Have you ever written more than six tests in one week? And I'm not talking about tiny little ten-minutes-things. I'm talking about two-hour-things. About Math. And Chemistry. And... - Okay, you get the point. And yet I managed to write this part in less than two weeks. Aren't you proud of me? I am! Okay, I know, that's not that fast. But I promise that the next part will be there sooner.
I know I say this a lot, but I have to do it, after all your reviews mean a lot to me. So, once more, thanks, thanks, thanks! And there are still coming more and more fantastic reviews for the whole story of Nail A Pudding On The Wall, and I just wanted to say that I really appreciate it.
A huge thank you - can a thank you be huge? - goes, just as ever, to my beta reader, hermione potter. But you already knew that. So here we go, straight to part 7. Oh, and to make it easier to understand: Italic/dark blue = James' thoughts, Italic/dark red = Lily's thoughts.
I'd Love You To Hate Me
Part 7
"Shut up. Shutupshutupshutup, please! Someone will hear you!"
It may seem pointless to talk to a book. To James, at the moment it seemed to be the only thing he could do while silently promising himself to never ever again, ask a book for help with his love live. At least not if the book was able to talk, and, even worse, about to shout out his secret to everyone who was within hearing range. Much to his relief, it was about three in the morning, so he had a good chance that nobody was up and strolling the castle. Besides him, of course. Boy, did he have a wrong number.
"James?"
James tensed instantly. As much as he loved to hear this voice - Lily's voice -, right now the last thing he wanted was to have her near. As long as the book didn't stop babbling about thousand-and-one ways to say 'I love you', it was just too dangerous having her near. Not that he told the rambling thing the name of the girl he was thinking about, but still, it wasn't exaggerated to say that this situation was quite embarrassing.
He could hear her approach, and the next thing he saw was her looking around the corner of the bookshelf he was standing at. Pressing the book shut, he was immensely relieved that it finally stopped talking, only squeaking a last 'follow your heart' out before it fell silent. James smiled at Lily.
"Hi Lily. Watcha doing up so lately? And in the Library, too?" Not that I don't want to be with you, but maybe we could go somewhere else and leave this rambling thing behind...
"Could ask you exactly the same thing." My God, I'm about to get heart attacks! James Potter. In a Library. At three a.m. And as far as I can see, it's not to pull some prank. Besides, if it was about a prank, then you would have asked me, so just tell me one thing: What. Are. You. Doing?
"Well, I asked first." I need some time to make up an excuse, so I hope your explanation will take you some time.
"Uh-huh, okay. Actually, I was searching for you. And as you weren't in your bed, I thought I should take a walk through the castle, and maybe I'd spot you. It worked, I have to add." I'd have preferred finding you in your bed, though. You look cute when you're asleep. Besides, as long as your eyes are closed I don't have to worry about being caught gazing at you.
"You were searching for me? Why?" And at a time like this, too! You didn't change your mind about the shower, did you?
"Don't ask me why, but I got this sudden urge to go and take our mind-reading hat back. It's still in Kert's office, you know, and I guess I just became aware of how awful this has to be, spending time with this inhuman being." I just had to see you. But I'm not going to tell you this. And hey, the hat is quite a good reason, isn't it?
"Hold on a minute. You want to take the hat back? Out of Kert's office? Just tell me one thing: How are you going to do this?"
"How are we going to do this, darling." Lily smirked.
"We?" Damn, this isn't fair. Call me darling and you get me to do everything you want. This is so not fair!
"Of course, Jamie. Did you think I could do it without you? I need you so bad!" Pun intended. Although I hope you don't get it. Not likely, though...
You need me so bad? No prob, the floor looks quite appealing to me, don't you think so? Yeah, I would like that... - James, snap out of it; that's not what she meant. You're just going to make a fool out of yourself. And you wouldn't want that, would you? So you'd better forget about your hormones. "Lily, this isn't going to work. Kert's office is about as safe as Azkaban. It would only mean months of detention for the both of us." Now that I think about it, it doesn't sound that bad. Months of detention together? You and me? Not bad at all, maybe we should take the risk?
"James?" Lily waved a hand in front of his eyes. "You don't want to pull a prank? Okay. Who are you, and what did you do to James Potter?" Not that I think anyone could ever replace you. You're unique. But this seems to be so not you. Maybe it's just the lack of sleep.
"Hey, I didn't go anywhere, there's just one of me."
As if I'd ever doubt that, one's enough. As much as I love you, I don't think I could take two of you. - Did I just think I love you? Now I'm certain that it's the lack of sleep. Lily told her brain to stop bothering her and focused her attention back on James. "No comment. But why are you so worried? We made it once into Kert's office, so why not try for the second time?"
"'Cause after this hat incident, he covered it in spells that warn him and indicate every introducer. We'd just end up in serious trouble." Which brings me back to the countless detentions we'd spend together...
"How do you know that?" Trouble? Sounds bad. Trouble with you? This sounds quite different to me. Hmm....
"I overheard him talking to McGonagall, just a couple of days ago. He's still extremely enraged, and although she tried to calm him down, it didn't do any good." The more detentions we get together...
"So you don't think we can make it?" I would try it anyway, but I guess it's your decision. I won't do it all by myself. After all, I only came up with this idea 'cause I wanted to see you. And this late, I could hardly say that I only had to be with you, could I? Would have sounded slightly strange.
"I don't know. Maybe if we knew which spells he used..." ...but as we don't, I'm not so sure. Actually, I don't want to see you in trouble. And this would surely end in trouble.
"Okay. Then we have to find a way to get to know these spells." Not that I have an idea...
"Uh-huh. And how are you planning to do this? 'Sorry, Professor, could you please tell me how you protected your office? It's just that we want to take our hat back, you know, the mind-reading one that embarrassed you in front of the whole school.'?" Not a smart thing to do, so it doesn't sound like you. Not at all.
"Well..." Lily looked helpless for an instant, then the mischievous smile was back. "Why don't we try to find a way together? You have to admit that it's quite a challenge, you should love that."
Yeah, I love challenges, you're right. That's why I love you, by the way.
"Let's go back to the common room to discuss this, okay? I hate the thought of Filch roaming the castle, Mrs. Norris on his heels just as ever. Do you have your cloak with you?" And isn't it comfortable under there? Just the two of us, invisible for everyone else, cuddled together in order to make sure that not even a hair tip is peering out...
"No, it's somewhere in Sirius' trunk, and believe me, you wouldn't want to wake him up. Don't wake up the sleeping dog or however the saying goes." He's more of a dog than you could know. - I wish I had woken him up. Being able to snuggle together under the cloak with Lily would be worth enduring his horrible mood. Without any doubt.
Damn. "Okay, then let's go back without being caught."
***
James' head perked up with a jerk. He didn't know exactly what had woken him up, as far as he could see, he and Lily were the only ones in the Gryffindor common room. Looking over at where she was sleeping, he shook his head slightly.
Here we go again. This is the second time in not even three weeks that we fall asleep in here together. Isn't this a sign that we really like each other now? It takes at least a tiny bit of trust to fall asleep in someone else's presence, right? As long as it's not out of boredom... But she wasn't bored with me, that's what I know for sure. A girl that's bored isn't discussing with sparkling eyes. Lily wouldn't lean in my direction to convince me of her way to fetch the hat if she'd be bored with me, that's for sure. And she was really close. Isn't there a song that goes something like "I feel her breath on my face, her body close to me, can't look in her eyes..."? Can't remember the title, it's from a muggle movie, I think. Oh my God, what have I become? A mushy, sappy romantic who's trying to find a song that expresses his feelings. This isn't a good sign. Can I get any more pathetic? I'm afraid I can...
Okay, James, breathe. In... and out... Slowly. Calm down. Don't freak out now. Only three days left till the apocalypse's here. Also known as the day I kiss Snape. Well, not much difference there. If I could choose, I'd take the first one, I don't think everything I've done would be enough to deserve anything as cruel as kissing Slimy. I doubt that there is anything as cruel as kissing him. How could I be so dumb to sign Sirius' paper? As if I didn't know that I liked her already. I was just too stubborn to admit it. And now I have to suffer the consequences. Hopefully they don't expect me to kiss Slimy on the lips... Three days! Three days to win Lil's heart and three days till I have to do the most embarrassing thing in my whole life.
James got up and walked over to the fire to throw in some powder he had left in his pocket without actually knowing what the effect would be. The fire's colour changed to a deep purple, causing the dim, shadowy room to glow in a strange light. He stared in the flames, lost in thoughts. He didn't hear Lily stirring, then opening her eyes and getting up, stepping behind him.
If I didn't know better, I'd say James is thinking about some really serious things. I know better, though. - Hmm, I guess this thought was a short flashback in the past when we couldn't stand each other's company without either ending up in the hospital wing or in detention. None of the both was really enjoyable, I'd say, so I like this a lot better. But who'd ever have thought that we could become friends one day? Besides An, but as she's lecturing me all the time about finally admitting my love for him, she doesn't count. She was giving me this lecture already when I was sure that I didn't love him. It's different now. Every time she starts, I have to get away as soon as possible, out of fear that she might be right. I'm not sure if she is. There is something between James and me, and I can't quite put my finger on it. But maybe it's only my imagination and James would think I'm nuts if I'd tell him about it. So I'd better keep my mouth shut. I like the way things are at the moment, no need to change everything because of a meaningless hormonal attack or whatever this is.
"Hey, James?"
"Huh?" He jerked out of his daze and turned around to face her. "Hi Lil. How'd you sleep?"
"Longer than you, obviously. What's the time?"
James took a look at his wrist. "The hand points to "right time". Whatever this means." I know what it means. Right time for a kiss. I'm just too much of a chicken.
"Maybe it's the right time to skip our lessons today?" Everything's better than two hours of Divination with Mme Oh-My-God-My-Poor-Child-You-Have-The-Grim. And if we can spend the time together, then it's even better.
"Sounds good to me. Hogsmeade? We could also buy the sleeping powder for Kert then." And a love potion to make you fall in love with me.
"Yup. Last one at the one-eyed witch has to buy the other a butterbear in the Three Broomsticks." And I'm not going to be the last one.
As if I'd mind buying you a drink. That's what boys usually do for their girlfriends, so I can pretend to myself that we're a couple when I get our drinks. "Okay. Ready? One, two, three, GO!"
He shouted the last word, and both adolescents sprinted off in direction of the portrait hole.
***
She's like the wind through my tree
She rides the night next to me
She leads me through the moonlight
Only to burn me with the sun
She's taken my heart
But she doesn't know what she's done
Feel her breath on my face
Her body close to me
Can't look in her eyes
She's out of my league
Just a fool to believe
I have anything she needs
She's like the wind...
I look in the mirror and all I see
Is a young old man with only a dream!
Am I just fooling myself
That she'll stop the pain
Living without her
I'd go insane
Feel her breath on my face
Her body close to me
Can't look in her eyes
She's out of my league
Just a fool to believe
I have anything she needs
She's like the wind...
Feel your breath on my face
Your body close to me
Can't look in your eyes
You're out of my league
Just a fool to believe
She's like the wind.
Just a fool to believe
She's like the wind.
Just a fool to believe
She's like the wind.
Just a fool to believe
She's like the wind...
Patrick Swayze - She's like the wind; Dirty Dancing
*****
This part was pretty boring, I guess. I wasn't in the right mood when I wrote this. So I'm sorry, I have too much to think of at the moment. School, for example. But next week, all those tests are written, and then I'll be able to concentrate again on this story. Till then, just bear with me, okay? Thanks. Oh, and the next one will contain some Slimy/James kissing action as well as some L/J. If I don't get any good ideas in the meantime, it will be the last part.
And a note to all the readers of As We Go On: I'll try to get the third part out as soon as possible. I swear.
Amanda Mancini (or Morgana, whatever): Three more days to go. It won't take long till they'll get together, I promise. We're nearly done with the story.
Snow Angel: I didn't have the time yet, but I'll do it. Really, I will. I seem to say this a lot... It's just that my life's pretty hectic at the moment, but two more days and I'll have more time. Finally.
Lily Black: Ich hab' Sonnchen gemeint, eigentlich. Außer ihr gibt es noch eine, aber soweit ich weiß schreibt sie nicht. Cho, wenn du das liest: Ich hab' dich nicht vergessen! Geht halt nur alles drunter und drüber grade, ich melde mich sobald es geht.
Skyflyer: Yep, I got your e-mail. But just as I said before, I'm not going to make this easier for James. The poor boy will endure the worst.*lol* But hey, no reason to take pity on him, after all, he gets his dream girl! You glanced through NC-17 fics before? Not a very delightful experience, is it? I read about three or four of them, and I can't say that I liked them very much. Maybe I just chose the wrong ones, I don't know.
Jenn: Berlin's okay, depends on where you live as long as you're there. Weimar? Hmm, I've never been there, all I know is that it's said to be a nice town with many old buildings. Goethe was there for a while, that's about all I can remember from my History lessons...
Moon Serpent: You have Martin Luther King day and I have to write a History test about Martin Luther. Now, is that fair???
RavenNat: Yeah, I was wondering about that, too. It would be so easy: Use the Verita Serum on all criminals or supposed-to-be criminals and Sirius would be innocent. And there's also something else: The owls are able to find a person no matter where he/she/it is. How else could Hedwig find Sirius? So, if they are searching for some criminals, why don't they just follow one of their owls? No need to send out the Dementors.
Waterlily: Yep, the Halloween feast is the time...
Hermione Black: Well, this is what I know about Leonardo's childhood: He's born the 15th April 1452 at Vinci, a village near Florence. He was an illegitimate child, but lived with the family of his father (a rich lawyer, as far as I know) as if he was one of them. In 1466, they moved to Florence and Leonardo worked together with a pretty known artist called Andrea del Verocchio. I didn't find out more about his childhood, besides the well-known facts that he was always interested in Physics and Math. Oh, and he was left-handed, that's the reason why most of his paintings and drafts are inscribed in mirror writing.
Layla: No, I have one now, but thanks anyway! Very nice.
Christa Crabbe: What's a Speedo???
Little Witch: Pas de probleme. Tu peux parler on français si tu veux. Il me faut le pratiquer un peu, malheureusement j'ai oublié beaucoup a cause des professeurs que j'avais les dernières années.