Chapter 9- Vanilla Twilight
James had no idea how what happened last night had happened. He had spent the evening asleep on the sofa in the common room with the one and only Lily Evans. He had comforted her when she was upset… she had let him kiss her… and hug her… she had been crying about her stupid muggle sister. James knew that she was going to get a very interesting Christmas present in the form of a dung bomb… The two had also planned the Hogwarts Halloween dance, where they would dress as muggles did on that night, and dance to Scouting for Witches, a band with whom James' father had expert connections, they had played at James' 16th birthday party. The only problem was that James' father was in a vegetative state in St. Mungo's, and was probably going to die before Christmas… not in the best state to call up a wizarding band.
Dear Scouting for Witches,
I would like to ask you if you could come and play at our Hogwarts school dance on Halloween night, you played at my 16th a few years ago. You also know my dad, Harold Potter, but he is currently unavailable to contact you. Please owl back with your reply soon,
Sincerely James Potter
James thought that his letter was polite enough, so he quickly scrawled the name of the lead singer on an envelope, placed the thin piece of parchment inside it, and gave it to his owl Lucifer, who flew out of his bedroom window and into the pink sky of the morning. James sighed, that was that. Lily would probably kill him if they said no, maybe he should have added that to his letter? I am writing to you in fear of death by Lily Evans… that would have been a really cheerful way of starting the letter. James glanced slowly down at his calendar, it was October 2nd, meaning it was less than a month before Halloween, and hopefully by then he would be going out with Lily… hopefully.
He got dressed quickly and slung his school bag over his shoulder, before sweeping the pieces of parchment and quills off his desk and into the bag. He then marched down the stairs from his bedroom to the sofa on which he had spent the night with Lily… ah, what bliss. He had gotten up before she woke up, then maybe she wouldn't get so creeped out by having slept anywhere near him. He chuckled to himself, that girl really was confusing sometimes.
"James!" the excited voice met his ears like phoenix song.
"Hey Lils," James said, smiling widely at her, "Sleep well?"
"Yeah, I did actually," said Lily happily, "I was on the sofa though… thank you for helping me out last night…"
"My pleasure," James replied, and he could tell that Lily was feeling awkward, "You know I'd always help you with anything, you just have to ask."
"I'll bear that in mind," Lily said, chuckling softly, her hair bouncing in soft curls around her face.
"Shall we depart, my fair Lady Evans?" James said theatrically, bowing in the direction of the door.
"It would be a pleasure, Sir Potter," said Lily, laughing along with his stupid voice, and putting her arm around James' waist. The two head pupils walked into the Gryffindor common room, where they were met by their respective friends. Sirius, Remus and Peter looked questioningly at James, Lily still attached to him, and he shrugged in a 'I have absolutely no idea whats going on, but don't say anything because I like it this way' sort of manner. They nodded and each looked suspiciously in a different direction.
Over the course of the day, many people seemed to notice that Lily was spending more time than usual around James, whether it was sitting next to him in Transfiguration so they could talk, or being his partner in Herbology and splashing him playfully with the water from the can she was using. All in all, it was one of the best days of James' life, but that was before Quidditch practice. Lily had never been to watch him before, and he felt the need to show off his mad flying skills for her. He started by doing a few loop the loops, and then a Wronski Feint…
"Okay everyone," James said confidently, "Lets go through some drills. McKinnon, Black, I need you to mark Bell closely. He's a fast seeker, but we don't know who Slytherin seeker is, they could have someone new. We can't afford to loose. Three, two, one, GO!"
The three aforementioned players set about their business as the three chasers tried to score as many goals as possible. The only problem was that whenever Brianna got the quaffle, she would refuse to pass it to James, and storm straight at the hoops, where Wood would always save the ball.
"Okay, Time-Out!" James cried, and all the fliers stopped, it was surprising how much control he had over them… apart from Sirius, who carried on trying to hit Bludgers at Davey Bell, "We need to work on team work! We'll never beat those snakes on Saturday if some people refuse to pass the quaffle!"
"Sorry, Potter," came a chorus from around the players.
"That's better!" said James, "Now carry on, with our practice!"
The seven players got back into position, and continued their drills. James flew over towards Lily, who was sitting in the stands.
"Alright Lils?" he shouted over to her about the sound of the wind that was whipping around them up high. She signalled a thumbs up to him, and smiled, emerald eyes sparkling like a million fireflies. He was so fixated on them that he didn't notice Brianna Jones take Marlene McKinnon's beater bat. He didn't notice her fly towards the nearest Bludger… and he didn't hear the whipping wind as the Bludger sped towards him. He didn't hear Lily's cries of warning… infact, he didn't feel or hear anything until the painful thud as the Bludger hit him side-on in the ribs, and he begun to plummet towards the ground, where he crumpled like a discarded doll.
When he woke up he was in a room of complete white, with lines of white beds with white sheets. There were white curtains on the huge stained-glass windows, and white tables and chairs positioned at the end of each bed. It took a few moments for James to realise that he was in the hospital wing, infact, it even took his a few moments for him to notice the mass of red-hair leaning on the end of his bed, head resting, she was sleeping. It must have been late, as the full moon was just visible through a crack in the white curtains… the full moon! Remus! He hoped that Sirius and Peter would be okay without him, and that Remus would forgive him for not being there. He tried to sit up, but found the strain hurt his chest. James tried to remember why he was here… Quidditch… the Bludger… falling. Ah, that's why he was here.
There was a scuffle from nearby as Madam Pomfrey scuttled out of her office carrying a bottle of unpleasant looking liquid.
"Ah, Mr. Potter, you're awake," she said evenly, "Miss. Evans wouldn't leave until she was sure you were okay, I came out to tell her visiting hours ended two hours ago, I must have fallen asleep. Drink this please…" she shoved the bottle into his face.
"Maybe later," James said groggily, wincing as talking hurt his chest again, "What happened, Madam Pomfrey?"
"Miss. Jones aimed a Bludger at you," Madam Pomfrey said tutting, "Never liked that girl much… I dare say that if Miss. Evans hadn't been there you could have died-"
"Lily saved me?" James said excitedly, "Ow!"
"Yes, Mr. Potter," she said, "a cushioning charm at the last minute. I don't see why you're so surprised, word from the teachers is that she has seemed almost devoted to you over the course of the day-"
"Not devoted," James interrupted, "We're friends…"
"Hmm, I have heard differently…"
"I wish…" said James, chuckling slightly, before coughing at the pain of doing so.
"Try not to talk too much Mr. Potter," said Madam Pomfrey, "For both your sake and mine."
"Are you going to wake Lily?"
"No, she looks a little too peaceful, I'll leave her be," said Madam Pomfrey, turning to leave, "Goodnight, Mr. Potter."
"'Night," James said grumpily, downing the potion the matron had given him. It tasted far more pleasant then it looks. He slumped back into the hospital bed, before drifting into a dreamless, painless sleep.
When he woke again, the sun was blazing through the windows, and reflecting off the whiteness of the hospital wing. It was going to be a glorious day, but he would most likely be stuck in the hospital wing all day. Great. Lily was still at the end of his bed, snoring softly as she slept. She looked beautiful, her eyes were closed, and her long eyelashes fluttered with each breath she took. She must have felt James staring at her, as she stirred slightly, and then groaned.
"Ugh," she said, sitting up slightly, "Where am I?"
"In the hospital wing," said James.
"But I don't remember…" her eyes snapped open fully, "Potter… James! You… are you alright?"
"I'm fine," James said chuckling as Lily tried to straighten her bed-head, "Thanks."
"For what?"
"For saving me," said James, and Lily blushed, "I'm so lucky to have you around Lily."
"Hmmm," she said, giggling slightly herself, "Haven't you said that before?"
"Maybe, because its true!"
"Thanks," said Lily, "I was so worried when I saw you fall and…. I should go!"
And with that, she got up, and ran from the hospital wing like a bolting horse.
"Lily! Evans! LILY!!" James called after her, but Lily didn't look back, she just kept on running. Girls are confusing, James thought to himself.
"Good morning, Mr. Potter," said Madam Pomfrey, bustling out of her office, "Did Miss. Evans leave us already?"
"Apparently so," said James pensively.
"Well, I just need to check your ribs and then you're free to go," she said brightly.
"What?" James did a double take, "You're letting me go?"
"Yes, Mr. Potter," Madam Pomfrey said sternly, "I am a nurse, not a prison warden. Now sit up straight."
"Prongs is back!" Sirius jumped up as James entered the common room, and started to do a celebratory dance.
"Have any of you seen Lily?" James asked, and the three Marauders raised their eyebrows.
"Ooh, does a certain someone have a crush on a certain Miss. Evans?" Remus asked condescendingly.
"Yes, Moony," Sirius said matter-of-factly, "We've known that since 3rd year. Its old news! You're supposed to be the smart one!"
"Ha-ha," Remus said sarcastically, pulling a face.
"No, we haven't seen her," Sirius said quickly, "But a mass of red hair did come running into the common room about half an hour ago."
"That would be her then," said James wryly.
This time it was Sirius who made a face, "Seriously mate, are you alright?"
"Yeah, never better," said James, stretching slightly.
"You two should have seen Jones!" Sirius continued to Peter and Remus, "She tore after Marlene like a wild animal, stole her bat and hit a Bludger, hit James right in the ribs! Didn't it Prongs!"
"I seem to recall something smashing into my chest and breaking all of my right ribs, yes Padfoot," said James mockingly.
"Why were you looking for Lily though?" asked Peter slowly, as though he had only just realised that he was looking for Lily at all.
"You're a slow one aren't you Wormtail?" said James, looking at the other two for approval, but they looked blankly at him.
"Yeah, why were you looking for Evans?" said Sirius shadily.
"Because she was sleeping in the hospital wing with me last night," James said proudly, putting his arms on the back of his head, pushing his mass of black messy hair forwards.
"Lily got hurt too?" Peter said confusedly.
"No, you dolt!" Remus said excitedly, "Lily spent the night keeping James company, aw, how sweet!"
"Evans likes you!" Sirius teased, "Evans and Prongs, sitting in a tree, K.I.S.S.I.N-"
"Be quiet for one moment, won't you?" James snapped.
"Ooh, touchy!"
"I thought I told you to be quiet?" James said angrily, and Sirius made a zipping motion across his lips, "Anyway, she said something about being worried about me, before running off without even saying goodbye!"
"I think I know whats going on here," Remus said thoughtfully.
"Enlighten us, oh great Moony," Sirius said, bowing at Remus.
"Oh grow up, why don't you?" James said, swatting Sirius on the back of the head, and he stuck his tongue out before slouching on the sofa. Peter did the same.
"Whats going on then Moony?" said Sirius.
"I think that Lily likes James, only she doesn't want to admit it to herself after hating you for so long," said Remus.
"You know, you really are the smart one Moony," James said, ruffling his friend's sandy-brown hair, "Must dash, I have a lady to court."
And with that, James took off like a bullet from a gun towards the Head's Common room, and towards his love. Lovely Lily… she wasn't in the common room, so James decided to grab his invisibility cloak, the marauder's map, and go back to his friends.
"How was last night without me?" James and asked Sirius as the two walked towards the statue of the One-eyed witch.
"Was okay," Sirius said tiredly, "He wasn't as bad a usual."
"Good," James said definitely, "Good."
"Do you not want to know what happened to your broom, Prongs?" Sirius asked disbelievingly. It was only then that James realised that he hadn't once thought about his broom, his prise possession, he had been too busy worrying about Lily. Wow. He really had grown up!
"What? Yeah, what did happen?" James asked, suddenly slightly worried about his broom.
"It flew and hit a certain tree…" Sirius said quietly.
"What!?" James suddenly found himself shouting as he tapped the hump of the one-eyed witch. He slid through the shoot that appeared in front of him, Sirius following him, "Not the Whomping Willow?"
"No…" Sirius said, but he was obviously lying, "I'm sorry Jamie!"
"No worries, mate," James said evenly, "It wasn't your fault. I'll have to owl mum and ask her to buy me another one."
"I forgot you were loaded," Sirius said bitterly.
"Hey, that's not fair," said James, "you're 'family' are incredibly rich. When your mum dies you'll be the richest man alive!"
"Yeah, and the sooner that happens the better," said Sirius.
"You are an odd one," said James, laughing to himself, "What are we going to do in Hogsmeade?"
"Get Butterbeer and Firewhiskey?" Sirius said, "What else!"
"Of course you would think of that Padfoot!" said James, "But I'm not allowed alcohol, all those potions Pomfrey gave me…"
"Is Prongsie turning into a lightweight?" Sirius said, eyebrows raised.
"No!" James protested arrogantly, "I seem to remember winning a trophy for the most amount of Firewhiskey drunk without passing out…"
"That's only because I was already passed out!" Sirius objected.
"Now whose the lightweight?" James said, this time he was the one who raised his eyebrows.
"Shut it, you," Sirius said in a stupid voice, James snickered slightly, and the two continued to walk along the dark passage in silence.
Sorry it's taken so long to update!! i only just found this chapter today, and i wrote it weeks ago!!!
anyway!! thanks for reading :P x x x x
