Disclaimer: I don't own anything Harry Potterised, and some of this story is inspired greatly by a Korean drama called 'Full House'. x) So anything you recognise of theirs... is not mine. xD
Full House
Chapter Ten ll Merlin Help Us
----------
Lily barely had time to overcome the fact that he had called her by her first name - because a second later James was pulling her close to him and their lips met in a tight kiss.
James pulled away with a morose look, and Lily stared at him in terror, her hand instinctively covering her mouth. Flashes from cameras were going off everywhere and many people were gasping.
Lydia and Sirius stood there; she gazing at them in a mixture of hurt, regret, anger and disbelief, Sirius gaping at them in a half-amused, half-shocked way.
"Mr Potter, Mr Potter - !" those funny reporter people were suddenly thrashing towards them, and in all her dazed shock Lily felt a twinge of fear.
James immediately grabbed her arm and steered her towards the exit. As she stumbled against his rough grip, she distinctly heard Slughorn calling out half-heartily, "Please, please, leave them alone."
A number of questions had sprung up in Lily's head, questions that desperately needed answers. But as she and James walked down the corridors, with him leading, she took his stiff silence and brooding expression as a sign to keep quiet.
Lily half-walked, half-stumbled back to the Head tower. She felt so light-headed and confused, as if it was a dream, but she knew it wasn't. Dreams were pleasant. This was more like a nightmare.
All hopes of getting some answers vanished as James strode across their living room, slamming his bedroom door after him. Lily, still not entirely aware of what was happening, sat on the sofa and stared into the fireplace.
James had... kissed her. He had actually kissed her.
Tentatively, she lifted a hand and touched her lips. A soft expression crossed her face.
All of a sudden, a rush of emotions filled her. She felt overwhelmed, annoyed, upset, hurt, yet at the same time as if she was floating.
Before she could gather these feelings and put them in their rightful place, somebody knocked on the door. It took some time before Lily registered the knock. Almost mechanically, she went and opened the portrait door.
The visitor was a very young woman of about nineteen-years-old. She was not very attractive, with thick black eyebrows that made her look permanently angry, dark eyes and a square jaw. However, all these things gave her a distinct aura of command and control. It was intimidating.
"You're that girl!" she said sharply when she saw Lily.
"Um," everything was registering slow in Lily's brain, "Excuse me?" she finally asked in a dazed voice.
The new girl scrutinised Lily for a full five seconds before pushing the portrait fully open and letting herself in, "Never mind. Where is James?" her voice was brisk, business-like, "I must speak with him."
"James?" Lily repeated, and the kiss immediately came back to her.
Get a grip of yourself, Lily Evans!
"Oh, James," the redhead said firmly, with the look of one coming out of a reverie, "He's... well, he's not in a good mood at the moment."
The dark-haired girl surprised her by snorting, "So what else is new? James is a spoilt brat, but fortunately, I know how to handle him. JAMES!" Her deep, sharp voice seemed to shake the room.
Lily took a few tentative steps back and said meekly, "Honestly, he was a bit upset, so maybe you should leave him alone tonight - "
"His emotional state at the moment is not important!" the girl barked, fixing her dark eyes on Lily critically, "He's blown his privacy and I'll be damned if he - who are you? What's your name?"
She was suddenly suspicious and curious, which made Lily squeamish.
"I'm - I'm Lily Evans," the owner of the name stammered, wondering how much distress she could take in one night.
The stranger furrowed her thick eyebrows and said stoutly, "I've never heard of you. Are you related to anyone in the Ministry?"
"...No, I'm Muggle-born."
Lily tried not to stare, transfixed, at the grotesque eyebrows that were now raised.
"Muggle-born?" the girl repeated not disgustedly, but uncertainly, "Right. Well," she seemed to dismiss Lily and boomed, "JAMES POTTER, COME OUT RIGHT NOW IF YOU KNOW WHAT'S GOOD FOR YOU!"
Lily jumped and thought indignantly, 'Now, really!' but she still couldn't find it in herself to go head-to-head with this rude, broad-shouldered girl. Fortunately, the Head Boy door opened and there stood James, looking dishevelled and above all, tired.
"James!" the girl said at once, looking determined, "Do you have any idea - " she broke off suddenly and changed her tone to a low, serious one, "We need to talk."
"I know," James sighed, not at all surprised or taken-aback. Lily stared as he sat down on the couch and looked at the visitor dully, "So what happens now?"
"We need to talk in privacy," the girl said loudly, casting Lily a furtive look.
James also glanced over at Lily, who felt her heart thump ten times faster. He didn't seem abashed and met her eyes quite boldly, something which unnerved Lily and tingled her annoyance. How could he do that?
"Right," he said unconcernedly, looking around the room, "Evans, we need stocking up. Go down and make a shopping list, whatever, just don't be back before an hour."
Trying to hide her shock and frustration, Lily murmured, "Yes." By marching out of the common-room, she hoped to show James that she was not happy with him.
How could he do this? How could he act as if nothing had happened, and expect her to pretend nothing had happened either? Just kick up her chirpy heels and stroll down the shopping aisle with a trolley and a stupid money bag full of fake coins!
Gah.
He was impossible.
He needed to be hung.
Immediately.
That conniving, evil git.
This rather, well, ugly thinking continued until Lily had kicked her heels down to the kitchens. In her intensity she might have harshly jabbed the pear so that it let out a squeaky cry of pain instead of giggling.
"Oh, look at me," the redhead mumbled to herself as she walked into the brightly-lit kitchens, "I'm abusing painted fruit in my stress. There's something seriously wrong with me."
"Miss Evans, Miss Evans!" the house-elves all tittered, rushing towards her.
"Oh - ah - hi," Lily said in a flustered voice, hitching on a dodgy grin, "Err..." Between all her hot-headed insults then flat realisation of what a woeful turn her life had taken, she had forgotten where she was and why she was there.
"What would you be seeking today, Miss Evans?"
"Oh..." Lily walked into the special area Dumbledore had set up for her and James (well, only her now) to shop for their food. There were shelves and cabinets, each of them crammed with items that were marked with a price.
Feeling obnoxious and reckless, Lily bought nothing but elf-made bread and bars of chocolate, grinning nastily while she paid. The savage pleasure faded away, however, when she remembered her evening... her week... her year. It definitely hadn't been one of the best.
Sighing again, Lily sat down in one of the chairs dejectedly. She felt an emptiness and sadness fill her as she buried her head in her arms.
So much had happened. She felt so alone and weak, like nobody cared about her anymore. James never helped with that feeling. Crysta was... Lily didn't even want to think of her. It felt like Rinoa was her only friend, but with the new independent living it was like a gap had been formed between them.
And then there was Full House...
Lily let out a whimper she didn't know she had been holding in.
"Miss Evans?"
A delicious smell filled her nostrils, and Lily looked up through her tangle of red hair. There beside her was a mug of hot chocolate, and surrounding it many anxious house-elves.
"Oh, thank you," Lily said gratefully, smiling at them so that they beamed back. She absently sipped the warm and comforting drink, her green eyes going glassy as she thought about the 'bend in the road' that had occurred in her life. Why couldn't it have lay straight?
She thought about Slughorn's party, and smiled a little. There had been a few highlights... talking to Sirius had been a lot of fun, and then she had met Charlie. Charlie was brilliant. Lily smiled again and thought about their dance. It was quite apparent that neither of them knew how to dance very well, something that definitely needed polishing up if they were to attend the ball at the end of the year.
Lily felt sick just thinking about the ball. She was only glad that it was far, far away...
This was all James' fault.
He had broken down her morale. All the bad things that had happened were all connected to him one way or another. It was all his fault. He had shouted her silly, insulted her, made her so angry and upset on so many occasions she felt like she had passed through Azkaban.
No... Lily thought grudgingly, closing over her eyes, I can't just blame him... This is what is supposed to happen. I've got to accept it.
And as she realised this, an unbearable sadness overcame her and her eyes smarted. Lily Evans buried her head further into her arms and let the hot, unwanted tears pour down her cheeks.
---
James opened his eyes and found himself enclosed in total darkness, except for the small, pale light that was streaming through a crack in his thick curtains. He kicked at it, hoping to close it properly, but only ended up yanking it even further so that more white light flooded in.
He gave up and lay in bed, wondering what time it was. After that, he remembered what Regina had said - lectured about - the night before, and soon, everything that had happened came flooding back like a wave. James moaned and rolled onto his stomach, burying his face in his pillow. Everything was giving him a headache at the moment, and he knew he had hell to pay once he got out of bed.
Why did he have such a complex life?
His thoughts went to Lydia, who just made him feel bitter. Why was she so angry, as if she didn't want him to like her? The possibility made James chest burn as he realised it was her fault. If she hadn't snapped at him and demanded so shrilly, maybe he wouldn't have gotten so furious in turn and did something so rash and stupid.
And as James remembered who he wasted his first kiss on, he calmed down a little.
He did feel kind of sorry for Lily. She was caught in the middle of this mess and had no idea what was happening. Just remembering her horrified look amused James, and then her apparent nervousness when they had walked back. James hadn't meant to make her feel so bad; he'd been too hotheaded with his own worries to try and explain things to her.
James knew he had a long day ahead - a long month, most likely. Trying not to think about it at the moment, he got up to have breakfast. To his utter disappointment, he found the kitchen deserted.
He sighed irritably. Sure, they'd had a big night, but that didn't mean Lily could ignore her chores.
"Evans," he said impatiently, knocking on her door, "Get up. You're late."
There was no answer.
James groaned and began to pound on her door, "Evans, wake up and make me my bloody breakfast! You're in big trouble, you know."
There was still no reply.
Fed up and stomach grumbling, James grabbed the handle and opened the door. He was about to yell when he realised her bed was empty. What was more, it hadn't been slept in. With one last distasteful glance around the messy room, James closed the door and wondered where she could be.
Not for a moment did James trouble himself with the thought that he was worried about Lily - because, in his mind, he merely only wanted his breakfast. But after he had put on his robes and wandered through the still and quiet castle, James became increasingly frustrated and panicked.
He went through his brain, trying to remember if he had done anything to make her extremely upset that would drive her to sleep out-of-doors. (Well, out of the Head tower, anyway.)
James couldn't come up with anything pheasible, except maybe the kiss. He knew he owed her an explanation, but he wasn't going to say anything so long as he could help it.
Finally, he made his way down to the kitchens. Perhaps Lily hadn't returned last night. The house-elves were very persuasive.
As usual, the little, eager creatures were delighted to see him, and tripped over each others' scrawny little limbs to get to him. Before he could rattle them off, however, he saw (his heart surged with relief) a head of red hair on the table.
Putting on a cool and composed look, James walked towards her, calling loudly at the same time.
"Oi, Evans."
Lily stirred, but didn't lift her head.
"Hey," James said louder, moving a bit closer.
"What?" Lily mumbled incoherently, her head still buried in her arms.
James smiled a little but kept an indifferent voice, "What do you think you're doing, sleeping down here? Get up."
She made no movement.
"Oi!" James grabbed her arm, but she immediately jerked away.
"Don't touch me!" Lily said in a thick voice. She sighed as she stretched and smoothed down her hair, all the while shooting angry, reproachful looks at James. The night had allowed Lily to reflect on how cruelly he had treated her.
The black-haired boy shook his head in wonder, and realised his frustration had evaporated quite suddenly.
"Not in the mood, huh?" he said mockingly, "I see you did the shopping... Why'd you buy so much bread for? You're the only one who'll be eating it."
"Keep acting like an ungrateful pig, Potter, and you'll be having it for all your meals," Lily snapped, quite fed up.
James eyed her as if she was a time-bomb, "I see you're not well," he said half-sarcastically, though he kept his distance in case she suddenly lashed out.
"Not well?" Lily repeated sadistically, then burst out, "Of course I'm not well! Do you realise - " she stopped, with a stormy frown fixed in place. She made an impatient and disbelieving noise, then turned back to him, "Potter, don't you have something to say to me?"
Taken-back, James said rancorously, "No. Should I have something to say to you?"
She looked as though she absolutely did not believe him, "You must have something to say to me after that - that incident!" she insisted with a hint of desperation.
He looked at her sceptically, "Well. I don't. Happy?" There was no way he was going to explain his reckless actions to her, though, admittedly, she was the victim in all this.
Lily scoffed angrily. She gave James one last look of disgust before standing up, hauling the shopping bag after her.
"Where're you going?" James called after her, infuriatingly cocky, "I'm hungry."
Her rude reply made it clear James wasn't going to be served today.
She was gone within seconds, leaving James to vaguely impress on the idea that she was such a child. Then a gloom settled over him, the same gloom that had haunted him since Slughorn's party, and had vanished momentarily when he came down to the kitchens.
He sighed and leant back in his chair, his hazel eyes going glassy as he revelled in all the decisions he had to make.
---
Dear Diary,
So much has happened. I'm currently in the library right now, because I don't have classes until afternoon. The library is my sanctuary; I can get away from everything.
Most of all James Potter.
I really can't believe he can be so unbelievable sometimes. Does that even make sense? But honestly, the things he does... I suppose it all points into the direction that he really is a selfish, conceited person. It's a pity; I was starting to think that maybe he had a good side to him.
Argh, I need to stop this. I can't afford to get so worked up all the time, not because of him. I feel bad because I let him get to me - but I should just ignore the prat already. Siiigh.
...That girl sitting over at the 'F' shelf keeps staring at me. She thinks I haven't noticed but, Merlin, she hasn't blinked in three minutes! There, I just gave her a look and she seemed to come out of her little reverie. Oh, great. She just gave me a filthy look and thinks I didn't see that either.
Some Hogwarts girls are really quite exasperating.
I should get started on some of my homework before lunch. They're not due for a month but it's always better to get it out of the way, especially since I have less time to do these things now with my household duties... increased household duties. Why oh why is Crysta such an airhead? She used to be so sensible, as well! Oh, well. The cat's among the pixies now.
I just told two little third-year girls off for prowling around the shelves and giggling like little munchkins. This is a library, for Merlin's sake! Besides, they kept pointing and giggling at me so it was making me nervous. What is it with them today?
Just checked my reflection and there's nothing visibly wrong with me. All the same, they're acting as though it's Valentine's Day... or even worse, the time I threw up on Potter.
Heh. Fond memories.
...Not really.
Oh, they seem to be interrogating a magazine. Those things always make them act giddy. I wonder who got married this week.
I haven't seen Rinoa all day, and I don't have any afternoon classes with her. Maybe I'll go visit her in the common-room later. Oh well, time to hit the books! Perhaps I'll find some time to work on my story.
Lily.
---
As Lily sat in her last class, Ancient Runes, she found it increasingly hard to concentrate. The professor's voice sounded drony and so distant, it was starting to put her to sleep.
At the same time, she was very uncomfortable. It felt like people were staring at her all the time. It was a most unwelcome feeling.
Finally the bell rang and the redhead quickly escaped from the classroom, where girls instantly put their heads together and talked a mile a minute. She blended in with the normal crowds of students and walked with them up to the common-room.
"Re - refullsin?" Lily said questioningly, unsure of the password. Fortunately the portrait swung open and she clambered into the scarlet-clad common-room, full of people already. She stiffened up as some of the younger students gasped when they caught sight of her, and ran to each other to form groups. They stared at her, wide-eyed. A couple of fourth-year girls looked at her, then jerked up a Witch Weekly, then looked at her again, apparently in shock.
Suddenly self-conscious and nervous, Lily swallowed heavily and tried to ignore the obvious attention she was receiving. Her head down, she quickly walked to the staircase when someone tapped her on the shoulder.
"Lily! Hi."
"Oh, hullo Charlie," Lily greeted, turning around with a smile, "How are you, then?"
Charlie smiled, "Can't complain. What about you?"
"Hmmm... I'm alright," Lily said resignedly, as a recount of her true, bizarre feelings would take far too long.
"I'm glad to hear that," Charlie said warmly. There was a moment's pause, before he said hesitantly, "So, you and James, then?"
"Huh?" Lily asked confusedly, very much wrong-footed.
"Well - after what happened last night - " Charlie started, but at that moment Rinoa pounced on her.
"LILY!"
Lily jumped a mile and whirled around, "Oh, Rinoa! Finally, woman, I haven't seen you for ages!"
"LILY!" Rinoa yelled again, but she didn't sound happy and excited like usual; she sounded urgent and alarmed, "Oh, honestly, what happened? Excuse me - " she pulled the redhead away from Charlie, " - galloping gargoyles, Lil, how are you coping?"
Rinoa sounded so concerned and serious that Lily began to feel edgy; had she missed something?
"What are you - ?"
Not letting Lily finish her question, Rinoa grabbed her arm and pulled her up the spiral staircase. Lily let herself be dragged along, her head buzzing.
"Um, Rin?" Lily said politely as she was tugged along to her old dorm, "Could you, perhaps, tell me what the gargoyle is going on?"
Rinoa turned and faced her, putting her hands on her hips, "What the gargoyle?"
Lily flushed, "It doesn't sound that bad!"
Shrugging, Rinoa asked her firmly, "You haven't come across a Witch Weekly very recently, have you?"
"No," Lily replied with an air of defiance, "You know I don't usually read those things."
"Well, this isn't a usual situation."
"You can tell me that again! What happened in that magazine, anyway? Seems like everyone's hyped up about it."
"It's because of - !" Rinoa's eyes were huge, "Oh, don't kid me around Lil, have you really not seen it?"
"No, I haven't!" Lily said firmly, wondering if they were ever going to get to the bottom of this.
"Oh, dear..." Rinoa didn't explain as Lily had fully expected her to, but just pulled her into the dormitory. There on the floor was a copy of the brightly-covered Witch Weekly.
"Is that yours?" Lily asked in amusement as her best friend picked it up and flicked through it, "My, my, Rinoa, didn't I once hear you condemn that to be an ill-ridden, good-for-nothing piece of rubbish that was read by those who have no life?"
"I still think that," Rinoa said grimly, as she passed the magazine gingerly to her, "Look at that, Lily."
The redhead took the magazine, not exactly sure what she was expecting, but definitely not ready for what she saw on the glossy page.
The first thing that caught her eye was a huge headline in bubbly writing that flashed different colours. It read, "Italy's Biggest Mystery- Right Here In Britain!" Underneath the in-your-face headline was a massive blow-up photograph of her and James, apparently absorbed in a kiss.
Oh. My.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"
Lily didn't see anything else but that horrendous picture. Her head had gone oddly disorientated and all she knew was that something had gone horribly awry, and that she could only scream to express her utmost horror.
"Lil - " Rinoa exclaimed, looking positively alarmed.
But Lily didn't pay any heed to her and shot up like a bullet. Ignoring her friend's anguished calls, the terrified girl ran down to the common-room, still shrieking, and whipped past her fellow stunned students into the corridor.
How she managed to find her way back up to the Head tower, Lily did not know. Her mind seemed to have gone blank. All she knew as she held the offending magazine and let out an ear-splitting scream, was that this was all Potter's fault - he knew the answer to these seemingly unanswerable questions, and she was going to go and shout him silly.
"Potter! Potter! POTTER!"
"Far out, I'm here! What's the bloody matter, you came up here like a dozen elephants!" James shouted back, his heart racing.
"Potter, what - what - why is there a picture of us in here?" Lily spluttered, looking near to having a stroke as she violently brandished the magazine in front of him. In all her shock of actually asking it out loud, Lily had forgotten to be angry with him.
"A picture of us?"
With a foreboding frown, James took the magazine between his fingers and looked at it. He sighed as he glanced it up and down, "Witch Weekly. And I thought it would turn up in the Daily Prophet."
This was such an inappropriate response that all ill-ridden feelings rushed back and Lily screeched, "Tell me what is going on, Potter! I'm sick of being kept in the dark, I want some damn answers and I want them now!"
To her indignation, James merely tossed the magazine back after skimming over it, "Read the article," he said tonelessly, "You'll find some of your answers."
Lily opened her mouth to howl at him, but her throat was beginning to feel sore. Exasperated, she collapsed onto the couch and opened the magazine. She moaned loudly at the grotesque (to her) photo that seemed to occupy over a quarter of the page. It made her sick just looking at it.
Anticipating the worst, she began to read with a great sense of foreboding.
Italy's Biggest Mystery - Right Here In Britain!
James Potter. Does the name ring any bells? Well, watch out, because from now on, you'll be squealing every time you hear it! James Potter, widely believed to be named Joshua until recently, is the hottest topic in Italy - and he resides right here in Great Britain!
Up until now, James Potter has been a big, untouchable mystery - not only in England, but also in the Italian Republic. The only child of Italy's Minister for Magic, Alexander Potter, this handsome wizard has never had a face-on picture or even proper name published. His prominent parents are very protective of their son, refusing to confirm or deny any rumours, or share any personal information.
However, Witch Weekly are proud to reveal his whereabouts, which have remained unknown for years. This evasive wizard actually attends Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, where he has been schooled since he was eleven-years-old! It's no wonder experts couldn't locate him, not even after thoroughly searching the most prestigious wizarding schools in Italy.
We are thrilled to present you the first exclusive photographs of the handsome Potter, at a small party that was held just last night. Italian girls are right to be crazy about him - he's absolutely gorgeous!
It has been rumoured for quite some time that the dashing Mr Potter has been in an arranged marriage since childhood, which makes the wild stories printed in Italian magazines all the more outrageous. (Page 4.) As you can see, there is a redheaded girl James undoubtedly fancies - could this be his long-lost fiancee or just another female on the line? Or is this arranged marriage rumour even true?
Lily just stared at it, flabbergasted. Famous? Italy? LONG-LOST FIANCEE?
The article went on for pages, surrounded by photos of James at Slughorn's party. A great deal of them had Lily in it, as well. She gaped at the magazine for a full thirty seconds before lowering it.
James was looking at her intently.
"I - I don't believe this," Lily said hoarsely, after finding her voice, "No - this is impossible. You - you - you're famous?"
He simply nodded, looking sullen at the fact.
"But - " Lily continued to stare at the article, "...What? How is that even possible? How could you be that big of a deal in Italy and no one recognise you at school?" It was so stupid, so unbelievably stupid. This article had to be a a major joke.
Lily checked to make sure it wasn't the Quibbler.
"I don't think I really need to explain myself to you, Evans, but..." James sighed as if he were doing her a great favour, "I'm only well-known in Italy, and for the most absurd reasons as well. They never knew my real name. Everyone thought the son of the Minister was called Joshua, and they only ever had one candid photo to go by and you can't even see my face."
He took the magazine off her, flipped to the next page and pointed to a photo of himself. He looked a bit younger, but his face was hidden by the shadow of his cap. It was labelled, "The only confirmed photo of James Potter until now!"
Lily stared at it, transfixed in bewilderment for several seconds. She looked up again with a frown as she tried to grasp the situation, "...What... what absurd reasons?"
Sighing deeply, James got up and went into his bedroom. A moment later he came back out, holding a shoebox. He dropped it in front of her on the coffee table.
"What's this?" Lily asked uncertainly.
"Italian magazines, and one Witch Weekly. They've got a few articles on me. Read them."
"You actually keep these?" Lily asked a bit maliciously, despite all her shock, as she picked one up.
James shot her a Look and said sarcastically, "Yes, I do love to read them before I go to bed. Now just look at it, will you?"
"Fine, fine..." Lily said in a low voice, opening it, "What the - It's in a different language!"
"You're a smart witch, go figure."
Rolling her eyes, Lily muttered a spell and read the translated article in front of her.
It seems 'Heartbreaker' Joshua Potter has caused more havoc again, playing with the hearts of several now-distraught girls. One of them, Michelle, says that he charmed her by saying "she was the most beautiful girl he had ever seen" and took her out to dinner. They spent a wonderful and "action-packed" night together, but in the morning he pulled his Heartbreaker stunt and had already gone by the time she woke up. He also stole a pair of ruby earrings her grandmother sent her.
Lily had to grin, "You really did that, Potter?" James merely snorted in reply while she looked at the other magazines; she knew it was about James when there was that shadowed picture of him.
"Killed her cat... broke up a marriage... stole her virginity..." Lily had a disgusted expression on her face as she glanced over the little rumours, "Made her pay for an expensive dinner, set her house on fire, impregnated about fifty women! This is ridiculous, who'd make up such a thing and why would you publish it?"
"The girls do it all the time, they find it a great privilege if theirs get chosen," James said indifferently, "If the magazine's got nothing else better to write about they attack me."
"Yes, but why you out of everyone?"
"I expect it's got something to do with the fact that my father's Minister," James said darkly, "And the people who oppose him," he added quickly at Lily's enquiring look, "Everyone who's in power has got people who want to overthrow them. These rumours make me look bad; therefore, they make my dad look bad.
"And," he added thoughtfully, "It wouldn't hurt that my parents are so determined to keep me away from the press that they just let the rumours fly. There's no one to stop them, so they keep doing it."
"So this is what it's all about," the redhead said slowly, resigning to the fact that this was not a big hoax, "Discrediting your father?"
James shrugged, "I s'pose."
Lily made a face, "That's awfully harsh. I mean, actually writing these disgusting things about someone you don't even know?" She opened the rather outdated Witch Weekly and found a small box about James.
It seems like Italy have found their own Romeo to be crazy about. For a year or two now, rumour has it Joshua Potter has been breaking the hearts of girls all over the country. This hardly seems like appropriate behaviour for the only son of Italy's Minister for Magic, Alexander Potter, but we all know how we like our boys to be fun and rowdy. Isn't that right, girls?
James gave her a wry smile, "The girls are crazy about me."
"I wouldn't expect them to be," Lily said in surprise, dropping the Witch Weekly, "If they believe all the things they write about you."
James shrugged off-handedly, "They like that kind of boy, I guess. They call me the 'Heartbreaker'."
Lily let out a loud laugh, "That's so stupid. Why don't your parents just deny all the rumours or something?"
"Well... they never wanted me to grow up hounded by reporters and photographers all the time. But trying to keep me a secret only made them more determined to find me. I hardly ever left the house. Then when my letter came for Hogwarts, my parents finally relaxed. And for several years, everything was fine. No one ever knew who I really was, except for my friends and Dumbledore. Oh, and Slughorn, but he promised to keep his mouth shut," James explained in a dry voice.
It was starting to make sense. A little. Lily studied James for a couple of seconds and softened. He seemed so morose and disappointed. Lily began to feel rather sorry for him. The reporters had finally found him, when he had thought he was safe from them at last. A childhood like that mustn't have been easy.
"Umm..." Lily quickly tried to think of something else, "So. This arranged marriage thing. True, or not?"
"That's just another rumour," James returned, but a small smile lit his face, "Started by my sister, however, instead of some rabid girl..."
"Your sister?" Lily repeated puzzledly, "But it says you're an only child - "
"She's a Squib, hardly worth noticing," James said brusquely, looking sour, "At least that's what they think. My parents had no trouble keeping her a secret."
"Oh," Lily replied, not knowing what to say to that, "Well, why'd she start that kind of rumour?"
"The same reason my parents let loose I was named Joshua. To protect me," James sighed, as if protection was really quite a troublesome thing, "She thought if people thought I was in an arranged marriage it'd quench the rumours. But it only made them more frequent, and made me look even worse."
"I don't understand why you just don't come out and deny them all!" Lily exclaimed agitatedly, "Surely that'd be much easier."
"Well, it's been going on for a few years, and it was starting to die down a little. My parents thought that if they just kept me hidden for a bit longer, it'd blow over soon. Unfortunately, something happened."
"Last night happened," Lily filled in helpfully.
"Yes, last night happened," James snapped, feeling frustrated all over again, "Bloody reporters..." he opened his eyes and looked at her accusingly, "You know, if you'd just agreed with me and left when I told you to, this never would have happened."
Lily was taken-aback, "So now you're blaming me?"
James snorted, "You definitely didn't help."
Lily was shocked and appalled. Speechless for some few seconds in which James looked at the floor broodingly, she recovered the power of speech and shrieked, "What about you, huh?"
"Why are you yelling?" James retorted angrily, having jumped when she spoke.
Disregarding this, Lily shouted furiously, "You just grabbed me and kissed me in front of fifty people, some whom had cameras! This is your problem, you didn't have to pull me in with you, even if you had to make your precious Lydia jealous!"
James stared at her, aghast.
The fiery redhead took a deep breath and looked him in the eye, "I know I'm under a contract, but you can't do whatever you want with me. Fine, I'll cook and clean, but as for your personal issues leave me out!" There. She had finally said what had been on her mind since that bloody kiss.
As she calmed down a little, James just continued to stare at her perplexedly. He didn't look angry. He seemed to be contemplating something.
"What?" Lily asked defiantly, feeling unnerved at this inappropriate reaction, "What are you looking at?"
James didn't say anything for awhile. When he spoke, his voice was low and serious.
"Let's get engaged."
Nothing could have ever prepared Lily to hear those words in such a circumstance.
"Wh - what?" she asked in a sort of terrified gasp, "Are - are - are you mad? Has my cooking gotten to your head or something?" Her voice was faltering with utmost disbelief. She really did think he had lost it, "People get engaged when they want to get married, and people get married when they like each other," she sounded hysterical and was speaking very fast now, "Maybe you've been getting the wrong sign from me, but I don't like you. I can't stand you!"
"I can't stand you, either," James assured her in a stating-the-obvious voice, with a disgusted look on his face.
A bit relieved but still on the verge of hyperventilating, Lily shuffled back and demanded in a confused voice, "Then why the hell do you want to get engaged?"
"It'd stop all the rumours for one."
"Okay, stop being blunt, I hate it when people are blunt!"
Rolling his eyes, James said loudly, "Everyone believes I have a fiancee, and thanks to this sodding magazine, they'll think it's you. Either that, or they'll think you're my newest whore."
"Your newest what, excuse me?" Lily exclaimed, feeling her cheeks heat up.
"No offence intended," James said boredly, "But that's what everyone thinks I am, right? A little heartbreaker. They'll think I'm out to kill your cat - or make you pay for dinner - or rob you of your virginity - "
"Alright, stop!" Lily said loudly, squeezing her eyes shut, "Merlin, Potter, okay, I get the picture."
Snickering at her discomfort, James told her soberly, "You can either be that or my fiancee. Either way."
"Or," Lily said furiously, "You could just tell them you're not in an arranged marriage, and pretend I'm just a girlfriend, and our relationship ended a minute after that bloody picture was taken!"
"Yeah," James said slowly, "But why would I do that? It wouldn't stop the rumours."
"Er. I don't care."
"Evans - "
"Potter, I am not pretending to the whole of Europe we're about to get married just so you can have a peace of mind! Have you even stopped for a second and realise how mental you sound?"
There. It sounded so painfully obvious when she said it like that.
James hesitated, then said crisply, "It's not that mental when you think about it."
Tutting impatiently, Lily exploded, "What is there to think about? Potter - okay, say we do do this. Everyone's seen us fight - who would believe us? And your parents! What would they think?"
"They'll believe anything as long as it's in print," James said loftily, "And my parents would be happy that I found a partner."
Lily's jaw had dropped open.
"Would they not find it exceedingly unbelievable that you decided to get married when you're only seventeen?"
"Not married; engaged, dear."
"OH, SHUT UP POTTER!"
Smirking, James replied contritely, "It's all very simple, Evans. We stand close together - but not too close - act like a couple in company, smile for the cameras and answer the questions graciously. Article gets published, girls in Italy and even Britain now get disappointed, stop making up stupid stories, leave me and my family alone, and it'll be a real doss."
It was so absurd and ridiculous that Lily was sure that he was pulling her leg.
"Huh," was all she said, staring at him in the eye, "Very simple, is it, Potter?"
"Yes, it is," James said jubilantly, "Wow, it's such a brilliant idea. I wonder why I never thought of it before."
"Maybe because you had a couple more brain cells back then?" Lily retorted rudely, subconsciously hoping he'd get so angry that he'd give up on this silly idea of his.
Unfortunately, James didn't seem fathomed by this.
"Well, what is it, Evans?" he asked of her.
"Why should I do this?" Lily demanded rashly, "Why should I sink to the depths of pretending to be your future wife - " at this, James scowled, " - just to help you out, when you've never done anything for me?"
Oh. Bother.
That girl had to think of everything, didn't she?
"Well..." he said slowly, his mind racing.
"What's in it for me?" Lily asked pointedly.
James strained his brain, thinking hard. Then all of a sudden... it was like a muse had dropped a tonne of inspiration on him.
Lily wasn't sure she liked the triumphant look that had suddenly appeared on his face.
"How about this, Evans," he said lightly, "At the end of this school year, when we break off our engagement - "
"Break off our engagement?" Lily interrupted confusedly, as if she didn't know what these words meant.
James raised his eyebrows, "Of course. You didn't really want to get married, did you?"
"Well... of course not," Lily said rather sharply, after recovering from her initial surprise, "But then what would be the point of this? The rumours would just start again, only this time they'd be even worse."
She couldn't believe she was saying such things, as if she understood the ordeal James was in.
James shrugged, "Let them do all they want. I'd have left school by then and be far, far away. But anyway, when we break off our engagement, I'll return something back to you."
"Whatever you stole from me, Potter, it won't be enough," Lily said scathingly, then added as an afterthought, "Though I would like it back."
"Even if it was your house?" James said softly, watching her carefully.
A peculiar expression crossed Lily's face, then she frowned and replied haughtily, "You think I'd care about getting this place enough to show the whole world I'm engaged to you?"
"No, no, not this Head tower," James said impatiently, but smiled in satisfaction as he remembered how he had made her his house-elf for only twenty Galleons, "Your real house. Full House."
Lily's undivided attention turned to James at once, her eyes wide and alert.
"What do you know about Full House?" she asked very carefully, her heart pounding and her mind oddly blank. How did James know...?
"Easy," he said bracingly, "My parents bought it for me, for when I leave Hogwarts and start my own life."
"I - I don't believe you," Lily said at once, but her mouth had gone very dry.
He raised his eyebrows, "You don't believe anything I say... Okay, just wait here." He got up again and went into his bedroom, returning with a fat letter which he passed to her.
"This is it, isn't it?"
Lily's heart sunk to the soles of her feet as she looked at the photographs of her beloved home. There was no mistaking the familiar whitewashed walls and marble living room, or her favourite little staircase that spiralled up in a dozen circles.
"Oh dear Merlin."
"Yep."
"This is not happening."
"Yep."
"You... you own my house."
"Yep."
"SOMEONE UP THERE HATES ME!"
"Wouldn't rule out that possibility," James said deftly enough, watching the distraught Lily.
"ARGH!" she threw James' letter down onto the floor and put a hand to her head, her eyes closed.
How could this happen?
Why was James' bargain suddenly so much more appealing?
Lily could feel herself weakening... even telling her conscience that posing as his fiancee really wasn't that bad... in exchange for her wonderful home...
Stop it. Stopitstopitstopitstopit!
But really... it was only until they left Hogwarts... only a few interviews and photos... her mum would never know... and how happy would her mother be, if they got the house back?
Lily felt herself fill with warmth at the thought of her mother.
No! Stop this! You can't go on with it - pretending to be the fiancee of the boy who's treated you so badly? It's ridiculous!
James seemed to realise Lily was in a bit of conflict with herself at the moment, as she frowned hard and bit her lip. Clearing his throat, he said briskly, "So, anyway. I know you've had a rough day. How about you sleep on it? If you're not brainless you'll see what's in it for you."
With that, he swept into his bedroom disdainfully, closing the wooden door after him.
It was past midnight as Lily lay in her bed, her mind and body exhausted but at the same time so frantic and stressed it kept her awake. She thought about what James had said.
Good grief, the number of things he had announced that night that made her condemn him nuts...
But she was beginning to see that that wasn't the case. It was just she hadn't understood... and even as he explained it, all she could take in was the absurdity of what he had said. But now, the situation had sunk in and it was starting to make sense. It was starting to even seem possible.
And at this, the thought of returning to Full House filled her like sunshine. Living in peace and harmony with her mother, in the place they loved best. It was like being given a second chance... Lily's stomach jolted at the dangerous decision she had before her.
Suddenly, she brought her hand up and smacked her forehead several times.
"No, this is stupid. Stupidstupidstupidstupidstupid," she muttered agitatedly, obviously still conflicted. Apparently under the impression that these physical smacks would finalize her decision, Lily relaxed and began to breathe deeply.
Unfortunately, she had underestimated the power of rambling in your head.
There is no way I'm going through with this. What will everyone think? What will Rinoa think? For goodness' sake, why should I even do this? It's just a house. I can easily build another one myself.
...There's no way I'm doing this.
Pose as Potter's bride-to-be... for almost a whole year?
No way.
I can't do this...
...No.
Just no.
Somebody help me.
I must be mental...
----------
A/N: Hello gracious ones. x) I tried to reply to everyone's reviews, but sometimes I can't quite figure out what to say to a, "I love your story! Update soon!" xP Hehe, so I replied to all who had questions and some others. But all in all, thanks for the reviews. All of them. If you thought kicking an imaginary hamster last time was bad .. I won't explain what I did this time. x) Honestly, I was overwhelmed to see so many! I've got many things to say, so bear with me!
Important: For those who enjoy wandering through L/J stories, you may have come across an excellent one called Elusive by Almicene Melwen. x) You would have noticed that there are striking similarities between that story and James' 'secret' life which was written in this chapter. To be perfectly honest, I didn't really get the idea from Elusive although I had read it beforehand, but it's still important to clear that up. xP Anyway, the author of Elusive is aware of this, and I am aware of this, and now you are aware of this, and hopefully we're all still smiling and nodding happily. x)
And now! After we have all finished thanking Almicene for allowing me to write this x), I would like to introduce a LiveJournal in which I'll be writing all my fanfictionly things! So now, you don't have to worry if I've become roadkill or something because the updates (in the journal) will show what I'm doing and how I'm progressing with the next chapter, and so on. Be sure to check it regularly and comment if you feel like it! xD The link is munchkinmuffin (dot) livejournal (dot) com . xD
Or it's the homepage link on my profile, if that's easier.
I think that's it, hehe! I sure hope that chapter answered your questions. If you want to know when I'll next update (keeping in mind I'll be starting school soon and going overseas for a month), then check out the journal, the source of all mystery! Err .. BYE! - MSQ.
The letter is M again! xP Has anyone figured out my pattern, yet? If your pet's name starts with M, then you're special! If you don't have a pet, tough luck. xP