Chapter 7- An Exceptional Breakfast
Lily, since her detention, had been thinking about James. She would sit in class and daydream about him, only to return to her bed at night and dream about him. During all of this, she had decided that she had overreacted. It had been a good kiss, so wasn't that a good thing? This, she told herself over and over, to the extent that she got a headache from thinking so hard. Lily always sorted her problems out by thinking about them, not by discussing them with others like most people do. Not that James was a problem. She was just scared. She had never been in a relationship before; she didn't know what she was feeling towards him and why. Her clueless-ness caused her to look troubled most of the time, which Lauren noticed.
"Lily?" she asked one night in their dorm. "Lily!"
"What?" Lily looked up and saw Lauren standing over her, her hazel eyes concerned.
"Is something wrong? You've been really quiet lately. Ever since that detention." her eyes sparkled with mischief as she mentioned it.
"Speaking of it, that was just plain evil, Lauren! Wasn't there some other way for you and the guys to amuse yourselves without getting James and I in trouble."
"It wasn't a matter of amusing ourselves. It was to save our sanity." she explained matter-of-factly. "You two were driving us nuts, so we decided to try and get you together. Well, I've been wondering. Did it work as planned?" This had been confusing her, because Lily had stopped talking about James, but yet they didn't seem to be a couple. She was anxious to know what had happened.
"Yes. No. I don't know." Lily threw her hands up in the air, as if surrendering.
Lauren was even more confused than before. "What do you mean?"
Sighing, Lily decided that she might as well get it out of her system. She began a long explanation of exactly what had happened as she remembered it. When she was finished, she added, "So there you have it. Now what do you think, did your plan work?"
"Well, I guess that depends on you."
"What? How?"
"You ran out on him. You still have to chance to run back to him. It depends on what you decide to do."
"Oh." Lily's brow furrowed. What could she do? Go up to James and say 'Sorry I ran out. I didn't know what I was doing. Can we be together now?' She would sound like an idiot. No, she couldn't do that. She would just have to hope that James still wanted to go out with her enough to continue trying to surprise her. "But…I don't know."
"All in good time you will." Lauren smiled. She rose from Lily's bed and, straightening her robes, headed to the bathroom. Before disappearing inside, she turned around again to face Lily. "Oh, and Lily?"
"Mm?"
"That feeling that you have. That's what you would call love."
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"James? Are you sure you want to go through with this?" Remus asked, watching his friend try desperately to comb his hair, and failing horribly.
"Yes. Never been more sure in my life." he stopped a moment to look at his friends, who were staring at him with wide eyes. "I love her, guys. I love her." he smiled.
To the other Marauders, James looked nuts. They just kept staring at him and giving him weird looks. What had gotten into their friend? He was a nutcase. They shook their heads and headed downstairs to the common room.
James sat on his bed, alone and free to submit to his thoughts. Am I nuts? he pondered this for a second. No, I'm just a fool in love. Laughing at the absurdity of it all, he followed his friends a few minutes later. Alright. Calm down, Prongs. You can do this. You just have to stay calm. James took a deep breath as he entered the Gryffindor common room. He found it almost empty; everyone had already left for breakfast. Glancing around, he realized that his three friends had left also. So much for waiting for me. he thought while he departed out the portrait hole.
The walk to the Great Hall was tourturus for him. It seemed like hours before he finally descended the last stair and took his first step inside the Hall.
It was already filled with students, laughing and talking with their friends. Everything looked normal, nothing different from any other day. Stiffly, James walked over to the Marauders, who were giving him two thumbs up and reassuring, joking smiles. I can't believe I'm actually doing this. This is something Sirius would do, or Remus. Not me. I don't especially enjoy doing anything in front of the school, like they do.
He seated himself next to Sirius and across from Peter. He decided to eat before he did anything. His stomach was demanding some scrambled eggs and toast. Sighing deeply, he piled his plate.
"Geez, Prongs. Breathe. Why are you so nervous?" Peter asked.
"Because I want her to be happy, Wormtail. I want to surprise her. I'm worried that she won't be." He responded through his full mouth. Still chewing, he stole a glance at Lily. She felt his gaze and turned her emerald eyes on his face. Blushing slightly, he looked down at his plate.
Remus, sensing the tense mood, decided to start some conversation. "So what should we do this weekend?" he asked.
"I don't know. I guess we could go to Hogsmeade again." Sirius said. James blushed, remembering the last time they had been there. "Though I don't think James wants to go back to the general store."
Still bright red, James added, "We could go to the Three Broomsticks. I haven't had a butterbeer in a while."
Peter joined in. "Sounds good. I don't have as much homework this time, so I can join you guys."
James, noticing that breakfast was coming to a close, was wishing that he hadn't eaten anything after all. It was time. (A/N: Hehe, reminds me of that part in the Lion King where Rafiki tells Simba 'it is time', you know, near the end. Lol, sorry…I have a little brother and sister.) His stomach was doing flip-flops and his face was heating. Sighing in resolution, he pulled his wand out of his pocket and whispered something just as Lily and Lauren rose from their seats. James looked up.
From the ceiling, large banners rolled down saying things like 'I love you Lily.' And 'Please go out with me Lily.' Balloons filled the Hall, and all sorts of other decorations, all stating James's love for Lily. It was hard to see through the mass of objects that now filled the air. He smiled, deciding that he liked the results. Jumping up, he began the second part of his plan. He climbed up onto the top of the Gryffindor table and stood. Magnifying his voice with a charm, he addressed the entire student body and staff at Hogwarts. "I do hereby declare my love for Lily Evans. I asked her out a little while back, but she declined." A few gasps of surprise escaped from the girls in the crowd. "She told me that I, in order to win her over, was required to 'surprise' her. Being a normal guy, I was confused and had not a clue what she meant. I just hope that this will do, and that she'll accept me now." His voice shook slightly as he finished. He turned himself around to look at the face of Lily Evans, awaiting her reaction.
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A/N: I know, I know! That was evil! Hehe, and a short chapter. Oh well, I suppose I'll just have to post the next chapter after you all review…
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Thanks a million times! You guys are so great!
Satans Little Princess- Yep! Not everything is easy! Thanks for reviewing!
QueenOfTheQueer- Thanks soo much! And now you know what plan b is (or was)…
Kristatwen- I know I wouldn't recover that fast, but oh well! Thanks again!
Lilyandjames4life- Lol, thank you for four reviews! I really appreciate it!
cHoOcH lIz- Well, hope that was soon enough for you! Thank you!!
Time Twins- I'm happy you found it fun to read! It was certainly fun to write!
bluebambi- Thank you for your review!!
Sierra Sitruc- Isn't she though? Thanks once again!
lily potter- Thats what I think- funny because it's so stupid. And you'll see soon about them getting together. Thank you!
Riauna- Thanks again!
KoolKitty- Yes, too bad it didn't work for James. But, as everyone knows, it will eventually. Thank you so much!
RaistlinHooper- I'm glad you like them both! Thanks a lot for your review!
phoenix6545- Well, I hope you enjoyed reading about plan b, and thank you again!
Min Hee Ha- Thanks again! I'm running out of things to say to you...sorry I can't say anything interesting. There are only so many ways to say thanks!
Lily, since her detention, had been thinking about James. She would sit in class and daydream about him, only to return to her bed at night and dream about him. During all of this, she had decided that she had overreacted. It had been a good kiss, so wasn't that a good thing? This, she told herself over and over, to the extent that she got a headache from thinking so hard. Lily always sorted her problems out by thinking about them, not by discussing them with others like most people do. Not that James was a problem. She was just scared. She had never been in a relationship before; she didn't know what she was feeling towards him and why. Her clueless-ness caused her to look troubled most of the time, which Lauren noticed.
"Lily?" she asked one night in their dorm. "Lily!"
"What?" Lily looked up and saw Lauren standing over her, her hazel eyes concerned.
"Is something wrong? You've been really quiet lately. Ever since that detention." her eyes sparkled with mischief as she mentioned it.
"Speaking of it, that was just plain evil, Lauren! Wasn't there some other way for you and the guys to amuse yourselves without getting James and I in trouble."
"It wasn't a matter of amusing ourselves. It was to save our sanity." she explained matter-of-factly. "You two were driving us nuts, so we decided to try and get you together. Well, I've been wondering. Did it work as planned?" This had been confusing her, because Lily had stopped talking about James, but yet they didn't seem to be a couple. She was anxious to know what had happened.
"Yes. No. I don't know." Lily threw her hands up in the air, as if surrendering.
Lauren was even more confused than before. "What do you mean?"
Sighing, Lily decided that she might as well get it out of her system. She began a long explanation of exactly what had happened as she remembered it. When she was finished, she added, "So there you have it. Now what do you think, did your plan work?"
"Well, I guess that depends on you."
"What? How?"
"You ran out on him. You still have to chance to run back to him. It depends on what you decide to do."
"Oh." Lily's brow furrowed. What could she do? Go up to James and say 'Sorry I ran out. I didn't know what I was doing. Can we be together now?' She would sound like an idiot. No, she couldn't do that. She would just have to hope that James still wanted to go out with her enough to continue trying to surprise her. "But…I don't know."
"All in good time you will." Lauren smiled. She rose from Lily's bed and, straightening her robes, headed to the bathroom. Before disappearing inside, she turned around again to face Lily. "Oh, and Lily?"
"Mm?"
"That feeling that you have. That's what you would call love."
***************************
"James? Are you sure you want to go through with this?" Remus asked, watching his friend try desperately to comb his hair, and failing horribly.
"Yes. Never been more sure in my life." he stopped a moment to look at his friends, who were staring at him with wide eyes. "I love her, guys. I love her." he smiled.
To the other Marauders, James looked nuts. They just kept staring at him and giving him weird looks. What had gotten into their friend? He was a nutcase. They shook their heads and headed downstairs to the common room.
James sat on his bed, alone and free to submit to his thoughts. Am I nuts? he pondered this for a second. No, I'm just a fool in love. Laughing at the absurdity of it all, he followed his friends a few minutes later. Alright. Calm down, Prongs. You can do this. You just have to stay calm. James took a deep breath as he entered the Gryffindor common room. He found it almost empty; everyone had already left for breakfast. Glancing around, he realized that his three friends had left also. So much for waiting for me. he thought while he departed out the portrait hole.
The walk to the Great Hall was tourturus for him. It seemed like hours before he finally descended the last stair and took his first step inside the Hall.
It was already filled with students, laughing and talking with their friends. Everything looked normal, nothing different from any other day. Stiffly, James walked over to the Marauders, who were giving him two thumbs up and reassuring, joking smiles. I can't believe I'm actually doing this. This is something Sirius would do, or Remus. Not me. I don't especially enjoy doing anything in front of the school, like they do.
He seated himself next to Sirius and across from Peter. He decided to eat before he did anything. His stomach was demanding some scrambled eggs and toast. Sighing deeply, he piled his plate.
"Geez, Prongs. Breathe. Why are you so nervous?" Peter asked.
"Because I want her to be happy, Wormtail. I want to surprise her. I'm worried that she won't be." He responded through his full mouth. Still chewing, he stole a glance at Lily. She felt his gaze and turned her emerald eyes on his face. Blushing slightly, he looked down at his plate.
Remus, sensing the tense mood, decided to start some conversation. "So what should we do this weekend?" he asked.
"I don't know. I guess we could go to Hogsmeade again." Sirius said. James blushed, remembering the last time they had been there. "Though I don't think James wants to go back to the general store."
Still bright red, James added, "We could go to the Three Broomsticks. I haven't had a butterbeer in a while."
Peter joined in. "Sounds good. I don't have as much homework this time, so I can join you guys."
James, noticing that breakfast was coming to a close, was wishing that he hadn't eaten anything after all. It was time. (A/N: Hehe, reminds me of that part in the Lion King where Rafiki tells Simba 'it is time', you know, near the end. Lol, sorry…I have a little brother and sister.) His stomach was doing flip-flops and his face was heating. Sighing in resolution, he pulled his wand out of his pocket and whispered something just as Lily and Lauren rose from their seats. James looked up.
From the ceiling, large banners rolled down saying things like 'I love you Lily.' And 'Please go out with me Lily.' Balloons filled the Hall, and all sorts of other decorations, all stating James's love for Lily. It was hard to see through the mass of objects that now filled the air. He smiled, deciding that he liked the results. Jumping up, he began the second part of his plan. He climbed up onto the top of the Gryffindor table and stood. Magnifying his voice with a charm, he addressed the entire student body and staff at Hogwarts. "I do hereby declare my love for Lily Evans. I asked her out a little while back, but she declined." A few gasps of surprise escaped from the girls in the crowd. "She told me that I, in order to win her over, was required to 'surprise' her. Being a normal guy, I was confused and had not a clue what she meant. I just hope that this will do, and that she'll accept me now." His voice shook slightly as he finished. He turned himself around to look at the face of Lily Evans, awaiting her reaction.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
A/N: I know, I know! That was evil! Hehe, and a short chapter. Oh well, I suppose I'll just have to post the next chapter after you all review…
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Thanks a million times! You guys are so great!
Satans Little Princess- Yep! Not everything is easy! Thanks for reviewing!
QueenOfTheQueer- Thanks soo much! And now you know what plan b is (or was)…
Kristatwen- I know I wouldn't recover that fast, but oh well! Thanks again!
Lilyandjames4life- Lol, thank you for four reviews! I really appreciate it!
cHoOcH lIz- Well, hope that was soon enough for you! Thank you!!
Time Twins- I'm happy you found it fun to read! It was certainly fun to write!
bluebambi- Thank you for your review!!
Sierra Sitruc- Isn't she though? Thanks once again!
lily potter- Thats what I think- funny because it's so stupid. And you'll see soon about them getting together. Thank you!
Riauna- Thanks again!
KoolKitty- Yes, too bad it didn't work for James. But, as everyone knows, it will eventually. Thank you so much!
RaistlinHooper- I'm glad you like them both! Thanks a lot for your review!
phoenix6545- Well, I hope you enjoyed reading about plan b, and thank you again!
Min Hee Ha- Thanks again! I'm running out of things to say to you...sorry I can't say anything interesting. There are only so many ways to say thanks!