Chapter Nine
"Hello, to you too, James," smirked Sirius, his warm silvery grey eyes twinkling from the mirror.
"I'm sorry Padfoot," sighed James, running a hand through his hair. "I'm just stressed out at the moment."
"Come on, tell Auntie Sirius all your troubles."
"You do realise calling you Auntie Sirius is rather disturbing," laughed James. "But thanks. Please don't laugh you need to be serious- no pun intended."
"When have I ever not been there for you?" asked Sirius, mock offended. "I know I'm not the most sensible guy but I can be on occasion."
"I know," said James, with a soft smile for his friend. "Well you know our last night out?"
"Course I do," grinned Sirius. "We all got lucky that night."
"I wasn't too lucky."
"Why not? I saw you leaving with her."
"Oh she did leave with me, then we had a night of really good sex and then she left the next morning before I even woke up," explained James casually.
"That sounds lucky to me," chuckled Sirius. "It's amazing when they leave before you wake up; it's a lot less awkward."
"I bumped into her again."
"Well you can't sleep with as many women as we do without accidentally meeting them again," said Sirius jovially. "As long as you remembered her name it can't have been too bad."
"She's one of my student's," said James with a forlorn face. "Head Girl in fact."
He watched as Sirius stared at him as he tried to make sense of the matter. James knew what was inevitable and he was right- Sirius burst out laughing. James sighed frustrated as his friend couldn't stop what was practically howling.
"I'm sorry," said Sirius, gasping for breath. "It's just so bloody hilarious. Merlin, I bet it's rather uncomfortable between you."
"It is," agreed James, "I suppose kissing her and giving her private lessons isn't going to help much really."
"You kissed her again!?" exclaimed Sirius, with a devilish smile. "Wow, you are a man whore, breaking all the rules and that. She must be a bit of a slut if she sleeps with random older guys in bars and then kisses them when she finds out they're her new professor. Private lessons as well, all the extra alone time with her, being a professor doesn't sound as boring as I first imagined."
"She's not a slut, Pad," said James sadly, glancing at his watch as he leant against his desk. "She's anything but to be honest. She was only in that bar because something happened to her and she was rebelling against it. She's innocent and she doesn't deserve me hanging around her like an echo of a shady past."
"Why you giving her private lessons then?" asked Sirius, seriously.
"Because I can't resist my urges to be around her," proclaimed James. "She's like a breath of fresh air."
"But you know you can't actually have a relationship with the girl no matter how much she's like oxygen," reminded Sirius. "You're her mentor. Merlin, Avada Kedavra me now, I'm sounding like Moony.
"Of course I know Sirius. Believe me I'm well aware of that fact," said James bitterly. "We get on so well though. Well we did but I think I've irritated her today in class."
"How?" his friend asked intrigued.
"There's another student, Callie, she competes with Lily in everything," he explained. "They're both smart, both gorgeous and both aren't fond of each other. Callie seems to have taken a liking to me and today I just couldn't help but flirt back."
"Merlin's pants! Two students! If Dumbledore knew you'd be sacked straight away."
"Luckily for me, he doesn't know," said James, thankfully. "Besides there's nothing to know. Apart from one kiss I haven't done anything with either of them."
"I have to go now mate," said Sirius, apologetically. "But can I just give you one piece of advice? I know that this Lily girl can't have anything to do with you because of the rules but I've never heard you talking about a girl like this before Prongs. Don't mess up a friendship or whatever you've got with her, because you're having a cheap flirt with a girl who you'll never actually learn to love."
James nodded his head slowly, processing his best friend's words. He sighed when the mirror went blank. Alone again, thought James wistfully. Remembering the time from when he last looked at his watch, he figured everybody was at dinner now. He made his way down to Lily's common room after making a quick detour to his office (for her robes).
As he had presumed her common room was empty; she was still at dinner. With a slight shiver he jabbed his wand at the fireplace, causing bright orange flames to shoot up from the logs down below. The room immediately seemed warmer and more cheery. He settled himself down on one of the armchairs and grabbed a book that had been left lying there by Lily. 'One Hundred Spells To Get Someone In The Mood'. James chuckled, who knew Lily Evans was such a vixen? To pass the time, and amuse himself, he flicked through the book with interest.
Twenty minutes and forty pages later he heard the portrait door swing open. He looked up to see Lily in the doorway looking surprised to see him sat on her armchair. She opened her mouth as if to say something but she quickly closed it and threw her school bag down onto the other armchair. She stood directly in front of him, hands on hips, waiting for an explanation.
"Did you know that sixty two percent of married witches use spells to get them in the mood?" asked James mischievously, his eyes twinkling with laughter. He laughed as her cheeks flushed red. Her eyes were drawn to the book and she scowled.
"The book's Katie's," explained Lily in fluster. "She brought it round for a giggle. That's not the point though. What are you doing here? You can't just walk in when you feel like, you know."
"Well, I know the password so actually I can," smirked James. "And I'm here for your lessons."
"I don't want them," said Lily, defiantly. James sighed and looked at her doubtfully.
"And why is that?"
"Don't you want extra time with your little girlfriend?" muttered Lily childishly. He looked up at her astonished. Was she really affected by a little flirting he did with Callie?
"I don't know why you're so fussed if I do have an attraction to Callie."
"Because she takes away everything that is mine!" screeched Lily, her eyes teary. "She's like poison."
"You think that I'm yours?" asked James, slowly, trying to make sense of what she had said.
"Well…I…I…You know what I mean," stuttered Lily nervously.
"Because we are not boyfriend and girlfriend," chuckled James. "I'm you're professor."
"I know that," said Lily defensively.
"But you do know that I'd never want Callie," assured James. "She's not my type. I prefer smouldering red heads."
"I don't smoulder," laughed Lily.
"Who said I was talking about you?" smirked James. He started laughing as she stuck her tongue out immaturely at him and threw a cushion at his head. He laughed so much that it hurt when she missed by at least a foot.
"Oh shut up."
"I can't, you throw like a girl."
"I am a girl!
"So you are," commented James. "Anyways, do you want to start the lesson or not?"
"Yeah sure what are we doing?" she asked. "Shield charms?"
"Why do that? You're great at them."
"Not as good as Callie," said Lily bitterly, looking away from him. She looked so broken, thought James sadly. He stood up and cupped her face gently, forcing her to look at him.
"So she can do a great shield charm," said James chuckling. "To be honest, they're not that useful. They prevent you from using offence spells. You are an extraordinary witch, Lily, please don't forget that."
His felt his heart speed up a little faster as she stared into his hazel eyes. They were so close he could see the tiny sprinkling of freckles across her nose. He'd never been so close to notice them before and he figured he rather enjoyed it. He felt her hot breath on his neck and he subconsciously placed his hands on her waist. She seemed to come out of a trance and quickly moved away from him.
"Shit, shit, fuck," muttered James, running an agitated hand through his already messed up hair. "I'm sorry."
"No it's my fault I got too close," said Lily sitting down on the very edge of an armchair anxiously. "It felt too nice and I couldn't pull away."
"But you did," smiled James. "You're much stronger than me when it comes to circumstances like that. I blame your kinky book for putting me in the mood."
"It's Katie's kinky book and it's not an excuse," laughed Lily. "So if we're not doing shield charms what are we doing?"
"Patronus charms."
"But we haven't done them in class," said Lily bemused.
"I know that," said James, grinning. "But I'm sure you want to be one step ahead of Callie."
"That's like cheating though."
"Live a little, Evans," he smirked. "Do you know the incantation?"
"Yes, Expecto Patronum," answered Lily efficiently.
"Just remember to pronounce the 'pec' and tro' really clearly," advised James. He stood her up on her feet and positioned her in a space clear from any furniture. "Have you got a happy memory?"
"I think so," said Lily. "I've got plenty."
"It has to be a really happy memory," explained James. "A Patronus is used to ward away Dementors. They feed off happiness which is why it has to be a happy memory; so it feeds off the Patronus and not your soul."
"Right, I've got it," said Lily determinedly. "Expecto Patronum!" James watched as a silvery mist shot out from her wand. It took no form but producing mist on a first try was still an achievement. It seemed Lily didn't think so as her face had fallen.
"I don't think you're memory was happy enough," said James, trying to come up with a solution. "Out of interest, what was it?"
"My father pushing me on the swings when I was younger," said Lily, reminiscing. "It was one of the happiest times of my life."
"Maybe it's because your father is dead," said James in thought. "Although a happy memory it is saddened by the fact he's no longer with you. Every time you use that memory his death will be lingering in your mind making you upset. You need to use a memory that isn't clouded over by death." He watched as Lily thought carefully, biting gently on her lip.
"Does it have to be a memory?" asked Lily inquisitively. "Can it be a happy thought? Like a dream?"
"I suppose that could work," said James smiling. "This is why you're a great witch; you're not afraid to go about things in a different way."
"It's just that all my happiest memories are from childhood involving my dad so I thought it would just be easier to create my own."
"Try again with the new memory or dream or whatever you're using."
"Expecto Patronum!" exclaimed Lily, her wand pointing forward. James nearly died of excitement when the mist shot of wand, forming the shape of a silvery animal. He saw her face light up in delight as she watched it dance around her. He looked at her confused.
"What?" she asked, bemused herself. "I did it."
"I know," said James slowly. "But it's a doe."
"Isn't she pretty?" smiled Lily.
"Yeah," agreed James, sending her a fake smile. He couldn't conjure a real one when he had too many thoughts swirling in his head. Why was her Patronus a doe? Her Patronus was the female companion to his own. Did it mean something? He made a mental note to do a little research on the matter. "I'm really proud of you, Lily. What dream did you use?"
"It's silly really," said Lily, blushing ever so slightly. "I'm sat on a swing that's attached to a really huge old tree and there's a guy behind me pushing me. I don't know who he is, because I can't see him, but I can just feel that I love him and he loves me. I told you it was silly."
"No it's not," said James, smiling gently. "Your dream and your happiness come from love. Although I do think you have a swing fetish." She laughed before sitting down and gesturing him to do the same.
"I think swings are the cycle of life," she said philosophically. "When you're younger you get pushed by a parent. As you get older the parent is replaced by the one you love. Finally, you're the one doing the pushing, for you're child."
"That is very wise, Miss Evans," noted James. "I think you have too much spare time on your hands to be coming up with stuff like that. It vaguely makes sense though. I suppose swings see it all."
"I just like swings," grinned Lily. "My sister hated them because they made her feel queasy."
"I wasn't too fond of them," said James, with a chuckle. "When I was about eight, I fell off the swing and then when I sat up the swing swung back and knocked me in the head." She bit her lip trying to contain her laughter but it didn't work as she burst into a fit of giggles.
"That's so adorable."
"It wasn't adorable at the time, it bloody hurt!"
