Rating warning: this chapter is rated E (explicit), for very mature content!
Chapter 10: The more that you say, the less I know
Lily turned off the water of the shower, stepping out of the stall to dry herself. She woke up rather late that Sunday morning but she had wanted to take her time in the bath, letting the warm water soothe her shoulders and massage her sensitive legs. She was still recovering from the intense romp of the day before, her lower half feeling rickety as she walked. She got dressed slowly, fixing her hair with a drying spell and foregoing make-up for the day, only applying beauty charms on her neck to hide the love bites James had left her the day before.
Exiting the bathroom, Lily frowned at finding her dorm empty with the exception of a lazy-looking Marlene. She had barely seen her friend in their room the past few days. Since Elizabeth and Black ended their relationship, Marlene had been avoiding the seventh-year girls' dormitory, spending her time with the Marauders during class, breaks and meals. The only contact Lily really had with her had been the night before, when Lily had come back exhausted from her patrol with James, sitting with the boys and Marlene for dinner, Lizzie and Cassandra nowhere to be seen.
And now they were also gone, leaving a sleepy Marlene and a sore Lily behind. Lily crossed the threshold of the bathroom door, making to her night cabinet to pick up her wand and her book The Limits of Advanced Potion-Making. She intended to spend the end of the morning and beginning of afternoon working on her original concoction for the first phase of the Libatius Borage programme. She had already presented her idea to Professor Slughorn the week before, getting his approval and accompanying warning over the level of difficulty thereof, which allowed her to finally start her search for the right ingredients and the drafting of the brewing recipe. She only had two more weeks left before the deadline. She prayed James would stop distracting her long enough for her to accomplish her goal.
- Good morning, Lils – Marlene yawned.
- Morning – Lily replied with a smile.
Despite spending more time with the Marauders lately because of her obsession with James, Lily still had qualms with the way Marlene had extricated herself from her girls' group. None of them had approached Lily to explain what really went down between Black and Elizabeth, and why was Marlene not taking her best friend's side. Lily only knew what it was about because the least expected from the people involved had purposefully sought her out to tell her what happened.
After Black told Lily he couldn't be with Elizabeth because of her world views, and resistance to take a position in the impeding war, Lily imagined Marlene's choice to take Black's side had to revolve around the same reason. Marlene must disagree with Elizabeth over her foolish neutrality.
It surprised Lily. Not only did she never suspect that that was the reason behind the former couple's issues, she never knew Marlene felt so strongly about it. Strongly enough to fail to perform her duties as best friend to comfort a heartbroken Elizabeth. Regardless of the reasons, Lily fully disapproved Marlene's attitude. Even if Lily herself agreed with her pig-headed friend when it came to the blood status dilemma.
Lily guessed that hers and Cassandra's unwillingness to bring up the topic in front of their Pureblood friends led to Lily having no idea how they felt about it.
- What are you up to today? - Marlene asked while Lily gathered her belongings, rearranging her bag.
- Ehm – Lily hesitated. In theory, today was the day of their traditional picnic on the lake, since it was the first Sunday of the month. She didn't know if it was going through, though, since their group seemed thoroughly shattered.
- Picnic? - Marlene's sarcastic voice interrupted Lily's struggle to come up with an answer. Lily frowned.
- What's up with you, Marls?
The other girl just shrugged, looking away.
- Nothing. I was just wondering if you three are still going to do the picnic today, is all.
- Are you not coming?
- What, to spend the whole afternoon enduring Cassandra's glares and Elizabeth's victim façade? Thank you, but no thank you.
Lily pursed her lips.
- You're not handling this well, Marlene. She's your best friend.
- And? Cassandra is your best friend and that doesn't stop you from calling her out in her bullshit when you see it, does it? And piss off with your judgement, 'not handling this well' - Marlene's voice dropped to mock-imitate Lily – You don't even know what this is all about.
Lily had to make an effort to control her breathing, and her blood from start boiling.
- Yes, I do. No thanks to you, of course.
- Elizabeth told you? Ha, then I know for a fact that you don't know what this is about. I can bet she didn't tell you the real truth, just like she hid it from me for fucking years.
- No, Marlene, from Sirius. He told me why he broke up with her and I assume is the same reason you're acting like such a shitty friend right now.
Marlene's eyes, that had widened with the information that had been Black the one to tell Lily what happened, narrowed again, aflame with anger.
- If you really know what's about – she hissed – then you should know that Elizabeth is the shitty friend, not me. She's the one willing to let you fight all by yourself when the times comes.
- So is Cassandra! - Lily almost shouted, despite her attempts to calm herself down. - That's their fucking choice, Marlene. I'm not going to start excluding people from my life just because they don't agree with my world views, as long as they're not the ones directly opposing me.
- World views? Are you really going to reduce it to 'world views'? It's your entire existence, Lily!
Lily's whole body felt like it had turned into ice at the words. Marlene was trying to probe on a very wrong place.
- Really? - Lily said, voice glacial. - I hadn't noticed. Do tell more.
Marlene startled with Lily's reaction, then shook her head.
- I'm sorry, of course you know what it is about. I guess I just can't understand how you are so casual about all of this.
- Because, Marlene, it's much easier for you to get all fired up when you yourself have nothing to fear – Lily shot back. - Like you said, it's my entire existence. I can't just go around fighting people left and right, more than I already do, pushing away my friends and people I care about. People leave on their own volition anyway, I'm not about to make it even worse.
Marlene bit her lips, brows furrowed.
- I'm sorry, love. It really sucks.
- It does. But, as I said, if they only disagree with me but don't actively go against my place in the world, like Severus, then I have to be alright with it. Of course it breaks my heart that Cassandra doesn't want to stand by my side, but what am I to do with it? Simply walk away and stop being her friend? - Lily sighed. - I can't.
Marlene took a step forward and hugged Lily.
- You're too good for us, Lily.
- I'm really not. And I do think you did not handle this well, Marls. - Lily disentangled herself from the hug to look at her friend. - If you are against Lizzie's posture then talk to her, try to change her mind, whatever. But don't just walk away when she needs you the most.
- Easier said than done, Lily – Marlene replied, bitter. - I know I might have been a bit too harsh, but Elizabeth lied to me. For ages. Pretending it was about something else, because she knew I would be mad at her. If I had known sooner, I'd try to do something about it like you say. But I didn't. She fucking hid it from me and played the victim the whole time. Like Sirius was the wrong party and not her!
Lily patted her red hair, bringing it to the front as she mulled over that piece of information. Indeed, nobody ever knew what Elizabeth's arguments with Black were about. Just like Lily, Marlene must've had imagined that it was due to Black being an arsehole and playing Elizabeth. Lily remembered very well how Marlene had always picked fights with the Marauder on her best friend's behalf. Lily could understand why she would now feel lied to and manipulated with Elizabeth's unwillingness to disclosure the real reason behind it all.
Was it motive enough to leave her best friend hanging when she was hurting?
Lily still thought that it wasn't but, again, she couldn't really tell people what to do or think. Their choices were their choices. Lily had long learned to accept that people could not be convinced to change their decisions once their minds were made up. She had long accepted that people hardly changed at all. Except James, she reminded herself. But he was especial. She already knew that.
Yet, there was something else.
- And what did I do?
- What?
- You just said that the main reason you're distancing yourself from Elizabeth is because she lied to you. So now I want to know what did I do to you to make you also distance yourself from me when I was heartbroken over James.
Whatever Marlene expected Lily to say, it was definitely not that. Her entire face stretched in alarm, caught completely off guard. Lily filled in the silence.
- I understand that you might've disagreed with me, with the way I acted. You perhaps thought that what happened in the summer didn't matter anymore and that I was overreacting. And, yeah, alright, it kind of makes sense - Lily clocked Marlene's even more surprised face at the admission. - What doesn't make sense is how one of my closest friends of seven bloody years not only did not tell me that the boy I was seeing had had a fling with another friend of mine, but also did not seem opportune to come talk to me about the situation, to try and understand my reasons for being so upset, and instead decided to just turn her back on me and make me feel utterly stupid the entire time!
- Oh, Lily – Marlene yelped, trying to reach Lily again for an embrace, but Lily just stepped away from her.
- You have no idea the load of shit I was going through at that moment, Marlene. I was really not alright. And the bottom line is, you were not there for me. What does that say about you?
Lily was ready to have it all out with Marlene, to dump every single resentment she had regarding her friend on the spot, but Marlene immediately broke down crying and Lily's anger deflated at the speed of light.
Lily surged back forward, holding her friend in her arms as Marlene sobbed uncontrollably.
- I-I'm so fuck-fucking sorry – she bawled, shaking under Lily's hug. - I-I never meant to-to be a b-bad friend to you, I just, I just – Marlene looked like she was going to choke and Lily couldn't take it anymore.
- It's okay, it's okay – Lily whispered in her ear, stroking her hair gently. - We don't need to get into this right now.
Like a sudden realization, Lily comprehended that Marlene was also not doing alright. Cutting herself off from her friends was hitting her hard. Especially when it came to her best friend. Lily absently considered how she would feel if she was not talking to Cassandra anymore. How adrift she would feel. She ignored the voice in her head that told her that this perspective was not that distant anymore. If Lily was going to join the war after school and Cassandra go as far away from it as possible, Lily doubted they would maintain any kind of contact. As usual, Lily chased away those tragic thoughts to focus on the matter at hand.
- Come on, love. It's alright, let's go down for breakfast.
After Marlene managed to put herself together, clumsily apologizing to Lily as she charmed her eyes to not look so puffed, they made their way down to the Great Hall, finding only James sitting in the middle of the table. He sat sideways on the bench, plate in front of him already empty, fully absorbed in the reading of the Daily Prophet. He lifted his head, though, at their approach, gifting Lily with the brightest grin of the castle.
- There you are – he exclaimed, putting the newspaper down. - I thought you had decided to sleep 'til tomorrow!
Lily chuckled, making the round to sit next to him. She lowered herself in the seat, catching his lips, enjoying his usual taste of morning coffee. The kiss lasted a bit longer than it should, but Lily still made the effort to pull away and distract herself from the familiar butterflies on her stomach by grabbing his mug and sipping on his coffee.
- Hm, nice – she purred at the first contact with the warm beverage. James arched his brow in fake annoyance, while Marlene took her place in front of them, rolling her eyes.
- You two are just too damn cute.
- I know – Lily replied, content. - Where's everyone?
James shrugged, moving closer to lace his arm behind Lily's back, pouring himself another cup of coffee.
- They had breakfast already, you know, at a reasonable hour.
- And what are you doing here?
- Waiting for you, of course. What else? - he said easily, giving Lily's shoulder a peck.
- Ugh, too cute, I can't take it – groaned Marlene, but she smiled. So did Lily. It was nice that James was the one adjusting his breakfast time for a change. She definitely approved of it.
They ate idly, Lily sticking to bread and eggs and Marlene choosing chocolate crepes. James accompanied them with his black coffee, telling them the news of the day, avoiding the heaviest ones, Lily could notice. Fifth-year Gryffindor prefect Marge Meadowes joined them at some point, entertaining them with the stories of her aurologist grandmother. Marlene laughed loudly at the tales, herself an extremely sceptical person.
Lily enjoined spending some time with Marlene again. She wasn't completely done with her queries over the girl's behaviour, but Lily felt like an important step had been taken in the acknowledgment of how Marlene had been unfair with Lily and her apologizing for it. Lily felt like she could go back to looking at her friend as someone very dear, even if still distant. Yet, Lily mused, they have always been close but never close enough. Lily blamed it on how differently they were brought up into the world.
- What are the plans for today? You two have patrols, right? - asked Marge, directing the second question at Lily and James.
- Yeah – James replied. - And I'm supposed to tutor Zhao and Fletcher before lunch. But other than that, not much planned.
Lily frowned.
- Aren't you tutoring them Tuesday morning?
- Er, yeah, but, uh, I couldn't make it last Tuesday so I rescheduled it for today.
He said it casually, like it was no big deal, but Lily hesitated. Last Tuesday? That was when they reconciliated, after his letter of the night before. He was awaiting for her at the Gryffindor table that day.
Of course.
He skipped his tutoring to wait for her. She should've registered it sooner. James was never at breakfast Tuesday mornings. She had been in such a state she didn't even realise it. And now she could just imagine him sitting on that table for hours, until she finally came down, skiving off his responsibilities to wait anxiously for her to find out if she had decided to come back to him or not.
She felt her heart throb so she shifted closer to him, squeezing his hand under the table.
- I'm glad you did.
He smiled softly at her.
- I wouldn't have missed it for the world.
Marlene started fake puking, making Marge laugh out loud. Lily took the moment of distraction and caught James' lips again, already eager to be alone with him. But she knew that would still take a while.
- Well, while you tutor the first-years, I'll be in the library. How about you, Marls?
- I guess just hanging around with the lads, as usual. - She took a bite off her sweet crepe. - What are you going to do in the library, anyway? I'm pretty sure all your assignments must be already done and dusted.
- Almost all of them, yeah - Lily shrugged. - But, eh, I'm actually working on something else. An extracurricular activity.
- Oh?
- Of course you are, Head Girl – chuckled Marge. - You are always one step ahead of everyone, aren't you?
Lily grinned at the girl, enjoying the praise of a fellow prefect. She could feel James' eyes on her, though, hanging on to every word she said. She hadn't told him about the programme yet. She really needed to spend more of their time together talking instead of snogging. Or shagging.
- What extracurricular activity? - asked Marlene, licking the chocolate out of her lips. - That's the first I'm hearing of it.
- Ehm, yeah, I haven't told anyone actually. Well, - she recanted - only Cassandra.
- Obviously. - Marlene rolled her eyes.
- It's just that I had so much to do and this past month has been, eh, really – Lily couldn't help looking at James at that – really busy. I just didn't get the opportunity.
Marlene cackled, knowing full well what Lily meant, while Marge looked at her curiously, clearly interested in learning more about the Head Boy and Girl's dynamic. James just stared, eyes full of attention.
- It's a potions programme. Uh, advanced potion-making. I need to come up with an original concoction until the end of the month, and next term I need to brew it. It's pretty cool, actually.
- Sounds boring – deadpanned Marlene before winking at Lily. - But you do you. It definitely takes you one step closer to becoming a potioneer, doesn't it?
Lily bit back a grimace. Marlene naturally did not know she had no intention in becoming a potioneer anymore. Nobody except Cassandra knew her real ambition. Really, did Lily not trust anyone else in the world?
She looked at James. She trusted him. With her life. She wished they were alone now so she could tell him everything. But they weren't so she just smiled at Marlene, busying herself with the lukewarm coffee in front of her.
- Is that the one Professor Slughorn offered you? - James asked, quietly.
She nodded, squeezing his hand again.
- Will you tell me about it later? - he asked then.
- I will – she promised. - Maybe during patrol? I have the picnic with the girls today – Lily added, when James appeared puzzled by the late moment she picked to talk. - My afternoon is all booked out, I'm afraid.
James smiled at her, assenting to the plan. It would be hard to focus in the library knowing that he was somewhere in the castle, available to her, but she needed to power through it.
- Maybe I'll just pop into Hogsmeade for a couple hours then, to kill some time, you know – he whispered mischievously in her ear a few minutes later, disproving her theory that he would spend his afternoon free. She rolled her eyes at his not-so-proper Head Boy behaviour, but the only crossness she felt was that she couldn't go with him.
Shortly after, Lily dragged herself to the library, selecting its most isolated corner to bury under the dozens of books she removed from the shelves. She had already gotten a good grip of the basic effects and workings of lycanthropy. She also had some ideas about how a potion that reduced the impact of the monthly transformation should be envisaged. She was almost certain that it would have to involve Aconite but she was trying to find an alternative. Aconite was a very poisonous plant. It was also used for the Wideye Potion, which was why Lily knew it had the right properties to induce a containment of the symptoms of lycanthropy. But it was very difficult to come by. And something told her that it would probably be very expensive. Lily would never be able to secure some for her second phase of the programme.
She just needed to find a way around it.
Therefore, she buried herself in potions books that took alternative views to the concoction of a cure. She read about magical drafts, reviving spells, confinement curses, vitality plants. By the time lunchtime strolled along, she hadn't gotten anywhere. She fished an old muffin she had kept in her bag since Friday, deciding it was worth to skip her favourite meal of the day if she could just figure out how to find a bloody replacement to Aconite.
She didn't.
When the clock struck two o'clock, Lily gave up. She needed to meet the girls by the lake in half an hour and she was starving anyway. Her muffin had settled her famished stomach something close to zero. She organized her material, putting most of the books back into their shelves and bringing some of them to the library counter for Madame Pince to check them in on Lily's name. She walked resolute to the Gryffindor Tower, planning on leaving her heavy bag filled with books in the dorm and changing her skirt to trousers since it looked like it was rather cold outside. Somewhere on the East Wing of the sixth floor, though, she was kidnapped.
Strong, calloused hands grabbed each of her sides, turning her around in one brusque movement, followed by a palm that closed over her mouth, preventing her from screaming. She only had a glimpse of hazel before she was thrown inside an alcove, and her body fully covered by James'.
- I couldn't wait until patrol – he muttered before kissing her. His mouth was demanding, taking kisses from her in a rush, tongue swirling over Lily's. His hands clasped her jumper, keeping her trapped against the corner of the alcove.
- James – she panted, trying to free her mouth. She did but that only made James drag his to her throat, sucking on her sensitive skin, nibbling a pathway across her neck. Lily whimpered at the touch, loving the little bites he was leaving along the way. She tried to think straight, with no luck.
James kept kissing her, his lips taking hers with such an intensity one would think they were running out of time. For what exactly, Lily didn't know but that didn't stop her from shivering with lust, knickers drenched as James made circular movements, pressing his erection on her, completely ready for her. His hands lowered to her thighs, lifting her slightly so he could thrust his hips against her.
- Fuck, James – she moaned. - Baby, I-I need to go. I can't -
- You're not going anywhere – he replied gruffly, reclaiming her mouth and succeeding in making her forget her protest. He kept thrusting his hips against hers, creating a delicious friction between their legs. Lily was feeling the heat quickly overcome her body.
She couldn't believe they were going to shag again in an alcove, on consecutive days. Past Lily would have been outraged. She always took pride in being proper no matter what, never getting caught snogging someone in compromising places. Not that she had had many opportunities to put her resolve to practice, but the few moments she had engaged in more intimate acts, it was all done in the safety of private spaces.
Now she was about to be fucked into a wall in a very public place for the second day in a row, after having had sex in a shared dorm, all in the same weekend. She couldn't be more done for.
She had already accepted her fate when James abruptly removed his mouth from her, taking a step back. He stared at her for a beat, chest heaving, before he grabbed her hand and left the alcove, large steps taking them efficiently down the corridor. He took the left turn, reaching the south staircase, dragging Lily behind him without a look back. When they arrived at the fifth floor and James crossed to the right, Lily realised where he was heading.
Thank fuck, she thought.
James opened the door of their office with a bang, throwing Lily inside, and locking and silencing it in one swift move. Lily made to go to their usual armchair – the coming chair, she'd named it affectionately – but James took a strong hold of her wrist, pulling her back to him and pushing her against the now locked door.
He covered her body again with his, mouth dominating hers, hands roaming her curves with insistent fervour.
- I missed you too much. I can't go the whole day without you – he said between searing kisses.
It had been only a few hours since they last saw each other, but Lily wholeheartedly agreed that it had been too long.
She kissed him back with the same eagerness, feeling her head wander the familiar path to blankness whenever he touched her like this. James restarted his previous circular movements, softly thrusting his hips against Lily's, rubbing his erection on her core teasingly. Lily moaned inside his mouth.
- What is it, baby? - he asked, bringing his teeth to her earlobe while his hands found her arse under the skirt, squeezing it and pressing her harder against him. Lily just shook her head, craning her neck to give him more access. She just needed him to keep doing exactly what he was doing.
- Use your words, Lily.
Lily bit her lips, holding in her whimpers, trying to settle herself. She absolutely loved when he talked to her like that. It made her go feral. And she wanted him to keep going.
She swallowed a few times until she trusted herself enough to talk.
- Tell me what you're going to do to me.
James hips twisted brutally at her words. He grunted, letting his head fall against her shoulder.
- Baby, please – Lily cried, knowing full well what her begging would do to him. - I need to know what you will do to me right now.
He snapped his head back, yanking her hair to make her face him.
- Today, I'm going to fuck you from behind – he said and Lily shuddered violently.
His hands clasped on her sides again, slapping his hard-on straight on her centre. He talked to her mouth, barely an inch apart, warm breath tickling her, spectacles hurting her cheeks.
- I'm going to rip your knickers apart with my teeth, first. But I'll let you keep this tiny skirt that you seem to like so much.
He bit her lower lip, pulling it painfully until Lily yelped.
- Then I'm going to turn you around and shove you against this door. Get you really comfortable in there because that will be your only view while I rail you.
His mouth surged to the side, nibbling at her left earlobe, descending to bite sharply on the thin, white flesh of her neck. Lily distractedly made a mental note to double her beauty charms the next day before class.
- I will let you feel my cock nicely on your arse until you beg me to get inside you. But only after you beg. You know how to do it really well, don't you, Head Girl?
Lily's entire body quivered at the name, feeling so randy she imagined she'd burst into flames anytime soon.
- You like when I call you that, baby? - he asked. She nodded, knowing he would want her to say the words but unable to do so in the moment.
Surely enough, he brought one hand back up to tug on her hair, bringing her face to him.
- Tell me how badly you like it.
- I like it so much, James.
He hummed appreciatively.
- Now tell me how badly you want me.
- I want you so, so bad.
- I know you do – he said, voice so smug it sounded almost lazy. She felt a prickle of annoyance that only served to make her more randy. He let her head go, keeping the rubbing movement on her middle. - I only need to touch you and you're gone, aren't you, Lily?
The annoyance at his arrogant words only increased, together with her arousal.
- Letting me eat you out in the middle of the Common Room. - He tsked. - Not very Head Girl proper, is it?
Lily's body was fully heated, half of lust and half of irritation. She wondered which one would win. In the following moment, James dropped to his knees in front of her, mouth instantly connecting with her left thigh, and lust won.
- Cornering me in the Prefects' bathroom to strip for me. Running away from Hogsmeade just to get fucked into oblivion in the boys' dorm. - He slowly ascended on her leg, tongue darting out to leave a wet trail on his way up. - Letting me take you in an alcove in a public corridor. You're such a bad girl, Lily. - He lifted her jeans skirt, ruffling it on her waist. - So dirty.
Lily let out an embarrassing moan.
- James, please.
- Please what?
- Please, fuck me.
She didn't need to say it twice. James reached for her knickers, catching it with his teeth and pulling at it hard until Lily heard a shredding noise. It didn't completely rip as he expected, though, so he brought his hands up impatiently, finishing the tearing apart of the fabric. He stood up, turning Lily around brusquely, pushing her against the office door like he said he would. He removed his hands from her temporarily, using them to yank at his trousers, not bothering to lower his pants more than his mid-thighs. After setting himself free, he turned his hands once again to Lily, pulling her hips roughly, forcing her back to arch to him and gripping from each of her sides to open her legs. The next second, she felt his hard, warm cock press against her bare arse.
Lily sobbed in anticipation.
- Beg again, Lily. Beg me to fuck you.
She did. She didn't need any prompts, she never needed to be taken as much as she did in that moment. In a string of 'please' and 'baby', James pushed inside her in one single move, burying himself to the hilt.
He held her with one hand, keeping her steady as he pounded against her, while his other hand found her nub, grinding at her clit with precision, making Lily see starts. It never ceased to impress Lily how James could find the perfect balance between harsh and sweet, between hammering her and skilfully touching her where she was the most sensitive.
She braced her arms against the door, trying to keep some hold of reality.
- You're so fucking randy for me, baby. I love it how you just started having sex and you already can't control yourself. Just need to get fucked all the time.
Lily shuddered, body moving back and forth with James' movements.
- You act so good the whole day, so damn proper. Meanwhile all you're thinking about is when I'm going to shag you again, isn't it? - He gave a particular rough thrust and demanded - Isn't it?
Lily nodded as she felt the heat produced by his fingers starting to irradiate through her body. She was very close. James could tell, keeping his rugged rhythm, hips slapping against her bum, while his hand kept buried on her core.
- You're so gone for me, Lily. You can't go a day without my cock anymore.
Lily was coming undone but somewhere at the back of her mind her annoyance with his overly confident words decided to prickle her again. She felt like provoking him back. She threw a hand behind, grabbing his hair forcefully and with her last breath of air before she collapsed she moaned -
- Harder.
He growled, increasing his pace, pounding deeper on her until he was also coming not a minute after.
They stayed connected as they recovered their breaths, supporting themselves on the wooden door. James kissed her slowly, brushing the sweaty tendrils of hair out of her neck, hands caressing her shoulders. Lily kept her eyes closed, forehead pressed against the cold surface in front of her.
- Guess I was wrong – she murmured.
- Hm?
- You haven't changed that much. You're still an arrogant toerag.
She felt James freeze behind her, before he let out an exasperated laugh.
- Sorry, love. I have no idea what goes on with me when I'm having you. I completely lose control of my mouth.
Lily smirked, detaching herself from him and turning around.
- Do you now? So you don't really think I'm a bad girl who can't get enough of your cock?
James closed his eyes, groaning, a faint blush covering his cheeks.
- Ugh, I'm so sorry, Lily – he replied, scrunching his face in shame. He enlaced her with long arms, sinking his head on the crook of her neck. - I talk too much shit when I'm horny.
She laughed out loud.
- You definitely do. - She patted the back of his head. - Lucky for you I like your dirty talking more than I dislike your overconfidence.
He sighed, bringing his face back and kissing her sweetly on the lips.
- You couldn't be more of a proper, perfect Head Girl. Probably the best the school has ever had.
- Ha! Well, boy. Flattery will get you far.
He chuckled.
- It's absolutely true. You're amazing. - He kissed her again before bending down to cast a spell to clean the mess he had left between her legs and another to fix the knickers he had shattered. After patching it up, he lifted the underwear on her legs, sending her an apologetic look for the shredding, and walked them back to their usual armchair. He sat down, perching her predictably on his lap. - Tell me about the potions programme.
Lily did. She told him how Professor Slughorn had approached her about two months ago to explain how a spot in the highly competitive Libatius Borage programme became available to a Hogwarts student and how he had chosen her to be the school representative. James asked, then, if that was what Rosier was bitching about in their last meeting, because Snape was not the one picked by the teacher. Lily confirmed it, telling him she had no idea why the professor had selected her, but she wasn't about to ask too many questions about it.
- Of course, you're not going to look a gift horse in the mouth, are you? - he replied, grinning widely for getting the correct quote of a muggle expression she had used with him once before.
She grinned back, feeling all fuzzy inside to see he had paid enough attention to her, ages before they even got together, to remember the saying.
- Exactly. I just said yes, not giving it much thought.
She told him how she had tried to reconcile her thousands of responsibilities and schoolwork with this extracurricular activity, admitting that she was actually lagging behind, having to race now to meet the deadline.
- And it's all your fault, naturally.
- Mine? - he yelped, in alarm.
- Yes, James, don't you remember? You wrecked my world.
He smiled at that, a pinch of guilt decorating it, as he stroked her messy red hair.
- It was not my intention but I'm glad you found a place for me in your world either way. I know it was not what you wanted for this year, so I'm very grateful that you still gave me a chance.
She sighed, reaching closer to hug him tightly.
- I'm also very glad that you entered my world. It's much better with you in it.
He hugged her back, kissing her once on the lips before asking her to continue her story.
She told him about her idea for the potion, and how she had hit a wall.
- A cure to contain the symptoms of lycanthropy?
- Yeah, you know. Remus is always so debilitated after the full moon, I'm sure there must be something to be done to make it easier for him, at least a little. Don't you think?
He agreed. He also seemed to be very appreciative of her attempts to make his mate's life better if she took by the way he kissed her ferociously before pulling her body up in the armchair, sinking to his knees again and making her come one more time, this time with his mouth.
Lily laid on his lap afterwards, deliciously spent. She didn't know how was she supposed to have energy to do anything productive in her life when she was toppling over with so many unexpected orgasms. Her body did not appear to be equipped to function while also sexually active. At least not when James kept her so thoroughly satiated.
They chatted leisurely, like they tended to do after their trysts. Lily told him about her talk with Marlene in the dorm before breakfast. She admitted to him she had had some resentment towards her friend for the way Marlene shut Lily out when James and her took some time off. And how she was upset Marlene was doing that again, now with Elizabeth. James agreed with her that the reason was not good enough to leave a friend hanging like that. James was loyal to a fault to his own friends, he would of course find it less than okay for Marlene to behave the way she did just because things got hard.
He told her he had finally shared with Remus and Pettigrew that Lily was in on all their secrets. He laughed deeply retelling the moment he let them know Lily was also aware of the map and the cloak, and how Black had complained out loud, acting indignant, but telling James in private how relieved he was that he didn't need to come up with excuses to the Head Girl anymore, as to how he moved around the castle undetected.
- He's such two-faced, Sirius is – Lily exclaimed, also laughing. - He always does that, pretends one thing to the outside, while inside he feels completely different.
- He is – James agreed, chuckling lightly. He looked at her, eyes twinkling. - I like that you're calling him Sirius now. Like you're finally friends after seven years.
Lily shrugged.
- I guess after our talk I finally feel like I know who he is. I couldn't be friends with him before that, before really knowing him.
- That's fair. - He kissed her temple. - He also refers to you sometimes as Lily, it's really sweet, actually.
- It is?
- Oh, yeah. Sirius likes to pride himself in being unwavering no matter what. He didn't want to change his mind about you, he was dead set in disliking you for all eternity. And now he can't help beaming when you come around and sit with us. He pretends he isn't but actually he's really happy that we are together.
- I know he is, he told me that. But I'd say it's more because he can see you are happy with me, and that's all he ever wants for you.
James paused, humming.
- There's definitely that. But there's more too. I think he genuinely likes you. He likes how you figured everything out without help and still kept it to yourself. You know he values trust and intellect more than anything else.
- So do you, sillyhead - Lily retorted. - Well, I'm glad that my boyfriend's best friend finally likes me, it makes my life much easier.
James all but floated with the word she used to describe him, giggling like an eleven-year-old. He hugged her, burying her under small pecks all over her face, asking her to repeat the name. She did, to please him, but also because it felt damn good to call him her boyfriend. He couldn't be anything less to her, ever.
They finally decided to pack their things and leave the Heads' office when they saw the sun setting through the only window of the room. Lily inhaled deeply before stepping out of their small bubble of happiness, accepting that she was about to get a lot of shit for missing the picnic with the girls. She hadn't been entirely sure it was still going forward, since she hadn't seen Elizabeth and Cassandra since the day before, and Marlene had told her she wasn't coming. She suspected it would, though, but she had had no chance to contact the girls. And then James was all over her, and it was game over.
He kissed her goodbye when they reached the Grand Staircase, after he checked the map and found the rest of the Marauders hanging out in the Astronomy Tower ('This is very creepy, you know where everyone is all the time', 'Yeah, well, how do you think I always pop up when you least expect, huh', 'Ew, you creep!'), while Lily decided to wait around in the Entrance Hall, hoping to catch her friends before dinner.
She went down the castle, working out with herself how she would face Cassandra and contain her inevitable complaints about Lily's absence. She imagined she'd had to offer to make up for it. Maybe promise her friends a girls' night in? Only them in the dorm the whole night, with snacks and turnip wine. Elizabeth loved it, she would definitely be in. Or maybe she could reschedule their picnic to the following weekend? Even if they had done it already, they could always reprise it for the heck of it. Yes, that sounded like a good idea, Lily would love some picnic, she had actually mis -
- Nice to know you're still alive.
Cassandra stood next to the tall doors of the Entrance Hall, leaning casually against a pillar, eyes caught in the magazine she held in front of her. She hadn't even looked up at Lily, just shot the words in a carefully masked tone.
Oh oh, I'm so screwed.
- Hi, Cassie. I was looking for you. - Lily stepped forward until she was facing her friend. - Sorry I missed the picnic, I got held up.
One brow arched.
- Held up, you say?
- Yes. - Lily sighed. - I'm really sorry. How can I make it up to you?
Shoulders shrugged.
- I'm not sure, what do you think?
- Cassie, please, stop that - Lily huffed. - Will you just look at me already?
She did, which in no way improved things for Lily. Her eyes were stone cold, mouth pursed in censure.
- Where were you held up?
- Ehm, at the library first - Lily started, voice hesitant. - I was working on my original concoction for the potions programme. It really is taking its toll on me, I'm getting nowhere and it's so frustrating!
She hoped that bringing the programme into the conversation would somewhat soothe Cassandra, if she was reminded of how many responsibilities Lily carried on her shoulders on the daily. It didn't.
Lily sighed again.
- And then I met James and lost track of time. I'm sorry.
She gave an apologetic smile, expecting her friend to roll her eyes, annoyed, but eventually to let it go, finding stupid ways to make Lily compensate for her mishap. But Cassandra took a completely different turn.
- Well, I'm glad that we have been useful to you until you got yourself a Pureblood boyfriend and stopped needing us. Always good to be of service.
Lily's jaw dropped at the harsh words.
- What the hell, Cassandra. That's not fair.
- What's not? Waiting for my best friend the entire afternoon without hearing a single word only to find out that she preferred to spend her time with the same person she already spends every second of her time lately? Yeah, definitely not fair.
Lily bit the inside of her cheeks, trying to stay rational.
- I already apologized for missing the picnic. I didn't say anything before because I haven't seen you since yesterday morning and -
- And whose fault's that?
- Well, not only mine, Cassie – Lily tried. She understood why Cassandra was upset but it wasn't all on Lily. - I know I spent the afternoon with James, but you and Lizzie were nowhere to be found for dinner last night or for breakfast this morning.
- Of course, Lily – Cassandra hissed back. - Lizzie is avoiding Marlene, for obvious reasons. So if you insist on having your meals with the cow, don't expect us to join you.
- Cassie!
Lily was starting to feel unsettled with Cassandra's pungent attitude. It was coming off too strong for such a minor issue. Yes, she missed a picnic, it wasn't nice, she owed them apologies and promises to make it up to them. Surely. But Cassandra's irate reaction was extrapolating the limits of reasonable upset.
- Don't talk like that, please. I know you haven't been seeing eye to eye with Marlene lately, but this is not our fight. Let her and Lizzie deal with that, without us taking sides.
Cassandra made an exaggerated face of fake surprise.
- Oh, we're not taking sides? Sorry, I must've missed the memo when you started following the Marauders like a puppy all over the castle.
Lily flinched.
That sentence was very familiar. It was one that had caused her a lot of pain, not that long ago. Was Cassandra aware of it and using it on purpose, or was it only an unhappy coincidence? Lily prayed to be the latter.
- I don't think I'm doing that, Cassandra – Lily said, trying to keep her voice even, although she was starting to feel the tears gather on the corner of her eyes. - I know I'm spending a lot of time with James, but I thought you'd understand. You know how I feel about him.
Cassandra didn't budge.
- And is that a valid reason to put your friends aside?
- Of course not! I know that. But I'm trying. I'm trying to balance everything, but it's hard. And, really, I was there for Elizabeth when she first broke up with Sirius – Lily suddenly remembered, racking her brain for more arguments to defend herself. - I barely saw James those days. Really, not until Hogsmeade. And that was only yesterday, and today, of course, that I spent with him. But it's the first picnic I've ever missed, it's not like I -
- What changed?
In her rambling, Lily didn't notice how Cassandra's sharp eyes had shifted and were now looking at her attentively.
- What?
- You're right, you did stick up for Elizabeth that first day. Then the next day you were all chummy with Black, out of the blue. And now you're calling him by his first name. Why?
Lily would definitely not say she was chummy with Black, but something did change. Better saying, everything changed. He had opened his soul to her and she had finally understood. She could never tell Cassandra that, though. So she held into the defensive stance that was not working so far but was her only resort.
- I have no idea what you're talking about. I'm not acting different with Si-Black. I just think there's nothing to do with me, their break-up, so I'm not meddling, that's all.
- Lily, I'm going to ask you one more time – Cassandra's voice was dangerously low. - What changed?
Lily willed her cheeks not to flush when she looked straight into her best friend's eyes and lied.
- Nothing, Cassie. Nothing changed.
She had no idea how James did it for so many years. How any of them did it, for that matter. It was horrible to keep such a secret, lying constantly to people you care and trying to divert their attention. And, by the look on Cassandra's face, Lily had not pulled it off.
Her friend just sent her a dark smile, lips twitching bitterly.
- Well, I'd say that you're fully ready to become the fifth Marauder, like you so clearly want. You're already a liar like them.
Pushing herself off from the pillar, she walked away, leaving a completely dismayed Lily behind.
- Potter, Black, what are you doing?
Lily turned her head to look at the back row of the Transfiguration classroom. Professor McGonagall had marched to the end of the room, standing in front of a neutral-looking James and a bored-looking Black.
- The assignment, Professor. Didn't you tell us to practice the switching spell with the goblets? - asked James, staring innocently at the teacher.
- Yes, Minnie, look how cute they look – Black drawled, indicating with a grin the two chalices on top of the desk that looked exactly the same.
Professor McGonagall's lips pursed until they were barely a faint line on her face.
- The objective of this exercise is to gather two objects with different physical characteristics in order to switch their traits, as the name of the spell say, and not turn them into the same object. Otherwise, it would be an exercise more fitting to first-years.
- Oh, really? - James made the most adorable face, surprise carving his features as his mouth curved into an O shape. Lily knew he was full of shit.
- Minnie, what didn't you tell us that before? Though, you know, I'm very proud of our accomplishment either way – Black beamed at James, as if the simplest form of transfiguration would excite two nonregistered Animagi.
Lily rolled her eyes and straightened her body, sitting more comfortably at the desk she shared with Marlene. Cassandra sat three rows down with Elizabeth, persevering in her resolution to ignore Lily and Marlene like the plague.
Lily had searched for Elizabeth after dinner the day before, finding her curling in a loveseat by the fireplace alone. Since she fell out with Black, the seventh-year Gryffindors were no longer seen occupying their usual place in the Common Room, as they had tended to do since the start of the year. Lily was pleased to get her alone, in any case, asking if she could join her, thoroughly relieved when her request was accepted.
Lily apologized for her absence at the picnic, explaining to her friend the same she had to Cassandra a few hours earlier but being met with much more understanding ears. Elizabeth had supported Lily and James' relationship since the beginning. So did Cassandra, so to speak, but she hadn't been as delighted with their entanglement as Elizabeth. Nobody had. Elizabeth appeared to be ecstatic when Lily confessed how stunned she was about the strength of her own feelings and how she barely could stay away from James lately.
Elizabeth sent her knowing looks, refraining from telling Lily what she already knew deep down. Lily was grateful for that – she would spare some time to think about it later, not that night. That night she wanted to let her friend know that she in no way was taking sides, that her presence next to Black only occurred because Lily could not seem to tear herself apart from James, and that she was there for her friend no matter what. Elizabeth was thankful, squeezing Lily's hand and telling her she always knew Lily would stick up for her.
Lily just wished Cassandra knew that too.
She had cried on James' chest during the Sunday patrol, extremely upset with the cruel words Cassandra threw at her in the Entrance Hall. She couldn't understand why her best friend became so mad at her, so quickly, for something apparently so small. It wasn't like Lily had missed that many appointments or ignored her friends at length. Hell, she had only gotten back together with James the week before. How could Cassandra already be bothered by it?
Especially when Lily remembered how Cassandra helped her on her way to settle her feelings for James. She had never really advocated for James, but she made sure to expose the objective facts to Lily, guiding Lily to do what was best for her. Did she change her mind and did not think that James was the best for Lily anymore?
It was very confusing. And waking up the next day to her empty bed, not seeing Cassandra for the whole of breakfast, and sitting apart for class, reminded Lily of the aftermath of their public fight in the Common Room earlier in the term, when they spent four days without talking.
She couldn't imagine going through that again.
But there was nothing to do now, Cassandra firmly avoiding Lily's eyes on their first class of the day, so Lily turned to Marlene and helped her switch the twinkling gold of the goblet with the white lightness of her swan-feather quill.
Lily was vaguely aware that James and Black were still bantering with Professor McGonagall in the background. She remained focused on Marlene's hand twist, offering advices from time to time. When Marlene managed to change the features of both objects simultaneously, and with a precise brush of her wand, switch them back again, Lily's cheering almost muffled the sneering voice coming from the Slytherins that reigned over the bumbling noise of the classroom.
- Can we just move along? I don't feel like listening to a stray dog anymore, it's giving me metaphorical fleas.
Lily's entire body stilled. The room remained noisy, with students keeping their casting of the switching spell, groaning when they didn't succeed and celebrating when they did. But the silence that came from the Marauders was deafening.
She swirled her head sharply to look to the back of the classroom again, catching James' eyes. He smiled softly at her before turning his attention to the objects in front of him. Remus and Pettigrew looked passively at each other, while Black still stared at Professor McGonagall, who frowned in confusion. Black winked at her and also lowered his eyes to the table.
Lily's brows copied the professor's.
What was that all about? Could Mulciber suspect of Black's Animagus form? That seemed impossible. Though, if Lily knew it then, in theory, it was possible that -
- Oh, come on, Mason, don't be unfair. A stray dog never had a chance, it was born in the streets. Don't compare it with a pathetic castoff, the poor dog doesn't deserve such an offence.
With Avery's words Lily realized it had nothing to do with Black's illegal animal nature and everything with what happened between his family and him the year before. Suddenly, every insult the Slytherins have thrown at Black the past year finally made sense to Lily. She couldn't comprehend them back then because she had no idea about the issues he had with his family, and how he had escaped an abusive home. Now, it was clear that the Slytherins were privy to it and promptly used it as a weapon to attack and provoke the Gryffindor.
Which didn't work. Just like it had happened the previous several months, Black didn't rise to the bait. He easily ignored the vicious words, turning back to his work without a glance to the offending bastards. He seemed to be used to it, to no longer care about being insulted in such a manner.
Lily, on the other hand, very much cared. She never knew before but she knew it now. And even if it hadn't concerned her boyfriend's best friend, she would never stay silent at the sight of such a blatant demonstration of hate.
- Yeah – she said loudly, startling Marlene next to her with the sudden high-pitch of her voice. - But a stray dog never had a home, never will. The pathetic castoff, as you say, has so many homes available to him he can choose which one he likes best. There is no lack of possibilities, he is that wanted.
She looked straight into Mulciber's eyes, reciprocating the contempt she found there.
- Tell me, Mason, if your mummy told you to fuck off, do you really think John here would open his arms to you? - Lily let out the most obnoxious laugh she could gather, glancing scornfully between Mulciber and Avery. - I reckon he might do it if Parkinson also joined your happy, little family.
It was a low blow and Lily was fully aware of it.
The year before, the castle had been swarming with rumours concerning a romantic triangle between the former Head Girl, Misandra Parkinson, and the two Slytherin boys. Parkinson was known for her sexual trysts and non-monogamic relationships, which didn't shock anyone in Hogwarts anymore, but for her to come between two mates who were never seen apart, similar to how James and Black were known, it was scandalous. Lily had no idea if any of what she heard was true but judging by the ire flaming in Mulciber and Avery's eyes after her words, she suspected at least some of it was not that far off.
Normally, she would mind saying such a thing in front of a room full of people. Lily had always refused to stoop that lowly whenever she got back at the Slytherins. But past Lily didn't know all the suffering that Black, and the Marauders, had gone through the previous year. Present Lily would be damned if she sat silent after hearing Death-Eater wannabes trying to humiliate a friend of hers over a family trauma.
- Enough. Everyone back to their lesson – Professor McGonagall beckoned, rushing to get back to the front of her classroom and regain the control of it. - The right lesson – she added, sending a last warning look to James and Black.
Lily sustained Mulciber's hateful gaze for another second before she turned her head forward to get back to her switching spell exercises. Her eyes accidentally fell on the desk three rows down, meeting beautiful, blue ones. Elizabeth kind eyes wrinkled on the corners as she sent Lily a grateful smile. Lily guessed that, despite her falling out with Black, her friend still cared for him and hated seeing other people trying to hurt his feelings. Lily smiled back, purposefully avoiding Cassandra's eyes, which would be undoubtedly shining with censure.
Lily hadn't forgotten how Cassandra disapproved of Lily antagonizing the Slytherins. Her friend saw it as playing with fire. Lily couldn't blame her, she knew the green-robed students were dangerous, especially once they were out of Hogwarts in short months. But Lily refused to stay quiet in the face of bigotry. She wasn't built for that. Before she could even process what was happening, her mouth was already running and she was telling them off.
In spite of the crude content of her reply, Lily enjoyed seeing Mulciber at loss for words, not having expected the Head Girl to intervene and put him in his place the way she did. She couldn't help smirking at herself during the last hour of the class, noting the begrudging silence that had enveloped the corner of the Transfiguration classroom where the Slytherins sat. Once the class was over, Lily risked a peak at them, again meeting Mulciber's gaze, that still flared with fury. She held it calmly, biting her tongue to not reinitiate the argument. She followed Marlene to the exit, instead, feeling a heavy weight circle her shoulders when she walked out the door.
- Who would've thought that the Head Girl had such a sharp tongue? - Black's voice filled the corridor, amusement reverberating across the walls. - You were right ruthless and I'm one-hundred percent here for it! – He laughed, thrilled, hugging Lily sideways.
Lily rolled her eyes, good-temperedly.
- Of course you would've enjoyed it. But don't get used to it, Padfoot – Lily said his pet name mockingly. - I'm not about to become your protective service dog.
Black guffawed loudly, catching the double meaning of her words. James, Remus and Pettigrew, who walked behind them and heard the exchange, joined in the laughter, James pinching Lily's side in response. Lily jumped, getting away from his probing fingers, giggling as she scooped closer to Black's embrace. She settled under his arm, bringing a hand up to hold his forearm and more comfortably walk with him down the corridor.
The Marauders talked their whole way up to the second floor, Marlene joining them soon after, as they chaffed and bantered non-stop.
- Hey.
Black's voice was quiet among the shenanigans of the friends surrounding them. He lowered his face closer to Lily's, shifting his mouth to hide from the other Gryffindors. The arm that hugged her tightened as he looked gravely at her.
- Thanks for standing up for me. You didn't have to but I appreciate that you did.
Lily smiled, squeezing his forearm she still held.
- You're welcome, Sirius. I'm not your protective service dog, but I am your friend. - She arched one brow in good humour. - And I've learned from these four co-dependent boys I know that friends are the family you choose, and you have to stand up for your family, don't you?
He nodded, grinning widely.
- Indeed. These boys you talk about sound dead brilliant. - Lily laughed with gusto, followed by him. He let her go when they arrived at the Defence Against the Dark Arts classroom, turning to stare at her before entering the room. - Nice to have you on board, Lily.
Lily's heart fluttered. She was on board of the Marauders' insane cruise. Of their complex, exclusive, heart-warming, insufferably closed group. Part of their weirdly apart dynamic. She vaguely remembered how crazy they all sounded to her only a few months ago, how utterly unattainable and unfathomable their relationship seemed to be to her as she mused about their secrets during summer. Now that she knew all of it, they made perfect sense to her. They weren't strangers anymore. She knew them. And she loved them.
She looked at Black – at Sirius. He winked at her, eyes kind behind his mask of indifference. She could recognize it now. She winked back, feeling warm and content at this shared moment. And then her gaze travelled inside the classroom, finding hard, dark eyes. Cassandra had seen the entire exchange and looked at Lily like she was witnessing a betrayal. Lily's insides churned as if she had indeed committed such a thing.
- Can I have everyone's attention, please?
Lily stopped mid-sentence of explaining The Godfather to James, and what mafia and gangsters were about, to look at Remus, who stood at the centre of the Heads' office. They were waiting for the rest of the prefects to arrive so they could start their weekly meeting. The Marauder stared around him, making sure everyone was indeed paying attention to him before he turned to Lily, stretching his right hand that held a Honeydukes chocolate bar.
- Esteemed Head Girl. I now fulfil my promise and return to you the chocolate I so wrongly and unfairly took from you. Will you, once more, accept my profuse apologies for my inexcusable behaviour and finally restore the confidence I have lost in front of my peers?
Lily rolled her eyes while James cackled next to her. Every day those boys surprised her by coming up with more bullshit.
- Yes, Remus, of course. - She took the bar from him. - Thank you for replacing the chocolate and for being so discreet while doing it.
He nodded solemnly.
- Naturally. I respect your authority too much to make a joke out of it.
She chuckled together with the rest of the prefects, except the Slytherins who looked bored during the entire time. Lily quickly stashed the bar in her magenta bag, coming back to James' side to start the meeting.
James conducted the first half, going over the Hogsmeade visit the Saturday before, as they had agreed. Both of them were somewhat embarrassed by the way the day had ended and the rumours surrounding their departure from the village and disappearance for the rest of the day. Luckily, the visit had gone smoothly and all students came back safely to the castle, with no further issues. Nevertheless, in the past couple of days there was a lot of gossip swirling around Hogwarts regarding the behaviour of the Head students - mostly excited talk about James finally winning Lily over and how entertaining it was to see them losing their heads for each other, but there were also spiteful and ill-intentioned whispers condemning their display of affection.
Lily knew they had not acted right but they needed now to contain the rumours and possible second-guessing of students, especially prefects. The Head students couldn't afford losing their respect. Keeping that in mind, they decided that it would be better for James to address the situation, both because he was good at keeping things light and not letting on any uncertainty or hesitancy (he was, after all, a great actor), and also because he was a boy. Lily knew that, on top of any recrimination, she would also be more likely to face slut shaming.
She didn't, though. James talked to the prefects about the few complaints they received from students concerning the visit, and the overall summary of the day, without interruption. Lily did notice some smirks and disdainful looks when James mentioned the return to the castle, but nobody said anything.
Relieved, Lily took over the second half of the meeting, collecting their weekly reports and reviewing their schedule for the next days. While she talked, she realised that Severus stared at her intensely, barely blinking. It made her uncomfortable, especially because she could guess what it was about.
They haven't seen each other since the previous meeting, when he defended her to Rosier and she thanked him for that. Even though they hadn't spoken about it afterwards, Lily could imagine that Severus would want to use what happened as an excuse to talk to her again. He had done so before, albeit not often. In sixth year, Lily missed her rounds once after coming down with a heavy cold, burning up with fever the whole night in the Hospital Wing. He was supposed to be her partner for the evening, so he sought her out the next day to inquire over her health and give her updates about the patrol. It wasn't nothing too surprising, any other fellow prefect would have done the same, but Lily sensed that he used the opportunity to gauge her up and try to appraise her reaction towards him, anxious for a chance to resume their friendship.
After her friendly reply to him the week before, she knew he would probably try to reach out to her again. But the next few days had been so all-embracing for Lily, with her reconciliation with James and her friends falling apart, that she didn't spare a second to think of Severus or give him a way in. Now she could see he was looking for it, for an opening to talk to her, probably wishing to include in his repertoire his disgust for Lily's current boyfriend.
She ignored his black eyes while she talked, focusing on the other students in front of her. She also ignored the other Slytherins and Thomas Shaw, who looked like he had swallowed a rotten apple.
The meeting ended quickly, with no complications or questions asked. But, similarly to the previous week, not everyone left the office after being dismissed. Remus leaned against the wall on their left side, easily deciding to wait up for them. Severus hesitated by the door, predictably fighting an internal war as to whether or not to approach Lily. Thomas Shaw stood in the middle of the room, still giving off vibes of someone who had eaten poisoned food and was going to throw up at any second. Nuur walked straight to Lily, eyes locked on the girl's and ignoring the Head boy next to her.
Before Lily could do anything, James came to her side in one long stride, circling his arms around her, and pulled her against his chest, standing taller behind her as he stared down at the prefects in front of them.
- Can we help you?
His voice was, as usual, neutral and friendly, but Lily could bet his eyes were challenging. Daring the prefects to say anything foul to Lily.
Nuur smiled, looking briefly at him before turning to Lily again.
- Yes. I was just wondering if we could schedule the second round of our private tutoring for this week, Lily? I'm sure you must be quite busy so I wanted to check with you which day suits you better.
Lily returned the smile, nodding at her friend.
- Of course, Shaffy. Should we do it Thursday during our free period? Or maybe Friday after class?
While the girls agreed on a time and date, Severus finally made up his mind, leaving the room without a look back. Shaw kept staring at them with a grimace. Lily saw from the corner of her eyes that James and him fought a silent battle of wits with their eyes, James still holding Lily territorially against him.
When Nuur said her goodbyes and moved to the exit, Lily turned to Shaw.
- How about you, Thomas? Is there anything that's still not clear to you?
Lily could swear his grimace was now a permanent fixture on his face. She felt James grin behind her.
- I guess not – he replied, bitter, but apparently changed his mind the next second, because he added - So you two are really dating?
Really, the audacity of the bloke blew Lily's mind.
- Yes, mate, obviously. And I'd appreciate if you could leave my girlfriend alone. - James cleared his throat, an innocent motion that sounded more menacing than it should. - For your own sake.
Shaw swallowed hard, eyes shifting between the Head students. He pursed his lips, in controlled anger, then gazed at Remus, who stood with his hands on his pockets, seeming utterly diverted.
- Night, Shaw – Remus said, raising one hand and waving merrily.
The boy grunted something unintelligible and finally left, slapping the door closed with a loud noise. As soon as he was gone, James spun Lily around and captured her lips in an intense kiss. Lily instantly forgot they had company, throwing her arms around his neck and surrendering herself to it. She was half ready to take things further right there, when Remus' voice reached her ears.
- Shall I wait for you to walk back to the Tower or you two prefer some privacy now?
James let go of her, chuckling.
- We're coming, Remus. Let me just put the patrol schedules away.
Lily felt like pouting, begrudgingly stepping away from James. If it was up to her, Remus would leave and James and her would finish what they started. But she remembered that the next day would be a long one, with James waking up extra early to tutor the first-years and their second N.E.W.T's Defence Against the Dark Arts preparatory class taking place during the entire afternoon.
She relented, then, helping James organize the papers on top of the desk and walking back to the Tower with Remus taking yet again the piss out of them for their inability to keep their hands off each other. As soon as they entered the Common Room and sat on the large table of the corner with their friends, Sirius, Marlene and Pettigrew joined Remus in his mockery of the Head students. James accepted all the jokes in a good mood, laughing along with them as Lily cuddled under his arm, purposefully ignoring everyone and focusing on her book Confronting the Faceless. The next day they would start practicing aggressive duelling spells. She knew they no longer would be bound to mild curses, for which they only needed to concentrate on disarming each other. This time, they would finally start the real thing. And she wanted to be prepared.
She had been regrettably right.
The moment they stepped inside the large practice chamber of the North Tower, Professor Atkinson coaxed them to gather in the centre of the room and enlightened them about their second training session.
- Welcome back, my dear students, welcome back. What a marvellous thing to see so many beaming faces – sang the professor to the unsmiling students in front of him. - You remember Investigator Abbott, do you not? I'm certain you do, most certainly indeed.
Lily nodded exaggeratedly to give the professor his answer and encourage him to move along.
He did by telling them that, unlike the previous training, this time they would be divided into pairs the whole time, first for the theoretical preparation and, afterward, for their combat.
He was still talking, waving their class manual on top of his head, when the students began forming pairs, debating with each other who would be joining who, muffling the professor's voice and ignoring the disapproving face of the investigator behind the desk.
- You ready, Evans?
Lily smiled, turning to the voice.
- Was born read, Potter – she drawled, sarcastically, wiggling her brows to James.
He laughed, pulling her by the hand to a desk on the far corner, where they sat together to go over the theoretical properties of the duelling curses.
Even though James wasn't one to study, he had an excellent memory. He could recall off the top of his head most of the incantations of Merrythought's book Advanced Defence Against the Dark Arts, while also recounting their right features and implications. Lily wasn't far behind. On the contrary - she knew all the spells. But that's because she spent her entire summer reading the mandatory and recommended literature back and forth, and paid attention to every class as if her life depended on it.
They got easily through the first half of the N.E.W.T preparation, finishing the professor's required list of curses to revise in no time and then continuing to new, extra ones Lily found in Confronting the Faceless. Lily had no difficulty in reciting the right steps to resist the Imperius Curse, while James flawlessly explained how to conjure a Patronus that would be able to chase away an entire army of dementors.
By the time the rest of the students were done with the revision of the theory of combative spells, James was avidly listening to Lily read from the Necromancy chapter all the ways to fight back an inferius. It had been a most productive class, much more than the previous, and Lily couldn't wait for the following part.
- Alright, everyone, alright. I can see you have all mastered the theoretical element of the curses we are training today. Exquisite! I congratulate you all, you have done marvellously.
Professor Atkinson raised his wand and vanished the desks and chairs that decorated the chamber.
- Now we move on to the next step. Investigator Abbott, please, if you will.
The wizard finally stepped forward from his fixed place on the back of the room, just like he did in the first training, and helped the professor divide the students into their duelling spaces.
James and Lily were placed on the northeast side of the chamber, next to Marlene and Sirius. They smirked at each other, Marlene betting Sirius that this time around she would disarm him first, while James stood in front of Lily.
- What are the rules, love?
Lily gave him a lopsided smile. In principle, who set the rules was the teacher, currently still trying to be heard above the booming voices, painstakingly ignored by his students. She imagined Professor Atkinson would come up with fairly restrictive rules. Lily wanted to practice properly.
- No spells that draw blood. No hits from behind or when the other one is down. No nonverbals - she enumerated. - The rest is allowed.
James arched an eyebrow but agreed to the rules.
They bowed to each other and took their stances.
Lily knew she might as well be better than James when it came to the theoretical side of duelling. She studied and prepared more than he did. But, on the practical side, he was superior. He was taller, more agile and stronger than her. He had duelled his way through seven years of Hogwarts, rarely being the one on the floor by the end of it. Lily had long realized how skilled he was. She was so lucky to have him by her side.
But right now, she wanted to win. She needed to be smart about it, know her strengths and play his weaknesses.
She effortless dodged the first disarming spell James sent her way, with an indolent smile. He winked at her and she reciprocated the curse, just as a warm-up. James quickly raised a shield, blocking her expelliarmus, and started circling. Lily followed him, moving to the opposite side of where he walked. She saw from the corner of her eyes that Sirius was already casting spell after spell, making a sweaty Marlene struggle to keep standing.
She grinned, taking a step to the side when James casted a locomotor-mortis. The curse had barely ricocheted and James threw a second one, making Lily jump to the side again, and then a third, this time a stinging hex. Lily managed to conjure a shield at the last second, saving herself from the pain it would be to be hit by James' curse. She had heard tales of how strong James' stinging hex was, having driven many Slytherins to crawl after Madame Pomfrey for a pain-killer potion even hours after being hexed.
Lily kept smiling calmly but her brain was doing a thousand laps. James was moving too fast for her. She wouldn't be able to keep blocking him forever. She could barely cast a spell herself in the meantime. She was never going to win if they maintained his pace. She needed to ensure she was the one calling the shots.
They kept circling each other, Lily trying to come up with a way to distract him. That was her only chance to beat him. Make him shift his focus long enough to disarm him.
Before she had a moment to catch her breath and reflect on how to sidetrack James, he hit her with a trip jinx, instantly stepping forward when she lost her balance and throwing her way a powerful stunner. Lily had the presence of mind to let herself fall to the floor, too low for James' curse, performing a shield spell strong enough that allowed her to straighten up and get to her feet, while James kept casting consecutive hexes that ricocheted away from her.
- Incarcerous – James shouted, trying to come closer to Lily in an attempt to breach her block. She quickly moved back, away from him, her shield holding up as she tried to recollect herself.
By their side, Sirius managed to stupefy Marlene, turning casually to watch them next.
- Are you really going to let Marlene lay stunned on the ground, Sirius? - Lily asked, bending to the side and deflecting another incarcerous. - Don't be a bad winner.
He laughed, leaning into the wall behind him and crossing his arms.
- Just for a hot sec. The bird can be exhausting at times. I need to give my ears some rest.
Lily laughed back at him, sending a blasting curse to the floor next to James, making him jump in a start when the exploded pieces of wood hit his sides. He yelped, turning around just in time to dodge a stunner. Lily moved closer to the wall where Sirius was standing, taking the opportunity to look around the chamber for a distraction. She saw Elizabeth and Cassandra duelling on the other side of the room, faces scrunched up in concentration. Remus was surprisingly not paired with Pettigrew, instead on his way to petrify the Hufflepuff captain Rebecca Edwards. She clocked another couple of students, the Slytherins behind her, Mulciber enjoying his little display of force against the much weaker and slower Theo Janssen.
She turned around, to face James that had gone back to circling her, now biding his time to find a way to get the best out of the impediment curse she had casted. Lily went back to the place she had started, eyes never leaving the boy in front of her, even though she kept talking to Sirius.
- Well, be my guest. But if she ever finds out that you left her out cold on the floor for the entire class, I'm pretty sure she'll have your balls by the morning.
She saw Sirius rolling his eyes before he rennervated Marlene with a quick twist of his wand. Lily smiled at the sight of her friend waking up, though her attention was still fully on her boyfriend and his dangerous gait.
- Welcome back, Marls. I must tell you, you'd be impressed by -
Lily felt something sharp hit her and then darkness.
A/N: This was the longest chapter I've ever written, and I have divided it into 2, imagine if I hadn't lol
Sorry for the cliffhanger but it was necessary for the next chapter, which will be a damn intense one, be warned. I've seen in many reviews questionings about the behaviour of some characters and the lack of explanations/talk about certain things. It has all been on purpose. I know it can be a bit frustrating to the readers when things are not said or shown when they want them to be, but there's a reason for it. All in its right time.
Next chapter will come out Friday again, as the rest of the chapters from now on. It will see a lot of confrontation taking place, and the epitome of the clash between Purebloods and Muggleborns, and of different perspectives about the war. Can't wait for you all to read it! :)