WRITTEN FOR QLFC, RESERVE LEAGUE

SEASON 9, ROUND 2

Keeper: Something There - Beauty and the Beast

WC: 1016

The constant murmuring on the other side of the bookshelf behind her was getting on Lily's nerves. She just couldn't concentrate on memorising the charm theory Professor Flitwick had given them as homework. She kept glaring over her shoulder at the bookshelf as if the force of her glare could stop the whispering.

Finally, having had enough, Lily sighed and slammed her book shut. She rose to her feet and strode towards the other side of the shelf. She was about to turn around the corner when a familiar mop of black hair came into view.

Lily stopped dead in her tracks and stared.

James Potter—the bane of her existence, her archenemy, and her co-Head—sat at the rectangular table with a fifth-year Ravenclaw boy who Lily recognised as Barty Crouch Jr. James's head was bowed over a thick tome, and he seemed to be talking to Crouch. The Ravenclaw was paying seemingly undivided attention to James, his eyes wide and his mouth agape.

Lily took a step closer, ready to berate him for interrupting Crouch's study-time, but then, she heard James say, "So, really, Practical Defensive Magic and Its Use Against the Dark Arts is better than the schoolbook if you want to pass your OWLs with Outstandings. You should buy it when you go to Hogsmeade. Or I could lend you my book if you want. I've made some notes in the book that could help you."

Lily immediately ducked behind the shelf, her heart skipping a beat. Potter's helping someone? What's going on? She pushed two books to the side and peeked through the gap at James and Crouch. She was determined to figure out what James was really up to; she didn't believe he was doing this out of the goodness of his heart. She knew that James did not do things from the goodness of his heart.

Potter must be up to something.

To her surprise, Crouch grinned and said, "Thanks! I appreciate your help. I really want to pass my OWLs with the best marks ever."

"And you will," James said, without any doubt in his voice. He clapped Crouch's shoulder and beamed at him. "Just come by the Gryffindor table at breakfast tomorrow, and I'll give the book to you."

"Really? Wouldn't you rather give it to someone else? A Gryffindor, perhaps?"

"Why? You do want the book, don't you?"

"Well, yes, but—"

"Then, you're getting it. No questions asked," James said. He then stretched his arms over his head and groaned. "Merlin, my arse hurts from sitting for so long! Don't know how Remus does it."

Crouch chuckled and said, "It's an acquired taste."

James rolled his eyes before getting to his feet. He reached forward to ruffle Barty's hair. "You're just as bad as Remus, then," he teased. "I'll see you later. A couple of firsties asked me to help them with their Transfiguration homework."

"Bye, James. Thanks for everything," Crouch said, waving at James as the latter walked away, swinging his bag on his shoulder.

Lily trudged back to the table and plopped down on the chair, her mind unfocused. Did she really just see James Potter helping someone for no reason whatsoever? And he was going to help some first-year students with their homework, too? Lily had never seen James studying before, so she shook her head in disbelief at what she had heard.

Was there more to James Potter than what met her eye? Could he have a softer side to him that Lily didn't know about?

Determined to find out the truth, Lily packed her bag and slung it over her shoulder. She darted towards the door, hoping James hadn't disappeared already.

Fortunately, she found James walking down the corridor. She cast a Notice-Me-Not charm on herself and stuck to the shadows, following James at a distance.

By the time the bell rang for dinner, James had helped pick up books for a first-year Slytherin girl, stopped to chat with some Ravenclaw boys, spoken to a few Prefects about the day's patrol schedule, and even comforted a crying Gryffindor boy.

As Lily walked into the Great Hall, the cogs in her brain still hadn't turned fast enough to take in all the information from her wide eyes.

Had James Potter matured into a decent human being? Was this the evidence he had wanted her to see all these years?

She stumbled over to her usual seat and sat down with a thump, accidentally smacking her best friend, Marlene, with her bag.

"Oof, Lils, whatcha do that for?" Marlene whined, rubbing her arm and scowling at Lily.

Lily blinked slowly and muttered, "Sorry, I was...lost in thought, I guess." She stared at her plate and tried to compute James's recent changes in behaviour. She shook her head and asked, "Hey, Marlene, did you start working on the Defence essay? I was thinking we could do it—"

"Oh, guess what? I've finished it already," Marlene said with a proud grin on her face.

Lily was stunned. Marlene, the world's biggest procrastinator, had finished the Defence essay before her? What was the world coming to?

"Pinch me," Lily demanded, staring at Marlene with wide eyes.

Marlene reached forward and pinched Lily's arm, twisting the skin a bit too hard on purpose. Lily squawked and smacked her hand away. Marlene grinned and asked, "Are you just as surprised by that as I am?"

"Yes!"

Marlene threw her head back and laughed heartily. She wiped her eyes and grinned. "James actually helped me with the essay. He didn't tell me how to write it, mind you. He just gave me some tips on how I could cast the spell and then write about my experience with it. The practical aspect would help me more than mindlessly trying to learn the theory. That's what James said, anyway."

Lily turned her head and glanced at James, who was laughing at something Peter had said. She bit her lip and thought, 'I wonder why I didn't realise it before...It seems like there's something more to him that I couldn't see.'