Days Go By by Jack Mason Potter
Thanks to Miss Dumbledarcy, Super Cara, JoeCool989, and thekikgeek for their reviews.
More thanks to my two awesome beta readers:pacesettergurl1 and Christinnz.
And as always, thanks to everyone for reading my story. Please review when you get a chance. Enjoy.
-Jack
Chapter 11:
The rain had stopped that Monday morning when James had woke up. He took a deep breath and put on his glasses. "It's just another day, James." He said to himself. "Just move through the day. You have one week before exams, and a little time before you go home on the train."
He was halfway through getting ready when he realized that he didn't want to see Lily this morning. Luckily, he had Muggle Studies, and Alice was in his class. And he could skip going to the Great Hall for breakfast. James' stomach growled. He changed his plans and snuck into the kitchens for breakfast.
James sat down next to Sirius during Muggle Studies. In the N.E.W.T. Muggle Studies class, they actually taught students how to operate Muggle equipment, like cars. A student would get extra credit for learning how to drive well. Sirius was actually doing great, as he wanted a motorcycle more than anything; this was the step he needed before he learned how to ride a motorbike. The class was outside next to a driving course that was transfigured. The Muggle Studies professor, Gilliam, had requested some help from the other professors to help with aiding students. Mr. Hotchkiss, the flying instructor and Professor Andrews, the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher were there to assist.
James sidled up to Alice as Sirius took his turn. "So, Alice." James said nervously and ran his hands through his hair. "Is Lily mad at me?" He tried to look casual by moving his eyes to watch the cars. The teachers had brought in blue Vauxhall Cavalier Mark I sedans for them to practice with.
Alice turned to him and gave him a really pitying look. "No, James." She sighed. "But, you need to give her some space. As you probably guessed, she's really upset about the fight." Alice turned and watched as Christopher O'Flarhety ran over two cones and turned the wrong way on the course. "She's upset that Snape was being an arse. Also, because seeing you beat up Snape reminded her of last year."
"I…I"
"I know that it was Snape's fault for instigating, and Lily knows that. But it also reminded her of all the years when it wasn't Snape's fault that you were harassing him. They were friends back then, and it was always Lily cleaning up the cuts and scrapes that you and Sirius made."
"What do I do?" James looked crestfallen.
"I don't know, James, but I think you should definitely give her some space."
"You think that will do it?" He said with a mild bit of eagerness.
Alice took a breath. "Between you and me, Lily was starting to come around, but she said that the fight snapped her out of it; she doesn't think it would work."
"Well, what do I do to have her know it would work?"
"I'm not Lily. But you have to stop trying. You can't make someone want to be with you. You can't force someone to love you. The more you try, the worse it will be. Don't let this become an obsession, it's unhealthy. Do you think she'll just fall into your arms if you keep showing up every day like a stalker?"
"I have not been stalking Lily!" James said with exasperation.
"No, you haven't. I just want to make sure you realize what it looks like if you should decide to go against her wishes and keep trying. Ignoring what she says, and not respecting her boundaries. The James that has been around Lily this year has been above all that. You have been very good about keeping your antics to a minimum and speaking to Lily like a human being. A healthy relationship, one that has a possibility of a good future needs to start with respect and boundaries. How would you feel if some girl kept asking you out, despite you saying 'no,' and kept showing up constantly?"
"Uh, I imagine that I would be really put off." He frowned.
"Exactly, look, I tried to convince Lily to give it a chance, but you need to give up. She either changes her mind or she doesn't, but the more you push or even consider it, the more it drives her to not change her mind. Obsession is not romantic. Look, I've been rooting for you. The childish stuff you did before, with asking her out every day could be chalked up to being kids, but now we're supposed to be growing up. You know what she is going to ask for. Give her space, be her friend, keep having conversations with her that have no pressure to them. Do it because you enjoy her company, genuinely as a friend, and not because you have ulterior motives of whisking her away. In the end, it will work out, one way or another."
"I suppose that makes sense. When did you get so good with the advice?"
"Ah well, one of my Muggle Studies project was researching some of these 'Love Advice Columnists." Alice and James laughed.
"Ok, I suppose you have presented a well-researched argument then. I won't be ready to just date someone else though. What does Dr. Alice say about that?"
Alice put her hand on James' arm. "No, I imagine you won't, but that is perfectly healthy. Besides, the jumping into something completely different is so cliché." Alice grinned.
The conversation was then cut abruptly short when Peter had mistaken the gas pedal for the brake pedal in the car he had gotten in. Professor Andrews had not even gotten a chance to put his seatbelt on when the car lurched forward several yards with students jumping out of the way. Peter was screaming with panic and kept his foot on the gas pedal out of pure terror. Mr. Hotchkiss tried to cast a spell to stop the car but Peter had managed to stop the car himself…with a large rock… When it came to a stop, it ejected Professor Andrews out of the front window, sending him up almost 100 feet into the air and straight down into the Whomping Willow. Peter, who had his seat belt on did not get thrown out of the vehicle; he was in the car as it flipped over from back to front several times until it landed topside down.
The other three Marauders immediately ran to rescue Peter as most of the class went to see where Professor Andrews went; Mr. Hotchkiss stayed behind with them. The Whomping Willow had given him a severe pounding before he was launched up into the air again and landed through the roof of one of the greenhouses.
"Wormtail! Can you hear me?" Sirius yelled. "We're going to get you out of there." Sirius casted a spell to put the car right side up. He tried to open the door, but it was too crushed.
Remus had Transfigured a stretcher as James began tearing apart the car.
"Diffindo! Reducto!" James called as he tried to peel the roof off with his wand.
"Be careful, James, we want Peter out in one piece." Remus warned. "Wingardium Leviosa!" The roof of the car came off. "Peter! We're going to get you inside!" Remus used another spell to levitate Peter onto the stretcher and the boys proceeded to get to the hospital wing as quickly as they could. Peter was only making whimpering noises.
The three boys managed to get Peter to Madam Pomfrey and then collapsed in the chairs next to Peter's bed.
"Note, if I should ever own a car, Petey is never allowed in the driver's seat." Sirius said.
"Seconded." James and Remus replied simultaneously. It was only moments later until Professor Gilliam came in with a very broken, battered and unconscious Professor Andrews. "He was launched from the car, into the Whomping Willow and landed in the greenhouse that had the Venemous Tentacula…" She explained to Madam Pomfrey.
The boys grimaced and looked at each other; it looked like this was another professor that wasn't going to be showing up for the Opening Feast next year.
