Chapter 8 Bludger Headache

Lily and James became closer after their little get-together in Hogsmeade, and James never mentioned his question again in fear that Lily might get angry with him. Lily was relieved because she wasn't very sure of the answer herself. Was she really falling for James or had it been just his kind gesture? She was unsure of everything that had been going on lately; everything from James to Kay and Alice to Charms homework.

James was happy because Lily was his friend. She was not yelling at him, a big plus in his mind, and she had not insulted him as much as she usually did. She even had paired up with him in class once or twice. He knew that the Trick/Treat that he and his friends were going to play was not going to get Lily mad, but it would be funny. Plus nobody would get hurt, so she'd have no real reason to get mad.

---

On Hallowe'en the four Marauders went down to breakfast, their plan in place. They knew they might get in trouble, but a Trick/Treat was traditional and had to be followed through. They had spent the whole night planning.

"Okay, so we got everything ready?" asked James, yawning.

"Yes, and don't fall asleep. We need you to catch the Snitch today," answered Sirius.

"Right," said James, smiling. "A match, Hallowe'en and a prank. What a day!"

Lily and her friends came in. James smiled at Lily and she smiled back. "Okay, I'm ready," said James.

"I see you got a good-luck smile," Remus teased.

"Look, all the Slytherins are here. Ready, set, go!" said Sirius. All of a sudden, all the Slytherins screamed. Their hair had turned gold and red! The Gryffindor colours. Everyone laughed at the feeble attempts of the Slytherins to rid themselves of the colour. Severus Snape, widely known to be the most skillful of the Slytherins, tried to cast a counterspell on himself, pointing his wand at his own head. As a result his hair turned green, the Slytherin colour. Even the Marauders hadn't anticipated that twist.

James saw all the teachers looking at them. It seemed as if most of them were trying to hold back smiles, including Professor Slughorn, head of Slytherin.

"Damn those Gryffendors!" yelled Lucius Malfoy. Slughorn marched up to Malfoy with a stern expression on his usually casual face. James heard him say something about "rude yelling" and "detention without magic". James smiled and looked at Lily. She was smiling, which made him smile. She wasn't mad.

----

"Okay, this is the first match of the year. Of course we have to play the Slytherins. Just remember: DO NOT pass them the Quaffle. The colour of their hair might confuse you. Just think, when we win, we will have the whole school's support whether they want it or not," said James, to his team. Everyone nodded and headed towards the stadium with their brooms in hand.

"On the Gryffendor team we have: Applegate, Longbottom, Black, Spooner, Rollins, Balliett and Potter!" said the blond-haired announcer, Rita Skeeter, into the magical microphone. She was a third-year Ravenclaw well known for spreading the most ridiculous rumors. "And on the other Gryffendor team," she said, provoking many boos. "Oops, I mean on the Slytherin team: Lestrange, Avery, Rockwood, Lief, Endon, Millson and Malfoy!"

Lily and Alice sat next to Remus, and Peter. Frank, Kay and Sirius were on the team with James. Patricia Applegate, who was in her 5th year, had short black hair, was a Chaser alongside Frank and Mark Rollins, a blond-haired 4th year. Kay and Sirius were the Beaters and Jason Balliett, a timid brown-haired boy in his 6th year, was Keeper. James, of course, was the new Seeker, since last year's had graduated.

Lily, Alice, Remus and Peter cheered on the team as loudly as they could. Lily was never really interested in Quidditch, but this year, it seemed so exciting.

James was glad to be flying again. The feeling was amazing, as if he were free to be whomever he wanted, and could do whatever he pleased. He looked around and saw Lily cheering him on. Butterflies crept into his stomach.

It was his duty to win; not just for him or the team. For Lily. He could just see her beaming at him, as he caught the Snitch. Then she'd rush down and passionately kiss him and tell him she loved him. He didn't realize he had been daydreaming until a bludger whizzed past his ear. He came back to the real world determined to win.

Half an hour past, and Gryffendor was winning 50 to 20. James looked around to find the Snitch. All of a sudden he saw Malfoy, who was the Slytherin Seeker, diving deep and fast. A glint of gold caught the raven-haired boy's eyes. James was closer than Malfoy and he dived. He got closer. A few more inches... and James felt the round Snitch wiggle in his hand.

As he lifted it in the air, and saw that he and Lily were staring face-to-face with each other. Lily smiled, then suddenly paled, pointing to something behind James. He turned and saw a bludger coming at him. He put his arms around his head and felt the impact. Then he fell into darkness.

---

James woke up, feeling someone's hand in his. It felt like a very familiar hand. Soft, and delicate. He squeezed the hand and heard a small gasp. When he opened his eyes, he saw the familiar red hair. Even without his glasses on, he knew who that was.

"Lily," he whispered. Lily smiled, even if James couldn't see it.

"It's me."

"Where's my glasses?" he asked. Lily leaned over him and he felt her body on his. Then, she straightened back up and put his glasses on. His sight wasn't blurred anymore and saw his beautiful red-head. "Were you crying?" he asked, noticing her puffy eyes.

She nodded. "You took a really bad blow to the head, James. What were you thinking? Why didn't you duck?" she asked.

"Are you sure it's you, Lily? You sound like my mother!" he said, laughing. He immediately regretted it. Clutching his sides, he moaned. "Bloody hell!"

"You broke a few bones, you know," she said.

"Yeah, I guess I figured it out the hard way," he said, with a chuckle.

"You didn't answer my question," said Lily.

"Well, you never answered mine," replied James swiftly.

Lily was puzzled. "Which one?"

"Remember when I asked you why you let me hold you while you cried?" he asked. Lily nodded. "Well, if you answer my question, I'll answer yours," he said.

Lily sighed. "I guess, it was because... I felt... sad and your hug... reminded me of my dad's hug," she lied. She knew in her heart that that answer was only half-true. She tried to deny it, but she could not anymore. She was falling for James and there was no stopping it...

James was a little disappointed in her answer. He had hoped she would have declared her love for him, but he knew that it was just a fantasy of his. She didn't feel like that about him, and he doubted if she ever would.

"Now for my question."

James smiled. "Lily, did you not notice the direction the bludger was coming in? If I would have ducked or moved in any way, it would have hit you. I am, after all, your bodyguard," he said.

Lily stared at James for a moment. "James, why do you keep doing it?" she asked, her eyes narrowed.

James looked at Lily in surprise. "What do you mean?" he asked, almost afraid of what she was going to say.

"Why do you always have to save me?"

James smiled. "Because, Lily," he said. "I..." Madam Pomfrey suddenly rushed in.

"Good, you're awake! It's been two days that you'd been unconscious. You need some medicine," she said, stuffing a large spoon with what looked like green, lumpy stuff, into James mouth . Lily looked at it with disgust. James gagged as he choked it down.

"What is that?" he asked, looking slightly green, as if the medicine had gone straight to his skin.

"Medicine," she replied, with an expression that said "Duh!".

James shuddered as he swallowed the rest of the liquid, which satisfied Madam Pomfrey enough that she left. "Damn woman wants to poison me," said James. Lily giggled. He looked at the time. "Lily! You'll be late for rounds!" he gasped.

Lily shook her head. "Dumbledore's given me the night off," she said.

"Oh, well, then I better go off to do rounds by myself," he joked, trying to get up. A pain rippled down his side. "OW," he cried, lying back down.

"James!"

"I'm fine," he said, but his face said otherwise. "Come sit next to me." There was just enough room for Lily to lie down next to him.

"I shouldn't try to sleep here," she said.

"I know."

Lily smiled. "I'm not tired."

"I think you are," said James. "When was the last time you slept?"

Lily thought for a moment. "Um, I slept last night for about 4 hours," she said.

"Just put your head on the pillow," said James.

Lily sighed. "Fine!" she said, and as soon as her head hit the pillow, she fell fast asleep.

----

"Well, Albus, I think this is a first," said McGonagall, walking in Hospital Wing with Dumbledore the next morning. Looking at James and Lily, asleep next to each other. Lily groggily opened her eyes, only to see McGonagall and Dumbledore, who was smiling at her, staring at the pair. She was confused.

"Why are you in the Head's dorm?" asked Lily, not yet fully awake.

"Dear, you're in Hospital Wing sleeping next to Mr. Potter," said McGonagall, with a small smile on her face. Lily jumped up from the bed, waking James.

"Whatsgoingon," he asked, half-asleep. He opened his eyes and saw the headmaster and his head of house looking from him to Lily. "Hullo," James said, groggily to Dumbledore.

"Well, it looks as if you have a made a nice recovery," said Dumbledore, a mischievous twinkle in his blue eyes .

"We won, right?" he asked.

Dumbledore nodded. "And Mr. Black caught your broom just before it hit the Whomping Willow."

James sighed and closed his eyes. "Good."

"Miss Evans, may I please ask why you were in Mr. Potter's bed?" asked McGonagall.

"I came to visit Potter last night to see how he was doing. He woke up and we talked. Potter coaxed me into lying in the bed with him so that I could rest, since I didn't sleep very much last night. I guess I fell asleep," she said. McGonagall nodded. Lily looked at her watch. She was late for potions!

---

"Miss Evans, will you please tell me why you're late?" asked Professor Slughorn, the potions teacher.

"I went to check on James Potter and Professor McGonagall needed to talk to me," said Lily, sitting down next to her friends.

"Ah, I see. Well, as I was saying..." Professor Slughorn continued.

"So, you went to visit Potter?" asked Kay, in a low voice so that Slughorn didn't hear them.

Lily nodded. "He's awake now," Lily answered.

"Good," said Alice. Lily nodded and tried to pay attention to what the potion master was saying, but memories of James' body next to hers haunted her thoughts.

----

"Hey, mate!" said Sirius, sitting on James bed.

James grinned. "Hullo there, my fellow Marauders. Did you lot get detention?"

"Yeah, but McGonagall 'forgot' to tell us when it was going to be," Remus said, grinning. "Has she poisoned you yet?"

James nodded. "The old witch is trying to kill me with the medicine. It's green and..." started James, but Madam Pomfrey came in.

"Medicine time!" she told him. She took her spoon full of the horrid medicine and shoved it into James mouth before he could object. After she left, James gagged.

"Evil...gross... yuck," said James, trying not to vomit. Sirius and Remus looked at James. They had a look of disgust on their faces.

"Ug, that looks gross," Sirius said. Remus nodded.

Peter was confused. "Why do you have to take medicine?"

"I'm not sure," said James, shrugging.

"I know," said Remus. "I asked Madam Pomfrey and she said it was because you had a concussion. You needed to take the medicine so that we know your brain won't get damaged." Remus smirked. "You know, any more than it already is."

"Hey! Let's find out if his brain is still fine. What are the two best things in the world?" asked Sirius.

James thought. "Lily and Quiditch," replied James.

"Well, Quiditch is right, but the other answer is girls!" said Sirius, laughing.

"What, I'm not a girl?" asked a voice behind them. Sirius stopped laughing.

Remus, Peter and James resumed the laughing. "I...um..." stuttered Sirius.

Lily started to laugh. "You know Sirius, with all the girls you've snogged, I would have guessed you would have known the difference between a girl and a boy," said Lily, trying hard to stop laughing.

"I know the difference!" Sirius protested.

Lily raised her eyebrow. "Then why did you stutter when I asked you if you knew I was a girl?"

Remus and James were howling with laughter, while Sirius was staring opened-mouthed at Lily. "James, tell your girlfriend to back off," he said.

Lily blushed. James smiled. "Well first of all, Lily isn't my girlfriend...yet," he said, winking at

Lily. "And second of all, she's a grown woman and can do what she wants, even it's to insult you."

Sirius stared at his best friend. "But, Lily, I think it's time you back off a bit," James said.

Lily nodded. "By the way, Potter. I wanted to tell you that all the teachers decided not to give you homework," she said.

James grinned. "All right!" he said, punching the air.

"Looks like you're better," commented Lily, before she walked out of Hospital Wing.

Author's note: So this chapter was a bit longer. I just thought we could get a Quiditch game on and the big Prank had to be played. So review, review, review! Plus I want to thank everyone once again for the reviews!

A/N2: Being re-typed.