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"Quidditch practice again?" Lily asked as James came into their tower.
"The first match is next week. We have to win against Slytherin," he said.
"I agree with that. But, you're late for patrols again."
He sighed, "I'm sorry, it's a little hard balancing Quidditch and head duties. Give me a minute to get changed and then we can head out, okay?"
Lily nodded. She had to admit, James was dealing with his responsibilities very well. And he looked hot in that uniform. She shook her head again. She was doing that so often now, she'd given James the impression the Head tower was full of invisible mosquitoes. She couldn't help it, thoughts of James Potter kept invading her head more often than she would like. She and James set out on patrols a few minutes later, talking about schoolwork.
"What's the point of this, anyway?" James complained as they climbed another floor. "All we do is catch snogging couples."
"It can be eventful. Remember last week? We got to witness Sirius and Alison getting together."
"I have to admit, that was unexpected," said James, remembering that night.
James pulled open the broom cupboard door to find Sirius trying to get away from a curly haired girl who was trying to push him against the shelves.
"James! Thank Merlin!" Sirius jumped out of the cupboard while the girl glared at him and then ran off on seeing the two Heads.
"How come you were trying to get out of there?" Lily asked, raising an eyebrow in surprise. Come to think of it, she hadn't spotted him in any of the broom cupboards or other secluded corners for many months now, even on her Prefect patrols the previous year.
Before Sirius could answer, Alison arrived on the scene. "I knew it!" she shrieked, spotting Sirius' disheveled appearance. "Mary Lou Parker was bragging about how she'd get you to snog her. I didn't believe her but I guess I was wrong!"
"Alison," began Sirius, but she screamed at him again.
"You promised me you'd stop. You said you'd give up snogging every random girl you met. You told me you'd found the right girl and you wanted to impress her."
"Alison-"
"I was helping you impress the mystery girl. I put so much effort into making you a better person and breaking your old habits. I started spending time with you and found I enjoyed it and I thought you really weren't the person you appeared to be. I thought you were much better than that. I thought the mystery girl was the luckiest person on earth to have caught your eye. I thought you were a good guy Bla-mmph!"
Lily and James stared in shock when Sirius kissed Alison cutting her off. He kept his arms around her waist as he gazed into her startled eyes.
"The girl I found is you. I've fancied you for a long time now. I snogged all those other girls because I was afraid you were out of my league. I was afraid you'd reject me the minute I asked you out. So I told you I wanted to impress someone just to show you I can be nice if I really tyr. I didn't kiss Mary Lou. I was trying to get away from her because I'd promised you I'd change."
He released her with a sigh. "Guess I ruined my chances with you." He turned and started walking away.
Alison's expression went from angry, to startled, to confused to tender in seconds. She ran after him, spun him around and kissed him.
"I thought your mystery girl was the luckiest girl alive because you went to such lengths to try and change for her. I still think so," she said, smiling.
"So you'll go out with me?" asked Sirius, his grey eyes lighting up with delight.
"Definitely."
"Well," said James, turning away from the snogging couple, "I didn't know patrols could be this dramatic."
Lily shook her head at the memory. "Those two are crazy."
"Hence, they're perfect for each other," smirked James. "I guess Amortentia can get it right after all. They smelled each other didn't they?"
He suddenly blushed and so did Lily when they realized they had smelled each other too.
"Er…forget I ever said that, actually. I want to show you something. My mates and I agreed that you should know about it now that we're friends," he said hastily, pulling something out of his pocket.
Lily slipped her hand into his, "We're more than just regular friends," she said.
He smiled at that, both of them understanding the implications of that statement. They sat down on a flight of stairs as James touched his wand to an ordinary-looking piece of parchment. "I solemnly swear that I am up to no good."
Lily's eyes widened as she realized what the ink spreading across the parchment was forming. "You made a map of Hogwarts?" She peered at it closely. "That's…that's everyone! It shows where everyone is too?"
James smiled smugly. "Where they are and at every minute of the day."
"That's incredible! You guys are brilliant," said Lily.
James beamed at the compliment. "You're not going to confiscate it?"
"Well a couple of years ago, I would have. But this is pure genius. It would be a dreadful waste to take this and lock it up in a dusty old drawer," she replied. "I respect intelligence and hard work no matter what the source and I don't believe in wasting it."
"You are an amazing sport, Lily," said James, impressed. "I've got something else to show you." He pulled out his Invisibility Cloak from another pocket.
Lily's jaw dropped. "That's an Invisibility Cloak," she whispered.
"Been in the family for generations," said James proudly.
"So this is how you pull off your pranks unseen," she said, running her fingers along the smooth material until they touched JAems'. She drew back, blushing slightly.
"Shall we get back to the tower?" James asked.
Lily looked at him. "Can we go under your Cloak?"
"Why? We have every right to be out at this time," said James confused.
"I know. But it seems so cool! Please?" she said, giving him her best puppy-dog eyes.
He laughed, pulling the Cloak over them, "Face it Evans, you just want to cuddle up close to me. Besides, I've never been able to resist those green eyes of yours."
"Shut up," Lily said. But her face had gone red. Getting close to him had been an ulterior motive. Of late, all their conversations had ended up like that – innocent, but full of veiled flirty lines. He put his arm around her, their bodies very close under the Cloak. Neither of them minded the proximity thogh, they were actually enjoying it.
"They obviously fancy each other very much. Why don't they just go out already?" said Albus.
"Lily wanted to be entirely sure she liked James. She still couldn't believe that she could just fall in love with a guy she thought she'd hated for so many years. But she became more sure of her feelings after the Quidditch match in the first week of October," answered McGonagall.
"Good luck Sirius," said Alison, giving him a swift peck as she followed her friends out of the Great Hall. As usual, the hall was extra noisy on the morning of a Quidditch Match.
"Don't I get a kiss for luck too?" asked James with a wink as he caught Lily's wrist when she passed him.
She rolled her eyes but leaned down and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek.
"Good luck," she said, turning red again.
"Why don't you just ask her out?" asked Sirius as James gazed after her dreamily.
"It's not yet the right time," said James simply.
Sirius didn't have time to ponder the meaning of that as they were soon up in the air. James however, couldn't take his mind off Lily. Every now and then, he'd glance at her cheering in the stands. He focused his attention on the game, intercepting a pass and soaring towards the Slytherin Keeper.
"And it's Potter with the Quaffle, look at him go!" yelled the commentator. "Nice pass to Thompson – ooh, she's hit by a Bludger – Slytherin in possession. The Slytherin Chasers have only managed to get one goal past the Gryffindor Keeper but they're looking promising now. Brown with the Quaffle – he passes – oh, nice catch by Potter, Gryffindor in possession again. Look at them play! Potter – Thompson – Wells – Potter again – these Chasers are showing off their pure talent here folks!"
"GRYFF- IN – DOR! GRYFF – IN – DOR!" chanted the crowd.
"And Potter scores! It's 50 – 10 Gryffindor!" yelled Drew Stewart, the commentator.
"GRYFF – IN – DOR!" yelled the crowd.
"The crowd's really keeping up that encouraging chant. Lily Evans seems to be leading them. Incidentally, our charming Head Girl could be the reason Potter's been dodging so many Bludgers today. Lapses of concentration, eh Potter?"
"Mr. Stewart, you are commentating, not running a gossip column!" Professor Sinistra yelled. SHe was in charge of commentary back then.
"All right professor. Potter dodges another Bludger and he was glancing in Evans' direction. Ouch – okay, okay, professor. It's Slytherin in possession-"
"I'm going to kill him," growled Lily, looking at Stewart.
"He has been glancing at you a lot," grinned Alison.
"Nice hit by Black! That Bludger's sure knocked the wind out of his brother, Regulus Black. Oh! Slytherin's just scored! Cunning use of their Beater and Chaser there," groaned Stewart. "It's 50 – 20 and Gryffindor's got the Quaffle. Ooh – Potter nearly drops it but manages to hold on. The boy's got some reflexes. Must be from all the times he's nearly been hexed by Evans."
James grinned in the air as Lily's magnified voice rang out across the pitch. "Stewart, one more mention of my alleged relationship and I will put you in detention for the rest of the month!"
"Merlin, no one lets me entertain! Thompson scores again making the score 60 -20. The Slytherin Beaters seem to be out for Ptoter's blood today. He's dodging Bludgers left and right! Wells has the Quaffle, she passes to Thompson who's streaking up the pitch – oh great swerve to avoid that Bludger – oh and that's an even better hit by Black again, the Slytherin Beater's going to have a blinding headache later judging by the way that Bludger made contact with his head – Thompson passes – Potter;s going for the goal – oh that's good strategy, he passes to Wells at the last moment – AND SHE SCORES! 70 – 20 to Gryffindor!"
The spectators screamed suddenly as one of the Slytherin Chasers collided with Johanna Thompson for no reason.
"As usual, The Slytherins are trying to attach Gryffindor's prodigious Chasers. A penalty is awarded. Thompson's heading for the goalposts," announced Stewart. James took advantage of the break to fly over to where Lily sat. She was right in the front of the stands and he flew close to her, turning his back to the game for a few seconds.
"Alright there, Evans?" he asked with a lopsided grin.
Lily rolled her eyes. "Eyes on the game, Potter," she said, amused. Suddenly, her eyes widened in horror and she pointed at something behind James. He turned, just registering her horrified scream of "Bludger!" The black ball hit him squaer in the chest, knocking him backwards off his broom and into the stands – right into Lily.
He hit his head hard against the stone benches. The last thing he saw before he lost consciousness was a flash of red hair, a pair of green eyes and a mouth screaming his name.
X-X-X
A low buzz of voices was all James registered at first.
"Wake up, please wake up," a voice said, clearer than the others.
"Li…Lily?" he croaked.
"James! Open your eyes!" said Remus' relieved voice.
He cracked open his eyes to find six pairs of eyes looking anxiously at handed him his glasses and the faces came into view. The worry vanished from Sirius' face on his right. He turned his head left and found the green eyes he was looking for. They were still worried.
"Are you all right?" Lily asked.
"I'll be fine," he said, sitting up in his hospital bed. He turned to Sirius. "The match?"
"We still won. Melissa caught the Snitch just as Johanna scored her penalty. That was when we realized your broom was just floating there and you weren't on it," replied Sirius.
"Are you all right? I landed on you didn't I?" James asked Lily.
She nodded, "I was lucky not to hit the bench behind me. You cracked a rib and suffered a concussion, though."
"I feel fine."
"Madam Pomfrey fixed you up but she says you have to stay the night," said Mary.
Alice stood up. "I have to go. I should tell Frank you're okay." Alison joined her and they left. Remus, Sirius and Peter stayed a little longer but they too left with Mary after assuring James they;d be back before dinner to check on him.
Lily just sat there.
"Don't look so scared Lily, I'm okay," said James, taking her hand.
"I was so worried! You cracked a rib!" She placed her other hand over his heart. "What if you'd cracked a rib over your heart and it went straight through? You could have died!"
"Aren't you being a little melodramatic?"
"This is not a joke James."
"So you'd miss me if I'd died?" he asked, smirking.
She punched him. "Of course I would, you dolt!"
He sighed, "Hey don't worry about it. There are probably a hundred things that could have happened, but didn't. I've been in pain enough times between Quidditch practice and your old jinxes."
Lily smiled grudgingly, "I hit you with some pretty hard hexes and spells didn't I?"
"Your words hurt me more," James declared.
"Now who's being melodramatic?" she said, grinning.
"But you had me under a spell all right."
Lily blushed. "You should ave been paying attention to the game," she said, trying to change the subject, noting the intense look in his eyes.
"I was a little distracted," James admitted.
"By Stewart's commentary? He was being obnoxious. When I get my hands on him-" She stopped abruptly, interrupted by James placing a finger over her lips.
"I wasn't listening to him," he said, his voice low.
He was so close to her now. Lily could smell the irresistible scent of oranges flooding through her nose again and leaned towards him too.
"I was distracted by a very pretty girl cheering for me. In fact she's the most beautiful girl I've ever seen," he said, his hand holding hers tightly. His hazel eyes were fixed on hers, full of passion and love for her. He moved his hand from her lips to her cheek, stroking it softly with his knuckles.
"No matter how much I try, I can't get her out of my mind," he said. Lily was having trouble breathing. She still had one hand over his heart and she could feel his heart beating fast. She was well aware that hers was going at the same rate. He leaned in even closer, his breath warm on her face. She couldn't pull away. She didn't want to pull away.
"But you know what?" he whispered. "I don't want to get her out of my mind."
Madam Pomfrey bustled in. "Ah, you're awake, Mr. Potter. Good. You'll need to take this medicine," she called from the end of the wing.
The curtains were still blocking Lily and James from view, but he sighed, closed his eyes and fell back against the pillows, disappointment written all over his face. He opened his eyes to find Lily frozen to the spot, but her face was slightly disappointed too. A series of conflicted emotions passed across her face. She gathered herself, squeezed his hand and quickly kissed him on the forehead. "Don't try anything stupid in here okay? I want to see you at breakfast tomorrow," she said quickly, but tenderly.
"Ah Miss Evans. Leaving for dinner?" said Madam Pomfrey, pulling back the curtains.
"Yes ma'am. Will he be okay?" said Lily.
"His ribs should be fine. His concussion's almost gone too," said Madam Pomfrey.
"I wouldn't worry about his head, he'd already lost it anyway," said Lily, grinning. James pulled a face. "But he's got a good heart, take care of it," she said softly. She left quickly, smiling at the incredulous delight on James' face. She barely noticed Peter outside the doors as she went to have dinner.
Peter stared sadly at the Hospital wing doors after Lily left.
"You wish you were lying in that bed, don't you?" asked a smooth voice.
He jumped and turned around to find Snape leaning against the opposite wall. "What do you want? I'm not afraid of you," he squeaked.
"I don't want anything. I just came to sympathise with you," said Snape.
"What do you mean?"
"I know what it feels like to want Lily Evans and not have her reciprocate your feelings. I know what it's like to stand on the sidelines and watch as Potter steals her away."
"James is my friend!"
"No doubt about that. But why should he get what he wants all the time? And do you really believe Lily will still choose you over him? She didn't even glance at you as she left just now. She wasn't there at your bedside when you had food poisoning last week. Come on Peter, why should you bother with her when she doesn't care about you?"
"I - don't know..."
"You should teach her a lesson. You should teach them all a lesson. They only put up with you because they have to," said Snape.
"They're all my friends!" repeated Peter.
"Friends who don't care about you?"
"Stop it, Snape. They care about me, I know they do. And I care about them!" snapped Peter. He pushed past Snape and walked away. But, at the end of the corridor, he turned back, just for a moment, and Snape noted with triumph, the hint of doubt that gleamed in Peter's eyes.
"How dare you!" Al burst out. "You ruined their lives! You killed my grandparents!" He glared darkly at Snape.
Snape nodded, looking regretful, "At the time, I believed every word I said to Pettigrew. But I only regret the loss of Lily. You may idolise your grandfather, but I cared nothing for him."
Al looked ready to attack him. Once again, James held him back. "People change, Al. No matter what he's done, Snape helped dad and he risked his life for it. You can't ignore that."
Al still looked mutinous. McGonagall intervened.
"Why don't you two go get some lunch and calm down?" she said. She pushed them out of her office.
"The younger one's a lot more like James Potter," Snape sneered.
McGonagall suddenly glared at him, looking protective, "Bear in mind, Severus, you may be nice now; but back then, if Lily had heard what you'd said to Peter, she'd be as mad as her grandson."
Sorry about the crappy starting... especially the part about Sirius and Alison getting together...I was in a bit of a hurry when I typed this and I didn't have a spell check either, so sorry about any grammar or spelling mistakes...
There's only about 5 chapters left now that Lily's finally realising she's falling in love with James...
Please review! At least 5 reviews again? :)
