The last thing that I would have ever thought concerning James Potter was that I would be going somewhere with him. Going somewhere with him! He would think of it to be something else, I'm sure of it. I needed someone to talk to, but why Potter? I spoke before I could even think about it.
Potter led me through the darkened halls while everyone was at the feast. His hand was still arched backward, waiting for me to take it. I sighed and took it. He turned his head swiftly and looked down but continued to walk. We were both blushing at this moment, mine for the embarrassment and James for the surprise. We were by the front doors by now and he held a piece of parchment in front of him.
"What is that?" I asked curiously. He wasn't holding my hand anymore for the need of using his wand to chant a spell. "What are you doing?"
"Shh," he whispered. He was looking at the piece of parchment intently and shoved his glasses up by the bridge of his eyes. I tried to look over his shoulder but he was already placing it back in his robes. It seemed to be blank, making my curiosity even more pronounced. "C'mon, let's go," he said. He didn't grab my hand this time making me feel a little lonesome.
"We're going out of the school?" I asked incredulously. He was unhitching the lock on the huge bronze doors. "Filch is going to catch us, James!" I hissed.
"Don't worry, Lil's," he said, his back turned to me. "Filch is nowhere around here. We won't get caught."
I bit my lip as he opened the doors. Still not taking my hand, he walked out into the dark night. I followed keeping pace and looked up at the sky. It was the full moon. Every star gleamed with perfection around it leaving me breathless. James heard me gasp and turned around and followed my gaze to the sky.
"Mesmerized by the sky?" he said.
"Yes," I said shyly. When had I become so cowardly around James Potter? I used to be only a second away from strangling him every time I saw him.
He snorted and started walking again. "You don't like the moon?" I asked walking speedily to keep up with him.
"No," he answered matter-of-factly.
"Well why not? It's beautiful," I replied. "You can't just not like the moon, it's important to us. Without it we wouldn't be able to see during the night."
"If you put it that was," he sighed. "I guess I like it on . . . most days. But to some people it can be a real pain."
"I don't follow," I said, making a crease between my eyebrows. He shook his head which said clearly I don't want to talk about it. Walking seemed to be the only thing that kept us occupied for a while. We didn't share a word with each other for some time until he led me to the forest. "We're going in there?!" I said worriedly. It took me all of my concentration not to kill him or to keep my voice down.
He rolled his eyes and looked at me. "The caretaker of this place made a path leading through the forest. It is completely safe . . ."
I narrowed my eyes and looked up into his eyes. "It is not safe and you know it you liar," I said. "That caretaker is so old that he can't even tell who is a boy or girl."
"Sirius and I have gone on this path so many times we've memorized it."
"Do you happen to go on this path at night?" I asked. "Or do you skip classes just to go on these 'little adventures?'"
"Well . . ." he seemed to be concentrating on what he was going to say. My questions had really stumped him. "Nothing is going to happen and if it does, I'll protect you."
"So you've admitted that it is dangerous," I said raising my eyebrows.
He rolled his eyes. "Are you coming or do you want me to take you back to the castle so you can feel more of the wrath of Alice?"
"How do you know about that?" I asked taken aback. "No one was in the tower when we were fighting."
"News travels fast," he said as if it were obvious – it was obvious. Alice was bound to tell Frank who was friends with Hufflepuffs; they can't keep their bloody mouths shut.
"Who did you hear it from?" I whispered.
"I'll tell you later," he said and pointed to a lantern coming down the hill from the castle. It was Apollyon Pringle – the caretaker. "This way," he hissed and snatched my hand.
He led me through the forest and through plenty of shrubs. It was rather eerie at night in the forest – it was silent, dead silent – nothing moved or even made a sound. Distant howling was heard in the background, making James stop and listen intently. Every time he did so, I would always ask "Are you okay?" or "Do you want to go back?" Both question denied by total modesty.
We didn't say anything from warnings of the howling. James stomped through the bushes and leaves as if he were in a hurry to get to this 'spot' he wanted to show me. It didn't make me uneasy to be with him anymore; he said he would protect me and somehow that comforted me. I knew I would be able to protect myself if anything happened to us but knowing that someone had my back or could protect me if something was going to kill me reassured me.
He started to slow as we started to hear water rushing. I glanced up at him and confusion. There were waterfalls in the dark forest? We stepped through huge bushes until finally we stopped at a beautiful waterfall. It wasn't very big – it was at least eight feet off the ground with beautiful scenery around it – lavender and rocks. The water landed in a large pool of water that surrounded it and as is splashed into the pool, it went from a royal blue to sea foam blue. I gasped in awe. James smirked and sat on one of the rocks surrounding it.
"Where did you find this place?" I whispered. "It's beautiful!"
"I knew you could like it," he said and motioned for me to sit on a rock across from his. "Sirius and I come out here just to think and talk – to get away from everyone at school."
"The James Potter wants to get away from all of the attention at school? Well that's a first." I said smiling as I sat down on the rock across from his. I looked over at the waterfall and saw that it was starting to glow as if there were lights in it. I gasped again.
"Yes, some of the attention can be very annoying," he said as he watched me look at the waterfall. The light from the waterfall radiated my blush.
"I suppose when you are a Quiditch star," I said not looking at him. "You seem very . . . different this year."
"I do, do I?" he said slowly, a small smile spreading across his face. "I haven't noticed."
I raised an eyebrow at him who started laughing and said, "Evans, you have no idea how cute you look."
My blushes blended in with others leaving me more embarrassed than I have ever been in my lifetime. He looked at the waterfall but I could feel the constant glances he threw at me. "How did you hear about my little . . . dispute with Alice?" I said recalling my question from earlier. "Who did you hear it from?"
He looked at me and said, "I might be best friends with Padfoot, Moony, and Wormtail but it doesn't mean I don't ignore the entire student body all together. I heard it from a Hufflepuff,"
I cursed and received a surprised look from Potter. "Did you hear what topic it was on?"
He looked up at me and gave an 'I'm sorry' smile. "Um . . . something on whom you like and that you are afraid to admit that you like someone."
Great. Perfect Alice, now the guy thinks I like him. Just dang perfect Alice. I hope you're happy because now I have to break the guy's heart once again! Merlin's beard I really have to stop talking to myself. I stood up and took a retreating look at both the waterfall and Potter.
"I have to go," I said and started walking out of the forest until a thought occurred to me. I had no idea where I was and where I was going. I shook the thought off and started walking again. I heard distant callings from Potter but ignored it. See you at school, Potter. Adios muchacho. Au revoir, Potter.
There was nothing I wouldn't have given up to not see what was standing in front of me. Screams were stuck in my throat. I looked up into the eyes of the predator in front of me. A werewolf. I found my voice deep in my throat and started to scream.
Another cliff hanger. Sorry but it was such a good time to use one. I am according to my clock on the computer, an hour forty minutes late. Sorry! I got very carried away in sleeping this morning. The next chapter should be up today. During this chapter the song The Mirror/Angel of Music and Phantom of the opera from the musical Phantom of the Opera played over and over in my head. I think that the song kinda fits this chapter because James is leading Lily somewhere that she has never seen before. Please review!