Title: Even If I Said No? (Yup, that's the title. But you seem to know that.)
Slash: James/Lily (Yup, this is the paring. But you're aware.)
Rating: PG-13 (Yup, this is the rating. But you grasp this little detail.)
Genre: Romance/General (Yup, this is the genre, but you would be knowledgeable about that.)
Summary: J/L hate/love fic. But you are... uh, well, you catch my drift. You understand that... right?
Disclaimer: Guess what? No, I'm not pregnant, and no, I'm not running for president, and no, and no, I'm not a bunny in a chicken suit, and no, I'm NOT trying to overthrow the fanfiction.net government. But, the thing of it is, I don't own Harry Potter, and YES, I wish I did.
Author's Note: It's Thursday... And, bless my corns and cole slaw, the Christmas Ball is tomorrow. Is everyone prepared, is the big question. Can James make up his mind about Delilah and Lily? Is the late Thomas Potter a hurdle James and Lily have to get over to have a relationship? Oh bless my blisters and green peas, will Bertha and Traycee spill the spoogies on Lily? Will anything BAD happen? Read to find out. (Notice the only serious part of this fic is the story!?)
~*~
CHAPTER FOUR: Can It Happen?
Sitting alone on her bed, she used her fingers to play the songs. It wasn't the same. Playing with a pick, Lily was as skilled as they came. Without one, it was like her guitar in a nine-year-old's hands instead of Lily's. She was very sad, not to mention worried- how could she play at the Ball now? Poezee vowed to find the thief... or at least, look for the little thing... and return it before tomorrow. Traycee and Bertha weren't around as often, suddenly.
Poezee gently opened the door to the dorm room. "Lily? Are you okay?"
Lily jumped. She was used to the silence that was in the room for an hour and a half. Poezee took a deep breath and walked over to Lily's bed. When she sat down beside Lily on the bed, Lily smiled and said, "Hey, Poe." Poezee gave her a worried look as she plucked random notes on the guitar.
"Why didn't you ever tell me about Thomas?" Poezee asked. It seemed like an honest question. Lily was taken by surprise. She didn't expect that.
"Did Magenta tell you?" Lily said, her voice tensed a vibe of anger.
"I was about to come in and rehearse with you like we planned, but I heard you crying and so I thought it might have been a bad time. But then I heard you talk to Magenta and I sort of found out by accident."
Lily bit her bottom lip to keep from crying. She looked at the dresser where the pick was seen last, and her bottom lip shook from the pressure Lily was putting it. Lily coughed and began to cry.
"Oh, come here." Poezee sighed, and put an arm around Lily. "It's alright, calm down now." Poezee sighed again and thought, 'Why Thomas Potter, of all people? He was believed to be Voldemort's successor! Well, it's her life, not mine.'
Lily sniffed and sat up straight. "Well thanks for helping me out." Lily coughed again. "I think I caught a cold from yesterday."
"Sorry." Poezee shrugged and took her arm back. She glanced at her watch. "C'mon, we have Charms. We're doing the Midterm Exams today, remember?"
Lily's puffy eyes widened. "I completely forgot!"
Poezee sighed. "You've been a mess lately."
Lily took off her guitar and put it under her bed covers. "It's the Ball. I've been so worried about it.. and then there's Thomas's birthday yesterday. And our anniversary in a week."
Poezee put a sympathetic hand on Lily's shoulder. "There's an old saying, 'Those who mourn never live; and the ones they mourn for never go on.'"
"I know, it's just..." Lily shook her head.
"No, Lily. You have to move on. Besides, we need to get you a new pick."
Lily gasped. "A new pick?"
Poezee raised an eyebrow. "Uh, yeah. So we can play at the Ball."
Lily shook her head, "You don't understand. I have to use the pink one. I have to, or I can't play at all."
Poezee rolled her eyes. "It's a spiritual thing, isn't it?"
"I guess you could put it that way, yes."
They walked out of the dormitory and down the stairs in silence. It was a tense silence, they both were stuck between trying to be cheerful for each other, but feeling down as well. Poezee's life was at an all time high, she had a boyfriend and she was very well-rehearsed for the Ball and she had studied hard for the tests and NEWTS. But at the same time, she felt horrible for Lily, who's life sucked right now.
When they reached the Common Room, they found James and Lucius arguing.
"Okay, let me get this straight." James said, holding his elbow with one hand and pointing warningly at Lucius, "You say Poezee told you the password so you could get in at anytime you want?"
"I promised it was only to see her." Lucius argued. "As I have said, we are dating and so we trust each other."
"That doesn't mean I have to trust you!" James said. "Look Malfoy..."
"Don't start with me, Potter..."
"HEY!" Yelled Poezee and Lily at the same time. James and Lucius jumped at the sound of the girls' voices. They both blushed and began to babble.
"See, he's in Slytherin, as we all know, so that means he can't come in here..."
"I wanted to see Poe, cause, you see, she's my girlfriend and all..."
"Yeah, yeah, yeah." Poezee said. "We have tests! James, Lily and I have an exam in Potions so we really need to get going, okay, Luc?"
"Sorry, owl me when you're done." Lucius said with a final glare at James, pushed open the portrait and left.
"Asshole." James muttered under his breath.
"Watch it, Jim." Poezee grinned. James hated that name, everyone knew.
"Do NOT call me Jim. Or Jimmy. Yechh." James stuck out his tongue and made both girls giggle. Poezee noticed Lily was blushing. Poezee came to an understanding.
"I left my book on our room, I'll be right back." She left with a curious wink at Lily.
When she had left, Lily smiled at James. "Hi Jimmy."
"Hi Granny Smith." James nodded.
Lily took a deep breath. Last night, they had talked for a long time and then went to bed. Lily found that she really liked James. He had some things- some bad things, some good- in common and they could talk easily to each other. So Lily thought about asking James...
"Who're you going to the Ball with?"
James itched the top of his head. "Delilah Freeman. Why?"
"Er..." Lily's face fell. That stupid chewed-gum-for-brains Delilah Freeman? "I was curious." Lily said. It wasn't a total lie.
James thought he sensed disappointment. "Don't you have a date?"
"No, I'm the entertainment, remember?" Lily said glumly.
"That's depressing. Just because you are the entertainment, that doesn't mean you have to go to the Ball alone. D'you want to go with Peter?"
"Good lord, no." Lily laughed with James. "Why Delilah Freeman?"
"Er, well, I've had this crush-thing on her for a while." James said. "Other girls don't usually ask that sort of question."
"Why?" Lily said, lifting an eyebrow.
"Um, Lily? I don't think you want me to explain."
"Wha...? Oh! Eww." Lily laughed. "Delilah Freeman is a virgin, James."
James's eyes widened. "You're kidding. Really? Why?"
Lily grinned. "You didn't know? She's taken a vow of chastity until she's married. I thought every one knew, because she's so 'gorgeous'."
James came back with, "She said she wanted me since fifth year."
Lily shrugged. "Well, maybe you mistook it for something bigger." Lily hoped that James would decide not to go with Delilah now. 'Maybe he won't,' Thought Lily. She smiled.
"Well, that's a damn." James said with a slight cough. "It would be rude not to go with her now, so I guess I'll have to bear it."
Lily stopped smiling. "Yeah, I guess so."
Poezee walked down the stairs and said, "C'mon, or we'll be late!"
*
Yawning, Sirius got up from bed stark naked. He walked over to his wardrobe and picked out a set of purple robes. He looked over to the bed and saw the sleeping form of Narcissa, naked as the day she was born. Her blonde fell over her face as she brought more covers onto her body.
"Morning, love." Sirius smiled as he pulled on his underwear. She opened an eye and smiled. Sirius had his back to her, and she got a lovely view of his backside.
"Morning, baby." Narcissa sat up and wrapped a sheet around her. She yawned too and looked at the clock. "We got a test in Potions, so we got to hurry up."
"I know. Here's your clothes." Sirius tossed her a sleeveless black robe and a thong underwear. She smiled as she stood up and caught Sirius's wondering eyes upon her.
Narcissa took a half an hour too long to get ready. Sirius didn't mind, especially when they took their shower. When Sirius changed the sheets, Narcissa got their school things together and they walked to class hand-in-hand.
*
"Severus, you only add one giant slug!" Lily said, grabbing Severus's wrist before he could plop in the dead slug. Severus blushed.
"I know."
"Then don't add it if you're so smart," Lily said sarcastically. Lily leaned over the table to get the vial of powdered tortoise shell, and caught Severus looking down her shirt. She was wearing the Hogwarts black robes, but she wore it unbuttoned and had a v-neck sweater on underneath. "And keep your eyes were they belong."
Severus put a lock of black hair behind his ear. He always wore it to jaw length. "Lily, could you please give me the text book?"
"Sure." Lily gave him his book, and he brushed his hand on hers. Lily coughed and said, "What are you trying to do?"
Severus blushed again. "Nothing," He muttered. He looked over the procedure to the Decelerate Draft they were making for the midterm exam in the book. He looked up into Lily's eyes and said, "Do you have a boyfriend?"
Lily raised a nervous eyebrow. "Why?"
"Curious." Severus said with a sly smile.
"Okay, we're done." Lily said, after adding the final ingredient, the powdered tortoise shell. She began to pack up her Potion things and Severus cleared his throat for an answer. Lily poked her cheek with her tongue. "I'm not going to tell you."
Just then, the bell rang for a half an hour break. They usually did on midterm-exam week between every class. Lily would have sang for joy if she weren't in a hurry to get away from Severus. He had been flirting with Lily ever since they got partnered up. Just before she left, he heard Professor Skowl growl, "Potter, Black. Come see me for a second, it's about your exam."
Lily dropped her quill on the ground and bent to pick it up, when Severus stepped on it Lily stood up and glared at him right in the eye, but as she did so, he bent down and picked it up for her. She got fed up and said, "Isn't it against Slytherin pride to like Gryffindors?"
"It's not necessarily you I like." Severus said with an wicked glint in his black-hole eyes. "I like what I see, nothing else."
"You're sick." Lily said, and turned to leave when Severus grabbed her wrist. Lily looked back at him with a look of horror. She knew what he was going to do.
Severus pulled her toward him like a yo-yo and forced a kiss upon her. She pushed him back and screamed. Severus didn't especially care, and tried to kiss her again, when all of a sudden--
"HEY!" Came a strong, male shout. It was James. And Sirius was at his side.
Severus glanced at them for one moment, but it was all Lily needed. He had a death grip on her wrist. So Lily took a side kick at the side of his head and her high heel nailed him right on his nose. A loud crack was heard, and Severus's nose was broken. He fell to the ground, doubled up in pain.
Lily put a curly lock of hair behind her ear. James and Sirius were staring at Lily with disbelief.
"Well, I guess there's only one thing to do." James said. He walked up to Severus and flicked him in the nose. Severus yelped and stood up.
"Son of a bitch," He yelled and ran toward the infirmary.
"Watch out, Madam Pomfrey, we got a broken nose coming in!" Yelled Sirius, sworn enemy of Snape. "And a git to match!"
"Damn, Lil!" James said with a toothy grin. "I guess you had it under control."
"I probably would have taken longer if you hadn't yelled." Lily shrugged. She walked over to James and pecked him on the cheek. "Thanks," She said, "You're a hero." James blushed and kissed her cheek. Sirius lifted an eyebrow.
"I need some hard root beer." He said. James laughed, but Lily didn't get it.
"We're just friends." Lily told him.
"Good friends." James added.
*
Lunch time was full of loud chatter, since the Ball was the very next evening. Though, Dumbledore was unusually quiet. Professor McGonagall peered over at him over her sardine bagels. He was curiously pale and had purple bags under his eyes. Maybe the battle with Voldemort was finally wearing him down.
"Albus?" McGonagall said quietly. Dumbledore took a bite of his grilled cheese and tuna sandwich and looked over at her with a smile.
"Yes, Minerva?"
"You look ill, Albus."
Dumbledore nodded. "Another five innocents attacked today, and another five days without sleep. It seems I just can't keep up with Voldemort. But I'm not going to stop."
McGonagall coughed at the name. "That's the sprit. Is there anything I can do?"
Dumbledore nodded and handed McGonagall a piece of paper. "I'll go take a nap now." Dumbledore excused himself and walked out of the Great Hall. McGonagall read the piece of paper. Her eye widened, and she almost spat out the piece of sandwich she was eating.
Meanwhile, Lily and James were talking feverishly about a soap opera called Majestic Lovers they both love on the World Wizarding Network.
"Then Veronica kissed Slate! It was so romantic!" Exclaimed Lily.
"Omigawd, and I loved it when Slate asked Veronica to marry him!" James said with a grin.
Sirius lifted an eyebrow. He didn't know that James likes soap operas. Remus was shaking his head and having a conversation with Magenta, and Peter was in the hospital wing; apparently the tried to kick some Slytherin's butt and her failed miserably.
"Sooo... did you find your guitar pick, Lil?" Poezee asked, changing the subject. She hated soap operas. Lily shook her head.
"No, I didn't."
James raised his eyebrows. Something in his stomach churned. He whispered, "The one Thomas gave you?"
Lily's eyes got wide. "How did you know?"
James stood up. "Lily, could you come with me for a minute?"
Lily lifted her pointer finger at Poezee, telling her she would be back in a minute. James held her hand as they walked out of the Great Hall. When they got out, they stood facing each other. Lily spoke first when they let each other's hands go.
"How did you know about the pick?"
James sighed. "Thomas and I were very close, we told each other everything."
Lily looked at the floor. "I'm really sorry, I didn't mean to fall in love with him."
"No one meant to fall in love." James said. He leaned against the wall with his hands in his pockets. He looked guilty as he looked Lily in the eye. "There's something you didn't know about Thomas, Lil."
Lily's eyebrows furrowed. "What?"
James bit his lip.
"Tell me, James."
"Thomas was married." James avoided her eyes. Lily coughed.
"What?"
"Thomas was married."
Lily looked at James in disbelief. James swallowed.
"He meant to tell you a long time ago, but he fell in love with you. I'm sorry, Lily. Diana died in an attack, and Thomas moved far away because he didn't want to be Dark anymore. He sent you a letter and Ian went with him, but he died when Voldemort's Death Eaters found him."
Lily's jaw dropped. Her heart seemed to skip three beats. She fell to the floor, sitting up and going over what James just said.
James bent down a kissed her forehead.
Lily pushed him back and he fell back. Tears glossed her eyes over. One by one they fell down her cheeks. James looked up at her. Guilt burned in his sky-blue eyes.
"How could you?" Lily screamed.
"How could I what?"
"How could you..." Lily's face fell into her hands. "...Tell me that?"
"I... I don't know." James realized. Why had he told her that? She was happy not knowing, safe from hurting. Lily looked up into James's eyes. Her eyes flashed with hurt. James, for some reason, became angry. "Don't look at me with those eyes!"
"What the hell does that mean?" Lily shouted.
James sighed and a lump in his throat began to build. "It's... I mean to say... er..."
Lily shook her head. "What are you on about?" She stood up and looked at him in the eye.
James licked his lips. He thought to himself, 'Oh shit. I like her!'
"James... are you crying?" Lily sat, taking a step closer to James. James stood up and ran to the Gryffindor House. Lily shouted after him, "Asshole!"
*
Remus and Magenta walked hand-in-hand. They were talking about sweet-nothings, the Ball, interests, the Ball, news, and the Ball. Remus flicked his hair back and smiled as they walked up the stairs in the Boys dorm rooms.
"Did you pick out a dress yet?" Remus asked.
"No, not yet. Trudy and I were going to go this evening." Magenta replied.
"Oh really? I--" Remus opened the door to the room and saw James sitting on his bed, his face crying into his hands. Remus turned to Magenta. Magenta looked worriedly to Remus. Remus thought quickly. "Magenta? Can you please go and get Sirius? I think he's still eating lunch."
Magenta nodded and jogged off as Remus entered the room quietly. "Hey, James."
James looked up. His eyes were puffy, tears were pouring from them and flecks of blood were all around his mouth.
"James! Are you bleeding?" Remus exclaimed.
"I think I caught a really bad cough yesterday." James croaked. Then he started to cough. Really hard. He covered his mouth with his hand, and after a long time of coughing, James swallowed and looked at his hand. Not a lot, but some blood was on his palm.
"I'm taking you to Madam Pomfrey right now." Remus said, and grabbed James by the upper arm, but James took it back.
"I'm not in the mood, I'll just drink some water." James walked over to the water fountain and filled up a paper cup. After the first drink he winced. "It's like ice, but it feels good."
Remus bit his lip. "What's he problem? It's a girl, isn't it."
James smiled. It was amazing how being best friends with three people for seven years, they can begin to seem to be able to read each other's minds. "Sort of. A girl and Thomas."
Remus shook his head. "I'm sorry, buddy, but you have to realize that Thomas isn't..."
"No, no. Lily found out about Thomas and Diana."
Remus's jaw dropped. "How?"
James looked out the window.
Remus gasped. "Why did you tell her?"
James looked at Remus guiltily. Remus's face softened.
"You like-like Lily, don't you?"
James nodded and started to cough again. Remus grabbed his cup of water, tapped it with his wand (which was in his pocket) and it turned a light sunshine yellow. "Drink," He said, and James took it and did so in one gulp. It tasted like butter.
He felt his throat heal. "How did you know that little spell?"
"Madam Pomfrey is my great-aunt. Anyway, you're changing the subject." Remus waved his wand absentmindedly and green sparks shot through it. "Oops." He said and put it away.
Just then, the door burst open and Sirius busted in. His face was full if lipstick stains. He rushed up to James and put a hand on his shoulder. "Man! Why are you crying?"
"A broken heart." Remus whispered.
"What?" Sirius said. James nodded and patted the hand Sirius put on his shoulder. "Who? When? Why?"
"Lily, a half hour ago, and I don't know." James replied. Sirius nodded and gave James a quick hug. James thought of a question.
"Why did you change the sheets on your bed?"
Sirius blushed.
"Oh, that girl." James grinned.
Sirius grinned and nodded. "You're changing the subject."
*
"Ready?" Wormtail said, carrying the guitar. The four friends ran towards the lake as fast as they could under the Invisibility Cloak.
"Yeah!" Chimed Moony and Padfoot. Prongs remained silent.
As they approached the lake, a giant tentacle of the giant squid darted out of the water and lay on the beach. When they got to the beach, they took off the Cloak, Wormtail handed the guitar to James. In a giddy, excited voice, he said, "The honor would be yours, dear Prongs."
Prongs grabbed the guitar's neck with his left and the body with the other uncertainly. He slowly walked out into about a half a foot of water. Prongs licked his lips. 'It's now or never. Pick one.'
"C'mon, Prongs! The weather is fucking cold!" Yelled Padfoot out to Prongs. "Heck if I know why it hasn't snowed." He added. Prongs bit his lip, trying to reach a decision.
"C'mon, Prongs. You've been dreaming about this moment since fourth year!" Shouted Wormtail to Prongs. Prongs looked from the guitar to the water.
"C'mon, James. I'm sleepy, it's nearly 1 o'clock AM!" Cried Moony, who was shivering. Prongs's feet began to lose its feeling.
'C'mon, Prongs.' Prongs thought to himself. 'Choose one.'
((A/N- Cliffhanger. Mwa ha ha. Short chappy, isn't it? Sorry it took so long, I wasn't sure about the contents in this chapter. Anyway, I hope you aren't mad at me, about Thomas, that is. I thought it would had another interesting twisty-spinny thingy. And I laughed as I wrote the Snape-Trying-To-Rape-Lily bit. Someone suggested I have Snape attack Lily and I took it.. with a surprise ending. It gave me an idea, maybe Sirius and Severus will get in a fight? Maybe, though, because I have think up a whole new side-plot for that to happen and I'm lazy. Anyway... to tick everyone off, there will be James/Delilah action. Sorry, it has to happen! I mean, she's a freaking super-model proportionate and James is male... it's like the old saying, 'Men date blondes and marry red heads.' Actually it's brunettes, but red could be a brown if it so wanted. I suppose. Maybe. I'm not even sure that had to do with anything. I'll leave you one thing to wonder about... Who's Diana?))
((Oh, what a pretty little box, such a loverly light bluish! I wonder what would happen if you were to press it? Please R/R!!! Reviews fuel up a new chapter!))