AN: I feel so efficient that I'm managing to update almost daily, go me! This is a bit of a long one, enjoy!
Lily awoke with an aching pain on the left side of her head. She groggily opened her eyes and turned her head a little, then froze.
James was sat next to her, slumped on one end of the sofa with his face in the nook of his arm, and Lily's head was resting on his shoulder. She quickly sat bolt upright.
"Morning," he said cheekily, looking around at her. "You seemed very… comfortable."
She scowled at him and then yawned. She heard a slight tinkling sound as she stretched and then she remembered the tie around her wrist.
"How could I forget?" she muttered miserably to herself. "What time is it?" she added to James.
"Almost seven," he said. "Now that you're awake, I need to pee."
Lily narrowed her eyes slightly. "Great," she muttered.
As she waited outside for James, Lily realised how gross she felt. She was still in yesterday's robes and wouldn't be able to shower until she was free of James. Then suddenly she had an idea.
She dragged James up to her dormitory, then said sharply, "Turn around."
"Why?" James said, looking slowly around the room.
"Because I want to change my clothes, and if I catch you looking at me I'll hex your balls off," she said as threateningly as she could.
James rolled his eyes and turned his back, and Lily watched him for a few moments before turning around herself.
The chain was around her wrist, so she could at least change her underwear and trousers. As fast as she could, she pulled off yesterday's things and pulled on fresh underwear.
She had one leg in a pair of jeans when she heard, "Those are nice."
She whipped around, fast enough to see James quickly turn his back again. She scowled and hurriedly pulled on the other leg before hitting him hard on the back.
"I told you not to look!"
James just grinned. She hit him again.
"What?!" he grinned, rubbing his shoulder. "How could I resist?"
After they'd both used the bathroom with some amount of difficulty and managed to change (Lily had the decency to not peek, but James was right: it was tempting), they headed down to breakfast.
Lily shot him continuous dirty looks and tried to space herself from James at the table, but with only three feet of the chain, she couldn't move as far away as she'd liked.
"What are you sulking about?" she snapped at him as he picked at his breakfast sulkily.
He gave a dramatic sigh, and then something else seemed to have caught his eye. The Gryffindor Quidditch team had entered the hall.
"Oi, Prongs!" Sirius came running over, frowning. "What do you think you're doing? Why aren't you changed?"
Lily rolled her eyes as James began explaining about the accident the evening before, showing him the metal string.
"That's fine," Sirius shrugged. "Evans can just get on the back of your broom. Can't you?" he shot at her.
Lily hastily shook her head. "No way," she said, "that's dangerous, and I don't like flying that much."
"But James is the captain," he whined, but James shook his head.
"Forget it," he sighed. "At least I'll be able to play on the next game."
Lily rolled her eyes again. How could boys be so worked up about a stupid game?
"I'll come to brief the team before the game, but I'll guess I'll just have to watch from the stands," James murmured, still sulking.
"Excuse me," Lily interrupted, "What if I don't want to watch? What if I've got other things to do?"
"Well, have you?" Sirius asked, catching Lily off guard.
"Well, no - but that's not the - " she caught sight of James' distraught expression. "Oh, fine," she said, folding her arms grumpily. "We'll go and watch."
James smiled gratefully at her and Sirius got up.
"I'd best be going then," he said, brushing down his jumper. "See you in ten?"
James nodded and resumed picking at his bacon. Lily put down her spoon.
"Look, I know you're upset that you can't play, but it's not my fault," Lily said, more kindly than she really felt. "If it's anyone's fault it's y - "
"Yes okay!" he snapped at her, pushing away his plate. "I know it's my fault. I fucked up okay? Stop going on about it."
Lily bit her lip. "Sorry," she mumbled.
After a brief meeting with the Quidditch team, they fought their way up to the Quidditch stands. A group of fifth years were playfully shoving each other on the stairs, and one accidentally shoved Lily, who almost fell backwards down the steps.
Luckily James was right behind her and managed to catch her under her arms and steadying her, before charging at the boy that had pushed her.
"What do you think you're doing, you piece of shit?!" he growled, "You could have hurt her!"
"I-I'm sorry," the boy spluttered, "I d-didn't mean to, it was an accident!"
Lily quickly pulled James away by his arm, tugging him further up the stairs.
"Thank you," she told him, "but you can't be so aggressive with everyone!"
"What?! What if you'd fell?!" James cried, outraged.
"But I didn't," she sighed. "It was an accident, he said sorry! I'm fine."
He sighed. "I'm just looking out for you."
They managed to find seats behind a gaggle of excited first years. James reverted back to his sullen expression.
"This is their first game," he said, nodding towards the first years. " And they won't get to see me win."
Lily scoffed. "Ever heard the expression that there's no 'I' in team?" she asked.
"Well, I am the best player, or one of them, anyway. At least Sirius is still playing."
"How come he's on the team this year?" Lily asked him, "Why now and not last year?"
"Because I let him on the team," James said, smirking.
Lily frowned. "You're meant to select players based on ability, not on the fact that they're your best friend."
"He is a good player!" James said, "Last year's Captain was an idiot anyway, awful strategies. I asked him repeatedly to let Sirius join but he wouldn't."
When the game started, Lily saw that James was right. Sirius was pretty good. He was a chaser, the same as James, and had scored three goals before the first five minutes were even over.
It wasn't long before the other team, Ravenclaw, caught up. One of their players scored four goals in a row.
"Who's that?" Lily shouted to James over the chants and encouraging yells. "He's good!"
James glanced at her scathingly. "Don't you recognise him? It's your dear friend Mr Carter."
She frowned. "The boy from Charms?"
James nodded and Lily remembered that he'd introduced himself as the Ravenclaw captain.
"Anyway, don't go rooting for the opposite team," James told her, "Hey – look! The seeker's seen the snitch!" He jumped up and pushed forward past the first years, trying to get a better view, forgetting he was tethered to Lily and bringnig her lurching forward.
Moments later there was a deafening roar of cheers as the Gryffindor seeker rose higher, her arm in the air with the snitch's wings fluttering madly either side of her fist.
James was jumping around madly, cheering with the other Gryffindors and clapping like crazy. He hopped back over the seats to Lily and shook her shoulders.
"We won, we won!" He kept on yelling, "They did it without me!"
Still flapping around like a maniac, Lily couldn't help but laugh at him. She clapped along with the others but couldn't see how a game could make James so happy. It was quite comical.
James led the way down to the entrance of the Quidditch pitch where they waited for Sirius. When he came running out he practically launched himself on James, and they both began shouting, "we won, we won!" again.
"Party in the common room tonight," Sirius told them before hurrying back into the changing rooms.
Lily smiled but inwardly she didn't really feel like partying. She knew James would make her though, and she could only hope that this strengthening charm lasted twenty four hours, like Flitwick had said.
When they reached the entrance hall, they stopped by the door.
"So, uh… What are we going to do… you know, for the rest of the day?" James asked awkwardly. "Until this wears off…"
Lily shrugged. She had forgotten that she'd have to spend time literally attached to James.
"I, um… Well, I don't know," she said. "I was planning to get started on that potions essay, until - " she stopped as James rolled his eyes. "What?!"
"You're such a geek," James said, "Always doing homework on time, or you've got your head in a book…"
"It's not a bad thing," she said quietly. "And besides, I'm not always doing it! I just like to keep on top of things."
"As do I," James grinned and winked suggestively at her. She slapped him on the arm.
"Ouch! I was only joking," he gasped. "You're such a prude. I've got loads of bruises from you!"
"I'm not a prude," Lily grumbled as she dragged him to the library. "You're just…"
"Gorgeous? Handsome? Talented? Perfect in every way?"
"An idiot," she smiled sarcastically at him.
She headed to the back of the library, where the potions books were, and selected a few as James stood tapping his foot.
"Why do you have to do this essay now?" he moaned. "It's not due until Tuesday."
"I've got time now, so I'll do it now," she replied simply.
James sighed loudly as Lily summoned some parchment and a quill.
With James' frequent sighing and grumbling, Lily found it very difficult to concentrate. Eventually, she slammed down her quill.
"Will you please shut up?" she scolded him. She noticed he'd been doodling on a spare bit of parchment – it seemed to be a drawing of himself on a broomstick.
She rolled her eyes. "You aren't still moping about that, are you?" she asked. "It was one game, get over it."
"It was meant to be my first game as captain," he said glumly. "This was meant to be my year… Look how awful it's started out. You hate me and I missed my first match."
"I don't hate you," she said sheepishly. "You're just an irritating prat…"
He smiled weakly at her, then put his head in his hand and resumed sulking.
Lily groaned. "Look, if there was something I could do, I would, but for now can you just - "
Suddenly, James sat bolt upright, eyes glinting mischievously. He then sprung up, grabbed Lily by the wrist and darted out of the Library.
"Hey – what are you – James, stop!" Lily cried, stomach dropping every time she skipped a step because James was walking so fast.
He eventually stopped at the entrance to the Quidditch grounds, then shot forward to a cupboard and took out a broomstick.
"W-what are you doing?" Lily panted. "Why did you do that?!"
"You said if there was anything you could do - "
"Oh no," Lily said, "No, I didn't mean - " She groaned in frustration.
"Just a quick lap around the pitch," he said enthusiastically, eyes glittering. "Come on, please!"
"Definitely not," she shook her head. "I told you, I don't like flying!"
"Well fine," James said. "I'll just get on and drag you along behind me. You'd better hope that his charm doesn't wear off…"
Lily scowled. "That's cruel."
"Then get on with me," James grinned. "Your choice."
Lily eyed the broomstick warily and then looked back at James.
"One lap?"
He nodded eagerly.
"You won't let me fall off?"
"Don't be stupid," he laughed.
"I'm only doing this because you're acting like such a child about this," she sighed, but James ignored her. He headed out onto the pitch and then mounted his broom.
"Get on then," he told her.
Lily closed her eyes briefly and mounted the broom behind James, leaving enough room between them so she could grip the handle.
"Ready?" James called from in front, and she nodded meekly, taking a deep breath.
James kicked off and hovered a few feet above the ground.
This isn't so bad, Lily thought, but then the broomstick shot forward. Terrified, she grabbed onto the closest thing for security, which happened to be James' shirt.
"Oh my god, ohmygod, ohmygod…" she kept muttering under her breath as James darted around the pitch.
"Slow down!" she cried, thumping James on the back, and he did. But then they began gaining height. "What are you doing?!"
James turned his head do the side so she could hear him better. "Hold on," he told her. "This is going to be fun!"
They suddenly were speeding to the ground from a great height, and Lily thought they were going to crash. James pulled up inches from the ground.
To her surprise, Lily had actually had enjoyed it and adrenaline was rushing through her veins.
"You're going to kill me," she half shrieked, half laughed at James, who chortled.
When James returned to the ground and touched down, Lily was still clinging to his shirt.
"You can let go of me now," he laughed at her and she quickly did, dismounting the broom.
Lily's heart was pounding.
"I feel so alive!" she burst out, and James grinned again.
"Now do you understand why I love flying?" he asked and she nodded vigorously.
"Scary though," she said.
"Well, I feel a little better about not playing earlier," James said contentedly.
As they headed back up to the castle, Lily said, "I didn't actually mean what I said earlier."
James looked at her.
"About doing something if I could," she clarified. "I was just saying it so you'd shut up."
"Oh," James flushed. "That's a bit awkward…"
Lily laughed. "It's fine. You didn't kill me so I guess I can forgive you this time."
The party in the common room had already begun when they got in.
"Prongs," Sirius ran to greet them, Remus behind him. "Where've you been? We thought you weren't coming!"
"Don't be stupid, I wouldn't miss it!" James laughed, hugging his friend. Lily smiled warmly at Remus and he smiled back.
"Did you see my amazing goals earlier?" Sirius asked, and he and James entered a deep discussion on what a great win it had been.
"Sirius told me about, uh… this," Remus said, gesturing the chain tethering the two.
Lily smiled. "Yeah, it's not ideal… It should weaken soon enough though. Hopefully, anyway."
"How are you putting up with him?" Remus muttered to her, grinning. "I know he's not the easiest person to deal with."
"Actually, you know," she turned her back on Sirius and James, "He's not as bad as I thought. I mean – don't get me wrong, he's still awful…" They both laughed.
"What are you two whispering about?" Sirius interjected, placing his hand on Remus' shoulder.
"James' big head," he smirked.
"How come we didn't see you at the match this morning?" James asked him, and then after a moment's silence they all exchanged the same dark look.
Then, noticing Lily's puzzled expression, he said, "Oh, just… tired. I slept in…"
"Come on," James said to Lily, "Let's go and get some food before Peter eats the lot…"
There was a table laid with various snacks and cakes, as well as bottles of butterbeer and firewhisky.
"Where did they get that?" Lily asked, pointing at the firewhisky.
"Seventh years always bring it from Hogsmeade," James shrugged. "Those that are of age, anyway."
"But you can't have that around! There are first years!" Lily exclaimed, and James chuckled.
"Don't worry," he said, "They put a charm on it so that only students above fourth year can drink it."
"That's still a bit young," Lily muttered.
"Oh, lay off," James said. "It's just a bit of fun."
A while later, when the common room was slowly emptying, Lily was getting annoyed.
"Stop tugging at that, will you?" James said to her, noticing her playing with the chain.
"Why hasn't it come off yet?" she whined. "Flitwick said twenty four hours…"
"Sick of me, are you?" James teased, grinning goofily.
"You stink," Lily said, "How many of those have you had?" She pointed to the bottle of firewhisky in his hand.
"I don't know, a few," he said, casually wrapping his arm around her shoulder. "How many of those have you had?"
"None," she said dryly, shrugging off his arm impatiently.
She looked around the room and saw Remus asleep in an armchair.
"Why's he always so tired?" she asked James. "He always looks like he's just fought a huge fight."
"Uh… Don't worry about it," James said, putting his arm around Lily again.
"Will you stop doing that?" she snapped, pushing him away again. She yawned, hoping everyone else would go to bed soon.
They sat down on the sofa beside Remus, and Sirius came to join them.
"Having fun?" he asked. James nodded, opening another bottle. Lily sulked.
"Finally getting to like our James?" he asked Lily, smirking. "Nah, we understand if you hate him. He can be a right prat." Lily smiled and James scowled.
"I reckon we should start packing up soon," Sirius went on, "It's getting late, we don't want McGonagall up here…"
He left, and James said, "So, why do you hate me?" James asked, his words starting to slur.
"You know why," she sighed.
"But you can't still hate me," he said. "We've gotten to know each other so well recently…"
Lily scoffed. "Yeah, okay."
"Go out with me," he said to her.
Not this again, Lily thought. She just smiled weakly at him and didn't reply.
Then suddenly, James put his hand to her cheek. She turned her head, ready to scold him and push him away, but didn't get the chance. James quickly pressed his lips against hers, a small, chaste kiss, and then he just looked at her, grinning again.
Lily stared at him in disbelief, her brain rushing to comprehend what he'd just done.
She then brought her hand up swiftly to his face and smacked it across his cheek with so much force that the little thin chain attached to their wrists snapped.
Lily stormed out of the common room and up the stairs to the girls' dormitory, thankful she was finally free but both angry and confused about James' actions.
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