Chapter 22
(A/N) Hello! Last Chapter! Then you can look forward to my next fic! (I need a title, people, anybody got an idea?)
Disclaimer: I own the plot.
*~*~*~*~*
"Mr. Potter, please come with me," Dumbledore beckoned.
"Lily," James muttered, "The broom… portkey… she stayed back… I am such an idiot."
Dumbledore chuckled. "Not at all, Mr. Potter. Miss Evans can take care of herself… Sugar Quills."
The stone gargoyle in front of the door sprang to life.
"You mean- you aren't worried at all?"
"Oh, I am worried, but I have faith in her." He obviously had more than faith, and probably more than he was saying, James concluded, as Dumbledore would be much more worried about such a case. Nonetheless, he didn't press the subject.
"Now, please, Mr. Potter, tell me what happened," he said, taking out a small tin of lollipops, Sugar Quills, and Drooble's Best Blowing Gum. "Sweets?"
James stared at the Headmaster in shock for a second, then shrugged and took a piece of gum. Dumbledore took a sugar quill for himself, and nodded. "Go on then, Mr. Potter."
"Er… At the quidditch match, she told me to get away from the broom, and I didn't, so she tried to take it away, and… It was a portkey, so we ended up in some sort of graveyard. Then Voldemort came, and said some stuff. She turned and tried to kill me." He was a bit shocked at how much it sounded like Lily tried to kill him every day, by the sound of his voice. On second thought, she did. "Er… She made some sort of light and fire barrier of a creature, it sort of paced between us and him… Then after a while, I came back. That's it."
"Not quite, James."
"What d'you you mean?"
"I'm sure there's more to the story," Dumbledore said.
"I don't quite follow you, sir."
"Well, I intend to ask Lily her version of it," he said simply.
"How, professor?"
"She's behind the door."
*~*~*~*~*
James' mouth fell open. "How'd you…"
Lily tilted her head. "You are such an idiot, James."
"Uh… You're alive."
Lily rolled her eyes. "No, I just look alive, sound alive, and breathe, like normal, living organisms, but what I really am is an alien extraterrestrial coming to find out how the average earthling spends their day."
"Miss Evans?"
"Oh, right. Sorry. You were saying, Professor?"
"I believe what Mr. Potter meant was how you managed to get out alive, which I must admit I'm curious of, also."
"Yeah, that's it," James said hoarsely, as Lily looked like she had just taken a brisk jog instead of battling Dark Wizards in graveyards.
"Oh… well, after he left, I kind of figured that I was done for, as I couldn't get back, unless he charmed the broom again. And, no offence, but he's kind of a dunce at Charms."
"Gee, you'd think after all that you'd be a bit more polite," James scoffed.
"What color is the sky in your world?" Lily shot back.
"Purple," James said.
"I hate to interrupt you two, but…"
"Oh, right. Anyway, before I was so rudely interrupted by people who shall remain nameless, he tried to get me to join the Dark Side, saying I'd get to become the most powerful, most feared, most honored Death Eater, and I disagreed." Lily laughed bitterly. "Then, when I said no, he said he'd kill me and take my power. Obviously, he didn't think I read up on Seers… they can't take my powers by killing me. Then a bunch of Death Eaters showed up on the spot, and I ran for dear life."
"All the way to Hogwarts?" Dumbledore frowned.
"Oh, no. I had a notion of doing that, but… Well, I dodged under a gravestone, and tried that particle shifting to change my appearances to look like one of them. After a while, they figured I was gone, and formed some kind of circle, so I just followed and did what they did. Then, everyone was bowing in turn. And when it was my turn, I spit in his face," Lily said, sounding like a five year old who was just handed a five-foot lollipop; very pleased with herself.
"I presume he was less than happy about that?"
"Yeah. He said he'd just kill me after he had his fun with me. Jolly good fun, in my opinion. Hit me with Crucio every few seconds, an Imperious after that, and I had ever so much fun dodging the Killing Curse."
"And how did you get back?"
"I shifted my particles back, as I wasn't on Hogwarts grounds (A/N: Can't believe someone guessed!), after I blew a large hole in the ground between him and me."
"And the barrier?"
"It disappeared a little after James left."
"I see… A hundred points to Gryffindor each," Dumbledore said.
"Thanks." Lily bit her lip. "Today was my parents' funeral."
"Well, you missed it to stop another's."
"Yeah… Potter's," Lily said, though she cracked a smile.
"Yeah…" James followed her out the door.
*~*~*~*~*
"Password?"
James stood in front of the portrait, a few days after the "incident", as Lily had dubbed it, wondering what the password could be, as Lily had changed it. "I don't know," he said finally.
"Sorry, dear, that isn't the password."
James turned to see a fifth year girl. "Hey, d'you know the password?"
She walked to the Fat Lady's portrait and said clearly, "James Potter is the Biggest Idiot Alive and is Forever Indebted to the Lovely, Beautiful, and Smart, Lily Evans."
The portrait swung open.
*~*~*~*~*
"Like the new password?" Lily asked sweetly, looking up from her book.
"Lovin' it," James answered sarcastically.
"Hi, guys!" Peter said. "I heard what happened! Can you tell us the story?"
"Us?" Lily asked.
"Come on, guys!" Peter opened the door for a couple dozen students. To Lily and James, he whispered, "Make it good, they're paying me six sickles."
*~*~*~*~*
"… And then, I was discovered by him," Lily said dramatically.
"Did run?"
"Did he hurt you?"
"Did you get out alive?" Peter asked anxiously.
"Gee, Peter, I don't know, I'll have to get back to you on that," Lily said sarcastically.
James smiled. "Don't worry Peter, I'm sure it's just that time of month."
"Potter!"
"What?" he asked innocently.
*~*~*~*~*
"It gives me great pleasure and sadness to announce the end of the year is approaching at a rapid pace."
"Here comes the talk," James muttered.
"No, indeed, Mr. Potter," Dumbledore laughed. "Actually, it was just to remind you that the project you prefects were all working on is due tomorrow, with all the money you have made."
*~*~*~*~*
Lily groaned.
A Slytherin. She really didn't want to help a Slytherin. But… four sickles was four sickles, even from a Slytherin, and they were just one away from winning.
"I need help," Stephanie Colebra said.
"Obviously."
"I'm madly in love with James."
"You're right," Lily said finally. "You do need help. Mental help."
James had pushed himself to the back of his chair.
"You know, James, maybe you should go out with Steph," Lily countered.
"Traitor," James muttered.
"You know, the two of you look adorable together."
"Mean," James hissed.
"Now, Stephanie, I'd love to help you, but… Well, the truth is, dear, he's taken."
"He is?" she asked, at the same time James said, "I am?"
Lily kicked him under the table. "Oh- ow- I am!"
"By who?" Stephanie asked hotly.
"Yeah, by who? I mean- ow- how did you know?"
"I know because I have an uncanny way of knowing things," Lily said, still smiling sweetly.
"Who're you seeing?" Stephanie demanded.
"Uh…"
She dropped in a sickle.
"Uh…"
She dropped in another two sickles.
"I'm seeing…"
She dropped in three sickles.
"Her name's…"
Stephanie dropped in five sickles. "If you leave her, I've got ten more sickles."
"Uh…"
"Well?" she asked expectantly.
"Like I said before, Steph, he's taken," Lily said.
"Like you know. And don't call me Steph," she retorted. "Now, who's he seeing?"
"Hmm. Me, so… sod off, dear," Lily said, still smiling, then pulled James into a kiss.
"Hey!"
"Sorry, Steph."
When she left, James jumped out of his chair. "What was that?"
"What, never been kissed, Potter?"
*~*~*~*~*
"Due to certain circumstances, we have chosen our Head Boy and Girl, who will, at this time, give their speeches, as we'll have a larger number of Prefect introductions next year. Miss Evans and Mr Potter. Miss Evans?"
No answer.
"Ah… Miss Evans?"
No answer.
"Miss Evans?"
"AHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!! JAMES POTTER!!!!!!! TURN MY HAIR BACK THIS INSTANT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
"AFTER YOU MAKE MY FEET FACE FORWARDS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
"I ONLY DID IT BECAUSE YOU TOOK MY SPEECH!!!!!!!"
"I"LL GIVE IT BACK ONCE I'M DONE COPYING!!"
"WRITE YOUR OWN SPEECH!!!!!!"
"IT'S EASIER TO TAKE YOURS!!!!!!!!!"
"YOU SHOULD HAVE BEEN PREPARED!!!!! GIVE. IT. BACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
"Er, they must be a bit indisposed at the moment," Dumbledore noted, as the students looked around for the source of their voices.
"I'm almost done. Take your stupid speech!" James said, suddenly walking onto the stage.
"Not now… You took it!" Lily shot back, also appearing.
"So? What're you gonna do about it?"
"All I have to do is flip my hair the right way, and you'll start stuttering."
"I do not!"
"Well, you do now."
With that, Lily swiftly kissed him on the lips, in a similar manner as the other day. James started stuttering. "Uh… W-what was…"
She snatched the parchment from his hands. "I'll take that, thank you."
"Unfair!"
"Not like you didn't enjoy it," Lily replied.
"Well, I'm a teenage guy, what did you expect?"
"That."
"Hmph." He took out a crystal, silvery liquid and sprayed it at Lily.
"Five, four, three, two, one…" James smiled with satisfaction.
"I wish I didn't have to write a speech, I hate it when everyone stares at me. I caught Severus Snape making out with Luscious' girlfriend last week, and Evelyn likes Sirius. Voldemort has a big nose, but Snape has a crooked one, and all the Slytherins have odd noses. I hate Transfiguration, and I think Hagrid's cooking is really awful. I can't believe I just kissed Potter on the lips-" Lily clapped a hand over her mouth.
"Mind Speaking potion," James said to the students. "New concoction, when wet by a few drops, you spill out your heart and mind's deepest secrets. Obviously, Evans has an odd mind if she thinks that all Slytherins have odd noses as a secret. It's on sale for nine sickles at Zonko's Joke shop."
"I saw Malfoy rigging the Prefect's project, I think everybody that came for the psychiatry has serious problems, and Petunia's fiancée is an ugly wart, and that James is a really good-"
Dumbledore, somewhat amusedly, stopped her babbling.
*~*~*~*~*
"Shame he stopped you before you got to the good stuff," Sirius said, catching up with Lily on their train compartment.
"Say, what were you going to say before Dumbledore found the counter curse?"
"I… forgot."
"Let me help you," James said to Sirius, and shot a bit more liquid at her.
The flood of talking began again. "James is actually a really, really good kisser-"
"Really?"
"-And he plays girls like cards-"
"Nice, Evans."
"-And I-" Lily clamped a hand on her mouth and got someone to say the counter spell.
"Spoilsport," James called after her.
"Ah, the tangled web of lives we lead…" Sirius said philosophically.
"What's the betting Prongs' life is tangled with Lily flower's?" Remus asked.
"I bid eight galleons!"
"I bid nine!"
"It's bet, you retards! And I bet twenty, by the way," Sirius grinned. "Boy, James, you might want to get a small wedding… you'll owe us all galleons by the dozen."
"Nice, Sirius," James said. "Shut it now, before I make Peter best man."
"More like Maid of Honor," Lily's voice sounded behind them. "So, Potter, planning our wedding without me?"
"Uh…"
And they walked out to the train station.
*~*~*~*~*
(A/N) Yay! DONE! Look for my next fic… Coming soon. It might take a while, as I have TerraNova testing right now, but, whatever. It'll come out before next week!
To Come: Look for the next fic!!!