Pretty Mouth and Green Her Eyes

By: Nicole Jeanine

Disclaimer: The original characters and storyline are mine. I do not believe I am JK Rowling, or that I own Harry Potter in any way, shape, or form. I also do not believe I am JD Salinger and would like to thank him for the use of his title (I switched one word, though).

Summary: Five years after graduating, James Potter returns to Hogwarts as the defense professor. The residing Head Girl, Lily Evans, catches his attention and becomes irresistible yet seemingly unattainable.

Chapter Ten: The Return of Mr. Potter

Luckily for James, his student did not contemplate the midnight kiss much and regarded it as more of a friendly gesture. They fell asleep soon after, only to wake four hours later to the sound of the ship's foghorn. Nearly to the London coast, James coaxed Lily into jumping overboard into the bay to make their escape easier, forgetting their plan to not use magic. Drenched, they trekked through the London streets fashioned in their wizarding capes, which attracted more attention than the use of magic would have in the end. James, determined not to worsen their traceability, still refused to allow her to cast a drying charm, arguing his point with her until they arrived at the muggle apartment building, where he lived with his fellow Marauders.

As they stood in front of his apartment door atop the welcome mat the boys had laid in the hallway, Lily looked curiously from the wall mounted British flag to the fan positioned opposite on the ceiling, clearly meant to cause the flag to rustle 'in the wind.' Even more odd, perhaps, was the screen door—what hallway inhabiting insects could the wooden door possibly need protection from? The apartment complex walkway seemed a suburban porch, complete with a flickering wall hung light fixture.

"Nice set up. Ever think of adding patio furniture?"

James smiled. "This was Sirius's idea, actually. He skimmed through a few muggle domestic magazines before we moved in to help us blend into the non-magic community. I guess he missed the mark a bit."

She nodded as noise seeped from the apartment into the corridor. After footsteps grew louder and then paused while someone checked the peephole view, the door excitedly whipped open. Sirius Black, smiling ridiculously, pounced onto James, sending the pair of them to the ground.

"JAMEY!" Sirius shouted at the absolute top of his lungs, only to slap James across the face, suddenly taking on an angry persona. "Where have you been?! No note, AGAIN?! I'll have you know every Auror in the department is searching for you and that girl! Your father is furi—" His speech broke as he noticed Lily standing awkwardly near the door frame, pulling on her hair while glancing around the hallway.

Remus jogged outside of the door with shaving cream coating half of his chin and a hand towel around his neck. "James! You're alive!" he said, pulling James from underneathe Sirius and giving him a manly hug. He stopped abruptly, however, and pushed James away. "Wait. Where's the girl?"

"She's right there, Remus," Sirius said, still staring at her from the floor.

Following Sirius' gaze, Remus turned toward Lily and smiled warmly. "Oh, well that's a relief," he sighed, extending a hand to her. "Hello, I'm Remus."

"Forget the formalities, Remus," Sirius muttered, not breaking eye contact with Lily, who was beginning to become unnerved. "We already know her."

Lily took Remus's hand anyway and shook it, trying to stop the strange staring contest Sirius had started. "You, erm, probably wouldn't... errr." She looked to James for help before glancing back to the floor-seated Marauder, who was still eyeing her.

Sirius tilted his head, as small puppies do when spoken to.

"Yes," James interceded, receiving her hint and moving to stand next to her. "You might not remember her, but this is—"

"Lily Evans," Sirius finished.

Lily nodded. "Yes. I'm Lily."

"Yes," he repeated her.

Lily nodded again. "Yes."

Reciprocating her nod, he looked her up and down.

"Alright," James said curiously. "What's going on?"

Sirius rose from the floor and shook his hair from his face. "Lily and I know each other, that's all."

Calculating the statement, Remus frowned. "Hold on. Don't we all know her?"

"Yes, but we—her and I, that is—ran into each other more recently. We all know her from school. You know, the hallway's a touch too small for four full grown people; we'd best move inside."

Once inside, they clustered in the living area, and before James had a chance to interrogate Sirius about the nature of his encounter with Lily, Sirius demanded a step-by-step recount of the previous day's occurrences. He added his commentary to the entire story, causing Lily to giggle periodically and therein furthering James' suspicions of their relationship. They both had given the most bizarre series of reactions to re-meeting each other.

As James concluded their story, which had been told with a few key omissions, including Snape's appearance and their platonic-yet-not-platonic kiss, Sirius interjected. "Okay, so in summary: you kidnapped a student—a female student—and took her to your apartment?"

Remus laughed as James fumed.

"No, that's not what happened—" Lily started to defend before James cut her off.

"He's not serious—"

"I am Sirius."

James glared and redirected his gaze to Lily. "He's just being... a git."

Throwing himself backward into the couch, Sirius put a hand over his heart. "Oh, you slay me!"

"Shut up, Sirius."

Sirius clucked his tongue. "Ooo, do Jamey's kinckers have a knot in them? I will not shut up, nor will I sod off," he said, predicting his friend's next retort. "I'm just telling you what the papers will read tomorrow. Reality check, James. This is far worse than you think it is. For God's sakes, you nearly murdered Snivelly last night. Not only is your father trying to hunt you down, but Dumbledore's not particularly thrilled with your choices either."

James was flustered with this comment. "How did you know about Snape?"

Rolling his eyes, Sirius smacked James with a throw pillow. "Snivelly joined the Order a month ago, you dolt. He's the war's first double agent. He's been assigned to Hogwarts to attack you if the Deatheaters ever invade the grounds because everyone will think it's just the old school rivalry, and you will then be able to escape. Please tell me you've read Mad Eye's letters."

"Oh," James said, remembering a distinct moment where he placed an envelope from the Ministry in his locked desk drawer so it would be secured until he found time to read its contents.

"You, James Potter, are the git. You've turned on your own side!"

"Oh, honestly, Sirius! You will never acknowledge Snape's presence on our side, so get off your high horse."

Sirius shook his finger scoldingly at James. "Deflecting."

"Miss Evans, come with me. I'll show you where the bathroom is," James said, blatantly ignoring Sirius as he rose from the couch and waved his hand toward a short hallway. "You can shower while Remus drys your clothes."

"Why am I always volunteered for the domestic tasks?" Remus whined while straightening the couch cushions the group had dented.

"I don't know if you're aware of 'laundry mats', but there's one in our building," James stated before explaining, "They wash clothing."

"But only clothing," Sirius chimed in, locking eyes once again with Lily. "Lampshades don't hold up well. Take my word."

James led her to the washroom, going in first to clean briefly, which meant shoving the counter top's contents into a cabinet under the sink. He exhaled and turned to her while leaning against the wall. "Sorry about this."

Lily looked around the room and shrugged before squinting at him. "It's fine in here. The wallpaper is a bit questionable, but that's a minor detail," she commented, drawing from the chickadee covered walls. Hundreds, perhaps thousands of miniature chickadees surrounded them, perched atop frosty wooden branches with the occasional berry bunch to counterbalance the birds' weight.

"No, I mean... I don't know what I mean. This was just a mistake."

"What part?"

James sighed and brought his hands to his face, feeling the stubble on his chin. "The first part."

"You were just being friendly," she said simply. When he did not respond, though, she asked for clarification. "Right?"

"Yeah," he replied vaguely while looking around the bathroom, glad to finally be alone with her again. This was probably the first time in his life he wished Sirius and Remus would just leave him be. "Well, the towels are in here, so I'll get one," he said, reaching behind her to a cabinet.

She moved forward, and, because of the small room, into him, so he could reach around her. James, however, mistook this and put his arms around her, pulling her into his embrace. Realizing his mistake, or maybe her mistake, Lily hesitantly accepted the hug and placed a comforting hand on his back.

He pushed her away after a few seconds passed and completed his goal of obtaining a towel. "Thanks for that. For what it's worth, I'll put up a fight against them obliviating you. You've already heard too much, but I don't believe in erasing memories. The Ministry hates me for that... Speaking of the Ministry, I'm going to have to answer to my father before long. I just know he's going to show up at the worst moment possible. I can tell you right now, I have already been written out of his will over this." He exhaled heavily. "Well, here you go. One towel."

Taking it from him, she inspected it for a second, turning over the matted cheap cotton weave in her hands.

James chuckled and snatched it from her, stretching into the closet again. This time, he extracted a much larger, comfier emerald green towel. "Let's try this. One quality towel, eh?"

She smiled and happily took the substitution, snuggling into it slightly as she held it.

Watching her, he was oddly entranced by this. "Yes, well, that's my towel, so handle it with care."

"Oh, well if it's yours—"

"No, no, it is yours for today."

With a smile, she said, "Thanks," and proceeded to unbutton her cloak.

"Oh, um..." James turned spasmodically, unsure of whether he should leave or face the wall.

Lily giggled lightly. "Relax. It's just my coat."

James looked toward her to see her drape her cloak over the counter top and unwrap the scarf from her neck.

"I believe this is yours," she said, extending it to him.

"Oh. Yes, it is. Erm, thanks," he muttered awkwardly while putting a hand on his neck and diverting his eyes. He could clearly see her bra through her shirt, still damp from their early morning swim.

She looked to him expectingly.

Standing fully, he started toward the door. "Okay, well if you need anything just call, and you can just throw your clothes outside the door after you've... well, yes. Okay," he repeated as he gripped the door handle.

"Wait," she called.

Confused, he halted and looked to her. "What?"

"Could you show me how to start the shower?"

James glanced at the chain hanging from the ceiling above the bathtub. "Oh, right. Okay, so you just come over here," he said, guiding her with a hand on her shoulder to the tub area. "And then you turn this valve on the wall, and pull on the chain."

While demonstrating, he repositioned his hand to her back to balance himself as he reached across the basin to grasp the chain, and looked down to her, only to get a much clearer view of the undergarment he had previously seen. It was obviously dark green, no different than his towel's coloration, with white polka dots over the fabric. Eyeing her chest discreetly, he inched his hand upward in his delirious state, to rest his fingertips against the bra's back band, and accordingly, he lost his balance, toppling both of them into the bathtub.

In his panic during the fall, he grasped for support, pulling the chain and enabling the shower head. Water pounded against them as the pair untangled themselves, coming to rest seated oppositely in the large porcelain bowl. James had unwittingly lifted Lily's skirt in their final motion to separate, causing her to yank the material into place while giving him a disapproving look.

He was about to protest her facial expression, just as a throat cleared in the doorway.

Mr. Potter stood observing his son sitting in the bathtub with the student he had disappeared with the previous night. "Hello, James," he spoke in a falsely calm tone. "A word... when you're through." With a final hard look to James, he vacated the door frame and returned to the apartment's living area.

"Damn it," James cursed after his father left as he slammed his hands into the tub's base, creating two small splashes.

Lily shrugged and peeled some of her clinging wet hair from her face. "He seems nice to me."

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Forty-five minutes later, James heard the water turn off. He had been pacing in angry circles around the kitchen table as his father lectured him on responsibility, only pausing to hear what had led to the present situation. Sirius smartly had accompanied Remus to the laundry mat to avoid the crossfire, leaving only the two feuding men and one showering lady in the apartment.

"I don't know what gave you your sudden epiphany to teach, but I hope it wasn't the lure of seventeen year olds, because I will not have my son go to Azkaban for some sort of civil crime! At least have your inevitable arrest be honorable, James."

James jaw locked, as his ears grew possibly even more red. "Shut the hell up! You know I'd never do that to her, or any other student!"

"Do I James? Do I? Because that's not what I'm seeing!"

"You're basing this on one misinterpreted accident, and you're accusing m—"

"Misinterpreted my arse, James! You looked down her shirt and were so distracted, you fell over," Harold spat, breaking into a sweat.

"I did not lo—"

"You did, and don't even waste your breath refuting it."

"You're wrong, and you're too stubborn to admit it. This is why Mom has you sleep in a different room, because you're just so damn incorrigible—"

"You shut up, James. You don't know what you're talking about—"

"Oh, really? Well that makes two of us then."

"I'm two seconds away from giving Dumbledore a government mandate to dismiss you from your post, I'll have you know."

"Nothing's stopping you, just like nothing was stopping you before. All you give is empty threats."

"No, James. I give you second chances, and look what you do with them!"

"She was sick—"

"Then take her to the hospital at the school. You're not a medic; you're her teacher. That's not your job, and you know it."

"Forgive me for being a gentleman."

"So according to you, a gentleman takes his female student to his apartment after forcing her to be attacked?!"

"I in no way 'forced her to be attacked.' That's ridiculous! Can you hear yourself?!"

"Can you hear me?! I mean, she's pretty, and she's probably funny also, but get a hold of yourself, James. You're a teacher now, and they can't bend the rules at the school for you anymore just because of who you are. You're dispensable now."

"There's no need to bend anything—"

"You took a student off school grounds without notifying anyone. And with the purpose of getting coffee, none the less! James, you practically took her on a date!"

"I'm not even going to continue this conversation with you because you're not listening. If Dumbledore wants to discuss this with me, then fine, but I will not continue this with you." James said firmly, letting his hatred permeate his speech.

Mr. Potter grabbed his overcoat and stormed into the hallway while let the door slam roughly behind him.

With a heavy sigh, James sat on the large armchair across from their fireplace, letting his elbows rest on his knees and his head rest in his hands. After unwinding for a few minutes, he remembered Lily had stopped the water and probably was waiting for her clothes in the bathroom. But she wasn't in the bathroom James found upon walking to the washroom door, which stood ajar.

Where would she have gone in a towel? He looked down the corridor and into the bedrooms, finding her in the one at the hall's end, with her seated on the bed's edge, staring at a menagerie of framed photographs.

"This is your room."

James exhaled and sat next to her. "Yes."

Drawing the towel more tightly around her slender figure with the receiving of company, she continued to examine the pictures of young James with his friends. "Are my clothes dry?"

"Not quite. Remus isn't the model housewife."

Lily smiled.

James stood and walked to his dresser, pulling out a grey tee shirt and faded black pair of shorts from the top drawer. "If you don't want to wait around in a towel for another hour, you can borrow these. They're clean. I promise."

Lily took them with gratitude and stood as she quietly asked, "Could you turn around?"

He nodded and walked to the door, pulling it closed and then staring at its paneling, not sure as to why he did not step into the hallway.

Un-toweling herself, she slipped his shirt over her head and let the fabric fall around her torso. Remus had good taste in fabric softener. The exercise shorts were clearly meant to be form fitting, but instead hung loosely over her hips. "You can turn around now."

When he looked to her, she had her nose buried in part of the shirt she had scrunched into a ball.

"It smells like you."

James smiled and retook his seat on the bed. "Really? What do I smell like?"

She moved her shoulders upward as she sat Indian style on the bed next to him. "Like... you. I dunno," she slurred as she held the fabric up to James. "What do you think it smells like?"

Looking from her eyes to the distorted ball of cotton, he sniffed the shirt from a distance. "It smells like you, now."

Lily giggled just in the way she always giggled, the way that drove James crazy. "And what do I smell like?"

"Hmmm, I'd say you smell like gardenias."

"Gardenias? Another flower variety from your mother's garden?"

"Yes, actually," James laughed as his father opened the bedroom door, giving a harsh end to the merriment.

"Keep the door open, James," Mr. Potter commanded softly while glancing between them. The elder man sighed heavily from the hallway as he rubbed his eyes, clearly tired from a sleepless night. His overcoat was on, as if he was leaving soon, but instead he stepped inside and sat on a tabletop near the door.

"Hello, Lily Evans. I don't believe we've ever formally met."

"Hello, sir," she greeted cautiously, remembering the earlier argument she had overheard from the bathroom.

"You know, my wife and I are very proud of that garden," remarked offhandedly, only to receive a nasty look from his son. "I wasn't eavesdropping, I just overheard. The walls aren't exactly concrete."

James expression relented, and his sight line fell indignantly to his shoes.

They sat in silence for a moment, broken by Harold suggesting in his gravelly voice, "Perhaps you'd like to see it, Miss Evans? My wife and I are having a Christmas Ball over the winter holidays, and we'd be honored if you came."

Lily looked completely shocked, as did her professor. "...Err—"

"There's no obligation. It's merely an invitation. You don't have to RSVP on the spot—"

"No," she cut him off. "I'd love to. Thank you, sir."

Mr. Potter grinned slightly. She had been the first person to interrupt him for quite some time, and he found it rather refreshing. Her charm was apparent. "Well, I shall look forward to our next encounter. Unfortunately, I must return to the Ministry as soon as possible; I have a new series of records to file. Good morning, Miss Evans, James," he said as he stood, tipped his hat to them, and departed from the room, then from the apartment.

"He's not really that pleasant," James muttered after hearing the door to the hallway close.

Lily nodded distractedly.

"After breakfast, we'd best head back to the school. There's a way to floo there, but it will take a while."

"I don't think either of us are in a rush."

James chuckled. "Yes. That's quite true."

She laid back onto the bed, and stared at the canopy above them. "Would it be alright if I took a nap until Remus is back? I couldn't sleep well last night."

Nodding, James stood. "Sure. Here, I'll tuck you in. Come on," he said, dragging her to the top of the bed and pulling the comforter over her. "I'll start breakfast. Are waffles okay? My pancakes are more like pan-muffins. They're pretty disgusting. But the waffle maker cooperates better."

"Waffles are fine," she said, closing her eyes and resting before their return to Hogwarts, where rumors had already begun to circulate.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Author's Note: Sorry for the delay. I got wrapped up in some things that are best not to be wrapped up in, and I've just been kind of upset lately. Hopefully you like the update. Please review, even if it's to tell me how awful I am for not updating or to tell me that the story is horrid... Any compliment or criticism shall be well received, so speak your mind!

Until later, Nicole.