Chapter 10 – First Day Back
Lily woke up early the next morning. She loved the first day of class; when she found out which classes she would love and which she would hate, when she went back to talking, gossiping and passing notes with her friends. But the main reason was that she was back at Hogwarts, living and learning in the place that had become her second home. She gave a huge smile to herself as she remembered the amazing bathroom waiting for her down the corridor. She picked up her clothes, towel and necessaire and left her room for what she planned to be her lovely morning shower.
She stepped inside and glared hesitantly at the many different handles. She gave a little decided grunt and opened the one that said "Vanilla" and lots of bubbles started to fill the bathtub. She then untied her long dark auburn hair, and slipped out of her PJ's and into the tub. She was slim and well built, although she rarely exercised. She had very white pearly skin, that James thought looked like porcelain, but with small freckles here and there. She wasn't very tall; maybe 5'5. Lily let herself sink and relax, trying to get into Hogwarts mode and forget about all the Petunia-bickering that went on over the summer. Her mission was quickly accomplished and she dozed off in the bubbly environment.
James woke up, his alarm clock flying just above his head. –"Ugh! Come here, you stupid bastard!"- He threw a pillow at it, realizing he was cursing at an object. He got to his feet drudgingly, and started to get his stuff ready. He always woke up early (the other Marauders hated that!), but he had come to bed really late last night since after flying him and Sirius decided to grab a bite to eat, during which they came across an opportunity to do a great prank which made him even more late and he had to have a shower before bed, so when he finally slept it must have been around three in the morning. He decided that it would be good to have a quick cold shower to wake himself up. –"The Head Boy can't look like shit on his first real day on the job, can he?"- He thought and snorted. He grabbed a towel and left for the bathroom.
The moment he opened the door he knew he wasn't supposed to be there. Vanilla bubbles were flying around and as he looked down to the huge bathtub he saw Lily; her beautiful red curls floating beside her. She was covered in bubbles and all he could see was her face and the top of her delicate shoulders. She looked beautiful, like a dream. He slapped himself on the face. –"Get out, you bloody idiot!"- He muttered. He turned on his heel and closed the door behind him silently. His went into his room and finished packing his bag and changed. He looked at his alarm clock. – "Damn, it's late!"- He had to wake her up. He walked again towards the bathroom door and sighed while knocking on the door:
"- Lily! Lily! Come on. It's time! We're going to be late." – James said in a loud but gentle tone. – "Lily!" – He listened in and heard nothing. He sighted. – "Oi, Lily! Wake up!" – He said louder this time.
"- What?" – He heard her reply on the other side, sounding drowsy but annoyed.
"- Uh, hey. Just wanted to warn you you're going to be late for breakfast. It's almost 8 o'clock." – James answered in a friendly tone, trying not to get her upset.
"- Ugh! Really?" – He chuckled as he heard her rushing around – "Merlin, this bathtub is dangerously comfortable!" – She stated, talking to herself, but she heard James chuckle on the other side of the door.
"- See ya, Evans!" – He shouted already halfway down the stairs.
He grinned to himself while walking to the Great Hall. She looked so peaceful and happy sleeping in the tub. He realized what he was doing. –"Stop it! You have to stop it! You are FRIENDS! Just friends. Don't be an idiot."- He shook his head trying to put some sense into it. He saw his friends sitting down on their usual spots at the Gryffindor table and joined them:
"- Hey, mates! What a beautiful morning!" – He said joyfully.
"- Someone's in a good mood." – Remus said in a sarcastic tone.
"- And you'll see why in just a few seconds, Moony!" – Sirius stated with a mischievous grin spreading trough his face.
"- What? You two did a prank without us? I thought Prongs was happy over the whole "Friends-With-Evans" thing, not this. I feel betrayed!" – Peter squeaked and gave his friends a hurt look.
"- Here, here." – Remus said with a nod, looking a little upset himself.
"- Ahwww, you guys! You don't have to be jealous! It's just the opportunity presented itself, and it was just to good to let it pass! Plus, we didn't forget about you, mates!" – James said as if he were talking to a jealous girlfriend, but he had the same joking glint in his eye as Sirius.
Immediately the Marauders heard noises coming from another table. They all turned to look at it, and as soon as they saw it they all burst out laughing. All the slytherins had phrases like "Doesn't Remus look dashing today?", "Uh, Peter is so hot!", "Remmy, gimme some lovin', baby" and such written across their robes in red and gold flashing letters. They were all trying to get it off but, of course, failing miserably. The other tables were roaring with laughter.
Lily walked into the Great Hall and before she could seat the entire room busted with laughter. She looked around trying to find the source of the amusement and soon enough found a table full of very pissed off slytherins sporting love declarations for Remus and Peter in their robes in the Gryffindor colors. She couldn't stop the laughter that came out of her mouth as she saw Lucius Malfoy had "Peter is my sugardaddy" written in his robes. She knew as Head Girl she shouldn't laugh and give a bad example but it was impossible not to. Plus, she was sure the Head Boy would be lying on the floor in laughter by now. She glanced to where the Marauders sat and saw the foursome, as expected, almost without breath from laughing at their prank. She caught James' eye and he gave her a shrug with a small apologetic smile and continued talking to his friends. – "Boys will be boys, I guess"- she thought. – "What? Wait, am I going mental? I can't like their pranking! But this is downright funny…". Lily sighed.
"- Hey, Lils! There you are!" – Emma fetched her looking flushed from all the laughing.
"- Oh, hey Em. Sorry, guys, I actually dozed off in the bathtub this morning!" – she started.
"- Yeah, yeah, we forgive you…" - Alicia said with a fake dismissal attitude – "Now talk! We're dying to know about the Heads Dorm! Is it really awesome?" – she asked avidly while stuffing her mouth with an entire lemon muffin.
"- Oh, it's more than awesome!" – Lily replied happily – "It's bloody fantastic! I'll take you there first free period; you're going to love it! But right now I have important news." – She made a solemn face.
"- Spill, redhead!" – Alicia was trying to give her best Dirty Harry impression, causing her friends to laugh.
"- Well" – Lily took a deep breath and made a little pause for dramatic effect – "Last night I apologized properly to James, he forgave me and now we're friends!" – she announced looking quite pleased. And she gave them a complete report.
"- That's great!" – Emma jumped and hugged her friend. Alicia quickly did the same, almost knocking out a tray of pancakes.
Just then they heard McGonagall talking at the end of the table near the boys:
"- As I am sure that our Head Boy has nothing" – She pointed this word and glared at James, who gave her his best innocent look – "To do with the strange occurrence with the slytherins robes this morning, I do request that you" – And she glared seriously at James – "Help me hand out the students timetables, starting with the Slytherin table."
Lily looked at James, certain that she would find him sulking over his assigned punishment, but to her surprise she found him smiling broadly at their teacher as walked over the other table.
"- It will be my pleasure to help you, Minnie." – He said giving her a cheeky grin, and the teacher tried to look upset over the use of the nickname the boys had for her but her lips curled up a tiny bit up despite her efforts – "Accio timetables!" - he caught them easily and put the pile beside him and started handing them out, almost cracking up every time he read what the other students robes said.
Lily went to help, since she was Head too she thought she ought to. McGonagall gave her the Ravenclaw schedules and she started fulfilling her duties. Every once in a while she looked over her shoulder at James and saw that he was rather enjoying McGonagall's punishment. She snorted as she heard the young blond-haired boy from the train say "Did he do that? That is awesome!" to another first year. –"Well, well looks like the Potter fan club has got a new member…"- She glanced his way again and frowned seeing that he had stopped grinning and was now handing Regulus Black his chart with a look of pure loathing. His look sent chills down her spine, she had never seen him look like that. She look to the object of his hatred and saw that Regulus could't stand looking him in the eye. Then she saw who was behind him. Snape. Lily's jaw clenched. She kept handing out timetables without moving her gaze. James looked at her old ex-best friend and with a disgusted look pushed his timetable towards him, silently although trying to hide a laugh, without commenting the fact that his robes said "I'm Remus bitch, and I like it!".
"- What, Potter? No witty remark?" – Snape said viciously, in a tone filled with irony.
"- Oh, well, Snivelly" – James replied calmly, even lazily – "I just thought you had enough Marauder loving for one morning, but hey, if you insist you do look quite dashing this morning! I would, however, wash my hair if I were you." –He finished with a grin on his lips, but his eyes had a dangerous spark in them.
Before Snape could even try to respond, James called out another name and held out the student's timetable, gesturing to Severus to move aside. Snape gave him a murderous look but recognized there wasn't much he could do and left. Lily let out a sigh of relief. At least they would get trough breakfast without a duel. Lily thought that at least James had tried not to fight, but Severus wanted it, so he pushed for it. At least the Head Boy made an effort.
After finishing her Head Girl duty, she met Emma and Alicia in the Great Hall door and walked with them to Potions. They had most of the same classes, their first was Potions, with Slughorn. The teacher loved her because she was a natural at potion brewing, but that made his class more difficult to bear for Lily; since he tended to talk her up in class and Lily didn't like that. However, she did like the subject and thought that maybe that it was Advanced level classes they would do more interesting studies.
"- Oh goody! Potions first thing in the morning!" – Ally said in a fake happy voice demonstrating her feeling with sarcasm. She hated Potions but was rather good at it, and she wanted to be Auror so it would be good for N.E.W.T.S.
"- Hush, Ally. It's not that bad. Lily and now will help you." – Emma replied giving her friend a bright smile. The three took their seats, close to the front of the class.
Just as the bell was ringing she saw James and his friends come in. She was surprised, she knew they were smart but didn't think they would ever choose Potions. She turned to see that James didn't seat with Sirius, like he always did, but was walking toward a pretty girl with blue eyes; Katie Bell! Lily had completely forgotten about her. She saw James give her a quick peck on the cheek surprising his girlfriend as he sat down. Katie beamed at him. Slughorn started talking, so Lily turned around to face him, while still thinking. – "Oh, yes, he really is dating her, then. Then he really won't ask me out. Great!"- That last word didn't sound very conving, even if it was just in her head.
Slughorn told them to attempt to make a "Cheering Potion", so he told people to pair up, so Lily worked with Emma, James with Katie, Remus and Peter and Alicia was with Sirius. After a little while, Lily went into the storage room to get supplies, just to see Katie walking towards her partner with two very small shiny and silvery Dovey-Flowers:
"- J., are any of these ok? It said one large… Maybe both, then?" – She asked her boyfriend in a tone so sweet it made Lily want to barf.
"- You're right, Kats… It did say one large, I don't think these are going to work." – He crunched his eyebrows together as if he was trying to find a solution and automatically ran a hand through his unruly hair.
Lily realized that this time it didn't annoy her so much, as he looked cute trying to figure out an answer to their potions problem. She mentally slapped herself - "Potter is never cute! And they have nicknames for each other... Irk!"
"- Got it!" – She heard James say with a happy grin. He then waved his wand in the direction of the largest of the two flowers Katie had brought and muttered a spell and then the flower doubled its size, becoming big enough for their potion. – "Yeah, baby! Who rocks at Transfig?" – He said playfully while winking at his girl.
"- That's great, J. Now, focus on the potion. Go." – Katie said rolling her eyes at him trying to remain serious while already chuckling over his goofiness. – "Oh, wait! What do we do with the other one? it says here it's no good if we put it back now… It's such a shame to waste it! It's so pretty." – She looked disappointed and Lily had to agree with her.
Just a few moments after she finished speaking, a small beautiful silvery butterfly flew in front of her and landed on her hand.
"- Problem solved!" – James said with a gallant smile. – "Anything else, madam? Or may I continue this endless potion?" – He raised her a questioning eyebrow.
"- Do carry on…" - Katie replied with a chuckle. – "Oh, James it's so beautiful! How did you do it?"
"- Didn't I just tell you I rock at Transfig?" – He responded with a faking an offended tone.
Lily was impressed. He had just done some complicated transfiguring just to amuse his girlfriend, and did it without breaking a sweat! – "Maybe I misjudged him more than I thought".
"- Oi, Lily! Where are you? Did the Mandragoras get you?" – She heard Emma call her from behind. – "Are you coming back with our supplies or not?"
"- Sorry, Em." – She gave her friend a sheepish grin – "There aren't Dovey-Flowers big enough and I didn't know what to do." – She covered and felt very satisfied with herself that she had found a very plausible explanation for her behavior that also happened to be true.
"- Oh! Let's ask James and Katie, they look like they have already passed this stage." – Emily said walking over to them. -"Hey! How did you… Wow, this butterfly is so pretty! It doesn't look natural!"
"- Hey, Emma. It's nice, huh?" – James looked at her with a smile while straightening his glasses. Lily was confused; did he just not brag about the piece of magic he had made when he could easily have?
"- Yeah. What did you guys do about the Dovey-Flowers? Lily said they are all too small." – Emma asked still following the shiny butterfly around with her eyes.
"- James enlarged it." – Katie answered. – ""He rocks at Transfig.""- She continued making fun of her partner. James stuck out his tongue at her.
"- Well, it´s true!" – He shrugged and gave Katie a reproving glare. – "If you want I can do yours too." – He offered us.
"- That'd be great! Thanks, I'll go get it, then. Lils, will you see if we need anything else?" – Emma looked at her friend, who had been quietly listening to their conversation and looked out of it.
"- Ok, Em." – She said softly also looking for the pretty butterfly – "Thanks." – She said to Katie and James.
"- Sure." – He answered and kept stirring his cauldron.
Lily walked over to her own cauldron and checked it to see if was ok. She stirred and added some ingredients waiting for Emma to return. Then she heard James laugh, so she looked to see what was going on and saw that he and Sirius were gesturing to each other, and Alicia was laughing too. She watched a little longer and saw that Sirius and Alicia were stealing Remus and Peter's ingredients the minute Peter set them down on their table. So when Remus looked he didn't find any and yelled at Peter to go get what he had just gotten. Peter looked completely confused. Lily laughed too. After a while, Slughorn started passing from team to team and scoring them for their potions. Then the bell rang.
Next up we had History of Magic, with Professor Bins, the ghost was nice and all, but man, was he boring! So as soon as the class started everyone was already zoning out. Lily took out some parchment and started taking notes to keep herself from sleeping, she glanced out the window and saw that James was satring outside. - "This is a nice change, he´s always staring at me!" - She looked to the side and saw that Emma and Alicia were talking in a very low voice. She wispered to them:
"- What you talking about?"
"- I was just telling Ally that Remus looks even better this year. Doesn't he look taller?" - Emma said also whispering.
"- Yeah, all the Marauders do, except for Peter, of course." - Lily replied.
"- I know, I think James and Sirius got even hotter, if that was possible!" - Alicia said with a suggestive smile.
"- What do you mean hotter? Aren't they your friends, how can you call them that?" - Lily was shocked at Ally.
"- Just because they're our friends doesn't mean I'm blind! They were hot last year and they are even hotter now. Can't wait to see them at Quidditch practice showing off all their muscles..." - She said maliciously.
"- Oh, Ally, you're evil!" - Emma said but laughed. - "I think Remus is hotter anyway..." - Ally glared at her and scoffed - "Ok, maybe not hotter, but more my type, you know? The tall skinny type with ironic tirades."
"- That I agree." - Ally nodded to Emma.
"- Well, I think Mark Anderson is hotter." - Lily stated with a daydreaming look.
"- He is cute, alright. I just think he is bit boring..." - Ally replied.
"- He is not boring! He just keeps to himself!" - Lily defended her crush - "He has nice wavy blond hair and some very nice eyes."
"- Uhhh! Lily's got a crush!" - Emma teased her.
"- Lily and Mark seating in a tree, K-I ... "- Ally started messing with her friend and then humming in a very low tone. Lily got completely flushed.
"- Stop it, you guys! If you continue I'll never tell you anything again!" - She said completely embarassed and afraid someone would hear.
"- You want to daaaaate him, You really liiiike him..." - Ally continued teasing her.
"- Ugh! It's no use talking to you..." - Lily turned to the other side pretending to be mad at her friends and saw James; he was sleeping quietly with his head on his left arm, his hair waving with the wind coming in from the window at his side. He looked very calm and peaceful, she had never seen him like that, because he was always so full of energy, laughing and joking and talking. She noticed that he actually was more handsome than she thought, with his tanned skin and nicely shaped nose. His mouth looked soft and was just the right size for his chin. His arms were covered by his robes but she could see they were very toned. - "He is kind of hot, but definitely not my type!" - Lily thought.
Professor Bins gave them a two foot long essay to write on the Centaurs and Wizards Agreement and let them go. They all got up lazily, as if waking up from a coma and started walking out of the classroom. Lily gathered her things but when she glanced to where James had been seating, it was empty. - "That boy is fast!" - Ally and Em were waiting for her at the door:
"- Free period!" - Alicia said looking excited.
"- You said you would take us to the Heads Dorm!" - Emma explained their friend's mood.
"- Oh, what are we waiting for? Let's go!" - Lily was excited too, she her friends would marvel at the dorm.
They walked fast, all the meanwhile talking excitedly about the place they were about to go to, and happily chatting about other things like boys and homework. When they got to the tapestry in front of the Heads Dorm Lily said "Banana Quill" and it swung open. Her friends gasped. They walked around in awe, commenting on everything. They went upstairs and entered Lily's room. The other two girls were at same time happy and envious. It was just perfect! Lily then led them to the bathroom. When they opened the door they were stunned. Inside the four Marauders were splashing and playing. It looked like they were having they're very own private pool party; they had butterbeers next to the tub's edges and and pastries floating above it. They were laughing and cheering as Peter was on top of a diving board that wasn't there that morning.
"- Yeah! Go, Wormie!" - James yelled.
"- Go, Wormie, go! Let's see if you beat me!" - Sirius yelled right after. At this Peter did a mock courtesy and walked to edge of the board. Just as he was starting his jump he noticed the three girls standing at the door. He was startled so his jump went stray and he splashed on the water with his belly, causing a large wave of water to wet Alicia entirely.
"- Oh, hey girls!" - Sirius said when he saw them - "Having little welcome home party here! Care to join us?" - He gave them a seductive smile.
"- Uh... I don't think so..." - Lily started.
"- Well, I do!" - Remus said and waved his wand and said "Levicorpus" and got Alicia of the ground and lingered her on top of the tub for a second before letting her fall.
"- Remus Lupin! I can't believe..." - Emma started telling him off but James did the same thing with her and let her fall almost on top of Remus, causing both of them to blush. Alicia had surfaced and was laughing and throwing water at James for throwing Emily in. Sirius looked at Lily with a mischievous smile.
"- Oh, no, you don't!" - She warned him and gave a step backwards reaching for her wand.
"- Oh, come on, Evans! You know you want to!" - And he threw her in with a quick spell.
"- Black you are so dead!" - She screamed at him, but failed utterly at looking mad. She started throwing water at him too, which started a boy versus girl waterfight, that was followed by many rounds of cockfight.
"- Hey! Me and Al are the champions!" - James said loudly and Alicia gave him a high five.
"- Oh, no you are not!" - Sirius said.
"- We beat everybody! We claim the cockfight trophy!" - Alicia said and stuck her tongue out at him.
"- You didn't beat me and Lily." - Sirius said and looked at Lily. She walked beside him and gave them a nod.
"- That's right." - She confirmed, and she and Sirius slapped each others hands.
"- Oh, you're going down, Head Girl!" - James said with a grin.
They had a long fight, but in the end Alicia and James did win. They were a good team, and Ally's quidditch training made her more agile than Lily. But it was though match. They all got out of the tub turned pool. Remus muttered a spell and suddenly everyone was dry.
"- Thanks, Moony." - Peter squeaked happily. - "Let's go, I'm hungry."
"- Uh, food! This is going to be a thing of beauty!" - Remus said.
"- Come on, people let's move it. Or else someone might end today missing a leg or an arm!" - James joked.
"- Calm down, J. You can't be that hungry!" - Alicia punched him lightly on the shoulder.
"- Ouch! Well, winning a tournament can be tiring..." - He said making a mock conceited face - "But I wasn't talking about me, I meant Sirius."
"- He's right! You know you are looking rather delicious Ally..." - He said and started walking towards her with crazed eyes.
"- Aaaargh!" - Alicia said and started running towards the Great Hall with Sirius behind her - "Save yourselves! I will distract the monster!"
The rest of them started laughing. They went to lunch, and the girls decided to seat together with the Marauders. Most of the students were amazed that the Head Boy and Girl were actually talking to each other, instead of yelling or jinxing one another. Quickly the rumour that they had become friends spread through the castle. They went to the rest f their classes and Lily and James only met again in the Heads Common Room when it was almost time for their first patrol duty together. Lily was sitting in one of the large arm chairs reading when James came running through the portrait hole in the Gryffindor common room.
"- Sorry! I'm not late yet, am I?" – He was panting a little when he talked to Lily who had been waiting for him in the couch. – "Damn, I told Katie I was going to be late!" – He muttered.
"- No, no, you're fine. Keep your panties on." – Lily joked. – "Come on, let's go or we will be late."
They walked a little opening doors and talking about the first day of class. They were both surprised at how easily they could talk to each other. James was much smarter and opinionated than Lily thought and she was much more funny and witty than he had expected. If they could keep this up, patrols were looking up, they both thought.
"- Hummm, I think there's someone in there." – James said as they passed a broom closet, so he put a finger in front of his mouth telling Lily to hush and opened it with a quick movement. – "Hey there, Padfoot!" – He yelled and grinned sarcastically at his friend.
"- Prongs! Mate, don't know it's not nice to open my closet door?" – Sirius who had been snogging viciously a sixth year Hufflepuff with long legs looked at his friend upset
"- Well, this is not your closet, we have agreed yours is near Sir Cadogan's statue! And now scoot, or I'll have to take points from both of you!" – James said very lightly, and gave his friend a mischievous grin. Lily tried to hide it, but she thought this little exchange highly amusing.
"- Oh… I'm sooo gonna get you back for this, mate!" – Sirius responded tapping his friend on the shoulder - "But then if mine is Sir Cadogan's then whose is this?" – Sirius date had quickly left after James threat and Sirius wasn't actually upset at his best friend, he was more curious over they're previous arrangement concerning the distribution of the broom closet the Marauders and some of the Seventh Year boys had worked out a couple years before. – I have been using this one forever!
"- Then I think its Moony's!" – James replied and both boys started laughing.
"- Hey, hey… What's going on? You're not giving him detention? Or at least taking points? You're Head Boy!" – Lily couldn't believe James was back to his old ways, plus she was a bit mad she wasn't being included in her new friend's conversation.
"- So? Does that mean that I have to sell out my friends? If Sirius was doing something wrong, like hexing someone I would take action, but I don't think snogging is considered wrong, I think is considered fun, Lily. If it were Emma or Alicia would take points off them?" – James looked at her with his eyebrows raised and a little flushed, which Lily realized wasn't a good sign. He looked mad.
"- Well, I guess..." – Lily sighed – "I guess you're right." – "Damn!" - she thought – "He has been right a lot lately! When do I go back to winning?" – I wouldn't sell out my friends like this either. So, Sirius get going before I change my mind.
"- Thanks, Evans. You're a lot more fun this year!" – He gave her a huge smile and ran out. Lily laughed.
"- Thanks, I guess." – She said to Sirius as she looked at James.
"- Oh, it was a compliment." – James snorted and then he continued thoughtfully – "Thanks, wouldn't want my first act as Head Boy to give my best mate detention…" - She looked so beautiful with her soft curls cascading around her face. James saw a strand of hair on her face and had to find deep inner strength to keep him from putting it back where it belonged. He reminded himself of Katie, his beautiful, nice girlfriend who liked him.
"- Sure… But it wasn't free." - Lily gave him an evil grin. – "Damn, she's making this hard! Focus, James, Focus"
"- What do you mean?" – James raised a suspicious eyebrow at her; he was amused and curious at this new side of Lily.
"- I mean you're going to have to give me something in exchange." - Lily said and gave him a cheeky smile.
"- The hell I am!" – James answered acting outraged but actually still amused. – "If it was a bargain the other party has to be told while the negotiation is going on!" – He made his point cheekily.
"- Umpft! I guess you're right…" - Lily said opening a door of an empty classroom. – "So I'll make you a deal: each gets to ask the other two questions about anything and the other has to answer truthfully." – To this James raised an enquiring eyebrow – "Where is she going with this? This can't be good."
"- Fine, I guess." – The offer was too tempting for him to pass on, also he had something bugging him since their little pool party and he thought this was the perfect way to end his doubts. He gave Lily a smug smile. – "You go first."
"- Ok. Is it true that you used to hook up the Elena Blackridge?" – Alicia had always tried to find out and all the Hogwarts wanted to know if it had happened; Elena was the Slytherin team's previous captain and was two years older than James and Lily. She was a tanned beauty with catlike eyes and shiny black hair.
"- Oh, Evans! I never thought you would ask me that! That's so sly…" - And he gave her his best-offended look then snorted – "Well, if you must know, yes it's true, we have had our share of good moments."
"- Oh, my god! I thought you didn't like Slytherins!" – She said in awe of the revelation.
"- Well, every rule is made to be broken and since I have broken nearly all of them I didn't see why this one should be any different…" - And gave her a nonchalant grin. - "Now you have the dirt on James Potter. Happy?" - He said but didn´t look fased at all. - "My turn, then?" – He looked at her inquiringly, closing the subject.
"- Shoot." – Lily answered still amazed that he had told her the truth everyone tried to find out for two years just like that.
"- If you could have anything in the world what would it be?" – James had always wondered what made Lily tick and this was a fair shot to find out, he thought. Plus he was saving the most important question for later.
"- Anything like what? Anything material, as in an object? Or a sentiment…" - Lily wondered what he meant. She had expected James to ask her something related to their past battle-like relationship. "He has really changed".
"- Anything, Lily. Anything you choose." – James sounded serious and that startled her a little.
"- I guess, then… Love." – She answered honestly, thinking of her sister and lost best friend. And also about the kind of love and passion she had yet to know, the love between a man and a woman, the real fireworks type of thing she hadn't found with any of her boyfriends.
"- That's a good answer." – He said quietly. James didn't let it show but felt a little sting to his heart. -"If only she knew how much I love her… Stop it! Loved, in the past! Loved!"
"- Humm, my turn then. I liked your question, so how about you? What would you pick?" – Lily was really curious; James was so hard to figure out!
"- Peace." – He said without hesitation. – "I would certainly choose peace." – He gave a deep breath and continued almost mostly talking to himself. – "Then we wouldn't worry over people we love dying, there wouldn't be stupid racial slurs and life would be better." – He said thinking about his dad that risked his life as an auror daily, Sirius who had left home because of his family's point of view over race, and all those people who were perishing without reason. It made his heart sink every time he thought about it. Maybe sometime ago he would have answered that the thing he wanted the most was Lily, but now James wanted more than his happiness, he wanted the world he knew and loved so much to be happy.
"- I see. That's a good answer too." – Lily responded in a low voice. She almost didn't recognize the boy standing next to her; just this afternoon he was joking and pranking with his friends in true James fashion and now he was standing there a man; concerned with things greater then N.E.W.T.S and girls. It was strange for her seeing James Potter like that.
"- My turn again?" – He asked in a boyish tone, and when Lily looked up she saw he was back to being the James she knew; he was smiling and looking a little mischievous. But when she looked a little deeper the other James, the one she didn't know or understood, was still there, hiding somewhere in his hazel eyes. –"His eyes are so intense! There is so much happening in there. Look down, Lily or you'll get lost in there"
"- James?" – She asked before him, looking at her feet to avoid his gaze. – "Before you ask your last question, can I break the rules a little and ask you one more?" – Lily knew she had a pleading tone and she tried to avoid it but couldn't.
"- Uhhhh... Lily Evans wants t break the rules! How can I say no to that?" - He said with a smirk - "Ok. But then I get one more too. Deal?" – He gave a lopsided smile that made her heart stop, and Lily convinced herself it was only because it had been a long day and she was tired.
"- Deal." – Lily took a deep breath – "What made you change?" – She really wanted to understand him; after the last few days he had her completely baffled; she couldn't grasp the many contractions that made him James Potter. To this question James snorted.
"- I don't know, Lily. To tell you the truth I don't think I've changed like people say, I think I just grew up a little, you know?" – It was Lily's turn to snort -"Okay, maybe a lot. It was hard for me to let go of my childhood, to stop seeing the world through colored lenses, but it came a time when I couldn't avoid it anymore." – He said cleaning his glasses and then putting them back on with a small scoff – "I guess it was inevitable. I don't think I'm a different guy, though. With me it always was what you see is what you get." – And he shrugged timidly. Lily felt strange to see him like this, so vulnerable. In the many times they had argued in the past, she had never seen him like that, even when she rejected him harshly.
"- I don't think that's true." – Lily looked at him straight in the eye, her eyes blazing with intensity and James felt a chock of electricity run in his body – "You're different. And I think there's a lot you don't let people to see."
"- Huh huh." – James cleared his throat at the uncomfortable moment – "Now can I ask my question?"
"- Fire away." – Lily said still thinking about the many things he had told her; instead of clearing up he had made her even more confused. But she smiled lightly all the same.
"- Well, you remember you have to tell me the truth, right?" – He gave her a big mischievous grin.
"- Uhmmm yeah. Don't make me regret it!" – She was a little worried. Was he going to ask about the many times she had rejected him? She didn't want to answer that.
"- Ok, then. Here it goes: does Emma fancy Remus?" – He asked her wide-eyed.
"- James Potter! I can not believe you! This is so sneaky!" – Lily was taken totally by surprise; she never saw that coming.
"- Well, you have to answer! Let's hear it!" – He kept walking without breaking eye contact with her.
"- Come on, I can't
tell you that! This is so unfair!" – Lily cried."Emma is going to kill me".
"- She does! She does! I knew it!" – James was happy now; his suspicions over the Remus-blush-Emma-blush incident in the pool had been right! –"This is so great!" - For years Remus had liked Emma but never did anything about it. Now it was going happen, he was going to make sure of it! – "I have to tell Padfoot, so we can devise a game plan!"
"- I didn't say that!" – Lily blushed. "How did he know? Damn the Marauders and their advanced interrogation techniques"
"- If she didn't you would just have told me no." – He shrugged and explained with logic.
"- You don't know that. I'm a mysterious person!" – Lily said in a low voice leaning closer to him.
"- Nice try, miss Evans. But you're not that difficult to read." – He gave her a knowing grin. – "I always liked that about you." – Lily blushed a little and hoped he hadn't noticed it.
"- Well, then, does Remus fancy Emma back?" - Lily thought she had at least to get something out of him too.
"- Now, who's sly? Your three questions are up, so I'm afraid I can't answer that!" – He gave her another cheeky grin, looking very pleased with himself. Lily punched him on the shoulder – "Ouch! I, in the other hand, still have one question left. Hummm, what will I choose, what will I choose…" - He said glancing at her sideways and tapping a finger on his right cheek.
"- Oh! If he didn't fancy her you would just tell me no, too. So he does." – Lily replied looking smug.
"- Nice try, Lils." – She liked the way he said her nickname, it just slid down his lips – "But I'm not that easy to read. Now, about my last question." – James had a lot of things he wanted to ask her, most about why she hated him so much or why she never gave him a chance, but as he saw it, he already knew the answers to those questions, so he decided he didn't want to ruin their new found friendship. For a moment he didn't know what to ask her, he blanked out. He looked at her and saw that she was waiting for his question, holding her breath a little. – "I think I'll save it for later." – He decided at last not to waste this question. Maybe he would need it later.
"- What? You're kidding, right?" – Lily was again surprised. – "You don't want to ask me anything else?" – She raised an eyebrow at him, her green eyes piercing him, trying to see if he was up to something.
"- Nope! That's not what I said. I said I'd save it for later, because now patrol time is over and I'm fancying a trip to the kitchens. But I'll ask you my last question later." – He chuckled at her reaction.
"- James, this is not fair!" – Lily looked like a child, banging her arms at her sides. He laughed lightly and thought about how much he loved the way she said his name.
"- Well, a bargain is bargain and no time limit was established for the questioning. So I'm well within my rights." – He said smugly, his bright hazel eyes sustaining her gaze with a playful glint in them. Lily felt again that if she didn't look away his eyes would make her their prisoner.
"- Fine. Serves me well for trying to do make a deal with a Marauder!" – To this James gave a big laugh. – "Are rounds really over?"
"- Yes, for a full two minutes now!" – He replied with a bright smile. – "I'm going to get something to eat. Hummm, caramel fudge sundaes…." – He said dreaming of it, his mouth watering.
"- I'm coming with you! I always wanted to know where the kitchens were!" – Lily was excited.
"- Ok, then. Come on!" – James took a left turn on the moving stairs and Lily followed him.
Just then they heard footsteps. Filch appeared right in front of them; a pleased threatening grin across his ugly face.
"- Students out of bed!" – He said looking at them accusingly.
"- We're Heads, Filch. We were doing rounds, you know, like we're supposed to." – James said with ease, looking slightly amused at the caretake's flustered look.
"- You're supposed to be done by now." – Filch replied with clenched teeth, he always wanted to get James because of the many pranks he had pulled on him.
"- We were just heading back to the Heads Dorm." – Lily said and grabbed James by the arm – "Good night, Mr. Filch. Come on let's not get in trouble." – Lily whispered.
"- Ok, ok." – James replied. – "Bye, Filchie! Nighty night!"
"- Hush!" – Lily said suppressing a laugh. They practically ran, laughing, all the way to their dorm.
"- Good night, James." – She said a little out of breath when they slid through the tapestry of the Heads Dorm. – "We'll get that sundae next time." – And she gave him a small smile and went to her room.
"- Good night, Lily." – James sat on the big couch of their common room. As soon as her door closed he got his cloak out of his robe pocket and headed for the kitchens. – "Like I'm going to let Filch dictate my eating schedule! That girl does not know me at all!" - He was back half an hour later having eaten three sundaes and a few other goodies the house elves had made him. He brought Lily back two sundaes and a large piece of apple pie he knew was her favorite. He put it at her door with a note that said, "Enjoy". He knocked on her door and then went to his room. He heard her open the door, give a small happy squeak and then yell to him "Thanks!". Then she closed her door.
James went to bed thinking about his first day as a Seventh Year student and Head Boy; it had been brilliant. Bloody brilliant. He was looking forward for an amazing year. He could hardly believe how well he and Lily were getting along; it was almost like the previous years hadn't existed for them, like they had been good friends for a long time. He thought that he had even picked up on a little flerting from her part, but then convinced himself that it must have been his wishful thinking. He sighed. – "I just can't take anymore rejection. I'm perfectly content with my life now. Forget about Lily Evans". Even as he thought about it he knew it would be impossible, she had his heart and now the he had to spend time with her it would be even harder to do it. – "Well, I once played one entire quarter against ravenclaw with a broken wrist and shoulder and scored three goals. Everyone said I couldn't do that, and I did. I just have to practice. This is it. Practice not thinking about her, not staring and just stay away from her when possible." He sighed again; he felt terrible about Katie. – "I must be the worst boyfriend ever! From now on, I'll focus more on her."
Lily was sitting in her bed eating the sundae James had brought her and looking at the delicious apple pie that waited for her. She gave a deep breath. –"No wonder he gets all the girls, this is my favorite treat!" – But she knew he didn't do it to get her. She smiled as she thought that even after running into Filch James had the nerve to go back out and have a snack and even bring back some for her. He was daring, that boy. She chuckled. –"Isn't this what defines the Marauders? Their hacklessness? Their spunk?" – Lily remembered all that happened during rounds; the way he had stood up for his friend, how he had asked her questions she could never had predicted, how she had told him one of her best friends secret without saying a word (but somehow she knew he would put it to good use, so it didn't bother her as much – it was about time someone did something about those two!), how easy it had been to talk and laugh with him and how deep his eyes were, like they held infinite mazes inside them. Lily sighed, realizing that she had flerted with him. – "I must be loosing it. I definitely can't be thinking all these thoughts about James Potter. The gorgeous, smart, funny Head Boy, James Potter. Oi, Lily! Get a grip! He is your nemesis, remember? It's not allowed to like nemesis!" – She sighed again. It certainly was all because of the shock of seeing him so different and the lack of any romantic activity in her life. Soon she would go back to normal.
Maybe it was because she hadn't been on a date in a long time and spending all that time alone with him made her miss it. – "This is it, I just need to get a love life!" – I need a boyfriend, someone to talk and laugh with. It wouldn't be hard, she knew it because she got a lots of offers. Maybe she wouldn't find one that transfigured flowers into butterflies for her, but she didn't want that. Did she? I mean, every girl would like that, but she much rather have an honest, handsome, smart, trustworthy guy beside her. And that definitely wasn't James Potter. Right? Right. Nemesis certainly weren't boyfriend material.
Author´s note: This was a long one! Did you guys like it? I hope so, I put a lot of work int it!