Chapter 21
"Everyone that is injured should go to the infirmary right away," Professor McGonagall announced in the courtyard. Just as students started to disperse from the courtyard, James finally let go of Lily. "Come let's go to the infirmary," he told her, pointing towards her cheekbone. "I am fine, it's just a small cut, I will wash the blood off," Lily shook her head. "Are you sure you aren't hurt anywhere else?" James raised his eyebrows. "No, I am fine, we should help the other students," Lily suggested, and James nodded.
The Marauders helped students go up to the infirmary who were seriously injured, while Lily and her friends helped those who had lost their siblings or friends return to their respective common room. They could not do much, except give them hollow hope that maybe their loved ones would escape and survive, maybe they would return; but everyone knew better, it would be a miracle if they could even find their bodies.
James took the quickest bath of his life as he had to report to the headmaster along with Lily after lunch. Apparently, Hogwarts was going to tighten the security measures, since the incident took place so close to the school. While Hogwarts itself was not unsafe, the headmaster wanted to prepare the head boy and head girl for the new security measures that were going to take place. "Any suspicious activity from anyone, you report straight to the teachers," headmaster told Lily and James, who nodded earnestly. "And relay this message to your fellow students as well," the headmaster added. "This is all precautionary of course, Hogwarts is safe, but for the time being all trips to Hogsmeade will be cancelled," Lily and James nodded again.
"You both can go now," headmaster gave Lily and James a nod, "Yes Professor," Lily nodded and the two of them walked out of the headmaster's office, James right behind Lily. Once out of earshot, James spoke to Lily, catching up to her, to be right beside her. "Should be tell the prefects about this tonight?" James asked. Given that it was almost evening as it is, James thought it was unnecessary to call a special meeting, they were going to meet up with the prefects in a few hours anyway. "I guess," Lily shrugged, her distant self made James frown. "Let's go for a walk," James suggested, "I don't know," Lily shrugged. "We'll talk, or do you want to go back to the common room?" James asked. "Not the common room," Lily shook her head and then sighed before saying, "Let's go for a walk."
Every place in Hogwarts was quiet today, almost empty. There were no first years running around, or third years laughing, or fifth years pulling pranks. There were no second years hanging out in their free time, or fourth years doing their homework, or sixth years chatting idly. Almost everyone seemed to be in their common rooms or in the infirmary with the ones who were attacked.
"You know you can talk to me, right?" James mumbled as they walked towards the lake and Lily finally looked at James. "About anything," James added, "And how did that come to be?" Lily chuckled, making James chuckle too. "I know, you used to hate me," James shoved his hands in the pocket of his trousers. "You were arrogant," Lily shrugged, "That makes me glad, you don't think I am arrogant anymore," James grinned. "How did you change so much Potter?" Lily asked seriously, "I will tell you my secret, let's find a place to sit," James told her, and Lily nodded.
When they reached the lake, the tree under which James hung out with his friends was empty. The bright blue sky above, with clouds a puff of radiant joy, ready to disperse into the wind and the sun warming their skin, it was the perfect summer day – only even though everything seemed like nature had taken it's own sweet time to colour it in the brightest and most perfect shades, it felt dull. "Come on Evans," James rushed under the tree and settled down on the bright green grass, cross legged. Lily joined James quickly, dropping on her knees and then sitting side legged on the soft grass, her skirt laying perfectly on her legs, covering it till her knees.
"Have I ever told you I made a list?" James started, "A list?" Lily asked, puzzled. "Yes, the night you sent me the first ever letter in response to my letter, I sat down and made a list of all the things you might hate about me," James nodded, at first Lily thought that James was only joking and chuckled, "Are you serious?" Lily asked, "No, I am James," James replied without a pause, as if it was an automatic reaction. Lily blinked in disbelief and then facepalmed herself, "Oh Merlin! That is the stupidest joke I have ever heard Potter," she chuckled, "Then why are you laughing?" James wiggled his eyebrows. "Because of how stupid that sounded," Lily continued chuckling. "It isn't, that is something Padfoot and I do all the time," James grinned, "Doesn't make it any less stupid, " Lily jested. "If you think about it, it isn't," James shrugged and Lily shook her head, trying to wipe off the grin on her own face.
"But tell me, did you really make a list?" Lily asked, "Yes, I even recited it to my friends, Moony approved, so I assumed I was going on the right track and watching as you are sitting right here, I am assuming I was right," James shrugged with a smirk. "What was in your list?" Lily asked, "Small things like to stop being a prat," Lily rolled her eyes as James continued smirking. "Honestly, I just wanted to grow up and –" James stopped, "And?" Lily encouraged, "and at least be your friend," James added. "Well, I can say we are friends," Lily shrugged. "The problem is Evans, that I assumed I would be okay with being your friend – only a friend, but every time I look at you, I realise how much I love you," James observed Lily's cheeks turning a light shade of pink before she looked down at her hands in her lap and James smiled to himself.
"It's your turn to talk," James encouraged her, he wanted to hear what was going on in her mind, because that was the only way he could put her mind at ease. "I was at Honeydukes when it happened," Lily started after a very long pause, it was so long that James thought Lily was going to stay mum. James turned his whole body towards Lily, placing his elbows on his knees, and his chin in his hands, making Lily chuckle before she continued. She tilted her head to her left and looked at James, those brilliant hazel eyes, it reminded Lily of her favourite season – autumn. Her whole body seemed to relax as soon as she looked into those hazel eyes.
"When word got to us that death eaters had attacked, we ran out immediately, but it was too late. It was on almost the other side of Hogsmeade, and we tried to cover the distance as fast as we could, but we weren't fast enough. By the time we reached there, two students were already taken, and the death eaters were just creating chaos to escape, three of them did get trapped but what use is that? The students were gone, both third years," Lily shuddered remembering the whole incident, all Lily could do was help the students escape, and that is what she did. Her first priority at that moment became the safety of the students, she did not know why, but her instincts told her to protect them – to be defensive rather than offensive.
"There is nothing you could have done about it," James told her, "I know that, but James their families – they" Lily could not even bring herself to say how horrible it must be for them. "It is the worst thing for them," James closed his eyes for a moment, clenching his jaw and then relaxing. "We'll end this war Lily, no matter what, we'll end it," James told her, "When?" Lily asked desperately, "In less than a decade, I don't know how, but this has gone too long," James' promise was hollow, but he felt like the end was coming, the war was going to end very soon, he didn't know how but he could feel it. "Every time I sit with you, I feel better," Lily mumbled, and it instantly made James' heart leap. "Is that so?" James asked heat raising up to his ears, "Yes, and I don't know why, but I enjoy spending my time with you," Lily nodded. "That I am very happy to hear," James grinned from ear to ear.
"You are so easy to please," Lily chuckled, "You make me happy," James told Lily. Very gradually, James took Lily's right hand in his right hand and shifted closer to her, placing their hands on his knee. Drawing small circles on the back of her hand, James spoke, "I am so glad you are alright," "You cried," Lily bit her lower lip, her eyes studying James' face with her curious green eyes. "I was scared," James shrugged, he watched as Lily extended her left hand towards James face and he sat in his place frozen. She pushed the hair falling on his eyes out of the way and smiled warmly.
James looked at Lily and how sunlight danced on her face, playing tricks on her eye colour, before Lily even looked at James again, he was lost in a trance. Her red hair lying long and loose against her pale skin, James could not stop himself from touching the back of his index finger against Lily's cheek. He took a deep breath and looked at Lily, who was looking at their hands on James' knee with a shy smile.
His hand slowly cupped her cheek, and he drew small circles on her bright red cheek with his thumb. His heart was thumping as he bent forward, closer towards Lily. She looked up instantly, from under her lashes, she examined James' face. James swallowed hard and his glance turned towards Lily's lips that parted only slightly, he then looked in her bright green eyes, and slowly closed his own eyes.
Their breaths were shaking, James' lips brushed against Lily's, until he places his lips firmly on her's. He could taste her strawberry flavoured lip balm, and her sweet breath. For a few seconds, Lily froze under James' touch, all her muscles tightened up. 'Oh no!' James thought, waiting for Lily to push him away or slap him but she did nothing. Sensing her body tense up, James decided it would be for the best to pull back, but being so close to her, James could not bring himself to pull back from Lily.
When Lily sensed James pulling back, she parted her lips in an urgency. Their lips fit perfectly like two puzzle pieces and Lily wrapped her free arm around James' neck. Their lips moved in perfect sync, Lily felt everything she had read in her stupid romantic novels, that did not seem so stupid anymore. Pounding heart, fireworks in her brain, tingling in her stomach, desire, everything! Everything and all at once.
James let go of Lily's hand and proceeded to cup both her cheeks, pulling her face closer, deepening the kiss even further. Warmth radiated from Lily's lips and spread throughout her body. Lily didn't know that a kiss so innocent could be so intimate and thrilling. A smile grew on James' face when Lily's fingers tangled in James' unruly hair, Lily felt the smile against her lips.
They parted their lips, breathless, but their faces only moved away slightly. James spent a moment studying Lily's face, and she felt her blush deepen under his scrutiny. James' eyes were loving and softening with tenderness. James drew his hands away and Lily instantly craved for his touch, but she knew she had to pull her hands back as well.
It was definitely worth the wait for James. He wanted to lean in for another kiss, but he knew better than to push his luck any further. Though James desperately craved for Lily's lips against his own, his heart was still pounding loudly, and he did not want it to settle down. 'Get a grip!' James told himself, looking away from Lily's perfect face that was deep red. "Let's go!" James got up quickly and cleared his throat, distracting himself from all the thoughts about kissing Lily once again. Looking down at Lily, James offered her his hand that Lily took instantly and got up from the ground.
Holding onto her hand, James spoke in a low voice, "Do you want to go to the common room?" Lily nodded, looking at their hand. "I would like to rest," Lily added, "Alright," James nodded with a smile. He waited for Lily to look up at him, but she didn't, she just blushed furiously and tightened her grip around James' hand, which was enough encouragement for James to pull her closer, her body crashing against his and he wrapped his huge arms around her tiny shoulders, pressing his cheek against her ear. Lily responded almost instantly by wrapping her arms around his torso and James knew she could feel his pounding heart against her own.
After dropping Lily near the staircase that led to the girl's dormitories, James rushed up to his room. Almost tripping on the staircase, James was glad that he was able to keep his cool in front of Lily, but once she was gone, James could not keep himself together anymore. He needed his friends! For Merlin's sake! He had just kissed Lily Evans! Not on the cheek, on her lips! And Lily Evans did not push him away, slap him, curse him, hex him or anything like that, she had kissed him back!
"You are back," Wormtail was the first to notice James. They were all sitting on their beds, talking, James assumed. "Have you been running like a lunatic?" Moony asked, "You won't believe what happened!" James exclaimed, "Did you hold Evans' hand again?" Padfoot jested, "They are past that stage, he hugged her in front of the whole school, teachers included," Moony rolled his eyes. "Did you play a prank? Without me?!" Padfoot looked at James, offended. "No! I did not play any pranks," James breathed heavily. "I kissed Lily," James grinned from ear to ear, there was complete silence from the other three Marauders.
"You mean – you almost kissed her like yesterday?" Padfoot asked, crawling on all fours to the end of the bed and standing in front of James. "No, I kissed her," James shook his head, "On the cheek?" Wormtail asked, "No," James shook his head, "On her hand?" Padfoot asked, "No, it was more intimate than that," James rolled his eyes. "On the corner of her lips?" Moony asked, "No," James scoffed. "On her – lips?" Wormtail squeaked and covered his mouth with his hands. "Yes!" James squealed and everyone looked at him in disbelief.
"James are you sure you weren't dreaming?" Moony asked, "Thanks mates, your confidence in me is so encouraging," James replied sarcastically. "How did you kiss her?" Padfoot asked in disbelief, "I am sure you know how kiss works," James rolled his eyes. "No, I have a better question," Padfoot continued, "Did she kiss you back?" James simply nodded.
"Lils are you okay?" Alice questioned, her brows were knitted together in concern. Lily had just come to her room and sat down on her bed, her hand on her chest where her heart was pounding furiously. "Tell us, you are scaring us," Dorcas sat beside Lily. "I am fine," Lily cleared her throat, "What happened?" Mary asked, "James and I kissed," Lily's voice was almost inaudible. "I am sorry, did I hear that correctly?" Mary was not the only one who was surprised. "Everything! Tell us everything," Dorcas instructed, "Everything?" Lily's voice was shaking. "Yes, like Alice told us," Mary nodded.
"She is shaking!" Alice squealed, "What has Potter done to you?" Mary smirked and Lily rolled her eyes. "It was my first real kiss," Lily mumbled. "We know!" Dorcas exclaimed, Lily did not even want to get into what her first kiss was like – it was childish and weird, and embarrassing to say the least. "I am so sorry by the way," Dorcas started, "What for?" Lily asked, "I delayed your kiss, otherwise you would have gotten your first real kiss yesterday," Dorcas' words made Lily blush a deep shade of red again. "I want to know everything about your kiss," Mary told Lily.
"Well, we went to the headmaster's office, and we were coming back when he asked if I would like to go on a walk before going to the common room, he wanted to talk I guess," Lily started, "We went to the lake, and we were sitting under a tree," she continued. "Oh! So James and Lily sitting under a tree K-I-S-S-I-N-G!" Dorcas smirked, "Shut up!" Lily tried to hide her cheeks going even a deeper shade of red. "He initiated the kiss, and I – kissed him back," Lily said remembering the most extraordinary moment of her life. "Is he a good kisser?" Mary smirked, "Yes," Lily replied absentmindedly, remembering how his lips savoured her lips, and her heart skipped a beat.
"Seems like Lils enjoyed it thoroughly!" Mary added making Dorcas and Alice laugh, bringing Lily back to the reality. "Stop!" Lily pushed herself on her bed, lying on her stomach, covering her flustered face. "Alright, Alright! We won't bother you more," Mary promised, "Yeah right," Lily replied in a muffled voice. "Do you know everyone thinks you both are dating?" Dorcas told Lily, and that made Lily sit up instantly.
"Who said that?" Lily asked, "When James hugged you this morning, in front of the whole school, everyone would think you are dating him," Dorcas replied with a shrug. "Everyone saw that?" Lily asked, surprised. "The whole school was there," Mary nodded. "Oh Merlin!" Lily sighed, "What? What is wrong with that?" Alice asked Lily, "I am not dating him," Lily replied, "You might as well start dating him," Alice grinned, "Well, he has not asked me out," Lily shrugged. "So, you mean if he asks you now, you would say yes?" Dorcas was practically jumping up and down, making everyone laugh.
"I guess," Lily tried to play it cool, but in her head, she knew she would say 'Yes' instantly. "So, if James came through this door right now, and asked you "Evans will you go out with me?" you will say 'Yes'?" Lily didn't know what was funnier, Dorcas' impersonation of James or how excited she was. "Yes," Lily admitted between her laughter. "Finally!" Dorcas shouted, "Hush!" Lily put her index finger on her lips, shaking her head.
"You know what this means right?" Mary looked at Alice, who nodded excitedly. "What?" Lily inquired, "Alice here have had a dream for a very long time," Mary started, "What dream?" Lily asked curiously, "Ever since you showed us the photographs, and we started training with James, and we got to know him, I wanted you and James to go on a double date with Frank and me," Alice replied excitedly, making Lily chuckle. "You have this planned out better than me," Lily shook her head, "He hasn't even asked me out yet," Lily added. "Any day now, he would ask you any day," Dorcas replied.
When Lily and James were patrolling that night, they both were extraordinarily quiet, and every time their hands would brush against each other's they would turn a furious shade of red. 'Merlin! Could I kiss her before going to bed tonight?' James thought, looking at Lily as they walked in silence.
He had five minutes before they would reach their common room, and James utilised those five minutes well to think of all the pros and cons of kissing Lily once again. He did not want to come off as needy or clingy, but he did not know if he would be able to sleep if he didn't kiss her. 'Alright, just a peck,' James decided by the time they reached the common room.
Everyone had already gone to sleep; the fire was dying already, and the empty common room felt as if it was intensifying everything James was feeling. 'What is it about empty rooms?' James thought, remembering how they had almost kissed in the empty room while training.
Lily waited there patiently, facing James. She had decided that if James did not kiss her good night, she would. If not on the lips, she would at least give him a kiss on the cheek. After all, his kiss had left her wanting for more. Lily did not understand these feelings in herself, she had never wanted to kiss a bloke. But right now, she needed James to kiss her and damn it! He was taking way too long. Lily was growing impatient.
"I'll go to bed now," Lily finally said, shifting her weight from one foot to another. "Oh," James' eyes grew wide. 'Screw it!' Lily thought and stepped closer to James gingerly, standing on her toes, Lily pressed her hand against his left cheek and very softly, she pressed her lips to his right cheek. "Good night," Lily whispered in his ear, and watched as James gasped, and turned his face towards her. Their lips were once again only centimetres away, Lily could feel his breath on her lips.
For a moment Lily thought that James was not going to do anything, and she was disappointed to say the least. But then, suddenly, James held Lily by her waist, pulling her closer. His right hand lingered on her waist, her skin tingling every where his fingers touched, his left hand, cupped her cheek and his long fingers entangled themselves in her tresses. Pulling her face closer, James captured her lips in a hungry kiss. The innocent kiss of the afternoon was replaced by something very passionate. Lily could feel James' heart pounding against her own chest as Lily wrapped her arms around his neck, deepening the kiss.
"Lily," James whispered against Lily's lips, prolonging each letter as if to savour them. Lily let out a moan in response. "Go out with me, please" James' husky voice made butterflies emerge in Lily's stomach. "please, say yes," James continued placing butterfly kisses across Lily's jaw, tilting her head back to get a better access. Lily smirked, savouring the moment. She pulled her head back a little to kiss James once again on the lips. But James smirked, his lips brushed against her lips, not innocently rather teasing – passionately, hot and demanding. Lily tried to capture James lips with her own, but all he did was brush his lips against hers, smirking. "James," Lily's voice was low, whispering against his lips. "I want to go out with you," James pulled his face back and traced Lily's lips with his thumb.
"How about –" Lily placed her hand on James' hand and guided in down to her waist, James was too shocked to react, "—you ask me tomorrow?" Lily smirked, raising her right eyebrow. "Will you tell me now if I let you kiss me?" James tightened his grip around her waist. Lily gave James a peck on his lips, leaving him completely surprised. So much so that his grip loosened, and Lily easily escaped from between his fingers. "No," she smirked, stepping back. "Good night James," Lily smiled and walked towards the girls' dormitories.
She heard James' footsteps following her, but she knew as soon as she was on the staircase, she was unreachable for James. She stood on the third staircase and watched James standing in the doorway, a frown playing on his lips. "Come on, tell me now," James whined, "Shh!" Lily looked behind her, with wide eyes, she placed her index finger on her lips. If James was going to be so loud, he would wake everyone up. James smirked, "Lily Evans please go out –" Lily ran down the staircase and put her hand around James' mouth. "You will wake everyone up!" Lily hissed, James' arm encircled Lily's tiny waist, he put his hand over Lily's hand and moved it away. "Will you go out with me?" James asked in a whisper, still smirking.
"I told you, I will tell you tomorrow," Lily smiled coyly. "Do you promise?" James asked, and Lily nodded. "Alright then, Good night," James whispered, "Good night," Lily replied bashfully. "Go now," James smirked, not letting go of Lily. "Let go," Lily felt heat raising to her ears, "I don't want to," James shook his head. "James," Lily chuckled. "Alright, Good night Lily," James removed his hand from around her waist and creased her cheek, giving her a meaningful smile. "Good night James," Lily looked at her feet, trying to hide her flushed face.
A/N: Hey Readers,
Phew! Did you like that? Tell me your opinions in the review section, I will be waiting to hear from you all! Hit the follow and favourite button if you like the story!
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-JT