Chapter 14

Lily washed up and put on the happiest look she could muster. The two aspirin she took were now making her feel sleepy, but she had to look her best. She realized as she walked towards Transfiguration that she hadn't been in her room too long because she wasn't late to class yet. Lily reached the Transfiguration room just in time to grab a good seat in the back. Lily sat down next to a tall black-haired girl.

"Hi T.J, I haven't seen you around in a while, how is everything?" Lily said in a happy tone that took all of her energy to muster.

T.J turned in her seat to face Lily. She smiled and Lily.

"Oh I've been around, Head girl duties are stomping me this year. I was surprised you turned the position down, but I like the power all the same so I'm not complaining."

"Too much was going on at the time; I couldn't have taken that kind of responsibility without completely losing my mind first." Lily laughed. T.J gave her a wide smile.

"So…are you two…." T.J smiled brightly.

Lily frowned, however. "I don't know anymore."

"I won't ask, but the fact is you were at one point right?" T.J prodded.

Lily nodded.

"Wow, I thought I would never see the day. I hope it works out between you though, it seems like you must have hit a rough patch." Lily nodded as an old lively Professor McGonagall marched in.

"Today we will continue our lesson from yesterday, turning books into cats. Pull out your wands and begin please." She hurriedly sat down at her desk and propped a book open. "I will be walking around shortly to correct you."

In the middle of class Lily discovered she had a knack for turning things into animals. She secretly went on to turning her Herbology book into a small octopus, quickly turning it back as the Professor walked by. As Lily turned her Transfiguration book into an orange tabby with ease, a note was passed to her. Confused, she opened and read it.

Lily,

How are you? I haven't really talked to you much, but being who I am I thought I would drop you a line to see how you were. I hear that Potter fellow is been bugging you lately. If you allow it, I would take care of him for you; I would do anything for you my dear Lily. I must apologize if I seem forward, but I have to admit I really do like you Lily, you are the flower in my eye, blossoming into a woman, a beautiful woman. Please, meet me tonight in the astronomy tower at 1 in the morning; I will be waiting for you.

Eddie

Lily gasped and looked around to find Eddie staring at her. Eddie? Eddie McGrowder? He didn't even remember my name at the beginning of the year. She thought sourly to herself. Why was he paying attention to her now?

"Who's that from?" T.J asked curiously, attempting to turn his book into a cat. So far he had only managed to make his book extremely hairy.

"Eddie McGrowder, I used to have the biggest crush on him, so when I finally gave up and moved on he suddenly took interest in me." She half sighed. T.J's eyebrow furrowed.

"What did he want?"

Lily smiled. "Hot sex in a steamy hot tub in the astronomy tower tonight, I think it sounds quite interesting really, I think I might just show."

T.J frowned. "That's not funny. Lily, I've heard stories…just, be careful ok?"

It was a quarter to one when Lily finally left her room. She had managed to avoid James all day, as well as Gemini. By time she finally went back to the room that day, she had been roaming the halls all afternoon, Gemini, Lavinnia and Colette were all sleeping soundly. Finally Lily slipped out of the room and into the common room, curious to know what Eddie wanted. Hey, if James wanted to be a jerk, then what was wrong with a little curiosity? She stopped in the shadows when she heard the floor creak. After a moment she decided it was nothing and continued towards the portrait. She slipped out and slinked into the shadows along the corridor. She stopped again and hid behind a statue as she heard another sound. Mentally calling herself paranoid, she continued along her path, not stopping until she reached the astronomy tower. She looked around outside, remembering the last time she was there. She frowned as she remembered James. Eddie wasn't there yet, so she set herself comfortably on the ledge, looking up at the stars. It was a clear Mid-November night. It was a little chilly and the air smelled like rain was coming.

"You look so beautiful." Lily jumped slightly and jumped onto the flat stone ground.

"Eddie, you scared me!"

"Sorry love. I'm glad you came."

Lily smiled politely. Eddie gave her a heart-melting smile as he came closer to her. Usually this would have made Lily weak in the knees, but it had no effect on her now.

"Eddie, I came to tell you I'm with James, I'm sorry." The words had slipped. She tried to correct herself but couldn't. She wasn't really with James, she was furious with him, but why did she just say she was?

Eddie stopped about a foot away from her.

"Potter? Well, he doesn't have to know, I'm better than him anyways." He stepped closer to her.

Lily stepped back. What was with this guy?

"I'm serious Eddie, I can't." Lily couldn't understand where this was coming from. It was her voice, but wasn't sure it was her mind.

"Yes, but we can still fool around. I like you Lily, I want you, and Eddie McGrowder always gets what he wants."

Lily stepped back again as Eddie came closer to her.

"No Eddie, we can't fool around, I don't like you anymore, I used to, but then I was hit with something called reality, you're a snob and completely oblivious to everything except for a piece of ass, and I will not be your piece of ass so if you excuse me, I'll be leaving." She tried to step around him but Eddie stepped in front of her.

"But isn't that what you're good for? I heard from Potter myself your ass was all that was interesting anyways."

Lily's jaw dropped. "What did you say to me?"

"I said, that's what I want, and that is what I'm getting." Eddie said calmly.

Lily scoffed. "Move out of my way before I kick you were I really want it to count."

"You will be mine." He whispered. He bent his head quickly and kissed her, hard. Lily struggled but Eddie trapped her arms. She pulled back and spit into his face. Eddie slapped her in the mouth and tightened his grip. He moved her over to the ledge and made her back lay on it. He bent over her rigid figure and kissed her again. Lily was trying to fight him off, but he was too strong. She kicked and hit and tried to scream but nothing was working.

"Shut up, you'll wake everyone up." Eddie hissed.

Lily looked up at him. "That's the point you idiot."

Eddie smiled evilly and forced another kiss. Suddenly he was thrown against the opposite wall. Lily sat up straight, tears slightly forming in her eyes. Eddie looked as if her were being possessed. He was up against the wall and looked like he was being hit repeatedly. He dropped to the floor unconscious as James appeared out of nowhere.

"James!" Lily cried, running for him. She collided with him and embraced him in a large comforting hug.

"Lily, are you ok?"

"Yes, yes I'm fine. Just a bit shaken I guess. That creep tried to rape me!" James pulled her back and looked at her. Her lip was bleeding.

"Lily, what happened?"

"He hit me, that bastard, when I wouldn't kiss him back he hit me and forced me over to the ledge." James shook his head.

"Did he hurt you anywhere else?" Lily shook her head and started to cry a little. James pulled her close but Lily resisted.

"Lily, what…."

Lily lifted her hand and smacked James across the face.

"How dare you."

"Lily I…."

"First you humiliate me, like you thrive to do, then you tell everyone in ear shot that I give it up. Thanks James. Thanks a lot. Ruin everything more." Lily brushed passed him to leave but James grabbed her arm.

"I love you Lily. I never meant to hurt you." Lily tried to pull away. "No, listen to me. The Ferret was a mistake; I would never do that to you, why would I need to humiliate you to get your attention when I already had it."

Lily set her shoulders and looked angrily into James' eyes.

"I only did that stuff because I liked you. I never meant to hurt you. But I can tell you, Hubert was a mistake. And telling everyone about us, that was a load of crock and you know better to listen to it. I told Sirius, and I'm sure Remus and Peter figured it out by now, but that's it. And I swear to you, if I find out who let him in on it, I will personally make his life a living hell."

Lily wiped a tear and turned her head to the side.

"Lily please. I love you, and I know you love me too."

"I don't know James." Lily said sadly. "I just don't know."

James pulled her into a hug as she began to cry again.

"Let me make it up to you."

"How?"

"I don't know…but if it takes the rest of my life, you can guarantee that I'll do it."

Lily looked into his eyes.

"Lily, will you marry me?" James looked deeply back into Lily's startling green eyes.

"James…I…no, I can't."

"Why not?"

"I don't know."

James chuckled. "That's not a very good reason."

"James, I just…I don't know. I was so angry with you, then you propose, I mean, it's all happening so fast. First I wasn't even going come down from my room, then this…."

"What do you mean? You can't stay up there forever?" James laughed.

"You could if you took a whole bottle of aspirin." Lily whispered, looking down.

"Lily…."

"Come off it James you know I'd never."

"But still. Lily, god this is all my fault, I shouldn't have given you such a hard time."

"That could have helped."

James looked down at her seriously.

"I never meant to hurt you."

Lily nodded. "I know."

"So will you marry me now?" James asked with a smile.

"Would you leave me alone if I said yes?" Lily teased.

"I won't leave you alone no matter what you say." James smiled. Lily leaned closer into James and kissed him deeply.

"Then…yes. I will." She sighed after pulling away. James only smiled and bent his head to hers once more.