Disclaimer; I do not own ANY part of Harry Potter, story and all – but I do own this plot…
James and Lily have always been mortal enemies – but what happens when they decide to settle their arguments by dares and challenges– and go through the consequences the losers face?
Chapter 11: When havoc really begins
A tight group of Hufflepuff girls scattered at the sight of a rouge James Potter storming in their direction. "Oh, come one Jamie! It's really not that bad," Sirius said, trying to convince his friend for what seemed like the hundredth time.
"How do you expect me to work with -,"
"An idiotic, out of control freak that does not thing but terrorise your life," Remus finished for him. "Yes, we know that James." He sighed before beckoning Peter to hurry. "You've said that…many, many times,"
"I'm just answering Padfoot," James protested, turning to look at his friends. They all took that brief pause in James' walk as a chance to catch up with him. "Anyway, it's going to be then times worse; we're going to be graded."
"And you had that fight,"
James scowled. "Yes, and that too."
"But Lilt isn't really…academic," Peter interjected. "I don't think she's worried about failing her worst subject,"
"Not exactly. Lily doesn't like failing subjects I'm good at." James said, sighing. "And stuff she's good at too." The portrait swung to reveal a dimly lit common room. James' eyes flicked from his favorite armchair to the boy's dormitory.
"You sure know a lot about her – for a worst enemy," Sirius said, looking sideways.
"Yeah, well, I pay attention," James said absent mindedly. "Right then. I think I'm going to bed early today,"
"May I remind you that you have an essay due in tomorrow morning?" Remus said, dropping his bag on the floor.
"No, you may not," James said, hurrying up the stairs. "And you know I don't care about homework,"
"Should have known," commented Remus as he shook his head. Then, a thought seemed to penetrate Sirius' cheeky mind.
"You know, mate, you could at least try being nice to her," he suggested. James snorted, his hand on the brass doorknob.
"Why don't you try telling her that?" he walked in.
Sirius grinned after he was sure that the common room was fairly empty and the door to the dormitory was locked. "Well Gents, shall we get to it then?" he said, producing a small velvet box from his bag.
James looked up, his hair still damp from the quick shower he had. The other three Marauders had trooped in, each carrying a weary and tired look on their faces…though Sirius' expression looked a tad bit fake. "Where've you been?" James asked, frowning. "Couldn't you have taken a bit longer? I was just about to sleep,"
"So-ry," huffed Sirius. "We don't want to disturb your fantasies," A soft pillow was sent in his direction, hitting him square in the head.
"We were – well, at least Peter and I were trying to finish off our essays," Remus answered, casting a dark look on Sirius. He ignored it.
"Of course we were doing our essays," Sirius said, his voice full of bravado.
"Yeah!" Peter remarked, grinning, "Do you want to copy off me James? You haven't done it," the boy in question gave a lazy grin and stretched.
"Ah, thanks, but I'm not bothed. I have enough credit to pass the lesson anyway. Got an 'Outstanding' in my last Herbology essay." James said with confidence.
"What! Really?" Sirius asked, shocked.
"Mm," James murmured, nodding his head.
"Knowing you, you probably got 'Outstanding failure'," Remus said, laughing. "Kidding, Prongs, kidding," Sirius walked towards his cupboard.
"I think I'm going to sleep," Sirius said, yawning. "After all, we have detention tomorrow,"
"Finally, some peace and quiet for me and Wormtail," Remus added to James; "You've finally gotten over the whole Lily thing then?"
"No. I just forgot," James remarked, obviously not wanting to be reminded.
"Well, you'll have to do something," Remus said, catching Sirius' flung towel with his right hand. "OI!"
"Sorry Moony," Sirius said, his voice showing absolutely no regret.
"She probably won't want anything to do with you, she might even do all the work," Petter quipped. James furrowed his eyebrows.
"Fat chance. You know what happened last time,"
"What, you mean when the potion burst all over Slughorn?" Sirius said, taking his towel back from Remus. "That, my friend, was a day to remember." James was literally forced into a cringe.
"Yeah, I had to polish the whole trophy room, remember?"
"So? You've done that loads of time – even without me," Sirius said, flipping his hair out of his eyes. James lay back on his bed.
"Different this time, infested with slugs," James said, not cherishing the memory. Sirius looked away, unable to hide a grin.
"Slugs, you say?"
"Fat ones," James rumpled his hair. "Full of yellow and green pus,"
Breakfast that morning was the usual noisy affair it always had been. Deafening hoots from the owls mingled with shrieks of delight from their customers. It was a wonder anyone got anything done during that period.
Lily didn't subscribe to the Daily Prophet, nor did her parents send her letters often. Therefore, she was more than surprised to see a disarranged owl appear in front of her plate, hooting like there was no tomorrow. Lily slowly untied the small brown package from the owl's leg, staring at her scrawled name as she did so. Why did that form of writing seem so familiar?
Over-rode by curiosity she undid the string, causing the brown wrapping to fall away and in doing so revealed a small velvet box and an inscribed note. Lily opened the box, biting her bottom lip with nervousness. She emitted a quiet gasp; the box held a silver necklace complete with two silver hearts – both studded with diamonds. There was no doubt that those diamonds were real.
Not wanting anyone else to see it, she snapped it shut and slipped it into her bag, casually opening the note as she did so.
Lily, it read,
I know we've had our differences millions of times, and I know I'm really difficult to work with. Truth is, Lily, I've always admired you. I know it's a little…late – but will you be my valentine?
It was only when she'd finished reading the note that her mind decided to realize whose handwriting it was. Namely, James Potter.
Meanwhile James was having a laugh with his friends, making crude imitations of all the professors. That is, before Lily walked over to them, a piece of paper crumpled in her fist. James blinked, realizing how alluring Lily looked like that – angry, but not so much as to cause a murdering spree. "Potter, can I have a word with you in private?" she said. Sirius just raised an eyebrow, his arms crossed.
James, however, eyed her with suspicion. He coughed. "Alright Evans, I'll talk to you later." He waved her off. Lily flicked a lock of hair away from her eyes before she spoke.
"No Potter, now," she said.
"Ah, my dear, are you going to – I don't know –give…pleasure to my friend here?" Sirius said, trying to stop a snicker from surfacing. James' mouth twitched as if he was about to laugh.
"No, Sirius, I'd rather pleasure the giant squid," Lily said. Sirius tried his best to look innocent.
"Well, Lils, are you going to head down to the Lake then? We don't want Prongs to hinder your journey." Sirius said, patting James shoulder. Lily cleared her throat.
"Well Potter?"
"Right Evans, right." James said, picking up his bad with reluctance. "You sure it can't wait until later?"
"Prefect duties," she turned on her heel, knowing that James would follow. They walked in silence, until…
"Evans? What are we doing here?" James said, realizing that they were in front of the prefect common room. Lily said the password briskly, then turned to face her worst enemy.
"This is the only place where we'll get some peace," she said, shutting the door behind them.
"Why would we need some peace to discuss-," but he was cut off due to the fact that Lily had pressed her index finger right on his chest, glaring at him in a furious way. "Erm…"
"What, Potter, is this?" she held out the silver necklace, almost thrusting it into James bemused face. Though he recognized it almost immediately, he made sure Lily didn't know that.
"A necklace?"
"I know it's a necklace-," she snapped.
"Then why did you ask?" James said, as innocently as he could.
"I found it with a note – written in your handwriting," she said, ignoring his rhetorical question. He frowned.
"How d'you know it was mine?"
"No one else dots their i's with a swirl," Lily said dismissively. James cringed, she had got him there. "Is this…some kind of joke?" It was then and there that James decided to take advantage of this situation.
"Joke…?" he said, lowering his voice on purpose. "I don't think I go around sending necklaces to people as a joke." He gazed into her eyes in what he knew was an intent way. It produced the wanted effect: Lily squirmed.
"I'm guessing you'll want me to say sorry?" Lily said, her forehead creasing with worry. James looked thoughtful for a moment.
"Well…I don't think that would cover it," James finally said, grinning like there was no tomorrow. Lily rolled her eyes.
"You are impossible." She blinked as he moved a step closer to her.
"I know – but this might make up for it." There was a playful look in his deep hazel eyes.
He kissed her on the lips.
Well guys...? how was that? personally...i don't think it had much in it...but oh well. PLS review! as i said, reviews motivate me (how sad is that?) and please, please do...i get...weird if i get none. THANK YOU SO MUCH! i love all you guys, seriously...
look out for the next chapter!
AZT
