After James's talk with Remus, Remus seemed to relax. Everyone noticed it, especially Lily. James was happy for Remus but guilt was clouding him. He was thinking of one of his best friends in a way he didn't think he should have. Seeing Lily with any guy made him want to hit them. Not exactly sure why he thought like that, James would push the feeling to the back of his head and then find his girlfriend, Elle.
The first Quidditch match of the season was about to be played. It was Gryffindor versus Slytherin. Many people going to the stands watched in amazement as Lily and Lucius gave each other a hug and wish the other good luck. Lucius was even able to place a kiss on Lily's cheek before departing for his changing rooms.
'This is going to be one interesting match,' Lily thought to herself as she started pulling her Quidditch robes on.
Lily sat on a bench and waited for the others so Luke Mio could give his pep talk. James sat down behind her. "You all right?" he asked as he put a hand on her shoulder and squeezed. "Wow! You're tense!"
Lily laughed. "Well, let's think, James. I'm in a Quidditch match against my—" Lily stopped. What was Lucius to her? "My kind-of boyfriend?"
James snickered and began massaging her shoulders. "You need to relax, Lils. Don't worry about him. His team will save his arse. You just worry about scoring points with me and whichever Harris twin is playing."
"It's Angela today."
"Right. So you just worry about scoring points with me and Angela."
Lily nodded. "Right. You know, you're good at this." She pointed to her shoulders. James just laughed.
Lily looked around the locker room. Rini and Angelo Harris were talking. Sirius was talking to his fellow beater, Eric Sionne. Angela and Luke were talking. Lily sighed. "Just relax, Lils," James said. 'We'll do a great job."
Lily nodded fervently. "All right. We can do this." She turned around. "But what about—"
"No buts, Lily." James turned Lily back around. "Just focus on the game and nothing else." Lily nodded again and James smiled as he felt the muscles in her shoulders relax. "Good girl," he said sarcastically.
Lily elbowed him in the stomach just as Luke called for everyone's attention. Lily didn't hear a word of his speech as she mentally prepared herself for the match. She came back to reality as she felt James stand up behind her. Picking up her broom, Lily walked onto the pitch with the others.
Lily watched as Luke and Lucius shook hands. She also saw Lucius glance at her. Scolding herself, she mounted her broom. Madam Hooch blew her whistle and fifteen brooms rose into the air.
Once Lily was in the air she looked around and saw that Angela had the quaffle. Angela passed the quaffle to James. Lily knew what was to come next. She flew around and watched as the ball was passed back to Angela and then to her. She quickly flew to the goals and scored.
The game had been going for about ten minutes with no sign of the snitch when a bludger came flying at her and nearly hit her head. Instead it hit her shoulder and she almost fell off her broom. James flew to her, helped her get settled back on her broom and made sure she was okay. She nodded when James asked if she'd be able to fly and hold the quaffle and saw Lucius berating the beater who had sent the bludger at her. Lily smiled in spite of herself and thought, 'Maybe he has as much heart as the rest of us.'
Getting her mind back on the game, Lily stole the quaffle from Lucius and tossed it to Angela. They tossed it back and forth, making their way toward the goals. It appeared that Lily was about to throw the quaffle through the middle hoop when she threw it to James, who scored in the hoop on the left. Lily and Angela gave each other high-fives as the started back towards the other side of the pitch.
The score was 70-90 Slytherin when everyone saw Rini and the Slytherin seeker dive. They both reached and then came out of the dive; Rini was holding up the snitch. Except the Slytherins, the entire pitch was cheering. The entire Gryffindor Quidditch team was surrounding Rini and giving her hugs.
The Slytherin team landed and scowled at the Gryffindors. It was the second year in a row that they had been beaten by them. Lily laughed and pointed this out to her teammates who proceeded to laugh with her.
The entire Gryffindor House was walking back into the castle to go and have a party in the Common Room. Someone grabbed Lily by her elbow and pulled her out of the crowd.
Sirius, who had been walking beside her, noticed and followed her. When he cleared the crowd he saw Lily talking to Lucius. Lily was looking down and Lucius was looking unhappy. "Everything all right, Lils?" he called.
Lily looked up and smiled. "Everything's fine, Sirius." She saw his unbelieving look and said, "Really! Everything is fine. You go on up and start the party without me. I'll be up shortly."
Sirius still wasn't satisfied, so he nodded and then hid around the first bush he came to. He watched as Lily and Lucius started talking.
"You aren't angry at me, are you, Lucius?" Lily said looking up to meet his gaze.
Lucius smiled. "No, I'm not angry at you or with you. It's just a game and you did everything you had to win. Just as I did."
Lily smiled. "So you're okay with the fact that I stole the quaffle from you a few times?"
Lucius laughed. "Ah, but I let you steal the quaffle from me."
"Let me! You didn't let me do anything!" she said and hit him playfully.
"Is that so?" he said as he turned her around to he could tickle her stomach. Lily let out a shriek of laughter as Lucius continued to tickle her.
Sirius was about to hex Lucius before he realized that Lily was laughing, not shrieking in fear or pain. He growled in spite of himself. The thought of Lucius tickling Lily was not one he liked.
Lily was leaning back against Lucius so she didn't fall to the ground. "Okay, okay! You win! You let me steal the ball!" she cried. "You win, now stop! I give!"
Lucius stopped tickling her and wrapped his arms around her stomach. "I knew you'd see it my way," he said. Leaning his head down beside hers he whispered, "You're beautiful, you know," in her ear. Taking a chance, he kissed her neck. Lily tensed immediately and stepped away from him and turned around.
"I like you, Lucius. I really do. It's just that I still don't completely trust you. With our history and how much you hate my friends…" Lily's voice trailed off and she looked down.
Lucius put his hand on her cheek and brought her eyes back up to meet his. "I understand." He kissed her forehead. "I'll wait for you to trust me completely." He smiled suddenly. "Only an imbecile would not do everything right with you."
Lily gave a small smile. "Thank you," she said softly. "I really should be heading to the party now. They'll start to worry where I am. Good night, Lucius." Lily turned and started walking to the castle.
"Good night, Lily," Lucius said quietly as he watched her walk into the castle. His gaze was taken off the front of the castle doors when he heard a rustling in a nearby shrub. He looked toward it and saw Sirius step out from behind it. "Do you resort to spying on your friends, now, Black?" he called.
"No," Sirius replied. "Just the people who are trying to use them and have nasty plans for them such as yourself, Malfoy."
"Don't worry about Lily," Lucius answered with a smirk. "She's in good hands."
"She'll be in good hands when she's dating someone I don't have a reason to hate or mistrust." Sirius started walking up toward the castle and went in. Lucius waited a few minutes before he, too, went to the castle.