad."
They would have continued but the Head Boy took a threatening step forward. "Tell me what you know!", he said very softly.
Moony and Padfoot looked at one another before Sirius nodded at Lupin to go ahead.
"Well, you see here James," Remus started off.
"Frank proposed to Alice!" Sirius blurted out suddenly earning him a death glare from Moony and a very surprised looked from James.
Potter moved forward and grabbed Sirius' jumper pulling the man near his face. "It is true?" he asked out of fear.
Sirius gulped and nodded.
"Frank asked Alice at the Three Broomstick just when you left," Remus filled in. "Lily was with Frank today to buy the engagement ring and has been staying away from us, from you…"
"Because she can't keep a secret for very long", finished off James. He shook his head then through it back and laughed out loud. The world was right again! "Where's Lily?"
Sirius and Remus looked befuddled.
"Is she not with you?" Sirius asked tentatively. "She ran out afterwards to find you and explain everything."
James eyes widened as his brain went into overdrive. Where is Lily? Is she hurt? Is she avoiding me? Maybe she here to say that she hates my guts? Where my Lily-flower?
"Where's the Marauders' Map", questioned Remus. James could have kissed his friend for logic.
"In my room", James answered before leaving the two boys behind and started to run to his dorm.
The two watched until they saw him entered the castle's entrance.
"No its not", whispered Sirius with a girlish giggle, pulling out the folded parchment. Remus laughed and slapped the back of Padfoot's head.
"No need to find the map", James muttered as he entered his slightly dark room. Softly he moved into the room and began to light a few of the candles that hung on the wall and start up the fireplace to warm up the cool room. Finishing of the small tasks, James could no longer prolong what he desired to do. He crept quietly to the side of the bed, which Lily had taken up residence, and sat perched on the edge.
Her red hair was falling all over the pillow and some strands were on her face that James had the urge to curl around his finger in a loving gesture. He noted that her chest fell in a rhythmic beat with her breathing. Rosy cheeks and a small smile gracing her face made James grin.
Perfect, he sighed. Lily Evans is perfect for me!
Lily shifted suddenly in her sleep twisting her body towards the Head Boy before blinking her eyes open to allow them to focus. Her heart leaped into her mouth as she visualised James sitting at the side of her bed. She was in heaven!
"Hello Lily-flower," he said softly.
She smiled, beaming at him with her sleepy eyes twinkling in the warm glow that the fire was casting across the room. "James", she muttered happily before snuggling into the covers, ready to dream further.
"Lily, my love, this isn't a dream." His large hand could resist it no longer, softly he twined a piece of Evan's fierce red around his fingers. It was smooth and silky, begging to be stroked and caressed with loving care.
Lily ignored James' husky voice until the words floated into her head. Why would he be telling her its not a dream unless…oh dear Merlin! Lily shot up from her position in James' bed and stared straight into a pair of hazel eyes. Those eyes captivated her – so full of love.
"James?" she squeaked out. Praying like mad that it was a dream.
"Mmhmm", he replied as he moved forward closing the space between them bit by bit.
"What are you doing here?"
"What are you doing here in my bed, Lily?" James growled out, his eyes concentrating on her red lips that he had always wanted to kiss. He moved an inch forward.
Lily brain was working fast but all she could see was him moving towards her in a painstaking slow pace. Just kiss me already!
"I came to see you. To tell you that Frank and …"
"Alice are engaged and that Frank asked you for a female perspective on the ring?" James finished her sentence off. His thumb brushed her bottom lip slowly, sensually.
"Yes."
"Well, you are the brightest witch."
Lily gulped in air and held. James' lips hovered over hers. Waiting.
"I've never kissed anyone before", Lily revealed in a whisper, "except for family."
"You can learn from the master then", James replied with a cheeky grin as he notice the flush beginning from the bottom of her neck raising to her cheeks and the fire burning in her eyes.
Lily had her mouth open ready to retort about him being an arrogant little git but never manage to convey her comment as James placed his lips firmly over hers, his mouth demanding and coaxing at once. Of its own volition, her right hand twisted its way through his hair to pull his head closer to hers.
It seemed the top of her head had exploded the moment his lips touched hers. Stars and fireworks were overhead filling the room of bright, sparkling colours making them both dizzy. A surge of warmth that had nothing to do with half of her body still laying under his bedcovers coursed through her.
Then he broke away with a ragged breathe, putting his forehead against her and staring deeply into the emerald eyes that had made him become a better through seven years. "You were saying, my love?"
"I think I might need extra private lessons", murmured Lily, amazed that she could even talk after experiencing that kiss than flirt with James.
He grinned as quick kiss her lips. "I was just thinking the same thing."
Lily blushed red and stared at his covers, drawing her index finger over the snitch pattern that was dotted over the material. "Was I that bad?" she asked, biting her lips anxiously. What if James thought her a terrible kisser?
James rolled his eyes. How could she not know that she took my breath away! He brought hand up under her chin and made her eyes look into his. "Lily I could live off your kisses for the rest of my life." His right arm came firmly around her waist as his left hand tipped her startled, wide-eyed face up to meet his a bare half-second before his lips came down urgently, madly, on hers.
Happiness filled their hearts as their souls finally came together.
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Oky doky I hope that you all enjoyed that! It is nearly the end, one more to go and that's it I'm afraid…no more! I would like to thank everyone of one that has reviewed because without them I would not have gone on to finish it!
